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 Commentary: Why development quality matters to China's modernization Xinhua) 08:18, March 07, 2023 This photo taken on July 18, 2022 shows C919 jets in Pucheng County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Can China succeed in pulling off its feat of modernization? The ongoing "two sessions" have shed some light on the answer. In deliberation with his fellow lawmakers on Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping once again fleshed out the idea of high-quality development, after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last year highlighted it as the "first and foremost" task in building a modern socialist country in all respects. By laying out the principles and priorities for high-quality development, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the country's roadmap for modernization much clearer. As an unprecedented experiment in the history of global development, Chinese modernization demands decades of endeavor. To turn this grand goal into reality, a concrete action plan with long-term thinking is a must. Pursuing the sheer speed of growth is unsustainable and too costly for today's China, which is already the world's second-largest economy. The improved handling of the relationship between quantity and quality of development will create continuous momentum for the modernization drive. The annual growth target for this year of around 5 percent, as put forward on Sunday, has sent a clear signal: China will not resort to flood-like stimulus or inefficient investment to seek excessively high growth that would eat into its future. Instead, efforts will be revved up to make the economy more advanced, balanced and eco-friendly. The priorities of high-quality development, as Xi set forth during Sunday's deliberation, include achieving greater self-reliance in science and technology, creating a new development pattern, and promoting agricultural modernization. These directions are vital to the future of Chinese modernization. The fierce global competition on development has created an urgent need to foster new growth drivers and strength, which can only be realized through prowess in science and technology. Self-reliance in key areas, be it advanced technology or grain production, is key to bringing modernity to over 1.4 billion people in China, and this cannot rely solely on the supply from the international market. Reforms to let the market play a decisive role in resource allocation will unleash to the utmost the vitality of one of the world's biggest markets, while high-standard opening up will create more development opportunities, both for China and other countries. Unlike capitalist economies, the immutable goal of China's modernization drive is to meet the people's aspirations for a better life. This entails not just increased incomes and enough jobs, but also a narrower wealth gap, a richer cultural life, clean air and clear waters. All this can only be delivered through an economy of higher quality. First raised by the CPC leadership in 2017, high-quality development is not an empty political slogan for China. It is a natural call in the new stage of development and can already be seen and felt in numerous areas. A lot can be seen from the rise and fall of certain numbers. Over the past five years, the contribution of scientific and technological progress to China's economic growth exceeded 60 percent, while its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP fell by 14.1 percent. In 2022, China's per capita disposable income grew 5 percent in nominal terms year on year, while the tax and fee burden was cut by 4.2 trillion yuan (about 609 billion U.S. dollars). This year, China aims to create around 12 million urban jobs, up from last year's target of over 11 million, while pledging to further reduce pollutant emissions and energy intensity. By seeking innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, high-quality development will set China on the right path toward a modern future. And the world will benefit from it too. While global prosperity is haunted by rising protectionism and geopolitical conflicts, China's high-quality development will not only allow the rest of the world to share its dividends, but also inspire other developing countries to explore their own paths toward modernity. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Experiences are now a primary driver of travel, with three in five Gen-Z and Millennial travelers prioritizing experiences over things, said the co-founder and CEO of Arival, a leader of insights for the travel experiences industry. But traveler expectations and behaviour have changed dramatically as Europe emerged from the pandemic. The Arival 360 Berlin conference will deliver the insights, tools and connections tour, activity and attraction businesses need to gain a competitive edge in this dynamic new landscape, added Douglas Quinby Arival 360 Conference 2023, taking place in Berlin from March 5-7, assembles leadership from across the in-destination experiences industry tours, activities and attractions to explore the major shifts and trends that will shape travel experiences across Europe in 2023 and beyond. Sessions will reveal exclusive research from Arival on changing traveler habits and preferences, evolving marketing trends and new technology. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with leading tour and attraction operators, and network with key online travel agencies, distributors and technology potential partners leaving them with actionable strategies to transform their businesses. A few of the key experiences trends Arival 360 Berlin will explore: The rise of mobile and last-minute booking: mobile is now the leading booking channel as younger travelers choose what to do on the fly The surge in small groups and premium experiences travelers want more than a cheap ticket, they want an experience to remember. The rise of the creator economy TikTok will overtake Facebook for experiences discovery by 2024 The economy and the outlook for Europe Arival will explore strategies to thrive in uncertain times Arival 360 Berlin will explore these themes and many more across more than 50 sessions and 60+ speakers. Here Session tracks will focus on the following topics: Exclusive Traveler Trends new research and insights on traveler trends from Arival and market forecasts from ForwardKeys Marketing & the Future of Distribution a series of sessions delving into the future of marketing, sales, and how creators and sellers of experiences can grow in 2023 The Future of Experience Design key trends and practical guidance on the future of experience design, explore what travelers want and how operators can deliver amazing experiences for tomorrows travelers The Creator Economy learn about and acquire customers amid the rapid rise of vertical video, content creators, TikTok and more Culinary Arival has assembled leaders from one of Experiences fastest growing categories to help experience creators and sellers understand the importance of food in the future of tours and activities Emerging Technology from the future of restech, connectivity and channel management to Google Things to do, dynamic pricing, digital marketing and ChatGPT, Arival will host a series of interactive sessions on the tech poised to change our industry Responsible Tourism More than a buzzword, sustainability has become mission critical to destinations and experience operators are on the frontlines. More than 600 representatives from 300+ companies across the tours, activities, attractions and experiences sectors will walk through the doors of the 2023 Arival 360 Conference. Speakers include many of the industrys leading influencers and executives. TradeArabia News Service Huge Blackout in Argentina. Did the Country Get Nord Streamed? March 6, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)On Wednesday, March 1, Argentina suffered a major power outage which left at least 20 million people, 40% of the population, without electricity in the middle of the worst heat wave the country has experienced in 20 years, as well as a devastating drought. Temperatures have been running as high as 35C in some places. Large swaths of Metropolitan Buenos Aires and at least seven other provinces were affected and while some electricity was restored after a few hours the same day, power wasnt fully restored in the country until two days later. Thanks to years of disinvestment under the neoliberal Mauricio Macri government (2015-2019), Argentinas electric grid is not in good shape, and smaller blackouts happen with some regularity. But Finance Minister Sergio Massa has already filed a criminal complaint with Judge Adrian Gonzalez Charvay calling for an investigation into three fires that had been deliberately set under a 500 KW high-tension transmission line outside the Buenos Aires Metropolitan area which caused it to catch fire. This in turn caused the shutdown of sections of the interconnected grid, requiring the Atucha I nuclear plant to be taken offline as a precautionary move. That removed 10,000 MW from the interconnected grid of the 25,000 MW that were in demand at that moment. Six million households were left in the dark. Almost immediately circles linked to Macri started screaming that Atucha represented a grave nuclear threat to the country. Who needs nuclear energy? The relevant question here is whether the blackout represents an attack on the nations civilian infrastructure that President Vladimir Putin warned could occur internationally were Seymour Hershs revelations about the U.S. role in blowing up Nord Stream not thoroughly investigated. Look at the threats that U.S. and Western geopolitical circles are making against the Peruvian port of Chancay that China is building. Look at the threats against Argentina that Rep. Maria Elvia Salazar (R-FL) made at the House Foreign Affairs Committee March 1 for daring to collaborate with China on space and military matters, charging it had made a pact with the devil and should be forewarned before its too late. Julio De Vido, a former Planning Minister under the two Kirchner governments (2003-2015) and a participant in two Schiller Institute international conferences, told Radio Grafica on March 3: I think there are interests that want Argentina to abandon its nuclear plan and thats why Atucha was named as the reason for the systems failure. Theres a whole operation underway to try to reverse the agreements that we had signed with China and Russia for the building of three more nuclear plants. They try to link [nuclear plants] with corruption and dirty energy. He then pointedly added, We have to see how Germany will manage by returning to coalon top of which the Yankees blew up the pipeline [Germany] had built with Russia to guarantee its supply, referring to the Hersh revelations. The reality is that there are U.S. interests that dont want Argentina to develop in a sovereign manner. [Southern Command head Gen.] Laura Richardson said it very clearlyno lithium, no nuclear energy, no energy resources. As for blaming Atucha for the blackout, De Vido told La Politica Online that Operation Atucha has a geopolitical smell to it. The country is about to complete its enriched uranium plant which is 100% Argentine; and finishing its CAREM small modular reactor prototype, and the nuclear powers dont like that. It worries the Southern Command. Blaming Atucha was no casual mistake. Explora Journeys, the privately-owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group headquartered in Geneva, has unveiled the design of its Ocean Penthouses and Ocean Residences on board of Explora I, the first of a planned fleet of up to six luxury ships. Ocean Penthouses range from 43 to 68 sq m, while Ocean Residences range from 70 to 149 sq m, making them among the largest in the industry. Time has been spent on enhancing the fluidity and harmony of the suites and their spaces, implementing linear design principles to maximise space. The Ocean Penthouses of Explora I, offer a sumptuous retreat with ocean-front floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces to unwind and relax, said the Swiss company in a statement. Each of the four penthouse types offers a distinctive private dining area for four and a large seating area that provides an inviting space for guests to entertain in their suite, as well as a calm, comfortable place to spend time and relax, it stated. Ahead of its maiden journey departing from Southampton, UK, on July 17, this is the second unveiling of the unique design philosophy for its 461 ocean-front Homes at Sea after sharing the plans for its entry-level Ocean Suites last year. With a maritime heritage of over 300 years coupled with an innate understanding of luxury, the owners family has carefully curated the design of the suites, penthouses and residences to create the ultimate luxurious Home at Sea. The elegant design is a reflection of the brands distinctive European DNA, it stated. Thoughtfully designed to stimulate the senses and reflect the brands philosophy of creating an Ocean State of Mind owing to carefully considered elements such as natural light, colour, space, privacy, and connection with the sea, Explora Journeys has worked meticulously to ensure every guest experiences an opulent, yet intimate retreat as they embark on their own ocean journey. Jason Gelineau, Head of Product of Explora Journeys, said: "Environmental respect and sustainability have been key in design choices, ensuring a balance between the tactile and visual experience of every material used." "Eco-friendly details such as refillable bathroom amenities have also been weaved into the suite offering and where feasible, we are sourcing sustainable products including B Corp-certified items. We will also have a no single-use plastic policy on board," he noted. "All comprise a walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area and feature a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, heated floors in the bathrooms, personal binoculars, wireless bed-side charging, a personal mini-bar replenished according to the guests preferences, an espresso machine with bio-degradable pods, a kettle and teapot, and a complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest. 24-hour guest services also ensure every desire or request is provided," he added. Gelineau pointed out that fusing Swiss precision with the finest European craftsmanship and conscious, respectful design, Explora Journeys has worked with luxury brands such as Molteni&C, part of the Molteni Group, the leading independent group in the high-end furniture sector with 100% Italian production. "The identity of Molteni&C lives in all the suites of Explora I through iconic sofas and chairs as well as the new Molteni&C|Outdoor collection for selected terraces, all marked by the core values of Molteni: tradition, quality, durability and reliability, supported by research and innovation," he noted. The spacious Ocean Residences provide effortlessly elegant spaces with separate living, dining and sleeping areas. "They offer a panoramic ocean-front terrace with a private outdoor whirlpool, a dining table and sun loungers. The materials showcase the care, attention and calibre of the design, such as Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble used in the bathrooms of Cocoon, Serenity and Retreat Residences," explained Gelineau. "With four unique types of residences to choose from within the category, their names, Cocoon, Cove, Retreat and Serenity, reflect the calming effects of the ocean and the Home at Sea feeling. The Cocoon and Serenity Residences feature unique wrap-around terraces, while Cocoon, Serenity and Retreat Residences offer a separate bathtub and walk-in-shower," he added. According to him, all Ocean Residences are served by a dedicated team of Residence Hosts providing bespoke butler services 24 hours a day. Further enhancing the magnificent outdoor spaces, suite terraces have been furnished with exquisite pieces by Manutti, one of the worlds leading luxury outdoor furniture brands. Luxury bed and bath linens are from Frette, who use the most skilled Italian artisans to craft products that embody luxury, comfort and creativity, he added.-TradeArabia News Service EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2023 Its Time for a Change March 6, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Will the collective West (already a fragmenting assembly) regain its sanity and drop the policies that lead the world to global war and nuclear annihilation? An opportunity is presented this week in the United States, where an expected vote on a War Powers Act resolution will call upon members of the House of Representatives to take a stand on ending the illegal U.S. military presence in Syria. If a crack forms in the dam of hypocrisy, will a truthful policy be able to sweep it away? Gen. Milley visited Syria this Saturday, March 4. He was part of an occupying military force that continues to operate in a sovereign country without its permission. What about sovereignty and territorial integrity? For the U.S.-U.K.-NATO axis, the Kurds, a minority group in Syria, are said to require protection from the depredations of the Damascus authorities, headed by the supposed chemical weapons enthusiast Bashar al-Assad. What of Donetsk and Lugansk, which had been subjected to military attacks by the Kiev authorities for the better part of a decade, with some 14,000 or more killed? The supposed defenders of democracy lied, mouthing support for a Minsk peace process while planning the reconquest of those territories. Argentina has withdrawn from a 2016 pact with the U.K. that conceded control of the Malvinas Islands to the U.K. But according to U.K. Foreign Secretary Cleverly, the islands are British: Islanders have the right to decide their own futurethey have chosen to remain a self-governing U.K. Overseas Territory, he said. Are the people of Crimea and the eastern provinces of Ukraine allowed to decide their own future? China is accused of all manner of atrocities in Xinjiang, with demands that the international community stand up to what the U.S.-U.K.-NATO axis considers a cruel autocracy. But did those same powers, with direct responsibility for the Minsk process, stand up for the people of Donetsk and Lugansk, a majority of whom plainly do not want to be administered by Kiev? The rules-based order appears to have as many exceptions as it does rules. Free trade and open markets are extolled, except for China. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct, except for Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Crimea. Terrorists must be rooted out and punished, anywhere in the world, except for the Nord Stream bombers. The opportunity to end the occupation of Syria is a flank. So is the expose by Seymour Hersh of the Nord Stream bombing. These are opportunities ripe to be exploited to induce a much broader change. A new world is dawning. As the trans-Atlantic financial system crumbles and disintegrates, world power is shifting to Eurasia, to the Global South more broadly. Leaders of many nations increasingly trust China and Russia more than the West. The world effects of the NATO-Russia war being played out mostly in Ukraine is only catalyzing, accelerating these changes. The British saw the writing on the wall years ago, and have, with their U.S. friends, deployed Russiagate and the anti-China campaign to maintain control. Although they cannot succeed in this, they may succeed in bringing about nuclear devastation. The Global South has had enough of this hypocrisy. Have the citizens of the West? On this version of Hot off the Wire: The FBI and Mexican officials say four U.S. citizens were kidnapped by gunmen after crossing into Mexico. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday the four were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups. National transportation authorities say a corporate jet may have experienced stability problems before the severe buffeting that caused the death of a passenger. Two flights scheduled to depart from Boston Logan International Airport made contact with each other near the gate area. Election officials in Florida, Missouri and West Virginia say they are withdrawing from a bipartisan, multistate effort aimed at ensuring the accuracy of voter rolls that has found itself in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories fueled by Donald Trumps false claims about the 2020 presidential election. Greenhouse gas emissions from the way humans consume food could add nearly 1 degree of warming to Earths climate by 2100, according to a study out Monday in Nature Climate Change. French officials say the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is going fast enough to allow its reopening to visitors and faithful at the end of 2024. The government is rolling out a new dashboard that lets travelers see which which airlines let families with young children sit together on flights at no extra cost. Police say one person is dead and two are fighting for their lives after unfounded fears of gunfire led to a stampede at the end of a rap concert in upstate New York. In this week's religion roundup, a sacred, sinking town in India faces a grim future. HOLDREGE The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation Districts board of directors approved water service agreements with several irrigation districts for the 2023 irrigation season. The one-year agreements were signed with Licso Irrigation District located upstream of Lake McConaughy and four districts downstream of Lake McConaughy including Keith and Lincoln Counties Irrigation District, PaxtonHersey Water Company, Platte Valley Irrigation District and Suburban Irrigation District, collectively referred to as the Glendo Canals. These agreements provide the Glendo Canals the opportunity to accrue supplemental storage water from Lake McConaughy to be released after the Glendo Canals have exhausted all their natural flow and Glendo storage water sources. Lake McConaughys lower water levels have resulted in Central not offering supplemental storage water to these canals for the upcoming irrigation season, but the canals will be able to accrue supplemental storage water by limiting canal diversions during the early 2023 irrigation season. The accrual and release of the accrued supplemental storage water will not impact Centrals irrigation customers or water supply. Also at Mondays meeting: The board approved purchase of a 125VDC battery bank for $37,985. The battery bank supplies uninterrupted electrical service for the 24 hour operations center in Gothenburg. The board voted to approve the purchase of a river land tract near the Johnson No. 2 river return in the amount of $115,400. It was approved by the board to change the time and location of the April board meeting, On April 3, 2023, the board will hold their regular monthly business meeting at 9:00 am (MDT) at the Lake McConaughy Visitor Center in Ogallala, Neb. Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughys elevation was at 3229.3 feet on Monday (49.5% of capacity), which is up 2.1 feet since the February board meeting. Inflows are around 975 cubic feet per second (cfs) and releases are about 250 cfs. Snowpack in the North Platte basin is currently at 124% of median average and 104% of median average in the South Platte basin. Every spring Nebraskas central Platte River valley hosts one the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in North America: sandhill crane migration. More than 500,000 cranes will descend there to rest and refuel before continuing their journey north. One popular place to view these birds is Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, located southeast of Kearney. At dawn and dusk, visitors can walk the parks hike-bike trail to a bridge over the Platte, where birds gather to roost in the river. And during the day, the cranes take to the surrounding fields to find food. The visitor center at Fort Kearny State Historical Park adjacent to the SRA acts as an information center for crane viewers, offering tips on where to find the birds. Park superintendent Joe Blazek says this is perhaps the greatest advantage to viewing cranes at Fort Kearny: all the information thats available. We know where the cranes are, Blazek said. Well guide you and tell you where you can have the best chance of seeing the cranes. Its better than being on your own. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The admission fee is $4 for adults, $1 for children ages 3 to 12, and free admission for children ages 2 and under. Guests also can watch a 15-minute video presentation on the cranes and learn more about their migration journey. Another advantage to viewing cranes at Fort Kearny, Blazek said, is the range of viewing experiences available. Besides watching the cranes feeding during the day, visitors can see as many as 20,000 birds roosting in the river at night from the Hike-Bike Trail bridge. The bridge is one-third mile from the parking lot, and the best viewing times are a half hour before sunrise and sunset. The trail is flat and paved, Blazek said, and it isnt a strenuous walk. Blazek offered a few tips for those planning to view the cranes from the bridge: Dress appropriately. This time of year, we get all kinds of weather. One day itll be 70 degrees and the next day itll be a blizzard, Blazek said. I would pay attention to the weather and make sure youre ready for the elements. Bring binoculars. Observe crane viewing etiquette: Keep your voice low and avoid sudden movements; wear darker colors; no flash photography. Crane numbers typically reach their peak in the third week of March, though cranes can be viewed from early March to early April. Crane viewers have available to them 120 campsites at Fort Kearny SRA. A Nebraska state park entry permit is required at Fort Kearny SRA and SHP. Daily permits are good until noon the next day, and cost $6 for residents and $12 for nonresidents. You also can purchase an annual permit, which is $31 for residents and $61 for nonresidents. For more information about Fort Kearny SRA, visit OutdoorNebraska.org or call 308-865-5305. OMAHA Some Nebraska school districts did not receive bulletins warning that schools across the state could be subject to a string of phony shooting reports. But the apparent communication slipup, according to education officials, did not impede responses to a wave of hoax calls that involved at least 10 schools across Nebraska on Thursday morning, including Lincoln High School. The Nebraska State Patrol issued multiple bulletins regarding the trend of "swatting," or making a prank call to elicit a large emergency response. Such incidents have occurred across the country in the past month, including in Kansas, Minnesota and Colorado. Multiple Nebraska districts did not receive the bulletin. The bulletin was distributed via email earlier in the week to law enforcement agencies across the state and to the Nebraska Department of Education, said Cody Thomas, a spokesman for the State Patrol. The previous week, bulletins were sent directly to law enforcement agencies and numerous school districts that are "actively engaged in a growing partnership" with the State Patrol's Nebraska Information Analysis Center, Thomas said. The Department of Education did not distribute the bulletin to districts because officials felt comfortable with the State Patrol sending it directly, said David Jespersen, department spokesman. Jespersen said he heard some schools received the bulletin, but it was filtered into "junk" folders. And, he added, the State Patrol may not have as extensive a distribution list as the Nebraska Department of Education. But overall, Jespersen said emergency response teams and local law enforcement handled the situations well in affected districts. "The school districts that got the call, there were a lot of different reactions and responses to it and they all did great," he said. "Sometimes people think if an incident happens, everyone should follow this and it's just not reasonable. What's good for one district might not be good for another." Omaha Public Schools did not receive a bulletin, said Bridget Blevins, OPS spokeswoman. "We work closely with local and state agencies when there is a safety concern at one of our schools, but we are not aware of anyone in our district receiving a specific bulletin in advance of this week's swatting incidents," Blevins said in an email. The district follows a standard response protocol for all safety concerns, regardless of whether officials have advanced warning, Blevins said. Officials were grateful for the quick response from law enforcement partners at Omaha South High School on Thursday. Blevins said there haven't been any other swatting calls in the district in recent years. While the district does not currently have a formal partnership with NIAC, Blevins said conversations are ongoing on how district officials "can best connect with them on safety matters in the future." Lincoln Public Schools received the bulletin, but a spokeswoman was unclear on what agency distributed it to the district's security director. An LPS school was among those subjected to a hoax call Thursday, according to a statement from LPS. "Lincoln Police, working with our staff, were able to quickly determine the call was a hoax and part of a national trend aimed at disrupting the learning environment in our schools," the statement said. This wasn't the first time the district experienced a swatting call, said district spokeswoman Mindy Burbach. Another incident occurred last fall. But the bulletin issued by law enforcement allowed school officials to prepare for a potential incident and eventually manage things once the hoax call was made, Burbach said. Kearney Public Schools did not receive a bulletin, but officials did receive a call from the Kearney Police Department last week regarding the trend, said spokeswoman Tori Stofferson. It speaks highly, she said, of the positive relationship between local police and the school district. Officials at Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus received communication from NIAC, but it was filtered into a "junk" folder. Officials never saw notice of the "swatting trend." "It was troubling yesterday, reading that law enforcement and NDE had received information about this. I felt like we were not privy to this information," said Jeff Ohnoutka, school president. But Ohnoutka praised local police, who arrived inside the school building in less than one minute from the time the hoax call was placed. All districts previously were invited to join a partnership between NIAC, the State Patrol, the Nebraska Department of Education and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Public Policy Center. "A large number have signed on to the effort and NIAC will continue working to add schools to the school safety partnership," Thomas said in an email. After Thursday's incident, Thomas said the State Patrol has been in communication with numerous schools that are joining NIAC's partnership program, which includes providing threat assessments, safety presentations in schools and situational awareness bulletins. 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. Authorities have identified a driver killed in a head-on crash near Clinton in Rock County on Sunday morning. The Rock County Medical Examiners Office reported that Jorge J. Susunaga, 19, of Woodstock, Illinois, was killed in the crash that happened after he crossed the center line of Highway 67 near Clinton about 7:10 a.m. Sunday. Susunaga was pronounced dead at the scene and preliminary results of a forensic examination confirmed that he died from injuries sustained in the crash, the Medical Examiners Office said in a statement. The investigation determined that Susunaga was driving a 2001 Ford Explorer east on Highway 67 when he crossed the center line into the path of a westbound 2015 Ford Taurus driven by a 24-year-old male from Sharon. The Explorer caught fire and was fully engulfed when emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Rock County Sheriffs Office Sgt. David Rossmiller said. Photos: Remembering horrific van crash that killed 7 young people in 1999 The city of Madison is gearing up to sue carmakers Kia and Hyundai for creating a public nuisance by failing to equip their vehicles with anti-theft software, which it says led to a sharp uptick in the theft of the companies vehicles last year. The City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution authorizing the city to hire outside legal counsel to file a federal lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for what the city in a statement called their role in creating a public nuisance. Car thefts dropped by 5% in Madison last summer, compared to the prior year, but thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles increased by 270%, making up 45% of all stolen auto cases in July and August. Rates of Kia and Hyundai thefts are even higher in Milwaukee, where the two brands comprise 60% of all stolen autos. The two brands are especially susceptible to theft because of a manufacturing flaw in less-expensive models that allows vehicles to be stolen without a key. Viral TikTok challenges spearheaded by the Milwaukee-based Kia Boys show people how to start a vehicles engine with a USB cable and a screwdriver. Madison residents deserve better, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement. These corporations cut corners and put people at risk. In their search for profits, they pushed the costs of keeping people safe off to cities like Madison. Thats unacceptable. Madison police responded last summer by assigning burglary detectives to stolen auto cases and giving out 150 steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners. Kia and Hyundai last month started offering free software upgrades for some model owners, but not before major insurance companies Progressive and State Farm announced they would not issue new insurance policies for their vehicles. Three Milwaukee County residents have filed two class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers in the last six months. Cities such as Cincinnati also have filed class-action lawsuits to recover damages for their residents. Stolen autos can lead to other public safety concerns. In the statement, the city pointed to an incident in which a stolen Kia Soul was found on fire after having crashed into a tree on the citys Southeast Side after being stolen out of a parking garage the day before. This real-world example is one of many that have taxed city resources, while putting city staff, residents and infrastructure in danger because of the manufacturers failure to install industry standard anti-theft technology in their vehicles, Rhodes-Conway said. After three long years of missing out due to the pandemic, ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, finally kicked-off the eagerly awaited live-comeback today. "Thank you for such a magnificiant opening day of ITB Berlin 2023. We are looking forward to the next days!," said the organisers. "Together with the entire industry, I expect a spectacular comeback, bursting with energy, driven by this years slogan 'Open for Change. There is a lot of disruption, consolidation and challenges taking place right now," said Dirk Hoffmann, Managing Director, Messe Berlin, organiser of the event. "Altogether, we are looking forward to welcoming around 5,500 destinations, regions and companies. International participation in ITB Berlin is extremely high again with exhibitors from 161 countries," he said. The in-person event from March 7 to 9 will see domestic and international exhibitors present in large numbers. This years ITB Berlin is for the first time taking place for trade visitors only and is accompanied by the prestigious ITB Berlin Convention. Selected programme items will be streamed on the supporting online platform at ITBxplore. "Demand for travel is stronger than ever," said Julia Simpson, President & CEO, tweeting on the opening of ITB Berlin 2023. Georgia is the official host country of ITB Berlin and it hosted the festive opening gala at the CityCube Berlin in the presence of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Georgia is presenting a wealth of activities and attractions over the next three days, including todays conference on Adventurous Georgia. Saudi Arabia will be the largest exhibitor at the show and its co-exhibitors include NEOM, the giant smart city project in the desert. At the Media Monday event, Saudi Arabia presented the opportunities awaiting investors and tourists in the kingdom. Under the slogan Mastering Transformation this years ITB Berlin Convention is divided into different segments or tracks, featuring around 400 speakers and over 200 sessions, reflecting the most important current topics shaping the global tourism and travel industry. Leading speakers and experts will take to the conference stages to share their knowledge on hot topics, including Travel Technology, Marketing & Sales, Future Travel, Hospitality, Sustainability and Social Responsibility. On the Green Stage, the first session will be on Gender Equality: Tourism as a door opener for female empowerment and the role of gender equality in addressing the climate crisis. The eTravel Stage will kicking off with a discussion on Technology Trends impacting Travel Whats coming, whats shaping the industry? For students, young professionals, trainees, qualified tourism professionals or anyone switching careers, the ITB Career Center will help you find out about new job opportunities and provide comprehensive professional advice. The Home of Luxury by ITB at the Marshall Haus is welcoming luxury tourism providers and buyers from around the world and will create a unique environment featuring networking events and meetings in an exclusive atmosphere. The Best Exhibitor Award (BEA) is making its return at the trade show. Over the next three days, a team of students from various branches of the CBS International Business School, will be assessing all of the exhibitors stands. There is also the new virtual B2B platform, ITBxplore, and ITB App. These are virtual companions of the live event which offer exhibitors, trade visitors and media members a wide range of content. As in previous years, Arab countries from North Africa and the Middle East are strongly represented, with Egypt, Morocco, Qatar and Oman located in Hall 4.2, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and newcomer Saudi Arabia in Hall 3.2b. ATLANTA Election officials in Florida, Missouri and West Virginia said they are withdrawing from a bipartisan, multistate effort aimed at ensuring the accuracy of voter rolls that has found itself in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories fueled by Donald Trumps false claims about the 2020 presidential election. The system to thwart voter fraud known as the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, has become a target of suspicion among some Republicans after a series of online posts early last year questioning its funding and purpose. Louisiana withdrew last year and Alabama is in the process of doing so. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said Monday that he had been pushing the group to address concerns by him and others. It appears that ERIC will not make the necessary changes to address these concerns, therefore, it is time to move on, Ashcroft said in a statement. West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner said he did not expect the departure from the program to affect his states ability to maintain accurate voter rolls. Florida's secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shane Hamlin, the group's executive director, confirmed the three states had provided notice to withdraw. We will continue our work on behalf of our remaining member states in improving the accuracy of Americas voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens, Hamlin said in a statement. The program was started in 2012 by seven states and was bipartisan from the beginning, with four of the founding states led by Republicans. After the states officially depart, participation will be limited to 28 states and the District of Columbia. The departures have frustrated state election officials involved in the effort and have demonstrated how deeply election conspiracies have spread throughout the Republican Party. Election officials who pull out of ERIC are primarily harming their own states ability to keep their voter list accurate," Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a statement Monday to The Associated Press. "Its odd and disturbing to me that any official would choose validating misinformation over being part of a collaborative that has the sole and well-established purpose of improving the integrity of our elections. Not all Republican-led states have been reevaluating their participation in the program. In a recent survey by the AP, election offices in 23 states and the District of Columbia said they had no intention of leaving, including eight led or controlled by Republicans. Rates of women voter registrations are surgingparticularly where reproductive rights are threatened Where rates of women voter registrations are surging Americans across the country broadly support access to abortion Women have been registering to vote at increased rates in states where abortion access is most threatened Abortion and other issues have spurred enthusiasm from both parties ahead of midterms More young people are also registering in states where abortion is salient What new registrations mean when it comes to election day and beyond Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a pre-election interview with The New Yorker that, I am a Black woman, lets not forget. Certain folks frankly dont support us in leadership roles. Sad, but true. Yet that doesnt explain why she swept all 50 of the citys wards a mere four years ago to become the citys first Black lesbian mayor. What does explain her earlier victory was her showing up at the right time with the right campaign to address the issues of that time, particularly police accountability. This time was not like that. This time she won only 17% of the overall vote, too low in the nine-person field to make the April runoff. She lost to Paul Vallas, a former Chicago Public Schools CEO, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. She might as well have said, The crime rate went up. Just about everyone in Chicago or who knows someone from Chicago seems to have stories to tell about friends or relatives who have been shot, robbed, carjacked or otherwise victimized by the citys crime surge. Like other cities, Chicago had a crime surge after COVID-19 hit. Homicides jumped from 500 in 2019 to 776 in 2020, and peaked at 804 in 2021, according to Chicago Police Department statistics. Then homicides fell last year by nearly 14% to 695. When rioters in August 2020 looted stores and broke windows on Michigan Avenues Magnificent Mile and other prestigious downtown properties, it looked like the city was falling apart. Still, Lightfoot didnt seem to have much of a plan for dealing with the problem, outside of her stern disapproval. No, its not necessarily the mayors fault that such crises break out. But what really matters is how well he or she handles it and gets ahead of it. Lightfoot, for all of her earnest speeches about hope and reforms, never seemed to have much of a handle on the problems or much success at working with others to fix them. I was sadly reminded of the blizzard of 1979, which dumped more than 20 inches of snow on the city and led to Mayor Michael Bilandic unexpectedly being unseated by challenger Jane Byrne, who served one term before she lost her reelection bid to South Side U.S. Rep. Harold Washington. Even in Chicago, many noted including me the voters know when enough is enough. Then, in those days before Chicago turned to nonpartisan runoff elections, Washingtons Democratic bid against Republican nominee Bernard Epton set off one of the most racially contentious elections in Chicago history. Politics aint beanbag, Washington often observed, quoting an old saying that goes back to 19th-century Chicago novelist Finley Peter Dunne. Washington understood the times and worked to change them. Today, we see race, ethnicity and gender continue to be issues in Chicago, but fortunately the voters seem to have gotten a little better at focusing on issues that affect all colors of Chicagoans. Vallas is white, and Johnson is African American. But, in the often-quoted spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., I believe they should be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their platforms. Of course, that approach can be complicated by the language that we use. For example, Vallas is keeping his laser focus on crime, saying in speeches that its time to take our city back. Lightfoot compared that line to Vote for Epton before its too late as a racial dog whistle, echoing back to 1983. Well, not quite. Johnson, by contrast, has backed away from his early support of the defund the police movement to call instead for reversing the lack of investment in high crime areas so police dont have to behave as crisis interventionists, therapists and social workers on emergency calls. Vallas, backed by the Fraternal Order of Police, presented himself as the tough-on-crime candidate who also supports restoring a community policing model that builds strong relationships between police and the communities they serve. I have long supported community policing as well as alternative services to take some of the burden off police in emergency calls. As departing Mayor Lightfoot showed, coming up with new ideas is great, but putting them into action can be quite another matter. Chicago politics, like elsewhere, still aint beanbag. Nevertheless, lets hope it stays civil. The Idaho House Affairs Committee recently recommended passage of a bill that claims to ban sexually explicit public performances, a bill that was drafted to try to end public drag shows often associated with gay pride festivals. As is becoming increasingly predictable for bills authored by the Idaho Family Policy Council, a Christian nationalist organization that argues the country should be run by Old Testament law, the bill is drafted so that it bans a wide swath of activity that has nothing to do with the announced intention of banning explicit performances in public. It defines proscribed sexual conduct to include: Sexually provocative dances or gestures performed with accessories that exaggerate male or female primary or secondary sexual characteristics. If you understand what those terms mean, you begin to see the staggering scope of public performances that fall within the bills crosshairs. Primary sexual characteristics are reproductive organs, so that part makes some sense. Secondary sexual characteristics, however, refer to an incredibly broad range of physical features that tend to develop over the course of puberty. It includes pubic hair and womens breasts, for example, but it also includes male facial hair, wider hips in women, greater muscularity in men, a high voice in women, a low voice in men. So a bodybuilding show, for example, highlights secondary sexual characteristics. So does any dancing that involves shaking the hips. So does a beard contest. The only requirement would be that these include sexually provocative dances or gestures a term that is nowhere. This definition is so broad that it is hard to imagine a single concert where numerous potential violations would not occur each representing a potential $10,000 payday for an enterprising parent. Almost no episode of Americas Got Talent would be in the clear. As Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, pointed out, its highly unlikely that a Madonna concert she attended as a child would be safe. Lots of plays would be on shaky ground. The ban is so vague and broad it is highly unlikely it would survive the strict scrutiny thats required in First Amendment cases. Thats why its authors have used the proliferating bounty hunter lawsuit technique, which allows a law to effectively sidestep the Constitution. This technique was first used by Texas to effectively ban abortion before the reversal of Roe v. Wade. The idea behind it is that nobody can challenge the constitutionality of the law until theyve already gone through court and lost a lawsuit, so it is able to exert coercive influence for a long time before it faces constitutional scrutiny. And the coercive effect would be felt immediately. It would allow a parent to sue not only performers but promoters, so anyone who organized a concert or a play in Idaho would be facing the constant risk of an onslaught of lawsuits that could bankrupt them. Its clear that this isnt an accident. Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, made a motion to remove this bit of language, recommending the rest of the bill for passage. The Republican majority rejected that motion, insisting on keeping the language about secondary sexual characteristics. Thats why lawmakers should reject the bill. It is poorly drafted and so broad that it would have an enormous chilling effect on free expression. But shouldnt we do something to prevent sexually explicit performances in front of children? Of course. A law in place since the 1970s does just that. Idaho Code 18-4105 bans uncovered genitalia or displays of sexual acts in public. These are clear lines for artists to follow so that they can predictably stay on the right side of the law, unlike the intentionally vague ones drawn up in the drag ban bill. And as for non-explicit drag shows, theres a solution for that, too. Parents can be responsible for deciding what kinds of shows their children should see. Dont want your kid to see performers in drag? Dont take them to a drag show. Problem solved.(tncms-asset)7e80bada-5fb1-11ea-8316-00163ec2aa77[1](/tncms-asset) TWIN FALLS This years Social Science and Humanities Symposium hosted by the College of Southern Idaho will serve as a bridge between the agriculture sector and academia. Scheduled for Thursday and Friday at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science, and open to the public, the event, with its theme of Food: Farming, Famine, and the Future, will feature a lineup of speakers who will explore ways in which food production and distribution have shaped history and the current state of the world. Previous symposiums have focused on topics such as 9/11, the anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the Vietnam War, but with Idahos economy closely tied to agriculture, this years subject hits closer to home. None of those topics are quite as near to the heart of the community, said Perri Gardner, associate professor of political science at CSI. And what takes place at the symposium isnt going to be a class on raising crops. There are agriculture majors on this campus, Gardner said, but this is less on the scientific or industry view as it is the academic perspective from social science and humanities. The topic of food will be looked at from many different angles. The event will kick off with Dr. Mark Fiege, who wrote Irrigated Eden 22 years ago, will discuss how irrigation has changed Idahos landscape. Hell be reflecting on that and giving us some updates, Gardner said, noting that southern Idaho is a fertile place as long as we have water. Another focus of the symposium is food insecurity. That is super relevant because we are facing all sorts of food insecurity issues in the world, such as Ukraine and that area of the world right now, Gardner said. Nisha Bellenger, assistant professor of political science at Boise State University, will speak about the link between domestic terrorism and food security. In addition, a group of panelists who will participate near the conclusion of the event will address local food insecurity issues, and could be a call for action for those wanting to make a positive change. Craig Quarterman of Congressman Mike Simpsons office will discuss ag policy, including the Farm Bill, up for reauthorization this year. The Farm Bill is a tremendously impactful piece of legislation by and large, not just for ag policy but including food stamp benefits, Gardner said. And those at the symposium will hear from a pair of 17-year-old girls who host a podcast called Millennial Ag. ...We will hear the young persons perspective on the agricultural economy, Gardner said. Other featured speakers include Dr. Patrick Hatzenbuehler, assistant professor of economics and rural sociology at the University of Idaho, and Lloyd B. Knight, deputy director from the Idaho Department of Agriculture. This is an excellent opportunity to engage with other people who want to have insightful, honest, rational dialogue about important issues that face us in Idaho, and in the country and the world, Gardner said. Those in attendance will include members of the community, CSI faculty and staff, CSI students, and people involved in K-12 programs. It will be an interesting mix of folks, Gardner said. You will be hard-pressed to find a room with that diversity of background and interests. The registration fee is $75 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Academic credit is available. Register at csi.edu/sshs. Learn more about the symposium's agenda here. TWIN FALLS Harrison Elementary Schools principal is on administrative leave, the school districts spokesperson says. Principal Melissa Ardito was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 7, Twin Falls School Districts Eva Craner said Monday, responding to a public records request by the Times-News. Vice Principal Amy Kenyon is serving as lead administrator, Craner said. Ardito, who has been the principal of Harrison Elementary for nearly a decade, is still an employee of the Twin Falls School District, Craner said. Prior to becoming principal, Ardito spent five years as vice principal at several schools in the district. The school district declined to discuss its actions due to the confidentiality of personnel issues. SALT LAKE CITY Lindsey Lundholm looked out over hundreds of people at the Utah State Capitol last year and felt a deep sense of healing. Abuse survivors, religious leaders and major party politicians were all gathered to rally for an end to a legal loophole that exempts religious clergy from being required to report child sexual abuse once it comes to their attention. Lundholm, one of the rallys organizers, recalled telling the crowd how, growing up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho, she told her bishop about her painful abuse only to see it go unreported. Unearthing the trauma wasnt easy, but back in August she hoped reforms could be forthcoming so others would not face what she did. There was really a lot of momentum, said Lundholm, now a teacher in northern Utah. Everyone we were talking to was like, This is a no brainer. This is something that needs to be changed. It hasnt. Proposals to reform laws that exempt clergy from child sex abuse reporting requirements went nowhere in Utahs statehouse this year, failing to receive even a hearing as lawmakers prepare to adjourn for the year. Efforts were stymied by a coalition of powerful religious groups, continuing a yearslong pattern in which Catholics, Latter-day Saints and Jehovahs Witnesses have defended the exemptions as survivors like Lundholm fight for reform. In Utah, where the majority of lawmakers are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, state law requires most professionals therapists, doctors and teachers among them to report abuse, yet clergy are exempt from alerting authorities about abuse they learn of through confessions. Republicans and Democrats announced plans last year to reform laws that exempt religious clergy from reporting child sexual abuse cases revealed in conversations with parishioners. Behind-the-scenes conversations between legislative leaders in Utah and what Senate President Stuart Adams said was a broad base of religious groups helped thwart four separate proposals to add clergy to the list of professionals required to report child sexual abuse. I think they have First Amendment rights and religious protections, Adams, a Latter-day Saint himself, said, noting fears among religious leaders that clergy could be punished for breaking vows of confidentiality. Each proposal was introduced or announced after an Associated Press investigation found that the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sexual abuse reporting hotline can be misused by its leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harms way. In lawsuits detailed in the investigation, attorneys from the faith widely known as the Mormon church have argued clergy-penitent privilege allows them to refuse to answer questions and turn over documents about alleged sexual abuse. Church officials declined to comment about the stalled legislative efforts. The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City did not respond to requests for comment but campaigned against them, saying in January that priests and clergy were different from other professionals mandated to report sexual abuse. Legislation that would require a priest to (report sexual abuse) violates our right to practice our religion, Bishop Oscar Solis, of the Salt Lake City Diocese, wrote in a Jan. 25 letter to parishioners. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox last month said he had no problem with the bills moving forward and receiving consideration in the statehouse. I think its an important conversation to have. Weve encouraged the Legislature to look at this and make sure that our model is the right model, he told reporters. Marci Hamilton, chief executive of the abuse prevention nonprofit Child USA, said churches have maintained the same playbook for decades in opposing more disclosure. Routinely it involves a two-pronged approach, defending clergy-penitent privilege in statehouses and using it to avoid damaging disclosures in court cases, said Hamilton, also a University of Pennsylvania law professor. They have not veered from it. Both institutions are hoping that time will simply let everybody start trusting them again, Hamilton said, referring to Catholics and Latter-day Saints. But, she added, by preventing the public and especially the sincere believers from getting the full story you dont create the accountability that these organizations should be held to and the secrets continue. Laws in 33 states exempt clergy regardless of religion from laws requiring people report child sexual abuse allegations to authorities. Religious leaders have systematically fought efforts to expand the list of states. They currently oppose efforts from Vermont to Washington. Kansas lawmakers introduced multiple proposals on penalties for not reporting suspected child sexual abuse, including one in the state Senate that would have added clergy to a list of mandatory reporters. It faced especially fierce public rebukes from Catholic leaders because it didnt exempt confessions. No proposal received even a hearing before an initial deadline this year. In the wake of the APs investigation last year, Republican state Rep. Phil Lyman and Democratic Rep. Angela Romero announced plans to reform Utahs clergy-penitent privilege loophole. Lyman, who served six years as a Latter-day Saints bishop, said at the time lawmakers should want to reexamine the loophole regardless of religious or political affiliation. People should be able to go and confess their sins to their bishop without fear of being prosecuted up until when they are confessing something that has affected someones else life significantly, he told the AP in August. Lyman ultimately released a proposal that broadly affirmed clergys exemption from mandatory reporting. It didnt advance or receive a hearing. Portraits of resilience: Survivors of clergy abuse tell their stories Patrick Shepard Dorothy Small Salvador Bolivar The Charbonneau sisters Jacob Olivas Mark Belenchia John Vai Power in Pearls tea The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society celebrates Womens History Month with its Power in Pearls: An Afternoon Tea at One Starling from 3-5 p.m. Sunday at One Starling, 1 Starling Ave. The event will feature tea, sherry, mimosas, music and traditional English refreshments by British native and chef Janet Ashby. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased in advance by calling 276-403-5361 or visiting the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum, 1 East Main St., Martinsville, from 1-4 p.m. today through Friday. Attendance is limited to 50. All proceeds will benefit the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society. The purpose of Womens Health Month is to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Supreme Court Justice the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated, As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and well all be better off for it. John Phillips, historical society president, stated in a press release, We encourage you to celebrate Womens History Month to honor women who have devoted their lives to bettering our community and beyond. Using Coco Chanels advice, A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls, the afternoon tea is the perfect occasion to acknowledge the females ability to balance influence and grace. Located at the corner of Starling Avenue and Church Street, One Starling is a four-square house originally built in 1925 by Nicholas and May Schottland. Nicholas and his brother, Michael, founded Virginia Mirror Company. It is now a bed & breakfast and event space owned and operated by Historical Society Life Members Cindy and Steve Edgerton. For a virtual tour, visit https://onestarlingbnbevents.business.site/. A doctor who previously cared for patients in McDowell County is coming back as the newest physician at Old Fort Family Medicine. Dr. Jesse Pace will start seeing patients at Old Fort Family Medicine in June. Pace previously worked as a physician in McDowell County with Mission Health. He served McDowell patients for six years before he left Mission amid the transition to HCA Healthcare. We have worked hard to secure his return to McDowell County, said Dr. Brian Ware, the founder of Old Fort Family Medicine, to The McDowell News. He will be starting with us this summer. His return will generate a lot of interest in the community. A native of western North Carolina, Pace earned his bachelors degree in biology with a minor in Bible studies at Lee University in Tennessee. After college, he received his doctorate in osteopathic medicine in 2012 from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Phoenix, Ariz. From there, he completed his family medicine residency at MAHEC in Asheville. He is board-certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment, according to the practices website. Dr. Pace spent six years after residency practicing in McDowell County and has been an integral part of helping this area build a strong network of primary care providers, reads the website. He is excited to join the outstanding team at Old Fort Family Medicine and carry on providing excellent care to the surrounding community. Ware told The McDowell News he is looking forward to working alongside Pace again as they care for the people of McDowell. Old Fort Family Medicine is at 32 E. Main St. in Old Fort. Dr. Pace has been passionate about the health and wellness of the McDowell community for many years, Ware said. He was very disappointed that his transition out of the Mission/HCA health system took him away from his patients in Marion. I remained connected with Dr. Pace during his time in Asheville and took the first opportunity I could to invite him back to McDowell County. I think his return to the area is a major win for the community, for his Marion patients, and also for Dr. Pace. Dr. Pace and I practiced together when I first started with Mission, at the Glenwood practice. Since that time, our families have become good friends and we are excited to reunite as colleagues at Old Fort Family Medicine. Pace will see patients of all ages and has extensive experience in geriatrics treating adults older than 55. He is well-trained in complex chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and mental health. The practices website states he enjoys helping people keep up with their recommended health maintenance and vaccinations as well as collaborating with patients to diagnose and treat a broad spectrum of health concerns to achieve their health goals. When not seeing patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters in the outdoors hiking, camping and fishing, according to the website. West Marion Community Forum Inc. will host the second annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival, happening Thursday, June 15, through Sunday, June 18. This is a live event featuring various activities, speakers and performances. The Juneteenth Freedom Festival will celebrate African American culture, heritage, and, most importantly, abolishment of slavery. It is a place for all races, nationalities and religions to join hands and truthfully acknowledge a period in history that shaped and continues to influence our society today, according to a news release. Last years festival was a huge success and we anticipate more participation from residents to our second annual Freedom Festival, said Paula Swepson, executive director of West Marion Community Forum, also known as West Marion Inc. There will be activities for all, whether you like to visit Lake James or like going to festivals for the arts and crafts or good food. All are welcome and we encourage any and everyone to join us and celebrate our culture and freedom. The tentative schedule is as follows: Thursday, June 15 Miss Juneteenth Pageant Friday, June 16 Fun Day at Lake James Saturday, June 17 Festival at West Marion Community Park Sunday, June 18 Worship Service at West Marion Community Park Organizers are in need of vendors, volunteers and sponsors for the festival at West Marion Community Park on Saturday, June 17. If you think this is something in which you are interested in participating, reach out to by email to westmarioncommunityforum@gmail.com or call 828-442-7366. Organizers are offering the Juneteenth Freedom Festival free of charge to the community. However, staging an event of this magnitude has expenses that we cannot avoid. As a result, local sponsorship is vital to the events success. We would greatly appreciate it if you joined us to sponsor this momentous event in our community, reads a statement from West Marion Inc. There are five sponsorship levels for you to choose from: Freedom ($1,000 and up; eight available): Six event T-shirts, social media acknowledgement, hyperlink on West Marion website, logo on event banner, full-page ad in event guide. Jubilee ($500-$999; eight available): Four event T-shirts, social media acknowledgement, hyperlink on West Marion website, logo on event banner, -page ad in event guide. Emancipation ($250-$499; 15 available): Four event T-shirts, social media acknowledgement, logo on West Marion website, logo on event banner, -page ad in event guide. Foundation ($100-$249; 15 available): Two event T-shirts, social media acknowledgement, logo on West Marion website, business card-size ad or name in event guide. Village ($25 to $99): One event T-shirt, social media acknowledgement, name in event guide. West Marion Community Forum Inc. is a nonprofit organization under the IRS code 501(3) of North Carolina statutes. All donations go directly to the Juneteenth Freedom Festival general fund to make this event a success. Sponsorship donations are tax-deductible, and we will gladly provide a letter attesting to your support, according to the news release. Make checks payable to: West Marion Community Forum Inc., 220 W. Grayson St., Marion, NC 28752. For more information, email westmarioncommunityforum@gmail.com or call 828-442-7366. For more information on the organization, visit the website for West Marion Community Forum at www.westmarion.org. A Tuesday morning wreck on East Court Street in Marion resulted in minor injuries for one person and temporarily knocked out power for 343 customers. Shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, a small sport utility vehicle hit a power pole on East Court Street near the intersection with Highland Drive. The impact broke the pole in half. When emergency officials arrived on the scene, they found the power lines down and arcing, said Marion Fire Chief Ray McDaniel. The Marion Fire Department and other emergency officials contacted Duke Energy, Spectrum cable and Frontier telephone service about the collision. All of those utilities had lines on that pole, McDaniel said. McDowell EMS, McDowell Rescue Squad, Marion Fire Department, and Marion Police Department responded to the incident. The wreck resulted in 343 people in that part of Marion being without electricity. It also closed much of East Court Street to traffic. The street, from McDowell Avenue to Gilkey Street, was shut down Tuesday morning. As of noon Tuesday, the power was restored to all customers. As of 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, at least one lane was still closed because Duke Energy is still on the scene working to replace the pole, said Marion police and fire officials. One person in the small SUV suffered minor injuries. The driver was Cheri Reeves, 63, of Marion who was traveling west toward Marion when she ran off the road to the right, striking the Duke Energy power pole. She was transported to Mission Hospital McDowell with minor injuries, according to Police Lt. Jamie Harklerode. Additional information was not available as of early Tuesday afternoon. One of the defeated candidates in Nigerias presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, demonstrated on Monday with hundreds of his supporters in the capital Abuja in front of the headquarters of the Electoral Commission (Inec), which they accuse of manipulating the results. Bola Tinubu, the ruling partys candidate, was declared the new president-elect of Africas most populous country by the Inec on Wednesday, after an electoral process whose transparency has been criticized by many observers. The two main unsuccessful presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition party (the PDP, which came second) and outsider Peter Obi of the LP, which came third, disputed the results, denouncing massive fraud. Hundreds of PDP activists, dressed in black, marched to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission on Monday midday, waving placards that read No to election rigging, Inec, publish the real results and Save our democracy. The commission directly aided and abetted the monumental rigging and manipulation of the election results in favor of the ruling party, said PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu at the rally. While the Inec has acknowledged flaws in the electoral process, it rejects accusations of fraud. According to the opposition, system failures during the downloading of results allowed the manipulation of ballots and disparities in the results of manual counting in polling stations. International observers, including those from the European Union, noted major logistical problems, disenfranchised voters and a lack of transparency. Bola Tinubu, the former governor of the economic capital Lagos, will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, 80, who is due to step down in May with a disastrous record marked by exploding poverty and insecurity. Concerns are rising in Africa over the role Iran is playing as a major destabilizing player in the region through the support of terrorist proxies, notes the Military Africa magazine in an analysis on Irans approach to foreign intervention to identify proxy wars and then offer support to the non-state actors requiring weapons. Having supported Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Fatimiyoun in Afghanistan, its well known that Iran is playing a significant role in West Africa, the magazine states, adding that Iran is also using both its soft power through education and marriage to build up its presence in North Africa. At the same time, it is providing weapons, training, and other types of support with the engagement of a range of other countries to militias in the region. Iran is playing an active role in the Sahel across North Africa with various groups while Morocco, one of the U.S.s most long-standing allies in the region raised concerns as early as 2006 that the region was becoming a breeding ground and exporter of a new generation of terrorists. In Africa, there is rising concern that the support and materiel being provided to individuals by Iran and other malign actors in North Africa would result in increased attacks and instability. Attacks are taking place against local populations and Western forces in the region with French and U.S. special forces having already experienced casualties. The provision of drones to Polisario by Iran and Algeria, and their likely spread to other groups is a major escalation in their offensive capabilities, the magazine warns, adding that Morocco, which has experienced devastating terrorist attacks in the past, because of its pro-Western role as a firewall against Islamic extremism, is once more on the front lines. Iranian drones which have made their way to North Africa through Algeria are posing a threat to the stability of the region, at a time Morocco has been calling the international communitys attention to this threat and warning against the acquisition of drones by terrorist and separatist groups. At the end of 2022, Moroccan Senior Officials highlighted Iran and Algerias new alliance along with statements made by Iranian officials about the sale of drones to Algeria as part of a significant arms deal. Senior officials from the Kingdom have also highlighted statements made by Polisario Front about the receipt of drones and other weapons from Algeria, along with training and the development of infrastructure to operate them, reports the Egyptian Military Africa magazine. Late last year, the separatist Polisario Front threatened to use military drones against Moroccos Royal Armed Forces stationed along the Western Sahara defence wall. The announcement came as the Polisarios leader Brahim Ghali was preparing to launch a military movement from Tindouf for the fronts war of attrition against Morocco, the magazine recalls. Omar Mansour, the Polisarios envoy to Mauritanias President revealed the news at a press conference in Nouakchott at the time. The Sahrawi army will soon use armed drones in the war of attrition in Western Sahara, Mansour threatened. The magazine warned that Iranian drones on Moroccos borders pose a serious concern for the country, as unmanned aerial vehicles can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and even military operations. The drones are capable of surveying vast areas of Moroccan territory, allowing the Iranian government to gain insight into the Kingdoms activity and movements. Furthermore, the drones could be used to provide intelligence on the Moroccan military on the Polisarios positions, making them vulnerable to airstrikes and other forms of aggression. For the publication, as the Iranian drones become increasingly prevalent in the region, Morocco is likely to face a heightened risk of attack, making this an urgent matter that must be addressed. Accordingly, the Moroccan Armed Forces enforced a land and air exclusion zone east of the defensive wall and started operating a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Turkish-designed Bayraktar TB2 drones. Less than twenty-four hours after the Polisario threatened to use unmanned aircraft against Morocco, Moroccos Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita warned against the acquisition of armed drones by terrorist and separatist groups. Iran, after undermining the stability of Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, is in the process of destabilizing our region, declared Omar Hilal, Moroccos ambassador to the United Nations. As is being seen in Ukraine, armed drones provide the ability to attack targets from a distance not too long ago only an option for countries with air forces or ballistic missiles. Having weaponized drones on the border of Morocco controlled by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front is the equivalent of Russian missiles in Cuba. In the same way that this had major geopolitical consequences, independent observers and Moroccan officials are raising concerns that this very real threat is being lost in the fog of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the focus on China spy balloons, and the Turkey-Syria earthquake. Irans growing military-industrial complex is producing and shipping drones, and weapons including missiles and cluster bombs, to stoke conflicts and instability around the world. While the world focused on Ukraine, its weapon sales and ability to work around sanctions to generate revenue at home should be a major cause for concern for the West. The Algeria and Iran axis as it relates to Morocco and Polisario needs far more attention from the U.S. and others who tend to look at this through the lens of a dispute between neighbours, rather than as is increasingly the case Polisario as a proxy for Iran and Algeria, building up capabilities to attack a U.S. ally. Similarly, Russias invasion of Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to reform the Soviet Bloc, Irans engagement with Algeria needs to be seen as part of its objective of an arc of influence stretching from the Middle East through North Africa and into the West Africa. Morocco is a key buffer between these regions and of critical importance. In this broader context, theres a real danger that, just as in the past, as Morocco sounds the alarm about drones on its borders that the warnings will not be heard, and the Iran-Algeria axis will grow stronger and more dangerous for the region. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A 44-year-old man who presented with chest pain and dyspnea. (A) Chest X-ray shows very subtle nodular opacities, primarily in lower lobes, representative of pneumonia and a discrete silhouette sign of the right cardiac border (arrow). The AI system interpreted this chest X-ray as normal. It was also interpreted as normal in the clinical radiology report. (B) CT scan shows the lower lobe airspace opacities with vague tree-in-bud morphology (box) and an area of consolidation (arrow). Pulmonary angiography was performed 5 hours after X-ray. This was the sole false-negative critical finding by the AI tool. Credit: Radiological Society of North America An artificial intelligence (AI) tool can accurately identify normal and abnormal chest X-rays in a clinical setting, according to a study published in Radiology. Chest X-rays are used to diagnose a wide variety of conditions to do with the heart and lungs. An abnormal chest X-ray can be an indication of a range of conditions, including cancer and chronic lung diseases. An AI tool that can accurately differentiate between normal and abnormal chest X-rays would greatly alleviate the heavy workload experienced by radiologists globally. "There is an exponentially growing demand for medical imaging, especially cross-sectional such as CT and MRI," said study co-author Louis Lind Plesner, M.D., from the Department of Radiology at the Herlev and Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. "Meanwhile, there is a global shortage of trained radiologists. Artificial intelligence has shown great promise but should always be thoroughly tested before any implementation." For this retrospective, multi-center study, Dr. Plesner and colleagues wanted to determine the reliability of using an AI tool that can identify normal and abnormal chest X-rays. Researchers used a commercially available AI tool to analyze the chest X-rays of 1,529 patients from four hospitals in the capital region of Denmark. Chest X-rays were included from emergency department patients, in-hospital patients and outpatients. The X-rays were classified by the AI tool as either "high-confidence normal" or "not high-confidence normal" as in normal and abnormal, respectively. Four examples (out of a total of nine) of X-rays classified as abnormal, unremarkable by the reference standard (provided independently by two board-certified thoracic radiologists, with a third radiologist in cases of disagreement) but as normal by the AI tool. All X-rays show very subtle and unremarkable findings; these X-rays were all classified as normal by the clinical radiologic report as well. (A) X-ray in a 58-year-old woman with very discrete linear atelectasis in the lingula segment of the left upper lobe (arrow). (B) X-ray in a 61-year-old woman shows presence of a cervical rib on the right side (arrow). (C, D) Images in a 48-year-old woman (C) and 64-year-old woman (D) show very subtle degeneration in the spine with osteophytes in lower thoracic segments (arrow). Credit: Radiological Society of North America Two board-certified thoracic (chest) radiologists were used as the reference standard. A third radiologist was used in cases of disagreements, and all three physicians were blinded to the AI results. Of the 429 chest X-rays that were classified as normal, 120, or 28%, were also classified by the AI tool as normal. These X-rays, or 7.8 % of all the X-rays, could be potentially safely automated by an AI tool. The AI tool identified abnormal chest X-rays with a 99.1% of sensitivity. "The most surprising finding was just how sensitive this AI tool was for all kinds of chest disease," Dr. Plesner said. "In fact, we could not find a single chest X-ray in our database where the algorithm made a major mistake. Furthermore, the AI tool had a sensitivity overall better than the clinical board-certified radiologists." According to the researchers, further studies could be directed toward larger prospective implementation of the AI tool where the autonomously reported chest X-rays are still reviewed by radiologists. The AI tool performed especially well at identifying normal X-rays of the outpatient group at a rate of 11.6%. This suggests that the AI model would perform especially well in outpatient settings with a high prevalence of normal chest X-rays. "Chest X-rays are one of the most common imaging examination performed worldwide," Dr. Plesner said. "Even a small percentage of automatization can lead to saved time for radiologists, which they can prioritize on more complex matters." More information: Louis L. Plesner et al, Autonomous Chest Radiograph Reporting Using AI: Estimation of Clinical Impact, Radiology (2023). DOI: 10.1148/radiol.222268 Journal information: Radiology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Freeze-dried roselle flowers were used to extract the antioxidant compounds and organic acids. Credit: RMIT University Antioxidants in the roselle plant have anti-obesity properties that could help in food alternatives to current weight management medications, according to new research. The RMIT study, led by Ph.D. candidate Manisha Singh, investigated how antioxidant compounds (phenolic extracts) and organic acid (hydroxycitric acid) found in the Hibiscus Sabdariffa could inhibit the formation of fat cells. When the body has an excess of fat intake, fat can be deposited in the cell, which turns them into fat cells called adipocytes. Adipocytes are vital for regulating the body's energy and sugar levels. However, when energy intake exceeds expenditure, it can cause the fat cells to grow in both size and number, contributing to obesity. Human stem cells were separately treated with phenolic extracts and hydroxycitric acid before they were turned into fat cells. While cells treated with hydroxycitric acid showed no change in the fat content of the adipocytes, cells treated with phenolic extracts had 95% less fat as compared to control cells. Singh's research is the first of its kind to use human fat cells to test the impacts of phenolic extracts and hydroxycitric acid from roselle. Singh's Ph.D. supervisor Professor Benu Adhikari, from RMIT's Food Research and Innovation Center, said the results of the study could impact how we approach obesity management. Current methods of obesity management focus on lifestyle changes and medication. While medication is effective, they can also have negative side effects such as high blood pressure or impact the kidney and liver. "The phenolic extracts from the roselle could help create a health food product that is effective in interfering with the formation of fat cells, but also bypass the bad side effects of some medications," Adhikari said. Encapsulating the phenolic extracts of the roselle will help extend its shelf life and control how it gets absorbed in our bodies. Credit: RMIT University A natural enzyme blocker Senior Lecturer Dr. Thilini Thrimawithana, from the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, said there is a growing interest in researching how antioxidant-rich compounds, called polyphenols, could one day help manage diseases like obesity to avoid side effects of medications such as Orlistat and Liraglutide. Polyphenols are found in food sources such as vegetables and fruits. When consumed, antioxidants remove the oxidation that forms in our bodies, which can help slow down aging and prevent diseases. Singh's research also found polyphenols in the roselle had similar digestive enzyme-inhibiting properties as some obesity management medications. The polyphenols inhibit the digestive enzyme called lipase. This enzyme helps break down fats into small fractions so they are absorbed by the body through the intestine. The excess fats are turned into fat cells. By inhibiting the lipase enzyme, the fat cannot be absorbed so it is passed through the colon as waste. "Because these polyphenolic compounds are plant-derived and can be consumed, there should be fewer or no side effects," Singh said. Next steps Adhikari, a leading food researcher whose interest began as a farmer back in Nepal, predicts the roselle will play a bigger role in Australia's health food industry. "Australia has the perfect climate for farming the roselle. The plant is hardy, disease resistant and it doesn't need a lot of space or water to grow," he said. The team plans to encapsulate the phenolic extracts for use in health food products. They say the extracts could be turned into little beads and used to make a refreshing drink. "Phenolic extracts oxidize easily, so not only does encapsulation extend its shelf life, but it lets us control how they are released and absorbed by the body," Adhikari said. "If we don't encapsulate the extract, it could break down in the stomach before we can reap its benefits." The study is published in the International Journal of Food Science & Technology. More information: Manisha Singh et al, Impact of phenolic extracts and potassium hydroxycitrate of Hibiscus sabdariffa on adipogenesis: a cellular study, International Journal of Food Science & Technology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.16269 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Bipolar disorder numbers are rising in Ghana. Credit: Shutterstock Attitudes to mental health conditions are often influenced by matters of awareness and belief systems. Bipolar disorder is one of the conditions that's frequently misunderstood and stigmatized. This is the case in Ghana, where bipolar is generally referred to as atenkabrane nsesae yareea condition characterized by extreme changes in mood. A recent study estimated that less than 1% of respondents in the Volta Region of Ghana for example knew the signs and symptoms of bipolar. Some people believe it "runs in the family" or that it is contagious. Because of these beliefs, when people with bipolar disorder are discharged from hospital, they are not always welcome among their family members. This leads to overcrowding in the psychiatric hospitals. Even in healthcare centers, people with bipolar are sometimes treated insensitively. Tackling stigma requires challenging belief systems and norms by providing knowledge and creating awareness. As mental health specialists, that is what we hope to do here. Bipolar disorder facts Bipolar disorder is one of the commonest mood conditions, along with depression and anxiety. Statistics from the World Health Organization suggest that in Ghana there are about 157,543 people with bipolar: 83,354 are females and 74,189 are males. Among them, 46,054 (29%) are young adults (20-29) and 3,257 (2%) are over 70 years of age. This condition is more prevalent in young adults than older people because of vulnerability and developmental changes. Bipolar is characterized by both manic episodes, or hypomania, such as impulsive behavior, and depressive episodes, such as sadness which disrupts the individual's normal functioning. People with this condition feel normal in between these moods but may have difficulty with concentration and communication. There are various types of bipolar conditions. To make a diagnosis, the affected person must meet the criteria stated in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V or the WHO's International Classification of Disease 11. Trained mental health professionals can make a diagnosis of bipolar condition. It has been reported that the presence of comorbidities such as substance abuse disorder creates a diagnostic challenge. The symptoms may be similar. The exact cause of bipolar condition is not known. Multiple factors may be at play: genetic or familial transmission, imbalance of brain chemicals or environmental factors like stress and trauma. Bipolar condition can be well managed with appropriate treatment. It requires lifelong treatment, and it's important to adhere to it to prevent relapse. The condition is managed by a group of anti-psychotic medications called mood stabilizers and in severe cases through electro-convulsive therapy. Treatment is managed by psychiatrists, mental health nurses and clinical psychologists. Effective treatment combines pharmacotherapy such as lamotrigine and lithium carbonate and psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy can be delivered in a group or individual format to provide skills to manage psychosocial, vocational, interpersonal and cognitive challenges. Bipolar treatment in Ghana Unfortunately, less than 2% of people with bipolar disorder get treated in Ghana. Services are typically provided at Ghana's three main tertiary psychiatric hospitals in Pantang, Accra and Ankaful. Regional hospitals and primary care facilities also provide treatment for the condition. Severe cases are referred to the tertiary psychiatric hospitals. Beyond these care pathways, Ghanaians sometimes use complementary and alternative therapies, especially spiritual interventions. This may be influenced by the family caregivers' understanding of the condition. Spiritual interventions like prayer camps are sometimes provided under poor hygienic conditions. And there is an increase in relapse because the patients aren't given the mood stabilizers and psychotherapy they need. More education and awareness creation is needed at the community level in Ghana to tackle stigma and encourage the use of the correct medication and psychotherapy. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The old "get out of the water" fear once was stoked by a fictional shark tale set off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Florida could have an updated version that is even more fraught with danger. "Get out of your shower and bath." Or, at least, don't let tap water get sucked up your nose. The idea revolves around a death in Southwest Florida in February from a "brain-eating amoeba" known as Naegleria fowleri. The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed that a person was infected with Naegleria fowleri, "possibly due to sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water." The local NBC affiliate reported that the person used a neti pot filled with tap water as a sinus rinse. A neti pot is a container designed to rinse debris or mucus from the nasal cavity, according to Mayo Clinic. People use neti pots to treat symptoms of nasal allergies, sinus problems or colds. The Mayo Clinic cautions that "it's important to use bottled water that has been distilled or sterilized. Tap water is acceptable if it's been passed through a filter with a pore size of 1 micron or smaller or if it's been boiled for several minutes and then left to cool until it's lukewarm." Florida's health department has not released details on the person who died or identified the use of a neti pot, but acknowledged how administering the rinse could have resulted in this death. You cannot contract the infection by drinking tap water, according to the health department. When you swallow water, it goes down your windpipe and into your stomach and organisms are broken down through the body's digestive process. Water contaminated with the amoeba has to enter the body through the nose to do damage. "Because that is the pathway for Naegleria to work its way into the cerebral spinal fluid in the brain, what ends up happening is the infection overwhelms the body, and ... unfortunately, it's highly dangerous and fatal," Dr. Joe Pepe, an administrator at the Charlotte County Health Department, told NBC2. The department warned of the potential dangers of Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic single-celled living amoeba. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, instances like this happen when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose. "This typically happens when people go swimming, diving, or when they put their heads under fresh water, like in lakes and rivers," according to the CDC. "The amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain, where it destroys the brain tissue and causes a devastating infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis." At that point, the infection is almost always fatal, the CDC says. Naegleria fowleri is not found in salt water, like the ocean, the CDC says. Also, you can't get a Naegleria fowleri infection from a properly cleaned, maintained, and disinfected swimming pool. Chemicals like chlorine kill the amoeba. In very rare instances, Naegleria fowleri has been found in swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks, or other recreational venues that are poorly maintained or don't have enough chlorine in them. Portable backyard pools usually are filled with untreated water from a hose. Naegleria fowleri generally fares better in warm, fresh water sources that are 80 degrees or more, which is why lakes and rivers in warm climes like Florida can be potential sources. Infections from Naegleria fowleri are rare, according to the CDC. There have been 31 infections reported in the United States between 2012 and 2021between zero and five cases annually in that period. Of those cases, 28 people were infected by exposure to recreational water, two people were infected after rinsing their sinuses using contaminated tap water, and one person was infected by contaminated tap water used on a backyard slip-n-slide. In 2022, three cases were reported in Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona. Between 1962 and 2022, 37 cases have been reported in Florida, second only to Texas with 39 cases, according to the CDC. A 13-year-old Palatka, Florida boy, vacationing at a North Central Florida campground, died after he was infected with the amoeba in August 2020, News4Jax reported. The property was not named because it was not positively identified as the source of the infection. Florida's health department reported a case in Hillsborough County in July 2020. How to avoid the infection On Feb. 23, the Florida Department of Health issued warnings for people in Charlotte County on how to protect against contracting the infection. But the health department's tips can apply elsewhere. When making sinus rinse solutions, use only distilled or sterile water. Tap water should be boiled for at least 1 minute and cooled before sinus rinsing. Don't let water go up your nose or sniff water into your nose when bathing, showering, washing your face, or swimming in small hard plastic or inflatable pools. Don't jump into or put your head under bathing water in bathtubs, small hard plastic or inflatable pools. Rather, walk or lower yourself in. Avoid letting children play unsupervised with hoses or sprinklers, "as they may accidentally squirt water up their nose." Avoid slip-n-slides or other activities where it is difficult to prevent water going up the nose. Keep small hard plastic or inflatable pools clean by emptying, scrubbing, and allowing them to dry after each use. Keep regular swimming pools adequately disinfected before and during use. Symptoms of infection Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection after exposure can include headache, fever, nausea, disorientation, vomiting, a stiff neck, seizures, loss of balance, and hallucinations. If you experience symptoms after getting water sucked up your nose seek medical attention immediately. On Friday, the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County said it was providing nasal clips and educational materials at 1100 Loveland Blvd. in Port Charlotte while supplies last. 2023 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Shutterstock Barely a month goes by without headlines announcing yet another advancement in cancer vaccines. Just last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy designation to Moderna and Merck's skin cancer vaccine. This allows expedited development and review of drugs intended to treat serious conditions. We already have a vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical and other cancers. We also have a vaccine to protect against the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer. But you may have heard of new types of cancer vaccines being developed using technology similar to that used for COVID vaccines. Decades before COVID vaccines, scientists had been working on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines targeting cancer. Rather than preventing disease, these vaccines are a personalized treatment for cancer, to combat disease. How do they work? Traditionally, vaccines inject part or all of a weakened virus (or other pathogen) into the body to provoke an immune response. mRNA works by injecting only the genetic instructions and allowing the body's cells to make part of the cancer protein (antigen) itself. This trains the immune system to develop antibodies against the protein. When these same proteins are present on an invading tumor cell, the immune system stimulates an immune response against it. While COVID mRNA vaccines respond to one antigenthe spike protein on the outside of coronaviruscancer vaccines act on several antigens present on the tumor surface. The mRNA cancer vaccines train the patient's immune system to fight their own cancer. Most trials are manufacturing vaccines for individual patients based on the specific antigens present on their tumors. It takes around two months to produce a vaccine. How are they made? To make these vaccines, a sample of the patient's tumor and healthy tissue is taken. These samples are DNA-sequenced to compare differences between the DNA in the cancerous cells and the healthy cells. Scientists identify problem mutations driving disease. These can then be used as antigen targets in the mRNA vaccine. Bespoke approaches allow scientists to target a wider range of cancer antigens. Targeting multiple antigens decreases the odds that cancer cells will mutate and become resistant to vaccines, because the immune system attacks on multiple fronts. Personalized medicines are extremely expensive because they are bespoke products. Manufacturing costs for bespoke treatments remain high. However, with rapidly falling costs of different aspects such as genome sequencing (some companies are now offering genome sequencing for just US$100), sequencing the entire genome is becoming more viable. Science in Motion. As large-scale manufacturing increases in future for off-the-shelf vaccines, there will be resource efficiencies that reduce cost. What vaccines are in development? In December 2022, Moderna and Merck (known outside the United States and Canada as MSD) published the results of its early phase (2b) clinical trial. The trial was investigating a combination therapy of an mRNA vaccine and immunotherapy (a drug that stimulates an immune response) in advanced stage melanoma patients. After one year of treatment in 157 patients, they found the combination reduced the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 44%. Now, Moderna and Merck plan to follow up their initial trial with a phase 3 trial for advanced melanoma in 2023. Phase 3 trials test for safety and efficacy in larger groups of patients. BioNTech has several mRNA cancer candidates in the works, including for advanced melanoma, ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. It will release results from its own phase 2 melanoma trial (of 131 patients) using immunotherapy and an mRNA vaccine combination later this year. Its primary aim is to measure cancer progression and survival over 24 months in previously untreated patients. A third company called CureVac is also developing mRNA vaccines targeting a range of cancers including ovarian, colorectal, head and neck, lung and pancreatic. CureVac has a deal with Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, to develop small, portable mRNA bioprinters to automate the process of producing patient mRNA. These can be shipped to remote locations where they are able to churn out vaccine candidates based on the DNA template (recipe) fed into the machine. A lot of these vaccines, including those targeting cancer, are in pre-clinical to phase 1 stages of development, to test the effects and side effects in the laboratory, animal models or small groups of patients. When will they become available? Overseas, Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccine was fast-tracked for review by the US FDA in February 2023. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has not approved the use of mRNAs for use either alone or with other cancer treatments yet. In January 2023, the United Kingdom's National Health Service partnered with BioNTech to fast-track the development of mRNA cancer vaccines over the next seven years. Eligible UK cancer patients will get early access to clinical trials from late 2023 onwards. By 2030, these mRNA vaccines will be made clinically available to around 10,000 cancer patients. In Australia, BioNTech is establishing its Asia-Pacific mRNA clinical research and development center in Melbourne, in partnership with the Victorian government. This would develop mRNA vaccines for research and clinical trials, including personalized cancer treatments. Meanwhile, Moderna will develop Australia's first large-scale mRNA vaccine facility at Monash University by 2024, in partnership with the state and federal government. This will give Australians priority access to mRNA vaccines made locally. What else could the technology be used for? Aside from cancer, there is huge potential to use mRNA technologies across many gene therapies. There are studies underway testing mRNA vaccines for various diseases such as evolving COVID strains, seasonal influenza, malaria, HIV, cystic fibrosis and even allergies, giving new hope for many previously incurable diseases. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The father needed answers. He'd recently completed a six-week Mass. General program designed to help parents whose children were struggling with ADHD. He had read the materialand re-read it. He'd tried to connect with his daughter. But nothing was working. She was frustrated. He was frustrated. Their relationship felt broken. I don't know what to do, he told his doctor. Can you please help? The physician, Dana Allswede, a psychologist in the hospital's Child Outpatient Psychiatric Department, remembers the email as one of many describing similar sentiments. Every week she hears from overwhelmed parents. For some, it's about toddler tantrums. For parents of older children, the urgent question is whether their teenager is displaying normal adolescent behavior or something more serious. These accounts follow national trends. Pew Research Center's Parenting in America Today survey, released in January, found that mental health issues are a top concern for parents, with 40% saying they are extremely or very worried their children may experience anxiety or depression, and 36% feeling somewhat worried. In 2015, only 54% of parents reported worrying at all. The Pew survey matches 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that more than a third of high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, with almost half reporting persistent levels of sadness and hopelessness. "There are clear data to show that youth have been disproportionately affected in terms of the mental health impact relative to some of the other age groups," said Archana Basu, a research scientist in epidemiology at the Harvard Chan School and a clinical psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Even before COVID, the numbers were moving in the wrong direction, with the National Library of Medicine and the CDC reporting increases in depressive symptoms and suicide-related behavior. John Weisz, who runs Harvard's Lab for Youth Mental Health, notes that as mental health issues for children have risen, there are fewer providers to care for them. "Access was reduced partly because many clinicians left the workforce or reduced working hours because of the pandemic's impact on their families," he said, "and also because many clinical services stopped or sharply reduced in-person services." In other words, many families are forced to wait months before seeing a clinician, leaving them to navigate on their own. The most important thing parents can do? Take care of themselves. "Parents investing in their own mental health is actually one of the most effective things for children," Basu said. "Because the more regulated they are, the more emotional availability they have and the more they can support their children." The more parents can model what it's like to regulate their own emotions, the more children can learn to do this for themselves. This connection is beneficial for all children, from newborns to high schoolers. Allswede has also seen the benefit of parents investing in themselves. One project she works on brings parents together virtually to share information and talk about the challenges they face, without their children present. "[It's about] connecting them with other parents who are going through the same thing so that they know they're not alone, and they can lean on one another," she said. "It's felt more isolating to be a parent in the past few years everyone has been through a lot." When parents have the mental and emotional capacity to support their children at home, the effect is powerful, Basu says. Physical health and mental health are usually intertwined, so focusing on being active together, healthy eating, and ensuring that everyone is getting enough sleep has major implications for a family's well-being. Parents can also encourage healthy peer interactions and social activities, or even introduce cognitive behavioral tools like mindfulness and relaxation. Parental monitoringsetting clear expectations, discussing social decisions, and responding appropriately to a child's behavioris not only an expression of concern but guards against risky behaviors such as substance use and unsafe sex. Each of these small activities has the potential to make a huge difference. "Anything that helps to moderate and mitigate the impact of a severe or traumatic stressor could be thought about as a buffer or protective factor," Basu said. Another option is remote care. In a meta-analysis led by the graduate student Katherine Venturo-Conerly, the Lab for Youth Mental Health found that remote delivery of mental health care yielded positive effects similar to those of in-person care. Additionally, the pandemic prompted the lab to accelerate development of "brief digital interventions" that children can complete on their own. These resources can be made available for use at home, helping to fill clinical gaps. "There is much that parents can do on their own to help their children develop resilience and coping skills," Weisz said. "It makes a positive difference when parents understand what the treatment is that their child is receiving, what the goals are, and how skills learned with a therapist can be implemented, practiced, encouraged, and praised in real life outside of therapy sessions." On a policy level, Basu emphasizes that any measure that supports parents ultimately supports children. Passing legislation such as paid parental leave or revisiting which interventions merit insurance coverage would represent important steps in making resources more accessible and giving parents what they need to succeed. Allswede said that in her support groups, she has seen parents become emotional and tearful when they share how meaningful it is to feel understood. Normalizing these challenges can help parents open up about their experiences, which helps other families navigate their own situations. All of this gives parents the bandwidth they need to support the positive mental health of their children. "We use the metaphor often of putting on your own oxygen mask before putting on your child's oxygen mask," she said. "I hear from families all the time who have been managing really challenging situations on their own for so long [they] desperately need this support and reach out. And I'm glad they do." This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: UNGD wells by region, 2002 and 2015. Maps of Pennsylvania and New York show the locations of drilled UNGD wells (red dots) in Pennsylvania by the end of 2002 (one total well) and by Dec 31, 2015, the end of our study period (9596 total wells). The southernmost group of ZIP codes in Pennsylvania (yellow) were all exposed to UNGD activity and the 36 of these that started UNGD between 2008 and 2010 were included in the study. The two northern groups, labeled the main (blue, further north) and alternative (red) control regions, were UNGD-free, due to a statewide ban on UNGD, although the alternate control might have experienced air pollution-related exposure due to proximity. Credit: The Lancet Planetary Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00009-8 A new University of Chicago study examining Medicare claims found older adults living near fracking sites in Pennsylvania were more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases than those who lived in nearby New York state, where fracking is banned. The research was published in The Lancet Planetary Health. Prachi Sanghavi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences at UChicago and senior author on the paper, said she first became interested in studying the potential health impacts of fracking in the early 2010s. This was during the peak of the unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) boom, colloquially known as "fracking." "There was a lot of buzz about the environmental effects of UNGD, and several documentaries were produced on the subject," she said. "I do a lot of work with Medicare claims data, and I realized that we could use that approach to determine if there was a measurable effect on population health based on what the stories were suggesting." Her team collected Medicare claims data for tens of thousands of patients generated between 2002 and 2015 in both northern Pennsylvania, which experienced a fracking boom, and next-door New York state, where UNGD was banned. They found an association between the development of new fracking sites and increased rates of hospitalization for health conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and ischemic heart disease. "Although we can't point to one specific part of fracking operations as the culprit, folks living near fracking sites could be affected by exposure to things like air or water pollution that often come with fracking activity," said Kevin Trickey, first author on the study and a former research analyst in the Sanghavi lab. "Our study connects nearby fracking activity to real, serious human health outcomes, suggesting it's not just a matter of economics or environmental sustainabilitybut that policymakers and residents alike should start prioritizing the health of citizens, whether drilling new wells or plugging old ones." Researchers have previously found elevated levels of airborne hydrocarbons and other pollutants near fracking sites, but a clear relationship between those pollutants and negative health outcomes has not yet been established. While prior studies have indicated a likelihood of this connection, this study applies statistical analysis to economics data for causal inference analysis to more directly connect UNGD to specific negative health outcomes in older adults. In the current study, the team determined there were an additional 11.8, 21.6 and 20.4 hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and ischemic heart disease, respectively, per 1,000 Medicare users than would be expected if there were no fracking in the area. "We don't find strong associations easily in the world," Sanghavi said. "We've heard a lot of anecdotes, seen the documentaries, but it's usually very difficult to find the connection, even when it exists. Even in cases where an individual might have an experience that seems to have a direct relationship to something like fracking, that doesn't necessarily translate to a population health effect, and here we find thatyes, there is a measurable association with people's health." The effects were not just limited to the initial phases of UNGD. The study found that the risk continued even after drilling ended, indicating that the health impacts could be connected to the byproducts of the regular functioning and production of the well. The researchers say these results should be a call to action for communities and policy makers affected by fracking development. "This study provides additional evidence for those who think they may be experiencing exacerbated health issues as a result of fracking in their communities," Sanghavi said. "I hope that these results can help communities and governmentswho have an interest in protecting people's healthby equipping them with more information for making an informed decision about UNGD." "Natural gas is an important source of energy in our current infrastructure," she continued. "One could do a cost/benefit analysis and determine that the benefits of gas extraction outweigh the health effects on local populations. But who is bearing the cost of those decisions? The communities that are most affected by this should have all of the information and be a part of the conversation." The study, "Hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease among older adults living near unconventional natural gas development," was supported by the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratories. Zihan Chen of the University of Chicago is also an author on the paper. The authors declare no conflicting interests. More information: Kevin S Trickey et al, Hospitalisations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease among older adults living near unconventional natural gas development: a difference-in-differences analysis, The Lancet Planetary Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00009-8 Journal information: The Lancet Planetary Health This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Calibration plots, SCORE2 low-risk model by ethnicity (LOESS plotted). Calibration plots, asses model fit by graphically comparing predicted probability to the proportion of observed events in decile groups of the population. Loess, locally estimated scatterplot smoothing. Credit: eClinicalMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101862 Dutch people with a low income are up to 1.5 times more at risk of a heart attack or stroke than their wealthier compatriots. Among Surinamese Hindus the risk is 1.9 times higher. This is according to research by the LUMC and the HagaZiekenhuis hospital. Dutch doctors do not look at these factors. The study was published in eClinicalMedicine. For years cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death worldwide. It is caused by, among others, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking. A new study by GP and Ph.D. candidate Janet Kist, Professor Mattijs Numans, Professor Rolf Groenwold (all from the LUMC) and Ronne Mairuhu from HagaZiekenhuis shows that a low income further increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients' ethnicity also plays an important role. This is significant because most doctors do not currently include income and ethnicity as risk factors. To determine whether someone is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, doctors mainly look at factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking. Using a nationally approved risk calculator, they advise their patients on whether early medication is needed to prevent future cardiovascular problems. In countries such as England and Scotland, socioeconomic status and ethnicity have been included as risk factors for cardiovascular disease for 10 to 15 years already. As far as the researchers are concerned, the same should soon happen in the Netherlands. They argue that early treatment with statins, for example, can help patients with low socioeconomic status or of Surinamese Hindustani descent prevent cardiovascular disease in the short term. "Then the risk of stroke decreases by up to 22%," says Kist. "For heart attacks, it is 33% even. The effect may be even greater in the longer term." More important, say Kist and colleagues, is to look at social change and patient lifestyle. "If you live in poverty, it is practically impossible to eat healthily," says Mairuhu. "Healthy food is simply too expensive. We can't solve this in the consulting room. This is really a job for politicians." Kist and the research team looked at data from 155,000 people aged between 40 and 70 from the region of The Hague and Zoetermeer. They linked figures from hospitals and GP practices to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). "This made it clear that cardiovascular diseases are 1.5 times more common in low-income patients," says Kist. "The possible causes are an unhealthy lifestyle and stress. What also stood out was that cardiovascular diseases are 1.9 times more common in people from a Surinamese Hindustani background. This is partly due to genetic factors." More information: Janet M. Kist et al, SCORE2 cardiovascular risk prediction models in an ethnic and socioeconomic diverse population in the Netherlands: an external validation study, eClinicalMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101862 Journal information: EClinicalMedicine This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics analysis reveals distinct alterations of protein expression levels associated with suppression of the neuronal AMPK isoform in aged mice. Credit: Aging (2023). DOI: 10.18632/aging.204554 The Aging journal has published a new research paper titled Isoform-specific effects of neuronal repression of the AMPK catalytic subunit on cognitive function in aged mice. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a molecular sensor that plays a critical role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis. Dysregulation of the AMPK signaling has been linked to synaptic failure and cognitive impairments. In a recent study, researchers Xueyan Zhou, Wenzhong Yang, Xin Wang, and Tao Ma from Wake Forest University School of Medicine demonstrated abnormally increased AMPK activity in the hippocampus of aged mice. The kinase catalytic subunit of AMPK exists in two isoforms, 1 and 2, and their specific roles in aging-related cognitive deficits are unknown. "Taking advantage of the unique transgenic mice (AMPK1/2 cKO) recently developed by our group, we investigated how isoform-specific suppression of the neuronal AMPK may contribute to the regulation of cognitive and synaptic function associated with aging," the researchers write. The team found that aging-related impairment of long-term object recognition memory was improved with suppression of AMPK1 but not AMPK2 isoform. Moreover, aging-related spatial memory deficits were unaltered with suppression of either AMPK isoform. Biochemical experiments showed that the phosphorylation levels of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 subunit (eIF2) were specifically decreased in the hippocampus of the AMPK1 cKO mice. The team further performed large-scale unbiased proteomics analysis and revealed identities of proteins whose expression is differentially regulated with AMPK isoform suppression. These novel findings may provide insights into the roles of AMPK signaling pathway in cognitive aging. The researchers conclude, "In summary, the current study reported that suppression of neuronal AMPK1 isoform can improve aging-related impairments of long-term recognition memory." More information: Xueyan Zhou et al, Isoform-specific effects of neuronal repression of the AMPK catalytic subunit on cognitive function in aged mice, Aging (2023). DOI: 10.18632/aging.204554 Provided by Impact Journals LLC This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Making a connection between the flu and the risk of subsequent heart problems significantly increased flu vaccination rates among older Danish adults, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology. A reminder message the day before the start of a national vaccine program also helped "nudge" people to get vaccinated. Each year, seasonal influenza accounts for more than 500,000 deaths globally and certain high-risk groups are disproportionately affected, including older adults and those with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions. An annual flu shot is widely recommended to prevent influenza infection or lessen its severity and complications should someone get sick. Still, vaccination rates aren't nearly what they should be in many countries, including the U.S., and that's especially true for younger people with chronic diseases like heart disease. "Figuring out ways to increase the percentage of people who get the flu [shot] and other vaccines is important," said Tor Biering-Srensen, MD, MSc, MPH, Ph.D., professor, Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark, and the study's chief investigator. "Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and for flu, specifically, many countries lag well behind the WHO recommendation for over 75% of the population to be vaccinated." While earlier studies have tested different nudge strategiesthat is, messages designed specifically to educate, remind and push positive health behaviorsto increase flu vaccination in select populations, this study is the largest of its kind and involved all adults 65 years or older in Denmark. The NUDGE-FLU trial randomized 964,870 Danish citizens across 691,820 households to receive one of nine different electronic letters featuring a specific message about the upcoming flu season and the need for vaccination to see which, if any, would increase influenza vaccination uptake among older adults. The communications were delivered via the country's electronic letter system on September 16, 2022. Citizens were either in usual care (no letter) or they received one of nine nudge strategies (participants were randomized 1:1, so for every citizen receiving no letter, one received one of the nine intervention letters). In addition to the letter that linked the flu vaccine with a reduction of cardiovascular events, and the approach that sent the standard flu pamphlet two weeks before the flu season started and a reminder on the day the vaccine became widely available, the other seven messages included: A clear recommendation from a leading health authority to get vaccinated A nudge for people not to be in the minority and to get vaccinated A nudge to join the majority to prevent the flu from spreading (collective goal) The role flu vaccination can play in helping in a pandemic to protect you and your loved ones (gain framing) The danger of too few people getting vaccinated placing you and your loved ones at risk (loss framing) A prompt to make a plan to get vaccinated and record their appointment in a space provided; and A basic letter without name personalization The primary endpoint was the receipt of influenza vaccination on or before January 1, 2023; while flu vaccination can continue throughout the influenza season, fall is the ideal time to assure protection. Compared with usual care, influenza vaccination rates were significantly higher in the group receiving a letter highlighting potential cardiovascular benefits of vaccination (81% vs. 80.12%) and the group receiving repeat letters about the importance of flu vaccination generally and to let them know about available flu vaccines at the start of the study and 14 days later (80.85% vs. 80.12%). "The only two nudge strategies that significantly increased flu vaccine uptake were the simple reminder and explaining that flu vaccination may also prevent cardiovascular events," Biering-Srensen said. He added that these strategies improved vaccination rates across major subgroups, including participants with cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular benefits message, which stated that "in addition to its protection against influenza infection, influenza vaccination also seems to protect against cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and heart failure," resulted in a greater increase in vaccine uptake among the participants who had not been vaccinated for influenza in the prior season. Biering-Srensen said he expects these increases in flu vaccine uptake may have been even more pronounced in countries where vaccination rates are low. Denmark has among the highest flu vaccine rates to start withmore than 80% this season. During the 2021-2022 influenza season, only 49% of U.S. adults received a flu vaccine, despite widespread recommendations for annual flu vaccination. More research is needed to test the messaging around the flu and related cardiovascular outcomes given that was the most effective message to boost flu vaccination. "As cardiologists, it's very interesting that just telling people that we can also prevent other downstream issues like cardiovascular outcomes was what worked the best of all the nudge strategieseven better than the reminder, which we expected would be positive," Biering-Srensen said. "A lot of studies have shown that people who get the flu vaccine have a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes, and there may be protective effects [for the heart] that are not specific to flu infection. The flu vaccine may have broader benefits that we don't yet know." He said that these improvements were accomplished through a simple email, making it a replicable and very low-cost intervention that could help prevent flu-related deaths and associated complications. They will be further analyzing the data to see if certain nudge messages worked better in people with diabetes and other chronic conditions. The study is limited to the Danish population, which has free access to influenza vaccination, so the bump in vaccine uptake may be different if cost is a barrier. This study was simultaneously published online in The Lancet at the time of presentation; a pre-specified analysis of the trial was simultaneously published online in the journal Circulation. More information: Niklas Dyrby Johansen presented the study, "A Nationwide Randomized Trial Of Electronically Delivered Nudges To Increase Influenza Vaccination Uptake: The NUDGE-FLU Trial," on Sunday, March 5, in the Great Hall. The study was funded by Sanofi. Journal information: Circulation , The Lancet This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Malnutrition is leaving children in Malawi vulnerable to the country's worst-ever cholera outbreak, the United Nations warned Tuesday as it appealed for more than $50 million to help combat the spread. An estimated 4.8 million childrenone in twoin the southeast African nation need humanitarian aid, the UN children's agency UNICEF said. By the end of March, more than 213,000 children aged under five are expected to be acutely malnourished, with more than 62,000 expected to be severely malnourished, said Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF's representative in Malawi. "As a severely malnourished child is 11 times more likely to die from cholera than a well-nourished child, a bout of cholera may amount to a death sentence for thousands of children in Malawi," he told reporters in Geneva via video-link. Malawi is experiencing the deadliest cholera epidemic in its recorded history, combined with a polio outbreak and ongoing COVID-19 infections. The first case of cholera was documented just over a year ago, and the disease has since spread to all 29 districts. More than 50,000 people have been affected and more than 1,500 have died as of March 2. Children comprise more than 12,000 of the cases and 197 of the fatalities, said Schwenk. As the 2023 rainy season reaches its peak in the country, UNICEF warned that without immediate action, the outbreak will worsen. The agency has provided life-saving medication, safe water and cholera prevention and treatment information, but is now running short of funding and supplies and is appealing for $52.4 million. "To prevent future outbreaks of cholera, we have to support the country with significant investments in health, water and sanitation infrastructure," said Schwenk. Cholera is an acute water-borne diarrhoeal disease that can kill the most vulnerable patients within hours if left untreated. Since the outbreak began, Malawi has carried out two large vaccination campaigns, but due to limited supplies, has offered just one instead of the usually recommended two doses of oral vaccine. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain On Dec. 13, 2022, dancer, actor and television personality Stephen "tWitch" Boss, best known for his work on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," was found dead in a motel in Los Angeles from suicide. He was only 40 years old. Beloved by his fans, Bosswho was married with three childrenalways appeared happy, well-adjusted and outgoing. So, it came as a shock to the people who followed his career that he would die by suicide. In 2020, 45,979 people died by suicide in the U.S., equating to one death by suicide every 11 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. During that same time period, 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide and 1.2 million adults attempted suicide. Youth and young adults ages 1024 years account for 14% of all suicides, and suicide is the third-leading cause of death for young people, according to the CDC. But how does someone get to a point so low that they would take their own life? And how can someone that seemingly has it all fall victim to suicide, especially when they leave behind a grieving family to always wonder what went wrong? Antonia Phillip, M.D., assistant clinical professor and board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist at VCU Health, was one of Boss' fans. Like others, she was shocked by the news. Phillip, who specializes in adult and geriatric psychiatry, knows that some clients don't seek help at first because of the stigma sometimes associated with mental illness. "The mind is the most complex organ in the body and also the head of the body," she said. "The brain is the thing that thinks and feels and controls the rest of you. We need it. Just as we take care of ourselves physically we also need to take care of our emotional, psychological being. Our culture is changing to accept that and promote it." Phillip discussed the subject of suicide and suicide prevention in an interview with VCU News. What leads someone to suicide? That's a tough question because it is usually multifactorial. There might never really be one answer that leads someone to suicide. A lot of people experience a history of trauma, physical and mental abuse, sexual abuse or are exposed to violence in some way, who have a history of suicide in their family at a young agethey are more likely to repeat violence and in this case, violence toward themselves as suicide. In some cases, patients may even be receiving treatment. However, enduring emotions like depression, anxiety or other mental illnesswhether clinical or otherwise chroniccan lead to suicide when stressors arise and the person can no longer bear it. Change in a person's life can also be a trigger. Change such as when a loved one passes, losing a job, getting a divorceto name a fewand difficulty adjusting to these changes can increase psychological and emotional stress, leading someone to suicide. In addition, people who engage in substance abuse, particularly alcohol, and people who have access to firearms are more at risk to suicide. Altogether, when someone is led to suicide, in that moment of time, he or she feels hopeless or some despair about the future. Imagine the presence of being in a dark hole where you can't see anyone, can't see a future, can't problem solve but instead feel immense emotion like depression with no determined way out of that feeling or situation. That is hopelessness and a person may consider the solution is to self-destruct. How can someone appear to have it all, be happy and well-adjusted and die by suicide? One in five people in America will experience a mental health episode in a given year. We don't recognize that a lot of people are hurting mentally and emotionally. Also, our perception of people is not always accurate. We can put on a mask, so to speak, when we need to. Typically, people who die by suicide are probably suffering from some type of mental illness, but they are not able to communicate their pain for any reason. They may not know how to describe it or discern what it is. Others may identify what it is but choose not to manage it and just try cope. They will appear happy and do things to overcompensate, like being extra social and humorous, but inside many people are struggling with a mental illness. There are multiple other reasons that could distract someone away from getting help. Someone may think, "I have it all, a beautiful home, a wife and kids, I make money. I shouldn't be depressed. Why do I feel this way? I am so embarrassed. I feel guilt and shame." Add emotional conflicts like these on top of depression, for example, and it snowballs, soon becoming a bigger beast. Usually, people who are depressed can't function academically or professionally, but some people can. A lot of the population are high functioning and so appear well-adjusted but are inwardly depressed. It can also be a genetic predispositionmental illness. These and more can explain why some people who appear happy die by suicide. There is usually something there under the surface that is not doing well. They appear happy but underneath it all, something negative is brewing. What is a mental illness? Mental illness can refer to multiple conditions that affect us emotionally, psychologically and can include different diagnoses or disorders like depression, anxiety, phobia, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, acute stress disorder, PTSD, eating disorders like anorexia, sexual disorders and the list of possible disorders goes on. What are outward signs that someone is contemplating suicide? Detachment, withdrawal, substance use and abuse, particularly alcohol, giving away items, especially personal items, not taking care of themselves anymore, missing appointments, being lackadaisical about their health, not taking prescribed medications. They could be engaging in high-risk behaviors or have a preoccupation with death or dying that is not usual for them. Someone who is contemplating suicide may make suicidal statements like, "I want to die, or I want to kill myself." If this is the case, one can ask further questions of that person. Ask them to tell you more, actively listen and if there is any concern the person is actively suicidal, get them care. Call 911. What are the hidden signs that someone is contemplating suicide? Mood changes. Someone who has a known mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, and is known as struggling emotionally but then suddenly appears different. That's to say, for example, they suddenly appear to be very happy or joyful. That could be a sign they are contemplating suicide. There are clinical cases of patients whose families or friends may report "we are doing so good" but then took their own lives. On the other hand, someone could have worsening mood. Perhaps they appear more irritable or have what we term psychomotor agitation (a state of restlessness and anxiety that results in repetitive and unintentional movements). Continue to monitor mood changes, even positive ones. Ask questions, be more present. Provide care, concern and support to help prevent a suicide that someone may be contemplating. Do people that die by suicide consider beforehand what it will do to their families? I personally believe a person with a mental illness diagnosed or undiagnosed who has died by suicide was thinking "the world would be a better place without me." They are not well. They are not in their normal state of mind. They can't bear the emotional pain and psychological turmoil. They not only feel bad, but think they are bad. I truly believe they think they are doing better for others as well when they die by suicide. When they are down in that dark hole, they are unable to see or feel supported. But that is not the truth of the matter. What are some of the ways people can help someone they believe is contemplating suicide? If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or are verbalizing suicidal ideations, call 911 or call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). You can also visit 988Lifeline.org. There are always professionals and clinical providers available no matter the day or time. At VCU, you can call 804-828-6200 to reach University Counseling Services. There are multiple other crisis lines as well in Virginia. If you know someone that is presenting signs of being high risk for suicide, tell them you are there. That you are open to listen. Encourage the person to feel safe to speak to someone whether a family member or a professional about how they are feeling. Monitor them until a health care provider or team can get to them. Depression is the inability to problem solve, a feeling of helplessness and loneliness. By showing support, you help someone who may be feeling this way. Also, have a safety plan if there is a history of suicide in the family. Knowing what's best and what steps to take to help a friend or family member can be critical. Make sure that weapons like firearms are not easily accessible. Hide medications and get sharp objects out of reach. Take out all pesticides and dangerous chemicals in the home. In severe cases where supervision at home is acceptable for a person with passive suicidal ideation, and this is usually with children or adolescents, a parent or guardian can even monitor the person by taking the hinges off the door of their room for easy visibility and to reduce feelings of loneliness. These are all some ways people contemplating suicide may be helped but always check in with your loved ones no matter how they appear. If someone is thinking about suicide, what should they consider to help reverse those thoughts? I like to remind patients that emotions can go up just as much as they go down and often are self-perpetuating. What's more is suicidal thoughts may not always be as obvious as "I want to die." If you or someone you know are having thoughts like that or even more subtle like, "Life is not worth living," or "I need a way out," or "I can't take this anymore," you can try to counteract those thoughts and influence the emotion with the following: Take 10 deep breaths being mindful of the breath, focusing the mind on each breath by counting quietly in your head, feel the breath filling your lungs and belly with air. Hold the breath for four to five seconds and the slowly release for six seconds while repeating peaceful words or phrases like "Everything will be OK" or "Stay calm" in your head. This exercise of mindfulness helps to slow the breathing and reduce anxiety or stress that one may be feeling physiologically. Start a gratitude journal. Writing at least three to five things you are grateful for is a simple exercise which produces endogenous dopamine that can improve one's emotional state. It also helps to refocus the thoughts onto more positive things. Be nonjudgmental with yourself. Check the facts as sometimes thoughts or emotions may be an interpretation of events but not the actual truth of a situation. This may include speaking to someone like a behavioral health clinician about it. Maintaining a therapeutic relationship with a counselor is an important adjunctive treatment for improving mental health. Repeating several phrases of affirmation, such as "It is enough to do my best," "Every day is a fresh start," and "This may be challenging but I can get through anything especially with the right help," can create hopefulness and boost problem-solving abilities. Refocus attention since when you are distracted, emotions can change. Plan pleasant events. For example, listen to music or watch a movie, draw and color, go out for walks in a safe time and manner, or exercise, watch funny videos, place a cold compress or ice at the nape of the neck, to name a few. Meditate on positive emotions. For instance, when you're feeling sad, try to think about what joy feels like, looks like, sounds like. What are you doing when you feel joy, etc. Immerse yourself onto a more positive emotion. Call a trusting and supportive friend or loved one, or call a help line. Every life can be experienced as worth living. As psychologist Marsha Linehan describes, building a life worth living takes time and patience. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Marko Aliaksandr/Shutterstock The kidneys perform a critical role in the body by removing waste and excess fluid in the form of urine. In a condition known as diabetic nephropathy, complications from diabetes disrupt the ability of the kidneys to function properly. Now, researchers in Japan have shed new light on a potential target for the development of therapies for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. In a new study published in JCI Insight, researchers led by University of Tsukuba employed an inducible mouse model to investigate the role of transcription factor c-Maf in the adult mouse kidney under normal and diabetic conditions. c-Maf is a transcription factor (a type of protein that regulates gene activity) that plays a role in embryonic kidney development. However, determining the function of c-Maf in the adult kidney has been challenging, as c-Maf deletion results in embryos that are unable to survive. To address this challenge, the research team from the University of Tsukuba developed a mouse model in which c-Maf can be inactivated via application of a drug called tamoxifen, which is commonly used to treat breast cancer. The research team called this model c-Maf TAM, and set out to investigate the role of c-Maf in the adult kidney using these c-Maf TAM mice . "Our initial analyses revealed that compared with control mice, c-Maf TAM mice exhibited higher glucose levels in urine, increased water intake and urine output, and higher urinary albumin levels following treatment with tamoxifen," says senior author of the study, Professor Satoru Takahashi. "However, no morphological changes were observed in the kidneys of c-Maf TAM mice." Graphical abstract. Credit: JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.163306 The researchers identified genes that were differentially expressed in c-Maf TAM and control mice. They found that two key transporters of blood sugar, Sglt2 and Glut2, showed lower expression in c-Maf TAM mice. Further investigation revealed that c-Maf appeared to directly control the expression of these two sugar transporters. The researchers then evaluated the effects of diabetic conditions in c-Maf TAM mice. "Under diabetic conditions, c-Maf deletion appeared to lower blood glucose levels through the regulation of Sglt2 and Glut2 expression," says Professor Takahashi. "Furthermore, c-Maf deletion promoted recovery from hyperglycemia and suppressed diabetic nephropathy." These findings indicate that c-Maf deletion can improve diabetic conditions and offers protective effects in the kidneys. c-Maf may be a potential target for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. More information: Mitsunori Fujino et al, Transcription factor c-Maf deletion improves streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy by directly regulating Sglt2 and Glut2, JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.163306 Journal information: JCI Insight This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: High virus titers were found in SARS-CoV-2-infected dead hamsters. Angel care or embalming could prevent transmission from dead bodies of infected hamsters. This suggests that preventing infection is critical when handling infected corpses, as is the proper treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected corpses. Credit: Yoshihiro Kawaoka from University of Tokyo, Japan. During the pandemic, COVID-19 control measures in several countries prevented family members from coming into contact with loved ones who died from the infection. This had an impact on cremation practices and caused emotional distress. Researchers from Japan have now shown that, while deceased SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals may be a potential source of the virus, transmission can be stopped by using appropriate procedures. Their research provides evidence for national guidelines. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unique challenges for clinicians, patients, and families. Of these, the death and loss of a loved one has been the one of the most painful and overwhelming. This psychological stress is compounded by the inability to see loved ones one last time and perform cremation rituals, due to the restrictions around exposure to the bodies of patients who died as a result of COVID-19. Many medical facilities still refuse to allow bereaved family members to perform cremation for those who died from the infection. However, there is a lack of evidence to support these restrictions, and their acceptability varies between countries. There have been reports of infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) being found in individuals who died from the infection. However, it is unclear whether the virus can be transmitted from their bodies. In Japan, nurses perform postmortem care or "angel care" for deceased persons by wiping their surfaces and shaving or applying chemicals. In addition, the body openings are plugged with cotton pads to prevent bodily fluid leakage. In contrast, "embalming" or the treatment of a body to keep it from decaying, is common in the United States and Canada, and has recently become popular in Japan. How these practices impact the risk of infection from deceased persons, particularly for infection with SARS-CoV-2, is unknown. SARS-CoV-2-infected dead hamsters had high virus titers. Angel care or embalming could prevent transmission from infected hamsters' dead bodies. Proper treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected corpses is critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. Credit: Yoshihiro Kawaoka from University of Tokyo, Japan. To fill this knowledge gap, a research team from Japan has analyzed the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a deceased individual's body by using a hamster model. They analyzed whether the virus can spread from COVID-19-infected dead hamsters, and whether this spread can be reduced by using angel care and embalming. Their recent work was published in mSphere on January 10, 2023. Sharing the motivation behind their investigation, Prof. Kawaoka states, "It has been two and a half years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 from the body of a deceased, infected person still remains unclear." The researchers infected Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2/UT-NCGM02/human/2020 (the Wuhan strain of the virus) before euthanizing them and treating the bodies with either angel care or embalming (7% formaldehyde and 4% glutaraldehyde) treatment. As a control, one group of hamster bodies was treated with alcohol and wrapped in wire nets. Healthy hamsters were then co-housed with the bodies for 24 hours and their organs were collected to check for transmission of the virus. High SARS-CoV-2 titers were found in the lungs and nasal turbinate of some hamsters who shared a house with a dead infected hamster, implying a risk of infection. In contrast, angel care was effective in preventing the leakage of gas and bodily fluid leakage from the bodies, effectively preventing infection of the co-housed hamsters. Embalming also prevented the transmission of virus to any of the live hamsters. Prof. Kawaoka explains, "Infectious viruses may be transmitted via postmortem gases produced during the decomposition process or other postmortem changes in the dead body. Angel care or embalming could prevent this transmission." In summary, these findings emphasize the importance of avoiding infection when handling the body of a deceased individual who had SARS-CoV-2 infection, and that sealing body cavities can control virus spread even if embalming is not performed. Prof. Kawaoka concludes by saying, "We do know that the virus remains in the bodies of deceased persons, but with appropriate precautions and guidelines, we can at least let the families see their loved ones once before they depart." These findings could guide local and national guidelines on funerary rites and provide a modicum of solace to those who lose loved ones to COVID-19. More information: Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto et al, SARS-CoV-2 Transmission from Virus-Infected Dead Hamsters, mSphere (2023). DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00411-22 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In vivo assays with male fly populations. (A) Male fly populations were placed into empty plastic vials and survival was examined every hour until all flies were dead. (B), (C) Male fly populations were subjected to elevated temperatures for 120 s as stated in the Methods section. The percentage of flies experiencing a seizure (B) and the time to the first seizure (C) are shown. (D) Male fly populations were subjected to a learning assay as described in the Methods section. The percentage of flies that learned to avoid the quinine-laced light side of the setup was recorded. Vitamin B5 was included in the food as indicated for at least one generation prior to the assays. The concentrations of vitamin B5 used were 4 mM in (A) and 2 mM in (B), (C) and (D). N values for each experiment shown were 25 in (A), 75 in (B) and (C), and 30 in (D). The asterisks for statistical analyses indicate *p 0.05, **p 0.01, and ****p 0.0001. CTRL indicates OreR flies and TM indicates TANGO2G517 flies. The overall results of the learning trials (see Figure 1D for females and S1D for males) are shown for males (E) and females (F) at each training (16) or test (7) cycle. Both male and female OreR wild type (CTRL) flies learned avoidance predominantly during the third and fourth training cycles and some in the fifth. In contrast, the TANGO2G517 female flies learned this avoidance during the sixth training cycle and during the testing (cycle 7). When the TANGO2G517 mutants were grown in the presence of vitamin B5, their ability to learn avoidance was observed earlier and predominantly during the fourth, fifth and sixth training cycles. Credit: Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease (2022). DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12579 A simple vitamin could successfully treat a rare but potentially fatal genetic disease, according to research led by a Concordia undergraduate student. In a paper published in the Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, the authors describe how vitamin B5 can mitigate the life-altering and life-threatening effects related to mutations in the Transport and Golgi Organization 2 (TANGO2) gene in Drosophila melanogasterfruit flies. Flies with the mutation exhibited symptoms commonly associated with TANGO2 deficiency disease (TDD): they died of starvation almost twice as fast as those without it, had difficulties moving and learning and had a neuromuscular defect that manifested as spasms when exposed to high temperatures. However, when flies with the mutation were supplemented with vitamin B5, these symptoms quickly improved or, in some cases, disappeared. "TDD is a very rare disease, but some clinicians noticed that phenotypes in patients with TDD resembled phenotypes in individuals who can't metabolize lipids very well," says Michael Sacher, a professor from the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the paper's supervising author. Lipids are fatty compounds that perform several important functions, including moving and storing energy and producing hormones. They are generally activated by bonding with the coenzyme A molecule, which needs vitamin B5 to be produced. "Since TDD is a lipid metabolism problem, we thought that if we just boosted production of coenzyme A, we would see some sort of effect on the fruit flies," Sacher continues. "And that was exactly the case." Clear and rapid improvements The paper's lead author is Paria Asadi, who expects to complete her BSc in fall 2023. She designed and conducted a series of assays to record the differences between control and experimental groups of fruit flies. Asadi first studied the behavior of fruit flies with the mutation and noticed phenotypes consistent with TDD seen in humans: they died 50 percent faster if deprived of food, suggesting a metabolic defect; they exhibited ataxia, a neurodegenerative condition characterized by poor muscle control and abnormal movements, among other symptoms; they exhibited intellectual deficits during a learning assay, in which the flies were slower to avoid exposure to the bitter taste of quinine than those without; and they were more susceptible to seizures when exposed to higher temperatures. She then repeated these experiments on another line of fruit flies with the TDD mutation but with vitamin B5 added to their food. The results were not only remarkablethey were also quick. "We saw that they had improved, in some cases to wild levels," she says. "They did not have a very significant learning deficit or metabolic crises after starving. This shows that vitamin B5 can potentially be therapeutic for TDD patients." Other types of B vitamins were also used in tests, but none led to rescues as pronounced as B5. Any exposure is good exposure The researchers noticed degrees of improvement even after a very short exposure to vitamin B5. The longer the exposure, however, the more marked those improvements were. "We were seeing a time-dependent rescue," Sacher says. "Presumably, that would hold for humans as well. Even if a neurodevelopmental delay has occurred, which unfortunately happens to children, we can at least try to prevent a potentially fatal metabolic crisis." Asadi recalls presenting these findings at a TDD family conference in summer 2022 where she had a chance to talk to families affected by the disease. "One of the mothers told me that since her child started taking multivitamins their lives had changed for the better. Just knowing how meaningful the research we are doing is for the lives of affected families was a turning point in my life," she says. "It made me realize how biological research at the molecular level can be impactful for so many people." More information: Paria Asadi et al, Vitamin B5, a coenzyme A precursor, rescues TANGO2 deficiency diseaseassociated defects in Drosophila and human cells, Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease (2022). DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12579 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: fernando zhiminaicela from Pixabay New Curtin University-led research has found Australian health care students often hold negative attitudes and beliefs towards people living with obesity, which could lead to poor clinical care outcomes. The research, titled "Explicit and implicit weight bias among health care students: a cross-sectional study of 39 Australian universities," published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, surveyed 900 health care students across 39 Australian universities and found students held explicit and implicit weight-biased attitudes and beliefs, were fearful of "gaining weight" and lacked confidence in clinical settings when helping patients living with overweight. Lead researcher and Ph.D. student Ravisha Jayawickrama, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said individuals who were on the receiving end of weight bias or discrimination around the world had a 60% greater risk of mortality and were 2.5 times more likely to experience mental health disorders, such as anxiety. "Our study found the level of weight bias exhibited by Australian health care students was alarming and has the potential to negatively impact the care that people living with obesity receive, contributing to poor health outcomes and quality of life. These impacts could include spending less time in consultations, raising unwarranted concerns about a patient's weight, and being unwilling to perform certain examinations," Miss Jayawickrama said. "Students surveyed believed that obesity was within a person's control and that they lacked willpower, while some expressed dislike towards people living with overweight or obesity. We also found male students were more likely to explicitly state their bias toward these groups, and while females expressed greater empathy for these patients, they held a greater fear of 'gaining weight' themselves. "A smaller number of students did express empathy for people living with obesity and were more likely to view them with compassion, understand their emotions, and the ongoing challenges they face when trying to lose weight and maintain weight loss." Senior co-author Dr. Blake Lawrence, also from the Curtin School of Population Health, said by 2025 it is expected that 23% of the global and 35% of the Australian adult population will be living with obesity. "Australian health care students are going to be future health practitioners, doctors and nurses, so it is critical that educators and universities play a key role in reducing this stigma and weight bias exhibited by these students," Dr. Lawrence said. "Given the predicted rise in obesity, we need to better educate our students, health care trainees and practicing professionals on the negative impact of weight bias to enhance the Australian healthcare system. No individual, no matter their weight, color, gender or ethnicity, should experience discrimination when seeking medical attention. "We need to support students to develop the skills and abilities that will enable overweight and obese people to be treated with equity and dignity in health care settings." More information: Ravisha S. Jayawickrama et al, Explicit and implicit weight bias among health care students: a cross-sectional study of 39 Australian universities, eClinicalMedicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101894 Journal information: EClinicalMedicine The bulk of food and drinks sold by four out of five global producers across three major markets are unhealthy, according to a survey, with Kraft Heinz Co. faring the worst. The analysis conducted by the World Action on Salt, Sugar & Health, an NGO, selected 2,346 products sold by Danone, Kellogg Co., Kraft Heinz, Nestle SA and Unilever Plc in Australia, France and Mexico. It ranked them on the basis of the most widely used standards Health Star Rating, Nutri-Score and Warning Labels. Apart from Danone, all others sold a greater proportion of unhealthy food. Improving the nutritional content of food and drink by reformulating recipes with less salt, sugar and saturated fat is by far the most important strategy that any company should make to improve public health, Mhairi Brown, policy and public affairs lead with WASSH, said in a statement. However, by relying solely on industrys willingness and without government enforcement, we are unlikely to see a meaningful shift. Producers are under pressure to make their portfolios healthier because obesity is already a public health crisis in countries like the U.S., and on the rise in the developing world. The worldwide economic impact of excess body weight will more than double to $4.27 trillion in 2035 from 2020 levels as prevalence of the condition continues to rise, according to a report. Reducing the salt and sugar content of their foods could also insulate company revenues from laws restricting the sale and marketing of junk food. A greater emphasis on environmental, social and governance among investors is an added motivation for making portfolios healthier. Four-fifths of Kraft Heinz products didnt meet health standards across the three markets, with its entire sample in Mexico failing to make the grade. Some 72% of the products surveyed that were made by Kelloggs didnt meet the health criteria. The Crunchy Nut maker last year failed to legally challenge regulations that would ban it from advertising its sugary cereals in the UK. Activia yogurt maker Danone bucked the trend. Only 35% of products scored below the standard definitions of healthy. Earlier this week, it promised that at least 90% of products by volume of sales in the UK and Ireland will not be high in sugar, salt or fat, as defined by the government policy. A Unilever spokesperson said the company is committed to giving consumers healthier choices and termed the findings of the survey incomplete and misleading as they were based on a small subset of their portfolio. Kraft Heinz is committed to reducing sugar and salt in its products, while noting that there isnt a globally aligned model yet for judging how healthy food items are, according to its spokesperson. Others did not immediately comment on the report. The selection of products was based on the lines mentioned on companies country websites and major retailers, the report said. Groups like ShareAction, an investor campaign group which supported the research, have been calling on companies to be more transparent about the healthiness of their portfolios to help investors scrutinize their offerings and evaluate the threat of potential anti-junk food legislation on sales. Danone and Unilever report on their portfolios content according to government-approved nutrition models while Nestle committed to the same in its 2022 annual report, but the others are yet to follow suit, making it harder to get a full picture for comparison. Food manufacturers must be more transparent and disclose what proportion of their sales can be classed as healthier, Holly Gabriel, a campaigner at ShareAction said. This disclosure must be followed with meaningful targets to grow the proportion of sales coming from healthier food and drink. These are Trader Joe's customer's favorite items Top overall Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Tortilla Chips, spicy corn chips, swept the competition this year, taking home the top prize. Runners-up included the hash browns, chicken soup dumplings, Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend, and chocolate croissants. The chips also won in the poll's favorite snack category. Customers were also fans of the Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers, Organic Corn Chip Dippers, World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs and Crunchy Curls, which were all among the top vote-getters. Top beverage The Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice was the fans' favorite beverage, though it is seasonal. The canned drink is a simple three-ingredient blend of apple juice, water and bubbles. Following is the Triple Ginger Brew, Sparkling Peach Black Tea with peach juice, Sparkling Cranberry & Ginger Beverage and the Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Oat Creamer. Top cheese Now that Hall of Famer Unexpected Cheddar is no longer an option in the poll, the store's cheddar cheese with caramelized onions took home top accolades. Runners-up included Syrah Soaked Toscano, seasonal Baked Lemon Ricotta, Blueberry & Vanilla Chevre and its various bries. Top entree Replacing the longtime Mandarin Orange Chicken is Trader Joe's Butter Chicken -- spiced chicken in a tomato and cream sauce with basmati rice. Indian is popular with Trader Joe's customers. Second runner-up was Chicken Tikka Masala, followed by Kung Pao Chicken, Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese and BBQ Teriyaki Chicken. Top household item Seasonal candles won out in this category. Its seasonal scents include Peony Blossom, Cedar Balsam, Honeycrisp Apple and Vanilla Pumpkin. Runners-up: Daily Facial Sunscreen, Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Cream, Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner, and Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask. Top produce Unsurprisingly, customers voted bananas as their top choice. The chain is known for its 25-cent organic bananas and 19-cent regular bananas. Following choices were Teeny Tiny Avocados, Honeycrisp Apples, Brussels Sprouts and Organic Carrots of Many Colors. Top dessert The tiny and crunchy Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones won top dessert, followed by Danish Kringle, Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate Lava Cakes and Brookie. Top vegan/vegetarian Among its many vegan and vegetarian options, the Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto came out on top. Vegetable Fried Rice, Beefless Bulgogi, Palak Paneer, Cauliflower Gnocchi followed. TUESDAY, March 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- An injection of allograft disc tissue into the spine alleviates pain associated with degenerative disc disease, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, held from March 4 to 9 in Phoenix. Douglas Beall, M.D., and Islam Fayed, D.O., both from Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma in Edmond, and colleagues report on the 36-month follow-up of an open-label extension to the VAST randomized trial in which 218 patients with one- or two-level degenerative lumbar disc disease and refractory chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to investigational allograft or saline. Fifty patients (46 treated with allograft) had follow-up data available. The researchers found that in the allograft-treated group, the mean change from baseline in the visual analog scale score at month 36 was 35.35. Patients in the allograft-treated group had clinically meaningful benefits through 36 months in both pain and function, with 60 percent reporting 50 percent improvement in pain and more than 70 percent having a 20-point reduction in the Oswestry Disability Index. "Existing treatment for chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease is often ineffective or the effects are short-lived," Beall said in a statement. "We need better treatments for this condition since conservative care is not providing the long-term outcomes that patients deserve. Injectable allograft treatment might be the answer for many people." Beall disclosed financial ties to VIVEX Biologics, which funded the study. TUESDAY, March 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- When a country makes progress in women's rights, both women and men are likely to live longer, a new global study shows. Researchers found that across 156 countries, people living in places with greater gender equality in areas like education and work opportunities typically had a longer life expectancy. And that was true of both women and men. For every 10% increase in a standard measure of a country's gender equality, women gained an average of 4 months in life expectancy, while men were right behind, at 3.5 months. Experts said the findings illustrate how empowering women can have universal benefits. They also counter the notion that when women make gains, men lose. "Excluding women from society is detrimental to everyone, and it's a pity many politicians fail to understand that in the 21st century," said lead researcher Dr. Cat Pinho-Gomes, of the George Institute for Global Health at Imperial College London. There are many reasons that gains in women's rights can, over time, translate to better well-being for all, according to Pinho-Gomes. "We hypothesize that, initially, gender equality tends to be achieved in education," she said. That, in turn, creates a range of changes from better jobs for women to lower birth rates that improve women's life expectancy to start. Later, Pinho-Gomes said, if the playing field starts to level in politics and leadership positions, even broader change becomes possible. "Inclusion and involvement of women in the workforce, economy and politics leads to better policies for everyone," Pinho-Gomes said. She noted that men, in general, tend to die earlier from injuries and preventable diseases, compared with women. So when a society becomes healthier and wealthier overall, men's health may benefit as much as women's, if not more, Pinho-Gomes added. Sheila Davis is chief executive officer of Partners in Health, a Boston-based nonprofit that works with governments around the world to provide better health care. She said that when women have access to fundamentals, like health care and education, "there's a ripple effect across communities." "We see it all the time," said Davis, who was not involved in the new study. She noted that women are the caregivers of the family of children and elderly relatives and when they are healthier, so is everyone else. The findings, published online March 6 in the journal PLOS Global Public Health, are based on an analysis of how countries were performing on the gender-equality front between 2010 and 2021. The researchers used a standard measure that gauges equality in education, economic opportunities and political leadership. In 2021, the study found, each 10% increase in a country's overall gender equality was linked to longer life expectancy among women and men tacking on several months for both. But equality in education stood out, especially in lower- to middle-income countries. In those regions, greater educational opportunities for women spurred a significant gain in life expectancy for all though particularly for women. That is likely because education is a "prerequisite" for women's overall empowerment, according to Pinho-Gomes. "Without education, women cannot be involved in other spheres of life and be independent," she said. "Education is also essential for women to look after their health and that of their children, including girls and boys." Davis agreed. "We know that education has a huge impact," she said. And that includes access to higher education that allows women to move into professional occupations. Davis noted that at the health care facilities her organization supports worldwide, women account for nearly two-thirds of all community health workers. In higher-income countries, the study found, education equality actually seemed to benefit men's life expectancy more. It was linked to a narrowing in the traditional gender gap in life expectancy, because men made more gains. Pinho-Gomes explained it this way: Improvements in gender equality, which usually start in education, initially benefit women more, as their basic health and living standards improve. But once a society achieves a certain level of gender equality not only in education, but economically and politically there are systemic changes that may actually benefit men's health and life expectancy even more. Oftentimes, Davis noted, women's empowerment is cast as being about women only, to the detriment of men. But as these findings show, she said, supporting women "will benefit all of us." More information The World Health Organization has more on women's health. SOURCES: Cat Pinho-Gomes, MD, MPH, DPhil, honorary research fellow, George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Sheila Davis, DNP, chief executive officer, Partners in Health, Boston; PLOS Global Public Health, March 6, 2023, online MONDAY, March 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- People with schizophrenia have an increased risk for an emergency department visit for interpersonal violence during the perinatal period, according to a study published online March 6 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association. Kelly Leslie, M.D., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues conducted a population-based cohort study involving 1,802,645 pregnant people, 4,470 of whom had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, to compare the risk for an emergency department visit for interpersonal violence in pregnancy or within one year postpartum. The researchers found that 3.1 and 0.4 percent of those with and without schizophrenia, respectively, had a perinatal emergency department visit for interpersonal violence, for a relative risk of 6.88 and an adjusted relative risk of 3.44. When calculated separately for the pregnancy period and the first year postpartum, results were similar (adjusted relative risks, 3.47 and 3.45, respectively). Pregnant people with schizophrenia were as likely as those without schizophrenia to be screened for interpersonal violence (74.3 versus 73.8 percent), and they were more likely to report it (10.2 versus 2.4 percent). Schizophrenia was associated with an increased risk for a perinatal emergency department visit for interpersonal violence among patients who did not self-report interpersonal violence (4.0 versus 0.4 percent). "The majority of people, both with and without schizophrenia, are screened for interpersonal violence during pregnancy," Leslie said in a statement. "This suggests there are many opportunities for health care providers to intervene and prevent harm to these patients and their children." MONDAY, March 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- After receiving a warning letter from Republican attorneys general in 20 states, Walgreens said it does not plan to distribute abortion pills in those states -- even in the ones where abortion is still legal. The letter warned the company it could face legal consequences if it sold the abortion medication in their states. The company responded to each attorney general, telling them it would not sell abortion pills by mail or in stores in those states, NBC News reported. "This is a very complex and in-flux area of the law, and we are taking that into account as we seek certification to dispense mifepristone," Fraser Engerman, Walgreens senior director of external relations, told NBC News. "We are not dispensing mifepristone at this time. We intend to become a certified pharmacy under the program; however, we will only dispense in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do if we are certified." Many other pharmacies were also sent letters but did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Those were Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, and Walmart. The attorneys general who sent the letter were in states where abortion is illegal, including Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia, as well as states where abortion is still legal, such as Alaska, Florida, Iowa, and Montana, NBC News reported. "We emphasize that it is our responsibility as State Attorneys General to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in our states," the letter said. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said on Facebook that he wants to ensure "that pharmacies throughout the nation aren't subverting state and federal statute to ship abortion pills in the mail," according to NBC News. More than half of U.S. abortions in 2020 were completed by medication instead of surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that advocates for abortion access. While the abortion pills are legal in 37 states, in 15 of those states, they must be prescribed by a doctor rather than other health workers, NBC News reported. The University of Montanas provost will be leaving her position at the end of the semester to spearhead a new higher education initiative. Though shes leaving the provosts office, Pardis Mahdavi will continue to expand educational opportunities for UM and other universities as executive director for the Networked University, an initiative that seeks to build opportunities for universities to collaborate and utilize their strengths. Were all better off if we kind of do our things well, but collaborate across disciplines, Mahdavi said on Monday. No one up until now had thought about kind of going up in elevation a bit and doing this at the national level. I also think theres something to be said for this very significant and needed change in higher education to come from the Rocky Mountain West, not the coasts. The first three universities to collaborate in the partnership include UM, the University of Washington and Northern Arizona University. It has been terrific to form a partnership with Dr. Mahdavi, UM President Seth Bodnar said in a statement. She is a bold leader and transformative thinker. I am excited to work with her in this new role to enhance and drive collaboration to best meet our students needs. Through the partnership, students will be able to enroll in online courses and engage with learning opportunities offered by participating campuses. Eventually, the initiative will offer joint degrees between campuses. We are not doing a service to this next generation if were not creating legible pathways for them to be able to engage in the world and create the world around them that they want to see, Mahdavi said. The goal of the initiative is to dissolve the rigid silos of higher education and promote interdisciplinary training to better prepare students for the unique challenges of today, which is similar to the work Mahdavi took on in her time as UMs provost. After joining Main Hall this past summer, Mahdavi spearheaded an ambitious academic renewal project for the university to bolster interdisciplinary opportunities for students and faculty. The first phase of that process will be rolled out at a Board of Regents meeting next week. The efforts that we began here at the University of Montana around interdisciplinary (education) at the college level, we really saw an opportunity to take this nationally, Mahdavi said. Lets be real. No one university can be all things to all people. At the same time each university has unique strengths. As Mahdavis time in the provosts office winds down she says she will miss her partnership with Bodnar as well as her team in Main Hall. Shell also miss spending every single day of my life in Montana, though shell still spend much of her time in Big Sky Country for her new position. As executive director, Mahdavi will head the Networked Universitys coordinating center, and will be based in both Arizona and Montana. The initial funding for the program is $2.1 million, which will support Mahdavis salary as well as a grant writer and project manager. Adrea Lawrence, who is currently the dean of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education, will move into the role as interim provost beginning May 15. Adrea is a thoughtful leader and she has been researching higher education for a very long time, Mahdavi said about Lawrences transition. To have a provost who spent their entire career thinking about pedagogyI think it's great for this institution, especially as we start to tackle things like general education. Having someone like Adrea at the helm, I think helps us. Lawrence said she is eager to continue working with the universitys dedicated and collaborative group of deans and learning from other colleges about how to best serve students. Shes also eager to continue Mahdavis work to restructure academic programs at UM to maximize interdisciplinary opportunities with a birds eye view. The kind of change that we have been talking about is really difficult and it marks a pretty significant transition from the way UM has operated to the way it might operate or could operate, Lawrence said. I think it just takes some time to figure out how to play to our strengths, how to adjust in really volatile times and how to make sure that we are preparing our students for the futures that theyre going to be stepping into. The College of Education is currently considering Associate Dean Dan Lee to replace Lawrences leadership of the program. He is a seasoned administrator, he was a superintendent and a principal in K-12 for a number of years, Lawrence said about Lee. That experience is really important he understands people, he understands how institutions work, he understands the landscape of K-12 right now, particularly in Montana. She added that Lee has also been involved in conversations updating statewide education policy that have been recently opened by the Office of Public Instruction. Bodnar is eager for Lawrence to join the administrators at Main Hall. Dr. Adrea Lawrence has worked tirelessly on behalf of the students and faculty of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education, he said in a statement. As our new provost, I am excited that her leadership and vision will now extend across our entire campus. Lee Enterprises. The Transportation Department said Monday it will roll out a "dashboard" to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost. The announcement comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes. It's the latest salvo in the Biden administration's efforts to clamp down on what it calls "junk fees" and to put pressure on airlines to improve service. The dashboard rewards airlines with a green check if they guarantee that an adult family member can sit next to their young children if seats are available. On Monday, only three of the 10 U.S. airlines listed on the website received a green check: Alaska, American and Frontier. The site also includes links to each airline's customer policies. "Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a release announcing the dashboard. He gave his department credit for pressuring airlines, "and now we're seeing some airlines start to make this common-sense change." Airlines say they try to seat families together, but they have stopped short of making iron-clad promises. This year, several carriers pledged to make changes in their seating policies. Last month, Frontier Airlines said it would automatically seat at least one parent next to any child under 14. Last week, American Airlines updated its customer-service plan with a guarantee that children 14 and under would be seated next to an accompanying adult at no extra cost. United Airlines said it would let families with children under 12 pick adjoining seats at no extra cost starting in early March in certain fare classes. The announcement seemed to fall short of Transportation standards however, because the department issued a notice last July that it intends to ban extra charges to have a family adult sit next to children up to age 13. Jamie Sherman spends her summers walking barley fields. She's the director of the barley breeding program at Montana State University, and she walks the lengthy rows of MSU research farms, looking for the best performing plants. Those that are too tall and falling over don't make the cut. Neither do any infested with disease, or that seed at the wrong time. The breeding program which analyzes some 50,000 barley lines a year seeks to fine-tune barley varieties for growers in Montana by breeding them for drought and disease resistance. Shermans decisions are fast and instinctual. Scanning the crop variations with her eyes, Sherman said the process is almost like an art form one that comes naturally from having done this kind of work for so many years. But Sherman isnt alone in making her breeding decisions. A drone overhead has already scanned the same field Sherman has, and it has a special camera to take measurements that humans cant. The lab, which has used drones to gather data for the past few years, is comparing drone data to human observations. If the drone measurements prove reliable, they could help speed up the breeding process and reduce lab and labor costs. The barley drones are just one use of precision agriculture technology thats gaining steam at MSU right now. Outstanding in its field Using technology to collect data and then using that data for agricultural decision-making is a burgeoning field, and its helping researchers answer questions they couldnt before. But there are still economic and technological barriers limiting the widespread adoption of precision agriculture, and some farmers worry machines will replace them. Researchers don't see it that way if done right, they see it as a way to help them. Shermans lab wants to use drone data to help breed barley with deeper root systems, which can access soil water more efficiently and be more successful in drought. To do that, researchers can measure how much water the plant leaves are giving off as a proxy for soil water. Thats a measurement nearly impossible for a human to do at scale but for a multispectral camera, its a piece of cake. Scott Powell, an environmental spatial analysis professor at MSU, said multispectral images show how a plant reflects light in ways the human eye can't see. The images can help researchers answer more difficult questions about plant health. Essentially, were collecting data across different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the visible bands like red, green and blue that our eyes can see, Powell said. But importantly for crop monitoring, we collect data in the near infrared position of the spectrum, which is non-visible to us, " he said. Healthy, green plants follow a certain spectral signature that researchers can see in the imagery something that changes if a plant becomes stressed. Using that data, researchers can map the variability of plant health across one field. That variability could be related to moisture limitations, nutrient limitations, or differences in soil chemistry, among other factors, Powell said. Math and ag In the past, conventional agriculture treated fields as a single unit, and applied fertilizer and pesticide at one standard rate. But now, researchers can create mathematical models for input application based on differences in plant health in one field. That means data can show which sections, for example, have enough nitrogen in the soil so producers can skip applying fertilizer there and put it in other areas that are under-fertilized. The same logic goes for other chemicals like herbicide and pesticide. Reducing their use saves producers money and reduces environmental damage. Bruce Maxwell, an agroecology professor in the land resources and environmental sciences department at MSU, has been experimenting with different rates of nitrogen on farmland for years. Chuck Merja, a wheat farmer in Cascade County and one of the producers working with Maxwell, said the research has both improved his yields and saved him money. By tracking yield information across his fields for several years, Merja could understand where the low and high yielding areas were. His initial goal was to improve the areas with lower yield. But after several seasons experimenting with different fertilizer rates and seeing no improvement, Merja tried a different approach moving nitrogen he would have put on low yielding areas to high yielding sections instead. There are some areas that are just not going to put out a crop no matter how many resources you throw at them, Merja said. Instead we can put that nitrogen on areas that have a proven high performance. Efficiency in the barley Using resources efficiently is the backbone of precision agriculture. Its also what Maxwell and other researchers are trying to automate, so that farmers dont have to figure out the optimal rate and location for inputs themselves. So much of precision agriculture has gotten focused on new gadgets that we can add to machines to monitor and measure things, but without thinking about exactly what youre measuring and why, Maxwell said. If those fancy gadgets dont help you make better decisions better meaning, you make more money and reduce pollution theyre not useful, he said. Thats why Maxwells team is spearheading technology that can actually help farmers make decisions, rather than just collect data. Feeding the technology years of a fields yield information, input rates and weather conditions allows it to make a predictive model of optimal input rates based on what happened in years past. The more data, the more accurate the model. The whole thing is automated down to the point where it basically spits out a map that says, heres what the optimum would be given the data so far, Maxwell said. But Maxwell said that sometimes when he presents his research, people bring up concerns that automation will cost farmers their jobs. Its important to remember that many farmers have generational knowledge that cant be replaced by machines, Maxwell said. I want to see that traditional knowledge combined with the new approaches, Maxwell said. How people interpret whats happening on their farm and have for years and years through generations has a lot of value. We should be careful not to lose that. Students of technology More and more students at MSU are interested in learning about precision agriculture technology. Some want to gain that expertise so they can integrate tech into their own family farms, said Paul Nugent, an agricultural engineering professor whos working on creating a precision agriculture minor for MSU. Nugent and his colleague Jasmine Neupane joined MSU last spring to build the precision agriculture program. This year, theyve offered four classes covering the basics of the field, and are waiting to hear student feedback before finalizing the minor. There are still other courses that dial into the specifics of precision agriculture, like one that teaches students how to build and fly their own drones. Mike Walach, a professor in agriculture technology who focuses on aviation, said in order to do useful work in precision agriculture, people first must learn how to collect data. The most challenging part of the field is then knowing what to do with that massive amount of data, Walach said. Processing speed is another obstacle. While much improved from just five years ago, it can still take hours or even days to process the thousands of images taken by drones. Thats one of the barriers to a lot of precision agriculture just dealing with that data quick enough for it to be useful, Walach said. Drones at a cost And, while the cost of drones and cameras has dropped dramatically in recent years, it's still expensive. The high-end consumer and low-end professional drones can cost anywhere between $2,500 and $6,000, depending on its camera and other components, Walach said. Users also typically need a subscription to processing software, which can cost thousands. Were not at the point of huge adoption of a lot of this tech, Walach said. I think at the end of the day, the question is what is it going to do for me? Will I be able to save money? Will it increase my yield? There has to be a benefit. Otherwise, its just another gadget. Aside from using drones to monitor crop health, some MSU researchers are experimenting with technology to better understand animal behavior and livestock interactions with predators. Having a clearer picture of how cattle use landscapes and rangeland helps ranchers manage herds more efficiently, said Tim DelCurto, a professor in range beef cattle and management at MSU. DelCurto said that new technology is helping researchers answer questions that they couldnt before like how grazing patterns are affected by the weather and which animals in a herd eat the most supplemental feed. What were finding is that a lot of our previous assumptions about animal behavior were wrong, DelCurto said. Livestock are equipped with GPS collars that send out a geo-stamped location every five minutes. Researchers are also putting accelerometers into cattle ear tags essentially a Fitbit for cows that can track their movements and activity, DelCurto said. That technology can also use cameras to monitor what livestock are eating and even their interactions with predators. Please fence me in Virtual fencing is another upcoming technology GPS collars restricted to defined fencing areas could someday replace barbed wire, DelCurto said. While the upfront cost is high, the price for virtual fencing is comparable to traditional fences over time, because paying for additions or repairs wouldnt be necessary. We could someday be in a situation where a rancher could sit in his office and move cattle to new pasture, DelCurto said. Still others are focused on improving existing technology, like cameras that capture predator movement in real time for ranchers. Since 2020, MSU wildlife biologist Jared Beaver has been working to improve game cameras so that they only capture helpful images. Thats because with current game cameras, 90% of the images are empty with no animals effectively useless to ranchers, unless they have time to sort through thousands of photos. But Beavers team has created an automated camera that only captures images when a predator is nearby, automatically alerting the rancher in real time so they can respond quickly. The camera is still in its early stages, and the team is working to improve the automation so it can categorize the type of predator and trigger a response. To Beaver, the goal of new technology is to improve existing management strategies, not replace them. Thats really what drives my work when there seems to be a need for it, Beaver said. None of this is meant to replace the other tools. Our toolbox is not finite. Its really a question of, how can we grow that toolbox to make the current tools we have that much more effective. Arnold Schwarzenegger has one word for those who exhibit hate for others: losers. Schwarzenegger, 75, said a tour of Auschwitz months ago spurred his message, and he described feeling a "tremendous weight" that reminded him of the "horrors" that occurred at the concentration camp where Nazi soldiers killed around 1 million Jewish people and other groups during the Holocaust. The former governor of California made a statement Monday in a more than 12-minute video on YouTube addressing those going down a path of hate in a recent uptick in racist and antisemitic ideals. "Throughout history, hate has always been the easy path, the path of least resistance," Schwarzenegger said. "Let me be clear, you will not find success at the end of the road. You will not find fulfillment or happiness because hate burns fast and bright." Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks out against anti-Semitism and hate in new YouTube video. The "Terminator" actor used his father, a Nazi soldier, and the other "broken men" who he grew up with around in Austria after World War II, as examples of the path of hateful rhetoric. "They fell for a horrible loser ideology," he said. "They were lied to and misled into a path that ended in misery." Through his experience, Schwarzenegger empathized with others who fall "into a trap of prejudice" through how they grew up or through "big tech's algorithms that push you to the extreme." But he said those paths are for the "weak." "It breaks you," he said. "That's why there's never been a successful movement based on hate." 'Solidarity is the answer': Amid a rise in hate crimes, Black and Asian Americans are standing together Within the last decade, hate crimes in the U.S. have increased. In 2020, hate crime reports spiked to their highest level in 12 years, largely triggered by a surge in crimes against Black and Asian Americans, according to an FBI report released in August 2021. The number of hate crimes reported in 2021 decreased by nearly 1,000, but only a fraction of agencies reported numbers during that year. Story continues More: Over 7,000 hate crimes were reported to the FBI in 2021. Here's why that data is flawed. "I don't want you to be a loser, I don't want you to be weak," Schwarzenegger said. Schwarzenegger shared his message on Twitter and encouraged his followers to share it with others. 'You can stop this war': Arnold Schwarzenegger makes impassioned plea to Putin, Russians "With hate and anti-semitism on the rise, many of you may know someone who needs to hear this. Do me a favor and share it with them, gently," he wrote. "Remember the goal is getting them to listen, and if it feels like an attack, the listening part of their brain will turn off." 'Screw your freedom': Arnold Schwarzenegger calls anti-maskers 'schmucks' in powerful rant The former governor has spoken out on humanitarian issues in the past, including telling anti-maskers "screw your freedom" during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic and speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop this war" during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Contributing: Jenna Ryu, Hannah Yasharoff, Grace Hauck, Christine Fernando and N'dea Yancey-Bragg This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arnold Schwarzenegger denounces antisemitism: 'Loser ideology' [Source] Two people have been arrested in connection with a suspected anti-Asian attack in Queens, New York. The two alleged suspects, Natalie Plaza, 18, and Elijah Fernandez, 21, were arrested on hate crime and assault charges on Monday night, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). On Thursday, Plaza, Fernandez and another male suspect, who is still at large, allegedly yelled anti-Asian slurs at Cecille Lai, a 44-year-old Filipino woman, and Kyle, her 23-year-old son, from a white Acura SUV just after 2:30 p.m. near Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. According to Lai, she and her son got a lift to the 7 train in Corona. As they exited the vehicle, the driver behind them honked aggressively even though the light was red. More from NextShark: This is my country: Woman filmed yelling racist insults at Sydney cafe worker The female attacker allegedly shouted "ugly Asian" at them and threw water at Lai, to which she responded by throwing her leftover food back at the woman. The woman and the two men then got out of their vehicle to punch and kick both victims in their heads. "She jumped out of the car and I saw the driver come out of the car," Lai told ABC 7. "But the last thing I remember is her punching me. After that, I don't remember." More from NextShark: Asian-Owned Nail Salons Across America are Making Masks and Donating Supplies The suspects then fled the scene westbound on Roosevelt Avenue in the white SUV. According to Lai, they also tried to hit her with their car as they were leaving. First responders took the victims to hospitals, where they were treated for their head injuries, according to police. Lai suffered a concussion, scratches on her eye and bruising on her body, while Kyle suffered a skull fracture. He will reportedly need an MRI to check if there is bleeding in his brain. More from NextShark: Vietnamese language courses offered at Ivy Leagues Brown and Princeton for the first time ever "I can't even sleep," Lai said. "When it turns quiet, it's traumatizing." Story continues Lai, who works as a chef, is planning to hold a rally later this week to speak out against hate crimes. The NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating the incident. More from NextShark: 10 Men Are Taking Alexander Wang to Court Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct Individuals with any information in relation to this case are urged to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. It is a common scene Mr. Bennett is lying in a hospital after some routine testing when a CNA enters the room to take his vitals. This scene, however, is not playing out in hospital or medical facility but at the Foothills Higher Education Center in Morganton. And Mr. Bennett isnt even human, but a manikin. Manikins are training simulators that simulate real-life situations nursing students might one day encounter. They are one of the many training tools the Western Piedmont Community College Nursing Program uses to make sure its graduates are ready for the challenges the field will throw at them in the future. According to Beverly Berry, dean of health and human services for WPCC, the training simulators mimic actual medical conditions in a controlled environment. The simulators can mimic heartbeats, blood pressure, body temperature changes and more. Some of them even sweat. Pediatric Hal is one of the most advanced simulators we have, said Ladonya Edwards, simulation lab coordinator. He is anatomically correct he has bowel sounds, heart sounds, lung sounds, pupil reflexes and he can speak. There is even one that can simulate childbirth. In addition to the simulation lab, the nursing program offers a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to its students. And Berry said the results speak for themselves. Our job placement, 100%, weve had that for several years, she said. Our nursing program has around a 93% pass rate on the NCLEX, thats very good. Graduates of the program earn an Associate Degree and eligibility to take the NCLEX. Passing that test makes them a registered nurse and opens up the job opportunities and competitive pay Berry said draws many students into the field. North Carolina data shows that around $51,000 per year is the low end, $72,000 is the median and $95,000 is the upper end for RNs, she said. There is a great earning potential, well above a livable wage. Berry said WPCCs research shows the average Registered Nurse in Burke County makes around $28 per hour. She said one reason the pay is so good right now is the need has never been greater. For North Carolina, we have projected between 2021 and 2031, there will be 203,200 projected openings for registered nurses, Berry said. Even though there is 100% placement, there is still a great need for students to go into nursing. Cindy Davies, WPCC vice president of academic affairs and workforce development, believes the need will only increase in the near future. With the baby boomers retiring right now, over the next 10-20 years, they are going to need more care, Davies said. So there is a big need for healthcare workers right now, nursing in particular. While WPCC nursing program graduates have no difficulty finding a job, the program is challenging. Berry said there are pre-requisites students must meet before being accepted and the course work is rigorous. There is a test called the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) which predicts success in the program, Berry said. (Prospective students) also have to have some science courses, usually a biology or, preferably, at least one semester of anatomy or physiology. She said students also are required to have their CNA-1. Students need to know if this is really for them, she said. The college doesnt leave students to their own devices, however. Instead, WPCC offers several programs to help prospective students prepare for the program from prep classes for the TEAS to a partnership with Burke County Public Schools. The partnership, Career and College Promise, allows prospective nursing students to dually enroll and begin the program while still in high school. (They) can get a lot of those general education courses out of the way and be more ready to start the nursing program directly out of high school, Berry said. The extra help does not end when a student is accepted either. When students apply here, theyll be matched with a nursing faculty advisor that helps them to plan the best options, Berry said. Portions of the training also can double as opportunities for students to network with potential future employers. Berry said nursing students participate in clinical experience in hospitals and clinics in and around Burke County while they are in the program. Beyond providing students with valuable real-world experience, these clinicals also are a great way to make connections and land a job while still completing their training. Theyre writing their resume when theyre in clinic, she said. Students get exposure to multiple clinical settings and, often, they can get their foot in the door. One thing todays nursing students wont have to grapple with, though, is waiting lists. In the past, there were often waiting lists for some of these programs, Davies said. People might be thinking its hard to get in but, as far as competing against a lot of other people, were just not seeing the same numbers as before COVID. Berry said the program can accept up to 65 students each year, and that limit is only in place because of the number of students who typically apply. If we need to go to more than 65, we would, said Berry. Wed look to hire more faculty and expand that number if we got the interest. She said the need is so great, WPCC and its industry partners like UNC Health Blue Ridge and Broughton Hospital will do what they need to do to train as many nurses as possible if the programs starts seeing more interest. We recognize that we have a responsibility to the community, said Davies. Were all going to need good healthcare and we are working very closely with our workforce partners trying to get as many people who have that passion connected as possible. By Alex Pologruto | Mar 29, 2023 MURRAY, Ky. The Murray State University College of Humanities and Fine Arts (CHFA) has produced a high rate of recent graduates being accepted into a law school post-graduation. The students from the department who have applied for law school have seen a 100 percent success rate of getting into a school with a majority of these graduates receiving scholarships. Dr. Kathy Callahan, Chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Drew Seib, Chair of the Department of Political Science and Sociology, have aided these students in preparing them best for their future law school and bar endeavors. The Department of Political Science and Sociology in the CHFA offers a pre-law program with a focus in political science combining a political science major with a pre-law minor. With the pre-law area, the undergraduate pre-law students work towards two objectives: admission to law school and to complete an undergraduate degree which will help students compete in law school. Former pre-law students have gone on to a variety of law schools, including University of Louisville, St. Louis University and University of Kentucky. Seib highlights recent alumni of the program and their current endeavors: Chynnique Ross, class of '17 Desiree Isaac, 15: She currently serves as the University Attorney and Title IX Coordinator at Shawnee State University. Chynnique Ross, 17: She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago law school and is currently an Associate at Elizabeth L. Carter, Esq., LLC. She is also the founder of thelightlaw.org/. Katy King, 17: Graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Belmont College of Law in 2021. She is currently a personal injury attorney and her biography can be found at griffithinjurylaw.com/bio/katelynn-king-personal-injury-attorney.cfm. Abby (Rock) Klaber, 20: Currently in her third year of law school at the University of Louisville School of Law. "Yes, recently of the graduates in our pre-law program who have applied for law school, 100 percent of them got into law school somewhere, said Seib. Many of our students do go on to get into one of their top choices, even with scholarships. We have quite a few alums in law school now who are receiving 80 percent plus tuition scholarships and others with smaller scholarships. In addition, it's worth noting that LSAT scores for students in our program have been going up. This I'm sure also helps with the acceptance rate and scholarships. Callahan highlights recent alumni of the CHFA and their current endeavors: Nathaniel Humphrey, class of 21 Joseph Tondini, 18: Completed law school at Southern Illinois University in 2022 Will True, 18: Clerking for the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court and attended law school at Belmont University Nathaniel Humphrey, 21: As an undergraduate student, he served as an intern to United States Congressman Brett Guthrie in Washington, D.C. and currently is attending law school at Northern Kentucky University Dalton York, 21: On-air personality on the Western Kentucky University NPR Station in Bowling Green and will be attending Brandeis Law School at the University of Louisville in the fall of 2023 Nicholas (Nick) Jackson, 17: Previously worked as an admissions officer at several universities and now will be attending law school at the University of Louisville or the University of Kentucky Eric Gray, 19: Completed a Master of Arts degree in History at Murray State and now will be attending the University of Memphis for law school Chancie Coleman, 12: Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Murray State and is now an attorney in Murray, Kentucky My degree in History from Murray State was a vital component to both my acceptance into law school and academic success throughout my three years of legal education, said True. History allowed me to develop my writing skills while studying a discipline that naturally sparks my interest. I believe having that opportunity was a contributing factor for my competitive GPA, which is often one of the most important criteria used by law schools in making admissions decisions. Additionally, having already extensively written throughout my time at Murray State prepared me for the rigorous writing requirements at law school. "Will True is a real star, said Callahan. All of our students have been successful when applying to law school. Joseph Tondini recently graduated from Southern Illinois University, William True recently graduated from Belmont and Nathanial Humphrey is currently a law student at Northern Kentucky University." We have several notable recent alumni, said Seib. One in particular, Cole Manion, will be clerking for Justice Sarah Campbell of the Tennessee Supreme Court. It sounds like Murray State has multiple alumni clerking for the Tennessee State Supreme Court! Others have served as summer associates with law firms." For more information on the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the pre-law program please visit murraystate.edu/CHFA or call 270-809-6937. TUESDAY, March 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Flu kills more than 500,000 people globally each year and leads to heart problems for many others. Publicizing those potential cardiac ills may spur folks to get their annual flu vaccine, researchers say. Danish researchers who studied vaccination messaging methods said the two best ways to get people to roll up their sleeves were either a simple reminder or by noting the link between contracting the flu and future heart problems. As cardiologists, its very interesting that just telling people that we can also prevent other downstream issues like cardiovascular outcomes was what worked the best of all the nudge strategies even better than the reminder, which we expected would be positive, said study leader Dr. Tor Biering-Srensen. He is a professor in the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials at Copenhagen University Hospital. A lot of studies have shown that people who get the flu vaccine have a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes, and there may be protective effects [for the heart] that are not specific to flu infection," Biering-Srensen continued in a news release. The flu vaccine may have broader benefits that we dont yet know. The research involved nearly 965,000 Danish citizens aged 65 and older. Half received one of nine different electronic letters recommending a flu shot while the other half got no message. The other messages, which included a clear recommendation from a leading health authority to get vaccinated, did not result in a greater number of shots, the investigators found. The goal was to influence vaccinations by Jan. 1, the ideal time to ensure protection, according to the researchers, though vaccinations can continue throughout the flu season. The vaccination rate was found to be higher in people who received a letter about heart benefit than in those who received no letter: 81% compared to 80%. For the simple reminder, vaccination was 80.85% compared to 80.12% for no letter. The heart message had a greater increase in vaccine uptake among the participants who had not been vaccinated for influenza in the prior season. Biering-Srensen thinks these increases in flu vaccine uptake might have been even more pronounced in countries where vaccination rates are low. In the United States, for example, only 49% of U.S. adults got a flu shot in the 2021-2022 influenza season, whereas about 80% of Danes get their shot. An annual flu shot is widely recommended to help prevent infection, lessen illness severity and reduce complications. Figuring out ways to increase the percentage of people who get the flu [shot] and other vaccines is important, Biering-Srensen said. Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and for flu, specifically, many countries lag well behind the [World Health Organization] recommendation for over 75% of the population to be vaccinated. The flu vaccine is free in Demark, so results could be different if cost were a barrier, the study authors noted. The study was presented at a recent meeting of the American College of Cardiology and the World Heart Federation, in New Orleans. It was also published online March 5 in The Lancet. A pre-specified trial analysis was published online in the journal Circulation. The study was funded by Sanofi, which makes flu vaccines. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on flu vaccines. SOURCE: American College of Cardiology, news release, May 3, 2023 ST. HELENA As St. Helenas only full-fledged tire shop, it would be easy for OK Tire Store to slack off and take advantage of a captive audience. But Sean Wilson, who bought the business in 2001 and recently moved it to a new custom-built shop, says thats not in my blood. 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. This community has supported us, and I want to give them the best service I can, Wilson told the Star during a typically busy day, his hands still dirty from helping out in the service bay. Theres also a practical downside of doing shoddy or overpriced work in a small town. As a St. Helena native, hed be letting down people hes known since kindergarten. We grew up here and we face these people every day, said his wife, Carice Fellion Wilson. Were committed to this town. The feeling is mutual, judging from the almost unanimously positive reviews on Google and Yelp and the number of satisfied customers whove urged the Star to feature the business. (One of those customers was the Stars editor, who got a screw in his tire during the recent storms and got it patched on five minutes' notice for a minimal fee.) In December the store moved one block west to 1025 Dowdell Lane, in a new shop Wilson designed and built. Now he can finally live out his childhood dream of working on cars in his own custom-built shop. My biggest dream was to drive a race car, but the next biggest dream after that was working on cars, Wilson said. From a young age I was always taking things apart and trying to figure out how to put them back together. He has the backing of his family, including daughter Morgan who handles front counter duties, and son Gannon who works on cars. Carice used to be a regular presence too, but these days she devotes more time to child care, which she says is her passion. She recalled the early days after she and Sean bought the business, when they were living with her parents and surviving off the income she earned at Cherrystone Child Care Center. Weve worked for everything we have, said Fellion, who was also a reading specialist in the St. Helena Unified School District. Wilson doesnt keep track, but he estimates that his staff he, Morgan, Gannon and two mechanics work on at least 25 or 30 cars per day. Tires account for about 75% of the work, but OK also does oil changes, alignment, brakes, shocks, struts and tune-ups. It restores old cars too Land Cruisers are Wilsons favorite. Were busy all the time. Having Morgan at the front counter is a big help because it frees me up to help the guys out there, he said, pointing to the service bay. Its a juggling act, and it takes a team to do it all. High commercial rent, online shopping and the rise of second-home ownership have challenged St. Helena businesses that cater primarily to locals. But everybody needs tires, and Wilson said he hasnt seen business fluctuate too much. Customers who live out of town and commute to St. Helena for winery and vineyard management jobs have made up for any decrease in the number of full-time St. Helenans, he said. Rent isnt a factor anymore either now that Wilson is his own landlord, although Fellion admitted that they had to mortgage their house to pay for the project. Wilson hopes people take the new shop as a sign that OK is here to stay. If it wasnt for the community we wouldnt be here, owning our own place that we built from scratch, Wilson said. We owe everything to them. American Canyon legal wars continue over millions of dollars in anticipated school fees tied to the Watson Ranch housing development, with the latest twist being the Napa Valley Unified School District's plan to sue the city. 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. The Watson Ranch developer last fall sued the school district. The lawsuit said payment of fees required under a 2016 school facilities funding agreement between the parties hinges on the district building schools to serve Watson Ranch residents. Meanwhile, the district claims falling enrollment means a Watson Ranch elementary school and a second American Canyon middle school called for by that agreement aren't needed. But the developer still owes school fees. American Canyon is caught in the middle. The school district wants the city to withhold building permits for Watson Ranch until the developer pays school fees. Yet Watson Ranch homes and apartments are sprouting. On Feb. 23 in closed session, the district's board of education voted unanimously to sue American Canyon. It also intends to file a cross-complaint against the Watson Ranch developer and an affordable housing developer in Watson Ranch. As of Monday morning, the school district had yet to file the legal papers in Napa County Superior Court. But both the city and school district are already making their cases in the court of public opinion. American Canyon's Watson Ranch has some sights to behold The Napa Valley's largest development in decades includes Lemos Pointe, which will include 231 modular units and 186 apartments. American Canyon loves and appreciates the students, parents, teachers and faculty in our American Canyon schools and we know the districts actions do not reflect our communitys values, the city said in a long message posted on its website. The Napa school district's superintendent, Rosanna Mucetti, responded with a message to American Canyon school families and staff. (The city of American Canyon also shared Mucetti's statement on its website.) First and foremost, the City of American Canyon is clearly violating the law and prioritizing the needs of developers over the needs of children in the community, Mucetti wrote in part. In other words, not only are legal battles brewing, but also a battle for the hearts and minds of American Canyon residents. At its center is Watson Ranch, which is to become Napa County's largest new community in decades. This project in American Canyon is to someday include more than 1,000 homes, a hotel, parks and a town center. The thought in 2016 was a community this big would need a school. The Watson Ranch developer and school district reached an agreement that goes beyond the usual school fees. Watson Ranch would provide 10 acres ready for development for the district to buy for an elementary school. It would pay about $20 million in school fees to help build the school and also a second American Canyon middle school. Theyre going to build great homes, theyre going to provide a place where we can have a fantastic school and they provided their fair share of funding, the district's then-superintendent Patrick Sweeney said. By 2021, things had changed. The school district was experiencing falling enrollment that it didnt expect Watson Ranch growth to overcome. It jettisoned plans for the elementary school and middle school mentioned in that 2016 agreement. Napa County's population continues to shrink Napa County saw its population fall 1% in 2021, according to the state. American Canyon I LLC, the Watson Ranch developer, took the position that fees paid under the 2016 agreement are to be used exclusively for those schools. In August 2022, the district sent American Canyon a letter asking the city not to issue Watson Ranch building permits unless the developer showed proof of payment for school fees. The city declined. School districts rely on developer fees to build and improve facilities to accommodate new students generated by development, the district told the Napa Valley Register in October. "At a bare minimum, the developer is legally required to pay its statutory developers fees," the district statement said. "Under the Education Code, developers must pay their statutory developer fees prior to issuance of building permits for square footage on which the fees are imposed." City Attorney William Ross responded to the school district last year. He said the city usually refrains from issuing building permits until developers show they have paid school fees. But in this case, the district furnished the city with the 2016 agreement as evidence of compliance. The 2016 agreement between the school district and developer, and a separate development agreement between the developer and city, give the developer certain vested rights, Ross wrote to the district. Stated differently, under the current scenario, the city is both statutorily and contractually obligated to proceed with its obligation to process the project, including the project entitlements and permits, Ross wrote to the district. The courts may have to sort everything out. Meanwhile, both the city and school district are staking out their ground. Although American Canyon is not a party to the school agreement and has done everything it can do to resolve the dispute, we are deeply saddened to now begin preparing to defend ourselves against the district, the citys website message says. Mucetti and the district see things differently. The district simply wants the city to follow the legal process and ensure that developers pay their fair share before they are issued permits, she wrote to American Canyon school families and staff. One question is how all of this will affect relationships between the school district and the city. The two parties still must work together. For example, City Manager Jason Holley said the district asked American Canyon to consider rezoning some district properties so the district can generate money. "At least on the city side, we're going to do our best to maintain a level of professionalism and accord during this unfortunate process," Holley said on Monday, adding the city will be truthful and transparent. He added the developer of the Lemos Pointe apartments in Watson Ranch, which the district has also said it would sue, has tried to pay school fees. It resorted to sending a $723,000 check made out to the school district to the city, which was received on Monday. The city will mail the check to the district. "And we hope to put all of this behind us soon enough, because we have important matters in front of us," Holley said. School district officials released comments on Tuesday. "We value our relationship with the City of American Canyon a great deal and continue to work with them," the statement said. "However, they issued building permits without ensuring that developers paid their required fees first fees needed to help keep our facilities warm, safe, and dry for students and maintain our existing level of service." The district has tried on multiple occasions to remedy this situation and collect the fees as outlined in its board-approved Developer Fee Study. However, the developer has indicated that it wants to pay a lower amount, the statement said. An American Canyon High School teacher was arrested on campus Thursday after hours in connection with felony counts of kidnapping and sexual battery in Dixon. 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. Stephen Michael Pult-Vega, 52, was later booked into the Solano County jail. According to a notice from the Napa Valley Unified School District, Pult-Vega has since been placed on administrative leave. "We take the safety and care of our students very seriously. While we cooperate with law enforcement, we will continue to provide you with as much information as we can as soon as we can," read the district's message to the American Canyon High School community. "Safety remains our top priority. Anyone with questions or concerns about the investigation is asked is asked to contact Dixon Police directly." A Dixon Police official confirmed the arrest Friday, saying the alleged incident reportedly occurred at a Dixon motel and has no other Dixon link. Though no details were released, the official emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to anyone in or around Dixon. The only connection to American Canyon High is the suspect's employment there, the official added, and no students, minors or other staff are involved. Pult-Vega was a fine arts instructor at the school, teaching art and digital photography, according to a 2013 story in the American Canyon Eagle, a former sister publication to the Napa Valley Register. The matter remains under investigation. A discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit filed against the popular Napa heirloom bean company Rancho Gordo by a former worker is set to go to trial on Tuesday. 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. In the lawsuit, filed in July 2021, plaintiff Martha Martinez alleges that Rancho Gordo discriminated against her on the basis of her race, sex and pregnancy, in violation of Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act. The lawsuit also accuses Rancho Gordo of retaliation and wrongful termination. Martinez worked as a shipping clerk which involves packaging bean shipments at the company for about five months, from November 2019 to February 2020; she was placed there by a temporary staffing agency, Alkar Human Resources. Martinez is Salvadoran, and during the time of her employment, Martinezs co-workers and supervisor who are largely of Mexican descent made derogatory and offensive comments about Salvadorans, the complaint alleges. That includes, translated from Spanish, Salvadorans are very horny and Salvadorans they are like whores. They like to take husbands away from others, according to the complaint. The complaint also alleges that Martinez learned she was pregnant on February 2020 and told people at the company, though the company contends in the court documents that she didnt tell managers. About two days later, Martinez told warehouse manager Mayra Barajas she couldnt come to work that day because of a family emergency. Barajas then told her Rancho Gordo wouldnt need her anymore because business was running slow. A few days later, Martinez texted Barajas requesting a meeting regarding the reason for her termination, and informed Barajas she believed she was wrongly terminated because of her pregnancy, according to the complaint. Barajas told Martinez she wasnt aware of the pregnancy, congratulated her, and told her shed been absent too frequently. The company, in other court records, has said that no one involved in the decision to remove Martinez was aware she was pregnant. But the complaint alleges that Rancho Gordos explanation for her dismissal was a false, pre-textual reason masking a discriminatory motive. Attorneys representing Martinez, and those representing Rancho Gordo, didnt respond to requests for comment before the Napa Valley Register went to press. According to court documents, Rancho Gordo contends that Martinez had been requested among other extra workers from the temp agency leading up to the busy holiday season. The documents say that holiday season winds down in February and March, and therefore results in cancellations of those assignments. Rancho Gordo ended all temporary assignments in February 2020, according to the documents. As for the offensive comments about Salvadorans, Rancho Gordo contends that they only happened on one day. And because Martinez didnt report the alleged harassment to management, the company wasnt put on notice to respond to them, according to the documents. The legal battle so far has been contentious. Martinez' attorneys earlier this year essentially accused Rancho Gordo of failing to preserve evidence text messages related to the case after receiving a letter telling them to preserve evidence in 2020, and a judge issued a $2,660 sanction against Rancho Gordo in response, the documents say. Martinez is seeking damages for lost wages and general damages, as well as punitive damages against Rancho Gordo in an amount sufficient to punish and deter defendant's conduct, and to set an example for others. The original lawsuit also included claims of wage theft that have now been dismissed. It also named Alkar Human Resources as a defendant, but those claims have been settled, according to the court records. Based on Yajome Street in Napa, Rancho Gordo opened in 2003 when its founder Steve Sando, then a produce seller at the Yountville farmers' market, began offering a wide variety of unusual and heirloom bean varieties, eventually winning praise from chefs such as Thomas Keller of The French Laundry. Napa Valley Register city editor Howard Yune contributed to this report. DUBLIN, Calif. In gripping and heart-wrenching testimony, the families of three East Bay homicide victims including a 9-year-old girl abducted and killed described their final memories of their loved ones from the witness stand and ended a three-decade wait to confront the man accused of murdering them. 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. One witness, the best friend of the 9-year-old Hayward girl, stared into the eyes of accused Bay Area serial killer David Emery Misch. They remind me of the kidnappers eyes, she testified. At the end of the two-month preliminary hearing in January for Misch, an Alameda County judge found that there was enough evidence to advance the case to the next stage, giving the green light for prosecutors to proceed to trial. No trial date has yet been set, and Misch already serving life for murdering a woman in 1989 has no reason to hurry things along, other than his expressed disgust with the food at the Santa Rita Jail. Misch is charged with three counts of murder. Two related to the Feb. 2, 1986, killings of best friends Michelle Xavier, 18, and Jennifer Duey, 20, whose nude bodies were found in a remote area off Mill Creek Road in Fremont, a grisly scene that suggested a sexual motive and that some sort of struggle had occurred just before Duey was fatally shot and Xavier was stabbed to death. The third murder charge pertains to an incident 2 1/2 years later, when a 9-year-old girl named Michaela Garecht was abducted in callous fashion by a man who baited her by moving her scooter as she bought candy at a Hayward convenience store, then grabbed her when she went to retrieve it. But while ordering Misch to stand trial, Judge Paul Delucchi dropped a bombshell and said he believed that when it came to the killings of Xavier and Duey, he doubted that Misch acted alone. Delucchi honed in on a particular suspect a former police officer and said he got chills up and down my spine when a retired Fremont investigator recounted his interview with the suspect. The former officer worked in Fremont and Union City as a reserve in the late 1970s, before brief stints as a lawman in Seaside and Modesto, state records show. His brother was dating a relative of Dueys. I think he was up to his eyeballs in this thing, I really do, Delucchi said, referring to the second suspect. He added, (Xavier and Duey) wouldnt have gone up there with David Misch. They didnt know David Misch from Adam. They would go up there with somebody they recognized and trust. In 1989, Misch was arrested and charged with using a 12-inch knife to fatally stab 36-year-old Margaret Ball. He was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to life. It wasnt until 2018 that Misch was charged in Xavier and Dueys killings and, two years later, prosecutors charged him with murdering Michaela. Until recently, he faced special circumstances allegations that made him eligible for life without parole, but newly elected District Attorney Pamela Price, who ran on a platform opposing death or life-without-parole sentences, dismissed them. The preliminary hearing was akin to an unearthing of a murder mystery time capsule, and it raised almost as many questions as it answered. Dozens of witnesses were called to the stand, most of whom were asked to recall decades-old memories of murder investigations, their final interactions with the victims, or the wrenching process of learning their loved ones had been killed. Michelle was becoming my confidant and my best friend, her mother, Christine Xavier, said on a witness stand, before describing how she learned her daughter had been killed. I just remember screaming, and neighbors came walking in, just walking in the house, and so Im kind of blank after that. Forensic evidence links Misch to both crimes, prosecutors say. Despite the litany of witnesses, Mischs arrest almost entirely boils down to this: DNA evidence from underneath Dueys fingernails was matched to him by a margin in the quintillions. And partial hand and fingerprints from Michaelas scooter while initially thought to be unusable evidence were determined by a technician to have come from Misch as well. (Duey) was not docile or someone who would succumb to being sexually assaulted without a fight, Deputy District Attorney Colleen McMahon, who handled the preliminary hearing, argued in court. McMahon said the evidence indicated Duey fought off her attacker and was making a run for it when she was shot from behind, but that she ended up eventually solving her own murder by fighting back. Michaela lived on Seneca Street in Hayward, a residential area full of families with children. One day, she went across the street and knocked on the door of a family that had just moved into the area, explaining that she noticed a girl her age lived there and was wondering if they could be friends. It worked. The two became inseparable, and on Nov. 19, 1988, they decided they were going to be twins for the day. They coordinated their outfits and when they got hungry, decided to ride to the Rainbow Market on scooters. The store was little more than a block away, but they still asked for permission before heading down. At the store, Michaela wanted to get the most bang for their $5 bill, her friend recalled on the witness stand 34 years later. They left with Mountain Dew, Laffy Taffy and beef jerky, but quickly noticed one of their scooters Michaelas was missing. They soon found it in the parking lot. When Michaelas friend heard a scream, she turned and watched in horror as her best friend was dragged, kicking and screaming, into a gold or tan-colored sedan. At the end of her daylong testimony, she talked about looking into Mischs eyes as he sat a few feet away from her in the courtroom. The intensity of the eyes, and the shape of them, they struck me as memorable to that day, she said. They remind me of the kidnappers eyes. Despite a widespread search, eyewitnesses, and national media attention over many years, Michaela was never seen or heard from again. Misch was arrested on unrelated charges just days after her abduction, which has led authorities to theorize she was murdered sometime in that time frame. Duey had fallen in love with accounting, her mother said on the witness stand. Xavier got a good job at Nordstrom and hoped to be a buyer for the department store one day. The two met in high school and became so close theyd regularly go on double dates and attend each others family gatherings. They did both of those things the night they were killed, first to San Ramon for a grandparents birthday party, then back to Alameda County where they rendezvoused with the men they were dating. But the foursome couldnt agree on where to go next, so the guys went bar hopping and Duey and Xavier who wanted to order a pizza and rent a movie decided to do their own thing. Exactly how they ended up on Mill Creek Road is unclear. Of all people, it was Mo Sabraw, a longtime Alameda County judge, who spotted the young womens bodies while driving with his wife on Mill Creek Road. His widow, now in her 90s, recalled in court testimony that day and how other passers-by began stopping along the road too. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered both victims clothes had been folded on a barbed-wire fence. Mischs attorneys have attacked the forensic evidence. In Duey and Xaviers case, they argued it didnt provide anything beyond the suggestion that Duey and Misch had some sort of interaction sometime before her death. We cant even say that he was actually present when these killings occurred. Assuming that he was, we cant say what if anything he did, defense attorney Paul Feuerwerker argued. Mischs other lawyer, Ernie Castillo, argued against the Michaela murder charge. His case was much simpler: that theres no evidence Michaela is actually dead, and that the fingerprint analysis was contradictory and on the verge of being unethical. Delucchi said he had a hard time believing Michaela, as a prepubescent girl, simply started a new life for herself after her violent abduction. To think that a 9-year-old would somehow volitionally decided to do what? Just disappear? To assume some new identity and never contact (her family) again? Delucchi said. Thats a conclusion that this court is simply unprepared to make. On Friday, Misch pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived time for a speedy trial. He is next due in court on May 19 where Delucchi will hear a motion from defense attorneys to sever the Fremont case from the Hayward case. Photos: Scenes from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial Amid a dramatic rise in hate crimes against ethnic groups in California, one lawmaker seeks to create a special intervention unit to directly address those incidents. 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. If signed into law, the Combat Hate Crimes proposal would create a Hate Crimes Intervention Unit inside Californias Department of Public Health. The legislation, Assembly Bill 1079, would also establish a special ad council to create anti-racism campaigns to raise awareness, plus promote understanding and respect for people from all walks of life. AB 1079s author Assemblymemeber Corey Jackson, D-Riverside, told The Sacramento Bee his proposal would create partnerships among state officials, community leaders and organizations to provide alternatives and intervention strategies in communities where hate crimes have occurred. Jackson said AB 1079 would implement a plan of action to mobilize those community and state partnerships to respond when a hate crime has been confirmed by the Department of Justice. Anytime we begin to see excessive violence or rhetoric to an event, it usually leads to inciting violence against people based upon race, creed, color, religion, orientation, all of these things, Jackson said. We have nothing systemically in place right now to be able to counter those narratives. Update: Napa resident Ian Rogers, Jarrod Copeland sentenced in bomb plot against Democratic office Ian Rogers and Jarrod Copeland were sentenced Wednesday on federal charges stemming from a 2021 bomb plot against Democratic offices in Sacramento. AB 1079 is just one among a series of anti-racism bills recently introduced by Jackson proposals he believes will help make Californians feel safe, respected and valued in an equitable, inclusive society. Under the proposed legislation, the newly established California Ad Council would create campaigns similar to the Love Has No Labels campaign created by the national nonprofit Ad Council in 2015. The California Ad Council is designed to make sure that our children and that society as a whole begins to see more narrative change when it comes to more positivity, said Jackson. The campaigns would be directly proportional and targeted to combat the percentage of hate crimes committed against each group, Jackson said. Data shows recent rise According to state Department of Justice data, California in 2021 saw an increase in hate crimes, which grew by 32% from 1,330 in 2020 to 1,763 in 2021. Hate crimes against Black people increased by 12.5% in the same time frame. Crimes motivated by a persons sexual orientation rose from 205 incidents in 2020 to 303 in 2021, a 47% increase, according to the Department of Justice. Anti-Asian bias events rose by 177%, from 89 in 2020 to 247 in 2021. And anti-Hispanic or Latino bias events grew to 29% from 152 in 2020 to 197 in 2021. Hate crimes based on religion, including anti-Jewish bias events, increased by 32% in 2021, the data says. The bill seeks to do two things, institutionalize anti-racist practices within the system of the state, Jackson said. But (also) making sure that the state is involved in shaping that narrative against (hate). Recent reports in California The legislation comes at a time when hate crimes and similar acts of violence have happened in California, some just within recent months. Earlier this year, racist flyers were found on the sidewalks and driveways of a Folsom neighborhood, according to Folsom Police Department. In another incident, last week five people were arrested after a series of bombings that began Dec. 13 in Fresno. According to Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama, a task force of local police and FBI agents found bomb-making components, firearms, methamphetamine and white supremacist paraphernalia, including Nazi flags. Additionally, on Wednesday two supporters of former President Donald Trump, Napa resident Ian Rogers and Vallejo resident Jarrod Copeland, were sentenced to federal prison for their plans to bomb the Democratic Party headquarters in downtown Sacramento. Jackson added he wants to do more than speak out or offer thoughts and prayers when such incidents happen. This (bill) is an accumulation of everything that weve been living through, Jackson said. This is timely because we know when 2024 comes, this rhetoric is going to happen again and we need systems in place to be able to combat these things. In terms of fiscal impacts, the Department of Justice will determine the cost of the unit and to submit a budget change proposal no later than Sept. 15 next year for inclusion in the governors 202526 budget proposal, according to the bill. Sudan army agrees to open passage for urgent humanitarian cases 130 Ukrainian servicemen back as part of prisoner exchange Finland launches Europe's most powerful nuclear reactor Over 6,000 British to play role in Charles III and Camilla Coronation 9 patients transported from Artsakh to Armenia thanks to ICRC Washington forces Yerevan to join anti-Russian sanctions Gyumri - Yerevan train crashes into truck and derails Group brawl due to traffic accident SK military prevent North Korean patrol chasing boat Russian peacekeepers celebrate Easter in Artsakh Traffic on Getap-Martuni road one-way due to risk of bridge collapse RA Ministry of Finance delegation visits Washington $230 million damage to Artsakh economy due to blockade The Danish ambassador was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry: Ankara has made a demand Bloomberg: New pandemic possible in coming decade 44-year-old man found hanging from a tree Yerevan Metro Police detain armed young man Poland receives Bayraktar from Turkey 4.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkish Adana Ukraine preparing a counteroffensive Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at Sotk Gold Mine Sudanese army blocks presidential palace entrances in Khartoum No safety threat to Azerbaijani athletes nor could there ever be Dozens of Tegh families in difficult social situation 12 patients transported from Artsakh to Armenia, 8 back in Artsakh Azerbaijan and Iran FMs announce possible continuation of negotiations Tigran Abrahamyan: Citizens of Artsakh remain alone in their worries Azerbaijani athletes to leave EWF Championships Suspect of Wakayama incident arrested Macron signs pension reform bill Aram Nikolyan: My only desire is to ensure that Azerbaijan's flag doesn't fly in Yerevan IMF and World Bank unable to reach agreement on communique Biden demands stricter protection of secret information Moodys reaffirms "Export Insurance Agency of Armenia"s rating The newly appointed Human Rights Defender conducted fact-finding activities in Tegh village Armenia ambassador to Canada, newly elected mayor of Ottawa discuss cooperation Investigative Committee: Criminal proceeding launched into wounded soldiers case Woman who threw umbrella at Armenia premier is charged Zakharova responds to Armenia parliament majority faction secretary: They probably mistranslated it to him shamshyan.com: Man found dead, car found on train tracks in Yerevan Matviyenko: Russia hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed soon as possible Armenia, Russia FMs discuss matter of Yerevan-Baku relations normalization Smart solution from AraratBank: electric car loans at an interest rate starting at 9% Armenian legislature speaker: We call on international community to clearly condemn Azerbaijan aggressive actions Ameriabank CEO Artak Hanesyan sums up Triple Best campaign: We believe in potential of our team, Armenia Armenia MOD: Soldier wounded by own weapon Karabakh NSS deputy director, head of presidential Central Information Department are dismissed Armenia official: I wouldn't call this a vector change, I would call it a search for certain security guarantees Armenia parliament speaker expresses concern to Ashimbayev regarding Kazakhstan collaboration with Azerbaijan Armenia, Russia FMs meet in Uzbekistan GeoProMining Gold develops social cooperation with Ararat region Armenia Security Council chief briefs OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair on Azerbaijan provocation near Tegh village CIS FMs next meeting slated for October in Kyrgyzstan Armenia Security Council secretary: International presence needed to resolve many security issues in Karabakh Armenia ruling force lawmaker: PMs orders are mandatory for execution Armenia police hand over Azerbaijani found in Kapan city area to National Security Service Security Council head on CSTO: Not possible that Armenia be offered arms, ammunition help and it refuses Armenia ruling force MP to Zakharova: If we hadn't fought, given casualties, Russia MFA could call as much as it wants USD depreciating against several other major currencies Armenia Security Council chief on Azerbaijan border stability: We expect Brussels to take appropriate steps Armenia Security Council head: There were arrangements with Azerbaijan but most of them were broken CIS FMs to hold meeting in Uzbekistan Armenia Security Council chief: Azerbaijan is preparing for military escalation Newspaper: Army General Staff chief admits that Tegh village incident was Armenian sides omission as well Armenia MOD: Sanitary vehicle staff not hospitalized shamshyan.com: Armenia MOD driver, 2 medical assistants hospitalized after truck, MOD sanitary vehicle collide Brazil's president in China called for abandoning the dollar Artsakh's Ombudsman expresses dissatisfaction to OSCE chairman for attitude of international community Ararat Mirzoyan will go on a working visit to Uzbekistan Police and demonstrators clash on the 12th day of demonstrations in France Anahit Manasyan had a phone conversation with the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh The 12th protest against pension reform takes place in France Russia MOD: No ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh during last 24 hours Lemkin Institute issues statement on Azerbaijan noncompliance with ICJ order to unblock Lachin corridor MFA: Shushi is Artsakhs integral part in territorial, cultural, economic, historical aspects An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred in southeastern Turkey Charles Michel explains his activeness in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization process Armenia PM to Bujar Osmani: This visit is good opportunity to get familiarized with complicated situation South Korea bans its citizens from traveling to Armenia-Azerbaijan border region Karabakh President convenes working consultation, security challenges discussed OSCE Chairman-in-Office: I am here to find out if there is possibility to build bridges between Yerevan and Baku Armenia PM chief of staff: Azerbaijanis are already in Yerevan, we have ensured their safety Chairman-in-Office: OSCE toolkit provides mechanisms to assist peace process between Armenians and Azerbaijanis Osmani: We are ready for any efforts to achieve positive dynamics between Azerbaijan and Armenia Armenia FM: Replacing army with guards on Azerbaijan border should be part of final settlement Armenia MFA: Rumors about OSCE Minsk Group activities termination are greatly exaggerated 168.am: Who is the Azerbaijani already rendered ineffective in Armenia? What does he say in video? Armenia village youth tell how they caught Azerbaijani Armenia Investigative Committee issues statement on murder of security guard, 56, in Syunik Province Azerbaijani who crossed border into Armenia is caught by locals, found in Achanan village territory 2nd Azerbaijan soldier found, detained in Armenia Armenian health minister: Wounded soldier in critical condition due to Azerbaijan provocation has stabilized Which Armenia company is put on US sanctions list? Premier: Armenia ready for reopening of transport links, delimitation of borders Pashinyan: We are ready to withdraw troops to safe distance along Armenia-Azerbaijan 1991 border Armenia to have trade attache in Germany Azerbaijan MFA accuses France foreign ministry of smear campaign and unfair position Armenia PM: It failed to deploy border guards without escalation of tension Newly elected Armenia ombudsperson announces her priority objective in this capacity Armenia deputy PM, US Deputy Secretary of Treasury acknowledge high level of cooperation between both countries The US is following reports of a shooting incident on March 5 inside Nagorno-Karabakh which killed five individuals. US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price noted this at Mondays Department press briefingand referring to Azerbaijan's recent sabotage operations at the Lachin corridor. We offer our condolences to the families of those injured and killed. There can be no military solution to conflict, and the use of force to resolve disputes is never acceptable. The only way to sustain peace is at the negotiating table and toand the use of force undermines negotiations. [US] Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono is in the region to stress the only way forward is through direct dialogue and diplomacy. And as the [US] Secretary [of State] has emphasized, the United States is committed to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations, Price added. He emphasized that the US is not going to oppose any mediation to the parties, and the latter will have to decide for themselves. This is a question for the parties themselves, and we are not going to put ourselves against any other offer of mediation, and in fact were not a mediator. We are a partner to the two countries. I think we have demonstrated both in word and in deed the nature of our relationship with the two countries, our ability to bring the two countries together, our willingness and readiness to help bring about additional progress in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said the US State Department spokesperson. We are not doing this as a means by which to compete with Moscow. We are doing this in an effort to bring about the settlement and resolution of a longstanding dispute between these two countries, and unfortunately a dispute that has consistently taken lives, just as it did on March 5th. Our interest here is in peace and security. Its in the interests of the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well, Ned Price added. At around 10am on March 5, a sabotage group of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces targeted and opened fire on a staff shift vehicle of the Passport and Visa Department of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Police. Three Artsakh policemen were killed and one was injured as a result. Baku, in turn, reported the death of two Azerbaijani servicemen. Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with Armenia, nine patients from the Republican Medical Center of Artsakhand with serious diseases of the oncology and pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventionshave been transported today to specialized medical institutions of Armeniaand with the mediation and escorting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). And nine patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, have returned to Artsakh, together with accompanying persons, the Ministry of Health of Artsakh informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of Artsakh. Six children remain in the neonatal and intensive care unit of Arevik medical center. Six patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Center, and one of them is in critical condition. A total of 153 medical patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and assistance of the ICRC. At just 10 years old, Olivia Antillon-Galvan already has her sights set on becoming a quantum physicist or an astronaut one day. Annika Wardlaw, 11, wants to be a heart and lung surgeon. Now, both girls are starting to consider other areas of science. Today really made me want to go into marine biology, said Wardlaw, of South Miami, as Antillon-Galvan grinned and nodded in agreement. The two were among the 30 who were part of the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida group, ages 10 to 18, who visited the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science on Saturday for the 19th annual Women and Girls Exploring Earth Sciences Day. The event was spearheaded by one of the Rosenstiel Schools first tenured female faculty members, Rana Fine, ocean sciences professor emerita who studies how the worlds oceans absorb and distribute gasessuch as oxygen and carbon dioxidein addition to how that process is changing as oceans warm. When she started teaching at the University of Miami, Fine explained that she was one of just four women doing research in the physics of the ocean at a university in the United States. We started this activity to share our excitement as well as the importance of the oceanic, atmospheric, earth, and climate sciences, Fine told the girls. Its been very exciting to be a part of the ocean sciences, and today you are going to be introduced to many aspects of our science by the women faculty and graduate students at Rosenstiel School. I really hope we inspire you to think about a career in the sciences. Throughout the morning, the Scouts visited different stations organized by a group of Rosenstiels female faculty and staff members, as well as many graduate students. Maria Cartolano, marine mammal science lecturer, along with graduate students Natalyn Jones, Rachael Heuer, and Brieanna Wagler taught the girls about the different types of marine mammals. And they staged a dolphin being stranded to show the Scouts the best ways to help the animals survive, including making a call to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Rescue line. Cassandra Gaston, associate professor of atmospheric sciences, and graduate students Hope Elliott and Haley Royer, explained some of what's involved in the aerosol sciences, highlighting their research on how Saharan dust may help fertilize the Amazon rainforest. They also showed the students how to create a cloud in a jar using some of their labs equipment to simulate the conditions needed for clouds to form in the sky. The trio also did an experiment demonstrating how clouds eventually must release rain. They put shaving cream on top of water and allowed the girls to place droplets of food coloring on the shaving cream, which eventually seeped into the water. Ocean sciences associate professor Hilary Closewho studies what happens to organic carbon in the oceanalong with graduate students Elizabeth Yanuskiewicz and Lillian Henderson led the Scouts in a forensic sciences experiment, where they had to find out what a mystery group of parkgoers fed some manatees. Using a chemical process called extraction chromatography, the girls determined whether it was freeze-dried beets, spinach, or spirulina. Finally, graduate students Juliana Grilo and Remedy Rule led the group around the Rescue a Reef lab, where corals and other marine organisms are being grown to eventually be replanted in the ocean. In the lab, the Scouts viewed juvenile corals under a microscope and learned about the different types of coral in Florida, as well as how the lab helps cultivate coral to restore those lost to disease and bleaching. By lunchtime, the girls were bubbling with excitement. Grace Singler, 10, of South Miami said it was difficult to choose her favorite part of the day. It was so fun watching corals move under the microscope, saving a pretend dolphin, making clouds in a jar, and finding out the mystery of what the manatees were eating, she said. Mina Boomer, 12, said the morning stations really made her think more about a career in the sciences. It was really fascinating to learn that there are so many species different from us living in the ocean, and it made me think about how important it is to protect our wildlife, she said. I now see this as an option for my career. After lunch, the Scouts learned about how scientists measure stress in Gulf toadfish from Danielle McDonald, marine biology professor. They also were told about shark research, from graduate student Laura McDonnell, and what the University is doing to help corals survive, from research associate Liv Williamson. Lori Ross, chief mission delivery officer for the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, said the event was a wonderful opportunity for the organization to expose the girls to some of the types of careers available in the sciences. This is a way for the girls to find a field they love that perhaps they didnt know about before, Ross said. Also, meeting women who look like them who are working in the earth sciences is so inspiring. We always tell girls, you can be whatever you want to be. But until they really see it, often they dont believe it. She will be visiting India between March 7-10 on the invitation of her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal. During the visit, the India-USA Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum will be held on March 10 to discuss cooperation in various sectors that could unlock new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. The Commercial Dialogue is a cooperative undertaking encompassing regular government-to-government meetings to be held in conjunction with private sector meetings, with an aim to facilitate trade and maximise investment opportunities across a broad range of economic sectors. --IANS ans/vd ( 123 Words) 2023-03-06-22:36:02 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said RuPay and UPI technologies are India's identity in the world. "In the era of 'Industry 4.0', platforms developed by India are becoming models for the world," PM Modi said while addressing a post-Budget webinar on the subject of 'Enhancing Efficiency of the Financial Services for Creating Growth Opportunities'. This was the tenth of the series of 12 webinars being organised by the government. The objective behind hosting the webinars is to seek ideas and suggestions for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023. "RuPay and UPI are not just a low cost and highly secure technology, but it is our identity in the world. There is immense scope for innovation. UPI should become a means of financial inclusion and empowerment for the whole world, we have to collectively work for it. I suggest that our financial institutions should also have a maximum partnership with fintech to increase their reach," PM Modi said. India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ecosystems for fintech innovation and the PM Modi-led government has been instrumental in driving the globalisation of India's digital payment infrastructure. A key emphasis of PM Modi has been on ensuring that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India only, but other countries, too, benefit from it. In what is a first-of-its-kind collaboration with another country, India and Singapore last month linked their respective online payments systems -- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and PayNow of Singapore -- for seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. The virtual launch function was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. The linkage of these two payment systems of both countries would enable residents of both countries to the faster and more cost-efficient transfer of cross-border remittances. People in both countries will be able to send money in real-time via QR-code based or simply by entering mobile numbers linked to the bank account. Separately, taking into account the popularity of the UPI payment system, the Reserve Bank of India proposed to permit all inbound travellers to India to use UPI for their merchant payments while they are in the country. UPI payments system has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India, and its adoption is increasing at a rapid pace. To begin with, the facility will be extended to travellers from G-20 countries. (ANI) Clearing the hardest hurdle for securing a loan of USD 2.9-billion bailout package from the IMF, President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Sri Lanka's Parliament on Monday evening that China had given assurance that it would back the island country's debt restructuring. Making a special address in Parliament, the President said that the EXIM Bank of China last night handed over a new letter of assurance pertaining to Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, according to Newswire. He further stated that a letter of intent signed by himself and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was thereafter immediately handed over to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "We have completed our responsibilities. Now, I hope the IMF will do their part by the 3rd or 4th week of this month," President Wickremesinghe said. The President added that this will enable the first round of funds from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to be issued to Sri Lanka. President Wickremesinghe in his address to parliament said that with the provision of fertiliser, the country achieved a successful harvest during Yala and Maha seasons -- Maha and Yala are synonymous with two monsoons -- and the export of agricultural products has gained a fair degree of normalcy and economic problems since June 2022 have been resolved to some extent. According to Newswire, he told Parliament that the government took many extremely difficult economic measures to stabilise the economy and efforts are now being made to ensure economic growth. The President told Parliament that the government implemented various measures such as providing essential commodities, uninterrupted electricity supply, fertiliser to farmers, and additional funds for Samurdhi beneficiaries and restored tax policies implemented in 2019 to improve revenue as the emergency tax cuts implemented earlier led to a decrease in government revenue. (ANI) New Delhi [India], March 7 (ANI/NewsVoir): Vikas Lifecare Limited is pleased to announce that its subsidiary company Genesis Gas Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Genesis) enters into Joint Venture Agreement with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to set up India's first Integrated Smart Meter Manufacturing Plant with Capital Expenditure of Rs 1100 million. IGL and Genesis joined hands to establish India's first Integrated State-of-the-art Smart Meter Manufacturing Plant to manufacture Diaphragm Gas Meters equipped with IoT technologies like LoRa, LoRaWAN, Bluetooth, NFC, NB-IoT etc. These Smart Meters shall provide much-needed solutions to manage consumers' energy demand and metering with utmost accuracy and on real-time basis. Initially, the Smart Meter Manufacturing Plant shall have installed capacity to manufacture 1 Million Meters annually, and is planned to be operational by April 2024. The rise in disposable incomes, rapid urbanization, climate stability challenges and the government's thrust towards the use of clean energy is leading to increase in market for gas distribution companies thus enhancing the demand for smart metering solutions. Through proposed Joint Venture, IGL and Genesis are aiming to tap this demand not only for domestic consumers but for international market as well by providing latest technology-based metering solutions meant for long range communications and capable of working in low-power networks, automated metering, prepaid metering. Gas Metering Solutions market is presently dominated by offshore suppliers, with minimal presence of Indian players. This IGL and Genesis Joint Venture, which is being announced following the spirit of Government of India's Make in India - Make for World initiative, shall be instrumental in paradigm shift in favour of Indian Players. The proposed Joint Venture shall also develop necessary software, interface with in-built smart analytics, dashboards and predictive maintenance protocols, systems as these are becoming a necessity for running any gas distribution business in an efficient manner. The proposed Joint Venture between IGL and Genesis shall have equity participation from both the partners in the ratio of 51:49 respectively. Commenting on the occasion, Sanjay Kumar, Managing Director of IGL said, "The state-of-the-art plant will be manufacturing hub for Smart Gas Meters for domestic as well as export markets. This will showcase IGL capabilities in manufacturing and asset management field, apart from its core business of City Gas Distribution. I am quite sure this venture by IGL will be a fruitful and growth enabling diversification move for IGL and Genesis." Pawan Kumar, Director (Commercial) of IGL said, "This will a be major step for IGL towards diversification into allied manufacturing business in line with company's Mission & Vision, aiming for green, clean & sustainable growth. This JV will help in import substitution and will give impetus to make in India initiative in Amrit Kaal (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav)." Dr Vikas Garg, Chairman of Vikas Group & Director, Genesis said, "This Joint Venture will be a game changer and will revolutionize the Smart Metering technology in India and will be a step forward towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat, a much-needed impetus to the concept of a Smarter and Digital India. We are sure that our investment in the growing gas sector is going to be very meaningful in nation-building as energy accounting is as important, if not more than the distribution of gas. This Gas Meter manufacturing is one of the many initiatives that our group is focusing to meet our domestic as well as export requirements. Our company Genesis's MDM and Head End System are already recognised as a must for any gas distribution business." The securities of the Vikas Lifecare Ltd. are listed on both the Stock Exchanges, BSE (Scrip Code: 542655) and NSE (Symbol: VIKASLIFE). This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 7 (ANI/PNN): SKINTILLATINGG Clinics and Institute, a renowned cosmetology clinic, has launched a new program called 'Discover Real You' aimed at helping people achieve healthy skin and hair by educating them on adopting healthy lifestyles. The 21-day program provides proper consultation with doctors, prescriptions for skin problems, guidance for daily skincare regimen, and online sessions with Dr Akshaya Jain, the founder and CEO of SKINTILLATINGG Clinics and Institute. The program ends with one treatment session at the SKINTILLATINGG clinic and coffee with Dr Akshaya Jain. Participants can expect a 10-20% improvement in their skin and hair within 20 days, with some individuals experiencing even more significant results. The 'Discover Real You' program is a unisex initiative designed for different age groups, starting from 15 years to 65 years. The primary aim is to educate people about the importance of maintaining healthy skin and hair, as beautiful skin and hair are not a luxury but a necessity. The program is available for just INR 5000/-, and there are no hidden charges. In addition to promoting healthy skin and hair, the program also raises funds for the LGBTQ community's better health and emotional well-being, education, and aesthetic surgeries through the AMALEENI foundation. Dr Akshaya Jain, who is celebrating International Women's Day on 8th March, is committed to women's equality and inspiring women to follow their dreams and self-confidence. The 'Discover Real You' program aligns with Dr Akshaya Jain's vision of empowering individuals through cosmetology and providing guidance on investments and ROI mapping. The SKINTILLATINGG Institute for Aesthetic cosmetology, certified by the Government of India, trains doctors, nursing staff, and therapists to establish their career in cosmetology. Dr Akshaya Jain's entrepreneurial journey and the SKINTILLATINGG brand's success are remarkable, considering the challenges she faced while climbing the ladder of success. She has also established the AMALEENI Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports weaker sections of society by funding their course fee for therapist training and providing major funding for aesthetic surgeries for LGBTQ and transgender people. The 'Discover Real You' program is an opportunity for men and women to become a part of a journey towards healthy skin and hair while supporting a noble cause. Together, let us make a few lives scintillating with SKINTILLATINGG Clinics and Institute. This story is released by Satish Reddy from https://worldnewsnetwork.co.in/ This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) On the eve of International Women's Day, Vedanta on Tuesday launched a talent acquisition programme - Project Panchhi - for recruiting 1,000 women from marginalised communities across the country. According to a company statement, the project's aim is to recruit young women from remote areas, in the operational areas of the company's metals, mining and oil and gas businesses in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa, etc. The firm also said it plans to increase the diversity in its workforce by specifically focusing on the recruitment of women, underrepresented in the sector. Project Panchhi aims to recruit girls from marginalised communities. Many of these girls are first-generation learners who aspire to further study to have professional careers. Vedanta said the firm was undertaking a selection process to identify the right candidates based on various criteria and would support their higher education in leading institutions. After graduation, these girls will join Vedanta's operations as graduate trainees. This programme is inaugurated at Vedanta's Alumina Refinery operations at Lanjigarh (Kalahandi, Odisha) where in the first phase, 40 girls have been identified. Vedanta's Chairman Anil Agarwal said, "I strongly believe that Project Panchhi will give young girls wings to soar. It will enable girls from remote parts of the country to pursue higher education, learn skills and financially empower themselves." The Chairman added, "Vedanta's motto 'Transforming for Good' embodies our mission to bring positive change in the lives of our communities. I proudly look forward to seeing these girls succeed and emerge as tall leaders in our organisation." Madhu Srivastava, Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Vedanta, said, "Project Panchhi is a unique initiative towards inclusive development of our communities and in line with our overall vision for diversity, equity and inclusion. We are confident that these upskilled young girls would emerge as leaders and become shining examples for others in their communities, states and country at large". Vedanta's Lanjigarh operations, the site of the first roll-out of this project, houses a world-class 2 MTPA alumina refinery. The refinery is currently undergoing expansion to 5 MTPA and will deploy significant manpower. This offers immense opportunities for the recruits to get a hands-on learning experience. (ANI) The Ministry of Defence has signed agreements, worth Rs 9,900 crore, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and three cadet training ships, respectively. The Union Cabinet had on March 1, approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 trainer aircraft from HAL at a cost of over Rs 6,800 crore. The Cabinet had also cleared the signing of contract with L&T for the acquisition of three Cadet Training Ships from L&T, worth more than Rs 3,100 crore under Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)} category. 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category refers to the procurement of products from an Indian vendor that have been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured with a minimum of 50 per cent Indigenous Content (IC) on cost basis of the total contract value, according to the ministry. According to the ministry, HTT-40 is a turboprop aircraft possessing good low-speed handling qualities and provides better training effectiveness. This fully aerobatic tandem seat turbo trainer has an air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot re-fueling, running change over and zero-zero ejection seats. The statement of the ministry, released on Tuesday, said the signing was done in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, along with other officials of the ministry, and representatives of HAL and Larsen and Toubro were also present during the signing. The statement said the aircraft would meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force for the training of newly-inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators. Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft is configurable for upgrades to incorporate the futuristic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six years. HTT-40 contains about 56 per cent indigenous content which will progressively increase to over 60 per cent through the indigenisation of major components and subsystems, the ministry added. The HAL would engage the domestic private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain. The cadet training ships will cater to the training of officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training to meet the future requirements of the Indian Navy. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026. The ships would also provide training to cadets from friendly countries with the aim to strengthen diplomatic relations, according to the ministry. The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people from distress areas, search and rescue, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The ships will be indigenously designed, developed and constructed at Larsen and Toubro's shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai. According to the statement, the project will generate employment of 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-half years. (ANI) Instead of smearing each other's faces with colours, Hrithik and his family chose to work out together. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpfH09FOHtH/?hl=en Taking to Instagram, the 'Krrish' star dropped a video in which we can see Hrihtik's son busy lifting weights, while the rest do lunges. Hrithik's ex-wife Sussanne is in the corner, working out. Sussanne's boyfriend Arslan Goni was present as well. "No rang or bhang , just sweat n fun ! A customized whole gang Holi morning workout by @swapneelhazare !Happy Holi beautiful people! How's your Holi going," Hrithik captioned the post. Hrithik and his family's unconventional way of celebrating Holi garnered netizens' attention. "Arreyyy...what," a social media user commented. "Hahahhaa this is epic," another one wrote. Sussane also dropped a comment and said that it was the "best holi ever." Meanwhile, on the work front, Hrithik recently wrapped the Hyderbad schedule of 'Fighter', which also stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor in significant roles. 'Fighter' will be India's first aerial action film. It will also be the first time that Hrithik will share screen space with Deepika. The film is tipped to cater to a global audience with a story deeply that is rooted in India. Presented by Viacom18 studios in association with Siddharth Anand's Marflix Pictures, 'Fighter' is set to release on January 25, 2024. (ANI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday asked officers to gear up fully for making two sessions of G-20 slated to be held in the state on March 15-17 and March 19-20 a huge success. The Chief Minister, who reviewed the arrangements for the mega event here, said Punjab is fully ready to host the sessions and asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the working sessions slated to take place at the holy city of Amritsar next week. Batting for flawless planning and execution, he said no stone should be left unturned for making this event a huge success. He said they were fortunate to have got a once in a lifetime opportunity to hold such a mega event in the state, adding rumour mongers will never succeed in tarnishing the image of state. The Chief Minister said the government is duty bound to make elaborate arrangements for the comfortable stay of the dignitaries participating in the summit. He said apart from assuring their cozy stay in state, the guests will be offered the traditional Punjabi food, and will also be given a glimpse of rich Punjabi culture during the cultural events in the evening. Mann hoped the state government will set a new benchmark by successfully hosting the two sessions of G-20 in the state. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the state has got two sessions of G-20, first in March 15, 16 and 17 on education and then on labour on March 19 and 20. Mann said that this summit will promote Punjab as a most preferred destination for business on the international level and it will also provide a stage to the government to showcase its achievements and facilities for setting up new businesses. He said this is a golden opportunity when Punjab can be presented as a land of best opportunities and by bringing maximum investment they can create new employment opportunities for the youth. Mann said the government will involve every Punjabi in the event so that the rich heritage of state is showcased to the visiting dignitaries. --IANS vg/vd ( 368 Words) 2023-03-06-20:36:03 (IANS) The incident was reported on March 4 and the passenger was identified as Anil Meena. According to sources, the Air India official handed over the passanger to Delhi Police after he was caught smoking inside the flight's lavatory. "He was smoking inside lavatory when the alarm started ringing which alerted the flight crew," said an official privy to investigation. "The Delhi ATC was informed about the incident and the passenger was handed over to Delhi Police as soon as the flight landed at IGI Airport. "On interrogation, the man disclosed that he was a chain smoker," said the official. On Sunday, the Delhi police has lodged a case against a student for allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger on a New York-Delhi American Airlines Flight. The student was said to be drunk at the time of the incident. The incident allegedly took place on flight number AA292, which took off from New York on Friday and landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in Delhi at 10.12 p.m. on Saturday. --IANS ssh/vd ( 214 Words) 2023-03-06-21:42:04 (IANS) Acting tough on the suicide of an intermediate student, the Telangana government on Monday cancelled affiliation of a corporate junior college where he was studying. The Board of Intermediate Education announced cancellation of affiliation of Sri Chaitanya College, Narsingi, where 16-year-old Satwik hanged himself due to harassment by the Principal, incharge, teacher and others. The order will come into effect from next academic year. The intermediate first year (Class 11) student hanged himself in the classroom after study hours on the night of February 28. In a suicide note, the student wrote that he was taking the extreme step due to mental torture by the Principal and three others. Based on the suicide letter and a complaint lodged by the student's parents, police arrested Principal (Administration) Akalanakam Narasimha Chary, Principal Tiyyaguru Siva Ramakrishna Reddy, warden Kandaraboina Naresh, and Vice Principal Vontela Shoban Babu. A court sent them to judicial custody. Police have charged the four with harassment and insulting the victim in the name of studies, thereby forcing him to take the extreme step. Police in its remand report stated that the Principal and others used insulting words and even beat up Satwaik in front of other students, making mentally upset. On the day when the student died by suicide, his parents had come to the college meet him. After they left, Chary and Ramakrishna Reddy used foul language. Meanwhile, the Education Department on Monday held a meeting with representatives of various private colleges to discuss ways to prevent such incidents. The Board of Intermediate Education decided to constitute a committee to control misleading advertisements by the colleges. The officials also announced that action will be taken against the colleges conducting classes beyond the fixed hours. Board of Intermediate Education Secretary Sunil Mittal said that the biometric system will be implemented from next academic year. --IANS ms/vd A ( 317 Words) 2023-03-06-21:58:07 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the common people will get immediate treatment even in the villages of the state while high-quality health services will be made available to serious patients sitting at home by identifying them. On Monday, Pathak flagged off the mobile medical unit run by the voluntary organization The Hans Foundation at the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, "This service has been started in ten districts of the state (Prayagraj, Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Balrampur and Siddharthnagar) with the help of Hans Foundation to take health services to the doorsteps of common people." "Necessary equipment and medicines will be available in these units along with MBBS doctors, pharmacists, ANMs and lab technicians. A total of 74 mobile medical units have been made operational. Free general OPD and primary check-up services will be made available in two-gram panchayats daily through the available resources in these vehicles operated by social unit "The Hans Foundation" established in 2009," he added. The Deputy CM further said, "With this, serious diseases can be identified timely and treatment can be provided to them." Earlier, the programme was inaugurated by Pathak by lighting the lamp. In the welcome address, Principal Secretary Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma said, "These units have been started for the health care of the general public." The Deputy CM informed that smartphone devices are being distributed to 81,811 ASHAs and 7,713 urban ASHAs (a total of 89,524). In the past smart phones have been distributed to 85,248 rural ASHAs and 4,776 urban ASHAs. He said, "With all the ASHAs of the state having smartphones, they can help in providing better health services to the people of their area. Effective health plans can be prepared by assessing the condition of the area with the information provided by them on various applications related to health programs. The intention of the government is to provide high-level health services to all." In the programme, four very important administrative manuals, a guide for inquiry officers on disciplinary proceedings, a guide for medical officers, a reference book for chief medical officers and a book for capacity building of clerical cadre were also released. (ANI) Division Bench of Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice C Jayachandran will consider this on Tuesday. "The repeated incidents of fire at the yard remain a cause of concern for local residents, and as per reports, plastic waste piled up at Kochi Corporation's solid waste treatment plant has gone up in smoke without fail every year since 2019. Despite repeated episodes, the authorities have not been able to take concrete action to check such mishaps," the writ petition reads. The fire incident occured last Thursday and it still has not been extinguished completely. The Indian Navy's helicopters with fire and rescue officials are operating at Brahmapuram to douse the fire. The Kerala government on Saturday held a meeting and decided to explore a flooding approach to extinguish the ongoing fire which broke at the Brahmapuram waste plant in Ernakulam District on Thursday, an official statement said. An official statement from the State Government stated that the meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Kerala discussed the ongoing efforts and options available for extinguishing the fire. On Sunday another meeting was held at Kochi by Kerala Health Minister Veena George and Law and Industries Minister P Rajeev with Ernakulam District Administration officials on this matter. On Monday, Congress workers marched to the Kochi Corporation Office as part of the protest seeking a High Court-monitored probe into the fire incident. (ANI) A woman from Vadodara has lodged a complaint against her husband and in-laws for mental and physical torture. She has even alleged that her husband threatened an acid attack and divorce over a domestic issue. Nikitaben Sheth lodged a criminal complaint against her husband Aakash, father-in-law Babubhai, and mother-in-law Jyotiben on Monday. In her complaint to the Panigale police station, she claimed that her husband threatened her with an acid attack because she was opposed to her husband's of extramarital affairs. According to the complaint, in 2019, Nikita married Aakash as per tradition, with both side's approval. From their union, they have one son. In September 2022, accidentally, she found her husband's photo with a woman. When she informed her in-laws, they started harassing and torturing her. Last Saturday, she asked her husband to break all ties with the other woman, which led to a quarrel between the two, during which her husband threatened to divorce and an acid attack. Police have booked the husband and in-laws for domestic violence, voluntarily causing hurt, using foul language, and criminal intimidation. --IANS/ har/arm ( 197 Words) 2023-03-06-23:00:05 (IANS) RJD MLC Sunil Singh, who was present in party leader and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence on Monday when the CBI team came to question her, claimed that the investigators asked her old and out of context questions. "Rs 10 crore was recovered from a MLA of BJP in Karnataka and the CBI is conducting raids on number 10 (Rabri Devi's residence is at 10 Circular Road, Patna). "I was present inside Rabri Devi's residence when the CBI was quizzing her. It was out of context questions that CBI sleuths asked her. The CBI team was headed by a DIG rank officer and the situation was such that they were telling jokes. They have asked all old questions which they had asked Rabri Devi and other members of the Lalu family already in the past. The CBI team came here to the house of Rabri Devi for the Holi Milan Samaroh," he said. "CBI is taking action on the directions of the BJP and it is carrying out political vendetta with the leaders of the opposition parties. The CBI takes action only against the leaders who are anti-BJP," Sunil Singh added. "The central agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax are losing credibility through such raids. Hence, no one is taking them seriously. Everyone is understanding now that these agencies are acting on the directions of BJP leaders," he said. "In 2024, BJP will not get a single seat in Bihar. All 40 seats will go to Mahagathbandhan. Hence, BJP is anguished about it. It is deliberately asking the CBI to conduct raids on the opposition leaders," Singh said. --IANS ajk/vd ( 289 Words) 2023-03-06-23:04:03 (IANS) China amends Legislation Law to improve legislative system Global Times) 08:27, March 07, 2023 Whole-process people's democracy to be upheld, developed The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Sunday started to deliberate a draft amendment to the Legislation Law, eight years after the law was first amended in 2015. The new changes highlight the implementation and oversight of the Constitution as well as promoting whole-process people's democracy to better protect human rights and social fairness and justice. Summarizing the practical experience of legislative work in the new era, the proposed amendment has taken into consideration the new work methods and demand for legislation in recent years, and is expected to further improve the legislative system and mechanism, and enhance the quality and efficiency of legislation, said Wang Chen, vice chairman of the 13th NPC Standing Committee on Sunday. The 37-article draft amendment covers mainly seven sectors. The highlights include enhancing the implementation and oversight of the Constitution, and specifying the constitutional compliance review requirements in legislation and the record and review system for normative documents. "In the Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, it asked the country's legal system to step up legislation in key, emerging and foreign-related fields, and advance the rule of law in domestic and foreign-related affairs in a coordinated manner. The amendment has made clearer and more specific what our tasks are in light of these requirements outlined in the report," Feng Yujun, a Professor of Law School at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. "Now we have entered the "deep-water" stage of reform and opening-up, where a variety of challenges and risks have emerged. It is impossible to follow the old rules and logics. It is a reflection of the changes in concept of legal works from subject-oriented approach to problem-solving approach based on actual practices," Feng said. Another focus of the amendment is the emphasis on whole-process people's democracy, which "should be upheld and developed during the legislative process," according to the Xinhua News Agency. It also proposes to codify the requirement of respecting and protecting human rights in the legislative work. Ahead of the opening of the session, Wang Chao, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th NPC, noted that efforts have been made during the revision of the law to make sure that every link in the legislative process reflects the people's voices and reality at the grassroots level. To better hear the voices of the people, the draft stipulates that the working bodies of the Standing Committee should set up local legislative outreach offices in light of actual needs to solicit opinions from the grassroots and people from all walks of life. Feng explained that outreach offices have been set up in multiple regions across the country in recent years and have made plenty of achievements. Writing it into the law will legalize and consolidate its practice to ensure its effectiveness. On improving the legislative procedures and working mechanisms of the NPC and its Standing Committee, the draft proposes detailed requirements of the constitutionality review and the recording and review system for legislations and normative documents. In particular, the draft requires a bill's explanatory document to include opinions on issues of constitutionality, and calls on the NPC Constitution and Law Committee to explain issues of constitutionality involved after reviewing a bill. On local legislative work, the draft pledges to expand the legislative power of cities with subsidiary districts to include affairs pertaining to primary-level governance. It also adds provisions on regional coordination on legislation. The NPC Standing Committee completed two readings of previous versions of the draft amendment in October and December 2022, which were then published online to solicit public opinion. The Legislation Law was adopted in 2000 by the 9th NPC, and amended in 2015 by the 12th NPC. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Sheng Chuyi) The northeastern state of Nagaland is heading for another Opposition-less government as almost all political parties have expressed their willingness to support the NDPP-BJP alliance government, which is likely to assume office on Tuesday. Earlier, in April last year, an Opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government was formed to expedite the Naga political dialogue with the Central government. A senior BJP leader told IANS that in Nagaland, no party was keen to remain in opposition, and each of them wanted to remain with the government for various reasons, including the development of all areas. "Till now, only Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) in writing has submitted a letter supporting the NDPP-BJP alliance government. No other party has so far provided any letter of support to the alliance government even as they have verbally expressed their willingness to support the government," the BJP leader said. He said that the central leaders of the BJP and the top leaders of NDPP along with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would decide whether the government would take any support from all other parties after they submit their letters of support. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained power in Nagaland for a second straight term by winning 37 seats together in the 60-member Assembly. In the February 27 elections, the results of which were declared on March 2, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured six seats; National People's Party led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma managed five seats; Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan), Naga People's Front and Republican Party of India (Ramdas Athawale) bagged two seats each; Janata Dal (United) bagged one seat; while four seats were won by Independent candidates. As many as 12 political parties had fielded 183 candidates, including four women nominees in the recent assembly polls. The Congress, which governed the state for many years till 2003, had contested 23 seats but drew a blank once again. The grand old party had no legislator in the outgoing Assembly. Nagaland Congress president Kewekhape Therie lost in Dimapur against BJP's H. Tovihoto Ayemi by a margin of 6,959 votes. Leaders of NCP, NPP and NPF separately said that they would support the NDPP-BJP coalition government, and after holding discussions among themselves, they would submit letters of support to the Governor. Even as the NDPP-BJP is yet to stake a claim to form the government, the alliance government, according to the earlier announcements, is likely to assume office on Tuesday. On Sunday, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda in Delhi and discussed the government formation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several central BJP leaders and ministers are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony. The NPF had emerged as the single largest party in the 2018 elections, but the NDPP and the BJP, with the support of the independent MLAs, managed to form a coalition government. In April last year, 21 of the 26 NPF legislators led by former Chief Minister Taditui Rangkau Zeliang had "merged" themselves with the NDPP and formed the Opposition-less all party UDA government to expedite the Naga political dialogue with the Central government. However, the Congress, which ruled the state for the most part, does not have a single MLA in the outgoing assembly. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/pgh ( 584 Words) 2023-03-06-23:08:02 (IANS) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Garima Srivastava (IRPS) as Secretary of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board under the Department of Agricultural Research & Education. She has been appointed to the post for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Srivastava is a 1999-batch Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer. Palka Sahni, a Bihar cadre IAS officer of 2004 batch has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Food & Public Distribution for a tenure of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Aradhana Patnaik, a 1998 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Health & Family Welfare under the Health Ministry. Mukta Shekhar, a 1994 IRAS officer, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Heavy Industries Ministry. Anil Subramaniam, a Central Secretariat Services officer, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry. Kamal Kishore Soan, a 1998 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Labour Ministry. Himani Pande, a 1998 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the DPIIT. Tanuja Thakur Khalkho, an IRAS officer of 1995 batch, has been appointed as Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Rural Development Ministry. Amarpreet Duggal, an IPoS officer of 1999 batch, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of School Education & Literacy. --IANS ans/vd ( 283 Words) 2023-03-06-23:08:03 (IANS) Future conflicts will be unpredictable. The constantly-evolving world order has forced everyone to re-strategise. Constant vigil on the Northern and Western borders as well as the entire coastline must be maintained. We need to be ready to deal with all future challenges, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said this to the navel commanders on Monday. Rajnath Singh reviewed the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy during the Naval Commanders' Conference held aboard India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant on March 06. He interacted with the Naval Commanders and witnessed the operational demonstrations at sea, highlighting the Navy's capability to undertake multi-dimensional missions towards safeguarding the maritime interests of the country. In his address to the Commanders, Singh described secured borders as the first requirement to ensure social and economic progress, asserting that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, is moving forward in a'mrit Kaal' with renewed thrust and zeal to achieve this objective. Emphasising that economic prosperity and security scenario go hand-in-hand, he pointed out that the defence sector has emerged as a major demand creator, which has been boosting the economy and ensuring the country's development. "In the next 5-10 years, orders worth over $100 billion are expected to be placed through the defence sector and it will become a major partner in the economic development of the country. Today, our defence sector is on the runway, soon when it takes off, it will transform the country's economy. If we want to see India among the top economic powers of the world by the end of aAmrit Kaal', we need to take bold steps towards becoming a defence superpower," the Defence Minister said. Rajnath also made special mention of the credible and responsive presence of the Navy in the Indian Ocean Region. He stated that Mission-Based Deployments of the Navy have strengthened India's position as a preferred security partner of friendly foreign countries in the region. He reiterated the need for a huge country like India to be completely self-reliant and not dependant on others for its security. He listed out numerous steps taken by the Government to achieve Aatmanirbharta' in defence, including notification of four Positive Indigenisation Lists, increase in FDI limit and creating a favourable environment for Indian vendors including MSMEs. He termed the recent announcement of earmarking record 75 percent of the defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry in 2023-24 as a testament to the Government's firm commitment to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Rajnath Singh commended the Navy for being at the forefront of indigenisation and innovation through inductions of ships and submarines and development of niche technologies, in consonance with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision. On the commissioning of INS Vikrant, he stated that it further reinforced the belief that India's Naval designing and development is at a promising stage and more progress will be made in the times to come. The operational demonstrations witnessed by the Defence Minister included complex Aircraft Carrier and Fleet operations, weapon firings by ships and aircraft and Underway Replenishment at Sea. In addition, a demonstration of indigenous products, including spotter drone, remote controlled lifebuoy and fire-fighting bot was witnessed by the minister. The strides taken by the Indian Navy towards pole-vaulting' the technological curve, through indigenous sources in the domains of Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Laser technology and cryptography were also demonstrated. --IANS gcb/arm ( 574 Words) 2023-03-06-23:14:02 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi government to carry out a special recruitment drive to fill up vacancies in various government departments reserved for persons with disabilities (PwDs). A division bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order after taking note of 1,351 vacancies available under the PwD direct recruitment quota. The bench also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad also noted the positions also include 356 vacant posts for visually impaired people. The court has directed the concerned Delhi government officials to send the requisition to the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSB) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPBSC) within a month. The DSSB and UPSC have been directed to issue notification advertisements within 30 days thereafter. The order read: "The DSSSB/UPSC, as the case may, shall conduct a written test/ interview/ process of selection within 30 days from the last date of receipt of applications by the DSSSB/ UPSCaThe DSSSB/ UPSC, as the case may, shall declare the result and the process of appointment be concluded within a period of 30 days from the date of declaration of result/ interview." The court demanded a notification outlining the eligible candidates for consideration and the acquisition of Annual Performance Assessment Reports (APAR) or other pertinent information in respect of eligible candidates within a period of 45 days on the subject of vacancies to be filled through promotion. "Convening of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC)/ interview by the concerned authority be concluded within 45 days from the date of finalisation of the list of eligible candidates. The order of appointment be issued within 30 days from the date of convening of DPC/ interview, as the case may be," it said. The court order came after an organisation, National Federation of the Blind, had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleging inaction on the part of government officials in filling positions designated for candidates who are blind or have low vision. It was claimed that despite Supreme Court directives, the government was failing to fill open positions and was not giving candidates with visual impairments any form of reservation. --IANS spr/pgh ( 374 Words) 2023-03-06-23:26:02 (IANS) On the basis of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling, a Kenyan passenger arriving from Nairobi by EK516 on March 6, 2023, was followed discreetly by officers of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) customs from the flight gate. According to officials, the passenger was a medical professional carrying a portable oxygen concentrator which was providing oxygen support to a critically-ill four months old infant who was visiting India with his parents for cardiac surgery. On personal search, taking due care for the safety of the infant, seven bars of gold weighing 7 kg (approx) ingeniously concealed in the oxygen concentrator bag were recovered. Further investigation on the matter is on. (ANI) Major Aaina Rana, the first commanding officer of the 75 Road Construction Company (RCC) at Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district said that she had seen people in uniform in Pathankot during childhood and it was the primary motivating factor for her to join the armed forces. She said, "I am Major Rana and I am looking after the construction and maintenance of the road till Mana Pass. I am from Pathankot. Pathankot shares its maximum area with the military cantonment." "Since childhood, I had seen people in uniform in Pathankot and that was the primary motivating factor for me to join the armed forces. None of my family members is in the army, this was also one of the factors," she added. Explaining her parent's reaction to her joining the armed forces, she said, "They were not shocked at all. They were very happy. I got married into a 'Fauji' family. My professors in college were also very happy." "I have not joined BRO, rather I was the first one who has taken over the command of RCC. It was an opportunity for me. It is a great step taken from the end of DGBR and the Army. I do not see it very differently because the men do not treat me differently just because I am a lady officer. It is a wonderful experience," she added. On challenges faced by Major Aaina Rana on daily basis, she said, "I do not take the daily work, the weather here as challenges but as an opportunity. To improve myself, I take all the work as an opportunity. The terrain itself here is challenging but it is not just for me but for the men also who are working day and night." Extending her wishes on Women's Day she said, "My message is for both young boys and girls. If you love this organisation and have that passion to wear this uniform then definitely you should join it. This is a way of life." (ANI) Former Union Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram has alleged that the bulk of the amount of over Rs 12,000 crore electoral bonds sold so far has been donated to the BJP anonymously. In a series of tweets on Monday, the Congress leader said, "Over Rs 12,000 crore worth Electoral Bonds sold so far. The bulk of the amount has been purchased by corporates and donated to the BJP anonymously." He further slammed the corporates for donating money through electoral bonds to the government. "Why are corporates so eager to donate through the non-transparent Electoral Bonds mechanism? Corporates do not donate through Electoral Bonds because they love democracy. Corporate donation is the way to express their thanks to the Government for the numerous favours they had got in the past years. It is a neat arrangement. Favours are done quietly. Rewards are received secretly. Long live our anonymous Democracy," he added. The eectoral bonds scheme was floated by the NDA government in 2018 to cleanse the system of political funding in the country. Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding. The electoral bonds can be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India, according to the Ministry of Finance. Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, will be eligible to receive the electoral bonds. The electoral bonds will be encashed by an eligible political party only through a bank account with the authorised bank. (ANI) Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party''s Neiphiu Rio and National People''s Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma will take oath as a Nagaland and Meghalaya Chief Ministers respectively today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President JP Nadda are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of both the Chief Ministers. Nagaland political stalwart and its longest-serving chief minister Neiphiu Rio is set to assume office for a fifth consecutive term after the convincing win. Rio on Saturday had tendered his resignation as Chief Minister of Nagaland to Governor La Ganesan and staked claim to form the new government in the state. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-Bharatiya Janata Party retained power in the Nagaland election, with the two parties having secured 37 seats in the 60-member assembly, as per the data by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Rio won the Northern Angami-II Assembly constituency, trouncing Seyievilie Sachu of the Congress by a mammoth margin of 15,824 votes. He bagged a total of 17,045 votes, which comes to 92.87 per cent of the total votes polled in the seat. Notably, a history was scripted in Nagaland when the state elected its first women legislators in its 60 years of statehood. The state, which has had 13 Assemblies so far, never had a woman MLA before Thursday''s result. The two women lawmakers - Hekhani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling NDPP defeated the sitting MLAs in Western Angami and Dimapur-III seats respectively. The Northeast state saw a triangular contest as Congress and CPIM, which have been arch rivals for years, stitched a pre-poll alliance to defeat the ruling BJP. In Meghalaya, the NPP-led alliance, with the support of 45 MLAs two of the BJP has staked claim to form the government in the state. Among the allies, the eight cabinet berths will go to the NPP, two to the United Democratic Party (UDP) and one each for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hill State People''s Democratic Party (HSPDP). Sangma''s NPP won 26 seats in the Assembly elections and is all set to form the government in as the chief minister for a second consecutive term. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhawan in Shillong where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party''s Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on March 2. United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 seats in the results of assembly polls announced on Thursday. Congress won five seats. Trinamool Congress, which had inducted all Congress MLAs in the previous assembly, also got five seats. BJP, People''s Democratic Front and Hill State People''s Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates. BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the assembly polls separately. (ANI) Amid the protest by the state government employees demanding an increase in dearness allowance (DA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) government will not be able to provide it on par with that of the Central government. Speaking at the extended budget session in the Assembly, the Chief Minister further said the protesting Opposition that they can behead her but she can't do anything to increase the dearness allowance. She explained the difference in the salary structures of the Central and state governments and claimed that the TMC government is already giving its employees DA of 105 per cent. "I am giving 105 per cent DA. How much more do you want? State government employees have different pay scales from central employees. We don't have so much capacity as they (the Centre) are not giving 100 days' work money and others. Accept what we are giving (DA issue). If you don't like me, behead me. But beyond this, I cannot do anything," said Banerjee in the state assembly on protests over Dearness allowance and other demands. Notably, in the 2023-24 budget, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya announced a 3 per cent hike in the dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners. Several organisations of state government employees are protesting for increasing the dearness allowance on par with the central government employees. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday will question former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in Tihar jail in connection with the Delhi Excise policy case, said sources. Earlier on Monday, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court sent him to Judicial Custody till March 20. Sisodia was arrested on February 26 in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Monday sent Sisodia to Judicial Custody for 14 days after noting that CBI didn't demand further Custody of him at this time, but it may be sought later if required. Sisodia has been allowed to have medicines prescribed in his MLC conducted by the CBI officials. He has also been permitted to carry a pair of spectacles, a diary, a pen, and a copy of The Gita during the judicial custody period. As requested by Sisodia's side, the court also directed the Jail superintendent to consider the request of keeping the accused in the vipassana cell/ Meditation cell. The CBI during the hearing submitted that he has not supported the investigation, and the witnesses were terrified. "His party and leaders are politicizing the matter and that various important witnesses are to be examined," CBI added. On the last date, the Court issued notice to CBI on bail moved by Sisodia and listed the matter for March 10, 2023. Earlier, Sisodia himself submitted in the court that CBI officials are "taking care of me, treating me respectfully and giving all things and not using any third degree. But they are making me to sit so long 9-10 hours daily and asking the same questions again and again... it not less not mental harassment." On this, the Court directed CBI not to ask repetitive questions. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in his bail petition in a trial court stated that no fruitful purpose would be served to keep him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made. (ANI) As per information, the fire incident broke out on March 2 and has still not been extinguished completely. Earlier on Saturday, the Kerala government held a meeting and decided to explore a flooding approach to extinguish the ongoing fire which broke at the Brahmapuram waste plant in Ernakulam District on Thursday, an official statement said. An official statement from the State Government stated that the meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Kerala discussed the ongoing efforts and options available for extinguishing the fire. The meeting on the ongoing Brahmapuram fire incident was attended by senior officers of the government of Kerala, and other state and Central agencies. Following the incident, the rescue operation was started under which over 5000 litres of water were sprayed in active fire zones. On Sunday another meeting was held at Kochi by Kerala Health Minister Veena George and Law and Industries Minister P Rajeev with Ernakulam District Administration officials on this matter. Congress workers on Monday marched to the Kochi Corporation Office as part of the protest seeking a High Court-monitored probe into the fire incident. (ANI) CM Raveendran, Additional Private Secretary of Kerala Chief Minister, arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office for interrogation in the LIFE Mission scam case on Tuesday. On February 27, Raveendran did not appear before the ED for questioning in connection with the LIFE Mission Scam case. The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday (February 23) issued notice to Raveendran in the LIFE Mission Scam case. It is learnt he had informed the ED that he can't appear on February 27 as the legislative assembly session is underway at Thiruvananthapuram. According to the notice issued earlier, he shall appear before the ED officials at its Kochi office on February 27 at 10 am. A Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court on Friday sent M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to judicial custody till March 8 in the LIFE Mission Scam case. On February 16, the remand report submitted by ED in the PMLA Court against M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to the Kerala CMO in the LIFE Mission Scam Case, revealed some WhatsApp chats between him and other accused Swapna Suresh. The remand report had alleged that there is a larger nexus involving government representatives in the allocation of contracts and the generation of proceeds of crime via the upfront commission as a bribe. "In his WhatsApp message sent to Swapna on July 31, 2019, Sivasankar warned Swapna to be very careful and asked to take care. In his WhatsApp message, Sivasankar told Swapna not to get involved and warned her that if something goes wrong, they would put blame on her. He also told Swapna to keep away from the process to which Swapna replied that she would give it to Sarith and Khalid (other suspects in the case). Sivasankar also told Swapna that CM had asked him to get a job for Swapna," the remand report had read. The report further said that the material evidence such as the WhatsApp conversation between Swapna Suresh and Sivasankar and the statement given by Suresh, it is clearly indicating that there is a larger nexus involving government representatives in the allocation of contracts and generation of proceeds of crime via the upfront commission as a bribe. (ANI) The woman was identified as Mehreen Riyaz, a nursing student who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital, added the police. The woman was living in a PG accommodation at Noor Nagar, Shahin Bagh. She hired an auto-rickshaw from her Shahin Bagh to CC Narket NFC. After reaching CC Market, she had a heated argument with the auto-driver. The auto driver got infuriated and attacked her with a sharp object and she received injuries on her lower abdomen on the right side. On her complaint, an FIR had been registered under IPC at NFC Police Station and further investigation has been taken up. Efforts are being made to identify the auto driver. The incident took place at around 8.30 pm but was reported after about fice hours from the Hospital. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested an absconding accused, then Director of Pearl Group, on his arrival in New Delhi, in connection to a multi-crore chit fund case. The arrested accused have been identified as Harchand Singh Gill. The accused was brought back to India upon being deported from Fiji. The agency registered a case on February 19, 2019, against the then Chairman/CMD and Promoter/Director of Pearl group and others after conversion of Preliminary Enquiry registered earlier on the directions of the Supreme Court of India to enquire into the said allegations. The arrested accused will be produced on Tuesday before the Designated Court at Rouse Avenue District Courts, Delhi. Earlier on March 4, the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at as many as 15 premises in Kolkata, Siliguri, Howrah and Agra against two chit-fund companies. "Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted searches on March 1, 2023, at 15 premises consisting of residences and offices at various locations in Kolkata, Siliguri, Howrah and Agra against two chit fund companies that is Pincon Group and Tower Infotech Ltd. under PMLA, 2002," ED said in a press release on Friday. ED had recorded a money laundering case against Tower Infotech Ltd and Pincon Group on the basis of FIRs registered by CBI and West Bengal Police for misappropriating Rs 156 Crore and Rs 638 crore respectively collected from its investors. The above chit-fund companies have collected money from the public by luring them with attractive schemes and offering very high rates of interest. These two companies have cheated the public by not returning the money, ED alleged. "Searches were carried out at the residences of directors of Pincon Group and Tower Group which include Manoranjan Roy, Hari Singh and beneficiaries Subharti Banerjee, Sanjay Basu & Mina Dey and Ramendu Chattopadhyay and beneficiaries of Eden Infraprojects Pvt Ltd, its directors- Indrajit De and Sachchidanand Rai, Indian Structural Engineering Company Pvt Ltd and Ashish Wheels Ltd," ED stated in the release. As per the release, during the searches, incriminating documents, digital evidence consisting of mobile phones and laptops and cash worth Rs 1.27 crore were seized. (ANI) Congress has called a two-hour-long state-wide bandh of markets in Karnataka on March 9 against the "corrupt BJP government", said party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday. The Congress called a bandh after several Congress leaders, led by former chief minister Siddaramaiah protested demanding the arrest of BJP MLA Madal Virupaksha, whose son was caught taking a bribe by the state's Lokayukta. "The 9th Karnataka Bandh is a symbolical bandh of markets only for 2 hours from 9 AM-11AM only against "Corrupt BJP Govt". To avoid inconvenience, road-rail transport, educational institutions, exams, hospitals, essential services are all exempted and not a part of the bandh," said Surjewala in a tweet. Last week, on Thursday, Karnataka Lokayukta officers caught Virupaksha's son, a chief accountant at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), while he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from a contractor. The anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta raided the residence of the MLA's son, Prashant Madal, during which they also recovered Rs 6 crore in cash. "The anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta caught Prashanth Maadal, son of BJP MLA Maadal Virupakshappa while he was taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Over Rs 1.7 crore in cash was recovered from his office," the Karnataka Lokayukta said in a statement earlier. Reacting to the recovery of alleged bribe money from the residence of the BJP MLA's son, CM Bommai said an impartial investigation was being conducted into the corruption charge against the BJP MLA and his son. "The Lokayukta, which was closed during the Congress government, was re-launched by us with the aim of comprehensively curbing corruption in the state. It is our stand that the Lokayukta should conduct an independent and impartial investigation into this matter (recovery of cash from the house of the MLA's son)," tweeted Bommai. However, the CM's assurance of a fair probe did not wash with Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who demanded Bommai's resignation in the light of the scandal. "Scams and corruption are rife in the state. The government had been asking for evidence. The recovery of cash from the residence of the BJP MLA's son is proof of this government's corruption. We demand that the CM tender his resignation over this," said Reddy. According to the Lokayukta, more than Rs 1.7 crore in cash was found at Prashanth Madal's office. Significantly, in light of the seizure of cash from his son's house, the BJP MLA on Friday stepped down as the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited Limited. Further, hitting back at Union Home minister Amit Shah, who claimed earlier that the Congress and the JD(S) ranked No.1 in corruption, Siddramaiah said, "Amit Shah is a big liar". (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Governor Syed Abdul Nazeer expressed his gratitude to the people of the state today and conveyed his good wishes on the occasion of ' Holi' festival. Sharing his best wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Abdul Nazeer said, "I convey my greetings and good wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of the 'Holi' festival." "Holi signifies a colourful and vibrant festival which strengthens the feeling of fraternity and goodwill amongst the people and fosters peace and prosperity in the society," he added. Conveying the message of Holi, Nazeer said, "Holi festival reinforces our trust and confidence in national integration through a joyful celebration of a sprinkling of colours. The festive spirit of 'Holi' transcends across all social barriers and strengthens the social fabric and symbolises the power of truth and the triumph of good over evil." With Holi just around the corner, celebrations for the festival have already begun. There is a feeling of enthusiasm among people as they prepare to play the auspicious festival of colours with their friends and family. The festival of Holi celebrates the spirit of inclusiveness and humanity heralds the onset of spring after winter in the Indian subcontinent. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated on two days - Holika Dahan and Holi Milan. (ANI) Stating the day as "joyous", Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren congratulated Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma for taking the oath and said that he has 'familial relations' with the Sangma family. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader also attended the oath ceremony in Shillong. "It is a joyous day. I too had the opportunity to attend this ceremony, we have familial relations with the Sangma family. You can imagine the delight when a younger brother takes the oath. I wish him all the best," Hemant Soren told the media. Earlier in the day, National People's Party chief Conrad Sangma took oath as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term in Shillong. After taking oath as the CM, he said, "We will continue to work on the foundations we have laid in the last five years for the development of the state. We are giving a lot of importance to youth and employment. The overall efficiency of benefits of various schemes reaching the grassroots level has improved." Along with Conrad Sangma, Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of Meghalaya. Other than them, nine ministers also took oath on Tuesday. These were namely, Abu Taher Mondal, Kyrmen Shylla, Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Alexander Laloo Hek, Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon, and Shakliar Warjri. In Meghalaya, the NPP-led alliance, with the support of 45 MLAs two of the BJP has staked claim to form the government in the state. Among the allies, the eight cabinet berths will go to the NPP, two to the United Democratic Party (UDP) and one each for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP). Sangma's NPP won 26 seats in the Assembly elections and will form the government in as the chief minister for a second consecutive term. Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on March 2. United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 seats in the results of assembly polls announced on Thursday. Congress won five seats. Trinamool Congress, which had inducted all Congress MLAs in the previous assembly, also got five seats. BJP, People's Democratic Front and Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates. BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the assembly polls separately. (ANI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday held Janata Darshan program at his constituency, Gorakhpur and heard the problems of the people. He directed the police officials to teach a 'befitting' lesson to the land mafias in the state. CM Yogi Adityanath on a visit to Gorakhpur interacted with the people in the Janata Darshan outside Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Auditorium of Gorakhnath Temple Complex and directed the administration and police officials to ensure that no land mafia encroaches on anyone's land and asked them to give such elements befitting lessons through legal means, informed the government through a release. CM Yogi also warned the officers against negligence at any level, ensuring quick and effective action on complaints related to land grabbing. All this while, the Chief Minister kept handing over the application letters to the concerned officials along with necessary directions. He met with 500 people and said, "There is no need to worry about anything. Quick, quality and satisfactory action would be taken to solve your issues." In the case of mutual land dispute, CM directed the officers to conduct counselling first between the aggrieved parties and then take appropriate legal action. Talking with the people who came with complaints, CM said, "Don't panic, strict action will be taken." Regarding complaints related to other districts, CM Yogi instructed officers to send those to the concerned officers of those districts. On complaints related to revenue in Janata Darshan, he directed the officers to expedite the disposal of land measurement and revenue-related matters in tehsils. He said, "Where necessary, the police force should also be taken along". CM Yogi also ensured full support to those who came seeking financial help for the treatment of serious diseases. He instructed the officers to complete the process of cost estimation of treatment on a priority basis and send it to the government. "The government will not let lack of funds come in the way of treatment", CM said. Further, CM Yogi Adityanath also showered his love and blessings on the children who came to the Janata Darshan with their mothers and gave them chocolates. Earlier, newly constructed Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) were inaugurated at Gorakhpur's Jangal Kauria and Chargaon (Khuthan) Community Health Centres (CHCs) on Monday by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. According to a media release by the state government, the PICU was developed by Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (Hurl), with the Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) fund and will benefit five lakh children, including 2.5 lakh residents each at Jangal Kauria and Chargaon. (ANI) Congress leader Sachin Pilot has written a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot calling on him to give a sympathetic ear to the demands of the widows of soldiers who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. As per Pilot's letter, the protestors urged him to push for a relaxation in the rules for giving government jobs to family members of those who lost their lives in the terror attack. The women have also demanded an investigation into the alleged ill-treatment meted out to them by the police, the Pilot's letter reads. Earlier on Monday, the widows of soldiers met Pilot in Jaipur and said he would convey their message to the Gandhi family. Speaking to ANI, one of the widows of the soldiers said, "Sachin Pilot is the son of a farmer and he will definitely convey their message to the Gandhi family." Congress leader Sachin Pilot met the protesting widows of soldiers who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jaipur on Monday. The protest is against the alleged non-fulfilment of promises made to them by the state government. The women were staging a dharna outside Sachin Pilot's residence. "This behaviour against women and especially widows of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country is punishable and unapologetic. The government will have to take strict action against the police and people involved in this," Pilot told reporters after meeting the women. The women sitting in dharna say that they hope that Sachin Pilot can make them meet Gandhi's family. They said that the Gehlot government of the state is not paying attention to their demands, so they want to convey their message to the Gandhi family. The women have been staging a dharna for several days in Jaipur. Police allegedly ill-treatment women when they wanted to meet Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over their demands. (ANI) In a bid to allay fears, officials of Bihar government on Tuesday interacted with Bihar-based migrant workers in Chennai. The two officials from Bihar government, Balamurugan-- Rural Development Department Secretary and superintendent of police (SP), special task force Santhosh Kumar, met with the migrant workers, who are spooked after several "false" videos of attacks on them surfaced on social media. "A few videos circulated through WhatsApp and other social media platforms with a message that these incidents (alleged attacks) happened with Bihari labourers. It has been confirmed that those videos are fake," Balamurugan said, adding that the situation is returning to normalcy. Earlier on Monday, Tamil Nadu DGP C Sylendra Babu said that the situation is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. While speaking to ANI, the top cop urged the media to act responsibly while also asking the people not to spread any such messages on social media which are "offensive". "The situation now is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. A few of them have left for the Holi celebrations. They had already booked their tickets and therefore they are gone, otherwise, we are able to convince them through the employers. The police officers have reached out to the migrant workers and also convinced them that there is no such incident of attack on Bihari workers or workers from any other state here. Whatever they have seen in the media that the migrant labourers are attacked, they are all fake videos," the police official said.He said that the migrant labourers are now convinced, as a result of the reach out by the police. "Most of them have not even taken place in Tamil Nadu. They were now convinced. In the places where the north Indian workers were employed, we have intensified the police patrol. Hindi-knowing police officers are in constant touch with them," he said. The DGP informed that special helplines were set up in districts including Erode, Tripur, Coimbatore, and Chennai to encourage people to come forward to give a complaint "if at all there is any". "There has been not even one complaint from them," he said. Mentioning the team from Bihar which visited the state to gather information about the alleged 'attacks', the police officer said that they have visited almost all places in the state where the migrant labourers are employed. "They have got the first-hand information that every offensive information that has been published from March 1 onwards, is devoid of truth. They are completely fake videos. The district administration and the police are in touch with the employers and sometimes the workers," he said. The DGP elaborated on the steps taken by the administration and police to counter the rumours and said that the real motive behind the rumours and fake videos can be ascertained after the investigation. "Since March 1, we started countering the fake information. On March 2, I came on video and clarified the situation about a particular video. My officers who are also from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also gave video bytes. Our 37 social media cells have also countered in terms of comments, and other means that these incidents have never taken place in Tamil Nadu. We requested to delete these contents. Many of the channels did not delete, therefore, we have registered criminal cases against them. Because of this, many of them have deleted the contents," he said adding that some of them are still keeping it. He said that the police have registered nine cases so far and investigating the matter. "We have registered nine cases so far based on the legal opinion and complaints. We are investigating and based on the investigation, it will be possible for us to know what is the real motive behind the creation of such videos and without verifying the facts, they still continue to do it," the police official said. He appealed to the migrant workers not to believe in what has been reported in the media and the rumours on social media stating that the police officials are active in their protection. "Rumours are very dangerous and can cause serious law and order problems. Therefore, do not forward any such posts on social media which is very offensive and which can cause serious bitterness between two groups of people. I appeal to the migrant workers that there is nothing of this nature which has been reported in the press has happened. You can trust our officers, we are in touch with you. Keep attending to your work. There is nothing adverse here. We are always here for your protection," he said. "Everybody must act responsibly including the members of the press," the DGP added. (ANI) The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Tuesday celebrated Holi near the International Border in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. They also extended best wishes to locals ahead of the festival of colours. Speaking to ANI, one of the BSF personnel said, "Our BSF family is very big and we are celebrating holi with full joy. We are away from the family but we are celebrating holi with joy with our BSF family." On the occasion of Holi the BSF jawans were seen dancing and singing songs. Earlier on March 6, Border Security Force (BSF) jawans celebrated Holi with locals at the International Border in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The BSF, which is called the first line of defence, are deployed at the International Border with Pakistan. Speaking to ANI, a woman jawan said that the locals visit the BSF camp every festival and celebrate. "We are celebrating Holi. While the Jawans are here, locals have also joined in the celebrations. They come to us and celebrate every festival. We don't feel too far away from home when we are around them. We want to tell people to celebrate the festival without a worry in the world. The borders are secure," she said. Another jawan, too, extended his best wishes for Holi saying that the locals have been very supportive. "The civilian population on the borders is very supportive. They come to us to celebrate every festival together. It gives us great joy when they are here celebrating festivals with us. I would like to extend my best wishes to the people ahead of the festival of colours. Celebrate the festival with happiness. We are guarding the borders and there's no reason to worry," he said. "They are like a family. While we miss our loved ones back home, especially at festivals, they lift our spirits by celebrating with us. We spend time together. I extend my best wishes to fellow countrymen on the occasion of Holi," another jawan said. While Holi is celebrated over two days in North India, its preparations and all related events start a week in advance. Choti Holi and Holika Dahan will be marked on March 7 (Tuesday). It is marked during Pradosh Kaal (which starts after sunset) while Purnimasi Tithi is prevailing, as per Hindu beliefs. The festival of Holi celebrates the spirit of inclusiveness and humanity and heralds the onset of Spring in the Indian subcontinent. The festival, marking the victory of good over evil, is celebrated over two days -- Holika Dahan and Holi Milan. (ANI) In a bid to ensure peace and security in the district, police beefed up security arrangements on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad as Holi celebrations coincided with Shab-e-Barat this year. "Police took out a flag march with paramilitary forces and the whole area was checked through drone regarding Holi and Shab-e-Barat in Moradabad," Hemraj Meena, senior superintendent of police (SSP) said. SSP further stated that action will be taken against those who play DJ more than the prescribed decimal, and notice will be given to all. In Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, a mosque has been covered with tarpaulin before the festival of Holi, in order to ensure it is not smeared with colour. On the instructions of the police administration on Holi, for the purpose of maintaining peace and order, Abdul Karim Masjid at Aligarh's most sensitive crossroad the "Halwaiyan" is covered with a tarpaulin at night so that hoodlums do not smear the mosque with colours during Holi. Notably, like the last few years on Holi, the mosque in the sensitive area was also covered with tarpaulin at night so that no one would throw colour on the mosque due to Holi. Earlier on March 6, Delhi Traffic Police made special traffic arrangements for Shab-e-Barat, an Islamic ceremonial festival celebrated on the intervening night of March 7 and March 8 wherein a large number of devotees from Delhi and outside are likely to offer prayers at graveyards and mosques in Delhi. The devotees are likely to travel throughout the night from one place to another, for which adequate traffic arrangements are required to be made. Delhi Traffic Police will ensure the safety of motorists on roads, ensure a smooth flow of traffic, keep the pedestrians on the footpaths, guide the devotees/road users regarding routes and traffic diversions and prevent rash and negligent driving or performance of stunts on two-wheelers. Delhi Traffic Police appealed to all motorists to avoid traffic violations especially drunken driving, over-speeding, triple riding, riding without a helmet, and driving in the wrong carriageway. (ANI) Captain Deeksha has undergone training with the special force troops and has undergone rigorous training with the special forces operatives. She was misidentified to have been deployed in Turkiye as part of Operation Dost. In the pictures shared by Indian Army, she can be seen training with her male counterparts. She is a medical doctor and is trained for special operations as she may be required to provide help to troops during special operations. Medical officers in special forces units have earlier also been closely associated with special operations. (ANI) Members of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam on Tuesday filed a complaint against Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan, a day after he met Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over "rumoured" attacks on migrant labourers, in Coimbatore district of the southern state. Citing confusion in the state, triggered by Paswan's meeting with Governor Ravi, the members filed a complaint with the police in Coimbatore. Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam said, Paswan met with the Governor and also filed a petition regarding the incident despite the attacks having been termed "false" and "fake". "This is creating a confusion," they added. Condemning the incident, the members of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam also met City Police commissioner and urged him to take action against the leader. Paswan on Monday called on Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai. The meeting came in the bakdrop of panic sweeping the state's migrant labourers from Bihar amid rumours of attacks. Paswan also interacted with migrant labourers from Bihar amid rumours of targeted attacks. "Today, the national president of Lok Janshakti Party @iChiragPaswan met Bihari labourers living in Tamil Nadu and assured them of all possible help against the atrocities being committed against them," the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) said in a tweet. Earlier on Monday, Tamil Nadu DGP C Sylendra Babu said that the situation is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. While speaking to ANI, the top cop urged the media to act responsibly while also asking the people not to spread any such messages on social media which are "offensive". "The situation now is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. A few of them have left for the Holi celebrations. They had already booked their tickets and therefore they are gone, otherwise, we are able to convince them through the employers. The police officers have reached out to the migrant workers and also convinced them that there is no such incident of attack on Bihari workers or workers from any other state here. Whatever they have seen in the media that the migrant labourers are attacked, they are all fake videos," the police official said. He said that the migrant labourers are now convinced, as a result of the reach out by the police. He also appealed to the migrant workers not to believe in what has been reported in the media and the rumours on social media stating that the police officials are active in their protection. "Rumours are very dangerous and can cause serious law and order problems. Therefore, do not forward any such posts on social media which is very offensive and which can cause serious bitterness between two groups of people. I appeal to the migrant workers that there is nothing of this nature which has been reported in the press has happened. You can trust our officers, we are in touch with you. Keep attending to your work. There is nothing adverse here. We are always here for your protection," he said. "Everybody must act responsibly including the members of the press," the DGP added. (ANI) Foreign and domestic tourists celebrated Holi in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Tuesday. After a grey Covid period, tourism is also at its peak and this is reflected in the Dhulandi program organised by the tourism department as part of the Dhulandi festival. It was held at the Khasa Kothi Hotel, especially for foreign tourists. The tourism department organised a grand event at the Khasa Kothi Hotel with programs showcasing the rich culture of Rajasthan. Many local artists participated in the dance performances in which the tourists couldn't help themselves but join the party of dancers. The businessmen and officials associated with the tourism industry said that it's the first time Jaipur is witnessing a huge crowd of tourists for the festival after the Covid season is over. And this is a matter of happiness for the hotel industry and tourism sector. In another event, MP Ghanashyam Tiwari was seen celebrating the Dhulandi festival and drenched in colours at his residence. Some BJP MPs also joined the celebrations at MP Tiwari's residence and were seen singing folk songs and dancing. 'Holi and Dhulandi is a festival of democracy', said MP Tiwari in a conversation with ANI, 'it is celebrated by people of every religion and caste'. He added that election is also round the corner which will also be celebrated. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was also seen celebrating Holi along with other MPs at his residence. (ANI) Kejriwal had forwarded the names to the Lieutenant Governor for their appointment to the Cabinet. The development came after the President accepted the resignation of AAP ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain on Tuesday. Atishi represents the Kalkaji constituency and has been a key member of Sisodia's education team. She had also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the East Delhi constituency and lost to BJP's Gautam Gambhir. Bhardwaj, the party's national spokesperson, had served the Delhi Jal Board as its vice chairman. The legislator from Greater Kailash was also a minister during the first stint of the AAP government. The Delhi council of ministers now has a strength of five, including CM Arvind Kejriwal, who doesn't hold any portfolios. Sisodia had resigned from his all 18 posts following his arrest in the alleged excise policy scam. After former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain's arrest last year, seven portfolios handled by him were shifted to Sisodia, who was looking after 18 departments when he was arrested. He is now lodged in Tihar's jail after Rouse Avenue Court on Monday sent him to judicial custody till March 20. Sisodia had resigned from his all 18 posts following his arrest in the alleged excise policy scam. (ANI) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the declaration through separate notifications published on Tuesday and issued on Monday. As per the first notification, the President is pleased to accept, on the advice of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the resignation of Manish Sisodia, a Minister in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with immediate effect". Another notification also mentioned acceptance of Satyendra Jain's resignation. "The President is pleased to accept, on the advice of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the resignation of Satyendra Jain, a Minister in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with immediate effect," states the notification. In a surprise move on March 2 evening, Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia and jailed minister Satyendar Jain tendered their resignations to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who accepted both. The resignations were sent to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, from where they were forwarded to the President. Two further notifications also pointed to acceptance of the appointment of two new ministers in the Delhi cabinet-- Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj. "President is pleased to appoint, on the advice of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj as Ministers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with effect from the date they are sworn in," it said. The development came after the President accepted the resignation of AAP ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain on Tuesday. Atishi represents the Kalkaji constituency and has been a key member of Sisodia's education team. She had also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the East Delhi constituency and lost to BJP's Gautam Gambhir. Bhardwaj, the party's national spokesperson, had served the Delhi Jal Board as its vice chairman. The legislator from Greater Kailash was also a minister during the first stint of the AAP government. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Tuesday congratulated doctors at Omandurar Government Hospital in Chennai for conducting a rare surgery where a blood clot was successfully taken away by pinhole surgery in the brain. While addressing the press conference at the hospital, he said "A patient named Pratap came to the hospital with a brain clot and paralysis. Doctors told him to immediately go for brain surgery. Within a few hours, Pratap was successfully discharged and now he is absolutely fine. I thank and congratulate the team of doctors". "Since he was admitted at right time Dr Periyakarupan diagnosed him and did a pinhole surgery immediately where a blockage in the brain was removed and within a few minutes the patient started to move his hand and leg" Subramanian added. He further mentioned the steps that need to be taken when a person faces such symptoms. "Our Tamil Nadu Government has already introduced free surgery for paralysis and a blood clot in the brain. Blood clotting in the blood is regularly happening in youth. If anyone faces these symptoms just get admitted within 4 hours so that they can be cured," He said. On the successful surgery of the patient TN Health Minister Ma. Subramanian took to Twitter and expressed his pleasure. "Congratulations to Pratap (36) who was admitted for stroke at Omanturar Government Pannoku Hospital for successfully removing the blood clot from the blood vessels of the brain and saving him from stroke." TN Health Minister tweeted. He appealed to the Tamil Nadu public to approach government hospitals and avail of benefits provided by the state government. "This is the first time in India that a government hospital has done this kind of surgery. It is normally done in private hospitals where 6 to 8 lacks bills would have been paid. I appeal to TN People that if any symptoms are found then they should immediately approach the Government hospital and make use of the service where everything is free and good care is provided," He said. He also appealed to the media to spread information among the public about their initiative related to free surgery for blood clots in the brain and paralysis cases. "The state government's aim is to make sure health benefits reach everyone at right time so I appeal through media people to make the public aware of the use of government hospitals. There is less awareness among people that the government is doing free surgery for blood clots in the brain and paralysis," He said. (ANI) A late night fire broke out in a restaurant on Bikaner-Jaipur road killing two men and destroying goods worth lakhs of rupees. The police rushed to the spot and closed the gas line suppy, after which the fire was controlled. Of the deceased, one is from Bihar and other is from Kolayat. A dozen fire brigades reached the spot to extinguish the fire. BJP leaders staged a sit-in protest in front of the PBM hospital mortuary demanding compensation for the dead. Jayanarayan Vyas Police station officer Mahavir Prasad Vishnoi said that the fire broke out around 2 AM and was put out early morning. After the fire was extinguished, police found bodies of two young men. The deceased were later identified as Hare Krishna son of Rakesh Kumar hailing from Patna, Bihar and Gyan Singh son of Dhane Singh of Kolayat. Both of them are said to be 24 years of age. Bodies were completely burnt while recovered and are kept in the mortuary. The post-mortem will be done only after the relatives of the deceased identify and confirm the dead, said the officials. The reason behind the fire is believed to be a short-circuit. The fire first broke out on the first floor of the two-storey building and then spread to the second floor. Both of the men who were killed in the fire were sleeping on the first floor of the building while the incident took place. The cylinders were also stored on the first floor. The police rushed to the sport first and later called in the fire brigades. And later managed to control the fire. (ANI) After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement in the UK where he sought the intervention of the US and Europe to restore democracy in India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the Wayanad MP alleging him of shaming and mocking the country and its people from a foreign land. Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "It's utterly shameful that Rahul Gandhi, from a foreign land, has tried to hurt the spirits of India's consensus on the subject that no foreign country must intervene in India's internal affairs." Prasad urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge to clear the party's stand over Rahul Gandhi's statement in which he sought America and Europe's interference to restore democracy in India. The BJP MP said Rahul Gandhi has sought to shame India's Democracy from a foreign land. "Rahul Gandhi through his lectures in London has made a mockery of India's polity, Parliament, judicial system, strategic security and its people. We ask Congress president Kharge if you feel that you are an elected president of Congress, do you support this irresponsible and shameful comment of Rahul Gandhi that 'America and Europe must intervene in India to restore democracy'? If you do not support Rahul Gandhi's statement, then disown it," stated Ravi Shankar Prasad. The BJP leader's remarks came after Rahul Gandhi in the UK said, "Why Europe and the US - the defenders of democracies were oblivious of how a huge chunk of democracy in India has come undone?" The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi is under the influence of "anarchist and Maoist elements". In reference to former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prasad questioned, "Sonia Gandhi Ji, BJP would like to urge you to make your stand very clear - where do you stand in the face of this utterly irresponsible statement of your son asking for interference by America and Europe to restore democracy in India?" The BJP leader termed Rahul Gandhi's remark as an "utterly irresponsible statement" and "shameful". "Rahul Gandhi ji, you stop insulting India on foreign soil. If the country defeats you, again and again, do not take out its anger by going abroad," added Prasad. Countering the Wayanad MP's remarks on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Prasad said, " Sangh has done a great service for the nation. It is dedicated to the nation. Nehru ji used to criticize Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Indira ji also used to criticize, Rajiv ji also used to criticize and Rahul ji also used to criticize RSS. Now see, where did the Sangh reach and where did you end up? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the RSS a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India's institutions. He said, "The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS - a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India's institutions." Rahul Gandhi further said Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country. The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat. "It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI) The carcasses, which were found by Madurai district forest officials, were seized and sent for post-mortem. "Yesterday 18 peacocks and today more than 20 dead peacock carcasses have been confiscated," informed district forest officials. According to a local villager, he had found ten peacocks and later the forest department found 40 peacocks. "More than ten peacocks were found dead in the field while I was tending cows. After this I informed the police, then the forest department found 40 peacocks dead in the last two days. Forest department should take action against the concerned person," said Muthuraj a local villager. The Madurai wildlife range officer said that a case has been registered and necessary action will be taken. "A case has been registered and an investigation is underway," said Madurai Wildlife Range Officer. Further details are awaited. (ANI) The Delhi High court on Tuesday permitted the termination of 27-week pregnancy suffering from cardiac abnormality. The High court passed the direction after perusing the report of the medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. A woman approached the court seeking permission for the termination of pregnancy. Justice Prathiba M Singh granted permission for termination of pregnancy after perusing the report of the medical board which recommended a termination. The procedure is to be done at AIIMS. The bench directed the petitioner to be admitted at the AIIMS on March 9. A report was filed by the medical board constituted at the AIIMS which had six members. Delhi High court on March 3 directed the AIIMS to constitute a medical board to examine the woman who has sought permission to terminate a 27-week pregnancy. The woman has said that the foetus is suffering from cardiac abnormality. "Considering the nature of abnormality let a medical board be constituted by the AIIMS," the bench had said. The woman approached the court through advocate Anwesh Madhukar seeking permission to terminate the pregnancy. The court noted that in the report of the ultrasound done on February 17, some abnormality was found in the foetus. After that, the case was referred to a foetal medical expert. The abnormality was found in the subsequent examination on February 25. The court perused the report of February 25 wherein a cardiac abnormality with the foetus was found. It is stated that no abnormality was found in the ultrasound done on January 5, 2023. The Petitioner is a 32-year-old married woman who is currently at a 27-week gestational age and by way of the instant petition, she has sought the intervention of the High Court in passing directions to conduct medical termination of her pregnancy under Section 3(2B), Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (as amended by the MTP Amendment Act, 2021). Given the fact that time is of the essence in the present case and also owing to the substantial foetal abnormalities, the Petitioner has approached the High Court for enforcement of her 'Right to life' under Article 21, Constitution of India, and has sought directions against the Respondents qua medical termination of her pregnancy under Section 3(2B), Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act,1970, the petition stated. (ANI) While tracing and tracking the funds being moved by the Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, especially the States of Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar etc, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations into the Phulwari Sharif PFI case of Bihar have led to the unearthing of a large network of hawala operatives in South India and their arrest from Karnataka. A PFI funding-by-hawala module operating out of Bihar and Karnataka with roots in the UAE has been busted with the arrests of five PFI operatives from Kasargod, Kerala and Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka. PFI cadres in Phulwarisharif and Motihari had vowed to continue PFI activities in a clandestine manner in Bihar and had also arranged a firearm and ammunition recently to eliminate a youth of a particular community in Bihar's East Champaran District. Three operatives of the module had been arrested on February 5, 2023, said NIA statement. The probing agency said the five arrested on Tuesday have been found to be actively involved in PFI's criminal conspiracy to move and channelise illicit funds procured from outside India for distribution among PFI leaders and cadres. Earlier in this case, seven accused persons have already been arrested when they had gathered in Phulwari Sharif area of Patna in July last year for training and to carry out acts of terror and violence. NIA teams have been carrying out extensive searches in Kasargod (Kerala) and Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka since Sunday. Searches were conducted at eight locations leading to the seizure of multiple digital devices and incriminating documents containing details of transactions running into several crore rupees. Pursuing the investigational leads since July 2022, the NIA team found that despite the ban on PFI imposed on September 27, the PFI and its leaders and cadres continued to propagate the ideology of violent extremism and were also arranging arms and ammunition to commit crimes. 'Following the money', NIA investigators reached Md Sarfraz Nawaz and Md Mahammad Sinan, who had been found making deposits in the bank accounts of the accused and suspects in the PFI case. Dogged in pursuit of the money trail and connecting the dots, NIA managed to unravel the international conspiracy and linkages to the funds while investigating Iqbal and other associates who had collected illegally generated funds from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and handed them over to Muhammad Sinan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Rafeek M and Abid KM in India. NIA investigations have shown that Mohammad Sarfaraz, Md Sinan and Md Rafeek deposited this money in different bank accounts of the accused and the suspects. These five accused will be produced in NIA Special Court Patna shortly. Further investigations are on to track, trace and choke international as well domestic illicit funding channels of the banned PFI, said NIA. (ANI) "I feel happy to have got this chance. Women can also get all work done if they are hard-working and sincere," she said. Nine MLAs including Kruse took oath as ministers in the Nagaland cabinet on Tuesday. Kruse along with G Kaito Aye, Jacob Zhimomi, KG Kenye, P Paiwang Konyak, Metsubo Jamir, Temjen Imna Along, CL John and P Bashangmongba Chang took oath in Kohima. History was scripted in Nagaland when the state elected its first women legislators in its 60 years of statehood. The state, which has had 13 Assemblies so far, never had a woman MLA before the 2022 result. Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Nagaland for the fifth time. Taditui Rangkau Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton also took oath as Deputy chief ministers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Governor La Ganesan, BJP President JP Nadda and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma witnessed the oath-taking ceremony in Kohima. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-Bharatiya Janata Party retained power in the Nagaland election, with the two parties having secured 37 seats in the 60-member assembly, as per the data by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Rio won the Northern Angami-II Assembly constituency, trouncing Seyievilie Sachu of the Congress by a mammoth margin of 15,824 votes. He bagged a total of 17,045 votes, which comes to 92.87 per cent of the total votes polled in the seat. The Northeast state saw a triangular contest as Congress and CPIM, which have been arch rivals for years, stitched a pre-poll alliance to defeat the ruling BJP. (ANI) Tamil Nadu CM Stalin took to Twitter to congratulate the newly sworn-in CM. "Congratulations to Thiru @SangmaConrad on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second term. May you have a successful tenure and fulfil the aspirations of the Meghalaya people." Stalin tweeted. Earlier today Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the oath-taking ceremony of Meghalaya's Chief Minister. PM Modi also congratulated CM Sangma on Twitter and gave him best wishes. "Attended the oath-taking ceremony of Shri @SangmaConrad Ji and his ministerial team. Congratulations to those who took the oath. Best wishes to them in their pursuit of taking Meghalaya to new heights of growth." PM Modi tweeted. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also attended the oath-taking ceremony of CM Sangma. CM Soren while speaking to the media said "It is a joyous day. I too had the opportunity to attend this ceremony, we have familial relations with the Sangma family. You can imagine the delight when a younger brother takes the oath. I wish him all the best,". Earlier in the day, National People's Party chief Conrad Sangma took oath as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term in Shillong. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of Meghalaya along with Conrad Sangma. Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on March 2. BJP, People's Democratic Front and Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates.BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the assembly polls separately. (ANI) After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement in the UK where he sought the intervention of the US and Europe to restore democracy in India, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said that Waynand MP through his statements abroad has opened a shop of anger, hatred and violence. "Gandhi had raised the slogan that he is going to open a Mohabbat ki dukan (shop of love) by Bharat Jodo Yatra, but it seems that instead of love, he has opened a shop of anger, hatred and violence by his actions abroad," Kumar said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comment in London that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is "fundamentally fascist" has provoked a backlash with the Sangh slamming him saying the Congress leader proved the Britishers' basic idea for forming the party. "Congress was formed by Britishers in 1885. Rahul Gandhi has proved the Britishers' motto for forming the Congress party which they formed for controlling the people who were fighting for their freedom," Indresh Kumar, a senior leader said while talking to ANI. He further said that Rahul Gandhi is not Indian, but a foreigner dreaming of "ruling" India with help of other countries. "He is not an Indian, but a foreigner and with the help of foreigners, he is dreaming to rule the country, which is very unfortunate. Rahul is insulting his elders that too sitting in England and is condemning India's democracy. He is conspiring to rule India which is a very heinous and condemnable act," Kumar said. RSS leader also said that the Sangh is known as a "patriotic organization" in the whole world. "Not only the whole country, the world knows that RSS was and will remain a patriotic organization. It was and will remain a movement for social reform, it was and will remain a movement for social service, it is a symbol of economic well-being. It does not create discrimination," Kumar added. He also said that the Wayanad MP's remarks in London have brought shame to the party which is known as a grand old party of the country. "A party, which was said to have fought the war of freedom has been ashamed now. What can be more humiliating than this? This is an insult to the nation, an insult to a freedom fighter, an insult to the party, an insult to the soldiers killed in the line of duty and an insult to India," the RSS leader said. Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India's institutions. Rahul Gandhi said, "The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS - a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India's institutions." Rahul Gandhi further said Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country. The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat. "It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his stating that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation. Bommai said the way Rahul Gandhi speaks on foreign soil makes me doubt his integrity. Talking to ANI, CM Bommai said, "The way Rahul Gandhi speaks whenever he is on foreign soil makes me doubt his integrity and intelligence." Earlier on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India's institutions. Rahul Gandhi said, "The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS - a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India's institutions." The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat. "It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul claimed that he had been warned by the intelligence officers to be "careful" while speaking on the phone as his calls were being recorded. "I myself had Pegasus on my phone. A large number of politicians had Pegasus on their phones. I have been called by intelligence officers who told me, 'Please be careful about what you are saying on the phone because we are sort of recording the stuff'. So this is the constant pressure that we feel. Cases on the opposition. I have got a number of criminal liable cases for things that should under no circumstances be criminal liable cases. That's what we are trying to defend," the Congress leader said in his address. (ANI) Launching the 100th Janaushadhi Kendra at Bengaluru South on Tuesday, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya said that the first priority of the government is to provide cheap and better quality medicines to all citizens. Mandaviya also launched NaMo Free Dialysis Centre and inaugurated NaMo Day Care Center and flagged off four NaMo Mobile Healthcare Units in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the occasion of 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas. He said that disease affects both rich and the poor equally, but the rich man can buy medicines at any cost but the poor man is unable to get treatment many times due to lack of medicine, but our government is providing low cost and better quality medicines to everyone through Jan Aushadhi centers. "Keeping this in mind the Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country. At these kendras, every citizen, whether poor or rich, can buy medicines at very cheap prices," he said while addressing the gathering. Highlighting the slogan of Jan Aushadhi Diwas 'Sasti bhi, Achhi bhi', the minister said,"The quality and affordable medicines are available on Jan Aushadhi Kendras. NGOs and many others joined the journey of Jan Aushadhi and today more than 9000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are in existence." Mandaviya urged the youth to become 'Jan Aushadhi Mitra' to publicise the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Kendras for betterment of the people. The health minister also informed that opening a Jan Aushadhi Kendra is very easy and anyone who opens Jan Aushadhi Kendra gets 20 per cent commission. Union Minister also narrated last year's incident when PM was interacting with the beneficiaries of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna, a woman beneficiary shared her experience that she belongs to a poor family, she has two sons and her husband is earning 15-20 thousand rupees monthly. She said, "She has been suffering from two-three diseases and around Rs 5,000 used to get spent on her medicines only. When she came to know about Jan Aushadhi Kendras and started availing the benefits, she started getting the medicines at Rs 1100. She found that the quality and effect of this medicine from Jan Aushadhi Kendra was same and she could save around Rs 4000 in this way." Department of Pharmaceuticals is celebrating the Jan Aushadhi Diwas on March 7. Events have been planned in different cities starting from March 1, 2023 to March 7, 2023 to create awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme. "Seminars, participation of children, women and NGO's, Heritage walks and Health camps and many other activities engaging PMBJKs owners, Beneficiaries, State/UT officials, Public Representatives, Doctors, Health Workers, Nurses, Pharmacists, Jan Aushadhi Mitra's organised at different locations across the country covering all State/UTs," he said. This campaign generated awareness about the usages of generic medicines and benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and its salient features and achievements. With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India in November, 2008. As on January 31, 2023, the numbers of stores have increased to 9082. Under the PMBJP, 743 districts out of 764 districts of the country have been covered. "This scheme ensures easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country. The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,000 by the end of December,2023. Product basket of PMBJP comprises 1,759 drugs and 280 surgical instruments," he said. Further, new medicines and nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, sanitizer, masks, glucometer, oximeter, etc., have been also launched. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested five Hawala operatives in Phulwarisharif Popular Front of India (PFI) case from Kerala and Karnataka. With these arrests from Kasargod in Kerala and Dakshin Kannada in Karnataka, the NIA said, a PFI funding-by-hawala module operating out of Bihar and Karnataka with roots in the United Arab Emirates has been busted. Those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Sinan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Iqbal, Abdul Rafeek M and Abid K M Sivasankar.The arrested persons have been found to be actively involved in PFI's criminal conspiracy to move and channelise illicit funds procured from outside India for distribution among PFI leaders and cadres, said the NIA. Earlier in this case, seven accused persons have already been arrested when they had gathered in Phulwarisharif area of Patna in July last year for training and to carry out acts of terror and violence. NIA teams have been carrying out extensive searches in Kasargod and Dakshin Kannada since Sunday, said the anti-terror agency, adding "searches were conducted at eight locations leading to the seizure of multiple digital devices and incriminating documents containing details of transactions running into several crore rupees."While tracing and tracking the funds being moved by the PFI across the country, especially the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Bihar, the NIA said, its investigations into the Phulwarisharif PFI case of Bihar have led to the un-earthing of a large network of hawala operatives in South India and their arrest from Karnataka. PFI cadres in Phulwarisharif and Motihari in Bihar had vowed to continue PFI activities in a clandestine manner in Bihar and had also arranged a firearm and ammunition recently to eliminate a youth of a particular community in Bihar's East Champaran district. Three operatives of the module had been arrested on February 5 this year. Pursuing the investigational leads since July 2022, the NIA team found that despite the ban on PFI imposed on September 27 laat year, the PFI and its leaders and cadres continued to propagate the ideology of violent extremism and were also arranging arms and ammunition to commit crimes. 'Following the money', the NIA investigators reached Md Sarfraz Nawaz and Md Mahammad Sinan, who had been found making deposits in the bank accounts of accused and suspects in the PFI case, said the NIA."Dogged pursuit of the money trail and connecting the dots, NIA managed to unravel the international conspiracy and linkages to the funds while investigating Iqbal and other associates who had collected illegally generated funds from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and handed them over to Mahammad Sinan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Rafeek M and Abid K. M. in India." Investigations have shown that Mohammad Sarfaraz, Md Sinan and Md Rafeek deposited this money in different bank accounts of accused and the suspects. . "Further investigations are on to track, trace and choke international as well domestic illicit funding channels of the banned PFI," added the NIA. (ANI) Amid a spurt in cases of the H3N2 virus, medical experts said that the virus can spread from person to person during the festival and it's important to take precautions. "I would really say that people should celebrate Holi but be careful especially the elderly and those who have underlying comorbid conditions like chronic respiratory diseases, heart problems. Patients having kidney problems or dialysis need to be careful about going into a crowded place and getting an exposure." said Dr Randeep Guleria, chairman, Institute of Internal Medicine and Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and Director, Medical Education, Medanta, Gurugram. Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital Director Paediatrics, Dr Nitin Verma urged citizens to take precautions including being vaccinated each year and avoiding contact with sick individuals. "You must take precautions to prevent H3N2 influenza, including being vaccinated each year, frequently washing hands with soap and water, avoiding contact with sick individuals, covering the mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, and staying away from school or work when ill," said Dr Nitin Verma. He further suggested to avoid crowded situations and cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. "If unwell contact your health care professional. Avoid crowded situations and use a face mask, wash hands, avoid touching your mouth and nose, cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing." he said. "With Holi festival do avoid crowded places, celebrate with near and dear ones, refrain from going out if unwell, maintain distance and wash hands frequently. So celebrate safely and prevent the spread of H3N2 influenza," he added. (ANI) Virupakshappa was absconding for five days after his son was arrested along with 4 others while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakhs. The BJP MLA has been given interim bail with the condition of a Rs 5 lakh bond and surety. The bench also directed him to appear before Lokayukta within 48 hours. Earlier this month, the anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta raided the residence of Virupakshappa's son Prashant Madal and recovered Rs 6 crore cash. Karnataka Lokayukta officers caught Virupakshappa's son while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. "The anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta yesterday caught Prashanth Madal, son of BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Over Rs 1.7 crore in cash was recovered from his office," Karnataka Lokayukta said. Lokayukta was on duty after getting a complaint about the demand for a bribe. Over Rs 1.7 crore cash was found at Prashanth Madal's office, Lokayukta officials said. Speaking to reporters, Virupakshappa said that the money found in the raid was his "earned money". "It was our earned money. I have not done any illegal transactions as president of KSDL. We kept the money from our groundnut plantation and crusher at home. This money was discovered during the Lokayukta raid. I have a document for that money and I will give it," he said. He further said that he would not quit the party even after the party expelled him from the primary membership. "However, I will not quit the BJP. I will prove my innocence in the case and I will get a clean chit in a legal battle. BJP is my mother party," he added. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on the issue of alleged misbehaviour with three widows of the soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack in 2019. "Rajnath Singh spoke with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on the matter of misbehaviour with widows of soldiers who lost their lives in the Pulwama attack," a source told ANI, adding that Rajasthan CM assured of action in the matter. The widows of the soldiers have been protesting against the alleged non-fulfilment of promises made to them by the state government and also alleged that police assaulted them while they went to meet CM Ashok Gehlot on Saturday. Earlier on Monday, Congress leader Sachin Pilot met with widows of soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack and said that action must be taken against police personnel who misbehaved with them. The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan met the women at his official residence on Monday. Pilot also wrote to CM Ashok Gehlot, urging him to be "sympathetic towards the demands of widows of Pulwama martyrs and to ensure that their demands are fulfilled". "In politics, the order of the people is above everything else and whatever the people want happens," Pilot said. As per Pilot's letter, the protestors urged him to push for a relaxation in the rules for giving government jobs to family members of those who lost their lives in the terror attack. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday arrested a migrant worker from Jharkhand for allegedly making and sharing a fake video which claimed that locals thrashed workers. According to Tamil Nadu Police, Manoj Yadav and his friends are natives of Jharkhand and were living in Maraimalai Nagar area. Police investigation revealed Yadav made the video to gain popularity and to create unrest among the migrant workers. He has been sent to judicial custody. "One Manoj Yadav of Jharkhand and his friends, who are migrant workers residing at Maraimalai Nagar area, created a video as if they are beaten up by Tamil Nadu people, and facing a lot of problems in their workplace and requested the Government of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand to help them to return back to their native place," tweeted Tamil Nadu Police. "Tambaram city police investigated this and found out, this video was created by Manoj Yadav for gaining popularity and to create unrest among the migrant workers. Manoj Yadav was arrested and remanded to judicial custody by Tambaram city police," added Tamil Nadu Police. Meanwhile, stepping up the investigation into the rumours of the alleged 'attack' on the Bihar migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu, the police of both states on Monday swung into action with the Bihar Police issuing the preservation notice to social media platforms while the Tamil Nadu Police is conducting the reach out programmes to the labourers to allay their fears. The Bihar Police has asked the platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Gmail to save the links of the posts by the miscreants in connection with the rumours of the alleged 'attack', to help in the probe in the future. Earlier on Monday, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu said that the situation is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. While speaking to ANI, the top cop urged the media to act responsibly while also asking the people not to spread any such messages on social media which are "offensive". "The situation now is peaceful and the workers have resumed their work. A few of them have left for the Holi celebrations. They had already booked their tickets and therefore they are gone, otherwise, we are able to convince them through the employers. The police officers have reached out to the migrant workers and also convinced them that there is no such incident of attack on Bihari workers or workers from any other state here. Whatever they have seen in the media that the migrant labourers are attacked, they are all fake videos," the police official said. He said that the migrant labourers are now convinced, as a result of the reach out by the police. "Most of them have not even taken place in Tamil Nadu. They were now convinced. In the places where the north Indian workers were employed, we have intensified the police patrol. Hindi-knowing police officers are in constant touch with them," he said. The DGP informed that special helplines were set up in districts including Erode, Tripur, Coimbatore, and Chennai to encourage people to come forward to give a complaint "if at all there is any". "There has been not even one complaint from them," he said. Mentioning the team from Bihar which visited the state to gather information about the alleged 'attacks', the police officer said that they have visited almost all places in the state where the migrant labourers are employed. "They have got the first-hand information that every offensive information that has been published from March 1 onwards, is devoid of truth. They are completely fake videos. The district administration and the police are in touch with the employers and sometimes the workers," he said. (ANI) After Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the recently-held Tripura Assembly polls, Manik Saha on Wednesday will take oath as the Chief Minister of the northeast state for the second time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda will attend the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. The mega event will be held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala. Amit Shah and Nadda already arrived in Agartala on Tuesday. They were received at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport by Manik Saha. Chief Minister-designate Manik Saha on Monday called on Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya to stake claim to form the government in the Northeast state. Earlier on Monday, there was a general meeting of all the newly elected BJP MLAs who unanimously proposed the name of Manik Saha for the leader of the legislature party. "My sincere gratitude to all for electing me as the leader of the legislature party. Under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi ji, we shall work together to build 'Unnata Tripura, Shrestha Tripura' and ensure the welfare of all sections of people," tweeted Saha after the meeting. Manik Saha on Friday submitted his resignation to Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya at Raj Bhavan in Agartala. The Governor asked him to continue until the new government is sworn in. Speaking to the media, Saha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the event on March 8. "Last time, the oath-taking ceremony took place at Assam Rifles Ground and this time it will take place at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remain present in the ceremony," Saha told reporters. He further said that BJP president JP Nadda will also visit the state to take part in the oath-taking ceremony. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be there during the Oath taking ceremony along with various other leaders of the party," he added. He said several chief ministers of BJP ruled states will also join the event. BJP returned to power in the state by winning an absolute majority. According to the Election Commission of India, BJP won 32 seats with a vote share of around 39 per cent. Tipra Motha Party came second by winning 13 seats. Communist Party of India (Marxist) got 11 seats while Congress bagged three seats. The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) managed to open its account by winning one seat. The CPI(M) and the Congress, arch rivals in Kerala, came together in the Northeast this time in a bid to oust the BJP from power. The combined vote share of CPI(M) and Congress remained around 33 per cent. Chief Minister Saha defeated Congress' Asish Kumar Saha from the Town Bordowali seat by a margin of 1,257 votes. In the 60-member Tripura assembly, the majority mark is 31.The BJP, which had never won a single seat in Tripura before 2018, stormed to power in the last election in alliance with IPFT and had ousted the Left Front which had been in power in the border state for 35 years since 1978. The BJP contested on 55 seats and its ally, IPFT, on six seats. But both allies had fielded candidates in the Ampinagar constituency in the Gomati district. The Left contested 47 and Congress on 13 seats, respectively. Of the total 47 seats, the CPM contested 43 seats while the Forward Bloc, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) contested one seat each. The CPI(M)-led Left Front ruled the state for nearly four decades, with a gap between 1988 and 1993, when the Congress was in power but now both parties joined hands with the intention to oust BJP from power. (ANI) The officials said that they have received various inputs of "nefarious activities" being planned by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Kashmir Valley pre-Holi festival celebrations. "Keeping various inputs of nefarious activities being planned by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in Kashmir Valley pre Holi festival celebrations, Indian Army and J-K police authorities held Joint security meetings to curb any terrorists related incident in Uri and Rampur sectors before happening," an official statement said on Tuesday. Regular day and night patrols were sent out in the villages of Bandi, lagama and Machikrand to meet minority pocket heads and ensured their safety. Frequent interactions with locals were carried out to gain real-time inputs. Joint forces have sensitised NH1A to deny any IED-related incidents. This Joint effort of the Indian Army and locals, J-K police had successfully ensured smooth and safe conduct of Holi Celebrations up till Line of Control in Uri and Rampur sectors, it added. While Holi is celebrated over two days in North India, its preparations and all related events start a week in advance. Choti Holi and Holika Dahan were marked on March 7 (Tuesday). It is marked during Pradosh Kaal (which starts after sunset) while Purnimasi Tithi is prevailing, as per Hindu beliefs. The festival of Holi celebrates the spirit of inclusiveness and humanity and heralds the onset of Spring in the Indian subcontinent. The festival, marking the victory of good over evil, is celebrated over two days -- Holika Dahan and Holi Milan. (ANI) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that 100 Namma Clinics will be established, in total 240 will be functioning in all Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) wards. Nineteen PHCs' are upgraded and four super-speciality hospitals are also constructed, read a statement from CMO. Speaking at the inauguration of the 100th Janaushadi Center in Jayanagar organized on behalf of the Ministry of Fertiliser and Chemicals, CM Bommai said that special care has been taken for the health in Bengaluru and Namma Clinic has been opened in every ward. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also participated in this event. The CM said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision as well as a concern for the poor. Before he became the PM, there was no program for the sale of medicines at a nominal price. The administrator must have concern for very minute things. Any person who has experienced poverty only understands the travails of the poor. Modi knew what poverty is. Many patients will not be having Rs 100 to buy medicines." The pharmaceutical companies fix the cost of medicine very high and above the reach of poor patients. Understanding this, the PM started the initiative of Janaushadi centers where medicines are available at very nominal rates. Modi has implemented such programs to ensure that the benefits reach the last man in society, he said. The CM said, "The potable water is ahead of the health and the PM had announced that every house in every village will be provided clean drinking water in five years. And this is possible only if the leader has the commitment, intelligence, and zeal to do it." By implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, the PM has proved what's impossible. and doing the impossible things has been the quality of a real leader. Over 10 crore houses were getting potable water. In Karnataka, in the last 72 years, only 25 lakh houses have had tap water, and in the last three years, 40 lakh houses have been provided pure drinking water, he added. The CM complimented Union Minister Madaviya as an active minister who provided the additional vaccines to the State during the covid pandemic, as well as arranged to release an additional quantity of urea fertilizer to Karnataka. CM Bommai said that Lok Sabha MP Tejaswi Surya has concern for the poor and he has made a record by having 100 Janaushadhi centers in a constituency. He said, "Lok Sabha member Tejaswi Surya has created a record by having 100 Janaushad centers in one constituency, and this is his concern for the poor." Minister R Ashok, MP Tejaswi Surya, and others were present on the occasion. (ANI) UMEED scheme of Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) with support from District Administration has empowered a Self-Help Group of Pouni Block of Reasi district to taste the entrepreneurial success with the establishment of kitchens at Dogra Rural Haat. According to an official statement from the Department of information and public relations, it was launched in March 2021 by District Administration Reasi in convergence with JKRLM, UMEED. It harnessed the culinary skills of homemakers, honed them to earn a livelihood out of their kitchens at Dogra Haat. A four Cluster level federation SHG of women from Block Pouni turned cooking into a career option and made good profits which is helping them to support their families financially. After starting the livelihood venture 'Dogra Haat', many skill development training were imparted to support and increase the capacities of these women. They were taught the basics of stocking up the pantry, making quick recipes, packing techniques, social media skills and order management related to cooking techniques. The SHG members were also made to understand promotional strategies for the modern market to run their kitchen single-handedly, while keeping adequate quantity and affordable pricing as the core mantra of the business. The kitchen of these SHG members offers an attractive menu with more than 20 varieties of comfort Dogra Recipe food. Some of the popular dogra food cuisines include Makki ki Roti, Saag, Quer, Khurmure, special dogra recipe dal or mixed rice are available in their kitchen and this sets them apart from commercial restaurants. Lassi and Kheer is also one of the most sought after items by visitors in these kitchens. The response to the Dogra Haat has been overwhelming as it has become a favourite layover point for tourists travelling to the famous shrine of Shivkhori. The Haat has delivered big orders to tourists and many other rural and urban customers are amongst their clientele. The turnover of Haat has reached around Rs 7 lakhs in a span of two years. Dogra Haat Kothian is more a women's empowerment movement than a business and they have been able to motivate women from all age groups and even conservative families after earning their trust. Many in the area hail the role of Kailash Kumari, Cluster coordinator of Ekta Mahila CLF, Pouni and Neelam Kumari who is also Sarpanch of Kothian Panchayat who worked hard for the success of Dogra Haat. Dogra Haat, Kothian has played a key role in empowering SHG women who are now confident of their skills and have become financially independent. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Public Department secretary D Jagannathan IAS on Tuesday said that the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has expressed gratitude for their "cooperation" in the migrant issue. "Bihar Government has thanked us for the cooperation we have given to them," Jagganathan said. Earlier on Saturday while addressing the media on the incident, Jagannathan termed the news of the alleged assault on North Indian migrant labourers in the southern state as "false propaganda" to disrupt the state's relationship with Bihar. The alleged assault on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu has stirred massive political ruckus in both states. LJP chief has launched an attack on the Bihar CM for the issue. Amidst the prevailing development on the issue, a team from Bihar led by Balamurugan IAS landed in Chennai on Saturday to take stock of the matter. While speaking to the media he said, "We have reached Chennai we met police officials and next we have conducted meeting in Collector's office." He said that the team visited Tiruppur on Sunday and met the district administration and police officials to know about the actions taken so far in the case. "We have spoken to the Labour Association, and Industry Association and inquired about the news and met the Migrant workers of Bihar," he added. The team also paid a visit to Coimbatore, before finally interacting with the migrants in Chennai earlier this morning. Balamurugan IAS expressed his gratitude for the persistent cooperation of the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. "After the fake news came out TN Government has taken a lot of steps. Even the Chief secretary explained about it," he added. The ruckus over the assault on migrants in Bihar emerged after unverified reports on social media claimed that migrant labourers were targeted in Tamil Nadu, Nitish Kumar on Thursday expressed concern over the situation which he said came to his notice through newspaper reports. Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Police deemed the reports as fake. Tamil Nadu's Director General of Police Sylendr Babu released a statement, saying that the video doing rounds of social media was "false" and "mischievous". "Somebody in Bihar posted false and mischievous videos saying that migrant workers were attacked in Tamil Nadu. Two videos were posted. Both are false as these incidents happened at an earlier date in Tiruppur and Coimbatore. One was a clash between two groups of migrant workers from Bihar while another was from a clash between two local residents in Coimbatore," the top cop said. (ANI) In a last ditch attempt, Home Minister Amit Shah would hold a meeting with the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which played a significant role in the February 16 Assembly polls, emerging as the second single largest party securing 13 of the 20 vital tribal reserved seats in Tripura. In the 60-member Tripura Assembly, 20 seats are reserved for the tribals and these are very crucial to dominate the electoral politics of the state. Despite differences on many counts, the BJP leaders, including Shah, tried a lot before the elections to get the support of the TMP to obtain a maximum number of tribal reserve seats. A senior BJP leader told IANS that the ruling party is now frantically trying to convince the TMP to join the government, which would assume office on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and other senior leaders. "Shah would hold a meeting with TMP supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman to discuss his demands," the BJP leader said, refusing to be named. Shah arrived in Agartala on Tuesday evening from Nagaland. Talking to IANS, the TMP chief said that he got an invitation to hold a meeting with the Home Minister to which he responded positively. "Unless we get a written assurance from the government about the constitutional solutions to our 'Greater Tipraland State' demand, we will not join the government, and rather sit in the opposition maintaining an equal distance from all the parties," said Deb Barman, who returned to Agartala on Tuesday after holding a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Deb Barman said that he held a discussion with Sarma in Guwahati about TMP's 'Greater Tipraland State' demand. "It would be a great mistake if any political party wants to govern Tripura without involving the tribals as they are the indigenous people of the state. Till the time we don't get an honourable constitutional solution for our people, we will not be part of any government. We will play a constructive role as the first indigenous party which has 13 MLAs for the interest of the people. "We cannot be looking after our individual interest over our communities. I will wait for the official response from the Government of India on how it would like to see the future of our tiprasa in the next decade," Deb Barman tweeted. Sarma had earlier said that the issues raised by the TMP need to be discussed by the Centre and the new BJP government in Tripura. Sarma, who is also the convener of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said that talks between the BJP and the TMP may resume but it should be under the Constitutional framework, and not on the condition of dividing Tripura. The issues related to the tribals can be heard and discussed, the Assam Chief Minister had told the media. Sarma, who before the Assembly polls held several rounds of negotiations with the TMP chief, had said that talks can resume but "we cannot talk about Greater Tipraland State". The TMP, which came to the forefront before capturing the politically important Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, pushed the CPI-M and the Congress into third and fourth positions, respectively, in the February 16 elections, the results of which was announced on March 2. TMP, which for the first time contested 42 seats on its own, emerged as the second largest party after the ruling BJP, securing 13 seats out of the total 20 tribal reserve seats. The BJP won 32 seats, including six tribal reserve seats, while its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) got one seat. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 36 seats, including 10 tribal reserve seats, while and its ally IPTF bagged eight tribal reserve seats. The CPI-M had secured 16 seats, including two tribal reserve seats. The TMP, since 2021, has been demanding elevation of the TTAADC areas by granting a Greater Tipraland State or a separate state under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution facilitating the party to garner the support of the tribals, who constitute one-third of Tripura's little over four million population. The party, in support of its demands, organised agitations both in the state and in the national capital. The ruling BJP, CPI-M led Left parties, Congress and the Trinamool Congress have been strongly opposing the demand of the TMP. In the Assembly elections, CPI-M won 11 seats but none of the tribal reserve seats though the Left party has a strong base among the tribals since 1952. The CPI-M led Left Front, which contested the Assembly elections in a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress, had fielded 47 candidates while 13 seats were allotted to the Congress, which bagged three seats. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/arm ( 834 Words) 2023-03-07-19:24:06 (IANS) CM Dhami drenched in the merriment of Holi was seen dancing to Pahari songs at the function. It is not CM Dhami's first pre-Holi bash for this year, earlier on Sunday, CM Dhami celebrated the function with his mother and the local people at his residence in Khatima. CM Dhami also took to Twitter to post a picture with his mother expressing his love and wrote, "Matri Devo Bhava Today at Nagra Terai, Khatima, applied Holi Tilak to 'Mataji' and seek her blessings. This affectionate blessing of Mother always gives me new energy to serve all the people of Devbhoomi." The colourful festival of Holi is just a day away with celebrations already beginning in different parts of the country. The market is flooded with colours, sprayers and other decoratives, with PM Modi's 'Atmanibhar Bharat' touch. As customers go shopping this Holi, they are increasingly rejecting Chinese products and preferring local Made in India products. In the past, Chinese products primarily were the only options for consumers, which have drastically changed for the better with several local makers making inroads in this segment. (ANI) Police said that they have also recovered 12 country-made pistols from the possession of the accused identified as Sherdin, a resident of Zakir Colony, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Chandan Chowdhary, said that specific inputs were received on March 3 that an illegal firearms supplier would come to supply illegal weapons near J Block, Mandir Marg, Saket. Acting on the inputs, a trap was laid and Sherdin was apprehended. "During cursory search, seven illegal weapons (country-made pistols ) were recovered from his possession. After completion of legal proceedings, the accused was arrested by Saket police station team," said the DCP. "Apart from this, five more illegal weapons were recovered from another member of the same syndicate at the instance of accused Sherdin. In this regard, a separate case was registered at Simbhawali police station in district Hapur, Uttar Pradesh," said the DCP. During interrogation, Sherdin disclosed that he used to procure illegal weapons from UP and supply them in Delhi-NCR. "He revealed that he opted for this profession to make easy and handsome money. He used a Scooty for supply of firearms," said the DCP, adding that Sherdin is found previously involved in four criminal cases registered in UP. "His further criminal history is also being verified from concerned police station Meerut," the DCP added. --IANS ssh/uk/ ( 253 Words) 2023-03-07-20:08:03 (IANS) Delhi Police had made elaborate security arrangements near Jama Masjid when both festivals are celebrated together. An official said that Delhi police has deployed a large number of companies and the area is being monitored through drone cameras. DCP Sanjay Kumar Sen of Central District is monitoring the area along with senior officers and is visiting the area to take stock of the security arrangements, officials said. "The way both the festivals are together, people looked worried but nothing to worry about, it's time to celebrate the festival. Delhi Police is fully prepared. Our local police unit is engaged. Five companies have been called from outside. And a lady company employee is deployed, " DCP Central Delhi said. The Delhi Police will take strict action against the people who are caught creating ruckus or doing wrong things on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat and Holika Dahan, the official said. (ANI) Built by Goa Shipyard Limited and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 07 March 2014, the ship is a capable and potent part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet. The ship's primary role is to undertake coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of Sea Lines of Communication, HADR and SAR duties, the official said. The ship was deployed for hoisting the Indian Tricolour in Perth on 15 August 2022 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav celebrations. Recently, the ship represented the Indian Navy at the maiden International Fleet Review in Bangladesh, and NAVDEX at Abu Dhabi, an official informed. Wishing INS Sumedha and her crew of 10 officers and 135 sailors a very happy anniversary and fair winds, an official of Eastern Naval Command said. (ANI) Delhi Jal Board Vice-Chairman Saurabh Bhardwaj inspected the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on Tuesday as the water level in the Yamuna River continues to fall. Saurabh Bhardwaj said during the inspection that the water level in Yamuna had witnessed an unprecedented decrease. The condition of Yamuna today is usually seen in the months of April and May in Delhi. Saurabh Bhardwaj informed that this time the water level of Yamuna near Wazirabad Barrage has suddenly gone down to 671.7 feet in the month of February itself. He said that the normal level of Yamuna River at Wazirabad Barrage should be 674.5 feet. He further informed that the depth of Yamuna here should be 3.5 feet, but presently it's even less than 1 foot. The water level and depth of the Yamuna are measured from the sea level. Saurabh Bhardwaj said that out of the present water level of 671.7 feet, Yamuna is silted up to 671 feet at Wazirabad Barrage, which means that the water depth is mere 0.7 feet. He also said the depth of Yamuna should be at least 3.5 feet which allows the offtake of raw water from Yamuna for the Water Treatment Plant. Visible water of Yamuna at the barrage is also not actually water from the Yamuna but actually the industrial waste released by Haryana that cannot be treated.Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the key reason for the water level decrease in Yamuna is not rising temperatures but the rampant illegal sand mining being done indiscriminately in the Yamuna river in the state of Haryana. The sand mafia had stopped the Yamuna water released for Delhi in an area of about 7-8 km from Yamuna Nagar that lies in Haryana, where the sand mafia is indiscriminately mining sand in the Yamuna River. During the inspection, Saurabh Bhardwaj addressed the media and said that the Yamuna water, which is presently visible near Wazirabad Barrage, is not the actual Yamuna water but industrial waste which is being released from Haryana. He referred to images from Google Maps and satellite imagery to show that there is no water in Yamuna. The flow that is reaching Delhi is coming from two drains. Industrial waste is constantly being released into Yamuna by Haryana through DD2 and DD8 drains. "Apart from hazardous chemical elements in this industrial waste, the ammonia level is also way higher than the prescribed limits. The excessive ammonia disallows the visible water to get treated in the Water Treatment Plants. Previously also, Haryana had released industrial waste, but due to the sufficient amount of water in Yamuna, water could be treated."Water production in the water treatment plants of Wazirabad and Chandrawal, the two major treatment plants of Delhi, which are dependent on Yamuna water, have been badly affected due to the decrease in water level in Yamuna and the increase in the ammonia content. The Wazirabad plant produces 131 MGD of water on a daily basis helping the water supply in Delhi. Now, due to the shortage of water in the Yamuna, this plant is producing just 82.69 MGD of water. Similarly, the Chandrawal plant has a capacity of 100 MGD of water per day, but this plant is producing only 78 MGD. Saurabh Bhardwaj informed that water has to be diverted from the Haiderpur Plant to run these plants, which has affected the Haiderpur plant's own capacity. These Water Treatment Plants supply water to 40 per cent of Delhi. This means that at present, about 40 per cent part of Delhi is affected due to water supply shortages. The falling water levels in Yamuna have reduced the production of water in Delhi's water treatment plants considerably. The impact of the reduction in water production is clearly visible in Delhi's water supply. Many areas of Delhi are witnessing a water crisis, and people are facing water-related challenges. Saurabh Bhardwaj said that this water supply crisis could also affect the Lutyens Delhi, which will include Central Government Offices, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Chief Minister's office. Areas that get water supply through the plant include Delhi University, Vijayanagar, Timarpur, Old Secretariat, Civil Lines, Naya Bazar, Lahori Gate, Peeli Kothi, Barfkhana, Malka Ganj, Jhandewalan, Patparganj, Motia Khan, WA, Pusa Road, Rajendra Nagar, Karol Bagh, Central Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, India Gate, Vigyan Bhawan, Janpath, Rakabganj, North Avenue, NDMC Area, East Patel Nagar, Baba Faridpur, New Rajendra Nagar, Double Storey, South Patel Nagar, Cantonment areas, RK Puram, Vasant Vihar, Akbar Road, Sarojini Nagar etc. are areas where water supply will be affected. On the other hand, the area that will be impacted by the Wazirabad plant includes Modi Colony, Defense Colony, Majnu Ka Tila, Moolchand Hospital, Sundernagar, Rajghat, Subhash Park, Ramlila Ground, Delhi Gate, Daryaganj, ISBT, Timarpur, Gulabi Bagh, Bharat Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, Mukherjee Nagar, Hudson Lane, Model Town, Azadpur Mandi, Jahangirpuri, Shalimar Bagh, Lawrence Road, Wazirabad, Burari, Gopalpuri etc. that will face water supply problems. Saurabh Bhardwaj said that there is a need to take necessary steps immediately to control this water crisis, otherwise, it will become very difficult to control it. This is not a crisis for any political party but for the entire Delhi, and the BJP should not rejoice in this crisis. Saurabh Bhardwaj appealed to the people to play Holi with raw colours instead of colours that come with lots of chemicals, as it takes a lot of water to cleanse them. He said that the water crisis is so big that people may not have to go to their offices without cleaning the Holi colours for many days. Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the Haryana Government of ignoring the illegal sand mining which is rampant in Yamuna in Haryana. He raised questions at the Haryana government about how the sand mafia is carrying out sand mining on such a large scale in the Yamuna, and the Government of Haryana remains unaware of it. He said that the Delhi Government had brought this matter to the notice of the Haryana Government and had demanded the Haryana Government take strict action against the sand mafia. Strict action should also be taken against the officials who are hand-in-glove with the sand mafia in Delhi region also. He asked the Lieutenant Governor to suspend such corrupt officials as Delhi Government didn't have the authority to suspend such officials. (ANI) Union minister Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said that instead of buying branded medicines, people should buy generic medicines which have the same impact. On the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Divas, Union Minister Kishan Reddy participated in the Jan Aushadhi Divas program organized at NIMS Hospital in Panjagutta, Hyderabad. Kishan Reddy while speaking to the media said that after 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken many steps in the Health sector. "New Medical colleges, additional PG seats, additional medical seats and AIIMS hospitals in every state capital and 5 lakh rupees are given for the treatment to the middle class and lower middle class working community in private corporate hospitals," Minister said. Minister Reddy said that people are seeing that PM Jan Aushadi scheme was introduced and implemented successfully. He informed that there are around 9,500 Janaushadhi Kendras with 1,759 generic medicines available. He also said that the medicines here are more efficient and have the same impact like the branded medicines. "The Indian government is trying to promote the Janaushadhi Kendras for the poor people and common people. Instead of buying branded medicines, buy generic medicines which have the same impact," the minister added. Every year Jan Aushadi diwas is celebrated on March 7th. The sixth day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 was celebrated as "Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein" on Tuesday. On this occasion, a large number of people took the pledge 'Jan Aushadhi Shapath' digitally on the MyGov platform to promote the use of generic medicines. With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. Under this scheme, dedicated outlets known as Janaushadhi Kendras are opened to provide generic medicines. The Jan Aushadhi scheme was launched in November 2008 with the objective of having at least one Jan Aushadhi Store in each district of the country. (ANI) Gilgit Baltistan has been seething and boiling with anger and dissent against Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Continuing indifference of mainstream political leadership in Islamabad has resulted in widespread protests in the region. For weeks, public protests have reverberated across Gilgit city over 22-hour power shortages. The region has been suffering major power breakdowns for months with only promises from leadership in Islamabad. A new wave of protests is likely to hit the region from March 10. Spearheading the protests, the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee has given a 16-charter of demands to the administration. The demands presented by the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action include power crisis, food shortage, land grabbing and various other issues that the people in the region have been facing for a long time. The continuing power breakdown has only added to the increasing misery of the people. Due to power shortages, business establishments have been forced to shut down in the evening hours. Schools and other educational institutions have been shut down while the majority of the cottage industries remain shuttered. The erratic power supply has caused unemployment and despair among the people, resulting in waves of thefts and violence. In addition to the power crisis, people have been facing difficulty in purchasing food materials. Prices of wheat flour and other food articles skyrocketed as the country hobbled on multiple crises. Long queues for wheat flour could be seen in cities and villages across the mountainous region with squabbles, black marketing and hoarding making it difficult for people to access basic food items. Children remained hungry and women toiled hard to make at least one meal a day for the family. As people cried out for help, the lawmakers travelled to Islamabad and foreign shores in the name of seeking aid but to escape public scorn. Pakistan's federal government has paid little attention and money to the poor region. Of the promised Rs 4 billion package, Islamabad has approved only Pakistani rupees (PKR) 21 crore which has brought a majority of the development projects to a halt. The halted projects have spiked unemployment and misery among the people. The misery and helplessness among the people have been so widespread that diverse communities have come together to raise their voices for the past several weeks. Public anger has been building over the years with the army treating the region as a colony, forcing the farm and land owners to give up their land for a cabal of land grabbers. Recently, Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn reported that people of Gilgit Baltistan have taken to the streets in freezing temperatures for various reasons, including questions about land rights, taxation, extensive power cuts and reduction in the amount of subsidised wheat that the centre provides the region. The issues have been existing in Gilgit Baltistan for decades. However, Pakistan has refused to pay attention to the problems faced by the people in Gilgit Baltistan. The Pakistani army's role in changing the demographic profile of the region, sowing seeds of sectarianism and openloot of the region's resources has been well documented. The Pakistani army made the loot "official" when the China-Economic Corridor project was implemented. Dissent began to swell across the region when people witnessed how the Islamabad Rawalpindi cabal took away their land to help themselves and their friends from China, dissent began to swell across the region. The local residents have serious reservations about the state taking over the land in the region as they believe that the land belongs to the people, Dawn reported. The state has been acquiring land in Gilgit Baltistan for CPEC and other projects. People of the region have been realising that the leaders of Islamabad and Rawalpindi under the garb of land acquisition are colonising them and making them poorer, helpless, and seething. (ANI) A Belarusian court has sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison. Another prominent opponent, Pavel Latushko, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and three others were sentenced to 12 years in prison, Euro News reported citing state news agency Belta and the human rights organisation Viasna. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was charged with 12 crimes, including "conspiracy to take power unconstitutionally," according to the Euro News report. Tsikhanouskaya took to her official Twitter handle to react to the court's verdict. In a tweet, Tsikhanouskaya wrote, "15 years of prison. This is how the regime "rewarded" my work for democratic changes in Belarus. But today I don't think about my own sentence. I think about thousands of innocents, detained & sentenced to real prison terms. I won't stop until each of them is released." Tsikhanouskaya became popular after running in Belarus' disputed presidential election in 2020, Euro News reported. A series of mass protests were reported after the election, which were met with arrests, cases of torture, the death of several demonstrators, harsh sentences and forced exile. As per the news report, Viasna has estimated that Belarus had 1,461 political prisoners as of 1 March 2023. On Friday, the Leninsky District Court in Minsk sentenced Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in a maximum security penal colony and fined him about USD 65,000, TASS reported. Ales Bialiatski, who heads the unregistered Vesna Human Rights Center, was found guilty of criminal charges registered against him. Vesna representatives Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich, who was implicated in the case along with Bialiatski, were sentenced to 9 and 7 years, respectively, in a maximum security penal colony. Meanwhile, Dmitry Solovyov, who is currently outside of Belarus, was sentenced to eight years in prison, as per the TASS report. The court imposed a fine of around USD 40,000 each upon each defendant. (ANI) Four US citizens were assaulted and kidnapped by gunmen in northeastern Mexico on Friday in a case of mistaken identity, CNN reported citing a US official with knowledge of the investigation. The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) has called for people's help in finding the US citizens and identifying those responsible for the act. The agency has also announced a reward of USD 50,000 for their return and arrest of those involved. The missing Americans, who were not identified, drove into Matamoros on Friday in a white minivan with North Carolina plates, the FBI in San Antonio said, according to CNN. The FBI said that the four US citizens were fired upon by unidentified gunmen and were "placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men." The FBI stated that it is cooperating with other federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies to investigate the kidnapping. The US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said that an innocent Mexican citizen was killed in the encounter. "We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens," Salazar said. "This is the most fundamental role of the US government. Officials from various US law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots." According to the official, the Americans had travelled to the border city of Matamoros for medical procedures. The Americans are believed to have been targeted by mistake and were not the intended victims, according to the official, as per the CNN report. The official said that the investigators believe a Mexican cartel likely mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has made a similar statement. He said that the people had crossed the border to purchase medicines. However, there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained, as per the news report. "The information we have is that they crossed the border to buy medicines in Mexico, there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained," CNN quoted Mexican President as saying. "The whole government is working on it," he added. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price in a press briefing on March 6 (local time) said that they are closely following the kidnapping of four US citizens in Matamoros on March 3. He said that the FBI is working very closely with other federal agencies and Mexican law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter. "We are closely following the kidnapping of four US citizens in Matamoros on March 3 - the FBI, working very closely with other federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies to investigate this," Price said. "I'm sure you saw the FBI put out a reward for their safe return. We're standing ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. We do also remind Americans about the existing travel guidance when it comes to this particular part of Mexico. The Travel Advisory for Tamaulipas state remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel. We encourage Americans to heed that advice," he added. (ANI) United States Republican Senator Chuck Grassley accused President Joe Biden's nominee for the country's ambassador to India Eric Garcetti of being engaged in "blatant sexual misconduct" and urged members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday to vote against him. Taking to Twitter, Grassley said, "President Joe Biden's nomination Eric Garcetti to be ambassador to India is before foreign relations come this week I conducted a thorough investigation of the allegations against Garcetti irrespective of partisan politics." "The evidence is clear that Jacobs (Garcetti's deputy chief of staff) engaged in blatant sexual misconduct and racist behaviour for years. The evidence is clear that Mayor Garcetti either had direct knowledge of it or chose willful ignorance as a defence," he added. The influential Republican senator urged the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote against the nomination of Eric Garcetti and said, "The facts and the evidence compel me to oppose the Garcetti nomination and I hope my colleagues will join me in doing the same." In the previous Congress, Grassley was primarily responsible for Garcetti's nomination not passing through the Senate as he placed a hold on it and then carried out his own investigations. In the first week of January, Garcetti was re-nominated as US envoy to India. White House Press Secretary reiterated that the Democrats will continue to seek the confirmation of Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was unanimously and bipartisanly voted out of committee, to serve as Ambassador to India. Last year, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed the nomination of Garcetti to be the US Ambassador to India. However, the nomination needed to be confirmed by a majority of the US Senate. Jean-Pierre also called the nomination of the Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as well-qualified and meritorious to serve in the role. "So we see this as he is well qualified, meritorious to serve in this vital role, and we're hopeful that the full Senate will confirm him properly. Again, he was voted out of committee and unanimously with strong bipartisan support," the White House Press Secretary said in a statement. (ANI) This is an optimistic time for India-US relations, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who is scheduled to travel to India this week, said on Monday (Local Time). Ahead of her visit to India, Raimondo said, "This is an optimistic time for US-India relations, and I am excited to visit India during such a special time of year, the celebration of Holi," according to the statement released by the US Department of Commerce. "Through the CEO Forum, the Commercial Dialogue, and IPEF, we are making excellent progress in bringing our countries closer together by creating new markets for trade, expanding those that already exist, and reinforcing our shared commitment to democracy," she added. Raimondo will visit India from today to March 10 on the invitation of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles. During the visit, she will participate in the Indo-US Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum which will be held on March 10 2023. "During the visit, the US-India Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum will be held on March 10th, 2023, to discuss cooperation in various sectors that could unlock new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries," according to the statement released by the US Department of Commerce. The Commercial Dialogue is a cooperative undertaking encompassing regular government-to-government meetings to be held in conjunction with private sector meetings, with an aim to facilitate trade and maximize investment opportunities across a broad range of economic sectors. The last India-USA Commercial Dialogue was held in February 2019. Since then, due to the pandemic and other factors, it could not be held. It is proposed to re-launch the Commercial Dialogue with a strategic outlook focusing on supply chain resiliency & diversification and new emerging areas, after a gap of three years. Earlier, India-US CEO Forum was soft-launched by the Indian Commerce & Industry Minister and US Secretary of Commerce on 9th November 2022 via video conference for which identified key priorities were increasing supply chain resilience, enhancing energy security and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, advancing inclusive digital trade and facilitating post-pandemic economic recovery, especially for small businesses. (ANI) China has recently used artificial intelligence (AI) to stimulate its island-building activities in South China, a move that, if and when it happens, might aid to support its maritime claims in the fiercely contested maritime region, reported Asia News. According to a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP), as cited by Asia News, this month a team from the Tianjin campus of the Civil Aviation University of China's Transportation Science and Engineering College conducted an AI simulation of the development and operation of a logistics network in the South China Sea, which they claim will increase China's economic activity and territorial claims in the disputed sea. The simulation states that this logistical network may span 17 to 80 features in the Spratly and Paracel Islands, according to the SCMP report that was published last month in the peer-reviewed Chinese journal Operations Research and Management Science. Additionally, the researchers stated that "it has become a top priority to build a logistics network that can operate successfully and coordinate various modes of transport," and "the construction of these transport facilities has laid very favourable basic conditions for the construction of a logistics network in the South China Sea," according to the SCMP report, as reported by Asia News. Building new harbours, warehouses, and cargo ships as well as maintaining regular flights between China and 20 island airports in the most comprehensive scenario would cost 20 billion yuan (USD 2.9 billion), according to SCMP, which includes 80 characteristics. The report also stated that China would be able to dispatch workers and equipment to any feature within six hours following a typhoon or other emergency thanks to its logistical network. The simulation did face some difficulties, according to SCMP, including defining variables like the location of the central transport hub, the size and timeline for building a pier, the kinds of transport ships and aircraft, mapping out the routes for those vehicles, and taking into account variations in cargo capacity. However, SCMP points out that an AI that can take into consideration helicopters is still being developed, whereas the simulation solely took into account fixed-wing aircraft. With comparable applications in its "grey zone" policy, which involves coercive tactics short of actual military combat, China's grand strategy is poised to give AI an outsized strategic role. The National Bureau of Asian Research notes in a report from May 2021 that AI, along with other technologies like algorithms, Big Data analytics, and quantum computing, are enabling concepts used in Chinese military doctrine like algorithm confrontation, which asserts that the side with the advantage in data will win a conflict. The paper also points out that in order to improve marine intelligence, data gathering, and surveillance, China's future grey zone tactics would probably incorporate more cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and associated data-processing capabilities. Jonathan Hall, in a December 2018 Global Risk Insights piece, mentions that AI might provide China with an advantage over other claimant states and the US in the South China Sea. According to Hall, China has created a working model of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled diplomatic system that is now utilised to reduce the workload for decision-makers overseeing its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), processing massive volumes of data and making recommendations for policy. Hall notes such technology gives Chinese decision-makers a significant advantage in terms of the effectiveness and precision of their assessments and can be used in other contexts, such as the South China Sea disputes. In fact, China may already be utilising AI's benefits in its "grey zone" approach to the South China Sea issues, which conflates the use of military power with civilian force to achieve diplomatic and political goals. According to a report in Asia News, in a January 2022 article for the Jewish Policy Center, Benjamin Noon and Christopher Bassler noted that China's strategists believe that as AI plays a more significant role in decision-making, future warfare will become a race to produce the fastest computers, with wartime commanders having supercomputers that can outperform the decision-making abilities of their operators. According to Noon and Bassler, China's military planners compare upcoming combat to a video game. The operational commander's mental state determines the outcome of the battle, highlighting psychological warfare. They point out that China wants to outwit the enemy and weaken its resolve to resist. China's deployment of AI in grey zone strategies, however, might have both positive and negative effects. While AI gives strong military powers a huge tactical edge over weaker governments, SCMP observed in an article from October 2019 that its deployment undermines international trust, necessitating caution in AI applications. The paper also issues a warning against the prospect of an AI arms race and probable uses of AI in the decision-making process for WMD use, reported Asia News. (ANI) At least 15 Hindu students were injured after being allegedly attacked by the Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) activists on Monday in Punjab University's new campus when they were celebrating Holi, Dawn reported. A number of videos surfaced on the social networking platform which showed that Hindu communities were being attacked by the IJT even after the students got permission from the administration for the celebration of Holi. An application had been filed with the police for the registration of a case against the attacker. Some other videos also showed that the security guards were carrying batons and beating the students and they were running from the scene, reported Dawn. Talking about the incident, Sindh Council General Secretary Kashif Brohi said that the members of the Hindu community and the council had organised a Holi celebration after getting permission from the university administration. He said the IJT activists started hurling threats after students had posted invitations for the Holi celebration on their Facebook page. He said on Monday morning the members of the Sindh Council and Hindu community gathered outside PU law College to celebrate the Holi when the IJT activists carrying guns and batons attacked them. Brohi further added that the students later gathered to protest outside the vice chancellor's office when the security guards came there holding batons and started beating them. He said the security guards also bundled four to five students into their vans, not allowing them to record their peaceful protest, according to Dawn. He said an application was submitted to the administration and police for case registration against the IJT activists and security guards for torturing them. However, IJT spokesperson Ibrahim Shahid told Dawn that they did not stop the Hindu community members from celebrating Holi. He further stated that the attackers might have used their name but the IJT will not. The IJT will ensure equality for minority community members to hold their religious events. He said the security guards might have attacked the students and IJT had nothing to do with it. He said they were holding Dars-i-Quran on the campus and were not present there. A PU spokesman said action would be taken against the students involved in attacking minority community members, reported Dawn. (ANI) Li Keqiang, China's outgoing premier, made an effort to position himself as Xi Jinping's ideological rival during his final year in office. At his final significant speech on Sunday, it was evident he had failed, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. The Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping are now at the centre of the Chinese government's efforts to consolidate power, uniting the state with the party and the party with Xi. Li spoke for an hour to the National People's Congress on Sunday in Beijing, mentioning Xi Jinping a record 17 times as opposed to five times in his first speech in 2014. Former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao did not once mention outgoing President Hu Jintao in his final speech in 2013. After almost ten years in office, he was name-checked twice in 2012. Repetition is useful in the opaque world of Chinese elite politics, where language is weighed and obscured by lofty metaphors. Likewise, omission. According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Li praised "the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary" at the introduction of his annual Work Report in 2014, which detailed the advancements made in the previous year. Xi was young and ambitious but still a first among equals because he had not yet eliminated all of his rivals. He then advanced swiftly. This social organisation was "led by General Secretary Xi Jinping" by 2016. The "leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core" was achieved in just one more year. The distinction allowed Xi to elevate his own idea to the status of a founding doctrine of the Communist Party, making any threat to Xi, a threat to the Party as a whole. Five years ago, Li made reference to Xi's predecessors through their theories, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. Today, there is only Xi Jinping Thought, a dense 515-page book on the theory of China's modernization that places the party, and subsequently Xi, at the centre of China's economic, political, and social development. In practice, this implies that by the end of this week's National People's Congress, a lot of the duties that state bureaucrats may have previously handled will increasingly be handled by party apparatchiks. One can get an idea of the scope of some of these changes in a nation of 1.4 billion people by picturing the Labor Party (the national secretariat, not legislative Members) overseeing the Attorney General's office and the Australian Tax Office. Nis Grunberg, the head analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, predicted that Xi would seek to increase his influence within the Chinese government by appointing individuals to key positions at the People's Bank of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministries of Finance and Science and Technology. He said that the third-term president will feel more certain that the administration will support his programme because of the appointment of important Xi Jinping supporters in the state machinery. "The administrative restructuring will shorten the leash on the fields of financial policy and national security, further institutionalising Communist Party authority over policymaking." Alfred Wu, an assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, predicts that Xi will go further by limiting the accountability of ministers in crucial positions. He wishes to establish committees on internal affairs, finance, and economics. These panels will report to Xi personally. They won't just report to the minister anymore, read a report in The Sydney Morning Herald. Wu believes that this layer, which will include some local authorities and members of the Politburo, will primarily come from below the cabinet-level standing committee. "Power will be concentrated more in his hands since he's a control freak. He will be able to give an order to the minister after passing it along to his loyal associates," Wu claimed, adding that he's number one, the others are there to just help. Sources close to Li, cited by The Sydney Morning Herald, spent a lot of time trying to create the impression that he was responsible for decisions that restrained some of Xi's worst instincts, such as crackdowns on private technology, real estate developers, and the authoritarian fervour of Xi's Covid-1 lockdown strategy. Li spent 26 pages of his annual work report on Sunday discussing the past and just six discussing the coming year. Li could only offer "recommendations for the work of government in 2023" after leaving office and entering retirement. The study was likely created by the departing premier's team, who will have minimal influence on the future administration, according to Chen Long, a partner at the research firm Plenum China. The 67-year-old became premier ten years ago as a result of an agreement between Xi and the Communist Youth League Faction of former president Hu. Both have already been defeated, resulting in the lifting of many of Xi's policy restrictions, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. (ANI) Crippling with the economic crisis, Sri Lanka has initiated the use of the Indian Rupee (INR) for economic transactions with India. This move will not only assuage Sri Lanka's currency crisis but also will improve its bilateral ties with India, reported Mawrata News. The Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Vinod K Jacod, while addressing the inauguration of the Medicare 2023 health care exhibition in Colombo on March 3, 2023, said that the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka are at their peak. He cited strong people-to-people ties as the primary driver. The Indian Rupee (INR) will be used for commercial transactions between India and Sri Lanka starting on March 2, 2023, according to discussions between the high commissions of India and Sri Lanka. According to a Sri Lankan website, Mawrata News, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) created an enabling framework in 2022, representatives from the Bank of Ceylon, the State Bank of India, and the Indian Bank shared their experiences and informed the audience that they had started carrying out INR-denominated trade transactions through their respective Vostro/Nostro accounts. On March 2, 2023, a discussion on the usage of the Indian Rupee (INR) for trade between India and Sri Lanka was organised by the Indian High Commission. The participating banks listed the advantages of settling in INR, such as quicker turnaround times, cheaper exchange rates, simpler access to trade credits, etc. The positive effects of this programme on the travel and hospitality sector, including its contribution to raising collections that can be used by other industries, were also noted. The benefit of settling in INR was also discussed by the participating banks, including quicker timescales, cheaper exchange rates, and simpler access to trade credits, among other factors. The initiative's beneficial effects on the travel and hotel industries were also emphasised, as was its contribution to growing collections that other industries may make use of. The Deputy High Commissioner stated that the bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka are at their peak and largely focused on five key developments that are at the heart of the strong bilateral relationship, read a report in Mawrata News. Despite occasional tensions and disagreements, particularly over maritime boundary disputes, India and Sri Lanka have signed a number of bilateral agreements to strengthen their relationship, including trade agreements, cultural exchange initiatives, and defence cooperation. The two nations have also disagreed over China's expanding influence in the region. India and Sri Lanka have continued to hold high-level visits and meetings and have signed several agreements in recent years to strengthen their economic and security ties. However, the diplomatic relations between the two countries are subject to change based on various factors including geopolitical changes, leadership changes, and other international developments. The diplomat also noted that in addition, a significant amount of support was provided through the iconic Suwaseriya 1990 ambulance during Covid-19, as well as through medical supplies in response to specific requests from hospitals in Kandy, Hambantota, and Jaffna. This support was extended by the people and government of India during Vaccine Maitri and with the expedited issuance of medical visas, immediately after the lifting of travel restrictions by the government of Sri Lanka. He remembered that Sri Lanka had asked India and the Sri Lankan government for $4 billion in economic, financial, and humanitarian support in 2022. In a show of unity, India has been standing behind Sri Lanka at G20 summits and has also extended an invitation to HE President Ranil Wickremesinghe to attend the Voice of Global South Conference in January 2023. The sharing of intelligence information that exposed the island's expanding network of Islamic radicals was greatly assisted by India. Although the Easter attacks may have been avoided, Sri Lanka was informed by India. India has legitimately expressed alarm over China's expanding influence in Sri Lanka. India considers China's expanding influence in Sri Lanka, a strategically significant nation in the Indian Ocean, to be a possible danger to national security. India built a cultural centre in Jaffna and is also preparing to begin a ferry service between Sri Lanka and South India. The opening of Palaly's international airport has also prompted visitors from both sides to use both its land and air services. India has worked to strengthen its ties with Sri Lanka in reaction to China's expanding influence there, offering assistance for economic growth and security cooperation. In order to counter China's influence in the Indian Ocean, India has also attempted to cooperate with other nations in the area, such as Japan and Australia, Mawrata News reported. (ANI) The exercise is being conducted at the Pangode Military Station from March 7-8, 2023. It is for the first time that the armies of both nations are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade. The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at the tactical level. The scope of the exercise involves the establishment and operationalisation of a joint command post to secure an envisaged area for undertaking joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, establishing an Internally Displaced Population (IDP) camp and move of disaster relief materials. "The maiden edition of India-France joint military exercise #FRINJEX will be conducted at #Thiruvananthapuram. The two-day exercise aims at enhancing interoperability between both Nations in Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief Operations. #IndiaFranceFriendship #IndianArmy," the Indian Army had earlier tweeted. The Joint exercise will further cement defence cooperation with France which is a crucial aspect of the overall Indo-France strategic partnership. (ANI) According to officials, the first incident took place in the jurisdiction of Regi police station when unknown militants hurled a grenade, which fell in an open area around the Malazai police post. There were no casualties in the attack. Militants also threw grenades at the Jabba Masjid police post in the jurisdiction of the Michni Gate police station. There were, however, no casualties. The officials said the Counter Terrorism Department had registered the cases, according to Dawn. Recently, at least nine security personnel were killed and 13 were injured in an explosion near a truck of the Balochistan Constabulary in the Bolan district of Balochistan on Monday. The Police suspected it a suicide attack. According to officials, the explosion occurred at the Kambri bridge on the Quetta-Sibi highway and targeted a vehicle of security forces. "This seems to be a suicide attack," a senior security official told The Express Tribune. He said the bomber rammed his explosive-laden motorcycle into the police vehicle. The Balochistan Constabulary personnel were returning from duty in Sibi Mela when they were targeted. The truck overturned with the intensity of the explosion. The bodies and injured personnel were shifted to Sibi where they were provided medical aid. The condition of some of the injured is reportedly critical which may increase the death toll. (ANI) To register their protest against lawlessness in their area, the residents of Bakkakhel staged a demonstration in Mandi Bazaar on Monday, reported Dawn. The elders from the tribe and young people staged roadblock on Bannu-Miranshah Road by laying the coffin of a young man killed in an explosion on Sunday. Masoom Wazir, Waliullah, Gohar Wazir, and other elders spoke at the event and denounced the bomb explosion, claiming that it killed an innocent youth and injured two others. A report in Pakistani newspaper read that the protesters stated they were gathering the bodies of loved ones killed in acts of terrorism and expressed serious concern about the lawlessness in the districts of Bakkakhel, Janikhel, and Mamandkhel. They claimed that individuals were too afraid to leave their homes to visit bazaars and markets to buy necessities. They said that the tribal people will not remain silent; instead, they will raise their voices for the restoration of normalcy in their communities. The speakers declared that they will soon call a tribal jirga to plan out a course of action and to pressure the government to recognise that sustaining peace in the area is its primary duty. They also urged the government to act in order for people to be able to support their families and improve law and order, according to a report in Dawn. The protesters dispersed later and the route was made accessible to traffic. They also laid to rest the young man who died in the explosion of an IED placed at a motorcycle on Sunday. On Monday, two people--one of them a teenager--were shot and murdered in separate events in different portions of the Lakki Marwat district. According to the police, Barkatullah, Ghazanfar Ali, and Shakir shot and killed Naqeebullah in Langerkhel Hathi Khan village due to a long-standing grudge. The attackers were able to flee. Elsewhere, in the Shagai region, armed rivals killed Mohammad Ali Shah, 15, and injured his 13-year-old brother Syed Ali Shah. A case was lodged against Manzoor Shah and Rehmatullah Shah. In another incident, a teenage boy was shot at and injured by two unidentified men in the Paharakhel Pakka area, Dawn reported. (ANI) The minority Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan continues to face persecution by state agencies and the Taliban. The graves of the Ahmadiyya community located at Talwandi Khajoorwali district of Punjab's Gujranwala district were recently desecrated and demolished by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) radicals. Sources reveal that no complaint was filed by the police in this regard. In another incident, Dr. Raseed Ahmad, a 75-year-old man, was killed by TLP radicals in his house located at the Gotriala area of Punjab province. Dr. Rasheed Ahmad had acquired Norwegian citizenship but came back to Pakistan long ago and established a homeopathy clinic in his hometown providing free medical care to the public. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been facing persecution because of their faith. They are considered non-Muslims by many mainstream Muslims. In a recent incident, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan radicals prevented the members of Ahmadiyya community from entering their mosque located in Kasur city of Punjab province. Sources said that they harassed and manhandled the members of the Ahmadiyya community who had come for prayers. Further, they closed the doors of the mosque. Members of the Ahmadiyya community approached local police in this connection but the police did not take any action. India on Friday (local time) slammed Pakistan on the issue of religious freedom of minorities at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Using its right to reply, India's representative Seema Pujani slammed her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar saying, "No religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today. The Ahmadiya community continues to be persecuted by the state for simply practising their faith." Responding to the statement delivered by Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, Pujani said, "Pakistan's representative has once again chosen to misuse this august forum for its malicious propaganda against India." The Indian Representative also shed light on the issue of enforced disappearances. "In the last decade, Pakistan's own commission of inquiry on enforced disappearances has received 8463 complaints. The Baloch people have borne the brunt of this cruel policy. Students, doctors, engineers, teachers and community leaders are regularly disappeared by the state, never to return back," said Pujani. (ANI) Terming the relationship with India a "top priority", Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Farhan Al-Saud said that the relationship between both nations has grown exponentially, adding that there is a need for measurable progress in all sectors especially the economic and trade relationship. Highlighting the strong relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the minister said that both leaders want to see actual results, progress in relationship between the countries. "The relationship with India is a top priority and we need to have measurable progress in all sectors especially the economic and trade relationship," the Saudi Foreign Minister said in an interview with President of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran at Raisina 'Ideas Pod'. Al-Saud said the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia in the last five years, has grown exponentially. "Part of that is the very strong relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince who have a very strong working relationship. Both of them are very similar in the sense that they both are very result oriented. They don't want just a nice talk, they want to see actual results, they want to see progress and that means that we in the government have a very clear direction," he said while defining the similarities between both the leaders who believe in action. Emphasizing on India's rising global stature, he said, "India is a fantastically dynamic country with huge potential and we've seen that especially in the last five years, the trajectory for India is fantastic. The potential that India holds is almost unmeasurable." Acknowledging the fact that India has played an important role in the developmental journey of the Kingdom for several decades given the large Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, he said, "The connection has existed even before that, you know hundreds of years given the trade relationship. We're now building on that connection, on that relationship in a way that is not just benefiting both of us, it's really benefiting the international Community." He also said that India's huge size offers great potential as a huge amount of India's trade to Europe passes through the Red Sea. "We are of course India's most important energy partner as that's the case for traditional energies but we're also looking to continue that into the renewable era," he added. Earlier, Saleh Eid Al Husseini, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to India, said that he wants to bring this relationship to the highest level. Speaking on the celebrations of the Kingdom's founding day here, the envoy said he was happy to have a strong and friendly relationship between the two countries. Underlining the strong relationship between the Kingdom and India, Husseini said, "We are very happy to have a strong relationship with our friendly country India. Also for a long time, we have had this relationship and we have been asked to bring this relationship to the highest level that we can." While speaking on the foundation day celebration, the envoy highlighted the Kingdom's governance and how the youth has been its focus as the next generation. "We are very proud to have a country that started in 1727 and this year as I said reflects good governance and we hold our future, our children and all our Saudi Arabia is now focussing on youth on the next generation", said the Envoy. "Our country is celebrating around 300 years and this reflects nations' governance, reflects equity, to have the prosperity of their people. To bring modernization and at the same time to regain the culture of the society. It's not by chance to be 300 years old unless the state is caring about its neighbours, caring about its people, seeking peace all over the world", added the envoy. (ANI) Nepali Embassy in India on Tuesday celebrated Holi and International Women's Day. Nepali Ambassador to India Shankar Prasad Sharma on the occasion said: "I am very happy to organize this kind of program in the Nepal Embassy here. Many people, including diplomats, have attended this program and are enjoying it." He said: "I also would like to salute our embassy colleagues for organizing the same thing. Today, I think we are also celebrating International Women's Day. I would like to wish all the best for very hard-working, intelligent, talented women of the world, including Nepal, and including in the embassy and those who are present here." He said that Nepalis have already celebrated Holi yesterday and that in Nepal, Holi is called Fagu Purnima. Holi in India will be celebrated on March 8. The Nepali Ambassador further said that: "Nepal has also made significant progress in the area of education. We talk about gender parity, it's more than one. If you talk about the business owned by women in Nepal, it is more than 33 per cent. If you talk about the representation at the local level, in the government in Nepal, it's more than 40 per cent. And the parliament, national parliament and the provinces, it's about 33 per cent. So I think we have made a great achievement, but we need to do a lot more in this area, including health and education." Holi celebrations at the Nepali embassy were marked with various dance performances. Everybody was dressed in colourful clothes. Women were seen dancing together. On Monday, with fun and gaiety, diplomats and several other people took part in the Holi Mahotsav 2023 hosted by MoS MEA Meenakshi Lekhi in Delhi. The video of foreign delegates playing Holi went viral on social media. Delegates from many countries took part in Holi Mahotsav 2023 organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. Foreign diplomats were seen dancing to Bollywood songs in the programme. At the programme, Meenakashi Lekhi said that the G20 is on and everybody is looking upto India for solutions to some tough problems. Lekhi also said, "Holi is the victory of good over evil and that is the message for today as well." Brendan Ward, Ireland's Ambassador to India said, "Holi is one of the most famous of many festivals of India. It is celebrated around the world. It is a popular festival now in Ireland, especially among the Indian students at the university. In the context of India's G20 Presidency, it is an opportunity for India to showcase its culture in the wider world." (ANI) Iraq Starts Enforcing 2016 Ban on Alcoholic Beverages BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- Iraq has begun enforcing a 2016 ban on alcoholic beverages, an official document showed, a move some Iraqis attribute to the growing clout of Islamic religious parties that they fear is threatening social freedoms. Enforcement took effect when the law was published in Iraq's official gazette on Feb. 20, seven years after its passage by parliament. No official reason for the delay has been given, but analysts said religious parties exert more influence in the current coalition government than recent predecessors. Under the law, imported alcoholic beverages are prohibited and cannot be sold in local markets, or replaced by domestically manufactured versions. Border crossings and airport authorities have been ordered to confiscate any alcoholic drinks in the possession of travellers, according to a government document seen by Reuters. But despite the ban, liquor stores around the capital Baghdad and in some provinces remain open for business with proprietors telling Reuters that they had not been officially informed that they must stop trading. Iraqi government officials did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Iraq is a conservative, mainly Muslim society where most men and women eschew alcohol, which is proscribed under Islamic religious law, but it is not an Islamic state, critics of the alcohol ban say. Licenses to sell alcohol have only been issued to non-Muslims in Iraq and, while drinking in public is not prohibited, it is frowned upon. In the capital Baghdad, it is not unusual to see youths drinking on the banks of the Tigris river. Aswan al-Kildani, a lawmaker from Iraq's Christian minority, said the ban would run against freedoms guaranteed in Iraq's democratic constitution, and that he had filed a challenge in federal court. Some Iraqis worry Iraq will become an Islamic republic, like neighbouring Iran. "Iraq is not an Islamic state and there are different religions and sects. Some religions allow drinking alcohol and the government cannot impose a certain opinion or an ideology on all others," said Baghdad-based political analyst Ali Sahib. Ending a year of deadlock, the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned Shi'ite Muslim political factions, managed to form a government in October last year. Shi'ite religious groups have dominated parliament since the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled the secular regime of dictator Saddam Hussein. Still, Iraq's stance on alcohol has long been seen as relatively liberal in the Islamic world compared with neighbours such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where possession of alcohol is outlawed. Editing by Mark Heinrich. "Glad to meet American Jewish Committee delegation on their visit to India. Discussed about the sea change in India-US and India-Israel relationships since 2014. Appreciate their sentiments and support, as also their working with Indian community organizations in the US," Jaishankar tweeted on Tuesday. American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the leading global Jewish advocacy organization. From city halls to Capitol Hill, at the UN and in world capitals, AJC works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people. Recently too, Jaishankar discussed the strengthening of India's relationship with the US and Israel in a meeting with the delegation comprising the American Jewish Committee and the Indian diaspora. "Glad to meet a delegation of the American Jewish Committee and the Indian Diaspora in South Block today morning. Discussed strengthening India's relationship with the US and Israel. Appreciated their suggestions on promoting community-based activities," Jaishankar tweeted. Thirty years ago, full diplomatic relations were established between India and Israel. Since then, India and Israel have successfully steered the relationship forward. (ANI) The death toll from the explosion in Dhaka's Gulistan street is likely to increase. According to Dhaka Tribune, eleven firefighting units were at the scene, but they had to halt their rescue efforts in the evening as one of the affected buildings had developed cracks. The Rapid Action Battalion's bomb disposal unit also rushed to the spot to inspect the buildings. According to officials, the explosion happened in the Alubazar area of Fulbaria in the capital. The blast affected two buildings near the BRTC bus counter, the six-storey building and another four-storey sanitary market, which houses a branch of Brac Bank. Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost Inspector Bacchu Miah said, twenty of the injured were taken to the DMCH. He said that all of them are receiving treatment at the hospital's emergency unit. The cause of the explosion could not be known immediately. The police believe it was an accident not a case of sabotage but said they will investigate that possibility. People willing to donate blood for the injured have been asked to go to DMCH. Witnesses said many people are feared trapped in the basements of the buildings. (ANI) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Sri Lanka has received financial assurances from all major bilateral creditors, Sri Lanka-based Daily Mirror reported. The IMF board will hold a meeting on March 20 for the consideration of approval for the State Level Agreement for financing under an Extended Fund Facility. In a statement, IMF noted that the financial assurances from creditors paves the way for consideration of approval of the state-level agreement reached on September 1, as per the Daily Mirror report. It further stated the arrangement will support the authorities program of ambitious reforms and will help Sri Lanka emerge from the current crisis. "Sri Lanka has now received financing assurances from all major bilateral creditors. This paves the way for consideration by the IMF's Board on March 20 the approval of the Staff Level Agreement reached on September 1, 2022 for financing under an Extended Fund Facility. Approval by the Board would also catalyze financing from other creditors, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank," IMF said in a statement. According to the Daily Mirror report, IMF further stated, "The arrangement will support the authorities' program of ambitious reforms, that they have already embarked upon, which will help Sri Lanka emerge from its current crisis and set it on a trajectory of strong and inclusive growth." IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva welcomed the progress made by Sri Lankan authorities in taking decisive policy actions and obtaining financial assurances from major creditors, including India, China and the Paris Club. Kristalina Georgieva tweeted, "I welcome the progress made by Sri Lankan authorities in taking decisive policy actions & obtaining financing assurances from all their major creditors, incl. China, India & the Paris Club. Look forward to presenting the IMF-supported program to our Exec. Board on March 20." Earlier on Monday, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei presented the financial assurance letter by the Exim Bank of China to Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardena at the Presidential Secretariat. Sri Lankan President's Media Division tweeted, "The Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo Hu Wei officially presented the financial assurance letter issued by the Exim Bank of #China to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardena at the Presidential Secretariat today (07)." It further said, "Mr. Hu Wei revealed that large-scale companies are looking forward to visiting Sri Lanka in the near future to explore new #investment opportunities." Earlier on Monday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Sri Lanka's Parliament on Monday evening that China had given assurance that it would back the island country's debt restructuring. Making a special address in Sri Lanka's Parliament, the President said that the EXIM Bank of China last night handed over a new letter of assurance pertaining to Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, according to Newswire. He further stated that a letter of intent signed by himself and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was thereafter immediately handed over to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Newswire. "We have completed our responsibilities. Now, I hope the IMF will do their part by the 3rd or 4th week of this month," Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe said. Ranil Wickremesinghe added that this will enable the first round of funds from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to be issued to Sri Lanka. (ANI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday held a meeting with United Arab Emirates ambassador to India Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, Deputy Chief of UAE Mission Majid Alnekhailawi and Abdulaziz Alhashmi, head of the Political Section, UAE Embassy and discussed bilateral ties between the two nations. Ministry of Finance took to its official Twitter handle to inform about the meeting between Nirmala Sitharaman and UAE Embassy officials. Ministry of Finance tweeted, "Mr. Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, Ambassador of UAE to India, along with Mr Majid Alnekhailawi, Deputy Chief of UAE Mission & Mr. Abdulaziz Alhashmi, Head of Political Sectio, UAE Embassy, called on FM Smt @nsitharaman to discuss bilateral relations between India and UAE, today." On March 1, UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in India to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Notably, India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1. Meanwhile, UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy participated in the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. She attended the meeting along with a number of UAE ministers and officials. According to the statement released by the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the participation of Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy demonstrates the depth of the strategic relations that bind the two nations. During the session entitled "A Region of Opportunities: From the Mediterranean to the Arabian Sea," she focused on the UAE's approach to building more sustainable and effective partnerships with other countries and its vision to use technology, science, and innovation to enhance these partnerships, which aim to benefit humanity. According to the statement, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy said that UAE's hosting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to focus on finding solutions and new innovations to address global challenges. (ANI) Russian troops are continuing efforts to take control of the city of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut in Ukrainian), which has seen relentless fighting in recent says, as it is an important defence hub for Ukrainian forces in Donbass, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday. "Taking (Artyomovsk) under control will allow further offensive actions deep into the defence of the armed forces of Ukraine," he said, RT reported. As well as being a stronghold for Ukraine's forces, Artyomovsk is part of a 70-km-long line of defence created by Kiev since fighting began in Donbass in 2014. In a months-long campaign, Russian forces have systematically captured settlements around the city and have been surrounding Artyomovsk from the north, south, and east. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, meanwhile, has repeatedly insisted that he would not surrender the city, despite his Western backers and military advisers reportedly urging him to cut his losses and withdraw. Shoigu also said that Russian forces have taken the settlements of Nikolaevka, Dvurechnoe, Krasnaya Gora, Gryanikovka and Paraskovievka, and the "American strategy of 'breaking Russia by force of arms'" had failed. "Western countries are increasing the supply of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, expanding training programmes for Ukrainian army personnel. "At the same time, the support of the Kiev regime by NATO countries is not leading to the success of Ukrainian troops on the battlefield," he added, noting that Kiev's losses have significantly increased. According to the minister, in February alone the casualties suffered by Ukraine's armed forces increased by more than 40 per cent compared to January and amounted to over 11,000 servicemen. "In this regard, the Kiev regime's indifference towards its people is surprising," Shoigu noted, adding that Kiev doesn't seem to care how many people die. Russia's priority, on the other hand, remains the preservation of the life and health of personnel and civilians, he stressed. --IANS vd ( 326 Words) 2023-03-07-20:32:02 (IANS) The commission also informed regional election officials that the local elections cannot be held on March 9 as scheduled due to unexpected and unavoidable reasons, Xinhua news agency reported. The regional election officials were told that they are to gazette April 25 as the election day. Regional election officials published gazettes earlier this year, announcing that local elections would be held on March 9. However, the elections were delayed after the government said there were inadequate funds. Sri Lanka holds elections for local government bodies once every four years, and the postponed local elections were originally scheduled to be held in 2022. --IANS int/arm ( 135 Words) 2023-03-07-20:42:03 (IANS) A Georgia man is behind bars after an overnight shooting took the life of a child while he was sleeping, according to the Baldwin County Sheriffs Office. Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said Rodracious Stephens and several others fired several shots into a trailer on Harrisburg Road, killing 10-year-old Damarion Byrd. This is a very egregious crime in our community, Massee said. I dont have to tell yall that when a 10-year-old child is killed in his bed while sleeping, thats a horrible crime. Deputies said that the 39-year-old Stephens has been arrested and remains in Baldwin County Jail. Byrd was a student at Lakeview Academy, according to deputies. Several other people are being investigated in connection to Byrds death. Stephens was arrested while hiding in a local motel, according to deputies. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: An 11-year-old Waynesville boy died unexpectedly Friday. Wade Boswell, a fifth grader at Waynesville Elementary School, died in an accident at home March 3. >> Police ID Troy teen killed in very tragic accident at Treasure Island Park Warren County Sheriffs Office dispatch records showed that a parent called police around 6:15 p.m. after they found his iPad on the driveway. They said he was last seen by a drain near a pond and the parent was worried he may have fallen into the water. Around 10 minutes later, the log showed that the child had been pulled from the water and CPR was being done. Boswell was taken to Dayton Childrens South in Springboro, where he was pronounced dead. Boswells cause and manner of death has not been determined yet by the Montgomery County Coroners Office. The incident remains under investigation, according to the Warren County Sheriffs Office. >> Certainly disappointed; RTA responds to Dayton Public Schools criticism of student transportation Counsellors were on site to help students and staff at Wayne Local Schools, officials told our news partners at WCPO in Cincinnati. A visitation for Boswell is scheduled for Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville. A celebration of life will follow immediately at 7 p.m. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) delivers remarks during a protest in support of student debt cancellation as the Supreme Court begins oral arguments outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday February 28, 2023. Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images 126 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Biden expressing support for his student-debt relief plan. It comes after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the cases blocking the relief. GOP lawmakers have continued to challenge the legality of his plan. Over 100 Democratic lawmakers want to make sure President Joe Biden knows they're on his side when it comes to student-debt relief. On Tuesday, 126 lawmakers, led in part by Sens. Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar, sent a letter to Biden affirming their support for his plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers making under $125,000 a year. After Biden announced the plan at the end of August, two conservative-backed lawsuits paused the implementation of the relief, and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in both of the cases last week. His administration has continued to express confidence that the loan forgiveness is legal, and the group of Democratic lawmakers reiterated that they believe the "debt relief plan falls squarely within your administrative authority, we expect the legal challenges to the plan will fail, and 40 million Americans will be able to have their debts reduced or eliminated as they return to repayment." "Through your action, approximately 20 million borrowers will have no remaining balance, and nearly 90 percent of relief dollars will go to those earning less than $75,000 a year," they wrote. "In the less than 4 weeks that the application for debt relief was available and before the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) was required to stop accepting applications as a result of lawsuits from opponents of the program, 26 million people applied to the Department to be deemed eligible for relief." They also cited recent data from the Education Department that reflected how the relief will benefit the lowest-income earners, along with benefitting communities of color. Story continues Since Biden's debt relief plan was announced, many Republican lawmakers attacked that relief as unfair, costly, and an overreach of executive authority. "How will canceling #studentloans for wealthy elites help working class Americans (many of whom never event went to college or have student debt) when they are already struggling to put food on the table and gas in the tank?" Republicans on the House education committee wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. Some Republicans have also recently introduced legislation to end the student-loan payment pause and block Biden from canceling student debt broadly. While that legislation is unlikely to progress to final votes, SoFi Bank a student-loan refinancing company filed a lawsuit on Friday to end the student-loan payment pause, citing revenue losses it said was directly cause by the latest payment pause extension. In light of the ongoing litigation, Biden extended the student-loan payment pause through 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court issues a final decision on the legality of Biden's relief, whichever happens first, and the Education Department has affirmed the payment pause's legality. Still, as borrowers await the Supreme Court's decision, Democratic lawmakers have continued to voice support for Biden's plan, and the need to get relief to millions of borrowers before payments resume. "The President has the legal authority to cancel student debt," Missouri Rep. Cori Bush wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. "The Supreme Court MUST uphold the law." Read the original article on Business Insider A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with a February shooting that killed a 17-year-old and wounded a 13-month-old. >> TRENDING: 16-year-old drives car that traps, kills 17-year-old in Miami Co. On February 18, Cincinnati Police were dispatched to Clearbrook Drive at around 4:45 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, a spokesperson for the department stated, according to WCPO. When officers arrived, they found two juveniles shot, Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Johnathan Cunningham informed. The 17-year-old was in critical condition and was subsequently transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center by medics for further intensive treatment, Cunningham said. The 13-month-old suffered less serious injuries and was taken by a private citizen to the same hospital. On March 3, the 17-year-old died from his injuries. Travion Spraggs was identified as the dead child. Officers arrested a 15-year-old boy for shooting the teenager and the baby. The 15-year-old boys identity was not released because he would be classified as a juvenile offender, WCPO stated. If he is tried as an adult, the identity will be released. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Robin L Marshall - Getty Images 1883 spoilers follow. Good news, Yellowstone fans! The Yellowstone universe is expanding... again. Thanks to the wild success of the flagship series, creator Taylor Sheridan has been able to dive deep into the Dutton family's history and explore their origins through two prequels, 1883 and 1923. While 1923 has already been renewed for season two, there's been no news on a second season of 1883 since its debut last year. This isn't too surprising given the unfortunate fates of many of the main characters, but it's still a bit of a blow to fervent fans nonetheless. It's not all bad news, though. We may not be seeing Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) and co again, but we are getting an 1883 spin-off series set in the same era, titled 1883: The Bass Reeves Story. It sounds like a good'un (and it's based on a true story!), so join us here at Digital Spy as we tell you everything you need to know about it. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story potential release date - When's it on? Emerson Miller/Paramount+ 1883: The Bass Reeves Story began production in October 2022 and is still ongoing, so there's a chance fans could get to see the new series by the end of the year though 2024 is looking a little more realistic. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story cast - Who's in it? Robin L Marshall - Getty Images Selma's David Oyelowo will lead the stacked cast as Bass Reeves, a real-life legendary lawman who was the first Black deputy US marshal west of the Mississippi River. "Bass Reeves is a character who the Lone Ranger was actually based on," Oyelowo said (via Collider). "But unfortunately, he was whitewashed out of history. He was born into enslavement, went on to fight in the Civil War, then escaped to the Indian Territory; learned the Native American languages and skills, which ended up being applied to his career as a lawman, and had the most prolific career. 3000 arrests in his career and someone whose exploits are truly legendary. We're doing it as a six-part miniseries. So basically a six-hour movie." Lauren E Banks will play Bass' "strong and fiercely loyal" wife Jennie, while Demi Singleton (King Richard) will appear as the duo's "precocious daughter" Sally. Story continues Other cast members include Dennis Quaid as deputy US marshal Sherrill Lynn, Shea Whigham (Perry Mason) as a cruel enslaver named Colonel George Reeves, Barry Pepper (Creed III) as 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles leader Esau Pierce, and Forrest Goodluck (The English) as a young Cherokee man named Billy Crow. Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler on Yellowstone, has also teased that he'll appear in the spin-off. When the actor arrived at the Yellowstone season-five premiere with a goatee, he told ET: "I'm switching it up on ya. This is for a role that I did in 1883," though he wasn't prepared to spill any more details. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story plot - What will happen? Emerson Miller/Paramount+ According to the official synopsis (via Variety), the show "will bring the legendary lawman of the wild west to life. "Reeves, known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded." Reeves was born into slavery in 1838. He joined the US Marshals in 1875 and was assigned to the Western District of Arkansas, which also had authority over the Native reservation Territory. When Oklahoma became a US state in 1907, Reeves was relieved of his duties as a marshal, though he continued to serve in law enforcement until 1909, the year before his death. Whatever happens on the show, Reeves' story will be given more time to unfold on the small screen than it would have had on the big screen that's according to Oyelowo (via Collider). "Back in the day when you watched Ben-Hur or Lawrence of Arabia, that was epic storytelling," Oyelowo said. "But you put a three-hour, four-hour film in front of people now: oh, gosh! But you let them binge something that's six to ten hours, they're all in. So I think it's just a reframing of it. Maybe it's just a mental leap people need to take to engage with the storytelling a little bit longer." 1883: The Bass Reeves Story trailer - When can I watch it? Given the current stage of production, we're in for a bit of a wait. But rest assured that as soon as we hear of a trailer, you'll be the first to know. Yellowstone seasons 1-5, 1923 season 1, and 1883 season 1 are all available to stream on Paramount+. You Might Also Like Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images A Moody's analysis said GOP spending cuts in a debt ceiling increase could cost Americans 2.6 million jobs. Sen. Elizabeth Warren cited the report in a letter to Biden, saying Republicans are risking a recession. Negotiations to raise the debt ceiling aren't making much progress, with a default potentially as soon as 4 months away. A recession and millions of jobs losses could be on the horizon if Congress doesn't reach a clean deal to raise the debt ceiling. On Tuesday, Moody's Analytics released an analysis on what could happen if Republicans fail to reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling before the US runs out of money to pay its bills, which could happen as soon as July. House Republican lawmakers have expressed their intent to negotiate a deal to raise the debt ceiling to achieve spending cuts on Democratic priorities, but those negotiations appear to be stalled and the country is inching closer to a catastrophic default. The analysis suggests that even if a default is avoided, the kinds of spending cuts the GOP is demanding could still lead to a big economic downturn. Moody's economists Mark Zandi, Cristian deRitis, and Bernard Yaros predicted that if Republicans achieve a "dramatic reduction in government spending" while leaving Medicare and Social Security off the table, as they have vowed to do, it could trigger "a recession in 2024, costing the economy 2.6 million jobs at the worst of the downturn and pushing unemployment to a peak of near 6%." Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren cited the analysis in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to "put forward a budget this week that rejects Republican calls for tax breaks for the wealthy and massive job losses for everyone else." "The Republican approach to the debt ceiling will either result in a catastrophic default and an economic recession - or massive cuts to key government programs that destroy millions of jobs. You must reject both options," Warren wrote. Story continues "Republican-imposed austerity would mean the U.S. economy in 2033 would still be short nearly 1 million jobs and 3 percentage points of GDP growth as if our economy stood completely still for a year," she added. "In fact, the economic impact would be so great, that it would result in even more job losses than a short-lived debt ceiling breach, in both the short- and long-term." It's hard to know exactly what would happen if the US defaults on its debt, because it's never happened before. One thing that's clear is that the economic picture won't be pretty. A default could mean a historic financial crisis, one that drags down the rest of the world, too, as the market for US government debt is a key aspect of global finance. If there were to be a default, Moody's sees two scenarios. There could be a shorter default that would quickly lead to Congress passing a debt ceiling increase, which sends the US into a mild recession at the end of year as 1 million jobs are lost, or a prolonged breach, which would lead to the loss of 7 million jobs, and household wealth falling by $10 trillion as stock prices tank by nearly a fifth. Warren is holding a hearing on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the "disastrous impacts" of a debt default, including testimony from Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi. "Lawmakers have a lot of work to do," Zandi told Insider. "They need to increase, suspend, or do away with the debt limit by mid-August or the government won't be able to pay all its bills, and that'll create chaos in financial markets and push the economy into recession. The next six months are going to be drama filled." As Insider previously reported, Republican lawmakers have yet to detail where exactly they want to cut spending in a debt ceiling deal, but they have floated some ideas. Those include cuts to student-debt relief programs and welfare programs like SNAP, while vowing to leave Medicare and Social Security untouched in these negotiations. Still, Biden has insisted the process to raise the debt ceiling be bipartisan and without negotiations, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated the importance that Congress act during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday. "At the end of the day, there's only one solution to this problem, and that is Congress whatever else may happen will happen but Congress really needs to raise the debt ceiling," Powell said. "That's the only way out in a timely way that allows us to pay all of our bills." Read the original article on Business Insider Two of the four Americans kidnapped in Mexico last week were killed and two were returned to the U.S., the State Department confirmed on Tuesday. Two U.S. citizens were returned to the United States, the bodies of two other U.S. citizens killed in the same incident were also recovered, department spokesperson Ned Price said during a news conference. The two survivors one of whom suffered serious injuries were taken to Brownsville, Texas, and were being treated at a local hospital there as of Tuesday evening, according to the FBI. The four U.S. citizens, who have not been publicly identified, were kidnapped at gunpoint on Friday in Matamoros, in the state Tamaulipas, shortly after crossing the border into Mexico, officials said . A Mexican woman was also killed in the episode. The four Americans were later found in Ejido Longoreno, a rural area east of Matamoros, The Associated Press reported , after getting caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups last week. Were providing all appropriate assistance to [the victims] and their families, Price said on Tuesday. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. We thank our Mexican and U.S. law enforcement partners for their efforts to find these innocent victims, and the task forward is to ensure that justice is done. Both the FBI and the Justice Department are investigating the episode, and authorities will be relentless in pursuing justice on behalf of the victims, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement on Tuesday. We will do everything in our power to identify, find, and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack on American citizens. The FBI said that the investigation into the kidnapping was ongoing, and that the agency was working with the State Department to recover the bodies of the two victims who were killed. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also addressed the kidnapping on Tuesday. Since day one of this administration, we have been focused on disrupting transnational criminal organizations, including Mexican drug cartels and human smugglers, Jean-Pierre said at the daily press briefing, adding the Biden administration had imposed powerful new sanctions against cartel organizations in recent weeks. She declined to provide names of those abducted. For the sake of privacy and out of respect to the families, we are going to refrain from further comment about those circumstances at this time, she said. Court photos of Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. United States District Court for the District of Columbia A judge issued an arrest warrant for two Capitol riot defendants who were on house arrest. Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson are accused of hitting police on Jan. 6, 2021, court docs show. Pollock is the sister of Jonathan Pollock, a January 6 defendant who has been missing since 2021. A federal judge issued warrants for the arrest of two January 6 Capitol riot defendants who went missing on Monday. Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson III are both accused of several charges, including assaulting Capitol officers, theft of government property, entry to restricted grounds, and violent and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, court documents show. Joe Boland, a supervisory special agent with the FBI's Lakeland, Florida office, said the bureau learned Pollock and Hutchinson had "tampered with or removed" the ankle monitors used to track them and notified the court after they couldn't locate either of them, the Associated Press reported on Monday. The Lakeland, Florida, FBI field office, and an attorney for Pollock did not immediately return Insider's requests for comment on Tuesday. A public defender representing Hutchinson declined to comment. Pollock is the sister of Jonathan Daniel Pollock, another January 6 defendant the FBI has been searching for since June 2021. In March 2022, the FBI offered a $15,000 reward for any information on his whereabouts. He was caught on body camera footage charging toward police officers and hitting them with flagpoles and a riot shield, according to an affidavit. Hutchinson is accused of helping Jonathan Pollock grab a fence to push their way through the crowd, giving rioters "unobstructed access to the line of police officers", according to court documents. Hutchinson is also accused of squaring off in a "fighting stance" with police officers and throwing punches at them, according to the affidavit. Olivia Pollock is accused of holding a flag pole between police and rioters and trying to pull a baton from a Capitol Police officer's belt, according to the affidavit. She also "reaches out and strikes" an officer on body camera footage, elbows him in the chest, and attempts to take his baton a second time, according to the affidavit. More than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes connected to the January 6 Capitol insurrection so far while at least 476 have pleaded guilty to charges related to the riot. Read the original article on Insider Its been 15 years since a massive fire started at the Salisbury Millwork, taking the lives of two firefighters. Victor Isler and Justin Monroe made the ultimate sacrifice on March 7, 2008. On Tuesday morning, exactly 15 years later, first responders and community members gathered to pay their respects. PREVIOUS: Salisbury remembers 2 firefighters 14 years after deadly Millwork blaze Channel 9s Hannah Goetz was present as the fire department honor guard placed a wreath of honor at a memorial wall. Over the radio, the deputy chief ordered all Salisbury fire stations to lower their flags to half-staff. There was also a moment of silence. In the last 15 years, many new members have joined the Salisbury Fire Department. Goetz asked them why it was so important for them to honor Isler and Monroe, despite not knowing them. The Salisbury Fire Department escorts the bodies of Victor Isler and Justin Monroe, at their funeral Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Salisbury, N.C. Firefighters Monroe and Isler lost their lives in a five-alarm fire in Salisbury, N.C. , earlier this week. (AP Photo/The Salisbury Post, Sean Meyers) The Salisbury Fire Department escorts the bodies of Victor Isler and Justin Monroe on Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Salisbury, N.C. Firefighters Monroe and Isler lost their lives in a five-alarm fire in Salisbury, N.C. (AP Photo/Salisbury Post, Jon C. Lakey) The Salisbury Fire Department escorts the bodies of Victor Isler and Justin Monroe Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Salisbury, N.C. Firefighters Monroe and Isler lost their lives in a five-alarm fire in Salisbury, N.C. (AP Photo/Salisbury Post, Jon C. Lakey) I think being on the job, this is family, and its always going to be family -- whether youre at Salisbury, youre at Concord, youre at Charlotte -- they are always going to be brothers from another mother, said Capt. Curtis Summers. Thats how it is in this job, so thats how it connects me. Flags remained at half-staff until the end of the day Tuesday. >> At 5 p.m. on Channel 9, a Salisbury firefighter from that day will join Goetz to share more about the men Monroe and Isler were, and how he keeps their legacies alive at the station. (WATCH BELOW: Fire Chief Defends Procedures At Deadly Millworks Fire) Two of the four U.S. citizens who went missing after a violent kidnapping in Mexico last week have been found dead and two are alive, Mexican and U.S. authorities said Tuesday. Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal said one of the surviving U.S. citizens was wounded and the other wasn't. He said all four were found in a wooden shack, where they were being guarded by a man who was detained, according to The Associated Press. Villarreal added that they'd been moved around by their captors, even to a medical clinic at one point, to try to "create confusion and avoid efforts to rescue them." The Americans were found in a rural area east of the border city of Matamoros, the AP said, citing Tamaulipas state chief prosecutor Irving Barrios. Mexico's security secretary identified the surviving Americans as Latavia "Tay" McGee and Eric James Williams. Earlier, CBS News learned the other two Americans were identified as Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard. Zalandria Brown, of Florence, South Carolina, told the AP she'd been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Zindell Brown, was one of the victims. Zalandria Brown said Zindell Brown, who lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and two friends were with a third friend who was going to Mexico for "tummy tuck" cosmetic surgery. Federal and state officials escorted the two surviving Americans to an international bridge at the U.S.-Mexico border, the attorney general in Tamaulipas confirmed in a tweet posted Tuesday afternoon. The FBI confirmed in a statement to CBS News Tuesday evening that both surviving victims were taken to a U.S. hospital and said one was being treated for serious injuries. But Villareal said the wounded American, Williams, had been shot in the left leg and the wound wasn't life threatening, the AP reported. Earlier, the attorney general's office in Tamaulipas, where the Americans disappeared Friday, announced on Facebook that all four U.S. citizens had been found. Story continues "Investigation and intelligence work continues to capture those responsible," the statement read. Both survivors had been returned to the U.S. by Tuesday afternoon, State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed during a press briefing. Officials were still "in the process of working to repatriate the remains" of the two victims who were killed, Price said. He declined to share additional information about the investigation into their abduction. "The investigation is in its earliest days," Price told reporters. "I understand we may have more to share from the FBI at the appropriate time." The Americans were found as a result of joint search operations, according to the attorney general in Tamaulipas, but how officials ultimately located and rescued them remained unclear. "Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going for them for give the corresponding support," Villarreal said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, "Those responsible will be found and they are going to be punished." He also lamented American media coverage of the kidnapping and accused U.S. reporters of sensationalism, saying, "It's not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies," according to the AP. An American woman, abducted in Mexico last week, sits inside an ambulance after she was found alive in Ejido Longoreno, on the outskirts of Matamoros, Mexico, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. / Credit: / AP A convoy of ambulances and SUVs transported the survivors to a section of the U.S.-Mexico border near Brownsville hours after they were found on Tuesday, the AP said.. Whether the bodies of the deceased individuals were transported along with them wasn't immediately known. An Associated Press journalist reported seeing the group of vehicles speeding down a long dirt road toward their destination, accompanied by Mexican military Humvees, armored vehicles, state police and National Guard troops. Mounted on their trucks were .50-caliber machine guns. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland did not confirm the deaths, but said Tuesday that senior officials at the Department of Justice are working with multiple federal agencies in the U.S. as well as authorities in Mexico. "During this difficult time, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the Americans who were attacked and kidnapped," Garland said. The Americans were kidnapped after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Matamoros, a border city in northern Mexico, the FBI said earlier this week. All four people had driven from Brownsville, Texas, to Mexico on Friday in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Lopez Obrador said Monday that the four Americans had crossed the border to purchase medicine and found themselves caught in crossfire between two groups of armed individuals. Officials previously said a Mexican woman had also died in Friday's crossfire. Her identity is not known. Their car was hit by gunshots soon after the group grossed the border in Matamoros, the FBI San Antonio Division office reported in a statement issued on Sunday. "All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," the office said. At the time, the FBI announced a $50,000 reward in exchange for the victims' return as well as the kidnappers' arrests. A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. / Credit: STR / AP A video posted to Twitter on Friday raised national concerns as it appeared to show the moment the Americans were kidnapped, CBS News' Christina Ruffini previously reported. In the video, a woman is seen walking alone before being forced into a white pickup truck. Men armed with guns and wearing bulletproof vests then appeared to force several others into the vehicle. At least two of the victims were seen being dragged across pavement toward the truck. On Monday, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement that the Americans were "violently kidnapped at gunpoint" and that U.S. agencies were coordinating with their counterparts in Mexico to recover the missing people. President Biden was also briefed on the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a Monday news conference. "These sorts of attacks are unacceptable," Jean-Pierre told reporters. "Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance." Memphis releasing 20 more hours of Tyre Nichols arrest video: CBS News Flash March 8, 2023 New details emerge about kidnapping in Mexico after 2 Americans killed, 2 rescued Mexico's medical tourism attracts Americans to travel to risky areas A Red Cross worker closes the door of an ambulance carrying two Americans found alive after their abduction in Mexico. (Associated Press) For the record: 8:51 p.m. March 7, 2023: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the suspect in custody, Jose Guadalupe N., is 23. He is 24. Two of four U.S. citizens kidnapped at gunpoint in northern Mexico last week were found dead Tuesday, Mexican authorities said, while two others were rescued after an intense manhunt that renewed U.S. focus on violence south of the border. The Americans were located Tuesday morning in a small wooden house in a field outside the violent border city of Matamoros, said Irving Barrios Mojica, the attorney general of Tamaulipas state. Mexican authorities detained one suspect, identified only as Jose Guadalupe N., 24, who they said was guarding the house. The two survivors Latavia Tay McGee and Eric James Williams, who was badly wounded in his left leg were rushed to the border in a convoy of ambulances and law enforcement vehicles and handed over to U.S. authorities in Brownsville, Texas. The frantic rescue came four days after unknown gunmen fired on the tourists amid a busy stretch of downtown Matamoros, then loaded them into the back of a pickup truck and sped away. The disappearance of the four friends sparked an international incident, with the FBI launching an investigation, the White House intervening and some Republican members of Congress calling for invading Mexico with U.S. troops. A white minivan with North Carolina license plates and several bullet holes sits in a street where four U.S. citizens were kidnapped by gunmen in Matamoros, Mexico. (Associated Press) "This tragic incident only highlights a rising preoccupation in the United States about Mexico's lack of interest in facing down organized crime," said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. The kidnapping in Matamoros, he said, "has become a symbol of impunity in Mexico." The U.S. government condemned the kidnapping and deaths, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying Tuesday that "attacks on U.S. citizens are unacceptable, no matter where ... they occur." And though Kirby said the FBI had worked closely with Mexican officials and would continue to collaborate with them, there was little doubt that the incident threatened to further inflame binational tensions over Mexico's security strategy. Story continues With homicides in Mexico hovering around all-time highs and a record number of American deaths linked to Mexican-produced fentanyl, many in the U.S. have grown increasingly critical of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's hugs not bullets crime-fighting policy, which purports to emphasize social programs over violent confrontations with criminal groups. And while in practice Lopez Obrador's strategy largely resembles that of his predecessors, with high-profile arrests of cartel leaders, regular seizures of drug shipments and even more federal troops in the streets, his softer rhetoric, combined with violent incidents such as the one in Matamoros, "reinforces the narrative being pushed on the right side of the U.S. political spectrum that Mexico is a lawless country," said security analyst Alejandro Hope. The Americans who were killed have not been officially identified but were named by various news outlets as Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown. Family members of the victims told news outlets that the four arrived in Matamoros on Friday so that McGee could undergo a tummy tuck a surgical procedure to remove abdominal fat. Each year, nearly 1 million U.S. citizens seek medical procedures in Mexico, where drugs and treatments are generally much cheaper than in the United States, according to the Mexican Council for the Medical Tourism Industry. According to the FBI, the four were in a white van with North Carolina license plates when unidentified gunmen fired on their vehicle. The Americans were then thrown into the back of a truck and spirited away, a violent scene captured on a widely disseminated video. Mexican authorities said a Mexican woman was killed in the shootout. Violence in broad daylight is common in Tamaulipas state, which has long been one of the most lawless regions of Mexico and which is currently the site of a turf war between dueling factions of the Gulf cartel. The state ranks high in homicides, kidnappings and disappearances; in the vast majority of cases, the victims are Mexicans. That the victims this time were Americans immediately made the kidnapping international news. On Tuesday, some Mexicans reacted to news of the rescue operation with a mixture of relief and exasperation. Seldom if ever do the frequent kidnappings of Mexican nationals attract such attention. And the vast majority go unsolved in a country where the number of "disappeared" has soared to more than 110,000. What has to happen so that the cases of kidnapping and disappearance in Mexico are investigated at the same speed with which they dealt with the case of the four Americans taken in Matamoros? Pascal Beltran del Rio, editorial director of Excelsior newspaper, wrote on Twitter. The government only prosecutes criminals under foreign pressure, tweeted Lilly Tellez, a senator with the center-right National Action Party. We Mexicans are utterly defenseless. The attack came at a time when U.S. officials along the border and in Washington have become increasingly attuned to violence in Mexico. Citing high levels of overdose deaths, several prominent Republicans, including former U.S. Atty. Gen. William Barr, have called in recent months for Mexican cartels to be designated as "terrorist organizations." And this week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he plans to push legislation that will "set the stage" for the use of U.S. military force in Mexico. He seemed to be taking a cue from former President Trump, who, after the 2019 killings of nine American women and children from a small Mormon community in northern Sonora state, also threatened to send soldiers into Mexico. Lopez Obrador said Tuesday that his government would not allow "foreign countries" to intervene in his nation's domestic affairs, adding that Mexico doesn't "meddle" in American law enforcement issues. His administration has sought to highlight how Americans' appetite for illicit drugs and the illegal flow of firearms from the U.S. have played a significant role in Mexico's violence. He criticized what he described as "tabloid" coverage of the Matamoros incident and said media outlets are "silent like mummies" when Mexicans are killed in the United States. But he also said he hoped it would not sour U.S.-Mexico relations. "We are working daily to guarantee peace, security," the president said. "We are very sorry that this happened in our country and we send our condolences to the families of the victims." U.S. and Mexican officials said they are still investigating a central question: Why were the U.S. visitors in Matamoros attacked in a city where many tourists cross over daily from Brownsville with no problems? Barrios said the tourists may have been the victims of confusion," or mistaken identity. One theory is that the assailants may have opened fire after mistaking the van for a vehicle transporting rival gangsters. Business leaders in Tamaulipas said they worried the incident would deflate commerce, especially in the medical tourism sector. Unfortunately," said Julio Cesar Almanza Armas, who heads Tamaulipas' Federation of Chambers of Commerce, "what happened here is going to be a mark against us for many years." Special correspondents Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in Mexico City and Juan Jose Ramirez in Matamoros contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. One of three suspects wanted in the killing of a Lewisville pawn shop owner was arrested Tuesday, according to police. Denyrion Keyshaun Skinner, 17, turned himself in to the Lewisville Police Department on Tuesday, police said in an update. He is charged with murder and is being held at the Lewisville jail on a $250,000 bond. Another suspect, JaTevon Marquise Johnson, 18, was identified and arrested Feb. 25. Damonta Jerone Skinner, 19 the last of the three suspects is still wanted by police in connection with the Feb. 14 shooting death of Daniel White, 54. At about 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, three young men, all dressed in black hoodies and blue jeans, jumped out of a red, late model Ford Escape SUV, rushed into the Lewisville Pawn Shop at 962 S. Mill St., confronted White and tried to rob the store, police said. One of the robbers shot the store owner in the chest, police said. All three left the scene in the red SUV and headed south on Mill Street toward I-35 East. Denyrion Skinner and Damonta Skinner fled to Dallas after the shooting, and Damonta is believed to still be in the South Dallas area, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lewisville Police Department Tip Line at 972-219-8477. Information can also be submitted anonymously by texting TipLPD to 847411 or can be submitted to Denton County Crime Stoppers at dentoncountycrimestoppers.com or through its P3 Tips mobile phone app. A 2-year-old died after he was left in his dads car for several hours, Florida police say. Port St. Lucie police said the toddlers father called authorities just after 1 p.m. on Monday, March 6, after realizing he had forgotten his son in his car. The 2-year-old had been left in the car for several hours. Officials began life-saving measures after arriving at the scene, police said in a news release. The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The boys father was arrested and charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle causing great bodily harm, police said. On Tuesday, March 7, temperatures were in the 80s in Port St. Lucie, with a projected high of 88, according to the National Weather Service. Port St. Lucie is about 110 miles north of Miami. Man thought he took grandson to day care, but he was dead in the pickup, AL cops say Toddler left home alone while parents go to New York, South Carolina cops say 2-year-old dies after she was left alone in a hot car, New Jersey cops say Update: Polk County Sheriffs Office has identified three of the four people killed after two small planes collided in Central Florida. The victims are: Faith Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven. Baker was a pilot and flight instructor with Sunrise Aviation. Zachary Jean Mace, 19, of Winter Haven. Mace was a student at Polk State College. Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Baker and Mace were in one of the planes, a Cherokee Piper 161, while Crawford was aboard the other plane, a Piper J-3 Club. Deputies are working to confirm the identity of the fourth person killed who was inside the Piper J-3 Cub. READ: 2 dead after 2 small planes collide in Central Florida The four people killed were the only occupants of the planes, the sheriffs office said. In a prepared statement, Sheriff Grady Judd said: My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed in todays crash. The NTSB and FAA will be investigating the cause and circumstances of the collision. Please keep the families in your prayers during this difficult and stressful time. READ: After 8 straight days of record heat, cooler air is on the way See our previous coverage below: Investigators say two people have died after two small planes collided Tuesday afternoon near a Central Florida lake. According to the Polk County Sheriffs Office, the planes collided mid-air over Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Deputies say first responders from multiple agencies arrived to find one of the planes fully submerged in the lake and the other partially submerged. The sheriffs office confirmed the planes were a sea plane registered to Jack Browns Seaplane Base in Winter Haven and a fixed-wing plane operated by Sunrise Aviation out of Ormond Beach on behalf of Polk State College. Multiple agencies are participating in an active search of the lake for any occupants of the planes. Story continues Investigators confirmed Tuesday evening two bodies had been located in the search but they havent been identified pending notification of their families. Both the FAA and NTSB have been called to investigate. Channel 9 is monitoring the situation and is working to gather additional details. Read: 9 ways to protect yourself from deadly amoeba Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for updates. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A civilian resident of Bakhmut against the background of houses destroyed by Russian shelling, March 3 Read also: UN confirms death of 8,101 civilians in Ukraine due to war, including over 450 children In February alone, 138 civilians were killed and 451 people were injured. Explosive devices and shrapnel are the most common causes of civilian casualties, the report said. The agency stressed that the figures only include verified casualties, while the actual number of victims in the war is much higher, as the flow of information from some places is delayed due to ongoing fighting. This applies, in particular, to cities like Mariupol, Lysychansk, Popasna, and Severodonetsk. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine ATLANTA (AP/Boston25) More than 20 people from around the country, including three Massachusetts residents, faced domestic terrorism charges Monday after dozens in black masks attacked the site of a police training center under construction in a wooded area outside Atlanta where one protester was killed in January. The site has become the flashpoint of ongoing conflict between authorities and left-leaning protesters who have been drawn together, joining forces to protest a variety of causes. Among them: People against the militarization of police; others who aim to protect the environment; and some who oppose corporations who they see as helping to fund the project through donations to a police foundation. Flaming bottles and rocks were thrown at officers during a protest Sunday at Cop City, where 26-year-old environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, or Tortuguita, was shot to death by officers during a raid at a protest camp in January. Police have said that Tortuguita attacked them, a version that other activists have questioned. Almost all of the 23 people arrested are from states across the U.S., while one is from Canada and another from France, police said Monday. Massachusetts residents arrested in the protest include 19-year-old Ayla Elegla King, 49-year-old Alexis Papali, and 26-year-old Timothy Bilodeau, according booking photos published by the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office. Like many protesters, Tortuguita was dedicated to preserving the environment, friends and family said, ideals that clashed with Atlantas hopes of building a $90 million Atlanta Public Safety Training Center meant to boost preparedness and morale after George Floyds death in 2020. Now, authorities and young people are embroiled in a clash that appears to have little to do with other high-profile conflicts. Protesters who oppose what detractors call Cop City run the gamut from more traditional environmentalists to young, self-styled anarchists seeking clashes with what they see as an unjust society. Story continues Defend the Atlanta Forest, a social media site used by members of the movement, said Monday on Twitter that those arrested were not violent agitators but peaceful concert-goers who were nowhere near the demonstration. A representative of a public-relations firm involved in the groups events said that it could not immediately comment. After Tortuguita was killed in January, demonstrations spread to downtown Atlanta. A police cruiser was set ablaze, rocks were thrown and fireworks were launched at a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation. Windows were shattered. The governor declared a state of emergency. On Sunday, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a midnight news conference, pieces of construction equipment were set on fire in what he called a coordinated attack at the site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in DeKalb County. This image provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows construction equipment set on fire Saturday, March 4, 2023 by a group protesting the planned public safety training center, according to police. (Atlanta Police Department via AP) Surveillance video released by police shows a piece of heavy equipment in flames. It was among several destroyed pieces of construction gear, police said. Protesters also threw rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police, officials said. In addition, demonstrators tried to blind officers by shining green lasers into their eyes, and used tires and debris to block a road, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said Monday. Officers used nonlethal enforcement methods to disperse the crowd and make arrests, Schierbaum said, causing some minor discomfort. Along with classrooms and administrative buildings, the training center would include a shooting range, a driving course to practice chases and a burn building for firefighters to work on putting out fires. A mock village featuring a fake home, convenience store and nightclub would also be built for rehearsing raids. Opponents have said that the site would be to practice urban warfare, and the 85-acre (34-hectare) training center would require cutting so many trees that it would be environmentally damaging. Many activists also oppose spending millions on a police facility that would be surrounded by poor neighborhoods in a city with one of the nations highest degrees of inequality. Color Of Change, a civil rights organization, has been working alongside activists in Atlanta, and leaders have said the facility will only harm Black communities as a result of what they describe as the increased militarization of law enforcement. This just takes up a lot of space in a Black community ... and it provides more access, more tools, and more resources to an institution that actually needs more accountability, Color of Change President Rashad Robinson told the AP by phone Monday. Atlanta police and construction personnel stand near damaged property at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in DeKalb County, Ga., Monday, March 6, 2023. More than 20 people from around the country faced domestic terrorism charges Monday after dozens of young men in black masks attacked the site of a police training center under construction in a wooded area outside Atlanta where one protester was killed in January. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has said that the site was cleared decades ago for a former state prison farm. He has said that it is filled with rubble and overgrown with invasive species, not hardwood trees. The mayor also has said that while the facility would be built on 85 acres, about 300 others would be preserved as public green space. Many of those already accused of violence in connection with the training site protests are being charged with domestic terrorism, a felony that carries up to 35 years in prison. Those charges have prompted criticism from some that the state is being heavy-handed. Lawmakers are considering classifying domestic terrorism as a serious violent felony. That means anyone convicted must serve their entire sentence, cant be sentenced to probation as a first offender and cant be paroled unless they have served at least 30 years in prison. Meanwhile, more protests are planned in coming days, police said Monday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez, Eunisses Hernandez and Nithya Raman outside City Hall on Tuesday announcing a measure aimed at designating Los Angeles a "sanctuary city." (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Soon after President Trump took office, Los Angeles immigration groups demanded that City Hall label L.A. a haven for immigrants in the face of his promised crackdown. The Los Angeles City Council ultimately passed a resolution that declared L.A. a "city of sanctuary" a symbolic gesture that offered no legal protections. Now, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Nithya Raman want to strengthen L.A.'s laws around immigration. They announced Tuesday they would seek passage of an ordinance declaring L.A. a "sanctuary city" and barring city personnel or resources from being used in federal immigration enforcement. If adopted, the law would be largely similar to one in San Francisco. It prohibits city employees from using city funds or resources to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the enforcement of federal immigration laws unless such assistance is required by federal or state law. Raman said her office worked with immigration advocates and others on the proposed law. Some of the leaders of those groups told The Times they are looking to next year's presidential election. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a presumed Republican candidate, has made cracking down on people in the country without authorization a focus. "We want to make sure that L.A. is ready for a worst-case scenario," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, deputy director of programs and campaigns at the California Immigrant Policy Center. The law sought by the three council members would codify existing policies, including a 2017 executive directive issued by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti that prohibits all city employees from using public facilities or resources to assist or cooperate with federal civil immigration enforcement. The proposed law would also bar federal immigration authorities or other entities connected to immigration enforcement from accessing city databases or anyone's personal data. The proposal follows moves by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, which in 2020 voted to ban the transfer of inmates to ICE custody unless the authorities have a judicial warrant. Story continues The council members' motion asks the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance within 60 days that would prohibit, to the extent permissible by law, the use of city resources, property or personnel for any federal immigration enforcement. Nearly 10% of the nations 11.1 million immigrants who are in the country without legal authorization reside in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center report. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Hernandez said it's time that L.A. lives "up to its promise to our immigrant communities." "Symbolic gestures are not enough," Hernandez said. "Internal policies that can be changed from one day to the next are not enough." Hernandez's office said in a news release that the "city and internal LAPD policies still allow for ICE officers to access city jails to interrogate people in LAPD custody, and, under certain circumstances, LAPD officers are permitted to transfer individuals to ICE custody, even when judicial warrants are not issued." The proposed ordinance seeks to limit those interactions. The Los Angeles Police Department declined to answer questions about its policies. The Times also sent multiple questions to ICE about its practices. In response, the agency said its operations are "focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws." Following Trump's election and promise to deport migrants, mayors in Boston, Chicago and elsewhere reaffirmed their cities as sanctuaries, and the California Legislature passed a law that aims to protect immigrants. L.A.'s efforts around establishing itself as a sanctuary have come in fits and starts. The city in 2017 set aside $2 million for a legal defense fund to pay for attorneys for individuals and families who are detained or at risk for deportation. City leaders also introduced a resolution that year to declare L.A. a city of sanctuary, calling it a direct response to Trumps efforts to unwind a program that protects immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. However, it took the city two years to vote on the resolution, and by then, immigrant advocates said, its declaration had lost significance. President Biden has reversed some immigration policies but also faced criticism for proposals that immigration groups say would mirror Trump's tough crackdown. At the same time, ICE's surveillance capabilities have expanded. The agency has worked with third-party vendors to collect data from utility companies and private databases, according to findings from a two-year investigation published last year by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology. For example, the report found that ICE has drivers license data for 3 in 4 adults living in the U.S. and can track the movement of vehicles in cities that are home to nearly 75% of adults. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said declarations of sanctuary city labels are empty rhetoric unless cities and counties also ensure that ICE cant access troves of data collected by those municipalities. The group has filed a lawsuit against a third-party vendor in a federal case in California. We encourage cities to analyze city data and how its being stored and whether its susceptible to warrants, Cahn said. In Los Angeles, mobility data are collected by the city, for example, Cahn said. Los Angeles Department of Transportation spokesperson Colin Sweeney said the city receives route or drop-off and pickup information from companies that offer scooters, bicycles and some taxis in L.A. to ensure operators are following city rules. The city doesnt gather information about riders, Sweeney said. The department is prohibited from sharing its mobility data with law enforcement unless required by a subpoena or warrant, Sweeney said. No federal agency has ever accessed or sought access to this data, he added. Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, predicted that the proposal, if passed, would strain L.A.s education and healthcare system. People tend to flock to areas where they know that there isnt cooperation with federal immigration authorities, said Mehlman, calling the proposal "costly" for taxpayers. The phrase "sanctuary city" dates to the 1980s, when U.S. immigration policies allowed some Central American immigrants entry but not others. In response, Berkeley and a few other municipalities declared themselves sanctuary cities to accept those migrants. A divided L.A. City Council adopted a resolution in 1985 declaring Los Angeles a city of sanctuary for immigrants fleeing political persecution and violence, particularly refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala. After one council member threatened a ballot measure to overturn the resolution, the council watered it down and dropped the phrase city of sanctuary." Instead, the council voted to reaffirm a policy that banned city employees from considering a persons "refugee or residence status" before providing city services. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A 34-year-old dad died after the car he was driving was hit by a suspected drag racer going over 100 miles per hour, Tennessee police and loved ones say. Nashville police said Jacob Barnhardt died the afternoon of March 6 after he was involved in a three-car wreck with a driver who lost control. Barnhardt was driving in a northbound lane when a driver on the opposite side of the highway, Patrick Ewin, lost control of his Dodge Charger Hellcat and crossed into Barnhardts lane, police said in a March 6 news release. Ewin, 31, was driving over 100 miles per hour when he lost control, police said, and surveillance footage shows him racing another car. After hitting Barnhardt, Ewin hit a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, police said. The pickup truck driver was uninjured. Officials extricated Barnhardt from his car and transported him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died, according to police. Ewin was taken to the hospital with minor injuries before he was taken to jail, police said. He is charged with vehicular homicide by recklessness. Loved ones shared memorials for Barnhardt on social media. Heaven gained a great one far too soon!! For sure one of the best friends I have ever known. Thank you for everything, one friend wrote in a Facebook post. Pray for his family & children. Sending all the love and strength. Gone too soon, another friend posted on their Facebook story. Loving dad killed while driving back from date night with wife, Maryland reports say Dad being treated steps out of ambulance and is fatally hit by a semi, TN cops say Dad of 6 fatally struck as wife watched him help stranded motorist, Texas reports say A group of Americans were attacked after crossing the border into Mexico, leaving bullet holes in their white van. AP Two of the four Americans kidnapped in Mexican are dead, while the other two were found alive. US officials confirmed the survivors are back in the US. Relatives told CNN and ABC News the group traveled for one of them to get a tummy tuck procedure. Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed gunmen after crossing the Mexican border on Friday were found dead, according to US officials and a Mexican governor. The two survivors were found alive in Tamaulipas on Tuesday. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed in a press conference that the two survivors have been "repatriated back to the United States," according to CBS News. Price added: "We are in the process of working to repatriate the remains of the two Americans who were killed." Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement on Tuesday confirming the FBI "immediately contacted" Mexican law enforcement and security partners on Friday in an attempt to locate the victims after learning that the four Americans were attacked. The two surviving Americans are receiving medical treatment back in the US, Garland said. Relatives told CNN and ABC News that the Americans identified by family as a group of friends, Zindell Brown, Latavia McGee, Eric James Williams, and Shaeed Woodard were traveling for one of them to get a tummy tuck procedure. Insider previously reported that the group traveled into Mexico in a white van with North Carolina license plates before they were fired at and taken by armed gunman. CNN reported that investigators believe they were mistaken for smugglers by a drug cartel. "The Justice Department will be relentless in pursuing justice on their behalf," Garland said Tuesday. "We will do everything in our power to identify, find, and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack on American citizens." US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday that a Mexican citizen not involved in the incident was also killed. Story continues "On Friday, March 3rd, unknown assailants in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, violently kidnapped at gunpoint four US citizens in an incident in which an innocent Mexican citizen was tragically killed," the statement read. "US law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots." Obrador confirmed at a press conference Monday that the group was abducted on March 3 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, near the Rio Grande and southern US border with Brownsville, Texas. The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for the return of the victims. It was originally reported by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that the group traveled to buy medication. The journey isn't uncommon for Americans who seek affordable health care. Prescription drugs, such as Insulin, can be thousands of dollars cheaper in Mexico, according to Kaiser Health News. In recent months, American women have increasingly sought out abortion medication from Mexico, a Mexican abortion rights activist told Insider after the US Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Read the original article on Business Insider Border Patrol agents patrol along a line of shipping containers stacked near the border Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, near Yuma, Ariz. AP Photo/Gregory Bull Four Americans were kidnapped after crossing the border to buy medication in Mexico. The kidnapping happened on March 3. On March 7, two were found alive and two deceased. The US citizens had North Carolina license plates. A Mexican citizen was killed in the confrontation. Four US citizens who crossed the US-Mexico border for a medical procedure were kidnapped in Mexico on Friday after a confrontation between armed groups. On Monday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed at a press conference that four Americans were abducted by groups on March 3, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, near the Rio Grande and southern US border with Brownsville, Texas. The group crossed into Mexico in a white van with North Carolina license plates, before they were fired at and taken by armed gunman, per the FBI. An unnamed US official told CNN that the Americans may not have been the intended targets. "We are paying attention," Obrador said at a press conference on Monday. "The information we have is that they were from the US and crossed the border to buy medicine in Mexico. There was a confrontation between groups and they were detained. All of the government is working on it." On Tuesday, Mexican officials confirmed two of the Americans were found dead. The two survivors were rescued in Tamaulipas. The FBI offered $50,000 reward for the return of the victims, and the arrest of the kidnappers. Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement on Tuesday confirming the FBI "immediately contacted" Mexican law enforcement and security partners in an attempt to locate the victims after learning that the four Americans were attacked. The two surviving Americans are receiving medical treatment back in the US, Garland said. "The Justice Department will be relentless in pursuing justice on their behalf," Garland said Tuesday. "We will do everything in our power to identify, find, and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack on American citizens." Story continues US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said that a Mexican citizen was killed during the confrontation. "On Friday, March 3rd, unknown assailants in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, violently kidnapped at gunpoint four US citizens in an incident in which an innocent Mexican citizen was tragically killed," Ken Salazar, the US ambassador to Mexico said in a statement. "US law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots." A woman driving by witnessed the confrontation, and said two of the van's occupants were dragged out, according to The Associated Press. The Gulf cartel has a heavy presence in Matamoros, where kidnappings and violence between armed factions have become common. Thousands of Mexicans have disappeared amid the infighting, the AP reported. Insider previously reported that it was unclear what medical procedures or medications the Americans had crossed to purchase. Relatives then told CNN and ABC News that the group traveled to Mexico for one of them to get a tummy tuck procedure. For over a decade, Americans have traveled to Mexico for cheaper prescription drugs, such as Insulin, which can be thousands of dollars cheaper in Mexico, according to Kaiser Health News. In 2015, the US federal government estimated that nearly 1 million Californians crossed into Mexico for health care reasons, including to buy medication. However, one type of medication, in particular, has become increasingly sought after in recent months. Following the US Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, one Mexican abortion rights activist told Insider that American women were seeking abortion medication from Mexico on a daily basis. Read the original article on Insider Trump at CPAC Alex Wong/Getty Images Former President Donald Trump provided the headliner speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the weekend. He painted a gloomy picture of the United States with a Democrat, President Biden, in the White House, and portrayed himself as the only person who can save the Republican Party and the nation. Trump's former United Nations ambassador and current GOP rival, Nikki Haley, got chased into an elevator by Trump supporters after saying in her non-prime-time speech that the GOP needed a new generation of leaders, in a veiled criticism of the former president. Other Republicans used their time at the podium to call for eradicating transgender rights and stripping Big Tech of the legal immunity social media companies have under Section 230, the protection from liability for what users post that is currently being challenged at the Supreme Court. Far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said in her speech that the liability shield is letting tech executives censor conservative voices, "acting like editors rather than publishers." But some of the GOP's heaviest hitters including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and likely presidential contenders former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't show up at the sparsely attended conference. Here are four lessons from this year's event: 1. Trump showed the GOP nomination is his to lose Many Democrats, and even some Republicans, think Trump's 2024 presidential bid is doomed, said the Texarkana Gazette in an editorial. "His presidency was a fluke, they say. His time has passed." But this year's CPAC showed that "this nomination is still Donald Trump's to lose." CPAC was "always a big GOP event in the past," but this year's version "was mostly a yawn fest." Nikki Haley "failed to excite the crowd. Presumed candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis failed to show up." Trump was the only person who really "energized" the crowd, and all he had to do was hit some of "his usual familiar talking points," with "a lot of 'us against them'" mixed in. CPAC's straw poll wasn't even close, with Trump taking 62 percent support for the 2024 nomination, followed by DeSantis with 20 percent and Haley in single digits. Story continues 2. Low attendance and energy showed CPAC isn't what it used to be The big takeaway was "how lame this year's CPAC really was," said Danielle Lee Tomson in Politico. Attendance was low. Energy was low. "Speakers like Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) addressed nearly empty rooms." Even the WiFi went out at times. The troubles started before the event when CPAC chair Matt Schlapp faced "sexual assault allegations from a male campaign staffer, a claim he denies," and it was downhill from there. Former Trump strategist "insisted that despite the lackluster conference, the GOP and its right flank were still strong." He said you could see CPAC's importance in the attendance of "warriors" like failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and James O'Keefe, a "media provocateur" recently ousted by his own board. With "warriors" like that, who needs enemies? "Vibes matter," and CPAC showed that "conservatives both Trump and institutional Republicans alike aren't vibing with each other." 3. CPAC represents what the GOP mainstream has become This year's CPAC was "eminently mockable," said Joe Walsh in The Bulwark. "There was Steve Bannon accusing Fox News of stealing the election from Donald Trump. And Marjorie Taylor Greene lying that Ukraine President Zelensky demanded American 'sons and daughters to go die in Ukraine.'" The hits kept coming: Kari Lake proclaiming Steve Bannon a "modern-day George Washington," Lauren Boebert "strutting and yelling on stage." The hits kept coming. But don't let the "richly deserved mockery" convince you these people aren't to be taken seriously. These are the forces that put Trump in the White House in 2016 and almost got him re-elected in 2020. The people at CPAC weren't the "some loony far-right fringe" of the Republican Party. "They are the party." The GOP mainstream has become "radicalized." Its base and activists "no longer believe in truth, they've given up on democracy, they want to destroy their political opponents, and they want an authoritarian to give them back the America they long for." 4. This spotlighted the growing GOP rift CPAC "underscored the difficulty Republicans will have in keeping their increasingly fractured coalition together for 2024," said Josh Kraushaar in Axios. The GOP used to be defined by the "three core conservative principles" that were the "pillars" of the Reagan revolution: "free markets, a muscular foreign policy, and traditional social values." But Trump's Make America Great Again movement has shifted "the GOP's center of gravity toward a more protectionist, populist, and belligerent outlook." Signs of the split were everywhere. Trump said the GOP was once "ruled by freaks, neocons, open-border zealots and fools," and promised the party was "never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "leave your hands off of our sons and daughters," while "two of the highest-profile speakers former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are unapologetic Ukraine hawks." The fight for the party's 2024 nomination will come down to a duel between Trump, who "is prioritizing the 30 percent of Republicans who consider themselves 'Trump-first Republicans,'" and his rivals who will "compete for backing among those who support the party first." You may also like Egyptian archeologists discover Sphinx from 1st century A.D. Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Mexican authorities reported they found the four missing U.S. citizens taken against their will during their trip to Mexico, with two found dead and two rescued alive. The post 4 US Citizens Kidnapped In Mexico After Being Mistaken For Haitian Drug Traffickers; 2 Found Dead, 2 Rescued Alive appeared first on Blavity. CNN reported that the search for Latavia Tay Washington McGee, Zindell Brown, Shaeed Woodard and Eric Williams has ended, and Mexican officials shared they discovered their whereabouts. Unfortunately, Brown and Woodard were found deceased, and Williams was injured. Washington McGee was unharmed. Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios revealed the update in a tweet. Derived from the joint search actions, the four American citizens deprived of their liberty last Friday were found. Unfortunately, two dead. Investigation and intelligence work continue to capture those responsible. Details will be given later, Barrios wrote. Corporaciones federales y estatales, con personal de Consulado #EUA en #Matamoros entregaron en puente internacional a 2 ciudadanos de aquel pais, localizados hoy luego que fueron privados de su libertad el pasado 3 marzo #Sedena #Marina #GuardiaNacional #FGJT #SSPT #FGR #CNI Dr. Irving Barrios Mojica (@IrvingBarriosM) March 7, 2023 The four friends went to Mexico to support Washington McGee, a mother of six, in her cosmetic surgery. Her family told CNN this was her second or third time going to the country for a medical procedure since she had no complications after she went three years ago. Story continues According to CNN, on Friday, unidentified shooters kidnapped the friends from their white minivan as they journeyed to the border city of Matamoros. Authorities speculate the suspects who shot at the van and forced the South Carolina residents into another vehicle were members of the Mexican cartel and believed the tourists were mistaken for Haitian drug traffickers and werent the intended targets. This tragic situation is another incident involving the Mexican drug war. In addition, the CDC has warned Americans to minimize the risks involved in visiting other countries for medical procedures. The investigation is ongoing as authorities uncover the details behind the attack. Carpathian Shepherd Dog - Alamy A 40kg Carpathian Shepherd Dog who allegedly knows 300 Latin commands faces being put down after it bit a police officers bottom. Pc Michael Obern screamed out in agony as the large canine chomped straight through his trousers and underwear and into his left buttock, a court heard. The female dog - called Shroom - also attacked a woman on a glamping site and its owner, Gemma Sankey, has now been convicted of failing to control a dangerous animal. Magistrates found her guilty of two counts after hearing Sankeys bizarre defence in which she said the dog was very intelligent and knew more than 300 commands in Latin, while also claiming both the victims injuries were self-inflicted. Carpathian Shepherd Dogs originate from Romania where they were bred for their size and strength to guard livestock from bears and wolves. They are said to be fearless and to make excellent guard dogs. Sankey, 51, told the court she had worked as a dog psychologist with a special knowledge of canine aggression for over 35 years, but prosecutors said she had no formal qualifications, and should not be considered an expert. In October 2021, Pc Obern was helping Sankey move some items into a Travelodge in Devizes, Wilts, when the dog turned on him, prosecutors said. Pc Michael Obern - Solent The officer revealed he had been warned by Sankey in a previous meeting not to wear high-vis clothing as this would make the dog react. The Wiltshire Police officer, who knew Sankey from his time as a community support officer, told magistrates he therefore chose to wear a black police vest in a bid to appease the animal. But he told Salisbury Magistrates Court that when he approached the dog it almost immediately attacked him: I managed to pet her but she then bit my left buttock. It ripped my trousers, ripped my boxer shorts and broke the skin. The dog was on a lead but it was quite a long one. I then told Ms Sankey to take the dog inside. I had a bruise for a week, but I had been bitten by a human in another incident a few months before so Id already had a tetanus injection. Story continues The court was shown bodycam footage captured by Pc Obern in which he could be seen petting the dog. Moments later, the police officer was heard screaming in pain as the dog bit him in the buttock off camera. Sankey, of Amesbury, Wilts, denied both offences and said her dog did not bite Pc Obern nor the woman at the glamping site. Gemma Sankey - Solent She told the court: When Shroom gets terribly excited she jumps up occasionally. Sankey added: Pc Obern gave Shroom a slap hit and then he turned away. His injuries were not caused by a bite from Shroom - a Chihuahua would have made more bite marks. She told the hearing she was an expert in animal behaviour and had previously owned four dogs and 15 horses. However, prosecutor Natalie Cheesman told the court there was no evidence Sankey was an expert in canine aggression, and that she had no relevant qualifications. She continued: The bite made Pc Obern scream out in pain before he walked away. Ms Sankey is in denial about what Shroom is capable of. I submit that you can tell the two incidents are extremely similar. Magistrates deliberated for just 30 minutes before finding Sankey guilty of two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. She will be sentenced at a later date. The court heard Shroom has been kept in police custody since biting Pc Obern and that the Crown Prosecution Service would now be submitting an application for a destruction order. China confident of meeting 2023 economic growth target Xinhua) 08:28, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China is confident of meeting its 2023 economic growth target through hard work, an official with the country's top economic planner said Monday. The country aims to expand its economy by around 5 percent in 2023, according to a government work report submitted Sunday to the national legislature for deliberation. "China is still a developing country, and development is the top priority," Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), told a press conference. The country needs to maintain reasonable economic growth to boost employment, improve people's livelihoods, and prevent and defuse risks, Zhao said. The 5-percent growth target, which is conducive to accelerating the creation of a new development paradigm and promoting high-quality development, is in line with current economic momentum, and will guide all sectors to focus on improving the quality and efficiency of development, Zhao said. The growth target is underpinned by the quick recovery of China's consumer market. Consumption of tourism, catering and other services has rebounded significantly since the Spring Festival holiday, getting the economy off to a strong start, he said. With the changes in COVID-19 response policies, there has been a notable increase in the mobility of both people and goods, indicating a faster recovery. "China's economy is steadily improving," Zhao said, adding that the country is "full of confidence" in achieving the 2023 economic growth target. Speaking about China's economic performance last year, Zhao said the country has made outstanding achievements in economic development. In 2022, China's economy expanded by 3 percent, higher than the 2.1 percent growth of the United States and the growth seen in some other major economies. China follows a win-win strategy of opening up, actively participates in economic globalization, and strives for the common development of all countries, he said. "China welcomes the people of other countries aboard the express train of the country's development." With regard to foreign investment, Yang Yinkai, also deputy head of the NDRC, said China will continue to open up industries in sectors such as telecommunications, the internet, education, culture and medical care in an orderly manner. China will also encourage more foreign investment in advanced manufacturing, modern service industries, energy conservation and environmental protection, and to the central and western regions and northeast China, Yang said. As a steadfast proponent of high-level opening up, China will welcome foreign investment "in a more open and inclusive manner," Yang noted. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Student-parents can model good time management strategies and study habits for their children. Halfpoint Images/Moment Collection/Getty Images Pursuing a college degree as an adult with children is a monumental but worthwhile endeavor. Research shows that earning a degree increases income and therefore health outcomes for the whole family. Higher income has also been associated with experiences that lead to more brain activity and cognitive development for infants. Being a student and a parent at the same time, however, can be challenging. Student-parents not only must juggle their own classwork and daily life routines, but they also must find time to help their children excel in their schoolwork. Many children across the country are struggling in school, have experienced learning loss due to the pandemic and need extra academic support. Im a research scholar with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and the clinical director of the Children and Family Programs at Kennesaw State University. At KSU, I share evidenced-based best practices with students who are parents to support personal, interpersonal and academic success. I was once a student-parent myself, completing my dissertation while caring for my 10-month-old daughter. Here are five things student-parents can start doing today to help themselves and their children excel in school. 1. Choose a family-friendly campus Not all colleges and universities are family-friendly. At many colleges, student-parents are overlooked and face a higher risk of dropping out. Look for institutions that support student-parents for example, with lactation rooms, on-campus child care, commuter rooms, changing tables and family events on campus. While 1 in 5 U.S. undergrads are raising a child, less than half of community colleges and public universities offer on-campus child care services. And when they do, there may be a waitlist. Student-parents may need to research high-quality daycares nearby. Speaking with other parents can go a long way in finding the best care for your child. 2. Stick with predictable schedules Predictable schedules and environments help kids thrive and build resilience in times of uncertainty. Planning out the day also allows student-parents to schedule time to devote to their own classwork and complete assignments. Story continues Research finds that routines help new parents acclimate to parenthood. A regular bedtime may influence school performance, school attendance and health in children whose parents are divorced. Conversely, having an irregular bedtime may lead to children having more behavioral problems and lower resilience. Parents can foster routines by creating a set wake-up, schoolwork, dinner and bedtime schedule for both themselves and their child. Family rituals and routines that guide behavior help create a safe emotional environment for young children. For example, making time for dinner together as a family can increase childrens sense of belonging, emotional connections and support between family members. 3. Set clear rules and expectations When parents have clear rules and expectations at home, children can better understand which behaviors are off-limits. This means parents can spend less time arguing with, reminding and reprimanding their children. Taking the time to set these expectations upfront can reduce parents stress levels and save them time in the long run to focus on their own classwork. These rules can work for parents too. For example, the expectation that screen time is allowed only after homework is completed works at any age. When clear rules and expectations are in place, parents can focus attention on what their child is doing right. Praising a child for trying their hardest, sitting still and following directions will increase the likelihood they will behave well in the future. Think of it as a banking system: If a child hears mostly negative feedback and reprimands, this creates a deficit in their bank and has negative impacts on their behavior later. But if a parent praises their child often, this builds up cash for the times when they must make withdrawals and reprimand them. Pregnant and parenting students are covered by Title IX, which ensures their right to equal educational opportunities on college campuses. Courtney Hale/iStock/Getty Images Plus 4. Model time management Children watch and learn from their parents behavior. Student-parents can model good time management strategies and study habits while they do their schoolwork. Additionally, research suggests that it can be mutually beneficial when children and parents complete their work together. Coworking alongside your child can increase their appreciation for education and teach good study habits. The example parents set as hard-working students themselves, and how they communicate the value of education, can aid their childs education. 5. Get involved Children whose parents are involved in their education and school activities perform better at school. But what does positive involvement look like? It can be instilling the importance of education, asking questions about their activities or advocating for the best teacher fit. Parents can also volunteer for school events, join the PTA, attend school events and for those low on time communicate frequently with teachers and administration via email or online systems that display grades and allow message sending. Student-parents can also advocate for themselves in their own studies. Professors may not know which students are also parents and the challenges that this brings. They also may be unaware that pregnant and parenting students are covered by Title IX and cannot be discriminated against due to their pregnancy or parental status. Librarians and counselors can be excellent sources of information for student-parents who are navigating college and seeking the support services that are best for them. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts, from an independent nonprofit. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Allison Garefino, Kennesaw State University. Read more: Allison Garefino receives funding from GA Department of Early Care and Learning; BOOST ARP grant Crystal Rainwater receives funding from Kennesaw State University and DECAL. A man accused of driving onto a sidewalk and running over and killing a 53-year-old pedestrian has been arrested, according to Oklahoma authorities. Marlon Evans faces multiple charges, including first-degree manslaughter, following the Saturday, March 4, incident in Tulsa, police said. Why didnt you stop? Why? the victims sister, Kim Cole, told KOKI. I dont understand such disregard for life. The Tulsa Police Department said the hit-and-run crash happened at 2:30 p.m. Multiple witnesses saw the driver, later identified as Marlon Evans, driving on 61st St. when he veered off the road, drove onto the sidewalk, hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk, and kept driving, police said in a Monday, March 6 news release. Police identified the pedestrian as Michael Cobb. He died shortly after he was struck, according to the release. Evans was found within minutes of the incident. He was arrested and charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, driving on the sidewalk, no drivers license and no insurance, police said. He remains in the Tulsa County Jail on a $200,000 bond as of Tuesday, March 7. Cole said she is grateful authorities captured Evans. He had a life. He had a family that loved him, he had friends that loved him, Cole told KOKI of Cobb. I would never leave somebody laying on the side of the road, ever. And (the driver) made it so much worse by doing that. And now I dont have my brother. Intoxicated 18-year-old intentionally runs over man outside Target, Minnesota cops say 29-year-old crossing road with child dies after two cars hit her, Florida cops say Four dead after car runs red light and causes SUV to flip off bridge, Missouri cops say KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Malaysian police have found the body of a young woman trapped in a car that was swept away by rushing waters, the fifth death of seasonal floods that have also forced more than 43,000 people to flee their homes. Police said in a statement Monday that a 23-year-old woman reported missing was believed to be driving to work earlier in the day on a flooded road in southern Johor state when her car was washed away. Rescuers retrieved the car hours later and found her body. A man driving to work in a palm oil plantation in Johor was similarly found dead recently after rescuers retrieved his car from floodwaters. Three older people also drowned. Johor, the countrys second-largest state bordering Singapore with four million people, is the worst affected with over 40,000 evacuated to schools and community centers. The number of evacuees has dropped from over 50,000 a few days ago. Several other states including remote areas on Borneo island were also hit. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited flood victims Sunday in Johor and vowed to speed up flood mitigation projects in the state. This matter cannot be delayed and should be dealt with more seriously so that (flooding) does not happen again, he tweeted. The Meteorological Department has said the country was experiencing its sixth episode of continuous heavy rain from the annual monsoon season that started in November. In December, tens of thousands of people were also evacuated due to flooding. Images posted by police in Johor showed roads and homes disappearing under muddy waters, with only rooftops visible. Further rain and storms are predicted Tuesday in parts of Johor and eastern Malaysian states on Borneo, which could cause more flash floods. Authorities also warned waters in over a dozen rivers nationwide have reached dangerous levels. Artists conception of a probe floating on Saturns moon Titan. It boggles the mind to think of all the wondrous things that NASA has achieved since its inception in 1958, but its equally astounding to think about all the projects that couldve been. Here are seven impressive concepts that died on the vine, whether because of huge cost, technological intractability, or just being too weird, even for NASA. This article was originally published on March 9, 2022. Read more A low-cost transport system to the Moon Artistic conception of AstraGate. TransAstronautics Corporation recently proposed a plan, dubbed AstraGate, in which a transportation system would be built between Earth and the Moon. Instead of using propellant, the system would involve the transfer of energy and momentum between inbound and outbound vehicles, a feat accomplished with orbiting AstraGate stations. The system is designed to make it affordable for middle class people to go to and from a lunar research center just as regular trans-Atlantic steamship travel allowed for rapid settlement and expanded trade between the old world and new, according to an emailed description of the proposal. The plan was pitched to NASAs Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program in both 2018 and 2019, both times making it through to the second round but no further. Annotated image showing AstraGate. Craig Peterson, a systems engineer at TransAstronautics Corporation, said a combination of factors led to the proposal being rejected; the sheer scale of the concepts and application of materials was something they did not think could credibly be accomplished, he wrote to me in an email. To which he added: Weve shelved it for the time being. The Mobile Geological Laboratory The Mobile Laboratory (MOLAB), or Mobile Geological Laboratory, as photographed in 1965. In the early 1960s, as preparations were being made for the upcoming Apollo missions to the Moon, NASA considered various ways that astronauts might be able to explore and investigate the lunar surface. Among these concepts was the ambitious Mobile Laboratory, or MOLAB for short. The large four-wheeled rover, in addition to providing mobility, would offer a temporary habitat for the astronauts while also serving as a science laboratory. A prototype was built and tested in the New Mexico desert, but at 8,200 pounds, the GM-built MOLAB was seriously bulky; getting it to the Moon wouldnt be easy or cheap. The prototype was eventually loaned to the U.S. Geological Survey, which used it to map mineral deposits and take soil samples. Story continues A nuclear rocket Technicians at work on a conceptual nuclear rocket in 1964. From 1955 to 1973, the United States sought to develop a nuclear rocket for use in long-duration missions. The basic idea was to use fission to heat liquid-hydrogen and expel it as thrust at rates that would supersede those of chemical rockets, according to NASA. The original idea was to create atomic aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, but the program shifted to a space-based application, requiring NASA to take over. The program reached its penultimate phase, an effort to build a Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA). A second-generation NERVA engine was built and tested on the ground, but the program was terminated before any in-flight tests could be conducted. A space station for the masses Artists conception of an advanced space habitat. With the success of the Apollo missions, NASA turned its eye to the prospect of offworld colonies. The space agency ran its summer studies at NASA Ames in 1975, allowing experts and artists to share their visions of what space-based colonies might look like. The resulting concepts were bold, including space habitats in which 10,000 people would work, raise families, and live out normal human lives, according to one of several NASA studies. The wheel-like habitats would simulate gravity, allowing for traditional homes, monorails, trees, grass, bodies of water, and agriculture. There was hope that some habitats might appear as early as the 1990s, but these ideas, though wonderful, were a bit much from a technological perspective. A trip to the nearest star Rough schematic showing the design of an interstellar probe. In 1988, NASA, along with the Universities Space Research Association, presented a preliminary design for a probe that would explore Alpha Centauria triple star system located 4.37 light-years from Earth. The uncrewed, 440-ton probe would take just 100 years to reach the closest star system to our own, but several technologies must be developed in order for this mission to be possible, as the authors of the proposal admitted. This included a pulsed fusion microexplosion drive and a long-life fusion reactor capable of outputting 300 kW of power. The probes reactor would also power its communications system, allowing it to transmit data on the properties of the interstellar medium, unseen features of Alpha Centauri, and more precise astrometric readings pertaining the stars position, motion, and luminosity. Unfortunately, Project Longshot, as it was called, was exactly thata long shot, and the technology needed for the mission remained out of reach. The Space Shuttle that never was An uncrewed X-34 on the tarmac. The Space Shuttle was the way of the futureor so it seemed. Eager to take the program to the next level, NASA began to explore updated concepts for a reusable space transportation system, which they did starting in the early 199os. The culmination of these efforts was the Orbital Sciences X-34, a prototype for testing a low-cost reusable vehicle and for running suborbital flight experiments. An X-34 neared completion in 2001, but the program was axed due to budget concerns. A probe to explore Titans oily sea Conceptual image of TiME. In 2009, Proxemy Research submitted its proposal for the Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) for inclusion in NASAs Discovery program. The probe would launch toward Saturn in 2016 and reach Titans Ligeia Mare in 2023. Floating in the methane-ethane sea, the lander was to spend nearly 100 days performing the first exploration of an extraterrestrial sea, according to the proposal. The estimated $425 million mission would acquire an improved understanding of Titans methane cycle, investigate the moons history, and explore the limits of life, according to NASA. TiME made it all the way to the final stage of the Discovery selection process, but the project was ultimately rejected. The good news is that NASA did eventually choose a mission to Titan, namely the aerial Dragonfly mission, which is expected to launch in 2027. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Twitter on Monday lost its appeal in a case involving the FBI's requests of user information. Above, a sign hangs at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco in 2021. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Twitter may not publicly quantify the number of times the FBI demands user information from it for national security investigations, a federal appellate court ruled Monday. The three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FBI was justified in blocking the social media giant from publishing aggregate counts of such requests in its biannual "Transparency Report" online because doing so could jeopardize national security. Circuit Judge Daniel Bress, an appointee of President Trump, wrote that although the court acknowledged "Twitter's desire to speak on matters of public concern," the "governments restriction on Twitters speech is narrowly tailored in support of a compelling government interest: our Nations security." The decision affirms a similar ruling by a lower district court judge in 2020. Bress was joined in his decision by two other conservative judges: Carlos Bea, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, and Lawrence VanDyke, a Trump appointee who also wrote a concurring opinion. Attorneys for Twitter and for the federal government did not respond to requests for comment. Some observers criticized the decision as a blow to the 1st Amendment rights of people and entities such as Twitter that find themselves caught up in national security cases or want to publish information about them. "This ruling is really undermining those 1st Amendment protections for anyone who gets swept up in a super-secret government investigation," said Andrew Crocker, senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which had filed a brief in support of Twitter. Twitter first filed its lawsuit challenging the FBI's directive not to publish the figures during the Obama administration in October 2014. Legal wrangling over disclosures of how often the government requests information from social media companies and just what kind of information agencies wanted erupted at the start of that year. That's when big companies such as Google and Facebook said they wanted to disclose more about government surveillance on their platforms in the wake of Edward Snowden's revelations about the vast scope of U.S. surveillance efforts. Story continues In response, the U.S. government agreed to allow companies to release information about the number of information requests they had received, but with limits. The government said the companies could report only the number of requests in "bands" of 1,000. That is, companies could report receiving between zero and 999 such orders but could not provide more detail or specify the exact number of requests they'd received. They also could not disclose that they had received no such requests in any given period. In April 2014, Twitter provided the FBI with a draft of its latest Transparency Report, in which it quantified the number of requests for user information it had received from the FBI in much smaller increments. The report was going to quantify "national security letters," through which the government can request subscriber information and billing records in national security cases. It was also going to quantify orders under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which allows for court-ordered surveillance in real time or the release of stored content and other records by a company such as Twitter. Twitter officials wanted to say how many of each sort of request it had received from the government by increments not of 1,000, but of 25 that is, that it had received between 1 and 25 such requests, or between 25 and 50. They also wanted to be able to say whether the company had received no such requests. The FBI pushed back, ordering Twitter not to publish the report because it included classified information that would harm national security if released. Twitter responded by filing suit, arguing that the restrictions were "an unconstitutional prior restraint and content-based restriction on, and government viewpoint discrimination against, Twitters right to speak about information of national and global public concern." The government disagreed, though the details of its arguments were obscured because they were filed under seal. The reason: Government officials said they included classified information. In its decision Monday, Bress said the court had reviewed those records and determined that the government had met its burden of proving the restrictions were necessary. It was unclear Monday whether the panel's decision would be appealed. Crocker, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said he was "very disappointed" in the ruling and hoped it would be challenged. Action by the government to block publication of material in advance known as "prior restraint" is subject to the strictest legal standard of review, given the sanctity of the 1st Amendment, and it has been rejected in incredibly important cases in the past, Crocker said. Perhaps most famously, the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971 rejected the government's argument for blocking the publication by newspapers of the Pentagon Papers, a classified study of U.S. decision-making in Vietnam. Crocker said the 9th Circuit panel had strayed from the standards around prior restraint that have protected free speech for years and set a "very, very bad precedent for 1st Amendment in national security cases." In a 2022 report, Twitter said the U.S. accounted for 20% of all government information requests globally during the period under review, which was the most of any single country. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. On Dec. 24, around noon, Abdul Sharifus phone rang. A woman without a car needed milk for her baby. Among the Congolese community in the city, 26-year-old Abdul had earned the nickname 911 for his willingness to assist those who needed support, picking up groceries, driving people to doctors appointments, or dropping them off at work. Buffalos unofficial moniker is The City of Good Neighbors, and Abdul was certainly a neighbor you could rely on. You call him and hed be there quick, his cousin Ally Sharifu said. He talked to anybody and helped everybody, his friend Djumpili Djouma said. Left: Abdul and Ally; right: Abdul and wife Gloria Courtesy Ally Sharifu Abduls wife, Gloria, who was eight months pregnant, urged him to stay home. A blizzard, one of the worst to hit the city in decades, had been raging since the previous day. But if Abdul didnt offer a hand, who would? The storm had knocked out power in some households. The city announced that emergency services were backlogged. The mayor warned that the thick snow drifts, icy roads, and toppled trees would likely bring the city to a standstill for days to come. Gregarious, friendly, and quick to make jokes, Abdul embraced his role in the community. After arriving in 2017 with his cousin Ally, Abdul came to embody the spirit of a city that has forged critical support systems in the vacuum left by institutional neglect. As he settled in, Buffalo was striving to escape its hard-luck reputation as one of the most racially segregated and economically disenfranchised cities in the nation. The steel mills and their well-paid union jobs were mostly gone, but in their place eventually bloomed one of the most robust labor movements in the country: In 2021, local Starbucks employees sparked an organizing campaign that has resulted in nearly 300 of the companys branches unionizing nationwide, and in early 2022, workers at the local Tesla plant began efforts to form the first union in the companys history. A socialist candidate who vowed to defund police nearly unseated the four-term incumbent mayor, Byron Brown, in the closely contested 2021 election. Young people from around the region have been moving into the city, drawn by affordable housing costs, a burgeoning arts scene, and an expanding food culture. They carry ambitions to help transform Buffalo into a bastion of tolerance and equitable social policies. Story continues At the center of all the changes were residents like Sharifu, landing in Buffalo from every corner of the globe. After decades of Rust Belt exodus, the city had in recent years opened its doors to refugees, who filled vacant storefronts with new businesses and invited loved ones to join them in their new home. For the first time since the 1940s, Buffalos population is growing. A city long anchored by its past now offers a possible glimpse into Americas future, rooted in its peoples collective belief that while the institutions around them might fail, they can always count on one another. To Abdul, turning down a neighbor in need wasnt an option. He put on boots and a thick winter coat, trudged through the snowbank rising on his front lawn, stepped into his red Toyota SUV, and drove into the storm. A view of downtown Buffalo, New York, on March 4, 2023 Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News On their flight into the city six years ago, Abdul and Ally Sharifu looked out the window and saw only white. Buffalo was coated in snow, which the young men had never seen up close. Born in Kalemie at the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of Congo, they were small children when their parents were killed in the countrys civil war. An auntie shuttled them over the border to Burundi, where they lived with her in a refugee camp for more than a decade, awaiting word from the international organizations tasked with finding them a place to permanently resettle. Sometimes you dont believe you will find a new home, said Ally, two years older than his cousin. Ally Sharifu at his home in Buffalo, New York, on March 4, 2023 Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News They found work with a bus company. Ally drove while Abdul collected passengers fares. Their boss paid them around 16% of each days revenues. Then one day, out of nowhere, they learned that the United States had accepted their applications for asylum, though not their aunts. A plane carried them to Washington, DC, where they spent a night at a hotel marveling at the pristine buildings and commercial abundance around them. This place is so good, Ally remembered thinking. The next day, they boarded another plane, which took them to Buffalo, the second most populous city in Americas fourth most populous state. Buffalo had become a common destination for refugees since the turn of the millennium, part of the local governments plan to bolster its declining population with waves of new arrivals who were brought in through four resettlement organizations based in the city. Within two decades, a city that had one of the smallest immigrant populations of any its size transformed, boasting residents from Somalia, Nepal, Yemen, Ethiopia, Myanmar, South Sudan, Iraq, Rwanda, Bhutan, Liberia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Congo, and elsewhere a migration pattern that reflected a timeline of the worlds varied conflicts. From 2006 to 2013, the citys population of foreign-born residents nearly doubled. Over the last two decades, more than 16,000 refugees have made a home in Buffalo, creating magnet communities that have subsequently drawn immigrants looking to settle in an American city with familiar faces, languages, and support systems. A refugee resettlement program placed the Sharifus in a house on the citys East Side, where 85% of Buffalos Black residents live. The program covered their expenses for two months, enrolling them in classes teaching English, which they didn't yet speak, and connecting them with work opportunities. Ally started working at a plant manufacturing plastic products. Abdul got a job at a sugar refinery, and then as a machine operator at a factory producing pharmaceuticals. Dropping into a new place where he didnt speak the language or understand the customs left Ally uncomfortable. For the first few weeks, he rarely left the house. I was too scared to go outside, he said. Why you always stay inside every day? he recalled Abdul asking him. These are people I dont know, Ally replied. The longer you live with them, the more you will understand them, Abdul said. MLK Jr. Park in Buffalo, New York, on March 4, 2023 Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News On Abduls urging, they began taking walks around the neighborhood, and then around the city, exploring downtown and meeting people at MLK Jr. Park and the Chinese restaurant on Broadway. Working full-time jobs that often left them exhausted, they dropped out of the weekly English classes after six months and instead picked up the language through immersion. Though they had arrived in a city where they knew nobody, many of their Congolese friends from the Burundi camp were making their way to the States, part of an Obama administration effort to welcome in more refugees. A woman Ally had a crush on landed in Colorado, then joined them in Buffalo, where she and Ally got married. Another friend, Justin Kahoro, landed in Florida, before making the trip north to move in with the group. The four of them squeezed into the two-bedroom house, with Ally and his wife in one room, and Abdul and Kahoro in the other. Their circle expanded from there. Through old family ties, Kahoro knew another Congolese resident in Buffalo, Enock Rushikana, who had arrived a decade earlier and introduced them to other expats. Rushikana owned a couple of vacant houses on a narrow street on the East Side. Ally and his wife moved into one next to him, and Abdul and Kahoro moved into another one a few doors down. The block quickly became a social hub, alive with dinner parties, summer barbecues, and cozy winter gatherings around living room televisions. With a steady job and his first kid on the way, Ally signed a lease on a car. He hadnt foreseen how such a simple decision would suddenly make him the most popular member of their newfound community. Soon, he was getting calls nearly every day from friends, friends of friends, and relatives of friends asking for favors that required a vehicle. He was happy to help at first, but the more he helped, the more the requests came in, until eventually he concluded that he was spending too much of his free time with other peoples families instead of his own. Guilt-ridden, he started turning off his phone when he was at home or making excuses. So people started calling Abdul to try to get in touch with Ally, but instead of turning them over to his cousin, Abdul volunteered to handle the tasks himself. He filled my job of helping people, Ally said. So they all call him every day, every day, and people leave me alone because Abdul is always ready to help. By then, Abdul had his own car, a used Chevy sedan nearly two decades old. Then, in spring 2022, he upgraded his ride, signing a lease on a brand-new red Toyota SUV that he decorated with flame decals on the doors. Though he usually rocked athleisure sweats and Air Jordans, on the day he got his car, he put on a charcoal suit and white loafers. I have a new car, now I have to wear a suit, Ally remembered his cousin telling him with a grin. Beaming proudly, Abdul posed for photos in front of the car and revved the engine for his friends cheering on the sidewalk. Anyone who called Abdul for help would see the red SUV pull up within minutes. Most often, the requests came from older folks who needed groceries. While there are a few corner stores in the neighborhood, the nearest supermarket, Tops Friendly Markets, is 2.5 miles away. Abdul became a regular presence at the store, a one-man transportation service with a trunk full of food. Bullet holes are seen in the window of Tops Friendly Market at Jefferson Avenue and Riley Street, as federal investigators work the scene of a mass shooting on May 16, 2022, in Buffalo, New York. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images It was only a matter of chance that Abdul was not at the Tops supermarket on May 14, 2022, when a white supremacist killed 10 people with an assault rifle. The shooter, who would be sentenced to life in prison, had driven 200 miles to target a location in a predominantly Black neighborhood. When we heard the news, Ally said, we just say thank you to God we were not there. Following the massacre, the supermarket shut down for three months, forcing its regular customers to travel even further to buy food. The tragic spotlight on Tops drew national attention to the absence of grocery stores across the East Side, but that fact had been a prominent concern to locals for decades. Tops had opened in 2003 thanks to $3 million in public funding that came only after years of community activists calling on the city to bring a supermarket to the area. Olive Burd / BuzzFeed News The East Side had once boasted a flourishing bounty of commerce. After World War II, Black families who were part of the Great Migration made their way into Buffalo for jobs at its plentiful factories and booming steel plants, working side by side with the descendents of Polish and Italian immigrants who mostly lived in the southern part of town. The most affluent families lived in the citys northern suburbs. The East Side, which spans from downtowns Main Street to the railyard at the citys edge, was redlined for Black residents. As in many segregated American cities in the mid-20th century, the Black community in Buffalo developed its own self-sustaining economic ecosystem, flush with supermarkets, banks, restaurants, florists, bars, jazz clubs, and clothing shops. As plants shut down in the 1970s and 80s, longtime steelworkers whod earned around $30 an hour settled into minimum wage jobs at less than $6 an hour. The economic damage rippled across the city but hit the neighborhoods with the least to spare hardest. Businesses across the East Side shut down. Supermarket chains like Acme Markets, A&P, Super Duper, and Bells closed their doors. By the time the Sharifu cousins arrived on the East Side, boarded-up brick buildings and empty lots outnumbered the open storefronts around them, and shuttered factories loomed over the horizon. Today, a third of Buffalos residents live in poverty, the third highest rate among the countrys major metropolitan areas. In recent years, under the administration of mayor Byron Brown, who took office in 2006, the city has aimed to resurrect its economy through development projects centered on creating jobs in the medical and education fields. New hospital and university facilities have sprouted up around downtown, luring new residents. But the influx of middle-income arrivals has led to rising rents in Buffalo. Apartments that had rented for $500 less than a decade ago have tripled in cost. As in many cities seeking to balance the benefits of urban development with the gentrification it tends to yield, an undercurrent of mistrust simmers among longtime Buffalo residents, rooted in the question of who benefits from the citys supposed renaissance and who gets left out. Today, a third of Buffalos residents live in poverty, the third highest rate among the countrys major metropolitan areas. I dont know if its for us, Sparkle Eubanks, a teachers assistant who lives on the East Side, said of the citys new developments. Before Buffalo started having all the outsiders come in, we didnt have anything. The absence of government services has left many residents reliant on informal support systems. Often, the upwardly mobile members of marginalized communities become critical pillars in lifting up those who feel left behind. Ben Caudle, an 81-year-old entrepreneur who has owned a bar, two laundromats, a taxi stand, a snow plow business, an auto body shop, and a salvage yard, said that over the years he has loaned thousands of dollars to East Side residents facing eviction and small business owners facing financial ruin. Caudle, who opened his first business in 1963 with money he saved from his seven years working at a General Motors plant, now runs a flea market in a building that years ago housed a supermarket. Aiming to give local merchants a place to sell their wares, he rents out the space to more than a dozen vendors who sell clothes, furniture, Buffalo Bills bedding, shoes, bags, and a wide range of knick-knacks. Sometimes, when times are tough, as it has been during the pandemic, he lets them stay at the market even when they cant pay rent. Express Flea Market in Buffalo on March 5, 2023 Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News Louise Sano, who was born in Rwanda and went to school in Namibia, runs a clothing shop on a street where more than a dozen immigrant-owned businesses have filled blocks long riddled with vacant storefronts. She serves as a de facto lender in her community, giving out money that doesnt always get paid back. I came with a suitcase and now I have a whole village, said Sano, who arrived in Buffalo in 2007 after her husbands sister had landed there through a refugee resettlement program. Last year, she said, a new landlord took over her building and doubled her rent. I told him, I survived COVID, but I dont know if Ill survive you, she said. But even as her rent rises, she has refrained from increasing prices in her store. One recent morning, one of her regular customers, Jeffrey Moore, came in to purchase several neckties with colorful prints. Moore didnt hide his intentions: He was buying the ties for his wife, who operates a vendor table at Caudles East Side flea market, where she resells them for a profit. Sano supports the arrangement. The bread is big enough for everybody to get a bit, said Sano. Everybody should be able to eat. Before opening her own storefront, Sano had initially launched her business in 2010 through an incubator program organized by WEDI, a local nonprofit, which provides new entrepreneurs a space to operate at the West Side Bazaar, a global marketplace with vendors from Peru, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Palestine, South Sudan, and elsewhere. The bazaar became a symbol of cultural diversity and hope and equity, said WEDIs executive director Carolynn Welch. When you walk in, you find people from all different paths of life together, getting along, eager to learn about everybody, all in this tiny little area together. In September, the West Side Bazaar burned down in an electrical fire, destroying the inventories of all its vendors. The bazaar has been closed while WEDIs organizers pursue a new space for it. But some vendors are too traumatized to restart, Welch said. The heavy reliance on nonprofit programs and personal generosity means that the precarious patchwork of support systems stretches thin, subject to the inconsistencies of goodwill. Were made to feel like theres not enough, said Kelly Camacho, who grew up on the East Side and works as an organizer for the local advocacy group Citizen Action. If this group is getting resources, where are mine? Were being set up to be fighting for these resources. The bread is big enough for everybody to get a bit. During the early months of the pandemic, as mutual aid programs popped up across the country, a group of Buffalo residents started a community fridge network to serve residents struggling to access food. Eventually, seven fridges went up across the city, their power cords plugged into outlets at local businesses and households. The program is run by around 20 volunteers who stock fridges with fresh produce and prepackaged meals donated by locals and restaurants, said Lauren Knowstro, one of the unpaid organizers. So many people turned to the program that volunteers had to restock the supply every day, at a cost of around $150 per fridge. But by the end of the pandemics second year, she said, funding was drying up and volunteers were burning out. We were so low on donations, she said. The organizers wondered if theyd be able to keep the program going for much longer. Then the Tops shooting illuminated the problem of food scarcity on Buffalos East Side, and a new wave of donations poured in from around the world, enough to sustain the program for at least another year. But the attention was short-lived. A month after the Buffalo massacre, a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, burst into the news cycle, and the impact on the fridge network was immediate. We saw a steep decline after Uvalde, said Knowstro, who grew up in Buffalo. Theres no finger-pointing. Its just humanity. Theres an influx of support after a tragedy, and then youre onto the next tragedy. People get compassion fatigue. When Tops closed, more people relied on the fridges. During the supermarkets hiatus, volunteers were restocking them two or three times a day, reflecting the absence of nearby alternatives. While areas without access to fresh food are often called food deserts, Knowstro said she prefers the term food apartheid because desert implies the lack of availability is because of geography rather than systemic inequality. A community fridge in Buffalo on March 5, 2023 Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News Now that almost a year has passed since the surge of donations, the community fridge network again faces concerns about its future. Creating more community fridges is that a sustainable path forward? Knowstro said. Or do we need the administration to create more grocery stores? Were a Band-Aid. After the Tops shooting, there was this rush to help. Everybody wanted to help. But nothing changed for the community. After the Tops shooting, there was this rush to help. Everybody wanted to help. But nothing changed for the community. No new supermarkets broke ground. No government food programs emerged. No grocery delivery service for low-income residents swept in. The old disparities remained. And when Tops reopened in July, Abdul Sharifu was back prowling its aisles, pushing a shopping cart flush with goods that would end up in somebody elses kitchen. Abdul knew he couldnt do this forever, Ally said. In the summer, Abdul married Gloria, a woman he had known since his days in Burundi, and they moved into their own place down the block while another newly arriving Congolese immigrant filled his old bed in the other house. By the start of winter, Gloria was eight months pregnant with their first child. Recognizing that the needs of his family would occupy him once their child was born, Abdul began contemplating who he would appoint as his successor to serve the people who turned to him for help. A gas station canopy lies on its side after high winds and heavy snow along Lake Shore Boulevard on Dec. 27, 2022, in Lackawanna, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. John Normile / Getty Images Government officials warned that the blizzard coming on Dec. 23 would be severe, with winds more than 70 miles per hour and more than 4 feet of snowfall. In a press conference the day before the storm, they advised residents to stock up on food, water, and other essentials. But many on the East Side living paycheck-to-paycheck lacked the funds for unforeseen expenses. Some without a car couldnt quickly make it to the store and back in the window before the storm hit. The night before the storm, Ally called Abdul to tell him to reach out if he or Gloria needed anything. Abdul called Ally the following morning to check in, letting him know that he was doing well and prepared to ride out the blizzard. The storm worsened throughout the afternoon. By evening, roads were impassable and the fierce wind and rising snowbanks made it nearly impossible to walk more than a few steps outside. The next day, around 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Gloria called Ally to inform him that Abdul had left to get somebody milk two hours earlier and still hadnt returned. Calls to his phone went straight to voicemail. Ally called friends around the city, wondering if maybe Abdul had gotten stranded somewhere and ended up taking refuge at their place. Ally went to bed that night trying to calm the anxiety in his stomach. He held out hope that Abdul had made his way to somebodys house; Abdul had friends all over town. On Christmas morning, he filed a missing persons report to the police, posted a message on Facebook with Abduls photo, and called hospitals to ask if theyd admitted his cousin. He gathered a group of friends to look for Abdul. Then he made his way through the snow. Unsure which direction to walk, he headed west. He checked corner stores, restaurants, and the nearest supermarket. After hours of aimless searching, he spotted a red vehicle draped in snow beside a train station half a mile from Tops. As he approached, he could tell from the flame decals that it was his cousins car. But when he reached it, he found it empty. He noticed that its windshield wipers had been raised, peeking above the thick layer of snow. It occurred to him that even in the frantic moments when Abdul decided to abandon his car, hed had the presence of mind to prevent his wipers from being damaged by the snow piling on the windshield. Ally searched the train station, thinking it might have offered a pocket of shelter amid the storm. He knocked on doors in the surrounding blocks. As night fell, he returned home, trying to ward off the rising dread. That night, he slept fitfully. I swear to God, Abdul was in my dream, he said. Bro, are you crazy? You went outside? he said to his cousin in the dream. No problem, my brother, Abdul replied. Chill. Im good. The next day, a man who saw the Facebook post called Ally to inform him that he had found somebody who resembled Abdul lying in the street on Christmas Eve, unconscious but still breathing, and had driven him to the hospital. Ally rushed over, but when he arrived, the medical staff led him downstairs. Confusion took over. Why are we going to the basement? he remembered thinking. I will always remember how cold it was down there. The reality only hit him when he saw his cousins body. I was sick, Ally said. He broke down. A panic attack followed the sobs. For so long it was just me and him, he said. After that, I feel like Im by myself. Two weeks later, Abduls wife gave birth to their son. Of the 31 Buffalo residents who died in the blizzard, 20 were Black in a city where Black people make up around a third of the population. Some, like 57-year-old Loretta Andrews, 74-year-old Edward Parson Jr., and 93-year-old Doris Williams, died in their homes after power outages shut off their heat. Some, like 22-year-old nurse Anndel Taylor, died trapped in their cars on their way home from work. Some, like Abdul, died while trying to walk to safety. The tragedy underscored inequities that continue to grip the city. Rita Jones, who grew up on Buffalos East Side and manages Caudles flea market, said the areas residents have complained for years that the city often neglects to pour snow-melting salt on most of the roads in their neighborhoods, as it does in more affluent and commercial districts. City officials issue blizzard warnings but otherwise leave residents to fend for themselves. Those without fully stocked pantries are more likely to brave the conditions to obtain supplies. Those unable to take time off work have less time to prepare before a storm hits. But resilience is exhausting when repeatedly called upon a trait honed out of necessity, foisted upon those with no choice but to navigate scarcity. Because of the citys reputation for harsh winters and its lore of producing hard-scrabble steelworkers toughened by mills that filled their lungs with asbestos and carcinogenic fumes, outsiders perception of Buffalo is usually framed by an admiration for its peoples resilience. But resilience is exhausting when repeatedly called upon a trait honed out of necessity, foisted upon those with no choice but to navigate scarcity. People turned to Abdul Sharifu because they had nobody else to turn to, and he provided services that nobody else would provide. His death brought pain to those who loved him, but also left a vacuum for those who needed him. Ally shows a picture of himself and Abdul from Abduls wedding day. Malik Rainey for BuzzFeed News When he misses his cousin most, Ally scrolls through his phone to look at pictures and videos of their happiest moments. Abdul in a yellow shirt, orange camo sweatpants, and white Jordan IVs, posing on the porch with friends always the most stylish among them. Abdul in a shiny red suit and Nike slides the day before his wedding, entertaining guests with jovial antics each time one presented him with a gift, kneeling down so they could try to balance the wrapped boxes on his head. This guy, all the time was joking, Ally said. After Abduls death, Gloria moved to Syracuse, where her brother, sister, and mother live. She told Ally that she couldnt bear to live in the house she shared with Abdul and needed a fresh start, he said. Ally started a GoFundMe to help cover his cousins funeral costs and support Gloria and their child. More than $64,000 flowed in, including an outpouring of small donations from people with little to spare a testament, he said, to all the lives Abdul had touched. Part of the money went toward paying off Abduls red Toyota SUV, which had $10,000 left on the lease. Ally installed a baby seat in the back. It was important that we were able to buy the car, Ally said. Now Abdul has something to pass down to his son. After years of crashes along the tracks, town officials are pushing the MBTA and Keolis to make improvements at seven commuter rail crossings in Abington. A little more attention needs to be paid and I think Keolis and MBTA have had plenty of time to look at that, said Abington Town Manager Scott Lambiase. Lambiase hired transportation safety consultants in 2022 to study the towns railroad crossings following the death of 18-year-old Katelyn McCarthy in May. The Abington High School senior was hit and killed by a commuter rail train at Birch St. while walking across the tracks with a friend. Engineers from TrafInfo are expected to present their recommendations to Abingtons Board of Selectmen in the coming weeks. The town provided Boston 25 News a map showing 12 reported incidents along the tracks since 1997, including six fatalities. One of the incidents involved a 78-year-old man who was killed crossing North St. in 2017 when a train collided with his pick-up truck. Two more cars were hit by trains in 2018 and 2020 resulting in no injuries. Lambiase said the MBTA Commuter Rail can travel up to 70 mph through Abington. Its surprising how fast they can come by, Lambiase said. I dont believe it is necessary to go that fast. An MBTA spokesperson said the crossings in Abington meet federal standards and are equipped with flashing lights, bells and gates. Motorists should never attempt to beat a train when they see the crossing lights flashing and motorists should never drive around lowered gates. If pedestrians need to cross a railroad, they should use only designated crossings, look both ways, and cross the tracks quickly, without stopping, MBTA Spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in an email. Abington Selectman Alex Bezanson said hes been asking the MBTA to make changes since 2016. I just think they need to slow it down. Other towns around the South ShoreScituate, Cohasset, Hinghamdont have the problems we have, Bezanson said. Story continues Why havent there been more changes? Why is it that we even have to go through this study and this process to bring it to their attention and say, We need to see something done here. This is unacceptable, Lambiase said. I would like to see them come out and make some upgrades to crossing signals, gates, signage. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Justice Department has reached a milestone in its prosecution of the U.S. Capitol attack, confirming it has arrested at least 1,000 people in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, nearly half of whom still face the prospect of trials or plea agreements. A new wave of cases, many of which involve higher-level charges of assaults against police, continues to expand a prosecution that is already the largest in American history. FBI searches for two Capitol riot defendants who have disappeared Twenty-six months into the criminal investigation, the newest cases continue to reveal new details and evidence about alleged criminal activity amid the riotous mob. Slightly more than half of the men and women charged with federal crimes in the Jan. 6 attack have entered guilty pleas in their cases. But even as cases close, new defendants and charges continue to surface, which could stretch the overall prosecution well into 2024, if not beyond. In its latest update, the Justice Department said the FBI is seeking to identify at least 260 more people wanted in the attack. In many of its court filings, including a sentencing memo issued Monday, the Justice Department characterizes the Jan. 6 investigation as sweeping and unprecedented, calling it "a violent attack that forced an interruption of the certification of the 2020 Electoral College vote count, threatened the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 Presidential election, injured more than one hundred police officers, and resulted in more than 2.8 million dollars in losses." New details revealed by new cases and trials The Justice Department announced charges Monday against a pair of North Carolina men, who are accused of rifling through desks in the U.S. Senate Chamber. The charging document alleges one defendant photographed a printed copy of a speech by Sen. Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, criticizing former President Donald Trump. The speech was delivered in February 2020, ahead of Romney's guilty vote against Trump in the former president's first impeachment trial. Story continues According to the Justice Department's court filings, Romney had written the name "Mike" atop the speech and signed his name. The name "Mike" was a reference to either his colleague Sen. Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, or Sen. Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, and shared in February 2020, according to a Romney spokesperson. In the February trial of Capitol riot defendant Noah Bacon, a U.S. Capitol Police sergeant revealed that only 88 senators were accounted for in the Senate Chamber when the mob attacked the Capitol and a lockdown was ordered. The sergeant, who was testifying as a prosecution's witness, said two officers were sent outside to do "reconnaissance" for an escape route, as they sought a way to evacuate safely from the danger. The latest wave of newly charged defendants include a former New Jersey state trooper, the sister of a Chicago police officer and a Florida man accused of wearing a panda costume while amid the mob. Trial success The Justice Department has secured a nearly unblemished record in Capitol riot trials over the first two years of prosecutions. Only one defendant, a New Mexico man who requested a bench trial with no jury and a verdict rendered by a judge was fully acquitted. The defendant, Matthew Martin, argued he was unaware he was actually in a restricted space on Jan. 6. Every jury to hear a U.S. Capitol riot case has returned at least a partial conviction. The latest rounds of guilty verdicts have included several for seditious conspiracy, against members of the far-right Oath Keepers group. Jurors also convicted the so-called QAnon Shaman, Jacob Chansley of Arizona, who stood in horns and fur on the Senate dais. Juries have also convicted former New York Police officer Thomas Webster and Richard Barnett of Arkansas, the man who sat with his feet on a desk in the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 2 kidnapped Americans found dead in Mexico, 2 found alive, officials say Critics slam Fox News for depiction of January 6 attack Derek Carr, Geno Smith sign big contracts ahead of NFL's free agency A U.S. Army soldier accused of the 2020 fatal shooting of a fellow comrade in a wooded area in Byram has hired a veteran attorney to represent him at his upcoming murder trial after a judge agreed to reverse the 25-year-old's request to represent himself. Jamaal Mellish, who was stationed at Fort Drum in upstate New York when he and co-defendant Hannan Aiken purportedly kidnapped Cpl. Hayden Harris and drove him to Sussex County to kill him, will now be represented by defense attorney Joel Harris, state Superior Court Judge Michael Gaus ruled on March 3. Mellish, who insisted in February 2022 that he serve as his own attorney since "no one is willing to fight more than myself," reversed course in late 2022, filing a request with the court to hire Harris. The move comes two months before the trial is set to begin. Jamaal Mellish, at left, sits next to co-defendant Hannan Aiken during a hearing in state Superior Court in Sussex County on Friday, Feb. 19, 2022. Mellish told the judge on March 4 he has had difficulties receiving case-related materials while he has been housed in Mercer County jail, where he was transferred last year when the court sought to separate him from Aiken. Aiken, 18, who was a juvenile at the time of his alleged transgressions, was initially held in the Morris County Juvenile Detention Facility but was later moved out following several complaints that he had allegedly assaulted other inmates. His case was moved to the adult court and he is now being held in Morris County jail. Mellish, who was moved to the maximum security unit in the Mercer County Correctional Facility in the late summer, stated he had no issues doing research in the Morris County jail, but found resources were limited in the Mercer County facility. There is limited access to a single computer in his unit, legal research is outdated and a paralegal was rarely available to help, he said. Documents and USB drives that have been sent to the jail since August have not been received by Mellish for reasons that are still unknown, Gaus noted. Gaus granted Mellish's request, but warned switching from being self-represented to being represented by a lawyer is "not a bouncing ball" and it would be "highly unlikely" he would allow him to move forward in the case solo again. Story continues Aiken's competency Jamaal Mellish watches as attorneys leave the courtroom following a hearing in state Superior Court in Sussex County on Friday, Feb. 22, 2022. Aiken's defense attorneys late last year raised concerns that the man, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, may lack understanding of the charges and consequences against him, and as a result, a judge ordered he undergo a psychological exam. The report, submitted by a doctor at Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton, found Aiken was competent to stand trial, with the doctor noting that Aiken understood the roles of the judge, jurors and attorneys and did not appear irrational, paranoid or psychiatrically influenced during the evaluation, the judge said. The judge, who has the final say on whether a defendant is competent, agreed with the doctor's determination. Thomas Militano and Matthew Young, public defenders representing Aiken, had sought their own expert but decided against it and did not contest the doctor's report. Competency evaluations are sought by defense attorneys if they believe their client is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against them or may be unable to assist properly in their defense due to a mental disease of defect. Hannan Aiken narrows his eyes at the camera during a hearing in state Superior Court in Sussex County as co-defendant Jamaal Mellish speaks with attorney Joel Harris on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Aiken, the brother of Mellish's girlfriend, has been diagnosed with unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cannabis-use disorder and alcohol-use disorder, Gaus said, referring to the doctor's report. Mellish and Aiken are each facing 11 counts in an indictment, including murder which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The young service member's death quickly became one of Sussex County's highest profile cases and shook up the small, quiet Byram community when firefighters came upon Harris' body during their annual Santa run in December of 2020. Mellish and Aiken are accused of kidnapping Harris during a dispute over a vehicle trade in a parking lot in Glen Park, New York. Prosecutors say the duo bound and gagged the Tennessee native, and as Aiken held Harris at gunpoint, Mellish drove to Byram and shot and killed him. The men partially buried Harris under snow and then drove back to Glen Park, where they were stopped roughly six hours after Byram firefighters came upon the crime scene off Ross Road. A trial date is set for May 1. Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Byram NJ: Accused killer of Fort Drum soldier hires lawyer Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, has said that Ukraine was not involved in the explosions at the Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline and had no information about any pro-Ukrainian agents who could have done it. Source: Podoliak's comment after The New York Times posted an article, citing sources in the United States, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "Although I enjoy collecting amusing conspiracy theories about Ukrainian government, I have to say: Ukraine has nothing to do with the Baltic Sea mishap and has no information about "pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups". What happened to the Nord Stream pipelines? "They sank," as they say in RF itself...," Podoliak said. Background: The New York Times published an article, citing its sources and data from the intelligence community. It allegedly suggests that non-governmental groups, including Russians and Ukrainians, were behind the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. It is also stated that there is no evidence of the involvement of either the official Ukrainian authorities or the US or British citizens in the attack, as the Russian side has repeatedly claimed, or the government of Russia itself, which Ukraine and some other European countries considered guilty of blowing up its gas pipelines to destabilise the energy market in Europe. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Air Force Command Of course, Patriot will be in Ukraine. The decisions are made, people are being trained (), he said. According to him, the supply of Patriots will be known when the Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk had tested the system at its wheel, or we will report about the first Rushist (a slang mix between pro-Russian and fascist) plane that that Patriot hits. Read also: Germany to start moving Patriot systems to Poland next week Spiegel Ihnat urged Ukrainians to be patient. Reports that Patriot had already arrived in Ukraine appeared after the Spanish newspaper Razon published an interview with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. Read also: Poland pledges Leopard tanks to Ukraine The publication quoted the Polish minister as saying: I should emphasize that particularly thanks to the efforts Poland has done, the Patriot systems or the first Leopard tanks, among other items, have already reached Ukraine. However, Polands Ministry of Defense soon issued a correction, saying that Blaszczak did not say that Patriot systems were already in Ukraine, but wanted to emphasize that the decision to transfer these systems was made due to the efforts of Poland. The ministry said that the false report was probable due to a translation error. The United States officially announced the transfer of Patriot during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys visit to Washington in December 2022. According to Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine, the Armed Forces expect that the Patriot and SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile complexes will be delivered to Ukraine after April 2023. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The authorities have issued an air-raid warning throughout Ukraine for the second time on the morning of 7 March. The danger lasted 20 minutes. Source: Air-raid warning map Details: At 12:22, an air-raid warning was issued in the capital and in the central oblasts. A few minutes later, it spread to the entire territory of the country. The sound of sirens signifies the threat of missile and air strikes. It is essential to go to a shelter at the time the sirens sound. Update: The all-clear was given at 12:41. First, the all-clear was given in Kyiv and eastern and western oblasts. A few minutes later, the all-clear was given throughout Ukraine. The danger lasted for 20 minutes. Background: At 10:31 on March 7, an air-raid warning was issued throughout Ukraine. The danger lasted just over 20 minutes. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A state representative has filed a bill that would require schools to have regularly scheduled lockdown drills involving school resource officers and law enforcement. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, would require school districts to include school resource officers and law enforcement in lockdown drills and to designate the days of drills to be school safety and awareness days. Under existing law, school boards are required to have a comprehensive school emergency operations plan. Law enforcement personnel help develop the plan but are not required to participate in drills. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Warren said that the legislation emerged after seeing the events last May at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, when 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were killed by a gunman. Responding law enforcement faced criticism for a lack of coordination and action. What happened in Texas was just totally disorganization, she said. Nobody knew who was in charge. Nobody knew how to do this. Nobody knew what to do there. Warren said she wants the bill to put everyone on the same page. Its working out a plan between law enforcement and the school system, Warren said. So, nobody will be guessing whos in charge and what we need to do. State Superintendent Eric Mackey, via communications director Michael Sibley, said he has not yet seen the legislation. Amanda Wasden, director of external affairs at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said Thursday the department did not have a comment on the bill. Student safety is paramount, and our members have flagged student and school safety as one of their top priorities for the coming legislative session, said Ryan Hollingsworth, executive director of the School Superintendents of Alabama, in a statement. SSA is currently reviewing all pre-filed bills and looks forward to conversations with sponsors and stakeholders. Story continues In the Alabama State Department of Educations Manual of State Laws and Regulations, School Safety and Discipline, principals are required to instruct and train students for emergency drills and evacuations. The fire marshal requires at least one emergency drill each month. Emergency drills include but are not limited to safety, security, severe weather, fire and code red drills. Code red drills can be issued in the event of a perceived immediate threat to a school involving acts of violence, such as terrorism, a person possessing a firearm or a deadly weapon, or any other threat of violence. Code red drills must be conducted within the first six weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Warren said that these school safety and awareness days will be days for the drills. Everybody will be in sync with each other doing the drills, so we know how everything should pull off, she said. The 2023 legislative session starts next Tuesday. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter. Photograph: Grace Beahm Alford/Reuters Alex Murdaugh, the disgraced South Carolina lawyer found guilty of murdering his wife and son, has long been a thief and liar but his being a convicted killer is still a shock, his brother has said in the first interview a member of the family has given since the trial. In an interview with the New York Times, Randy Murdaugh said he remained unsure if Alex murdered his son and wife in June 2021. Randy Murdaugh added that while he respects the jurys verdict, he has known Alex as a protective father and husband. Related: Murder and mystery in the south: how the Murdaugh trial gripped America He knows more than what hes saying, said Randy Murdaugh, referring to Alexs lying about the murder. Hes not telling the truth, in my opinion, about everything there. Randy, Alexs older brother, said in the interview that the pair were not close, despite going to the same college and law school, and working at the familys law firm together. Its not like there was some problem with our relationship, necessarily, Randy Murdaugh said. We just really werent alike, so we didnt do stuff together. Weeks after the murder, Randy Murdaugh said that much of the family rallied around Alex, who suggested the killing of his 22-year-old son Paul was due to Pauls involvement in a fatal 2019 boating accident. Maggie Murdaugh, Alexs wife, was shot dead alongside Paul. Months after the murders, Randy confronted Alex about financial records that showed Alex had embezzled millions from the family business. In an emotional conversation, Randy recalled, Alex admitted to stealing, and to a severe addiction to painkillers. Alex promised never to lie to Randy again, Randy said, but soon broke that pledge. A day later, Alex told police and Randy that he had been shot on the side of the road by an unknown person. Police later said Alex Murdaugh had arranged to have someone else shoot him, in the hopes that his surviving son Buster could collect his life insurance money. Story continues Randy soon stopped speaking with Alex, who has been charged with stealing more than $8m from the family firm. The pair have not spoken in almost a year. But in July last year, when Alex was arrested over the murder of his wife and son, Randy re-examined aspects of what he knew about his younger brother. Randy Murdaugh told the newspaper that the family has dealt with similar uncertainty, given the gruesome nature of the crime and the previous understanding they had of Alex. The not knowing, Randy Murdaugh said, is the worst thing there is. Randy Murdaughs interview stands in sharp contrast from statements given by Alexs defense lawyers, who have said that the Murdaugh family fully believes he did not murder anyone. His lawyers also said the family supports him. On Friday, Alex Murdaugh was given two sentences of life imprisonment after being found guilty of the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh. The sentences capped a six-week, televised trial in which Alex maintained his innocence, though that was undermined by cellphone video captured by his son that placed him at the scene of the murders shortly before they occurred. Randy said the Murdaugh family is focused on supporting Buster, who has lost his immediate family. Randy said his life has attracted international attention given his brothers crimes. Randy told the New York Times he hoped the trial would give him some closure and an answer about the circumstances around the death of his nephew and sister-in-law, but he said he has not stopped thinking about it. I hoped that after the trial, because theres nothing more that can be presented, that Id stop thinking about this, Randy Murdaugh said. But so far, that has not been the case. Alex Murdaughs brother Randy has broken his silence to reveal what he really thinks happened on the night that the disgraced attorneys wife Maggie and son Paul were gunned down in a brutal crime that shocked South Carolinas Lowcountry and captured the nations attention for the better part of two years. Randy became the first family member of the disgraced attorney to speak out after the high-profile trial, where Murdaugh was convicted of all charges and sentenced to life in prison. The 56-year-old admitted that he believes his sibling is not telling the truth about the 7 June 2021 killings. He knows more than what hes saying, Randy told The New York Times. Hes not telling the truth, in my opinion, about everything there. Randy who despite supporting him in the courtroom has not spoken to his brother in more than a year revealed he has questions about his brothers behaviour in the immediate aftermath of Maggie and Pauls slayings. At the time, he said that he was doing everything he could think of to find out who the killer was reaching out to contacts, asking people what they had heard and passing anything he found onto investigators. I spent considerable time, day after day for weeks on end, calling people, he said. His brother, meanwhile, did nothing of the sort, he said. As Murdaughs older brother who is also an attorney, Randy stopped short of saying that he believes he carried out the murders. He said that even after attending almost every day of the six-week trial, seeing all the evidence laid out in court and seeing a jury of 12 peers reach a unanimous verdict of guilty he still doesnt know whether to think his brother capable of killing his wife and son. While he respects the jurys verdict, he said he still struggles to reconcile the man he has known his whole life who loved and protected his family with a man capable of shooting his wife and son multiple times in such a brutal fashion. Still not knowing what to believe is the hardest thing for the whole family, he said. Story continues The not knowing is the worst thing there is, he said. Randy Murdaugh talks with his nephew Buster Murdaugh during the double murder trial (AP) He added: I hoped that after the trial, because theres nothing more that can be presented, that Id stop thinking about this. But so far, that has not been the case. The Murdaugh family who reigned over the Lowcountrys legal system for almost a century put on a united front in Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, throughout Murdaughs trial. Every day, Murdaughs brother John Marvin, sister Lynne and surviving son Buster came to court and sat behind Murdaugh in a show of support for the now-convicted killer. Randy attended most but not every day.. Buster and John Marvin also took the stand to testify in Murdaughs defence, as part of the defences strategy to paint the 54-year-old as as loving family man who would never have killed his wife and son. Buster, 26, told jurors that his father had been destroyed and heartbroken after the murders. Randy was not called to testify by the defence or the prosecution something he told the Times he believes could be because he didnt fully fit in with either side of the case. While hes unsure about his brothers guilt for the murders, Randy told the Times he has no doubt that his sibling is a serial liar and a thief. Like his brother, Randy also followed in the familys footsteps and pursued a career in law. The two brothers joined the law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED) founded by their great grandfather Randolph Murdaugh Sr in 1910. It was this law firm that Murdaugh worked for up until September 2021 when his partners learned he had been stealing millions of dollars in funds from the firm and its clients going back a decade. The law firm now no longer exists and had to be renamed. From left, Randy Murdaugh; John Marvin Murdaugh; his wife, Liz Murdaugh; Brooklynn White; and Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh, leave the courthouse for lunch (AP) Murdaugh is now facing a staggering 99 charges for allegedly stealing at least $8.7m from settlements from dozens of legal clients he represented through his law firm PMPED. Randy said he learned about his brothers theft in early September 2021 when his fellow law firm partners showed him evidence of his crimes. He said that he and another law firm partner confronted Murdaugh and he confessed to stealing fromthe firm. Randy told the Times that Murdaugh appeared to be relieved to finally tell the truth and promised never to lie to him again. One day later on 4 September 2021 Murdaugh orchestrated a botched hitman plot, lying to his family, friends and law enforcement again that he had been ambushed in a drive-by shooting. He later confessed to orchestrating a plot for his alleged drug dealer Curtis Eddie Smith to shoot him dead so Buster could get a $12m life insurance windfall. Now, Randy said he is still working at the renamed law firm where he has taken on some of his brothers clients. He revealed he has to convince people that he is not like his brother, who has tarnished the familys reputation. The doubts Randy has now come in stark contrast to the stance he seemed to take in the immediate aftermath of the murders. In the days after the 7 June 2021 murders, John Marvin and Randy gave an appearance on Good Morning America insisting their brothers innocence. My brother loved Maggie and loved Paul like nothing else on this earth, just like he loves Buster, Randy said in the 17 June interview. So theres no possible way he could have anything to do with this, I can assure you. Alex Murdaugh as he is sentenced to life in prison (AP) But, some cracks started to show as Murdaughs string of alleged crimes came to light. In July 2022, when Murdaugh was charged with Maggie and Pauls murders, the family released a statement saying: The entire family has been consistent that regardless of what goes on, we want the truth. Randys comments also fly in the face of the image of the familys unwavering belief in Murdaughs innocence that his defence attorneys are keen to present. After six weeks of trial, they came away more convinced that he did not do this, and they are steadfastly in his camp and support him, attorney Jim Griffin told reporters at a press conference after Murdaughs sentencing. Ultimately, it took less than three hours for the jury to return a unanimous verdict that Murdaugh is guilty of murdering his wife and son on the familys Moselle property back on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh, 54, was then sentenced by Judge Newman to life in prison the following day and is currently behind bars in South Carolina. Murdaughs conviction has now shone a spotlight on some other mystery deaths tied to the South Carolina legal dynasty. Days on from the murders, an investigation was reopened into the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of the road in Hampton County. The openly gay 19-year-old had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and his death was officially ruled a hit-and-run. But the victims family have long doubted this version of events, with the Murdaugh name cropping up in several police tips and community rumours. An investigation was also reopened into another mystery death connected to the Murdaugh family that of their longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. She died in 2018 in a mystery trip and fall accident at the family home. Murdaugh then allegedly stole around $4m in a wrongful death settlement from her sons. Murdaugh is now also facing around 100 charges over a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme and a bizarre botched hitman plot. Above video courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Story at a glance A volunteer at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in Central Texas allegedly pocketed an alligator egg or hatchling at least two decades ago. Texas Parks and Wildlife said the alligator had been living illegally in someones backyard in Central Texas and had grown to nearly 8 feet. Alligators dont make good pets, yall, Parks and Wildlife posted. NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS (KXAN) An alligator that was reportedly stolen from a Central Texas zoo as an egg was recently returned there after being found by Texas Parks and Wildlife. A post by the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo, which is roughly an hour from Austin, says a former volunteer at the zoo in New Braunfels appears to have pocketed an alligator hatchling or egg at least two decades ago, according to their post. We got a call from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that someone apparently has had in their possession for over 20 years now. Interesting part of this story is evidently they volunteered here, the video said. Either the egg or the hatchling alligator at the timeput it in their pocket and took off and actually kept this thing as a pet, they continued. Photos show blue heron capture baby alligator Texas Parks and Wildlife said the alligator had been living illegally in someones backyard in Central Texas and had grown to nearly 8 feet. The alligator was found about 50 minutes from the zoo, staff said. Alligators dont make good pets, yall, Parks and Wildlife posted. A spokesperson confirmed that the alligator was found in Caldwell County. The woman who had the alligator will face two misdemeanor charges, one for illegal possession of an alligator egg and the other for possession of an alligator without a permit. The alligator will live at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo for the rest of its life, zoo staff said. It was introduced to the other alligators this week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An alligator believed to have been stolen from a Texas zoo more than 20 years ago has been returned to the zoo it was allegedly taken from. Officials from Texas Parks and Wildlife contacted Animal World Snake Farm and Zoo, saying they found an alligator that had been in a former zoo volunteer's care for more than 20 years, a representative for the zoo said in a video on Facebook. It is alleged that the volunteer stole either an egg or young alligator hatchling decades ago, put it in her pocket and kept it as a pet. "Here in Texas, though, the possession of alligators is really regulated," the zoo official said. "And once Texas Parks and Wildlife found out that she had it and she was unable to meet the requirements to obtain these permits, they looked for someone who could take it in." "Being that we are the rightful owners of that alligator, we were their first phone call," the official said. Employees from the zoo, which is in New Braunfels near San Antonio, traveled about 50 miles to the woman's house to retrieve the alligator. While alligators are often associated with or spotted in Florida, the animal does exist in about 120 counties in Texas, ranging from the Sabine River in East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico and in the coastal marshes to the Rio Grande, according to the Galveston government. There are four types of alligator permits in the state of Texas: a farmer permit, which allows one or more alligators to live in captivity for commercial purposes, like selling alligator meat eggs and hides; an import permit, which allows a person to bring the animals and their eggs and parts into the state; and an export permit, which allows a person to remove an alligator from the state. There is also a nuisance control permit, that allows people to remove nuisance alligators from properties. They must attend a training course first, but can process or sell alligators they catch. In Florida this week, a man opened the door of his Daytona Beach home to find an alligator, which attacked him, police said, according to CBS Miami. Story continues Last month, an 85-year-old woman in a Fort Pierce, Florida, retirement home was killed by a 10-foot alligator, according to officials. Outside of Florida, a "very lethargic" abandoned alligator was found near a lake in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Sunday. The 4-foot alligator was possibly suffering cold shock, local authorities said, since the species is used to tropical climates. It was captured and taken to the Bronx Zoo. 2 kidnapped Americans found dead in Mexico, 2 found alive, officials say Critics slam Fox News for depiction of January 6 attack Derek Carr, Geno Smith sign big contracts ahead of NFL's free agency STAUNTON In November, Dwayne L. White was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife, who was shot a dozen times. Last week, the Augusta County man was given an additional five years behind bars for a probation violation stemming from an unrelated 2016 shooting conviction in Staunton. White, 43, remains at Middle River Regional Jail as he waits to be transferred to the Virginia Department of Corrections. In August, a jury convicted White of first-degree murder for the killing of Kelin Pacheco-White, 38, who was slain at the couple's Crimora home on Morton Road the night of July 19, 2021. Evidence showed she was shot 12 times with a .40-caliber handgun, including four times in the back. White claimed self-defense at the trial, and said after his wife pulled a gun on him it went off repeatedly as they struggled over the weapon. A judge sentenced him to life in prison plus three more years on a felony gun charge. Following his sentencing hearing in the slaying, in November a major probation violation report was filed in Staunton stemming from a previous 2016 conviction. In that case, White was sentenced to a five-year prison term for shooting into a home on Montgomery Avenue, where two adults and a child were inside. Another five years were suspended. White served his five-year sentence in the Staunton case and was released in November 2019. The violation report said he was compliant while under supervised probation up until he killed his wife. Last week on Feb. 28 in Staunton Circuit Court, the five years that were previously suspended were added to White's life sentence for violating his probation in the Staunton shooting case, giving him a total of life in prison plus eight years. "Mr. White's conduct has left us with no choice but to recommend the court impose all of his suspended time in the case here. We hope both courts' rulings ensure he never has the chance to hurt anyone again," said Staunton Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Falwell. Story continues White was also convicted in a previous shooting in Waynesboro in 2006. Lower raises on the table as Augusta County Schools struggle to balance the budget After heartbreaking loss ends season, Buffalo Gap girls basketball still has bright future Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Already serving life, Augusta County man gets 5 more years in prison NFT fans will be able to purchase the digital collectibles with their own Amazon account via debit or credit cards. Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP Amazon is set to launch its own NFT marketplace next month, with the option of having digital collectibles linked to physical goods delivered to customers doorsteps, according reports. The details so far state that the marketplace will have 15 NFT collections available on launch for US-based customers, before expanding worldwide. NFT aficionados will be able to purchase the digital collectibles with their own Amazon (AMZN) account via debit or credit cards. This will allow those who do not have access to a crypto wallet, such as Metamask, the ability to buy NFTs without having to purchase cryptocurrencies like ethereum (ETH-USD). According to reports the Amazon NFT marketplace could be called either 'Amazon NFT Marketplace' or 'Amazon Digital Marketplace'. Web3 media outlet The Big Whale reported a date of April 24 for the launch. NFTs linked to physical goods delivered to doorsteps After the initiative is launched, Amazon shoppers will be able to purchase fashion-oriented NFTs that are linked to physical clothing, such as jeans, trainers and sweatshirts, according to a report. These NFTs will be delivered to customer NFT accounts whilst the physical piece of clothing is being delivered to customer doorsteps. One clothing company that has been at the forefront of linking NFTs with their physical produce is Nike. Nike (NKE) acquired the virtual assets company RTFKT in 2021, which was integrated into the new "Nike Virtual Studio" to unleash a series of Nike-branded NFTs. An example of this is Nike's Dunk Genesis CryptoKicks NFT range that is linked to the apparel retailer's 'real-world' Dunk sneakers. Amazon NFT initiative has been in development for months Jeff Bezos' tech and online retail multinational has been taking progressive steps towards incorporating more Web3 features into its platforms. Back in January, crypto news outlet Blockworks reported that the world's largest retailer was launching a digital assets enterprise involving NFTs. Story continues According to the January report, four sources told Blockwork's that an Amazon NFT initiative is expected to be made available to consumers worldwide in the spring. In the same month Amazon Web Services (AWS) partnered with web3 firm Ava Labs in a bid to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology. Were joining forces with @Amazon to help enterprises and governments build compliant blockchain solutions. #AWS makes it easier to launch and manage #Avalanche nodes, giving the network more strength and flexibility for developers.https://t.co/vgabB5c6Ya Ava Labs (@avalabsofficial) January 11, 2023 NFT market slump and the FTX collapse The launch of digital collectible services on Amazon was delayed following the collapse of Bahamian cryptocurrency exchange FTX in November 2022. After the collapse of FTX the entire crypto ecosystem took a critical hit to its reputation, and the interest from web2 firms and retails in launching NFT marketplaces almost evaporated. However, the interest in NFTs amongst consumers has been slowly picking up pace again. The market for digital collectibles has shown signs of recovery since the beginning of 2023, according to data from DappRadar. A recent report from DappRadar showed healthier figures for the NFT market as a whole. In January NFT trading volume stood at $946m, up 38% from December 2022. Companies such as Gucci, Nike and McDonalds (MCD) are developing digital collectibles as a promotional strategy to increase interest in their offerings. Gucci is now running its own NFT-based metaverse event in The Sandbox. The Italian fashion label has created the first significant virtual environment on the metaverse platform that incorporates the brand's NFTs, called 'Gucci Vault Land'. What are NFTs? NFT stands for 'non-fungible token', and can usually be purchased on NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea. They are unique digital assets that exist on a blockchain, which is a decentralised digital ledger that records transactions. Think of NFTs as digital collectibles or artwork that are unique and can't be replicated. They can be anything from a digital image or video to a tweet or a music album, or even a digital piece of clothing that can be used within a virtual world. When someone purchases an NFT, they own a digital certificate of ownership that verifies that they own the original, one-of-a-kind version of the asset. This certificate is stored on the blockchain and can't be replicated or altered. NFTs have become popular in recent years as a way for creators and artists to sell and monetise their digital creations. They also provide collectors with a way to own and invest in unique digital assets. Amazon has been contacted by Yahoo Finance UK, but have yet to reply with comment. Watch: Ukraine purchasing military equipment with crypto | The Crypto Mile By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc on Tuesday defeated a proposed class action lawsuit on behalf of nearly 7,000 workers in California that claimed the company should have reimbursed employees who worked remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic for home office expenses. U.S. District Judge Vincent Chhabria in San Francisco said the named plaintiff, David Williams, failed to show that Amazon had a company-wide policy of not reimbursing employees for internet, cell phone and other costs, and the judge denied his motion to certify the workers as a class. The judge said that more than 600 of the 7,000 proposed class members were reimbursed $66.49 on average for home internet expenses, and some were reimbursed in full. Williams' motion for class certification was denied without prejudice, meaning he can file a renewed motion later on. Amazon and lawyers for Williams did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Williams sued Amazon in 2021 individually and added class-action claims last year. He has accused Amazon of violating a California law requiring employers to reimburse workers for reasonable work-related expenses. Chhabria in January denied Amazon's motion to dismiss the case. The company had argued that it did not owe reimbursements because the costs resulted from government stay-at-home orders and not any decision by Amazon. Williams' lawyers have filed similar lawsuits against several other companies including IBM Corp, Fox Broadcasting Co and Oracle Corp. Some of those cases have settled, with businesses agreeing to give remote workers stipends of up to $83 per month to cover home office expenses. (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word "in" in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Read the full article on Motorious What an absolute beauty! Despite rain casting a bit of a shadow over Amelia Island on Sunday, the crowds came out to bask in the beauty of the classics entered into this years Amelia Concours dElegance. After judging concluded and the sun began peeking out from behind the cloud cover, a stunning 1935 Avions Voisin Type C25 Aerodyne captured the coveted 2023 Best in Show title. See some classic cars left in the woods here. If youre thinking this Type C25 Aerodyne looks a bit familiar, there might be good reason for that feeling. Owners Merle and Peter Mullin purchased chassis 50010 in the early part of this century. The classic underwent a nut-and-bolt restoration over the period of three years. Not too long after that process was complete the Mullins entered it into the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance where it won Best of Show after wowing judges and attendees. In case you arent aware, Peter Mullin is the founder of Mullin Automotive Museum in California, which boasts quite the collection of classic Bugattis. He is also a longtime supporter of the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance and many other concours held globally and he currently sits on the board for the Peterson Automotive Museum as well as serves as President of the American Bugatti Club. When the Type C25 Aerodyne was unveiled at the 1934 Paris Salon de lAutomobile it was hailed by Gabriel Voisin as the car of the future. Sleek and forward-thinking for its day, using lightweight allows for many parts, the timing of the release did the vehicle zero favors. A mere six were made before the drums of war began beating in Europe, bending automotive production toward the manufacturing of tanks, guns, and other battle implements. Thus, this classic is exceedingly rare, guaranteed to turn heads everywhere one appears. Photos credit: Hagerty Media Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. American Car Center went out of business across the country. The dealership had a location on North Tryon Street in Charlotte. Its not clear why, but it posted an apology on its website to customers. A lot of customers have questions about payments, tags, titles, mechanical issues, and more. ALSO READ: Kia, Hyundai reimbursing drivers of certain models that caught fire Tnequa Watkins was genuinely happy the car she bought from American Car Center runs well, but her temporary tag expired. She says her brothers did too he also bought a car from the dealership. So, what am I supposed to do, drive around illegally or leave my car parked and not have a job that I have, to find the money to continue to pay these car payments? she asked. In the meantime, Watkins says shes paying for a car she cant legally drive. I have no other transportation, she said. ALSO READ: Chewed wires? How to keep rodents out of your engine Heres what anyone in this situation should know: 1. If you have a temporary tag, contact the DMV. Have your bill of sale or lease agreement handy. 2. Keep making payments. You dont want to hurt your credit. You can pay these four ways. - Pay online at amfinancial.com. - Pay by phone at 877-720-4477. - Pay in person at a CheckFreePay location. Find a location here. - Pay by mail. Make checks or money orders payable to Westlake Portfolio Management. Include your billing payment slip or write your Westlake account number on the check. Allow seven business days for delivery if using standard mail. Regular mail: Westlake Portfolio Management P.O. Box 847405 Los Angeles, CA 90084-7405 Overnight mail: Westlake Portfolio Management ATTN: LBX # 847405 3440 Flair Drive El Monte, CA 91731 3. As you may have noticed in No. 2, a group called Westlake Portfolio Management is handling the payments for American Car Center. If that company contacts you, take it seriously, it is not a scam. For general questions, customers can contact WPM at 877-854-1898 or wpmcustomercare@wpmservicing.com. Story continues For credit inquiries associated with WPM reporting contact creditbureaus@wpmservicing.com. 4. American Car Center is based in Tennessee, where dealers are required to be bonded. If you have a problem with your car, there may be money you can tap into. File a complaint with the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission here. 5. You can always talk to a lawyer if you think you need more help. (VIDEO: Honda issues Do Not Drive warning for cars with certain Takata airbags) Mexican soldiers - STR/AP Two Americans who travelled to Mexico for a tummy tuck operation have been found dead after being abducted by cartel gang members, in what officials believe was a case of mistaken identity. Two others have been found alive, although one is fighting for their life in hospital, officials said. The group of four people had crossed the border from Texas in a white minivan on Friday and had just reached Matamoros, in the north east of Mexico, when they came under fire. Photographs show the partially wrecked car, with North Carolina number plates and a shattered passenger-side window, crashed into at least one other car outside a shop in the city. A video posted on social media showed men with assault rifles and tan body armour loading the four people into the bed of a white pickup in broad daylight. The victims' car - STR/AP One was alive and sitting up, but the others seemed either dead or wounded. At least one person appeared to lift his head from the pavement before being dragged to the truck. Authorities are working on the theory that a Mexican cartel mistook the Americans for Haitian drug smugglers, an unnamed US official told CNN on Tuesday morning. According to her mother, LaTavia "Tay" McGee and her cousin Shaeed Woodard were among the victims in Matamoros along with their friends Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams. It is not yet known who has died. Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, said she has been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Mr Brown, was one of the four victims. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, she told the Associated Press. To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. LaTavia "Tay" McGee is one of four Americans who were kidnapped after crossing into Mexico from Texas Ms Brown said that her brother, from Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied a third friend who was going to Mexico for tummy tuck surgery. Mother-of-six Ms McGee was due to undergo the "tummy tuck" procedure, while Mr Brown, Mr Woodard and Mr Williams were named as travelling with her. Story continues Medical procedures south of the border are often significantly cheaper than in the US. Ms Brown said the group was extremely close and they had all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, she added, and her brother had expressed some misgivings. Zindell kept saying, we shouldnt go down, she said. The incident illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Shaeed Woodard is one of four Americans who were kidnapped Americo Villarreal, the Tamaulipas Governor, said on Tuesday: Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going to them to give the corresponding support. The governor did not share any additional details about where or how they were found. Mexican officials said a Mexican woman had also died in Fridays crossfire. The bodies of the deceased have been returned to the US. Americans remain largely divided on how many immigrants and asylum-seekers should be allowed to enter the country, according to a new poll released on Tuesday. Forty-four percent in the poll from The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research said they think fewer immigrants should be allowed into the U.S., while 34 percent said it should remain the same. Another 20 percent said immigration should increase. The numbers are largely the same on asylum, with 43 percent saying the U.S. should reduce the number of asylum-seekers. However, there is a slight increase in the portion that said asylum should increase, at 24 percent, while 30 percent said it should remain the same, the poll found. Republicans are much more likely to support a decrease in both overall immigration and asylum, with 65 percent and 68 percent saying as much respectively. Democrats, on the other hand, are fairly split on both issues. They are more likely to support the status quo on immigration, with 42 percent saying immigration should remain the same, compared to the 27 percent each said it should either increase or decrease. However, Democrats are slightly more likely to favor an increase in asylum, with 37 percent expressing support for an increase and 36 percent approving of the status quo. Another 26 percent said there should be a decrease in the number of asylum-seekers. Public support for immigration overall appears to have waned since the early days of the Biden administration. An AP-NORC poll from March 2021 found that 41 percent of Americans supported the status quo on immigration, while 28 percent thought it should increase and 29 percent thought it should decrease. Republicans have hammered the Biden administration on its response to an increased influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. There were more than 250,000 encounters at the southern border in December, the highest point of Bidens presidency, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Story continues Border encounters dipped substantially in January to around 150,000, which the administration has attributed to several new asylum policies. The AP-NORC poll was conducted Feb. 16-20 with 1,247 adults and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The four Americans who were kidnapped by gunmen just across the southern border on Friday were traveling to Mexico for a medical procedure, according to several media reports. Family members told CNN that the group of tight-knit friends was traveling from South Carolina to Mexico so that one could undergo a medical procedure, but they never made it to the appointment. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador similarly confirmed on Monday that the group crossed the border to buy medicine, and there was a confrontation between groups, and they were detained. The group, which was traveling in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates, was shot at by gunmen soon after crossing into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on Friday evening, according to the FBIs San Antonio Division. The four Americans were then placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene. A Mexican citizen also died in the attack, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said. We have no greater priority than the safety of our citizens this is the US governments most fundamental role, Salazar added. US law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Above-ground storage tanks at the Southern California Gas Co. Honor Rancho underground natural gas storage facility in Santa Clarita in 2022. (Bing Guan / Bloomberg via Getty Images) On the same day that a Southern California Gas Co. executive took heat from frustrated customers and advocacy groups over a proposed $4.9-billion rate hike, a coalition of community groups pressed the Los Angeles city attorney to investigate the utility over "potential price gouging and market manipulation." Twenty groups, consisting of social, environmental, health and utility justice organizations, wrote a letter to City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto on Monday to express their grave concern that "SoCalGas facilitated a price gouging effort to enrich their parent company, Sempra Energy." The letter highlights findings from the California Public Utilities Commission that while gas prices increased about 30% between January 2022 and January 2023 for customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, they more than doubled for customers of San Diego Gas & Electric and nearly tripled for those relying on SoCalGas during the same period. A recent filing showed that Sempra, the parent company of SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric, made $2.9 billion in profit in 2022. At the end of 2021, the most recent year for which data were available, the top three executives at Sempra had accrued about $100 million in compensation. According to experts at the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a combination of out-of-state natural gas supply constraints, combined with early and persistent cold weather conditions across the West and low storage inventories in the western region, drove up commodity prices," said Brian Haas, a SoCalGas spokesman. Haas pointed to factors that caused high prices "including out-of-state pipeline maintenance and low storage inventories outside of SoCalGas service territory." He said an upcoming CPUC proceeding is the right venue to examine prices. Feldstein Soto, sworn in as city attorney in December, is legal counsel to the mayor, City Council and city departments, advising them on what they can and cant do. Her office handles lawsuits filed for and against the city, which could include a lawsuit against SoCalGas on the city's behalf if it decided to pursue it. Story continues Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in February, outlining similar concerns with wholesale natural gas prices in California and other Western states. The governor asked FERC to focus its investigatory resources on assessing whether market manipulation, anticompetitive behavior or other anomalous activities are driving these ongoing elevated prices in the Western gas markets. Ivor Pine, a spokesman for the city attorney's office, said officials there have received the letter from the community groups and are reviewing it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell on Fox News. (Photo illustration: Kelli R. Grant/Yahoo News; photos: Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx via AP, Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images, Ben Margot/AP) A jury is to hear Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in April. But in the court of public opinion, Dominion has already presented a damning case that has damaged the cable networks reputation, according to experts. Yahoo News spoke to professors who specialize in journalism ethics, as well as to experts in First Amendment law, who said that the case against Fox News is unusual in that it appears to show how those in charge at the network made a deliberate decision to broadcast information that they knew at the time was false. Whether or not Fox will be found legally liable for defaming Dominion, experts said, its conduct seems to have clearly violated the core principles of journalistic ethics. In a pair of sensational court filings made public over the last few weeks, Dominion has laid out a trove of evidence obtained during the discovery process including deposition transcripts, email and text records revealing that, in the days and weeks after the 2020 election, high-ranking Fox executives and on-air stars did not believe the allegations of voter fraud being made by then-President Donald Trump and his allies. Fox News nevertheless proceeded to promote those unfounded claims to its primetime audience the largest of any cable news network repeatedly giving airtime to Trump's attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, who, according to the filings, were privately believed by many Fox staffers to be unreliable. Giuliani, with Powell behind him, speaks to the press about lawsuits related to the 2020 election, at Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Dominion alleges that Fox's decision to promote these false claims was part of a cynical strategy to recover viewers loyal to Trump, who had abandoned the network for other conservative outlets like Newsmax after Fox reported, accurately, that Joe Biden had taken Arizona. That effectively meant the election was over and Trump had lost. Dominion points to a variety of evidence, including internal communications at the time, indicating concern within the network over the backlash after the Arizona call and its impact on the companys stock price. It also notes depositions given by Fox News reporters who later said they were reprimanded for fact-checking false claims made by Trump surrogates on air. Story continues Fox, in its own filings, has accused Dominion of cherry-picking soundbites, omitting key context, and mischaracterizing the record. Dominions lawsuit has always been more about what will generate headlines than what can withstand legal and factual scrutiny, Fox said in a statement last week. Their summary judgment motion took an extreme, unsupported view of defamation law that would prevent journalists from basic reporting and their efforts to publicly smear FOX for covering and commenting on allegations by a sitting President of the United States should be recognized for what it is: a blatant violation of the First Amendment. President Donald Trump at an election night event at the White House early in the morning of Nov. 4, 2020. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Legal experts told Yahoo News that the breadth of evidence presented by Dominion is unusual for libel cases brought against media organizations, which require public figures to prove that defamatory statements were made with actual malice, meaning that the defendant knew they were false at the time or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. It's just so rare to have such contemporaneous evidence of a defamation defendants state of mind when the statements are being made, Enrique Armijo, a First Amendment scholar and professor at Elon University School of Law, told Yahoo News. It's pretty bad when you have someone in the news department saying, 'This person is crazy,' and then interviewing that person on the air. The evidence against Fox is also singular in another respect. It's really rare, to my knowledge, to have a major news organization, or what claims to be a news organization, willingly broadcast what it knew to be lies, said Samuel Freedman, a professor at Columbia Journalism School. It's an egregious violation of journalism ethics. Freedman told Yahoo News that if news organizations publish or broadcast factually inaccurate material, it is typically the result of an honest mistake, not a deliberate decision. Maybe there was sloppy reporting, maybe the verification wasn't done carefully enough. Maybe even some self-interested actor successfully planted information with a news organization, he said. But none of those apply here. A truck displays a message during a protest at News Corp headquarters in New York City on Feb. 21. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Christopher Hanson, an associate professor at the University of Marylands Merrill College of Journalism, pointed to the Society of Professional Journalists four key principles of ethical journalism, which it encourages all people in all media to practice. Fox appears to have violated every one of these, big time, he said. A spokesperson for Fox News declined to provide an on-the-record response to the accusations of unethical conduct, directing Yahoo News to the statement included above. 'Seek truth and report it' The first of these principles is Seek truth and report it, under which the SPJ offers a number of guidelines, including Verify information before releasing it and Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story. Fox News, said Hanson, obviously [was] doing the opposite in the days and weeks after the 2020 election. He cited text and email records in the Dominion filings. In one from the host Tucker Carlson to fellow host Laura Ingraham on Nov. 18, 2020, Carlson wrote: Sidney Powell is lying. I caught her. Its insane. Sidney is a complete nut, Ingraham responded. No one will work with her. Ditto with Rudy. Likewise, a Nov. 19 email from News Corp's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, described claims that Giuliani was making at a press conference aired live on Fox News as Really crazy stuff. And damaging. Giuliani at the RNC news conference on Nov. 19, 2020. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Dominion has accused Fox News of broadcasting approximately 115 defamatory statements about Dominions voting machines, many of which, it says, were made after Dominion began sending at least a dozen separate and widely-circulated fact check emails each pointing to verifiable third-party information debunking the claims. According to the SPJ, part of seeking truth and reporting it is to provide context, and to Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing. In its court filings, Fox notes that on Nov. 22, 2020, anchor Eric Shawn conducted an interview with Dominion spokesperson Michael Steel. But it contends that Dominion declined other invitations from Fox to tell its side of the story. 'Minimize harm' According to the SPJ, Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect, and journalists should balance the publics need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Ethics experts who spoke to Yahoo News said the decision by Fox to air false claims of voter fraud was exacerbated by the potential that they could erode viewers faith in the legitimacy of the 2020 election and in democracy more broadly. As Carlson put it during his show on Nov. 19, 2020, what Powell and Giuliani were alleging would amount to the single greatest crime in American history. According to one of the Dominion filings, on Jan. 5, 2021 the day before a mob of Trump supporters, fueled by false claims of a stolen election, violently stormed the U.S. Capitol Murdoch emailed Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, writing: It's been suggested our prime time three should independently or together say something like the election is over and Joe Biden won, and that such a statement would go along [sic] way to stop the Trump myth that the election [was] stolen. No such statement was ever made by the primetime hosts on air. Because there's so much going on, you cannot prove that this coverage directly caused Jan. 6, but it looks very, very likely that it contributed to it, Hanson said. Trump supporters take over the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress meets to certify the Electoral College votes. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Freedman argued that there is a straight line between Foxs decision to give credibility to the fraud claims and the events of Jan. 6. And that, just as we've seen, has so done much lasting damage to our democracy, he said. 'Act independently' The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public, says the Society of Professional Journalists. Journalists are encouraged to resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage. Internal communications obtained by Dominion reveal that executives and anchors at Fox News were concerned about the financial impact of the backlash over their decision to call Arizona for Biden and that they set out to lure back viewers whod defected to outlets like Newsmax. "Viewers going through the 5 stages of grief, Scott wrote to Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO and executive chairman of Fox Corporation, on Nov. 9, 2020. It's a question of trust the AZ [call] was damaging but we will highlight our stars and plant flags letting the viewers know we hear them and respect them. After that, according to Dominion, Fox executives also began to criticize Fox hosts for truthful reporting. Examples of this included in the filings include a Nov. 12 text chain between hosts Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, in which Carlson complained that one Fox reporter, Jacqui Heinrich, should be fired for fact-checking a tweet from Trump, which referred to Fox's coverage of supposedly rigged voting machines. A protester holds a sign at Fox headquarters on June 14, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Please get her fired, Carlson wrote to his fellow hosts. It needs to stop immediately, like tonight. Its measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke. A few days later, according to Dominion, Rupert Murdoch sent an email with the subject line Watching Giuliani! This apparently referred to a press conference being broadcast live on Fox News at which Giuliani and Powell rattled off a series of unsubstantiated charges about Dominion voting machines. In the body of the email read: Really crazy stuff. And damaging. Fox aired the press conference in its entirety. According to the filing, then-White House correspondent Kristen Fisher said in a deposition that she had been reprimanded for attempting to fact-check some of the outlandish claims made by Giuliani during the press conference that Murdoch called really crazy stuff. If you have your eye on the bottom line, and [are] losing money because your audience is going away, so you put out stuff that you know is false in order to appease your audience, then you're not independent of your audience, you're a slave to your audience, said Hanson. Freedman emphasized that there is nothing untoward about being a for-profit news organization, noting that there are plenty of responsible, ethical news organizations that worry about their stock price. If you're in a capitalist economy, that's a reasonable worry. However, he said, the idea that you would promulgate known falsehoods, conspiracy theories, not just kind of innocent errors, but an attack on the integrity of the election system, purely to keep your audience numbers high so your stock price holds its value, that's a total dereliction of journalistic duty. 'Be accountable and transparent' The SPJs final principle of ethical journalism includes acknowledging and correcting mistakes, and exposing unethical conduct in journalism, including within [ones] own organization. Fox News' Manhattan headquarters on Jan. 20, 2021. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Again, Fox appears to have done the opposite, according to Dominion, which notes in its filing that Despite the internal recognition that the election was over, Fox did not retract its claims about Dominion. Instead, it kept defaming Dominion. To this day, Fox has never retracted the false statements it broadcast about Dominion. Foxs primary argument is that allegations of voter fraud by a sitting president are newsworthy, and that the First Amendment should protect the right of the press to report on newsworthy allegations without fear of being sued for defamation. Under Dominions approach, if the President falsely accused the Vice President of plotting to assassinate him, the press would be liable for reporting the newsworthy allegation so long as someone in the newsroom thought it was ludicrous, Fox writes in its own motion for a summary judgment. Such a rule would stop the media in its tracks. Fox's position is ... news outlets have to be able to talk about what the president and his representatives are saying, even if that turns out to be false, said Armijo, the First Amendment scholar from Elon University. He said that courts in some states have accepted this argument as a limited defense against libel suits, under whats known as the neutral reportage privilege. Neutral reportage privilege says if youre reporting neutrally on something, you're privileged. You're not going to be held liable for your reporting if it turns out to be defamatory, Armijo explained. The operative word in this defense, though, is neutrally, as it almost always requires the reporting in question to be unbiased and in the public interest. Armijo said the best evidence Dominion has that Foxs reporting was not, in fact, neutral was the fact that Fox had Dominion's responses to these allegations, and it was not giving them the same level of attention, [or] endorsement in its reporting, that it was giving the false claims by Powell, Giuliani, [MyPillow CEO Mike] Lindell and others about Dominion. Hundreds of Proud Boys began their day on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Washington Monument receiving instructions from Ethan Nordean, a Seattle-based leader, to organize themselves by rank. Leadership over here. General members over here, Nordean said while gesturing. Leadership means officers. Come on, guys, lets do this. Were gonna get organized real quick. Video of Nordeans instructions, displayed Tuesday by prosecutors during the seditious conspiracy trial of five Proud Boys leaders for their Jan. 6 activities, preceded the groups fateful march, which would culminate with dozens of them overrunning police lines and entering the building. Prosecutors spent the day walking jurors through footage of the groups approach to the Capitol which they noted began hours before then-President Donald Trump began speaking to a crowd of supporters near the White House. Nordean is charged alongside Proud Boy Chairman Enrique Tarrio and leaders Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola with conspiring to derail the transfer of power from Trump to Joe Biden. Tarrio was sidelined because of his Jan. 4 arrest for actions at a previous pro-Trump march in Washington, and prosecutors have described the groups subsequent scramble to keep members organized for Jan. 6. Ultimately, Nordean took charge, assembling hundreds of Proud Boys who had descended on the city near the monument early in the day. Biggs and Rehl also appeared to play leading roles. What emerged was a picture of an organized advance, with hundreds of Proud Boys marching down Constitution Avenue, a spectacle that forced at least one road closure and alarmed law enforcement, which monitored their movements. Prosecutors have contended that the group intended to forcibly prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 election on Jan. 6 to help Trump remain in power, which the group viewed as key to their own future. The Justice Department argued that the group had become increasingly disillusioned with police after several members were stabbed at a December 2020 pro-Trump march in Washington a simmering fury that boiled over after Tarrios arrest. Jeremy Bertino, one of those stabbing victims, has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and testified that he believed the Proud Boys leaders hungered for an all-out revolution by the time Jan. 6 arrived. Story continues Defense attorneys for the groups leaders say the Proud Boys are little more than a glorified drinking club that had no overarching plan on Jan. 6. Theyve argued that no evidence shows that the group explicitly planning to disrupt the Jan. 6 proceedings and that there was no organized effort or goal. The evidence prosecutors displayed on Tuesday offered cryptic references to a plan. At one point, just after 11 a.m., Nordean brought the large group to a stop and said he intended to link up with Alex Jones, the far-right radio host who traffics in conspiracy theories. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., after the Proud Boys had marched past the thinly defended West Front of the Capitol, Nordean was recorded saying, We have a plan and they can adjust. When one person recording the group mentioned that they should go check out the Capitol, a member who moments earlier was walking alongside Nordean turned around and asked her to leave. And when Proud Boy Daniel Milkshake Scott shouted, Lets take the fucking Capitol, another person replied, Lets not fucking yell that, all right? The exchange prompted Nordean to reply, It was Milkshake, man, ya know idiot. Another unidentified person near the group added, Dont yell it, do it. Scott pleaded guilty last month to obstructing Congress Jan. 6 proceeding and helping facilitate a breach of police lines. When the Proud Boys arrived at the Capitol, the relatively staid crowd grew restive, prosecutors indicated. Then, after rioters began breaching the barricades, dozens of Proud Boys and their marching companions were among the first to cross the collapsed police line and drive up pressure on the outnumbered forces trying to keep the mob out of the Capitol. Throughout the march, Nordean, Biggs and others repeatedly stoked the groups anger at police to rally the other men. Enrique shows up and gets detained before he gets to D.C. and hes charged with two felonies, multiple felonies for what? Nordean said during a brief stop on the march. We put ourselves on the line every goddamn time we come out here. We put our lives and our safety and everything on the line, and these people put us in jail. Well, Im tired of it. Its time to just say no. Later, Biggs would tell the same group: Were gonna let the motherfucking world know that we fucking exist and were not going any goddamn where. So lets fucking march through this fucking city thats our goddamn city and be loud and motherfucking Proud Boy proud, and lets go fucking kick some goddamn ass. Metaphorically speaking, but you know what I mean. Shortly after 11 a.m., as the Proud Boys approached the Capitol, they passed a group of law enforcement officers putting on gear. Some members of the group began berating them. Honor your oath. Pick a side. Dont make us go against you, shouted Christopher Worrell, a Proud Boy who was later seen in video footage deploying a canister of chemical spray in the direction of police officers at the Capitol. Nordean rallied the group a second time by slamming police for arresting Tarrio and failing to charge anyone in the stabbing of a Proud Boy during a December 2020 pro-Trump march. You took our boy in and you let the stabber go. You guys gotta prove your shit to us now. Well do your goddamn job for you, he said. And dont forget, we dont owe you anything. We dont owe you anything. Your job is to protect and serve the people. Not property or bureaucrats. Prosecutors also showed jurors how many members of the group that marched with Nordean, Biggs and Rehl to the Capitol would later help facilitate key breaches of police lines. Pezzola would ignite the breach of the building itself by using a stolen police riot shield to smash a Senate-wing window, which he reached after the first wave of the mob lined with participants in the Proud Boys march overran police lines. Defense attorneys have described the Proud Boys march as largely consisting of protected First Amendment activity, and have said that efforts by the government to tag the five Proud Boys leaders with the actions of other group members amounts to guilt by association. An Olathe teen was sentenced in Johnson County District Court Monday to more than seven years in juvenile detention for his role in a robbery turned homicide at Black Bob Park. The 15-year-old defendant, who is not being named because of his age, will remain in juvenile corrections until hes 22, according to the Johnson County Prosecutors Office. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July. Last week, another 15-year-old received the same sentence in the case after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in August. Prosecutors initially charged seven teens allegedly involved in the plot and filed motions to charge each of them as adults, with the exception of two 13-year-olds, who werent old enough under state law. The judge denied motions to charge three of the teens as adults last year. On May 14, police arrived at the park to investigate a report of gunshots and found Marco Cardino, 19, suffering from gunshot wounds. Cardino was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Prosecutors claim the group drove to the park that evening to steal from Cardino, after setting up a marijuana deal. A witness testified in Johnson County District Court in December that one of the teens brought a weapon and fired at Cardino when he tried to flee. The teen accused of shooting the victim will be tried as an adult. His preliminary hearing is set for March 28. The 15-year-old sentenced Monday received a dual sentence, and faces nearly 13 years of additional time in the Kansas Department of Corrections if he is non-compliant with his juvenile sentence. Heather Barron, left, and her boyfriend Kareem Leiva, not pictured, in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday where they were convicted of murder in the death of Barron's son, 10-year-old Anthony Avalos. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Anthony Avalos' mother and her former boyfriend were convicted of murder Tuesday in the 2018 death of the 10-year-old, whose short and tragic life exposed massive shortcomings in the county's child welfare system. The defendants, Heather Barron and Kareem Leiva, opted to have their case heard by a judge rather than a jury. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta handed down the verdict after spending six days reviewing evidence. The defendants were also convicted of torturing Anthony and abusing two of his siblings, and Ohta upheld a special circumstances allegation that the couple tortured the boy in the commission of a murder. Under California law, they must face a punishment of life without parole at a sentencing hearing next month. Neither Barron nor Leiva showed any reaction as Ohta read the verdict. Some relatives and victims' rights advocates in the gallery shouted "yes!" when the judge read that Leiva was guilty of the first count. After Ohta finished reading the verdict, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jonathan Hatami walked into the gallery and hugged several of Avalos' relatives, many of whom were crying. I will always remember Anthony as a loving, funny little boy who loved spending time with us, his aunts his uncles. Today, I feel relief that they will finally pay for what they did," his aunt, Maria Barron, said during a news conference following the hearing. "But we will forever have to carry this pain in our heart because nobody will ever take the pain away, of losing Anthony. Prosecutors alleged that Barron had abused Anthony and two of his siblings for years, but the situation turned even more dangerous, and deadly, after she began dating Leiva. An alleged gang member, Leiva would routinely beat the children with belts, prosecutors said, pour hot sauce in their mouths and make Anthony and his siblings fight one another. The losers of the impromptu brawls would then suffer corporal punishment at Leiva's hands, prosecutors alleged. Story continues The children also were forced to kneel on exposed floors, nails or uncooked rice for long periods of time or hold a squatted position, dubbed the "Captain's Chair," until they fell over from pain. Barron had inverted the locks on several bedroom doors in her Lancaster home so the children could be trapped inside, where they had no access to food, water or a bathroom, prosecutors had alleged. If the children urinated while locked in, Leiva would shove their faces in their own waste. In June 2018, paramedics arrived at the family's Lancaster home to find Anthony brain dead and without a pulse, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Saeed Teymouri. During his opening statement, Teymouri spoke while displaying pictures of a withered Anthony in an emergency room. He said the boy was "so malnourished and dehydrated that his veins were collapsed." Maria Barron testified that she reported abuse allegations to the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services in 2015, one of 13 times the agency received reports about violence against Anthony from teachers, counselors, relatives or police between 2013 and 2017. Yet, the boy remained in Leiva and Barrons home. The agency never made an attempt to remove the children from Barron's custody and no DCFS employees have been disciplined in connection with the case. Several DCFS employees took the stand during the five-week trial, but they failed to explain why they didn't take additional steps out of concern for Anthony's safety. One DCFS employee could be heard laughing and telling jokes while receiving a description of abuse suffered by Anthony over an emergency hotline, according to a recording played during the trial. DCFS sent members of its media relations staff to monitor portions of the trial, but the agency has not issued any statement on the case. The failures of the child welfare agency in Anthony's death drew comparisons to a similar tragedy, the torture and murder of Gabriel Fernandez. Hatami also served as lead prosecutor in that case, and several of Fernandez's relatives attended court Tuesday in support of Anthony's loved ones. "Nobody won in this case. I never win in any of my cases. We cant bring Anthony back, and we still have a Department of Children and Family Services that keeps failing our children," Hatami said after court. "But I do believe that the two people most responsible for Anthonys death have been found guilty. They are going to be held responsible for what they did. And Anthonys voice was heard loud and clear in court. Barron initially told paramedics that Anthony hurt himself, but the boy's siblings both testified that Leiva repeatedly dropped the 10-year-old on his head. In interviews with police, Leiva admitted to abusing Anthony but denied delivering the blows that killed him. Barron claimed she was a victim of domestic violence at Leiva's hands and powerless to stop him, although prosecutors presented evidence that showed the woman had been accused of abusing her children long before Leiva entered her life. Attorneys for the defendants were not immediately available for comment. Explaining his ruling, Ohta said testimony from Anthony's siblings and medical evidence were key to rejecting Barron and Leiva's defense. Barron's contention that her son had thrown a fit and injured himself the morning paramedics responded was scientifically impossible, Ohta said, noting that several doctors testified Anthony was in a state of dehydration so severe he may not have consumed liquids for at least five days. Defendant Barron waited to call 911 until Anthony was literally deceased, Ohta said, adding that Barron had shown a "flagrant" disregard for her son's well-being. Ohta also concluded that Barron and Leiva treated Anthony significantly worse than the other children in their care, singling him out for intense suffering. "It is clear to this court that both defendants targeted Anthony as a scapegoat for extreme cruelty, the judge said. Anthony served as the chosen target to gain some level of relief from their troubles. Anthony's siblings, Rafael and Destiny, took the stand in one of the most brutal days of the emotional trial. Rafael, now 12, told the courtroom that Leiva took his own children and fled once he realized Barron was calling the police the day Anthony was found dead. When Barrons attorney asked Rafael whom he blamed for Anthonys death, Rafael simply blurted out the name Kareem. After describing how Leiva repeatedly slammed Anthony on his head the day before he died, Hatami asked Destiny if the boy just lay on the carpet unable to move. She said yes. And what did Mommy do? Hatami asked. Nothing, Destiny, now 13, replied. After court, Hatami and several of Anthony's relatives excoriated Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon for his decision to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the case. Gascon had also ordered prosecutors to remove the special circumstance allegation in the case, part of his broader approach to limit the use of life imprisonment, but Hatami refused. Without the special circumstances allegation, Barron and Leiva still would have faced 25-years-to-life in prison for the murder conviction, but they would have eventually become eligible for parole. Hatami a longtime critic of Gascon who is both suing the district attorney and expected to challenge him in the 2024 election cycle blasted his boss for making the sweeping decision without reviewing the case or meeting with the victims' families. "What kind of a person is that?" Hatami repeatedly asked. Tiffiny Blacknell, director of communications for the district attorney's office, said the focus should have stayed on the victims Tuesday. Today should be about holding the people who harmed this helpless child accountable for their heinous actions, and we are grateful to the court for having done that. Unfortunately, it seems this tragedy is being politicized," she wrote in a statement. "These two people face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. This guarantees that they will die in prison. That is the appropriate and also a very serious outcome. No one should pretend otherwise. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Three members of the Indiana Court of Appeals have denied Justin M. Blake's effort to get his 2022 murder conviction overturned. Blake and co-defendant Britany Overton were charged with the murder of Alex Jackson. Overton testified against Blake at his trial. The state dismissed her murder charge and allowed her to plead guilty to robbery as a level 5 crime. She was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Blake was convicted of murder and robbery. He received a sentence of 58 years on the murder charge and three years on the robbery. The sentences are to be served consecutively. Previous coverage:Justin Blake sentenced to 61 years for murder, robbery of Alexander Jackson He filed an appeal of his convictions alleging the trial court "erred in admitting prejudicial evidence during his trial," and in instructing the jury on accomplice liability. Blake alleged his conviction for murder and robbery constitute double jeopardy. After reviewing the case, the appeals court affirmed Blake's conviction and sentence. Background of murder charge Blake, Jackson, Overton, and an unknown person identified as "K. J." were traveling around Indianapolis in Jackson's rental stopping to shoplift and commit armed robbery, according to court documents. At some point, Blake became paranoid that Jackson was going to "snitch" on them. He directed the group to a place on North Mann Road in Morgan County. Blake and K.J. forced Jackson from the vehicle and into a wooded area. Overton testified she heard Jackson scream followed by several gunshots. Blake and K.J. then returned to the car and left the area. After dropping off K.J., Blake told Overton he had shot Jackson. Blake kept Jackson's vehicle. He crashed it several days later while running from the police. K.J. was never identified by Blake or Overton. Blake may appeal the appeal court's decision. This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Appeals court affirms 2022 murder conviction for Justin Blake The Michigan Court of Appeals on Tuesday grilled attorneys for James and Jennifer Crumbley about how the couple treated their son before he carried out a deadly school shooting, focusing on why they bought him a gun despite his mental health troubles and why they didnt take him home after seeing his note that read: The thoughts wont stop, help me. There were warning signs all over the place, Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Christopher Yates said during a one-hour hearing. At the end of the day, arent we looking at foreseeability more than anything else? The appeals court is trying to decide whether the Crumbleys who are the first parents in America charged in a mass school shooting should stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges for the actions of their son, Ethan Crumbley, who pleaded guilty last year to murdering four students and injuring seven others at Oxford High School in November 2021. Jennifer Crumbley, sat to the left of attorney Mariell Lehman as Crumbley's husband, James Crumbley, sat to the right in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on March 22, 2022, regarding pretrial matters. Judges question Crumbley parents' choices The Michigan Supreme Court last year ordered the appeals court to hear the case at the request of the Crumbleys, who have long maintained they had no idea their son would carry out a mass school shooting, and want the charges thrown out. During a one-hour hearing Tuesday, the court appeared focused on the Crumbleys actions and inactions noting the parents had bought their son the gun that was used in the shooting, despite knowing he was struggling mentally and hallucinating months earlier. Judges also questioned why the parents didnt bring their son home from school when they were summoned over a troubling drawing he had made in math class on the morning of the shooting, why they didnt hug him in the counselors office when they were called in over the violent drawing and why they didnt check his backpack that day. The prosecution argues that the key issue in this case is foreseeability, that the Crumbleys knew their son had access to a gun and was struggling mentally. And that the parents, more than anyone else, could have prevented the massacre had the parents taken their son home, or at least told the school that he had access to a gun. Story continues But the Crumbleys did none of that, a prosecutor argued to the appeals court, stressing the couple had a legal duty to control their child and prevent him from harming others. But they failed to do so, and should therefore be held criminally responsible, the prosecutor argued. More:Prosecutor embarrasses James, Jennifer Crumbley in wild new court filing More:Michigan Supreme Court temporarily halts trial of James, Jennifer Crumbley Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley pleads guilty for his role in the school shooting that occurred on Nov. 30, 2021, during a his appearance at the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Dad 'told him to take some pills and suck it up' His intentional act was foreseeable, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Shada argued to the court. "These parents knew he had reported hallucinations (and) had asked to go to the doctor. They did nothing. Instead, Shada stressed, his dad told him to take some pills and suck it up while his mom laughed at him. Months later, he said, they bought him what he wanted more than anything else. Instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun, Shada said. They knew he was fascinated with guns he had targets on his bedroom wall. Lawyers for the Crumbleys argue the prosecution is overreaching in trying to hold the parents responsible for their sons actions. I will concede that these parents made tremendously bad decisions ... they were ill-equipped ... but criminal trials are not based on whether parents made the right decisions or did the right things, defense attorney Shannon Smith argued, stressing the case will set a dangerous precedent for parents everywhere if allowed to proceed. Obviously, there could not be a more horrific set of facts before this court for you to decide, said Smith, who is representing the mother. More:Oxford school officials: Ethan Crumbley's parents never refused to take him home More:Oxford High School shooter should've been sent home under policy, former school officials say Defense attorney Shannon Smith cross-examines Amanda Holland at a hearing for James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley who are accused of the deadly school shooting at Oxford High School in late November, sit in the courtroom of Judge Julie Nicholson of 52/3 District Court in Rochester Hills on Feb. 8, 2022. The couple is facing involuntary manslaughter charges for allegedly buying the gun that the police say their son used in the shooting that killed four students and injured six other students and a teacher. Parents weren't involved in the planning, defense lawyer argues But the liability in this case rests with the son, not the parents, Smith argued. The thing they did not do is plot this murder, hold the gun and shoot the kids, said Smith, who also noted that Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to all charges. This is not a child unintentionally shooting a gun. Were talking about a teenager who wrote elaborate plans in a journal that they didnt know about we have a person who put together this plan, Smith said. Until the prosecution can show that the parents were part of the plan, they can be charged as aiders and abetters. But thats not whats being charged here, Smith noted, later noting the facts of this case align more with a case involving the termination of parental rights. But what about the warning signs? the judges asked. That math sheet was so troubling, said one judge, who appeared to take issue with the Crumbleys behavior in the school office on the morning of the shooting. They came into the school, didnt hug him, (and) left him in the school for the rest of the day. Concerns about precedent of charging parents The defense lawyer responded: As a parent of four kids, yes, that math sheet was troubling, Smith said. But, she added: Everyone was convinced that (Ethan) was not a threat to others safety when they left him at school that day, there were only suicidal concerns. Wouldnt that warrant looking in the backpack if hes suicidal? one judge asked. The problem is we are looking backwards at this case, Smith responded. At the end of the day, it truly wasnt foreseeable that (Ethan) was going to take this gun and shoot people. If they did foresee their child doing that, there would be so many things done. Judge Christopher Murray also noted: It is a valid concern about the precedent that this will set. At issue in this case is whether the Crumbleys acted with gross negligence, and, whether they had a legal duty to inform the school that their son had access to a gun. The defense argues no such legal duty exists, and that holding the parents criminally responsible for the actions of their son who pleaded guilty to all charges sets a dangerous precedent, in that parents could be charged for any crime carried out by their child. We cant set precedent? Is that what you're saying? Judge Michael Riordan asked. The defense answered no, but argued that the facts of this case do not warrant setting a precedent. Dont parents have a legal duty for the welfare of their children? one judge asked. Smith responded: Yes, but that doesnt extend to every action that they encounter. One judge asked the prosecutor: What do you fault the parents with the most? "They could have checked (the backpack) to see if he had the gun, taken him home from school, adequately secure the weapon ... they did none of them," the prosecutor said. "They certainly had the ability to prevent it." The Crumbleys have maintained that the gun was locked in a drawer, while the prosecution has argued that Ethan had easy access to it. Either way, as one judge noted, Michigan has no safe storage law involving guns. Families of victims want parents tried Parents of some of the Oxford High student victims were at a news conference with attorney Ven Johnson at the same time as the Court of Appeals hearing. A judge had crippled their civil lawsuits, ruling that Oxford schools and its employees are immune from liability. The families are appealing. Responding to a question, the parents said James and Jennifer Crumbley should be charged and be among those held accountable. "Hell, yeah," said Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, who was killed. "They bought a gun for their kid, right? And he used it to murder our kids. Absolutely." "It's crazy. Think about this, there's all this going on and all this legal talk. Four kids were murdered, and everybody gets to throw their hands up in the air." The Court of Appeals will issue its decision at a later date. Free Press staff writer Christina Hall contributed to this report. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Appeals Court grills Crumbley lawyers, cites 'plenty of warning signs' The head of the union representing Postal Police officers is blasting the United States Postal Service after a ruling backed up what hes been arguing for nearly three years. He told 9 Investigates that his officers want to patrol outside of post office buildings to protect mail carriers. It comes after a series of attacks on mail carriers nationwide and here in Central Florida. This is so simple. You have police officers, use them, Frank Albergo said. Albergo is the president of the Postal Police officers union. Channel 9 showed you surveillance photos of a Jeep Grand Cherokee and an accused robber, targeting two USPS workers on two different days in October 2022 out delivering mail in Pine Hills. Read: Attack on Seminole County mail carrier for special key the latest in growing crime trend Months earlier, two other robbers, who have not yet been identified or arrested, were caught on surveillance video before brutally attacking a mail carrier in Orlando. In those cases, the crooks were after the carriers master arrow key, which can open big blue mailboxes or clusterboxes where hundreds of pieces of mail are stored in one place. The ultimate goal is to steal your mail. Read: Postal carrier attacks on the rise nationwide: Heres what most robbers are after Its outrageous. Carriers are being attacked every day. Mail is being stolen every day. Americans are suffering. Bank accounts are being drained. And yet, the Postal Service is sitting on their hands. It doesnt make sense, Albergo said. The Postal Police Officers Association has been fighting for the right to go back to proactive patrolling since August 2020, when they were told they were only allowed to perform law enforcement duties inside USPS property. Now, an arbitrator has sided with the union, meaning the Postal Service could allow its officers to follow carriers and protect them. Read: Union leaders say postal police could protect mail carriers Story continues You have carriers being robbed. Theyre having guns stuck in their face. Its just a matter of time before somebody gets seriously hurt. And they just refuse to use Postal Police officers, Albergo said. The Postal Service confirmed it has no plans to change policy, despite the arbitrators ruling. Channel 9 told you the agency has known about this problem for at least three years. An audit initiated in 2019 found management controls over arrow keys were ineffective, the number of arrow keys in circulation is unknown, and that new technology, including keyless locking and key tracking, could improve management controls over lost keys and protect workers. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Failed Arizona secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem has been sanctioned by a judge who declared his lawsuit challenging Novembers election results groundless and not brought in good faith. Finchem, a Donald Trump-backed election denier who has yet to concede his defeat, in December filed a lawsuit seeking a new election. He alleged misconduct in Adrian Fontes win by more than 120,200 votes to become secretary of state. Finchems suit claimed now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) wrongly flagged his Twitter account for misinformation, and didnt seek proper approval for voting machines and software. He also called out Hobbs for not recusing herself from overseeing the election despite running for governor. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Iyer Julian tossed out the lawsuit last year, saying the allegations didnt constitute misconduct sufficient to survive dismissal. Subsequently, Fontes filed a motion seeking to sanction Finchem and his lawyer Daniel McCauley III, alleging they failed to present any evidence to back their claims of voter fraud. Hobbs joined the motion. The judge last week, ordered Finchem and McCauley to pay the legal fees of Hobbs and Finchem, but declined to impose additional penalties. State law says sanctions should only be applied in rare cases, Julian noted, but this case qualifies. None of contestant Finchems allegations, even if true, would have changed the vote count enough to overcome the 120,000 votes he needed to affect the result of this election, Julian wrote. The court finds that this lawsuit was groundless and not brought in good faith. The judge also noted Finchem canceled a request to review ballots, suggesting that he had no expectation that an inspection would yield a favorable outcome. This demonstrates that Finchem challenged his election loss despite knowing that his claims regarding misconduct and procedural irregularities were insufficient under the law to sustain the contest, Julian added. Story continues Finchem, in a statement on Twitter following the ruling, continued lying and said the judge should be removed from the bench for her abuse of judicial authority. Judge Julian is punishing me for daring to assert my [First] Amendment protections, which constitutionally guarantee separation of powers, and has shredded statutory protection for contestants to challenge suspicious election results, Finchem wrote. During his campaign, Finchem said he wouldnt have certified President Joe Bidens 2020 election win in Arizona. He also met with former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani to discuss the fake electors scheme aimed at overturning Bidens victory. Another Arizona election denier, failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, also has lost her legal challenge seeking to toss out the results of her 2022 defeat and continues to push false claims that the election was stolen from her. Lake has been floated as a potential Senate candidate and a potential running mate for Trump in 2024. Related... Alberto Mariani/AP A former high school art teacher is leading a bipartisan effort to recall an elected official for shirking his lawful duty and perpetuating a Trumpian fiction about voter fraud in Cochise County, Arizona. Its the far-reaching effects of The Big Lie, Eric Suchodolski, 53, of Sierra Vista, told The Daily Beast. Its basically seeped into the fabric of a nice place like this. From what Suchosdolski can tell, County Supervisor Tom Crosby, a Republican, was seeking to create something from nothing when he called the countys voting machines into question shortly before the election in November. Crosbya former border patrol agentand his allies complained that the machines were not certified and continued to voice doubts after the state documented otherwise. Crosbys crew contended that the signatures were in the wrong place. Two weeks before Election Day, Crosby joined Supervisor Peggy Juddthe other Republican on the three-member boardin calling for the ballots to be counted by hand. The countys longtime director of elections, Lisa Marra, was joined by the county attorneys and the state solicitor in saying such a last-minute switch to a manual tally would be inadvisable, unwarranted, and against state law. Superior Court Judge Casey McGinley agreed, saying the proposed hand count does not comply with clearly stated Arizona law. Congress Seat Could Flip if Arizonas Officials Dont Certify Election in Time The election went ahead without any hitches. Crosby and Judd nonetheless repeatedly failed to certify the results even though the board was required to do so by law. All 47,000 could have conceivably been tossed as a result of their actions. During a Dec. 1 court hearing, McGinley ordered the board to proceed with what he termed its nondiscretionary duty. Crosby asked for a one-day delay. The item was misagendized on the agenda, he complained. The lone Democrat on the board, Supervisor Ann English, warned the judge that Crosby was planning to bring out-of-state election deniers into court the next day and stage an extended verbal smackdown between them and state officials. Story continues I think its a circus that doesnt need to happen, English said. The judge asked if such shenanigans are normal. Normally its not normal, but within the context of whats going on now, it seems to be becoming more normal, English replied. McGinley ordered the board to meet later that same day. Judd and English did as ordered and performed their legal obligation. Crosby simply didnt show. In the meantime, Crobsy and Judd had filed suit against Marra for failing to go along with the manual tally. Crosby and Judd were themselves named as defendants in a suit brought by the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans (AARA) challenging the legality of the hand count. Crosby retained lawyer Bryan Blehm, whose views regarding the Big Lie and a larger conspiracy were reflected by a recent tweet. Tweets by BlehmLawAZ Never forget that the COVID monstrosity was an intentional effort by Democrats & rhinos to eliminate the President of the United States & all of his followers, Blenheim tweeted. They did so by stealing your elections through widespread mail in voting. Never forget they must be punished severely. Crosby dismissed any concerns that the county would be stuck with the legal bills, saying his side was sure to win. But he suffered twin defeats in state court and was ordered to pay the other sides attorney fees: $30,715 for the Marra case and $86,394 for the AARA suit, a total of $117,109. Suchodolski heard fellow citizens suggest that this was $117,109 more than the county should have to pay. Despite prevailing in court, the highly respected Marra resigned, saying she had grown weary of being harassed because of her opposition to the hand count. Suchodolski lives in Crosbys district and he wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper proposing a non-partisan, multiparty effort to recall his representative. Suchodolski is himself an independent who admired the late Sen. John McCain, who was known as a compassionate conservative. He likes to think that the crazies are in the minority and there is a reasonable majority that shares his outrage, especially when everybodys ballot was placed in jeopardy over compounded falsehoods. What happened here affected all the votes, he said. Suchodolski repeatedly checked with the county elections office to see if anybody had filed to mount a recall. Nobody had. He decided he would have to set things in motion. I managed to get in touch with some people who know other people and I just sort of got the ball rolling, he told The Daily Beast. I wasnt looking to take the lead on this. On Dec. 14, he held the first meeting of The Committee to Recall Tom Crosby. He had drafted a petition that read: Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby violated his oath of office and attempted to obstruct our countys election processes. He defied the order of an Arizona Superior Court judge by refusing to certify our countys 2022 election. This would have disenfranchised more than 47,000 county voters. He interfered with election officials, ignored legal advice of our county attorney, and promoted an illegal hand count of 100% of ballots. He violated multiple Arizona Title 16 statutes regarding elections. These actions resulted in unwarranted expenses to taxpayers. Supervisor Crosby is unfit to continue in his elected position and should be recalled. Suchodolski explained that they would need to get 10 percent of the districts electorate to sign within 120 days. That meant 4,700 signatures, with another 1,300 as a cushion against any that might be tossed out. Should they reach their goal, Crosby would be removed from office. A replacement would likely be elected in November. Volunteers began collecting signatures at everything from a Martin Luther King Day event to outside a taqueria to a farmers market. The last count, we were about 25 percent to our target, Suchodolski said on Sunday. Crosby and Judd remained the 2-1 majority on the board of supervisors and they voted to assign the former duties of the departed election director Marra to County Recorder David Stevens, a known election skeptic. We built this house on sand, English said. I think you have vilified the election process. Crosby did not respond to a request for comment. Suchodolski continues to seek a recall as a way to counter the seepage of the Big Lie and affirm his hope that the crazies are just a vocal minority. I guess we will find out, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Tomas Ovalle) Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a powerful, 12-minute address urging antisemites to abandon their hateful ideologies and choose strength. On Monday, the former action movie star and former governor of California shared the impassioned speech via Facebook in a video produced by ATTN, a Los Angeles-based "issues-driven" media company. I dont care how many hateful things you may have written online. I dont care how often youve marched carrying that hateful flag or what hateful things you may have said in anger. There is still hope for you," he said in the video. Schwarzenegger, who was Californias most recent Republican governor, began his address by describing the horrors he encountered when touring the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He also referenced his father, who was a member of the Nazi party, and his upbringing in Austria post-World War II. When you walk through a place like Auschwitz, you feel a tremendous weight, he said. There are reminders everywhere of the horrors that happened there: The suitcases never claimed by the prisoners . . . The logbooks with thousands of names crossed out, as if a cruel accountant only measured death. The gas chambers with scratches in the walls from the fingernails of people who tried to hold onto life. The crematorium where the Nazis tried to erase all of their atrocities. Schwarzenegger said his remarks weren't aimed at people who have been the target of antisemitism, but rather, he wanted to address people who are fueled by hate, the ones perpetrating the antisemitism. I want to talk to you if youve heard some conspiracy theories about Jewish people, or people of any race or gender or orientation, and thought, That makes sense to me. I want to talk to you if youve found yourself thinking about anyone as inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the color of their skin, or their gender, he added. I dont know the road that has brought you here, but Ive seen enough people throw away their futures for hateful beliefs, so I want to speak to you before you find your regrets at the end of that path. Story continues The Terminator star discussed growing up surrounded by the men who lost the Second World War. He described the way their bodies were riddled with injuries and shrapnel . . . and that their hearts and their minds were equally riddled with guilt. He said he witnessed the men drinking to numb their pain and the way they felt like losers who not only lost the war, but had fallen for a horrible, loser ideology. Teddy Von Nukem, left, and Peter Cvjetanovic attend a far-right rally in 2017. (Anadolu Agency / Getty Images) At one point in Schwarzeneggers address, the infamous photo of Charlottesville, Va., protesters Teddy Von Nukem and Peter Cvjetanovic was shown. The men became two of the most prominent faces of the 2017 far-right rally. Earlier this year, on the day he was due in court for a drug-trafficking charge, Von Nukem died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Missouri. Throughout history, hate has always been the easy path, the path of least resistance. . . Its easier to find a scapegoat for a problem than to try to make things better ourselves...," Schwarzenegger said. "You will not find success on the end of that road... there has never been a successful movement based on hate. I can understand how people can fall into the trap of prejudice and hate. Whether you grew up surrounded by hate or get sucked in by some of Big Techs algorithms that push you to the extreme. When you spend your life looking for scapegoats, you take away your own responsibility, you remove your own power, you steal your own strength. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2021 there was a 34% increase in antisemitic incidents than the year before. That was the highest number on record since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. There has also been a staggering increase in antisemitism on Twitter according to combatantisemitism.org, which said that Kanye Ye Wests antisemitic comments triggered an increase of 136% in toxic comments, threats and identity attacks toward Jewish people on the social platform. Late last year, related to Wests tirade against Jewish people, a well-known hate group flocked to a busy 405 freeway overpass in Los Angeles. Demonstrators gave Nazi salutes and displayed a banner that read Kanye is right about the Jews. In the following weeks, L.A. residents found fliers at their homes and on their cars, advertising conspiracy theories about Jewish people. And last month, Jaime Tran, 28, was charged with federal hate crimes after he shot two Jewish men as they left religious services in Los Angeles. After his arrest, Tran admitted to police that he had searched for a kosher market on Yelp prior to the attacks and knew the men were Jewish because of their head gear. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Arnold Schwarzenegger tackled the rise in hate crimes in America in a 12-minute YouTube address shared Monday (6 February). The Terminator star specifically targeted antisemitism and told those who embrace hate that they would die miserably. According to the US Anti-Defamation League, the US has recently seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, with 2,717 incidents last year the highest since it began tracking in 1979. There has never been a successful movement based on hate, Schwarzenegger said in the video. Nazis? Losers. The Confederacy? Losers. The Apartheid movement? Losers. I dont want you to be a loser. I dont want you to be weak despite all my friends who might say, Arnold, dont talk to those people. Its not worth it, I dont care what they say. I care about you. I think youre worth it. I know nobody is perfect I can understand how people can fall into a trap of prejudice and hate. Its easier to make excuses that the Jewish people conspired to hold you back than it is to admit that you just needed to work harder, the actor continued. Its easier to hate than it is to learn Nobody who has chosen the easy path of hate has gotten to the end of the road and said, What a life. No. They die as miserably as they lived. No matter how far youve gone, I want you to know you still have a chance to choose a life of strength, Schwarzenegger said. You have to fight the war against yourself The [hate] path is easier you dont have to change anything, everything in your life that you arent happy about can be somebody elses fault [But] you will end up broken. I dont want you to go through all that. In a similar video shared last year, the former Californian governor opened up about his Nazi father when talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [My father] was injured at Leningrad and the Nazi army he was part of did vicious harm to the great city and to its brave people, he said. To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast, you already know much of the truth that Im speaking. Youve seen it in your own eyes. I dont want you to be broken like my father. The rise in antisemitism has been a hot topic of late. Last week, Steven Spielberg expressed his concerns about the trend during a 2 March appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Not since Germany in the Thirties have I witnessed antisemitism no longer lurking, but standing proud with hands on hips like Hitler and Mussolini, kind of daring us to defy it. Ive never experienced this in my entire life, especially in this country, the director said. Is your relationship written in the stars or written in the moon? On TikTok, people are trying to determine compatibility based on how the moon phase at the time of their birth lines up to their partners, and sharing results using the hashtag #MoonPhase. Essentially, this TikTok trend puts relationships to a cosmic test. If the two moon phase images complete each other, the understanding is that the couple is compatible and whether they complete each other. The visual is making some users emotional. Hopped on the moon phase trend & this is mine & peachys they literally hug each other perfectly. Im emotional Waning crescent x Waning Gibbous pic.twitter.com/aPeoqKlkGI (@sleepyshinobii) March 6, 2023 But is this an accurate way of finding your astrological soulmate? As an astrologer, Im never surprised when the moon gets pulled into conversations about love. The moon, within astrology, governs our innermost feelings and how we process them, and plays a huge part in how we approach our deepest relationships (seriously, I wrote a whole article about it). In fact, when it comes to measuring compatibility between two birth charts, its the first aspect I look at, not sun signs. Why? If the moon sign aspects certain planets in the chart, then it adds potency and power to the planet, as well as the promise of a long term relationship. This TikTok trend, though, is about moon phases the stage the moon was in when you were born not natal Moon signs, which is the zodiac sign the moon was in when you were born. Heres the difference, and whether theres any credence to the trend. What role does the natal moon play in relationships? Within astrology, the moon is the part of ourselves that we cannot express with words, but understand within our heart that can be picked up by others through nonverbal communication. The moon uses its intuitive nature to assess emotions. Story continues The moon expresses itself differently depending on the sign its in. Each of us has a natal moon sign derived by the moons placement in time of birth. Within relationships, these signs interact. A Gemini and Sagittarius moon, for example, oppose each others emotional needs (the signs are exact opposites), but can encourage each other to grow. So, do moon or lunar phases play a role in compatibility? Moon sign compatibility is one thing; lunar phase compatibility is another. TikToks version of compatibility is visual. Moons that fit together are compatible, point blank. But its more complicated than that. As the TikTok trend indicates, astrologers do believe that each moon phase imbues a person with a certain personality. This is because each of the eight moon phases is said to exhibit a different energy: Full moons are times of release, new moons are times of renewal. Heres a breakdown of lunar phases and how they may affect personality. New moon individuals tend to use renewal as a way to keep bonds tight. Waxing crescent moon natives require stability. First quarter moon people may long for freedom. Those born under the waxing moon gibbous phase are more aware of their needs. Full moon beings give their all to relationships. Waning gibbous phase is on board to commit. The last quarter moon adds forgiveness and compassion to their partnerships. The waning crescent moon person is turbulent but fun in their relationships. Note that the lunar phases take on a specific vibe depending on the signs theyre in and the aspects being made to other planets, as mentioned above, which makes it more complicated than TikToks simplified explanation. Ive known clients whove been a new moon and full moon couple and had long term relationships. When it comes to romantic matters of the heart, the rough and tough connections seem to form longer lasting partnerships. The challenge and desire to grow as a unit is what makes two difficult lunar phases stick together. It all boils down to how much work you want to put into the relationship. My professional opinion is that everyone can get along with anyone if they choose to. In short? Compatibility is complicated TikTok, youre half right and wrong on this one. Yes, the moon matters but theres more to analyzing romantic factors. In astrology (and in life), timing is everything, and there are more elements to consider than lunar phasing aligning. Its more than just natal charts, too: We have to look at transits to see when individuals are ready for love. My favorite moment occurs when Jupiter (which is an expansive and lucky planet) connects with the planet of love Venus and the moon. Emotions between people only grow stronger from these combinations. But if you want to try the moon phase compatibility text on Tiktok, heres how Before embarking, make sure you have the CapCut app downloaded, as youll use this to access the template required for the moon phase trend. Find the moon phase when you and your partner were born using this website, or a similar tool Screenshot the moon phase images Find a video on TikTok using this trend Click CapCut try this template in TikTok Click use template in CapCut Select the images of the moon Input birthdays Add music Find out if youre soulmates just kidding! This article was originally published on TODAY.com An Athens teenager remained incarcerated Tuesday and a Bethlehem teen remained hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds following a shooting Friday night outside a restaurant where they both worked in the Barrow Crossing shopping center in Winder. The 16-year-old Bethlehem resident was shot five times causing extensive injuries to his body, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Tuesday. Kathryn Titus, said the victim, her grandson, Lorenzo Sanchez, has been undergoing surgeries since his hospitalization. "There are so many shattered bones in his body that his life will be permanently affected by this," she said. The suspect is not talking and we have been unable to speak with the victim. Hes unable to speak due to his injuries, Smith said. Oconee Blotter:Shoplifters active at stores; some caught, some wanted Party shooting:Athens man shot at party in Five Points; teen gunned down at apartment complex The victim was transferred from Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, the sheriff said. The shooting occurred shortly after 11 p.m. at the shopping center off Loganville Highway, which is host to several stores including a Publix and Target. Titus said her grandson and the suspect worked together at a restaurant and the shooting occurred as the eatery was being locked for the night. Lorenzo and his stepfather went to the restaurant to close it and soon afterward the shooting occurred, according to Titus. She said the family had recently moved from Athens to Bethlehem and that her grandson, a former student at Cedar Shoals High School, was attending the Foothills Education Charter High School, due to his work hours. "He is a well-behaved, respectful young man," she said. Titus said the family had moved to Bethlehem thinking a smaller town would be safer. "It's not that we were living in fear, but Athens is turning into another Gwinnett County and Atlanta situation," she said. Story continues The suspect, Edwin Emiliano Rodriguez-Pena, 18, of Athens, is charged with five counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery, one count each of attempted murder and possession of a firearm during a felony. The suspect remains in the Barrow County Jail without bond. Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrow County investigators at (770) 307-3080, ext. 3083. A GoFundMe page was set up to collect money for Lorenzo's medical expenses. Search for Lorezo Sanchez at: https://www.gofundme.com/ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens teen charged with shooting another teen in Barrow County (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg Any attack on Irans nuclear sites would violate international law whether by Israel or any other country, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Monday. International Atomic Energy Agencys Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi was reacting to comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as a shift in Israeli perceptions of the time-frame for any potential strike on Irans expanding atomic program. Attacks on nuclear facilities are illegal, are a violation of the UN Charter, the statutes of the IAEA, Grossi said. Israel Rethinks Its Iran Strike Timeline as Russia Enters Mix Netanyahu had scolded Grossi on Sunday, calling him a worthy gentleman who made unworthy remarks after the UN diplomat first made comments about the illegality of attacking nuclear sites. Netanyahu reiterated Israels line that it was permitted to defend itself. Israeli officials believe the window for a potential strike on Tehrans nuclear program could be narrowing because Iran is seeking sophisticated new air-defense systems from Russia that would make any future military action more difficult. This is ahppening as Irans output of highly-enriched uranium is surging to record highs. The IAEAs 35-member board of governors convened Monday in the Austrian capital Vienna to discuss Irans work. Investigators detected particles enriched to 84% purity last month and are still trying to determine how they came to be at a nuclear-fuel plant in Fordow. Trying to confirm that diplomatic technical solutions are possible is my job, Grossi said. Maybe military people think otherwise. Story continues Grossi met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the weekend, saying the conversation resulted in a marked improvement in dialog. The Islamic Republic has stonewalled a separate IAEA investigation into particles discovered at three locations almost four years, as well as removed monitoring equipment installed as part of the countrys moribund agreement with world powers. The visit followed almost two years of indirect talks between Iran and the US, to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear deal that former US President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018. Iran retaliated by gradually ramping up its nuclear work and restricting surveillance at some of its atomic facilities. Netanyahu questioned against which law is Israel prohibited from attacking Iran and asked whether the country is permitted to defend itself. It is clear that we are and it is clear that we will do so, he said Sunday. Iran accuses Israel of assassinating its nuclear scientists, most recently as in late 2020, as well as hacking and other nuclear sabotage. Israel doesnt publicly own up to them but they are widely acknowledged by officials both in the US and in Israel. Grossi said he wants to defuse and deter any possibility of the use of force. The IAEA and Iran will convene more technical meetings very soon in Tehran to clarify investigators questions, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. An involuntary manslaughter charge against Leeyona Ward, 22, of North Linden, (left) in a fatal shooting was dismissed Monday morning by the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. By Monday afternoon, however, the prosecutor's office had presented a case to a Franklin County grand jury and secured an indictment for murder. Her attorney, Joseph R. Landusky II, (right) contends that prosecutors are going after Ward because she is a Black woman who shot a white man. Less than three hours after an involuntary manslaughter case was dismissed Monday morning against Leeyonna Ward in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, a grand jury reindicted her with an even more serious charge: murder. In both cases, Ward, 22, of North Linden, is accused of fatally shooting 24-year-old Preston Allman and trafficking in drugs. Wards attorney said the man she fatally shot in 2021 was trying to carjack her. He maintains that Ward was only ever charged with a crime because she is Black and Allman was white. If you just change the color of the people, if my clients a white woman and shot a Black guy carjacking her, Id bet everything I owned that this case never wouldve gotten indicted, said Ward's attorney, Joseph R. Landusky II. Landusky said hes not blaming any one person but said its a systemic issue. Franklin County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb, who oversees the offices criminal division, told The Dispatch she flatly rejects any allegation of racial bias. Though no living person is free of prejudice, we strive to make decisions on cases that are free of discrimination of any sort, Grubb said. Past reporting:Woman who claimed self-defense now charged with manslaughter in North Linden shooting After manslaughter case dismissed, Columbus woman now faces murder charge In the now-dismissed case, Ward was accused in court documents of causing Allman's death as a result of an alleged drug deal gone bad. Ward was scheduled to go to trial Monday for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated trafficking in drugs, among other charges. But after a witness backed out of testifying, prosecutors asked Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page to allow the trial to be postponed. Page denied the request to move back the trial. Prosecutors then asked Page to dismiss the case, which Page did around 11:30 a.m. By 2 p.m. Monday, Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyacks office brought evidence to a county grand jury again, and Ward was indicted for murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and trafficking in drugs, among other charges. Story continues In the new case, Ward is accused in court documents of purposely causing Allman's death. More court news:Judge says Ohio State not liable for student's death at 2020 unsanctioned fraternity party More court news:Columbus man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter, gets 25-year sentence An alleged drug deal, attempted carjacking and fatal shooting Court records filed by Columbus police claim Ward was meeting a man for a drug deal around 9:30 p.m. May 1, 2021, in the parking lot of a market on Oakland Park Avenue in North Linden. That man is the witness who decided not to testify, and his name is Eduardo Contreras, 27, according to Landusky. The Dispatch reviewed a video captured by the market's security camera, but for much of the brief video, a van parked closer to the camera obscures what's happening in Ward's car. The video shows Ward pulling into a parking spot and Contreras getting into the passenger seat. Within 15 seconds, Allman is approaching the car. Court records claim Ward and Contreras told authorities what happened in the car: Allman climbed into the back seat of the vehicle and pointed a BB gun at Ward, pressing it into her neck. Ward suddenly jumped out of the vehicle. The video shows the car, with the driver's door open, move forward and crash into the market. Why is unclear. Ward may have accidentally hit the gas pedal while bailing from the vehicle. The driver's door shuts. Contreras gets out of the passenger side and runs away. At the same time, Ward runs forward with her gun pointed. The video shows Ward opening the driver's door and shooting at Allman, who is now sitting in the driver's seat. Allman then drives the car away. Landusky said Allman was still pointing the BB gun at Ward which Ward believed to be a real gun when she defended herself. She also had the right to apprehend a violent criminal, Landusky said. He still had a gun in his hand and she shot him, Landusky said. (Prosecutors) are trying to make it like its some drug case. There was never a drug transaction. There was never any money exchanged. It was all a trap to rob my client at gunpoint and carjack her car. Landusky accused Contreras of planning the carjacking with Allman, alleging that he arrived with Allman and that he supplied Allman with the BB gun. But this other guy never got charged with any of it, Landusky said. Contreras is currently in prison after pleading guilty to arson and drug possession in unrelated cases. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Attorney alleges Columbus woman charged in murder because she's Black Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday, amid his wider, multiday trip to the Middle East. Wheels down in Baghdad, Austin tweeted after landing in the Iraqi capital. Im here to reaffirm the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq. Austin reportedly met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Defense Minister Thabet Muhammad Al-Abbasi while in Baghdad and emphasized Americas commitment to helping fight the militant Islamic State group, also known as Daesh, The Associated Press reported. Well continue working to accomplish this mission together, Austin said, per the AP. Through the global coalition to defeat Daesh, we liberated more than 50,000 square kilometers from Daesh and freed more than 4.5 million Iraqis from their cruel grip. This is a critical mission and were proud to support our Iraqi partners, he added. The visit comes just weeks ahead of the 20-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) A helicopter pilot told investigators he didnt hear a pilot on the ground announce he was taking off before the fatal collision of their aircraft at an Australian theme park, according to the preliminary report released Tuesday. The investigators said they havent ruled out the routine radio call being made by the other pilot, however, and plan to investigate further. The two Sea World helicopters collided during scenic flights Jan. 2 at the tourist city of Gold Coast near Brisbane. The incoming pilot, Michael James, managed to land his damaged craft after the collision and save those on board, but the other helicopter broke apart in midair and crashed into shallow water. The departing pilot and three of his passengers were killed, and nine people were injured. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report found that as James returned from his 5-minute flight, he saw six passengers being loaded onto the second Eurocopter helicopter. But his assessment was that he would be clear of the craft and it would pass behind him. James told investigators that as he came into land, he didn't see the other helicopter departing and was focused on the landing site and on managing the downwash of his rotors to avoid a pleasure boat crossing through the approach path. Two passengers spotted the rising helicopter and tried to verbally and physically warn James, the investigators found, but James never saw the other helicopter. The helicopters collided 23 seconds after the second craft lifted off at a height of about 130 feet. The investigation will look closely at the issues both pilots potentially faced in seeing the other helicopter, said Angus Mitchell, the chief commissioner at the safety bureau. James and two passengers on the incoming helicopter were seriously injured by glass when the windshield shattered, while the remaining three passengers suffered minor injuries. On the outbound helicopter, those killed were pilot Ashley Jenkinson, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, and Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros. The other three passengers suffered serious injuries. Story continues Ten-year-old Nicholas Tadros, the son of Vanessa Tadros, was initially in a coma and remains hospitalized after part of his leg was amputated last week. Mitchell said the investigation would also examine the use of traffic collision avoidance systems, which pilots reported were installed but not fully integrated into the helicopters that collided, and were of limited use near helipads or while maneuvering. James told investigators he didn't hear any alert from the system before the collision. Mitchell noted there was no requirement for the helicopters to be equipped with such a system. He said the survivors and the families of those killed "want to not only understand how the tragedy unfolded, but equally, and most importantly, why it occurred. And why didnt the safety equipment, processes and procedures that are designed to prevent an accident like this work on this occasion? A final report from the safety bureau, one of several investigations into the accident, is expected to take at least another 18 months to complete. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials on Tuesday warned of rising risks of bushfires in the east after about two years of frequent flooding and rain, as a severe heatwave pushed temperatures in several regions, including Sydney, to their highest in two years. A total of 33 fires are burning across New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state of which Sydney is the capital, with 12 not contained yet. Five public schools have been shut amid a total fire ban across large parts of the state. Two bushfires have been downgraded from emergency warning levels overnight, but officials said they could flare up again. "It's going to be another tough day for firefighters and potentially even into tomorrow before we get some reprieve", NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers told ABC television. "It's going to take many days to get control on these fires." No injuries have been reported from the latest bushfires yet but authorities said some residents had to be evacuated. Many regions in New South Wales on Monday recorded their hottest day since January 2021 with temperatures hitting more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Temperatures are forecast to reach mid-to-high 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday but conditions are expected to ease from Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology said hot and dry conditions along with gusty winds will elevate the fire danger levels. The state is fighting its worst bushfire conditions since the devastating fires in 2019 and 2020 in Australia's east that killed 33 people, billions of animals and burned an area nearly half the size of Germany. Since late 2020, Australia's weather has been dominated by La Nina, which brings more rain and floods. But the weather event is "likely near its end" and neutral conditions, which is neither La Nina or its opposite El Nino, were likely to prevail through autumn, the weather bureau said last week. "People have been really thinking and looking at floods over the last few years, they haven't really been thinking about their fire preparation," NSW Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd told Sky News. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney, Editing by Himani Sarkar) Alexander Schallenberg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, has considered it dangerous to suggest that Ukraine could cede part of its territory in exchange for peace. Source: Schallenberg in an interview with Der Standard, reports European Pravda Details: The minister does not see anything wrong with the fact that European societies have different opinions on how to achieve peace in Ukraine. Quote: "The fact that we can discuss freely is what characterises pluralistic democracies and distinguishes us from Vladimir Putin and his system. We must not make the mistake of pretending that only one opinion is allowed," said Shallenberg. He also expressed hope that a situation in which there would be a place for diplomacy would arise again. "But we have not got it yet. Russia is looking at the battlefield to make a decision, and it would be very dangerous to say that Ukraine should give up certain parts of its territory for the sake of peace. One thing is absolutely clear to me: there can be no decision regarding Ukraine without Ukraine," Shallenberg stressed. The minister once again defended his position on the impossibility of banning entry to Europe for all Russians and justified the decision to allow the Russian delegation to enter the OSCE meeting. "Let there be no doubt, we unconditionally support Ukraine in the struggle to restore its territorial sovereignty and integrity. Russia is brutally violating all the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. But we must not burn all our bridges and all channels of dialogue, and we will also need platforms for negotiations when the time is right, such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe," he noted. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraines top army commanders still support the continued defense of the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Ukrainian High Command, at which further actions of Ukrainian army in the Bakhmut area were discussed. The meeting was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhnyi and the Commander of Ukrainian Ground Forces Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi. Ukraines government has appointed Semen Kryvonos as new head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, with the appointment of NABU head, Ukraine has fulfilled all seven recommendations of the European Union following the acquisition of the candidate status. The prime minister added that Ukraine had gained a fully formed working and independent anti-corruption infrastructure. Ukrainian special forces conducted raids deep into Russias Bryansk Oblast as early as June 2022. I wont reveal a secret by saying that our Special Operations Forces have been operating in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions for a very long time, said the former commander of Ukraines 24th Separate Assault Battalion, Yevhen Dykyi. Our Special Forces are walking the Russian rear, blowing up things that need to be blown up. Polish oil refining company PKN Orlen will demand compensation from Russia's Tatneft after oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline had been suspended. The Russians have stopped pumping oil to Poland, said Orlen CEO Daniel Obajtek. He declined to specify how much Orlen will seek to get from Tatneft in the lawsuit, saying he could not discuss the details of the contracts. Russia should not be allowed to assume its scheduled April presidency of the UN Security Council. Thats according to Ukraines Permanent Representative at the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsya. This will be the saddest day in the history of the UN until April 1, 2023, if justice doesnt prevail and the Russian Federation takes over the chairmanship of the Security Council, he stated. Story continues Ukrainians bought 413 new electric cars in February 2023, which is three times more than in February 2022. Compared to January 2023, the market of new electric cars in Ukraine has grown by 40%, Ukravtoprom reported. The Volkswagen ID.4 was the most popular model on the Ukrainian market. Ukrainians bought 134 new cars of this model in one month. After suffering huge equipment losses, Russia is redeploying to Ukraine mothballed tanks and infantry vehicles that are not suited for the modern battlefield. The Russian military is deploying 60-year-old T-62 battle tanks, the UKs Ministry of Defense reported. It is very likely that even the elite First Guard Tank Army (1 GTA) will be re-equipped with T-62s to replace lost tanks. The National Commission for the State Regulation of electronic communications, or NCEC, has blocked more than 700 illegal gambling websites. The list includes many Russian and international online casinos, in particular the worlds largest online poker platform Pokerstars.com, as well as 1Xbet, MelBet, FonBet, FanSport, Joker, BetWinner, etc. The Russian cargo ship Sparta IV, sanctioned by the U.S. government slipped quietly through the Bosporus Strait into the Black Sea during the hours of darkness with a suspected load of war supplies for Russias invasion of Ukraine. As noted by Naval News, the ship was loaded in Syria and sailed with a Russian Navy escort. It is expected to unload in the city of Novorossiysk, Russia, a base heavily involved in the invasion of Ukraine. According to Naval News, the Sparta IV is one of four ships owned by SC South LLC, a Russian shipping company which is involved in transporting military equipment. Dont miss: Let's take a look at the battle map. What is going on around Bakhmut MP Serhiy Rakhmanin shares his thoughts on the ongoing battle of Bakhmut, and clarifies the combat situation in the area. In our opinion: Getting out from the closed circle of losses Director of Art Arsenal Olesya Ostrovska-Lyuta explains why protecting Ukraines cultural heritage is a pressing necessity for the Ukrainian government, amid Russias genocidal attempts to stamp out Ukraines identity. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Ukrainian defence of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review; European Pravda Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces likely stabilised their defensive perimeter following previous Russian advances into the north of the town, the report states. A Russian strike destroyed a bridge over the only paved supply road into Bakhmut still under Ukrainian control around 2 March. Muddy conditions are likely hampering Ukrainian resupply efforts as they increasingly resort to using unpaved tracks. Public disagreements between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defence over the allocation of munitions highlights the difficulty in sustaining the high levels of personnel and ammunition required to advance with their current tactics. Background: NATO intelligence estimates the losses of the Russian side in the battles for Bakhmut as being five times higher than the Ukrainian losses. Major General of the Armed Forces of Austria Bruno Hofbauer believes that the city of Bakhmut will not fall in the near future. Instead, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was of more symbolic than operational importance, and its fall would not necessarily mean that Moscow had regained the initiative in the war. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Alice Robb explores life as a student at the School of American Ballet in New York, in her new book (Nina Subin) From the age of nine until the age of 12, Alice Robb was a student at the School of American Ballet in New York. She has the photographs and the psychological scars to prove it. She gave up ballet at the age of 15 and built a successful career as a journalist and writer. Yet it has defined her ever since. Dont Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet is her ode to her long-lost dream of dancing with Americas leading ballet company, New York City Ballet, but also an attempt to understand and unravel the effect that early training had upon her and the effects that it might have on all the little girls who long to be ballerinas. Ballet does not exist in a vacuum, she writes in her introduction. It is a laboratory of femaleness a test-tube world in the middle of modern New York or London or Paris, in which traditional femininity is exaggerated. The traits ballet takes to an extreme the beauty, the thinness, the stoicism and silence and submission are valued in girls and women everywhere. By excavating the psyche of a dancer, we can understand the contradictions and challenges of being a woman today. The starting point for her book is a photograph she unearthed of her class at the School of American Ballet (SAB) when she was about 11 or 12. There are 20 girls in the picture, hair scraped back, backs erect, necks stretched. Of those, only one is still a professional dancer, but they were all marked and shaped by the years they tried to achieve their ambitions, suffering eating disorders, loss of confidence and profound depression. In this they are not alone. She quotes a Teen Vogue survey that estimated that of the 300,000 girls who train at a professional level every year, with a serious intention of becoming ballerinas, only 2 per cent will make it into companies, and thats not even taking account of all those who take up ballet recreationally. I read a lot of ballet memoirs, says Robb. But they are stories of ballet success. The narrative tends to be theres all this pain and sacrifice but look how its paid off. Yet all the people who almost make it are also making pretty much exactly the same sacrifices and going through the same amount of pain, so I think those stories are also worth telling. Story continues We are talking on Zoom because Robb is currently based in New York, though she is about to move to London where her boyfriend lives and works. She is an attractive 31-year-old, her mass of hair loosely tied back, her manner warm and interested. Ballet still has such a hold on the feminine imagination, she continues. So many little girls go through a ballet phase, so I think it is like an under-explored, under-analysed part of femininity. It has the same appeal as Princess culture, but its more attainable. That was its original attraction for her. I just loved the girliness of it, she says with a grin. But she pursued her ambition with steely determination. She was turned down for SAB twice before she was accepted; she carried on dancing at different academies when she was thrown out, even when it became obvious that her body was developing in ways that made it impossible for her to pursue a professional career her hips that continued to widen, her feet that refused to arch. For years afterwards, she would dream she was auditioning for a role, and suddenly feel the joy of thinking it was not too late, that she could still be a star. Its a level of obsession that she examines in minute detail, but why did it hold her in its grip for so long? SAB was the real goal of my childhood, she explains. And although I was only there three years, it was also the summer programmes, the extra classes, the schools I attended afterwards. On top of that I was practising at home, stretching every day, trying to walk with my feet turned out, dancing every Saturday. Ballet really was my identity. I think I knew that there was something seductive about ballet and about the way I acted within ballet. I was definitely a shy kid as so many dancers are, and it was a relief at some level to just follow instructions. To know what the rules were even if youre trying to do things that are physically very challenging, or even impossible. Whereas the world outside can feel like this scary free-for-all. Particularly when I was growing up, I think there was this pressure to take advantage of opportunities that previous generations of women hadnt had access to. Ballet was a way to sidestep all that. Of course, we were all very ambitious, but there was some comfort in the rules, and the structure, the sense that there was a ladder of progress that you could just put one foot in front of the other and climb. Alice Robbs Dont Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet is her ode to her long-lost dream of dancing with Americas leading ballet company (source) For each of her three years at ballet school, Robb was one of the children who performed in the professional production of George Balanchines The Nutcracker at NYCB. It was so powerful to be in such proximity with those professional dancers, she adds. I think that I still have this romantic, idealistic image that dancers are the ideal woman, beautiful, controlled but also powerful. Yet her book is a searing testimony that lays bare the cost of that ideal. Its pages are haunted by stories of suppression and pain. Its title is taken from a quotation by Balanchine, the Georgian-American choreographer who co-founded both the School of American Ballet (1934), and New York City Ballet (1948), where he was artistic director for an astonishing 35 years. Famously, he said ballet is woman, and his works were inspired by the dancers he was working with, who were very often the women he loved. He had five ballerina wives and gave each a signature scent. His dancers by and large adored him and aspired to be his muse, but he cultivated a style that prized an extremely low body weight. Robb quotes him telling one corps de ballet dancer: You are like inside a cocoon; your true personality will only be revealed when all the fat is gone, and you are down to your bones. He died in 1983 but his ethos was continued by his successor Peter Martins who left the company in 2017 after allegations (which he denied) of sexual abuse came to light. And Balanchines dominant shadow still haunts Robbs own idea of what it is to be a ballerina. That obsession with a certain body type has influenced the view of what a dancer should look like ever since; the constant exhortation of her classmates to lengthen and tone up were disguised messages that they should lose weight to dangerously low levels. Robb not only quotes examples of famous ballerinas starving themselves to achieve their ideal weight but talks about a classmate who ended up unable to digest solid food. The glorification of thinness is a recurring theme, but it is also an amplification of obsessions in the world beyond dance. You hear so many justifications, Robb says. Like ballet just looks better on a certain type of body or its so you can see the choreography. But these are all conventions. Ballet is made up. When I quit ballet, there was some element of relief in realising that I didnt have to wear a leotard anymore, and it didnt matter if I gained five pounds. But it wasnt like I was going into a world where looks and weight didnt matter. People are still applauded and rewarded for being thin. When I quit ballet, there was some element of relief in realising that I didnt have to wear a leotard anymore, and it didnt matter if I gained five pounds It is not just body dysmorphia that Robb identifies as part of the cost of ballet, through stories of both famous and unknown dancers. She also recognises the way that ballet and it is specifically ballet rather than other forms of dance requires self-sacrifice, a setting aside of self, an endurance of all kinds of hardship, both physical and psychological. All are qualities valued in women, but all seen at their most extreme in ballet. She talks about Margot Fonteyn, the greatest dancer of her own and many other ages, who was always at the beck and call of worthless men; of the American ballet star Gelsey Kirkland, principal dancer with NYCB and then with American Ballet Theater in the Seventies and Eighties, who drove herself to cocaine addiction in her attempt to prove herself worthy. She describes the way that ballet studios can easily be a breeding ground for abuse of young girls by powerful men and for the cultivation of low self-esteem among the girls who study there. When I think about why ballet had such an impact on me, I realise I was doing it at such a formative time, she says. Youre discovering who you are and how you relate to your body. Yet people would say all the time, your body is your instrument. Thats just a different way to relate to your body. You are objectifying yourself, learning to see your body as not exactly your own, but as something that is serving an art. It is compelling reading, but I wonder how much her view is tempered by it being seen through the perspective of Balanchines NYCB. I think that company has had this somewhat specific struggle of how to carry on without Balanchine, she says. But I dont think its that different. A lot about it is universal. I think ballet culture and training are pretty similar everywhere. For all her trenchant criticism, she clearly values ballet as an art form though she admits she finds it hard to watch because it can still put me in a funny mood. I am saying this with an awareness of how ridiculous it sounds because I was not particularly close to becoming a professional dancer, but it can make me feel nostalgia and regret over not making it. For each of her three years at ballet school, Robb was one of the children who performed in the professional production of George Balanchines The Nutcracker at NYCB (Debra Goldsmith) Towards the end of the book, too, she notes some signs of change and hope. Her classmates find different kinds of resolution in their relationship with ballet; her friend who suffered the most extreme eating disorders carries on dancing and enjoys the best and healthiest years of her career in a contemporary dance company. Robb goes to see Seattles Pacific Northwest Ballet and notes a new inclusivity. Robb admits that writing the book has been therapeutic for her. I do think things are changing, she admits. But I didnt focus on what is happening now because I wanted to look at the long-term impact of this training that happened to people in the 1990s. So yes, it is changing, you are starting to see different types of partnering, and non-binary dancers. Misty Copeland has done a lot to change the image of ballet, both in terms of her muscularity and also obviously her race. Social media has given professional dancers more power and more of a platform. But I do think ballet is still a very insular world, its still so competitive that people feel they cant afford to speak out. Looking back, does she feel it gave her anything? Oh yes, she says smiling. I do spend a fair amount of time talking about the negatives, but there were many positives as well. I think the most obvious one is probably the discipline of ballet. You have to show up for work every day. It sets you up for so many things. Even for being a freelance writer. I am intrinsically motivated, I show up. Dont Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet, by Alice Robb, is out now Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Bank of America's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 48% ownership Insiders have sold recently A look at the shareholders of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 59% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Bank of America. Check out our latest analysis for Bank of America What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Bank of America? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Bank of America does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Bank of America's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Bank of America. The company's largest shareholder is Berkshire Hathaway Inc., with ownership of 13%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 7.6% and 5.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Story continues Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Bank of America The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our information suggests that Bank of America Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$509m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 28% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Bank of America. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Public Company Ownership It appears to us that public companies own 13% of Bank of America. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Bank of America (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here bank of england The Bank of England has admitted that Brexit is making the City easier to regulate despite issuing warnings against the Governments plan to axe swathes of red tape. Senior Threadneedle Street officials told the Treasury committee on Tuesday that leaving the bloc has been good for competition and for the overall safety of the UK financial services industry. Vicky Saporta, executive director at the Bank, said: Leaving the EU produces opportunities for us to manage our financial system in a way thats more appropriate. We can tailor things to UK circumstances to facilitate competition and competitiveness but also, given that we have a massive financial system in a medium sized economy, we can be flexible when we see risks arising and not be constrained by a harmonised [EU] system. The comments came despite the Bank being locked in a tussle with the City and Treasury over the speed and scope of post-Brexit rule changes. On Monday, Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank, warned that post-Brexit reforms in the insurance industry will increase the risk of firms going bust and potentially leave taxpayers with a multi-billion pound bill. Meanwhile, Sam Woods, head of the Banks Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), hit out against the bankers bonus cap, saying: The only effect of the cap is to increase the fixed pay of bankers...its a completely crazy system. The regulator is in the process of removing the cap after former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced it would be scrapped in his ill-fated mini-Budget. Mr Woods also said that banks are unlikely to need to hold a bespoke cash buffer to cover the fallout from climate change. He said: "There might be a question that in order to capture climate risks... might you need a new slab of capital to deal with climate risks? I have become more sceptical about that proposition through time. Separately, the European Banking Authority, which writes the rulebook enforced by the European Central Bank, called for a crackdown on lenders in the bloc flouting gender diversity rules. The EBA said that more than a quarter of nearly 800 European banks and investment companies it reviewed were ignoring diversity policies introduced in 2014, including setting targets to increase female representation in leadership positions. Bank of Luxemburg, which operates nine branches in Northeast Wisconsin including the Dyckesville branch shown here, was awarded a $26,200 grant from the Wisconsin Fast Forward program for worker training. MADISON Bank of Luxemburg is one of 24 businesses in Wisconsin receiving a state grant for a training program that could lead employees to higher wages. The bank was awarded $26,200 from the Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program offered annually by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. It will use the funds to provide 29 hours of leadership skills training by the Initiative One Leadership Institute to six current staff members, who will receive 16.8 continuing education units through the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay when they finish training and could receive a wage increase of $1.50 per hour or more. Overall, the Fast Forward program awarded more than $3.8 million to its 24 recipients this year, with individual amounts ranging from $5,000 to $400,000. All projects require a 50% cash or in-kind employer match, and the training must provide skills that are transferrable to the job. The minimum requirements for a business to receive funding are that 85% of the participants must complete training, 65% must gain employment (hiring unemployed trainees or promoting underemployed ones), and 75% of trainees who are current employees receive pay raises. The grants are expected to support worker training programs for up to 1,415 trainees, including unemployed and underemployed people as well as current employees. The businesses receiving grants are involved in education, financial services, health care, information technology, manufacturing and production, and transportation. For more on the Wisconsin Fast Forward program, visit wisconsinfastforward.com. Established in 1903 and based in the village of Luxemburg, Bank of Luxemburg has Kewaunee County locations in Luxemburg, Casco, Algoma and Kewaunee; Brown County locations in Green Bay, Dyckesville and Howard; and Door County branches in Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek. It also has an ITM (interactive teller machine) at Stodola's IGA grocery store in Luxemburg, along with ITMs in Fish Creek and Howard. For more information, visit bankofluxemburg.com. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Bank of Luxemburg receives Wisconsin DWD grant for worker training Ukrainian soldiers on the outskirts of Bakhmut on January 14, 2023. Spencer Platt/Getty Images A Ukrainian soldier told the Washington Post the fighting in Bakhmut is brutal and at close quarters. The soldier said there have even been fistfights as they fight off waves of Russian mercenaries. Bakhmut is widely expected to fall to Russian forces soon, but it will be a hollow victory. Fighting in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which has been one of the primary battles in the war for months, has featured brutal, close quarters combat, according to a Ukrainian soldier. In some cases, Ukrainian troops have searched house-to-house for the enemy and been forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat, Dmytro Vatagin, a 48-year-old Ukrainian soldier, told the Washington Post. "Fistfights have been happening," Vatagin said. "Everyone has their own fighting story." The infamous Wagner mercenary group has played a central role in the fight for Bakhmut. Vatagin told the Post that Wagner has thrown its forces a mix of seasoned fighters and newly released convicts "like meat" at the frontline in relentless waves that have exhausted Ukrainian defenders. Wagner has recruited Russian prisoners for the fight and treated them like "cannon fodder," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said last month. Similarly, UK officials have claimed that some Russian reservists in the attacks were told to fight with shovels. The mercenary group has suffered roughly 30,000 casualties in the war, Kirby said. Russia's extreme costs in assaulting Bakhmut, a city of roughly 70,000 before the war, are seen by most Western analysts as out of step with the strategic value of the gained territory, from which they could advance down two highways should they still have combat power. "It is more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said of Bakhmut in comments to reporters on Monday, per Reuters. "The fall of Bakhmut won't necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the tide of this fight," Austin added. Story continues The city is seemingly on the verge of falling to Russian forces, but Ukraine is not giving up without a fight and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said that his top generals have called for reinforcing Bakhmut's defense. That said, top military experts have suggested that it might be time for Ukraine to cut its losses in Bakhmut. "The tenacious defense of Bakhmut achieved a great deal, expending Russian manpower and ammunition. But strategies can reach points of diminishing returns," Michael Kofman, an expert on the Russian military at the Center for Naval Analyses, said on Twitter. "This fight doesn't play to Ukraine's advantages as a force," Kofman said, warning that if Ukrainian forces continue to expend resources on Bakhmut "it could impede the success of a more important operation." Read the original article on Business Insider Home secretary Suella Braverman speaking in the House of Commons. (Reuters) A BBC journalist has accused Suella Braverman of keeping the media in the dark about her controversial new plans to try and deport asylum seekers who reach the UK through unauthorised means. The home secretary told MPs on Tuesday legislation will be introduced which means migrants will be detained and swiftly removed. People crossing the Channel will not be able to claim asylum in the UK, will face a lifetime ban on returning and will never be allowed to settle in the country or gain citizenship. Campaigners have already described the plan as unworkable and Braverman has also conceded it may be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). BBC News home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani said that despite weeks of robust dialogue with the Home Office about assisting reporters better, there had been no briefings to explain the new bill and they were still in the dark". For weeks Home Affairs specialists from the national media have had a robust dialogue (ahem) with the Home Office about how we believe it is not assisting professional reporters to properly inform audiences of its policies. As of now, we're still in the dark about this bill https://t.co/ovAnrlFw1T Dominic Casciani (@BBCDomC) March 7, 2023 He tweeted: Briefings allow a Whitehall department to get facts out to all reporters equally, in time for clear and accurate reporting of a new plan. It gives the reporters time to absorb the full context and consider how best to report it and what any opposition amounts to. Casciani added: Today there is no official briefing (as of yet) from the Home Office on a plan that they know is controversial. Parts of it have been briefed out to selected newspapers including complex legal points that reporters would want to ask about. Read more: Suella Braverman vows to 'push boundaries of international law' to stop migrants Story continues Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the bill a con and described the plans as Groundhog Day less than a year after reforms were brought into force under the Nationality and Borders Act. The opposition party pressed ministers to show how the latest plan was different to the last piece of legislation to tackle illegal migration. Read more: The Tories are doing the same thing yet again and nobody expects results Under the new bill, asylum seekers would be removed if they arrive in the UK through unauthorised means. (Reuters) Prime minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference following the launch of new legislation on migrant channel crossings. (Reuters) The UNs refugee agency, the UNHCR, said it is profoundly concerned by the bill and that, if passed, it will amount to an asylum ban, making it a clear breach of the Refugee Convention. We urge the government, and all MPs and peers, to reconsider the bill and instead pursue more humane and practical policy solutions, the agency said. In a letter to MPs and peers, Braverman conceded it was more than likely the bill does not meet ECHR obligations. She wrote: This does not mean that the provisions in the bill are incompatible with the convention rights, only that there is a more (than) 50% chance that they may not be. During a a press conference following the launch of new legislation, prime minister Sunak said we dont believe it is necessary to leave the ECHR but did not rule out the move. Scouted/The Daily Beast/Retailers. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. New Kids on the Block helps you navigate all the new and exciting launches from our favorite brands, all in one place. From bottle craft cocktails concocted by our favorite NYC restaurant to balm bronzer, check out our top product discoveries we found over the last month. Pixi AfterSun Sheet Masks Spring and summer are already on the horizon, and Pixi has us covered (literally) with its new SunTreats collection featuring an EOD Cleansing oil formulated to remove pore-clogging SPF, a spray-on Sun Mist with SPF 50, and my personal favorite, the AfterSun Sheet Masks. Protecting your skin from the sun starts with sunblock of course, but this nourishing sheet mask helps soothe irritation, calm inflammation, and restore hydration after sun exposure. Buy Pixi AfterSun Sheet Masks at Pixi, $null Brixton Surplus in Paradise Collection Brixton may be most known for its premium hats, but dont overlook the brands California-cool apparel. The latest collection for springSurplus in Paradisefeatures a selection of tropical floral prints, bold colors, and retro-inspired stripes. Both the men's and womens collections feature aloha-inspired graphics and design and also include new hat styles to choose from, too, of course. Buy Brixton Surplus in Paradise Collection at Brixton, $null Saie Sun Melt Cream-Balm Bronzer While Saies wildly popular Sun Melt Cream-Balm Bronzers launched last year, in February, the beauty brand expanded its best-selling collection with two new shades to suit a wider range of skin tones. If you havent tried this beautiful formula yet, let me tell you: it is worth the hype. The semi-matte cream allows you to build up color gradually for a soft contour effect or an all-over glow. Its the best bronzer I have ever used. Buy Saie Sun Melt Cream-Balm Bronzer at Saie, $32 Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray Story continues Just in time for spring, LOreals premier clean and sustainable brand, Pureology, re-launched its top-rated Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray with a new look and packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled materialsthe same hair-perfecting formula inside. The multi-use spray is a godsend for color-treated hair like mine (though any hair type will benefit from using it), because it primes and fortifies hair for and from UV damage and heat damage while simultaneously repairing existing damage and leaving your hair feeling like actual silk. Buy Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray at Sephora, $34 Buy Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray at Ulta, $34 Arrae Arraes flagship supplements, Bloat and Calm, have been two of my go-tos since the brand launched a few years ago. Now, the brand has launched an all-natural antacid alternative that, unlike traditional over-the-counter acid reflux and heartburn treatments on the market, doesnt burn through your gut liningit actually helps protect it. Buy Arrae at Arrae, $40 Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 I live for multitasking beauty products (as mentioned above), and Shiseidos newest Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 is the skincare-suncare hybrid of my sun-damaged skins dreams. The new formula is infused with the brands Sun Dual Care Technology, including vitamin C not only to help shield the skin from the suns damaging rays but also to help lift sun spots while combatting dullness and fine lines at the same time. Stock up before summer, yall! Buy Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 at Sephora, $38 Via Carota Bottled Craft Cocktails One of New York Citys most beloved restaurants is now offering its signature cocktails in luxe bottles to top your home bar cart withno reservation or mixologist required. Via Carotas range of bottled cocktails comes in a range of its signature drinks: Classic Negroni, White Negroni, Old Fashioned, Signature Manhattan, Espresso Martini, and the Signature Martini. Buy Via Carota Bottled Craft Cocktails at Via Carota, $39 Dont forget to check out our coupon site to find more deals, including Nordstrom Rack coupons, Macys coupons, Overstock coupons, and adidas coupons. 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. BuzzFeed News; Kate Somerville; Differin; Jori; Revision Skincare; Drunk Elephant; Skinfix Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. With the popularity of complicated skin regimens and slugging , or the practice of slathering petroleum jelly products like Vaseline or Aquaphor on your face before bed, some people end up with skin problems from using too much or the wrong types of products on delicate areas of the face. For example, the area around your eyes can be sensitive to certain products, and the result can be keratin buildup and clogged pores, said Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. While social media trends like slugging are popular right now, in some cases, it can contribute to the development of milia, Zeichner told BuzzFeed News. Applying heavy oils to the face can block the pores, causing pimples and milia. Milia, which are also called milk spots or oil seeds, are tiny white bumps that can be mistaken for whiteheads. However, the skin condition is unrelated to acne. The skin bumps are deeper than your average pimple, and they dont itch or cause pain. Milia are often located on the face, but can also show up in other areas of the body, including the arms, legs, genitals, or chest. On the face, milia can be found on the nose, scalp, eyelids, cheeks, gums, and even inside the mouth . Although milia are common in newborns, the skin condition can affect anyone. A number of factors can play a role in their formation, including hygiene, skincare, sleep, medications like steroid use, and other skin conditions such as rosacea or dandruff. Milia, either in newborns or adults, can go away on their own . However, a dermatologist can remove milia by manually extracting or deroofing them, which is done with a scalpel, needle, or laser. There are also some at-home treatments that may help to get rid of the white bumps, too. (You should never squeeze them theres no opening for the skin cells to escape, and it can cause infection or even scarring.). Milia can be persistent, so we talked to dermatologists on what products and ingredients you should be looking for and what to do if they keep coming back. Story continues Drunk Elephant This serum from Drunk Elephant contains glycolic acid to help the skin shed dead cells, which can help keep the pores clear and improve your overall complexion. The product contains both alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which are peeling agents or chemical exfoliants. (Glycolic acid is an AHA.) AHAs and BHAs remove the top layer of the skin to treat milia, acne, scars, melasma, hyperpigmentation, roughness, and age spots, according to Zeichner. The serum also contains raspberry fruit extract to rehydrate and soothe the skin. Its important to know that although the product is called a night serum, its still a chemical exfoliant. Like other exfoliants, Drunk Elephant recommends that you should only be using this product once or twice a week to avoid dryness and sensitization. The pump sends out just the right amount of product, and it really helps keep my pores clear and I have not had any milia, which I am prone to getting. I have been using this for awhile now, I don't think I've ever had any stinging or burning sensation and I do have sensitive skin. I love drunk elephant and I love supporting a cruelty free company with products that actually works. minimalmom6You can buy the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum from Sephora for $90. Kate Somerville This exfoliator also contains AHAs and BHAs to help brighten the complexion and remove dead cells from the skin's surface. Ingredients like papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes in the scrub naturally exfoliate the skin without being too harsh or overdrying. It also contains aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E that help soothe and soften the skin, which should help skin texture and the appearance of pores. Since the product is an exfoliant scrub, the brand recommended that you should only use it once or twice a week to avoid burning or tingling. Im an experienced exfoliator and have used many different kinds, at all price points, and this is decidedly one of the best!! Normally I might write off some KS products as too expensive, but this is worth every penny. You use a small amount as a mask a couple of times a week, and it brings back the glow that gets dulled by clogged pores, makeup use, and general skin cell residue. Explorethepore You can buy the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment from Sephora for $88. Revision Skincare The daily-use brightening facial wash from Revision cleans pores and exfoliates the skin. Compared to other exfoliants, the cleanser can be used every day according to Revision, even if you have sensitive skin. I prefer chemical exfoliators containing salicylic acid/or glycolic acid over harsh scrubs that can damage the top layer of the skin, Emily Wood, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology, told BuzzFeed News. In addition to AHAs and BHAs (salicylic acid is a BHA), this product also has ingredients like vitamins C and E to help naturally brighten and restore moisturize the skin. I love that it is gel based with no physical exfoliants so it seems much more gentle on the skin than some of the more abrasive cleansers. I have also noticed my skin appears much more refreshed after I use this cleanser so the brightening effects are real! I will definitely be buying this gentle yet effective cleanser again! Ashley You only need a small amount to exfoliate, so the bottle might last you a while!You can buy the Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash from Dermstore for $40. Differin Although the gel is used for acne treatment, Dr. Marie Leger, a board-certified dermatologist at Entiere Dermatology in New York City, recommended the over-the-counter retinol to help prevent milia by promoting skin cell turnover, or the shedding of dead skin cells. Adapalene, the active ingredient in Differin, works to prevent pores from clogging with bacteria and sebum, the waxy substance produced by the body. I like to apply this on bare skin after cleansing and let it sit over night. It really lowers the inflammation of the pimple and makes it much smaller. I wear a full face of makeup every day and this really helped lessen the amount of acne/milia on my face. I usually get bumps under my lip but this help make them completely disappear! GwenXAnh You can buy the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment from Ulta for around $15. Jori The Jori Acne & Oil Primer prevents breakouts, blemishes, hormonal acne, and pimples with salicylic acid. In general, topical use of BHAs like salicylic acid works as an exfoliant by unplugging blocked skin pores . For people with skin conditions, salicylic acid can treat dry, scaly, or thickened skin by softening them. Hydroxy acids like salicylic acid can help open up blocked pores and exfoliate dead cells on the surface of the skin, Zeichner said. Over time, with regular use, to block it under the skin will be released, You can buy the Jori Acne & Oil Control Primer from Amazon for $70. Skinfix In addition to the salicylic acid, the SkinFix cleanser has niacinamide and azelaic acid, which prevent sebum buildup, minimize pores, fight bacteria, and support healthy pH levels. The product can be used daily, but like other BHAs, its a good idea to only apply the product three times a week, and then work up to daily use. ive been using it for about 2 weeks now and my skin feels so much smoother, even toned and so CLEAR! I feel like I've just discovered a new miracle product and I am so excited to continue using it and see how far it takes my skin on this journey! I have a lot of scarring and BHA is so good for that, I cant wait to see how it helps my skin! chxrming You can buy the SkinFix Azelaic Acid BHA Cleanser from Sephora for $35. More on this (Bloomberg) -- The White House endorsed a bipartisan bill that could give the president authority to ban or force a sale of TikTok, support that could hasten passage and break a deadlock over how to address privacy concerns around the popular Chinese-owned app. Most Read from Bloomberg The bill introduced Tuesday would give the president the ability to force the sale of foreign-owned technologies, applications, software or e-commerce platforms if they present a national security threat to US users. It doesnt mention Beijing-based Bytedance Ltd.s TikTok by name, but the video-sharing app, which has about 100 million users in the US, is the clear target. We look forward to continue working with both Democrats and Republicans on this bill, and urge Congress to act quickly to send it to the presidents desk, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. This is the first time the Biden administration has weighed in on legislation to deal with the app, which the White House says pose national security risks. Critics of TikTok say it allows the Chinese government access to data and viewing trends of the roughly 100 million Americans as well as users globally who have made it one of the worlds most popular apps. At the same time, the administration wants to avoid the legal challenges that beset former President Donald Trumps push to ban TikTok and Tencent Holdings Ltd.s WeChat messaging app. Trump ordered those products banned from app stores in 2020, but a federal judge blocked the order, arguing that it would violate free speech rights. These risks are not going away, and unfortunately our tools to date have been limited, Senator Mark Warner, the Virginia Democrat who is one of the bills cosponsors, said at a briefing Tuesday. We are going to create a new set of authorities. Story continues Read More: One TikTok Bill Has the Most Support Right Now. Heres Why. James Lewis, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that the Trump deal was thrown out of court in less than 30 minutes. This administration has thought carefully about how to do something that will stand up in court. Being able to say, Congress passed a law that gives us this authority really helps. It strengthens their hand in any future battle either to negotiate with TikTok or to negotiate with the court, Lewis added. It was unclear how the bill introduced by Warner and John Thune, the Senates No. 2 Republican, might affect a separate national-security review of TikTok. That review, led by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, or Cfius, was meant to come to an agreement addressing concerns surrounding US user data. But that process appears to have stalled. TikToks opponents in Congress have rejected the companys assurances that its Chinese owner doesnt have access to US user data, including viewing patterns and geolocation. In addition, reports that TikTok promotes or hides certain content has raised questions about whether Chinese authorities could influence what content American users see. TikTok has presented a security plan called Project Texas that pledges to insulate the companys US operation from Chinese influence. The plan includes an independent board of directors to oversee data security, third-party vetting and a partnership with Oracle Corp. to store user data and audit the platforms algorithms. TikToks Response The swiftest and most thorough way to address any national security concerns about TikTok is for Cfius to adopt the proposed agreement that we worked with them on for nearly two years, TikTok spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement Tuesday. We have been waiting for Cfius to finalize our agreement for over six months now, while our status has been debated in public in a way that is divorced from the facts of that agreement and what weve achieved already. The backlash has had TikTok waging an all-out charm offensive globally for months. To drum up goodwill and defend its data protection and content moderation policies in Washington, executives have enlisted lobbyists to engage with more than 100 congressional offices. In the second quarter of last year, TikTok spent $2.1 million on lobbying on issues including childrens privacy, content moderation and antitrust the most to date. In comments that may have presaged the Biden administrations support for the approach in the Warner bill, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in an interview last month that its dangerous business to pass a law to outlaw a particular company. I think its probably more thoughtful to say, These are the kinds of risks were worried about, from these categories of companies and were going to enable some department to run a process to assess the risk and take action. Warners bill would still need to go through a Senate committee, and its unclear where the measure ranks among Chuck Schumers priorities. As Senate majority leader, he determines whether it would come to the floor for a vote. It would also need to pass the House of Representatives, where several lawmakers have their own bills that would explicitly ban the app. Anti-China sentiment crosses party lines in Congress, and a number of senators from both parties said Tuesday they were aligned on taking action against TikTok. Republican Marco Rubio of Florida has said flat-out that its time to ban TikTok for good. Were very united on this topic, Senator Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, told reporters. He said the US needs to bring all aspects of American power and policy to the China challenge. (Updates with James Lewis comment, starting in seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. With the approaching end of Title 42, the White House is reportedly considering reimplementing the policy of detaining migrant families rather than temporarily releasing them into the United States. President Joe Biden is considering detaining families for a maximum of 20 days, the New York Times reported. The reconsideration is based on growing fears within the White House that illegal border crossings will surge with the May 11 expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era public-health measure that allowed for the immediate rejection of asylum claims. The administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly and humane processing of migrants, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told the New York Times in a statement. The news marks an abrupt reversal from Bidens previous commitment to reject the border policies of former president Donald Trump, which Democrats have cast as inhumane, often referring to Republican efforts to put kids in cages. Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately, then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tweeted in June 2020. This is pretty simple, and I cant believe I have to say it: Families belong together. Leecia Welch, a lead attorney for the Supreme Court case Reno v. Flores which set limits on childhood detention, called the news heartbreaking. Ending the inhumane practice of family detention has been one of the only positive immigration policy decisions of the Biden administration, Welch told the Times. It is heartbreaking to hear there could be a return to the Trump-era use of this practice. Although the Biden administration has consistently sought to make a point of approaching the border crisis and illegal crossings with a different tact from his predecessor, the president has sometimes reinforced Trump-era policies. In early January, Biden expanded Title 42 by offering a limited number of individuals from Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba legal entrance into the United States so long as they had a financial sponsor. However, nationals from those countries who did not follow the new procedure would be expelled. Story continues The following month reports emerged that the White House was considering overhauling Americas asylum-adjudication system to expedite the workflow at border-processing centers. These initiatives may have worked in the intervening months as border crossings between America and Mexico hit new lows since Biden first came to office. Between December 2022 and January 2023, such crossing dropped by 42 percent. Still, one anonymous White House official told Reuters Its all on the table when it comes to ongoing internal deliberations about border control. Under Biden, the number of illegal migrants caught along the Mexico border rose to a record high in 2022. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) caught 234,088 people crossing along the southern border in April 2022, the highest figure in the recorded history of the DHS. The policy of family detention has been used by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. More from National Review The Biden administration is considering restarting the controversial policy that detains migrants who enter the country illegally with their children, two sources familiar with the planning confirmed. President Joe Biden stopped the Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy known as family detention shortly after he took office. The New York Times first reported that the administration was considering reintroducing the policy. In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, "No decisions have been made as we prepare for the Title 42 Public Health Order to lift. The administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants." Migrants wait for US Border Patrol to be taken to a detention center on May 26 2022 in Eagle Pass Texas, USA. Title 42, the Trump era mandate which was set to prevent migrants from entering the US, was to expire on May 23 but was blocked by a lawsuit filed by several states citing that the move to strike down the law Two sources familiar with the planning said White House and DHS officials have met multiple times in recent days to discuss what would be necessary to restart the policy when Title 42 ends May 11. No decisions have been made yet, the sources said. Many inside the administration are resisting the move, the sources added. President Barack Obama had used the policy starting in 2014, and President Donald Trump continued it. Title 42 is a public health law that was invoked by the Trump administration in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Border agents have used it to deny migrants the right to enter the U.S. to claim asylum. More than 2.3 million people have been expelled since the Trump administration invoked it. Policymakers in both parties, as well as Homeland Security officials, have widely predicted a large increase in the number of migrants crossing the border when Title 42 lifts, adding to the record high number of border encounters in the past year. Immigrant rights groups and other groups say Title 42 has been used to expel asylum-seekers without hearings. The American Civil Liberties Union has said that Title 42 has been misused to kick people who are seeking asylum out of the country and that U.S. law guarantees the right to seek asylum. The Biden administration previously tried to lift Title 42 through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order, but Republican states sued to keep it in effect. The Biden administration now plans to let the public health emergency declaration expire May 11. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Bidens pick to join the Federal Communications Commission and break its 2-2 partisan deadlock has withdrawn her name from consideration. The move comes after Senator Joe Manchin explained he would vote against her. Gigi Sohn, who was nominated by Biden in October of 2021, has faced a bruising confirmation battle. Her nomination has remained at a standstill for months, due to vocal opposition from Republicans and some dissent from fellow Democrats. The unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks on my character and my career as an advocate for the public interest have taken an enormous toll on me and my family, Sohn said in explaining her decision to withdraw. First reported by the Washington Post, Sohns statement blamed cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought-and-paid-for surrogates, and dark money political groups with bottomless pockets. The lawyer has been scrutinized in hearings for tweets critical of Donald Trump and conservative media outlets. Sohn has urged that Sinclair Broadcast Groups license be reconsidered and has called Fox News state-sponsored propaganda. Manchin explained in a statement that an FCC commissioner must be able to stay above the partisan fray. Especially now, the FCC must remain above the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick and tired of, and Ms. Sohn has clearly shown she is not the person to do that, Manchin wrote. For those reasons, I cannot support her nomination to the FCC and I urge the Biden administration to put forth a nominee who can bring us together, not drive us apart. Sohns withdrawal represents a blow to the Biden administration as it attempts to navigate a slim majority in the Senate. Prior to being elected, Biden promised that he would reverse Trumps deregulatory moves and return to the Obama administrations policy of net neutrality. Sohn was a chief architect of that policy. The commission will now remain deadlocked between two Republican-appointed commissioners and two Democratic-appointed ones for the foreseeable future, only able to pass bipartisan proposals. Story continues In a statement, Senator Ted Cruz applauded Sohns defeat on the same grounds as Manchin. The withdrawal of Ms. Sohns nomination is a major victory and represents a strong bipartisan agreement that we need a fair and impartial candidate who can receive the support needed for confirmation, wrote Cruz. The FCC is not a place for partisan activists; free speech is too important. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the pick in a Tuesday press conference, pointing to Sohns tremendous intellect and her role as a consumer-safety advocate. Jean-Pierre did not announce a timeline for a new pick. More from National Review WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will host South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit on April 26, the White House and Yoon's office said on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the visit would celebrate the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and highlight Washington's "unwavering commitment" to South Korea. She said the leaders would discuss deepening political, economic and security ties. It will be the second state visit of Biden's administration after one by French President Emmanuel Macron in December. Yoon's spokesperson said it would be the first state visit to the United States by a South Korean president since 2011 and mark a "historic milestone" for the alliance ... "to evolve more actively in preparation for the rapidly changing international situation and future uncertainties." The talks would cover combined defense posture, extended deterrence and high-tech and economic security, and enable a "'strong alliance in action' that protects the lives and safety of the peoples of both countries," the spokesperson said in a statement. The announcement comes after South Korea said on Monday its companies would compensate people forced to work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation, seeking to end a dispute that has undercut U.S.-led efforts to present a unified front among the allies against China and North Korea. The U.S.-South Korean alliance dates from the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a stalemate and in which China backed North Korea. Washington and Seoul have sought since to contain North Korea but have been unable to halt its growing nuclear and missile programs which now threaten both allies. They also share concerns about China's growing might and Washington sees Seoul as a key partner in its efforts to rally allies to push back against Beijing. As North Korea's nuclear capability increases, calls have grown within South Korea for the country to develop its own nuclear capability. Seoul has also sought a strengthening of extended deterrence, which refers to the ability of the U.S. military to deter attacks with its nuclear umbrella. Biden met Yoon in Cambodia in November and said after a trilateral summit involving Japan that the three allies were "more aligned than ever" on North Korea's "provocative behavior." (Reporting by Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom in Washington and Josh Smith in SeoulEditing by Doina Chiacu and Matthew Lewis) President Biden will host South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol next month for an official state visit in a more formal show of support for a key U.S. ally in Asia as the White House seeks to counter China and deal with North Koreas missile tests. The president and first lady will host Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, on April 26. The visit will include a state dinner, which is typically attended by White House officials, lawmakers, donors and other high-profile guests. The upcoming visit celebrates the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The two will discuss the importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, and our shared resolve to deepen and broaden our political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties, Jean-Pierre said. North Korea and China are likely to be two major topics of discussion during the visit next month. The U.S. has warned that China is considering providing lethal support to Russia for its war effort in Ukraine, and tensions between Washington and Beijing were heightened after a Chinese spy balloon was detected over the U.S. last month. There is also the looming concern about Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. More broadly, Biden has spoken often about the need to have competition with China without it escalating to confrontation. North Korea has also tested long-range missiles on multiple occasions in recent months. The U.S. has tried for years to work with South Korea and Japan to help reduce tensions with North Korea and guard against Pyongyangs missile tests. Aprils state visit will be the second Biden has hosted since taking office more than two years ago. The president and first lady hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at the White House in December. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden is leading Marianne Williamson by more than 70 points among Democratic primary voters, according to a new poll released on Tuesday. Seventy-seven percent of respondents in the Morning Consult poll said they would support Biden in a Democratic primary or caucus, while just 4 percent said they would support Williamson following her campaign announcement last weekend. Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author who previously ran for president in 2020, officially launched her second long shot bid for the Democratic nomination on Saturday. More than half of Democratic primary voters 52 percent said they had never heard of Williamson, and her popularity was limited among those who were familiar with the self-help author, the poll found. Twenty percent of Democrats said they had favorable views of Williamson, while 13 percent said the opposite. The remaining 15 percent said they had heard of the Democratic candidate but had no opinion on her, according to the poll. Williamson on Sunday accused the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of rigging the primary system in favor of Biden by reorganizing the calendar. The new primary calendar, which was recommended by Biden, will place South Carolina in the first-in-the-nation position. Bidens win in South Carolina in 2020 was key to his ultimately securing the Democratic nomination. The DNC should not be rigging this system, Williamson told ABCs This Week. They dont even pretend anymore. Theyre not even covert about their swaying the primary season. Theyre very overt about it. However, Biden and other Democrats appear to have largely dismissed Williamsons presidential bid. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) suggested on Sunday that no serious Democrats are considering a challenge to Biden, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre joked about Williamsons aura on Monday. Im just not tracking that, Jean-Pierre said of Williamsons bid. I mean, if I had a, what is it called? A little globe here a crystal ball that I can tell you. A magic eight ball, whatever. If I could feel her aura. Story continues I just dont have anything to share on that, she said to laughter from reporters in the briefing room. The Morning Consult poll was conducted March 3-5 with 829 potential Democratic primary voters and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ANDER HARRER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Executives at for-profit colleges might soon be on the hook personally if their schools fail to repay costs owed to the U.S. government, according to new guidance released by the Department of Education last week. Check Your $2 Bills: They Could Be Worth Upwards of $4,500 Learn: With a Recession Looming, Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On Track On March 3, the Education Department outlined how it will implement long-standing provisions in the Higher Education Act that govern relationships with colleges. Among other things, the Act grants the Secretary of Education authority to require private-college leaders that fail to operate in a financially responsible way to assume personal liability for the cost of unpaid debts owed to the Department. The guidance clarifies circumstances in which the Education Department can require certain individuals to assume personal liability as a condition of allowing schools they own or operate to participate in federal financial aid programs. It also details considerations when determining whether to require an individual to assume personal liability by signing the institutions program participation agreement. In such cases, the Education Department would be able to pursue those individuals for the cost of liabilities that are not otherwise paid for by their institutions including those stemming from closed schools and borrower defense discharges. The new guidance comes amid a broader move by the Biden administration to crack down on for-profit colleges that defraud or otherwise mislead students and to provide debt relief to students who got loans to attend the schools. It also comes as the administration faces the prospect that the federal student loan forgiveness program announced last summer will be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Biden-Harris Administration is canceling the loans of more than a million borrowers cheated by for-profit colleges. But too often, the owners and executives of these colleges escape liability, Education Department Under Secretary James Kvaal said in a statement. Congress gave the Department the authority to make college owners and operators personally responsible for these losses in certain circumstances and we are going to use that authority to hold them accountable, defend vulnerable students, protect taxpayer dollars, and deter future risky behavior. Story continues The guidance would require an individual to assume personal liability on behalf of the institutions or groups of affiliated institutions that pose the largest financial risk to the United States including schools that receive funding through federal financial aid each year. Heres what the Department will consider when determining the riskiest institutions: Civil or criminal lawsuits, settlements, or disciplinary or legal actions by the Department or other state or federal agencies involving federal student aid or claims of dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, consumer harm, or financial malfeasance. Significant compliance issues, such as findings stemming from program reviews or audits, unpaid liabilities from either of those processes, or findings of a lack of administrative capability. Executive compensation or a bonus structure that could significantly affect the financial health of the institution. The aim is to not only protect students but also to help the government recoup money that comes through tax dollars. Take Our Poll: Do You Think Bankruptcy Is an Acceptable Way To Escape Student Loan Debt? Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men Heres Why Individuals who control schools and reap substantial profits are responsible for running healthy institutions, said Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray. When financially risky schools jeopardize the safety of the governments Title IV funds and take advantage of students, we intend to hold those individuals accountable. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Biden Targets Top College Executives in Student Loan Forgiveness Fight How Taxpayers and Borrowers Benefit By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden's nominee for a key fifth seat on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Gigi Sohn, withdrew on Tuesday, dealing a setback for Democrats who have been unable to take control of the telecom regulator for more than two years. Sohn confirmed Tuesday she was withdrawing after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said he would vote against confirming her. "We appreciate Gigi Sohn's candidacy for this important role. She would have brought tremendous intellect and experience," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday adding her withdrawal was "clearly unfortunate." Since January 2021, Democrats have been unable to command a majority of the five-member FCC, stalling the party's efforts to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules revoked under Republican President Donald Trump. The open internet laws seek to bar internet service providers from blocking or slowing traffic or offering paid fast lanes. "The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time," Sohn said in a statement. "Unfortunately the American people are the real losers here. As someone who has advocated for my entire career for affordable, accessible broadband for every American, it is ironic that the 2-2 FCC will remain sidelined at the most consequential opportunity for broadband in our lifetimes." Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate but two Democrats are currently absent because of health issues. Sohn who was first nominated in October 2021, had her third hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee in February. Sohn said in 2021 she "could not have imagined that legions of cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought-and-paid-for surrogates, and dark money political groups with bottomless pockets would distort my over 30-year history as a consumer advocate into an absurd caricature of blatant lies." Story continues Republicans in February offered a sweeping denunciation of Sohn on a number of grounds and accused her of misleading Congress, which she rejected. Many Democrats said Republicans were doing the bidding of powerful telecom companies that did not want to face regulation from the FCC. Republican Senator Ted Cruz said Tuesday Sohn's withdrawal demonstrates the need for a nominee "committed to serving as an even-handed and truly independent regulator." In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules. At least two other Democrats were undecided on Sohn's nomination. Sohn joins several other high-profile Biden nominees who withdrew from consideration, including Neera Tanden, who had been tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget and Sarah Bloom Raskin, who was nominated to become the top bank regulator at the Federal Reserve. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Katharine Jackson; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; writing by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler and Raju Gopalakrishnan) BRUSSELS Two months after leaving his job in the White House as Joe Bidens czar for competition policy, Tim Wu has some words for backers of the national anti-monopoly movement that he has helped foster: Beware the blowback. And dont count on Congress. In the United States, a lot has happened in the last two years, but there is, based on looking at the history, a real danger, I think of a kind of premature declaration of victory, Wu said at an antitrust conference in Brussels last week. There is an almost certain moment of a kind of Empire Strikes Back situation that I hope my allies in the administration in the United States are ready for. At a gathering for global antitrust thinkers and policymakers in Brussels last week, Wu spoke about and directly to a movement that has hit a high-water mark under Biden. Regulators have pushed hard against corporate growth with some major cases, including the Justice Departments new lawsuit to block JetBlues takeover of Spirit Airlines, and the Federal Trade Commissions recent challenge to Microsofts $68 billion deal for Activision Blizzard. Since the end of Obamas presidency, anti-corporate sentiment has exploded in mainstream politics, helping to propel former academic critics like Wu, as well as the FTC chair Lina Khan and DOJ prosecutor Jonathan Kanter, into key enforcement roles under Biden. But given a largely failed effort to revamp U.S. antitrust law in Congress last year, and the potential for the White House to change hands in two years, Wu and others are now worried the movement could pass without meaningful reform. To build a more permanent constituency for stronger oversight of corporate growth, Wu suggested a five or six point plan that we need to do over the next two years to institutionalize this program. While new legislation is one part of the plan, it is not the driver, Wu said: I think it's very important not to just have it focused on, you know, did Congress pass new legislation. Story continues He added that Congress at this point is possibly the least democratic branch of the United States government. In an interview on the sidelines of the conference held at a decidedly unpopulist hotel on Brussels swanky Avenue Louise Wu elucidated his multi-pronged plan, which in a sign of its complexity jumped to seven points during the conversation. Among the goals: institutional change within the White House. In July 2021, President Joe Biden issued a wide-ranging executive order directing agencies across the federal government to focus on competition policy issues. As part of the order, Biden set up a Competition Council, which meets several times each year. Wu said that for long-term stability, the competition council currently housed within the National Economic Council should at some point become a free-standing operation within the White House, with its own director and staff. The timing of this isnt clear, he said, since free-floating groups in the White House risk losing relevance. Also critical, he said, would be the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department racking up some wins in court. The Justice Department scored a key victory last fall in blocking the merger of publishing giants Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster. However it also lost challenges to a health care deal, a merger of two sugar producers and a deal between two national security contractors. The FTC, meanwhile, recently lost its bid to block a small Meta acquisition that it believes will boost the companys dominance in the nascent virtual reality market. We have to win some big cases, Wu said. We can either work through legislative change or win some cases, ideally both. But if neither happen, then were in trouble. The agencies have a number of pending cases, including two DOJ lawsuits against Google and an FTC lawsuit to block Microsofts $69 billion takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard. While competition policy is unlikely to revert fully back to the free market consensus that prevailed for several administrations, serious headwinds remain for Wu and his allies in the movement. The DOJ and FTC have so far struggled to win over judges in several recent cases, and dominant companies across the economy still have considerable pull with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. And despite the notes of anti-corporate populism that drive modern conservative politics, House Republican leaders have empowered antitrust skeptics in some key committee jobs. Wu, an author and professor who is now back outside government at Columbia University Law School, offered a few further prescriptions for Biden: Keep appointing federal judges supportive of a progressive economic agenda; offer clear new agency enforcement guidance; support academic research into the effects of corporate power; and push agencies across the federal government to reflect a corporate-watchdog worldview. Sixteen former Agape Boarding School students who sued for alleged abuse at the southwest Missouri school have settled their cases for undisclosed amounts. The number represents about two-thirds of the two dozen lawsuits filed against Agape Baptist Church, the organization that operated the now-closed school near Stockton in Cedar County. Court records show that the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their cases with prejudice, meaning the suits cannot be filed again. Four cases were dismissed in January and refiled in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri and four are pending in state court. The newly settled cases, filed since February 2021 by former students from across the country, accused the school of negligence, infliction of emotional distress and battery by staff and fellow students. Some of the abuse, the suits alleged, involved sexual assault, torture, starvation and excruciating restraints of students. Im super grateful to have it over with, said Josh Bradney, of California, who attended the school from 2014 through 2016. Its a big burden lifted and a good step toward moving forward. Bradney, now 21, sued the school in February 2021 under the name John Doe II but later went public with his identity. The lawsuit alleged that he was subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse by students and a staff member. The abuse, Bradney told The Star on Monday, changed my life forever. Now we can feel like we got some justice, he said. And were not going to stop fighting for the safety of kids. Agape attorney John Schultz declined to comment on the lawsuits or confirm whether any had been settled. Randy Cowherd, who represents Bradney and other former Agape students, said that we are certainly grateful that our clients cases were settled to their satisfaction. We hope the settlements will result in some form of closure for them that will assist them in working through the impact of the abuses they suffered while at Agape. Story continues In addition to the lawsuits that were settled, Cowherd said, another case was resolved without the necessity of filing a lawsuit. Ryan Frazier, whose firm filed about 20 lawsuits against Agape, declined to comment on the cases. Authorities launched a criminal investigation into abuse allegations at Agape in early 2021, and five staffers including the schools medical coordinator were charged later that year with low-level felonies of physically assaulting students. The cases of four of those five staff members have recently been resolved. Three pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanors and each got two years probation. The case of another staffer was dismissed after his alleged victim failed to show up to testify. The fifth has a hearing scheduled for March 13. On Jan. 11, Agapes former director, Bryan Clemensen, announced that the school would close on Jan 20. It became the fourth and final unlicensed Christian boarding school in Cedar County to shut down since September 2020. The announcement came as Missouris new attorney general said he planned to continue the effort launched last fall to get a court injunction to close the school. Clemensen said the decision to close Agape was voluntary and due to the lack of financial resources to continue caring for the boys. This article originally appeared on Backpacker The United States' national parks continued their gradual climb toward pre-Covid visitation levels in 2022 even as some of the most popular destinations in the system saw entries tumble, according to new data the National Park Service released this week. Overall, the NPS said that it recorded 312 million recreation visits to the sites it manages in 2022. While those numbers still trail the record of nearly 331 million visitors it set in 2017, they're 15 million, or 5 percent, higher than the number of visitors the NPS welcomed in 2021. The NPS's visitor numbers have steadily climbed since 2020, when pandemic closures and travel restrictions dropped them to a low of 237 million. Last year's most popular national park was perennial favorite Great Smoky Mountains, which recorded just shy of 13 million visits, or 14.59 percent of the national park system's total. Not all national parks saw an equal increase, however, with some of the most popular destinations posting significant drops compared to 2020. Yellowstone, which the NPS largely closed following catastrophic flooding in June, saw the steepest drop, bringing in 3.29 million visitors in 2022, a decrease of nearly a third compared to 2021. Most of Utah's national parks saw their visitation decline as well in 2022, with the largest, Zion, drawing nearly 7 percent fewer visitors than the year prior. Arches National Park, which piloted a timed entry system last year in an attempt to alleviate crowding, received nearly 20 percent fewer visitors than in 2020. (Besides those restrictions, Utah officials speculated to Deseret News that high gas prices may have played a part in discouraging visitors from road-tripping to the state's parks.) While some large parks took a hit, smaller parks saw their visitation climb: In a press release, the National Park Service noted that the eight most popular parks, which bring in 25 percent of the NPS's visitors, experienced only a 1.2 percent increase in visitation last year. Meanwhile, the next 19 most popular parks, which also account for about 25 percent of the agency's visitors, saw their visitation numbers climb by 10 percent. Story continues "We're excited to see our efforts to increase visitation to parks in the off-season and in parks that are less well-known paying off," NPS Director Chuck Sams said in the statement. "Many parks with record visitation in 2022 are on what we would call 'the road less traveled.' The subtle shift in park visitation is good for visitors, good for protecting parks, and good for local communities whose economies benefit from tourism dollars." Overcrowding in national parks has become an increasingly prominent issue over the past few years, with nonprofits, lawmakers, and park staffers floating solutions to help alleviate crowding at some of the most popular destinations. Besides limiting entries, many policymakers have suggested different schemes for more evenly spreading visitors across the system, with ideas ranging from increased advertising for less-visited destinations to web pages that would keep would-be visitors informed about crowding levels in popular parks in real time. The 10 Most Popular National Parks in 2022 Great Smoky Mountains (12,937,633 visits) Grand Canyon (4,732,101) Zion (4,692,417) Rocky Mountain (4,300,424) Acadia (3,970,260) Yosemite (3,667,550) Yellowstone (3,290,242) Joshua Tree (3,058,294) Cuyahoga (2,913,312) Glacier (2,908,458) For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Big Technologies fair value estimate is UK1.93 Current share price of UK2.40 suggests Big Technologies is potentially 24% overvalued Our fair value estimate is 69% higher than Big Technologies' analyst price target of UK3.26 Does the March share price for Big Technologies PLC (LON:BIG) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Big Technologies What's The Estimated Valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK24.9m UK28.6m UK31.3m UK33.4m UK35.1m UK36.5m UK37.6m UK38.6m UK39.4m UK40.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ 9.23% Est @ 6.81% Est @ 5.11% Est @ 3.92% Est @ 3.09% Est @ 2.51% Est @ 2.10% Est @ 1.82% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.3% UK23.2 UK24.9 UK25.3 UK25.2 UK24.7 UK23.9 UK23.0 UK22.0 UK20.9 UK19.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK233m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = UK40m (1 + 1.2%) (7.3% 1.2%) = UK661m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK661m ( 1 + 7.3%)10= UK327m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK560m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK2.4, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Big Technologies as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.881. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Big Technologies Strength Currently debt free. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Commercial Services industry. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Big Technologies, we've compiled three additional aspects you should assess: Financial Health: Does BIG have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does BIG's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here A bipartisan group of lawmakers is giving another go at legislation targeting wasteful government spending amid a partisan stalemate over the nations debt limit. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H,) Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), on Tuesday will reintroduce the Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act. The bill doesnt mention any specific cuts to programs but would instead direct agencies to identify programs and activities that are unnecessary, defunct, or unnecessarily duplicative, could be administered by another agency more effectively, or operate more effectively if the program or activity were consolidated with another. Agencies would then be required to provide lists of the identified programs to Congress and can make recommendations for legislation to eliminate or consolidate the identified programs. The push comes after the bill previously passed the Senate in late December, shortly before the congressional session came to an end. But lawmakers involved in the effort are working to get the bill across the finish line this year. I authored the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act back in 2010 to cut down wasteful government spending. The Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act builds on that legislation to further protect taxpayer dollars, Cuellar, a prominent House moderate, said in a statement. The revived bipartisan effort coincides with an ongoing battle over the nations debt limit on Capitol Hill. The nations debt ceiling, which limits how much money the Treasury can borrow to pay the governments bills, was capped by Congress at about $31.4 trillion in 2021. But the country ran up against the threshold in January, prompting the Treasury to implement so-called extraordinary measures to buy time for Congress to raise the cap again or risk a default a prospect that has some experts already raising alarm bells. While Democrats insist budget negotiations be carried out separately from debt ceiling discussions, Republicans say both must go hand in hand, vowing not to raise the limit without some reforms to curb government spending. Story continues At the same time, however, some moderate Democrats are pressuring President Biden to lean into discussions with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to find a bipartisan path forward to raise the debt ceiling. According to projections released last month by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), the country risks default on the national debt as early as June absent a deal from Congress and the White House to increase the borrowing limit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Washington A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a bill Tuesday that would give the executive branch new powers to take action against tech companies with ties to foreign adversaries and cut them off from the U.S. market, a measure that would allow the Biden administration to eventually ban Chinese-owned TikTok and other tech products in the name of protecting national security. The legislation titled the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act would apply to technology tied to China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela that "poses an undue or unacceptable risk" to national security. "Today everybody is talking about TikTok. But before there was TiKTok, there was Huawei and ZTE. Before that, there was Russia's Kaspersky Labs," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and one of the bill's lead sponsors, said at the Capitol, referencing previous action to block technology from other Chinese and Russian firms. "Instead of playing Whac-A-Mole on Huawei one day, ZTE the next, Kaspersky, TikTok, we need a more comprehensive approach to evaluating and mitigating these threats posed by these foreign technologies from these adversarial nations," he added. TikTok, the massively popular social video platform, has come under fire in recent years from U.S. lawmakers and regulators who have expressed increasingly dire concerns about its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, and the potential for the Chinese Communist Party to gain access the app's vast trove of user data. Sen. Mark Warner speaks during news conference with other lawmakers to introduce the RESTRICT Act in the Capitol on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. / Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The RESTRICT Act would give the Commerce Department tools to mitigate threats from foreign technology companies, including banning them, and create a "rules-based process" aimed at withstanding potential legal challenges, Warner said. It would also encourage the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify some information on why the technology companies posed an unacceptable risk. Story continues "We've got to have our intelligence community be forward-leaning at being willing to declassify the information about why some of these foreign-based technologies pose national security risks, so we're not just asking the public to trust us," Warner said. The group, led by Warner and Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, also includes Democratic Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Republican Sens. Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah. "There are a lot of us that are concerned about privacy," Romney said. "We say, 'Gosh, we don't want the government to know everything we're doing. We want to protect our personal privacy.' Well, one thing a lot worse than having our government infringe on our privacy is having the Chinese Communist Party infringe on our privacy and be able to track us and follow us." The White House said it backed the legislation, the first time it has formally endorsed a plan that could lead to a ban on TikTok. "This legislation would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services operating in the United States in a way that poses risks to Americans' sensitive data and our national security," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesperson for TikTok said in a statement that "the swiftest and most thorough way to address any national security concerns about TikTok is for [the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States] to adopt the proposed agreement that we worked with them on for nearly two years." "We have been waiting for CFIUS to finalize our agreement for over six months now, while our status has been debated in public in a way that is divorced from the facts of that agreement and what we've achieved already," Oberwetter said. "We will continue to do our part to deliver a comprehensive national security plan for the American people." Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted along party lines on a separate bill that would allow President Biden to ban TikTok. House Democrats on the committee voted against it, citing concerns about unintended consequences and the legislation's scope. The Senate and House voted last year to ban the app from government devices, and the White House recently gave agencies 30 days to implement the ban. TikTok has defended its handling of user data and said it does not share data with the Chinese government. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify to Congress later this month. New details emerge about kidnapping in Mexico after 2 Americans killed, 2 rescued Mexico's medical tourism attracts Americans to travel to risky areas U.S. reportedly considering reinstating detention of migrant families Seattle Public Schools superintendent Brent Jones told the School Board that improving math and reading results is difficult on top of the already challenging task of catching students up after pandemic learning losses. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) officials are using various strategies to boost the math and reading proficiency of Black male students, which will in their opinion be advantageous to all students, namely other groups of students furthest from educational justice. According to The Seattle Times, Superintendent of Schools Brent Jones has indicated that these two subject areas have been the most difficult for Black male students, especially on top of the already challenging task of bringing them up to speed after pandemic learning losses. Seattle attracted widespread attention in 2016 for having the fifth-largest gap in academic achievement between Black and white students among the 200 largest school districts in the nation. Seattle Public Schools will begin implementing enVision, a new math curriculum, this school year. It is designed to make math and literacy classes more equitable. (Photo Credit: Screenshot/YouTube.com/KING5 Seattle News) In response, SPS established the Office of African American Male Achievement in 2019, a project aimed at incorporating Black male student views across all departments and schools within the district. The district also created objectives through 2026 based on the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) results. The standardized exam was administered statewide in the spring, including scores for third-grade reading and seventh-grade math. The goal is for 70% of seventh-grade Black male students to score a proficient or higher on the SBA math test by 2026. (The focus on raising scores among these students is part of an initiative to give these kids more science, technology, engineering, math, or STEM opportunities.) However, 45% achieved well below proficiency on the Spring 2022 exam. About 24% met or exceeded math proficiency, while 23% received a below grade. The districts goal for English language arts is for 70% of third-grade Black male students to receive proficient scores by Spring 2024. Nearly 32% who took the standardized English language arts exam in Spring 2022 scored proficient or better. However, this fell short of the districts target by about 16 percentage points. Story continues Caleb Perkins, executive director of college and career preparation, stated that the math data is a little bit more concerning, but pointed out that they only recently started with particular efforts. Among these efforts is enVision, a new math curriculum whose goal is to help students gain a deeper understanding of math to solve problems more effectively and comprehend why they are solved. It is to be implemented this school year. There is a common belief in our society that some people are math people and that other people are not, said math program manager Elissa Farmer, according to The Times. Societal beliefs impact what students can do and what educators think what students can do. In a first, SPS is also evaluating student experiences through ongoing feedback gleaned from its report, Our Voice Our Vision: Strategies for Honoring and Supporting Black Excellence In Seattle Public Schools, which makes recommendations for improving academics among Black students. The report has spawned at least two initiatives. One is the so-called climate survey. Essentially, students indicate how well they believe they will do in math and reading classes. So far, they have been self-reporting much better outcomes than their test scores indicate. The bottom line, added Perkins, is we need to dramatically improve our system to promote literacy and math outcomes. There is optimism that the five strategies, which make up the second initiative that the report spawned, will help achieve this for Black male students as well as other students of color, multilingual learners and students with individualized education plans. The strategies are excellent instruction and joyful learning; strong connections and connected families; expanded learning and enrichment; equitable policies and student supports, and opportunity pathways. These strategies are grounded in the research and engagement with students and families, said Jones, The Times reported. Weve thought through how each of these strategies and initiatives will lead to improved student outcomes. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post If Black male student math performance improves, all students benefit, Seattle school district theorizes appeared first on TheGrio. The Vega-C rocket taking off from the Kourou space base, French Guiana on December 20, 2022. The Ukrainian space agency is not too happy with the results of an investigation into the Vega-C rocket anomaly, which blamed a faulty part made in Ukraine for the mission failure. In a statement issued on Monday, the State Space Agency of Ukraine condemned a recent failure report, arguing that the presented conclusions remain to be premature and may still require further investigation to identify if there could be additional factors that led to the failure of Vega C LV launch, the space agency wrote. Read more On Friday, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced the results of a months-long investigation into the launch failure of its Vega-C rocket in December 2022. The rockets second stage, called the Zefiro 40, suffered a decrease in pressure and the mission was terminated about 2 minutes and 27 seconds after launch. An Independent Enquiry Commission determined that the throat insert, a component of Zefiro 40s nozzle, was overly eroded, leading to the drop in pressure. Avio, the Italian company that built Vega-C, has since decided that it will no longer use that type of throat insert, which was produced by Ukrainian company Yuzhnoye, for future models of the rocket. The Commission confirmed that the cause was an unexpected thermo-mechanical over-erosion of the carbon-carbon (C-C) throat insert of the nozzle, procured by Avio in Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian government is not convinced with the results of the investigation. The Statement which is based on the conclusions of the Independent Enquiry Commission unfortunately leaves no grounds for further discussions and casts a shadow over the reputation of the space industry of Ukraine, Ukraines space agency wrote in its statement. The space agency also added that the components delivered to the Vega-C rocket were completely compliant with the requirements imposed. Story continues Ukrainian specialists who participated in a certain part of investigation which they were granted access to, provided their considerations and suggestions that objectively did not find reflection in the conclusions of the Independent Enquiry Commission, the statement added. Conditions in Ukraine have been steadily deteriorating since 2014, when Russia first invaded the country. And now, with the ongoing war with Russia in the east, its far worse. Ukraines space agency may or may not have provided a substandard component to Avio, and its likely well never know. That said, it takes a village to both test and launch a rocket, and it wouldve been refreshing to see the blame get spread around, instead of it being pinned to a single provider. Indeed, ESA and the European space industry as a whole are now laser-focused on getting the Vega-C rocket back in the air and delivering payloads to space. It seems unlikely that ESA and its partners will honor Ukraines request to re-open the investigation, as they look to leave the failed launch behind them. More: Florida Startup Moves Closer to Building Data Centers on the Moon More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Chatiqua Keyes-Carr purchased her house in the city of Erie after working through a financial literacy program provided by the Erie Housing Authority and Eagle's Nest Leadership Corp. For a time, Chatiqua Keyes-Carr, a 31-year-old mother of two, was not eager to visit her bank. It was a reminder that her account was several hundred dollars in the red. "I got caught in a scam, money got drawn out of my account, and I owed money, she said. But instead of taking care of it, I avoided that account for a long time. A child care instructor who spent seven years in public housing, Keyes-Carr said she's turned her finances around thanks to programs in financial literacy provided by the Erie Housing Authority and the Eagles Nest Leadership Corp. A closed bank office in the 700 block of East Avenue is indicative of a shortage of banks in a broad area of Erie's east side. Those programs helped Keyes-Carr to save about $6,500 to purchase her first home, a four-bedroom house in the 2500 block of Wayne Street. Keyes-Carr said the experience reinforced the importance of personal financial responsibility. And Keyes-Carr also believes it is important for financial institutions to have a strong and easily accessible presence in all neighborhoods, especially low-income and minority communities, to give residents a bridge to the kind of assistance and knowledge that she used to remake her life. In Erie, some view that kind of access as being in short supply. "There are hardly any banks in any areas of the minority community. That's a huge problem," said Angela Euell-McNair, who serves on the Erie School Board and owns Jumpstart Early Learning Center at the Booker T. Washington Center. The Rev. Jerry Priscaro of St. Ann Catholic Church on East Avenue remembers when banks could still be found in his eastside neighborhood. Angela Euell-McNair He said it meant small business owners had just a short trip to drop off their daily deposits. It meant there was a good chance the person behind the counter might recognize you if you went in to talk about a mortgage. The presence of the bank building and its employees was a message, it seems to him, that the bank believed in the neighborhood. "We used to have a bank on East Avenue," said Priscaro, who is the coordinator of the East Avenue/Hess Avenue Neighborhood Watch. "Now, I personally don't know if there is a bank on the east side from the bayfront to East 38th." Story continues The Rev. Jerry Priscaro of St. Ann Catholic Church. For Euell-McNair, that's a minor but frequent inconvenience. Several times a week, she drives deposits from her business in the 1700 block of Holland Street to her bank at Seventh and State streets. "That's a pretty good little drive," she said. For others someone who doesn't drive or isn't savvy with mobile banking that distance serves as a barrier, she said. "It makes it hard. I see a lot of people spending money to go to check-cashing services. I see them lined up on payday," Euell-McNair said. "They just have nowhere else to go." Shrinking numbers The changes Priscaro has seen in his neighborhood aren't unique to Erie. Banks across the country continue to close more branches than they open. It's true in Pennsylvania. It's true in Ohio. It's true in Michigan. And it's especially true in the country's urban areas. A study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, known as NCRC, found that the United States lost about 6,000 of its 95,000 bank branches between 2016 and 2018. Of those branches that closed, 82% were in urban ZIP codes. In Erie, the most recent round of cuts came in September, when Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group announced plans to close 280 branches by the end of 2021, including a drive-through location in the Liberty Plaza and a branch in Linesville. At about that same time, Warren-based Northwest Bank announced plans to close 42, or about 20%, of its 205 full-services offices, including the Grandview Plaza location and a branch in Lake City. More: Bank branches closing in Erie, Crawford counties Even after those most recent cuts, and earlier rounds of shuttered branches, bank offices remain plentiful in downtown Erie and in most suburban areas of Millcreek, Harborcreek and Summit townships. Bank offices can also be found in the county's smaller population centers including Corry, Waterford, Union City and Wesleyville. In fact, nine different banks operate 44 branches in the city of Erie and surrounding suburbs. Another 13 credit unions also operate in the city, some of them from multiple locations, according to creditunionsonline.com. But you won't find them on East Avenue, Parade or East 26th streets or in most of Erie's inner-city neighborhoods. Outside of the Peach Street and State Street corridor, bank and credit union branches are in short supply in large swaths of the city, particularly on the city's east side and north of East 38th St. Consider this: An examination of 12 census tracts on Erie's east side all east of State Street, west of Bird Drive and Franklin Avenue, and north of East 33rd Street shows the area is home to 31,125 people, according to censusreporter.org. What that area is not home to is a banking institution. Understanding the change Competing forces are at work, said Greg Filbeck, director of the Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend. Greg Filbeck, director of the Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend. On one hand, the Community Reinvestment Act, enacted in 1977 and designed to encourage banks to meet the needs of all segments of their communities, including low-income areas, "kind of forced banks to be good citizens," Filbeck said. But the reality of bank branches in city neighborhoods also has been shaped by the financial crisis of 2007-2008. "There is an increased push for ensuring capital adequacy of banks," Filbeck said. "There is more of a focus on ensuring capital adequacy of banks and maintaining their portfolio." Maintaining a local branch can cost more than $1 million a year, he said. Pete Sitter, spokesman for Erie-based Marquette Savings Bank, said the bank hasn't lost sight of its obligations. "All our branch locations fulfill the mandates of the Community Reinvestment Act that require all banks to meet the needs of the communities they serve," he said in an emailed response to a question. "In fact, our Peach Street office which is located in one of the poorest ZIP codes in Pennsylvania serves lower income neighborhoods in the lower east and west sides," he said. Study: Eries 16501 is states poorest ZIP code "It is also important to know that Marquette has significant commitments of support for organizations that directly impact inner-city residents such as: Our West Bayfront, The Sisters of Saint Joseph east and west side Neighborhood Networks and the Saint Martin Center, where we have sponsored financial education programs in addition to neighborhood revitalization efforts," Sitter said. Cost-cutting move Local financial institutions acknowledge that branch locations have been declining for decades. The reason is simple: "Lower profit margins," said Thomas Brennan, spokesman for Erie Federal Credit Union. "Financial institutions were looking to reduce costs by closing inefficient branch office locations. Also, there were a number of mergers after the financial crisis that forced branch consolidation and reduction," he said in an emailed response to a question. He continued, "U.S. banks continue to close brick and mortar branches in record numbers as customers are significantly increasing their use of mobile/online banking and noting a decline in foot traffic. The closures are/were driven by a combination of 'digital adoption' and demographics. Younger people are less likely to visit branches." Does location matter? But with the growth of mobile and online banking, it's fair to ask how much location really matters. After all, millions of Americans are customers of online banks they never visit. More: How to bank during a pandemic Davona Pacley, one of the co-founders of Erie's Black Wall Street, understands the argument. She has had bank accounts for much of her life but doesn't often visit a bank in person. Still, Pacley views convenient access to banks as a community priority. Davona Pacley In some cases, the presence of a bank office is symbolic, an expression of confidence, "that there is going to be other things flourish in that community," Pacley said. "Banks do need to have centralized space to show there is growth there and that there can be possibilities and homeownership," Pacley said. "If you don't want a bank in the community, you don't want to see the community grow." "Many people don't feel comfortable with some banks and the banks don't feel comfortable with them, either," Priscaro said. "It helps if a bank has a vested interest in a neighborhood." The three financial institutions that responded to questions from the Erie Times-News, Erie Federal Credit Union, PNC and Marquette Savings Bank, each stressed in different ways that their existing locations, especially those in downtown Erie, are geared to meeting the needs of the inner-city population. In detailed responses, all three struck common themes, writing about their roles in financial literacy and proximity to inner-city residents. Brennan, of the Erie Federal Credit Union, said, "We continue to serve a significant number of members who reside in underserved, inner-city neighborhoods. For example, we have over 3,400 members who reside in the 16501, 16503 ZIP codes. We know that for us to make an impact in a particular community or part of the community, we need to be there." Bank officials say that maintaining an office isn't the only way to demonstrate commitment. The decision about where to locate a bank branch "would likely not be a direct link to additional investment in poorer neighborhoods," Sitter said. "In general, banks locate where other businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, department stores and post offices are located and people can make all their stops in one area." Jim Stevenson, regional president for PNC, said his bank contributes to the community in numerous ways. "Our investments in Erie County include our comprehensive collaboration with several organizations, like St. Martin Center and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pa.," Stevenson said. Especially important, he said, "has been our collaboration with Eagles Nest Leadership Corp. to promote job skills training and financial education." Why banks matter Filbeck, who has been working on an initiative to bring financial literacy to high school students, said a lack of a banking relationship tends to force people toward predatory lenders and check-cashing services. "It's a supply-demand relationship," Filbeck said. "If you don't have a supply (of banks) who can charge reasonable fees for basic banking services, it's a captive market. When you don't have these types of organizations, people tend to live with current consumption. There is nothing in their environment to encourage that process of saving." Euell-McNair knows something about that world. She grew up in a household where her mother would go to a bank, but her father would pay a fee each time he needed to cash a check. "My mom was more educated in that area," she said. "I think a lot of people are misinformed. I am able to see both sides of that." Some argue that having a bank on the next block isn't essential. But after securing a $22,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan with the help of her bank, Euell-McNair believes having a relationship with a bank, wherever it might be located, is important. "At that time I was going into that bank almost every other day. If I wasn't going into that bank and I didn't have those relationships, I wouldn't have gotten that loan either." According to a report by the Hope Policy Institute, which works to help shape financial policy, people who don't use banks pay a price. "Approximately 34 million households in the United States live at least partially outside the financial mainstream," according to the institute. "As a result, households that live outside the financial mainstream spend nearly 10 percent of their annual income on interest and fees from non-bank services." Pacley said she understands that proximity isn't the only thing that keeps people away from banks or credit unions. She has friends her own age and younger who don't have bank accounts. "A lot of people in our community don't trust banks," she said. "I have met a lot of older people who do not keep their money in banks. They keep it in a can on top of the fridge. There is still that mistrust." In some cases, experience with expensive overdraft fees is to blame, she said. More: Getting started in online banking Not a bank desert While the nearest bank is often a short car trip or bus ride away for many in the city of Erie, few residents could be described as living in a bank desert. Although a food desert is often defined as an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable fresh food, a 2019 study by the Federal Reserve Bank describes bank deserts as a place with no bank branch within 10 miles. Opinions vary on what it means to live in a community with limited access to banks. A 2019 report on banking deserts by the Bank Policy Institute argues that concerns about the inclusiveness of the U.S. banking system have been overstated. The BPI study concluded, "the vast majority of the U.S. population has access to a bank with only 6 percent of Americans living in banking deserts, and (2) those living in low-income or minority areas are more likely to have better access to bank branches than those living in middle- or upper-income areas." The Federal Reserve paints a bleaker picture, saying that people who don't have access to a financial institution are 20% more likely to have no credit score, a hurdle for anyone trying to obtain a loan. According to the Federal Reserve, "The negative effects are similar to having a $6,000 reduction in annual income." Keyes-Carr, whose path to homeownershipwas highlighted on social media by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, remembers thinking about the distance to bank branches when she lived in public housing. "When you actually have banks in your community, its easier for you to go there and ask questions. You can find out much easier about what programs are out there to help you, she said. 'Chipping away at hope' Gary Horton, president of the NAACPs Erie branch, said the lack of bank branches in some sections of Eries inner city speaks to the broader issue of disinvestment. Its a continuation of chipping away at inner-city peoples hope, Horton said. Weve seen it with schools closing. With supermarkets going away. And now you see it in some parts of the city with banks." However, Horton said, mechanisms exist that can forge solutions. Community Benefit Agreements are one possible remedy, Horton said. Such agreements are legally binding documents that usually stipulate that multimillion-dollar economic development projects must have a tangible, positive impact on residents and affected neighborhoods. Gary Horton, then 68, president of the Urban Erie Community Development Corp., is part of a group that wants to develop a health and wellness center, an urban farming facility and a solar panel network on the 25-acre Savocchio Park property, shown here June 4, 2020. The land is located near East 16th Street and Downing Avenue in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Erie, Pennsylvania. Creating bank branches or in-person banking options in underserved areas could be accomplished as part of a CBA tied to a large-scale community improvement project, he said. Horton said banking options for underserved residents/businesses could also be forged as part of a project in any of Erie's eight federal Opportunity Zones, all of which are in designated low-income census tracts. I think the banks have the incentives, now they have to have the commitment and the creativity to come into these areas, Horton said. You need creativity and non-status quo thinking. The tools and the resources are there to do that. But there is little to suggest a change in direction. In fact, trends suggest more cuts will come. "While the need for a branch office will always be there, the traditional branch office is evolving," Sitter said. "The popularity and prevalence of smartphones and access to the internet has enhanced the use of online and mobile banking." The coronavirus has only accelerated the process, forcing thousands of local customers to make do with something other than a face-to-face meeting at the bank. But Pacley said she hasn't given up on banks and she hasn't given up on the idea of seeing more bank offices in the neighborhoods where people live. Banks should be more than places that hold on to your money and cash your checks, she said. "I think if banks focused more on getting into their own homes and focused more on homeownership I think there would be a wave," she said. Bishop Dwane Brock, of Victory Christian Center and Eagles Nest Leadership Corp., is one of the people who helped Keyes-Carr expand her financial knowledge. Brock, who has worked with several local banks, including PNC, on financial literacy programs for high school students and young adults, recognizes the role financial institutions are playing in financial literacy. More: How schools can teach kids to be smart consumers But he also sees the value of what's been lost. "Minorities need to be able to walk into a bank and see people who look like them tellers, loan officers, bank managers, Brock said. That is very important. But there is more to it than that. If youre not using a bank, if you dont have a bank close to you that you can access and maintain an account at, then you dont exist economically in a sense, he said. This subscriber-only article has been made available to all viewers. Thank you for your support of local journalism in northwestern Pennsylvania. Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Area of inner-city Erie barren of banks, economic benefits they bring We no longer have to count how many jelly beans are in a jar, but old battles have become new again, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama told theGrio. As the nation marks 58 years since Bloody Sunday, Black civil rights leaders and elected officials are committed to winning what they see as the modern fight to protect voting rights. On March 7, 1965, Alabama state troopers pummeled voting rights activists on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma as they attempted to make their way to Montgomery, the state capital, to protest Jim Crow laws that denied the right to vote for millions of Black Americans. Within months, the violence of that day propelled the nation forward and galvanized Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. However, nearly six decades later, leaders warn that the country is slipping backward in the progress to achieve racial equality and protect the right to vote. In this March 7, 1965 file photo, an Alabama state trooper swings a billy club at John Lewis (right foreground), chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, to break up a voting rights march in Selma, Alabama. Lewis went on to continue efforts against voter suppression as a U.S. congressman. (Photo: AP/File) We no longer have to count how many jelly beans are in a jar, but old battles have become new again, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama told theGrio. Guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar and other voter suppression tactics used historically to stop Black Americans from exercising their right to vote compelled the marchers of Bloody Sunday led by civil rights icon John Lewis to peacefully protest against racial discrimination and intimidation at the ballot. Sewell, the only Black member of Alabamas congressional delegation, said today new legal tactics had been implemented to suppress voter turnout. Now, all of a sudden, we have state laws that will restrict you from being handed water while youre waiting in line, she said, referring to a law enacted in Georgia in 2021. Since the 2020 presidential election and following incessant false claims of voter fraud by former president Donald Trump and his allies there have been more than 400 bills introduced in states across the country that restrict voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Story continues Moreover, rulings from the Supreme Court in recent years have struck down key elements of the Voting Rights Act, making it increasingly difficult for the federal government to enforce oversight. Several legal cases, most of which involve the redistricting of congressional maps, have been battle-tested in the courts. The Brennan Center cites that of the 73 cases that have been filed challenging state drawings of maps, more than half remain pending. One of those cases is where the civil rights movement found critical momentum due to the events of Bloody Sunday. The fight to restore the full enforceability of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is hanging in the balance as the Supreme Court is reviewing yet another Alabama case before them, said Sewell. When you think about what questions were asked, and the conservative nature of this [Supreme Court], it will strike another big blow to the Voting Rights Act by this time attacking Section 2, which allows for people to sue and show racial discrimination in voting after the fact. People gathered in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday to listen to the speech of President Joe Biden on the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. One sign bears the likeness of the late Rep. John Lewis, who was among the marchers beaten in 1965. (Photo: Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Svante Myrick, president and CEO of the progressive advocacy group People For the American Way, says he doesnt believe its a coincidence that the rise in bills attempting to limit voting happened after the 2020 death of John Lewis. They were thinking to themselves, Okay, there he goes they have no defenders left. It is time to carry out the full-out assault that weve wanted to see, frankly, since the Civil War, Myrick told theGrio. He said the goal of far right-wing conservatives is to take away the right to vote for any people that [they] deem to be insufficiently American people who are not white, people who are not men, and frankly, people who will not vote conservatively. He continued: But that coordinated attack only comes because they think nobodys watching. Myrick said now more than ever, pro-voting rights lawmakers and activists have to beat back those bills in the state legislature and fight to pass more progressive legislation. Last year, Democrats attempted to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore key protections of the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court reversed, and the Freedom to Vote Act, which would expand voting protections. However, Democrats failed to overcome Senate Republicans use of the filibuster tactic. In a divided Congress in which the House of Representatives is led by Republicans resistant to passing any voting rights legislation, Myricks admits, Its not going to pass this year. He still applauds President Joe Biden for going on the record to call for ending the filibuster to pass voting rights reform on Capitol Hill, a position the White House was previously reluctant to take. [It] was a direct result of a lot of organizing by People for the American Way and other similar groups, said Myrick. That is a huge breakthrough. It creates not only an opportunity in 2024, but actually something to run on in 2024 a platform that should inspire and motivate voters. President Joe Biden delivers a speech on March 5 to mark the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. More than 600 civil rights demonstrators were beaten by white police officers as they tried to cross the bridge during a 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery on March 7, 1965. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) In the absence of some of the legal protections of the Voting Rights Act and the emergence of state laws that policy advocates say are making it harder for Black and minority groups to vote, there have been examples of high turnout among impacted communities. That has been largely credited to organizers who ensured voters knew how and when to vote. Tafeni English, the Alabama state director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said, Theres this civic engagement that has to continue happening to combat voter suppression. It looks very dark, and it looks very bleak, but at the same time, those are opportunities and always have been for movements to strategize and to collectively fight this, she told theGrio. English, who helped lead a memorial celebration this Bloody Sunday anniversary as director of the Civil Rights Memorial Center, said SPLC launched the Vote Your Voice grant program that funds grassroots organizations. We realized, she explained, that in order for us to really tackle this issue of voter suppression, we have to have people on the ground, empowering people and reminding them of their power. However, Myrick warned that out-organizing voter suppression is unsustainable and costly. A short-term, maximal effort voter turnout can get us through a cycle or two or three, he said, but it will wear out voters, volunteers and donors. On the first day of early voting in Georgia for the 2020 general election, people wait in line Oct. 12 at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center in Atlanta. Among new tactics decried as voter suppression is a Georgia law that prohibits giving water to people standing in line to vote. (Photo: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images) Myrick continued: This level of sustained effort to overcome a set of rules that have been rigged is not what we should expect or demand from communities that are already underinvested in. He called on Congress and Biden to do everything they can to make voting easy, accessible, safe and convenient. Advocates believe it will take a multi-racial, multi-generational and multi-religious coalition similar to the marchers on Bloody Sunday to win the long-term battle for voting rights. It is because of that intersectionality, of course, that they won, said Myrick. We should take that lesson from Bloody Sunday, too, as we form coalitions, making sure that our tent is wide enough. The truth, he added, is that the majority of Americans want racial equality. Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, noted that a small minority of white men in power leads the political forces behind voter suppression. They have shown that they will tear the democracy down and allow for there to be a straw man leadership if it takes care of a minority of a certain type white, primarily male and stay in power over everybody else, Campbell told theGrio. Because at the end of the day, thats really whats driving a lot of this. The issue around voting rights is not just a Black issue; its an American issue, she added, and we all have a role to play in that. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post On Bloody Sunday anniversary, Black leaders say the fight for voting rights endures appeared first on TheGrio. The gunshots rang out intermittently outside of Joe's Pub & Grill on East Dublin Granville Road as Columbus police officers waited, guns drawn, attempting to locate the man who was firing them. Body camera footage released Tuesday by the Columbus Division of Police shows the roughly more than two minutes that passed in the early hours of Saturday before the armed man who police identified Monday as Pataskala resident Mark A. Sharpe emerged in plain sight, firing on officers and prompting them to fire back and strike him multiple times. "He's in between cars in the parking lot," one officer can be heard saying in the footage before gunfire was exchanged in the pub's parking lot on the city's Northeast Side. "We really don't have eyes on him." As Columbus police officers Evan Romine and Kenneth Sauer took cover together behind a cruiser, a nearby civilian sheltering with them can be heard saying: "That dude's probably about to die tonight." "Very possibly," one of them replied. Police dispatchers had received three 911 calls around 12:30 a.m. Saturday which the division has also now released in which callers indicated the man was possibly intoxicated and, after he was kicked out of the bar, smashed a window of a vehicle outside, where he retrieved a handgun. Body camera footage shows Columbus police officers, guns drawn, moments before they were fired upon by a male suspect and returned fire, wounding him. One gunshot is audibly heard in one of the 911 calls, sending the patrons of the pub at 4949 East Dublin Granville Road fleeing to the bathrooms for shelter. "Oh my God, he just shot in here," one female caller exclaims. "Everyone get down and get back here now!" Sharpe, 39, has since been charged with three count of felonious assault for firing at three officers when they responded to the scene of the shooting outside the pub, which is located just west of Hamilton Road. Previous coverage:Three Columbus officers identified who exchanged gunfire with Pataskala man, wounding him Also on Monday, Columbus police identified the three officers who reportedly exchanged gunfire with Sharpe as Romine an eight-year veteran of the division as well as Sauer and Tamer Khadre, who have each been with the division for four years. Story continues In the body camera footage, a single shot can be heard when the first officers began to approach the gunman outside the bar. The officers, believing the gunman was firing at them, radioed the information to dispatchers and took cover behind their vehicles. "He's firing at us," one of the officers says. Amid the confusion and with little visibility in the dimly lit parking lot, officers strained to to identify where exactly the armed man was located. More officers continued to arrive on scene, and eventually they determined that he was likely between two vehicles outside the bar. As shots ring out sporadically, officers can be heard giving verbal commands to the man to put up his hands. Body and dash camera video shows the suspect fired at least three shots before the spree crescendoed in the violent confrontation with the officers. After a few minutes pass, the gunman appears to be seen emerging from between the two cars toward one group of officers. One of those officers yells for the man to put his hands up. Instead, the suspect can be seen stopping, assuming a spread-legged stance and pointing his handgun at officers, firing multiple rounds as officers return fire. Dash camera footage shows him falling to the ground and officers immediately approaching him. Body camera footage from Romine, who can be seen brandishing an assault rifle-type weapon, shows him kicking the gun away from the suspect, sending it sliding under a nearby car. As the man later identified as Sharpe lies critically wounded on the ground, officers pat him down and one officer attempts to handcuff him. But because Sharpe had a gunshot wound on his arm, officers cannot successfully apply the handcuffs. Homicides:Columbus police identify two victims killed in West Side shooting No one else was injured, and police reported recovering the gun at the scene. Footage shows officers rendering medical aid to Sharpe at the scene in accordance with Andre's Law, a law named for Andre Hill, the 47-year-old man fatally shot in 2020 by then-Columbus officer Adam Coy, that requires police officers to give first aid until paramedics arrive. Officers can be seen and heard applying gauze and at least one tourniquet to stop bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Body camera footage shows the responding police and medical presence in the aftermath of a police shooting on Saturday outside Joe's Pub & Grill on East Dublin Granville Road Sharpe was initially transported to Mount Carmel East hospital in critical condition, but police said on Monday that Sharpe appeared poised to survive his injuries. Police chase:Columbus officer injured after armed robbery suspects crash into cruiser during chase The shooting marks the third instance so far in 2023 that Columbus police officers have fired and struck a suspect, one of which proved fatal. On Feb. 5, officer Joshua Ohlinger shot Michael Cleveland, 66, after a brief foot chase following an attempted traffic stop on the South Side, potentially paralyzing him for life, according to his attorney. Six days later on Feb. 11, SWAT officers with the Columbus Division of Police fatally shot Andrews, 46, of Athens, in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Grove City while trying to arrest him on warrant for rape. Columbus police shootings in 2023:Columbus faith leaders, activists lament police shootings As it does for all incidents in which a Columbus Division of Police officer discharges a weapon, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation into the shooting and the circumstances that led to it. elagatta@dispatch.com @EricLagatta bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police release body cam, 911 calls from Saturday shooting By Valerie Insinna and Abhijith Ganapavaram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new supplier problem has stymied deliveries of Boeing's 767 freighter and KC-46 tanker, the company confirmed on Tuesday. According to a March 6 report by aviation publication The Air Current, Boeing has not delivered any 767-based jets in 2023 due to a quality issue surrounding the center fuel tank made by Triumph Group's aerospace structures unit, which did not complete cleaning and paint adhesion processes before delivering the items. In a statement on Tuesday, Boeing acknowledged a "quality issue" had forced the company to rework 767Fs and KC-46s before delivery, but said it had not changed its delivery plans for the year. Boeing declined to comment on when the issue was first identified and how many aircraft could be affected by the problem, which requires the primer inside the fuel tank to be removed and then repainted. The Air Current reported that it could impact more than a dozen aircraft in Boeing's inventory as well as delivered planes stretching back to 2021. Triumph declined to comment on the matter, saying it had sold its aerostructures unit in July 2022. It is unclear whether the affected fuel tanks were made by Triumph or under the unit's new ownership of Daher Aerospace Inc. The U.S. Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The 767-related issue is the latest evidence of the hurdles facing deliveries and adds further texture to a challenging industrial picture ranging from supply chain pressures to internal snags at both Boeing and Airbus. On Monday, Leeham News reported a software problem had delayed some 737 MAX deliveries by up to a year. The problem concerns the Option Selection Software used when an aircraft built for one customer has to be reconfigured before being delivered to a different customer. A Boeing spokesperson told Reuters the issue "does not affect the timing of Boeing airplane deliveries and has no impact to our delivery outlook." Boeing expects to deliver at least 400 of its bestselling 737 MAX narrowbody planes in 2023. Story continues Boeing characterized the problem as a documentation issue that will not require rewriting software, and which mostly impacts aircraft that have already been delivered. The story prompted a series of broadly similar analyst notes noting the topic was not new, though it has not apparently previously been reported by media or analysts. "The potential impact could be delays for 30-40 aircraft," wrote Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu. Meanwhile, deliveries of the widebody 787 Dreamliner remain paused due to a data analysis error related to the aircraft's forward pressure bulkhead. Boeing has not changed its delivery target of 70 to 80 Dreamliners this year. (Reporting by Valerie Insinna, Abhijith Ganapavaram; Editing by Mark Potter and Deepa Babington) Extra border patrol agents have been transferred to points of the U.S.-Canada border as an influx of migrants many from Mexico are starting to cross into the country from the north. The 25 extra agents have been assigned to a busy part of the northern border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson told NBC News. Some of those agents had previously been assigned to the southern border, NBC said, citing a source familiar with the move. The agents have been transferred to the Swanton Sector of the U.S.-Canada border, which includes all of Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire. While the apprehension numbers are small compared to other areas with irregular migration flows, Swanton Sector apprehensions constitute a large change in this area, the CBP spokesperson told NBC. The deployed team will serve as a force multiplier in the region and assist to deter and disrupt human smuggling activities being conducted in the Swanton Sector area of responsibility. CBP encounters at the northern land border have surged in the last two years, according to the departments data. Overall encounters in January were up nearly 100 percent over one year ago. But the surge in the Swanton Sector has been even more severe. Encounters in this fiscal year have already blown past the last fiscal year. Agents had just 24 encounters in January 2022 this January, there were 367. The surge has caught the attention of federal authorities. It comes as more migrants are choosing to fly from Mexico to Canada and then attempt to enter the U.S. from the north; statistically, authorities are less likely to turn them away in the north under the federal governments Title 42 program. But agents say the conditions in the north at this time of year, with frigid temperatures and winter weather, means migrants are faced with dangerous conditions when trying to enter the U.S. Swanton Sector. Patrol Chief Agent Robert Garcia said in a statement last month that it was dangerous for both migrants and patrol agents. As we progress deeper into winter and continue to address the ongoing pace of illicit cross-border traffic, the level of concern for the lives and welfare of our Border Patrol Agents and those we are encountering particularly vulnerable populations continues to climb, Garcia said. It cannot be stressed enough: not only is it unlawful to circumvent legal means of entry into the United States, but it is extremely dangerous, particularly in adverse weather conditions, which our Swanton Sector has in incredible abundance. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Over the past year, many Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. View our latest analysis for Boston Scientific Boston Scientific Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The insider, Eric Francis Thepaut, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$848k worth of shares at a price of US$40.99 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of US$47.74. As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. This single sale was just 22% of Eric Francis Thepaut's stake. Insiders in Boston Scientific didn't buy any shares in the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! I will like Boston Scientific better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Insiders At Boston Scientific Have Sold Stock Recently The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of Boston Scientific shares. In total, insider Arthur C. Butcher sold US$583k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. This may suggest that some insiders think that the shares are not cheap. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Boston Scientific Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Boston Scientific insiders own 0.2% of the company, currently worth about US$165m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Boston Scientific Insiders? An insider hasn't bought Boston Scientific stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Be aware that Boston Scientific is showing 4 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is a bit unpleasant... If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Ben Savage, former star of Boy Meets World, is running for Congress. Savage, 42, confirmed on Instagram that he is running to represent District 30 in the Los Angeles area, which is currently held by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff is running for the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, who last month announced plans to retire. I am a proud Californian, union member and longtime resident of District 30 who comes from a family of unwavering service to our country and community, Savage wrote in an Instagram post announcing his candidacy on March 6. I firmly believe in standing up for what is right, ensuring equality and expanding opportunities for all, his post also read. Im running for Congress because its time to restore faith in government by offering reasonable, innovative and compassionate solutions to our countrys most pressing issues. District 30 includes areas such as Hollywood, Burbank and Glendale. Ben Savage and Betsy Randle in Savages Instagram announcement came after he filed paperwork for his campaign with the Federal Election Commission in January. On his campaign website, the actor referenced his past as a child actor, though without referring to Boy Meets World, in which he starred from 1993 to 2000. He also reprised his role as Cory Matthews in the Girl Meets World reboot from 2014 to 2017. Savage noted on his campaign website that thanks to his acting past, he learned the value of a hard days work by age 5 and the importance of union membership. Fans couldnt resist references to Savages Boy Meets World legacy in comments about his campaign announcement on Instagram, with one person chiming in, Boy meets congress! Mr. Feeny would be soo proud, another fan wrote. Ben savage. Honest. Loyal. Decent, another person commented, referring to Corys campaign slogan when he runs for eighth grade president in Boy Meets World. According to his campaign website, Savage graduated from Stanford University with a degree in political science and currently lives in West Hollywood. Story continues Outlining his priorities on his campaign website, Savage said he was focused on issues including reforms and improvements to police-citizen interactions, homelessness, affordable housing, protecting unions and affordable health care, among other areas. Savage was unsuccessful in a bid for a West Hollywood City Council seat last year. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Samuel Besca and Matilda Besso Besca on their wedding day in Ioannina, Greece. BOYNTON BEACH Joseph Bescas family rarely shared their story of surviving the Holocaust. But now, with the help of a sacred heirloom, the Boynton Beach resident is honoring their memory and preserving the past. On March 25, 1944, more than a decade before Joseph Besca was born, Germans deported his grandparents and his father, Samuel, to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, ripping them from their home in Greece. The family, which also included Samuel Bescas brother and two sisters, shared their final moments at the killing center. He went to the right, they went to the left, Joseph Besca said of his father. He actually saw them walking toward the crematorium. A close look at the Purim megillah, containing the "Scroll of Esther," that Joseph and Mark Besca donated to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Germans forced approximately 1,900 Jews out of Ioannina, Greece, and into the camp. Fewer than 150 people survived, including his father, who endured abuse, hunger and uncertainty until the liberation of Auschwitz. Samuel Besca then returned to his family home in Greece. There, he unearthed an item that his parents had buried outside for safekeeping: a silver case measuring about 14 inches long. The megillah case adorned with images of flowers, a crown and the Ten Commandments held a sacred text known as the "Scroll of Esther," which recounts the story of Jewish deliverance in ancient Persia. Also known as the biblical Book of Esther, the scroll is usually read during Purim, a celebratory holiday that falls on March 6 and 7 this year. And thanks to a recent donation by Joseph Besca and his brother, Mark, their father's treasured heirloom will now be archived by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and shared with the world. This megillah has an extraordinary history, said Fred Wasserman, a museum acquisitions curator. Its survival speaks to the continuity between generations despite the Holocaust, and powerfully echoes the Purim story of Jewish perseverance and survival that is recounted in the Scroll of Esther itself. Story continues "Lets share this with the world." Besca family weighs decision to donate family heirloom The heirloom, much like their fathers stories, had been kept inside the family for generations. Though he survived the genocide, Samuel Besca grappled with a lifetime of trauma and a distrust for others. He used to wake up in the middle of the night screaming, his son said. I didnt understand why until he said, I see the dogs. The German shepherds coming at me. But his family's story is filled with blessings, too. Shortly after the liberation of Auschwitz, his father reunited with a woman named Matilda Besso, his high school sweetheart. A Christian family harbored Besso before she traveled to Palestine during the war. And after she reunited with Samuel Besca, they got married, opened a small store in Greece and then gave birth to Joseph, their first son, in 1956. Samuel Besca & Matilda Besso Besca pose for a photo near Lake Pamvotis after the Holocaust. They later immigrated to New York in search of a better life for their new family. They found a tight-knit community of Jews and fellow Holocaust survivors, including many who, much like Samuel, were hesitant to relive their past. "There were people in my family that refused to talk about the Holocaust until their later years, before they passed," Joseph Besca said. "It was too painful of a memory." Samuel Besca and his wife had their second son, Mark, in 1959, giving Joseph a brother and best friend. And with their parents' passing their father in 1996 and their mother in 2009 the sons wanted to honor their family's story, both the good and bad. 'We need to be louder than hate': Officials, residents plot strategy to fight antisemitism Lake Worth High teacher removed from class after 'disturbing,' 'racially charged' incident Wild HOA board meeting boils over amid claims of forged signatures, unlawful imprisonment Joseph Besca, now 66, and Mark, now 63, also wanted to ensure that history is preserved as more Holocaust survivors pass away each year. "Mark and I talked about this at great length and we said, 'You know what? Let's share this with the world,'" Joseph said. "We have to teach this to every generation and we have to make sure it never happens again." With an office in Boca, the Holocaust Museum races to preserve history The family heirloom is now being housed at the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center. The center in Bowie, Md., less than an hour from the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., is a two-story research and storage facility that holds a majority of the museums collection. While many artifacts are on display at the museum itself, tens of thousands of items are researched and preserved at the center, which includes laboratories and a climate-controlled environment. Artifacts are sometimes rotated between the center in Maryland and the museum in Washington. And every object that enters the collection, including the Besca family heirloom, is eventually digitized and uploaded to the museums website for all to see, said Robert Tanen, director of the museums Southeast Region. The unfortunate reality is that millions and millions of stories were snuffed out and will never be told, he said. Each story and each collection thats donated to the museum is a new piece of this unfinished puzzle that well have to build the story of the Holocaust. Tanen, whose office is based in Boca Raton, said the museum is racing to document the stories of Holocaust survivors and their families while the opportunity still exists. You can shake their hand, he said of the remaining Holocaust survivors. You can give them a hug. You can take a picture with them. Yet, right now, were experiencing a resurgence in antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Imagine what thats going to be like when we dont have survivors here to stand up and tell their stories." That makes donations like Mr. Bescas that much more significant and important," he continued. To view the museum's full collection online, visit www.ushmm.org. And anyone who wants to inquire about donating an artifact can send an email to curator@ushmm.org. Giuseppe Sabella is a reporter covering Boynton Beach and Lake Worth Beach at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at gsabella@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism and subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton Beach man donates family heirloom buried during the Holocaust BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government expects to resume beef exports to China in the next few days and is planning to request a revision of the protocol that triggered the ban after it discovered a case of mad cow disease, a government official said on Tuesday. The plan to revise protocols comes a few weeks after Brazil found a case of mad cow disease in the northern state of Para, sparking a self-imposed ban on beef exports to China, in compliance with a bilateral sanitary agreement signed in 2015. Last week, a Brazilian case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy was dubbed 'atypical' after tests conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). China "may have some questions, but the expectation is that they will give an answer (about ending the ban) tomorrow or the day after," Carlos Ernesto Agustin, special advisor to the ministry of agriculture, told Reuters. The suspension of beef exports to China is a major upset for Brazilian meatpackers, which have to use other plants in South America to send product to the Asian country. "We will talk in the future and try to change the protocol. There is no need to be so extensive," Agustin said. An alternative would be, for example, to place under embargo exports of meat coming from the state or region where the case of the disease was registered, not a countrywide ban, he explained. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Andrea Ricci) BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist government, which has been reluctant to criticize Nicaragua's authoritarian President Daniel Ortega, will for the first time on Tuesday express concern over the persecution of opponents in his country, two sources said. The concern will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the sources who helped prepare the document told Reuters on Monday. Brazil was criticized on Friday for not joining a declaration signed by 55 countries that sharply criticized Ortega and for not even speaking out during the council meeting. Brazilian diplomats took part in the negotiation of the declaration criticizing Nicaragua, but chose not to endorse it because it did not leave a door open for negotiations. The alternative text, which will be presented by Brazil's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Tovar Nunes, will say that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government follows with concern the persecution of opponents, the withdrawal of their rights and expulsions from the country. At the same time, however, the Lula government wants to keep an open door to be a possible channel for dialogue, emphasizing that Brazil is committed to democracy and wants to play a "constructive" role in solving the crisis in Nicaragua. "The document expresses concern, but does not throw stones, precisely so as to leave open a possibility for dialogue," said one source, who confirmed that Brazil did not support Friday's declaration because it interrupts the possibility of mediation. Lula has long avoided criticizing the rights situation in Nicaragua and Venezuela, whose governments with origins in the left were traditionally allied to his Workers Party (PT). On Tuesday, the U.N. Human Rights Council will discuss a report that concludes there have been "serious and systematic violations" committed in Nicaragua that can be considered crimes against humanity, including torture, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary arrests. The report by the council's experts points to Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, the president's wife, as those responsible for the abuses. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito Moab Police Department via AP Brian Laundrie's mother provided new details about the letter she wrote to her son that said burn after reading on the envelope, which has become the center of a dispute in the ongoing lawsuit between the Laundries and Gabby Petitos parents. In a sworn affidavit filed on Monday, Roberta Laundrie said that the letter she wrote to her son had nothing to do with Petitos murder and should remain private. A lawyer representing Petitos parents previously called it a damning piece of potential evidence with references to burying a body. "While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brian's actions and his taking of Gabby's life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter, Roberta said in her affidavit. Petitos parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, in March sued the Laundries for emotional distress, accusing them of hiding that they knew about the murder in the weeks before Petitos body was found near a Wyoming campground. After returning to his parents Florida home, Laundrie also disappeared and was found dead by suicide in a nature preserve after a weekslong search for him. A written confession to Petitos murder was found in his backpack. In a December court hearing, Patrick Reilly, a lawyer representing the Petito family, said the letter written by Roberta could be evidence of the Laundrie familys involvement after the murder. The letter contained references to helping Laundrie get out of prison, getting a shovel, and helping bury the body, he said, according to CNN. In her affidavit filed on Monday, Roberta said the contents of her letter were taken out of context and she had written it months before her son killed Gabby. (The letter is undated, and Reilly argued it should be up for a jury to decide if its relevant to the lawsuit.) Roberta said her relationship with Brian was strained in the months leading up to the trip, and she wrote the letter with the purpose of reaching out to him during a difficult time. Story continues My words to Brian were meant to convey my love and support for my son through a light-hearted and quirky reminder that my love for him was not diminished and could not be shaken by miles of separation we would soon be faced with, she said. She admitted to writing burn after reading on the envelope, but said that it was an inside joke referring to a book Gabby had given Brian called Burn After Writing, which instructs readers to answer questions and express themselves on the page, and then burn the book. This is where my message to Brian came from and I wrote on the cover of the letter for Brian to Burn After Reading, Roberta said. In short, I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home and I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him. Roberta also hit back against suggestions that she had given the letter to Brian after the murder. "There has been some speculation that this letter was in Brian's possession or in his backpack when he died insinuating that I gave it to him as he left my home on September 13, 2021 but that is not true because the FBI had the letter in their possession and questioned members of my family about it prior to October 20, 2021 when my husband and I found Brian's remains in the reserve," Roberta said. Roberta said in her affidavit that she did not expect anyone to read the letter and argued that it should remain private. A judge has yet to rule on whether it may be submitted into evidence. In some way, I did not want anyone else to read it as I know it is not the type of letter a mother writes to her adult son and I did not want to embarrass Brian, Roberta said. That is why I wrote Burn After Reading on the envelope and I knew that Brian would know what that meant. I am now appreciative that he actually kept it. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Reilly said Gabby's parents have waited a long time for the Laundries to address their daughter's death and were offended to see Roberta's statements on Monday. "Gabbys parents are extremely offended that Roberta Laundrie used Gabby to defend herself, yet she never spoke up while Gabby was missing," Reilly said. Reilly said the letter remains relevant to the case and questioned Roberta's crediblity on when it was written. He emphasized that the letter was undated and said fully disclosing its contents could help determine when it was actually written. "Curiously, since a portion of the letter has already been disclosed, and Roberta Laundrie chose in her affidavit to disclose other portions of the letter, she doesnt want Joe and Nichole to see the entirety of the letter," Reilly said. More on this Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) that passed the Earth in 2020. Scientists expect comet C/2023 A3 will be even brighter. Alexander Ryumin/TASS via Getty Images Astronomers have spotted a newly-referenced comet that is heading towards Earth. The comet is likely to be so bright it could outshine our stars. The last time the comet visited Earth was around 80,000 years ago, astronomers said. A recently-spotted comet is expected to shine brighter than the stars in the night sky as it passes our planet, according to astronomers. The comet, named C/2023 A3, is hurtling toward the Earth at about 180,610 mph, per space.com. If all goes well, the comet, which last passed by the Earth about 80,000 years ago, will start being visible with the naked eye around October 2024, according to data from the Minor Planet Center. It could be as bright or brighter as our stars, and much more brilliant than the recent ZTF green comet that passed the Earth last month. Brighter than the Green Comet C/2023 A3 is expected to reach a brightness magnitude between -0.7 and -5, per space.com. That technical term means it will potentially be as bright as Venus in our night skies. By comparison, the recent Green Comet ZTF had a brightness of around magnitude +4.6 (the lower the magnitude, the brighter), per space.com. Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) taken at NAOJ Mitaka Campus on January 31, 2023. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan That means C/2023 A3 has the potential to be at least about 100 times brighter than ZTF, and six times brighter than NEOWISE, a comet that grazed the Earth in 2020, according to Ukrainian astronomy magazine The Universe. Space. Tech. But of course, these are just predictions, and a lot could happen to the comet before then. For one, the comet will have to survive the sun. The ball of gas, ice, and dust is now heading toward our star and it will have to survive its smoldering rays. The critical moment will be its perihelion its closest approach to the sun on September 24, 2024. Still, scientists are hopeful, according to the Universe. Space. Tech., because the comet is expected to be quite large and its perihelion is far from the sun, about 36 million miles away. NASA keeps a close eye out for objects that graze the Earth C/2023 A3 was spotted on February 22 by the NASA-funded asteroid early detection system Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Story continues The system, operated by the University of Hawaii, is made up of four telescopes placed in Hawaii, Chile, and South Africa. These automatically scan the sky to spot potential threats to Earth coming from the sky. NASA keeps a close eye on near-Earth objects that could hurt our planet, but it doesn't always catch them this early. For instance, NEOWISE was spotted only three months before it passed by the Earth in 2020. On that occasion, we were lucky and the comet only passed our planet, offering spectacular vistas to onlookers. C/2023 A3, however, isn't expected to be a planetary threat. Astronomers think it will pass about 0.5 Astronomical Units, or 44 million miles, from our planet. Read the original article on Business Insider By Andrew MacAskill and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) -Britain has set out details of a new law barring the entry of asylum seekers arriving in small boats across the Channel, a proposal some charities say could be impractical and criminalise the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boat arrivals one of his five key priorities after the number of migrants arriving on the south coast of England soared to more than 45,000 last year, up 500% in the last two years. The new legislation will mean anyone who arrives this way will be prevented from claiming asylum and deported either back to their homeland or to so-called safe third countries. Anger over immigration has played a defining role in British politics over the last decade and Sunak's Conservatives hope that by taking a hard line they can rebuild their popularity as they trail the main opposition Labour party by around 20 percentage points in opinion polls. The U.N.'s refugee agency said it was "profoundly concerned" by the proposals, which would deny people the right to asylum "no matter how genuine and compelling" individual cases may be. The government said on the first page of the draft legislation that it may not be compatible with Britain's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, meaning it could face legal challenges if made into law. Sunak said he would do "whatever is necessary" to stop the small boats and was ready to fight any legal challenges. "We're up for the fight, I wouldn't be standing here if we weren't - but we're actually confident that we will win," he told a press conference. The legislation will allow the detention of migrants without bail until they can be removed, interior minister Suella Braverman said, and those entering Britain illegally would no longer be able to use anti-slavery laws to try to block removal. Story continues Only children, people who are considered too ill to fly or those at a "real risk of serious and irreversible harm" will be allowed to claim asylum in Britain. Just under two-thirds of those who arrive on small boats are currently granted asylum or another form of humanitarian protection, interior ministry figures show. While the number of applications for asylum in the UK hit a 20-year high of nearly 75,000 in 2022, it is still below the European Union average. Germany received more than 240,000 asylum applications last year. LEGAL WRANGLING Opposition politicians and charities have questioned whether the latest plans would be any more effective than previous attempts in the last five years to deter people from making the crossing. Labour's home affairs spokesperson Yvette Cooper described the government's announcement as another "Groundhog Day" and said it should be working with other countries to address the matter. Last year, Britain agreed a deal to send tens of thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles away (6,400 km) to Rwanda. The first deportation flight was blocked by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. London's High Court then ruled it lawful in December, but opponents are seeking to appeal that verdict. Braverman said she was in discussions with the European human rights court to halt the use of injunctions to prevent the future deportation of migrants. She suggested to parliament that without changes to the law, 100 million asylum seekers could qualify for protection in Britain, but didn't provide supporting evidence for that figure. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Sarah Young, William James, Muvija M and Alistair SmoutEditing by Sharon Singleton, Bernadette Baum and Mark Potter) Emma Heming Willis, the wife of actor Bruce Willis, plead with paparazzi over the weekend to give the iconic actor space as he battles dementia. In a video posted to Instagram, Heming Willis described the struggles she faces as she tries to help her husband navigate the world. If you are someone who is looking after someone with dementia, you know how difficult and stressful it can be to get someone out into the world and just to navigate them safely, even just to get a cup of coffee, she said in the video. Photographers are complicating their efforts, she added, noting, I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your space. Please dont be yelling at my husband, asking how hes doing, whatever. The woo-hooing and the yippee-ki-yays just dont do it, ok? Give him the space. She added that purpose of her video was to raise awareness of how to treat people with dementia. Willis, known for his roles in films such as Die Hard and Pulp Fiction, was originally diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder. Last month, his family revealed his condition has developed into frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive disease that has no cure. Bruce Willis diagnosed with aphasia, stepping away from acting, family says The award-winning actor has been absent from the spotlight since his daughter, Rumer Willis, shared his initial diagnosis last year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PARIS (AP) Camellias that towered five meters (16 feet) high served as the ready-to-wear altarpiece for Chanels sparkling, bloom-inspired fall display. Meanwhile, Miuccia Pradas baby sister brand Miu Miu another headline show on Paris Fashion Weeks last day drew stars such as Kylie Minogue for its study in off-kilter creativity. Some of the show's front row seats were left empty amid France's nationwide strikes again pension reform. Here are some highlights of the fall-winter 2023-24 collections, including when Associated Press caught up with Penelope Cruz: CHANELS CAMELLIA It was the flower that launched a thousand designs. Legend has it that the camellia first became Gabrielle Coco Chanels obsession in 1913 when she pinned one to her belt seduced, the house said, by its simplicity, shape, purity and vitality. Over a century later, the winter flower is still center stage. Camellia is more than a theme, its an eternal code, creative director Virginie Viard said. I like its softness and its strength. As ever, there was a restraint in Viards design aesthetic, for instance, in the use of a limited palette of whites, shadowy blacks and shades of pink. The camellia, too, was handled strictly, adorning pockets, buttons and jackets, prints or leather shoes. But the ubiquitous sparkle of sequins and in plays in shape slits in gowns, asymmetrical coats and swooshes of diagonal fabric on skirts gave the collection motion. Viard also dabbled in mens styles with menswear jackets and dandy-like British dressing gowns. The faded colors, the dusky pink, the crafted pieces, the touches of 1960s and 70s, a certain English vibe, the comfortable enveloping coats, the authentic materials, make the collections more real, and more charming too," Viard said. PENELOPE CRUZ ON LAGERFELD Penelope Cruz revisited her memories of late designer Karl Lagerfeld following Chanels show. At a 1999 Vanity Fair party, Lagerfeld and current designer Viard were discussing the actress becoming a Chanel ambassador. It was meant to be a secret. Story continues Karl and Virginie were speaking in French and they thought I was not understanding," Cruz said. "And they were talking about me becoming an ambassador to the brand. But I understood everything, pretending that I was not, and I was looking to a different place, Cruz said. They gave me the great news quite soon after that! Cruz spoke with love for the house, which feels like a family, whose designs and magic had made her dream, even as a young girl growing up in Spain. The Oscar winner also spoke of Viards tongue-in-cheek style. Tuesdays fall-winter set was based on the 1966 movie Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? a satirical French mockumentary about runway hyperbole and the excesses of the fashion industry. But of course, Virginie does have a sense of humor, Cruz said. You have to be brave to mix some materials and colors. It was fun. MIU MIUS DISRUPTIONS Nearly 50 screens lining the walls and columns of the Palais dIena beamed out scenes of the set construction at the Miu Miu show, beside white tube lighting and a white corrugated iron backdrop. The program notes came with a text by Korean artist Geumhyung Jeong: There is a codependency, but in the end, machines do not need us. We need them. The link to the decors theme of the off-kilter fashion display was unclear to some, but Prada seemed to want to challenge the set rules of dressing. Knickers poked out from under a brown leather mini-dress, cut so short they were no longer truly underwear. The appliques on one light silk umber gown were so heavy they structured the dress rather than vice-versa. Three-dimensional flowers adorning a top were intentionally obscured by a sheer green cardigan. The fashion twists bowled over Pradas guests, who cheered and applauded, including Kylie Minogue in a demure black velvet minidress. 'CELEBUTANT' RUNWAY TURN The daughter of former NBA star Dwyane Wade and stepdaughter of actress Gabrielle Union, Zaya, 15, trod the boards at Miu Miu in her fashion week debut as a model. Im not crying, you are, Wade posted on Instagram on a story of his daughter modeling. Wade and Union sat front row in all-black outfits and shades cheering her on, when she strutted past in an oversized olive green knit coat ensemble with pencil skirt and slingback shoes. The moment may have been even more poignant after Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020, was recently officially granted gender change and name. Zaya has become a vocal advocate for queer rights and education for younger LGBTQ+ people. STRIKES, DARLING The back-to-back runways of Paris Fashion Week are frenetic. Private cars snake round blocks, snared traffic is normal and crowds of photographers make it difficult to navigate the sidewalks around show venues. As a result, social movements in the French capital are often imperceptible. The labor strikes across France on Tuesday left some chunks of front row seats empty at Miu Miu. While Chanel, which last season shut out guests who arrived a couple of minutes late, started its show gasp tardily. Both likely resulted from limited transportation options, with many Paris metro lines shuttered for the day. In addition, some guests left the city early to avoid the chaos of the strikes launched in protest of President Emmanuel Macrons proposed pension reforms. Eva Chen, head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, was one such early leaver. Chen posted videos and photos of her trying to reach Charles de Gaulle Airport, including people walking along the highway, owing to a protest blocking traffic around the airport. Y-PROJECT DISSECTS Weary fashionistas made it to the finish line at Y-Project for some representing the final big show of the Paris seasons 107 on-calendar runway collections or presentations. Glen Martens rarely disappoints with his award-winning scruffy, forward style that riffs on fashion history. Dissection was a key theme for fall with black tops snipped away to a rectangle of fabric held by straps, and denim jackets deconstructed in segments. Yet history is never too far away. An ice blue three-dimensional ruffled tunic hinted at the Shakespearean stage, and a sheer white top evoked the structure of a corset. China plays important role in stabilizing world economy: Russian expert Xinhua) 08:29, March 07, 2023 ST. PETERSBURG, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China is of great importance in stabilizing the world economy, Irina Kokushkina, associate professor of the Department of World Economy at St. Petersburg State University, has said. China has maintained stable economic growth despite some negative factors such as the impact of pandemic and the global economic downturn last year, Kokushkina said in a recent interview with Xinhua. The expert sees several reasons for China's economic growth in 2022. The first is timely taking into account all risk factors and making adjustments appropriately. The second is integrating national macro-control with market regulations to stimulate the economy. The third is relying on its own resources and releasing economic potential. China continues to increase investment into science and technology and promote major projects in the sector, the expert said, noting that China's spending on research and development rose by about 10 percent in 2022 from the previous year, the seventh year in a row of double-digit growth of the figure. The country has made biotechnology, space exploration and the development of a green economy as priorities for years. To achieve development in these areas, the country has pledged to actively increase investments. "Being a stable and reliable partner, China plays an important role in the stability of the world economy and international relations," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Camilla Alves McConaughey had a few unexpected visitors on her recent trip to Paris. While on a trip to Paris for fashion week, Alves McConaughey, who is married to actor Matthew McConaughey, shared the surprises on her Instagram story, with one photo of her daughter holding some sweet raspberry treats. "Look who showed up in Paris!!! Vida!!" she wrote over the photo. "My 13 year old." @camilamcconaughey via Instagram In a subsequent black-and-white picture, Alves McConaughey posted that her son and mother, who sat cozied up smiling together at a cafe, also headed to France for the fun. "Look who else showed up!! Levi (14 now!!) and my mom too!!," she wrote, adding green and yellow hearts. The native Brazilian also added a few lines in Portuguese, which translates to, "Look who arrived here in Paris my daughter, my son and my mother!!" @camilamcconaughey via Instagram She and Matthew McConaughey also share a 10-year-old son, Livingston. Alves McConaughey was pictured with son Levi Alves McConaughey and daughter Vida Alves McConaughey at the Stella McCartney Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 fashion show on Monday, March 6. The trio donned coordinating beige outfits, with Alves McConaughey sporting a black bandeau top and tan trousers with a blazer, fedora and snake-print heels. Meanwhile, Levi wore matching plaid pants and a zip-up under an off-white jacket, with Vida showing off a light-colored dress with an attention-grabbing female face. Camila Alves McConaughey with son Levi Alves McConaughey, and daughter Vida Alves McConaughey at the Stella McCartney Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 on March 06, 2023 in Paris, France. (Arnold Jerocki / Getty Images) But the trip to Europe wasn't seamless for the Austin-based couple. In another Instagram story posted on Sunday, March 5, Alves McConaughey showed video footage of people approaching her to ask how she was coping with her traumatic flight experience. On March 1, the model and designed was on a Lufthansa flight with Matthew McConaughey that was rerouted by severe turbulence. Alves McConaughey shared a frightening video from inside Airbus A330, which was hit by unstable air while 37,000 feet up. On (a) flight last night, the plane dropped almost 4000 feet, Alves McConaughey wrote in the caption for the video. Everything was flying everywhere. To respect the privacy of those around me, thats all I am showing, but the plane was (in) CHAOS and the turbulence (kept) on coming. The plane took off from Austin, Texas and was headed to Germany when it experienced severe turbulence while flying over Tennessee, according to NBC News. Lufthansa Flight 469 was ultimately forced to land at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C., with seven people taken to the hospital upon a rough landing. This article was originally published on TODAY.com By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday said it would deploy medical technicians and assistants from the Canadian Armed Forces to Poland to train members of the Ukrainian military in Ottawa's latest assistance to Kyiv to combat the Russian invasion. Since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, Canada has committed over C$1 billion ($726.90 million) in military assistance to Ukraine. "Canada has deployed seven Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Medical Technicians and Medical Assistants from Canadian Forces Health Services units to Poland, where they will train members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the skills needed to save lives effectively in combat situations," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Tuesday. Canadian medical trainers will integrate into the Polish-led training that is centered on advanced tactical medical skills, with focus on combat survivability, the Canadian government said, adding the medical assistance training will start in March. Canadian Armed Forces members are supporting members of Ukraine's military in the United Kingdom and Poland as part of an operation to provide broader military training. Canada is extending its efforts to train Ukrainian sappers in Poland as part of the operation until October, Ottawa added. Through this training, which started last fall, 45 Canadian Armed Forces members are equipping Ukrainian combat engineers with specialized skills such as engineering reconnaissance, and the use of explosives for demolition and de-mining. In a joint press briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, Trudeau also stressed the need to urgently provide energy equipment to Ukraine as its infrastructure has come under attack during the war. ($1 = 1.3757 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler) By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - A man accused of throwing gravel at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 2021 election campaign pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of common assault, prosecutors and his lawyer said. Trudeau was hit by a handful of gravel in 2021 while on the campaign trail as he made his way past a crowd shouting their opposition to COVID-19-related mandates and restrictions. The prime minister was not injured and his Liberal Party went on to win the election. A sentencing hearing for Shane Marshall, who is aged in the mid-20s and is from the province of Ontario, will be held on May 1. Marshall's lawyer, Luke Reidy, said the plea likely meant his client will avoid jail time in the sentencing. A CTV camera had captured what looked to be white gravel hitting Trudeau and one of his bodyguards as he walked toward his campaign bus in London, Ontario, in 2021. Marshall, who was a member of the right-wing People's Party of Canada, was charged by police with assault with a weapon. The party expelled Marshall after the incident. "I'll be communicating with the Crown's office on sentencing and there will probably be a joint submission on sentencing, and that was largely the incentive for the plea this morning," Reidy said. Marshall admitted he picked up a handful of gravel and threw it in the direction of Trudeau and a crowd of security personnel and supporters as the Liberal Party leader stepped aboard a campaign bus, CBC News reported, citing an agreed statement of facts read in court. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington, editing by Deepa Babington) Canadian premature twins Adiah Laelynn and Adrial Luka Nadarajah were given a "0% chance of survival" at birth, and now they're turning 1 (Photo via Twitter/ @GWR) These adorable Canadian premature twins are continuing to defy the odds. Over the weekend, Guinness World Records took to Twitter to celebrate Adiah Laelynn and Adrial Luka Nadarajah's first birthday with a commemorative video, and announce them as the new record holders for being the world's lightest and most premature twins. Adiah, who was born 23 minutes before her brother, weighed 330 g, and Adrial weighed 420 g a combined weight of 1.65 lb. At birth, which occurred in April of last year, the pair were given a "0% chance of survival," as they arrived at a gestational age of 22 weeks 126 days early. When I went into labour, the babies were denied all life-sustaining measures at the hospital I was admitted to and almost left to die, the twins' mother, Shakina Rajendram, recalled in the video interview shared by Guinness World Records. "We were in shock." Rajendram explained that the next day she was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ont., where she was warned by a specialist of her babies' low survival chances if they were born ahead of the 22-week mark. The twins held out until exactly 22 weeks just 15 minutes past midnight. The twins weren't quite out of the woods yet, however. They spent the subsequent 6 months in the hospital where they faced several complications including infections that led to sepsis, brain bleeds and extremely thin and fragile skin. Adiah was the first to be given the OK to leave the hospital, after 161 days in the NICU, and Adrial a week later. While Adrial revisited the hospital twice due to infections and respiratory issues since then, Rajendram said both babies are making excellent progress. Shes [Adiah] an extremely happy and social baby, and smiles all day long, Rajendram shared. She is very chatty and has conversations with us and her toys for hours. Observant, attentive and intelligent, she said of Adrial. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Student debt relief has been a hot topic for years now, with some big things happening policy-wise in the past year: Last summer, the Biden administration announced a plan to cancel up to $20,000 for people holding federal student loans. Then in December, Congress passed the SECURE ACT 2.0, which created provisions for employers to match student loan payments for those with debt while also adding to retirement accounts. Late in February, the Supreme Court heard arguments related to a lawsuit trying to block Bidens debt relief program. There has been a now three-year pause on federal student loan payments due to the global pandemic, and its widely known that nearly 47 million student loan borrowers owe around $1.8 trillion. That, combined with the fact that a majority of Americans dont have $500 to cover unexpected expenses, has provided an in for fintech companies to develop numerous technology approaches to solving the student debt problem. While some fintech companies have taken the borrower approach, others are looking at it from an employee benefit perspective and attracting interest from venture capital investors. Those include Goodly, Highway Benefits, which announced $3.1 million in seed funding last week, and Candidly, which announced $20.5 million in Series B funding today. Candidly, previously known as FutureFuel, partners with entities, including employers, financial institutions, retirement and wealth management firms, to embed artificial intelligence-driven student debt and savings optimization products into employee benefits engines. We exist to crush debt, and to empower hard-working Americans to go beyond student debt, into wellness, and ultimately wealth, said Laurel Taylor, founder and CEO of Candidly, in an interview. More specifically, most who have student debt are focused on achieving freedom from debt at the expense of building wealth. Our mission and our capabilities enable users to make simultaneous progress so that we don't have to choose between our past and our future when it comes to financial health and wellness. Story continues Altos Ventures led the new financing and was joined by existing investor Cercano Management. In total, Candidly has raised $57 million. The Series B financing follows a year of record growth in which the company saw 10x revenue growth and a 3,600% increase in payments flowing through the Candidly platform, Taylor said. Candidly is earmarking some of the new funding to continue operationalize the advancement of the SECURE Act 2.0, which was up for a vote in Congress. The company is developing a suite of tools that allow employers to match employees student loan payments, emergency savings contributions and tax-advantaged retirement contributions. On the borrower side, there are also public service loan forgiveness tools and Federal Forgiveness Finder to better access federal student debt relief programs. Borrowers who have used Candidly's gamified repayment and auto-payment tools were able to send an average of $45 in extra payments to their loans each month, Taylor said. In addition, 2022 was a big year for the company with regard to distribution partners, including Guild, Empower, Lincoln Financial Group and Vanguard, joining existing partners like UBS and Fiserv, which Taylor said enables Candidly to serve over 35 million Americans. In February, the company announced that its customer, American Eagle Outfitters, used Candidly to help employees pay down more than $100,000 in student loan debt. While the company is able to shave years off of debt payments and help a customer no longer miss out on savings and retirement, Candidly can also serve as a gap filler should the Biden administrations one-time discharge for student debt be allowed to progress, or even if it doesnt. The one-time discharge isn't a painkiller, but it may be a vitamin, Taylor said. It helps a little bit, but there's still a big amount of debt to slog through for the average American in our workforce today. The reason we raised this round was to scale our ability to transform financial outcomes for the users that we serve, for the employers that are providing us as a benefit and for the channels that are distributing us. WASHINGTON The chief of the U.S. Capitol Police sharply criticized a wildly misleading Fox News report downplaying the severity of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Last night, an opinion program aired commentary that was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions about the January 6 attack, Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger wrote in a department-wide bulletin on Tuesday. In a major escalation of the Republican partys efforts to rewrite the history of that day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) granted Fox host Tucker Carlson hours of security camera footage from the riot. Having supposedly reviewed the material, Carlson claimed snippets of calm scenes better represent the days events than footage of rioters fighting against the police. They were peaceful, Carlson said of the pro-Trump mob. They were orderly and meek. These were not insurrectionists. They were sightseers. Carlson never contacted the police for context, Manger said in his memo. The program conveniently cherry-picked from the calmer moments of our 41,000 hours of video, Manger wrote. The commentary fails to provide context about the chaos and violence that happened before or during these less tense moments. Several Republicans blasted Carlsons false portrayal of the riot. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took the unusual step of rebuking Fox News, the Republican partys greatest partner in media, and saying he associated himself with Mangers letter, which he held up for the cameras at a press conference. More than 500 rioters have pleaded guilty to federal charges for their actions that day, which had been inspired by Donald Trumps lies that the 2020 election was stolen. Federal prosecutors have charged more than 300 people with assaulting or interfering with police, and Trump remains under investigation for his efforts to overthrow the election. Carlson claimed the video showed officers acting as tour guides for shirtless rioter Jacob Chansley, also known as the QAnon Shaman, who infamously stood from the Senate rostrum wearing a fur hat with horns. Story continues Manger called the tour guide allegation false and pointed out that the mob outnumbered the police. Those officers did their best to use de-escalation tactics to try to talk rioters into getting each other to leave the building, Manger said. Carlsons most disturbing accusation, Manger said, was that Officer Brian Sicknick had been healthy and vigorous after rioters attacked him with pepper spray, implying that Sicknicks death had nothing to do with the days events. The D.C. medical examiner said Sicknick died of natural causes, namely a stroke. Manger said that the department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day. Sicknicks family, meanwhile, put out a statement calling Fox News sleazy and dishonest. Related... Shannon Stapleton via Reuters A Florida woman accused of taking part in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is on the lam after tampering with her ankle monitor bracelet and failing to appear at her trial. An FBI hunt is now underway for Olivia Pollock, who was meant to show up to court Monday to face trial on charges related to the Capitol attacks, including assaulting police officers and interfering with law enforcement. She ultimately failed to appear, according to a bench warrant obtained by The Daily Beast. Instead, at court on Monday, Pollock was declared a fugitive. She disappeared Friday with another accused Jan. 6 rioterJoseph Hutchinson IIIafter the pair tampered with or removed the ankle monitors that track their location, said Joe Boland, a supervisory special agent with the FBIs Lakeland, Florida office, according to the Associated Press. Boland told the outlet that the FBI has recovered one of the defendants ankle monitors but did not specify who it belonged to. The pair remains on the run. While many accused Jan. 6 defendants were denied bail, Pollock and Hutchinson were both released from custody one month after their arrests, in June 2021, and ordered to wear GPS monitors. Pollock last appeared in court on Feb. 22 via Zoom, alongside two others charged in the case, Joshua Doolin and Michael Perkins. Doolin and Perkins were scheduled to face trial on Monday alongside Pollock, but will now receive a bench trial without her. She will be tried alongside Hutchinson, who is meant to face court in August. Hutchinsons last interaction with the court was Feb. 27, when he asked permission to travel to D.C. to attend the trials of the Pollock and her co-defendants. It stands to reason that there is no good reason that the court should deny me the ability to support my friends and learn court procedure, Hutchinson wrote in a letter to U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and seen by The Daily Beast. Hutchinson is representing himself at trial, though an attorney appointed to assist him as standby counsel declined to comment to the Associated Press on Monday. Story continues Pollock is the sister of another Jan. 6 riot defendant, Jonathan Pollock, who disappeared months ago after a federal arrest warrant was issued for him in June of 2021. He is charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers or Employees; Aiding and Abetting; Theft of Government Property; Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority; and Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds. Elita Amato, a laywer for Olivia Pollock, told the Associated Press that her client had been diligently assisting in her defense for her upcoming trial prior to her disappearance. The Daily Beast has contacted the FBI for further comment. 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. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Tourists flocked to the Caribbean last year in numbers not seen since the pandemic began, with the Dutch Caribbean and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico surpassing even pre-pandemic visitor arrivals, officials said Tuesday. More than 28 million people visited the region in 2022, a more than 50% jump compared with the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Its clearly apparent that even in the face of the devastating blows delivered by the pandemic, as a region, we have responded with hope, strength and determination to prevail, Kenneth Bryan, the organizations chairman, said during a news conference in Barbados. The U.S. market drove more than 50% of arrivals to the region last year with 14.6 million U.S. tourists visiting three million more than the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of European visitors nearly doubled to 5.2 million. Visits from Canadians, though, did not rebound as expected, with some 2.1 million reported. Governments, tourism officials and local businesses in one of the most tourism dependent regions in the world celebrated the increase in visits. The Caribbean region (had) one of the quickest recovery rates in 2022, said Neil Walters, the tourism organizations acting secretary general. Six islands and countries including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands surpassed total pre-pandemic arrival numbers, Walters said. The number of cruise ship visitors also soared last year, with 19.2 million visits reported, five times compared with the previous year. However, it fell short of the record 30.4 million visits announced in 2019. Nearly all destinations reported an increase in visitors except for Haiti, which saw a more than 20% drop amid a spike in gang violence and political instability. Bryan said tourism officials expect overall arrivals to the Caribbean to increase by up to 15% this year, possibly surpassing pre-pandemic levels. A record 32 million people visited the Caribbean in 2019, a number that dropped by 65% the following year when the pandemic began. Carlsberg announced its withdrawal from the Russian market back in March 2022 Staying on board for another half a year will allow me and the team to continue delivering on our challenging plans for 2023 and accomplishing the sale of the Russian business before the summer, the message on Carlsbergs website reads. Read also: 800 businesses moved to safer regions in year of war Cees 't Hart served as CEO of Carlsberg for eight years. He will leave the post no later than the end of Q3 2023. On Aug. 17, 2022, Reuters reported that Carlsberg brewing company expects to complete the sale of the Russian business in 2023. Read also: The Ukrainian business holdings of Russias oligarchs In April 2022, Russian business newspaper Kommersant reported that Carlsberg may sell its Russian business to Anadolu Efes AB InBev Efes. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The New Castle County Police Department has identified the man fatally shot by an officer on Monday night as 22-year-old Andrew Edelmann and provided more information Tuesday about the shooting near Elsmere that also injured a 21-year-old woman. Department spokesperson Sgt. Tracey Duffy said that officers had information that Edelmann was going to deliver a "quantity of illegal drugs" near Maryland and East Reamer avenues at about 7:30 p.m. Monday. She did not specify what that quantity was. INITIAL REPORTING:New Castle County police officer conducting drug investigation shoots 2 people, 1 fatally Duffy said officers also knew Edelmann drove a Hyundai Santa Fe, which they found in the 7-Eleven parking lot on Maryland Avenue. County police tried to detain Edelmann as part of the drug investigation, but he "ignored their commands" and tried to escape, according to Duffy. Edelmann then sped up his car, Duffy said, and drove in the direction of the officers, though she did not say how fast Edelmann was driving. A nearby officer fired his gun, hitting Edelmann and a woman in the passenger seat. They were both taken to Christiana Hospital, where Duffy said Edelmann later died. The 21-year-old woman is still in the hospital with "non-life-threatening injuries," according to police. MORE:Jury finds former Wilmington officer guilty of lying to investigators after teen shooting Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Department of Justice are investigating the shooting. As per police policy, the officer who fired the gun has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted. Anyone with information related to Monday's police-involved shooting should contact Detective Lt. Justin Breslin of the agency's criminal investigations unit at (302) 395-8110 or by email at Justin.Breslin@newcastlede.gov. Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New Castle County police ID man fatally shot by officer Monday night (Getty/iStock) Somewhere underneath the rubble, Mike Leum could hear a woman's voice. It was five days since the cataclysmic earthquakes that had shattered cities across Turkey and Syria, and thousands of people were still missing in the wreckage of collapsed buildings. Mr Leum had arrived in Turkey one day earlier on 10 February, leading a small team of volunteers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Along with colleagues from LA's fire department and public works agency, the veteran search and rescue worker was one of nearly 9,000 foreigners from 68 countries who came to Turkey's aid. "The devastation was immense and widespread," he tells The Independent. "Frequently we were just removing debris buckets at a time... it was back-breaking work." Workers were ultimately able to rescue the woman in the rubble, along with her 18-year-old son. Then Mr Leum returned home to California, where scientists say the chance of a similarly powerful earthquake within the next 30 years is roughly 50-50. "Yeah, it could easily happen here," observes Mr Leum. America's Pacific coast is crisscrossed with geological fault lines, many bearing close similarities to those of Turkey and Syria. Some are historically overdue for a major quake, which could kill thousands or tens of thousands of people and cause tens of billions of dollars worth of damage. That is why US scientists, engineers, and government officials are closely studying February's earthquakes for lessons about how to prepare for the next West Coast "big one". BOTH 52yr old mother and 18yr old son have been rescued!!! Amazing teamwork with international rescue teams! LASD SAR is honored to be a part. @LASDHQ @KCBSKCALDesk @NBCLA @ABC7Desk @FOXLA (permission to use). pic.twitter.com/xxKKoQJy9f Mike Leum (@Resqman) February 11, 2023 Last week legislators in Los Angeles County, which governs much of the territory surrounding the city of LA, voted unanimously to take action against the kind of flawed concrete-framed buildings that killed so many people in Turkey. Story continues The motion could is a first step towards requiring apartment complex owners to retrofit such buildings against collapse, just as the city of Los Angeles itself did in 2015. San Francisco officials are also considering such a law. Meanwhile, the tragedy has jolted some homeowners in the San Francisco Bay Area to consider hardening their houses against earthquake damage, according to local contractor Howard Cook. "Whenever there is a big earthquake, we always get more business," Mr Cook, a former earthquake assessor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who now runs a construction firm called Bay Area Retrofit. "We also get business when there is a small earthquake here. When people are shaken up they think about doing something." Yet there are major barriers to retrofitting all the West Coast's vulnerable buildings, not least the considerable expense of such works and the lobbying power of big landlords. "We've found time and time again that it's only after large earthquakes that there's adequate political will to change anything," says Terrence Paret, a longtime earthquake engineer at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, who spent weeks in Turkey studying the disastrous 1999 Azmit quake and who has helped harden historic buildings from Alcatraz to the Washington Monument. "In California, a number of times, there's been an earthquake that caused damage and suddenly there's the will to pass new law. This is how it happens every time, invariably." 'A poster child for whats going to happen in California' The initial quake on 6 February came just after 4am Turkish time, with its epicentre near Gaziantep on the border with Syria. At a seismic magnitude of 7.8, it was the strongest such tremor in Turkey since 1939, and was followed by thousands of aftershocks. Across both countries, hundreds of thousands of buildings collapsed or suffered serious damage. The death toll was massive: nearly 47,000 in Turkey and in 6,700 in Syria, as well as hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes. And, in the wake of the tremors, there came not only rescue workers like Mr Leum but scientists, engineers, and architects from across the world, hoping to learn from the disaster. "These have been very high interest events," says David Cocke, president of the California-based Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), which has been helping coordinate such "earthquake reconnaissance" missions around the globe since 1973. Most earthquakes spring from fractures in the earth's crust known as faults, often forming the boundary between tectonic plates. While these plates usually move extremely slowly, they can sometimes get stuck, straining against each other until a sudden slip causes them to lurch. Turkey sits on its own tectonic plate called the Anatolian Plate, sandwiched between the Eurasian Plate and the Arabian Plate pushing up from the south. Similarly, the North American Plate is rubbing up against the vast Pacific Plate as they drift past each other in opposite directions, part of the infamous 25,000-mile-long ring of fire that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. Off the coast of Oregon and Washington, a smaller plate called the Juan de Fuca is slowly being dragged underneath the North American, creating a giant fault known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The Cascadia fault is less active than those in California, but has a higher potential for destruction. A massive magnitude 8.7 to 9.2 quake in the year 1700 is thought to have caused a tidal wave in Japan nearly 5,000 miles away, as well as possibly inspiring native American legends. Scientists estimate a 37 per cent chance of a magnitude 7.1 or greater earthquake striking within the next 50 years, with a 14 per cent chance of a magnitude 9. Californias earthquakes cannot match that power, but are far more frequent. State officials predict a 48 per cent chance of a magnitude 7.5 or greater earthquake somewhere in the state within the next 30 years. According to some scientists, Californias complex fault systems bear a close resemblance to those in Turkey. This earthquake is a poster child for whats going to happen in Southern California," Colorado geology professor Karl Mueller told California broadcaster KTLA. University of Washington expert Harold Tobin also drew comparisons between Turkey's North Anatolian Fault and the Seattle Fault. Researchers are particularly alarmed by the severe "back to back" aftershock that worsened February's disaster. At a magnitude of 7.5, it was ten times stronger than typically expected, partly because it actually originated from a separate fault. That suggests the same thing could happen after a quake on California's famous San Andreas Fault, posing extra challenges for disaster response. "Most commonly youll see aftershocks on the fault that ruptured in the main earthquake or immediately adjacent to it," seisomologist William Barnhart told The New York Times. "But when you get into these regions where you have a spatially complex fault network, you can also get large aftershocks on different faults some distance away.... if you had a large San Andreas Fault earthquake, could you also have a quick follow-up on the San Jacinto fault, or the Garlock fault?" Fellow seismologist Ross Stein likewise said: "There is no question that were going to learn an enormous amount." The West Coast has thousands of potentially unsafe buildings Another lesson for American cities lies in the rubble itself. According to David Cocke, the damage in Turkey was far worse than many engineers expected given Turkey's "pretty modern" building regulations, which should have prevented such widespread devastation. Those regulations are based on similar laws passed by California and other western US states after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, in which officials were shocked by the collapse of supposedly earthquake-resistant buildings including a psychiatric ward and a freeway overpass. Then and now, one of the key culprits was a type of architecture that is widely used across the world. The San Fernando buildings were supported by concrete columns, reinforced with metal beams to make them more "ductile", or flexible. This reinforcement included metal hoops wrapped horizontally around the inside of the columns, but their design turned out to have a fatal weakness. Imagine carrying a basket of rocks and swinging it from side to side. If the basket's woven strands were too far apart, some of the rocks would fly out. That, says Mr Paret's colleague Robert Kraus, is roughly what can happen when the vicious lateral motions of an earthquake cause solid concrete to fracture into smaller chunks. Without a dense enough "basket" of reinforcing hoops, these chunks will break off the column until it can no longer support the weight of the building on top of it. This type of "non-ductile concrete", or NDC, has been banned in new buildings by most US states since the late 1970s. But Turkey did not follow suit until the late Nineties, and Mr Paret says its rules have been poorly policed. "In California there's a pretty well-enforced system of plan check and building inspection," says Mr Paret. "These are things that have been absent from Turkey for a long, long time, and you're reading about them now builders getting away with a lot of stuff that they should never have gotten away with." Mr Paret and Mr Kraus stress that even a very severe earthquake could not cause the same devastation in the US, precisely because its building regulators have learned the lessons of 1971. "Turkey outstrips us a hundred to one, a thousand to one, in terms of the number of these buildings," says Mr Paret. "Almost everything is an NDC building... it's entire cities constructed with the same technique". He adds that Turkish apartment buildings often compound this with a tall, largely open-plan ground floor for shops, which may prove unable to hold up the other floors in a serious earthquake. Mr Leum agrees, saying that California would fare much better than almost anywhere else in the world thanks to its decades of improving building standards. Six days after the first quake in Antakya, Turkey, February 2023 (Petros Giannakouris/AP) Nevertheless, the western US still has plenty of NDC offices and apartment complexes that predate the late Seventies, which could become deathtraps in a serious quake. "There's thousands and thousands of buildings out there that have not been retrofitted," says David Cocke. "One of the big lessons [of Turkey] is that we need to go back and evaluate and retrofit those buildings, or we're gonna have problems." Estimates vary as to how many remain. In California, it could be anything from 7,000 to 40,000, with nearly 4,000 in San Francisco alone. Numbers for Washington and Oregon are murkier still. According to the USGS, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in southern California could collapse around 50 NDC buildings, with as many as 7,500 people caught inside. Meanwhile, the city of Portland estimates that it has about 1,800 buildings made of similarly vulnerable unreinforced masonry (URM). Seattle estimates 1,145, and the The Los Angeles Times found as many as 640 across the greater LA area. There is also a risk to individual homes, which are subject to looser regulations. "People don't get killed in houses unless they're on a steep hill," says Howard Cook. "But there will be hundreds of thousands of people without a home. Where are they going to go?" Earthquake safety advocates face an uphill battle This situation is what LA County's board of supervisors is now trying to address. Their new motion asks officials to prepare new rules requiring mandatory retrofits to all NDC buildings in unincorporated areas that is, areas not subject to their own city governments as well as buildings owned by the county itself. While there are only a handful of non-ductile concrete buildings in unincorporated areas or owned by the county, the county must insist on renewed urgency to retrofit and repair vulnerable structures to prevent as much loss of life as possible," stated the motion, according to The Los Angeles Times. It also orders an inventory to be taken of all "soft-storey" residential buildings in the county, meaning buildings whose upper levels are held up by slim supports so that cars can park on the ground floor. Full retrofit mandates remain rare in the US. California leads the way for NDC buildings, starting with the city of Los Angeles in 2015, followed by Santa Monica and West Hollywood. San Francisco is slowly working towards a similar order, having successfully forced retrofits of most URM buildings after the 1989 Prieto quake. Soft-storey retrofit mandates also exist in the Bay Area cities of San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, and Fremont, as well as the greater LA cities of Culver City, Beverly Hills, and Pasadena. Los Angeles firefighters prepare to deploy to Turkey on 6 February 2023 (Allison Dinner/EPA) California passed a URM retrofit mandate in 1986, but left it up to local jurisdictions to decide how they should comply. Mr Paret says many places decided it was enough to just put up signs warning people that a given building was unsafe, like the ubiquitous and largely ignored cancer warnings plastered on everything from couches to coffee shop cash registers in the Golden State. For individual homes, Mr Cook says there is practically no regulation, meaning owners may pay thousands of dollars for modifications that won't actually protect them from quakes. "They're completely worthless," he says of Bay Area governments. "Once the earthquake hits, and a bunch of people die and are injured, all of a sudden things will change." Moreover, LA's order may already be failing in its goals. According to a 2021 white paper by the architecture firm Omgivning, after the first six years of the mandate only 31 per cent of affected buildings had completed the three-year goal of submitting a works checklist to city officials, while just under 4 per cent had actually completed construction. That was despite the mandate's very long deadline for all buildings to be retrofitted 25 years from the date that building owners get notice. "I absolutely believe we're not going to hit that target, and furthermore we're going to fall well short of it," says Omgivning project director Roberto Vazquez. "That doesn't go to say that we can't get there... [but] if we put 100 per cent on the burden on the building owner, it almost never works out." To start with, retrofits can be tremendously expensive. Mr Kraus estimates around $150 to $200 per square foot in downtown LA, meaning the biggest apartment buildings run into the low tens of millions. Mr Vazquez says Omgivning regularly gets calls from building owners who have received a notice from the city but "unfortunately, once they learn how much it's going to cost, they take our assessment and probably tuck it away in a folder in a drawer somewhere." It can also be hard to tell exactly which buildings need retrofitting. A well-reinforced concrete column and an NDC column can look identical from the outside, while blueprints for old buildings are often missing. Finding the truth requires painstaking detective work or physical examinations with metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and even chipping hammers to manually expose the metal within. Finally, retrofits are logistically complex and can be very intrusive. Mr Vazquez says buildings typically lose plumbing, electricity, and water for the entire 6-12 months of the project. In residential buildings, it can cost just as much to temporarily rehouse tenants as it does to perform the work itself. That is to say nothing of what happens when a building has many different owners, such as a condo complex, or changes hands several times over the years. "These are very difficult problems one might say insurmountable," Mr Paret warns. 'Get to know your neighbours your life may depend on them' Unsurprisingly, local and state governments have often baulked at either forcing such costs onto landlords or spending taxpayer money on them. In 2015, then California governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have allowed building owners to claim back 30 per cent of their retrofit spending as a tax credit. "The problem I have is the way theyve gone about it," said Mr Brown at the time. "Theyve identified the problem. Theyve established a set of rules and guidelines... but theyve done so without providing an easy and reasonable means of funding all this extra work." Yet Mr Cocke says big landlords have tended to resist being asked to pay for the work themselves. "I don't want to say real estate developers are evil or anything like that; I work for a lot of them," he says. "But there's always gonna be somebody that says 'oh, you're going to mess up our economic model by doing that'." Of course, he adds, "the risk that you're living with is that there's gonna be an earthquake and your building is going to be significantly damaged, and your operations are going to be shut down for months and months and months." Indeed, LA County's effort was challenged by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, which argued that its members were "barely surviving" after pandemic-era rent freezes and warned that creating an inventory of soft-storey apartment buildings would cause insurance premiums to spike. "While seismic retrofitting serves a vital need, it is important to recognise that these projects are extremely costly," said lobbyist Max Sherman, according to The Los Angeles Times. "We ask the county to not start this process with housing providers still reeling from financial hardships." The California Apartment Association likewise asked LA County to seek feedback from owners about the right timeline for a retrofit order. An interview request from The Independent met with no response. Still, Mr Vazquez believes that retrofit mandates can work if building owners have proper incentives. Even without spending state funds, officials could relax planning rules and other forms of red tape in exchange for retrofitting, or bid for some of the $1.3 trillion in federal funding released by Joe Biden's landmark 2021 infrastructure law. "These buildings [collapsing] can damage the pedestrian on the street; they can damage other safe buildings that are adjacent to them," he says. "It should be looked at as public infrastructure and a public benefit." Mr Paret is sanguine about these headwinds, saying that engineers like himself sometimes need a reality check about local governments long list of competing priorities. Nevertheless, he, Mr Kraus, and Mr Vazquez all said the calamity in Turkey could help shift public opinion and catalyse government action. "I expect and can well imagine that there will already have been some very heated homeowners' association meetings, with some members being frightened and demanding action in ways that maybe weren't happening before," says Mr Paret. "Whether the heated meetings translate to actual results that I'm not so confident in." Until then, Mr Leum has stark advice for West Coast residents that does not require any government intervention. "The lesson to be learned is that there won't be enough rescue personnel," he says. "If a similar situation happens in the US, it's going to be primarily neighbour helping neighbour... "So get to know their neighbours, because there's a pretty good chance that your life might depend on them, and theirs might depend on you." By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is not planning a systematic easing of sanctions on Venezuela after an initial round allowed partners of state-run oil firm PDVSA to resume taking oil for past debts, a State Department official said. In November, Washington issued a six-month license allowing Chevron Corp to expand operations and export Venezuelan oil to the United States. Eni and Repsol also began taking Venezuelan crude for debt with U.S. approvals, This year, Trinidad and Tobago received a U.S. nod to jointly development an offshore natural gas field with Venezuela. Those moves by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration contrasted with former President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" policy of restrictions designed to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. But the State Department licenses do not indicate a general turn in policy towards Venezuela, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez told Reuters in an interview at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. "There have been limited changes in specific sanctions and we can take them back in any moment," Fernandez said. The Chevron license came after Maduro's administration resumed political talks with the opposition in Mexico last year, while the Trinidad authorization was requested by Caribbean countries to secure future energy supplies. "I can categorically say that we don't have any plans to liberalize further on Venezuela," said Fernandez, stressing: "In this moment, there are no plans to ease the sanctions more." Chevron received and shipped about 86,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Venezuelan crude last month after resuming exports to the United States following a four-year hiatus. The Chevron, Eni and Repsol cargoes have not represented an increase in Venezuela's overall oil exports. The country will require massive new investment following years of conflict with international oil companies, an exodus of qualified staff, and U.S. sanctions. Story continues Venezuela's exports last year were 716,000 bpd, up slightly from the previous year, according to data supplied to OPEC. They remain a fraction of the 2.8 million bpd the nation was producing a decade ago. Analysts and oil executives at CERAWeek said they do not expect a sizeable increase in Venezuela's oil exports that could stabilize oil markets disrupted after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Fifteen years ago, "There was a good number of international investors in Venezuela. Production was over 3 million bpd... Now look at Venezuela," said Alistair Routledge, Exxon Mobil's country manager for Guyana. "It's essential that governments understand that we are investing in a horizons of 20-30 years, so we need stability and regulations that are supportive," he said. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Editing by David Gregorio) Chance the Rapper / Martin Short Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images / Bruce Glikas/WireImage Chance the Rapper joked that he almost kept his plane seat next to Martin Short. The comedy legend offered to switch seats so the rapper could sit next to his daughter. Chance took Short up on the offer, but said he almost stayed put so he could sit next to the "Only Murders in the Building" star. Chance the Rapper joked he almost kept the plane seat next to Martin Short after the comedy legend offered to switch so the rapper could sit next to his daughter. On February 26, Chance and his daughter, Kensli, 7, were flying from Los Angeles to Chicago after Chance had been filming "The Voice" on the west coast for a month and a half. "We get on the plane and realize that our seats aren't together," Chance told Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" Monday. He said he was looking around the cabin, doing the "awkward dad" move where he would look around and see if anyone would realize he was trying to shuffle seats to sit with his daughter without having to directly ask anyone to swap. "But before I could even, like, make the suggestion, this kind older gentleman gets up and he's like, 'The girl can have my seat,' and I looked at him in his face and I'm like, 'Are you Martin Short?' And it was Martin Short! It was the Martin Short!" Chance told Fallon. Chance said he "super freaked out," and that his daughter was excited, too, because she loves Short from "The Santa Clause 3." Chance ended up taking Short up on his offer so he could fly next to his daughter, but he was tempted to keep the seats as they were once he realized who was next to him. "I almost told him that it was fine and that I would just sit next to him," Chance admitted. "He was really, really nice," Chance said of Short, adding, "And I don't think he knows who I am. So I think he just did it, which is hilarious, but also, it's like, that's a really kind gesture." Fallon then asked Chance whether he's a talker on flights or if he prefers to keep to himself. "If I'm sitting next to Martin Short I'm a talker for sure," Chance said. Story continues The interaction first went viral on the day of the flight when Chance tweeted the story to his 7.9 million followers, with a photo of Short as Jack Frost. Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) February 26, 2023 "I really ain't wanna inconvenience anyone by asking them to swap seats, but before I could say anything this kind older gentleman offered his seat to Kensli so we could sit together," Chance said in the Tweet. "We both said thank you and as he stands up, I realize it's THE Martin Short!!" "SHOUTOUT TO JACK FROST," Chance said. Read the original article on Insider The charges against a chicken-suit wearing man at Maurice A. Ferre Park were dropped Tuesday after state prosecutors viewed police body-camera footage and determined the costumed character was just exercising his right to free speech and wasnt really bothering anyone. Morgan Dmitrimahan Gianola was charged last month by Miami police with disorderly conduct, trespassing and resisting arrest without violence. The charges came after he and three others dressed up in yellow chicken suits and clucked their way through a crowd attending the opening of Dog & Cats Walkway, a pet project of dozens of animal sculptures by Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo. The chicken outfits were supplied by Miami filmmaker Billy Corben, a frequent critic of Carollos, who said he believed the project was a big waste of taxpayer money. In his close-out memo, Assistant Miami-Dade State Attorney Michael Fente said video footage of the incident lacks any evidence of any conduct considered disorderly and that the crowd at the Feb. 11 event in downtown Miami seemed generally uninterested in any of the actions of the chicken-suit wearers. He also said there was no evidence that Gianola was told to leave and he didnt appear to resist arrest. Gianola, 31, and the others were also handing out T-shirts with a police mug shot of Carollo from when he was arrested on a domestic violence incident two decades ago. After his arrest on three misdemeanor counts, Gianola hired a trio of high-powered attorneys to defend him. Carollo, who claimed not to have seen the commotion, dismissed it as a stunt. The protest group, which referred to itself as CUCK or the Committee to Undermine the Carollo Klan showed up at the park to protest the project championed by Carollo, which was also questioned by some in Miamis booming fine arts community. Carollo, who chairs the trust that oversees Bayfront and Ferre parks in downtown Miami, latched on to the concept of dozens of colorful animal sculptures in the park next to the citys museums about two years ago. The commissioner and his wife said the idea came up after visiting a similar-type park in Colombia that he said attracts large crowds. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have both been invited to the coronation. (Reuters) British people are more likely to say Meghan Markle should stay away from King Charles's coronation but would be happy to see Prince Harry attend, according to a new poll. The Bloomberg and Deltapoll survey revealed 41% of Brits were keen for Harry to be at the event in May, with 37% saying he shouldnt go, and a further 22% saying they did not know. When asked if they wanted to see the Duchess of Sussex accompany him, 39% said they wanted her there, while 43% thought she should stay home. A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed that they had been invited to the coronation but did not say if they would be attending. Read more: 'It's revenge' How people have reacted to Harry and Meghan eviction The Royal Family pictured in 2018. (Reuters) It comes after the couple confirmed they had been asked to leave their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor just weeks after Harrys autobiography Spare was released. Last week, it emerged the King had offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew, who it is believed has been told by his brother to leave his nearby Royal Lodge residence by this autumn. The decision is likely to be interpreted as a major rebuke by Charles to his son, who since moving to North America in 2020 has criticised the monarchy and individuals within the institution. Harry and Meghans favourability rating with the British public has been on a downward trend since 2018, according to YouGov. Recent polling showed how their popularity in the UK had declined particularly since the release of the prince's book. Read more: Prince Harry could lose another royal role after Frogmore Cottage eviction Prince Harry and Meghan have criticised the monarchy and individuals within the institution. (Reuters) The YouGov tracker showed only a quarter of Brits (24%) think positively of Harry, while 68% have a negative opinion of him giving him his lowest ever favourability rating of -44. Meghan performs even worse, with a positive rating of 22% and a negative rating of 68%, giving her a net favourability of -46. Across all age groups, only Prince Andrew beats Meghan and Harry in the unpopularity stakes. Story continues The survey showed even fewer Brits (46%) wanted the disgraced Andrew at the coronation, with 36% saying he should be there and 17% unsure. King Charles's coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday 6 May. It will be held at the historic Westminster Abbey, where the ceremony has taken place for the last 900 years. Camilla, the Queen Consort, will also be crowned alongside the King, using the Queen Mary Crown. Frank Scibelli, a veteran restaurateur in Charlotte, has plans to grow the Yafo Kitchen brand with a new full-service concept. Yafo, a fast-casual brand focused on chef-inspired Mediterranean fare, opened in SouthPark in 2016, followed by two more locations in Dilworth and Plaza Midwood. Scibelli told the Charlotte Business Journal that creating a full-service restaurant based around the food that inspired Yafo is something he and executive chef Shai Fargain have been planning for some time. ALSO READ: Bang Bang Burgers aims to make more of South End restaurants patio space Scibelli said it wasnt until he met up with Fargain in Tel Aviv, Israel, during a recent family trip that the concept really took hold. The pair had dinner at a restaurant that Fargain had recommended, and Scibelli said it was a lightbulb moment. Read the full story here. (WATCH BELOW: Crafting cocktails at PARA in South End) BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (AP) A suburban Chicago teenager pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the fatal shootings of his 17-year-old girlfriend, a 9-year-old girl and the child's father. Byrion Montgomery, 17, appeared before a Will County judge in Joliet. Montgomery is charged as an adult with multiple crimes, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and home invasion. He has been jailed and bail is set at $20 million. The Will County State's Attorney's Office said he would be appointed a public defender. The shooting in Bolingbrook, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Chicago, was reported about 8:15 p.m. Sunday. Montgomery was arrested about two hours later. Seventeen-year-old Samiya A. Shelton-Tillman, 40-year-old Cartez Daniels, and 9-year-old Sanai Daniels were pronounced dead at the scene. Cartez Daniels was shot and stabbed, according to the complaint. Tania Stewart, 34, was shot but survived. She was in stable condition Tuesday at a hospital. Two boys ages 3 and 14 were in the home at the time but were not harmed. Police have said Shelton-Tillman and Montgomery dated. The violence that occurred is something no one should ever have to endure or worry about, Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta said in a statement. My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims, and my prayers are sent to the victim still in the hospital. Relatives of the victims told WLS-TV that Sanai was Cartez Daniels daughter and that he had been engaged to Stewart, who is Shelton-Tillmans mother. Reed Silva, Cartez Daniels stepmother, told the Chicago Tribune that he worked as a carpenter. He could do anything, mathematically," Silva said. "He loved his family. He loved everybody. He tried to do anything he could for anybody. He was making life better for him and his kids and his family. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was swept into office in 2019 with a multiracial coalition. Her successor will have to forge something new. Lightfoots ouster in the mayoral election kicked off a five-week scramble to dissect the 46 percent of voters who didnt pick either man who made the runoff and neither Democratic candidate has the clear advantage in a city that struggles with its racial divisions. Former Chicago schools chief Paul Vallas 33 percent made him the largest vote-getter in the first round in the citys mayoral election. But the turnout data from last week makes it clear that locking down a victory will be hard-fought after alienating Lightfoot voters on the trail. Vallas, who is white, may have tapped most of his potential in the many white majority wards he won and will have to lean heavily on getting Black voters who align with his push for more police presence and voters of color turned off by a progressive message. Things aren't any easier for Brandon Johnson, Vallas Black, left-leaning rival in the April 4 runoff, who won the second spot with 21 percent and a radically different coalition to go with his perspective on crime, policing and education. The Cook County commissioners best opening to pull in a large chunk of voters will be among the 17 percent who voted for Lightfoot. Yet that still leaves him scavenging in areas like moderate Latino-majority wards and even his home precinct. Race is one of the most definitive predictors in how an area votes in Chicago, like in many other areas, said Frank Calabrese, an independent political consultant who has studied several campaigns in Illinois. If Vallas is doing 30, 35, 40 percent in Black wards, that means hes doing really well. How Vallas wins Vallas didnt even come close to 30 percent numbers in most Black-majority wards on Election Day. And although that was a contest divided among nine candidates, he typically landed third or fourth place in those areas several points behind Johnson, and where Lightfoot did her best. Story continues However, Vallas, who got the endorsement of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police and ran a tough-on-crime campaign, did well with voters in areas that resoundingly rejected the incumbent mayor: white-majority wards on the citys North and Southwest sides, where a mix of wealthy families and civil service workers like police officers or firefighters live. The prime pockets of voters available to Vallas are those who went for Willie Wilson, a prominent Black conservative businessperson who also ran for mayor on a police-heavy platform. In the handful of majority-Black precincts Wilson captured, he got up to 42 percent of the vote, and came in second or third in many others capturing voters unlikely to swing left to Johnson without a lot of convincing. What may bridge Vallas shortfall with Black voters is the outpouring of support hes winning from well-known Black Democratic political figures, including former Secretary of State Jesse White and several respected City Council members. Its a Black man running against a white man when it comes down to Black wards, Calabrese said of Johnson. That being said, Black residents care about crime and quality of life issues at the same level, if not more than other parts of the city. Vallas is going to have a resonating message. Latinos and Asian voters are big unknowns Demographically, the city is split evenly among white, Black and Latino residents, but it doesnt break down that way when it comes to who actually shows up to cast ballots. Despite having a Latino candidate on the ballot in Garcia, participation among Latino voters was abysmal last week, said Jaime Dominguez, a Northwestern professor who worked on a rare poll with BSP Research weighted toward measuring Black and Latino voters. The demographic already does not vote in droves, he said, and it didnt help that Garcia entered the race late and missed out on big union support, like Johnsons backing from the Chicago Teachers Union. A large share of Latino voters were still undecided leading before Election Day last week. Vallas can keep building off of the Latino votes he already won, Dominguez and Calabrese said. The frontrunner clinched several majority-Latino wards last week, and placed second in other moderate areas receptive to his law-and-order messaging. Ill be honest with you I think that some people think Vallas is a Latino last name, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said in an interview, laughing. As his team went door-to-door in majority-Latino communities, that comment came up quite a lot. Then there are Asian American voters, who have a stronger stake in Chicago politics this cycle, after post-2020 redistricting led to Chinatown and surrounding neighborhoods becoming a slightly majority Asian ward, which is also 20 percent Latino and 25 percent white. Vallas came away with 58 percent of the vote there, while Johnson and Garcia had about 13 percent each. This shows the division among Asian communities on the issue of public safety, said Grace Pai, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Chicago. Progressives want non-police options to address a rise in general violence and anti-Asian attacks, while she said others want more law enforcement present to protect businesses and patrol. And both sides are vocal within the communities that comprise about 7 percent of the city. Johnson had made more of a concerted effort than Vallas to reach out to Asian American surrogates during the campaigns initial stages, she said. Whats also unclear is how Johnsons aspirations of decreasing police funding will ring with a broader set of voters, though he distanced himself from those remarks before last weeks election. Whether youre Latino, Caucasian, African American public safety is resonating, Ald. Gil Villegas, who was endorsed by Garcia and is heading to a runoff of his own, said in an interview. If youre not speaking about that regardless of your ethnicity or your gender, people want to feel safe. Quality of life is a big issue. How Johnson wins One analysis shows Vallas could pick up Garcias Latino voters and Johnson could consolidate the Black vote but low Hispanic voter turnout and incoming endorsements from Black and Latino leaders will blur the election picture. Johnson won over Ramirez-Rosas ward on the Northwest Side, which is more than half Latino and has a significant white population, by a high margin making the area more of an exception among the citys Latinos. The alderman endorsed Johnson and was confident about his ability to attract Latino voters in the runoffs. Ramirez-Rosa pointed to Johnsons use of Spanish-language advertising, as well as recent wins from progressive Latinos, including himself and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), who also endorsed Johnson. Now, Johnson faces challenges in keeping up appeal with the progressives he won over while not turning off Latinos by going too far to the left, Dominguez said. Surrogates for either candidate will make a large difference during the runoff campaign process, and some believe Latino leaders including Garcia will eventually back Johnson. Johnson making the runoff shows the potential success of a candidate running on a nuanced public safety plan, said Patrice James, founding director of the Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative, recently founded to promote Black interests in the state. Black voters are not only sophisticated, James said, but have long memories of Chicagos lack of investment in their communities such as former Mayor Rahm Emanuels controversial shuttering of 50 schools in mostly Black neighborhoods. Vallas has his own history with school closures when he led the system in the 1990s. They remember disinvestment and the fallout of what it means when schools close in your neighborhood and how that impacts home values, she said. Its no secret Johnson is about community. I think that will resonate with a lot of voters. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated Frank Calabrese's affiliations. He is an independent political consultant. Chinas new foreign minister, Qin Gang, came out swinging in his debut press conference Monday, warning that U.S. policies toward China were pushing the two countries toward potential conflict. Qin used the nearly two-hour briefing to denounce everything from the Biden administrations Indo-Pacific Strategy and weapons sales to Taiwan to what he said was the U.S. role in prolonging Russias aggression against Ukraine. The press briefing on the sideline of the annual meeting of Chinas 3,000-member parliament, the National Peoples Congress, marked Qins highest profile public event since he completed his tenure as Chinese ambassador to the U.S. in December. Qin accused the Biden administration of policies designed to contain and suppress China in all respects driven by what he called a hysterical neo-McCarthyism that was inflicting serious harm on bilateral relations. If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path there will surely be conflict and confrontation and who will bear the catastrophic consequences? Qin said. Qin hinted at the potential for nuclear conflict between the two countries by saying that those policies could risk the future of humanity. And he implicitly referenced Bidens comments in his State of the Union speech last month that the United States seeks competition, not conflict with China by accusing the U.S. of not fair competition, but malicious confrontation. Qins uncompromising tone echoes that of his patron, Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping. On Monday, Xi accused the U.S. and other Western countries of all-round containment, encirclement and suppression against us, bringing unprecedentedly severe challenges to our countrys development, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Chinese state media. That rhetoric also casts doubt on the sustainability of Xi and President Joe Bidens agreement in their meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in November to try to stem the slide in U.S.-China ties. Story continues Bilateral ties have been battered by the discovery and subsequent destruction of a Chinese spy balloon over the continental U.S. in February. Biden administration warnings last month that the Chinese government is considering providing lethal weaponry to Russia in its war against Ukraine have further roiled relations. And the conclusion of a Department of Energy report published last week that concluded (albeit with low confidence) that a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, sparked the Covid-19 pandemic has renewed congressional anger toward Chinas role in a pandemic that has killed more than a million Americans. Qin insisted the balloon was a civilian air ship that an unexpected accident blew over the continental United States. Bidens move to destroy the balloon abused force and dramatized the accident, creating a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided, Qin said. The perennial hot button issue of U.S. support for Taiwan also was front and center in Qins press conference. Qin warned that Beijing will take all necessary measures to enforce its claim of sovereignty over the self-governing island. And he floated a bizarre conspiracy theory for the Biden administrations policy of continuing to provide defense weaponry to the island. Why does the U.S. keep on professing the maintenance of regional peace and stability while covertly formulating a plan for the destruction of Taiwan? Qin said, without elaborating. Qin also touted Beijings Ukraine peace proposal unveiled last month as a vehicle to promote talks for peace. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan have both dismissed the proposal as a distraction that fails to challenge Russias aggression. Qin likewise avoided mention of that and instead implicitly blamed the U.S. for the conflict. There seems to be an invisible hand, pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agenda, Qin said, without providing any additional details. Beijings concerns about the Bidens ability to rally allies and partners to counter what Blinken calls Chinas threat to the rules-based international order also emerged in Qins remarks. Qin slammed the Indo-Pacific Strategy as a plot to encircle China. And he denounced Japan which announced a dramatic expansion of its military forces in December of taking part in a new Cold War to contain China. And Qin flexed his familiarity with U.S. political fault lines with comments that appeared to target Donald Trumps tough language on China at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday. If the United States has the ambition to make itself great again containment and suppression will not make America great, and it will not stop the rejuvenation of China, Qin said. Chinas new foreign minister said the United States is heading for conflict and confrontation with Beijing, as he defended his countrys stance on the war in Ukraine and close ties with Russia. Qin Gang said Washington should change its distorted attitude towards China, accusing it of engaging in suppression and containment instead of engaging in fair competition. Relations between the US and China have seen a spike in tensions over numerous matters, including trade, Taiwan, a spy balloon encroaching on US airspace, and Beijings stance on Putins invasion of Ukraine. Mr Qin made the comments on Tuesday at his first news conference on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting after assuming responsibilities from the outgoing Wang Yi. A close ally of Chinas president Xi Jinping, Mr Qin said Washington regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge. This is like the first button in the shirt being [done up] wrong, he said, one of a string of analogies. If the United States does not hit the brakes, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation, he said. And who will bear the catastrophic consequences? The United States perception and views of China are seriously distorted, he said. Likening US-China competition to a race between two Olympic athletes, he said: If one side, instead of focusing on giving ones best, always tries to trip the other up ... then this is not fair competition. Relations between the US and China suffered a serious setback last month after the Biden administration ordered the shooting down of a spy balloon off Americas east coast. Washington maintains it is not looking to stoke conflict with China. Mr Qin also spoke of wolf warrior diplomacy, acknowledging a more abrasive attitude recently from Chinese diplomats. When jackals and wolves are blocking the way, and hungry wolves are attacking us, Chinese diplomats must then dance with the wolves and protect and defend our home and country, he said. Story continues On the war in Ukraine, Qin said an invisible hand was escalating the conflict to serve certain geopolitical agendas another swipe at the US. Beijing vehemently denied US suggestions that it is considering supplying artillery to Russia, but it has a no limits partnership with Russia that predates the conflict. Mr Qin did not confirm if President Xi would visit Russia, as suggested last month by Vladimir Putin. BEIJING (Reuters) - China must advance its relations with Russia as the world becomes more turbulent, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at an annual parliamentary session in Beijing, Qin said the close interactions between both leaders - President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin - provided the anchor for China-Russia relations. He did not give a definite answer when asked if Xi would visit Russia after China's parliament session, which goes on for one more week. Asked whether it is possible that China and Russia would abandon the U.S. dollar and euro for bilateral trade, Qin said that countries should use whatever currency is efficient, safe and credible. "Currencies should not be the trump card for unilateral sanctions, still less a disguise for bullying or coercion," he said. China, which has refused to name Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict, has often criticised the United States for bullying other countries with unilateral sanctions. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Writing by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln Feast.) BEIJING (Reuters) - The Ukraine crisis seems to be driven by an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict, China's foreign minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday. The "invisible hand" is "using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agendas", Qin said on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing, calling for dialogue to begin as soon as possible. "Conflict, sanctions, and pressure will not solve the problem...The process of peace talks should begin as soon as possible, and the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected," Qin said. Qin's reiteration of China's position on the Ukraine war comes amid growing tensions between Beijing and the European Union, which has questioned China's sincerity as a mediator when it has refused to name Russia as the aggressor in the conflict. Qin also said Beijing has not provided weapons to either side of the Ukraine conflict, amid loud warnings from U.S. officials on unspecified "consequences" for China, should it send lethal aid to Russia. "(China) is not a party to the crisis and has not provided weapons to either side of the conflict. So on what basis is this talk of blame, sanctions and threats against China? This is absolutely unacceptable." (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Writing by Laurie Chen and Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln Feast.) By Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) -The United States should change its "distorted" attitude towards China or "conflict and confrontation" will follow, China's foreign minister said on Tuesday, while defending its stance on the war in Ukraine and its close ties with Russia. The U.S. had been engaging in suppression and containment of China rather than engaging in fair, rules-based competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told a news conference on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing. "The United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted," said Qin, a trusted aide to President Xi Jinping and until recently China's ambassador in Washington. "It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge. This is like the first button in the shirt being put wrong." Relations between the two superpowers have been tense for years over a number of issues including Taiwan, trade and more recently the war in Ukraine, but they worsened last month after the United States shot down a balloon off the U.S. East Coast that it says was a Chinese spying craft. The U.S. says it is establishing guardrails for relations and is not seeking conflict but Qin said what that meant in practice was that China was not supposed to respond with words or action when slandered or attacked. "That is just impossible," Qin told his first news conference since becoming foreign minister in late December. Qin's comments struck the same the tough tone of his predecessor, Wang Yi, now China's most senior diplomat after being made director of the Foreign Affairs Commission Office at the turn of the year. "If the United States does not hit the brakes, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation, and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?" Story continues In Washington, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, brushed off the criticism and said the United States does not seek confrontation with Beijing. "We seek a strategic competition with China. We do not seek conflict," Kirby told reporters. "We aim to compete and we aim to win that competition with China but we absolutely want to keep it at that level." U.S. officials often speak of establishing guardrails in the bilateral relationship to prevent tensions from escalating into crises. Qin likened Sino-U.S. competition to a race between two Olympic athletes. "If one side, instead of focusing on giving one's best, always tries to trip the other up, even to the extent that they must enter the Paralympics, then this is not fair competition," he said. 'JACKALS AND WOLVES' During a nearly two-hour news conference in which he answered questions submitted in advance, Qin made a robust defence of "wolf warrior diplomacy", an assertive and often abrasive stance adopted by China's diplomats since 2020. "When jackals and wolves are blocking the way, and hungry wolves are attacking us, Chinese diplomats must then dance with the wolves and protect and defend our home and country," he said. Qin also said that an "invisible hand" was pushing for the escalation of the war in Ukraine "to serve certain geopolitical agendas", without specifying who he was referring to. He reiterated China's call for dialogue to end the war. China struck a "no limits" partnership with Russia last year, weeks before its invasion of Ukraine, and has blamed NATO expansion for triggering the war, echoing Russia's complaint. China has declined to condemn the invasion and has fiercely defended its stance on Ukraine, despite Western criticism of its failure to single Russia out as the aggressor. China has also vehemently denied U.S. accusations that it has been considering supplying Russia with weapons. ADVANCING RELATIONS WITH MOSCOW Qin said China had to advance its relations with Russia as the world becomes more turbulent and close interactions between President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, anchored the neighbours' relations. He did not give a definite answer when asked if Xi would visit Russia after China's parliament session, which goes on for one more week. Since Russia invaded its southwestern neighbour a year ago Xi has held talks several times with Putin, but not with his Ukrainian counterpart. This undermines China's claim of neutrality in the conflict, Kyiv's top diplomat in Beijing said last month. Asked whether it was possible that China and Russia would abandon the U.S. dollar and euro for bilateral trade, Qin said countries should use whatever currency was efficient, safe and credible. China has been looking to internationalise its currency, the yuan, which gained popularity in Russia last year after Western sanctions shut Russia's banks and many of its companies out of the dollar and euro payment systems. "Currencies should not be the trump card for unilateral sanctions, still less a disguise for bullying or coercion," Qin said. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Ryan Woo and the Beijing Newsroom; additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Tom Hogue and Alex Richardson) (Bloomberg) -- Chinas military on Tuesday unveiled a general as the new effective counterpart of Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Most Read from Bloomberg A March 7 report in the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, said that General Liu Zhenli attended a group discussion as chief of the People Liberation Armys Joint Staff Department. An official announcement of the personnel decision has yet to emerge. The session came during this weeks annual gathering of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing, the paper said. A number of top personnel appointments are being made during the NPC, including the expected unveiling of Li Qiang as premier on March 11. General Li Zuocheng, who has served as head of the PLA joint staff, is still listed as a member of Chinas Central Military Commission, the countrys top military body. Lis retirement was expected after he stepped down from the Communist Party-level CMC at the partys 20th Congress in October. Liu joined the party CMC at that same session. The Joint Staff Department is a central target for Xis overhaul of the nations military, as it oversees PLA operations, intelligence and training. Like his predecessor, Liu, 59, is a veteran of Chinas war with Vietnam more than four decades ago. Liu previously commanded Chinas elite 38th Army Corps and later became chief of staff of the Peoples Armed Police Force. He was most recently chief of staff for the PLAs ground forces. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING The U.S. and China are hurtling toward inevitable confrontation and conflict unless Washington changes course, Beijings new foreign minister warned Tuesday. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gangs fiery comments underlined the deepening tensions between the worlds two largest economies in the wake of the surveillance balloon saga and Russias war in Ukraine. They echoed similarly sharp remarks Monday by Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, blaming U.S. efforts to contain China for deteriorating relations and suggesting Beijing would increasingly seek to push back. Qin spoke at a news conference in Beijing, his first since he took office in December, on the sidelines of the annual meeting of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, where Xi is expected to complete the biggest government reshuffle in a decade. In a wide-ranging rebuke of U.S. policies, Qin who until recently was the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. questioned President Joe Bidens assertion that the U.S. seeks competition with China but not conflict. In fact, the U.S. sides so-called competition is all-round containment and suppression, a zero-sum game, he said, suggesting conflict may be unavoidable unless Washington stops trying to suppress Beijing. The U.S. side supposedly wants to put guardrails on Sino-U.S. relations and not to clash, Qin continued. In fact, it wants China not to respond in words or action when slandered or attacked. That is just impossible. If the U.S. side does not put on the brakes and continues down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can stop the derailment and rollover into confrontation and conflict, he said. In a speech to political delegates Monday, Xi also accused the U.S. of trying to fence China in. Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our countrys development, he said, according to Xinhua, Chinas state-run news agency. Story continues Qin also criticized Washingtons decision early last month to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off South Carolina, repeating Beijings insistence that it appeared over U.S. territory by accident. The U.S. side violated the spirit of international law and international practice by making presumptions of guilt, overreacting, abusing force and making use of the issue to create a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided, he said. Of Taiwan, the self-ruling island that Beijing claims as its territory, Qin said it was the first red line in Chinas relations with the U.S., which is Taiwans most important international backer. The U.S. bears unshirkable responsibility for the creation of the Taiwan issue, he said. Xi Jinping Party Congress in China (Greg Baker / AFP - Getty Images) Qin said the U.S. had disrespected Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity by providing defensive weapons to the island, which Beijing has said it could take by force if necessary. He also denied U.S. allegations that China is considering providing Moscow with ammunition and artillery to aid its fight against Ukraine. The U.S. has warned China not to supply arms to Russia for its war. China and Russia declared a no limits partnership weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, and China has tried to appear neutral in the conflict, refraining from condemning Russian aggression or even calling it an invasion. Qin said Tuesday that China-Russia relations must move steadily forward as the world becomes more turbulent. China is neither the creator of the crisis nor a party to it, nor has it provided weapons to any party to the conflict, so why should China be blamed, sanctioned, pressured or even threatened? Qin said. He repeated calls for a negotiated solution to the Ukraine conflict. Western officials quickly dismissed a 12-point peace proposal that Beijing issued last month as too favorable to Russia. It is regrettable that efforts to persuade and promote talks have been undermined, Qin said, as if an invisible hand is pushing the conflict to escalate, taking advantage of the Ukrainian crisis to achieve certain geopolitical intentions. Eric Baculinao reported from Beijing and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping told CATL on Monday he had mixed feelings about its status as the world's largest battery maker - remarks that come at a time when the company is rapidly expanding abroad and moving to undercut domestic rivals. After a presentation by CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun, who described how the company commands 37% of the global battery market, Xi was quoted as saying that he was "both happy and worried", glad about its leading position but concerned about the risks. Xi was speaking in a closed-door meeting with industry and commerce representatives on the sidelines of the annual session of parliament, according to a statement published by the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday. CATL has been building factories overseas and last month agreed to license its technology to a new plant that Ford Motor Co is building in Michigan. It has also offered to cut costs for Chinese automakers, sources have said, seeking to knock back challenges from smaller domestic rivals such as CALB and EVE Energy, which have factories ramping up this year. "Emerging industries must do a good job in planning, figuring out how big the market is and where the risks are," Xi was quoted as saying. "They should avoid marching ahead alone in an invincible fashion, only to be caught out by others and fail in the end." Xi added that companies need to balance development and security. CATL did not respond to a request for comment. Xinhua did not say whether Zeng had responded to Xi, but state broadcaster CCTV reported that Zeng said Xi was very happy with the development of the new energy industry and had asked private companies to lead development and innovation. The company's shares fell 1.6% on Tuesday, in line with a decline in China's blue-chip CSI300 Index. FORD DEAL IN FOCUS Beijing has tightened its grip over the country's biggest companies in recent years, regulating how they do business in and outside China on areas from fundraising to data security. Story continues At the same time, it has come under growing pressure from Washington, which has restricted Chinese companies' access to advanced AI chips and other semiconductors, citing national security. In an expansion of these tensions, Republican senator Marco Rubio last month asked the Biden administration to review CATL's deal with Ford, saying that it would deepen U.S. reliance on the Chinese Communist Party for battery technology. China also plans to scrutinise the deal to ensure the Chinese company's core technology is not shared with the U.S. automaker, Bloomberg reported last month. Dong Yang, an official from China EV100, the country's leading auto industry think tank, this week published a lengthy defence of the deal, saying the benefits of the collaboration far outweighed the risks of technology being leaked. The Ford-CATL partnership will be win-win for both parties without threatening China's leadership in the EV industry, Dong wrote. (Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda GohEditing by Edwina Gibbs and David Goodman) Chris Rock has a response for those who asked why he didnt hit Will Smith back at the Oscars ceremony last year. The comedian addressed the infamous slap head-on, in-depth in his live Netflix special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, which arrived on the streamer on Sunday (5 February). Smith stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards after Rock made a joke about Smiths wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia. A lot people go, Chris how come you didnt do nothing back? How come you didnt do nothing back that night? Rock told the Baltimore Hippodrome Theatre audience. Because I got parents, thats why. Because I was raised. He added: And you know what my parents taught me? Dont fight in front of white people. Elsewhere in the special, Rock blamed Pinkett Smith for allegedly starting their feud. According to Rock, the Girls Trip actor attempted to force him to quit hosting the Oscars in 2016 because her husband didnt get a Best Actor nomination for Peter Landesmans sports drama, Concussion. Chris Rock at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore (Kirill Bichutsky/Netflix) Years ago, his wife said I should quit the Oscars. I shouldnt host cause her man didnt get nominated for Concussion. And then he gives me a f***ing concussion, Rock quipped. The comedian also said in the special: I have rooted for Will Smith my whole life. And now I watch Emancipation just to see him get whipped. Smith plays an escapee Louisiana slave in the 2021 drama directed by Antonie Fuqua. Following the 2022 Oscars, in which Smith won Best Actor for his titular role in King Richard, the actor was banned as a member of the Academy for 10 years, and will not be permitted to attend the 2023 ceremony. In his first late-night talk show appearance since the Oscars fiasco, Smith told The Daily Show with Trevor Noah that he was going through something that night, attributing his actions to bottled rage. This years Oscars ceremony takes place on 12 March. A source close to Jada Pinkett Smith has claimed that Chris Rock is obsessed with the actor and podcast host. Rock infamously made a joke about Pinkett Smiths shaved head while presenting an award at the 2022 Oscars ceremony. (The Matrix Reloaded star has spoken about suffering from alopecia.) In the aftermath of the joke, Pinkett Smiths husband, Best Actor winner Will Smith, walked onstage and slapped Rock. The comedian addressed the incident in his recent Netflix stand-up special Selective Outrage, claiming that Pinkett Smith had started the feud back in 2016. Speaking to People, a source described as being close to Pinkett Smith said: Jada has had no part in all of this other than being heckled. Chris is obsessed with her and thats been going on for almost 30 years. Look where he chose to film his Netflix special. Her hometown [of Baltimore]. Obsessed. Back in 2016 she helped start a movement with the Academy Awards by questioning why there are so few Black members, and Chris took it to this? In his stand-up special, Rock claims that Pinkett Smith told him to quit the Oscars in 2016 because Will Smith wasnt nominated for Concussion. Jada Pinkett Smith seen during her Red Table Talk podcast (Facebook) Pinkett Smith was one of the many Hollywood stars to boycott the ceremony that year because of a lack of racial diversity among the nominees. The report in People quotes the source as saying: [Pinkett Smith] never asked Chris to not host the Oscars ever. She publicly said in a Facebook post at the time Chris would be a great Oscars host and is perfect for the job. The Independent has contacted representatives for Pinkett Smith and Rock for comment. This years Oscars ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. In an interview this week, the late night talk show host described how he would react if another slap should occur. The Oscars will take place on Sunday 12 March. Netflixs first live stand-up special, starring Chris Rock, pulled in enough viewers to make the streamers top 10 shows in the United States last week. It could not, however, break into the worldwide rankings. The latter result was expected within Netflix, given that Chris Rock: Selective Outrage the platforms first foray into live programming was released Saturday night in the United States, as opposed to Thursday or Friday for most of the streamers shows, and has a running time (one hour) far shorter than the typical Netflix series. More from The Hollywood Reporter Despite those structural disadvantages, though, Selective Outrage placed seventh in the United States for the week of Feb. 27-March 5. Netflix doesnt break down viewing time by country, supplying figures only for its global top 10. The companys 10th ranked English-language series worldwide for the week, season two of Next in Fashion, piled up 16.16 million hours of viewing (but did not make the U.S. top 10, suggesting the bulk of its watch time came from other countries). Selective Outrage was also only available in English over the weekend and began rolling out in other languages this week. As expected, Rock used the special to offer his (scathing) thoughts on being slapped by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars. Netflixs top title for the week was season three of Outer Banks, which had 99 million hours of watch time worldwide and was the No. 1 show in 40 countries, including the United States. Season two of Sex/Life debuted in second place among series with 43.89 million hours of viewing. More detailed viewing data on Selective Outrage could come in a few weeks when Nielsen releases its U.S. streaming charts for Feb. 27-March 5 provided, again, that its relatively short running time and small release window for that week dont place it outside the top 10. Click here to read the full article. Kirill Bichutsky / Netflix It makes sense that Chris Rock is still thinking about the Slap. Getting smacked by Will Smith on live TV while presenting at the Oscars is a more outrageous situation than most people will ever have to face in their lives. It was weird! Rock has a right to be confused and upset. But it makes no sense to extrapolate a larger argument about so-called cancel culture out of this extremely specific situation. Unfortunately, thats what Rock did in his latest special, Selective Outrage, which premiered live on Netflix on Saturday. In it, Rock jokes that Smith epitomizes the wokeness disease currently afflicting America, wherein everyone practices selective outrage, taking aim at whomever it is fashionable to dislike while ignoring inconvenient truths about other people. Rock likens Smith to hypocritical music fans. Even though Michael Jackson and R. Kelly committed the same crime, people have only canceled Kelly. Even though everybody called [Smith] a bitch, Smith only slapped Rock. Its a weak argument all the way through. Other writers have already pointed out that the first example requires its own selective ignorance; Kelly retains plenty of outspoken fans . But even if Kelly were a good example of an unfairly deplatformed artist, his situation translates poorly to Rocks. Kelly sexually abused minors; Rock made a joke in poor taste about Smiths wife. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison , after which some fans stopped listening to his music; Smith slapped Rock, which most people agreed was unwarranted even before Smith himself apologized. The offenses and punishments at play are so different that it barely makes sense to put them in adjacent sentences. These situations only seem related if you strip them of context and present their skeletal remains as evidence of cancel culture or, as Rock rebrands it, selective outrage. To be fair, he does try to differentiate his perspective from the usual right-wing talking points. He emphasizes the problem of selectivity more so than outrage; he tries to make his special cohere around the ridiculousness of hypocrisy, rather than the plight of censorship. Some of his better jokes hit that note precisely, as when he makes fun of Lululemon for saying its anti-hate if they sell $100 yoga pants, Rock quips, they hate the poor. But it remains unconvincing that Rocks real problem with Smith is his hypocrisy. Rocks problem with Smith is that he slapped him on live TV. Story continues And thats fine! Its fine to be upset about that, and its even fine to milk that moment for all its worth and then some until you get an hourlong special and a fancy Netflix deal. But its annoying to pretend that this schoolyard spat says something about societys ills. Smith acted in a way that was unpredictable and entitled, but he did so at a closed event for the Hollywood elite, which Rock was presenting at because he is a member of that aristocracy. This is not the behavior of a prototypical brainwashed leftist, on a continuum with typing out woke-ass tweets on a phone made by child slaves. Its the behavior of one guy, one time, under a highly unique set of circumstances. Its annoying to pretend that this schoolyard spat says something about societys ills. Rocks attempt to make the Slap into a cultural referendum betrays his class anxiety, common among aging comedians who insist they arent out of touch. In some jokes, Rock makes his cognitive dissonance explicit, like when he tells the audience, Im rich, but I identify as poor. In others, it seeps into his parenting. Though he brags that his kids are fucking spoiled and go to the best schools on earth, he also laments that they dont understand what its like to be normal people. When his daughter Lola gets in trouble on a school trip and doesnt even care, he admits, I kind of snapped. He begs the dean of Lolas crazy rich white school to kick her out so that shell have to write about it on her college application. By the end of the joke, Rock triumphs; he manufactured adversity for his privileged daughter, and it worked, he says. The whole thing humbled Lola. But underneath this ridiculous setup is the sincere belief that rich kids know nothing if they dont know suffering. Therein lies Rocks artistic quandary. He made a name for himself as a voice of the Black middle class , and he was at his sharpest and most celebrated when he spoke frankly about the imperfect, divided world he came up in. Now hes been rich and famous for decades. The insularity of his wealth has cost him legitimacy as a participant in and observer of the culture. Because hes a smart guy, Rock knows hes too rich to be relatable, so he waters down the specifics of his actual life until they resemble something normal people can rally behind. He presents getting slapped at the Oscars by Will Smith as falling victim to selective outrage because the latter seems class-neutral. Its a savvy tactic, but its also dishonest. Rocks personal grievance with Smith is legitimate, but by trying to mash it into the shape of a cultural cautionary tale, he does himself and his comedy a disservice. It might be true that Smiths outburst is indicative of a culture in which some celebrities increasingly believe they ought to be immune from critique. It might also be true that Smiths outburst was the result of a pent-up, yearslong Oscars feud between these two. But blaming Smiths behavior on the culture writ large is unspecific and unconvincing; more than anything, it feels like a cynical way for Rock to cash in on the one-year anniversary of his virality. A man reportedly forced women into vehicles and raped them three times in one week. >> Deputies: Home connected to Bengals RB Mixon part of shooting investigation; Juvenile hospitalized Rodolfo Castillo was indicted on six counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated robbery, one count of robbery, four counts of rape, and one count of attempted rape, WCPO reported. Woman kidnapped, raped, and robbed On February 13, he contacted a transportation service and asked for the driver to come to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of West Kemper Road in Forest Park, WCPO continued. He allegedly requested a female driver. When the driver arrived, Castillo got into the passenger seat and held a screwdriver to the womans ribs, Hamilton County prosecutors informed. He then ordered her into the back seat, tied her hands and feet, and forced her to the floor. Next, the man drove the woman to her bank and withdrew money from her account, prosecutors said. The amount of money that Castillo stole was not released in WCPOs article. Finally, he drove her to a parking lot, raped her, then dropped her off at a gas station, threatening to kill her if she reported the incident to the police, prosecutors stated. Witnesses reportedly saw the man at the apartment complex, coming up in that laundry room then dash[ing] off, but did not report it to the police. Woman assaulted On February 14, Castillo offered a ride to a woman leaving a Kroger in Woodlawn. However, when they were driving, he reportedly punched the woman multiple times and took her phone, prosecutors said. He later threatened to rape and kill her if she did not cooperate. The victim was able to jump out of the vehicle at a traffic light where a bystander helped her and called the police. The man fled the scene by the time officers arrived. Woman kidnapped and raped On February 16, a woman received a text message from a number she believed was a third-party mutual friend, prosecutors claimed. The text asked for a ride from the same apartment complex on West Kemper Road. Story continues When she arrived at the apartment complex, Castillo entered her vehicle, held a knife to her ribs, took her phone, and directed her to an unknown location to park, a spokesperson for the Hamilton County Prosecutors Office wrote. He conducted the same actions to the woman he encountered on February 13. He allegedly forced the victim to the back seat, tied her hands and feet, then forced her to the floor, prosecutors said. He later drove to a dark parking lot and raped her. As he returned to the apartment complex, he raped her a second time, prosecutors continued. Castillo threatened to kill the woman if she told anyone, prosecutors said. Conclusion Prosecutors were concerned that Castillo attacked more women who have yet to come forward. He was held in the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $775,000 bond. A conviction on all charges would result in a maximum possible sentence of 85 years in prison. A robotic dog built by Boston Dynamics is demonstrated at a conference on robotics and artificial intelligence in Las Vegas in 2019. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images) Amid lingering concerns about surveillance and safety, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to accept the donation of a dog-like robot for the LAPD. The controversial device would be paid for with a nearly $280,000 donation from the Los Angeles Police Foundation. The Police Commission and the council's public safety committee have approved the move. The department said it intends to deploy the device in limited scenarios and primarily for reconnaissance. Nicknamed Spot, it can climb stairs, open doors and navigate rugged terrain, giving police a set of eyes in potentially dangerous situations while keeping officers out of harm's way, officials say. Under the department's policy, its use would be restricted to incidents involving the SWAT team, such as an active shooter, barricaded suspect or explosive device. Critics are dubious. As with other police technologies, they worry about its potential for misuse to harm and spy on Black and brown communities. Hamid Khan, with the oversight group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, said that even if the robot starts out with a more benign purpose, law enforcement cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Throughout its history, the LAPD has justified new technology and programs by saying it would be used only in narrow circumstances, Khan said. "There's a long history of mission creep with the LAPD that what we have seen, and everything we have called out has then suddenly been transformed into a much wider expansion of its deployment," he said. "If we go back historically, the helicopter fleet first came out, then we saw the SWAT and that it's only going to be in particular situations, but SWAT has been normalized." On social media, critics of the LAPDs plan have circulated news stories about the robotic canine's disastrous deployment in New York City. The nation's largest police force first acquired the technology in 2020. Its use didn't get widespread attention until the next year, when it sparked a public outcry after a viral video showed the robot trotting alongside New York City officers during a hostage situation at a high-rise public housing building. Story continues Critics denounced the decision to use the device in what they said is an overpoliced community, and they also raised concerns about privacy and data collection. After several days, the New York City Police Department broke its contract with Boston Dynamics and returned the robot. LAPD Lt. Ruben Lopez, who oversees SWAT, said the department learned from what happened in New York. In Los Angeles, the Police Department's "strict policies" for Spot's use would ensure "we dont abuse it, so we can avoid confrontations and stuff with people who dont want to be arrested," he said. The dizzying pace of technology has forced police departments to keep up and made the adoption of devices like Spot "inevitable," he said. "We will not use it to surveil," he said, noting similar concerns about widespread police surveillance after the LAPD bought drones five years ago. Its baseless ... we havent had a single violation." As with the department's drones, its use must be approved by the deputy chief of the counter terrorism bureau, and the police chief must be notified. The donation has cleared several hurdles, most recently with a 4-1 vote by the council's public safety committee in January. Steve Soboroff, a police commissioner, said the device is intended to save lives and that fears of the technology someday being used to spy on or attack people are "ridiculous." He said the department had worked to devise safeguards against such abuse. This isnt about perception; it isnt about how it looks. Its about saving lives of the public and saving the lives of police officers and saving the lives of suspects, some of whom are severely mentally ill and are severely in drug stupors," he said. Theres no missiles attached to it, and theres not secret chemicals attached to it. Several council members have signaled they would vote against the robot. In a Twitter thread, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez wrote that the robot's deployment in New York "isn't just disturbing, it's deeply unjust. Especially when talking about low-income tenants and communities of color." Soto-Martinez, the sole "no" vote on the public safety committee, has signaled his continued opposition to the robot. Today, LA's Public Safety Committee will decide whether we should allow the LAPD to use a "robot dog" These mechs were already rejected in NYC because they were used to aggressively police working-class communities of color. We can't allow this dystopian machine in LA. (thread) pic.twitter.com/vOaFdDrXgN Hugo Soto-Martinez (@HugoForCD13) January 24, 2023 Opposition to the robots has mounted in recent months, following an uproar over a proposal in San Francisco to weaponize robots for use in killing people in certain situations. City leaders dropped the plan under public pressure. Critics fear that it's only a matter of time before other cities push for armament. Earlier this year, Boston Dynamics, the company that manufactures Spot, joined other robotics firms in an open letter condemning the arming of robots, saying the practice will harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society. The technology has been in use for years in more than 30 countries around the world, the company said. Another company, Ghost Robotics, has started marketing a weaponized dog-like robot to several branches of the U.S. military and its allies. And the four-legged robots were seen trotting around the grounds at International Defense Exhibition and Conference, an arms fair held every two years in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi. Besides the controversy in policing, Spot has received benign attention, appearing in viral social media videos, dancing to pop songs. Earlier this year, Jimmy Fallon featured the robot on an episode of The Tonight Show, and Boston Dynamics has highlighted the technologys use in countries worldwide. For example, Londons Heathrow Airport is using one of the robots to do 3-D laser scans of a 1960s-era cargo tunnel thats being refurbished. In Ukraine, its being used to sweep for mines. Across the U.S., the devices are starting to be used in various roles by police departments in cities such as Honolulu and St. Petersburg, Fla. The Homeland Security Department is considering deploying robot dogs manufactured by Ghost Robots to help patrol the southern U.S. border. But experts say that efforts at regulation nationwide of police technology have been piecemeal and largely failed to keep up with new developments in robotics. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A skateboard and sign that reads skaters for Tyre are seen in front of Memphis City Hall while Tyre Nichols family reviews footage inside of the traffic stop that resulted in Nichols being taken to the hospital in critical condition in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, January 23, 2023. Nichols was a skater and members of the Memphis skateboarding community came out to support his family. The City of Memphis will release nearly 20 hours of footage Wednesday afternoon from the scene where Tyre Nichols was beaten by multiple Memphis police officers in early January. The footage, along with accompanying charging documents, comes over a month after the initial body camera footage was released. "The investigation has been concluded," Jennifer Sink, chief legal officer for the City of Memphis, said in a Tuesday morning presentation before the Memphis City Council's Public Safety Committee. In total, 13 officers from the Memphis Police Department were investigated. Seven were fired, three were suspended and two had their internal charges dismissed. One officer retired, but the recommendation for that person was termination. The officer who retired submitted his retirement before the hearing was scheduled. Sink said the city cannot compel someone to come to work or a hearing unless they're employed by the City of Memphis. EXPERT ANALYSIS:Experts say these are the key challenges prosecutors will face in the Tyre Nichols case RELATED:SCORPION Unit supervisor had prior reprimands, illegally searched man's car "What happened, at my direction, was the hearing was still held, nobody appeared, but that was to be expected," Sink said. "The hearing officer made a determination based upon the information available to him." Although that officer was not officially fired, Sink said there will be a record that shows the charges brought against the officer, along with the course of action recommended for each of the violations. Four employees from the Memphis Fire Department were also charged. Two emergency medical technicians Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge along with Lt. Michelle Whitaker were fired Jan. 30. The fourth MFD personnel received a suspension and remedial training. According to Sink, all of the officers who struck Nichols were part of the first group of terminations and criminal charges. One other person, who was suspended, did, at the tail end, "place hands on legs, but that was not a strike or an assault." That person received a suspension. Story continues All of the suspensions are without pay and they will return to work after. With the city's current pension system, an employee can retire even if they are facing disciplinary action and retain their pension. Sink said that Tennessee state law, which says a government employee's pension can be rescinded if convicted of a crime, is the "only mechanism that the city has to revoke or rescind somebody's pension." "We need to fix that," said Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley. "It's upsetting...because I don't know the extent of what he or she has done, but what I do know is that they played a part, in something that played out very publicly, which ultimately added to life being taken from a young man. I just don't like the fact that his parents, essentially, are paying this officer to go on and live." Nichols was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation in the evening hours of January 7, though officials have since said there was no evidence to support whether he actually committed one. Video footage from the traffic stop showed Nichols, 29, being pulled from his car before being held on the ground while other officers pepper sprayed him. When Nichols got up and began running, now-former Officer Preston Hemphill fired his taser at Nichols. It is unclear if the prongs of that taser actually hit Nichols. Nichols was eventually caught at a second scene, less than 100 yards from his mothers house, where officers punched, kicked, pepper sprayed and hit him with a baton. Five officers Tadarius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills, Jr. were initially fired and later charged. A sixth officer, Hemphill, was also fired, but he has not been criminally charged. Footage showed Nichols slumped on the side of an unmarked squad cruiser as officers meandered around him. Eventually, he was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition. He died three days later. Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess. Lucas Finton is a news reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: City of Memphis completes Tyre Nichols beating investigation Clearwater police arrested a Dunkin employee Monday night after authorities say he became involved in an argument with a customer and then shot him. Khalil Abdul Shakur Shaheed, 22, of St. Petersburg, was booked in the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a charge of carrying a concealed firearm, according to a news release from the Clearwater Police Department Shaheed was working at the Dunkin at 2551 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd about 6 p.m. Monday when he got into argument began with a customer, according to police. Police said the customer, identified only as a 38-year-old Clearwater man, was trying to buy ice cream for his girlfriend and two children. When the customer and his family left through the front door, Shaheed went out the back door and confronted the man in the parking lot. The argument between the two men continued and became physical, a previous news release from Clearwater police said. Shaheed then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot the man, hitting him twice in the legs, police said. The customer was taken to Bayfront Heath St. Petersburg and is in serious but stable condition, police said. A Clearwater police spokesperson said Tuesday that investigators didnt know what sparked the argument between the two men. Records show Shaheed was being held in jail Tuesday on a $15,000 bond. Two years after the Jan. 6 riots, a Cleona man is facing felony charges for his role in allegedly breaching the U.S. Capitol and assaulting police. Cameron Edward Hess, 26, is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. Both charges are considered felonies. Hess is also accused of several misdemeanors, including knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct. Cameron Hess, 26, Cleona, is accused of assaulting and obstructing officers during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. Prosecutors said Hess tried to gain access to the Capitol building while police tried to direct rioters back out of the rotunda door. Agents were able to identify Hess via US Capitol CCTV video footage entering the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021 through the east rotunda doors, according to court documents. A short time later, riot police push Hess out of the Capitol building. Hess again pushes into the Capitol building at around 3:24 p.m. while law enforcement was trying to direct the rioters out of the rotunda door. Terry Brown:Myerstown man gets probation for Jan. 6 Capitol riot role: 'I do regret doing what I did' James Jeter:'Holes that can't be filled': Lebanon County law enforcement sees youth gun violence rise Hess had returned as police were attempting to close the rotunda doors and physically engaged with a municipal officer, the release said. Photos show Hess attempted to hold the door open as the officer working to close the door ordered Hess to stop. Officials said law enforcement successfully pushed Hess out of the rotunda doors. Cameron Hess, 26, Cleona, is accused of assaulting and obstructing officers during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. Prosecutors said Hess tried to gain access to the Capitol building while police tried to direct rioters back out of the rotunda door. According to the affidavit, two witnesses submitted tips to the FBI and identified Hess. Investigators also linked photos for Hess's social media account to video and photos of him entering the building, including photos of Hess covering his face as he was hit by pepper spray bullets. United States Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey filed an arrest warrant for Hess on Feb. 27. FBI agents arrested Hess on Thursday, and he was released from custody after being arraigned and waiving his rights to a hearing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Story continues According to the conditions ordered by Harvey on Tuesday, Hess is not allowed to travel to the District of Columbia except for purposes related to his case. He is also not allowed to travel outside the continental United States and is prohibited to drink excessively. Cameron Hess, 26, Cleona, is accused of assaulting and obstructing officers during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. Prosecutors said Hess tried to gain access to the Capitol building while police tried to direct rioters back out of the rotunda door. In the 25 months since Jan. 6, officials said more than 985 individuals have been arrested nationally for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol. More than 319 of those individuals are charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, officials said in a release. Hess's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 23. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Cleona man charged with assaulting officer during Capitol Riots Jan. 6 When Florida legislators kick off their 2023 legislative session Tuesday, expect a number of bills that will be red meat for the majority's Republican base. Among them are major proposals to expand gun rights, further restrict diversity efforts at public universities and expand the ability to sue media outlets for defamation all measures that shed light on the direction of a prospective presidential bid by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. With a GOP supermajority holding power across both chambers in Tallahassee, DeSantis will face little meaningful resistance in shaping the states politics as he sees fit, politics watchers in the state said, as he continues to build out a likely presidential campaign. Whatever the governor wants to get through, it will get through this session, said Susan MacManus, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Florida. Its going to offer some clues some huge clues as to what kind of campaign hes going to run." A DeSantis spokesperson declined to answer questions about the coming session. The governors recent memoir frequently trumpets his accomplishments in Florida as models for national policy. One chapter is even called Make America Florida, and he writes that the Florida blueprint is a blueprint for Americas revival. Here are some of the biggest items the GOP Legislature will be focusing on in its March 7-to-May 5 session. Expanding gun rights Republican leaders have already introduced legislation that would allow people to carry concealed loaded guns anywhere without permits a proposal DeSantis has signaled is one of his top priorities for the coming session. This was something that Ive always supported, he said in December. Itll be something that will be done in the regular session. Under current Florida law, people who seek to carry concealed guns in public are required to get concealed weapons licenses from the state. A constitutional carry measure as conservatives gun rights activists call the bill or permitless carry the term preferred by gun safety and gun control activists, as well as neutral groups would eliminate the requirement. Story continues In recent weeks, however, Senate Republicans have combined the legislation with measures they say would increase school safety, like creating a standardized school threat assessment process and expanding a program that allows school district employees to carry guns at schools. Democrats have blasted the combination as a political ploy to make the permitless carry proposal more palatable to voters. They should be two separate bills, state Sen. Jason Pizzo, a noted DeSantis critic, said in an interview. Theyre not germane. ... They shouldnt be combined together. Cracking down on anything 'woke' DeSantis heavy lean into culture war issues related to education has helped raise his national profile. Conservatives have celebrated his 2022 Stop WOKE Act, which in effect curtailed conversations about race in schools; his pressure on the College Board, which appeared to prompt the group to water down its Advanced Placement African American studies course (the group claims it didn't make the changes because of DeSantis); and his retaliation against Disney after it objected to a piece of legislation dubbed the Dont Say Gay bill by critics to restrict teaching young students about sexual orientation and gender identity. Hes not about to stop that approach. Another Republican-proposed bill in the Legislature would build on those efforts by cracking down on diversity programs at state universities. The bill, HB 999, would consolidate state control over such schools. It would allow the Florida Board of Governors, in effect, to force universities to remove majors and minors in such subjects as critical race theory and gender studies and to bar spending on programs or activities that support them. The Board of Governors oversees the states public universities, and 14 of its 17 members are appointed by the governor. The bill would also give schools boards of trustees the authority to review faculty members tenure at any time. In addition, DeSantis and state Republicans are not letting up on their focus on targeting transgender people. A pair of corresponding bills in the state House and Senate would, if enacted, ban requiring students, educators and other school employees from using pronouns that "do not correspond with that persons sex." They would also ban school employees from sharing their own pronouns if they do not correspond with their sexes and from asking students for their preferred pronouns. The same bills would also expand the Parental Rights in Education Act, which that critics call the Dont Say Gay law, by extending a ban on teaching students about sexual orientation and gender identity through the eighth grade (the current law implemented such a ban through the third grade). Andres Malave, an aide to Republican House Speaker Paul Renner, disputed that any focus by legislators on high-profile culture war-related legislation like HB 999 was coming from the governors office. These proposals are all member-driven, and they will move their way through the appropriate processes, he said in an interview. Going after the media Another bill expected to get serious consideration, at DeSantis urging, would make it easier to successfully sue media organizations for defamation. The bill, HB 991, would limit the actual malice requirement that has traditionally allowed journalists some room for error so theyre not pressured to self-censor while holding powerful people accountable. The term actual malice refers to the idea that people acted on information they knew to be false or with reckless disregard for its accuracy. Notably, the bill would also classify allegations of discrimination against other people on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity as defamation. Experts have raised substantial questions about the bills constitutionality and legality, given that it includes several provisions that would seem to contradict landmark Supreme Court rulings on First Amendment rights. The bill in essence puts in writing former President Donald Trumps calls during his 2016 campaign to open up our libel laws," and its movement through the Legislature would advance the DeSantis administrations combative approach to the news media. In a roundtable discussion last month about media defamation practices, DeSantis urged the Legislature to act on the issue, saying, Legacy media outlets increasingly divorce themselves from the truth and instead try to elevate preferred narratives and partisan activism over reporting the facts. Pizzo said about the bill, DeSantis is just literally copying [Trumps] playbook. Well know where hes going by what happens in this session Other conservative bills are getting national attention, including one that, if it is enacted, would eliminate the Democratic Party in the state and another that would require bloggers who write about the governor and legislators to register with the state. Despite the Republican supermajority in the Legislature, many Florida politics watchers dont expect those bills to pass. I call them silliness bills, MacManus said. I think there is a danger in moving forward with bills like those if [DeSantis] anticipates running for president. The Legislature will also consider more conventional Republican proposals pushed by DeSantis, like "record tax relief" and an education plan that would boost teachers salaries while limiting school board terms and stripping unions of leverage in negotiating pay for educators. Well know where hes going by what happens in this session, MacManus said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Pune, India - (NewMediaWire) - March 7, 2023 - "Coal Import" Size, Scope, and Forecast 2023-2032 report has been added to the Market Research Archive of Absolute Reports. Industry experts and researchers have offered an authoritative and concise analysis of the Global Coal Import with respect to various aspects such as growth factors, challenges, restraints, developments, trends, and opportunities for growth. This report will surely be a handy tool for market players to come up with effective strategies with the aim of strengthening their positions in the market. What is the Coal Import growth? China is the largest coal producer and consumer. The huge coal consumption in China encourages foreign coal producers to expand their production capacity. In addition, overseas coal mines are mostly opencast ones, which makes it easy to increase production. However, coal production in China is restricted by environmental protection policies and other factors. In recent years, some small and medium-sized coal mines had to cut or even stop production because their environmental protection facilities failed to meet standards. Meanwhile, the rising mining costs have made the coal prices in China higher than the international coal prices. For example, in 2019, the average price of imported coal was only US$78 per ton, about 10% lower than that of domestic coal. According to Researchers, the logistics costs for imported coal are very low because imported coal mostly enters China by sea. While the logistics costs for domestic coal are far higher because the prices of refined oil are more expensive in China than in other parts of the world, and the expressway tolls are excessively high. Therefore, China imports a large quantity of coal every year. China's coal imports rose from 204.06 million tons in 2015 to 299.67 million tons in 2019. In 2020, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the deterioration of relations between China and Australia, China's coal imports have shown a downward trend. In 2021, China's coal imports amounted to approximately 323.21 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. Story continues Coal imports are classified into anthracite, coking coal, other coal, other bituminous coal and lignite. The first three types of coal are used for thermal power generation and collectively called as steam coal in China. China's coal imports are dominated by steam coal that has a low average price. Get a Sample PDF of report - https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/request-sample/22022638 According to Researchers, coal import can bring the following benefits to China: (1) Appropriate amount of coal imports can suppress the price fluctuations and speculation on China's coal market so that the downstream industries can maintain stable production and operation; and (2) the import of high-quality coking coal that China lacks can promote the development of China's coke and metal smelting industries. According to Researchers' prediction, if the COVID-19 epidemic is relieved in 2022, China's coal imports will increase in 2023-2032. Although China has reduced its coal imports from Australia, it will look for coal from other countries as an alternative. If the COVID-19 epidemic continues in 2023, it is expected that China's coal imports will continue to decline in 2023 and will not resume growth until 2024. Browse Detailed TOC, Tables and Figures with Charts which is spread across 60 Pages that provides exclusive data, information, vital statistics, trends, and competitive landscape details in this niche sector. Client Focus 1. Does this report consider the impact of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the Coal Import? Yes. As the COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war are profoundly affecting the global supply chain relationship and raw material price system, we have definitely taken them into consideration throughout the research, in Chapters, we elaborate at full length on the impact of the pandemic and the war on the Coal Import Industry Final Report will add the analysis of the impact of Russia-Ukraine War and COVID-19 on this Coal Import Industry. TO KNOW HOW COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR WILL IMPACT THIS MARKET - REQUEST SAMPLE This report provides a pin-point analysis of changing dynamics and emerging trends in the Global Coal Import. Additionally, it provides a futuristic perspective on various factors that are likely to fuel the growth of the Global Coal Import in the coming years. Further, the authors of the report have shed light on the factors that may hinder the growth of the Global Coal Import. Coal Import - Competitive and Segmentation Analysis: 2. How do you determine the list of the key players included in the report? With the aim of clearly revealing the competitive situation of the industry, we concretely analyze not only the leading enterprises that have a voice on a global scale, but also the regional small and medium-sized companies that play key roles and have plenty of potential growth. Top Key Players of the Global Coal Import Huaneng Group Fuel Co., Ltd. Xiamen ITG Group Corp., Ltd. Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. Short Description About Coal Import: The Global Coal Import is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2023 and 2032. In 2023, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon. This report studies the Coal Import, covering market size for segment by type, by application, by sales channel (Direct Channel, Distribution Channel), and by region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa). This report provides detailed historical analysis of global market for Coal Import from 2015-2020, and provides extensive market forecasts from 2023-2032 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the sales/revenue/value, gross margin, historical growth and future perspectives in the Coal Import. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 is also concerning. Since the outbreak in December 2019, the COVID-19 virus has spread to all around the world and caused huge losses of lives and economy, and the global manufacturing, tourism and financial markets have been hit hard, while the online market/industry increase. Fortunately, with the development of vaccine and other effort by global governments and organizations, the negative impact of COVID-19 is expected to subside and the global economy is expected to recover. This research covers COVID-19 impacts on the upstream, midstream and downstream industries. Moreover, this research provides an in-depth market evaluation by highlighting information on various aspects covering market dynamics like drivers, barriers, opportunities, threats, and industry news & trends. In the end, this report also provides in-depth analysis and professional advices on how to face the post COIVD-19 period. The research methodology used to estimate and forecast this market begins by capturing the revenues of the key players and their shares in the market. Various secondary sources such as press releases, annual reports, non-profit organizations, industry associations, governmental agencies and customs data, have been used to identify and collect information useful for this extensive commercial study of the market. Calculations based on this led to the overall market size. After arriving at the overall market size, the total market has been split into several segments and sub-segments, which have then been verified through primary research by conducting extensive interviews with industry experts such as CEOs, VPs, directors, and executives. The data triangulation and market breakdown procedures have been employed to complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all segments and sub-segments. Get a Sample Copy of the Coal Import Report 2023 3. What are your main data sources? Both Primary and Secondary data sources are being used while compiling the report. Primary sources include extensive interviews of key opinion leaders and industry experts (such as experienced front-line staff, directors, CEOs, and marketing executives), downstream distributors, as well as end-users.Secondary sources include the research of the annual and financial reports of the top companies, public files, new journals, etc. We also cooperate with some third-party databases. Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, historical data and forecast (2023-2032) of the following regions are covered in Chapter 4 and Chapter 7: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa Please find a more complete list of data sources in Chapters 1. To study and analyze the global Coal Import consumption (value) by key regions/countries, product type and application 2. To understand the structure of Coal Import by identifying its various sub segments. 3. Focuses on the key global Coal Import manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the value, market share, market competition landscape, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years. 4. To analyze the Coal Import with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. 5. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). 6. To project the consumption of Coal Import submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). 7. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. 8. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. Customization of the Report 4. Can I modify the scope of the report and customize it to suit my requirements? Yes. Customized requirements of multi-dimensional, deep-level and high-quality can help our customers precisely grasp market opportunities, effortlessly confront market challenges, properly formulate market strategies and act promptly, thus to win them sufficient time and space for market competition. Inquire more and share questions if any before the purchase on this report at - https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/22022638 Detailed TOC of Coal Import Market Insights and Forecast to 2032 1 Overview of China's Coal Industry 1.1 Definition of Coal 1.2 Classification of Coal 1.3 Industry Chain of Coal 1.4 The Impact of COVID-19 on China's Coal Imports 2 Analysis on Environment of Coal Import in China, 2019-2022 2.1 Economic Environment 2.2 Policy Environment 2.3 Technological Environment 3 Analysis on Coal Supply in China 3.1 China's Coal Reserves 3.2 Production Capacity of China's Coal Mines 3.3 Production Volume of Coal in China 4 Analysis on Coal Demand in China 4.1 Major Downstream Consumers of Coal in China 4.2 Consumption Volume of Coal in China 4.3 Market Size of Coal in China 5 Analysis on Coal Import in China 5.1 Scale of Coal Import in China 5.2 Average Import Prices of Coal in China 5.3 China's Reliance on Coal Imports 6 Analysis on Coal Imports by Type in China 6.1 Steam Coal Import in China 6.2 Coking Coal Import in China 6.3 Anthracite Import in China 7 Analysis on Major Sources of China's Coal Imports 7.1 China's Coal Imports from Indonesia 7.2 China's Coal Imports from Australia 7.3 China's Coal Imports from Mongolia 7.4 China's Coal Imports from Russia 8 Major Coal Importers in China 8.1 Major Steam Coal Importers in China 8.2 Major Coking Coal Importers in China 9 Prospect of Coal Import in China, 2023-2032 9.1 Major Factors Influencing Coal Import in China 9.2 Forecast on Import Volume of Coal in China 9.3 Forecast on Types and Major Sources of China's Coal Imports LIST OF CHARTS Chart Part of Coal Types in China Chart Industry Chain of Coal Chart China's GDP, Disposable Personal Income Per Capita and Total Retail Sales Value of Consumer Goods, 2013-2022 Chart China's Industrial Added Value from 2013 to 2022 Chart China's Regulatory Policies on Coal Industry Chart China's Import Tariffs on Coal Chart Output Volume of Coal in China 2013-2022 Chart China's Energy Consumption Structure Chart Downstream Consumption of Coal in China Chart New Production Capacity of the Thermal Power Generation Industry in China 2013-2022 Chart China's Steel Output 2013-2022 Chart Apparent Consumption of Coal in China 2013-2022 Chart Sales Revenue of China's Coal Mining and Washing Industry 2013-2022 Chart Import Volume of Coal in China 2013-2022 Chart Import Value of Coal in China 2013-2022 Chart Average Import Prices of Coal in China, 2013-2022 Purchase this report (Price 3000 USD for a single-user license) - https://www.absolutereports.com/purchase/22022638 About Us: Absolute Reports is the credible source for gaining the market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs. At Absolute Reports, our objective is providing a platform for many top-notch market research firms worldwide to publish their research reports, as well as helping the decision makers in finding most suitable market research solutions under one roof. 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. Contact Us: Organization: Absolute Reports Web: https://www.absolutereports.com (This March 6 story has been refiled to remove the garble from paragraph 1) BOGOTA (Reuters) - The president of Colombia's Senate, Roy Barreras, asked the government on Monday to suspend negotiations with drug traffickers, adding that these talks negatively impact the Andean country's goal of implementing a policy of total peace. Barreras, an ally of leftist President Gustavo Petro, made his request as the government faces a scandal which alleges that the president's brother and eldest son received money from accused drug traffickers looking to benefit from the total peace policy. "I ask the government to suspend all kinds of official or unofficial dialogue, conversation or negotiation with drug traffickers," Barreras said at a press conference. "They aren't necessary and they harm the noble purpose of total peace." The total peace policy is a bid by Petro to end the Andean country's almost six decades of internal armed conflict, which has left hundreds of thousands dead. The attorney general has opened an investigation against the president's son Nicolas Petro Burgos and his brother Juan Fernando Petro in connection with the allegations which both men deny. As part of his total peace policy, Petro is offering criminal gangs the chance to surrender to justice in exchange for reduced sentences if they hand over their earnings and reveal their cocaine trafficking routes. Drug trafficking gangs will be able to surrender themselves to justice once the law presented by the government which will allow them to do so has been passed by Congress, Barreras said. The president has restarted peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and is looking to begin separate negotiations with two dissident factions of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which signed a peace deal with the state in 2016. Danilo Rueda, the government's High Commissioner for Peace, acknowledged "serious rumors" of lawyers entering negotiations with drug traffickers in connection with the total peace policy, but added that neither his office nor Petro have anything to do with the alleged illegal actions. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Lincoln Feast.; Writing by Oliver Griffin) A 60-year-old Columbia area doctor pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to illegally distributing various prescription drugs, including oxycodone, adderall, Xanax and hydrocodone. Dr. James Oscar Williams, a family medicine doctor who practices in West Columbia, will be sentenced at a later date, said Judge Joe Anderson. Federal prosecutors and attorneys for Williams have agreed on a five-year prison sentence for the doctor, who has no prior criminal record, according to public records. Anderson said he may or may not abide by that agreement in sentencing. Williams was indicted on charges of 51 illegal drug transactions involving prescription drugs in 2018 and 2019. In a plea deal, prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty to two counts of drug trafficking in exchange for his guilty plea and the agreed-upon five year prison sentence. Williams was in court Monday with his two defense lawyers, Johnny Gasser and Gregory Harris, both of Columbia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike OMara prosecuted the case. Jamey Jones, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who worked the case, also was in the courtroom. OMara said the state Department of Labor and Licensing, which has a board overseeing doctors discipline, will make the decision on what action to take with respect to Williams license. At Mondays hearing, no mention was made of the motive Williams had in distributing quantities of prescription drugs. However, OMara said that Hawthorne Pharmacy in Columbia became concerned about the quantities of drugs that Williams was writing prescriptions for and began to refuse to do business with him. Williams then turned to a hospital pharmacy run of Prisma. When Prisma began to have reservations about the quantities of drugs Williams was writing prescriptions for, the hospital pharmacy stopped allowing him to buy there. More information will be released at the as-yet unscheduled sentencing hearing. Principal Attorney from Sandoval Law Firm Explains Who Is the Responsible Party (Employer or Third-Party) And What Type of Insurance Do They Have for Work Injuries Austin, Texas --News Direct-- Hector Sandoval Although suffering an injury on the job raises immediate questions about who is going to pay for medical care and lost wage payments, the first question that must be addressed is; what type of insurance your employer or the at-fault party has? In Texas, your employer could have Texas Workers Compensation Insurance, could be Self-Insured, could be a Non-Subscriber (No Workers Compensation but has an ERISA Plan) or, your employer could be uninsured. If you are injured on the job but it was the fault of another company or their employee (Third-party), you could have a case and you would need to know if that company has commercial liability coverage. Determining which scenario or combination of scenarios your case falls into is going to determine what kind of injury benefits you could seek. For this reason, its crucial to make an early assessment in your case of what rights you have so that you can do what is necessary to: Receive theyou need; Receivethat you may be entitled to; and Hold your employer responsible for anythey may have caused. Consider contacting a work accident attorney who can fight for your rights. Sandoval Law Firm was started with three goals in mind: Provide sound legal advice backed with aggressive representation! Provide Clients with Personal Service like no other law firm out there! Treat every case like a million-dollar case! The Focus on Customer Service and Individual Attention When hiring a work injury law firm in Texas to represent you, its important for you to consider how you are treated from the first contact with the firm! Lawyers and law firms are in the customer service industry too even though some lawyers dont realize it. How can you and your family trust a law firm or a lawyer with your case at a time when you are most vulnerable and experiencing high stress without either speaking directly with the person you are entrusting to protect your rights or meeting with them in person! Dont settle! Story continues The Attorney-Client Relationship at Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC! At the Sandoval Law Firm, you will speak directly with me and I will do my best to earn your trust from our first meeting. I pride myself on being available to discuss your legal issue on the phone or in person, and determine quickly whether we believe we can help you and, if we cant, we will, at the very least, try to offer some guidance to you and your family so that you can continue with your lives with peace of mind, knowing youve spoken to a lawyer who tried to help. When you call Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC, Ill immediately put my legal experience to work for you! My firm handles all types of personal injury cases. Personal service means, you will be able to talk to me at all phases of your work injury case! Call Sandoval Law Firm at (346) 347-7777 and put Sandoval to work for you! Our website is https://sandovalpllc.com/. Para leer informacion en espanol, favor visite www.sandovalpllc.com/es Contact Details Sandoval Law Firm Hector Sandoval +1 346-347-7777 Hector@Sandovalpllc.com Company Website https://sandovalpllc.com/lead-attorney-spotlight/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/what-you-need-to-consider-in-your-texas-work-injury-case-according-to-accident-attorney-hector-sandoval-262812101 The Daily Beast NBCMaking random strangers cry is all in a days work for Donald Trump, if the former president is to be believed, and Colin Jost just doesnt get it.Why is everyone in Trumps stories always crying?Thats the question Jost asked near the top of Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update, and a query that has been on millions of peoples minds ever since the former president told a seemingly enthralled Tucker Carlson earlier this week in his first post-arraignment interview. As Jost explained, Do GOSHEN - A New York City corrections officer who lives in Middletown has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to burglary in a violent home invasion in which he stabbed his wife, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced. Hoovler said the corrections officer, Jonathan Harris, 41, of Middletown, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. According to Hoovler, as admitted during the plea process and in charging documents filed in court on July 16, 2022, Harris broke into the home of his wife in the town of Wallkill in violation of a previously issued order of protection. When his wife tried to call 911, Harris knocked the phone out of her hands. Harris then stabbed her in the chest, causing a puncture wound to her liver. Harris fled the residence but was apprehended after a traffic stop by police. It was subsequently determined that Harris was an active corrections officer for the city of New York, Hoovler said. Harris later pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, a felony. Hoovler thanked the Town of Wallkill Police Department for their investigation and arrest of Harris. Haverstraw fatality: Maybrook passenger dies in car crash on Palisades Parkway Tax breaks: State Senator James Skoufis launching probe into Orange County IDA Downtown revitalization: State awards grants to Port Jervis, Sleepy Hollow, Cornwall "The significant sentence imposed in this matter is appropriate in light of the admitted violent conduct of the defendant," Hoovler said in a statement released by his office. "This type of behavior is reprehensible for anyone, let alone a sworn corrections officer who is entrusted to protect and serve. My office will continue to support victims of domestic violence by aggressively prosecuting those responsible for these crimes." "I urge all victims of domestic violence to seek out the support available to them by contacting law enforcement, my office or organizations such as Fearless! Hudson Valley who are there to assist," Hoovler's statement concluded. Story continues Peter Troxler, Harris' attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment. Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845 This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Corrections officer going to prison after pleading guilty to burglary Raymond Chan, left, a former Los Angeles deputy mayor, and his attorney Harland Braun after a court hearing in January. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A federal judge called Monday for a three-week delay in the corruption trial of former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan, after learning that Chan's main lawyer was still in the hospital after an unexpected surgery. U.S. District Judge John F. Walter said he will seek to resume witness testimony March 27, giving time for Harland Braun, Chan's lawyer, to recover from what has been described in court as an infection. Chan, a onetime aide to Mayor Eric Garcetti and former head of the Department of Building and Safety, is accused of participating in a bribery and racketeering scheme led by former Councilmember Jose Huizar and involving downtown high-rise development projects. Braun, who has been leading the defense team, went to the hospital last week, prompting the cancellation of testimony Friday. Braun's abrupt absence has created a new atmosphere of uncertainty around the trial, which has been underway since Feb. 21. Braun, 80, is a seasoned attorney who has represented many high-profile defendants, including actor Robert Blake, director Roman Polanski and Theodore J. Briseno, a former LAPD officer who was twice acquitted of criminal charges in the Rodney King beating case. The other attorney on Chan's defense team, Brendan Pratt, earned his law degree in 2021. Also seated at the defense table is Even Chan, the defendant's daughter-in-law, who described herself as an assistant when approached by The Times. Pratt told the court Monday that doctors had not determined the source of Braun's infection. He did not say what type of surgery had been performed, describing it as a "half measure." Pratt said he has been relying on Braun's son for medical information on the veteran attorney, but also had also spoken with Braun directly. "He sounded very weak, and expressed his concern that he does not know when he will be discharged from the hospital," Pratt said. "We still don't have a diagnosis, do we?" the judge asked minutes later. Story continues "No we don't, your honor," Pratt said. Prosecutors have four witnesses left in the case. Jurors have heard from former Planning Commissioner David Ambroz, mayoral aide Kevin Keller and Richelle Rios, Huizar's estranged wife, among others. On Friday, the judge advised Pratt that he would need to familiarize himself with the exhibits in the case. The judge told the prosecution he would do everything in his power to "keep this trial on track. Im definitely not going to mistrial, he said last week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A conservative federal judge in Texas is poised to rule in a lawsuit that could disrupt abortion access across the nation by halting distribution of a key abortion pill, mifepristone, which was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago. (Allen G. Breed / Associated Press) A conservative federal judge in Texas is poised to rule in a lawsuit that could disrupt abortion access across the nation including in states with strong abortion protections such as California by halting distribution of a key abortion pill. Ironically, the case is filed in Texas, but the impact will be felt entirely in states that permit abortion, said Elisabeth Smith, an attorney who directs state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights. The lawsuit, filed in November on behalf of several antiabortion groups and doctors, alleges that the drug, mifepristone, is not safe for use in medication abortion. The complaint claims the U.S. Food and Drug Administration chose politics over science when it approved the drug more than two decades ago. About 54% of abortions nationwide rely on a two-drug combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. In January, the FDA finalized a new rule that broadened access to abortion pills by allowing patients to receive medication by mail after a telemedicine appointment with a certified provider. If the Trump-appointed judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, rules the FDA's approval of mifepristone was unlawful, women in the U.S. could face the most far-reaching limit on abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade last year. But there are a range of potential legal scenarios. The Times spoke to attorneys and abortion providers about whats at stake in the Texas case and how they are preparing. Is mifepristone safe? Mifepristone, which is approved by the FDA for medical termination of pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation, has been in use since 2000. Leading physicians groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Assn., have said the drug is safe and effective. Taking mifepristone has a lower risk of complications, the medical groups noted, than removing a wisdom tooth, having a colonoscopy or taking Viagra. Serious side effects occur in less than 1% of patients, and major adverse events significant infection, blood loss, or hospitalization occur in less than 0.3% of patients, key medical groups said in an amicus brief . The risk of death is almost non-existent. Story continues What does the lawsuit allege? Antiabortion groups, including the relatively new umbrella Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, argue that the FDA exceeded its regulatory authority in 2000 by using an accelerated review process reserved for drugs to treat serious or life-threatening illnesses when it approved use of mifepristone. It also argues the agency never studied the safety of the drugs under the labeled conditions of use despite being required to do. The plaintiffs also ask the judge to withdraw misoprostol for use in abortions. But restricting that drug would be more complicated, experts say, because it was developed and approved to treat stomach ulcers. While the lawsuit asks for an injunction against the two-drug cocktail, it focuses on mifepristone. In its legal response to the lawsuit, the FDA said it reviewed the scientific evidence thoroughly and determined that the benefits of mifepristone outweigh any risks. The agency also disputed that its approval of mifepristone was accelerated, noting that it came four years after the manufacturer first submitted its new drug application. Among the plaintiffs is Dr. Shaun Jester, a Texas obstetrician and gynecologist who claims that one of his patients suffered complications after traveling from Texas to New Mexico to obtain mifepristone, suffering two weeks of moderate to heavy bleeding and then developing a uterine infection. If she had waited a few more days before receiving care from Dr. Jester, she could have been septic and died, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit asks Kacsmaryk to issue a nationwide preliminary injunction that would block access to mifepristone not only in the states that have decided to criminalize abortion, but also in states that have taken steps to protect abortion access. Who is Judge Kacsmaryk? Republican former President Trump nominated Kacsmaryk, 47, to serve as a United States district judge for the Northern District of Texas first in 2017 and then, after that nomination died, again in 2018. A controversial pick, his nomination was opposed by Senate Democrats as well as a coalition of civil rights groups that argued he was a culture warrior with a record of hostility to legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. From 2014 to 2019, Kacsmaryk served as deputy general counsel for First Liberty Institute, a Christian conservative nonprofit group that litigates on cases involving religious freedom. He opposed same-sex marriage, writing that the Catechism holds that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.' He criticized the Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that recognized a womans constitutional right to abortion, protesting that even the unborn child must yield to the erotic desires of liberated adults. Kacsmaryk, who was confirmed in 2019 in a nearly party-line Senate vote, presides alone over the judicial district's Amarillo division. He has frequently sided with conservatives. In 2021, he halted the Biden administrations attempt to end the Remain in Mexico policy, a ruling that forced asylum seekers to return to Mexico while they awaited their U.S. immigration court date. Last year, he ruled that teenagers need parental consent to obtain birth control and that Biden administration attempts to protect LGBTQ workers and transgender youth were unlawful. How might the judge rule? Kacsmaryk could order the FDA to start the process for revoking mifepristone, a process that is likely to take months or years. But he could also interpret his powers more broadly and order the FDA to immediately revoke approval for mifepristone and remove the drug from the market. If we were assuming a reasonable judge, I think many people would say the worst he could do is order the FDA to start the process for revoking the drug, said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh who specializes in abortion policy. The problem is that no one really trusts that he's going to follow the letter of the law. Even if Kacsmaryk ordered an immediate halting of the drug, Donley said, the FDA could exercise its enforcement discretion. The FDA is the final decision maker, Donley said. The courts do not enforce law. The agencies have power to decide not to enforce the law. But just because the FDA can exercise enforcement discretion doesn't mean it will. Whatever approach the FDA takes, the manufacturer of mifepristone, GenBioPro, could decide its unlikely that the Biden FDA would go after it, and take the risk of continuing to distribute the pill. But we're at a point right now," Donley said, "where there's been a lot of risk aversion in the reproductive rights movement, and probably for good reason: There's a huge appetite in the anti-abortion movement to go after anyone who's a part of providing abortion care. I live in a blue state. How worried should I be? Experts say a ruling taking the drug off the market would add pressure on overtaxed abortion providers as well as people seeking to end their pregnancies. If mifepristone were no longer available, women would still be able to obtain an abortion, but their choice would narrow. They could take off-label misoprostol alone or obtain a surgical abortion. Misoprostol is safe and effective, said Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst for the Washington, D.C.-based Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Women in numerous countries that don't have access to mifepristone use only misoprostol for abortions, but the two-dose regimen is more effective and some patients might feel uncomfortable with taking it alone as it requires taking more medication, and there are more side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea, experts say. If more patients opted for surgical abortions, the demand would put additional strain on many clinics already reeling from the Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling that overturned Roe, because procedural abortions take more time and require more staff. Many abortion providers across the nation, including more than half in California, provide only medication. A few providers in some states particularly those with fewer protections might decide not to switch to the misoprostol-only regimen and stop providing abortions altogether. At this point, if we lose a few providers, that has a real impact on the remaining providers, Nash said. After the Dobbs ruling plunged many clinics across the country into a chaotic, patchwork system of access, any further limitation to abortion care would be devastating, said Smith, of the Center for Reproductive Rights. Because no medication abortions are happening in the states that ban abortion right now," Smith said, "this is just going to impact people in states where abortion remains legal. Already, Smith noted, the plaintiffs have gone beyond their call to halt distribution of mifepristone. In a reply brief, they expanded their ask, asking the judge to limit all medication abortion across the country. Some legal experts, however, said they doubted Kacsmaryk would go so far as to halt the distribution of misopostrol a drug that is used not just for abortion, but also for stomach ulcers, miscarriage care and to induce labor. "I think that that's extremely unlikely," Donley said: "Look, this judge, I don't trust him at all. He might try to be extremely radical ... but that would have really serious implications not just for abortion care, but for all of reproductive healthcare. I would be pretty surprised if he went that far." How are abortion providers preparing? Even in California, with its multiple protections for abortion, providers are bracing for the Texas ruling. I've heard some people describe this as more devastating than Dobbs, and I don't think that's wrong, said Sue Dunlap, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles. What this Texas court has the potential to do is literally take one of the safest medications in the country off the market. About 50% of Planned Parenthood of L.A.s patients choose medication abortion a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, Dunlap said. The other 50% opt for surgical abortion. If mifepristone were no longer distributed, Dunlap is uncertain how many patients would shift to misoprostol only. For now, Dunlap is making sure Planned Parenthood clinics are stocked up on a three-month supply of misoprostol. She is also working to make sure her 600 employees at Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles are prepared with scripts to help patients navigate any changes in the abortion landscape. For a licensed practitioner to go from one moment where they're describing and offering a mix of mifepristone-misoprostol abortion to misoprostol only, or perhaps recommending surgery, where the day before they might have offered medication abortion, it's a complete transformation of the practice, Dunlap said. All of us, in one way or another, need to be able to shift and meet that moment. Could the ruling have effects beyond abortion? Some lawyers note the arguments in the abortion pill case could set a dangerous precedent for public health, allowing politicians to venture beyond abortion care and go after other types of drugs, such as birth control, HIV prevention and treatment, COVID-19 vaccines and gender-affirming care. "Limiting the FDA discretion and limiting their authority, injecting ideology and politics into the process of drug approval is a really dangerous proposition," Smith said. "This case goes to the heart of the Food and Drug Administration's authority, and the discretion that they have to look at scientific and medical research, approve drugs, make determinations about what is safe." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A man and a woman walk out from Restaurante Atrio, carrying three bags of stolen wine bottles worth up to &1.7 million, in Caceres, Spain October 27, 2021 in this frame grab taken from CCTV video released on July 20, 2022. Spanish Police/Handout via REUTERS A former beauty queen and her partner stole wine worth $1.7 million from a restaurant in Spain. The couple were sentenced on Monday to around four years in prison. They ordered a 14-course meal to scout the restaurant, then stole the wines in the dead of night. A former Mexican beauty queen and her Romanian-Dutch partner were sentenced four years in prison for an audacious heist which saw them pose as high-end diners to steal $1.7 million worth of wine. Priscila Guevara, 28, and Constantin Dumitru, 49, were sentenced Monday for the 2021 plot which saw them book a 14-course meal from the Atrio hotel in the Spanish city of Caceres, per local media. According to Spain's El Pais, the theft took place on October 27, 2021, and was initially successful. One of the bottles was from 1806 and was worth around $330,000, according to police. Officers released security footage including a shot of Dumitru and Guevara leaving the hotel with the stolen wine. They had visited the hotel three times in the summer, scoping out the location and planning their theft, the outlet wrote, citing a local court's statement of facts. On the day of the heist, Guevara checked into the Atrio with a faux Swiss passport, while Dumitru arrived as an unregistered guest, per El Pais. The two defendants seen from a screen in the press room during an oral hearing of the trial for the theft of bottles from Atrio, at the Provincial Court, on 27 February, 2023 in Caceres, Extremadura, Spain. Carlos Criado/Europa Press via Getty Images) That evening, the couple ordered a 14-course meal at the hotel's Michelin-star restaurant, and then were led on a guided tour of the wine cellar, per the outlet. After they returned to their rooms, Guevara called room service to order a salad at 2 a.m. to distract the receptionist, who was alone on night shift, per El Pais. The receptionist refused to leave his post at first, wondering why Guevara wanted to eat a salad when she had just finished a 14-course meal, the outlet reported. But he accepted Guevara's request eventually, it said, leaving his desk for 20 minutes, which gave Dumitru time to steal the keycard to the wine cellar. Story continues But Dumitru later realized he stole the wrong key, and had to call Guevara to distract the receptionist again, per The Guardian, citing court statements. "Moments later, the woman again called the front desk, this time asking for a dessert. After initially objecting, the employee finally agreed to bring her some fruit," the court statement said, per the outlet. General view of wine bottles at Restaurante Atrio wine cellar in Caceres, Spain January 16, 2011. Carles Allende/Restaurante Atrio/ Handout via REUTERS Dumitru snagged the right keycard this time and entered the cellar, stuffing 45 bottles into a backpack and two duffels, El Pais reported. Dumitru then went back up to the couple's hotel room. They left the before dawn next morning, lining their bags with towels so the glass wouldn't clink, according to El Pais. Days later, the Atrio's owners realized the wine was stolen and reported the theft to the police. "They were professionals, they knew exactly what they were doing," wrote Jose Polo, one of the owners of Atrio, at the time. Nine months after the heist, Guevara and Dumitru were arrested some 1,300 miles away in Croatia, near the border to Montenegro, wrote El Pais. They were returned to Spain to stand trial. The wines were never recovered, but the pair was ordered by the court to pay $800,000 in damages to insurers, per The Guardian. Guevara was given four years in prison, while Dumitru was sentenced to four and a half. Both pleaded not guilty, and their sentences can be appealed, per El Pais. As for the restaurant at Atrio, the stolen wines were insured, and the establishment has won its third Michelin star since the heist. The Caceres public prosecutor's office and a lawyer for Dumitru did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Insider By Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal appellate court judges questioned on Tuesday whether the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was correct to reject Grayscale Investment's application for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund, since the agency had previously approved bitcoin futures products. The SEC rejected Grayscale Investment LLCs application to convert its flagship spot Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) last June, arguing the proposal did not meet anti-fraud and investor protection standards. A panel of judges in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Washington pressed the SEC on Grayscale's argument that, because the regulator previously approved certain surveillance agreements to prevent fraud in bitcoin futures-based ETFs, the same setup should also be satisfactory for Grayscale's spot fund, since both spot and futures funds rely on bitcoin's price. Bitcoin futures ETFs track bitcoin futures contracts, or agreements to purchase or sell bitcoin at a certain price on a specified date. A spot bitcoin ETF would track bitcoin's underlying market price. Proponents say a spot bitcoin ETF would give investors exposure to bitcoin without directly buying it. "It seems like it's fine for an agency to say okay, we need some more information, but it seems there's quite a bit of information here on how these markets work together, and the SEC has not offered any explanation... that the petitioners here are wrong," said Judge Neomi Rao. Grayscale's lead counsel Donald Verrilli Jr., an Obama-era U.S. solicitor general, told the court that a spot bitcoin ETF would "better protect investors" because it would give them the benefit of oversight on the basis of the surveillance agreements set up with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where bitcoin futures trade. Emily True Parise, senior litigation counsel for the SEC, argued the regulator lacks data to determine whether those surveillance agreements could also pick up potential fraud and manipulation in the spot markets. Story continues "The evidence is just mixed at this point. It's bi-directional sometimes," she said, noting that bitcoin futures have only been trading since 2017. The case comes as the crypto industry has increasingly been at odds with the SEC over the regulator's crackdown on digital asset products, including those that offer investors returns on certain digital tokens. The case's outcome could either vindicate the SEC's posture or pave the way for other companies to offer spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) if the judges rule in favor of Grayscale. Other would-be issuers of spot bitcoin ETFs that the SEC rejected include FMR LLC's Fidelity, SkyBridge Capital and Valkyrie Investments Inc. Valkyrie's chief investment officer, Steven McClurg, said in a statement that his company does not believe a spot bitcoin ETF will be approved within the next year. A Fidelity spokesperson said the company looks forward to constructive dialogue with the SEC. A representative for Skybridge declined to comment. Grayscale's chief executive officer, Michael Sonnenshein, has said he expects a final ruling in the case this fall, and that he anticipates the court will rule in Grayscale's favor. He told Reuters in January that Grayscale would appeal the case if the court backed the SEC's decision to reject its bitcoin ETF proposal. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, launched in 2013, has $14 billion in assets under management, according to Grayscales website. The GBTC discount to bitcoin is hovering around 45%, having come under pressure after crypto exchange FTX collapsed in November. (Reporting by Hannah Lang in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Louise Heavens and Josie Kao) The director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the planned new Atlanta police public training center will be good for the community and that the violence surrounding it must stop. Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne was in DeKalb County, where he spoke to Mike Register after another violent protest over the weekend saw at least 23 people arrested. Video shows the moments demonstrators dressed in all black broke away from an otherwise peaceful music festival, shot fireworks at police and set construction vehicles on fire. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Monday, the Georgia State Patrol returned to the training center site off Key Road to get a look at the damage and investigate what police are calling a coordinated attack. Several agencies stepped in to help during the violence on Sunday and arrested or detained nearly three dozen people. Of all of the arrests, only two people were from Georgia. The rest are from the U.S, Canada and as far away as France. Register was quick to say that what the demonstrators did is not peaceful protest. Its criminal and terrorist activity. RELATED STORIES: We cant have 150 plus people deciding that they are going to charge a construction site, burn equipment and theyre going to put law enforcement officers safety and lives in jeopardy, Register said. We are not going to tolerate that! Register said he doesnt even think of the demonstrators as protesters. I call it a crowd of criminals, Register said. Register said that state, federal and local investigators led by the GBI will fold what happened Sunday around the site into an investigation underway for months into dozens of acts tied to opposition to the new training center. The investigation is building a basis for one sweeping indictment prosecutors from the Georgia Attorney Generals office and DeKalb District Attorneys office are expected to soon ask a grand jury to return. Story continues [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Winne asked Register if he was working toward a racketeering indictment, but Register said thats something the attorney generals office will have to address. Activists insist that Atlanta police and other agencies are responding to peaceful protests with violence themselves. Aurielle Marie is an activist who is part of a coalition of groups and individuals in the so-called Stop Cop City movement. When it comes to calling a body, a gathering body of 150 people criminal, that is a gross mischaracterization that theyre using to absolve themselves, Marie said. Who would you be more afraid of would you be afraid of a 20 year old who maybe got his hands on a roman candle in the middle of a park or would you be afraid of an armed and dangerous militarized police force. Register said weaponized fireworks and other objects were directed toward police. He said he fought overseas to defend the right to peaceful protests, which he calls a cornerstone of our country. Register said its telling that only two of the protesters arrested during this incident were from Georgia. Marie said that if the concern really is about outside agitators, Atlanta police would not be building the training facility and marketing it to outside law enforcement bodies. Register said the new training facility would actually improve the relationship between police and the community, including confrontations with the potential to turn violent. Marie disagrees. Theres no data that supports that giving them $90 million to build a playground is going to make Atlanta more safe, Marie said. Winne made phone calls to try to determine if the Atlanta Public Safety training center is being marketed to outside agencies and if so, to whom. So far, he hasnt heard back. The Transportation Department is launching a dashboard to clarify which airlines seat children 13 and under next to an accompanying adult for no extra charge in the latest push by the Biden administration to crack down on hidden corporate fees. The department said it has received a number of complaints in which children, including one as young as 11 months, were not seated next to an accompanying adult. The DOT undertook a review of airlines family seating policies and found that carriers did not guarantee young children would sit next to an adult, although they generally had policies that aimed to do so. The department said in a statement Monday that no U.S. airlines guaranteed fee-free family seating as recently as a month ago. In recent weeks, carriers including United, Frontier and American have changed their policies around family seating. Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the statement, adding that the department had pressed airlines to guarantee fee-free family seating. All airlines should do this promptly, even as we move forward to develop a rule establishing this as a requirement across the board. President Joe Biden went after junk fees in last months State of the Union address, saying that airline carriers cant just treat your child like a piece of luggage. In its Monday statement, the Transportation Department said it is crafting a rule that would prevent airlines from charging families to sit together. Last summer, the department urged airlines to do everything in their power to seat children ages 13 and under with an adult at no extra charge. Last month, several Democratic senators introduced the Families Fly Together Act to ban airlines from charging families extra to sit together. The Biden administration plans to send Congress additional proposed legislation on the issue in the coming weeks, the DOTs statement said. Story continues In recent months, the U.S. airline industry has suffered significant operational problems, including a Federal Aviation Administration outage that grounded flights nationwide in January, the cancellation of thousands of Southwest Airlines flights in December because of severe winter weather, and industry delays and cancellations during the summer travel season. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com David Harbour said that "Stranger Things" season five will begin filming in June, per Collider. Harbour said that he doesn't have to do as much training for season five. The actor lost 80 pounds for season four, but this time, Hopper is "well-fed" again. David Harbour says that he has a few months left to train ahead of filming for "Stranger Things" season five but this time, he doesn't have to lose a third of his body weight. According to Collider, Harbour said at the Middle East Film & Comic Con in Abu Dhabi over the previous weekend that filming for the Netflix series' fifth and final season will kick off in June of this year. This time around, however, Harbour said that he doesn't have to undergo the same physical transformation as the previous season, in which his character, Hopper, was held in a Russian prison camp. "I did a lot of training for season four," Harbour said, per Collider. "He was in a very specific position, that Russian prison. It was about making him a different guy and sort of shedding a layer of himself physically, mentally, and emotionally. But now he's back in town, he's back in America where they have cheeseburgers, so he will be well-fed." Harbour told GQ in July 2022 that he lost "about 80 pounds" between the show's third and fourth seasons through intermittent fasting and Pilates. While the actor told People that the weight loss "felt like a rebirth" for him physically, he also told GQ that he didn't think he would "ever do that again." He previously told GQ that he had regained the weight already for his Santa Claus slasher "Violent Night." Harbour will have his work cut out for him this year: the actor previously told Collider that he would be simultaneously filming the final season of "Stranger Things" and Marvel's "Thunderbolts" this summer in Atlanta, Georgia. Read the original article on Insider The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) is asking for your help honoring their founder. The dance company is collecting letters to honor founder Jeraldyne Blunden with a U.S. postage stamp. In 1968 Blunden founded DCDC as a place where young African American children could grow into accomplished artists. She later passed away in 1999. >>CV: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company awarded resilience grant Members of DCDC have collected nearly 6,500 letters in support of the stamp, with their goal being 10,000. Her daughter, Debbie Blunden-Diggs, the current artistic director at DCDC, says the support shows the lasting impact Blunden has made. I think it just cements even more what she meant to everybody. Not just to me as my mother, and not even just to DCDC as the founder and the artistic director, but to this whole community of people that were along for the ride with her, Blunden-Diggs told us. Those interested in sending a letter in support of the movement are asked to visit dcdc.org for step-by-step instructions. The deadline for letters to be submitted is June 15. Today Daytons Jewish Community is set to celebrate Purim with a creative twist. This years celebration will be themed Purim in Jerusalem, according to a release from Chabad of Greater Dayton. Festivities will begin with a Megillah reading around 5:30 p.m. at Chabad of Greater Dayton, located at 2001 Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood. >>Honda, LGES holds groundbreaking ceremony for new EV battery plant in southeast Ohio Following the reading, there will be a virtual tour of the ancient holy temple along with a live harp performance and dinner. Purim is a time to celebrate as a community, to gather together adults and children to hear the story of our survival as a people, said Rabbi Levi Simon, Programming Director of Chabad of Greater Dayton. What greater joy can there be than to be surrounded by family and friends in celebration of our rich heritage! Leaders are expecting a record-breaking turnout in attendance, according to the release. To RSVP, visit the Chabad of Greater Daytons website HERE. Those participating are encouraged to come in costumes. Daytona Beach police have released bodycam video from the night a man was attacked by an alligator on his doorstep. The man told Channel 9 he was barely out the door when the gator lunged at his leg. The gator was found underneath Scott Hollingsworths trailer when police arrived. Read: Alligator euthanized after biting Volusia County mans leg in his front yard Hollingsworth said he had to shake the gator off his leg and stepped back inside to call for help. At first, he didnt believe it was an alligator. Read: A truly remarkable alligator: Gatorland icon Chester dies at 60 You know, the back of the house we see them. We have a pond back there, Hollingsworth said. But theyre always in the water or theyre on the edge, the very edge of the grass. It came a long way out of the water, that we havent seen before. Hollingsworth was taken to the hospital for minor injuries from the gator bite. Read: Elderly woman dies after alligator attack in Florida while walking dog The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrived shortly after Hollingsworth left and called a trapper to euthanize the gator. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. By Sabine Siebold and Andrius Sytas PABRADE TRAINING GROUND, Lithuania (Reuters) -A decision on a permanent deployment of a German brigade to Lithuania will be "up to NATO", German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday in response to calls by Vilnius for a larger NATO presence in the country. "This is not down to who wants what - or who wants to provide what - but rather up to NATO," Pistorius told reporters at the drills of hundreds of German troops in Lithuania. Since 2017, Germany has led an international battalion with some 1,500 troops in Lithuania as part of a NATO effort to deter Russia from attacking the Baltic region, seen as one of the weakest spots in the alliance's eastern flank. Berlin also has a brigade of some 3,000 to 5,000 troops on standby in Germany, which it says could be deployed to Lithuania within 10 days if needed. But Lithuania wants the brigade to be deployed on its soil, on a permanent basis, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said. "The defence strategy of the Baltic states cannot rely only on reinforcements. It has to also rely on trustworthy in-place capabilities. Our geography demands it," he told reporters after meeting Pistorius. There have been concerns, however, that any permanent deployments would be costly and deprive NATO of the flexibility to freely move troops to other locations along its eastern flank. Pistorius said NATO still had to present its so-called regional plans, documents that will spell out the alliance's adapted defence planning in reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and which are expected to be submitted in the coming weeks. The issue will be discussed at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, Pistorius said. "And we will discuss what makes more sense militarily: To have a brigade deployed permanently here in Lithuania...or whether it makes more sense militarily to remain flexible." (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Andrius Sytas, Editing by Friederike Heine, Angus MacSwan and Sharon Singleton) Russians shot a Ukrainian soldier after shouting The statement said Shadura had gone missing on Feb. 3 during fighting in the Bakhmut area. The body of the soldier is in Russian-occupied territory. The final identification will be established after the return and examination of his remains. The command of the 30th Separate Mechanized brigade and the brothers of the hero express their sincere condolences to his family and friends. Revenge will be inevitable, said the brigades command said in its statement. On March 6, a video of murder by shooting of an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war after he said Glory to Ukraine appeared on the Internet. It unknown where and when the video was shot. Read also: Ukrainian blogger who interviews Russian POWs shares his experiences The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, sent a video of the murder of the Ukrainian prisoner of war to international partners and fellow ombudsmen from different countries of the world as confirmation of yet another Russian war crime. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the murdering of a Ukrainian prisoner of war a terrible war crime and more proof that Russias war against Ukraine is genocide. A criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war). Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin embraces Major General Matthew McFarlane during his unannounced trip to Baghdad, Iraq, on March 7, 2023. / Credit: IDREES ALI / REUTERS U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Iraq Tuesday on an unannounced visit barely two weeks before the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. "I'm here to reaffirm the US-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable and sovereign Iraq," Austin tweeted as he landed in Baghdad. Austin is the highest ranking cabinet official to visit Iraq since the beginning of the Biden administration. The stop was kept secret until he landed for security reasons. He's in the midst of a multi-nation visit to the region. Austin's visit comes ahead of the March 20 anniversary of the ground invasion that ushered in two decades of bloodshed that Iraq is only now beginning to emerge from. In the run-up, Iraq has hosted a raft of foreign officials, including the Iranian, Russian and Saudi foreign ministers and U.N. chief Antonio Guterres. Since US-led coalition troops ousted Saddam's Sunni Arab-dominated regime, Iraq's Shiite majority has led Iraq under a confessional power-sharing system. Successive governments have forged close ties with Iraq's Shiite-led neighbor Iran, while Iraq maintains relations with Iran's arch foe, the United States, in a delicate balancing act. Both allies provided extensive support during Iraq's fight against the Sunni extremists of ISIS, who overran swathes of northern and western Iraq and parts of neighboring Syria in 2014. The jihadists were ousted from Iraqi territory in 2017 but retain sleeper cells in desert and mountain hideouts in both Iraq and Syria. Iraq announced the end of combat operations by US-led coalition troops at the end of 2021 but some units remain deployed to provide advice and training. The U.S. has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, the Reuters news agency points out. How San Diego is bouncing back from COVID Transportation Department rolls out family seating dashboard for air travel Four U.S. citizens kidnapped in Mexico at gunpoint Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) (C) speaks during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol December 14, 2021 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images Democrats have struggled to find ways to counter Republican culture wars in education. But Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat and former school principal from New York, has some ideas. He says Republicans' parental rights push is 'a sham' and Biden needs to 'speak up' to support public education Democrats have struggled to find ways to counter Republican culture wars in education, but Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York has some ideas. In one recent video, the former middle school principal mocks Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by sending him a care package of "triggering" anti-racism books and some sage to burn, because he says "Cousin Ron" seems "mad stressed." In another, he invites viewers to join the "Woke America USA" organization that he says he founded after the country allowed "a psychopath to get into our White House" in 2016. As House Republicans push a "parents' rights" agenda for schools, he says it's time for President Joe Biden to "speak up" more about how "parents have always had rights in public education" and how their voices are "essential." Bowman is speaking up, too. In Congress, Bowman has drawn attention as the first male member of a small group of progressive House lawmakers dubbed "The Squad." But before that, he spent 20 years in public education and founded a middle school in the Bronx. Parents were always partners with him, he said, stressing the word "always." "Republicans introducing a bill of rights for parents is another scare tactic," he told Insider. "Through their misinformation, they're scaring parents into believing that they don't have rightsand Democrats and teachers unions are somehow taking their rights away in our schools." House Republicans introduced "parents bill of rights" legislation this month to promote parents' roles in their children's education. They've argued that some lessons and books go too far for children, and they've specifically targeted the teaching of gender issues, sexuality, and race in schools. Story continues DeSantis, a potential 2024 contender, signed laws last year that have led to the removal of books on race and diversity from school libraries and banned classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for young students. "We must ensure school systems are responsive to parents and to students, not partisan interest groups," he said in his January 3 inauguration speech. Ron DeSantis. Executive Office of the Governor, State of Florida Bowman gets serious toward the end of his video message to "Cousin Ron," saying "You are trying to erase my history. You are trying to erase my culture and my heritage, and as a Black man, if I don't have knowledge of myself, and knowledge of my history, how can I properly contribute to society?" Democrats have said Republicans are focused on politically divisive messages and undermining public schools while they ignore major concerns in education, such as affordable child care, proper funding for schools, and improving the pipeline to higher education. The party needs to draw a sharp contrast with Republicans who are trying to fool Americans into thinking they support parental involvement, Rep. Veronica Escobar, co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, said at a conference last week. What they really want is an "iron grip" over children's books and teachers' lessons, which will only lead to more teachers leaving the profession, she argued. While Democrats focus on creating a highly educated workforce, Escobar said, "extreme" Republicans are trying to "essentially limit access to education for many of our kids." Delivering that response hasn't always been easy for Democrats, who were left searching for a better answer when the former chairman of their party, Terry McAuliffe, blew it in a 2021 debate with now-Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia. His disastrous comment that parents shouldn't be "telling schools what they should teach" was a gift to Youngkin who ran with the slogan "Parents Matter" and a lesson in what not to say. What Youngkin, DeSantis, and other Republicans are doing is "all a sham" because parents have always had rights, Bowman said, and McAuliffe's response was "misguided and misinformed." "This is one of the reasons why we at the federal level, have to have louder voices so that we can be very, very clear on where we stand on education so someone like Terry McAuliffe doesn't make that mistake," Bowman told Insider. Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) March 2, 2023 'Black history is American history' Education Secretary Miguel Cardona recently called out those "hiding behind the guise of 'parents rights' to try to defund public education," writing in a Newsweek op-ed that his department is working to "raise the bar for parent partnership." Bowman said he wants Biden, Cardona, Vice President Kamala Harris, and First Lady Jill Biden, a community college professor, to speak even more about public education and parents' longstanding rights as partners. He wants Biden to hold a town hall and "speak up on what's real in our public schools." Bowman, a member of the Committee on Education and The Workforce, said he is frequently in touch with the White House on education issues. "It's more about vision setting, less about Republican nonsense," he said. "Because our vision setting is much more powerful than their nonsense." His vision for education, he said, includes an end to annual standardized testing, a greater focus on project-based learning, more equitable funding for public education, and greater investments in children with special needs. But he also wants to emphasize lessons on "this nation's history of racism and white nationalism," just as some Republicans have worked to ban them from public schools. He and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey last month reintroduced the "African American History Act" to support education programs made voluntarily available for students, parents and teachers. "Black history is American history," he said, and he wants students to learn about other cultures, too. "If we learn about each other, guess what?" he told Insider. "You create a society rooted in empathy for one another, which is healthy for democracy, and healthy for public safety, and better for our economy. See that? Summarized in one sentence." Read the original article on Business Insider Democrats blasted the White House on Tuesday for reportedly considering reinstating a policy that would detain migrant families who cross the U.S. border illegally. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that she would not comment on a New York Times report that the administration was considering reviving a family detention policy, adding, Im not saying its being considered. ... Im not saying it is not. Democrats have sounded the alarm over the idea, demanding the White House not reimplement a much-criticized policy Biden ended when he took office. I am disgusted and disappointed that our nation would ever consider reinstating a program that has been proven to cause harmful, long-term effects on migrant families, especially children, who have been forced to flee their home nations in search of freedom, safety, and democracy, said Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.). We abandoned this family detention program for a reason it is a failed policy that is incapable of offering humanity and compassion to migrants when they need it most, he added. If reinstated, the family detention policy would be the latest example of Bidens crackdown on migrants at the southern U.S. border. Last month, his administration introduced its most restrictive border measure yet, which disqualified migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they had traveled through other countries. Democrats have repeatedly criticized the White House for resorting to immigration policies similar to former President Donald Trumps. Critics of the policy say the measure will target vulnerable people, including children, and lead to family separations, which under Trump split 5,500 children from their parents at the southern border. White House officials, meanwhile, have vehemently rejected those comparisons. Locking immigrant families and children into cages along the border is dangerous, ineffective, and wrong, tweeted Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). The Biden Administration did the right thing by ending family detention. We cant go back. Story continues Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) called the idea a grave mistake. Instead of relying on costly failed policies that traumatize migrants and cruelly encourage more families to separate, we must focus on building a safe and humane immigration system, he tweeted. Family detention serves two purposes: lining the pockets of private prison companies and acting as a useless deterrent to prevent migrants from seeking their legal right to asylum. This failed policy is callous and inhumane, said Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in a statement. David Xol-Cholom of Guatemala hugs his son Byron at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 22, 2020, as they reunite after being separated about one and half years during the Trump administration's widescale separation of immigrant families. David Xol-Cholom of Guatemala hugs his son Byron at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 22, 2020, as they reunite after being separated about one and half years during the Trump administration's widescale separation of immigrant families. The report about the Biden administration considering family detention comes as the administration prepares for Title 42 to expire in May. The Trump-era policy has allowed border authorities to swiftly expel migrants under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic. But lawmakers have chastised the White House for implementing more aggressive policies instead of fulfilling its promise of a more compassionate approach to immigration. In January, nearly 80 Democratic lawmakers wrote a letter to Biden voicing concern about his immigration measures. No decisions have been made as we prepare for the Title 42 Public Health Order to lift, a Department of Homeland Security official told HuffPost. The Administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants. Local city offices have vowed to fight the policy. If this inhumane policy returns, we will join advocates & welcoming cities in fighting it, just as we did when all the past administrations instituted this cruel practice, tweeted the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Immigration and human rights groups have also called the Times report alarming. President Biden promised to end family detention on the campaign trail and repeatedly condemned the Trump administration for detaining families. Yet, the Biden administration is now seemingly moving towards repeating mistakes from the past, Setareh Ghandehari, the advocacy director of Detention Watch Network, a coalition of immigration organizations, said in a statement. If the Biden administration revives family detention, it will be yet another example of how the Biden administration has reneged on its promises to bring fairness to the immigration system, Ghandehari added. Instead, this administration has doubled-down on the use of detention, surveillance, and restrictive border policies that result in deportations tearing apart families and communities. Related... The Des Moines City Council approved $200,000 for Des Moines Public Schools on Monday, cutting out the Food Bank of Iowa from a deal in the wake of its dispute with the Des Moines Area Religious Council and its network of pantries. The decision came on the heels of the city's looming ultimatum telling the food providers to solve differences or risk losing half a million dollars in funding. Last month, the two organizations said food rescue operations would be restored to all DMARC-affiliated pantries, not just those that are Food Bank partners, in order to help food-insecure Iowans. But City Manager Scott Sanders told the Register last week the council's decision came after speaking with individual council members, most of whom agreed it would be preferable to send the money directly to the schools rather than funneling it through the Food Bank. "The funds previously allocated to the Food Bank of Iowa were always intended to go toward DMPS food assistance. Those funds will now simply go directly to Des Moines Schools and their pantries," Sanders said in a statement. On Monday, council members approved providing $300,000 in funding to DMARC as planned, paid for through American Rescue Plan Act money. The $200,000 in ARPA funds previously under consideration for the Food Bank of Iowa, plus now an additional $100,000 funded through local option sales tax revenue, will now be allocated solely to Des Moines Public Schools. With funding in hand, Des Moines Public School officials say they will continue to work with the food bank to establish a food pantry in all of its schools by the end of the school year. Many schools have access to pantries within the building, but there are a few left to be established, said Amanda Miller, DMPS director of food and nutrition services and logistics. The $300,000 in funding will be used by individual food pantries to purchase items to build capacity, such as shelving, refrigerators and freezers. It will also be used to purchase items that schools currently can't get from the Food Bank of Iowa, such as culturally appropriate food, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products, and household items. Story continues Miller emphasized this funding will not change the district's working relationship with the Food Bank of Iowa. "There is no reason that any decision by the City of Des Moines will change our long-time relationship with the Food Bank of Iowa," she said. "The Food Bank has been great partners with us expanding access to families who need this service. We will continue to work with the Food Bank of Iowa to procure readily available food from their warehouse. The money for the supplies this provides are items that we currently cant get from the Food Bank and have been using outside donations for." At-large council members Connie Boesen and Carl Voss told the Register they support the decision to allocate the funding directly to the school district, which will allow students to fill their backpacks with nutritious and culturally appropriate foods they may not find at home. It could help support smaller grocers in town as well, Voss added. "It's a win-win," he said Monday night. How did we get here? A public dispute between Central Iowa's leading food insecurity nonprofits raged since last fall, which has resulted in bare shelves at impacted food pantries and raised concerns that food previously being donated from area businesses was going to the landfill. The Des Moines City Council intervened this past December, issuing an ultimatum for DMARC and Food Bank of Iowa to work out their differences by the end of last year, or they would lose half a million dollars in funding. The CEOs of both organizations quickly worked out an agreement to begin negotiations. The agreement also included a promise to begin "immediate collaboration" on food rescue efforts to all DMARC-affiliated pantries, not just those that are Food Bank partners. Food pantries say the excess food donated from grocery stores and convenience stations is an essential service for their clients, and without it, they struggled to provide the same level of aid to food-insecure residents. But weeks later, city officials expressed frustration that food rescue still was not reaching city pantries. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie previously told the Register if the two organizations could not work out their differences and effectively collaborate, "we may have to look at where we should put the funding to be most effective." Food Bank of Iowa and DMARC announced last month they had reached a deal to end the months-long impasse, which included the promise to restore food rescue operations in the metro. Almost three weeks after Food Bank of Iowa and DMARC announced their agreement, food rescue operations have not been restored to all DMARC-affiliated pantries. However, local food pantries say they are hopeful. Anne Bacon, CEO of IMPACT Community Action, previously told the Register they expect to see an increase in food rescue by this week. Breaking news reporter Francesca Block contributed to this report. Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm. Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: City Council gives $300K to public schools, cuts out Food Bank of Iowa Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. Phil Sears/AP Photo GOP lawmakers in Florida have introduced a six-week abortion ban. Republican presidential candidates are typically anti-abortion. DeSantis faces an uncertain future in how he handles the issue. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida faces a delicate balancing act on the issue of abortion as he heads into the state's lawmaking period, one that's widely expected to be a launching pad for a White House run. Anti-abortion advocates are pushing the governor to further restrict abortion under the glare of the national spotlight. The earliest chance to do so kicked off Tuesday, when GOP state lawmakers introduced a bill that would make abortion illegal in Florida past six weeks in a pregnancy. Republican candidates have supported anti-abortion measures in past presidential elections. But the 2024 White House contest will be the first presidential election since the conservative-majority Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, nearly half of US states have restricted or fully banned abortion. All the while, the risk of voters' seeing candidates as going too far remains uncertain, and a rigid ban could be a political liability during a general election. Public opinion is mixed on abortion, with Gallup showing that most people in the US support abortion being legal and that more people want the laws to be less strict rather than more. Many Republican midterm candidates were hesitant to address abortion during the 2022 cycle, and congressional Democrats believe Roe's demise followed by subsequent abortion bans staved off a "red wave." Democrats put Republicans on the spot about the issue, holding votes on abortion access and saying the court's decision would snowball to demolish other rights, including to birth control access and same-sex and interracial marriage. While DeSantis has described himself as "pro-life" and said he'd "welcome" such legislation, he has not led from the front with abortion restrictions in the same way he did for numerous other policy priorities, from curbing illegal immigration to reducing taxes. Story continues Should DeSantis run for president, he would face former President Donald Trump, someone anti-abortion groups often refer to as "the most pro-life president in history" because he delivered for their cause, including by appointing three Supreme Court justices that helped overturn Roe. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is also expected to run, has a robust anti-abortion record that he implemented nationally alongside Trump. But the ramifications of a six-week ban in Florida would go beyond politics. Florida is the only state in the southeast that allows abortions for up to 15 weeks, and the only states in that region that go further are North Carolina and South Carolina. An earlier cut off would limit abortion access for millions of travelers who come to Florida for an abortion from neighboring states and countries. The sixth week of pregnancy is when an embryo develops cardiac activity, but is also a time when it's hard for patients to know they're pregnant without a test. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. Phil Sears/AP Photo Anti-abortion groups want federal restrictions DeSantis signed a bill into law last year under fanfare with anti-abortion groups that put the current, 15-week ban into law. It's currently being litigated because Florida's constition contains a right to privacy. As the session kicked off in Tallahassee on Tuesday, the path to a six-week abortion ban in Florida appeared more clear than it did a few months ago. Republicans hold a two-thirds majority in the legislature, and Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo told reporters Tuesday that she supported the six-week ban because it had exceptions for rape and incest that are not part of current law. The comments were different from last year, when Passidomo said she would support limiting abortion for up to 12 weeks. Asked about the six-week ban on Tuesday, DeSantis told reporters he hadn't seen the bill that was filed, but suggested that legislation would be written in such a way that a further ban wouldn't go into effect unless the court were to green-light Florida's 15-week ban. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, told Insider that she was lobbying in Passidomo's district ahead of the 60-day sessions to pressure the leader to go further than her initial backing for a 12-week ban. Supporters from the organization demanded a bill that "protects life at conception" during a press conference in Tallahassee on Tuesday. "When you look at the record for life in Florida, it could be a whole lot better," Hawkins told Insider in an interview. "DeSantis and Florida really need to show leadership on this issue." A 12-week ban was not going to give DeSantis "the credentials we'd look for," Hawkins said of DeSantis pursuing the GOP nomination among other contenders. But Caitlin Connors, Southern regional director for the influential Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, didn't express the same frustration with DeSantis as Students for Life, saying that she thought the governor had been clear that he'd sign a six-week ban into law. "The legislature is going to have to figure out what the consensus is. We encourage them to do something like a Heartbeat Bill to see those protections put in place," Connors said, referring to a six-week ban. Crossing anti-abortion groups ahead of an election is potentially fraught. Advocates pour millions of dollars into campaigns, knock on doors in districts, and do phone banking at a rate that rivals advocates of numerous other causes. Marilyn Musgrave, SBA Pro-Life America's vice president of government affairs, told Insider that the group would only support presidential candidates who back a national abortion restriction, which would create a gestational-limits ceiling on abortion in every state. The limit could be 20, 15, or six weeks, she said, and the organization's leaders would talk to all candidates running. The group is still deciding whether it'll endorse in a primary, and which criteria it'll use to do so, she added. She and other anti-abortion advocates disagree with the premise that Republicans should try to avoid the topic of abortion, and said during the midterms Republicans should have put Democrats on the spot over loose restrictions. "When you look at the specific races, it was the failure of some candidates to articulate their pro-life beliefs and pro-life stance," Hawkins said. "They refused to talk about abortion, and they let their opponents do the talking on abortion. That hurt them." Sen. Lauren Book, a Democrat of Plantation, Florida, gestures as she speaks to the media on February 6, 2023 in the Senate Office Building at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Phil Sears/AP Photo Democrats vow to go to 'war' against six-week ban Democratic lawmakers in Florida who support abortion rights are outnumbered in working to stop anti-abortion legislation. "I now have fewer rights than my mother did," Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell of Polk County said during a response to the governor's address. In a press conference with reporters, she acknowledged the math was difficult but vowed the party would fight, arguing that a six-week ban was broadly unpopular among Floridians. Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, a Democrat of Plantation, Florida, accused Republicans of going "scorched earth" with their abortion ban bill. "This is it. They have come," she said in a statement. "And if it's a war they want, it's a war they will get. This issue bridges the partisan divide, and we will not go down as easily as they believe." The bill also drew condemnation from the White House. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused DeSantis of "attacking the freedom to make one's own healthcare decisions" echoing similar comments Vice President Kamala Harris made during a speech on abortion in Tallahassee last month. In a speech that clocked in under 30 minutes, DeSantis appeared to signal that he would couple anti-abortion measures with policies supporting parents, including tax cuts on needed baby items. One sentence in his speech was about abortion, in which he said Florida was "proud to be pro-family and we are proud to be pro-life." He also urged the legislature not to "worry about the chattering class" during the session. "We won't back down and I can promise you this," he said, "You ain't seen nothing yet." Clarification March 9, 2023: This story has been updated to clarify that while Florida is the only southeastern state to allow abortion for up to 15 weeks, South Carolina and North Carolina have later gestational limits. Read the original article on Business Insider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) used his highly anticipated State of the State address on Tuesday to preview what is expected to be the core message of his likely 2024 presidential campaign, touting his work transforming Florida into a bastion of conservatism and hinting at more fights to come. Speaking to a joint session of the state legislature as lawmakers kicked off their annual session, DeSantis riffed on his usual talking points: how he pushed back on the so-called biomedical security state in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic; how he fought against woke culture; and how Americans were flocking to Florida en masse because of it. We defied the experts, we bucked the elites, we ignored the chatter, we did it our way: the Florida way. And the result is we are the No. 1 destination for our fellow Americans who are looking for a better life, DeSantis said. Working together, we have met big challenges, and we led the nation on many big issues, he added. We dont make excuses. We dont complain. We just produce results. His speech the first State of the State address of his second term as governor marked the beginning of a whirlwind 60-day legislative session in Florida that is expected to deliver DeSantis a number of key policy victories as he moves toward a likely 2024 presidential bid. State Republicans, who won supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature last November, have indicated that theyll move quickly on a long list of proposals spanning everything from concealed carry laws to K-12 education, an issue that has been central to DeSantiss political reputation. In his remarks, DeSantis laid out a long wish list for the legislative session. He asked lawmakers to take up tax legislation that would remove taxes on baby supplies, lamented Floridas lawsuit-happy legal climate and urged the legislature to consider tort reforms, and pass new enhancements for Floridas natural resource protection efforts. Story continues But the speech also included several of the red-meat issues that DeSantis has become known for nationally. He railed against the Chinese Communist Party and touted efforts to bar entities tied to the Chinese government from purchasing certain land in Florida. He also went after the Biden administration and its approach to border security, lamenting the massive amount of fentanyl being trafficked around the southern border that has devastated families throughout our nation. Notably, DeSantis said little about abortion in his speech. At one point, he said that Florida was proud to be pro-life, but did not offer any details on what he expected from lawmakers over the next two months. Less than an hour before his address, Republican lawmakers in the state House and Senate filed bills that would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. DeSantis signed a 15-week ban on the procedure last year, though he has said that he would sign tougher restrictions into law. For DeSantis, the speech and the beginning of the legislative session kicks off something of a countdown to his presidential bid. While he hasnt publicly announced his intentions, hes actively preparing for a campaign and is expected to travel to key early primary states, like Iowa and New Hampshire, this month. DeSantis has said that he will make a decision on his 2024 plans once the legislative session ends in May. But his remarks on Tuesday were reminiscent of a presidential hopeful in waiting. He cast Florida as being on the front lines in the battle for freedom, and urged lawmakers to run through the tape as they begin their legislative session, saying that now is not the time to rest on our laurels. We have the opportunity and indeed the responsibility to swing for the fences so that we can ensure that Florida remains No. 1, he said. Dont worry about the chattering class. Ignore all the background noise. Keep the compass set to true north. We will stand strong. We will hold the line. We wont back down. And I can promise you this: You aint seen nothing yet. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Members of The Desert Sun newsroom, including new executive editor Kate Franco (front row, fifth from left) gathered for a going-away party for former executive editor Julie Makinen (seventh from left) Saturday in Palm Desert. Kate Franco, who's worked at The Desert Sun for the last 23 years, most recently as the managing editor, has been named executive editor of the newspaper. Im honored and humbled to have been picked for this role, Franco said. It has been a privilege to represent The Desert Sun for 23 years so far, hopefully many more ahead. Kate Franco is deeply invested in her community and this newsroom, said Greg Burton, executive editor of The Arizona Republic, who also oversees the West Region for Gannett (which includes The Desert Sun). Shes a leader whos been in the trenches for more than two decades, making stories about the film festival or discriminatory housing better for readers and more urgent for decision makers. Theres nobody I trust more to lead The Desert Sun. In her more than two decades in The Desert Sun newsroom, Franco said she has learned from numerous executive editors who have each faced challenges "from economic booms and busts to the sweeping digital transformation of the media landscape." Its no secret that we are headed into another era of change, and as a company and as an industry there is a renewed recognition of the huge appetite for local news, Franco said. That includes hyper-local news about short-term vacation rentals in neighborhoods or corruption at city hall. It is local and regional environmental news that we are helping to parse for our readers. More:Desert Sun editor Julie Makinen bids farewell after 4 years in 'best and toughest' job It is what we do best, and I want to assure you thats the kind of journalism that drives me to keep going after 23 years, she added. Franco was born and raised in Milwaukee and surrounding communities, where her family still lives. She earned a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before arriving in the desert in 2000, Franco was an editor at community newspapers in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Winona, Minnesota; and Newport, Rhode Island. She also has experience in nonprofit communications and political speech writing. Story continues Coming to the desert Franco started her tenure at The Desert Sun in 2000 as an assistant news editor, earning a promotion to the news editor spot a few months later. Among her roles at The Desert Sun have been helming the features department and overseeing Desert magazine and Desert Outlook magazine. She also spearheaded The Desert Suns events and strategic partnership efforts in the years before COVID-19. She founded the Desert Adventure Club and oversaw The Desert Suns Storytellers program for several years, relishing the chance to meet so many readers out in the community. She also served a term on The Desert Suns editorial board. She was promoted to managing editor in 2019, leading The Desert Suns news coverage of the valleys communities, city governments, schools, agencies, events and festivals, and the pandemic shutdowns and subsequent return to non-pandemic life. Kate Franco, executive editor of The Desert Sun. We as a newsroom team have a clear mission for the coming days and weeks and months, Franco said. First and foremost, we need to continue to bring a laser focus to our coverage of our local community, all of them, from Desert Hot Springs to Thermal to the high desert. We need to cover every corner of the desert with equal scrutiny and celebration." Franco lives in Palm Desert with her husband, Al Franco, who was an editor at The Desert Sun for decades. They have extended family in the east valley and across Southern California, from Blythe to Murrieta. Franco is an avid swimmer, and when it gets too hot for that in the desert, she and Al enjoy quality vacation time with her family on Lake Michigan. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Kate Franco, 23-year veteran of The Desert Sun, named executive editor Tymofiy Shadura Shadura was from the village of Mala Derevychka of the Lubarska community of Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukrinform news agency reported on March 7. Serhiy Melnyk, an elder of the Gleznensky district of the Lubarska Territorial Community told Ukrinform that Shadura was mobilized and at the end of December last year went to defend Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine Ground Forces commander Syrskyi arrives in Bakhmut He is from a large family of six children five sons and a daughter. Tymofiy was the oldest, Melnyk said. He said Shadura had worked in a collective farm and then engaged in subsistence farming. He lived with his mother, and had no family of his own. Melnyk added that Shadura was had been reported missing, and relatives learned a day earlier that a video had been made of his murder. Everyone is shocked in the community, crying. I will say that the act of Tymofiy Shadura is heroic, because he, as a hero, said Glory to Ukraine! Melnyk said. Read also: Photographers show daily life of Ukrainian troops near Bakhmut On March 6, a video of the shooting of an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war appeared on the Intenet. In the shocking footage, Shadura is hit by a hail of bullets after saying Glory to Ukraine! It is unknown where and when the video was shot. On March 7, the command of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade named the murder victim as Shadura. He had been missing since Feb. 3 after fighting in the Bakhmut area. The body of the soldier is currently in Russian-occupied territory. The final identification will be held after his return and examination, the brigade said. The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets has sent a copy of the video of the Shaduras murder to Ukraines international partners and ombudsman from different countries of the world as an example of yet another war crime by Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war a terrible war crime and more proof that the Russias war against Ukraine is genocide. Story continues A criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war) has been opened. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine OTTAWA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has buckled to political pressures and is calling an investigation into allegations that Beijing interfered with Canadian elections. I will be appointing an independent special rapporteur, who will have a wide mandate and make expert recommendations on combating interference and strengthening our democracy, the prime minister said Monday evening in Ottawa. Trudeau stopped short of the public inquiry that opposition parties have demanded. Instead, he pitched a convoluted plan led by an eminent, unimpeachable expert, minus any deadlines. The prime minister said he has also consulted the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) an all-party group of MPs and senators who have top secret security clearances about allegations that Beijing meddled with the 2019 and 2021 campaigns. Chinas embassy in Canada has called the claims pure slander and total nonsense and accused media of spreading all kinds of disinformation without offering evidence why the stories are wrong. Trudeau said the rapporteur will enlist NSICOP and others who can investigate and make recommendations that could include a formal inquiry or some other independent review process. He said options for next steps include a commission, an examination, a panel of judges or a judicial review. He emphasized that federal party leaders agree the 2019 and 2021 election results were not impacted by foreign interference. He had tough words for actors using the issue to get an edge on the next campaign. Foreign interference is a complex landscape that should not be boiled down to sound bites and binary choices, he said. It should certainly not be about partisan politics. Trudeau also pledged C$5.5 million to combat disinformation, because we know disinformation often generated abroad can be a real threat to our elections. The grab bag of measures buy Trudeau time to figure out how to repair the damaging perception that his minority government is a beneficiary of Beijing interference. Story continues Trudeaus sudden course change comes in response to pressure from opposition parties and a House committee since a bombshell story on Feb. 17 cited unverified intelligence reports about Beijings interference strategy details that were shared with Five Eyes allies, including the United States. Leaks from inside Canadas spy agency reported by the Globe and Mail and Global News allege the Chinese government oversaw covert campaigns that backed 11 federal candidates, a majority of them Liberal. The countrys national police agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, confirmed last week that they were not actively investigating the allegations. On Monday, the agency confirmed it has launched a probe to find the whistleblowers. Unauthorized disclosures from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service allege Chinese diplomats in Toronto and Vancouver bragged about influencing voters to the extent that two incumbent Conservatives were driven out of office in 2021. The RCMP has initiated an investigation into violations of the Security of Information Act associated with recent media reports, spokesperson Robin Percival said in a statement. This investigation is not focused on any one security agency. The political stakes are high for Trudeau who risks appearing indecisive, feeding opposition charges the third-term prime minister is not fit to lead. Recent polling by the Angus Reid Institute suggests a majority of Trudeaus own Liberal supporters believe Beijing likely attempted to meddle in Canadas recent elections. The same poll found that 42 percent of Conservative voters feel the 2021 election was stolen. Trudeau asked Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino to guide the creation of a foreign influence registry in Canada, similar to the Australian governments scheme. He acknowledged the endeavor is a double-edged sword that risks fueling xenophobia. We have to be mindful of history anytime were talking about registries of foreigners in our country, he said. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre had pressed for a public inquiry, calling anything short of that unacceptable. The party has criticized the Liberals handling of Beijing, even after the government announced last year it would be taking a new hawkish approach with the Chinese Communist Party. An all-party House committee has also been studying the allegations. This is not about Chinese Canadians who are first and foremost the victims of Beijings interference activities, Conservative MP Michael Cooper told the Commons procedure and House affairs committee last week. This scandal is about what the prime minister knows about this interference, when he first learned about it, and what he did about it or failed to do about it. (NewsNation) Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, says he was intentionally trying to create controversy when he called Black Americans a hate group, arguing people took his words out of context and that the outrage is coming mostly from white people. Its almost entirely white people that canceled me, Adams said Monday on CUOMO. Black America is actually completely fine, both conservative and liberal, if they see the context. Black people are contacting me and saying, Come over to the barbecue, lets talk, and all these things. Adams came under fire after making the remarks during a Feb. 22 episode of his YouTube show, in which he urged white people to get away from Black people. Transgender pastor claims bias, sues Lutheran denomination Responding to the criticism, he said the comments were merely hyperbole that were taken out of context. I intentionally courted controversy. I was trying to attract attention so that I could have a productive argument, Adams said. Variety reported that the comments were made in response to a Rasmussen poll that said 26% of Black respondents disagreed with the statement Its OK to be white, while another 21% of Black people surveyed said they were unsure. The remaining 53% of Black respondents agreed with the statement. I dont think it makes any sense as a white citizen of America to try to help Black citizens anymore. It doesnt make sense, Adams said on his YouTube show. Theres no longer a rational impulse. The Anti-Defamation League has denounced the phrase Its OK to be white as a hate slogan. USDA panel unveils recommendations to resolve discrimination in farming Newspapers across the country dropped the comic strip from publication after Adams comment. He claims that he was the latest subject of cancel culture and that his main source of income would now be lost. Story continues But he called the situation a weirdly good experience. If global cancellation is my price for free speech, it was worth it, Adams said. Im probably the only white man in America who has free speech today because I can say whatever the hell I want and I cant get further canceled. He refused to apologize for the comments because I offended people so that they would be drawn to the solution. Instead, he offered a reframe to allow people to get out of what he called a mental trap of a worsening racial divide in America. Weve literally monetized racism so that everybody can be a little bit madder at each other, Adams said. If you monetize racial divide, youre only going to get more of it. Faulting the energy he put into his comments, Adams said he can understand why people came to the conclusion that he literally meant what he was saying. He disavowed racism always have, always will, he said but went on to offer context about other racist things that he approves of. For example, historically Black colleges. Feels a little racist, totally approve, Adams said. Black History Month? Feels a little bit racist to some people, totally approve. Black people should get their own month; makes perfect sense in light of American history. During a segment of the show where viewers call in, a Black teacher in Missouri who said she was a longtime fan of the Dilbert comic strip said she was hurt by the comments. She asked Adams how shes supposed to explain this kind of rhetoric to her students. Adams suggested she tell them to stop looking backward and start looking forward. Tell your students that they have a perfect path to success as long as they get good grades, he said. Im assuming youre a good teacher and you have a good enough school that they can get a good education, and if they employ strategy, and dont look backwards, just strategy, theyll do great. Now, therell still be way too much systemic racism, but youll be able to just slice through it like it didnt exist. In responding to Adams explanation, Vanderbilt University professor Michael Eric Dyson said nothing he heard convinced him that Adams was indeed utilizing hyperbole. This is a rehash and a retread of the same kind of myopic, narcissistic self pre-occupation of so many white guys who think they are the biggest victims of racism in the country, Dyson said. White supremacy is white supremacy, however you dress it up and whatever cartoon name you give it. Mark Davis, a conservatives radio host, rejects Dysons argument that Adams is trying to dress up white supremacy, but he did criticize Adams approach to trying to address race relations. Welcome to America 2023, where there is no grace, there is no good will, there is no benefit of the doubt, so we need precision of language, rather than stunts like Scott (pulled), Davis said. I love Scott, I think the newspapers who canceled him are just virtue signaling, but he stepped into a bear that he should have known existed. At the end of the interview, host Chris Cuomo asked Adams if he would do it again. Would I do it again to get to this place? I have to tell you, I feel like Im supposed to be here. Its a weird feeling. Like I never felt bad about getting canceled, and I cant explain that, except that I feel like I was supposed to be here, he answered. I feel like the race relations in the country are so broken that you just have to stir up some crap to get anybodys attention and maybe convince them to look forward and maybe work together with people who have exactly the same goals. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Speakers discussing the proposed ordinance to add caste to Seattles anti-discrimination laws at Seattle City Hall, on Feb. 21, 2023. AP Photo/John Froschauer Seattle became the first city in the U.S. to outlaw caste-based discrimination against immigrants from stigmatized groups in South Asias traditional social hierarchy. The ordinance, adding caste to Seattles existing anti-discrimination policies, was proposed by Kshama Sawant, the only Indian American councilwoman in the city, which is home to an estimated 75,000 Indian Americans. Sawant, herself from a privileged caste background, has been a vocal critic of the discriminatory caste system. Sawant said the ordinance which was approved on Feb. 21, 2023 would help put an end to an invisible and unaddressed form of discrimination in Seattle. A year ago, in January 2022, the California State University, Americas largest public higher education system, also added caste to its anti-discrimination policy, allowing students, staff and faculty across its 23 campuses to report caste bias and discrimination. Influential interest groups advocating for the Hindu community in the U.S. have opposed the Seattle decision. The Coalition of Hindus in North America, a Hindu advocacy group, has called it nothing but bigotry against the South Asian community by using racist, colonial tropes of caste. While the caste system is often conflated in Western media with the Hindu religion and India alone, that is far from the truth. As social scientists specializing in South Asian studies, we assert that the caste system neither is exclusive to the Hindu religion nor is it restricted to India and Indians. Caste in South Asia While the caste system originated in Hindu scriptures, it crystallized in its current form during British colonial rule and has stratified society in every South Asian religious community. In addition to India, it is present in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan. Social, economic and political status in this pernicious system is tied to traditional occupations fixed by birth. Brahmins, for example, who were traditionally assigned priestly work, are at the top, and Dalits, relegated to the bottom, are forced into occupations that are considered abject in South Asia. These include janitorial work, maintaining sewage systems, skinning dead animals, and leather tanning. Strict rules of caste-based marriages maintain these boundaries firmly. Story continues Caste organizes social life not only among Hindus but also in Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Buddhist communities in the region. It is an intergenerational system based on birth into a caste group. Caste identities stay even generations after someone converts out of Hinduism and into any of these faiths. Among South Asian Christians, Anglo-Indians of mixed descent from Indian and British parents are parallel to Brahmins, who remain at the top of the hierarchy. Middle-level Hindu castes come next, followed by those from Indigenous backgrounds. Those who converted to Christianity from Dalit groups are placed at the bottom. In other words, the system remains unchanged. Muslims across the region are organized with the minority Ashraf communities at the top. The Ashraf community claims noble status as the original Muslims in South Asia because of their descent from Central Asian, Iranian and Arab ethnic groups. The middle in this social hierarchy is composed of Ajlaf, considered to be low-born communities that converted from Hindu artisanal castes. The group at the bottom includes converts from Dalit communities who are identified with the demeaning term Arzal, which means vile or vulgar. In the Sikh community, the powerful landowning caste, Jat-Sikhs, are at the top, followed by converts from Hindu trading communities in the middle and converts from lower-caste Hindu communities, Mazhabi Sikhs, at the bottom. Dalit Sikhs gather for a protest in New Delhi. AP Photo/ R S Iyer While Buddhism in India is close to being casteless, its dominant versions in Sri Lanka and Nepal have caste-based hierarchies. Caste carries over after conversion While many of the so-called lower-caste groups converted to escape their persecution in Hinduism, their new religions did not treat them as fully equal. South Asian Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists with Dalit family histories continue to face prejudice from their new co-religionists. They are excluded from or experience segregation at shared places of worship and sites of burial or cremation across all these regions. Social scientists have shown that strict caste-based rules continue to regulate social organization and everyday interactions. Intercaste marriages are rare: for example in India, they have stagnated at about 5% of all marriages over the past several decades. When they take place, rule-breaking individuals risk violent retribution. While urbanization and education have normalized everyday interactions across caste groups in shared urban spaces, entertaining lower-caste individuals in upper-caste households is still taboo in many families. A 2014 survey found one in every four Indians to be practicing untouchability, a dehumanizing practice in which people from Dalit castes are not to be touched or allowed to come in contact with upper-caste individuals. Untouchability was prohibited in India in 1950 when its egalitarian constitution came into force. However, homeownership is segregated by caste, and religion and caste discrimination is pervasive in the rental market, where residential associations use flimsy procedural excuses for keeping lower-caste individuals out. Lower castes are expected to defer to the higher status of upper castes, refrain from expressing themselves in shared spaces and avoid displaying material affluence. They risk being punished by socioeconomic boycotts, which could include ostracizing the Dalits or keeping them out of employment. It may even include assault or murder. In Pakistan, anti-blasphemy laws are used as a pretext for caste violence against Dalits, many of whom have converted to Christianity. Caste and life outcomes Studies show that caste-based identity is a major determinant of overall success in South Asia. Upper-caste individuals have better literacy and greater representation in higher education. They tend to be wealthier and dominate private-sector employment, as well as entrepreneurship. While affirmative action programs initiated by the British and continued in independent India have made improvements in the educational levels of lower-caste groups, employment opportunities for them have been limited. Studies also demonstrate how caste identity affects nutrition and health through purchasing power and access to health services. Most socioeconomic elites in South Asia, regardless of religion, are affiliated with upper-caste groups, and the vast majority of the poor come from lower-caste groups. Caste in the diaspora Scholars have documented similar discriminatory practices in the diaspora in the U.K., Australia, Canada and the African continent. Caste has started getting recognition as a discriminatory category, especially in the U.S., in recent years. A 2016 survey, Caste in the USA, the first formal documentation of caste discrimination within the U.S. diaspora, found that caste discrimination is pervasive across workplaces, educational institutions, places of worship and even in romantic partnerships. In 2020, the state of California sued Cisco Systems, a technology company in the Silicon Valley, on a complaint against caste-based discrimination. Harvard University, Colby College, University of California, Davis, and Brandeis University have recognized caste as a protected status and have included it in their nondiscrimination policies. Seattles new ordinance may trigger similar moves across other U.S. cities where South Asian Americans from nonelite caste backgrounds are settling down and address caste-based discrimination among other South Asian faith communities as well. For now, this ordinance will help put the spotlight on this centuries-old system that denies equality to a substantive section of the population on the basis of an oppressive ideology. This is an updated version of a piece first published on April 27, 2022. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Aseem Hasnain, Bridgewater State University and Abhilasha Srivastava, California State University, San Bernardino. Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Disneyland Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images Disney continues to sever ties with Song of the South. "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," the song that originates from Disney's 1946 movie Song of the South, has been pulled from the Magic Happens parade at Disneyland, the Los Angeles Times reports. Officials confirmed to the outlet that a lyric from the song was removed from the parade soundtrack without specifying why. Presumably, though, it's for the same reason Disney is overhauling Splash Mountain: because Song of the South has been condemned for utilizing racist tropes. The film takes place on a Georgia plantation in the Reconstruction-era South, and one of the main characters is a Black man, Uncle Remus, who works there and sings "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." Disney CEO Bob Iger said in 2020 that Song of the South is "not appropriate in today's world," and the NAACP has said it "helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery" by giving "the impression of an idyllic master-slave relationship." In "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," Uncle Remus sings about "what a wonderful day" it is. The Magic Happens parade now features a Peter Pan song in place of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," the Times reports. Disney's log flume ride ride Splash Mountain was based on Song of the South and features the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." But the company announced in 2020 the ride will be retooled as Tiana's Bayou Adventure based on The Princess and the Frog, which features Disney's first Black princess. Splash Mountain closed at Disney World earlier this year, though it is still open at Disneyland. You may also like Egyptian archeologists discover Sphinx from 1st century A.D. Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Students visit Van Wall on Friday, March 3 during the "Find Your PATH-Way Day" event hosted by the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy. The DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy hosted a Find Your PATH-Way Day event for area high school students on Friday, March 3, and more than 100 students were attendance, representing AC/GC High School, ADM High School, Panorama High School, Perry High School and Woodward-Granger High School. The event featured site visits to local businesses and organizations, as well as an introduction to Career Advantage Academies at DMACC. Helping students find their path is an important part of the DMACC Career Academy's mission, said Eddie Diaz, Director of the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy. By exposing students to various careers, we aim to help them find their passion, and develop skills and talent for a competitive workforce. Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn speaks with students exploring the Criminal Justice Academy and Human Service Academy during the "Find Your PATH-Way Day" event. Site visits during Find your PATH-Way Day included stops at the Dallas County Paramedic Station, Dallas County Hospital, Perry Police Department, Perry Public Library, Percival Scientific and Van Wall. Academy presentations included Applied Engineering, Health Occupations, Criminal Justice and EMT, Teacher Academy and Welding Academy. Thousands of Iowa high school students take advantage of DMACC Career Advantage offerings each year, giving them a jump start on their academic and career goals while attending tuition-free college courses. With the early start on college, students gain hands-on experience that can lead directly to a degree, diploma, certification, apprenticeship or a job while saving time and money. Tom Lipovac, DMACC Career Advantage Advisor at the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy, said DMACC Career Advantage offerings give students the opportunity to reflect, explore and build. Applied engineering students are pictured during the DMACC "Find Your PATH-Way Day" event on Friday, March 3 in Perry. Through DMACC Career Advantage, students can reflect on their interests while discovering and pursuing their personal passions; gaining experience, knowledge and training; and building marketable skills while earning high school and college credit at the same time, Lipovac said. Story continues The DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy serves students from AC/GC, ADM, Dallas Center-Grimes School District, Madrid, Ogden, Panorama, Perry and Woodward-Granger School Districts. High school students who are interested in taking DMACC classes during the 2023-24 school year should contact their high school counselor this spring. For more information about the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy and Career Advantage Program, call (515) 428-8100 or visit dmacc.edu/perry. The DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy is located at 1011 2nd St. in Perry. DMACC Career Academy Certified Nurse Aide students McKenna Carroll, Audrey Simmons, Bella McDivitt, Georgia Simmons, Katie Tuel (CNA Instructor), Kaylee Wuebker and Kaitlyn Leber pose with an inflatable DMACC Bear on Friday, March 3 outside of the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy. This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy hosts Find Your PATH-Way Day event Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsiubailo, a volunteer of the Right Sector Ukrainian Volunteer Corps and a Hero of Ukraine, has been killed at the front line in Donbas. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote: "Today, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, [known as] 'Da Vinci', Hero of Ukraine, a volunteer, a symbol, a man of courage, has fallen in battle. The fighter of the 67th Separate Mechanised Brigade, the combatant. [He] died in the battle near the city of Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine. He has been defending our independence and the dignity of our people since 2014. One of the youngest heroes of Ukraine. One of those whose personal history, character, and courage forever became the history, character, and courage of Ukraine. For more than nine years, Ukrainian heroes have been fighting gruesome battles for their country, for the future of Ukraine. Peace and relative safety in the rear towns is their merit. Our confidence in the victory of Ukraine is their resilience and strength. Ukraine will always remember its heroes. Our memory of them will not die. This enemy who came to Ukraine will perish. The 67th brigade, soldiers, glory to your bravery! All Ukrainians who fight for Bakhmut, glory to your heroism! Thank you to all the soldiers whose resilience and perseverance are destroying the army of the occupier[s] in Donbas! Eternal memory to all those who gave their lives for Ukraine!" Details: Kotsiubailo was 27 years old. The Second Lieutenant headed a separate mechanised battalion known as Vovky Da Vinchi [the Da Vinci Wolves ed.] as part of the 67th Separate Mechanised Brigade. "Da Vinci" was at the front since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war. In 2014, he was seriously wounded by a tank shell in Pisky, Donetsk Oblast. After recovery and three months of rehabilitation, he returned to the front, where he continued to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Story continues By President Zelenskyys decree of 30 November, 2021, Kotsiubailo was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The critical lead in a Lexington homicide case that went unsolved for over a year came courtesy of new forensic technology, which Lexington investigators turned to after failing to identify a homicide victim for months. After finding decomposed human remains on Cambridge Drive on Feb. 17, 2022, the Fayette County Coroners Office and the Lexington Poilce Department had great difficulty advancing their investigation because they couldnt figure out who the victim was. The body was partially decomposed when it was found, making it difficult to determine identifying characteristics. According to court records, the Fayette County Coroners Office initially believed the victim was a younger male and that he had been deceased for several months. Months after the remains were discovered, Othram, a forensic genealogy laboratory, helped identify 40-year-old Jimmy Medlock as the victim. That information later led to the arrest of 35-year-old Jennifer Kashuba, an individual who Medlock previously lived with. The breaking moment of this case was when (Othram) DNA Laboratory was able to provide us with a name of a possible person who had not been listed as missing or deceased, the coroners office said in a press release. Once we received this information, Robbery Homicide was able to track the DNA sample of the deceased from a previous out of state arrest. Othram said in a news release that the victim was believed to be 5-foot-1-inches and 84 pounds at the time of his death. Other characteristics included short light brown or blond hair and a tattoo on his thigh. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in March 2022, but none of the leads led to the identification of the body. Later in the year, the coroners office partnered with Othram, which ultimately led to the critical lead. Forensic investigators used a fairly new practice called forensic-grade genome sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for Medlock, according to Othram. Investigators used the DNA profile created by Othram to confirm the identity of Medlock and arrest Kashuba. Story continues David Middelman, CEO of Othram, said forensic-grade genome sequencing has been available since 2018 when the company first launched. He said it has taken off in the last few years and that the company has worked with agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Its a newer kind of DNA test that allows us to work cases when CODIS (a program that operates DNA profiles) is unable to return an identity or an informative lead to law enforcement, Middelman said. Middelman said Othram has worked in Kentucky often, but he couldnt remember working a case with Lexington police previously. Rather than the traditional cold cases thats laid dormant for years, heres a case that didnt work through the conventional methods and immediately transitioned to a different approach, and that way instead of this case going cold and ending up in the archives, it was resolved, Middelman said. Kashuba faces charges of murder, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse, according to jail records. Kashubas arrest citation says the victim was stabbed in the chest once. Kashuba admitted to the stabbing after her arrest, court records say. Three years after human remains were found in a remote area of Oregon woods, they have been identified, police said. DNA extracted from a tooth helped identify the body as missing woman Grace Lorna Narvaez-Weaver, Oregon State Police said in a March 7 news release posted to Facebook. Narvaez-Weaver was last seen at an Olympia post office in July 2019, according to a March 2021 tweet from the Olympia Police Department. Missing Person - Grace Lorna Narvaez-Weaver If you have contact with Grace or know her whereabouts, please check her welfare and contact OPD @ 360-704-2740 or call Thurston County Crime Stoppers @ 1-800-222-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/rhAtByrovW Olympia Police Dept. (@OlyPD) March 31, 2021 Her remains were found in an extremely remote, wooded area off a US Forest Service Road, 13 miles east of Sweet Home in Linn County in April 2020, according to Oregon police. Law enforcement recovered an almost-complete skeleton that had distinct articles of clothing but no identification, police said. After examining the body, officials determined it belonged to a woman who was 30 to 50 years old, according to police. The Oregon State Medical Examiners Office uploaded the case into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System NamUs, police said. The medical examiners office also submitted a bone sample, which would be used to develop a DNA profile, according to police. However, when the profile was uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), no matches were found, police said. The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office created a forensic illustration based on the womans physical characteristics, which was used in future news releases as well as the main image attached to the then-unknown womans profile on NAMUS website, police said. Despite Linn County Sheriffs Offices efforts, there were no matches or leads in the case, police said. Story continues As the case was close to becoming cold, the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office turned to investigative genetic genealogy, according to police. Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with traditional genealogical methods to create family history profiles, according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related. Police said a sample from the womans tooth was sent to Parabon NanoLabs to create a a new DNA profile. Parabon used DNA Phenotyping to gain more insight into the womans predicted characteristics, police said. This report showed the woman was likely of Northern European and African descent. This information, along with a newly rendered image, was uploaded to the womans profile on NamUs, according to police. Parabons investigative genetic genealogy report offered the biggest breakthrough in the case, as it suggested the remains belonged to a woman reported missing out of Washington, Narvaez-Weaver, police said. Last September, the Linn County Sheriffs Office contacted Narvaez-Weavers family with the possibility that the body found in Oregon could be hers, according to police. After a family member provided their own DNA sample, it confirmed that the woman was Narvaez-Weaver. Graces case is an excellent example of how advanced technologies like investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) and phenotyping can be used to help resolve a case before it goes cold, CeCe Moore, Parabons chief genetic genealogist, said in the release. Police said an investigation into Narvaez-Weavers death is ongoing. A man was found dead in California river 25 years ago, cops say. His ID is now known Lady in the fridge was a mystery for 27 years. Body now identified as California mom Skeleton found by river in 2018 alongside rubber chicken identified, Colorado cops say [Source] A Democratic National Committee (DNC) official has called former President Donald Trump a serial rapist and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) a gathering of sexual predators on TV. Lindy Li, who serves as DNC Womens co-chair and DNCs mid-Atlantic regional chair, made the remarks on Saturday while commenting on the event in an interview with MSNBCs Yasmin Vossoughian. Lets also not ignore the fact that CPAC has become a gathering of sexual predators. Lets be honest, said Li, before referencing various allegations brought against organizer Matt Schlapp, Rep. Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R, FL-1). She then called Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R, GA-14) as an adulteress and accused Rep. Lauren Boebert (R, CO-3) of bragging about carrying a Glock handgun in Congress. Finally, she said, Tonight, we have Trump, a serial rapist. More from NextShark: 2 men accused of stabbing woman and Queens pizzeria owners who intervened indicted for attempted murder More from NextShark: Tulsi Gabbard says Democrats push 'cowardly wokeness,' 'anti-white racism' after leaving party Writer E. Jean Carroll previously accused Trump of rape, citing a mid-1990s incident that allegedly occurred in the dressing room of a Manhattan luxury department store. That suit apart from her defamation claims against the former president will enter trial next month. Story continues Lis comments visibly surprised Vossoughian, who took a few seconds to pause and breathe before clarifying that the claims remain to be allegations. I, I just I just want to be clear here though, you know, that its important to put out there, we, we understand the accusations that have been made against, of course, the former president, Lindy. And of course, I understand your passion in this topic as well. But I want to be clear, of course, that, that none of that has actually rung true as of yet. Just, theyve all been accusations, so far. More from NextShark: Asian man fatally shot near Philadelphia for driving too slowly During the interview, Li also took a jab at former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, calling the Indian American presidential candidate a sellout for comments she made in 2010 while defending the Confederate Flag as part of South Carolinas heritage. Li also reduced the anti-woke movement to being anti-Black. This years CPAC was held at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland from March 1-4. A straw poll conducted among attendees revealed Trump as the preferred GOP nominee (62%), followed by Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis (20%), Michigan businessman Perry Johnson (5%) and Haley (3%). A woman who collapsed in a supermarket after being told by doctors that her symptoms were caused by stress has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. Mollie Mulheron, 24, had recently returned from travelling in the Galapagos Islands where she began experiencing symptoms, but was assured by doctors she was simply too stressed. Despite Mulheron experiencing such difficulty with breathing that she almost drowned while snorkelling, doctors insisted her the issues were in her head. However, after returning to the UK she collapsed in public and was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed her with a 15cm tumour spanning her heart and lungs. Now, Mollie has been given a diagnosis of stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She says she still cant comprehend whats happened. Mollie said: That was the worst news of my life, I cant even explain how it felt now. I just cried and screamed and screamed it was out of nowhere, I knew something was wrong but I didnt think it was that wrong. Im waiting to hear how much its spread. It doesnt mean Im going to die tomorrow but it means treatment needs to start now. Theyve given me an injection to try and preserve my fertility so kids arent out the question. Its put me in early menopause, its the worst part for me as I always wanted to be a mum. Mollie, from Skipton, Leeds, had travelled to the Galapagos Islands to pursue her dream of travelling. (Mollie Mulheron / SWNS) While there, she worked as an English teacher and enjoyed exploring the tropical islands. However, she began to experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing and swallowing. Typical signs of non-Hodgkins lymphoma may include swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin, abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. She was told there werent enough students for her to teach, so she booked a flight home for 4 February but within 48 hours of touching down in the UK, she collapsed and began throwing up in a supermarket. Story continues An ambulance was called and Mollie was rushed to hospital where she underwent blood tests, and X-ray and CT scans. (Mollie Mulheron / SWNS) She was given the devastating diagnosis and told the tumour had been affecting her heart. Doctors prescribed steroids to stop the tumour from growing. Due to the advanced stage, Mollie swiftly began chemotherapy. Ive been fit and healthy my whole life, Ive always been completely fine I dont know what has caused this, Im healthy and young, three weeks ago I was in Galapagos living my best life, said Mollie. (Mollie Mulheron / SWNS) I still cant comprehend it now - [when I was told] I was screaming to my mum about my future plans, how I wanted to be a mum and get married, all I could do was stare at the wall and cry and scream. The doctors immediately put me on steroids to stop the growth of the tumour while they tried to figure out what was going on. They couldnt start treatment until they knew exactly what it was so I was waiting for the biopsy to come back. When I finally got the results, it wasnt what we hoped for its non-Hodgkins lymphoma which is rare and aggressive. (Mollie Mulheron / SWNS) The doctors seem hopeful they can treat it and say the success rate for the type of cancer I have is good and it looks hopeful. The only sad thing is that its stage four which means its on both sides of my chest and has spread to other parts of my body. I started chemo and had a bad reaction to the first treatment, but the doctors said it was because they started it too fast, and after that it was okay, I just had a few side effects like headaches. The doctors say there are a lot of treatments they can try because Im young, fit and healthy. (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit to stop JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying that the planned merger "would put travel out of reach for many cost-conscious travelers". JetBlue prevailed in a months-long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its $3.8 billion merger offer in late July last year but the acquisition had been expected to face a tough antitrust review from the beginning. Below are the key events of the takeover saga: Date Development Feb. 7 Frontier makes a cash-and-stock offer of $25.83/share for Spirit Airlines Feb. 8 Lawyers from the U.S. Justice Department say Spirit and Frontier's merger to create the fifth-largest airline in the country would face close scrutiny March 10 Several public advocacy groups call on U.S. regulators to block Frontier's bid for Spirit April 5 JetBlue makes an unsolicited $3.6 billion, or $33/share, all-cash bid for Spirit April 6 JetBlue mounts a vigorous defense of its unsolicited $3.6 billion bid for Spirit, adding that it is "highly confident" of securing regulatory approval April 7 Spirit says that it would enter into discussions with JetBlue on its $3.6-billion offer as it could likely lead to a "superior proposal" to the one from Frontier May 2 Spirit rejects JetBlue's $33/share offer, saying it had a low likelihood of winning regulatory approval May 10 Head of Sun Country Airlines throws his backing behind potential merger in the ultra-low-cost airline sector May 11 Spirit says it will hold a shareholder meeting on June 10 for a vote on its proposed merger with Frontier May 16 JetBlue makes hostile all-cash takeover offer of $30/share and adds it was ready to "negotiate in good faith a consensual transaction at $33" May 19 Spirit Airlines urges shareholders to reject the hostile offer from JetBlue, saying it was "a cynical attempt to disrupt" its merger with Frontier Story continues May 31 Proxy advisory firm ISS urges Spirit shareholders to vote against a proposed merger with Frontier June 2 Frontier agrees to pay a break-up fee of $250 million in a bid to salvage its $2.9 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines June 3 Shareholder advisory firm Glass Lewis recommends Spirit Airlines investors approve Frontier Group's $2.9 billion takeover bid, saying it was the "best available" at this time. June 6 JetBlue sweetens its takeover bid for Spirit by offering $31.50 per share in cash, comprising $30 per share at deal close and the prepayment of $1.50 per share of the reverse break-up fee. June 8 Spirit Airlines delays to June 30 a shareholder meeting to vote on its proposed merger with Frontier. June 14 Spirit Airlines said it was in talks with JetBlue Airways and has granted JetBlue access to the due diligence information being shared with Frontier Group. Spirit said it was expecting to decide on the proposal by the end of this month. June 20 JetBlue Airways said it had sweetened its takeover offer for Spirit Airlines to $33.50 per share. June 24 Frontier bumps up the cash component of the deal by $2 per share to $4.13 per share, prompting Spirit Airlines to urge its shareholders back a deal with its ultra-low-cost rival at a meeting next week. June 25 ISS urges Spirit shareholders to vote for a proposed merger with Frontier after the carrier sweetened its offer. June 27 Frontier's Chief Executive Barry Biffle says the revised offer for Spirit will be enough to secure a merger deal with the ultra-low-cost carrier. June 27 JetBlue ratcheted up its bidding war. Offers a "ticking fee", which would give Spirit shareholders a monthly prepayment of 10 cents per share between January 2023 and the closing of the deal, raising the overall deal value to $34.15 per share. June 28 ISS says JetBlue's latest offer is "more favorable" but maintains its support for the Frontier deal. June 28 Spirit rejects JetBlue's sweetened takeover offer and recommends that shareholders vote in favor of a merger with Frontier at a meeting on Thursday. July 7 Spirit postponed a shareholder vote scheduled for July 8 on its $2.4 billion sale to Frontier so its board can continue discussions with both Frontier and JetBlue. Spirit said it now plans to hold a special meeting on July 15. July 11 Frontier has asked Spirit to delay the shareholder vote on its proposed offer until July 27, citing the need for more time to gather sufficient proxy support. July 13 Spirit said it intends to delay the shareholder vote on its merger deal with Frontier Group to July 27 as Frontier seeks more time to drum up proxy support for its buyout bid. July 15 ISS recommends shareholders of Spirit Airlines to vote against the proposed deal with Frontier. July 27 Spirit Airlines said it would go ahead with a vote on its sale to Frontier, with its shareholders expected to shoot it down, according to people familiar with the matter. July 28 JetBlue prevailed in a months' long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its $3.8 billion buyout deal. Oct. 19 Shareholders of Spirit Airlines voted in favor of JetBlue's takeover offer, moving the companies closer to creating the nation's fifth-largest carrier. Feb. 7 Spirit Airlines Inc said it expects U.S. antitrust regulators to decide whether to allow the low-cost carrier to proceed with its $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue Airways Corp in the "next 30 days or so." Feb. 8 JetBlue officials are answering questions and giving depositions as the Justice Department presses on with its antitrust review of the company's plan to buy Spirit, with a decision expected within weeks. Feb. 10 The U.S. Department of Justice is likely to sue to block a pending $3.8 billion merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, Politico reported, citing five people with knowledge of the matter. JetBlue Airways Corp said it believes there is a "high Mar. 6 likelihood" the U.S. Justice Department will file an antitrust lawsuit this week to block its $3.8 billion takeover of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines Inc. Mar. 7 The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit to stop JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying that the planned merger "would put travel out of reach for many cost-conscious travelers." (Reporting by Nathan Gomes and Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Anil D'Silva and Sriraj Kalluvila) In the wake of the 2020 presidential election, once it became clear that then-President Donald Trump had lost the race to Joe Biden, allies of the former president began claiming without evidence that the election had been stolen. Dominion Voting Systems, a private voting machine manufacturer, became central to those claims, which asserted that the company conspired with Democrats to rig the election against Trump. In 2021, Dominion filed a series of defamation lawsuits against key election deniers, suggesting their unfounded claims caused severe damage to the company. These lies also have threatened the personal safety of our employees and customers, Dominion CEO John Poulos said after filing one of the lawsuits. No amount of money will repair the damage done." Heres what we know. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter What is the background? Unfounded claims that Trump, not Biden, won the election began spreading online and on air before the race between the two candidates had even been called. Dominion and another voter machine manufacturer, Smartmatic, became right-wing targets for purportedly helping steal the race. False claims that the company was tied to top Democrats or that its machines switched and deleted Trump votes, flipping key races, gathered hundreds of thousands of interactions online. The lawsuits claim several high-profile, right-wing media groups and individuals helped amplify those claims. 'Shockingly reckless': Fox News hosts privately shot down Trump's 'big lie' over election fraud Who is being sued? Fox News and Fox Corporation One American News Network Newsmax Patrick Byrne, former head of Overstock Rudy Giuliani, Trump attorney Sidney Powell, former Trump lawyer Mike Lindell, MyPillow founder and chief executive officer Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, left, listens to Sidney Powell, during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. What do the lawsuits say? Dominion in March 2021 filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corporation, for allegedly making and amplifying false claims deliberately about Dominion and the 2020 election. The voting machine manufacturer asserts that the lies were good for Fox's business, and that legal action followed repeated demands for retractions. Story continues The company also filed suit against OAN and Newsmax, accusing the conservative news outlets of allegedly promoting 2020 election fraud claims, despite knowing they were untrue. The lawsuits against Byrne, Giuliani, Powell and Lindell make similar allegations. More: Dominion Voting sues Fox for $1.6 billion over false 2020 election fraud claims Revelations from the lawsuits Court filings in the case against Fox News revealed that top executives and news hosts privately shared they did not buy into Trumps allegations of 2020 election fraud, despite giving airtime to many of those same false claims. "Privately, Fox's hosts and executives knew that Donald Trump lost the election and that he needed to concede," the filing reads. "But Fox viewers heard a different story repeatedly." A Fox spokesperson said Dominion mischaracterized the record and "cherry-picked" quotes from "key context." Keynote speaker Mike Lindell talked about how it was time to hold an election with out electronic voting machines. About 500 people attended the evening portion of Rock The Red event held at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion June 11, 2022. What do the parties being sued say? A Fox spokesperson told USA TODAY last month that press freedom and freedom of speech which are fundamental rights afforded by the Constitution and protected by New York Times v. Sullivan are at the core of the Dominion case. OAN and Newsmax filed motions to dismiss Dominions lawsuits against them, but efforts by the two conservative networks were both denied. Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric M. Davis ruled that it was reasonably conceivable that Dominion had a claim for defamation against Newsmax. Giuliani, Powell and Lindell motioned to dismiss the cases against them, but U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected those requests. Powell and Lindell also filed countersuits alleging an abuse of justice and violation of First Amendment rights, both of which were tossed out by Nichols. Dig deeper: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dominion sued Fox News, OAN for 2020 election fraud claims Consumers can now see which airlines guarantee that families can sit together a no extra cost, after a Department of Transportation dashboard debuted Monday as the Biden administration tries to eliminate what it calls junk fees. The tool shows which airlines have committed to allowing children under 13 to sit fee-free next to an accompanied adult. The dashboard lists just three major airlines Alaska, American and Frontier that have made the commitment. President Biden promised a crackdown on junk fees in his State of the Union address last month, pinpointing airlines for not showing full ticket prices upfront and saying they should refund money if flights are canceled or delayed. My administration is also taking on junk fees, those hidden surcharges too many businesses use to make you pay more, he said at the time. For example, were making airlines show you the full ticket price upfront and refund your money if your flight is canceled or delayed. Baggage fees are bad enough they cant just treat your child like a piece of luggage. A release from the Transportation Department highlighted that no major airlines guaranteed fee-free family seating before the Biden administration took over but since then three airlines have made such a commitment. Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. We have been pressing airlines to guarantee family seating without tacking on extra charges, and now were seeing some airlines start to make this common-sense change. The dashboard also shows airline policies for cancellations and delays, including whether they allow customers to rebook flights for no additional costs or if they provide services and accommodations for customers who are stuck with long delays and cancellations. The aggregation of such information comes after delays and cancellations around the holiday season ravaged the transportation industry, leaving customers stranded in airports at the height of the travel season. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Needle injection. Illustrated | Gettyimages A new class of weight-loss drugs is being hailed as a miracle injection that helps people shed pounds of stubborn weight. Doctors and health experts are excited about the treatments, seeing them as a powerfully effective way to tackle the world's growing obesity epidemic. A recent report from The World Obesity Federation predicts that 51 percent of the world, over 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight within the next 12 years if significant action isn't taken. The NGO found that obesity rates were rising "particularly quickly among children and in lower-income countries," per CNN. Researchers discovered the latest generation of weight-loss drugs somewhat accidentally. Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk developed semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes, which the FDA approved as an injectable called Ozempic. When patients taking Ozempic started to report significant weight loss, the company produced a drug specifically for that purpose, with a higher dose of semaglutide, under the name Wegovy. In 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy "for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition," like high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics added the drug to new guidelines for treating childhood obesity in adolescents aged 12 and over. A study showed that patients using Wegovy lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight. Another approved diabetes treatment, tirzepatide, which is marketed under the name Mounjaro by Eli Lilly, helped patients lose an average of 21 percent of their body weight, according to a study. But the drugs, which have become particularly popular mong celebrities, are not without controversy. They may increase the risk of thyroid tumors, and must be taken "for a lifetime," The Economist explains. Plus they're very expensive, costing between $900 and $1,300 per month. What are the commentators saying? These new drugs "represent the vanguard of a weight-loss revolution," writes Derek Thompson in The Atlantic, but their viral popularity should be a red flag. As a medical achievement, the drugs are "stupendous inventions," and their rollout must be done delicately. The current frenzy "raises questions about ethics, fairness, culture, and America's berserk relationship with beauty." A simple injection, albeit with a "luxury price tag," sounds nice, but we mustn't overlook the "complex interplay" of factors, including metabolism and environment, that contribute to weight gain. These new treatments could "augur a public-health revolution," though right now they "represent an elite cultural makeover more than a medical intervention." New medications such as these are changing the narrative around obesity, which has "long been framed as a result of poor lifestyle decisions and a failure of willpower," Stat News says. The discourse about the effectiveness of these drugs underscores that obesity is a chronic medical condition, "and not something that's just a matter of a moral failing on the individual patient's part," Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells Stat. "I have never seen a conversation surrounding obesity, obesity as a disease, the treatment of excess weight in a way that I see now." The costs associated with treating obesity are "a drag on economic growth," says The Economist. If new drugs can address these, they could "make the world wealthier" and should be "welcomed with open arms." Research suggests even curbing obesity by 5 percentage points could save close to $430 billion annually. But the new treatments "certainly should not be taken for cosmetic reasons," and governments should focus on "preventing people from becoming obese in the first place," the magazine adds. What's next? Pescriptions for Wegovy and similar medications have risen exponentially in the U.S., leading to a shortage. Novo Nordisk could sell between $3 billion and $4 billion worth of Wegovy in America this year, and plans to launch the drug in more countries in the coming months, The Economist says. Even though many insurers don't cover the expensive drugs, and governments are hesitant to back them, these concerns "will presumably evaporate if it becomes clear that widespread use of the drugs will bring big cost savings to insurers or governments in the form of avoided treatments for conditions related to obesity." In time, the high cost of the drug should eventually come down. "Insurers and governments will presumably be able to negotiate discounts to drugmakers' list prices," The Economist writes. The arrival of rival products will also drive the price down. "In the very long run, the new drugs will lose their patents and become available in generic form," the magazine adds. Still, there are some lingering questions about the long-term effects of these medications. "One big question facing researchers now is whether people will need to take these medications for life to maintain their weight," Scientific American says. It is also too early to tell who will respond to the drugs and who won't, though they appear less effective for people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers are also concerned that "by offering a weight solution in societies that prize thinness, these drugs could also inadvertently reinforce the disputed link between excess weight and health," Scientific American adds. You may also like Egyptian archeologists discover Sphinx from 1st century A.D. Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Duchess of York attends a charity gala in London, 2019 (Getty Images for BFI) The Duchess of York has revealed the career she always wanted to persue as a child - that of a female detective. Growing up with a love of the headstrong George in Enid Blytons Famous Five, Sarah Ferguson said she was obsessed by whodunnits and female crime sleuths. Writing in The Independent ahead of International Womens Day, she describes how detective work became an opportunity for female servants who were privvy to the goings on in the wealthy homes where they worked. It also became a profitable sideline for famous actors such as Maud West and Kate Easton. (Getty Images) It was an opportunity for more exciting, adventurous and varied career offering financial security and independence. A career with a purpose, open to women of all ages and backgrounds. The duchess, who has written a number of books, said her latest heroine was inspired by the detectives of the past. Recently, she spoke of her love for the late Queen and how she would always be there for her ex-husband Andrew. Sarah and he married in 1986 but the couple split up in 1992 and have remained friends. Last month she pledged to do all she can to financially support Prince Andrew. Andrew has lived at the Grade II listed building in Windsor for 20 years and shares the seven-bedroom property with his former wife. He has been keeping a low profile since being stripped of his royal duties and reaching an out of court settlement with Virginia Giuffre last year. The King is understood to want Prince Andrew to move out and reportedly move into Harry and Meghans home, Frogmore Cottage. A Dunkin customer was shot twice after he got into an argument with a shop employee while ordering ice cream, according to the Clearwater (Florida) Police Department. The victim was listed in serious but stable condition at the hospital, police said in a Tuesday, March 7 news release. It happened March 6 at a site on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard that houses a combined Dunkin and Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop, officials said. Clearwater is about 20 miles west of Tampa on Floridas Gulf Coast. Khalil Abdul Shakur Shaheed ... became involved in an argument Monday evening with a customer, a 38-year-old Clearwater man who was trying to buy ice cream for his girlfriend and two children, police said in the news release. As the victim and his family departed via the front door of the business, the suspect left out the back door and confronted the victim in the parking lot, where the argument continued. Shaheed pulled a gun out of his waistband and fired three times, hitting the victim twice in the legs. Investigators have not released details on what started the in-store dispute. Shaheed, 22, was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County jail around 10:30 p.m. Monday. He is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm, police say. He lives in nearby St. Petersburg, jail records show. Bond was set at $15,000. The identity of the victim in the shooting was not released. An unidentified body, a burned home and a missing car create mystery for Florida cops Skeleton found 5 years after woman accepted ride in suspicious truck, Florida cops say Intoxicated 81-year-old woman kicks officer full force in groin, Florida cops say (FILES) In this file photo taken on October 11, 2018 Founder of the Dyson company, designer James Dyson, poses with products during a photo session at a hotel in Paris. - British electric appliance pioneer Dyson will switch headquarters to Singapore this year due to booming Asian demand but not because of Brexit, the company said Tuesday, January 22, 2019. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP)CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images Dyson profits dipped last year despite demand for its high-end hair dryers and vacuum cleaners driving up sales to a new record. Sir James Dysons engineering group grew revenues to 6.5bn in 2022, up from 6bn in the previous year. The total was boosted by a higher proportion of direct sales via the Dyson website, with no cut of revenues for third-party retailers. It came as Ebitda, a measure of operating profits, fell from 1.5bn to 1.3bn. Dyson's full statutory accounts for the year are not yet available. The company, which is headquartered in Singapore with engineering operations in Britain, closed its Russia business last year and said higher shipping and logistics prices had cost it 120m last year. Roland Krueger, the companys chief executive, said 2022 had been one of the toughest years that Dyson has faced but said it had increased investment in R&D. It recruited more than 1,000 new engineers and scientists last year and said capital expenditure on equipment and facilities had jumped from 284m to 463m. Staff missed out on a bonus under the companys performance scheme but Dyson said 90pc of staff had been handed a one-off payment in recognition of exceptional efforts and that salaries would rise. Many electronics companies struggled with higher costs last year amid semiconductor shortages and lockdowns in China for much of the year. Dyson closed its Russia business in February, in the days before Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the company unveiled the Dyson Zone, a 749 set of headphones with air-purifying filters designed to protect wearers from pollution, as well as a new version of its cordless vacuum. Revenues rose as customers increasingly chose to buy from its own stores and website, rather than through third-party retailers, and spent more on higher-end devices. Mr Krueger said: This was one of the toughest years that Dyson has faced but thanks to some exceptional efforts from individuals we navigated it, while the fact we stepped up investment in the development of cutting-edge new technologies means we are well positioned for 2023 and our ambitious plans beyond. Last year, Dyson opened a new headquarters in Singapore, where it moved its base in 2019. It opened new robotics and software centres in London and Hullavington in Wiltshire. It said it would invest 500m in its growing haircare business which includes dryers, straighteners and curlers. Sir James, who moved back to Britain in 2021, has warned that working from home is damaging productivity and that short sighted government tax rises are hampering growth. Escambia County Sheriffs Office deputies are searching for multiple suspects Tuesday after a man was shot during an early morning robbery. ECSO spokeswoman Morgan Lewis said a 71-year-old man was walking on Old Corry Field Road when two individuals attempted to rob him with a firearm. One of the suspects shot him in the ankle and fled the scene, Lewis said. In case you missed it:'Its not normal to shoot your friend': Pensacola man sentenced to life for 2020 slaying Santa Rosa swatting arrest:Swatting calls to Milton High School net New Jersey teen a felony charge. Lewis said that when the two suspects attempted to rob the man, they pulled out firearms, but the victim also had a gun and everyone began exchanging fire. Lewis said authorities are unsure if the 71-year-old hit any of the suspects. The 71-year-old man then took himself to the hospital where deputies responded around 5:30 a.m. Lewis said the SRSO believes there were two suspects involved in the shooting. The incident remains under investigation. The unidentified man is receiving treatment in a local hospital. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia man shot in ankle during armed robbery, suspects sought El Paso County sheriff's deputies arrested three men allegedly found with firearms and methamphetamine in the Upper Valley after gunshots were reportedly fired from a vehicle near the Texas-New Mexico state line. The arrests occurred about 6:30 a.m. Friday after a witness saw gunshots being fired out of a vehicle in Anthony, New Mexico, and then followed the vehicle about 6 miles south to Canutillo, sheriff's officials said Tuesday. The witness led deputies to the vehicle parked outside a business in the 7100 block of Doniphan Drive, officials said. Deputies arrested the three men after allegedly finding methamphetamine, stolen property and an assault rifle and a handgun in the vehicle. Brandon Rivas New Mexico authorities are investigating the shots-fired case over the state line in Anthony. Drug trafficking:Man, 20, sentenced to prison after smuggling cocaine, fentanyl to pay drug debt Brandon Rivas, 21, of the Upper Valley, was arrested on charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful carrying of a weapon and a warrant on a theft case from 2021. On Tuesday, Rivas remained held under a total bond of $81,000 at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown, according to jail records. Julio Cesar Balderrama Jr. Julio Cesar Balderrama Jr., 28, of Canutillo, remains at the Downtown jail on a charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance with a $20,000 bond. Fernando Hernandez Jr., 27, of Anthony, New Mexico, was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and released that same day on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond, which requires only a signature and a promise to show up to court, a jail log showed. Crime:El Paso boy, 15, allegedly caught with gun, arrested in video of West Side shooting Fernando Hernandez Jr. Anyone with information regarding shootings, drug dealing and any other criminal activity may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS). This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso sheriff's deputies arrest 3 after gunshots fired from vehicle A police search late Monday night in a West El Paso neighborhood stemmed from a vehicle that fled during a traffic stop, a police spokesman said. A police dog and officers were searching after a driver evaded a traffic stop and later stopped the vehicle. Four people then ran off in a neighborhood near the Dorris Van Boren public library, 551 Redd Road, a spokesman said. Crime:El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrests 3 men after gunshots fired from vehicle El Paso police at a crime scene. File art. Two of the four were apprehended after a search in the area of Totonaca Lane and Medano Drive. A 17-year-old man was arrested on charges of evading arrest, possession of marijuana and failure to identify, and an 18-year-old man was arrested an evading arrest charge, police said. Warning: Department of Public Health imposters The El Paso Department of Public Health recently issued a warning about a potential door-to-door scam involving water filtration sellers posing as public health workers. The Public Health department warning stated that some door-to-door peddlers claim they are conducting a water study in the neighborhood. If no one answers the door, they leave flyers with phone numbers urging homeowners to contact them as soon as possible. Politics:El Paso Chamber announces opposition to proposed climate charter The Department of Public Health stated that its employees always identify themselves with a city of El Paso identification and will never ask for personal information, such as Social Security numbers and bank information, nor will they sell anything or ask to inspect your home's water. To report a suspected fraud, call the police nonemergency line at 915-832-4400. Spring break safety efforts rise The sun is shining, the weather is warming up and spring break season is here. It's also time for various agencies to urge people to stay safe. The El Paso Police Department is stepping up traffic enforcement for spring break looking for all types of traffic violations with a focus on drunken driving, officials said. Additional officers will work overtime March 6-17 as part of the Texas Department of Transportation's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP. Story continues More:Got kids? Check out these spring break camps in El Paso and Las Cruces The Texas Department of Transportation has launched its statewide "Drive Sober. No Regrets" spring break drunken driving prevention campaign to remind drivers, especially college students, to drive sober. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission statewide will visit hundreds of alcohol retailers, including stores, bars and restaurants, in undercover operations and open inspections to identify sales to intoxicated persons and minors as part of spring break enforcement efforts. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police search neighborhood; spring break enforcement steps up A judge on Monday ordered sanctions against Republican Mark Finchem, the losing candidate in Arizonas secretary of state race who challenged the election results in court. In granting the sanctions, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Iyer Julian said Finchem and his attorney, Daniel McCauley III, filed their lawsuit without substantial justification. Finchem lost the election to Democrat Adrian Fontes by 120,208 votes. Julian in December dismissed Finchem's lawsuit, which requested a new election, alleged that then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs had engaged in misconduct and claimed that illegal votes were cast because of errors in the laboratory testing of voting machines and voting software issues. After the dismissal, Hobbes joined Fontes in filing a motion for sanctions against Finchem and his lawyer. Julians order Monday asked Fontes and Hobbs, who is now governor, to submit an application for an award of attorneys fees and statement of costs. The order did not impose additional penalty damages. The order said that while Arizona courts recommend that sanctions be awarded only in "rare cases" to avoid discouraging legitimate lawsuits, Finchem's election challenge was one of those rarities. "None of Contestant Finchems allegations, even if true, would have changed the vote count enough to overcome the 120,000 votes he needed to affect the result of this election," Julian wrote. "The Court finds that this lawsuit was groundless and not brought in good faith." Julian noted that Finchem withdrew his request to inspect ballots, "suggesting that he had no expectation that an inspection would yield a favorable outcome." Doing so, the judge said, "demonstrates that Finchem challenged his election loss despite knowing that his claims regarding misconduct and procedural irregularities were insufficient under the law to sustain the contest." Finchem's attorney said Finchem plans to appeal but did not provide additional comment. Story continues NBC News has asked the offices of Fontes and Hobbs for comment. Finchem was among several GOP candidates for statewide office in Arizona who repeatedly cast doubt on Joe Bidens presidential victory or falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. Prominent election deniers such as Arizona attorney general candidate Abraham Hamadeh and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake lost their bids last year. Lake, who also mounted an election challenge in court, has repeatedly claimed that she lost because of illegal votes and misconduct by election officials. An appeals court last month upheld a lower court ruling that said Lake had not provided evidence to support her claims. Hobbs filed for sanctions against Lake after the lawsuit was dismissed in December; a judge rejected Hobbs' request. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com From left, South Bend Mayor James Mueller, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter and South Bend Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski discuss murder charges filed against Derrick Pratcher related to the shooting death of a security guard in a South Bend parking garage. SOUTH BEND A 33-year-old Elkhart man is charged with killing a security guard in a downtown South Bend parking garage late Sunday night. Derrick Pratcher allegedly shot and killed security guard Robert Pulliam Jr., 62, after the guard confronted him for loitering in the Wayne Street Parking Garage, prosecutors allege in court documents. On parole:Man convicted of murder accused of raping DTSB worker Prosecutors claim Pratcher was illegally carrying the handgun he allegedly used to kill Pulliam. He was prohibited from carrying a firearm because of a previous felony conviction of operating a vehicle after being suspended for life. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from owning or possessing a firearm. The killing occurred about 11:21 p.m. Sunday after two witnesses employees on patrol for South Bend Venue Parks & Arts, according to a probable cause affidavit saw an unfamiliar man loitering near city vehicles parked in the public garage. The witnesses alerted Pulliam, the on-duty security guard at the garage working for ASM Global, a venue management company paid by the city. According to police, Pulliam approached Pratcher to tell him he was trespassing and had to leave. Pulliam took a photo of the mans vehicle and license plate then turned his back to dial 911. Pratcher pulled a handgun from his bag and shot the security guard in the back of the head at close range, police claim. Pratcher allegedly then got in his car, a rental black Kia Sportage with a Florida license plate, and drove away from the garage. He was not at the scene when South Bend Police Department officers arrived in response to reports of shots fired made at 11:23 p.m. More:South Bend police unveil video surveillance control room for 'real time crime center' Officers found Pulliam unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy confirmed that Pulliam died as a result of the wound, and a pathologist ruled the death a homicide, prosecutors claim. Story continues But police recovered a photo Pulliam had taken of the vehicles license plate, documents say. The photo's timestamp was 11:21 p.m. Officers reportedly discovered Pratcher was renting the car and tracked its location to Vandalia, Mich., about a 45-minute drive northeast from downtown South Bend. On Monday afternoon, Cass County Sheriffs office deputies said they found Pratcher alone in the car at a park. Police say Pratcher admitted that he owned the gun and that he had been in the parking garage in the Kia on Sunday night. But he denied that he encountered anyone in the garage, police say. He is charged with murder, unlawful carrying of a handgun as a felon, and a misdemeanor count of unlawful carrying of a handgun. Last summer:Booming crowds at Howard Park bring more nuisance calls and a debate on how to handle them In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, local officials noted that the garage, at the corner of Wayne Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, is one people commonly use for trips downtown. Pratcher was initially confronted by two Venue Parks & Arts workers who noticed him loitering around the city vehicles, according to charging documents. After speaking with Pratcher briefly, the two workers said they left the garage. One of them kept watch while parked across the street and eventually notified the security guard. South Bend police officers regularly patrol areas where many people gather. But South Bend Mayor James Mueller said the city doesnt want to be reactionary and call for a heavier armed presence throughout downtown and city parks. Its unclear if the security guard had a firearm or another weapon. "On a typical day, downtown is very safe, our parks are safe, and there is not this issue," Mueller said, "even though we do have a gun violence problem in the city, just like we do across the country." We know there are a lot of guns around in the community, the mayor added. We know folks are exercising their Second Amendment right, so that makes things challenging across the board, where there are so many guns in the hands of our residents, (who are) walking around in our streets, in our community centers and in our parks. Thats a challenge. Correction: A prior version of this story stated that one of the two witnesses was a Downtown South Bend ambassador. Charging documents say that both employees were on patrol for South Bend Venues Parks & Arts. Tribune reporter Marek Mazurek contributed to this report. Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart man charged with murder of guard in South Bend parking garage Haraldur Thorleifsson formerly worked at Twitter. Haraldur Thorliefsson Elon Musk accused a former employee of using their disability as an "excuse" to do "no actual work." The former employee, Haraldur Thorleifsson, said he has muscular dystrophy. Musk and Thorleifsson engaged in a heated exchange on Twitter on Monday. Elon Musk has accused a laid-off Twitter employee of using their disability as an "excuse" to do "no actual work." The accusation was aimed at Haraldur Thorleifsson, a former Twitter director who engaged in a public spat with Musk on Monday. Musk tweeted: "The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. Can't say I have a lot of respect for that." Musk added: "But was he fired? No, you can't be fired if you weren't working in the first place!" A statement on Thorleifsson's personal website, posted before his altercation with Musk, says: "I have genetic muscle atrophy, often called muscle dystrophy. The one I have is called Dysferlinopathy. I use a wheelchair and I am slowly but surely losing strength in my upper body and arms. I don't like it but that doesn't really change anything." Twitter and Thorleifsson didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Thorleifsson, who is based in Reykjavik, Iceland, joined Twitter as a full-time employee in 2021 after Twitter acquired Ueno, a creative agency he founded. He was named by several Icelandic media outlets as the nation's person of the year for 2022. Amid his spat with Musk on Monday, Thorleifsson posted a picture of himself in a wheelchair. He later posted a Twitter thread describing the effects of muscular dystrophy on his body. His exchange with Musk kicked off when he tagged the Twitter owner in a tweet that said: "9 days ago the access to my work computer was cut, along with about 200 other Twitter employees. However your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You've not answered my emails. Maybe if enough people retweet you'll answer me here?" Story continues Thorleifsson said later he'd received an email from Twitter's head of HR, who confirmed he was no longer employed by the company. Disabled employees at Twitter filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in November, saying Musk's new "extremely hardcore" work culture and orders to "work long hours at high intensity" forced them to resign. Read the original article on Business Insider (Getty Images for Heidi Klum) Elon Musk has become involved in a humiliating spat with an employee who was not sure whether he had been fired. The series of events began when Halli Thorleifsson who has been employed by Twitter since it acquired his company, and has been working in product design since asked Mr Musk whether he had been fired. He said that his access to his work computer had been cut off, but that he was yet to receive any official indication of whether he was still employed. Mr Musk then began an exchange that some referred to as the strangest exit interview ever conducted. He asked Mr Thorleifsson what work he had been doing, to which he received a detailed reply. But the Twitter chief executive then attacked Mr Thorleifsson, accusing him of using disability as an excuse and doing no work. But was he fired? No, you cant be fired if you werent working in the first place! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023 The comments prompted outrage that Mr Musk was apparently making Twitter employees aware of their employment status through public tweets. Many also speculated about the possible consequences of discussing employees disabilities in such a public arena. Mr Thorleifsson then tweeted a long thread in which he laid out his health situation, explaining that he has muscular dystrophy and that it has affected his wellbeing. My legs were the first to go, he wrote. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair. Its been 20 years since that happened. In that time the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet. For a long time I thought my arms would remain strong. A doctor told me they would. But they ended up losing strength. Which, I dont mind telling you, was hard to accept. But you okay the cards you are dealt and Ive managed to create a wonderful life. Story continues He noted that his condition meant that it was easier to type on the phone, rather than compose long messages, and that much of his work had been in meetings with other Twitter employees anyway. He also suggested that information had been shared confidentially with Twitters HR department, before it was posted by Mr Musk. But as I told HR (I'm assuming that's the confidential health information you are sharing) I can't work as a hands on designer for the reasons outlined above. I'm typing this on my phone btw. It's easier for because I only need to use one finger. Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023 He went on to explain that he had become independently wealthy by building the very company that Twitter had acquired. I hope that helps! Let me know if you are going to pay what you owe me? I think you can afford it? Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023 In another post, Billy Markus the creator of Mr Musks favoured cryptocurrency dogecoin said in an unusual remark that the Twitter chief executive had behaved badly. In a reply, Mr Musk called Mr Thorleifsson the worst. Hes the worst, sorry. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023 Mr Musk has faced criticism for using his Twitter account to attack people before. Most notably, he called a British cave diver who assisted with the rescue of 13 Thai children a pedo guy though a court later found that he had not defamed the man in question. Elon Musk leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Elon Musk publicly trolled a Twitter employee who wanted to know if they still had their job. He told the employee to justify their work, posted laughing emojis and memes when they answered. The employee later confirmed he was laid off, but doesn't know if he'll be paid severance per his contract. On Tuesday, Elon Musk engaged in an online spat with a Twitter employee who wanted to find out if they'd been laid off. Haraldur Thorleifsson, who uses the Twitter handle @iamharaldur, tweeted at Musk on Monday evening saying he lost his laptop access nine days prior and did not know if he was still employed. "However your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You've not answered my emails," wrote Thorleifsson. Thorleifsson, a creative designer and father of two, lists himself on LinkedIn as a director at Twitter based in Reykjavik, Iceland. He founded a creative agency, Ueno, which was acquired by Twitter in 2021 and lists offices in Iceland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Four hours after Thorleifsson tweeted, Musk responded. "What work have you been doing?" the CEO wrote. When Thorleifsson responded that he would need permission from Twitter's lawyers to publicly disclose his work at the company, Musk tweeted: "It's approved, you go ahead." Thorleifsson listed several of his work responsibilities and achievements, such as hiring designers, helping the company to appeal to younger users, and leading projects to "level up design across the company." "Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn't happen," Musk wrote. "We haven't hired design roles for four months. What changes did you make to help with the youths?" Thorleifsson replied that he didn't have access to any pictures or documents as evidence because he'd been locked out of his computer. Musk also posted a clip from the 1999 comedy film "Office Space," asking Thorleifsson: "Would you say that you're a people person?" The meme clip features an exasperated employee trying to justify his role to two managers. Story continues "Yes! I am a people person!" Thorleifsson responded to Musk's jibe. When Thorleifsson answered one of Musk's questions by writing "Figma" and "all active design projects," the billionaire responded with two laughing emojis. Thorleifsson later tweeted that Twitter's head of human resources had emailed him to confirm he no longer worked at the company. "Now the next question is if you will make sure I get paid what I'm owed per my contract?!" he tweeted. Musk did not respond further, as of midnight EST. After his exchange with Musk, Thorleifsson tweeted that he was "ok" with being laid off and said it was "fair enough." "Companies let people go, that's within their rights. They usually tell people about it but that's seemingly the optional part at Twitter now," Thorleifsson wrote. His next focus is on receiving his severance pay as stated in his contract, he added. Thorleifsson also posted a photo of himself, revealing that he uses a wheelchair. Thorleifsson runs a fund that builds wheelchair ramps in Iceland. Several former Twitter employees who have disabilities filed a class action lawsuit against the social media company in November. They said that Musk's work demands after he took over the firm broke California state and federal discrimination laws. Dmitry Borodaenko, an engineer laid off after Musk's acquisition, said in the lawsuit that he is a cancer survivor and was let go after telling his manager he wanted to work from home. He'd made the request out of concern that he was at "extra risk" from COVID-19, the lawsuit said. Thorleifsson, Twitter, and Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award in Berlin - Hannibal Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP, File Elon Musk has publicly questioned the work ethic of a disabled Twitter director who was forced to contact the billionaire personally to ask if hed been sacked. Haraldur Thorliefsson, an Iceland-based Twitter designer, made contact with the Twitter owner after he was locked out of his account without being told if he still had a job. Mr Thorliefsson, who uses a wheelchair, sent a Tweet to Mr Musk asking: [Nine] days ago the access to my work computer was cut, along with about 200 other Twitter employees. However, your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You've not answered my emails. Mr Musk responded on Twitter by asking Mr Thorliefsson: What work have you been doing. When Mr Thorliefsson responded he had been leading all active design work at Twitter, Mr Musk responded with laughing emojis. What work have you been doing? Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023 After the exchange, Mr Thorliefsson said he had been contacted by Twitter's human resources chief, confirming he no longer had a job. Mr Musk then went on to raise questions over Mr Thorliefsson's disability. Mr Thorliefsson, who joined Twitter in 2021 after it acquired his company, is wheelchair bound and has muscular dystrophy, a condition that causes muscle mass loss and weakness. The world's richest man claimed Mr Thorliefsson did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. You can't be fired if you weren't working in the first place! On his personal website, Mr Thorliefsson says he uses a wheelchair and is slowly but surely losing strength in my upper body and arms. He said on Tuesday he still did not know if he would be paid money he is still owed by Twitter. But ok, fair enough, I've been laid off and I'm ok with that. Next up though is finding out if Twitter will pay me what they owe me per my contract. Or, will @elonmusk , one of the richest people in the world, try to avoid paying? Stay tuned!! Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023 Mr Musk has summarily sacked thousands of Twitter's workers since buying the business last October. The social network now has fewer than 2,000 employees, down from more than 7,500 last year. Story continues A further 200 employees, largely engineers, were sacked last week. Most Twitter employees have been given little notice when losing their jobs, simply finding themselves locked out of work laptops. Mr Musk has demanded the remaining employees adopt a hardcore work ethic, with many working weekends or overnight. Some staff have slept in sleeping bags on the floor or in beds installed in meeting rooms. A skeleton team of Twitter engineers has been forced to enact sweeping changes at the social network. On Monday, a change enacted by the company's engineers meant no links posted to the site worked for several hours. Mr Thorliefsson responded to Mr Musk's comments saying he had told human resources he was unable to do manual work including typing for extended periods of time because of his condition. He is able to use one finger to type on a phone keyboard. This wasn't a problem before Mr Musk took over, Mr Thorliefsson added. He said Mr Musk had shared confidential health information and asked the billionaire are you going to pay what you owe me? Wider opening-up drives foreign trade and FDI growth By Liu Zhihua and Zhong Nan (China Daily) 08:31, March 07, 2023 A total knee replacement system made by Johnson& Johnson, a multinational company based in the United States, is displayed at the fourth China International Import Expo in Shanghai in 2021. [Photo provided to China Daily] Businesses and analysts say China's strong economic recovery will result in higher levels of investment from overseas. Liu Zhihua and Zhong Nan report. Michel Doukeris, CEO of AB InBev, the world's largest brewer, recently visited a number of eateries and bars in Beijing. "We saw bars and restaurants with a lot of people, as well. I'm very pleased to see how consumption is quickly returning to the streets of Beijing," he said. "The key message is that everybody is fully committed to the development and growth of China, particularly quality growth," he said, adding that his company will keep increasing investment in the country, the world's largest beer market. That is just one example of how foreign investors are finding the Chinese market endlessly attractive. Underpinned by its optimized COVID-19 response and steady economic recovery, experts and businesspeople believe that China will provide increasingly huge development opportunities for companies at home and abroad, especially as the ongoing two sessions are sending policy signals of strengthened efforts to expand high-standard opening-up and build an improved business climate. Experts and policy advisers said China will likely launch more policy measures this year to boost the confidence of foreign investors while improving the quality of overseas trade and foreign direct investment. That will enhance the positive interplay between domestic and international economic activity, and inject more growth impetus into the global economy against headwinds, they said. According to the Government Work Report submitted to the National People's Congress for deliberation on Sunday, China will further its efforts to attract and utilize more foreign investment this year. The report outlined several measures to achieve this goal, including expanding market access, further opening-up of the modern services sector, ensuring national treatment and improving services for foreign-funded companies, and facilitating the launch of large foreign-funded projects. China also plans to take more action to join high-standard economic and trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The country will steadily expand institutional opening-up by proactively adopting relevant rules, regulations and standards, the report said. "The key for China to retain existing FDI is to strengthen efforts on tasks such as establishing a unified, fair and orderly national market, enhancing policy consistency and firmly safeguarding the legitimate interests of businesses," said Huo Jianguo, vice-chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies. "With that, we will not only stabilize FDI, but also offset disruption to China's industrial and supply chains from factors such as the United States' attempts to decouple." To spur a new influx of FDI, he said China is expected to increase the level of openness in the services sector, improve the implementation of laws and policy measures that enable foreign investors, and revise regulations and legal provisions that do not conform to the principle of national treatment of overseas investors. Huo also urged further expansion of market entry in China's high-tech industries and improved regulations on cross-border travel for professionals working in the sector to expand FDI in related industries. Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the country is expected to focus on its own agendas, despite external challenges such as growing protectionism. Strengthening efforts to expand high-level opening-up will create a more enabling environment for trade and investment, said Zhang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Sheng Chuyi) Elon Musk. Carina Johansen/Getty Images Elon Musk says it's "super concerning" that smart youths aren't having more sex. He was responding to a tweet about high IQ youths not having as much sex as average IQ youths. The tweet's content can be traced back to a paper published in 2000, titled: "Smart teens don't have sex." Elon Musk is concerned about the sex lives of smart teenage boys. On Monday night, the Twitter CEO replied to a tweet from a user named Bronwyn Williams. Williams referenced research that said youths with IQs over 130 are "3-5 times less likely" to have had sex than those with average IQs. "Boys with an IQ that would qualify for intellectual disability (60) were still more likely to have had sex than those with a very high IQ (130)," Williams tweeted, adding that this "does not bode well for humanity." "Super concerning," Musk tweeted in response. Williams' tweet references a research paper published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2000, titled "Smart teens don't have sex (or kiss much either)." The study tracked 12,000 adolescents in the US between the 7th and 12th grades to try to determine the link between intelligence and sexual activity. The study found that adolescents on the upper end of the intelligence distribution were less likely to have sex than their peers. But teens on the lower end of the intelligence distribution were also less likely to be sexually active than other people their age, the study found. Meanwhile, those with higher intelligence scores were also found to be more likely to have sexual relationships later in life. Carolyn Halpern, a professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and of the study's researchers, told WebMD in 2000 that more intelligent teens are "probably thinking about their educational and occupational goals and the possible negative consequences of early sexual activity." Story continues It's worth noting that the research was published 23 years ago. A study published in 2021 in the academic journal "Archives of Sexual Behavior" found that from 2009 to 2018, people, be they teenagers or adults, have been having less sex all around. Musk is known to frequently tweet about population collapse, claiming that humans need to increase fertility rates immediately to avoid catastrophic consequences. Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday criticized a former employee with a disability after the worker inquired about whether hed been laid off by the social media giant. Haraldur Thorleifsson, whose bio says he led an innovation team at Twitter, reached out to Musk publicly on the platform to say that his work computer access had been cut off for over a week, but that Twitters HR wasnt able to confirm his employment status. Youve not answered my emails. Maybe if enough people retweet youll answer me here? Thorleifsson Tweeted. Musk responded by asking, What work have you been doing? Thorleifsson listed a number of tasks he purportedly performed at the company, among which was led design crits to help level up design across the company. Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didnt happen, Musk said, to which Thorleifsson countered that his work laptop was locked, barring access to any pics or docs. Would you say that youre a people person? Musk wrote, sharing a video clip from the movie Office Space in which an employee is asked What would you say you do here? Musk later replied to a separate thread discussing the exchange to claim that Thorleifsson did no actual work while at Twitter. The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. Cant say I have a lot of respect for that, Musk said. Thorliefsson explained in a reply that he has muscular dystrophy and has been using a wheelchair for the last 20 years. Im not able to do manual work (which in this case means typing or using a mouse) for extended periods of time without my hands starting to cramp I can however write for an hour or two at a time, Thorliefsson said. This wasnt a problem in Twitter 1.0 since I was a senior director and my job was mostly to help teams move forward, give them strategic and tactical guidance. Story continues The former Twitter employee said he sold his company Ueno to the social media app amid the COVID-19 pandemic. My company was making a lot of money and Twitters offer was lower than any smart valuation would say. But like you I made a bet on Twitter having a lot more potential than it has had, Thorliefsson said to Musk, referencing the Tesla CEOs controversial acquisition of the company last year. Musks takeover of Twitter has been rife with platform issues and concerns about security and content moderation on the app. Twitters leadership has been largely reshuffled and staff has been significantly slashed. Thorliefsson said he eventually got confirmation from HR that his employment with the company had been terminated. To be clear. You have every right to lay me off. Thats totally fair and fine. But usually people are told when that happens, he said to Musk. Maybe with a letter or something. Which didnt happen for 9 days despite multiple emails to you and others. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. These are the big Emmerdale spoilers for the week of 13-17 March 2023. (ITV) Leylas efforts to get the better of Callum on Emmerdale next week backfire when shes snatched and left bound and gagged. Plus, Marshalls dad Colin reaches out but is his apology all that it seems? Cathy runs a big risk on a night out, while Victoria finds herself dwelling on past horrors. Its a full-on week in Emmerdale, so read on to digest all the spoilers for 13-17 March 2023. Kidnap horror for Leyla Leyla Cavanagh [ROXY SHAHIDI] (ITV) Suzy has a risky plan to take down Callum: label him as a grass in order to antagonise his criminal associates. The problem with the plan being that Callum is soon confronting Suzy and attacking her with a brick. Read more: Next week's Coronation Street spoilers Read more: Next week's EastEnders spoilers An unconscious Suzy is then rushed to hospital, where Leyla cant help but feel guilty as she sits by her friends bedside. The police then admit that Callum has an alibi and that theres no evidence to place him at the scene of the attack, all of which leaves Leyla having to tell Suzy once shes woken that her assailant is still at large. Leyla is then left upset and disconcerted when she starts receiving threatening messages from Callum. And when Caleb finds her sobbing in the graveyard, his advice is to play to win where Callum is concerned. The trouble is, Leylas efforts result in her being kidnapped. And when Suzy subsequently discovers that Leylas missing, she and the family are left filled with dread Has Marshalls dad had a change of heart? Marshall [MAX FLETCHER]; Colin [MARK NOBLE] (ITV) Jai confides his fears in Laurel that their family will be impacted by taking on Marshall unaware that hes been listening in on the conversation from the stairs. The next day, Marshalls dad Colin turns up, having supposedly had a change of heart. He then goes all out to convince his son that hes sorry for disowning him over his sexuality and that its now time for him to come home. In the wake of him deciding to move back in, Marshall is left very confused when his dad love bombs him with messages. But will his anxiety about the situation also end up impacting on others? Story continues Cathy is in danger April Windsor [AMELIA FLANAGAN]; Cathy Hope [GABRIELLE DOWLING] (ITV) Brenda warns Bob that mustnt let the B&B interfere with his responsibilities to Cathy. But a distracted Bob fails to pick up on the warning signs, and when the kids head off to a gig, Cathy comes up with a plan to shake off Wendy as a chaperone. Read more: Emmerdale viewers in tears over suicide storyline Pretty soon, Cathys reckless behaviour is raising eyebrows. And when she ends up putting her own life in danger, Bob belatedly realises that she needs proper help. Will Charles regret his intervention? Charles Anderson [KEVIN MATHURIN]; Alex [LIAM BOYLE]; Naomi [KARENE PETER] (ITV) Manpreet advises Charles to give Alex a chance and to only judge him if he ends up letting Naomi down. Soon, Charles is encouraging Alex to go for a job interview, and Naomi is delighted when hes successful. The trouble is, the vacancy is in Wales and Alex is in a quandary as to whether he should take it. But Charles talks him into it, and when Alex leaves, the village vicar ends up putting his foot in it where Naomi is concerned. Victoria is reliving past trauma Amy Wyatt [NATALIE-ANN JAMIESON]; Matty Barton [ASH PALMISCIANO]; Victoria Sugden [ISABEL HODGINS] (ITV) A delighted Amy and Matty are breaking the news of their engagement to a somewhat thrown Victoria, who eventually reveals why shes acting strangely. As it turns out, an encounter with a man on her night out has triggered memories of her past trauma with rapist Lee. In the wake of this admission, Ethan decides to keep an eye on Victoria and advises her to move on from the events of the previous evening and find someone new. Paddys decision Paddy Kirk [DOMINIC BRUNT] (ITV) Marlon hopes that a walk around the village with Paddy is a sign that his best friend has turned a corner. Read more: Dominic Brunt says Paddy's mental health storyline 'made me appreciate what I have' Later, the Man Club reconvenes and Jimmy opens up, giving Bear food for thought in the process. Paddy, meanwhile, makes a decision about his future, but its clear that his struggles are continuing. Watch: Lisa Riley opens up about Mandy Dingle To generations of Indianapolis students, Bernard Barcio's name was synonymous with wildly creative lessons on antiquity. He helped them wrangle catapults for a national contest and build chariots as he taught the roots of Western civilization. For his efforts, he won Indiana Teacher of the Year in 1986. Closer to the Latin and classics teacher's Broad Ripple home, friends and neighbors knew him for his continuous gestures of generosity, like carrying treats in his coat pockets to feed neighborhood dogs and leaving books inside a little free library box. He died Feb. 20 at age 84. "He was kind of an epic person who touched a lot of lives," his son Phillip Barcio said. Bernard Francis Barcio was born to Theodore and Stella (Nudi) Barcio on Oct. 10, 1938, in Cudahy, Wisconsin. His parents' families immigrated from the Calabria region of southern Italy, and his mother was a homemaker while his dad was a supervisor on the railroad. Bernard Barcio taught students for decades around Indianapolis. His Catholic upbringing influenced Barcio's decision to attend Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he earned his bachelor's degree and became fluent in Latin. He attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to study classical languages and antiquity and completed post-graduate work with Tufts University in Naples, Italy. He later received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Butler University. "He settled on a secular life but had a lot of passion for Latin," Phillip Barcio said. "He got really fascinated by the ruins of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius and the long history of the Italian people." Indiana legends lost:Doyel: David Benner, a legend at IndyStar and then the Pacers, dies A teacher Indianapolis remembers well Bernard Barcio arrived in Indianapolis in 1965 thanks to a job posting he saw seeking a Latin teacher for Indianapolis' Park School, which is now Park Tudor. Once on the faculty, he met and married Lillian Rose Barcio, the headmaster's secretary and mother of three daughters including Karen Pence, the wife of Mike Pence, the former vice president and governor. Story continues At Park School and throughout his teaching career at Eastwood Middle School, North Central and Carmel High Schools, Butler University and IUPUI Barcio became known for enlivening his lesson plans. If you study Spanish, you can go to Mexico or Spain and you can see the context in which the language is being used," Barcio told IndyStar in 2019. "For ancient Latin, the context doesnt exist anymore and for an effective Latin teacher, youve got to help recreate the context in which it was used." To accomplish that, he founded the National Catapult Contest, for which students built machines that launched rocks or spears using materials that would have been available to ancient Romans. The competition drew attention from national media and even the U.S. Pentagon, who worked with the kids to learn more about the contraptions that the Viet Cong used to take down U.S. helicopters, Barcio told IndyStar in 2019. Remembering:Theresa Murray spent decades saving lives. Her tragic death could save more, friends hope Bernard Barcio looks at a 10-pound stone during the National Catapult Contest in 1974. "He just made everything come alive rather than having it be in a book," his daughter Cyndi Barcio said. "Now you're experiencing it. You know what (ancient Romans) went through." Bernard Barcio would dress up as people from ancient history, including the Roman soldier Fabius Loreius Tiburtinus, and not leave out the true but uncomfortable details of raids and misogyny. Eventually, the teacher united these efforts under the nonprofit Pompeiiana, which produced a newsletter from 1974 to 2003 that was distributed to Latin classes worldwide, Phillip Barcio said. The newsletter came together inside the family's Broad Ripple home. The kids' father recorded them reciting Latin, recruited them to help with Roman-style banquets to teach his students and handed his kids a quarter every time they made it through the Greek alphabet. Generous with books and heirloom tomatoes Barcio's children grew up with plenty of vestiges of their father's Italian American upbringing. He fermented homegrown Concord grapes in jars in a bedroom closet to make wine and grew tomatoes from seeds the family had brought over from Italy. "In addition to putting books in the free library box, he was putting packets of heirloom tomatoes in there," Phillip Barcio said. Bernard Barcio spent about 12 years figuring out ancestral recipes after the death of his mother, who had a penchant for withholding an ingredient or so from the written versions to preserve her magic touch. His daughter Cyndi later published them for the family. Jodessa Cooper:Loving caretaker, 'darn good' cook, lifetime Colts fan dies in shooting He sang in Christ the King Catholic Church's Resurrection Choir and saw that thousands of his handcrafted wooden crosses went to those without homes, Phillip said. The Salvation Army was among the recipients of his rocking chairs and horses around Christmas time, and his wooden furniture found homes via Habitat for Humanity. To honor Bernard Barcio's legacy, the family is fundraising through GoFundMe for a college scholarship for first-generation Americans. The family also is looking into assembling an archive of materials from Pompeiiana and Barcio's years teaching. Barcio's parents; his wife, Lillian Rose Barcio; and his beloved cat Tulia preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother, Joseph Barcio; son Phillip (Audrey) Barcio; daughter Cyndi Barcio; and stepdaughters Marsha (Jim) Louzan, Karen (Mike) Pence, and Sheryl (Jeff) Donnella. Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bernard Barcio, Latin teacher known for his catapult contest, dies The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Manx Financial Group (LON:MFX), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Manx Financial Group with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. See our latest analysis for Manx Financial Group How Fast Is Manx Financial Group Growing? The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Impressively, Manx Financial Group has grown EPS by 22% per year, compound, in the last three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about. One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. It's noted that Manx Financial Group's revenue from operations was lower than its revenue in the last twelve months, so that could distort our analysis of its margins. Manx Financial Group maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 23% to UK20m. That's a real positive. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image. Story continues Since Manx Financial Group is no giant, with a market capitalisation of UK29m, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects. Are Manx Financial Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Theory would suggest that it's an encouraging sign to see high insider ownership of a company, since it ties company performance directly to the financial success of its management. So as you can imagine, the fact that Manx Financial Group insiders own a significant number of shares certainly is appealing. Owning 36% of the company, insiders have plenty riding on the performance of the the share price. Those who are comforted by solid insider ownership like this should be happy, as it implies that those running the business are genuinely motivated to create shareholder value. Although, with Manx Financial Group being valued at UK29m, this is a small company we're talking about. So this large proportion of shares owned by insiders only amounts to UK11m. That's not a huge stake in absolute terms, but it should help keep insiders aligned with other shareholders. Is Manx Financial Group Worth Keeping An Eye On? You can't deny that Manx Financial Group has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Further, the high level of insider ownership is impressive and suggests that the management appreciates the EPS growth and has faith in Manx Financial Group's continuing strength. Fast growth and confident insiders should be enough to warrant further research, so it would seem that it's a good stock to follow. You should always think about risks though. Case in point, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Manx Financial Group you should be aware of, and 3 of them are a bit concerning. Although Manx Financial Group certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Key Insights The projected fair value for China Shenshan Orchard Holdings is S$0.36 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' S$0.35 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' peers are currently trading at a premium of 40% on average How far off is China Shenshan Orchard Holdings Co. Ltd. (SGX:BKV) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for China Shenshan Orchard Holdings What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (CN, Millions) CN4.19m CN5.43m CN6.59m CN7.61m CN8.48m CN9.21m CN9.82m CN10.3m CN10.8m CN11.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 41.51% Est @ 29.64% Est @ 21.32% Est @ 15.51% Est @ 11.43% Est @ 8.58% Est @ 6.59% Est @ 5.19% Est @ 4.21% Est @ 3.53% Present Value (CN, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% CN3.9 CN4.7 CN5.3 CN5.7 CN5.9 CN5.9 CN5.9 CN5.7 CN5.5 CN5.3 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CN54m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = CN11m (1 + 1.9%) (7.7% 1.9%) = CN198m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CN198m ( 1 + 7.7%)10= CN95m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CN149m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$0.3, the company appears about fair value at a 3.0% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at China Shenshan Orchard Holdings as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For China Shenshan Orchard Holdings, there are three fundamental factors you should further research: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for China Shenshan Orchard Holdings (of which 1 doesn't sit too well with us!) you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for BKV's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Tuesday imposed sanctions on nine people, including two Russian commanders involved in the war in Ukraine, and three organisations the bloc holds responsible for sexual violence and other violations of women's rights. The move is the first time the EU has issued a sanctions package targeting perpetrators of sexual violence, using powers it established in 2020 to penalise human rights abusers. The sanctions also target two policemen in Moscow, two Taliban officials, and others in Myanmar and South Sudan, according to an EU list seen by Reuters ahead of its official release, which also included Iran's Gharchak women's prison. The 27-nation EU did not immediately name those blacklisted but their identities will be published in the bloc's official journal later in the day, on the eve of International Women's Day. "By imposing these sanctions, we're sending a clear message to perpetrators that they won't get away with their crimes," said Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra. "These horrific, inhuman acts have consequences. This is also a message to the victims: the EU will support you, wherever you are in the world." The measures include a freeze on any assets that the targeted individuals and organisations hold in the EU and a ban on travel into the bloc. Companies in the EU are also forbidden from providing services to those under sanctions. The list named the Russian commanders in Moscow's war against Ukraine as Nikolay Kuznetsov and Ramil Ibatullin. The two could not be immediately reached for comment. It said Kuznetsov "was part of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and members of his unit systematically participated in acts of sexual violence and rape in Ukraine in March/April 2022". Ibatullin led a division whose members "committed acts of sexual and gender-based violence against the Ukrainian civilian population", according to the EU document. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Gabriela Baczynska and Bernadette Baum) (Bloomberg) -- The European Union plans to encourage governments and companies to use more stable, long-term power market contracts to avoid massive price swings as part of a reform demanded by member states following an unprecedented energy crisis Most Read from Bloomberg The EUs executive arm wants to keep the marginal pricing model and avoid drastic changes to the market design in a bid to ensure predictability and keep electricity flowing freely across the region, according to a draft of the overhaul seen by Bloomberg News on Tuesday. The European Commissions proposal is due to be unveiled on March 16. Europes political agenda last year was dominated by soaring energy prices. The goal of the reform is to make the regions energy market more resilient after the expiration of emergency tools adopted to shield the impact of gas supply cuts by Russia, which was formerly Europes biggest provider. Top objectives include shielding consumers from soaring prices, weakening the link between electricity and natural gas, and spurring the development of renewable energy. The proposal includes a set of measures aimed to create a buffer between short-term markets and electricity bills paid by consumers, in particular by way of incentivizing longer term contracting, to improve the functioning of short-term markets to better integrate renewables and enhance the role of flexibility and to empower and protect consumers, the commission said in the draft, which may still change before publication. Under the current EU electricity market design, gas sets the price for all power thats sold into the market. That means consumers are bearing the brunt of Russias supply reduction after its invasion of Ukraine, and their bills dont reflect the growing share of low-cost renewables like wind farms that get to sell at big margins. Story continues The commission is planning to weaken the link between gas and power by an increased use of power purchase agreements and so-called Contracts for Difference, where governments can guarantee investors a fixed price. Under the reform, public support for low-carbon energy projects would be structured as two-way contracts for difference, which set a minimum and a maximum price, so any revenues above the ceiling are paid back, according to the draft. The rule would apply to new investments in generation of solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and nuclear energy. Moreover, the proposal will require that such money is then channeled to support all electricity consumers proportionate to their consumption based on their share of overall consumption to mitigate the effect of high prices, the commission said. --With assistance from Jorge Valero. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) - A new pact to facilitate the safe transfer of EU citizens' personal data to the United States might not come into force in time to avoid a suspension of Facebook's transatlantic data flows, the U.S. firm's lead European regulator said on Tuesday. Facebook owner Meta, which has warned a stoppage could force it to suspend Facebook services in Europe, declined to comment on the possible timing of the regulator's decision or the new pact's entry into force. European Union regulators led by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) Helen Dixon are finalising a ban on the legal tool used by Facebook to transfer European user data because of concerns U.S. intelligence agencies could access them. In an interview, Dixon said the ban could be in place by mid-May while a new EU-U.S data protection framework that would provide an alternative basis for the transfers might take longer. "There is certainly a chance of that. More than a chance, I would say," said Dixon, who is lead European regulator for U.S. technology firms, including Apple, Google and Twitter, as their regional headquarters are in Ireland. "They could be very close in timeline or the DPC's suspension order could come into effect in advance," Dixon told Reuters. "Things are coming down to the wire." The suspension could create a precedent for other firms. It must be signed off by other European regulators by April 13, and after that, Dixon said she would have another month to issue a ruling. A spokesperson for Meta said the company "welcomes the progress policymakers have made towards ensuring the continued transfer of data across borders and awaits the regulators final decision on this matter." NEW FRAMEWORK Officials have said the new EU-U.S. framework, which aims to offer EU citizens the same level of data protection as under European law, may be ready by summer. "They are still talking about July," Dixon said. Story continues It is expected to face legal challenge from critics who believe it is too weak. Two previous U.S.-EU pacts, Safe Harbour and Privacy Shield, were struck down by the European Union's top court. Dixon said she and her fellow regulators were positive about the new deal and that the European Commission was confident it would survive court challenge. Critics, such as privacy campaigner Max Schrems have accused Dixon and her office of being under-resourced and too soft, a charge she rejected. "We are really hitting our stride, working at pace," said Dixon, whose office issued over 1 billion euros in fines last year - around two-thirds of the fines issues in the EU and Britain combined last year. It is working on 22 large-scale international cases including against Google, Meta and Tik Tok, after concluding 17 cases last year, she said. It plans to increase its staffing to around 250 this year from 200 last year and 27 when Dixon joined in 2014. (Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is not happy with a plan under consideration by the City of Amsterdam to create a new "erotic centre" near its headquarters, the drugs regulator said on Tuesday. Amsterdam has been considering relocating legal prostitution away from its historic red light district for years and in February announced three possible locations. Two are near the new EMA building, which is near major hotels and the city's financial district. The EMA moved its headquarters to Amsterdam in 2019, leaving London after Britain left the European Union. The agency said in a statement it was "very concerned" about plans for the centre, which is to include around 100 "work spaces" for sex workers as well as bars and entertainment. "The change of the location of the Red Light District is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour," the EMA said in a statement. "Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to EMAs building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area." The agency said it was concerned for the safety of its staff and visitors and noted that it had an agreement in place with the Dutch government guaranteeing "security and tranquillity" of its offices. The city is facing several challenges from groups opposed to relocating the red light district and a spokesperson said Tuesday they could not immediately respond to the EMA's specific concerns. Prostitution has been legal in the Netherlands since the year 2000 and was tolerated in the red light district for decades before that. However the district has been changing in recent years as residents complain about excessive tourism. In February the city announced a plan to ban smoking cannabis in the red light district. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely) STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday a Georgian draft law on transparency of foreign influence was a "very bad development" for the country and could seriously affect its ties with the EU. "This is a very bad development for Georgia and its people," Borrell said in a written statement. Protesters in the small ex-Soviet state threw petrol bombs and stones at police on Tuesday night after parliament gave its initial backing to a draft law on "foreign agents" which critics say represents an authoritarian shift. "The law in its current form risks having a chilling effect on civil society and media organisations, with negative consequences for the many Georgians benefiting from their work. This law is incompatible with EU values and standards," Borrell said. "It goes against Georgias stated objective of joining the European Union, as supported by a large majority of Georgian citizens. Its final adoption may have serious repercussions on our relations," said Borrell, who is in Stockholm for a meeting of EU defence ministers. Borrell said the EU "urges Georgia to uphold its commitment to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and recalls the right of people to a peaceful protest." (Reporting by Andrew Gray) Andriy Kobolev, former head of Naftogaz On March 1, 2023, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) imposed a pre-trial restriction against former Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine in the form of bail of UAH 229.2 million, the prosecutors said. According to the courts decision, the suspect had to post bail within five days of the announcement of the court ruling, i.e. by March 3, 2023, as well as undertaking to inform the detective/prosecutor about it. Read also: Naftogaz plans to increase gas production by 1 bcm in 2023 The SAPO emphasized that contrary to some media reports, as of today (March 7), the court has not seized any of the suspects bank accounts in this criminal case. Also, there are currently no initiatives on the part of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the SAPO to block the suspects accounts, which would prevent him from using his financial assets. On March 2, the owner of the Concord Capital investment company, Ihor Mazepa, announced a fundraiser for Kobolevs bail. The businessman planned to collect UAH 229.2 million by March 6 and called on businesses to join the initiative. All the collected funds, and we must collect UAH 229.2 million by Monday, March 6, will go on court bail for the biggest enemy of the Russian gas monopoly and a brilliant manager of Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolyev, Mazepa said. Read also: Anti-graft agency appeals against court ruling to release ex-Naftogaz head Kobolyev At the same time, Kobolyev has denied the SAPOs statement that his accounts were not blocked. Given yet another manipulative statement from the SAPO, I would like to share this screenshot, he wrote on Facebook. I received these text messages right before the New Year, right after I told several of my visitors in Kyiv that after the New Year holidays I would come to talk about money from Western partners for the restoration of Ukraine. Of course, the SAPO will now say Oh, its not us. But who? And why? And on what grounds? Because I still havent received an official answer. Story continues On Jan. 19, 2023, the NABU and the SAPO charged Kobolyev with the abuse of his official position to arrange for a payment of bonuses worth more than UAH 229 million back in 2018. The prosecutor requested that Kobolyev be held in custody with an alternative bail of UAH 365 million ($9.9 million). However, the court decided to leave him free. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine GARDNER A former Narragansett Regional School Committee member and Templeton business owner pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in Winchendon District Court on Tuesday. Under an agreement with the court, Audrey Robinson, 39, also known as AJ Robinson, will serve three years of supervised probation, register with the state as a sexually dangerous person (SDP), attend sex counseling, and have no unsupervised contact with children under 16. Robinson entered the plea under her legal name, which is also the name she used when she served on the Narragansett Regional School Committee for three years after being elected in 2014. She is the owner of the former Serendipity Salon in Templeton, now known as Phoenix. In entering her plea, Robinson told Judge Whitney Brown that she did not dispute the states facts and waived her right to a jury trial. Robinson admitted that her actions had been stupid and naive, according to her attorney, Kristen J. Patria. The Boston Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigation and Kik, the messaging app Robinson was charged in 2022 and arraigned on July 11, 2022, after law enforcement officials said that she had used a cellphone to send two videos depicting child pornography to an undercover agent on an instant messaging app called Kik, a platform on which users meet, discuss, and trade images of minors, links to child pornography, and videos. Robinson was interviewed by a Templeton police officer and two FBI agents, one of whom was assigned to the Boston Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, according to officials. Charges brought in July 2022:Ex-Narragansett Regional School Committee member charged with child pornography possession During the original investigation, Robinson admitted to having a Kik account in the past, but initially denied having sent the images. She signed a written consent form to permit a search of her cellphone and agreed to scroll through the photos on the phone while an officer observed. Story continues A search warrant to conduct a forensic examination of the phone was granted by the Winchendon District Court and a full file system extract of the device was completed by the Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crime Unit. The investigation revealed the phone contained pictures and videos of child sexual abuse material. The account of the person who sent the images was later connected to Robinson through the IP address and other identifying factors, according to police. More:Police warn parents that online child predators target children in small towns, too Robinson's lawyer argues against requirement to register as sexually dangerous person In the disposition hearing, Patria requested that his client not be required to register as a sexually dangerous person, citing Robinsons lack of a prior criminal record, limited interaction with children, community involvement, and cooperation with investigators. Patria also said that Robinson had been bullied after coming out in middle school, and had been in therapy for years. Patria provided the court with several letters of support for Robinson from members of the community. Patria also noted that Robinson had not been involved in the production of the images found on her cellphone. But Brown upheld the states request for Robinson to register, citing the serious nature of the videos found by investigators on the cellphone, and Robinson's active sharing of them with others. The judge said she was not diminishing Robinsons good acts in the community with her ruling requiring Robinson to register as an SDP with the state. Under the agreed conditions, Robinson will not be required to wear a GPS device and will be permitted to travel out of state. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Templeton business owner pleads guilty to child pornography possession By Victoria Waldersee and Kate Abnett BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Germany has declared last-minute opposition to a landmark European Union law to end sales of CO2-emitting cars in 2035, demanding that sales be allowed of new cars with internal combustion engines after that date if they run on e-fuels. The EU law would require all new cars sold from 2035 to have zero CO2 emissions, making it effectively impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered cars. The rules - which Germany, alongside a majority of EU countries and lawmakers, previously supported - would not ban internal combustion engines (ICEs). But the law is seen as a death knell for the technology because of a dearth of options that could enable ICE cars to operate without producing CO2. Here's what you need to know. WHAT ARE E-FUELS? E-fuels, like e-kerosene, e-methane, or e-methanol, are made by synthesizing captured CO2 emissions and hydrogen produced using renewable or CO2-free electricity. The fuels release CO2 into the atmosphere when combusted in an engine. But the idea is that those emissions are equal to the amount taken out of the atmosphere to produce the fuel - making it CO2-neutral overall. Germany and Italy want clearer assurances from the EU that sales of new ICE cars can continue beyond 2035, if they run on CO2-neutral fuels. WHO MAKES THEM? Most major carmakers are betting on battery-electric vehicles - a technology that is already widely available - as the main route to cut CO2 emissions from passenger cars. But suppliers and oil majors defend e-fuels, as well as a number of carmakers who don't want their vehicles weighed down by heavy batteries. E-fuels are not yet produced at scale. The world's first commercial plant opened in Chile in 2021, backed by Porsche and aiming to produce 550 million litres per year. Other planned plants include Norsk e-Fuel in Norway, due to begin producing in 2024 with a focus on aviation fuel. CAN E-FUELS CLEAN UP CARS? Story continues E-fuels can be used in today's ICE vehicles and transported via existing fossil fuel logistics networks - good news for suppliers of ICE car component makers and companies which transport petrol and diesel. Supporters say e-fuels offer a route to cut the CO2 emissions of our existing passenger car fleet, without replacing every vehicle with an electric one. Critics highlight that manufacturing e-fuels is very expensive and energy-intensive. Using e-fuels in an ICE car requires about five times more renewable electricity than running a battery-electric vehicle, according to a 2021 paper in the Nature Climate Change journal. Even advocates say Europe will not have enough spare renewable power to produce e-fuels at scale and will have to import it from other regions. Some policymakers also argue that e-fuels should be reserved for hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as shipping and aviation - which, unlike passenger cars, cannot easily run on electric batteries. WHAT NEXT FOR THE EU LAW? Days before the final vote on the EU law, which was scheduled for March 7, German Transport Minister Volker Wissing called into question Germany's support for it, surprising policymakers including the environment ministry led by the Greens. Free Democratic Party member Wissing said the use of e-fuels should remain possible after 2035, and a promised European Commission proposal on this was still missing. The EU law says the Commission will make a proposal on how vehicles running on CO2-neutral fuels can be sold after 2035, if this complies with climate goals. But Germany's transport ministry wants clearer assurances. Berlin's last-minute move angered some EU lawmakers and diplomats, who warn that allowing one country to torpedo an already-agreed law would endanger other carefully negotiated deals on EU policies. For now, the future of one of Europe's core climate change policies is uncertain. If Germany's coalition government cannot agree a position on the law, it will have to abstain in the EU vote. Italy has already voiced opposition, alongside countries including Poland - raising the possibility of enough support to block the law. EU officials are racing to find a solution. The European Commission said on March 6 it is in talks "at all levels" to conclude the law as soon as possible. WHAT DO COMPANIES WANT? Big auto component suppliers in Germany such as Bosch, ZF and Mahle are members of the eFuel Alliance, an industry lobby group, as are oil and gas majors from ExxonMobil to Repsol. Carmakers such as Piech, Porsche and Mazda are broadly supportive of the technology. Porsche holds a stake in e-fuel producer HIF Global and is the sole buyer of fuel from its pilot project in Chile. BMW has invested $12.5 million in e-fuel startup Prometheus Fuels, while also investing billions in battery-electric technology. Other carmakers including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, have made clear that they are betting on battery-electric vehicles to decarbonise. (Reporting by Kate Abnett, Victoria Waldersee; editing by Jason Neely) By Josie Kao (Reuters) - As International Women's Day (IWD) approaches on Wednesday, here is a look at what the global event stands for, this year's theme and the issues that activists are focusing on. On Tuesday, Spain unveiled a bill to boost the share of women in politics and business, including a proposed requirement that women hold at least 40% of seats on the boards of directors at large companies. WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY? IWD is an annual event to celebrate the achievements of women and push for rights progress. It has roots in the U.S. socialist and labour movements of the early 20th century, particularly as women were fighting for better working conditions and the right to vote. The first recorded celebration was in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland when over a million people rallied to support women's rights. Since then, the event has grown not only in size but also in its scope. Focus has expanded to issues ranging from violence against women to parity in the workplace. While no single group has ownership of the event, the United Nations is often at the forefront of celebrations after it officially recognized IWD in 1977. However, celebrations around the world are usually decentralized, though some countries recognize IWD as a public holiday, including China, Russia and Uganda. WHAT IS THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THEME? The U.N.'s theme this year is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality." The topic highlights how technology is crucial to advancing rights but a growing digital gender gap is impacting everything from women's job opportunities to safety online. According to the U.N., 259 million fewer women have access to the internet than men, and women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. "Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet womens needs and promote gender equality," says the U.N.'s website. "Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs." Story continues Previous U.N. themes have included climate change, rural women and HIV/AIDS. WHY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IMPORTANT? While the U.N.'s theme this year underscores how the fight for gender equality has evolved in the 21st century, celebrations around the world are also focused on longstanding issues including poverty and violence. A World Health Organization report in 2021 found that nearly one in three women worldwide is subjected to physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, an issue that ties in with women's economic opportunities, access to sex education and reproductive rights. In recent years, there has also been a push to make IWD more inclusive of racialized women as well as of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people, since the early movement was largely focused on cisgender white women fighting for voting rights. While IWD is a chance to raise awareness on rights gaps, organizers also use the day to celebrate progress and the achievements of individual women. (Reporting by Josie Kao in Toronto; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis opened the 2023 legislative session Tuesday by declaring that while he has pushed Florida onto controversial, conservative ground over the past four years, he is determined to shift the state even further right in coming weeks. Speaking to a House chamber crowded with lawmakers DeSantis' State of the State address was structured to echo far beyond the state Capitol, in advance of his expected bid for the Republican presidential nomination. We find ourselves in Florida on the front lines in the battle for freedom, DeSantis said in his 30-minute speech. Together, we have made Florida the nations most desired destination and we have produced historic results. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves to the crowd after speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on March 5, 2023, in Simi Valley, Calif. After running through highlights of his first term fighting COVID-19 vaccine mandates, pushing parental rights in schools and blunting migrants from staying in the state DeSantis pledged that more is to come. Nows not the time to rest on our laurels. We have the opportunity and indeed the responsibility, to swing for the fences, he said, telling the Republican-controlled Legislature, Dont worry about the chattering class. I can promise you this, you aint seen nothing yet, the governor concluded. Defiant Trump: 'I won't even think about leaving': Trump at CPAC says indictment wouldn't push him out of 2024 race Book tour: 2024 preview? Ron DeSantis does a book tour to discuss his Florida record - not Donald Trump The governors office set up a video camera in the House press gallery Tuesday to capture DeSantis State of the State address, possibly for future campaign purposes. Hes also been touring the nation in recent days promoting his new book, a political memoir titled, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for Americas Revival. In a mark of DeSantis growing influence on the national stage, looking on for the governors address was Taiwans senior diplomat to the U.S., Bi-khim Hsiao. Her presence also served as a reminder that DeSantis has joined many U.S. politicians in casting the China and the Chinese Communist Party as a threat economically, culturally and militarily. Story continues China considers Taiwan illegal and a breakaway province. Now we see the CCP trying to make strategic land purchases across the U.S., DeSantis said. Our message in Florida is very simple: We will not allow land grabs by CCP-backed businesses in our state. DeSantis directs session:Before presidential bid, DeSantis has policies to push. Florida lawmakers are set to comply See the governor, read the book:Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launches book in Venice ahead of likely presidential bid Five things to watch in Tallahassee:With DeSantis directing, here are five issues to watch this Florida Legislature session Florida's rightward shift:How Florida turned red: Changing population, weak opposition, aggressive Gov. Ron DeSantis DeSantis is certain to be helped by Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate, the first time in modern Florida history that the GOP has held such dominance. In the weeks leading up to Tuesdays opening, Republican leaders have been dutifully teeing up much of the legislation DeSantis has sought, including new limits on civil lawsuits and outright bans on socially conscious investing by governments, and diversity programs at colleges and universities. DeSantis calls for new regulations on social media platforms and expanding the ability to sue news organizations and individuals for defamation also have been put in play by lawmakers. So, too, are $2 billion in proposed tax breaks, a wide range of giveaways that top the record level $1.2 billion the governor signed into law last year. Indeed, DeSantis, re-elected last November by the most lopsided margin in a Florida governors race in four decades, is likely to have an easy time getting his wish list fulfilled this spring. The governor is already planning trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, early Republican presidential primary states, while lawmakers are toiling away in Tallahassee this spring. Polls show former President Donald Trump still dominating what could prove a crowded field of potential Republican presidential candidates. DeSantis, though, has emerged as his leading early rival and the two-month legislative session is likely to prove a stage for him to enhance his conservative image. Former President Donald Trump stands behind Ron DeSantis, then a candidate for governor of Florida, at a 2018 rally in Pensacola, Fla. The former allies could find themselves competing against each other for the presidency in 2024. Democrats, vastly outnumbered, say the session is unlikely to address the issues most on the minds of Floridians. With all of the culture war nonsense, were wasting everybodys time, said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa. And Floridians are still crying out for help with real problems, like the affordability crisis, property insurance, rent, home prices, utilities, auto insurance, health care. Other Republican priority bills expected to be approved this session will eliminate college majors in gender studies, outlaw gender-affirming care for trans youth, and extend a ban on teaching about gender and sexuality from third grade up to eighth grade, an expansion of last years parental rights legislation dubbed by critics, Dont Say Gay. More: Florida Republicans file bills to ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy Here we are once again about to go into a legislative session totally ignoring the real issues that we should be dealing with here, said Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. Other measures include the biggest expansion of private school vouchers yet seen in Florida, and an effort to further restrict job protections for faculty at universities. Also coming before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn in May will be legislation allowing a death sentence to be imposed without a unanimous jury and another letting Floridians carry concealed guns without a permit or training, and expand efforts to blunt undocumented immigration to the state. DeSantis formal kick-off for his bid for the Republican presidential nomination is expected sometime after lawmakers leave Tallahassee. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In state of the state, DeSantis pledges to push Florida further right By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) - China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), began its annual session on Sunday and is expected to unveil the biggest government reshuffle in a decade after setting a modest target for annual economic growth. Coming months after President Xi Jinping secured a norm-breaking third term as supreme leader, the sessions will further consolidate his authority and outline key government policy goals. Here are key details and issues to look out for: WHAT IS THE NPC? The 3,000-member NPC is China's national legislature, and in principle the most powerful state body under the Chinese constitution, although in practice the ruling Communist Party wields more power. Besides meeting annually to deliberate legislation and appoint government personnel, it oversees the State Council, China's cabinet. Its top body, the roughly 170-member NPC Standing Committee, meets more frequently to pass legislation. The Standing Committee also has the power to amend semiautonomous Hong Kong's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law. The NPC meetings overlap with those of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body. Together, the annual meetings are known as the lianghui, or "Two Sessions", and usually last between one and two weeks. WHICH GOVERNMENT POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED? In the biggest personnel change, Li Qiang is poised to be confirmed as premier after being ranked second in order after Xi when the new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee was revealed at October's congress of the ruling Communist Party. Li will make his public debut during a televised media conference on the final day of the session, where he will answer questions that have been submitted in advance. Several top economic jobs will go to a new crop of Xi loyalists, many with little overseas exposure, replacing an older generation of officials viewed as more reform-minded. Story continues Xi confidant He Lifeng is expected to become vice premier overseeing the economic portfolio, while top state bank official Zhu Hexin is likely to replace Harvard-educated Yi Gang as central bank governor, sources have told Reuters. The NPC will also appoint top government positions including vice president, NPC chair, vice premiers, state councillors, head of the Supreme Court and ministers. Xi himself will be confirmed in his third presidential term. WHAT KEY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE? China set a modest target for economic growth this year of around 5%, lower than many analysts had expected. It will boost defence spending by 7.2% this year, slightly outpacing last year's increase and pledged "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan as well as resolute steps to oppose Taiwan independence. China's science and technology policies should aim to build the country's strength and self-reliance, while coal will remain a key to energy security. The country will guard against risks among property developers while deepening financial reform and further opening up to foreign investment. WHAT ELSE WILL BE DISCUSSED? The NPC will discuss Xi's plans for an "intensive" and "wide-ranging" re-organisation of state and Communist Party entities, state media reported last week without giving details of the changes. Analysts expect the revamp to further deepen Party penetration of state organs. The NPC will also review draft amendments to China's Legislation Law, which include authorising emergency lawmaking by the NPC Standing Committee and requiring constitutional scrutiny of laws before they are passed, according to Changhao Wei, fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. Several NPC and CPPCC delegates have put forth policy proposals in recent days, with China's historically low fertility rate a hot topic. WHO IS ATTENDING? This year, 2,977 nationwide delegates have been chosen to attend the NPC and are "broadly representative" of society, state news agency Xinhua reported. Each provincial-level region is represented by a delegation, as are Hong Kong, self-ruled Taiwan and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). According to Xinhua, 26.5% of delegates are women, a slight increase from last year, and about 15% are ethnic minorities, many of whom will be prominent in traditional attire amid the sea of dark-suited delegates gathered in the cavernous Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square. (Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Tony Munroe and Lincoln Feast.) The family of a 19-month-old who died after being exposed to fentanyl, allegedly at an Airbnb property in Florida, is suing the vacation rental company over the toddlers death. Enora Lavenir died Aug. 7, 2021, while her family was staying at a rental in Wellington, Florida, during a visit from France, the family said in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County Court. The toddler died of acute fentanyl toxicity and the manner was ruled as accidental by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiners Office. However, its not clear how the child ingested the fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, or where it came from. The lawsuit alleges that while the Airbnb listing advertised the unit as a peaceful place to stay, it had a history of being used as a party house. Days before the French family arrived, according to the complaint, someone threw a party where drugs were consumed. Enora was exposed to fentanyl residue left in the rental, according to the suit, which accuses Airbnb, the rental propertys owner, the property manager and a prior guest of negligence in the childs death. How Enora died Enoras mother, Lydie Lavenir, booked the four-bedroom, two-bath lake house in the affluent residential neighborhood from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9, 2021, for a family vacation for herself, her husband and their five children, the suit says. The family checked into the rental property on Aug. 6. Enora played and relaxed with her siblings and took a nap with her older sister on one of the beds of the home the following morning. Enora Lavenir. (Courtesy Lavenir family) More than an hour into the toddlers nap, Lydie Lavenir went to check on her and found her unresponsive and foaming at the mouth, prompting cries and screams for help, according to the suit, which was filed in December. She performed chest compressions on the child and the family called 911. Enora was taken to HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Story continues Enoras father, Boris, recalled the terror of hearing his wife when she found their daughter unresponsive. Then I heard, Enora is dead! Enora is dead, he told NBC Nightly News. A medical examiner report found that Enora had a lethal level of fentanyl in her blood a drug her parents said they never heard of prior to her death. Lydie Lavenir and Boris Lavenir. (NBC News) Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have taken a staggering toll on the U.S., with more than 56,000 people dying from overdoses in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of overdose deaths involving such drugs that year was more than 18 times the number of deaths in 2013. After months of investigation, it is not clear where the fentanyl that killed Enora came from. There were no signs of any narcotic medications or any illegal narcotics at the crime scene and her death was listed as accidental, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said in an incident report. Enoras case is now closed pending viable leads, according to the sheriffs office. The medical examiners investigation report says that the parents tested negative for drugs and Enoras formula also tested negative. In the sheriffs office report, investigators said a resident of the neighborhood reported there had been a large party at the scene two nights before the Lavenir familys arrival. The report also says investigators were advised that there had been several parties and rentals prior to the familys stay at the location. Family accuses Airbnb of negligence, says rental was a party house The suit alleges that Airbnb failed to ensure the property was safe for the Lavenir family. Though Airbnb says parties and drugs are prohibited at their rentals, the company failed to issue a warning about risks and ensure spaces are properly sanitized, according to the suit. In reality, the subject premises had a history of being used as a party house and had just days earlier hosted a group of approximately a dozen adults who used cocaine and other drugs, including but not limited to fentanyl throughout the home, the suit says. It further alleges that Airbnbs cleaning procedures are inadequate to decontaminate a property and eliminate the risk from drugs or residue. Airbnb had a duty to take reasonable care of the safety of its guests and provide a rental free of drugs and residue left behind from previous guests and to provide sufficient warning of the risk of harm, according to the suit. An Airbnb spokesperson offered condolences to Enoras family in a brief statement that did not mention the suit. Our hearts go out to the Lavenir family and their loved ones for their devastating loss, the spokesperson said. The Lavenir familys booking was the first time the property had ever been booked via Airbnb, but it had been leased out on other rental sites. The complaint also accuses the rentals owner, Ronald M. Cortamilia, and its manager, Yulia A. Timpy, who controlled bookings, as well as prior guest Aaron Kornhauser, who booked the space via Vrbo vacation rentals, of negligence. The suit says days before the Lavenir familys check-in date, Aaron Kornhauser was visiting Palm Beach County for a concert. He rented the property from July 30 to Aug. 1, 2021, for six adults. However, Kornhauser ended up staying there with 11 other adults, according to the complaint. He brought or permitted others to bring illicit drugs including cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana, which were consumed throughout the premises including the bedrooms and kitchen counter, the lawsuit alleges. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office incident report indicates investigators interviewed Kornhauser, who said individuals in the residence used cocaine and marijuana but not fentanyl. He told authorities he could not explain how fentanyl would have gotten into the residence. In a reply to the complaint, an attorney for Kornhauser said the negligence of the parents of the decedent was the sole or a contributing proximate cause of the alleged injuries and damages. The attorney claimed the damages in the complaint were caused by the negligence of other parties Kornhauser had no control over and cant be liable for, including the co-defendants and anyone present in the property such as cleaners or subsequent renters. An attorney for Cortamilia, the property owner, also cast blame on the parents, saying the negligence and careless conduct of the parents of the decedent was the sole or a contributing proximate cause of the alleged damages. NBC News asked attorneys for Kornhauser and Vrbo for comment but did not hear back. A lawyer for Cortamilia did not have further comment. Timpy, the manager, does not have an attorney listed in online court records. Attempts to reach Timpy were unsuccessful. Authorities tried to speak with previous renters and talked to neighbors but were ultimately unable to determine how Enora ingested the fentanyl and where the drug came from, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office incident report. Lavenir family attorney, Thomas Scolaro, said the family remains devastated in the wake of losing their daughter and hopes to draw attention to the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl is incredibly potent. So youre only talking about a couple of grains of salt-size particles, which would result in this level of toxicity to a 19-month-old baby, he said. Im not surprised that the sheriffs office did not find a vast reserve of fentanyl in the unit, Scolaro added. But what we do know based on the timeline, and based on the statements from these prior renters, is there were drugs in that unit and the child was not exposed anywhere else, period. Theres literally no other conceivable place this child could have encountered this fentanyl but in that rental home. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Photo: RCMP Prince George RCMP are asking the public's help to identify a suspect in a stabbing downtown on Saturday. Police are asking the public's help to identify a suspect in a stabbing downtown Prince George on Saturday. Police were called to a business in the 600-block of Quebec Street shortly after 6 p.m., after a 38-year-old man came in and told staff he'd been stabbed. The victim was transported to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. for his injuries. Investigators are looking to the public to help identify the suspect in this investigation. Surveillance video shows the assault happening at approximately 5:50 p.m. near First Avenue and Quebec Street," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said. "The suspect is seen wearing a red hoody, dark coloured pants, and a grey hat with a red bandanna under the hat. If anyone can identify the suspect they can speak with a police officer by calling the Prince George RCMP non-emergency line at 250-561-3300." Anyone with security or dash camera video from the area at the time of the incident is asked to contact police. Tips can also be made anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca (English only). By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of farmers and climate activists rallied in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to call for significant climate provisions in the farm spending bill Congress hopes to pass this year. Agriculture contributes about 9% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency, mostly from fertilizer application and livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made climate a priority under the Biden administration and has spent more than $3 billion on grants for projects implementing and quantifying the benefits of climate-friendly farming practices. The effort underway in Washington to write the next farm bill, which is passed every five years and funds commodity, nutrition, and farm spending programs, could test the Biden administration's effort to reach net zero agriculture emissions by 2050. Some Senate Democrats want to expand conservation and climate funding in the bill, but Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee have criticized USDA's climate spending and want to trim the bill's half a billion dollar price tag. At Tuesday's rally, the mostly small-scale farmers in attendance spoke about the need to prioritize funding for climate-friendly farming practices to ensure soil health and water conservation as they increasingly feel the effects of a warming climate. Sedrick Rowe, a first-generation organic peanut farmer in Albany, Georgia, told Reuters that he and nearby farmers have shifted their planting schedules earlier as the spring and summer months have gotten warmer. "Every farmer, from organic to conventional, is experiencing this," he said. Speakers also called for the farm bill to incorporate protections for farm workers, who face significantly higher risk of heat-related illness and death than workers in other sectors. "We need a farm bill that puts the wellbeing and livelihood of our communities, of our farm workers, as a priority," said Marielena Vega, a farm worker organizer with the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, an environmental group. The rally ended with a march to Capitol Hill. (Reporting by Leah Douglas; Editing by Josie Kao) Heather Mae Kelley The FBI has launched a massive search for a Michigan woman who has been missing for almost three months, with authorities suspecting she may have been killed. According to the Detroit FBI office, 35-year-old Heather Mae Kelley of Portage has been missing since Dec. 10. "There is evidence to suggest that she may have been the victim of a homicide," the FBI said in a press release Tuesday. When Heather Mae Kelley went missing Kelley, a mother of eight, left her home at about 9 p.m. Dec. 10 and called her children at about 10:30 to tell them she would be home soon. She didn't make it back, and her pickup was found abandoned the next day at North Sprinkle Road and East Michigan Avenue in Comstock Township, authorities said. Kelley is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. She has blond hair and brown eyes. She always wears a silver heart necklace and has tattoos on her forearms of a lion, a rose and a dream catcher. More:Appeals Court grills Crumbley lawyers, cites 'plenty of warning signs' More:New details emerge about missing child found in Port Huron closet A Facebook page called Help Us Find Heather Kelley also has been created. Silent Observer is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that could lead to Kelley's whereabouts. How to help The FBI, along with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and the Portage police, is requesting the public's help in locating Kelley. If you have any information about her whereabouts, or any tips that may help explain her disappearance, you are urged to call the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office at 269-383-8748 or the Portage police at 269-329-4567. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FBI seeks help finding missing woman Heather Mae Kelly (Bloomberg) -- The Food and Drug Administrations chief is facing questions from a top lawmaker about the agencys response to a report that UK drugmaker GSK Plc hid and downplayed cancer risks from Zantac, its blockbuster heartburn drug, for four decades. Most Read from Bloomberg Representative Rosa DeLauro, the House Appropriations Committees ranking Democrat, wrote FDA Commissioner Robert Califf Tuesday demanding to know whether the agency plans to investigate GSKs actions reported in Bloomberg Businessweek in February. DeLauro asked how the FDA plans to hold the company accountable, according to her letter that was reviewed by Bloomberg. Zantac and its generics were removed from the market in April 2020 after it was determined that their active ingredient, ranitidine, could degrade to form a probable carcinogen called NDMA. GSKs research showed a year before its 1983 approval that Zantac could form the chemical under certain circumstances, but the UK company didnt share those findings with some its most senior US managers or the FDA, Bloomberg Businessweek reported last month. All the while the company continued to sell and profit from a drug that might harm people (including those who took it routinely for years), attempted to discredit evidence of the cancer risks, and failed to provide any warning, DeLauro wrote. Once a component in rocket fuel, NDMA is now only used to induce cancer in lab rats. Even when GSK learned of Zantac pills and injections becoming discolored, a sign of degradation, the drugmaker never checked for the presence of the chemical, also called N-Nitrosodimethylamine. Similar Findings Story continues The National Toxicology Program, the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer all have found significant positive associations between NDMA intake and increased cancer risk. according to a legal filing by former National Institutes of Health toxicologist Ronald Melnick that DeLauro cited in her letter. Drawn from documents obtained during discovery in the lawsuits, its findings are similar to those of the Bloomberg Businessweek story. The filing was written for plaintiffs in federal lawsuits against GSK by people who developed cancer after taking Zantac or generic forms of the drug. So far, the courts have shot those cases down. US District Judge Robin Rosenberg, in the Southern District of Florida, dismissed the suits last year, saying there wasnt a widespread acceptance in the scientific community of an observable, statistically significant association between ranitidine and cancer. GSK has also said theres no consistent, reliable evidence that Zantac increases the risk of cancer. Its hard to prove a single product is responsible for a disease, and epidemiological studies of the relationship between Zantac and cancer have yielded inconsistent findings. Plaintiffs are more likely to have their day in state court if GSK doesnt settle. The first such trial is set for July in California. Read More: How a Deadly Pathogen Spread at Abbotts Infant Formula Plant DeLauro has long been a watchdog over the FDA, calling for greater oversight of products such as baby formula and e-cigarettes. Valisure, the independent laboratory that found NDMA in Zantac in 2019, is located in DeLauros Connecticut district. While Valisures testing methods have been criticized, the FDA also found NDMA in Zantac after being alerted by the lab. DeLauro called on the FDA to remove Zantac and its generics from shelves in December 2019. Yet the agency didnt force the drugs off the market until April 2020, which was months behind other countries in taking the products off the shelves, DeLauro said in the letter. The congresswoman plans to reintroduce legislation she has pushed that would give the FDA expanded authority to force drug recalls. Other Products Since 2021, Valisure has also uncovered harmful chemicals in hand sanitizers, sunscreens, antiperspirants and dry shampoos. All those products were contaminated with a potent carcinogen called benzene, a derivative of crude oil. Recalls of some also took more than a year after Valisure released its findings. The company has called for Congress to mandate the kind of independent testing of drugs and personal-care products that it does. After Valisure discovered benzene in some aerosol sunscreens and antiperspirants, Procter & Gamble Co. tested all of its spray-on products. The company issued a large recall in December 2021 of several dry shampoos, including Pantene and Herbal Essences brands. In contrast, Unilever Plc didnt take action until almost a year later in October 2022 when the company issued a massive recall that included Dove, Suave, Bed Head and Tresemme dry shampoo brands. Congress gave the FDA mandatory recall authority over cosmetics in December when it passed a large appropriations bill. Read More: Scientist Flagged Toxins in China-Made Heart Pills Early On Bloomberg filed a Freedom of Information Act request in December to learn what FDA testing had turned up about benzene levels in these dry shampoos but was told by the agency in January that it didnt have any records responsive to the request, meaning the FDA hadnt done any analysis. The agency didnt respond to requests for comment in January or again this week. DeLauro didnt give the FDA a deadline for a response to her questions, including how the agency plans to prevent other companies from taking actions like GSKs, but did say she expects a prompt reply. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. health officials are alerting consumers about two more recalls of eyedrops due to contamination risks that could lead to vision problems and serious injury. The announcements follow a recall last month of eyedrops made in India that were linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections. One person died and at least five others had permanent vision loss. There's no indication the latest recalls are related to those products. The Food and Drug Administration posted separate recall notices for certain eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex after the companies said they are voluntarily pulling several lots of their products from the market. Both companies said the recalls were conducted in consultation with the FDA. Pharmedica on Friday said it is recalling two lots of Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops due to problems that could result in blindness." The over-the-counter drops are designed to treat eye irritation. The Phoenix-based company said consumers should immediately stop using the drops and return them to the place they were purchased. The recall affects nearly 2,900 bottles, according to the company. The drops were manufactured in Arizona. Last week, the FDA posted a separate recall announcement from Apotex recalling six lots of prescription eyedrops used to treat a form of glaucoma. The company said it launched the recall after finding cracks in a handful of bottle caps. The drops are distributed as Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution. 0.15% and were sold between last April through February. Apotex said in an email that the eyedrops were manufactured in Canada. The company hasn't received any reports of injuries related to the drops. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. (Getty Images) A mother who was living with an undiagnosed terminal cancer is urging women to seek further investigation if they have health concerns. Kelly Pendry, 42, from Ewloe, North Wales, was diagnosed with uterine leiomyosarcoma in 2021. Her initial symptoms of heavy, prolonged periods and a lot of pain began in 2016, reports BBC. Leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer affecting 600 people in the UK each year. According to the bone and soft tissue cancer charity, Sarcoma UK, leiomyosarcoma develops in the smooth muscle cells, which are sometimes called involuntary muscles because they cause the organs to contract without our control. Involuntary muscles are most commonly found in the limbs, the abdomen, the uterus, and the retroperitoneum (which is found deep in the abdomen and pelvis, behind the abdominal lining). Common symptoms include a lump or swelling in the soft tissue under the skin. For uterine leiomyosarcoma, symptoms may include vaginal bleeding post-menopause, vaginal bleeding between periods, unusual vaginal bleeding and pain around the pelvis or stomach. Leiomyosarcoma affects around 600 people in the UK per year. The mother of two said that she was told by a doctor that her body was experiencing side effects post-pregnancy. Elsewhere, she was advised to consider different contraception and was prescribed antidepressants. I felt like I was a drama queen, she said. I felt like I was overthinking it, I felt like is this in my head a bit, is this stupid? (Getty Images) Pendry was diagnosed with benign fibroids in November 2020, but the pandemic delayed her surgery. By June 2021, Kelly said she was bleeding every day and looked nine months pregnant. It was around this time that a doctor mentioned the possibility of a sarcoma. After a lung biopsy, Kelly was diagnosed with stage four and terminal cancer. I was told by a nurse not to make plans for Christmas, she said. She underwent six rounds of chemotherapy to maximise the time she has to live. One year on from the treatment, Kelly experiences side effects including tiredness, hot flushes, aches and pains. Story continues At present, her husband is raising money for Kelly to get access to treatment in the US, which they believe could extend the time she has to live. On 16 March, Michael Pendry will run from where they live in Ewloe, North Wales to where the couple met in Hanham, Bristol. The run is approximately 180 miles and he will be running it across four days. At the time of writing, he has raised nearly 60,000 ($72,000) out of a goal of 75,000 (90,000). In a statement, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board told the news outlet: Were very sorry to hear about Ms Pendrys experience and would encourage her to contact her GP practice, which is an independent contractor of the health board, so her concerns can be investigated. Sen. John Fetterman "will be back soon," an aide said Monday, in releasing the first photos of the Pennsylvania Democrat since he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for clinical depression nearly three weeks ago. In the photos, Fetterman and his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, are seen seated together at a table in a bright hospital room, looking over some papers. Fetterman is wearing a hoodie and shorts, an outfit he would have typically been spotted in before he entered the Senate. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business," Jentleson tweeted. "John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He's laser focused on PA & will be back soon." Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed on Feb. 15 to receive treatment for clinical depression. He has remained hospitalized since, with few concrete indications of when he would be able to return to the Senate. "We don't have a lot to update folks with since there's no real news to report except that John is doing well, working with the wonderful doctors, and remains on a path to recovery," Fetterman spokesman Joe Calvello said in a statement last week. "He is visiting with staff and family daily, and his staff are keeping him updated on Senate business and news." Calvello said then that the senator's team was "moving full speed ahead" and had last week opened a new office in Erie, Pa., with more expected in the coming weeks. "We understand the intense interest in John's status and especially appreciate the flood of well-wishes," Calvello said. "However, as we have said this will be a weeks-long process and while we will be sure to keep folks updated as it progresses, this is all there is to give by way of an update." Story continues Fetterman, 53, had a stroke in May, days before he overwhelmingly won the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's Senate race. He spent the day of his primary election in surgery having a defibrillator installed. His campaign later disclosed that Fetterman had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy years before and had not followed the recommended medical advice for his condition. Last month, Fetterman was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital for lightheadedness during a retreat for Democratic senators, Calvello said then. His doctors ruled out a second stroke. He had just returned to Congress from that hospitalization when he was evaluated by the attending physician of Congress, Brian P. Monahan, who suggested inpatient care for depression that had become "severe in recent weeks," Jentleson said in a statement at the time. Fetterman's stroke last year sidelined him from the campaign for about two months and left him with an auditory processing disorder that inhibited his ability to hear, especially when there is competing background noise. In mid-August, Fetterman resumed public campaign events, where he spoke openly about his health setback and recovery. --- The Washington Post's Colby Itkowitz contributed to this report. Related Content Talking to children who left Russia about the war in Ukraine As drug deaths soar, experts urge expanded access to methadone California was hit with 12 feet of snow. Is it enough to ease the drought? Critical Mass traces the construction of a huge space station just beyond the moon. (Illustration for Dutton / Penguin Random House) If Jeff Bezos needs a blueprint for building a space station beyond the moon with ore from an asteroid, he just might want to start with Critical Mass, a newly published sci-fi novel by Daniel Suarez. The 464-page book describes in detail how entrepreneurs, engineers and astronauts take advantage of a cache of material mined from an asteroid to create a giant, ring-shaped space station, a space-based solar power system, a mass driver for delivering resources from the moon and a nuclear-powered spaceliner. To add to the drama, theyre doing all this in the midst of a global climate crisis in the late 2030s. Building space outposts and moving heavy industry off-Earth to preserve our home planets environment is an overarching theme in Bezos long-term space vision. We want to go to space to save the Earth, he said in 2016. I dont like the Plan B idea that we want to go to space so we have a backup planet. This is the best planet. There is no doubt. This is the one that you want to protect. Suarez agrees with Bezos sentiment, but not because the billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin came up with the idea. In the latest episode of the Fiction Science podcast, Suarez points out that Princeton physicist Gerard K. ONeill, Bezos space mentor, had the idea first. This is the idea of settling deep space by re-creating our biosphere in free space as opposed to settling another planet, he says. With Critical Mass and the other books in his Delta-V trilogy, Suarez aims to do what ONeills 1970s-era mix of science fiction and fact, The High Frontier, did for the likes of Jeff Bezos. Suarez aims to get people thinking about how a space-based society could work. I want more people who arent interested in space to become interested in space, and to recognize that it has a direct impact on their lives, and it can help them. he says. In order to safeguard Earth, we must, some of us, go to space. Thats really what Im trying to get across: that its not a wasted effort. Its not a hobby, or a billionaires fun vacation. It can be so much more. Story continues Its important to stress at this point that Critical Mass is a novel, not a textbook. The story follows up on an asteroid mining expedition thats the focus of Delta-V, the first book of Suarezs yet-to-be-completed trilogy. The expedition crew runs into trouble at the asteroid Ryugu which happen to be a real space rock that was sampled by Japans robotic Hayabusa 2 spacecraft. Only three astronauts are able to return, and they waste no time working with their support team on a risky plan to rescue two of their crewmates who are stuck on a deep-space outpost. The plan involves setting up a new type of cryptocurrency, based on the value of in-space resources that have been secretly stockpiled and sent from Ryugu to Earth-Moon L2, a gravitational balance point just beyond the moon. Material mined from the asteroid is used initially to build that giant space station at L2 through additive manufacturing, and then to set up a robotic lunar mining operation with a mass-driver delivery system. Daniel Suarez. (Photo: Steve Payne) Suarez doesnt stint on the details, including just how fast a mass driver would have to sling blocks of compressed lunar material to send them to L2 (2.38 kilometers per second.) He also works in references to real-world technologies that were pure science fiction in ONeills day. Even asteroid mining isnt all that far out of a concept: A decade ago, a Seattle-area venture called Planetary Resources looked as if it had a chance of turning the technology into a trillion-dollar industry. But by 2020, Planetary Resources asteroid ambitions had fizzled out, along with those of a different venture called Deep Space Industries. Suarez argues that those startups failed mostly because they started up too soon and draws a parallel to the dot-com crash of 2000. Multibillion-dollar companies went bankrupt, he recalls. At the time, quite a few pundits were saying that the internet was over. And as we know, it was not over. The biggest stage was yet to come. In the same way, advances in space technology are on track to make the pipe dreams of the past more achievable, Suarez says. Also, the urgent need, the burning fuse of climate change, increasing conflict, species extinction all of these things are pressing us to try to relieve the burden of the modern world on our Earth, he says. To try to lift polluting and heavy industries into space, to avail ourselves of new energy and resources without further impacting the planet. Suarez says the key to unlocking space resources is to develop methods for in-situ resource utilization, or ISRU. It so happens that Bezos Blue Origin space venture recently announced a significant advance in ISRU technology: a process called Blue Alchemist that promises to turn lunar soil into components for solar cells. Space-based solar power is another key technology: If researchers can develop a way for spacecraft to capture the energy from sunlight and beam it safely to the surface of Earth or the moon, that could open up a new energy frontier. It so happens that the technology is getting serious attention from academic institutions such as Caltech, from companies such as Northrop Grumman, from the European Space Agency and from the U.S. military. Yet another frontier has to do with robotic additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3D printing. It so happens that Relativity Space is getting set to launch the worlds first 3D-printed rocket, while ventures including Bothell, Wash.-based Tethers Unlimited are testing 3D printers and recyclers that are optimized for zero-G. The novels bag of technological tricks also includes CRISPR-enabled genome surgery that has the potential to put cancer cases into remission, and cycler spacecraft that could offer a more efficient way to send payloads and people to the moon (or Mars). Critical Mass by Daniel Suarez. (Dutton / Penguin Random House) Suarez is well-placed to write about the frontiers of technology not only thanks to his background as a software developer and systems consultant, but also because of the research hes done for a string of techno-thrillers written over the course of the past decade and a half. I got a pretty good reputation with scientists and engineers and other people innovators, entrepreneurs, people in Silicon Valley, Wall Street, defense, all sorts of places where I could go to talk to people and ask them questions about how things work, he says. Critical Mass and the book that preceded it, Delta-V, also feature tech titans you can immediately recognize as stand-ins for Elon Musk, Richard Branson and, yes, Jeff Bezos. These are composites, Suarez says. They of course compete with one another, and what this has created is almost a space race in a way similar to the one between the Soviet Union and the United States. Except its literally individuals doing it, which I guess is progress, but it certainly makes it interesting. Suarez turned up the dials on your typical space billionaire to create one of the central characters of the book series, named Nathan Joyce. I wanted to examine if somebody were to, say, go just a little further and actually send people to do something quite dangerous, Suarez says. Not without their permission, but to go talk to the types of people who climb mountains or dive deep in caves and risk their lives, really just for the thrill of it, or for the experience of it, or to see around the next bend. Suarez points to research suggesting that the willingness to take on an adventure may be linked to a genetic variant known as the Wanderlust Gene and he speculates that explorers on the space frontier may well be more likely to possess that variant. There might be an evolutionary basis for this, in that we have societies that are settled, and occasionally among us theres a rare few who are not satisfied and have to go find the edge. And this is what helps us grow as a species and expand, he says. I think theyre still among us. Today, such risk-takers may satisfy that urge by taking up base jumping, or racing fast cars, or flying high-performance jets. But when the space frontier beckons perhaps with an assist from a billionaire like Nathan Joyce or Jeff Bezos Suarez believes theyll heed the call. Their existence is our great hope, he says. They can help push that frontier back. Daniel Suarezs website provides more information about Critical Mass and the real-world science behind it. My co-host for the Fiction Science podcast is Dominica Phetteplace, an award-winning writer who is a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop and currently lives in Berkeley, Calif. To learn more about Phetteplace, visit her website, DominicaPhetteplace.com. Check out the original version of this item on Cosmic Log for bonus reading recommendations from Suarez and the Cosmic Log Used Book Club. And stay tuned for future episodes of the Fiction Science podcast via Anchor, Apple, Google, Overcast, Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and Reason. More from GeekWire: Ukraine country outline. Illustrated | Gettyimages Russia has been surrounding the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. While Russian officials have long held that the potential capture of the city could be a key victory, Ukraine and its American allies have placed less emphasis on Bakhmut's potential fall. Here's everything you need to know: What is the situation in Bakhmut? Located in Ukraine's northeast Donetsk region, Bakhmut has been one of the epicenters of fighting ever since the Russo-Ukrainian war broke out. The city is just over 120 miles from the Russian border, and prior to the war, was home to more than 70,000 people. However, BBC News reports that just over 4,000 civilians remain. Fighting has been intense in Bakhmut in part due to its close proximity to Russia. Ukraine has been able to hold off the majority of invading Russian forces, but with resources dwindling, the Russian army has been "attacking Bakhmut from three directions in a persistent attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops," The New York Times reports. The fighting has gradually chipped away at Ukrainian defenses, and the Times notes that "Russian forces have gradually captured surrounding territory, nearly cutting off the city" for the past seven months. Moscow has continually been ramping up efforts to loosen Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut. Reuters notes that thousands of Russian shells have fallen on the city, and despite the best defensive efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the end of 2022 that Russia had "actually destroyed Bakhmut" and "turned [it] into burnt ruins." Reuters also reported that Ukrainian troops have been amassing west of Bakhmut in preparation for a potential retreat. However, the order to abandon the city has yet to come. Why is Russia so keen to capture the city? A large part of it is symbolic. The desire to overtake Bakhmut "reflects [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's long-held aim of capturing Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as the Donbas," Time notes. Ukrainian lawmaker Yehor Cherniev told Time that while Bakhmut may not be a strategically important city for Russia, they will still "try to hold it as long as possible," more as a show of force than anything else. Story continues The fight over Bakhmut has "come to symbolize the grinding war of attrition in Ukraine," The Washington Post reports. The country's ability to hold the city has so far been a source of pride for Ukraine as the war enters its second year, and while the Post concurs that Bakhmut has little strategic value, "the relentless, intensifying fight for control of the city ... has made it a rallying cry and political battleground for both sides." However, one faction that does see strategic value in taking Bakhmut is the Wagner Group. Described by ABC News as "a private military organization run by an ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin with tens of thousands of fighters," there are an estimated 50,000 combatants from the Wagner Group in Ukraine, according to the White House. For Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the takeover of Bakhmut "represents a chance to showcase Wagner's abilities even at enormous human cost as he jockeys with Russia's military chiefs for influence," the Post notes. This comes despite the often poorly trained Wagner members sustaining heavy casualties against Ukrainian freedom fighters. What has each side said about the situation? The Russians have unsurprisingly been eager to raise their flag over Bakhmut, given the symbolic win it would represent. However, Russia also seems to believe that the capture of the city would have a series of ripple effects. Moscow thinks "capturing the city would be a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region," Reuters notes. Putin has long been propagandizing a key victory in Bakhmut, and it would finally give him "some good news from the front," The Associated Press adds. However, Ukraine and its Western allies have responded with a more muted, and likely more realistic, take on the situation. Even if Bakhmut is captured, it would not represent the death blow that Russia is hoping for, Mick Ryan, a former Australian general, told CNN. "[A Ukrainian retreat] should be treated as a routine tactic rather than a harbinger of disaster," he said. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has led the American government in playing down Russia's advancement on Bakhmut. A Ukrainian withdrawal would not "[change] the tide of this fight," Austin told reporters, per The Financial Times. He added that if this is the decision that Ukrainian forces eventually come to, he "would not view that as an operational or strategic setback." What if Russia captures Bakhmut? Given that victory would be largely symbolic for Putin, the tide of the war probably would not change. But Russia would limp away from a win. Ukrainians "have used Bakhmut to inflict massive losses on the attacking force," CNN notes, with some estimates putting the Ukrainian-to-Russian death toll at a ratio of 7:1. Even as they advance, Russia may still not have an easy time finalizing their hold over the city, and Zelensky was told by his top generals that rather than retreat, they were both "in favor of continuing the defensive operation and further strengthening positions in Bakhmut," Reuters says. You may also like Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Egyptian archeologists discover Sphinx from 1st century A.D. Can Fox News survive? A newly purchased home burned down weeks after it was sold in West Virginia. Then, a federal investigation ensued. The fire was no accident, officials say. A group of men planned on destroying the house before they bought it for $5,000 in Bluefield, according to prosecutors. Their goal was to collect $285,500 in insurance money from Allstate after submitting a fake insurance claim for the home, court documents show. The men succeeded in setting fire to the home, but Allstate denied them the money after investigating the claim, prosecutors said. Now, two men, ages 53 and 45, both of Bluefield, Virginia, were each sentenced March 6 to three years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. An attorney representing one of the men declined to comment on his clients sentencing. McClatchy News contacted an attorney representing the other for comment and didnt immediately receive a response. The case dates to July 2019, when one of the men approached a third man, another co-defendant in the case, about the arson scheme and directed him to buy the home before giving him the $5,000 to do so, according to his sentencing memo. This co-defendant, 37, of Welch, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison in September after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, prosecutors said. Ward Morgan, his attorney, told McClatchy News in a statement that his client used poor judgment in this matter and accepted responsibility for his actions. Each of the mens sentences, Morgan said, reflected their respective degrees of culpability. How the arson scheme unfolded Around the time Morgans client agreed to his role, he was being investigated for similar fires in McDowell County, about 40 miles west of Bluefield, West Virginia the sentencing memo says. When local authorities noticed him in the Bluefield area, suspicions were aroused, the sentencing memo states. Story continues After buying the home on July 1, he and the man who gave him the money to purchase it took out an insurance policy on it, prosecutors said. When they did, they lied and said the house was bought for $50,000 instead of $5,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Then, the three men decided to burn down the house in August 2019, according to prosecutors. The 53-year-old, with the help of two others who were paid $500 each, burned down the home early in the morning on Aug. 6, 2019, prosecutors said. The men were unaware authorities were already suspicious and had placed a hidden camera on a telephone pole across the street from the home, according to the sentencing memo. The camera caught the men in the house before it burned down, the memo says. After a fake insurance claim was filed with Allstate, the company spent over $13,000 investigating the matter before denying the $285,500 in insurance money the men had sought, prosecutors said. The two most recently sentenced men were also ordered to pay $13,140 each in restitution, according to officials. Bluefield is about 285 miles west of Richmond, Virginia. An unidentified body, a burned home and a missing car create mystery for Florida cops Lost hiker starts a wildfire while trying to signal for help. Now hell pay $300,000 Homeowner wanted revenge against his HOA, so he set his condo on fire, Florida cops say Photo: . A woman who sent nude photos in act of revenge has escaped without a criminal record after pleading guilty in North Vancouver provincial court to a charge of transmitting an intimate image without consent.| photo Cindy Goodman, North Shore News A 41-year-old woman who sent nude photos of her ex-boyfriend to the mans daughter in an act of revenge porn has been handed a conditional sentence by a judge. The North Vancouver woman was handed the sentence Monday in provincial court after pleading guilty to a charge of transmitting an intimate image without consent. The sentence means if the woman obeys court-ordered terms including staying away from the man and his family for a year, she wont have a criminal record. In a sentencing hearing Monday, Crown prosecutor, articling student Justine Jarvis, described how on Oct. 2, 2022, the woman sent a series of images to the daughter of her former boyfriend. Seven of those photos showed both the mans face and genital area, according to the prosecutor, and appeared to have been taken during a FaceTime video call. After receiving the photos, the daughter called police. After the North Van woman learned that she had been reported to authorities, she asked the ex-boyfriend to meet her in person and then threatened to send more intimate photos of her ex if the complaint wasnt dropped, said the prosecutor Police later attended her home and arrested her. Crown counsel and the womans defence lawyer both requested a conditional sentence as part of a joint submission. Defence lawyer Lisa Jung said her client was in a relationship starting in August 2018 and moved to be with that boyfriend in January 2022, leaving her job and previous home to continue the partnership. After she moved, however, the woman learned that her boyfriend no longer wanted to be with her and made an emotional and reactive decision to send the photos, the lawyer said. In agreeing to the conditional sentence, Judge Joseph Galati told the woman in North Vancouver provincial court that if distribution of the photos was more widespread, she would not have been let off without a criminal record. Conditions of the discharge include orders that the woman attend counselling as directed by a probation officer and have no contact with her former boyfriend or his family. A Seminole County firefighter is off the job for now after being arrested for allegedly tagging businesses and vandalizing a mural in Orlando. Surveillance video from a Virginia Drive tattoo parlor on Feb. 27 shows Seminole County Firefighter Brian Baine, his girlfriend Miranda Buzzella and two others allegedly tagging businesses with ACAB stickers. ACAB is an acronym for anti-law enforcement messaging. Police said the pair is also responsible for vandalizing a mural with the same acronym on the Orlando Urban Trail in the Mills 50 District. Read: Orlando man sentenced to federal prison for role in brazen ATM burglary Tattoo and graffiti artist Johnny Coppersnake said the stickers can cause damage to businesses. Trying to remove that sticker -- youre messing up the whole vinyl, he said. The price of everything has gone up these days. Baine faces two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. Read: Exclusive: Channel 9 speaks with Osceola teacher assaulted by 19-year-old student He could lose his job as a firefighter and paramedic. Baine is currently on unpaid leave while police continue to investigate the incident. Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley told Channel 9 the following: Read: Floridas 2023 legislative session: Lawmakers plan to tackle these 9 key issues We proudly work together with our fellow first responder families in law enforcement every day to serve our community. If there is evidence to support that this individual took any actions regarding vandalism that involved anti-law enforcement hate messaging -- make no mistake, it has absolutely no place in our organization. Buzzella faces the same charges as her boyfriend. Baine was hired in November 2021 and is an unassigned floating firefighter in the Altamonte Springs area. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. In light of that, when we looked at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (NZSE:FPH) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. To calculate this metric for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = NZ$330m (NZ$2.1b - NZ$369m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022). So, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Medical Equipment industry average of 11% it's much better. View our latest analysis for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us When we looked at the ROCE trend at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, we didn't gain much confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 19% from 31% five years ago. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased. Story continues The Key Takeaway We're a bit apprehensive about Fisher & Paykel Healthcare because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. The market must be rosy on the stock's future because even though the underlying trends aren't too encouraging, the stock has soared 121%. In any case, the current underlying trends don't bode well for long term performance so unless they reverse, we'd start looking elsewhere. If you'd like to know about the risks facing Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should be aware of. While Fisher & Paykel Healthcare isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Five women who were denied abortions under several overlapping anti-abortion laws in Texas have filed a lawsuit against the state, marking the first time that pregnant women have sought legal action themselves after a wave of restrictions following the US Supreme Courts decision to strike down Roe v Wade. The state was the first to implement a near-total ban on abortion care, months before the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion last June, triggering a wave of state-level legislation that restricts care and threatens providers with criminal penalties. Under the states so-called trigger law designed to take effect without those constitutional protections affirmed by Roe v Wade, Texas doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for providing an abortion. None of the states bans make exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest, and conflicting exemptions in each law for receiving abortion care in the event of medical emergencies have resulted in widespread confusion among providers and hospitals fearing legal blowback, according to abortion rights advocates. The plaintiffs, two of whom are pregnant, told their stories from outside the Texas capitol on 7 March, warning that the states anti-abortion measures expose pregnant patients to severe risk of illness, injury and death. The five women, two doctors and the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights legal advocacy group, are suing Texas authorities to clarify emergency medical exceptions to the states anti-abortion laws. Amanda Zurawski was cruising through the second trimester of her pregnancy and in the middle of planning a baby shower when everything changed, she said at a press conference. Her obstetrician discovered that she dilated prematurely, and soon after her membranes ruptured, draining amniotic fluid and endangering the life of her expected child. Multiple doctors told her that the loss of her daughter was inevitable but, under Texas law, she was told that there was nothing they could do, she said. Story continues It meant that even though that complete certainty that we would lose Willow, my doctor could not intervene as long as her heart was beating or I was sick enough for the ethics board at the hospital to consider my life at risk and provide the standard healthcare I needed at that point: an abortion, Ms Zurawski said. I cannot adequately put into words the trauma and despair that comes with waiting to lose your own life, your childs life or both, she added. For days I was locked in this bizarre and avoidable hell: Will Willows heart stop or will I deteriorate to the brink of death? Anna Zargarian, one of five plaintiffs a lawsuit against Texas abortion laws, speaks in front of the state capitol in Austin, Texas on 7 March. (AP) Within minutes, she developed sepsis and spent three days in a hospital intensive care unit, followed by another three days in another wing of the hospital. What I needed was an abortion, a standard medical procedure, she said. I needed an abortion to protect my life and the future lives of my babies that I dream and hope I can still have one day ... The barbaric restrictions our lawmakers passed are heaving real-life implications on real people. More people have been and will continue to be harmed until we do something about it. Anna Zargarian, whose water broke at just 19 weeks of pregnancy after her membranes ruptured prematurely, was denied an abortion under Texas law despite the chances of her unborn childs survival being slim to none, she said at the presser. My heart broke into a million pieces. I didnt even know a pain like that could exist until that moment, she said. The child I was so excited for was not going to live, and I needed an abortion to preserve my health, and I could not get one in Texas. After looking for an open appointment with abortion providers in neighboring states, all of which were booked with a surge of patients after Texass laws were enacted, she ultimately found an appointment in Colorado. What I needed most in that moment was the choice that Texas lawmakers robbed me of: the choice to lose my child with dignity and respect for my body and wellbeing and future, she said. President Joe Bidens administration has repeatedly urged Congress to pass legislation that would codify abortion protections under Roe v Wade precedent into law, a virtually impossible demand under a Republican-controlled House of Representatives that has endorsed nationwide abortion restrictions. Vice President Kamala Harris, who has held a series of meetings with reproductive health advocates and state lawmakers in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, including one with a plaintiff in the Texas suit, has signalled her support. The lawsuit includes devastating, first-hand accounts of womens lives almost lost after they were denied the health care they needed, because of extreme efforts by Republican officials to control womens bodies, she said in a statement. Many extremist so-called leaders espouse freedom for all, while directly attacking the freedom to make ones own health care decisions. Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, the president and I believe women in consultation with their doctors should be in charge of their reproductive health care, not politicians, she added. Texas is also at the centre of a federal lawsuit challenging the commonly used abortion drug that is used for more than half of all abortions in the US. A decision from a federal judge in Amarillo who was appointed by Donald Trump could block the US Food and Drug Associations 23-year-old approval of mifepristone, which would significantly disrupt access to medication abortion nationwide. In a separate statement on 7 March, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said stripping women of their right to make their own health care decisions endangers womens health, with potentially life-threatening consequences. The Texas lawsuit filed by women patients magnified the reality of Republican Governor Greg Abbotts anti-abortion measures, with devastating, first-hand accounts of womens lives almost lost after they were denied the healthcare they needed. Horrifying details of needless pain. All because of extreme efforts by Republican officials to take away a womans right to choose. The stories told today in 2023 in the United States of America are shameful and unacceptable, she added. The Independent has requested comment from Governor Abbotts office, who is among the defendants in the lawsuit along with state Attorney General Ken Paxton and the state medical board and its director. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridas Republican-led legislature on Tuesday filed bills that would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy but offer exemptions for victims of rape and incest if they can provide official proof of the crime. Lawmakers in the House and Senate filed similar legislation to make abortions illegal two weeks after a pregnant person's first missed period, tightening the 15-week ban they approved last year. The measure also seeks to prevent government entities and educational institutions from using public money to financially help people to travel outside the state for an abortion. The proposed 6-week ban already has the support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said during his Tuesday state of the state speech in Tallahassee that "we are proud to be pro-family and we are proud to be pro-life. He told reporters after his address that he would sign the abortion bill into law. Republicans have supermajorities in the House and Senate, so Democrats have no ability to stop the legislation from going forward. The abortion proposal is a clear signal that DeSantis will support hard-right conservative priorities ahead of his likely 2024 election bid. Florida, once a perennial swing state, has shifted Republican in recent years and the governor has capitalized on the GOP electoral successes by supporting legislation that cracks down on illegal immigration, bans Florida Medicaid from paying for gender-affirming care and limits how race and gender identity can be taught in schools. The governor last year also supported the states ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and, after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, said that Florida would expand pro-life protections. The proposal drew widespread criticism from Democrats, including from White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre who said the proposal would affect millions of women, both in Florida and its neighboring states that have stricter limits but whose residents rely on Florida to access abortions. Story continues We know that these bands are already having a devastating impact on women's health, she said. Politicians like Governor DeSantis espouse quote, freedom for all, unquote, while directly attacking the freedom to make one's own health care decisions. Their rhetoric doesn't come without consequences here. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) unsuccessfully convinced House leaders last year to add exemptions for rape and incest victims to the 15-week ban. Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book (D-Plantation), who worked with Passidomo last year on the exemptions, said on Tuesday that incest victims are already fleeing the state for treatment and the 6-week bill will only make things worse for them. If its a war they want, its a war they will get, Book wrote in a statement. This issue bridges the partisan divide, and we will not go down as easily as they believe. State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers) and state Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), who filed legislation in their respective chambers, stated in their bills that the exemptions would apply to victims who have been pregnant for less than 15 weeks. They will require anyone seeking the exemptions to provide documentation, such as a court restraining order or police report, to prove they were victimized. The lawmakers filed the bills on the first day of this years Legislative session after months of speculation that legislators would seek to further restrict abortion access. The 15-week ban that took effect in July is enforced but the state Supreme Court is currently weighing a legal challenge to it. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue the 15 week ban violates a state privacy clause that the Florida high court had previously cited to strike down abortion bans. Republican legislative leaders had initially said any future bans would have to wait until the high court decides on the case. On Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) said the current proposal includes a trigger provision that will enact the 6-week ban if the high court strikes down the privacy clause. Renner brought up the states argument in the Supreme Court case that the privacy clause relates to informational and data privacy rights. This is going ahead and having the conversation on where we want to land in Florida, Renner said. Thats where weve landed. The proposed measure would place Florida with six other states that have already approved 6-week bans, including Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Dakota and Oklahoma. The bill also provides up to $30 million for the Florida Department of Health to create a statewide parenting support network. The network would beef-up state-funded services already offered to pregnant people by expanding resources to those who gave birth within one year. The measure also prohibits doctors from using telehealth services to consult with patients about treatment with abortion medications. The head the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates criticized the 6-week ban proposal, saying it would worsen the lives of parents statewide. This near total abortion ban has nothing to do with what is best for Floridians and everything to do with Ron DeSantis ambition to be president and what he thinks Republican primary voters want, Alliance Director Laura Goodhue wrote in a statement. Kelly Garrity contributed to this report. Florida Republicans in both the state House and Senate have introduced legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks into a pregnancy, a time when many people dont yet know they are pregnant. The bill was filed on the first day of the legislative session, just minutes before Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) gave his state of the state address. It includes limited exceptions if the person obtaining the abortion is a victim of rape or incest. But the exception would only be allowed up until 15 weeks of pregnancy. The person would also need to prove they are a victim by providing a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or documentation. The bill would also require medical abortion pills to be dispensed in person by a physician, and would ban abortion care by telehealth, including mailing abortion medication. Health care providers who violate the ban could be charged with a third-degree felony, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. DeSantis is widely expected to use his second term as governor as a springboard to launch a presidential campaign, and the policies he endorses as governor will be seen as a preview for the platform he would run on. While he has so far sidestepped questions about stricter laws, DeSantis has faced criticism from anti-abortion groups and other Republicans for not going far enough with the states abortion laws. DeSantis last year signed a law banning abortion after 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill was immediately slammed by state and national Democrats, who are looking to make abortion a major pillar of the 2024 presidential campaign. DeSantis has made it clear his only focus is on imposing a MAGA agenda that hurts more and more Floridians every day. This new more extreme abortion ban he called for will only make it harder for Floridas women and girls to seek the care that they need, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said in a statement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax (Reuters) -Republican lawmakers in Florida filed bills on Tuesday to outlaw most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a ban that would severely undercut access to the procedure in the U.S. South if passed by the state's Republican-controlled legislature. The bills, filed on the opening day of the legislature's 2023 regular session, make exceptions for rape and incest cases but not explicitly for the life or health of the pregnant person. Florida Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have signaled their wish to further curtail abortions in the state after last year approving a ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Patients have been traveling to Florida from across the U.S. Southeast to end their pregnancies since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, gutting federal abortion rights. More than a dozen states have banned the procedure almost entirely since that landmark ruling. Data from Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration showed that the number of out-of-state abortion patients rose 38% in 2022 compared to 2021. DeSantis, who is expected to challenge former President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, told reporters on Tuesday that he supported "pro-life legislation" when asked about the new bills. He has previously said he would sign an abortion ban as early as six weeks. DeSantis said he thought the rape and incest exceptions in the bills were "sensible." Abortion rights advocates and Democrats, including White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, spoke out on Tuesday against the new bills, which would ban abortion before many women know they are pregnant. "As with all abortion bans, this bill will prevent people from accessing essential healthcare and take away people's power over their own bodies, their lives, and their futures," Laura Goodhue, executive director of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said in a statement. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Richard Chang) A Florida Republican filed a six-week abortion ban on Tuesday confirming that the Sunshine State will very likely restrict abortion care earlier than its current 15-week ban. State Sen. Erin Grall (R) filed the bill, which would ban abortions after six weeks with limited exceptions, on the first day of the states legislative session. State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R) filed a companion measure in the Florida House. Most people dont know theyre pregnant before six weeks, which means this legislation will be a major barrier to critical services for Floridians and others in the southeast who seek care in Florida because their own states banned abortion following the fall of Roe v. Wade. The restriction includes exceptions for rape and incest, but only up until 15 weeks of pregnancy and in order to get one, the survivor must provide a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or documentation to prove she was a victim of rape or incest, according to the legislation. The proposed legislation also includes an exception for the life of the pregnant person if two physicians certify in writing that the woman will die if she continues the pregnancy. Exceptions to abortion bans are often useless and are only included to make extreme restrictions seem more reasonable. The legislation also bans abortion care by telehealth, including mailing the medication for abortion. It seeks to prohibit any person other than a physician from inducing a termination of pregnancy, which appears to criminalize anyone self-managing their abortion in the state of Florida. Anyone who willfully performs or actively participates in a termination of pregnancy that violates these restrictions can be charged with a third-degree felony, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he will sign the six-week ban if it gets to his desk. Story continues Florida Republicans have gone scorched earth with what is effectively an all-out abortion ban.Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D) Grall previously introduced the states current 15-week abortion ban, which was enacted last year. For decades now, Florida has been a nationwide leader in defending the rights of the unborn. SB 300 will make Florida a beacon of hope for those who understand that life is sacred and must be protected, Grall told HuffPost in an emailed statement. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) told HuffPost she supports Gralls legislation and hopes to see it enacted into law. I am pro-life, and the Floridians I speak with on a daily basis overwhelmingly support the prior steps our Legislature and Governor have taken to protect unborn life, promote adoption, and support parents, she said. The legislation filed today by Senator Grall builds on Floridas strong track record of protecting the most vulnerable, especially the unborn. Democrats spoke out against the proposed six-week ban. Today, Florida Republicans have gone scorched earth with what is effectively an all-out abortion ban with threats to criminalize women and their doctors, Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D) told HuffPost. Today, women who suffer miscarriages are sent home to get sicker and risk death before they can receive medical care, she continued. Today, child victims of incest are forced to flee the state as medical refugees to get care. And with this bill, it will only get worse. This is it. They have come. Book said Democrats will fight the legislation. And if its a war they want, its a war they will get. This issue bridges the partisan divide, and we will not go down as easily as they believe, Book said. On behalf of my daughter all women and girls in our state, thats a promise. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would sign a six-week abortion ban. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would sign a six-week abortion ban. With Floridas Republican supermajority, its all but certain that the six-week abortion ban will pass through the legislature and become law. The success of this bill is also critical for DeSantis, who needs to pad his anti-choice record ahead of a potential 2024 presidential run. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized DeSantis and the extreme abortion ban legislation. Politicians like Governor DeSantis espouse freedom for all, while directly attacking the freedom to make ones own health care decisions, she said. This proposal is wrong and out of touch with the overwhelming majority of Americans, including Floridians, who support a womans right to choose, she said. Democrats and pro-choice leaders have been bracing for Republicans to introduce more extreme abortion restrictions in the Sunshine State for months. Given that the Supreme Court repealed federal abortion protections last year, many knew that Republicans would try to further restrict abortion further; they just didnt know how far anti-choice lawmakers would go. Passidomo mentioned in November the possibility of a 12-week ban with exceptions for rape and incest survivors. And in December, DeSantis hinted at support for a six-week abortion ban, but his comments were vague at best. Abortion opponents initially saw Floridas current 15-week abortion ban, which is being challenged in court, as a big accomplishment. But since Roe v. Wade fell last summer and over a dozen states have near-total abortion bans on the books, the 15-week ban is simply a reminder to DeSantis base that the governor has not gone far enough. DeSantis will likely face a crowded far-right Republican primary pool in 2024, which will include former President Donald Trump and hell need a more extreme ban on his track record to even compete. State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) told HuffPost in December that a 2024 ballot initiative codifying abortion rights in Florida is definitely something that is being actively explored. However, Eskamani, who worked at Planned Parenthood for six years before joining the Florida House, said it would extremely difficult to reach the 60% threshold required to approve such a measure. Related... Re. Kelowna councillor suggests light rail may be the answer to city's traffic congestion (Castanet, March 7) I have lived in Kelowna for nearly 20 years. There used to be a train that ran right through town, running out along the lakeshore, cutting through Oyama and then along the entire shore of Kalamalka Lake. This rail line used to be a burden to any and all who live along it and was a frightening thought to many parents, a relic of a bygone industrial era that has since been turned into a world class recreational trail. This has been one of the single biggest improvements to the community since we moved here. Parents no longer have to worry about their children on the tracks, vehicles no longer have to wait at crossings and nobody complains about the whistle. Now (one of) our newest city councillors has proposed we bring back a railway for the benefit of who? Nobody wants to use it, though they'd all be happy if someone else did. Where would we even put it? The most likely answer would be along the rail trail. I often say if we left Kelowna, I would not move back to any other community with a railway. What about all that traffic anyways? I often marvel how a community made up mostly of people from somewhere elseVancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and more recently Torontobrings itself to complain about Kelowna traffic? I say, what traffic? I came from Vancouver. I thank my lucky stars I left that traffic nightmare for a city where I am 20 minutes from everywhere. Show me the numbers on the rapid bus line. Is it anywhere near capacity? We cannot wish people onto transit. Building a railroad through Kelowna again would be the biggest boondoggle of our generation and set this city back. I 100% do not support any kind of rail system in the Okanagan Valley. We just got rid of it. Don't bring it back. Jeff Frank, Kelowna PIERRE Never say die in the Legislature, especially three days before the end of session. A proposal to cut the overall sales tax on groceries was hoghoused, meaning seriously amended, Monday by Sen. Herman Otten, R-Tea. The amended bill, HB 1094, passed the Senate 18-17 and will be debated in the House. If the House agrees with the amendment, possibly as soon as Tuesday, and votes to approve it, HB 1094 will be sent directly to Gov. Noem's desk for signing. If the House does not agree with the amendments, a conference committee will be called to come to an agreement on the final bill. That's set up a showdown between the Senate, House and Governor's Office. And it's still unclear which three tax cuts will make the final budget bill, due Thursday at the end of session. More:South Dakota Democrats, Republicans split on whether tax cuts will come to fruition "I just believe that this should be part of the discussion at the end of the day," Otten said, explaining why he brought the amendment. The original bill, HB 1075, was essentially killed by the House Appropriations committee in February. Currently, there are two other tax proposals: one to lower the overall sales tax and one to give single-family dwelling homeowners a $425 tax rebate. The overall sales tax cut was originally 4.2%. However, an amendment successfully approved Monday by the Senate brought the proposed tax cut to 4.3% set to expire in 2025. The House must now approve the amendment. House Republicans, through Majority Leader Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Pierre, favor lowering the overall sales tax, calling it a broad-based tax cut. S.D. Senator Lee Schoenbeck gestures for the applause to quiet down after being sworn in as President Pro Tempore of the Senate on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. Senate Republicans have bounced between the property tax rebate and now the food tax, though, with the bipartisan vote taken Monday. It's unclear how much Gov. Kristi Noem has been pressuring the Senate to push the grocery tax over to the House side. Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, and President Pro Tem, said the Governor's Office had called every senator except him, since he's been a hard no on the grocery tax cut. Story continues "In some instances, they were successful," Schoenbeck said. "They made offers that got them the votes." Schoenbeck, who said he wasn't in favor of any of the options, has constantly reiterated his support for strong fiscal responsibility and worries by reducing the overall sales tax on groceries to zero, it could bring an income tax in the future. "I get [Noem] wants to have one national headline that says she led a tax cut," he said. "Me, I just care about fiscal responsibility. I spent a lot of years trying to help this state just be normal. It does a lot of damage to us when the Governor's objectives are national and the rest of us are just trying to stay here and fix problems." Gov. Kristi Noem talks to reporters about the proposal to cut the overall sales and use tax on groceries in Pierre on Monday, March 6. Noem has not announced if she's considering a run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 Presidential race. Meanwhile, Noem bit back at Schoenbeck during an impromptu press conference with reporters Monday afternoon, nearly 30 minutes after the Senate adjourned for the day. "When Sen. Schoenebeck stands up on the Senate floor and says he can't support a grocery sales tax repeal because it sets us up for an income tax, I would wholeheartedly disagree with him and say he's being deceitful in that narrative," Noem said. "Because if he approaches a different tax cut this year, and in two years, we're faced with repealing a sales tax on groceries, that's when we get dangerously close to not being able to balance our budget and not be responsible." More:Overall sales tax cut moves toward final hearings in SD legislature Noem has continued to press for a cut to the sales tax on groceries, even after the original bill was killed. She said the proposal was responsible legislation, because it affected all families, not just those who own a home taking a dig at the property tax rebate. "In fact, what [the Senate] did was pass a rebate program to send people checks," Noem said. "It's not very conservative. It's not very Republican. South Dakota doesn't do that and then try to sell it as property tax reform." If the property tax rebate is included in the final budget bill, Noem was resolute on what could happen. "That seems like a really irresponsible budget," Noem said. "We don't have to pass a budget this week. If these legislators want to sit here and take a couple of months to do the right thing, I've got nowhere to go." Veto Day is March 27. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Senate brings back Noem's proposal to cut sales tax on groceries By Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - Two elderly South Korean victims of wartime forced labour took to the streets in wheelchairs on Tuesday, saying they rejected a compensation deal announced this week, potentially complicating Seoul's efforts to end a diplomatic spat with Japan. Under President Yoon Suk Yeol's plan, South Korea would compensate former forced labourers through an existing public foundation funded by South Korean private-sector companies, rather than seeking payments from Japan. The two victims, whose consent is required for the deal to proceed, rebuffed the proposal saying Tokyo should pay compensation and apologise. Their opposition could mean that a proposal hailed as "groundbreaking" by U.S. President Joe Biden may not be a done deal, prolonging a dispute that has undercut U.S.-led efforts to present a unified front against China and North Korea. The two women, Yang Geum-deok and Kim Sung-joo, both now aged 95, worked at a Mitsubishi Heavy aircraft factory in Nagoya, Japan when they were teens during World War II. Living outside Seoul, the ailing women travelled to a demonstration at the parliament, joining hundreds of supporters including opposition lawmakers, who waved red cards and banners, calling Yoon's diplomacy "humiliating" and demanding the deal be withdrawn. "We can forgive, if Japan tells us one word, we are sorry and we did wrong. But there's no such word," Kim said, with hands shaking by the effects of a stroke. "The more I think about that, the more I cry," she said, escorted by her son. On Tuesday, Yoon said the proposal was a result of meeting both countries' common interest. Relations plunged to their lowest point in decades after South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese firms to pay reparations to former forced labourers. Fifteen South Koreans have won such cases, but none has been compensated. Japan has said the matter was settled under a 1965 treaty and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Monday his government's stance had not changed. Story continues The two victims were part of so-called "Labour Corps" where young Korean girls were drafted to work in Japanese munitions factories during the war. Kim had her finger chopped while cutting metal plates for fighter jets. During the day, Yang wiped rusted machine parts with thinner and alcohol but had no gloves, so her hands were bleeding at night. After Japan lost the war in 1945, they returned home but didn't get paid for their 17-month-long labour stint. Overall there are about 1,815 living victims of forced labour in South Korea, according to government data. The compensation for each woman was estimated at around 210 million won ($161,465.18), according to the Victims of Japanese Wartime Forced Labor support group. Like Yang and Kim, some of the 15 plaintiffs say they will reject the government's plan, setting the stage for more legal battles. "It is so unfair. I don't know where Yoon Suk Yeol is from. Is he truly a South Korean? I won't take that money even if I starve to death," said Yang, chanting "Yoon Suk Yeol Out". ($1 = 1,300.5900 won) (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Josh Smith and Sharon Singleton) A new bipartisan bill would grant the Secretary of Commerce power to target tech companies based in foreign adversary nations, opening the door for a nationwide ban on China-based TikTok. "The Chinese Communist Party has proven over the last few years that it is willing to lie about just about everything," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who introduced the bill alongside Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. "That likely won't end with TikTok, which is why it's important to establish a holistic and methodical approach to the challenges that are posed by technology from foreign adversaries." 'An overarching framework' to confront foreign tech threats Though TikTok is in the limelight now, the lawmakers indicated that the bill seeks to establish an "overarching framework to evaluate foreign technology threats." The bill doesn't mention TikTok by name. Acknowledging that the app is used by some 100 million Americans each month, Warner said the legislation would direct the Commerce secretary to coordinate with the National Intelligence director to provide declassified information about why TikTok and other technologies pose risks. "This is a popular app," said Warner who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. "I think its going to be incumbent upon the government to show its cards as to how this is a threat." The six countries classified as foreign adversaries are China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba. The White House on Tuesday indicated that the Biden administration is supportive of the bill; National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged Congress to "act quickly to send it to the Presidents desk" in a statement. Twelve senators from both parties signed onto the bill. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pauses to speak with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 10, 2022. The Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern that the Chinese Communist Party could gather information about American customers through TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, or that it could be used to spread misinformation. Story continues TikTok: 'a ban on the export of American culture' TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter told USA TODAY in a statement that a ban of the app would equate to a "ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion-plus people who use our service worldwide." "We appreciate that some members of Congress remain willing to explore options for addressing national security concerns that don't have the effect of censoring millions of Americans," Oberwetter said. Tick-tock, TikTok: As Biden sets deadline for ban of social media app, here's what we know House adopted similar legislation The legislation is similar to a bill introduced last month by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, which would expand Biden's ability to crack down on software applications deemed a national security threat. McCaul's bill advanced through the Foreign Affairs Committee last week after a 24-16 vote along party lines. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the committee, indicated Democrats would not oppose all measures against TikTok, but that the specific bill "bites off more than it can chew." The Biden administration is also hardening its stance against TikTok, confirming last week that it has "concerns" about the app. The White House moved to ban TikTok from all government-issued devices last month, giving federal agencies 30 days to delete the app. Dig deeper: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok ban: Bipartisan bill would let Commerce secretary ban app Ben Savage Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for New York Comic Con Actor Ben Savage is running for Congress, the former Boy Meets World star announced Monday. The 42-year-old is entering the race for California's 30th Congressional District, which covers West Hollywood, Burbank, and parts of Pasadena, as a Democrat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Adam Schiff (D), who announced in January he is running for Senate. On Instagram, Savage said he's throwing his hat into the ring because it's "time to restore faith in government by offering reasonable, innovative, and compassionate solutions to our country's most pressing issues. And it's time for new and passionate leaders who can help move our country forward. Leaders who want to see the government operating at maximum capacity, unhindered by political divisions and special interests." Savage, who graduated from Stanford University in 2004 with a degree in political science, interned for the late Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter in 2003. After starring in the Boy Meets World reboot Girl Meets World, Savage turned his focus to politics, running unsuccessfully for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council in 2022. He filed his congressional paperwork with the Federal Election Commission in January, and at the time, his spokesperson told ABC News that Savage was "still making decisions and always looking for opportunities to give back and serve the community." You may also like Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Why drivers don't want to let go of the stick shift A former top official on China in the Donald Trump administration praised US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday for publicising the White House's concern that Beijing is considering supplying lethal aid to Russia in its war on Ukraine. "I actually commend [Blinken] for calling out Beijing's plans publicly," said Matthew Pottinger, the top Asia adviser on Trump's National Security Council. "I have to believe that [Blinken] would not have made this public unless he believed that he had high confidence in it." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference on February 18, where he said that China might be considering supplying Russia with lethal military aid. Photo: AP alt=US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference on February 18, where he said that China might be considering supplying Russia with lethal military aid. Photo: AP> Pottinger told The Washington Post that warnings by top government officials, including US President Joe Biden; Blinken; Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen; and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo "bought a year ... of Beijing restraint" in terms of direct military support to Russia. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Pottinger, who testified last week at a hearing of the new House select committee on China, said that if it was true that "Beijing is very seriously contemplating" providing Russia such support, he thought it was "a very bad sign". "It means that Beijing is really looking to see whether it can find ways, covert ways, to move all that equipment that Russia needs into that conflict," Pottinger, now a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, added. China has repeatedly denied the claim, accusing Washington of spreading "false information". Story continues China's possible involvement has become one of the most important factors in determining how long the war in Ukraine will continue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no inclination to stop even though Ukraine's military has so far held off the invasion. With the US and other Nato member nations assisting Ukraine's efforts with missile systems, ammunition and commitments to send advanced tanks, the possibility of Beijing entering the fray with lethal military hardware raises the prospects of a deeper conflict pitting Beijing and Moscow against Washington and its allies. "I think that Xi Jinping's original hope was probably very much aligned with Putin's ... for a very rapid victory by Russia over Ukraine," Pottinger said. A year later, he continued, "Beijing may believe that it has an interest in prolonging the war as long as possible to drain Western attention, Nato attention ... to create a more favourable strategic situation in the western Pacific, including around Taiwan". Pottinger's concerns echoed those voiced by another Trump-era official. Fiona Hill, who served as the director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council under Trump, told the Senate Armed Services Committee last month that Beijing may be looking to prolong the Ukraine war. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on February 15, Fiona Hill said Beijing might be looking to prolong the Ukraine war. Photo: Getty Images via AFP alt=At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on February 15, Fiona Hill said Beijing might be looking to prolong the Ukraine war. Photo: Getty Images via AFP> "China has no interest in Russia losing in this war, and might in fact have a vested interest in this war going on in Ukraine as long as possible, because it does take up a large amount of equipment and armaments, particularly ammunition and then the increasing demands from Ukraine ... for other equipment," said Hill, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Centre on the United States and Europe. Pottinger has supported robust efforts to counter Beijing's more assertive posture on Taiwan, but said he would not recommend putting the island under the US "nuclear umbrella". Beijing considers Taiwan to be a wayward province that must eventually be united with the mainland, by force if necessary. As is the case with many Western countries, the US does not recognise the island as an independent state. But Washington is committed by law to support Taiwan's military defence - a stance Beijing strongly opposes. "There are conventional means to deter an ill-advised war that Xi Jinping is clearly considering right now," Pottinger said. "We need to start talking about the ways that Beijing may seek to threaten escalation dominance - including all the way up the ladder to nuclear - and some of the things that we would do and then our allies would do. "I don't think that it's necessary to take the step of of declaring proactively that Taiwan is under our umbrella," he added. "Remember, we're trying to maintain the status quo; we're not trying to change it." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously appointed Dr. Eugene White, a former Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent and former Martin University president, to the Indianapolis Public Library Board on Monday evening. He received a unanimous recommendation by the Council's Municipal Corporations Committee during a Feb. 8 meeting, where councilor Frank Mascari of District 21 said he was "super over-qualified" for the position. "I know there's some serious issues on the board so I'm honored to be asked to serve," White said during the meeting. White's appointment will likely shape board dynamics and the path forward in seeking a new CEO for the library, which still has no permanent leader. White told IndyStar he hopes to revisit the controversy over the library's CEO decision. He joins a library board facing significant internal division and public mistrust. Protesters in support of Nichelle Hayes chant Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, outside the Indianapolis Public Library. Community outcry ensued in December after a divided board offered the job of library CEO to Gabriel Morley, a white man from Louisiana, rather than then-interim library CEO Nichelle Hayes, a Black woman with deep roots in Indianapolis and significant community support. After Morley declined the offer, the board decided to restart the search process rather than appointing Hayes, the only remaining finalist. More:Inside the Indianapolis library board's CEO decision, which left them without a CEO The City-County Council took a rare step of intervention and asked the board to appoint Hayes as CEO. The board majority declined. Before White's appointment, the board was evenly split between three trustees who supported appointing Hayes for CEO and three who did not. White replaces Dr. TD Robinson, who did not support Hayes for CEO and resigned amid public opposition in January. White told IndyStar that his first priorities will involve asking questions about what happened during the CEO search, why Hayes was not offered the CEO position, and why, after Morley declined, she still was rebuffed. White said that from what he knows, he believed their explanation to be "weak." Story continues "I know that situation with looking for the new CEO split the community, split the staff, and just turned out to be a mess," White said. "That seems to be a preponderance of tough decisions going wrong and hopefully we can revisit that." White further told IndyStar that historical institutional racism is so entrenched in the country "that one almost has to start with the assumption that it exists, and work forward." The library has been accused of institutional racism before, accusations dating back to the summer of 2021, when library workers demanded the resignation of then-CEO Jackie Nytes. She denied the claims and resigned in August that year. The continued refusal of the majority of the board to appoint Hayes as CEO deepened the accusations that the board was guilty of the systemic overlooking of qualified Black women for positions of leadership in the city. White has long stewardship serving in educational roles White is a former IPS superintendent. He served in the role for nearly eight years until his retirement in 2013. Previously, White served as superintendent of Washington Township Schools and principal of North Central High School. Several months after leaving IPS, White was appointed interim president of Martin University, a predominantly Black private university in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. He then served in the role in a permanent capacity for over five years before officially retiring in June 2019. White is widely credited with lifting Martin University out of financial probation from its accrediting agency during his term as president. The next public meeting of the library board is on Mar 27. Contact IndyStar reporter Ko Lyn Cheang at kcheang@indystar.com or 317-903-7071. Follow her on Twitter: @kolyn_cheang. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Public Library Board: Eugene White appointed by Council An influencer said a man took photos of her while she was asleep on a plane. Getty Images A former Obama admin official and her family hit turbulence on a flight to Maryland last Friday. The turbulence launched the passengers, and former official Dana Hyde later died of her injuries. The NTSB is investigating if the plane was experiencing stability issues apart from the turbulence. A former official who served in both the Barack Obama and Bill Clinton administrations died after suffering injuries from a violently turbulent flight last Friday. Dana Hyde, a former senior US State Department advisor under Obama and an attorney on the 9/11 commission, was flying back from New England, where she had been visiting schools with her son and husband, Jonathan Chambers, according to the Associated Press. The company jet they were aboard hit severe turbulence, hurling the passengers on board, and leaving Hyde with blunt-force trauma, according to the chief medical examiner's office. The pilot was forced to divert its landing to Connecticut, where Hyde was pronounced dead at a Hartford hospital, per the AP. According to the Washington Post, Chambers sent an email to his colleagues at broadband company Connexon after the crash, saying that "the plane suddenly convulsed in a manner that violently threw the three of us," leaving Hyde "badly injured." The NTSB has launched an investigation into the incident, noting that there was a reported "trim issue," referring to the plane's ability to stay stable and level during the flight, and that equipment from the plane like the cockpit voice recorder would be analyzed. "She loved and was beloved," Chambers wrote to his colleagues, according to the Post. "Dana was the best person I ever knew. She was a wonderful mother to our boys and she was accomplished professionally." According to the Federal Aviation Administration, between 2009 and 2021, 30 passengers and 116 crew members were seriously injured due to turbulence on flights. Read the original article on Insider Kari Lake, the election denier who lost her Republican bid for governor of Arizona last year, was recently called out on her loss by a former Republican National Committee spokesperson. During an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Tim Miller a former deputy communications director for the RNC, asked Lake if its time for Republicans to change the strategy and appeal to more moderate voters, given weve lost three straight elections. Lake bulldozed through the question and reached straight for her extremist playbook, insisting that it came down to corrupt stolen elections and that both she and ex-President Donald Trump had actually won the elections they lost. But dont you think you really lost the election because you didnt reach out to the McCain voters? Miller asked, noting that Lake had told supporters of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to get the hell out during a campaign rally last year. And you campaigned hard MAGA, he added. Lakes response? Thats fake news. You werent appealing to my people, Miller added. You werent appealing to moderate Republicans. Maybe you wouldve won if youd done that. Lake claimed that she brought the establishment together but unfortunately, a few of them didnt come over and they rigged the election. She wrapped up the interview by telling Miller he dressed like a 13-year-old. The footage was shot for The Circus, a docu-series that airs on Showtime. Miller tweeted the clip, saying that Lake did not concur with my theory that her loss was attributable to turning off McCain Republicans. Too simple. Too pat. Mustve been something more nefarious, he quipped. Lake leaned heavily on Trumps brand of politics during and after her campaign, baselessly insisting the election was stolen from her. She challenged her defeat in court and lost again. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) won the November election by just over 17,000 votes. Watch the interview below. Related... Photo: The Canadian Press A family of asylum seekers from Colombia is met by an RCMP officer after crossing the border at Roxham Road into Canada, Thursday, February 9, 2023 in Champlain, New York. Migration in both directions across the Canada-U.S. border is likely on the agenda today as Immigration Minister Sean Fraser visits Washington, D.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Canada's immigration minister was scheduled to sit down with his U.S. counterpart Tuesday as both countries face mounting political pressure to staunch the flow of undocumented migrants across their shared border. Sean Fraser's office said the minister would be meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas before he holds a news conference at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The meeting comes as Quebec Premier Francois Legault has been pushing the federal Liberal government to do something about the tens of thousands of would-be asylum seekers pouring into the province from the U.S. each year. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly acknowledged that it's time for Canada and U.S. to renegotiate the 2004 immigration treaty that creates an incentive for migrants to sneak onto Canadian soil. The Safe Third Country Agreement, as it's known, allows both Canada and the U.S. to turn away refugee claimants from a third country who try to make a claim for asylum at an official entry point. That treaty, however, doesn't cover claims by migrants who arrive in Canada by entering between official crossings, such as at Quebec's Roxham Road, the country's busiest unofficial entry point. More than 39,000 claims were filed in 2022 by people who were intercepted by the RCMP, the vast majority of them in Quebec. Legault has urged Trudeau to raise the issue with U.S. President Joe Biden, who is expected to make his first official in-person visit north of the border later this month. "Roxham Road will have to be closed eventually, whether we like it or not," Legault wrote in a letter to the prime minister last month. "Quebec has a long tradition of welcoming refugees, and we are proud to contribute to this humanitarian duty. However, this influx cannot continue.... The capacity to receive refugees has been greatly exceeded." Mayorkas, meanwhile, has been targeted by Republican rivals on Capitol Hill who want to hold him and the rest of Biden's administration to account for what they call a "crisis" of illegal immigration in the U.S. As part of that effort, some of Biden's critics have taken to talking more and more about the Canada-U.S. border, though the scope of irregular migration is nowhere near the numbers at the U.S.-Mexico frontier. They've formed the Northern Border Security Caucus, a new coalition of 28 Republican members of Congress who say they are concerned about the influx of drugs, crime and undocumented migrants from Canada. The group acknowledges that the perils of the northern border pale in comparison to the escalating migratory crisis south of the Rio Grande. But they cite a steady increase in recent months in the number of "encounters" between border agents and people lacking U.S. legal status as evidence that the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better. Some blame Canada's lack of visa requirement for travellers from Mexico and what they consider a less stringent approval process for student visas than the U.S. has. From October through January, the first four months of fiscal 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 55,736 encounters at or near the northern border with people deemed inadmissible to the U.S. That was more than twice the nearly 24,000 encounters during the same four months the previous year, and already halfway to the 109,535 reported during the entire 12-month stretch of fiscal 2022. A former White House official died on Friday after the business jet she was traveling on encountered severe turbulence. Dana Hyde, who served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, was transported to a hospital in Hartford, Conn., after her plane made an emergency landing at Bradley International Airport, according to Connecticut State Police. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the incident, said the turbulence event resulted in fatal injuries. In an update on Monday, NTSB said investigators are now looking at a reported trim issue that occurred prior to the inflight upset. They will continue to learn more after they analyze information from the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and other sources of information like weather data, NTSB said in a tweet. Hyde was flying from Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene, N.H., to Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia with her husband and one of her sons, after taking a trip to visit schools in New England, according to The Washington Post. Her husband and son, as well as two members of the flight crew, were not injured in the incident. Under President Obama, Hyde led the U.S. foreign aid agency known as the Millennium Challenge Corporation and served as associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. She also worked as a senior adviser in the State Department. Earlier in her career, she served as counsel on the 9/11 Commission and worked as a special assistant in the Clinton White House. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Matamoros have now been identified as a group of friends who travelled to Mexico for a tummy tuck procedure. Family members named the group on Monday as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams. The four were travelling in a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates when they crossed the US border into Mexico on Friday (3 March). Not long after entering Matamoros an area dominated by the Gulf drug cartel they came under fire from a group of armed men and were bundled into the back of a pickup truck. They have not been seen since. Ms McGees mother Barbara Burgess told ABC News that her daughter had traveled from her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to get a tummy tuck in Mexico, and that her cousin Mr Woodard and their two friends were accompanying her on the ride. Ms Burgess said she was worried about her daughter going and warned her it might not be safe. But, her daughter brushed off her concerns telling her: Ma, Ill be okay. Ms Burgess last heard from Ms McGee on Friday when she called to say that they were just 15 minutes from the cosmetic surgeons office where she was scheduled to have the procedure that day. She never heard from her daughter again. Ms Burgess said she tried calling Ms McGee later that day but her phone went straight to voicemail. Not long later, she said she received a visit from an FBI agent, revealing what had happened. Mr Browns sister Zalandria Brown told The Associated Press that the situation felt like a bad dream as she revealed that her younger brother had voiced concerns about travelling to such a dangerous place. Shaeed Woodard was identified as one of the four Americans kidnapped (Facebook Shaeed Woodard) Zindell kept saying, We shouldnt go down, she said. But Mr Brown, a 28-year-old living in Myrtle Beach, still went on the trip with his three friends in part because they had all agreed to help share driving duties. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, said Ms Brown. Story continues To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. Mr Browns mother Christina Hickson told WPDE she immediately recognised him in the disturbing video circulating on social media. The video, which has not been verified, shows armed men loading four people into the bed of a white pickup truck. While one individual is moving and sitting upright, the other three are merely dragged limp into the vehicle. I knew that he was a third one that was placed on the truck, at that point, my heart was low... Because of how they were treating him, said Ms Hickson. LaTavia McGee is one of four Americans who were kidnapped after crossing the border into Mexico (Family handout) They were just slamming them on the truck like they were dead dogs and that was the most heartfelt moment so far. She added: The waiting is the worse part. It has its advantages and disadvantages. But, however, no news is good news. Thats the way Im staying with it. No news is good news and thats what will give me the audacity to. Mr Williams North Carolina divers license was found at the scene of the abduction, reported ABC News. US officials have not yet formally identified the four people kidnapped. (AP) The US State Department is advising Americans not to travel to Tamaulipas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping. The region is on the Level 4: Do Not Travel list. The border city of Matamoros is largely controlled by the Gulf drug cartel, with violence and migrant smuggling rife. Oliver Rich, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the FBI, said in the press release that the FBI is seeking the publics help in identifying the assailants responsible for the assault and kidnapping. (Associated Press) A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the return of the victims and the arrest of the kidnappers. An investigation involving the FBI, federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies is currently underway. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI San Antonio Division at 210-225-6741 or to submit tips anonymously online at https://tips.fbi.gov A former Navy couple from Selma pleaded guilty Monday to allegations they stole the personal information of thousands of people and sold it on the dark web for $160,000 in digital currency, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Marquis Hooper, 32, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His co-defendant, Natasha Chalk, 39, was charged with conspiracy. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. They face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the conspiracy convictions. Hooper also faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the wire fraud conviction, and two years in prison, consecutive to other counts, for the aggravated identity theft conviction. Federal prosecutors said the couple used their positions in the Navy to siphon the personal information from thousands of people from a private company that normally restricts access to its database to businesses and government agencies with a proven and lawful need for the personal information, according to court records. Investigators said the couple began their illegal venture in 2018 when Hooper was stationed in Japan as a chief petty officer with the Navys 7th Fleet. His wife was a reservist serving at Lemoore Naval Air Station in California. Although Hooper separated from the Navy in October 2018 after a 10-year career, he was able to convince the private company that he was working on behalf of the Navy and needed access to their records to run background checks on sailors. His scheme worked and within a few months, Hooper and Chalk were able to collect the personal information from more than 9,000 people. Prosecutors said they then sold the information on the dark web for $160,000. Some of the personal information sold by Hooper and Chalk was used by thieves to try and withdraw money from peoples bank accounts, according to federal officials. When people think of the funding crisis in further education, thoughts normally turn to the rising price of a typical four-year college degree. But that's not the only financial gap that exists: Those who want to pursue hands-on careers in trades like medical technicians, automotive mechanics, welding, carpentry or air conditioning specialists also regularly find themselves out of pocket when it comes to paying for the required training that many of these jobs need. A startup called Fynn has built a financing platform for these vocational hopefuls -- a "SoFi for trade students" in a sense. It currently works with around 150 technical colleges in the U.S., and now with some traction -- $4 million loaned since the platform first went live in the summer of 2022 -- today it's announcing $36 million in funding to continue building out its business. Fynn's funding is coming in two parts, an $11 million seed, and a $25 million debt facility for providing financing to students. The seed includes backing from Y Combinator, where Fynn first started as part of the Summer 2019 cohort (originally called TradeUp), and Susa Ventures. Eric Menees, Fynn's CEO and co-founder (with Ethan Anderson and Bhavin Gupta), said in an interview that the gap that Fynn is looking to fill is two-fold. First, there is a distinct labor shortage globally. Countries like the U.S. have been hit with a triple whammy of more people than ever attending four-year schools, plus the knowledge worker and service industries (which require little to no experience or training) both growing, leaving a gulf that tradespeople used to fill. Trade jobs have the challenge of being at a higher bar: they may pay better than other service jobs (and some "knowledge worker" jobs), but to do them you need special skills and qualifications, and the work is by and large undeniably harder and potentially more risky. Second, there is the issue of affordability. For those who do want to go into vocational jobs, typically they need to go through technical colleges to do so. And while the tuitions and the time periods are lower and shorter than those for four-year degrees, they are not insignificant. Story continues "Some jobs like diesel mechanics have four-month training programs, and others like welding might be a year," Menees said. Those periods are not directly proportional to tuition: It can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to go through the welder training, while those four-month diesel mechanic courses are $10,000, he said. And what's more, because the colleges that teach these trades are not typically classified as educational institutions, those wanting to attend these are usually unable to access federal and state loan programs designed to give students a helping hand with finance. "A typical profile for someone who wants to go to a trade school is an 18-year-old out of high school without credit history and working in something like the food service industry," Menees said. "How is that kid supposed to get $10,000 to be in a mechanic program?" Fynn takes an approach similar to that of others in other areas of vocational education like coding. It gives users options like payment pauses and loan forgiveness if their jobs change or are lost. It also generally aims to provide a very low-friction onboarding -- promising answers in minutes to loan requests -- but has built a risk assessment model that it believes has been solid at both providing financing for students at schools with strong course completion rates, and to would-be students who are most likely to graduate and get work. Fynn says that currently those who take its loans and go through and complete courses get a 172% bump in salaries, and that currently 85%-90% of those who take loans get through their courses and get jobs. (It also helps with job placement for those using its platform, a sign of how it might grow over time to cover other services beyond loans.) Part of that risk model, Menees points out, involves "sharing risk with institutions in the space." That is to say, big employers back these loans in part to get more talent in the door. They look to Fynn to do the vetting and take on the main part of the default risk, so that they do not have to. "This provides a path to six-figure salaries" for people who might not have previously had it, Menees said. Indeed, the fact that there aren't a lot of financing options out there addressing the specific needs of vocation students says something about how this sector of the market has been overlooked, and in some regards misunderstood, up to now. Of course, Fynn's success will almost certainly lead to more competition here, too. Why wouldn't SoFi itself become the SoFi for vocational students? For now, most of those would-be competitors have yet to pounce, though, leaving some interesting opportunities for Fynn. Having access to trade school programs shouldnt be this complex, especially at a time when skilled workers are needed more than ever. There is still time to solve Americas labor-supply issues, which is good news, said Leo Polovets, general partner at Susa Ventures, in a statement. Our investment enables Fynns continued growth as a leader in skills-based education financing and allows them to continue helping low-income students achieve middle-class status through quality education. Updated to correct/remove detail on income share agreements, which are not offered by Fynn. A 19-year-old Gainesville man who was sentenced to life in prison for sexual battery is finally behind bars after skipping town before his trial. Ian Montero-Lopez was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison, plus 30 years on two counts of sexual battery of a person between 12 and 17 years old, and sexual battery by use of physical force. He was also designated a sexual predator. Courts:Eighth Circuit judge sentences convicted sexual predator to life in prison Eighth Judicial Circuit:Grand jury indicts 5 Gainesville men on murder charges in separate cases Montero-Lopez was originally arrested on Dec. 24, 2021, and accused of giving a teen narcotics and then sexually battering her, records show. His bail was set at $125,000 and he later bonded out on Feb. 10, 2022. Court records also show Montero-Lopez had his bond canceled on Oct. 4. An arrest warrant was ordered on Oct. 19, the same day jury selection was scheduled to begin. Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson in a Facebook post wrote Tuesday that local detectives and investigators with the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, through their "dedication to staying in touch with the victims," were able to locate Montero-Lopez. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville man convicted of sexual battery gets life sentence Photo: Scott Olson (Getty Images) This story was originally published by Grist. You can subscribe to its weekly newsletter here. Last month, Eugene became the first city in Oregon to pass an ordinance requiring new residential buildings to be fossil fuel-free. But the policy may never go into effect not if the natural gas industry gets its way. Read more Ever since the electrification ordinance passed, a group funded by Oregons largest gas utility has been busy collecting petition signatures from Eugene residents in an attempt to rescind it. The group bears the hallmarks of astroturfing when corporate interests create the illusion of grassroots support for their side of a political debate. If the group can collect 6,460 signatures by March 9 which it says it already has the ordinance can be moved to a ballot referendum for the public to vote on this November, effectively stopping its scheduled implementation this summer and potentially canceling it for good. Environmental advocates say the petition represents a cynical new strategy from the fossil fuel industry to not only preempt, but overturn electrification ordinances nationwide. Theyre thinking that if they can roll back climate policy in progressive, dark green Eugene, then they can do it anywhere, Dylan Plummer, a senior campaign representative for the nonprofit Sierra Club, told Grist. Our coalition is ready to fight and do whatever it takes to show that our city supports climate justice and a transition off of fossil fuels. Eugene, with a population of roughly 175,000, is just one of more than 90 cities and counties across the United States that have adopted policies to electrify their residential, commercial, or municipal buildings, often as part of an effort to meet emissions reduction targets. Natural gas appliances contribute to climate change both at the point of combustion in peoples homes and through the extensive leakage of unburned fuel from pipelines, storage facilities, and the appliances themselves. Story continues Gas-powered appliances also come with heavy health risks. Stoves that run on gas, for example, leak cancer-causing benzene, as well as pollutants that contribute to respiratory problems, including nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. Widely reported research published last December found that more than 1 in 10 cases of childhood asthma in the United States can be attributed to the use of gas stoves. Eugene city councilors discussed these issues at length during a special meeting on February 6 and for many months before then. Under pressure to take concrete action to advance the citys climate goals, including halving citywide fossil fuel use by 2030, compared to a 2010 baseline, the council eventually passed a policy 5-3 that would require new homes less than four stories high to be built without natural gas hookups. Were building the city that we want to see in the future, Councilor Lyndsie Leech told her colleagues at the time. The ordinance was signed by Eugenes mayor shortly after it passed, and city councilors expected it to go into effect in June. The opposition, however, has been fierce and well-organized. Many gas utilities nationwide have tried to stop local governments from phasing out fossil fuels in buildings by advocating for so-called preemption laws, state-level policies that take away city and county councils authority to mandate building electrification. Others have filed lawsuits challenging statewide climate plans that would require them to reduce their emissions. But environmental advocates say the pushback in Eugene has been particularly zealous. A petition committee called Eugene Residents for Energy Choice is currently collecting thousands of signatures in an effort to walk back the City Councils already-approved electrification ordinance. Its a very, very aggressive campaign, said Anne Pernick, a community manager at the environmental nonprofit Stand.earth, which advocates for building electrification in communities nationwide. Weve seen state preemptions and local lawsuits but I cant find another example of whats happening in Eugene to overturn something that has passed. Eugene Residents for Energy Choice is taking advantage of a petition process that allows ordinances passed by the City Council to be put up for a vote by the public. If a petitioner can collect signatures from 6,460 Eugene residents within 30 days of an ordinance being signed by the mayor, that ordinance can be placed on a ballot referendum and sent to voters on the next election day, so long as its more than 90 days away. Until the election, the ordinance in question cant be implemented. That means a successful petition would prevent Eugenes building electrification policy from going into effect this June, as currently planned. Rather, it would be put off at least until the next election in November and potentially canceled altogether, if voters reject the ballot measure then. Eugene Residents for Energy Choice says its already surpassed the 6,460-signature threshold and is looking to collect even more, as petitioners often do in case some signatures are illegible or deemed invalid by the county clerks office. We have collected nearly 10,000 signatures, and we need your help to gather more before the March 9 deadline! the group said in an email sent to its mailing list on February 28. Eugene Residents for Energy Choice describes itself as a group of local Eugene residents who are simply trying to put building electrification on the ballot to give Eugene residents a voice in this important matter. But the group appears to be funded in large part by NW Natural, a gas-only utility serving parts of Oregon and Washington with a long history advocating against building electrification. Public records show that NW Natural contributed more than $51,400 to the petition committee just four days after Eugene city councilors passed the electrification policy, followed by another $600,000 less than a week later. Before then, a similar group called Eugene for Energy Choice whose website URL now redirects to that of Eugene Residents for Energy Choice was distributing pamphlets around Eugene with NW Naturals branding on them, calling itself a concerned group of workers and organizations that wanted Eugene residents to have their say on building electrification. The other organizations were three building trade unions and two lobbying groups, one for hop growers and one for Oregons restaurant and hotel industries. Environmental advocates say Eugene Residents for Energy Choice, which touts the benefits of natural gas, is a front group for NW Natural and its allies, designed to create the illusion of organic grassroots opposition to building electrification. Screenshots provided by the Breach Collective, a Eugene-based climate justice nonprofit, show that a private campaign management services organization, which claimed to be working with NW Natural, spent much of February hiring full- and part-time workers to gather petition signatures in Eugene for up to $35 an hour. Theyve just blanketed the city with canvassers, collecting signatures and employing deceptive talking points, said Plummer, with the Sierra Club. He said hes seen them at anti-electrification protests outside city hall, too. A couple of us approached them and said, Whats your deal, are you guys just really into natural gas or what? And they said, No, no, no, were just paid. The campaign management services company did not respond to Grists request for comment, and neither did Eugene Residents for Energy Choice. NW Natural confirmed that it hired the campaign services company to attend a public hearing outside Eugene City Hall, but it said the companys employees were there to help direct traffic. The utility also acknowledged its financial contributions to Eugene Residents for Energy Choice, but it described the group as a separate entity that has independent decision-making authority. Although environmental groups have described the petition as a first-in-the-nation attempt by the gas industry to roll back local climate policy, Pernick said its nothing new for utilities to pull out all the stops to oppose building electrification. Theres a common playbook, she said, with messaging that implies residents could have their gas-powered stoves and heating systems taken away from them at a moments notice. It can get really illogical, Pernick told Grist, as if people are coming to rip out your gas appliances tomorrow. Most electrification ordinances so far, including Eugenes, only affect new construction. Other common talking points hold that natural gas is a necessary part of a climate-safe energy mix, even though its a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change. They also say that building electrification will foist burdensome costs onto ratepayers, strain the electric grid, and make the energy system less reliable. With support from trade groups, including the American Gas Association and the American Public Gas Association, gas utilities trot out these arguments whenever natural gas is under threat. NW natural is no exception; with more than one-third of its estimated gas connections in Eugene and other jurisdictions that are considering electrification policies, the utility has been vocal about the supposed pitfalls of electrification. Recently, its come under increased scrutiny for what critics have called deceptive marketing practices. In 2022, lawmakers and environmental organizations called on Oregons attorney general to investigate the utility for spending thousands of dollars distributing natural gas-related coloring books to the states public schools. And in January, students in Portland planned to protest a NW Natural-sponsored teacher training on natural gas and hydrogen, calling it part of a broader misinformation campaign about natural gas. (The training was canceled at the last minute.) Separately, NW Natural made national headlines this winter for hiring a consultant to give expert testimony during a public hearing in Multnomah County, which overlaps with Portland, over the health hazards of gas stoves. The consultant downplayed the science linking air pollution from gas stoves to respiratory problems in children. Now, environmental advocates say NW Natural is using Eugene Residents for Energy Choice to whip up controversy over the policy to electrify residential buildings. Pamphlets from the groups predecessor described the City Councils ordinance as forced electrification a ban on choice, and multi-page newspaper ads from the group have touted so-called renewable natural gas as a climate-friendly alternative to costly electrification requirements. Independent analyses show that its almost always cheaper for homeowners when houses are built with electric appliances rather than gas ones. Eugene Residents for Energy Choice claims on its website that 70 percent of Eugene voters oppose building electrification, based on a 2021 poll paid for by NW Natural. [W]e believe all Eugene residents should have a voice in choosing what energy system is right for them, the groups website reads. A separate poll of Oregon voters conducted by the public policy opinion firm FM3 Research suggests at least 56 percent of Oregon voters support transitioning from using natural gas in buildings and replacing it with clean, renewable electricity. Plummer, with the Sierra Club, thinks Eugene Residents for Energy Choice will almost certainly succeed in moving the City Councils electrification ordinance to the ballot this November. But his organization, along with several others that supported the ordinance, aims to counter the petition committee with its own public education campaign. Their efforts include an appeal to the Eugene city attorney requesting changes to the proposed ballot measure so that it more clearly communicates how building electrification is needed to meet Eugenes goal of halving fossil fuel use by 2030. Hundreds of Eugene students also organized a school strike last Friday, when they marched onto the streets of downtown to demonstrate youth support for the electrification ordinance. Our priority is cutting through NW Naturals misinformation and educating voters about what is going to be on the ballot this fall, Plummer told Grist. Citing Eugenes historically progressive and environmental bent, he said, Were very confident that if Eugene voters are presented with accurate information, they will vote overwhelmingly to support this ordinance. This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/accountability/a-gas-utilitys-astroturf-campaign-threatens-oregons-first-electrification-ordinance/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Gov. Gavin Newsom says that California is "done" doing business with Walgreens. Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images; Shae Hammond//MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images Gov. Gavin Newsom says California is "done" doing business with Walgreens. Newsom tweeted on Tuesday that Walgreens "cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk." On Friday, Walgreens said it won't be selling an abortion pill in 20 states. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is going to war with Walgreens over the company's decision to stop selling an abortion pill in 20 states. "California won't be doing business with @walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk. We're done," Newsom tweeted on Monday. Newsom did not elaborate on how far-reaching the business ties are between the state of California and Walgreens, or say what he specifically plans to roll back. A spokesperson for Newsom told Insider that California is "reviewing all relationships between Walgreens and the state." "We will not pursue business with companies that cave to right-wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls," the Newsom spokesperson told Insider. Walgreens has 586 stores in California, more than almost any other state and behind only Florida, with 820 Walgreens stores, and Texas, which has 701 outlets in the state. Newsom's feud with Walgreens comes after the company said on Friday that it will not dispense mifepristone, an abortion pill, in 20 states. Walgreens told Insider that it intends to seek FDA certification to distribute mifepristone "only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible." "Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws," Walgreens said in its statement. "Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate." Newsom has been staunchly pro-choice. In December 2021, he said he plans for California to be a "sanctuary" for abortions. This was before the Supreme Court gutted Roe v. Wade in June, undoing 50 years of legalized abortion in the US. Representatives for Walgreens and Newsom did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Gavin Newsom has announced that California wont be doing business with Walgreens after the retailer announced last week that it will no longer sell abortion medication in 20 states. California wont be doing business with [Walgreens] -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts womens lives at risk, Mr Newsom tweeted on Monday. Were done. Walgreens decision to stop selling mifepristone, the first of two medications necessary for a medication abortion, is another blow to the reproductive rights movement. Medication abortion is the most common kind of abortion in the US and is currently legal in 37 states including states where the retailer will no longer offer the medication. Retailers have faced pressure from anti-abortion groups who are seeking to fully cut off abortion access following last Junes Supreme Court ruling. In February, Republican attorneys general of 20 states signed a letter addressed to Walgreens threatening the company over its distribution of mifepristone the same 20 states Walgreens will no longer sell the drug in. California won't be doing business with @walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk. We're done.https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 6, 2023 The retailer also made its announcement in advance of a forthcoming ruling from a conservative judge in Texas on a lawsuit seeking to block the use of medication abortion across the country in what is the most significant abortion-related legal case since Roe v Wade was overturned last year. The lawsuit, filed by an anti-abortion group, targets the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of mifepristone two decades ago. Unlike the decision reversing Roe v Wade, a reversal of the FDAs approval of mifepristone would likely affect people in every state. Story continues Walgreens decision to stop selling the drug in advance of any legal ruling, however, irked abortion rights advocates who noted that it will make it harder for people to get healthcare and could put lives in danger. Mr Newsom, who has criticised the Democratic Party for not doing enough to fight back against far-right social policy, made his feelings clear on Monday. It is not immediately clear how much business the State of California has with Walgreens or how exactly that business would be affected, but Mr Newsoms stand nevertheless won plaudits from Nancy Sinatra, a resident of the Los Angeles area. Thank you, Governor! Since California has the 4th largest economy in the world, people had better begin to pay attention to @GavinNewsom https://t.co/kMsp5aLyly Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) March 7, 2023 Thank you, Governor! Since California has the 4th largest economy in the world, people had better begin to pay attention to [Gavin Newsom], Ms Sinatra tweeted. Other major retailers like CVS, RiteAid and Kroger have not yet made clear if they plan to continue distributing mifepristone in the future following Walgreens announcement. Mr Newsom has attempted to elevate his national profile over the last year as he eyes a potential run for the presidency positioning his governorship as an antidote to governor Ron DeSantiss in Florida. Mr Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor, said he will only run next year if president Joe Biden declines to pursue a second term. Mr Biden, should he choose to run again, will have at least one primary opponent: author Marianne Williamson, who also pursued the nomination in 2020, announced her candidacy last week. Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrives to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on National Defence, regarding the surveillance balloon from the People's Republic of China, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Defence Minister Anita Anand says there is no indication the flying objects shot down over Yukon and Lake Huron last month were affiliated with a foreign country. But Anand says she won't otherwise speculate on the origins or purpose of those two objects, or of a third shot down off the coast of Alaska, because they have not been recovered. Anand made the comments today during an appearance with senior military officers at the House of Commons defence committee. The three objects were shot down in short order between Feb. 10 and 12, days after a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was destroyed off the coast of South Carolina. U.S. and Canadian officials have previously indicated that the three objects were likely balloons, but said they did not pose a threat to national security. Anand was also asked about reports that Chinese surveillance buoys were recovered in Canada's Arctic waters, but she would not comment due to national security concerns. Georgia deputies are searching for a murder suspect who may have been kidnapped the night before he was supposed to appear in court. Christian Demond Williams had been scheduled to go before a judge Monday for his charges in a 2021 murder case. However, Williams attorneys alerted prosecutors to a video that showed their client being kidnapped. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office shared the video with Channel 2s ABC affiliate WGXA-TV News. The video shows two people dressed in all black hit Williams and drag him out of the front yard at his home. The camera view does not show how they left with Williams. TRENDING STORIES: District Attorney Anita Howard told WGXA News that her office is concerned about the safety of Williams and the community. Mr. Williams has displayed dangerous behavior in the past, and we believe he and whomever he may be with voluntarily or against his will - are a risk to the community. We are trying to determine if this incident is a kidnapping or if Mr. Williams is on the run. Either way, we need to get Mr. Williams back in custody for his own safety and the safety of the community, Howard said. WGXA-TV News reports that Williams had been out on bond since January, but his bond was revoked last week. His monitoring company reported that he was in violation of his ankle monitor and house arrest, according to court documents. Williams was last seen wearing all dark clothing and the red ball cap shown in the video. He is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. Anyone with information on Williams or his whereabouts are urged to call the Bibb County Sheriffs Office at 478-751-7500 or call Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME. IN OTHER NEWS ATLANTA (AP) A nuclear power plant in Georgia has begun splitting atoms in one of its two new reactors, Georgia Power said Monday, a key step toward reaching commercial operation at the first new nuclear reactors built from scratch in decades in the United States. The unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. said operators reached self-sustaining nuclear fission inside the reactor at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta. That makes the intense heat that will be used to produce steam and spin turbines to generate electricity. A third and a fourth reactor were approved for construction at Vogtle by the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2009, and the third reactor was supposed to start generating power in 2016. The company now says Unit 3 could begin commercial operation in May or June. Unit 4 is projected to begin commercial operation sometime between this November and March 2024. The cost of the third and fourth reactors was originally supposed to be $14 billion. The reactors are now supposed to cost more than $30 billion. That doesn't include $3.68 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the owners after going bankrupt, which brings total spending to more than $34 billion. The latest set of delays at Unit 3 included a pipe part of a critical backup cooling system that was vibrating during startup testing. Construction workers had failed to install supports called for on blueprints. The company has also said it had to repair a slowly dripping valve and diagnose a problem involving water flow through reactor coolant pumps. Georgia Power said Unit 3 would continue startup testing to show that its cooling system and steam supply system will work at the intense heat and pressure that a nuclear reactor creates. After that, operators are supposed to link the reactor to the electrical grid and gradually raise it to full power. We remain focused on safely bringing this unit online, fully addressing any issues and getting it right at every level, Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, said in a written statement. Reaching initial criticality is one of the final steps in the startup process and has required tremendous diligence and attention to detail from our teams. Story continues Georgia Power owns a minority of the two new reactors. The remaining shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Oglethorpe and MEAG would sell power to cooperatives and municipal utilities across Georgia, as well in Jacksonville, Florida, and parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Georgia Power's 2.7 million customers are already paying part of the financing cost, and state regulators have approved a monthly rate increase of $3.78 a month as soon as the third unit begins generating power. The elected Georgia Public Service Commission will decide later who pays for the remainder of the costs. Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States. Its costs and delays could deter other utilities from building such plants, even though they generate electricity without releasing climate-changing carbon emissions. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy. By Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany is considering banning certain components from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in its telecoms networks, a government source said, in a potentially significant move to address security concerns. An interior ministry spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed that the German government was carrying out a general review of telecoms tech suppliers, but said that this was not directed at specific manufacturers. The German government, which is in the midst of a broader re-evaluation of its relationship with top trade partner China, has been wary of expressly singling out Huawei, even while pursuing legislation enabling it to crack down on the firm. An interior ministry paper on the review obtained by Reuters said that a specific supplier could be banned from providing critical components if it were deemed to be directly or indirectly controlled by the government of another state. "We cannot be reliant on components of individual suppliers," Finance Minister Christian Lindner told Welt TV. The review could lead to Germany asking operators to remove and replace components already built into networks, the interior ministry spokesperson said, adding that current legislation did not foresee compensation for them. "This is a sign that the German government may finally be taking China-related risks to national security seriously," said Noah Barkin, managing editor with research firm Rhodium Group's China practice who specialises in German-Chinese relations. "But after years of dithering, the German 5G network is deeply dependent on Chinese suppliers. It will take many years to unwind this." Critics of Huawei and ZTE say that their close links to Beijing's security services mean that embedding them in the ubiquitous mobile networks of the future could give Chinese spies and even saboteurs access to essential infrastructure. Huawei, ZTE and China's government reject these claims, saying that they are motivated by a protectionist desire to support non-Chinese rivals. Story continues Referring to reports in German media about a possible ban, the Chinese embassy in Germany said in a statement Beijing would be "very puzzled and strongly dissatisfied" if any such decision were taken. In response to a Reuters request for comment, China's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped Germany would "make an independent decision in line with its own interests, economic patterns and international rules that does not receive interference from a third party". Beijing has often suggested that decisions made by European countries that it perceives as hostile are due to pressure from the United States. A Huawei spokesperson said it did not comment on speculation and it had a "very good security record" during its 20 years of delivering technology to Germany and the rest of the world. A ZTE spokesperson said no evidence had been produced to suggest its products were insecure, but it welcomed external scrutiny. Asked about the potential ban, two of Germany's top telecoms operators, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone Germany, said they fully complied with current regulations but did not respond to political speculation. GERMANY LAGGING While several countries across Europe are still formulating telecom policies, only Britain and Sweden have so far banned Huawei and ZTE from supplying critical 5G network equipment. "The devil is in the details, it would be a major step forward if this included all access network components where operators have made excessive use of Huawei in recent years," said Thorsten Benner, China expert and director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. Germany passed an IT security law in 2021 setting high hurdles for makers of telecommunications equipment for next-generation networks, but stopping short of banning Huawei and ZTE as some other countries have done. A new report shows that Germany has actually become even more dependent on Huawei for its 5G radio access network equipment (RAN) than in its 4G network, even though operators have avoided using the firm's technology for the core networks. The German government was last month unable to answer a parliamentary request about how many Huawei components operators were using in their 5G networks, filed in part in response to the report. "It's disconcerting that the government only right now starts to do a thorough mapping of where operators use Huawei and ZTE components and that they don't have that information in real time," said Benner. Sweden's telecom regulator PTS, which in 2020 banned Chinese companies from rolling out 5G, gave telecom operators taking part in 5G auctions until Jan. 1, 2025 to remove gear from China from their infrastructure and core functions. Britain, meanwhile, wants telecom firms to remove equipment and services from Huawei in core network functions by Dec. 31, 2023, from an original target of Jan. 28, 2023. The deadline to remove all Huawei gear from Britain's 5G networks by the end of 2027 remains unchanged. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Friederike Heine and Hakan Ersen; Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Liz Lee; Editing by Alexander Smith and Stephen Coates) Samantha Lee/Insider You should be honest about how a change in sexual appetite makes you feel, says a sex therapist. Crystal Cox/Insider; Marianne Ayala/Insider Crystal Cox/Insider; Marianne Ayala/Insider Partners can feel out of sync in their sex life if they have different desire types. Telling your girlfriend how the lack of sex makes you feel while being curious about what she needs could help, said sex therapist Ian Kerner. Have a question for Julia? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. You can read more Doing It Right here. Dear Julia, My girlfriend never wants sex anymore. It's been over a month and I'm starting to feel unwanted and as if she finds me gross, though she's never said that. We've had this issue multiple times. Every time I think it's almost fixed, something flips and she stops wanting to be intimate with me. It makes me really sad and sometimes frustrated, but I feel like I can't share my feelings because it'll be seen as coercion. But in truth, I've been crying every night over it. Is there anything I can say? - Florida Dear Florida, I've also had moments where I've stayed silent about my negative emotions. I worried that if I shared, I would hurt that person or worse, they would take my vulnerability as a sign I needed too much. This is all to say that I'm familiar with the pangs of desperation you're likely feeling. You shouldn't dismiss how you feel about your sexual bond with your girlfriend because they show you deeply care about being connected to her. In fact, you should be honest with her about how this change in sex has affected you, Ian Kerner, a sex therapist who works with couples, told me. Kerner, who wrote the New York Times best-selling book "She Comes First," said differences in what men and women typically need to feel sexually desirable, plus inaccurate media portrayals of heterosexual sex, often lead men to believe there's something inherently wrong with them or their partner when their sexual interest is out of sync. But there are ways to communicate your desires while having empathy for your girlfriend's needs, according to Kerner. He said that as long as both partners are up for working on their intimate bond, improvement is possible. Story continues It's normal for you and your girlfriend to need different things to feel in the mood According to Kerner, the ways people get in the mood for sex typically fall into two buckets, spontaneous desire and responsive desire. Someone who has spontaneous desire, which is very common among men, can simply think of sex or see their girlfriend looking hot and to be ready to go, said Kerner. Someone with responsive desire, which is more common among women, "have to have the motivation or the intention to be sexual, and then desire emerges from that motivation," like a "simmering" of sexiness, Kerner said. Sexting throughout the day, lots of kissing before moving to genital touch, or spending quality time on a date are just a few examples of the "spark" people with spontaneous desire need to feel ready for sex, according to Kerner. It's likely you and your girlfriend have different desire types, but that doesn't mean you're sexually incompatible, Kerner said. It does mean you should be aware of these differences and make sure you talk about them from a place of curiosity, not judgment, together. In his latest book "So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex," Kerner explains how couples can better understand what turns the other on (and off) for a more mutually satisfying sex life. Think about what sex means to you emotionally and share that with your girlfriend From a young age, society teaches men and women to internalize our emotions and sexuality in different ways. So when men and women come together to have sex, misunderstandings can happen, Kerner explained of a dynamic he often sees between the coupled partners he counsels. "What often gets lost is that there's really emotional meaning for men in sex," Kerner explained. "These guys feel lonely, neglected, rejected. They are yearning for connection. They're just not expressing it that way, because they were taught not to express vulnerable emotions." Unaware of their male partner's true emotions, the woman partner may view his frustration as a sign he's blaming her, or that he only sees her as sex object. In reality, he wants to connect in a way that works for both of them, but doesn't know how to articulate that, Kerner said. The key to breaking this cycle is your acknowledgment that sex is more than just sex for you, and the willingness to talk about your emotions with your girlfriend from a place of softness, Kerner said. He suggested broaching the conversation by saying something like, "I know it's been hard for us to have sex lately and I really miss it. I feel kind of disconnected from you and lonely and I'm hoping we can talk about it." In sharing your own softness perhaps your girlfriend can share hers too, and explain what she needs to enjoy those intimate moments you crave. Be open to her needs, whether it's phone-free time just talking with each other, a 30-minute make out session, the dishes in the sink to be clean pre-sex, or something completely different. It can be scary to wear your heart on your sleeve in this way when vulnerability is so often seen as a sign of weakness. But I know that every time I've been brave enough to go there, sharing my sadness or fear of being left, I've become closer to myself and the people I love. I think it's worthwhile, Florida. As Insider's resident sex and relationships reporter, Julia Naftulin is here to answer all of your questions about dating, love, and doing it no question is too weird or taboo. Julia regularly consults a panel of health experts including relationship therapists, gynecologists, and urologists to get science-backed answers to your burning questions, with a personal twist. Have a question? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. Read the original article on Insider Simon Berghan is one of four players that have been added to the Scotland squad (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire) Glasgow quartet Simon Berghan, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge and Stafford McDowall have been added to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations game against Ireland on Sunday. Suspended Grant Gilchrist, who misses the rest of the campaign after being handed a three-week ban following his red card in the last match away to France, has returned to Edinburgh and Josh Bayliss has returned to Bath. With matches against the Irish and Italy at BT Murrayfield remaining, Gregor Townsends side have two wins from three fixtures, while Ireland have won all three of their games. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 28: GloRilla performs onstage at Center Stage on January 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images) Terence Rushin/Getty GloRilla GloRilla is speaking out in the wake of the deadly stampede at her show in Rochester, New York, which killed two women and injured eight others. "I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sunday's show," the Grammy-nominated rapper, 23, wrote on Twitter late Monday. She added, "My fans mean the world to me praying for their families & for a speedy recovery of everyone affected ." The tragedy occurred after the concert ended at about 11 p.m., when the crowd at Main Street Armory surged towards the exit after some audience members reported hearing gunshots, according to the Associated Press. Police entered the venue and found three women critically injured, including a 33-year-old who died at a hospital, per the AP's reporting. I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sundays show. My fans mean the world to me praying for their families & for a speedy recovery of everyone affected GloRilla (@GloTheofficial) March 7, 2023 RELATED: GloRilla Speaks Out After NY Concert Stampede That Reportedly Left One Fan Dead, 9 Others Injured On Monday, Buffalo's mayor, Byron Brown, identified the concert-goer as Rhondesia Belton, who worked for the City of Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency. "Her family, friends, and colleagues are devastated and left to mourn this tragic loss. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers," he said in a statement posted on Twitter. "This is another difficult day for our City's workforce and our entire community. I join all of our City employees in mourning the loss of one of our own," Brown, 64, wrote in another tweet. Later on Monday, authorities said a 35-year-old woman, whose name was not released, also died from her injuries. A third woman remains in critical condition, while seven others were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. Story continues Rhondesia Belton Byron W. Brown Twitter Rhondesia Belton RELATED: AstroWorld Tragedy Is the Latest Deadly Crowd Surge: Past Fatal Stampedes and What Causes Them Despite law enforcement finding no evidence of gunshots at the venue, they're reportedly investigating multiple causes for the stampede. These include "possibly crowd size, shots fired, pepper spray and other contributing factors," Rochester Police said at a news conference on Monday. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Now, authorities are investigating the venue to see if it took proper precautions to accommodate the crowd, Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, adding that the incident was a "tragedy of epic proportions," according to The New York Times. "When you go to a concert, you do not expect to be trampled," he said. "Your loved ones expect you to be able to come home." The incident comes more than a year after 10 people were killed in a crowd surge at rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival in Houston in November 2021. As per the information available at the moment, the soldier killed by the occupiers for shouting "Glory to Ukraine!" was Tymofii Shadura, a military serviceman from the 30th Mechanised Brigade. Source: the press service of the brigade on social media, General Staff, representative of the 30th Mechanised Brigade in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "Yesterday, a video of Russian occupiers executing a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after he said Glory to Ukraine! was posted on social media and news outlets. As per the information available, it was Tymofii Shadura from the 30th Mechanised Brigade." Details: It is noted that Tymofii Shadura was considered to be a missing person since 3 February 2023, after combat actions near the city of Bakhmut. At the moment, the body of the Ukrainian defender is on the temporarily occupied territories. The brigade has pointed out that the final identification will be made after the body is returned and all examinations are done. Quote from the General Staff: "The shooting of an unarmed prisoner is a cynical and brazen disregard of the norms of international humanitarian law and the customs of war. This is what vile murderers do, not warriors. The Russian occupiers have once again clarified that their main goal in Ukraine is the cruel extermination of Ukrainians. Not a single death of our warriors will go unpunished. But we will do it in a legal and fair way on the battlefield, in court or in an international tribunal. With a cool head, in accordance with the customs of war and with honour, we will surely take revenge for everyone! Eternal memory and Glory to the Hero!" Update: In an interview with Ukrainian Pravda, the 30th Mechanised Brigade reported that Tymofii Shadura, born in 1982, was mobilised in December 2022. According to the data provided by the serviceman himself, when he joined the brigade, he had combat experience and previously served in the 92nd brigade [but when was not stated ed.]. Story continues Shadura came from and lived in the village of Mala Derevychka, Lubar district, Zhytomyr Oblast. The hero's mother and two of his brothers live there. Shadura himself, in the data he provided for the 30th Mechanised Brigade, indicated that he was not married. Background: On 5 March, a horrific video appeared on the internet showing an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war being shot by the Russians after saying "Glory to Ukraine!" The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal proceeding regarding the video in which Russian invaders shot a Ukrainian soldier. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets called the shooting of the Ukrainian soldier "another Russian war crime". Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the circumstances of the shooting of the Ukrainian prisoner of war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the video of Russian invaders shooting a Ukrainian soldier who said "Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine)!" Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Google CEO Sundar Pichai reminded Google employees to be mindful of spending. Brandon Wade/Reuters Google CEO Sundar Pichai justified a new desk-sharing program at the company's cloud unit, per CNBC. This was after employees taunted the "corpspeak" used while announcing the new program. Pichai said many staffers work in the office two days just a week, so it can feel like a "ghost town." Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, justified the company's new desk-sharing program, saying the office can look desolate with many employees just coming in twice a week, CNBC reported on Monday. "To me, it's obvious that they are trying to be efficient and save money but at the same time also utilize resources," Pichai said at an all-hands meeting last week, CNBC reported citing an audio recording it obtained. "There are people, by the way, who routinely complain that they come in and there are big swaths of empty desks and it feels like it's a ghost town it's just not a nice experience." Last month, staff at Google's cloud division in five US locations including New York City and San Francisco were told to coordinate on their alternate days in the office and share their desks with coworkers. While the policy is just for cloud employees now, Pichai said last week other teams have the "freedom to experiment," per CNBC. The executive also reminded Google employees to be mindful of spending. "We should be good stewards of financial resources," Pichai said, per CNBC. "We have expensive real estate. And if they're only utilized 30% of the time, we have to be careful in how we think about it." The desk-sharing program had previously drawn criticism from some employees who taunted the "corpspeak" used while announcing the initiative, per the broadcaster. The belt-tightening at Google comes amid difficult times in the tech industry after years of splashy employee benefits. Companies that over-hired during the e-commerce boom during the pandemic are now facing a drop-off in demand. Over 450 tech companies have laid off nearly 124,000 employees this year so far, according to the Layoffs.fyi tracker. Story continues A Google spokesperson confirmed the company's desk-sharing program, in an emailed response to Insider, but did not comment on Pichai's comments. The spokesperson said it developed the new arrangement for Cloud employees after running pilots and surveys and is "combining the best of pre-pandemic collaboration with the flexibility and focus we've all come to appreciate from remote work, while also allowing us to use our spaces more efficiently." Read the original article on Business Insider Chicago native and comedian Brittani Nichols is a writer on ABCs Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson, the shows creator and star, spent time in Chicago earlier in her career taking classes at Second City, but ironically, that Chicago connection is not how they met. Nichols wound up meeting Brunson when they both worked on a BuzzFeed web series called You Do You. They would again work together on HBOs A Black Lady Sketch Show. How did that lead to the ABC sitcom? Advertisement Around the time Abbott Elementary was first coming together, Nichols had sold a show to the streaming platform Quibi, which later went out of business. As Nichols looked around for her next project, Brunson mentioned: I have this pilot at ABC and if it goes, just keep it in mind as you make decisions. This season, Nichols said shes been drawn to writing for Gregory. To me, hes really the straight man of Abbott. Hes the one looking around and thinking: No, everyone around here is nuts, and Im the normal one. A lot of his quirks and eccentricities are infused with the personalities of all the writers, so its fun to throw bits of us into Gregory. Advertisement Though primarily a writer, Nichols has also appeared on camera. When asked about a worst moment in her career, she recalled her role on the Amazon series Transparent. My worst moment Im going to give you some context: I had never eaten a bagel until I was in college. And in my first interaction with a bagel, I accidentally put sour cream on it because I didnt know what cream cheese was. This was at Yale and we had a condiment station; there were several white condiments that werent labeled, and you just kind of had to be able to tell them apart. And I had never had sour cream or cream cheese, but I had seen people putting white stuff on a bagel. I clearly picked the wrong one. So I swore off bagels after that. At the time, I didnt realize I had put the wrong thing on it, and I thought: I just dont like bagels. And I literally didnt have another bagel until this story Im about to tell you. Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in an episode of "Abbott Elementary." (Gilles Mingasson/ABC) Cut to August 2015, Id been cast in Transparent playing one of Carrie Brownsteins best friends (Brownstein played a character named Syd Feldman). I got cast off of meeting the shows creator Joey Soloway at a Pride event and a mutual friend was like, Brittanis really funny! and days later I had an offer in my inbox. But I was so new, I truly had no idea how anything worked in TV. I had been a production assistant and I had been in jobs around the industry. And I had shot my own web series. But as far as a real TV set with professionals on the Paramount lot? No. I was so overwhelmed most of the time I was there. People dont talk about the small things that make you realize: Oh, this is truly my first time because I dont know how to navigate this situation. Like, do I just hang out in my trailer until someone comes to get me? No one tells you this stuff. So this was the last episode I was going to be appearing in. And the scene is with the whole Pfefferman family. Its Yom Kippur in the episode and, of course, I had no idea what that is I had no idea about any Jewish holidays. But this is a show about a Jewish family, so bagels are part of their lives. Were at this dinner and the whole gang is there. My character was there to sort of break some of the awkward tension. And were given bagels to eat because thats what theyre breaking their fast with. Advertisement In the action line for the episode, it says something like: She feasts on bagels. Im supposed to be aggressively eating bagels. And I take that to heart (laughs). I dont have any lines in this scene. My job was to eat bagels and make faces. But I can tell that the camera is catching me a fair amount of the time. I dont know what take that theyre going to use. But I know that the action says Im supposed to feast on these bagels. Again, I have not eaten a bagel since my very unfortunate situation in college. The cast if "Abbott Elementary" from left:Tyler James Williams, Quinta Bruin, Lisa Ann Walter and Sheryl Lee Ralph. (Gilles Mingasson/ABC) Well, I end up eating not one bagel, not two bagels, but four bagels. Thats a lot of bagels. It almost became a bit I was doing. I also didnt know about spit buckets. So every time they reset my bagel, I would eat the bagel. The worst part is, they didnt end up using any of the footage of me eating the bagels! In the episode, there are a couple shots of me passing a plate and making a face. So I did all that bagel eating for nothing. I gave my appetite to all these bagels for nothing! And of course, when they called lunch I couldnt eat anything because I was full of bagels (laughs). Advertisement What is the reality of eating on camera and what is a spit bucket? A spit bucket is what it sounds like: When an actor is seen eating something on camera, when they call cut you just spit it into a bucket so you dont have to swallow it and end up eating pounds and pounds of food. A lot of time the food is treated with something to make it last longer. Or its cold because its been out for so long. Or it can be really disgusting because theyre not making it with someone tasting it in mind. Brittani Nichols is a writer for the hit series Abbott Elementary." (MAIWENN RAOULT / NYT) Luckily the bagels werent gross. With my previous bagel experience, I thought this was going to be disgusting. I thought I was going to have to put on a performance to convince everyone that I was enjoying these bagels. So in that respect, I was relieved that the bagels tasted good. And there was actual cream cheese on the bagels this time. Four bagels with cream cheese is a lot of bread and dairy in one go. (Laughs) It is. It really didnt hit me until I left. So much of that day was normal nerves, but then I became concerned that I was going to become physically ill. Luckily I was still pretty young and could eat whatever I wanted and bounce back. But I imagine if Id had a spit bucket, that would be pretty gross too. Just to have that sitting next to you with all your spit-out food in it for hours. That doesnt sound like a great option to me either! Advertisement On Abbott, when theyre in the teachers lounge eating lunch, theyre really just snacking and those are snacks that the actors themselves like. But there was an episode in which Quinta is on a date and the tag is that shes eating ribs really hardcore and her face is plastered in barbecue sauce. And she did not have a spit bucket. Whats hilarious is the idea for that scene was hers! So I wrote it, and then when we were on set filming it she was like, Brittani, why did you do this to me! (laughs) The takeaway I have no regrets I enjoyed giving it my all even though it was such a small role and no one really gave a crap that I was doing all this character work with these bagels. No ones ever going to watch that and be like, Wow, that bagel eating! But it was my first big Hollywood experience. And now I have enough production experience to make an informed decision about whether I want to eat the food or if I need a spit bucket. Quinta Brunson about to dig into a plate of ribs on "Abbott Elementary." (Bonnie Osborne/ABC) Nina Metz is a Tribune critic nmetz@chicagotribune.com Lucas Jackson/Reuters Republican members of Congress lambasted Tucker Carlson on Tuesday for his characterization of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection as peaceful chaos, citing police statementsand their own lived experiencesas evidence to the contrary. I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol Police about what happened on January 6, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told reporters on Tuesday, according to NBC News. It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way thats completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks. McConnell held up and referenced a letter written by Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who ripped into Carlsons offensive and misleading portrayal of events during his Monday night broadcast. Carlson presented footage from that day, given to him exclusively by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), that he claimed demolishes the idea that Jan. 6 constituted a deadly insurrection and that Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknicks death the next day resulted from its events, as his family has contended. The program conveniently cherry-picked from the calmer moments of our 41,000 hours of video, Manger wrote in the letter to his officers, which was first reported by Politico. The commentary fails to provide context about the chaos and violence that happened before or during these less tense moments. Manger also maintained that, had Sicknick not been assaulted by rioters while defending the Capitol, he would not have died the next day. Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was franker. I think its bullshit, he said, according to NBC News. I was here. I was down there and I saw maybe a few tourists, a few people who got caught up in things. If those who attacked the Capitol were merely visitors, he said, they shouldve probably lined up at the visitors center and came in on an orderly basis. The sentiment was echoed by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who noted to NBC News that when you come into the chambers, when you start opening the members desks, when you stand up in their balconyto somehow put that in the same category as, you know, permitted peaceful protest is just a lie. Story continues Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), a frequent contrarian within the GOP ranks, told reporters it was really sad to see Tucker Carlson go off the rails like that and claimed the Fox News host was joining a range of shock jocks that are disappointing America and feeding falsehoods. The American people saw what happened on Jan. 6, Romney said. Other Republican senators, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), also joined the pile-on. I think the Jan. 6 committee had a partisan view of things, and Id like to know more about what happened that day and the day before, Graham said, according to NBC News. But Im not interested in whitewashing the COVID lab theory, and Im not interested in whitewashing Jan. 6. The criticism of Carlson extended to GOP House members. I don't really have a problem with making it all public, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) told Politico. But if your message is then to try and convince people that nothing bad happened, then it's just gonna make us look silly. I don't think transparency is ever a mistake. I think Tucker's message doesn't make any sense, he added. Seven people died in connection with the riot, according to a bipartisan Senate report released in June 2021, while two D.C. police officers died by suicide months later. Nearly 140 police officers were injured that day, and the Department of Justice said more than 1,000 people have been arrested. Carlson has promised to show more of the House surveillance footage on Tuesday, which he claimed on Monday was vetted by Capitol Police with only minor reservations. A Capitol Police source told NBC News that the agency only got advance notice of one of the clips aired on Monday and was not permitted to preview more. 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 House Foreign Affairs Committee is preparing to launch its first public hearing stemming from its investigation into the evacuation of Afghanistan, vowing to examine President Bidens role in the chaotic U.S. exit from the country. The hearing and those that follow will zero in on one of the most dramatic months of the Biden presidency. While Biden allies tout the largest evacuation in history as a success despite inheriting difficult circumstances and a deal brokered by the prior administration, the GOP has cast the event as nothing short of a disaster. Lawmakers on the panel will meet Wednesday with two leaders of outfits that organized amid the withdrawal, staging charter flights to aid Afghans seeking to escape the country, as well as other veterans, including a former Army medic on the scene amid a suicide bombing just outside the airport gates. The U.S. evacuated roughly 88,500 Afghans in August of 2021, but that exit came at a steep price. Thirteen service members lost their lives as the military tried to maintain control of Hamid Karzai International Airport while numerous Afghan allies were left behind. The country, now under Taliban rule, is facing an economic crisis and food shortage, while many of those who aided the U.S. during its 20-year mission in Afghanistan have struggled to flee the country or remain in hiding. The committee, led by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), is seeking to focus on the difficulty of evacuating allies as the U.S. rushed to meet an end-of-August deadline to leave the country. What happened in Afghanistan was a systemic breakdown of the federal government at every level and a stunning failure of leadership by the Biden administration. As a result, the world watched heartbreaking scenes unfold in and around the Kabul airport, McCaul said in a statement to The Hill. I want every gold and blue star family member, and every veteran out there who watch this hearing to know: I will not rest until we determine how this happened and hold those accountable responsible. Story continues That story will be told from the veteran perspective on Wednesday. Scott Mann with Task Force Pineapple and France Hoang with Allied Airlift 21 will speak about their efforts to organize charter flights out of Afghanistan. Aiden Gunderson is the medic who will testify about the scene on the ground, as will Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a sniper who was working at the airport gates. Peter Lucier, a veteran who works with Team America Relief, which worked to help Afghans seeking to evacuate and is still working to assist those who wish to leave the country, will testify at the invitation of committee Democrats. Veterans groups and lawmakers spent months sounding the alarm the U.S. was not moving fast enough to process the Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) given to those who assisted military efforts in the country. It was many of those same voices that sprang into action during the evacuation. But it was the horrifying images of Afghans running on the tarmac with luggage and even hanging from airplanes that captured public attention. Numerous private groups launched in the hectic days of the withdrawal, raising significant private funds to secure charter flights to ferry Afghans out of the country. Still, the efforts had their own complexities. On the one hand, they aided vulnerable Afghans in escaping the country, in some cases even after the U.S. had withdrawn, assisting those who otherwise may have had little chance of escaping. Many were organized by those with ties to the military, determined to rescue those they had connected with over their service. But some who were evacuated to official U.S.-connected intermediate sites fell short of the standards needed to secure passage to America, including Afghans who worked with the military for less than the three years required to secure an SIV. Some remain abroad, left to pursue a journey to the U.S. though the refugee system, which often takes years. Absent from Wednesdays hearing are any Afghan people evacuated during the withdrawal or other representatives from the Afghan community. This was an issue that was very intimate and close to the Afghan diaspora in the U.S., said Mustafa Babak, executive director of the Afghan-American Foundation, noting that many were working to get their own relatives out of the country during the evacuation. He said the group has struggled to get answers to their own questions about the evacuation that continues to impact those who fled. Some of these questions we have been asking from the very beginning, since August 2021 when the whole process started. Whether it be whats happening to those who are still left behind, SIVs, the evacuation process, and the resettlement process, and future for those who made it to the U.S., he said. The U.S. commitment to leave Afghanistan was negotiated under the Trump administration through the Doha Agreement, which required the removal of all U.S. troops. But the terms of the agreement collided with already slow SIV processing times that diminished to just a trickle under the Trump administration. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the committee, nodded to the circumstances leading up to the evacuation, saying through a spokesperson that any review cannot be done with a lens focused only on those days in August 2021. As we continue the relocation effort, its important to learn from both the success and challenges of the evacuation. However, any efforts to paint a narrow picture that strips out the context of our policy decisions leading up to the 2021 evacuation would be a disingenuous attempt to mislead the American public and politicize the issue. Democrats on the committee will seek to understand that context so the same mistakes are not repeated going forward, a spokesperson for House Foreign Affairs Democrats said in a statement to The Hill. The first hearing could also mark a significant shift in the power dynamic for a former GOP minority that has struggled to get cooperation from the Biden administration. McCauls team previously released a report criticizing Biden for the withdrawal, which while failing to deliver any smoking guns, offered a detailed look at the circumstances leading up to the withdrawal as well as the evacuation itself. The Biden administrations, and specifically the State Departments, refusal to provide Congress with the necessary information regarding Americas unconditional withdrawal from Afghanistan has hampered the Minority Committees ability to complete a thorough investigation, said the report, which was released at the anniversary of the withdrawal last August. The committee has made clear it hopes to use its newfound power to secure more cooperation from the Biden administration. I have subpoena power. I reserve that until necessary, McCaul recently said in an interview with Fox News. But Im prepared to do that to get answers to these questions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Tax season 2023 Gov. Mike DeWine anchored his proposed two-year budget around ways to help children and families in Ohio. Among those ideas: A $2,500 tax deduction for people with kids. "It is a budget that focuses on our people, on our families, and on our children, for they are Ohios greatest asset," DeWine said during his State of the State address. "It reflects our obligation to make sure every Ohioan has the tools to succeed, to get a good job, to live their dreams, whatever they may be." More:When to expect your Ohio and federal tax refunds this year But what exactly does a tax deduction entail, and how would it affect your bottom line? Here's what you need to know. Tax deduction vs. tax credit A tax deduction is an amount subtracted from your taxable income, which ultimately lowers your taxes. This is very different from a tax credit, such as the Child Tax Credit enacted by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tax credits are taken out of the income taxes you owe. Depending on the amount and type of credit, this can reduce your taxes to zero or lead to a refund from the government. DeWine said he opted for a deduction over a credit to help people out on their taxes, specifically. "What we've done gives tax relief," DeWine told USA TODAY Network Ohio reporters and editors last month. "The other is a subsidy to families. And again, there's nothing wrong with that. And I'm not necessarily at at all against that, but they're just different things. They're just different animals. They're just different goals that you have in mind." The proposal would cost the state about $130 million per year, according to the Office of Budget and Management. How much would I save? DeWine's proposed deduction would save parents some money, but the impact is less pronounced than a credit would be. It also depends how many children a family has; the deduction is $2,500 per kid. For example, families with two children earning $100,000 would save at most $184. That same family would get $5,000 off their tax bill with a credit. Story continues A single parent of one child who makes $40,000 would save about $69. To approximate how much you would save from the deduction: Calculate your state income taxes using your current taxable income and tax rate. Reminder: Ohio has tax brackets that use different rates for different levels of income. Subtract the deduction from your current taxable income $2,500 for one child, $5,000 for two, etc. Calculate taxes for that amount with the applicable tax rate. Subtract the second number from the first. Note: This applies only to state income taxes, not federal. Some critics of DeWine's proposal have said it doesn't help those who need it the most. Ohioans who make under $26,050 don't pay income taxes, meaning they wouldn't see any financial relief through the deduction. "The wealthier you are, the more you get from it, but its still very, very little," said Guillermo Bervejillo, a policy fellow at Policy Matters Ohio, a progressive, nonprofit research institute. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine presents his budget during his State of the State address at the Ohio Statehouse in January. Will DeWine's proposal pass? It's too soon to say whether the deduction will end up in the final two-year budget. House lawmakers started reviewing the governor's proposal last month and will eventually pass their own version of the spending plan. State Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, said he expects the Senate Finance Committee to get a crack at it beginning mid-April. Dolan and Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, who chairs the House Finance Committee, said they appreciate the spirit of DeWine's proposal and want to find ways to help parents. But it's unclear what the final version will look like, and Edwards wants to ensure any deduction affects all families in Ohio. "This might be an incentive for trying to relieve obstacles for people who want to have children and are thinking about family planning," Edwards said. House Republicans also have bigger plans for the state's tax code. They want to eliminate the state's progressive tax system in exchange for a flat tax rate on Ohioans earning over $26,050. Rea Hederman, the vice president of policy at the conservative Buckeye Institute, said that kind of broad tax proposal is more appealing than something that would only affect certain Ohioans. Any time you start to give people deductions based on certain characteristicsyoure shrinking the tax base so other people have to pay a higher tax rate," Hederman said. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine child tax deduction would affect tax bills Senator Lindsey Graham said Monday he plans to introduce legislation that will designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups, setting the stage for the U.S. to use military force against the criminal organizations if necessary. Graham appeared on Fox News to react to the news that four Americans were kidnapped in Matamoros, Mexico, with shocking footage showing armed men dragging the U.S. citizens into a white pickup truck. Governor of the Mexican state Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal, confirmed that two of the four have since been found dead, the Associated Press reported. The other two were found alive. Number one. Id do everything I could to get them back, Graham explained to Jesse Waters. I would do what Trump did. I would put Mexico on notice. If you continue to give safe haven to fentanyl drug dealers, then youre an enemy of the United States. Seventy to one hundred thousand people have died from fentanyl poisoning coming from Mexico and China and this administration has done nothing about it, he added. Graham pointed to an interventionist anti-cartel strategy proposed last week by former attorney general Bill Barr in the Wall Street Journal. [Following Bill Barrs idea,] Im going to introduce legislation, Jesse, to make certain Mexican drug cartels foreign terrorist organizations under U.S. law and set the stage to use military force if necessary to protect America from being poisoned by things coming out of Mexico, he said. In his op-ed, Barr explained that proscribing these cartels is not enough. These narco-terrorist groups are more like ISIS than like the American mafia. Case-by-case prosecution of individuals can be a part of an overall effort, but the only way to defeat them is to use every tool at our disposal inside Mexico, wrote Barr. Merely designating the cartels as terrorist groups will do nothing by itself. The real question is whether we are willing to go after them as we would a terrorist group. Story continues A far more aggressive American effort inside Mexico than ever before [is needed], including a significant U.S. law-enforcement and intelligence presence, as well as select military capabilities, added Barr. Optimally, the Mexican government will support and participate in this effort, and it is likely to do so once they understand that the U.S. is committed to do whatever is necessary to cripple the cartels, whether or not the Mexican government participates. During his Senate Judiciary hearing last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland admitted to Graham that current policies are not stopping fentanyl from killing Americans. Its a horrible epidemic, but its an epidemic thats been released on purpose by the Sinaloa and the new generation Jalisco cartels, Garland said. While the attorney general agreed that fentanyl should not lose its Schedule I status, he demurred on raising mandatory minimums. Additionally, asked if he would be opposed to Graham and his colleagues designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, Garland explained he wouldnt be opposed, but added there are diplomatic concerns. We need the assistance of Mexico in thisThey are helping us, but they could do much more. If this helping, I would hate to see what not helping looks like, Graham retorted. The cartels also promise to be a live issue in the 2024 presidential race. One Republican candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, has already pledged to use justified military force to decimate them Osama bin Laden-style, [Qasem] Soleimani-style. Graham concluded by sending a direct warning to Mexico. I would tell the Mexican government: If you dont clean up your act, were gonna clean it up for you, Graham said. More from National Review Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Monday said he was prepared to introduce legislation to set the stage for U.S. military force in Mexico, saying it was time to get tough on the neighboring country after four Americans were kidnapped by armed men this week. Graham told Fox News host Jesse Watters that he would follow the advice of former President Trump on Mexico policy. I would put Mexico on notice, Graham said. If you continue to give safe haven to drug dealers, then you are an enemy of the United States. Graham added he would introduce legislation to make certain Mexican drug cartels foreign terrorist organizations under U.S. law and set the stage to use military force if necessary. I would tell the Mexican government if you dont clean up your act, were going to clean it up for you, the senator said. It was unclear what type of legislation the GOP lawmaker was suggesting. The Hill has reached out to Grahams office for clarification. Military action in Mexico would require an Authorization for Use of Military Force, which would need to pass a divided Congress and then be signed into law by the president. Congress would need a two-thirds majority to override a veto. Even then, President Biden, as the commander-in-chief, has direct control over the armed forces. The president has committed to working with Mexico to stop the flow of illicit drugs across the border. A Mexican governor said Tuesday that two of the Americans kidnapped were found dead, while one was wounded and another was unharmed. The four Americans traveled to Mexico on Friday and were kidnapped in the city of Matamoros after they were caught in a deadly shootout, officials announced. The group was traveling in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. U.S. authorities, who believe the Americans were likely mistaken for someone else, had offered a $50,000 reward for their safe return. Story continues The city of Matamoros is dominated by the Gulf drug cartel. Other cities and states in Mexico are under increasing strain from cartel groups vying for power and markets across the country. Conservatives this week latched onto news of the captured Americans to renew calls for tougher action against Mexico. Former Trump administration Attorney General William Barr called Mexico a failed Narcos state in a Fox News interview, saying its government is corrupt and lacks the ability to deal with the cartels. We have to deal with this group like we dealt with ISIS, Barr said, referring to the U.S.-designated terrorist group. We have to use every tool, we have to use economic, we have to use intelligence assets, military assets and law enforcement and we have to methodically dismantle these groups. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican Museums gave Greece three 2,500-year-old pieces of the Parthenon on Tuesday and the Greek side said the gesture should be imitated by others, a likely reference to a collection of sculptures from the ancient temple that are held by Britain. The fragments have been in the papal collections of the Vatican Museums for more than a century and Pope Francis ordered their return last December. The pope has donated them to Ieronymos II, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, as a gesture of ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. Ieronymos' representative at Tuesday's signing ceremony at the Vatican Museums, Rev. Papamikroulis Emmanouil, called the pope's gesture "historic". Emmanouil said there was "much left to do to heal the wounds and traumas suffered by this monument (the Parthenon) because of practices that belong to a distant past". "The hope is ... that his gesture by the Holy Father will be imitated by others. His Holiness the pope of Rome has proven that this is possible and realistic," he said. The Parthenon, which is on the Acropolis in Athens, was completed in the fifth century BC as a temple to the goddess Athena, and its decorative friezes contain some of the greatest examples of ancient Greek sculpture. According to the Vatican Museums website, one piece being returned to Greece is the head of the horse that was pulling Athena's chariot on the west side of the building. The others are from the head of a boy and the head of a bearded male. In his address at the signing ceremony the governor of Vatican City, Cardinal Fernando Vergez, said the three pieces were acquired by the papacy "correctly" at the start of the 19th century. He did not elaborate. With the donation to Greece, the Vatican Museums no longer holds any parts of the Parthenon. The pieces are being returned as London and Athens have entered talks over the a collection known as the Parthenon Sculptures held by the British Museum. Story continues Greece has repeatedly called for the permanent return of the sculptures, which British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the temple in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Greece's then-ruler. The British Museum has long ruled out returning the marbles, which include about half of the 160-metre (525-foot) frieze that adorned the Parthenon, and insists they were legally acquired. Last month, British Museum chair George Osborne said the UK was working on a new arrangement with Greece through which the Parthenon Sculptures could be seen both in London and in Athens. (This story has been refiled to specify that the Pope ordered the return of fragments last December, in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) By Stamos Prousalis and Kristian Brunse ATHENS (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Greece on Wednesday and workers went on strike in the biggest show of public anger yet over the country's deadliest train disaster that killed 57 people last week. The crash on Feb. 28 has stirred public outrage over the crumbling state of the rail network. Striking workers say years of neglect, underinvestment and understaffing - a legacy of Greece's decade-long debt crisis - are to blame. In the largest street protests the government has faced since being elected in 2019, police estimated more than 60,000 people, among them transport workers, students and teachers, took part in demonstrations in cities across Greece. More than 40,000 people marched to parliament in central Athens alone, chanting "Murderers!" and "We are all in the same carriage". Violence briefly broke out when a group of protesters clashed with riot police, who fired tear gas at the crowd. Protesters hurled petrol bombs in front of parliament and set a van and garbage bins on fire. Thousands also took to the streets in Greece's second-biggest city of Thessaloniki, where a group of protesters hurled stones at a government building. Many of the around 350 people aboard an intercity passenger train that collided head-on with a freight train while travelling on the same track were university students heading north to Thessaloniki from Athens. "Message me when you get there," a placard in Athens read, echoing what has become one of the slogans of the protests over the past week. "You feel angry because the government did nothing for all of those kids. The public transport is a mess," said 19-year-old Nikomathi Vathi. "We're going to be here until things change," said another student, Vaggelis Somarakis. The conservative government, which had been planning to call an election in the coming weeks, promised on Wednesday to fix the ailing rail system. Story continues Transport Minister George Gerapetritis told a news conference he understood the anger the accident had caused. "No train will set off again, if we have not secured safety at the maximum possible level," he said after announcing a suspension of the service while it reviews safety. WARNINGS Rail workers had already been staging rolling strikes since Thursday, bringing the network to a halt. They say their demands for improvement in safety protocols have gone unheard for years and have promised to "impose safety" to ensure that a crash will not be repeated. "We drivers have filed complaints about these things, we have gone on strike about it, we have made warnings, we have protested," said the head of the train drivers' union, Kostas Genidounias. "They told us we were lying, we were slanderous, we had other interests. In the end it showed that the workers were right." Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY joined Wednesday's 24-hour strike. City transport workers walked off the job in solidarity, disrupting metro, tram and bus services in the capital. Ships also remained docked at ports as seamen participated in the action. "It's not the time to fall silent," a teachers' union said. The government, whose term expires in July, has blamed the crash mainly on human error and deficiencies it says have not been fixed over the past decades. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has handed the portfolio to Gerapetritis, one of his closest allies. Gerapetritis said funds would be invested in upgrading infrastructure and hiring staff, and also promised to shed light to the causes of the crash. Greece sold its state-owned railway operator, now called Hellenic Train, to Italy's state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane in 2017 during its debt crisis. The sale was a term in the country's bailout agreements with the European Union and the Washington-based International Monetary Fund. (Additional reporting by Karolina Tagaris, Renee Maltezou, Angeliki Koutantou, Lefteris Papadimas, Louiza Vradi, Florion Goga, Alkis Konstantinidis, Alexandros Avradmidis in Athens and Murad Sezer in Thessaloniki; Writing by Karolina Tagaris and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Alison Williams) CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition party Popular Will said on Tuesday that Juan Guaido, once the most visible global face of the country's opposition, will be its candidate in an October presidential primary. Guaido, a 39-year-old industrial engineer, headed an interim government beginning in January 2019, before being replaced as head of the opposition legislature at the end of 2022. Though Guaido was recognized as Venezuela's rightful leader by many Western countries which consider President Nicolas Maduro's 2018 re-election to be fraudulent, Maduro remains in office and is enjoying loosened U.S. sanctions and renewed relations with some neighbors. Popular Will opposed the removal of the interim government, saying it would seek unity among the opposition ahead of the presidential contest expected in 2024. Popular Will's national activist team has decided "that Juan Guaido will be the candidate," party national coordinator Freddy Superlano said at the group's Caracas headquarters. At least a dozen candidates have said they will participate in the primary, which will come amid widespread voter apathy and uncertainty about whether the millions of Venezuelans who have migrated abroad will be able to vote. Guaido and some other candidates, including previous opposition presidential hopeful Henrique Capriles, are barred by judicial and administrative rulings from holding public positions. The government has said those who are barred cannot run until their bans expire, but the opposition says the decisions are part of a government strategy to tamp down dissent. (Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Richard Chang) Images of Fox News personalities, from left, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Maria Bartiromo, Stuart Varney, Neil Cavuto and Charles Payne appear outside News Corporation headquarters in New York on July 31, 2021. (Ted Shaffrey/AP) NEW YORK Fox News is on an unlikely collision course with two leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination over the rights of journalists. In defending itself against a massive defamation lawsuit over how it covered false claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election, the network is relying on a nearly 60-year-old Supreme Court ruling that makes it difficult to successfully sue media organizations for libel. Advertisement Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, two favorites of many Fox News viewers, have advocated for the court to revisit the standard, which is considered the foundational case in American defamation law. It is ironic that Fox is relying on a landmark case that was designed to help the news media play the watchdog role in a democracy and is under attack by Gov. DeSantis, Donald Trump and other figures who have been untethered in their attacks on journalists as enemies of the people, said Jane Hall, a communication professor at American University. Advertisement Eye-catching evidence has emerged from court filings in recent weeks revealing a split screen between what Fox was portraying to its viewers about the false claims of election fraud and what hosts and executives were saying about them behind the scenes. Sydney Powell is lying, Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in a text to a producer, referencing one of the attorneys pushing the claims for Trump. In an email a few weeks after the 2020 election, Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch described a news conference featuring Powell and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another attorney who pushed the election lies: Really crazy stuff. And damaging. Aside from the revelations about Foxs inner workings, the outcome could have broad implications for media organizations because of how they and the courts have come to rely on the libel law Fox is using as a shield. In its $1.6 billion lawsuit, voting machine maker Dominion Voting Systems argues that Fox repeatedly aired allegations that the company helped rig the general election against Trump despite many at the news organization privately believing the claims were false. Fox says the law allows it to air such claims if they are newsworthy. In a 1964 decision in a case involving The New York Times, the U.S. Supreme Court greatly limited the ability of public officials to sue for defamation. It ruled that news outlets are protected against a libel judgment unless it can be proven that they published with actual malice knowing that something was false or acting with a reckless disregard to whether it was true or not. In one example of how the law was applied, editors at the Times acknowledged last year that an editorial mistakenly linked former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palins rhetoric to an Arizona mass shooting. Palin lost her libel suit because she couldnt prove the newspaper erred without concern for the truth. Some advocates for free speech worry that the Dominion-Fox lawsuit ultimately could give a conservative Supreme Court a chance to revisit the standard set in the case, known as New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. While the case has been among the courts most durable precedents, the newly empowered conservative majority has indicated a willingness to challenge what had been considered settled law as it did last year in overturning abortion rights. Advertisement Two Supreme Court justices, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, have publicly expressed interest in giving the precedent another look. In dissenting from a 2021 decision not to take up a libel case, Gorsuch wrote that what began in 1964 as a decision to tolerate occasional errors to allow robust reporting has evolved into an ironclad subsidy for the publication of falsehoods by any means and on a scale previously unimaginable. He said the modern media landscape is much different today, and suggested it was less careful. My wish is that the parties would settle and this case would go away, said Jane Kirtley, director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and the Law at the University of Minnesota. I dont see any good coming out of it. A perceived strength in Dominions case also worries some supporters of the press. Dominion says Fox was, in effect, torn between the truth that Joe Biden legitimately won the race and pleasing viewers who wanted to believe Trumps lies. In depositions released last week, Murdoch argued that Fox as a network did not endorse the claims, but that some of its commentators Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro and Sean Hannity at times did. Murdoch was among several at Fox to say privately they didnt believe the claims made by Trump and his allies that widespread fraud cost him reelection. In his deposition, Murdoch said he could have prevented guests who were spouting conspiracies from going on the air, but didnt. Advertisement One of the defenses is that even false speech about public figures is protected so long as it is believed by the speaker, First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams said. But no one at Fox appears ready to say that he or she did believe the assertions ... and there now appears to be substantial evidence that no one there at Fox did so. Its a major blow. Foxs entire prime-time lineup privately disparaged Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, according to court papers. Laura Ingraham, in a text to Carlson, called her a nut. In a deposition, Hannity said he did not believe her theories for one second. Nevertheless, Powell was interviewed on Fox 11 times between Nov. 8 and Dec. 10, 2020, according to court papers. Dominions lawyers say Fox is arguing that it has no legal responsibility for broadcasting even the most horrible allegations, knowing they are false, as long as they are deemed newsworthy. Fox said Dominion is presenting an extreme view of defamation, one in which the network had a duty not to report the allegations but to suppress them or denounce them as false. Under Dominions approach, if the president falsely accused the vice president of plotting to assassinate him, the press would be liable for reporting the newsworthy allegations so long as someone in the newsroom thought it was ludicrous, Fox lawyers said in court papers. Such a rule would stop the media in its tracks, Fox said. Advertisement Theres a high bar for proving libel and thats deliberate, First Amendment attorney Lee Levine said. Dominion has to show that a reasonable audience could conclude that someone at Fox was making these allegations, not just the interview subjects, he said. Still, Levine said, Dominion has the strongest defamation case hes seen in 40 years of being involved in the topic. George Freeman, executive director of the Media Law Resource Center, said Fox should cite a lesser-known neutral reportage standard that dates back to a court case from the 1970s. It holds that news organizations should not be discouraged from reporting something newsworthy even if there are serious doubts about the truth, as long as that information comes from responsible and prominent sources. But the U.S. Supreme Court has not weighed in on that argument, and a number of lower courts have rejected it. Its also not clear that the defense would be legally applicable in the Dominion case against Fox. There is sentiment in Republican circles that the Sullivan standard goes too far in protecting news organizations. DeSantis last month urged the Supreme Court to revisit libel laws, saying they are used to smear politicians and discourage people from running for office. A bill being considered in the Florida Legislature would significantly weaken standards in the state. Trump said last year that the court should consider his own defamation lawsuit against CNN a perfect vehicle for revisiting precedents. Advertisement Some media law advocates that the University of Minnesotas Kirtley has talked to privately, people who are usually eager to support the press in libel cases, are queasy about publicly backing Fox in the voting machine lawsuit. Many see the case as a surrogate to hold Fox and Trump supporters accountable for what happened after the 2020 election, she said. I dont think a libel suit is the vehicle to deal with this, and you have to think about what damage could be done to libel law if Dominion wins, she said. A woman who battled mouth cancer and learned to eat and breathe again became a pilot while undergoing treatment and says she now feels totally liberated. Jackie Burch, 30, noticed a sore on her tongue in December 2019 and went to the doctor to have it checked. After pushing for a biopsy on the growth she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in April 2020. Jackie, originally from Orange County, California, underwent surgery to remove the growth in November 2020, and spent a week with a tracheostomy - an opening in the neck with a tube inserted to help you breathe. Two months later the growth returned, and Jackie pushed to have two further surgeries in January 2021 because she wanted the best possible chance to live cancer free. Despite her ordeal, Jackie decided to learn to fly and started her training whilst still undergoing treatment. Now two years in remission, Jackie has obtained her pilots licence and loves to fly a light aircraft, built by her husband, Tobias Stein, 31. Jackie, a hotel host and former civil engineer based in Lucerne, Switzerland, said: It was terrifying mentally and physically to go through it. When the growth started coming back on my tongue again, I got really scared. It was tough. More emotionally than anything else, because I came out of surgery with a tube in my nose, my arm in a bandage, and Im breathing through a hole in my neck. My tongue is tethered. My voice is different. My speech is different. (Jackie Birch / SWNS) However Jackie said flying has helped her feel liberated in spite of her cancer experience. She said: Flying - its absolutely the most ultimate freedom Ive ever felt. My tongue or my smile is crooked. But the most important thing is that Im doing exactly what I want to do in my life. Jackie met her husband, Tobias, a pilot, in December 2016 and discovered a passion for aviation after seeing he was building an aircraft in his house. She said: After I lost my job, he suggested to pay for me to get flying lessons.I thought how can a girl say no to that? Story continues (Jackie Birch / SWNS) But Jackies training was halted when she discovered a growth on her tongue in December 2019. She went to her doctor in New Zealand, where she was living at the time, and had a biopsy which revealed she had precancerous cells on her tongue growth. She was told her to monitor it and on her return to the United States she started a course of steroid injections and pills to get rid of the lump. Jackie said: I was like, this really hurts now. I need to have this removed. She had another biopsy in April 2020 which revealed she had squamous cell carcinoma. Jackie said: It was crazy. It was silent and something just like completely changed. The doctor said I was one of only two people who have ever had this. (Jackie Birch / SWNS) Following her diagnosis and biopsy she underwent further scans and tests but in July 2020 her cancer returned. She had an hour long operation to remove the growth in November 2020 - including a neck dissection to test the lymph nodes for cancer. Jackie spent a week with a tracheostomy and had shoulder pain where her nerves were damaged. She said: Honestly, it was tough. More emotionally than anything else. I just thought What did I just do? Am I ever going get better? Am I ever going eat that hamburger again? It was really hitting me when I got out of the hospital. Seven days later, I was doing great. I started being able to close the hole in my neck. I was breathing out of my mouth and I was still eating out of the tube of my nose. Slowly I got the tube out of my nose and started eating some food - mainly blended food. (Jackie Birch / SWNS) The couple had bought a hangar home to house their new aircraft - a bush airplane named Pocahontas and a Cessna 150 when Jackie relapsed. Jackie said: I didnt really have any friends while I was recovering in our new home on the airstrip, so I was really excited to start the flying lessons again because I was bored and I wanted to get it done. As soon as Jackies arm and shoulder had improved she started taking flying lessons again. Within a year she gained her private pilots license in March 25 2021 and began flying a small single engine piston aircraft. Jackie said: My wounds were healing. My energy started coming up. I was a maniac. I wanted to get everything done. I was so stoked that I could talk on the radio, after the tracheostomy and learning to breathe again. I could be understood on the radio, which is absolutely incredible to me. The feeling of getting past that fear was amazing. Its such a subconscious fear. Im an engineer. I know the wing is really not going to fall off right? I wanted to get everything done That has been such an incredible journey to continue to acknowledge that I have a fear but also find so much joy in getting to my destination. The super amazing thing about aviation is the community. It is such a tight community of people, theres such openness, camaraderie of the pilot community. Its absolutely 100% freedom. When Im in America, say I wanted to go fly to Las Vegas, I could just set off from my house and in half an hour Im at Las Vegas. Jackie is now in remission but has been told there is a chance her cancer could return. She said: On my last cancer check-up, I learned that in the first two years theres between a 20 and 30 per cent chance the cancer comes back. There is this sense of pressure that you only live once. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Health is not a given and still to this day I have these conversations with myself Is this, in this moment really what I want to do? I dont really think about it all the time. I mean, I always have to basically use a fork to move food in my mouth. But other than that it doesnt affect my life on a day to day anymore. Almost half of Ukrainians are in favour of the immediate prosecution of people involved in corruption in the Defence Ministry, while the same number believe that it is necessary to conduct a longer and more thorough investigation. Source: Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), according to the results of a survey conducted between 14-22 February Quote: "There is a debate in society about the Defence Ministry... The issue has polarised Ukrainians: 46% believe that it is better to investigate more thoroughly and for a longer time, while at the same time the same number (47%) of respondents believe that there should be immediate decisions on the slightest suspicion of corruption." Details: Sociologists noted that they asked Ukrainians this question after the scandal concerning possible corruption in the Defence Ministry, which shook the country in early 2023. One half of Ukrainians are convinced as for now that everyone should be immediately removed from office and prosecuted for the slightest suspicion of corruption, because this is especially important during times of war. Others believe that this will provoke instability within the Defence Ministry and negatively affect the country's defence capabilities and the acquisition of weapons from the West, so it is better to investigate such suspicions more thoroughly, albeit for a longer time. The study was conducted between 14-22 February. Two thousand and two respondents over the age of 18 living in all regions of Ukraine (except Crimea) were interviewed using the telephone interview method based on a random sample of mobile numbers. The sample did not include residents of territories that were temporarily beyond the control of the authorities of Ukraine until 24 February (Crimea, Sevastopol, some districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts), and the survey was not conducted among citizens who had left the country after 24 February. Formally, under normal circumstances, the margin error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.1) did not exceed 2.4% for indicators close to 50%, 2.1% for indicators close to 25%, 1.5% - for indicators close to 10%, and 1.1% for indicators close to 5%. Story continues A certain systematic deviation is added due to conditions of war, in addition to the specified formal error. However, sociologists believe that the results obtained are still highly representative, offering a fairly reliable analysis of the public mood. Background: ZN.ua reported on 21 January that the Defence Ministry procured food for soldiers which was two or three times more expensive than in shops in Kyiv. Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, already involved in the case of embezzlement of US$580,000 during the procurement of military ammunition, signed a contract with the Aktyv company in December. Information about "chicken eggs for 17 hryvnias" went viral: the journalists investigation mentioned the price per egg, even though the document contained the price for 100 grams. The Ministry of Defence called the information about food being too expensive as misleading and manipulation and promised to turn to the Security Service of Ukraine. Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov denied the accusations of his ministry. Later in his interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Reznikov admitted that he was too emotional and promised to thoroughly check all facts discovered by the journalists. Viacheslav Shapovalov, Deputy Minister of Defence, resigned on 24 January 2023 due to a scandal over food procurement for the Ukrainian military at inflated prices. Bohdan Khmelnytskyi was fired from the position of the head of the state procurement department at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, a fact that became known on 25 January. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal issued instructions that the state procurement system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine be updated, to include the publishing of prices for food and goods. At the end of February, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine published updated contracts for the procurement of food products for the army; the food supply service will range from UAH 137 to UAH 144 [approximately US$3.71-3.9], the terms of the contracts have been shortened, and food prices have decreased. In particular, eggs will cost UAH 8-9 [equiv. to approx US$0.22-0.24] each. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Slapping, kicking, grabbing, covering the mouth with a hand -- and, oh yes, pouring water on a victim. Thats what allegedly happened on a New Hampshire school bus transporting intellectually disabled children home from school last month. But the kids werent fighting amongst themselves. Police say it was the bus driver assaulting the children who were just five to six years old. The incident happened on February 17th, said Hudson, NH Police Chief Tad Dionne. Three days later, Hudsons school department found out about it from a parent. The district contacted families of the students that were on this bus once we were made aware of the initial concern, said Hudson School Superintendent Daniel Moulis, Ed. D. The actions of the driver were wrong and violated the trust of our students and our parents. The actions also broke the law. Monday, Hudson police arrested the driver, 68-year-old Virene Poliquin, who had been employed for six years at Durham School Services. She is charged with nine Class A misdemeanor simple assault counts on three juvenile students, said Dionne. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Virene Poliquin assaulted one student seven times and two other students once. Those assaults were allegedly caught on the buss surveillance tape. Among those who viewed it, Chief Dionne. Ive been a police officer for a long time, he said. Needless to say, there are not too many events that make me pause when reviewing a case. This incident did so. Poliquins actions are completely unacceptable, disturbing and without justification under the law. Poliquin posted a $500 bail -- but no one came to the door of her home, save for a barking dog. But down the street, neighbor Dorothy Matthews was willing to weigh in. A lot. I have anger towards that person because I dont know why you could do this to a child, said Matthews who, along with her husband, served as a foster parent for thirty years.Its bad enough you do it to another person thats your age, but to a child whos defenseless? Story continues You are much stronger and wiser than them. It just hurts my heart. And Matthews knows kids can be a handful at times. Kids, theyre not always Mr. Perfect, Mrs. Little Perfect, she said. And they do things that aggravate you. But goodness gracious, youre an adult. Please. Treat children with tenderness and care. Class A Misdemeanors in New Hampshire are serious enough to warrant a possible prison sentence of less than one year. Poliquin faces arraignment in a Nashua Courtroom early next month. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Royal commentator Jennie Bond has said that William and Kate would prefer to have the disgraced Prince Andrew as their neighbour over Meghan and Harry. The comments come as the King may reportedly offer the couple a suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace that previously belonged to the Duke of York, after asking them to vacate their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage. It is understood that the King has instead offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage to his brother, who is said to be resisting any attempt to move him out of his current home, the Royal Lodge. They [Prince and Princess of Wales] will be absolutely supportive of Charles decision. They probably dont want Harry and Meghan as their near neighbours, Bond told OK! Magazine. I think theyd probably have Andrew, she added. Bonds words follow reports that King Charles III has officially invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to his and the Queen Consorts coronation this spring. A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told The Times that they have received email correspondence about the coronation, but no decision has been disclosed about whether they will accept the invitation or not. It has been reported that the couple will not appear in any royal processions or on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside other working members of the royal family if they do end up attending the coronation. This would echo the arrangements during the late Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee celebrations last summer. On Saturday evening (4 March), Harry took part in a new interview with author Gabor Mate, during which he revealed that the lack of physical affection he received as a child impacts the way he parents his two children, Archie and Lilibet, today. Key Points Harry and Meghan have reportedly received official invitation to the Kings coronation Chris Rock questions Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family in Netflix stand-up show Prince Harry left Royal Family because he felt different Therapy helped me overcome my mothers death, says Duke of Sussex Duke and Duchess of Sussex stunned by request to vacate Frogmore Cottage Story continues Harry and Meghan will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony if they do attend coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 14:30 , Ellie Muir The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not likely to appear on the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace if they do attend the coronation on 6 May, it has been reported. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles spokesperson has indicated that they have received their invitation to the King and Queen Consorts coronation via email correspondence, but have not disclosed any decision about their attendance. The Sun now reports that, if they are going to the ceremony, they will not appear in any formal procession or on the balcony along with other working members of the royal family. This would echo their absence from the balcony during the late Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee celebrations last summer. Harry and Meghan travelled to the UK to celebrate the Queens 70th anniversary on the throne but only appeared in public alongside the rest of the family a few times. Inside Frogmore Cottage: the residence at the centre of a new royal row Tuesday 7 March 2023 16:33 , Ellie Muir The Grade II-listed Frogmore Cottage has been part of the royal familys property portfolio since the 19th century. Over the years, various members of the royal family have lived in the 10-bedroom house, which was first built as a retreat for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, in 1801. It is currently known for being the first marital home and UK residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. My colleague Kate Ng has the full report here. Inside Frogmore Cottage, the residence at the centre of a new royal row (Alamy Stock Photo) Inside Royal Lodge: The 30-room mansion Prince Andrew may have to vacate for Frogmore Cottage Tuesday 7 March 2023 16:16 , Ellie Muir The Duke of York has resided in the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park for nearly 20 years, but reports suggest his time there may be coming to an end. Prince Andrew first moved into the vast property in 2004 and made it his family home. He lives there with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. But it has now been reported that he may have to move out of Royal Lodge, as his brother the King may cut his 249,000 annual allowance. Kate Ng has the full report here. Prince Andrew is claimed to be resisting calls for him to move into Frogmore Cottage (Alamy Stock Photo) William and Kate would prefer Andrew as neighbour over Harry and Meghan, claims royal commentator Tuesday 7 March 2023 16:01 , Ellie Muir A royal commentator has said that the Prince and Princess of Wales would rather have Prince Andrew as their neighbour over Prince Harry and Meghan. It comes after reports last week revealed King Charles III evicted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, Windsor, and reportedly offered the keys to his disgraced brother Prince Andrew. But reports also suggest that he is set to extend an olive branch and offer a suite in Buckingham Palace to Harry and Meghan Markle. In response to the news that the Sussexes could be staying in Buckingham Palace, just 10 minutes away from Kensington Palace where the Prince and Princess and Wales live, English journalist and royal commentator Jennie Bond said that William and Kate would prefer Andrew as their neighbour over Harry and Meghan. They [Prince and Princess of Wales] will be absolutely supportive of Charles decision. They probably dont want Harry and Meghan as their near neighbours, Bond told OK! Magazine. I think theyd probably have Andrew, she added. It comes after Prince Harry alleged in his tell-all memoir Spare that his brother had once hit him. Harry also claimed that William and Kate did not like his wife Meghan and repeatedly described them behaving with hostility, while William is alelged to have urged his brother not to marry Markle before their wedding in 2018. Read the full report here. King Charles ordered Sussexes eviction to save monarchy, Piers Morgan says Tuesday 7 March 2023 15:42 , Ellie Muir Piers Morgan has said that King Charles III is moving to save the monarchy from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as he requests that the pair vacate their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Speaking on his TalkTV show Piers Uncensored, Morgan said: Moving to save the monarchy and its reputation from these two flamethrowers, who keep wanting to trash it and burn it to the ground.When accused by co-host Tessa Dunlop of shouting Harry and Meghan down, Morgan said he thinks they are a malevolent duo intent on fleecing their royal titles for hundreds of millions of dollars adding that they are causing damage to their family and the institution. Morgan said the King and Prince William are sick and tired of being trashed by the couple, alluding to Harrys claims made in his tell-all memoir Spare and his Netflix documentary with his wife, Harry & Meghan. Discussing whether they should attend the coronation, Morgan said good riddance to the pair and expressed that he does not want them to attend the ceremony.If I was Charles and Camilla...I wouldnt trust the pair of them as far as I could throw them, he said. "I haven't evicted them from this home, Harry's father has evicted them from this home." Piers Morgan responds to historian Tessa Dunlop telling him, "you've got what you want" as the King evicts Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage.@piersmorgan | @TessaDunlop | #PMU pic.twitter.com/Ef4YfEf3co Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) March 1, 2023 WATCH: Where will Harry and Meghan stay in UK after 'eviction' from Frogmore? Tuesday 7 March 2023 15:23 , Ellie Muir Camilla to be called Queen instead of Queen Consort after coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 15:02 , Ellie Muir As speculation continues over whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the coronation this spring, it has been reported that the Queen Consort will be known as the Queen instead following the ceremony. Before her death last September, the late Queen Elizabeth II announced that it was her sincere wish that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service. But a report quoting insiders at Buckingham Palace has suggested that the royal may shed the cumbersome title of Queen Consort for the simpler title of Queen. My colleague Kate Ng has the full report here: Camilla to be called Queen instead of Queen Consort after coronation (PA) Digital map to share details of coronation weekend events Tuesday 7 March 2023 14:46 , Ellie Muir People have been encouraged to share how they will celebrate the Kings coronation on a digital map set up by the government. The public will be able to share events they are hosting over the coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May so others in the local community can find out what is happening and get involved. Get all the details below: Digital map to share details of coronation weekend events (Getty Images) Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare, royal expert says Tuesday 7 March 2023 14:15 , Ellie Muir King Charles IIIs decision to request the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to vacate their UK residence cannot be seen as anything other than a reaction to the release of Prince Harrys memoir, a royal expert has said. In freelance writer and royal commentator RS Lockes opinion: Evicting the Sussex family from Frogmore Cottage is transparently punitive and King Charles wanted the couple and the public to know it. Kate Ng has the full report here. Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare, royal expert says (Getty Images) Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity Tuesday 7 March 2023 13:51 , Ellie Muir The Duke of Sussex has marked the 40th anniversary of the UKs leading HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. In a letter, released on Monday (6 March), Prince Harry said his work with the charity is a big piece of his mothers legacy, referencing Princess Dianas philanthropic work with people living with HIV and AIDS. Read the full report here. Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity (PA Images) Piers Morgan thanks Meghan Markle in acceptance speech at Sports Journalism Awards Tuesday 7 March 2023 13:31 , Ellie Muir Holy oil used during King Charles coronation will no longer include ambergris from whale intestines Tuesday 7 March 2023 13:14 , Ellie Muir The oil used to anoint the King and Queen Consort Camilla in the coronation on 6 May will be cruelty-free. This part of the ceremony is said to be one of the most sacred of the days rituals but will reflect modern anti-animal cruelty sentiments, according to a statement published by Buckingham Palace. Previous versions of the holy oil have included civet oil, from the glands of small mammals, and ambergris from the intestines of whales. This oil was used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and is based on a formula that has been used for hundreds of years. The altered formula for the holy oil for King Charles and Queen Consort Camillas coronation reflects concerns about animal cruelty and the need to protect wildlife. Read the full report here. Holy oil used during King Charles coronation will no longer include ambergris from whale intestines (PA Media) Sarah Ferguson says she has not received invite to Kings coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 12:51 , Ellie Muir Prince Andrews ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has revealed that she has not yet been invited to the coronation. Speaking at an event in New York City yesterday (6 March), Ferguson quipped that her attendance at the Kings coronation on 6 May was TBD, which means to be decided. The invitations havent gone out yet. Have they? she asked, reports MailOnline. She insisted that whether she receives an invite or not, she will be celebrating King Charles and Queen Consort Camillas coronation. The Duchess of York added that she could instead set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes. Fergusons comments come after representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that the pair had received invites to the Kings coronation, but they had not yet decided whether they will be attending. Read the full report here. Sarah Ferguson says she has not received invite to Kings coronation (Getty Images) Tuesday 7 March 2023 12:24 , Peony Hirwani Piers Morgan says he has never uttered racist word or sentiment against Meghan Markle Tuesday 7 March 2023 11:44 , Peony Hirwani On Sunday (5 March), the founder of Women in Leadership Publication, Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu retweeted a clip of Piers Morgan challenging journalist Ernest Owens for posting a series of tweets accusing him of being racist towards Meghan Markle. Piers Morgan demanding evidence of his racist tirades against Meghan Markle is Caucacity on steroids, she wrote. Mr Arbiter of What is Racism who uses his White privilege and global platform to aggravate racist/sexist/misogynist attacks against her accuses @MrErnestOwens of no evidence. Morgan responded to Mos-Shogbamimu, writing: Oh look, Britains most repulsive race-baiter strikes again! Ive never uttered one racist word or sentiment about Meghan Markle. I couldnt give a damn about her skin colour, only her vile campaign with her dim doormat husband to destroy the Royal Family with lies and smears. Oh look, Britain's most repulsive race-baiter strikes again! I've never uttered one racist word or sentiment about Meghan Markle. I couldn't give a damn about her skin colour, only her vile campaign - with her dim doormat husband - to destroy the Royal Family with lies & smears. https://t.co/n3lHg50N5q Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 5, 2023 Chris Rock questions Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family in Netflix stand-up show Tuesday 7 March 2023 11:04 , Peony Hirwani Chris Rock has joked about Meghan Markles accusations of racism against the royal family. During his stand-up special, titled Selective Outrage, the comedian addressed Markles interview with Oprah Winfrey that occurred in April 2021. In the interview, Markle and Prince Harry said that, while at Buckingham Palace, there were concerns raised about how dark their babys skin might be before Archie was born. Rock questioned the belief that Markle was the victim of racism, and brushed off her experience by saying she was merely dealing with in-law s***. Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? he started, adding: Seems like a nice lady just complaining. Like didnt she hit the light-skinned lottery? Read more: Chris Rock sends up Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family Tuesday 7 March 2023 10:24 , Peony Hirwani Harry close to being exiled from his family after self-sabotaging his relationship with William, says Lady Victoria Hervey Tuesday 7 March 2023 09:34 , Peony Hirwani Lady Victoria Hervey has said that Prince Harry is close to being exiled from his family after self-sabotaging his relationship with his brother Prince William. I think Prince Harry is self-sabotaging his relationship with his brother so much so that it has now become Cain and Abel, she said. Its becoming a bit of a blood sport. Harry is getting himself closer and closer to being exiled. I think hes only one or two steps away from that happening. Hervey told The Mirror that she thinks Harry is also pushing the line as much as possible so that happens and he can wallow in Victimhood. Camillas crown wont feature controversial Koh-i-noor diamond at King Charles coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 08:54 , Peony Hirwani The Queen Consort will wear Queen Marys crown for her and King Charles IIIs coronation at Westminster Abbey this spring. However, neither the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond nor its replica will feature in the crown, with Camilla opting to reuse the crown it was once set in instead. Read more: Camilla has chosen her crown for King Charles coronation Digital map to share details of coronation weekend events Tuesday 7 March 2023 08:14 , Peony Hirwani People have been encouraged to share how they will celebrate the Kings coronation on a digital map set up by the government. The public will be able to share events they are hosting over the coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May so others in the local community can find out what is happening and get involved. Get all the details below: Digital map to share details of Coronation weekend events Holy oil used during King Charles coronation will no longer include ambergris from whale intestines Tuesday 7 March 2023 07:34 , Peony Hirwani The oil used to anoint the King and Queen Consort Camilla in the coronation on 6 May will be cruelty-free. This part of the ceremony is said to be one of the most sacred of the days rituals but will reflect modern anti-animal cruelty sentiments, according to a statement published by Buckingham Palace. Ellie Muir reports. Coronation oil made with whale intestine ambergris to be cruelty free Piers Morgan says hes sick of talking about Harry and Meghan Tuesday 7 March 2023 06:54 , Peony Hirwani Piers Morgan has said that hes sick of talking about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Im sick of talking about them, the English broadcaster said. I think most of us are but they cant stop yapping about themselves. "I'm sick of talking about them... I think most of us are but they can't stop yapping about themselves." Piers says nobody takes Prince Harry's "self indulgent arrogance" seriously anymore, but if Harry "keeps lying, we'll keep having to cover it."pic.twitter.com/I8nAwYVQOB TalkTV (@TalkTV) March 6, 2023 Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity Tuesday 7 March 2023 06:14 , Peony Hirwani The Duke of Sussex has marked the 40th anniversary of the UKs leading HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. In a letter, released on Monday (6 March), Prince Harry said his work with the charity is a big piece of his mothers legacy, referencing Princess Dianas philanthropic work with people living with HIV and AIDS. Ellie Muir reports. Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare, royal expert says Tuesday 7 March 2023 05:34 , Peony Hirwani King Charles IIIs decision to request the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to vacate their UK residence cannot be seen as anything other than a reaction to the release of Prince Harrys memoir, a royal expert has said. In freelance writer and royal commentator RS Lockes opinion: Evicting the Sussex family from Frogmore Cottage is transparently punitive and King Charles wanted the couple and the public to know it. Find out more below: Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare Everything we know about King Charles IIIs coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 04:54 , Peony Hirwani The King and Queen Consorts coronation ceremony is just weeks away. Heres everything you need to know about the coronation weekend in May: When is the coronation of King Charles III? Prince Harry says he always felt different from rest of royal family Tuesday 7 March 2023 04:14 , Peony Hirwani The Duke of Sussex has opened up about how he always felt slightly different from other members of the royal family and said his mother felt the same way. In a new interview for readers of his memoir Spare, Prince Harry spoke about grieving his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and what it is like to live with loss. Speaking to author Gabor Mate, an expert in trauma and healing, Harry said that the release of his book made him feel incredibly free, despite sources saying his father and brother are furious about it. He described feeling slightly different to the rest of my family while growing up and that he lived in a bubble that was eventually burst by going to therapy. Kate Ng reports. Prince Harry says he always felt different from rest of royal family Harry and Meghan will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony if they do attend coronation Tuesday 7 March 2023 03:34 , Peony Hirwani The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not likely to appear on the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace if they do attend the coronation on 6 May, it has been reported. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles spokesperson has indicated that they have received their invitation to the King and Queen Consorts coronation via email correspondence, but have not disclosed any decision about their attendance. The Sun now reports that, if they are going to the ceremony, they will not appear in any formal procession or on the balcony along with other working members of the royal family. This would echo their absence from the balcony during the late Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee celebrations last summer. Harry and Meghan travelled to the UK to celebrate the Queens 70th anniversary on the throne but only appeared in public alongside the rest of the family a few times. Sarah Ferguson says she can financially support Prince Andrew amid Royal Lodge eviction reports Tuesday 7 March 2023 12:05 , Ellie Muir Sarah Ferguson has addressed reports that her ex-husband Prince Andrew has been asked to leave his residence at Royal Lodge and has been offered the keys to Harry and Meghans former home, Frogmore Cottage. The disgraced Duke of York has resided in the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park for nearly 20 years, but reports suggest his time there may be coming to an end and that his brother, King Charles, may cut his 249,000 annual allowance. Prince Andrew first moved into the vast property in 2004 and made it his family home. He lives there with Ferguson, and despite the pair splitting in 1992, they have remained close since. Speaking to Hello! on Sunday (5 March), Ferguson addressed the reports that Andrew may have his annual allowance taken away. The duke reportedly told friends that this would mean he would not be able to cover the cost of maintaining the 98-acre estate. However, sources said that the King vowed not to leave his younger brother homeless or penniless and it is understood that he has now offered Andrew the keys to Frogmore Cottage after requesting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to vacate it. This is really a matter for the Duke and His Majesty, Sarah said of the reports, before adding that Andrew doesnt actually take taxpayers money since he stepped back from royal duties. Ferguson continued, claiming that she is in the position to support [Andrew] and the rest of the family through my work. The Duchess of York has released a new novel titled The Most Intriguing Lady. It is set in the Victorian period and is about a Dukes daughter who solves crimes in the inner circles of high society. Read the full report here. Sarah Ferguson says she can financially support Prince Andrew following Royal Lodge eviction reports (Getty Images) WATCH: Harry Styles and Elton John among celebrities declining to perform at King Charless coronation concert Monday 6 March 2023 20:30 , Kate Ng Digital map to share details of coronation weekend events Monday 6 March 2023 19:30 , Kate Ng People have been encouraged to share how they will celebrate the Kings coronation on a digital map set up by the government. The public will be able to share events they are hosting over the coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May so others in the local community can find out what is happening and get involved. Get all the details below: Digital map to share details of Coronation weekend events King Charles III to break from tradition with specific outfit choice for coronation Monday 6 March 2023 18:30 , Kate Ng King Charles III has been advised to wear an outfit for his coronation that goes against previous royal tradition, according to reports. In previous ceremonies, the King or Queen has traditionally worn silk stockings and breeches. However, recent reports have claimed that King Charles will opt to wear his military uniform instead. Nicole Vassell reports: King Charles III to break from tradition with coronation outfit choice Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity Monday 6 March 2023 17:30 , Kate Ng The Duke of Sussex has marked the 40th anniversary of the UKs leading HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. In a letter, released on Monday (6 March), Prince Harry said his work with the charity is a big piece of his mothers legacy, referencing Princess Dianas philanthropic work with people living with HIV and AIDS. My colleague Ellie Muir reports: Prince Harry hails Princess Dianas legacy as he marks 40 years of HIV charity Camillas crown wont feature controversial Koh-i-noor diamond at King Charles coronation Monday 6 March 2023 16:30 , Kate Ng The Queen Consort will wear Queen Marys crown for her and King Charles IIIs coronation at Westminster Abbey this spring. However, neither the controversial Koh-i-noor diamond nor its replica will feature in the crown, with Camilla opting to reuse the crown it was once set in instead. Get the full story below: Camilla has chosen her crown for King Charles coronation Andrew Lloyd Webber composes new anthem for King Charles coronation Monday 6 March 2023 15:30 , Kate Ng An anthem written by Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of 12 new pieces of music commissioned by King Charles for his coronation. Lloyd Webber said he was incredibly honoured to have been given the opportunity to compose a new number. My anthem includes words slightly adapted from Psalm 98. I have scored it for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. Helen William reports: Andrew Lloyd Webber composes new anthem for King Charles coronation WATCH: New details discovered on centuries-old chair King Charles will sit on at coronation Monday 6 March 2023 14:30 , Kate Ng Prince Harry seeking apology before committing to Kings coronation Monday 6 March 2023 13:30 , Kate Ng While the world awaits to heart whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to the UK to attend the Kings coronation, we take a look back at what Prince Harry has said previously. He refused to commit to attending the ceremony in May, but is said to be seeking an apology from the King and the Prince of Wales before he makes any decisions. Read the full report: Prince Harry seeking apology before committing to King Charles coronation Harry and Meghan will not appear on Buckingham Palace balcony if they do attend coronation Monday 6 March 2023 13:26 , Kate Ng The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not likely to appear on the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace if they do attend the coronation this May, it has been reported. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles spokesperson has indicated that they have received their invitation to the King and Queen Consorts coronation via email correspondence, but have no disclosed any decision about their attendance. The Sun now reports that, if they are going to the ceremony, they will not appear in any formal procession or on the balcony along with other working members of the royal family. This would echo their absence from the balcony during the late Queen Elizabeth IIs platinum jubilee celebrations last summer. Harry and Meghan travelled to the UK to celebrate the Queens 70th anniversary on the throne, but only appeared in public alongside the rest of the family a few times. Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare, royal expert says Monday 6 March 2023 12:30 , Kate Ng King Charles IIIs decision to request the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to vacate their UK residence cannot be seen as anything other than a reaction to the release of Prince Harrys memoir, a royal expert has said. In freelance writer and royal commentator RS Lockes opinion: Evicting the Sussex family from Frogmore Cottage is transparently punitive and King Charles wanted the couple and the public to know it. Find out more below: Impossible that Harry and Meghans Frogmore Cottage eviction not linked to Spare Kate Middletons piano teacher writes song for entire nation to sing at King Charles coronation Monday 6 March 2023 11:33 , Peony Hirwani A music teacher who taught the Princess of Wales and her family to play piano has composed a song to celebrate the Kings coronation. Daniel Nicholls, 58, who lives near the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, says he wants the whole nation to learn and sing Defender Of Us All by the time of the ceremony on 6 May. Nicholls co-wrote the song with his wife Sandra, 65, because they were inspired by Charless desire for inclusivity and diversity. He told the PA news agency: We sent it out to schools in England and Scotland and weve had very positive responses to it. Our aim is to get all schools to sing it on the Friday before the coronation and then have the entire nation singing it on 6 May. Read more: Kate Middletons piano teacher pens coronation song for the nation Piers Morgan on news of Meghan and Harry receiving official invitation to the Kings coronation Monday 6 March 2023 11:13 , Peony Hirwani Piers Morgan has responded to news of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex receiving an official invitation to the Kings coronation via email. The arrogance of this statement is comical, he wrote on Twitter. These Monarchy-trashing clowns shouldnt be anywhere the Coronation, let anyone taking their time to make a decision. The arrogance of this statement is comical. These Monarchy-trashing clowns shouldnt be anywhere the Coronation, let anyone taking their time to make a decision. https://t.co/DXuY83tVUa Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 5, 2023 King Charles III picks France and Germany for first state visits Monday 6 March 2023 10:25 , Peony Hirwani King Charles III will travel to France and Germany for his first state visits since becoming monarch, underscoring Britains efforts to build bridges with its European neighbors following years of strained relations caused by Brexit. Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, will visit both countries between 26-31 March, hosted by Presidents Emanuel Macron of France and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, Buckingham Palace said on Friday (3 March). During the trip, the royals plan to celebrate the nations shared history and values, commitment to environmental preservation, and cooperation on the war in Ukraine, the palace said. Holy oil used during King Charles coronation will no longer include ambergris from whale intestines Monday 6 March 2023 09:55 , Peony Hirwani The oil used to anoint the King and Queen Consort Camilla in the coronation on 6 May will be cruelty-free. This part of the ceremony is said to be one of the most sacred of the days rituals but will reflect modern anti-animal cruelty sentiments, according to a statement published by Buckingham Palace. Ellie Muir reports. Coronation oil made with whale intestine ambergris to be cruelty free Prince Harry says he always felt different from rest of royal family Monday 6 March 2023 09:25 , Peony Hirwani The Duke of Sussex has opened up about how he always felt slightly different from other members of the royal family and said his mother felt the same way. In a new interview for readers of his memoir Spare, Prince Harry spoke about grieving his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and what it is like to live with loss. Speaking to author Gabor Mate, an expert in trauma and healing, Harry said that the release of his book made him feel incredibly free, despite sources saying his father and brother are furious about it. He described feeling slightly different to the rest of my family while growing up and that he lived in a bubble that was eventually burst by going to therapy. Kate Ng reports. Prince Harry says he always felt different from rest of royal family Harry and Meghan not fighting eviction from Frogmore Cottage Monday 6 March 2023 08:55 , Peony Hirwani The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accepted the Kings decision to ask them to vacate Frogmore Cottage, it has been reported. A source close to the couple has said they are OK with the Kings decision and are not fighting it. Read the full story here: Harry and Meghan not fighting eviction from Frogmore Cottage Everything we know about King Charles IIIs coronation Monday 6 March 2023 08:25 , Peony Hirwani The King and Queen Consorts coronation ceremony is just weeks away. Heres everything you need to know about the coronation weekend in May: When is the coronation of King Charles III? Camilla to be called Queen instead of Queen Consort after coronation Monday 6 March 2023 07:55 , Peony Hirwani As speculation continues over whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the coronation this spring, it has been reported that the Queen Consort will be known as the Queen instead following the ceremony. Before her death last September, the late Queen Elizabeth II announced that it was her sincere wish that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service. But a report quoting insiders at Buckingham Palace has suggested that the royal may shed the cumbersome title of Queen Consort for the simpler title of Queen. Read the full report here: Camillas title to change after coronation in May, report says Chris Rock questions Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family in Netflix stand-up show Monday 6 March 2023 07:25 , Peony Hirwani Chris Rock has joked about Meghan Markles accusations of racism against the royal family. During his stand-up special, titled Selective Outrage, the comedian addressed Markles interview with Oprah Winfrey that occurred in April 2021. In the interview, Markle and Prince Harry said that, while at Buckingham Palace, there were concerns raised about how dark their babys skin might be before Archie was born. Rock questioned the belief that Markle was the victim of racism, and brushed off her experience by saying she was merely dealing with in-law s***. Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? he started, adding: Seems like a nice lady just complaining. Like didnt she hit the light-skinned lottery? Read more: Chris Rock sends up Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family Anthem for King Charles IIIs coronation has been written by Lloyd Webber Monday 6 March 2023 06:55 , Peony Hirwani Andrew Lloyd Webber, the English composer who created the scores for blockbuster musicals such as Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Evita, has written the anthem for King Charles IIIs coronation. The work by Webber is one of a dozen new pieces Charles commissioned for the grand occasion taking place May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It includes words adapted from Psalm 98 and is scored specifically for the abbeys choir and organ. I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion, Webber said in a statement distributed by Buckingham Palace. Read more: Anthem for Charles IIIs coronation written by Lloyd Webber Emma Bridgewater releases commemorative mugs for the Kings coronation Monday 6 March 2023 06:25 , Peony Hirwani A pottery company with strong royal connections has launched hand-painted commemorative mugs marking the forthcoming coronation of the King. Staff at Emma Bridgewater, who have begun painstaking work on the pieces, which include small plates, a teapot and a half-pint mug, are expecting big demand from collectors, royalists, and members of the public keen to own an item marking the historic moment. Read more: Emma Bridgewater releases commemorative mugs for the Kings coronation Oil for Charles III's coronation consecrated in Jerusalem Monday 6 March 2023 05:55 , Peony Hirwani Two senior clergymen in Jerusalem have consecrated the holy oil that will be used to anoint King Charles III during his coronation. The oil was consecrated on Friday (3 March) morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of Christs crucifixion and burial, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The ceremony was conducted by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, and the Most Rev Hosam Naoum, the Anglican archbishop in Jerusalem. Read more: Oil for Charles III's coronation consecrated in Jerusalem Voices: Not even The Kardashians can keep up with Harry and Meghan Monday 6 March 2023 05:25 , Peony Hirwani The royal family is not really meant to be what it has become: a rolling soap opera. A boring, banal, but bizarrely addictive guilty pleasure, writes Tom Peck. Read his op-ed below: Not even The Kardashians can keep up with Harry and Meghan | Tom Peck Piers Morgan on news of Meghan and Harry receiving official invitation to the Kings coronation Monday 6 March 2023 04:55 , Peony Hirwani Piers Morgan has responded to news of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex receiving an official invitation to the Kings coronation via email. The arrogance of this statement is comical, he wrote on Twitter. These Monarchy-trashing clowns shouldnt be anywhere the Coronation, let anyone taking their time to make a decision. The arrogance of this statement is comical. These Monarchy-trashing clowns shouldnt be anywhere the Coronation, let anyone taking their time to make a decision. https://t.co/DXuY83tVUa Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 5, 2023 Piers Morgan says he has never uttered racist word or sentiment against Meghan Markle Monday 6 March 2023 04:25 , Peony Hirwani On Sunday (5 March), the founder of Women in Leadership Publication, Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu retweeted a clip of Piers Morgan challenging journalist Ernest Owens for posting a series of tweets accusing him of being racist towards Meghan Markle. Piers Morgan demanding evidence of his racist tirades against Meghan Markle is Caucacity on steroids, she wrote. Mr Arbiter of What is Racism who uses his White privilege and global platform to aggravate racist/sexist/misogynist attacks against her accuses @MrErnestOwens of no evidence. Morgan responded to Mos-Shogbamimu, writing: Oh look, Britains most repulsive race-baiter strikes again! Ive never uttered one racist word or sentiment about Meghan Markle. I couldnt give a damn about her skin colour, only her vile campaign with her dim doormat husband to destroy the Royal Family with lies and smears. Oh look, Britain's most repulsive race-baiter strikes again! I've never uttered one racist word or sentiment about Meghan Markle. I couldn't give a damn about her skin colour, only her vile campaign - with her dim doormat husband - to destroy the Royal Family with lies & smears. https://t.co/n3lHg50N5q Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 5, 2023 King Charles to offer Harry and Meghan apartment in Buckingham Palace after Frogmore Cottage eviction Monday 6 March 2023 03:55 , Peony Hirwani King Charles III could offer the Duke and Duchess of Sussex an apartment in Buckingham Palace as their UK residence when they visit the country, it has been reported. The suite of rooms that the King may offer to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle previously belonged to Prince Andrew. The Mail on Sunday quoted a source as saying: His Majesty is furious [with Harry], as is [Prince] William. But the King is not a bad man. He has no wish to see his brother Andrew homeless or penniless. Nor does he wish to deprive the Sussexes of a base in the UK. London is a better fit. The Sussexes have always wanted rooms at Buckingham Palace. They could have Andrews old rooms there, which are currently being vacated. Kate Ng reports. King Charles to offer Harry and Meghan apartment in Buckingham Palace Harry and Meghan have reportedly received official invitation to the Kings coronation Monday 6 March 2023 03:22 , Peony Hirwani The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been officially invited to the King and Queen Consorts coronation via email correspondence. A spokesperson for the couple said that they recently received email correspondence from His Majestys office regarding the coronation. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not yet disclosed whether or not they will accept the invitation and fly to the UK for the ceremony on 6 May. Sunday 5 March 2023 23:29 , Katy Clifton Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our coverage for the evening. William and Kate considering Prince George role at coronation Sunday 5 March 2023 18:45 , Kate Ng Prince George might be given an official role at his grandfathers coronation, it has been reported. The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be considering whether their eldest child, nine-year-old George, and second in line to the throne, should be included in the congregation at Westminster Abbey. My colleague Ellie Muir has the full story: William and Kate considering Prince George role at coronation VOICES: Not even The Kardashians can keep up with Harry and Meghan Sunday 5 March 2023 17:45 , Kate Ng The royal family is not really meant to be what it has become: a rolling soap opera. A boring, banal, but bizarrely addictive guilty pleasure, writes Tom Peck. Read his op-ed below: Not even The Kardashians can keep up with Harry and Meghan | Tom Peck Everything we know about King Charles IIIs coronation Sunday 5 March 2023 16:45 , Kate Ng The King and Queen Consorts coronation ceremony is just weeks away. Heres everything you need to know about the coronation weekend in May: When is the coronation of King Charles III? WATCH: Where will Harry and Meghan stay in UK after eviction from Frogmore? Sunday 5 March 2023 15:45 , Kate Ng Camilla to be called Queen instead of Queen Consort after coronation Sunday 5 March 2023 14:50 , Kate Ng As speculation continues over whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the coronation this spring, it has been reported that the Queen Consort will be known as the Queen instead following the ceremony. Before her death last September, the late Queen Elizabeth II announced that it was her sincere wish that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service. But a report quoting insiders at Buckingham Palace has suggested that the royal may shed the cumbersome title of Queen Consort for the simpler title of Queen. Read the full report here: Camillas title to change after coronation in May, report says Sarah Ferguson says she has no judgement of Harry and Meghan Sunday 5 March 2023 13:45 , Kate Ng Sarah Ferguson has revealed she has no judgement towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the path they have chosen, while reflecting on the judgement she has faced all [her] life. The Duchess of York, 63, spoke candidly about the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs decision to step back from their royal roles and relocate to California, as well as her own experiences being judged, during a new interview. Chelsea Ritschel reports: Sarah Ferguson says she has no judgement towards Harry and Meghan Chris Rock questions Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family in Netflix stand-up show Sunday 5 March 2023 12:50 , Kate Ng Chris Rock has called out Meghan Markle for accusing the royal family of being racist. The comedian was hosting a stand-up special, titled Selective Outrage, which was historically broadcast on Netflix live. During the set, he addressed Markles interview with Oprah Winfrey that occurred in April 2021. In the interview, Markle and Prince Harry said that, while at Buckingham Palace, there were concerns raised about how dark their babys skin might be before Archie was born. My colleague Jacob Stolworthy has the full story: Chris Rock lambasts Meghan Markles racism claims against royal family Harry and Meghan not fighting eviction from Frogmore Cottage Sunday 5 March 2023 11:45 , Kate Ng The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accepted the Kings decision to ask them to vacate Frogmore Cottage, it has been reported. A source close to the couple has said they are OK with the Kings decision and are not fighting it. Read the full story here: Harry and Meghan not fighting eviction from Frogmore Cottage Out with the old, in with the new? Amid news that King Charles III evicted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from Frogmore Cottage, their UK home, the Sussex couple is reportedly considering a new destination for their travels: a private island all their own. A source recently told Heat magazine that Harry is pushing hard to go down the private island route as the couple plots their next investment, and that he loved the idea of living in a natural and eco-friendly environment, according to The Mirror. Given the couples years of requesting privacy around their internal affairs in the face of invasive tabloid reporting and paparazzi stalking their every move, a private island could make a lot of sense as a place to truly get away. More from Robb Report Harry and Meghan got a taste of the island life when they visited Kaibu Island island during a royal tour in 2018, an 800-acre private island off the coast of Fiji. They stayed on the islands Vatuvara resort, a solar-powered conscientious luxury resort that serves food fresh off its farms and is accessible only by private plane. A stunning shot of the Vatuvara Private Islands, where Harry and Meghan visited in 2018. Heats source further suggested that Harry and Meghan arent just looking to build a vacation getaway but to relocate entirely. The situation is rapidly becoming uncomfortable to the point of untenable, the source claimed of Harry and Meghans life in the public eye. There are talks of keeping base in LA and heading somewhere new like Canada, South Africa or one of the other countries where they have more popularity and public sympathy. This report comes as the royal family served Harry and Meghan with an eviction notice in January requiring them to vacate the home gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple have confirmed the eviction notice via a spokesperson and are reportedly in the process of shipping the remainder of their personal items back to their home in California. Story continues King Charles IIIs coronation is still around the corner, and Harry and Meghan have also confirmed that theyve been invited via email. But amid the eviction and Harrys overall strained relationship with the royals after his memoir Spare revealed further family secrets, its hard to imagine a royal reunion is coming anytime soon. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Kate Middleton, Viola Davis, and more are fans of the brand. Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Theres something about Helen Mirren as in, she has this innate superpower that makes me want whatever she has. Not to mention, her style has been on its A-game since forever, and Id be happy to argue anyone who thinks otherwise. Green on green! She did it, and I want it, but its a recent press look of hers thats been ingrained in my mind since the second the photos dropped online, particularly those cool star kicks she wore because Im a sneakerhead, okay! Lets rewind back to February 20, which seems so long ago but also just like it was yesterday. Where does time go? That day, Mirren was in Germany to attend the Golda photocall during the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, and her outfit for her appearance was probably the coolest of all the ones that debuted on the red err, gray carpet. She wore a bright-pink turtleneck sweater, black pinstripe track pants with pink side piping, plus the coolest sneakers Ive seen in a minute and thats saying a lot, because I see plenty. Mirrens white kicks, which have a chunky platform sole and a star embroidered on the exterior side of the shoe, are from Sole Bliss, an under-the-radar brand that specifically focuses on footwear for bunions and wide feet. The label already has an impressive list of fans, including Mirren (whos also been seen on its heels), Kate Middleton, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, and Julia Roberts, so Im not sure how I have been sleeping on this brand, but I certainly wont be missing out anymore. Its an open secret in Hollywood, and now its time to get acquainted with it. Sole Bliss Shop now: $289; solebliss.com In addition to the trendy details on Mirrens kicks, like the platform (and shock-absorbing) sole and the star embroidery, there are also plenty of practical possibly life-changing features, like a zip fastening for easy wear, an anatomically contoured footbed with underfoot cushioning, and the brands signature Bunion Bed stretch panel. Story continues Thanks to an impressive mix of impeccably designed details, the shoes certainly dont lack any support or comfort, which is exactly why shoppers are raving about these miracle sneakers. One reviewer loved the sneakers so much, they purchased multiple pairs, writing, I now have three pairs of trainers from Sole Bliss, and they are without doubt the most comfortable I have ever owned. Plenty of others wrote similar praise, calling them, comfortable right out of the box, a joy to wear all day long, and extremely high quality. Whats more, even if you dont have bunions or wide feet, these sneakers are still a great option because, well, comfort is comfort, after all. Mirrens kicks cost $298, which might seem steep for sneakers, but for top-quality kicks made in Italy that have so much praise to back them up, the price is worth it. Shop the Mirren-worn sneakers for yourself below, and get ready to let all your (foot) worries melt away with each step. Sole Bliss Shop now: $289; solebliss.com Sole Bliss Shop now: $289; solebliss.com Sole Bliss Shop now: $289; solebliss.com For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. Magdalena Cruz alleges the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities protected her mother's rapist, a caretaker at the residential facility where she was housed. FangXiaNuo/Getty Images A woman alleges her mom was raped in 1985 by her caretaker at a developmental facility. She is now suing the New York agency that oversaw the facility, claiming they never reported it. She's suing under the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law that extended the statute of limitations on rape claims. Magdalena Cruz always believed she was born of rape, but she never knew who her father was. After taking a DNA test through Ancestry.com, Cruz learned he had been her mom's caretaker at a disability facility in the '70s and '80s, according to a new lawsuit. Cruz is now suing, alleging that the agency tasked with overseeing the facility covered up the abuse. The facility, the Monroe Developmental Center in Rochester, never conducted an investigation or told the police what happened, according to the lawsuit filed on Monday in New York State Supreme Court. It also hid the fact that Cruz's mother, identified as I.C. in the complaint, had allegedly been physically abused at the facility, court papers say. I.C., who is described in the lawsuit as "extremely developmentally disabled," was placed in the care of MDC in 1976, according to the suit. In 1986, months after the alleged rape occurred, I.C.'s parents were notified that she was pregnant and that they suspected she was raped by another patient, and the facility told them they would conduct an "internal investigation" and notify the police, the lawsuit says. Cruz is represented by both Susan Crumiller, founding attorney of the Feminist Litigation Firm, and Carrie Goldberg of the Victims' Rights Law Firm. Crumiller and Goldberg filed the case under a new joint initiative called the Survivors Law Project. Cruz said she knew she was a child of rape and experienced difficulties with her mental health. She believed she would never be able to have children of her own because of her family trauma, the lawsuit says. In 2019, Cruz began looking into the circumstances of her birth. Through open records requests, Cruz learned that MDC never conducted an investigation or told the police about the alleged rape. She also learned that her mother had allegedly been physically harmed at the facility, suffering abrasions, cuts, and bruises, according to the lawsuit. Story continues Upon learning of her mother's alleged mistreatment, Cruz was shocked and decided to investigate further, her lawyers wrote in the lawsuit. She bought a DNA test from Ancestry.com and found her mother's alleged rapist on her own, according to the lawsuit. The test results revealed that she had biological relatives on her father's side. She found photos of the family online and noticed they shared the same physical features such as the same eyes, the lawsuit alleges. She then identified a man named James Burrus by searching through online photos, the lawsuit says. Burrus, the lawsuit says, lived in Rochester, just miles from the MDC facility. When she cross-referenced the records she received, she noticed that a caretaker with the initials J.B. had made comments about I.C.'s behavior in her personal files, according to the lawsuit. That's when Cruz says she realized James Burrus and J.B. the caretaker might be the same man, according to the lawsuit. She told the police what she found in 2019 and confirmed a match, the lawsuit says. The Brighton Police Department told her that a James Burrus had been employed by MDC in 1985 and had a connection to I.C. At the time of her discovery, Cruz had no legal recourse because the statute of limitations on the alleged rape had passed. Cruz is suing New York on behalf of her mother under the Adult Survivor's Act, a state law giving survivors a one-year window from last November to file a complaint against an alleged attacker and other responsible parties for incidents of sexual assault perpetrated at any point in their adult lives within the state of New York. Cruz wouldn't have been able to sue without the new law, her attorney Crumiller said. "It's the difference between getting justice and living the rest of your life knowing that your abuser got away with it," Crumiller said in an interview. Several high-profile lawsuits have been filed under the Adult Survivor's Act, including one brought by Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, who is suing former President Donald Trump for rape and defamation. Claims like Carroll's are normally off limits because they fall outside the statute of limitations, which in New York was raised in 2019 to 20 years for civil lawsuits involving some sex crimes. That barrier has now been temporarily lifted, and there is no cap on the damages. Crumiller told Insider that she's suing the New York State Office for People with Developmental, Disabilities, the agency that oversaw the facility, because she believes the institution should be held accountable for the alleged rape. "The reason that these patterns continue unabated is because of the institutions that coalesce around rapists and protect them," Crumiller said. When MDC discovered that I.C. was pregnant, they recommended that she go on birth control, according to the lawsuit. This was an indication that the facility expected and condoned patient mistreatment, Cruz alleges. I.C. did not have the capacity to consent to sexual intercourse because her mental acuity matched that of a 2-year-old, Crumiller said. "There's no reason for her ever to have gone on birth control," Crumiller said. "She didn't have the capacity to consent to a sexual relationship with anyone." Read the original article on Insider Luxury brand Hermes notched a major legal victory last month against MetaBirkins, an NFT collection found to have violated trademarks protecting the French designers Birkin handbag. But despite the ruling's historic nature, Hermes still isn't satisfied. The luxury house filed a motion on Friday asking for the court to issue a permanent injunction specifically barring MetaBirkins creator Mason Rothschild from ever selling MetaBirkins NFTs again. Such a block would represent a more severe action against the NFT creator than what a Manhattan jury previously handed down in early February. Notwithstanding the verdict in Hermess favor, Rothschild continues to promote MetaBirkins NFT sales through various social media channels, and he will obtain a royalty from any such sales, attorneys for the fashion giant wrote. Rothschilds past and present conduct demonstrates he is likely to continue infringing Hermess trademarks if a permanent injunction is not issued. Hermes attorneys argued that since Februarys verdict, Rothschild still remains in a position to profit from the MetaBirkins NFT collection, while he meanwhile continues to publicly speak out against the jurys decision. The company claims those actions, in conjunction with Rothschilds past conduct, have caused irreparable harm to Hermes, and cannot be remedied with standard monetary compensation. It would need to prove both assertions for an injunction to be ordered. Was the MetaBirkin Verdict Bad for NFTs, or Just for Knockoffs? Rothschild did, in fact, tweet repeatedly in the days following the cases verdict, lambasting jury members for not finding his NFT collection to have possessed sufficient artistic relevance to be considered free speech. Take nine people off the street right now and ask them to tell you what art is but the kicker is whatever they say will now become the undisputed truth. Thats what happened today. A multibillion dollar luxury fashion house who says they care about art and artists but.. Mason Rothschild (@MasonRothschild) February 8, 2023 But beyond defenses of his projects artistic legitimacy, Rothschild does not appear to have posted anything that specifically directed followers to purchase MetaBirkins NFTs following the verdict. In Fridays filing, attorneys for Hermes primarily took issue with Rothschilds repeated tagging of the MetaBirkins collections Instagram handle in posts. Though MetaBirkins was banned from OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, the collections website is still active, as is its listing on NFT trading platform LooksRare. It does not appear, though, that any Metabirkins NFTs have sold since December. Dmytro Kotsiubailo, commander of the First Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" and Hero of Ukraine, was killed in action near Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on March 7. "He has been defending our independence and the dignity of our people since 2014. One of the youngest heroes of Ukraine. One of those whose personal history, character, and courage forever became the history, character, and courage of Ukraine," Zelensky said in a video address. Kotsiubailo (call sign Da Vinci) became one of the youngest Ukrainian servicemen to receive the Hero of Ukraine national title in 2021. He was killed at the age of 27. Kotsiubailo, whose battalion is part of the 67th Mechanized Brigade, took part in the EuroMaidan in 2014, soon after joining the Right Sector Ukrainian Volunteer Corps and fighting off Russia in Ukraine's Donbas region. In November 2022, the Right Sector Ukrainian Volunteer Corps was reformatted into the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade, with Kotsiubailo as head of one of the brigade's battalions. The Right Sector is a Ukrainian nationalist movement. "For more than nine years, Ukrainian heroes have been fighting for the future of Ukraine. Peace and relative safety in the rear towns is their feat. Our confidence in the victory of Ukraine is their stability and strength," added Zelensky. "Ukraine will always remember its heroes. Our memory of them will not die. This enemy who came to Ukraine will perish." Real estate lawyers are an interesting breed. By law, they are required in several states to represent clients in a real estate closing, and in eight states, they are required to represent both the buyer and seller. Sometimes, they put on a different coat and help negotiate deals as a real estate agent does. For one relatively under-the-radar real estate attorney in Santa Monica, California, a simple tweet about seller strategy in a commercial real estate investment transaction has given him, at last count, more than 100,000 views in less than a day. Heres the tweet from The Real Estate Lawyer at Sinai Law Firm: A large client of mine got an unsolicited offer to buy one of his 25 properties. Offer came in at $5.5 million, slightly above the market value. Im only selling for $7 million, tell them thats what I want. I told him it will probably drive them away. I dont care. I dont need to sell. If they want it, it will take $7 million. Buyer asked me how did my client justify that price. Thats a 2.5 cap! I told him he is not wrong. There was no justification for $7 million. But thats what it will take. Buyer accepted, and we went to escrow shortly after. (Tweet edited for clarity.) Sometimes its not the messenger but the message. In this crazy real estate economy with low inventory and mortgage rates rising again, an unknown attorney has drawn a larger-than-life share of attention on social media. And while 100,000 views would make most social influencers laugh, getting that kind of response when you only have 626 followers is relatively rare. On top of that, the tweets popularity resulted from a stated strategy and an all-cash offer that occurred in 2021. This is actually something that happened well over a year ago. My client was wealthy and knew how wealthy he was. He was old school and not super sophisticated and found an opportunity at the right time. The buyer needed the property, attorney Avi Sinai, proprietor at Sinai Law Firm, told Benzinga. Story continues Depending on the type of representation, real estate attorneys serve various functions for their clients as part of a property transfer. But for some, tagging along to help choose or bid on a property also comes in handy and, in Sinais case, can save some money, as they can do everything except market the property. If someone wants me to be involved in a transaction, I will, Sinai said. Sometimes I do it and theres just me and no agent. Ive handled about 16 transactions in the last year. I had a neighbor reach out to me who had inherited a property that wasnt worth much years ago and is now worth $4 million in a nice neighborhood in L.A. The real estate broker quoted him a 5% commission rate, and I agreed to do it at my hourly rate. As for the market, times in L.A. are tough. Sinai says the commercial side is in a 70% slowdown in activity. For his residential clients, he said, Those who have money and dont need loan contingencies are the only strong buyers out there. Looking for a way to boost returns? Benzingas Real Estate Offering Screener has the latest private market investments with offerings available for both accredited and non-accredited investors. Recently added: Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article He's Not An Agent, But A Los Angeles Area Attorney's Tweet Has Given Him A Name In Real Estate originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. This photo provided by the North Korean government, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivers a speech during a national meeting against the coronavirus, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Aug. 10, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korea News Service via AP, File) (Uncredited/AP) SEOUL, South Korea The influential sister of North Koreas leader warned Tuesday that her country is ready to take quick, overwhelming action against the United States and South Korea one day after a nuclear-capable B-52 flew over the peninsula. The United States flew the bomber to the Korean Peninsula for a joint drill with South Korean warplanes, and the allies militaries are also preparing to revive their largest field exercises later this month. Advertisement Kim Yo Jong didnt elaborate on any planned actions in her statement, but North Korea has often test-launched missiles in response to U.S.-South Korean military drills because it views them as an invasion rehearsal. We keep our eye on the restless military moves by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment, Kim Yo Jong said in the statement carried by state media. Advertisement The demonstrative military moves and all sorts of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so extremely frantic as not to be overlooked, undoubtedly provide (North Korea) with conditions for being forced to do something to cope with them, she said. Mondays flyover of the B-52 bomber was the latest in a series of U.S.-South Korean aerial exercises involving powerful U.S. aircraft. The U.S. deployed a long-range U.S. B-1B bomber or multiple B-1Bs to the peninsula a few times earlier this year. South Korea said those drills demonstrated the allies ability to make a decisive response to potential North Korean aggressions. Last Friday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would conduct a computer-simulated command post training from March 13-23 and restore their largest springtime field exercises that were last held in 2018. The allies had canceled or scaled back some of their regular drills since 2018 to support now-dormant diplomacy with North Korea and guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. But theyve been restoring their exercises after North Korea last year conducted a record number of missile tests and openly threatened to use its nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with its rivals. In a separate statement Tuesday, North Koreas Foreign Ministry called the flyover of the U.S. B-52 bomber a reckless provocation that pushes the situation on the peninsula deeper into the bottomless quagmire. The statement, attributed to the unnamed head of the ministrys foreign news office, said there is no guarantee that there will be no violent physical conflict if U.S.-South Korean military provocations continue. North Korea often unleashes fiery rhetoric in times of heightened animosities with the United States and South Korea. Possible steps North Korea could take include a nuclear test or the launch of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile targeting the mainland U.S., observers say. Last month, Kim Yo Jong threatened to turn the Pacific into the Norths firing range. In her statement Tuesday, she said North Korea would consider a possible U.S. attempt to intercept a North Korean ICBM a declaration of war. She cited a South Korean media report saying the U.S. military plans to shoot down a North Korean ICBM if its test-launched toward the Pacific. All known North Korean ICBM tests have been made at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries, and the weapons landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Advertisement U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Monday praised the leaders of South Korea and Japan, saying the two came to understand that potential of collaboration into the future is more important and have a greater value and realizing you have to deal with historic issues. Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. On a Wednesday afternoon in the summer of 2021, gunfire erupted on Rotary Street in Montgomery. When the smoke cleared and police arrived, they found two teens dead and two others wounded. A month later, a diss track was posted to YouTube taunting one of the targets of the shooting to come back and get his car (which he had left behind while fleeing the scene) so that they could murder him too. Beyond the lyrics themselves, the videos violent revelry consisted of one male after another brandishing weapons and flashing gang signs at the camera adults, teens, and children alike. This sort of gang violence and lawlessness wanton, senseless, sadistic, arrogant is quickly becoming more normal than abnormal in some of Alabamas major cities. In December alone, Montgomery witnessed gang-related shootings everywhere from the campuses of high schools to the front doorstep of the mayors office. Birmingham and other large localities around the state have seen the same and worse. But make no mistake: gang-related murders, menace, and mayhem are not confined merely to metropolises. According to the National Gang Center, Alabama has experienced a steady increase in gang activity statewide over the past decade, with gang-related violence and criminal activity being reported in urban, suburban, and rural areas. One in-depth survey which was conducted during the last crime wave, but which tracks with the trends were seeing today found gang activity in 46 Alabama cities and towns, and a gang presence in 74 percent of these communities. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is calling for support of the Alabama Criminal Gang Prevention Act. Its high time we give Alabama police and prosecutors the tools they need to take back their streets. For far too long, law enforcement in our state have lacked laws on the books that would allow them to combat criminal gangs. This must change and it must change now. That is why we need the Alabama Criminal Gang Prevention Act, legislation drafted by my office that should be a top priority for passage during the upcoming session of the Alabama Legislature. Story continues The Alabama Criminal Gang Prevention Act contains three critical components: First, the act would criminalize gang-related activity, providing enhanced penalties for offenses committed for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a criminal gang. No longer would Alabama lack a law that specifically defines and targets criminal gang-related activity. Second, the act would impose additional prison time on anyone who uses a firearm in connection with criminal gang-related activity, adding years or even decades to a convicted offenders sentence. No longer would Alabama allow gangbangers to commit crimes and terrorize communities by brandishing and using firearms without suffering severe, mandatory repercussions. Third, the act would require anyone age 16 and over charged with criminal gang-related activity to be charged as an adult, ensuring that juveniles who commit adult crimes do adult time. No longer would Alabama tolerate the recruitment and exploitation of youths by gangs for their use as child shields in the commission of crimes, relying on a minors ability to get a slap on the wrist in juvenile court and be back on the streets in little to no time. Gang violence and lawlessness are an increasing threat to the safety of the public and to the rule of law. This is no small matter. A well-ordered state cannot abide groups of criminals that act with such brazenness and impunity, engaging in rampant illegality and escaping just punishment because police and prosecutors lack the legal tools they need to effectively hold gang members accountable. This is a problem that Alabama and Alabama alone must address. The U.S. Department of Justice of today, under the corrupt stewardship of Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, has reassigned resources away from fighting crime to focus on persecuting political enemies, harassing law-abiding parents, spying on citizens who dissent from the lefts woke agenda, and meddling in American elections. We must empower Alabama law enforcement to crack down on criminal gangs and the violence and lawlessness they inflict on the citizens and communities of our great state. We must enact the Alabama Criminal Gang Prevention Act. Steve Marshall is the attorney general of Alabama. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Steve Marshall: It's time for Alabama to crack down on criminal gangs NEW YORK (AP) A toast to the disruptors, Edward Nortons tech billionaire says in Rian Johnsons Oscar-nominated Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. And why not a toast? Sundays Academy Awards wont give a prize for best villain, but if they did, Miles Bron would win it in a walk. (With apologies to the cloud of Nope.) He is an immediately recognizable type we've grown well acquainted with: a visionary (or so everyone says), a social media narcissist, a self-styled disrupter who talks a lot about breaking stuff. Miles Bron is just the latest in a long line of Hollywoods favorite villain: the tech bro. Looking north to Silicon Valley, the movie industry has found perhaps its richest resource of big-screen antagonists since Soviet-era Russia. Great movie villains dont come along often. The best-picture nominated Top Gun: Maverick, like its predecessor, was content to battle with a faceless enemy of unspecified nationality. Why antagonize international ticket buyers when Tom Cruise vs. Whomever works just fine? But in recent years, the tech bro has proliferated on movie screens as Hollywoods go-to bad guy. Its a rise that has mirrored mounting fears over technologys expanding reach into our lives and increasing skepticism for the not always altruistic motives of the men and it is mostly men who control todays digital empires. Weve had the devious Biosyn Genetics CEO (Campbell Scott) in Jurassic World: Dominion, a franchise dedicated to the peril of tech overreach; Chris Hemsworths biotech overlord in Spiderhead; and Mark Rylances maybe-Earth-destroying tech guru in 2021's Dont Look Up. We've had Jesse Eisenberg, who indelibly played Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2010's The Social Network, as a tech bro-styled Lex Luthor in 2016's Batman v. Superman"; Harry Mellings pharmaceutical entrepreneur in 2020s The Old Guard"; Taika Waititi's rule-breaking videogame mogul in 2021's Free Guy"; Oscar Isaac's search engine CEO in 2014's Ex Machina; and the critical portrait of the Apple co-founder in 2015's Steve Jobs. Story continues Kids movies, too, regularly channel parental anxieties about technology's impact on children. In 2021's The Mitchells vs. the Machines, a newly launched AI brings about a robot apocalypse. Ron's Gone Wrong" (2021) also used a robot metaphor for smartphone addiction. And TV series have just as aggressively rushed to dramatize Big Tech blunders. Recent entries include: Uber's Travis Kalanick in Showtime's Super Pumped; Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu's The Dropout; and WeWork's Adam and Rebekah Neumann in Apple TV's We Crashed. Some of these portrayals you could chalk up to Hollywood jealousy over the emergence of another California epicenter of innovation. But those worlds merged long ago. Many of the companies that released these movies are disrupters, themselves none more than Netflix, distributor of Glass Onion." The streamer was cajoled into releasing Johnson's sequel more widely in theaters than any previous Netflix release. Estimates suggested the film collected some $15 million over opening weekend, the old fashioned way, but Netflix executives have said they don't plan to make a habit of such theatrical rollouts. And the distrust goes deeper than any Hollywood-Silicon Valley rivalry. A recent Quinnipiac poll found that 70% of Americans think social media companies do more harm than good. Tech leaders like Meta chief Zuckerberg have at times been seen favorably by only 1 in 5 Americans. As characters, tech bros hoodie-wearing descendants of the mad scientist have formed an archetype: Masters of the universe whose hubris leads to catastrophe, social media savants who can't manage their personal relationships. Whether their visions of the future pan out or not, we end up living in their world, either way. They're villains who see themselves as heroes. In my mind, hes really the most dangerous human being around, Rylance says of his Peter Isherwell. He believes that we can dominate our way out of any problem that nature hands us. I think thats the same kind of thinking thats got us into the problem were in now, trying to dominate each other and dominate all the life were intimately connected to and dependent on. Glass Onion, nominated for best adapted screenplay, presents a new escalation in tech mogul mockery. Nortons eminently punchable CEO, with a name so nearly Bro, is enormously rich, powerful and, considering that hes working on a volatile new energy source, dangerous. But Bron is also, as Daniel Craigs Benoit Blanc eventually deduces, an idiot. A vainglorious buffoon, Blanc says. In Johnsons film, the tech bro/emperor bro truly has no clothes. Hes just skating by with lies, deceit and a bunch of not-real words like predefinite and inbreathiate. Even though Johnson wrote Glass Onion well before Elon Musks shambolic Twitter takeover, the movies release seemed almost preternaturally timed to coincide with it. The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive was only one of Johnsons real-world inspirations, though some took Bron as a direct Musk parody. In a widely read Twitter thread, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said Johnson was dramatizing Musk as a bad and stupid man, which he called an incredibly stupid theory, since Musk is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in human history." He added: How many rockets has Johnson launched lately? Musk himself hasnt publicly commented on Glass Onion, but he has previously had numerous gripes with Hollywood, including its depictions of guys like him. Hollywood refuses to write even one story about an actual company startup where the CEO isnt a dweeb and/or evil, Musk tweeted last year. Musk will soon enough get his own movie. The Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney on Monday announced he was several months into work on Musk, which producers promise will offer a definitive and unvarnished examination of the tech entrepreneur. At the same time as the tech bros supervillainy supremacy has emerged, some movies have sought not to lampoon Big Tech but to imbibe some of the digital world's infinite expanse. Phil Lord, who with Christopher Miller has produced The Mitchells vs the Machines and the multiverse-splitting Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, says the internet has profoundly influenced their approach to film. We, legacy media, are responding in maybe subconscious ways to new media, says Lord. Were all just trying to figure out how to live in the new world. Its changing peoples behavior. It changes the way we find and experience love. It changes the way we live. Of course, the stories we tell and how we tell them are going to change as well and reflect that. Into the Spider-Verse certainly reflects having a lot of content from every era in your brain all at the same time. The best-picture favorite Everything Everywhere All at Once," too, is reflective of our multi-screen, media-bombarded lives. Writer-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, whose film is up for a leading 11 Oscars, say they wanted to channel the confusion and heartache of living in the everything-everywhere existence that tech moguls like Miles Bron helped create. The reason why we made the movie is because thats what modern life feels like, says Kwan. So even though Miles Bron won't go home with an Academy Award on Sunday, he still wins, in a way. It's his world. We're all just living in it. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP ___ For more coverage of this years Academy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards A Merced man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for making bombs that he used to retaliate against three intended victims in Merced and Lemoore, federal prosecutors said. The office of U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced Monday that 53-year-old Wes Parker McDaniel was sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison for using explosives to destroy property and manufacturing bombs. McDaniel pleaded guilty to felony charges in federal court last year. Court records show McDaniel made 12 bombs or destructive devices using illegal fireworks he purchased in Nevada, shrapnel, ammunition, fire-starting material and other items between Feb. 1, 2021 and June 22, 2021. McDaniel used six bombs at homes in Merced and one in Lemoore, according to a U.S Department of Justice news release. The release does not make clear why McDaniel was retaliating against the victims. McDaniel used three of the bombs on a home where he mistakenly thought one of his targets lived. Authorities said one of those bombs hit a wall of the home and exploded, damaging the wall, destroying a fence and badly burning a propane tank. In other instances, McDaniel placed two bombs near a vehicle of one of the victims, and threw a bomb at the home of a third victim. Authorities executed a search warrant at McDaniels home where they located bomb-making material, boxes of ammunition, a .22 caliber rifle and six bombs. As a convicted felon, McDaniel is prohibited from possessing ammunition, destructive devices and firearms, according to the release. McDaniel was ordered to pay $2,180 in restitution to cover the loss of the fence, according to the release. About 11 hours after Port St. Lucie police named Manuel Sanabria as an armed and dangerous homicide suspect, he was shot and killed by Fort Lauderdale officers Tuesday morning. The shooting happened just before 9 a.m. in the 1500 block of Northwest Seventh Street. Port St. Lucie named Sanabria as the shot suspect around 11:20 a.m. Port St. Lucie police said that at 9:30 Monday night they found a man shot to death in a car in the 6200 block of Northwest Duke Circle. Officers said Sanabria drove off in a 2016 silver Ram pickup with FL Tag QAZ8X. One database says Sanbria lives in that block of Duke Circle and has immediate family living in North Lauderdale. On Tuesday, Fort Lauderdale police say they saw the silver pickup truck around Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 10th Terrace and gave chase. The chase ended less than a mile away, in the 1500 block of Northwest Seventh Street, after Sanabria hit parked cars and a pedestrian, a man now in critical condition.. Police say the 38-year-old Sanabria got out holding a black metal object resembling a firearm and charged towards the officers, taking a shooting standce, while pointing the object in their direction. Four officers fired, police said, hitting Sanabria multiple times. What Sanabria was holding, Fort Lauderdale police said, was a piece a firearm. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Patrick Lynn said the 38-year-old Sanabria Our officers took the action they felt was necessary to defend themselves. Sanabria was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died, police said. As is standard, the four officers who fired at Sanabria are on administrative leave with pay during an internal review. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting. Hope Hicks, left; Donald Trump, center; Kellyanne Conway, right. AP File Kellyanne Conway and Hope Hicks have met with prosecutors probing a 2016 Trump hush money payment. Both could directly link Trump to the payment, federal prosecutors have said in the past. The $130,000 secured adult actress Stormy Daniels' silence concerning an alleged affair with Trump. Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway two of Donald Trump's most trusted advisors in his improbable 2016 climb to the presidency could now impact his 2024 campaign by directly linking him to a hush-money scheme from their earliest days together. In the last week, both women have met with prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in his intensifying probe of felony records fraud and other potential illegalities surrounding the $130,000 payment, according to published reports. Both Hicks and Conway directly tie Trump to the money-for-silence scheme, federal prosecutors have said in court papers from the 2019 prosecution of Michael Cohen, the former president's fixer-turned-nemesis, who admittedly brokered the payment and who is also meeting regularly with prosecutors. Hicks, Trump's 2016 campaign press secretary and later his White House communications director, was seen Monday afternoon arriving at a lower Manhattan office building used in the DA's investigation, the Associated Press reported. She left some four hours later. Conway, Trump's campaign manager turned senior advisor, likewise met with the DA on Wednesday, the New York Times reported. It's unclear if Hicks and Conway merely were interviewed by prosecutors, or appeared before an ongoing grand jury, and either way, it's unknown if they are helping in the probe. The district attorney's office has declined to comment on the investigation. The $130,000 was wired by Cohen to Daniels, through her attorney, on October 27, 2016, at Trump's direction, Cohen said three years later in explosive, televised Congressional testimony against the then-sitting president. "He asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair," Cohen told the committee, "and to lie about it to his wife, which I did." Story continues Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels. Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison for the payments. and a series of other admitted crimes, including tax-dodging and lying to Congress about Trump's involvement in a plan to build a tower in Moscow, also on the then-president's behalf. Cohen was the only person prosecuted for these crimes. But both Hicks and Conway were implicated in documents from the time as being aware of the payments to Daniels. Hicks was in on a flurry of calls including Trump, Cohen, and two top executives at the National Enquirer, on October 8, 2016, the day after the publication of Trump's notorious Access Hollywood tape, prosecutors have alleged. At 7:20 p.m. that day, Hicks joined a four-minute, three-way conference call with Trump and Cohen as they allegedly talked about safeguarding Clifford's silence, the feds alleged on pages 41 and 42 of a 269-page search warrant. About ten minutes after that call, Cohen called David Pecker, the then-publisher of the National Enquirer and a personal friend of Trump. Three minutes after that call, Cohen received a call from Dylan Howard, former editor-in-chief at the Enquirer. Some eight minutes after that call ended, Cohen called Hicks again, and they spoke for two minutes. By around 9 p.m. that night, Cohen got a text message from Howard saying that Clifford's lawyer had agreed to the hush money deal. "So far I see only 6 stories. Getting little to no traction," Cohen later texted about Trump's alleged dalliance, federal filings also say. "Same. Keep praying!! It's working!" Hicks responded. As for Conway, Cohen has described her connection to the hush-money payment in his 2020 memoir, "Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump." When Cohen wanted to relay to Trump that Daniels had been paid off, it was Conway who relayed the message, he wrote. She "called and said she'd pass along the good news," Cohen wrote. Attorneys for Trump and Conway did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Hicks, Robert P. Trout, declined comment. Read the original article on Business Insider The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee on Monday subpoenaed the former disinformation czar of the Department of Homeland Security for testimony. Committee chairman and Republican representative Jim Jordan ordered the appearance of Nina Jankowicz for a deposition, which is scheduled for April 1o, according to documents obtained by CNN. Jankowicz briefly served as head of the departments Disinformation Governance Board before it was disbanded three weeks after its announcement prompting her to resign. The subpoena indicates the GOP majority on the panel likely plans to grill Jankowicz about her involvement on the board, which was designed to combat so-called disinformation in American society. Jordan had previously asked Jankowicz to provide a transcribed interview, CNN reported. The briefness of the boards life likely owed to the blistering criticism it and Jankowicz received from the media. Some pundits exposed Jankowiczs questionable fact-finding record, which including her erroneous labeling of the now-confirmed Hunter Biden laptop story as a Russian influence op. Last May, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas insisted to CNNs Dana Bash that the board would not surveil American citizens and that Jankowicz would be politically neutral. Jankowicz donated to President Bidens campaign during the 2020 cycle and campaigned for Hillary Clinton. Eminently qualified, a renowned expert in the field of disinformation, Mayorkas said of the boards appointee. Mayorkas also came under scrutiny for haphazardly communicating the boards function and objectives. He stated that it would lack operational authority or capability, yet he told Bash it would assess disinformation threats from various sources and disseminate those best practices to the operators. The identities and responsibilities of the operators were not specified. It works to ensure that the way in which we address threats, the connectivity between threats and acts of violence are addressed without infringing on free speech, protecting civil rights and civil liberties, the right of privacy, Mayorkas said of the boards purpose. Story continues In August, the Homeland Security Advisory Council concluded in a report that there is no need for a separate Disinformation Governance Board. More from National Review SHANGHAI (Reuters) -HSBC's China unit said on Tuesday it has not been told by regulators to restrict outbound remittances and was unaware of recent capital outflow curbs, after billionaire Mark Mobius, its client, said he could not take money out of the country. China's foreign exchange regulator also said on Monday there is no change in policy on cross-border remittance of funds and that it would continue to promote opening-up to the world. "We did not receive any requirements from the Chinese regulators to restrict outbound remittances, nor are we aware of any policy changes recently by the Chinese authorities with regards to cross-border capital outflows," an HSBC China spokesperson said via email. HSBC China made the statement in response to Reuters' questions regarding Mark Mobius' claims that he could not remit his money out of China from his account with HSBC in Shanghai due to China's capital controls. Mobius, founder of Mobius Capital Partners, told FOX Business last week that he faced all kinds of barriers in the process, including requirements to show records from 20 years of how he made the money. HSBC China declined to comment on individual client circumstances but said: "As common practices in many countries commercial banks conduct businesses under operational procedures and control requirements for processing transactions appropriately." The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said in a statement to Reuters late on Monday that individual remittance of funds needs to go through a bank's basic process and is subject to internal control requirements. The Chinese forex regulator added it will urge commercial banks to optimise cross-border financial services and improve quality of service. (Reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sam Holmes) (Bloomberg) -- Hungarys government and most of parliament are united in support for Swedens NATO membership bid after months of foot-dragging from Prime Minister Viktor Orbans ruling party, a senior lawmaker said. Most Read from Bloomberg A delegation from Orbans Fidesz party told their counterparts in Stockholm on Tuesday that they support the expansion of the alliance, which the Nordic nations are trying to join following their neighbor Russias invasion of Ukraine. The group will have a similar meeting in Helsinki on Wednesday. Hungarys parliament is then scheduled to ratify the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations enlargement in the week of March 20, according to the latest agenda on its website. We made it clear that the Hungarian government, the Hungarian president, the prime minister and most Hungarian lawmakers clearly support a Swedish NATO membership, Csaba Hende, one of the Hungarian parliament members and a former defense minister, told TT news service. Ratification would leave Turkey as the only holdout in the 30-member defense alliance. It would also put an end to months of delays as Orban had effectively sought to use NATO expansion as leverage during his own standoff with the European Union over more than $30 billion in blocked funds. With Hungarys EU funds still suspended over graft and rule-of-law concerns and with no public commitments from either Finland or Sweden to support the unblocking of the cash the visit has largely become a face-saving attempt to allow Orbans lawmakers to vent their frustrations before approving enlargement anyway. Ruling party lawmakers two from Hungarys national legislature and two from the European Parliament were also expected to tell their counterparts to stop spreading lies about the erosion of democracy in Hungary, Zsolt Nemeth, the head of parliaments foreign affairs committee and a member of the delegation, told Bloomberg on March 3. Story continues Preparing the ground for ratification, Orbans foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said last month that the government had backed NATO expansion all along and that it was parliamentarians who needed to be convinced. In reality, Orban is the chairman of his Fidesz party and vets each of the partys candidates ahead of legislative elections, who are then expected to toe the party line on legislative votes. --With assistance from Kati Pohjanpalo and Niclas Rolander. (Updates with lawmakers comment starting in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Ibraheem Yazeed, the suspect accused of the kidnapping and killing of Aniah Blanchard in 2019, pleaded not guilty to all murder charges at his arraignment on Monday, court documents show. A Macon County grand jury indicted Yazeed on three counts of capital murder in November. The charges are capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a robbery and capital murder of a victim in a vehicle. Yazeed, 33, is in custody at the Lee County Detention Center where he has been held without bond since November 2019. Blanchard, who was a student at Southern Union State Community College, was last seen alive on Oct. 23, 2019, in Auburn. Court documents show a witness saw Yazeed force Blanchard into her car outside an Auburn convenience store. More:Alabama House approves laws named for Aniah Blanchard Blanchards car was found at a Montgomery apartment complex days later scraped, dented and containing evidence of blood. Blanchards remains were discovered in Macon County about a month after she was reported missing. Yazeed was arrested in Escambia County on Dec. 4, 2019. Yazeed was initially to be tried in Lee County before the case was moved to Macon County, Yazeeds attorney William Whatley said. At the time of Blanchard's murder, Yazeed was free on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery and assault in an unrelated case. Alabama voters in November approved Aniah's Law, which makes it easier for judges to deny bail to those accused of violent crimes. Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins. Your subscription makes our journalism possible. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Ibraheem Yazeed pleads not guilty in murder of Aniah Blanchard China pursues self-reliant sci-tech progress to benefit all Xinhua) 08:33, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of national legislators and political advisors are in Beijing for annual sessions that will set key development agenda of China for the year and beyond. Achieving self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology has been a heatedly discussed topic as the country aims for high-quality development driven by innovation. Not far from the main venue of the sessions, the Great Hall of the People, a popular exhibition is being staged at the National Museum of China to showcase the progress of the country's manned space program over 30 years, precisely illustrating how China has accomplished in sci-tech self-reliance as well as benefits it has brought to the world. SELF-RELIANT BUT OPEN According to a government work report submitted Sunday for the national legislators to deliberate, breakthroughs have been made in core technologies in key fields, and a series of innovations have emerged in areas such as manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, deep-sea and deep-earth probes, supercomputers, satellite navigation, quantum information, nuclear power technology, airliner manufacturing and artificial intelligence. In late 2022, China's space station Tiangong entered the new phase of application and development. It now features a basic three-module configuration consisting of the core module named Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian. The construction of the space station benefits from China's system of pooling national resources and strengths. Hundreds of thousands of scientific researchers have participated in the program, inspired by the spirit of self-reliance and independent innovation. The self-development rate of key components of the space station reached 100 percent. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions the importance of self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology. Speeding up efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology is the path China must take to advance high-quality development, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while attending a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province on Sunday at the ongoing first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. To open up new areas and new arenas in development and foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition, China should ultimately rely on scientific and technological innovation, he said. Building self-reliance and strength in science and technology is key to building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects within the set time frame, Xi added. The nation's achievements in space exploration, with the space station construction as an outstanding example, reflect the strength of innovation in China, said Wang Xiaojun, head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. Sci-tech empowerment is a prominent symbol of China's high-quality development, while sci-tech innovation has become an important driving force for Chinese modernization, Wang added. The country moved up to the 11th place in the 2022 Global Innovation Index and firmly remains the only middle-income economy in the top 30, according to the latest ranking published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. China's spending on research and development totaled 3.087 trillion yuan (about 445 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, an increase of 10.4 percent over the previous year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Not only does the perseverance with self-reliance advance the sci-tech development of China, but it also creates more opportunities for global cooperation. In its manned space program, China has signed agreements and carried out cooperation projects with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Pakistan, and many space agencies and organizations. Its Tiangong space station is the first of its kind open to all UN member states. In a cooperation program with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, projects from 17 countries have been included in the first batch of Tiangong's experiments in aerospace medicine, life sciences and biotechnology, microgravity physics and combustion science, astronomy and other emerging technologies. China is fully aware that independent innovation should never exclude international cooperation. THE GLOBAL CHAIN Self-reliance in science and technology has helped Chinese high-tech enterprises to forge their core competitiveness, and enabled them to become an essential part in the global innovative industrial chain. Located in Ningde, east China's Fujian Province, battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is now operating at full capacity, with its blue battery cells to be shipped to automakers worldwide, including BMW, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo. Founded in 2011, CATL has ranked first in the world in terms of the usage of its power battery system for six consecutive years, and also in the shipment of its energy storage battery for two consecutive years. To get more deeply involved in global industrial cooperation, CATL has built power battery production plants in Thuringia of Germany and Debrecen of Hungary. In February, it confirmed that it would work with Ford Motor Company on the latter's lithium iron phosphate battery plant in the U.S. state of Michigan, providing technology and service support to the new plant. In 2022, China's foreign trade withstood the impact of multiple unexpected factors, with exports of EVs, photovoltaic (PV) products and lithium batteries growing by 131.8 percent, 67.8 percent and 86.7 percent, respectively. According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China's global market share of PV polysilicon, lithium battery cells and modules exceeded 70 percent in 2021. "China today is the biggest driver of clean energy technologies," Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Zou Ming, an NPC deputy and a senior engineer with the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute, said that enterprises should give full play to the major role of innovation and transform sci-tech innovation into the biggest driving force on the Chinese path to modernization. BENEFITS FOR ALL While adhering to independent innovation, China has been actively promoting sci-tech sharing and exchanges, aiming to benefit all mankind. The contribution of scientific and technological progress to the country's economic growth has exceeded 60 percent, said the government work report. In February, a group of guests from Mexico came to Fujian Province to study the technology of "Juncao," an economical and environmentally friendly substitute for timber as a substrate for growing mushrooms. Discovered by Chinese scientists, Juncao is famed as "magic grass," as it is particularly suitable for developing countries to improve their agriculture and reduce poverty. It is becoming a new sustainable industry in countries and regions along the Belt and Road and has been introduced to 106 countries, creating hundreds of thousands of job opportunities and helping to alleviate poverty. At a UN meeting in 2019, former President of the General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces described Juncao as "emblematic of China's Belt and Road Initiative," which, according to the World Bank's estimates, could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. China has also hosted a large number of international students learning about the Juncao technology. So far, the country has held 310 international training sessions on the technology, both at home and abroad, training more than 10,000 people. When chairing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee last month, Xi noted that efforts should be made to enhance openness, trust and cooperation in the international sci-tech community to make new and greater contributions to the progress of human civilization. China has established sci-tech cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 116 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation. In 2022, China signed or renewed 25 international sci-tech cooperation documents, and carried out fruitful cooperation with many countries in multiple fields, including COVID-19 control, biodiversity, climate change and clean energy. The country's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope has been available for scientists worldwide since April 1, 2021. Meanwhile, products, technologies and services related to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System have been applied in more than half of all countries around the world. After the recent devastating earthquake hit Turkiye, China quickly deployed several satellites to help analyze the disaster situation and allocate relief resources. Sci-tech progress will make China better prepared for international sci-tech cooperation, and the country will continue to contribute to global sci-tech development for the benefit of humanity. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Lakshman Gogada holds up a picture on his phone showing Devasish Nandepu, who was posing for an Instagram photo. Godaga was with Nandepu the night he was killed. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune) A 14-year-old boy was charged in the January fatal shooting of a graduate student from India outside a Walmart in the West Chatham neighborhood, Chicago police announced Tuesday. The juvenile was charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm in the death of Devasish Nandepu, 23. Advertisement [ A Walmart run for 3 international graduate students ends in deadly shooting, senseless robbery for $6 on South Side ] Nandepu was shot in the back during a robbery Jan. 22 outside Walmart in the 8300 block of South Holland Road, where another graduate student was shot in the chest. Nandepu was pronounced dead the next morning, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The juvenile was arrested Monday on the Far South Side by the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and Chicago police. The boy was identified as one of the people involved in the armed robbery of three graduate students in the Walmart parking lot. Advertisement One of the students had just enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology, while Nandepu and another came from India to start the spring semester at Governors State University. According to a police report, the three students were on their way to the Walmart when a Kia pulled up and two gunmen wearing face masks jumped out. One was carrying a long gun, possibly a rifle, and the other a handgun, as they began to demand the victims belongings, the police report said. Get on the ground, they yelled, saying they wanted their cellphones and pass codes but after snatching a $5 bill and a $1 bill, without the phones, the attacker with the rifle began to shoot hitting Koppala and Nandepu, according to the police report. The shooter got back in the Kia and fled. I was saved by Gods grace, but they both were hit by bullets, Lakshman Gogada, one of the students, told the Tribune in February. Little Elm Councilman Tony Singh likes to joke that hes an accidental politician. Growing up as a military brat with his father in the Indian Navy, 42-year-old Singh had become accustomed to packing his bags every few years. But now, Little Elm is my home forever, Singh says. With the goal of serving his newfound community, Singh signed up for Citizens Government Academy, an eight-week program offering Little Elm residents the opportunity to learn about the local governments daily functions and roles. To help keep residents safe, the sales engineer and his wife Crystal volunteered with the police department, the fire department, Citizens on Patrol and Make 380 Safe. Before joining the town council, Singh served as a commissioner on the towns planning and zoning commission. I thought elected officials should be more proactive, should be there for the community all the time, they should be accessible, he said of his run for the town council. People should be your first priority. Im a volunteer first and a politician second. Thousands joined the celebration of Diwali at the Rustin Pavilion in the Southlake Town Square Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Nipa Guswarambi, 6, left, joins younger sister, Dhiti, 3, at the fountain, while Priya Abbott, 6 and older sister, Roma, enjoy sweet treats. Joan Patel has a friend snap a keepsake photo of her at the Diwali celebration in Southlake, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. The growing number of Indian-Americans in North Texas is establishing itself as a formidable block in cities throughout the Metroplex. From technology, to schools to politics, Indian-Americans like Singh have made an indelible mark in the cultural fabric of North Texas. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2010 and 2020 5-year estimates Asians are the states fastest-growing population, with Indian-Americans being the largest group in that category. Overall, Texas has the second largest Indian-American population in the country. In 2010, there were 230,842 Indian-Americans in Texas, making up 0.9% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2020, that number nearly doubled, with 434,221 Indian-Americans making up 1.5% of the states population. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2010, 2015, 2020 5-year estimates That growth was apparent in Dallas-Fort Worth, where about 220,000 Indian-Americans live. In Collin County, the Indian-American population grew from 3.8% to 7.5% in the last decade, and Denton County from 2.2% to 4.1%. The percentage of Indian-Americans in Dallas County went from 1.6% to 2.4%, and in Tarrant County it increased from 0.9% to 1.1%. Between 2015 and 2020 alone, about 14,189 more resided in Fort Worth, Dallas and Plano. A career solving problems McKinney resident Dinesh Hooda, 39, said he came to Texas in 2011 for the job opportunities. He had worked for cybersecurity company McAfee in India for nearly eight years before being transferred as a senior software engineer. Hooda earned a masters degree in computer science in India, and later an MBA from Texas A&M University. Technology always fascinated me from the beginning when I was a child, because you can achieve more things by following the latest technology and it leads to more work, he said. Technology makes good use of human power and multiplies it a lot. Hooda is one of a large proportion of Indian-American science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workers in North Texas. More than half of Indian-American employees work in only three industries: computer science and mathematics, management and health care. They also own 5% of all businesses in Collin, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant counties, representing more than a third of all Asian businesses. Proud parents in the audience getting video of their children performing at the celebration of Diwali in Southlake, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. The color and pageantry of Bollywood showed in the performances during the celebration of Diwali in Soutrhlake, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Indian-Americans are among the highest earners of all immigrants, according to an August report from the Indian American CEO Council and the Institute for Urban Policy Research at the University of Texas at Dallas. The average income for Indian-Americans in Dallas-Fort Worth is $58,879, about 48% more than other groups. And 41% make $150,000 or more annually, according to the Census Bureau. In North Texas, most Indian-Americans are college educated, with nearly half having a graduate or professional degree. It was difficult for Hooda, his wife and four-year-old son to adjust to the change at first, not having the community he had in India. Even finding vegetarian food, which was usually easily accessible to them, had proved to be a challenge. And when school started, his son was anxious to go fearful that his teachers wouldnt understand him. We did not know anyone here except my manager to whom I was reporting to, he said. When you dont know anyone, then smaller things also become bigger things. That was until Hooda attended an Indian Independence Day event hosted by the India Association of North Texas. For the first time, Hoodas family was able to connect with Indian Americans living in North Texas. Since then, that group has given them a sense of belonging and a tie to their Indian culture. It was really big for me, because I made a couple of friends from that group. And then that way, I felt that yeah there are more more people here in the area which look more like me. And then they also were going through the same immigration challenges in which I am going through, Hooda said. Hooda now works as senior technical program manager at Uber, where he works with engineers to prevent fraud on the platform. I want to definitely continue to work on challenging problems and solve them, and continue to grow in my career, Hooda said. Urmeet Juneja, who is Sikh, in his home in Frisco. A familys promising future Frisco resident Urmeet Juneja, 50, moved to the U.S. in 2012 to build a promising future for his family of four. Over the past decade, he and his wife Harleen raised their two kids Rajmeet and Manraj in North Texas, and that future has become a reality. Since I came from India to the U.S., it was kind of a little challenging to settle down. Not that much for me, but for my family and kids, because it was a change in culture, it was a change in language, Juneja said. So the kids took some time to get acclimatized with the culture and the language here. It was a couple of years before they actually felt settled down. Rajmeet and Manraj had to leave behind friends as well as extended family back in India, so Texas was initially a lonely place for them. Because English had not been their primary language, it took about a year of ESL classes before they felt fully comfortable communicating with classmates and teachers. What I could see is they would hang out with friends who were of the same culture and same background, Juneja said. It took them some time to get into the groove where they had friends who were non-immigrants. Many crowded the edge of the stage to snap photos and shoot video of performers at the celebration of Diwali in Southlake, Texas, Saturday. Soon, the family found a gurudwara, or Sikh temple, to worship at every Sunday. Later, Juneja became president of the India Association of North Texas. That community involvement helped the family remain connected to their values and culture and makes them feel at-home, Juneja said. We have a very large community, Juneja said. I myself am involved with the India Association of North Texas, so thats kind of heavy involvement in the cultural activities and educational activities that the association does, plus we also deal with the state representatives, the mayor and all to take up the issues of the Indian community, if any, and then we also focus on growing the cultural diversity and showing that to the community at large. That keeps even the children connected with their culture, which is back in India. A senior at UTD, Rajmeet, 21, will be earning a computer science and engineering degree in 2023. As a Centennial High School senior, Manraj wants to attend the UT McCombs School of Business, majoring in business and finance. In the long-term, the 17-year-old plans to take up corporate law. That was the goal that my kids would live in an environment where theyll get a better education, theyll get more prospects once they grow up, he said. Im hoping my kids grow up and get into good jobs or start something of their own and do well in their life. And at the same time, also keeping intact their cultural values and being in touch with their Indian value system which we have grown up into. Tony Singh with Little Elm City Council near his truck at home in Little Elm. A significant political constituency The more than 4.16 million Indian-Americans have appeared as a significant political constituency. In the United States, there are 1.9 million Indian-American voters. Indian-Americans serve as elected officials throughout the Lone Star State, and even more ran for county, state and federal office this year. In the November election, advocacy group Indian American Impact endorsed six Texas candidates of South Asian descent. One of those who ran for re-election and won is Judge Juli Mathew, who in 2018 became the first Asian judge in Fort Bend County. Also, Euless resident Salman Bhojani became the first South Asian elected to the Texas legislature. When I was running, there were very few [Indian-Americans] running, but now I see more and more people are running every year, Councilman Singh said. In coming years, Indian-Americans will be a very big group, which can influence a lot of things in this area, in all of Texas. Groups like SAAVETX are helping to register South Asian voters in places of worship, community centers and neighborhoods throughout Texas. Groups like SAAVETX are helping to register South Asian voters in places of worship, community centers and neighborhoods throughout Texas. Because of their relatively young status and recent arrival, the IACEO/UTD report says, its possible that the full political impact of the Indian-American community has not been fully realized. The Indian-American population is relatively young, with a median age of 40, compared to 46 for other immigrants. About two-thirds arrived in the U.S. after 2000. Dallas-Fort Worth approved the fourth highest number of green card holders from India, behind New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. Groups like SAAVETX and the Indian American Coalition of Texas have helped to register South Asian voters in places of worship, community centers and neighborhoods throughout Texas. Those efforts helped to drive record turnout for the 2020 election. The biggest concern for the Indian-American community is the immigration system, Juneja says. I was fortunate enough to come on an L-1A visa, which is the executive visa, but most of the Indian American community comes on the H-1B visa and then they struggle to keep the status intact. A lot of times their kids they grew up for like 14, 15 years, they stay on H-1B, and the kids after the age of 21 they are out of status and they have to struggle to find their own immigration status, Juneja said. We have the people who have been staying here from such a long time. But then also we have an influx of new people coming in every year on an H-1B visa, those who have been here for 10 years and still struggling to get a permanent status. In 2003, Singh moved to Texas from India to get his masters degree in electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Then in 2011, he decided to settle in Little Elm with Crystal because it had the unique charm of a small town, like the beach on the shores of Lake Lewisville, with all the amenities of a big city, including health care that Crystal needed as a cancer survivor. Now in his second term, Singh still does regular volunteer work, like helping out at the Little Elm Area Food Bank every first Saturday of the month and making donations through his nonprofit called the Little Elm Angels Foundation. He aims to get more residents informed of what is happening with their town and get more involved. As long as I can take care of the people, respond to people on-time, be accessible to people and create value for the town, well be here, Singh said. A storm that developed in the Indian Ocean last month has become the longest-lasting recorded cyclone as of Tuesday, as it is forecasted to wallop Mozambique for a second time in just a month. Tropical Cyclone Freddy began in the Indian Ocean on Feb. 6, crossing the entire southern part of the ocean before making landfall in Madagascar on Feb. 21 and then Mozambique on Feb. 24, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The storm is now headed back to Mozambique this week as it hit the 31-day milestone on Tuesday. It now holds the record for longest-lasting tropical storm alongside Hurricane John, which lasted 31 days in 1994. At this time, it does appear to be a new record holder for longest-lasting recorded tropical cyclone but we are continuing to monitor the situation, Randall Cerveny, WMO rapporteur for weather and climate extremes, said in the press release. The storm brought heavy rains and flooding to the regions, and has killed at least 21 people this far. Mozambique officials said that 1.75 million people have been affected this far by the storm, with more than 8,000 people displaced, the WMO said in its press release. Freddy also broke the record for all-time accumulated cyclone energy a measure of the systems strength over time with already recording 66 units of all-time accumulated cyclone energy, which overrode the previous 2016 record of 53, according to the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. The service also said that it is only the fourth tropical system to cross the southern Indian Ocean from east to west. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Rescuers on a remote Indonesia island searched for signs of life on Tuesday after a landslide that killed 15 people, awaiting equipment and reinforcements to boost efforts to find 42 people still missing, the disaster agency said. The landslide on Monday followed six days of torrential rain and buried houses on a village on the island of Serasan in the Natuna region, about 80 km (49.71 miles) off the island of Borneo. Disaster agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the landslide was estimated to have been 100-200 metres (328-656 ft) long and there were just 42 people involved in a rescue mission complicated by the remote location. Heavy equipment such as excavators had yet to arrive, he said, with those helping in the operation required to travel by boat, vehicles then on foot. "The number of fatalities might change at anytime. Of 15 fatalities, 10 bodies had been retrieved," Abdul said by phone, adding 1,216 residents had been moved to temporary shelters in mosques and community health centres. A video seen by Reuters showed rescuers in helmets working with flashlights in darkness to try to free victims, with houses destroyed and roads blanketed in mud. Two helicopters would be sent from the capital Jakarta on Tuesday to help the rescue effort, as well as a plane carrying tents, food and blankets for evacuees, said Abdul. Natuna's rescue agency head told Antara News Agency that military would be deployed to help the rescue and some equipment had been dispatched, including extraction tools and lighting equipment. (This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of island to Serasan, not Searasan, in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Martin Petty) Danielle Miller is seen following a 2020 arrest in Florida. Danielle Miller is seen following a 2020 arrest in Florida. A social media influencer and self-professed con artist who once boasted the friendship of infamous scammer Anna Delvey has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million in pandemic-related loans. Danielle Miller, 33, pleaded guilty Monday in Boston to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft over accusations that she stole the identities of more than 10 people to take out loans, open bank accounts and receive thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits. The money was then used to fund an extravagant lifestyle that included chartering a private jet and booking luxury hotel stays, federal prosecutors said. Miller, whose social media accounts feature photos and videos of her wearing an ankle monitor while sporting designer clothing and driving a Rolls-Royce, struck a plea deal with prosecutors to forfeit $1.3 million and serve six years in prison, Reuters reported. Each wire fraud charge otherwise carries a sentence of up to 20 years. Miller accepted responsibility for her role in the offenses charged in the indictment, her attorney told HuffPost in a statement Tuesday. Her sentence, scheduled to be handed down June 27, could reportedly overlap with a five-year sentence that she received last year in Florida as part of a separate identity fraud case. From July 2020 to May 2021, Miller bankrolled her glamorous lifestyle using fake photo IDs and fake business names to apply for COVID-19 relief loans funded by the federal government, according to prosecutors. She also used other peoples identities to rent a luxury apartment in Miami, arrange a private Gulfstream jet flight from Florida to California where she arranged luxury accommodations under an identity theft victims name and rent a Zipcar vehicle in Miami that was never returned. The car was later found abandoned but traced back to Miller after her name was discovered on a piece of paper inside, according to a criminal complaint. Story continues Miller meanwhile publicized her thefts, authorities said, with social media photos of herself at Californias ritzy Beverly Hills Hotel and the nearby Petit Ermitage. Illegal transactions were made at both luxury hotels in September 2020 with a photo ID that matched Millers face but bore a different name, an investigating agent said in a court document. By the time of the agents 2021 probe, Miller already had a criminal record that included arrests in five different states, many of which were related to larceny and identity-related fraud, the agent said. I more so consider myself a con artist than anything, Miller told New York Magazine in a profile last year while under house arrest and awaiting trial. The former law student, whose father was once president of the New York State Bar Association, said she learned how scamming works while serving time in New York following a grand larceny arrest in her college days. It was during this time that she said she befriended fellow inmate Delvey born Anna Sorokin whose elaborate thefts were the focus of a hit Netflix miniseries in 2022. I literally just researched on the internet, Miller told New York Magazine of her scamming know-how. It was very readily available to me. No one taught me it. I just overheard some things while I was in Rikers Island. Related... A social media influencer pleaded guilty Monday to using identities she stole to obtain more than $1 million in pandemic relief to help fund a lavish lifestyle, prosecutors said. Danielle Miller, 32, assumed identities through the online Massachusetts drivers license portal and other methods and displayed some of the cache from her scheme on social media, according to the U.S. attorneys office for Massachusetts. Victims also came from Wisconsin and Arizona, a criminal complaint filed in the case noted. Prosecutors say Danielle Miller used stolen identities to get more than $100,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration and allegedly spent taxpayer money at various luxury hotels throughout California. (@killadmilla via Instagram) Federal officials say hers is one of the more egregious cases of fraud that emerged from government efforts to recharge the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which locked down communities and businesses starting in 2020. In all, Miller obtained $1.5 million through fraud, most of it related to pandemic relief efforts, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Authorities said in the complaint that, in September 2020, she used counterfeit ID to buy $2,390 worth of private jet airfare from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Los Angeles area. There, she spent $5,500 at Petit Ermitage, a luxury hotel in West Hollywood, and posed for a photo in front of a Rolls-Royce at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to the complaint. She posted an image of her with the car on Instagram with the words Shes back. The next month, she used a pilfered identity to rent a Honda Civic, which was abandoned in Miami, it said. Inside was a document from the Florida unemployment department in her real name, the charging document said. Miller pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. attorneys office. She is free on $100,000 bond and living in the New York City area, according to court documents. A still-active Instagram account belonging to Miller shows her in photos posted last year wearing an ankle monitor. Her attorney, Mitchell C. Elman, said Miller has accepted responsibility for her role in the offenses as charged. Story continues Federal investigators started looking into Miller in early 2021, after an Abington, Massachusetts, woman discovered her identity was stolen; someone applied for a lease in her name, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities then discovered $102,400 in Small Business Administration loan funds had been deposited in a bank account in the victims name, unbeknownst to her, the complaint said. Authorities zeroed in on Miller by linking the network used to access the victims information on the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles site to a Miami high-rise, according to court documents. Soon, investigators said, they were looking at photos of Miller not on social media but on fraudulent ID cards. There, they found that the original Massachusetts victims identity and the identities of multiple other victims were used to buy money orders worth thousands in cash, according to the complaint. Investigators said the stolen identities were also used to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards and apply for rental cars. Miller also opened a bank account in the name of another victim and collected $6,204 in Arizona unemployment benefits, the criminal complaint said. She accessed the identities of 27 people through the Massachusetts drivers license portal alone, 10 of which were used to apply for more than $900,000 in federal SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, offered under the pandemic national emergency, the complaint said. Prosecutors allege Miller ran her scheme from July 2020 through May 2021, when she was arrested. Miller faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the three counts of wire fraud, a mandatory two-year sentence on the identity theft charges and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charges when she is sentenced June 27. Some experts say pandemic relief fraud could amount to a quarter of a trillion dollars in taxpayer money stolen, lost or otherwise wasted. Much of the federal relief money related to the pandemic went to small-business owners as loans and was forgiven. But some who obtained loans lied about owning viable businesses or about how many workers they employed. The White House last week proposed a $1.6 billion plan to combat pandemic relief fraud. Nearly a year ago, President Joe Biden announced that his administration was cracking down on pandemic relief fraud. Far too many working families bore the brunt of this unchecked fraud, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ophelia Nichols has 11.2 million followers on TikTok. Ophelia Nichols via TikTok. The TikTok star Ophelia Nichols said she found a wedding dress worth $4,819 in a thrift store. She said she bought the designer dress for $50 and planned to give it away to a fan. After seeing Nichols try on the dress, her followers urged her to keep it for herself. A TikTok influencer known for acting as a motherly figure to her fans has told them she bought a designer wedding gown for $50 at a thrift store and hopes to donate it to a follower who's planning to get married. Ophelia Nichols, a 41-year-old creator from Alabama known on TikTok by the nickname Mama Tot, has developed a following of 11.2 million by role-playing as a momlike figure to her younger fans, reacting to other creators discussing difficult life experiences and responding to requests for advice about a particular issue a follower is facing by using comforting words. On Sunday, Nichols posted a video in which she could be seen holding up a white wedding gown, which she said was from the luxury bridal brand Romona Keveza. According to Nichols, the original label on the dress said it cost $4,819. Romona Keveza wedding dresses in the brand's current collection start at about $3,500, Brides magazine reported. The TikToker said she "felt so bad" about buying the dress for such a bargain that she tried to tell a worker in the store how valuable it was but said the employee was happy to let her have it for $50. Nichols said she wanted to have the dress cleaned to give it away to one of her followers whom she calls her "tater tots" who's planning to get married but can't afford a designer dress. She then recalled preparing for her own wedding and looking through designer magazines, wishing that she could afford to splurge on her gown. "I cried when I put this dress in my truck because I would have given anything to have this years ago when I got married, and I know that it would mean something to one of you," she said. "Sure, I could get it cleaned and sell it on eBay for whatever, but no, I want somebody else to have this experience that I didn't get a chance to have." Story continues The TikToker filmed herself trying on the dress and said she would ideally like to give it to a local fan in Alabama so that they could try it on first to see whether it fit well. "This is stunning. This would have been the dress I would have gotten married in. I'm speechless," she said as she twirled around in the gown on camera. Instead of scrambling to put their names forward to win the dress giveaway, an overwhelming majority of Nichols' commenters said they thought the creator should keep the dress because they thought it looked good on her and they felt sympathy after she talked about how much she loved it. A number of people suggested that she could even wear the gown to renew her vows with her husband, Derick, whom Nichols refers to online as Papa Tot. "No, no, I want someone else to enjoy this beautiful gown that may be wouldn't have the opportunity to," Nichols wrote in response to one commenter who suggested this. Nichols has yet to make another statement about when she plans to give away the dress. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She has in the past appealed to her fans for help. Last year, she asked for information about her 18-year-old son, Randon Lee, who was shot and killed in June. Nichols asked her TikTok followers whether anyone knew something that could identify Lee's killer. She also shared a link to a GoFundMe page at the time, which raised $280,980 to cover his funeral costs. Police arrested a man on suspicion of the murder in August, multiple reports said. For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. Read the original article on Insider Danielle Miller is accused of duping the US government out of pandemic relief funds (killadmilla/Instagram) An Instagram influencer has admitted to stealing $1.5m in Covid relief funds to pay for her luxurious lifestyle. Miami-based Danielle Miller, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors say that between June 2020 and May 2021 she used more than 10 stolen identities and fake business names to claim pandemic-related financial assistance. She then allegedly used the money to pay for her rent in a luxury building, stay in a luxury hotel and charter a private plane. The Massachusetts US Attorneys Office says that Miller got the money from the US Small Business Administration, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and other unemployment benefits. Miller, who has more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, was arrested in May 2021 and indicted by a federal grand jury in July of the same year. There, Miller posted her extravagant use of the fraud proceeds and stolen identities, publicizing her purchasing of luxury goods and renting of luxury accommodations. Posts to this account included a post showing Miller at luxury hotels in California where transactions were made using the bank account in one of the victims names, prosecutors stated. The wire fraud charges could see Miller receive up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. She is set to be sentenced on 27 June. U.S. officials are looking into whether a pro-Ukrainian group conducted the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year, according to a report from The New York Times. The New York Times reported Monday that U.S. officials are reviewing intelligence suggesting that a group supportive of Ukraine attacked the natural gas pipelines; however, there are no apparent ties between that group and the Ukrainian government. The Nord Stream pipelines connect Russia to Germany and Western Europe for the delivery of natural gas. They have become a major flashpoint in the war between Russia and Ukraine, along with its impact on energy prices in Europe. Explosions in the Baltic Sea last September damaged the pipelines, leading to finger-pointing across the globe. Several top Western leaders suggested that Russia could be behind the attack in the wake of the explosions. The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement in the attack, but a number of U.S. officials have thought for some time that the country could be the most likely perpetrator, according to the Times. Ukraine opposed the creation of the pipeline. The new intelligence, according to the Times, suggests that the attack was carried out by opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but officials said it did not specify the members or the funders of the group. Officials also declined to disclose how the intelligence was gathered or the strength of the evidence. Europes decades-long dependence on Russian oil and natural gas has come back to bite key Ukrainian allies. The combination of sanctions on Russian energy and shocks to global supply of oil and natural gas caused a steep increase in energy costs in Europe, along with a lesser bump in the U.S. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Last week marked the beginning of International Womens Month -- a 31 day celebration of women everywhere and the monumental impact theyve had all over the world. The specific holiday in honour of womens societal and economical accomplishments always falls on 8 March, known as International Womens Day (IWD). The event was first recognized by the United Nations in 1975 and has since been celebrated by more than 80 countries worldwide. The day has also been a major part of the womens rights movement and helped create conversations about gender biases. This year, the International Womens Day website and the UN have set a theme which focuses on gender equity and equality. Heres everything you need to know about IWD, from how it started to how to celebrate this years theme. How did International Womens Day begin? The origin of the holiday dates back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City to demand for change within their society, as noted on IWDs official website. They demanded shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights. On 28 February 1909, the first National Womens Day was observed. One year later, a woman named Clara Zetkin, a member of the Social Democratic Party in Germany, suggested the idea of a Womens Day that would be held every year in every country on the same day to press for their demands. After an agreement was made in Denmark in 1911, International Women's Day was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. It later got moved to 8 March in 1914 and has stayed the same since. IWD was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1975. What is this years theme? The International Womens Day website announced that this years theme is #EmbraceEquity. The organisation notes that a focus on gender equity needs to be part of every societys DNA. They also highlight the difference between equity and equality, explaining that the former means creating an inclusive world, through acts like challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and embracing diversity. Story continues Another goal of the campaign is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities arent enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action, the site reads. The UNs theme is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. It is focused on the untold contributions to the digital world that women have made and continue to make. The organisation also noted that women make up only 22 per cent of artificial intelligence workers globally. Today, a persistent gender gap in digital access keeps women from unlocking technologys full potential, the UNs site reads. Their underrepresentation in STEM education and careers remains a major barrier to their participation in tech design and governance. And the pervasive threat of online gender-based violencecoupled with a lack of legal recoursetoo often forces them out of the digital spaces they do occupy. The UN says that on this years IWD, they are calling on governments, activists and the private sector alike to power on in their efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable. How can you take part in IWD this year? IWDs official website says that one way that people can embrace equity is through reflect on how we can all be part of the solution, not the problem. This can be done through talking to your friends, family or colleagues about ways to work collectively to impact positive change The organisation also encourages social media users to share a picture of themselves doing the IWD #EmbraceEquity pose, in which you wrap your arms around your shoulders as if youre giving yourself a hug. People are also urged to submit their photos to the International Womens Day 2023 gallery. Additionally, the IWD website explains how you can find some worldwide events, from community gatherings to concert performances, going on near you. On the website, you can specify what country and city youre located in to find your local or virtual IWD event. Another way to take part in the campaign is by sharing visuals from their IWD social media package on social media. The organisation will also be broadcasting an event in observance of the holiday at 10 am ET on 8 March, with the theme of: DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality The broadcast will celebrate the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education and curtailing the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. It will also include technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and gender equality activists in order to provide an opportunity to highlight the role of all stakeholders in improving access to digital tools. A behind-the-scenes organization that helps states maintain their voter lists is beginning to lose members, with three Republican-led states most notably Florida announcing that they were departing the organization on Monday. The secretaries of state of Florida, West Virginia and Missouri all said that they were pulling out of the Electronic Registration Information Center, often known as ERIC. We have lost confidence in ERIC, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd said Monday. ERIC a little-known but an important part of Americas election infrastructure has been facing an onslaught of criticism, ranging from false claims that the organization is a left-leaning group that inflates the voter rolls for Democrats to more behind the scenes fights on its internal structure and practices. The group is responsible for identifying out-of-date registrations on member states rolls, which typically includes voters who moved either within the state or to another member state, or voters who died out of the state theyre registered to vote in. The three states withdrawal also surprised some member states, with Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson saying the overall criticisms of ERIC are not rooted in anything legitimate. In 2012, seven states roughly split at the time between Democratic and Republican chief election officials formed ERIC to address some challenges arising from the lack of a federally-mandated national voter registration database. Since 2012, membership to ERIC has ballooned with more than 30 members at its height that spanned deep red states to blue bastions across the country. But recently, two states Alabama and Louisiana exited the compact over the last year, with Alabamas new secretary of state alluding to conspiracy theories that percolated on far right websites about how the organization was secretly part of a liberal plot to take over voter rolls. Florida, West Virginia and Missouris departure, however, publicly reveals the broader fight about the organizations governance and bylaws. Some Republican secretaries of state have been pushing for changes to ERIC, which have been the source of tense discussions for months that the departing secretaries alluded to in their announcements. Story continues Republicans secretaries have been pushing for an end to a requirement around eligible but unregistered voters sometimes referred to as EBUs. In addition to list maintenance requirements around voters who have out-of-date registrations, ERICs bylaws require that state election officials contact those eligible but not registered people at least every two years to see if they would like to register. Some Republican officials want to scrap that requirement. In his letter announcing his intention to withdraw from the organization, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft called those mailings superfluous saying they were going to people who made the conscious decision to not be registered. Florida, notably, flouted the EBU mandates before the midterms and did not send the required mailers, several ERIC members with knowledge of the organization told POLITICO. Some Republican secretaries have also been called for changing the composition of the organizations board. The board is currently composed of one senior election official from every member state, along with non-voting ex-officio positions. One ex-officio position is vacant, and another is currently filled by David Becker, a former Department of Justice attorney who helped stand up the organization in 2012 and who is now the founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research. Republicans have called for the elimination of ex-officio positions, which would effectively boot Becker from the board. Becker has been a vocal defender of the security of the 2020 and 2022 elections, notably rebutting many of former President Donald Trump's and his allies claims that the presidential election was stolen from Trump. More broadly, Becker has regularly called out people he believes were criticizing or critiquing election systems in bad faith. Although not mentioned by name in the Mondays announcements, the three secretaries allude to Becker in their decisions to withdraw by citing a partisan actor. On Monday, Trump falsely claimed ERIC was "pump[ing] the rolls" for Democrats. On his social media site Truth Social, he called for Republican governors to pull their states out while also calling for severe restrictions on when people can cast their ballots, saying there should only be "SAME DAY VOTING" with limited exceptions. Becker was not immediately available for an interview. ERICs executive director Shane Hamlin did not return a request for comment on Monday afternoon. The decision by Florida to withdraw from the consortium comes just weeks after Byrd, an appointee of GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the partnership had helped the state to identify voters who have voted in more than one state. Byrd told members of a legislative panel that the information was used in the arrest of a woman last November who had allegedly voted in both Alaska and Florida. We do derive valid information from ERIC in order to do list maintenance, Byrd told legislators. DeSantis himself pushed for Florida to join the group in 2019 after former Gov. Rick Scott had blocked it. The likely presidential contender has made election integrity a talking point in his speeches and pushed to create a special unit to investigate election related crimes, including voter fraud. DeSantis even praised ERIC in passing during a press conference last summer as an important tool in that toolbox. Some officials in the elections sphere expressed shock on Monday at the three states' abrupt decision to withdraw from the compact. In Florida, local election supervisors learned about the move just minutes before it was announced by the DeSantis administration. "Surprised with the suddenness of the decision to withdraw, but the important question will be what out of state resources will now be available to us to continue to maintain a clean and accurate voter registration database," Bill Cowles, the supervisor of elections in Orange County, Fla., said in an email. Multiple secretaries of state told POLITICO that they were not given any heads up by their counterparts that their states were withdrawing from the compact, with some being sharply critical of the move. Their decision to bail on the most effective election integrity collaborative in our country is similarly seen as more of a strategic way to gain favor among extremists as opposed to any sincerely held concern, Benson wrote in a text to POLITICO. Some were particularly caught off-guard by the timing of the announcements. ERIC members met late last month to discuss some of the proposed changes where they were either voted down or tabled, according to several members. But the groups governing board is set to meet again on March 17, and multiple ERIC members flagged that meeting as a potential make-or-break moment before Mondays surprise departures. I think it probably casts a shadow over March 17, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, said in an interview. It seems to have knocked the legs out from under some of the proposed changes because the states that those changes were meant to accommodate are gone. Simon added that he hoped states that have recently left would reconsider. But those dropping out said they didnt want to wait. We gave them more than enough time, Ashcroft, the Missouri secretary of state, said in an interview. And at the February meeting, they made it clear that they weren't interested in doing what needed to be done. So why wait? In the interview, Ashcroft alluded to the possibility that some of the states that left may be looking to set up an organization similar to ERIC. What I will say is that there have been conversations ongoing for a substantial period of time, about how can we do a better job of cleaning our voter rolls and serving the people? Either by changing ERIC or by creating a new system, or if there is a way that states can do that solely in-house. It is unclear if any other states will follow Florida and the others out of the organization, at least before the March 17 meeting. But some states have threatened to do so. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, circulated a letter earlier on Monday before the withdrawals calling for changes to the organization. His letter references a rushed and chaotic vote taken at the February meeting, and calls for immediate action at the upcoming March meeting on proposals to eliminate the ex-officio positions and to allow members to use ERICs services a la carte, specifically calling for letting states skip EBU mailers. I want to emphatically state that Ohio remains in constant discussion with fellow member states about the future of ERIC, and I will not accept the status quo as an outcome of the next meeting, LaRose wrote in his letter, which was shared with POLITICO. Anything short of the reforms mentioned above will result in action up to and including our withdrawal from membership. A former colleague once was surprised when she saw a note left to me by my husband in my native language Hindi. She said it had never occurred to her that I would be speaking or writing in another language. She didnt think of me as being different. She meant it as a compliment, but it speaks to the fact that we are accepted and blended to such an extent that our difference is no longer obvious. While the point of diversity is to incorporate unique views and perspectives, if those who are perceived as different do not feel comfortable or are expected to fit in, then we have not achieved our goal. As an Indian woman living in the U.S., I find special meaning in International Womens Day. Living in America has forced me to think about my own identity in a very deliberate way. I grew up in a middle-class household in India. At the time, I did not realize the double privilege I had being part of the majority Hindu population and a middle-class urban-educated woman. Coming to the U.S. suddenly removed that privilege. As an international student here, I stood out everywhere I went to the grocery store, for a walk, to the gym, to class. Even after being in the country for almost 30 years, I feel a level of discomfort when I am in a new environment. Advertisement A well-meaning friend has often reminded me that I am not a real Indian. In other words, I dont fall into the definition of who an Indian woman is supposed to be. To some degree, I can empathize with minorities in the U.S. and in India, and yet, as part of the educated class in America, I am a minority with privilege. As an Indian, I am part of the wealthiest minority in the U.S., but I am also a woman from a developing world living and working in the U.S., which comes with its own set of challenges. Most of us live at the intersection of so many different boundaries geographical, sexual, political, linguistic, racial. These intersecting identities offer us the opportunity to connect with each other on many different levels. Diversity forces us to move out of our comfort zone. The more you interact across different cultural platforms, disabilities, and social and sexual groups, the more you are forced to see things differently. Advertisement As a professor and graduate director for an international relations program, Ive witnessed this interaction firsthand. A few years ago, a woman from Oman joined our Master of Arts program. She wore a hijab, had two children and was the trainer for her countrys Olympic sprinting team. She broke many stereotypes for our students. A Muslim student from Nigeria, while studying at my university, decided to start wearing a hijab. After making this decision, she experienced the world differently and, as a result, felt more in control and became more socially active, challenging a common stereotype about our community. We must see people beyond labels; otherwise, we fall prey to what Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls the danger of a single story. We also have to be careful of invoking notions of universalism since it often embodies the outlook of the dominant culture. A few years ago, I was fortunate to have two African American women in my graduate class who reminded me that when we talk about American feminism, we are usually referring to white feminism. The experiences of Black women in America and their movement are very different, much like the differences between rural and urban feminism and Western and non-Western feminism. Edouard Glissant, a writer from Martinique, said: Thought of the other is sterile without the other of the Thought. In other words, merely accepting that differences exist is not enough to generate deep change in our thinking. He calls for aesthetics of turbulence, which breaks assumptions and forces people to think differently, where each is changed and changes the other. The process is not easy, but through the process of adjustment and readjustment, we create a new hybrid culture. Social psychologist Adam Galinsky suggests that minorities and women possess a narrow range of acceptable behavior in society leading to a low-power double bind if we dont speak up, we go unnoticed, but if we do speak up, we get punished. Perspective taking, or looking at the world through the eyes of another person, and advocating for others are a few of the important tools to we can use to step up for each other. Accepting and embracing diversity means paying attention to the lone voice that disagrees with the rest. As the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Jyotika Saksena, Ph.D., is a professor and graduate program director in international relations in the department of history and political science at the University of Indianapolis. She is a Public Voices fellow with the OpEd Project. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Authorities are investigating the non-life-threatening shooting of a child at the Cincinnati home of Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Deputies were called to the 7900 block of Ayers Road in Anderson Township just before 8:30 p.m. Monday, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office said. A child was transported to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, it said. An incident report from the sheriffs office names two suspects who have not been charged. Mixon is not one of them. "We cannot confirm additional details outside of what is outlined in the Incident Report. Our investigative team continues to review the evidence and conduct interviews. No charges have been filed at this time. That is all we have to release," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Mixon's representative and the Bengals did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Authorities said sheriff's deputies obtained a search warrant for the home "and were able to gather evidence that will be part of this active investigation." "Our detectives will continue to review this evidence diligently and conduct interviews," the sheriffs office said in a statement, adding that it hopes to have an update later this week. It declined to respond to additional questions. Mixon was charged at the same home in February and accused of pointing a gun at a woman and threatening her, NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati reported. The charge was dismissed, and the case was reassigned, according to WLWT, which said it was unclear whether Mixon lives at the property, which a trust listed as the owner. Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon on Jan. 2, 2023. (Michael Allio / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Welcome to Investigative Stories from Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent's newsletter that walks you through the most prominent investigations of the past week. If you are fond of in-depth journalism that exposes war crimes, corruption and abuse of power across state organizations in Ukraine and beyond, subscribe to our investigative newsletter. To support our journalism, please become a patron of the Kyiv Independent. Pledges start from just $5 a month. Top investigative stories ______________________________________________ RFE/RL identifies 100 Russian soldiers killed attempting to seize Kyiv last March Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty identified some 100 soldiers of Russian elite military units killed during the battle of Moshchun, three kilometers north of Kyiv, in March 2022. RFE/RL used open-source research, documents, and interviews with sources to identify Russian soldiers attempting to take Kyiv last March. Among them were paratroopers, marines, and servicemen specializing in reconnaissance. These soldiers reportedly belong to at least three elite divisions of Russia's Airborne forces from Pskov, Tula, and Ivanovo, and two marine brigades from Vladivostok and Kamchatka regions. Among those killed in battle, the RFE/RL identified 45 paratroopers of Russia's 331st Guards Airborne Regiment based in Kostroma. At least 12 of them reportedly had taken part in the military parades in Moscow, six had fought in Syria, and three had received awards for participating in the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. The 331st Guards Airborne Regiment was one of the three Russian units taking part in the Battle of Ilovaisk in eastern Donetsk Oblast, during which at least 420 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in August 2014, according to RFE/RL. The 155th Separate Marine Brigade from the Russian eastern city of Vladivostok reportedly had at least 30 soldiers killed in Moshchun. Among them was Captain Andrey Ivanov, who posthumously received the highest Russian military award, Hero of Russia. Story continues Russia's defeat in Moshchun prevented its troops from encircling Ukraine's capital and subsequently forced Russian troops to withdraw from northern Ukraine in early April 2022, RFE/RL reported. Find the full story in Ukrainian with English subtitles here. Suspilne identifies Russian soldiers that could be responsible for killing volunteers in Bucha Suspilne, Ukraine's state-owned TV channel, identified Russian soldiers allegedly responsible for killing four and injuring one civilian on Kyivo-Myrotska Street in Bucha on March 4, 2022. Among these people were three volunteers delivering food to an animal shelter. (Revisit their story here). Having obtained pictures and videos from the phones of the victims and CCTV footage from street cameras, journalists managed to reconstruct the events of that morning. Russian troops allegedly shot at a car on Kyivo-Myrotska Street, injuring a man. The car caught fire and a man living nearby came out to check whether help was needed. Russian soldiers shot him dead. Soon after, the volunteers, Serhiy Ustymenko, 25, Maxym Kuzmenko, 28, and Anastasia Yalanska, 26, turned to Kyivo-Myrotska Street where Ustymenko's parents lived. When Russian soldiers saw their car, they shot Kuzmenko in the head. Ustymenko and Yalanska managed to jump out of the car, trying to escape, but Russian soldiers shot them too, Yalanska's mother told Suspilne. Suspilne identified some of the soldiers caught on CCTV cameras around the time of the murder on the street where it was committed. Among them is Aleksandr Dosyagaev, the commander of the second battalion of the Russian 104th Guards Air Assault Regiment. He is reportedly the one leading his troops to Kyivo-Myrotska Street in Bucha on March 4, 2022. Find the full story in Ukrainian with English subtitles here. Bihus.Info identifies proxy owning real estate for Russia-backed politicians Medvedchuk, Kozak Former lawmakers Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak, charged with treason, allegedly used a proxy to keep hold of expensive real estate and land plots in Kyiv, Bihus.Info outlet found. Lviv resident Olha Kuts, 62, is allegedly a nominal owner of companies linked to Medvedchuk and Kozak. The two are under Ukrainian sanctions, stipulating that their bank accounts are frozen and assets confiscated. These assets involve a residential complex in central Kyiv and a few land plots across the city, the estimated cost of which amounts to hundreds of millions of hryvnias, according to Bihus.Info. On paper, Kuts owns 55% of the companies linked to Medvedchuk, while 45% hold affiliates of Medvedchuk and Kozak. Since Kuts is a majority stakeholder, these assets allegedly went unnoticed by Ukrainian law enforcement and weren't seized by the state, Bihus.Info reported. In conversation with Bihus.Info, Kuts confessed to being a nominal owner of a number of companies at the request of Taras Kozak's father she worked for back in the 2000s. Following the Bihus.Info investigation, a Lviv court arrested assets of companies nominally owned by Kuts. In late February, a Ukrainian court seized Hr 5.6 billion ($152 million) in assets belonging to Medvedchuk's wife, Oksana Marchenko. In April last year, the court arrested Lviv real estate registered to relatives of Medvedchuk and Kozak. Kozak fled Ukraine in 2021. Medvedchuk was detained in Ukraine and handed over to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange in September 2022. Find the full story in English here. Independent Russian media identify people behind Russian censorship Roskomnadzor, Russia's agency responsible for censorship, suffers from employee shortage and hires students, Russian media outlet iStories found. Candidates for the position at Roskomnadzor's Internet censorship department are told they will be required to look for criticism of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's war against Ukraine online. Early career employees get a salary of 40,000 rubles ($530), heads of departments' wages start from 100,000 rubles ($1,300), while top managers earn 500,000 rubles ($6,630) and more. Roskomnadzor employees are also exempt from military service, according to iStories. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Roskomnadzor has blocked 125,000 pieces of content about Russia's war against Ukraine and adjacent topics as of January, according to iStories. The story is part of the #RussianCensorFiles, a series of investigations published in February by iStories and other outlets, based on more than 2 million documents leaked from Roskomnadzor. The leak revealed that Roskomnadzor is tasked with being Putin's personal watchdog, dedicated to tracking down anyone criticizing the Russian president online. Information from the agency is then passed to Putin's administration and Russian law enforcement bodies. Over 1,000 employees within Roskomnadzor specialize in tracking content, ranging from speculations about Putin's health to memes that mock the Russian leader, according to the report. Read the full story in Russian via the link. Some of the earlier stories of the #RussianCensorFiles series are now available in English here. Independent Russian media: Putin's alleged mistress, kids live in lavish villa next to presidential residence According to Proekt Media, a Russian investigative outlet, Putin reportedly built a luxurious villa for his alleged girlfriend, former gymnast Alina Kabaeva, and her kids. The villa is located next to Putins presidential residence on Lake Valdai between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Putin commissioned the construction of a villa for Kabaeva in 2020, next to the presidential residence which had been built 15 years earlier, Proekt wrote citing an anonymous source. Proekt also found other real estate Kabaeva uses. Among them is the largest apartment in Russia, a 2,600-square-meter penthouse of 20 rooms in Sochi, and three other flats there, registered under the name of her grandmother. Watch the full story in Russian with English subtitles here. Recognition ______________________________________________ The Kyiv Independent journalists win award for investigation into International Legion The Kyiv Independent's investigative reporters Anna Myroniuk and Alexander Khrebet received the #AllForJan Award in Warsaw on March 2 for their investigation into alleged leadership misconduct in the Ukrainian army's International Legion. The International Legion was established following the full-scale Russian invasion for foreigners eager to help defend Ukraine. The award-winning investigation revealed the International Legions commanders' alleged involvement in the misappropriation of light weapons and small arms, including Western-provided ones. Other allegations include threatening legionnaires with a gun and sexual harassment of female subordinates. For this story, journalists interviewed over 30 sources in the Legion and beyond. The #AllForJan Award was established in 2020 and "recognizes best media coverage, exceptional and courageous reporting with a great impact on society, and innovative ways of bringing the story to the public." The award was named after Slovak investigative reporter Jan Kuciak who was assassinated in 2018. Kuciak covered the corrupt activity of businessmen and their connections with top-level politicians in Slovakia. As the #AllforJan award committee stated, the Kyiv Independent was the first Ukrainian media outlet to break the story despite the sensitivity of the topic during Russia's all-out war. The Kyiv Independents investigation into the International Legion came out in two parts. The #AllForJan prize was awarded to the second story in the series, published in November, while the first story, published in August, made it to the final of Ukraines National Investigative Journalism Competition. Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? So, the natural question for Investigator Resources (ASX:IVR) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. See our latest analysis for Investigator Resources Does Investigator Resources Have A Long Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When Investigator Resources last reported its balance sheet in June 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$6.2m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$5.3m. That means it had a cash runway of around 14 months as of June 2022. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Investigator Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Although Investigator Resources reported revenue of AU$234k last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. That means we consider it a pre-revenue business, and we will focus our growth analysis on cash burn, for now. With cash burn dropping by 6.3% it seems management feel the company is spending enough to advance its business plans at an appropriate pace. Investigator Resources makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Can Investigator Resources Raise More Cash Easily? Even though it has reduced its cash burn recently, shareholders should still consider how easy it would be for Investigator Resources to raise more cash in the future. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$55m, Investigator Resources' AU$5.3m in cash burn equates to about 9.7% of its market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. How Risky Is Investigator Resources' Cash Burn Situation? Investigator Resources appears to be in pretty good health when it comes to its cash burn situation. Not only was its cash runway quite good, but its cash burn relative to its market cap was a real positive. While we're the kind of investors who are always a bit concerned about the risks involved with cash burning companies, the metrics we have discussed in this article leave us relatively comfortable about Investigator Resources' situation. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 5 warning signs for Investigator Resources (of which 3 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. In light of that, when we looked at Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Union Pacific: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.16 = US$9.8b (US$65b - US$5.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Therefore, Union Pacific has an ROCE of 16%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Transportation industry average of 14%. Check out our latest analysis for Union Pacific roce In the above chart we have measured Union Pacific's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. How Are Returns Trending? There hasn't been much to report for Union Pacific's returns and its level of capital employed because both metrics have been steady for the past five years. This tells us the company isn't reinvesting in itself, so it's plausible that it's past the growth phase. So unless we see a substantial change at Union Pacific in terms of ROCE and additional investments being made, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger. This probably explains why Union Pacific is paying out 45% of its income to shareholders in the form of dividends. Given the business isn't reinvesting in itself, it makes sense to distribute a portion of earnings among shareholders. Story continues Our Take On Union Pacific's ROCE In summary, Union Pacific isn't compounding its earnings but is generating stable returns on the same amount of capital employed. Although the market must be expecting these trends to improve because the stock has gained 70% over the last five years. Ultimately, if the underlying trends persist, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger going forward. One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Union Pacific that you might find interesting. While Union Pacific may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iranian missile attacks across the Iraqi border are unacceptable and put both civilians and regional stability at risk, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on a visit to the Iraqi capital nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion. "With its missile attacks, the Iranian regime shows not only that it recklessly and brutally suppresses its own people, it also puts human life and the stability of the whole region at risk to hold on to power," she said on Tuesday. "It is unacceptable and dangerous for the whole region," she told a news conference with her Iraqi counterpart. Last year, Tehran fired missiles at bases of Kurdish groups in northern Iraq it accuses of involvement in protests against its restrictions on women, displacing hundreds of Iranian Kurds and killing some. Iran has for years refuted Western claims it is a destabilising influence in the region. Tehran has accused Western countries of orchestrating unrest and has accused protesters in ethnic minority regions of working on behalf of separatist groups. Baerbock, visiting Iraq on the same day as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said she was sending a signal that Europe's biggest economy wanted deeper cooperation with Iraq. She said she would discuss Iraq's security and stability, the question of Yazidis, and cooperation on climate change. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers in Berlin; Editing by Paul Carrel, Matthias Williams and Sharon Singleton) Chris Rock didnt hold back in his first stand-up special since last years infamous Oscars slap. Not only did the comedian directly address Will Smith slapping him at the Oscars in March 2022, but he also mocked the actors relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith which has made headlines ever since she admitted to having a relationship with August Alsina during her marriage. During his live-streamed Netflix special, titled Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, the comedian quipped that he didnt have any entanglements, referencing the term Pinkett Smith used to describe her relationship with Alsina back in 2020. His wife was f***ing her sons friend, Rock said on Saturday 4 March. Now, I normally would not talk about this s***. But for some reason [they] put that s*** on the internet...We all been cheated on. Everybody in heres been cheated on. None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television. He added: She hurt him way more than he hurt me, OK? In July 2020, Jada Pinkett Smith confirmed during an episode of her Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk, that she had a relationship with Alsina. Will Smith appeared alongside Pinkett Smith in the episode, in which she explained that she and her husband were separated amicably when the romance occurred, which had not been disclosed to the press at the time. We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time and you go figure out how to make yourself happy and Ill figure out how to make myself happy, Pinkett Smith said. The GI Jane star went on to use the term entanglement when describing her involvement with Alsina. From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August, she said, before being prompted by Smith to confirm it was a relationship, absolutely. The Red Table Talk episode came two weeks after Alsina spoke out about their relationship, claiming that Smith gave him his blessing to have a relationship with the actors wife. In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Alsina claimed Smith approved of the relationship after his marriage transformed into what he described as a non-romantic life partnership. Story continues I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership that theyve spoken on several times and it not involving romanticism, Alsina said. He added that he totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life and I truly and really, really deeply loved and have a ton of love for her. Pinkett Smiths representative has since said that Alsinas claims are absolutely not true. The Girls Trip star also denied the details of Alsinas account about her husband giving permission during Red Table Talk episode. The only person who could give permission in that particular circumstance was myself, she said. What August was probably trying to communicate because I could see how he would perceive it as permission, because we were separated amicably I think he wanted to make it clear that hes not a homewrecker. Which hes not, she added. Alsina reportedly met Pinkett Smith in 2015 after being introduced by her son, actor and rapper Jaden Smith. Smith and Pinkett Smith, who tied the knot in 1997, have spoken candidly about their marriage over the years. While the two have fielded rumours about an open relationship in the past, both Smith and Pinkett Smith share the belief that they have a non-conventional marriage. In 2013, Pinkett Smith took to Facebook to address rumours she and her husband were in an open relationship, writing: Here is how I will change my statement...Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship...this means we have a GROWN one. Two years later, the King Richard actor addressed rumours that the two were separating, and clarified they were not getting a divorce. Under normal circumstances, I dont usually respond to foolishness, he wrote in a Facebook post at the time. But, so many people have extended [to] me their deepest condolences that I figured What the hell I can be foolish, too! So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, over and over-again-ness Jada and I are NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! In 2018, Smith admitted in an episode of TIDALs Rap Radar podcast that he and his wife refer to ourselves as life partners. He then elaborated on their complex dynamic in his 2021 self-titled memoir, Will, writing that they were suffering the brutal death of our romantic fantasies, the burning away of the idealistic illusion of the perfect marriage and the perfect family. Neither of us wanted a divorce; we knew we loved each other, and some aspects of our union were magical. But the structure of the life that we had established was strangling both of us. That same year, the I Am Legend star confessed in a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey that he and his wife believe its fantasy that they can make each other happy. We realised that it was a fantasy illusion that we could make each other happy. We agreed that she had to make herself happy and I had to make myself happy, he said. Then we were going to present ourselves back to the relationship already happy versus demanding that the other person fill our empty cup. Nearly two weeks before the 2022 Oscars, and the infamous Oscars slap, Smith discussed some of the rumours surrounding his relationship with Pinkett Smith in an interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings. Theres never been infidelity in our marriage, he said. Jada and I talk about everything, and we have never surprised one another with anything, ever. The couple also joked there would be no more entanglements in their marriage during a conversation with Laverne Cox at the 2022 SAG Awards on Sunday 27 February, where Pinkett Smith said: No more of those, yeah, no more in response to a question about the relationships. On 27 March 2022, comedian Rock was presenting an award for Best Documentary Feature when he made a joke about Pinkett Smiths shaved head. Smith then stormed onstage and hit Rock across the face with an open palm before returning to his seat. Later that night, Smith was awarded his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, a biopic about the father of Serena and Venus Williams. After the Oscars slap, Smith was banned from attending the Academy Awards for 10 years and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Approximately 1 million women experience the start of menopause every year, yet many are surprised and bewildered by its arrival, so much so that they cant even help themselves. According to a 2021 survey of 1,000 U.S. women, more than 70% of women dont treat their menopausal symptoms because they dont even understand whats happening to their own bodies. It sneaks up on even the most well-resourced people. Oprah Winfrey and her longtime buddy, journalist Maria Shriver, spoke out about the silence surrounding menopause during a conversation in the Paramount+ series The Checkup With Dr. David Agus. Both women described being unprepared for the change of life. Advertisement The fact that people with resources like Winfrey and Shriver didnt know what was happening to them shows just how little we talk about menopause. To combat this lack of knowledge, experts argue that we should normalize it; Australian obstetrician Martha Hickey and three womens health professors from the United Kingdom, United States and Australia advocated doing just that in The British Medical Journal. Winfrey and Shriver also used that word. Theyre wrong. If there were any normalizing to do, women would be discussing this now, but were not. Only 9% of those surveyed in 2021 reported that they had a conversation about menopause with their mother. Advertisement Instead, we need to start these discussions about menopause. And the best way to do that is to include men in these talks. One of the reasons why menopause remains culturally shrouded is that its been identified as an exclusively female problem. Its not. Andropause, also known as male menopause, is characterized by an age-related decrease in testosterone levels. The sex hormone changes occur gradually in men unlike women, who experience a more dramatic plunge during menopause. Still, about 50% of men will experience symptoms, and its attracted the attention of the medical community; theres significant research into male menopause, or climacterium, that gets spun into a new conversation about virility but never enters the discussion as an analog of womens menopause. It should. Not only do middle-aged and elderly men experience a decline in testosterone production and plasma concentrations, but they also encounter mood swings, occasional night sweats, weight gain in the upper body and irritability. Its significant enough that researchers have examined how pharmacists, the health professionals people interact with the most often, can help men who are experiencing these problems. Pharmacists are ultimately more effective in managing mens symptoms than primary care providers. As a result of these findings, guidelines on how pharmacists can screen men appeared in 2021. This same idea was proposed for women as early as 2005, but its not gained as much traction. Indeed, treatment for menopause has dropped off considerably since the 1990s, largely because the side effects of hormone treatment were published and scared women away. As a result, effective treatment thats available to women has been kept from them, and theyve been required to suffer when it hasnt been necessary. That men can get more relief for similar yet less significant problems should have been expected and not just because society can be sexist. However, thats not the entire explanation for the abandonment of women undergoing menopause. Its because we as women have intentionally left men out of the conversation about womens reproductive symptoms. Menopause is just the far end of menstruation, and we keep boys and men out of discussions of reproductive health from an early age. Health and sexual education classes are often gender-segregated. Boys learn more about menstruation from parents, siblings and classmates than they do from sex education. Advertisement This extends into adulthood, when men report being aware of their partners menopausal symptoms but unaware of how to access treatment for symptom management. But theres potential here. In a 2019 study to assess mens perceptions and attitudes toward menopause, 75% of subjects reported perceiving themselves as largely influential in their partners lifestyle and medical choices. If they knew more about accessing medical management for menopause, there might be fewer surprises for women. Of course, theres another reason why we dont talk about menopause, and it isnt medical. Its about how womens value is determined by their ability to bear children. Men dont experience that type of devaluation; they can impregnate a woman throughout their lives. That conversation involves reversing misogyny, a much taller order than getting women the help they need and deserve when menopause hits. Thats something we can begin now. We need to start the conversation about menopause by extending explicit invitations to men to join in. Margena Christian, Ed.D., is a former health and wellness editor with Ebony magazine. She is currently a senior lecturer of English and professional writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a Public Voices fellow of the OpEd Project. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's new medium-lift rocket failed on its debut flight in space on Tuesday after the launcher's second-stage engine did not ignite as planned, in a blow to its efforts to cut the cost of accessing space and compete against Elon Musk's SpaceX. The 57-metre (187 ft) tall H3 rocket, Japan's first new model in three decades, lifted off without a hitch from the Tanegashima space port, a live-streamed broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed. But upon reaching space, the rocket's second-stage engine failed to ignite, forcing mission officials to manually destroy the vehicle 14 minutes into the flight. "It was decided the rocket could not complete its mission, so the destruct command was sent," JAXA said in a statement. The failed attempt followed an aborted launch last month, and the debris would have fallen into the ocean east of the Philippines, JAXA said. Science and Technology Minister Keiko Nagaoka said in a statement that the government had established a task force to investigate the "very regrettable" failure. "This will have a serious impact on Japan's future space policy, space business and technological competitiveness," said Hirotaka Watanabe, a professor at Osaka University with expertise in space policy. CHEAPER ACCESS TO SPACE The H3 was carrying the ALOS-3, a disaster management land observation satellite, which was also equipped with an experimental infrared sensor designed to detect North Korean ballistic missile launches. "The H3 is extremely important to ensure our access to space and to ensure we are competitive," JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa told reporters. JAXA's goal of fielding a competitive launcher was unchanged, he added. H3 builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) said it was confirming the situation surrounding the rocket with JAXA and did not have an immediate comment. MHI has estimated that the H3's cost per launch will be half that of its predecessor, the H-II, helping it win business in a global launch market increasingly dominated by SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket. Story continues A company spokesperson said earlier that it was also relying on the reliability of Japan's previous rockets to gain business. In a report published in September, the Center for Strategic and International Studies put the cost of a Falcon 9 launch to low Earth orbit at $2,600 per kilogramme. The equivalent price tag for the H-II is $10,500. A successful launch on Tuesday would have put the Japanese rocket into space ahead of the planned launch later this year of the European Space Agency's new lower-cost Ariane 6 vehicle. Powered by a new simpler, lower-cost engine that includes 3D-printed parts, the H3 is designed to lift government and commercial satellites into Earth orbit and will ferry supplies to the International Space Station. As part of Japan's deepening cooperation with the United States in space, it will also eventually carry cargo to the Gateway lunar space station that U.S. space agency NASA plans to build as part of its programme to return people to the moon, including Japanese astronauts. Shares of MHI closed 0.37% lower, while the broader Japanese benchmark index was up 0.25%. (Reporting by Tim Kelly, Maki Shiraki and Rocky Swift; Additional reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo and Joey Roulette in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Jamie Freed) Japans first new rocket in three decades was ordered to self-destruct in what is being perceived as a blow for the countrys space business ambitions. While Japans next-gen H3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima spaceport as planned, the launchers second-stage engine did not ignite, leading to officials sending a self-destruction signal. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said it hoped to investigate and better understand what went wrong with the new medium-lift rocket. A destruct command has been transmitted to H3 around 10.52am (Japan Standard Time), because there was no possibility of achieving the mission, said Jaxas statement on Tuesday. H3s destruction also reportedly destroyed its payload disaster management satellite ALOS-3, which had sensors to detect North Korean ballistic missile launches. The nearly 60-metre-tall rockets builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries hoped a successful launch would win it more business in the global launch market dominated by Elon Musks SpaceX. H3s cost per launch was touted to be half that of its predecessor H-II. With a lower-cost engine using 3D-printed parts, H3 was expected to make Japans space launch business more competitive. The rocket is reportedly designed to launch government and commercial satellites, as well as to carry supplies to the International Space Station. The rocket had previously failed to launch on 17 February due to a main engine malfunction stopping the ignition signal from reaching its side booster. In space, the difference between success and failure is extremely small! Also, launching to space is and remains hard!, tweeted Nasas former head of science Thomas Zurbuchen, following the launch failure. This will have a serious impact on Japans future space policy, space business, and technological competitiveness, Hirotaka Watanabe, a space policy expert at Osaka University, told Reuters, adding that the latest launch was a complete failure. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is hoping to hold a summit meeting with South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol next week, the head of Japan's ruling coalition party Komeito said on Tuesday. "Prime minister Kishida has indicated that he would like to hold a summit meeting with South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol as early as late next week," Komeito chief Natsuo Yamaguchi told a news conference, adding that he hoped to see further progress in the thawing of relations between Tokyo and Seoul. South Korea announced on Monday that it would compensate former forced labourers through an existing public foundation funded by private companies, as it sought to end a dispute with Japan which has led to fraught relations between the countries. Japan welcomed the move while some forced labour victims and South Korea's main opposition party condemned the plan. Kyodo reported on Monday that Tokyo was floating March 16 and 17 as potential dates for Yoon's visit to Japan. (Reporting by Sakura Murakami, editing by Ed Osmond) COURTESY OF NETFLIX Netflixs Wednesday, a viral smash that cemented Jenna Ortegas star in Hollywood, succeeds thanks to its very specific tone: The series transplants the kooky, traditionally flat character into a supernatural teen drama, allowing viewers to watch her amusingly squirm through the squishy emotional discomfort. It wasnt easy to strike that balance, at least according to Ortega during a recent podcast interview. I dont think Ive ever had to put my foot down on a set in a way that I had to on Wednesday, the actress said this week. Everything that she does, everything that I had to play, did not make sense for her character at all. During her appearance on Mondays Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, the host noted that Ortega and Wednesday had the tiniest needle to thread between viewer expectations for a teen show and actually staying true to the character. As Ortega said during her interview, most of what Wednesday does in the series feels out of character. Her being in a love triangle made no sense, Ortega explained. There was a line about a dress she has to wear for a school dance, and she said, Oh my God, I love it. I cant believe I said that. I literally hate myself. And I had to go, No. Jenna Ortegas Dance Scene in Wednesday Is the Moment the Show Becomes Great At times, Ortega said, she took changes into her own hands. I even became almost unprofessional in a sensewhere I just started changing lines, she told Shepard. The script supervisor thought I was going with something, and then I had to sit down with the writers, and they would be like, Wait, what happened to the scene?' And I would have to go and explain why I couldnt go do certain things. Later on, Ortega said shed vetoed the initial plan for Wednesdays now-viral dance scene, which was originally written as a flashmob in which everyone started dancing with her: I said, either cut it, or have Wednesday knock someone out, and then its done. Story continues I grew very, very protective of her, Ortega added of her character. At the same time, she granted, You cant lead a story and have no emotional arc because then its boring and nobody likes you. During a previous interview about the dance scene, Ortega revealed that shed wound up filming the entire number with COVID. The actress told NME that she woke up on the morning of the shoot feeling like Id been hit by a car and that a little goblin had been let loose in my throat and was scratching the walls of my esophagus. (MGM, which produces Wednesday, told NME at the time that strict COVID protocols were followed and once the positive test was confirmed production removed Jenna from set.) Ortega said that she received medicine between takes while she waited for a positive COVID test result but there was no time to reshoot the scene. Ortega has been making the press rounds as she prepares for the debut of her latest film, Scream VI. In an Elle profile published Tuesday, Wednesday creator Tim Burton mused that to succeed in the role, You have to kind of be Wednesdayand thats what Jenna is. Whether she likes it or not, shes got that in her soul, and as a person. How the Hell Is Wednesday So Freaking Popular? 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 DOJ has filed a lawsuit to block JetBlue Airways' proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines. Marcus Mainka/Shutterstock The Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against JetBlue Airways on Tuesday. The lawsuit seeks to block JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines. Passengers will pay more if the airlines are allowed to combine, the DOJ said in its suit. If JetBlue is allowed to buy Spirit Airlines, passengers will end up paying more in airfare across the board, the US Department of Justice argues in a new lawsuit it filed Tuesday to block the merger. That's because right now, Spirit helps push prices down in the markets where it operates. Case-in-point: Once Spirit comes to town, airfares go down an average of 17%, the DOJ says in its filing. And if it leaves a market, airfares overall in that market go up 30%, the DOJ calculates. The DOJ says those figures prove that Spirit's competition helps keep prices low for consumers. JetBlue even admits this, the DOJ contends in its filing. "JetBlue has recognized that its own fares and revenues on a route drop significantly when Spirit enters," the DOJ says. All that would change if JetBlue were able to take over Spirit, the DOJ says. In other words: It'd be a win for the airline and its bottom line, but a big loss for flyers. JetBlue agreed to purchase Spirit for $3.8 billion in July 2022 after a bidding war with Frontier Airlines. JetBlue attempted to dodge the incoming lawsuit from the US government's antitrust division, releasing additional data on Monday that said JetBlue was "three times more effective than Spirit at bringing down competitor fares." JetBlue previously stated it would reconfigure Spirit's planes if a merger were completed to remove 10-15% of their seats. It also would eliminate the brand and its ultra-low-cost model. The elimination of Spirit would remove about half of ultra-low-cost capacity nationwide, which the DOJ says would have an adverse effect on cost-conscious fliers. Other big ultra-low-cost carriers include Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. They're known for bare-bones amenities, but as advertised super-low prices. Story continues If the merger were to go through, the new JetBlue would become the fifth-biggest airline in the US leapfrogging Alaska Airlines. JetBlue says bulking up would allow it to better compete with the four biggest US carriers: American, Delta, United, and Southwest. "The Big Four airlines have a lock on about 80% of the market," JetBlue says. "JetBlue's combination with Spirit allows it to create a compelling national challenger to these dominant airlines." The carrier also argues that Spirit and JetBlue don't primarily compete with each other. It says they overlapped only on 11% of routes. When the New York-based carrier originally announced the intended merger, CEO Robin Hayes said the deal would allow JetBlue to grow faster. "We can go head-to-head with the legacies in more places to lower fares and improve service for everyone," he said in July 2022. Tuesday's antitrust filing is the second against JetBlue in the past few years. The first targeted the carrier's Northeast Alliance where it coordinates with American Airlines. That case is still being reviewed by a judge. The Tuesday lawsuit said that the agreement with American constitutes a "de facto merger" with the world's largest airline, citing language used by Spirit before the merger. The government said that further bolsters its suit that Spirit should remain independent. Read the original article on Business Insider House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan on Monday subpoenaed a former Biden administration official who oversaw the Department of Homeland Security's disinformation board. Jordan, R-Ohio, called on Nina Jankowicz to appear before the committee April 10 for a deposition as Republicans scrutinize the short-lived Disinformation Governance Board, which drew widespread GOP criticism after it launched last year. Jankowicz ignored voluntary requests for a transcribed interview, Jordan said, citing two letters last year and three letters since he took the helm of the committee in January. Jankowicz said on Twitter that she would comply with the subpoena and defended her work at the agency. "I will happily testify to the truth of the Board under oath: That it was a working group meant to address disinformation that endangered Americans safety, and that because of the Republican Partys irresponsible lies about it our democracy is less secure," she tweeted. In response to a request for comment, Jankowicz said that "the abuse of congressional oversight powers is about to get wildly out of control" under Jordan. "His 'weaponization' committee is the entity that is actually weaponizing our government, and the American people deserve better," she wrote in an email. In a new letter to Jankowicz on Monday, Jordan said the committee is considering potential legislation that would prohibit establishing boards like the one at DHS, adding that Jankowicz was "uniquely situated" to provide information to those ends. Before she was appointed to run the board, Jankowicz was a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, a Washington-based public policy think tank, where she studied the intersection of democracy and technology in Central and Eastern Europe. Jankowicz resigned in May after the board was paused amid criticism from congressional Republicans, who sought to pass legislation to end it. DHS shuttered the program in August. Story continues In an MSNBC interview after her resignation, Jankowicz argued that Republicans had mischaracterized the board and said its role was to battle disinformation while protecting Americans freedom of speech, privacy and civil liberties. Jordan on Monday also subpoenaed Chip Slaven, the former interim executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association, and Viola Garcia, the organization's former president. Slaven and Garcia were involved in requesting federal law enforcement support in response to heated and sometimes violent local school board meetings. In a September 2021 letter to President Joe Biden, they said public schools and education leaders were under an immediate threat and called on federal law enforcement for assistance in handling "the growing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation occurring across the nation. Weeks later, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI in a memo to hold strategy sessions with law enforcement to address threats to school board members, teachers and other public school staff members. In response to a request for comment, the new head of the National School Boards Association appeared to distance the organization from Slaven and Garcia. "The individuals subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee are no longer associated with the National School Boards Association," Executive Director and CEO John Heim said in a statement. "In the aftermath of the 2021 letter sent to the White House, the NSBA has made internal reforms; reaffirmed its commitment to nonpartisanship; established in policy the importance of parental partnerships in a childs education; and underscored NSBAs fundamental belief in local control," Heim said. Jordan previously subpoenaed the Justice Department, the FBI and its director, Christopher Wray, and the Education Department over their actions relating to school boards. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Representative Jim Jordan (R., Ohio.) issued a series of subpoenas on Monday aimed at senior executives of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) as part of an investigation into the organizations push to have the Biden administration to crack down on parent protesters, who they accused of engaging in domestic terrorism. Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, demanded that former NSBA interim executive director, Chip Slaven, and the current treasurer-secretary of the organization, Viola Garcia, provide documents and testimony before Congress about their efforts to target parents critical of woke school-board policies. In September 2021, the NSBA, a nationwide non-profit that represents 90,000 school board members and 14,000 districts, sent a letter to Joe Biden asking the president to investigate threats made against educators over policies such as mask mandates. The note cited 20 episodes across the United States in which teachers and administrators were allegedly harassed, threatened, or intimidated by members of the public for instituting Covid-related policies and/or introducing progressive notions about sexuality and race into school curricula. However, based on local news reports the NSBA cited, the vast majority of incidents enumerated did not qualify as threats of physical violence. Examples cited in the document include a Michigan man disrupting a school meeting performing a Nazi salute to protest Covid-19 policies and a letter emailed to an Ohio school board member warning: We are coming after you. Nevertheless, a month after NSBA submitted the letter, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI to work alongside state attorneys to investigate whether prosecutable offenses did occur. According to the NSBA letter, these threats could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. Later on, the organization issued a statement saying its members regret and apologize for the letter following public pushback. Story continues Education Secretary Miguel Cardona actually solicited the letter from the NSBA, according to emails obtained by the nonprofit Parents Defending Education. Growing concern amongst parents that the plea for federal assistance crossed the line is leading the Ohio Republican to take the organization to task for allegedly targeting parents. Specifically, Jordan alleges that the Department of Justice created a specific threat tag targeting concerned parents and empowering the agency to investigate parents simply for speaking out on behalf of their children. A third member included in Representative Jordans subpoena request was Nina Jankowicz, the short server leader of the Department of Homeland Securitys Disinformation Governance Board. The body was quickly disbanded a mere three weeks after its inception following public uproar. Many Republicans derided the new body as the Ministry of Truth, a reference to the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell. Jankowicz condemned the subpoena, telling The Hill: Under Jim Jordan, the abuse of congressional oversight powers is about to get wildly out of control. His weaponization committee is the entity that is actually weaponizing our government, and the American people deserve better. More from National Review The House Judiciary Committee on Monday issued three subpoenas in an effort to forge ahead on two of its most controversial probes. The panel sent subpoenas to two figures previously connected with the National School Boards Association (NSBA), part of its ongoing investigation into a short-lived Justice Department memo encouraging the FBI to coordinate with school boards amid rising violent threats to its members. A third subpoena was sent to Nina Jankowicz, who briefly served as the head of the Department of Homeland Securitys Disinformation Governance Board, which was swiftly disbanded amid Republican criticism. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has cast the 2021 school board memo as an anti-parent directive and claimed without evidence that the NSBA coordinated with the White House as part of a pretext to go after parents. The board sent a letter to the White House the week before the memo was released, laying out a spate of incidents at recent school board meetings, noting that some threats could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. The initial letter from the National School Boards Association references a meeting with the White House and the Department of Education and asks for the Justice Department to review whether the threats may violate a number of different federal laws. The Justice Department memo fell far short of what the group was asking for, however, stressing coordination and partnership with local law enforcement over any legal review. The ensuing political storm caused the National School Boards Association to issue a statement saying its members regret and apologize for the letter. While Jordan has said the policy has a chilling effect on free speech, a D.C.-based federal judge in September dismissed a suit from parents in Michigan and Virginia, saying the memo does not impact constitutionally protected conduct. The subpoenas were sent to Viola Garcia, who is now the groups treasurer-secretary, and Chip Slaven, the former interim executive director of the NSBA who is no longer with the organization. Story continues The board did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jankowicz, a disinformation expert who has worked throughout Eastern Europe, was hired to lead the Department of Homeland Securitys newly created DHS Disinformation Governance Board that would help its different agencies in dealing with disinformation on topics as varied as migration to addressing plots from Russia and Iran. But Republicans quickly labeled the board as the Ministry of Truth in a nod to George Orwells novel 1984 and couched it as a government effort to control speech. The Department of Homeland Security paused the work of the board just three weeks after it was announced, indicating the group never even formally met. Jankowicz is in the midst of fundraising to sue Fox News over the way the board was covered by the outlet, claiming it made over 500 scaremongering statements about my role, my views, and my personal life over the next nine months. In a Go Fund Me post, Jankowicz said misinformation about her role began as soon as her April hiring even though the Board had nothing to do with arbitrating or restricting speech. Reached for comment, Jankowicz said that she will not be cowed by conspiracy theories or intimidation. Under Jim Jordan, the abuse of congressional oversight powers is about to get wildly out of control. His weaponization committee is the entity that is actually weaponizing our government, and the American people deserve better, she said. I will happily testify to the truth of the Board under oath: That it was a working group meant to address disinformation that endangered Americans safety, and because of the Republican Partys irresponsible lies about it our democracy is less secure. Jankowicz added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A memorial for witness Treja Kelley in the 5200 block of South Sangamon Street on Sept. 12, 2019, in Chicago. Kelley was shot and killed after testifying in a murder trial. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) SPRINGFIELD For the second year in a row, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is proposing the state spend tens of millions of dollars on a witness protection program that went unfunded for the first nine years of its existence. Eight months since the long-neglected initiative secured its initial funding, however, no witnesses have been relocated, and only about $67,500 of the $30 million approved by the General Assembly last spring has been spent, primarily on employee-related expenses. Advertisement The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, which oversees the program, said it is still trying to come up with rules on how to dole out the money, ensure it has enough employees to administer the program and finalize how potential recipients will be informed about the fund. While we are all eager to get Victim Witness Protection Funds to those in need, ICJIA must take several steps to ensure this new $30 million program is appropriately designed, fully established, and effectively administered, ICJIA spokeswoman Cristin Evans said in an emailed response to questions. Advertisement The fund is intended to reimburse police departments and states attorneys offices for money spent on victims or witnesses in need of relocation because of security concerns, ICJIA said. The funding would also help police departments start their own witness protection funds. Pritzker urged legislators to financially support the witness protection fund in his 2022 budget speech, at the start of an election year in which Republicans made crime central to their campaign and accused the Democratic governor of being weak on the issue. Pritzker initially proposed $20 million but when that budget passed through the legislature a few months later, $30 million was set aside for the fund. Victims and witnesses need to feel safe if theyre going to be willing to come forward and identify violent criminals, Pritzker said during his February 2022 address from the Old State Capitol in Springfield. If we want people to speak up without fear of intimidation, we need to give law enforcement the resources they need to protect victims and witnesses that want to do the right thing. Pritzkers proposal to again provide up to $30 million for the program is a reflection of the governors commitment to stable funding for this program and the appropriation ensures the program can move forward without delay, his office said. The governors office is dedicated to the success of this program, so we wanted to ensure they had the appropriation authority they needed, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in an email. These deposits could potentially cover multiple years and they may not fully expend in the near-term unless the demand is there. Witness protection is best known as a federal undertaking. The federal witness security program has been around since the early 1970s and has provided protection for some 19,000 people, according to federal authorities. Victims and witnesses, as well as their family members, under the federal program typically get new identities with documentation, according to the U.S. Marshals Service website, and theyre offered basic living expenses, medical care, job training and help seeking employment. States that provide witness protection services independent of the federal program include California. The witness relocation program in California, which has a population about three times that of Illinois, received about $2.4 million in funding in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, according to a report from the California attorney generals office. Advertisement During that time, the program managed 114 new cases and provided help to 124 witnesses and 161 of their family members, according to the report. Several law enforcement agencies contacted by the Tribune said theyd welcome large-scale state funding for witness protection efforts. But the degree of demand for it is unclear. In the 1990s, Illinois ran a witness protection program for two years and saw little participation. Generally, anything that helps more victims and witnesses, obviously, states attorneys are all for that, said Gray Noll, the states attorney of downstate Morgan County who also heads the Illinois States Attorneys Association. I think that witness intimidation is certainly more of a concern in the larger counties. ... Is this $30 million going to help counties statewide? No. But it will certainly help counties that struggle with that issue. Only in rare cases do police and prosecutors relocate victims or witnesses out of concern for their safety, and law enforcement officials have acknowledged that moving victims or witnesses away from danger, and away from the families, friends or their jobs, can be complicated. Just the mere fact they say were going to relocate you to a safe neighborhood, to a safe area away from these gangs, away from the threat, thats still a big upheaval when youre asking somebody to do that, said former Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio, who retired from the department in 2020. The states witness protection fund was established under a 2013 law known as the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act whose chief House sponsor was state Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, a Democrat from Hillside who is now the House speaker. The measure had nearly unanimous support, passing 112-0 in the House and 42-3 in the Senate. Advertisement This bill is designed to break the code of silence amongst gangbangers who are causing trouble in the streets throughout our great state, Welch said on the House floor moments before it passed, according to a transcript of the April 2013 debate. Under the law, monetary assistance is limited to rent, security deposits, temporary living costs, moving expenses and other relocation expenses. The law also says that the counties can apply for as much as 75% reimbursement of the relocation costs. Also, no more than 50% of the funding in a given fiscal year can be allocated to a single county, under the law. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed the measure into law, but during his years in office it received no funding as Quinn focused on priorities such as managing pension costs and unfunded liabilities. His successor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, feuded with the Democrat-led General Assembly, which led to a more than two-year budget impasse. The program continued to go unfunded during the first three years of Pritzkers administration. Past state efforts at funding similar relocation initiatives were inconsistent. In 1996, then-Republican Gov. Jim Edgar signed into law the Gang Crime Witness Protection Program. It was a two-year pilot program, administered by the Illinois State Police, for local prosecutors and the attorney generals office. Legislators appropriated $666,000 for the program. Advertisement According to a 1997 ICJIA evaluation of the program, which covered the first 16 months of its operation, three counties submitted requests for reimbursement of $30,962 in costs related to protection or relocation of 27 people in 18 cases. While the evaluation noted that the program had a significant impact on those few gang-related cases to which it provided service, it also made clear the program had some shortcomings. There were marked levels of unawareness of the program on the part of law enforcement and prosecutors staff, the evaluation stated. The lack of communication is believed to be a major constraining factor to its effective implementation and utilization. Evans, the ICJIA spokeswoman, said the agencys evaluation results of the witness protection pilot program during the Edgar years are informing ICJIAs development of the new program. Despite the low participation cited in the 1997 program evaluation, ICJIA anticipates a greater demand for this funding once it is released, Evans said in her email. In addition, ICJIA employs an effective outreach strategy for notifying potential applicants of funding opportunities and will target messaging to the eligible entities. This is a new program and funding will be adjusted moving forward based on demand. Riccio recalled witness protection efforts being made two or three times a year, as there were limited assets for providing such services. Advertisement The witness that they were relocating had to really be critical to the case, Riccio said. You couldnt be kind of a circumstantial witness. You couldnt be kind of a wishy-washy. You had to be the person to really point the finger at the offender. Cook County has provided some relocation services for victims or witnesses. The Cook County states attorneys office has said, for instance, that during roughly the first 10 months of 2021, prosecutors relocated, or were in the process of relocating, individuals or family members connected to about three dozen cases out of the thousands of cases the office handled that year. A spokeswoman for Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx couldnt say whether her office would apply for funding from the new state program, though she said we continually look for opportunities that allow us to better serve and protect residents. In Aurora, Illinois second most populous city, a police spokesman said there were only two cases involving his department that hes aware of in which witnesses needed protection, and both of those were handled by the federal witness protection program. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin on Sept. 14, 2022, in his Wheaton office. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin, whose jurisdiction includes a portion of Aurora, said he saw more cases that would warrant witness protection during his days as a Cook County prosecutor than he has encountered in DuPage. But he didnt discount the need for such a program in DuPage. We have gangs here in DuPage County just like they do in Chicago and we run into the same situations with witnesses, said Berlin. I think its important for prosecutors that we know that this moneys available and that if theres a need for it we can apply for it. Advertisement Will County States Attorney James Glasgow acknowledged the demand for witness protection in his jurisdiction isnt real heavy. But he said the state fund could be helpful for domestic violence victims who are afraid of their abusers, and he plans on having his prosecutors who handle those cases inquire about funding. So many times (domestic violence victims are) completely financially dependent on their abuser, he said. But this would give us the opportunity to at least temporarily get them on their own two feet, maybe get them into some counseling, a job track of some kind. While law enforcement officials say retaliation for testifying against someone at trial is rare, there have been high-profile cases that contributed to such fears. People at Apostolic House of Prayer Church in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood pray during a memorial service for witness Treja Kelley, 18, a former church member who was fatally shot while walking home from work. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune) In one example, Treja Kelley, 18, was shot and killed in September 2019, just months after she testified in the murder trial for a man accused of killing her teenage cousin in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicagos South Side. According to Cook County prosecutors, a $5,000 bounty was placed on Kelley after she helped win a guilty verdict. A man charged in her killing is awaiting trial. In another case, 26-year-old Kimberly Harris, who survived a shooting that killed her boyfriend, was shot to death in 2011 on the West Side just two days after she was offered $20,000 to decline to testify at the trial of the alleged gunman. Advertisement State Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Democrat from the West Side who co-sponsored the legislation a decade ago to establish the witness protection fund, said last month that the money, if spent appropriately, could be helpful in cities such as Chicago where police often struggle to solve violent crimes. We just have to make sure that the money goes out the door, he said. We have money to deal with the problems and we cant let that money sit on the shelf. jgorner@chicagotribune.com WASHINGTON Rep. Jim Jordan, a key House Republican chairman, subpoenaed three people Monday as he continues to probe whether federal authorities are investigating parents who protest at school board meetings or otherwise infringing on free speech. Jordan of Ohio, the head of the Judiciary Committee, subpoenaed Chip Slaven, the former CEO of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and Viola Garcia, former president of NSBA. Jordan also subpoenaed Nina Jankowicz, the former executive director of the Department of Homeland Securitys disbanded Disinformation Governance Board, which was disbanded last year after Republicans voiced concerns about infringing on First Amendment rights. Gun seizure orders are up: FBI gun seizure orders from people who fail background checks hit historic rates Slaven and Garcia wrote a letter to President Joe Biden in September 2021 saying school boards were under an immediate threat and asking for law enforcement for the growing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation in response to COVID-19 restrictions. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo in October 2021 to the FBI and U.S. attorneys about the disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school officials. Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray have testified repeatedly that they have not targeted parents voicing concerns at school board meetings, but focused on violent incidents and threats of violence. Jordans subpoenas are the latest step in wide-ranging House Republican investigations of the Biden administration, including previous subpoenas to the FBI and Education Department about the school board memo. DOJ to appeals court: Donald Trump can be sued over role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot Heres what we know about the investigation: Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks during a hearing of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Feb. 9, 2023 in Washington. Jordan subpoenaed three school board and disinformation board officials as part of the Judiciary Committee's investigations of the Biden administration. Why is Jordan concerned about school board investigations? Jordan has voiced concerns about whether the Justice Department is misusing its criminal and counterterrorism resources to investigate parents whose protests at school board meetings over curriculum and policies are protected by the First Amendment. Story continues Jordan said FBI whistleblowers disclosed the FBI created a threat tag to categorize the cases and investigated at least 25 incidents based on the school board letter. Democrats on the panel released a 316-page report last week that the three whistleblowers revealed so far have been paid by organizations led by former administration officials and did not reveal any first-hand misconduct at the agency. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., reads a book in the House chamber on Jan. 4, 2023. Nadler, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, released a report skeptical of the information provided to the Republican-led panel from three FBI whistleblowers. What have the FBI and Education Department said? Garland and Wray each disputed the Republican interpretation of the memo. Garland said he was offering federal assistance to local authorities if necessary for violence and threats of violence. "We did not sic the FBI on parents," Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee in October 2021. The FBI issued a statement last week at its subpoena deadline for documents about school boards that it was committed to cooperating with Congress. "As Director Wray and other FBI officials have stated clearly on numerous occasions before Congress and elsewhere, the FBI has never been in the business of investigating speech or policing speech at school board meetings or anywhere else, and we never will be," the statement said. "Our focus is and always will be on protecting people from violence and threats of violence." Trump, Russia, Biden: The US has 3 special counsel investigations at once. What are they? Attorney General Merrick Garland insisted the memo was meant to respond to threats and violence directed against local school board officials. Why was Jankowicz subpoenaed? Jordan said his panel is investigating Jankowicz to learn why the Disinformation Governance Board was created and what it did before being disbanded. He seeks answers about how the board intended to define disinformation, how it planned to collect information and from what sources. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the creation of the board in April 2022, saying it would highlight Russian disinformation and false claims that encourage people to migrate to the U.S.-Mexico border. But the Department of Homeland Security suspended the effort in May 2022 following weeks of criticism from Republicans and questions about whether the board would infringe on free speech rights. Jordan said the subpoenas followed requests Jan. 27 to Slaven and Garcia for voluntary, transcribed interviews. Jordan said requests to Jankowicz were sent May 5, Jan. 27, Feb. 16 and March 1. Georgia Trump investigation: Georgia grand jury foreperson's unusual media tour likely heartburn for Trump inquiry This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jordan subpoenas former school board association execs in Biden probe Joseph Kony speaks to journalists in southern Sudan in November 2006. Stuart Price/AFP via Getty Images Eleven years ago, a documentary catapulted the name Joseph Kony onto the global stage. The controversial film Kony 2012 told the story of a Ugandan warlord whose forces are believed by the United Nations to be responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 people, the abduction of at least 20,000 children and the displacement of more than two million people. Though most of the world hadnt heard of Kony before then, Ugandans knew and feared him. The founder of the Lords Resistance Army unleashed a wave of violence across northern Uganda for two decades. In 2005, the International Criminal Court brought charges of crimes against humanity against Kony and four of his top commanders. In 2013 and 2021, the US announced a US million bounty for information leading to Konys capture. Read more: ICC upholds jail term for Ugandan rebel commander Ongwen - why it matters for Africa He remains at large. Now the International Criminal Court wants to confirm the charges against Kony in his absence. The hope is that this will renew international efforts to find Africas most wanted fugitive. So, who is Joseph Kony? His early life Joseph Rao Kony was born in 1961 in Odek sub-county in northern Uganda. He was one of six children in the Acholi middle-class family of Luizi Obol and Nora Oting. Konys parents were farmers. His father was a Catholic, his mother an Anglican. Kony was an altar boy until 1976. He dropped out of school at age 15 to become a traditional healer. In 1987, aged 26, Kony founded the Lords Resistance Army, a Christian fundamentalist organisation that operated in northern Uganda until 2006. Altar boy turned rebel leader Kony rose to prominence after taking over the Holy Spirit Movement, a rebel group led by Alice Lakwena, his aunt, to topple the Ugandan government. The Holy Spirit Movement was formed after Ugandan president Tito Okello, an Acholi, was overthrown by the National Resistance Army led by Yoweri Museveni in January 1986. The Acholis largely occupy northern Uganda. Story continues Musevenis National Resistance Army was a rebel outfit that later metamorphosed into the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces. Today its the national army. When it came to power, the National Resistance Army appeared to deliberately target the Acholi population in the north. Villagers were violently attacked by army troops and subjected to food shortages. Houses were burnt down, leading to forced displacements. The scale of these attacks was never documented or substantiated. Kony joined the Holy Spirit Movement to fight for the rights of the Acholi. By 1987, however, army troops had crushed the movement Lakwena escaped into Kenya where she died in a refugee camp in 2007. Kony established the Lords Resistance Army and proclaimed himself his peoples prophet. He soon turned against his supporters, supposedly in an effort to purify the Acholi and turn Uganda into a theocracy. The rebel group carried out indiscriminate killings. It forcibly recruited boys as soldiers and girls as sex slaves. Read more: In one of 2016's best books, a former Lord's Resistance Army child soldier reveals the reason behind the mayhem Ideologically, the group espoused a mix of mysticism, Acholi nationalism and Christian fundamentalism. It claimed to be establishing a theocratic state based on the biblical 10 commandments and Acholi tradition. Kony proclaimed himself the spokesperson of God. He claimed to have been visited by a multinational host of 13 spirits, including a Chinese phantom. Konys military offensive Kony and his rebel outfit committed a string of atrocities against civilians. The group waged war for more than two decades within Uganda and later in the politically unstable neighbouring countries of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic in an effort to topple Museveni. The actual number of militia members varied over this period, hitting a high of 3,000 soldiers in the early 2000s. After the 11 September 2001 terror attacks in the US, the American government designated the Lords Resistance Army a terrorist group. In 2005, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for top commanders of the Lords Resistance Army for crimes against humanity. In August 2008, the US declared Kony a global terrorist, a designation that carries financial and other penalties. Read more: Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony: the latest US arrest bid raises questions The Lords Resistance Army was eventually forced out of Uganda following the failed Juba peace talks of 2006-2008 between the groups leadership and the Ugandan government. The talks were mediated by the government of southern Sudan. Kony and his militia went into hiding in the DRC. In December 2008, Uganda, DRC and Sudan launched an offensive dubbed Operation Lightning Thunder to track them down. Konys rebel group attacked Congolese civilians suspected of supporting the operation. Villagers were raped, their limbs mutilated and hundreds killed. The group eventually splintered to evade capture, with most members escaping into the Central African Republic. Uganda called off the operation in March 2009, saying the Lords Resistance Army was at its weakest point ever. In November 2013, Central African Republic officials reported that Kony was ready to negotiate his surrender. He was reported to be in poor health in Nzoka, a town in the countrys eastern region. He never showed up. By 2017, the rebel groups membership had shrunk to an estimated 100 soldiers. In April that year, the US and Ugandan governments ended efforts to find Kony. They stated he no longer posed a significant security risk to Uganda. But he is still wanted by the International Criminal Court. Kony today Some of the fighters from the Lords Resistance Army took advantage of Ugandas 2000 amnesty programme, which offered blanket immunity to any rebel who had taken up arms against the government since 1986. Konys exact location, however, remains unknown. Hes thought to be hiding in the vast jungles of the Central African Republic or in Sudan. While attempts to bring Kony to justice continue, post-conflict northern Uganda is on the slow path to economic and social recovery. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Dennis Jjuuko, UMass Boston and Tonny Raymond Kirabira, University of Portsmouth. Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Chaos erupted inside a King County courtroom on Monday after a judge refused to release a suspect in a home invasion and rape case. Muhammad Sesay, 20, was arrested four months ago after a string of burglaries. He and another man, Bubacarr Touray, were charged in connection to a home invasion and rape in Kirkland. Touray is accused of raping a Kirkland mother, identified only as Jennifer, while Sesay held her at gunpoint. Relatives of Sesay were hoping he would be released on house arrest, but the judge denied the request, prompting emotional outbursts in the courtroom. Jennifer spoke out against the release, expressing her fear that Sesay could come back for her and hurt someone else. This is not malicious teenagers, this is not a mental health crisis, said Jennifer. It was Sesay. He thrust his semi-automatic weapon to my temple. Sesays defense attorney argued that he was a young man without any prior convictions and suffered from underdiagnosed PTSD and abuse he suffered as a young boy. Sesays sister also begged the judge to let him out on house arrest. I feel like a lot of criminals have a history of abuse and its sad, said Jennifer. But it doesnt mean we dont need to protect our communities from these people. The case against both defendants, Sesay and Touray, is ongoing. Defeated Arizona secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem, a Republican who refused to concede in his loss to his Democratic opponent, was sanctioned by a state judge over his lawsuit that challenged his loss last year. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian said the suit brought forward by Finchem and his attorney was groundless and not brought in good faith. The court ordered Finchem to pay the legal fees incurred by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and his office, who were challenged in court by Finchem when he sought to have the election results thrown out and ballots recast. In December, Julian rejected Finchems suit that alleged thousands of Republican voters were disenfranchised in the November elections. The costs of those fees have not been determined. Finchem alleged in his lawsuit that technical issues at polling locations in Maricopa County cost him about 200,000 votes in November. Although printer issues at around 70 polling locations in the county did mean that tabulation machines were unable to read ballots, election officials have maintained that everyone was still able to vote. Julian said that even if everything that Finchem alleged in his lawsuit were true, it still would not have been enough to win him the election. Finchems expert report identified 80,000 potentially missing votes, the ruling said. Yet, Finchem lost the election he challenged by 120,208 votes. That margin was so significant that even if it were assumed that 80,000 votes were missing and that those votes would all have been cast in his favor, the result of the election would not have changed. The March 1 ruling from Julian hands yet another loss to a Republican candidate in Arizona who sought to fight the results of the 2022 elections. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake also launched an unsuccessful quest to challenge her loss to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), claiming state elections officials intentionally sabotaged her victory. An Arizona judge ruled against Lake in December. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A federal judge has upheld former South Carolina banker Russell Laffittes November 2022 conviction on six counts of bank-related fraud. The rejection of Laffittes appeal by trial Judge Richard Gergel Monday clears the way for Laffittes sentencing at a later date. Laffitte, a former friend of convicted double-murderer Alex Murdaugh who helped the ex-attorney misappropriate large amounts of money, is subject to up to 30 years in prison. As a first-time offender he would likely get much less. In rejecting Laffittes appeal, Gergel wrote there was sufficient evidence to uphold each of the six counts of fraud against Laffitte. The ex-banker had acted with reckless disregard for Palmetto State Banks interest, made various false representations to hide fraud, the judge wrote. Laffittes attorneys also lost their bid in contending that Gergel acted wrongly when he made a last-minute decision to replace two sitting members of the jury with two alternate jurors after the panel had deliberated some nine hours without coming to a decision. At that point, at about 8 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2022, a flurry of notes were sent to the judge, indicating some jurors were having various issues, including one juror who needed to be excused to go home and take medicine. In his ruling, Gergel acknowledged the substitution of two alternate jurors was unusual but fair and reasonable under the circumstances. Following the verdict, Laffitte hired a new defense team that criticized his first defense team for purportedly not handling the jury substitution matter better. Gergel wrote, the claims of Defense Team No. 2 that Defendants trial counsel was ineffective in addressing the replacement of jurors and that Defendant was prejudiced by these alleged errors are wholly without merit. Prosecutors had no comment Monday about Gergels decision. Mark Moore, a Columbia attorney on Defense Team No. 2, who represents Laffitte, said he was disappointed with the ruling. Story continues While we respectfully disagree with the courts ultimate decision, we will now proceed to the next phase of this litigation and continue our efforts to protect Mr. Laffittes constitutional rights.. None of this would have happened without Murdaugh Laffittes trial in November 2022played out over nine days. The jury heard from 15 prosecution witnesses and nine defense witnesses, who included members of Murdaughs former law firm and Laffittes former bank, Palmetto State Bank. Murdaugh was fired from his law firm in September 2021; Laffitte was fired from his bank in January, 2022. An indictment in the case charged that over a period roughly from 2011 to 2021, Laffitte helped Murdaugh misuse and misappropriate several million dollars, mostly in money from legal settlements that Murdaugh steered to Palmetto State Bank. Laffitte would then place the money in conservatorships that he and Murdaugh could dip into. During the trial, Laffitte took the stand, denied that he had stolen or misused any money and told the jury he had been misled by Murdaugh, whom he trusted as a longtime friend and bank customer. Testimony at the trial showed how some officials at the bank and the firm worked at times to cover up the self-dealing, money-making behavior by Murdaugh and Laffitte. The bank and the law firm, now called the Parker Law Group, are the two most prominent and powerful institutions in Hampton County, witnesses testified. None of this would have happened without Alex Murdaugh, but none of it could have happened without the defendant (Laffitte), lead federal prosecutor Emily Limehouse told the jury in her 70-minute closing argument. Murdaugh was convicted late last week of murdering his wife and son at the 1,770-acre family estate, called Moselle, on June 7, 2021, as investigations into his financial dealings were heating up. He was sentenced to life in prison on both counts. A jury awarded $8.25 million to a Black mom and her two daughters who sued a California county after they were detained by sheriffs deputies outside of a Starbucks, according to court documents. The California jury reached its unanimous verdict on March 1, according to a final judgment filed in the United States District Court of Northern California. On the morning of Sept. 20, 2019, Aasylei Loggervale was driving her daughters, Aasylei Hardge-Loggervale, then 19, and Aaottae Loggervale, then 17, to their colleges in California, the lawsuit says. The women had been driving overnight from Nevada and stopped at a Starbucks in Castro Valley, California, about 25 miles southeast of San Francisco. As they were resting in the car and getting ready to go inside to get coffee, two deputies with Alameda County Sheriffs Office approached the vehicle and told the mother that there had been multiple recent car break-ins in the area, the lawsuit says. One of the deputies asked for her identification, but she refused because, as a Black person, she feared that the encounter could result in serious physical harm or death to her and/or her daughters, the lawsuit says. The deputy continued to insist that she hand over her drivers license while Aasylei Loggervale repeatedly told him that she didnt have anything to do with any car thefts, the lawsuit says. At one point, the daughters started to record the encounter on their cellphones. When Aasylei Hardge-Loggervale got out of the vehicle to use the bathroom at Starbucks, the deputy told her that all three of them were being detained, the lawsuit says. Deputies handcuffed the mother and daughters and put them forcefully into patrol vehicles, the lawsuit says. They then searched the familys vehicle and belongings, according to the lawsuit. The mother and daughters were held for several minutes despite the fact that no reasonable suspicion existed to detain them, the lawsuit says. They were later released without being cited or charged. Story continues All three had abrasions to their wrists and arms and suffered physical pain as well as emotional distress, fear (and) embarrassment, the lawsuit says. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office and a lawyer representing the county did not respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News. The trial, which was held in San Francisco, was held over five days, and the jury deliberated for more than 16 hours before deciding to award the mother and daughters the sum, according to their lawyer, Craig Peters. Peters told McClatchy News that the most significant part of the verdict for the family, who declined to be interviewed, was the recognition from others that their rights had been violated. He said the money being awarded wont change the fact that the women have been traumatized and will always see the world in a different way. You cant replace when somebody takes away your security, safety and privacy, he said. A major factor in this case, he said, was the deputies subconscious or implicit bias that caused them to treat the mother and daughters like suspects rather than members of the public that should be protected by law enforcement. If you retell this story, and you make this family into three white woman, I think you get a very different result, he said. The final judgment says one of the deputies and the county must pay $2.75 million to the mother and $2 million to each of the daughters. A second deputy and the county must pay $750,000 to each of the daughters, the judgment says. Man threatened to shoot Black customers at stores, restaurants around US, feds say Youre getting one to the chest. Rapper files $10M claim over CA deputys threats Black applicants less likely to get past companys AI screening tools, CA lawsuit says The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued to block a merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines on Tuesday, contending that the deal would lead to higher fares and fewer choices for passengers. The departments attempt to block the $3.8 billion deal, which would create the nations fifth-largest carrier, argues that the merger would hinder Spirits current ability to create lower fares in markets served by larger airlines. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the DOJ asserted that JetBlues plans would harm passengers who rely on Spirits low-priced tickets, and it would also affect those who benefit from the more competitive prices on other carriers. If the acquisition is approved, JetBlue plans to abandon Spirits business model, remove seats from Spirits planes, and charge Spirits customers higher prices, DOJ wrote in court filings. JetBlues plan would eliminate the unique competition that Spirit provides and about half of all ultra-low-cost airline seats in the industry and leave tens of millions of travelers to face higher fares and fewer options. DOJ filed the suit with the Democratic attorneys general for D.C., Massachusetts and New York. The move marks the Biden administrations latest attempt to prevent corporate consolidation, adding to a string of antitrust enforcement efforts in industries like book publishing and digital advertising. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other DOJ officials formally announced the suit during a press conference on Tuesday. I want to reiterate that the department continues to closely examine practices and review proposed mergers to ensure that they are consistent with federal antitrust law, Garland said. Companies in every industry should understand by now that this Justice Department will not hesitate to enforce antitrust laws and protect American consumers. JetBlue has said the deal will create a low-fare challenger to the countrys four largest airlines American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines that make up about 80 percent of the market. Story continues JetBlues acquisition of Spirit should not be considered in a vacuum it is simply the latest step in a trend toward consolidation in the airline industry, DOJ wrote. In advance of the announcement, JetBlue this week released new data that the company said shows how the merger could increase competition. The two airlines overlap on 11 percent of their nonstop routes, and JetBlue says it will divest all of Spirits holdings in Boston and New York JetBlues two largest markets to further reduce the overlap. If allowed to merge, the new company would comprise about 9 percent of the market. JetBlue shareholders approved the deal last fall after the airline emerged from a bidding war with Frontier to acquire Spirit. The Hill has reached out to JetBlue and Spirit for further comment. Updated at 11:58 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lila Moss modelling for Chloe (Scott Garfitt/AP) (AP) Lila Moss has emerged as one of the biggest names of Paris Fashion Week. The 20-year-old model who is the daughter of model Kate Moss and co-founder of Dazed Media Jefferson Hack walked in the viral show for Coperni on Friday night. The show was inspired by a 17th-century fable called The Wolf And The Lamb, transporting it to the 21st century with the role of wolves being played onstage by robot dogs. Models interacted with the dogs, with Moss walking down the runway in a black halterneck minidress, placing her handbag in the mouth of one of the robots. The show notes said: Coperni shows that there is neither a dominant nor a dominated, but that the man and the machine live in harmony. The runway was a sensation on social media, and its not the first time Coperni has gone viral. Last season, the French womenswear brand made headlines by featuring model Bella Hadid having a white dress spray painted onto her body on the runway. Moss kicked off Paris Fashion Week last week not by walking the runway, but by sitting front row at the Saint Laurent show. She wore a Nineties-inspired outfit that could have been straight out of her mother Kates wardrobe: a black low-waisted column skirt, paired with a sheer black crop top and a bright red lip. She then took to the runway last Thursday to walk for French fashion house Chloe, which is under the creative direction of Uruguayan-American designer Gabriela Hearst. She wore yet another Nineties-inspired outfit to close the show: an angelic white slip dress with spaghetti straps, accessorised with pearl jewellery over the top, and simple black sandals. Moss made her runway debut on the Miu Miu catwalk in Paris in 2020, and since then has walked for the likes of Fendi, Versace and Richard Quinn. She appeared on the cover of the May 2022 edition of British Vogue, wearing an ethereal pale blue headpiece paired with pink make-up, and earlier this year announced she was the new face of YSL Beauty. Story continues She often walks the red carpet with her mother the duo both wore Burberry to the 2022 Met Gala. Kate donned a black velvet tuxedo-style gown, and Moss wore a sheer high-necked gown with bejewelled detailing. More recently, Moss attended Dame Vivienne Westwoods memorial service at Southwark Cathedral in London with her mother. Moss also raises awareness around Type 1 diabetes last year she appeared in a joint campaign for Versace and Fendi with her blood glucose monitoring device clearly visible. She told The Kit in 2020: I think not many people know that I have diabetes. Its not visible from the outside, so no one would really know just by looking at you. Kerry Katona has told of her terror after her eight-year-old daughter collapsed while on a family holiday. The 42-year-old former Atomic Kitten told how her youngest child Dylan-Jorge, known as DJ, was rushed to hospital in Turkey after she lost consciousness after becoming overheated having her hair blow-dried. Katona told OK! magazine: On the last day, I was blow-drying our DJs hair and she collapsed, with her eyes rolling back. It was the most terrifying thing ever. Ryan picked her up and ran outside with her to get some fresh air, and she just sat there staring at me and throwing up. The hospital said her blood pressure had dropped as she was overheated and hungry. Read more: Kerry Katona: Botched tummy tuck was my fault "DJ told me later she was so disorientated she thought Ryan was throwing her off the balcony! We just couldnt wait to get on that plane to get her home." DJ is Katona's daughter with late husband George Kay. The reality TV star was on holiday with her personal trainer fiance Ryan Mahoney, who she met on dating app Bumble in 2018. He proposed in August 2020. Katona revealed she had also been unwell during the holiday and had spent most of the time in bed with kidney stones. Watch: Kerry Katona says she has no regrets about her past She had feared the stomach pains were caused by problems from her recent cosmetic surgery. Katona recently underwent a second 'tummy tuck' after revealing the procedure she originally had in 2021 left her "lumpy" and "swollen" because she went straight back to work instead of following doctors advice about resting. Katona said previously: Ive been waiting so long for this surgery after having my tummy tuck in 2021 with a different clinic. Kerry Katona was also unwell on the holiday. (PA) "My body hasnt been the same since. My stomach was all swollen and all the fat was stuck at the top it shouldnt be like that. It was all lumpy and uneven. Story continues It was my own fault because I didnt allow time for my body to recover. I went straight back to work when I should have been resting." The reality TV star underwent a second abdominoplasty at a private hospital in Manchester on 23rd January and said she is "so happy" with the results. Kerry Katona recently underwent a second tummy tuck. (YouTube) The former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner said: "And this time, Im making sure I recover properly. She hopes to lose three stone by her 43rd birthday in September. Katona said: "Im going to look amazing. I am on a mission. Once I put my mind to something, I see it through. I am going to look phenomenal." The former pop star underwent a series of breast reduction operations in the last year, which had also caused complications. Read more: Kerry Katona compares herself to Honey Monster before third breast reduction The pop star is also mother to Molly-Marie, 21, and Lilly-Sue, 20, from her marriage to Brian McFadden and Heidi, 16, and Maxwell, 14, from her second marriage to Mark Croft. Kevin Robinson during a Phoenix City Council District 6 runoff election debate at the First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. In his pitch to Phoenix City Council District 6 voters for the March 14 runoff election, political newcomer Kevin Robinson plays up a) his longtime experience in law enforcement and b) that hes a centrist who can bridge differences. The latter remains to be seen. Theres little history to assess his political leanings or beliefs. Robinsons sometimes tentative and perfunctory answers in debates I can promise that voters will always get a call back from me reflect that lack of knowledge of city hall inner workings. What does give him a leg up against Sam Stone, a former chief of staff for term-limited City Councilman Sal DiCiccio, is his insight on police issues. Some of those issues are front and center for the Phoenix City Council and may just propel Robinson into office. Robinson is actually a police reformer Critics dismiss Robinson as a status quo or pro-police candidate a similar descriptor is assigned to attorney Kesha Hodge Washington, whos challenging incumbent Carlos Garcia, a community activist, in the District 8 runoff because hes backed by law enforcement groups. But thats selling him short. In the law-enforcement arena, Robinson is really a centrist perhaps even progressive reformer. A couple of instances highlight his work for change. More from Kwok:Could Sam Stone beat the odds and win? Robinson was part of a task force commissioned by the Arizona Supreme Court to reevaluate unannounced search warrants, or so-called no-knock warrants, following the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., during a forced entry drug investigation. The task force recommended changes to the process, including a list of factors that a magistrate should weigh before granting no-knock and nighttime search warrants. That includes the presence of weapons or hostages or known violence from occupants at the location. The task force also recommended that a police supervisors approval of the search warrant be taken into consideration by the magistrate. Story continues Presiding judges and the Arizona Judicial Council, which have the authority to fashion the rules, went further and made the supervisor approval a requirement which Robinson favored and said was a best practice during the time he oversaw the SWAT unit. He supported Phoenix's civilian review board The second occurred in spring 2020 when the mayor and council first tackled the idea of a civilian review board on police misconduct. Robinson backed Carlos Garcias proposal that, on a narrow 5-4 vote, created a civilian office with investigative powers. At the time, he called it a needed response to lost public confidence in law enforcement and said that police should welcome citizen oversight, not fear it. '180 degrees different':Robinson, Stone square off in debate The Legislature has since enacted a law that prevents a civilian-led entity from investigating police misconduct. Phoenix's Office of Accountability and Transparency has, as a result, been relegated largely to a role of keeping watch on internal police investigations. Nevertheless, Robinson maintains that police officers should not be afraid of accountability from citizen oversight. By comparison, Stone derides the civilian office as a jobs program for people who have made a living protesting cops and bristles at the notion that the system for investigating and punishing bad police behavior needs reform. His public safety experience gives him an edge The issue of law enforcement looms large in Phoenix not just because of perennial concerns over crime and police staffing but also because of an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into Phoenix Police over claims of civil rights violation, including excessive use of force and discrimination. Phoenix Police are expected to initiate some reforms on their own even before the DOJ probe finishes, as it has begun to do with a proposed update to their Use of Force policy. Robinson could influence changes there, having chaired Phoenix Polices disciplinary review board for more than a decade and headed the departments use of force board for three years. He serves on AZPOST, which investigates law enforcement misconduct and disciplines officers, up to revocation of the officer's certification. Robinson stands to be a strong ally of the mayor to guide the city in the aftermath of the DOJ investigation. He also could act as a foil to police critic Carlos Garcia should Garcia win reelection. Who knows, the two might even find common ground to strike a compromise. On myriad issues, Stones experience as Sal DiCiccios right-hand person trumps Robinson. On public safety, Robinson has a clear edge. Reach Abe Kwok at akwok@azcentral.com. On Twitter: @abekwok. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Robinson's edge over Sam Stone? He's a longtime Phoenix cop Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle endorsed Brandon Johnsons bid for Chicago mayor against Paul Vallas on Tuesday morning, describing Johnson as the leader who reflects our vision, our values and our hopes for our city. As a Cook County commissioner, hes been focused on working families on the West Side and beyond. He successfully championed efforts to bring more transparency and equity to public safety. Hes been a leader in the countys efforts to eliminate crushing medical debt. Hes also been a stalwart supporter of small businesses, Preckwinkle said at a news conference standing next to Johnson outside the Cook County building. He will bring to the mayors office a profound sense of responsibility, a commitment to honesty, and a healthy dose of courage, and believe me, hes going to need all of it. Advertisement Like Johnson is now, Preckwinkle was the Chicago Teachers Unions chosen candidate for her unsuccessful mayoral bid in 2019 after she voiced strong support for an elected school board as well as a vow to freeze charter school expansions and closures of public schools. You wont find much better preparation than standing in front of a classroom full of middle schoolers or teenagers, Preckwinkle said Tuesday of Johnson, whos also served as a CTU organizer. Advertisement Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle embraces Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson before giving her endorsement during a news conference outside City Hall on March 7, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Though Preckwinkle and Johnson have been longtime allies and are both former teachers, Preckwinkle chair of the Cook County Democratic Party and 4th Ward Democratic committeeperson did not endorse in the first round of the mayoral election, citing her long-standing relationships with several candidates, including Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, Rep. Kam Buckner, Ald. Roderick Sawyer and Ald. Sophia King. In the waning days leading up to the first round of voting last week, however, Preckwinkles campaign did issue a text alert to certain voters against Vallas, referring voters to a Tribune story about Vallas Twitter account liking racist posts, and warning: Dont be fooled. Chicago deserves a mayor who isnt racist. Tuesday, she suggested Johnson had been her pick all along. The two have been close allies since his campaign for County Board in 2018, and Preckwinkle confirmed Tuesday she had been lobbying fellow elected officials in the days following the Feb. 28 election to rally around him. Johnson and Vallas came out on top to advance to the April 4 runoff, thwarting Lightfoots bid for a second term even before the second round of voting. Preckwinkle, who lost to Lightfoot four years ago, said Tuesday she had the stupid idea that on March 1, I was going to be able to rest after the Feb. 28 election. And then, of course, my candidate won, and Ive been making calls on his behalf to Democrats ever since. Ive been encouraged by the response that weve gotten. Weve got a lot of work to do. One of Johnsons former rivals in the mayoral campaign, Sawyer, has already endorsed Vallas. Asked whether hed spoken with other campaign rivals, including Garcia, Johnson said hed had several conversations with the other candidates who ran for mayor and those conversations are going well. Johnson defeated incumbent Commissioner Richard Boykin a Preckwinkle antagonist in the Democratic primary in 2018, earning her endorsement and financial support. Boykin had helped lead opposition to Preckwinkles short-lived tax on sweetened beverages known as the pop tax which was supported by labor unions as a way to avert layoffs in the countys budget. At the time, Johnson painted Boykin as the big business candidate aligned with the Republican Party. That year, four Preckwinkle rivals on the board Boykin, Tim Schneider, John Fritchey and Gregg Goslin lost their reelection campaigns, clearing the way for commissioners more friendly to Preckwinkles agenda. Advertisement Asked whether Johnson, who was just sworn in to his second term as a county commissioner, had the administrative chops to run the city, Preckwinkle said, I think you have to remember, when I was alderman, I had a staff, a full-time staff of three and a part-time staff of two. The critical challenge is finding good people who are willing to work with you, she said. Its all about recruiting good people, and I have confidence that Brandon is going to do exactly that. Vallas has touted endorsements from Black leaders including retired Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, while Johnson has received backing from longtime U.S. Rep. Danny Davis. Also Tuesday, Vallas released the first TV ad of the runoff season in a 30-second spot featuring White promising that the former schools chief would be a mayor for all Chicagoans. Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin contributed. aquig@chicagotribune.com The kidnapping in Mexico this week of four U.S. citizens that left two of them dead has renewed the focus on the politically charged issue of southern border security and prompted calls from some lawmakers for the Biden administration to more seriously crack down on cartels. Biden administration officials called the killings unacceptable potentially escalating tensions around the already fraught issues of border security and U.S.-Mexico relations as authorities work to learn more about the circumstances of the incident. U.S. and Mexican authorities had been searching for four Americans who were kidnapped last Friday after crossing the border for a trip to get a medical procedure. Two of the Americans were found dead on Tuesday. One of the others was found injured, and the fourth is alive. The FBI had said unidentified gunmen started firing at the four Americans vehicle shortly after it crossed into Mexico. They were then taken from the scene by armed men. Officials have not said whether the four Americans were deliberately targeted in the attack. Attacks on U.S. citizens are unacceptable no matter where or under what circumstances they occur, John Kirby, a national security spokesperson for the White House, told reporters Tuesday. And were going to work closely with the Mexican government to make sure justice is done in this case. Kirby said it was too soon to discuss any potential policy changes that would stem from the attack, but some lawmakers were quick to offer up legislative prescriptions. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday on Fox News that he was ready to introduce a measure that would classify certain Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations and set the stage for the U.S. to use military force in Mexico in the wake of the kidnapping. I would tell the Mexican government if you dont clean up your act, were going to clean it up for you, Graham said. Other Republicans, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), have previously argued for designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and the deadly kidnapping just over the border has renewed those calls. Story continues Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday told reporters that agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on. More broadly, the incident in the city of Matamoros has given Republicans another opening to lob political attacks at the White House over its immigration record. GOP lawmakers have for months argued the Biden administration has not done enough to curb the flow of migrants and drugs at the southern border, suggesting that what they see as the presidents lax approach to border security is resulting in violence. Four Americans were kidnapped by a Mexican cartel. Two are dead. Theres no chance the cartel would be SO BOLD if America had a president who took border security seriously. We are a laughingstock because of Bidens weak leadership, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), chairman of the influential Republican Study Committee, tweeted Tuesday. The White House on Tuesday pushed back against criticisms that Bidens border policies are connected to the latest instance of violence across the border. Officials noted that Biden recently signed an order giving expanded authority to the Treasury Department to penalize cartels, that the Department of Homeland Security screens and vets each individual encountered at the border, and Biden has backed funding for increased border security measures. Stopping the flow of fentanyl across the border has also been a top priority for Biden, officials said, and they noted that U.S. authorities last year seized twice as many drugs as the amount confiscated in 2020 as part of efforts to crack down on drug traffickers. The State Department has issued a travel advisory for the area where the incident took place telling Americans to avoid it due to the risk of crime and kidnapping. The U.S. and Mexico have for years been engaged in at times tense discussions over the issues of migration and cracking down on cartels. During the last administration, then-President Trump at one point claimed drug cartels were in control of the area south of the U.S. border, and at another point called on Mexico to wage war on cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth, a plea that was rebuffed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Biden traveled to Mexico in January to meet with Lopez Obrador to talk about border security and migration issues. The U.S.-Mexico tensions were at times on full display during the visit, including when Lopez Obrador implored Biden to do away with disdain for the region. This is the moment for us to determine to do away with this abandonment, this disdain, and this forgetfulness for Latin America and the Caribbean, he said. The issue of border security and how best to combat violent drug cartels is sure to linger beyond this weeks deadly kidnapping and well into the next election. Former President Trump, who is running for the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination and has made border security the center of his campaigns, earlier this year offered his vision for getting aggressive toward cartels. Trump, in a pre-recorded video released in January, said he would order the Pentagon to use special forces, cyber warfare and other actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure and operations, and he pledged to ask Congress to legislation ensuring convicted drug smugglers and traffickers receive the death penalty. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. STUART A man charged with murdering a woman found strangled inside a Palm City home last year will serve life in prison after pleading guilty in court, a judge ordered Monday. James Matthew Stephenson, 62, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Lorri Summer Wright, 49, of Texas, who was found June 21, 2022 wrapped in a blanket on a bed in a home where he lived on the property in the 4400 block of Southwest Honey Terrace. Wearing earphones, James Stephenson stands motionless with his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Matthew Vasko, while being sentenced by Judge William Roby to life in prison without parole on Monday, March 6, 2023, in the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart. Stephenson pled guilty to the first-degree murder of Lori Summer White, of Texas, who was found dead on June 21, 2022, inside a home in the 4400 block of Honey Terrace in Palm City. During a hearing steeped in profound sadness with more than a dozen relatives and friends looking on, Wrights sister Christine Gardner, 55, of Houston, described how Stephensons brutal actions devastated their family. As you wake each morning the rest of your life and look at the bars of your cell, I hope you see her face and remember what horrible things you did to her. Summers life was important to a lot of people, Gardner said, as some watching openly sobbed. She was loved and cherished and so terribly missed. I am beyond devastated by the loss of my sister. As Wrights relatives and a friend took turns to speak in court, Stephenson, who was handcuffed to waist chains and shuffled in leg irons, stared ahead standing at a podium before Circuit Judge William Roby. Gardner said the grief of Wrights murder left her broken inside. Every time I close my eyes, I see what you did to her. I can see and feel her fear as you chased her through the house, tearing her clothes like a savage, she said. I can see your hands wrapped around her throat as you squeeze the life out of her battered body. You could have stopped at any time; you should have stopped. Yet you continued until she took her last breath. Family members wear a button for Lorri Summer Wright, 49, of Texas, while in the courtroom during the sentencing of James Stephenson, who pled guilty for the murder of Wright on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart. Wright was found dead June 21, 2022 inside a Palm City home in the 4400 block of Southwest Honey Terrace. Murder investigation Wright was killed either June 21, 2022 or the day before in a house owned by Alan S. McPherson, who at the time was with a friend out of the country on vacation, court filings show. She was there to clean the house while they were on a fishing trip, Assistant State Attorney Brandon White said Monday. Story continues Wright died of asphyxiation and the state believed Stephenson used his hands to strangle her, White said. Her body showed blunt force trauma injuries to her head and neck and to her left foot, both knees and wrist, according to an arrest affidavit. She was wearing jeans shorts, but no shirt. Her passport, purse and a Texas identification card were found near her body. Deputies found blood droplets in a hallway, near a laundry room and on the rear patio. Internal affairs probe:Officer suspended after improperly handling domestic case nearly 2 months before woman's death Opinion: The 'constitutional carry' lie and why gun advocates don't love the latest Florida bill Stephenson was arrested June 22, 2022 by Martin County sheriff's deputies and a U.S. Marshals task force at a West Palm Beach Hooters restaurant after Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies received information he was at the location. Martin deputies began searching for Stephenson after they received information that hed made phone calls to people he knew and told them he had just killed someone. A Martin County Sheriff's Office vehicle (right) stands watch at a home along Southwest Honey Terrace on Wednesday, June 22, as the Martin County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide that was reported Tuesday evening. A woman who was friends with Stephenson reported to deputies that he had called her twice the day Wrights body was discovered, saying he was sorry and he killed a female dog walker, who was located on Alans bed, an arrest affidavit states. McPherson also reported receiving text messages from Stephenson confessing on June 21, 2022 that he had killed Wright. McPherson, who did not attend Mondays hearing, told investigators Stephenson and Wright had been together at his house partying and drinking together on June 19. McPherson indicated Stephenson had been living in a trailer in his backyard since October 2021. Stephenson and Wright, he said, met for the first time on June 16, the day McPherson and another man left for vacation. Capt. Ruben Romero (left) and Maj. John Cummings, both of the Martin County Sheriff's Office, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, discuss a homicide in Palm City that was reported Tuesday evening on Southwest Honey Terrace. The suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous. His iphone was recovered the day after his arrest in Palm Beach County from a man who found it along a roadway more than 14 miles from where Stephenson was apprehended, court records show. Plea deal, violent past White said the plea deal developed as prosecutors were about to present evidence to a grand jury to seek an indictment of first-degree murder. The defense reached out to us and said that potentially he wanted to plead to life in prison, White said. We spoke to him; we spoke to the family and the family agreed that that would be a good resolution. A first-degree murder indictment returned last month noted Stephenson is also known as James Matthew Avera. Court records show Wrights murder was not the first time hes has been convicted of violent crimes against women. In February 2012 in Palm Beach County, under the name Avera, he was convicted of domestic battery and other charges after an altercation with a woman who said he was her ex-boyfriend. He was accused of running over the womans head with a truck during a heated argument. Stephenson was sentenced to 19 months in prison. He was released after serving less than six months, state records show. As part of Mondays plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, grand theft of a firearm and second-degree murder. The Martin County Sheriff's Office really put him in a tight box because of their investigation, White said after court. He's going to die in prison and like the family said, he'll be forgotten. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: James M. Stephenson pleaded guilty to murder as part of a plea deal A tv screen shows a file image of Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul. KIM Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Kim Jong Un's sister threatened the US against intercepting North Korean missile tests on Tuesday. Kim Yo Jong comments come as the US and South Korea ramp up military and combat drills. Ms. Kim's presence in her brother's government is mysterious, but she may be gaining influence. Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong threatened the US on Tuesday against intercepting any North Korean missile tests over the Pacific Ocean, calling any interference a "declaration of war." It's a rare public warning from Kim Yo Jong and a sign she could be gaining more influence in her brother's government. According to a press release on the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said the Pacific "does not belong to the dominium of the US or Japan" and reaffirmed North Korea's right to test weapons in the area. Kim specifically referenced the country's plans to test intercontinental ballistic missiles. "It will be regarded as a clear declaration of war against the DPRK, in case such military response as interception takes place against our tests of strategic weapons," Kim said. Her involvement in her brother's government has been a mystery, but she's been more public recently. The Wall Street Journal reported that Kim Yo Jong has long been seen as Kim Jong Un's unofficial second-in-command and a potential heir to North Korea's leadership if her brother should become incapacitated or die suddenly. One of her most public appearances came in 2018 when Kim became the first member of North Korea's ruling family to visit South Korea for the Pyeongchang's Winter Olympics, the Journal said. Kim Jong Un has appointed a variety of women to prominent roles in his regime. Experts believe the increasing prominence of his daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be 10 or 11 years old, may signal that he is preparing her as an heir. Meanwhile, tensions have ramped up in the area as the US and South Korean militaries conduct training exercises nearby. The Associated Press reported that one drill on Monday involved the US and South Korea flying a B-52 bomber over the Korean Peninsula. The allies also simulated a North Korean nuclear crisis for a tabletop exercise in February. In the coming weeks, their militaries have a variety of drills planned including their largest field exercises ever. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a fresh warning to the US and South Korea, threatening them with severe consequences if they went ahead with joint military drills set to start next week. Most Read from Bloomberg Kim Yo Jong said North Korea is monitoring the restless military moves by the US forces and its South Korean puppet military, adding that Pyongyang is on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment, the official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday. The latest comments indicate North Korea could ramp up provocations in conjunction with the drills, with Kim last month threatening to turn the Pacific Ocean into a firing range if they went ahead. The rhetoric may be a hint that Pyongyang could start testing whether its nuclear warhead designs can withstand the heat of reentering the atmosphere, as it looks to increase its capability to deliver a credible strike against the US and its allies. The warning comes as US and South Korea prepare to hold their Freedom Shield exercises from March 13-23, drills designed to bolster their defenses against North Koreas nuclear and missile threats. The drills are expected to be some of the largest the two have held in years. South Koreas spy agency later in the day briefed lawmakers in parliament on information that North Korea may test-launch its new solid-fueled ICBMs by next month. Yun Kun-young, a lawmaker who was briefed by the National Intelligence Service, told reporters that North Korea may also launch a spy satellite in April and was preparing large-scale exercises involving unconventional weapons. He added that the NIS was not ruling out the possibility of North Korea testing its ICBM in a normal trajectory toward the Pacific Ocean. Story continues The last time North Korea launched a missile into the Pacific was October 2022, when it fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, flying about of 4,600 kilometers (2,860 miles), and marking the longest distance traveled by a North Korean missile to date. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office in May, brought back joint military exercises with his countrys US ally. The drills had been scaled down or halted under former President Donald Trump, who was hoping the move would facilitate his nuclear negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trumps three meetings with Kim from 2018 led to no concrete steps to wind down Pyongyangs nuclear program, which only grew in strength and size. North Korea for decades has called the joint exercises a prelude to an invasion and nuclear war. Last month, it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the American mainland a day after its foreign ministry threatened the US with unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions for holding military exercises with South Korea. Kim Yo Jong also said in her comments that any attempt by the US or others to shoot down one of its ICBMs over international waters would be regarded as a clear declaration of war. (Updates with South Korea NIS breifing) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The influential sister of North Koreas leader warned Tuesday that her country is ready to take quick, overwhelming action against the United States and South Korea, a day after the U.S. flew a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber in a demonstration of strength against the North. The U.S.-South Korean training on Monday involving the B-52 bomber over the Korean Peninsula was the latest in a series of drills between the allies in recent months. Their militaries are also preparing to revive their largest field exercises later this month. Kim Yo Jong didnt describe any planned actions in her statement, but North Korea has often test-launched missiles in response to U.S.-South Korean military drills because it views them as an invasion rehearsal. We keep our eye on the restless military moves by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment, Kim Yo Jong said in the statement carried by state media. The demonstrative military moves and all sorts of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so extremely frantic as not to be overlooked, undoubtedly provide (North Korea) with conditions for being forced to do something to cope with them, she said. Hours after Kims statement, the General Staff of North Koreas Korean Peoples Army said it put its front-line artillery units on alert and heightened surveillance activities after it detected a live-fire artillery drill by the enemy in the South Korean border town of Paju on Tuesday morning. The General Staff said about 30 rounds were fired during the South Korean exercise, which it described as a very grave military provocation that aggravated tensions, and urged its rival to immediately stop such activities near the border. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff described the North Korean claim as absurd and denied that the South's military had fired any artillery at the shooting range the North was referring to. Story continues The South Korean Defense Ministry said after Mondays training that the B-52s deployment demonstrated the allies capability to deter North Korean aggression. The U.S. deployed B-1B bombers to the peninsula a few times earlier this year. Last month, the U.S. and South Korea also held a simulation in Washington aimed at sharpening their response to North Korean nuclear threats. Last Friday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would conduct a computer-simulated command post training from March 13-23 and restore their largest springtime field exercises that were last held in 2018. The allies had canceled or scaled back some of their regular drills since 2018 to support now-dormant diplomacy with North Korea and guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. But they have been restoring their exercises after North Korea last year conducted a record number of missile tests and openly threatened to use its nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with its rivals. In a separate statement Tuesday, North Koreas Foreign Ministry called the flyover of the U.S. B-52 bomber a reckless provocation that pushed the situation on the peninsula deeper into the bottomless quagmire. The statement said there is no guarantee that there will be no violent physical conflict if U.S.-South Korean military provocations continue. North Korea often uses fiery rhetoric in times of heightened animosity with the United States and South Korea. Possible steps North Korea could take include a nuclear test or the launch of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile capable of targeting the mainland U.S., observers say. Last month, Kim Yo Jong threatened to turn the Pacific into the Norths firing range. In her statement Tuesday, she said North Korea would consider a possible U.S. attempt to intercept a North Korean ICBM a declaration of war. She cited a South Korean media report saying the U.S. military plans to shoot down a North Korean ICBM if it is test-launched toward the Pacific. All known North Korean ICBM tests have been made at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries, and the weapons landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea on Monday took a step meant to ease a thorny history dispute with Japan in what was seen as an effort to boost Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation. The step involves a plan to use local funds to compensate Koreans who performed forced labor during Tokyos colonial rule, but without requiring Japanese companies to contribute to the reparations. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Monday praised the leaders of South Korea and Japan, saying the two came to understand that the potential of collaboration into the future is more important. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. Four Americans who traveled to Mexico last week to seek medical care got caught in a deadly shootout and were kidnapped by heavily armed men who threw them in the back of a pickup truck, officials from both countries said Monday. The four were traveling Friday in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. They came under fire shortly after entering the city of Matamoros from Brownsville, at the southernmost tip of Texas near the Gulf coast, the FBI said in a statement Sunday. The kidnapping victims were identified as Zindell Brown, Eric James Williams and cousins Latavia Tay McGee and Shaeed Woodard, according to ABC News. The survivors -- Williams and McGee -- have returned to the U.S., their families said. READ MORE: All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men, the FBI said. The bureau offered a $50,000 reward for the victims return and the arrest of the kidnappers. On Tuesday, Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal announced the four had been found -- two were found dead, one was hurt, and one was unharmed, he said. Here is what we know about them. Zindell Brown Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, said she has been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Zindell Brown, is one of the four victims. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, she said in a phone interview. To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. Zalandria Brown said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied a third friend who was going to Mexico for a tummy tuck surgery. A doctor who advertises such surgeries in Matamoros did not answer calls seeking comment. Brown said the group was extremely close and they all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, she added, and her brother had expressed some misgivings. Story continues Zindell kept saying, We shouldnt go down, Brown said. Eric Williams Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that his brother, 38-year-old Eric Williams, was among the kidnapped Americans. The brothers are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina, he said. (Michele Williams via ABC News) Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that his brother, 38-year-old Eric Williams, was among the kidnapped Americans. The brothers are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina, he said. Williams described his brother as easygoing and fun-spirited. He didnt know his brother was traveling to Mexico until after the abduction hit the news. But from looking at his brothers Facebook posts, he thinks his brother did not consider the trip dangerous. He thought it would be fun, Williams said. He hadnt heard anything about his brothers whereabouts, he said. Gov. Villarreal said the wounded American, Eric Williams, had been shot in the left leg and the wound was not life threatening. The survivors were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, the Brownsville Herald reported. A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI. Latavia Tay McGee According to ABC News, McGee is a mother of five who traveled from South Carolina for a cosmetic medical procedure. A relative of Zindell Brown said Monday that it was for a tummy tuck surgery from a doctor in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, where Fridays kidnapping took place. (Tay McGee via ABC News) According to ABC News, McGee is a mother of five who traveled from South Carolina for a cosmetic medical procedure. A relative of Zindell Brown said Monday that it was for a tummy tuck surgery from a doctor in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, where Fridays kidnapping took place. McGees mother, Barbara Burgess, told ABC News the FBI came to her home on Tuesday to notify her that her daughter was alive. She said she had to hold my heart when she got the news. McGee spoke to her mother from a Texas hospital on Tuesday, Burgess said McGee confirmed she had no major injuries. Shaeed Woodard Woodard and McGee were cousins, ABC News reports. Channel 9 is working to learn more about him. (Laquonda Green via ABC News) Woodard and McGee were cousins, ABC News reports. Channel 9 is working to learn more about him. Video of kidnapping A video posted to social media Friday showed men with assault rifles and tan body armor loading the four people into the bed of a white pickup in broad daylight. One was alive and sitting up, but the others seemed either dead or wounded. At least one person appeared to lift his head from the pavement before being dragged to the truck. The scene illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that there was a confrontation between groups, and they were detained, without offering details. He originally said the four Americans came to Mexico to buy medications. Tamaulipas chief prosecutor, Irving Barrios, told reporters that a Mexican woman died in Fridays shootings. He did not specify whether she was killed in the same gunfight where the kidnapping took place. A woman driving in Matamoros who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal said she witnessed what appeared to be the shooting and abduction. The white minivan was hit by another vehicle near an intersection, then gunfire rang out, the woman said. Another SUV rolled up, and several armed men hopped out. All of a sudden they (the gunmen) were in front of us, she said. I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, If we move they will see us, or they might shoot us. She said the gunmen forced a woman, who was able to walk, into the back of a pickup. Another person was carried to the truck but could still move his head. The other two they dragged across the pavement, we dont know if they were alive or dead, she said. Mexican authorities arrived minutes later. Zindell Browns family asked people to share any relevant information with local authorities. Odell William Brown, his father, said the family is still searching for answers. I dont know which way to go right now, he said. We dont know whats what. Violence in Matamoros Shootouts in Matamoros were so bad on Friday that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert about the danger and local authorities warned people to shelter in place. It was not immediately clear how the abductions may have been connected to that violence. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and an innocent Mexican citizen died in the attack. He said various U.S. justice agencies were working with their Mexican counterparts to recover the missing persons. President Joe Biden had been informed of the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She declined to answer other questions, citing privacy concerns. Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted because the cartels have a history taking bodies of their own with them. Local media often avoid reporting on such episodes out of safety concerns, creating an information vacuum. The State Department warns U.S. citizens not to travel to Tamaulipas. However U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross to visit family, attend medical appointments or shop. Its also a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico. As the headquarters of the Gulf cartel, Matamoros was once relatively calm. For years, a night out in the city was part of the two-nation vacation for spring breakers flocking to Texas South Padre Island. But increased cartel violence over the past 10 to 15 years frightened away much of that business. Sometimes U.S. citizens are swept up in the fighting. Three U.S. siblings disappeared near Matamoros in October 2014 while visiting their father and were later found shot to death and burned. Their parents said they had been abducted by men dressed in police gear identifying themselves as Hercules, a tactical security unit in the city. (WATCH BELOW: 4 Americans in van with NC plates kidnapped in northern Mexico, officials say) SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's defence ministry said on Tuesday it would work with Japan to enhance security cooperation after Seoul's proposal to compensate people forced to work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation. South Korea said on Monday that its companies would compensate such victims of forced labour, seeking to end a dispute that has undercut U.S.-led efforts to present a unified front against China and North Korea. "The defence ministry will also review strengthening South Korea-Japan and South Korea-U.S. security cooperation," a ministry spokesperson told a regular press briefing. He said a dispute over a South Korean destroyer's alleged radar lock on a Japanese patrol plane in 2018 was not related to the forced labour issue, and that the ministry's stance remained unchanged. Japan has said a South Korean warship had locked its targeting radar on a Japanese aircraft, strongly protesting the action as "extremely dangerous." Seoul has said the vessel was performing routine operations. The alleged radar incident was one of a list of issues that has clouded the neighbours' relations, which plunged to their lowest point in decades after South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese firms to pay reparations to former forced labourers. Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said cooperation with South Korea and the United States is becoming "increasingly important" in the face of North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. "Although there are currently various issues between the defence authorities of Japan and South Korea, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces intend to maintain close communication with the South Korean side for the sake of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the response to North Korea," Hamada said. North Korea on Monday lashed out at joint military drills by the United States and South Korea, saying any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a "declaration of war." (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi in Seoul and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Kim Coghill and Gerry Doyle) SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean lawmakers, citing intelligence officials, said on Tuesday that North Korea could hold large-scale military drills and test its new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in March or April. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's first child is believed to be a son, and the leader also has a third child whose gender is unknown, the lawmakers said after being briefed by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The son has not made a public appearance, the NIS said. Kims daughter, who is identified as Kim Ju Ae, has been seen in public with the leader on several occasions in recent months, prompting speculation that she is being groomed to be the next leader. But the South Korean agency believes the most likely explanation behind the series of the daughters recent public appearances is that Kim wants to prove the legitimacy of the regimes fourth generation succession, the lawmakers said. They said on North Korea's food situation, the NIS attributed it to the country's grain policy, distribution problems and the COVID situation but the agency added it is not severe enough to be considered a threat to the regime, citing a report that the country is facing an annual rice shortage of 800,000 tonnes. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Kim Coghill and Muralikumar Anantharaman) (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it did not recognise the price cap introduced by Western countries on its oil exports, after the United States said that the cap was "working well". Washington was one of the key architects of the Western price cap on Russian oil, which aims to drive down Moscow's revenues used to fund its invasion of Ukraine. "We do not and will not recognise any cap. We are working so that this system does not harm our own interests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russia's economy has proved remarkably resilient in the face of tough Western sanctions, but the price cap has complicated its efforts to sell oil globally. Moscow, which accounts for around 10 percent of global oil supplies, said last month that it would cut output by 500,000 barrels per day in March in response to the price cap. U.S. officials argue that the price cap is working, as Russia's Urals blend - a benchmark of Moscow's exports - sells at a steep discount to international marker Brent. "I think the beauty of the process is that it is working and that Russian oil and Russian products are being traded below the price cap," U.S. Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein said on Monday. (Writing by Caleb Davis; Editing by Gareth Jones) The San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office asked the Monterey County Superior Court to deny a motion seeking another trial for convicted murderer Paul Flores. The claims of misconduct are baseless and the claims of judicial error are incorrect, the District Attorneys Office said in its response. A jury convicted Flores of murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart in October, after his attorney, Robert Sanger, made nine unsuccessful requests for a mistrial. Sanger filed two motions for a new trial and a judgment of acquittal Feb. 24 days ahead of Flores sentencing date asking the judge to overturn his clients conviction by a Monterey County jury because he claimed the trial evidence did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In its motion, released Monday, the DAs office said the claims in Sangers motions appear to willfully misrepresent the actual arguments of the prosecutor and the defense. Defense attorney: Prosecutor made egregious errors Sanger claims that Chris Peuvrelle, who prosecuted the case as a deputy district attorney for the SLO County District Attorneys Office, made several prosecutorial errors during his opening and closing arguments. Peuvrelles blatant mischaracterization of the burden of proof was one of the most egregious errors, Sanger said in the motion, particularly in his rebuttal to Sangers closing arguments. In his closing arguments, Sanger called the prosecutions case a conspiracy theory. Peuvrelle, who is now a supervising attorney for Monterey County, replied in rebuttal that it was absurd for more than 50 witnesses, six cadaver dogs and the media to be in on a grand conspiracy theory. Sanger also argued the prosecutions expert witnesses were not experts and testified authoritatively without a scientific basis. The motion called forensic evidence presented by the prosecution junk science. Finally, Sanger argued in the motion that Jennifer Hudson, who testified that Flores told her in 1996 that he killed Smart, perjured herself on the stand. Story continues The defense attorney alleged the prosecution allowed Hudson to do so, even though San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office detectives failed to corroborate her story. Sanger also claimed the prosecution concealed the fact that one of the women who testified she was raped by Flores, Rhonda Doe, went to Cal Poly in 1996, during the drama and accusations against the defendant. Sanger also claimed the judge erroneously excluded defense evidence, including testimony from a man who claimed Smart was stalking him, one of Smarts ex-boyfriends and another man who claimed Smart told him she was pregnant with his child. Smarts psychological report was also not admitted into the trial but should have been, the motion said. SLO County DA asks court to deny motion The San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office denied that any prosecutorial error was made during Peuvrelles rebuttal argument. Case law explains that a prosecutors statements must be evaluated in the context of the argument and the jurys instructions to decide if there is a reasonable likelihood the jury understood or applied the comments in an improper or erroneous manner, the report said. During the Flores trial, the jury instructions explained that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Flores murdered Smart in order to convict him. In his closing argument, Peuvrelle said, (Sanger) would have you believe that its not just possible but a reasonable interpretation that 50-something witnesses, spanning 26 years, are involved in a grand conspiracy to convict Paul Flores. He would have you believe that six dogs are involved in a grand conspiracy to convict Paul Flores. ... Just for that, counsel has presented you with a binary choice. Is this a conspiracy theory? Is that the truth? Or is it true that Paul Flores is guilty of first-degree murder. After closing arguments, Sanger made a motion for a mistrial claiming that Peuvrelle misstated the burden of proof in this argument. The court denied Sangers motion, responding that the jury instructions override all statements made by the attorneys during the trial. Sanger included the argument about mischaracterization of the burden of proof in his Feb. 24 motion for a mistrial as well. The prosecution noted that the judge had already disagreed with this claim, and that Peuvrelle did not confuse the jury about the burden of proof required to convict Flores. (Peuvrelles) words made clear that he was critiquing the defense argument ... and not telling the jury that if they found the defense theory unreasonable they therefore must find Paul Flores guilty, the prosecution wrote in its response to the motion. The prosecution also disputed Sangers argument, which stated that Peuvrelle violated the courts ruling by asking if a woman ball-gagged in a photo, found on Flores computer, looked like she was having fun. Peuvrelles full statement was, (Sanger) said, Conspiracy theories are fun. Okay, maybe you think its possible that everybody, the dogs, are in on it. Did it look like the woman with the ball gag in her mouth was having fun in this conspiracy theory, according to the report. Did it look like anybody was having fun? No. Because this is not a fun case. I apologize but you have seen things in this case no human being should see. From the context of the argument, it is clear that the prosecutor is addressing the defense claim that all of the evidence was manufactured, tainted or mischaracterized by highlighting the absurdity of the notion that all of the evidence and all of the people involved were out to get Mr. Flores, the DAs response read. The use of the having fun phrase was a rhetorical flourish of repetition and did not violate the courts order. The DAs response also argued that its witnesses were credible and the prosecutions use of evidence was accurate. The prosecution argued that Sanger committed sanctionable offenses, as California law forbids lawyers to knowingly make false statements, according to the DAs response. In their motion, the defense mischaracterized their own argument, they mischaracterized the prosecutors argument, they failed to include many all of the actual statements they were challenging and when they did they failed to provide the surrounding statements that provided necessary context, the response said. In addition, the prosecution argued that using Hudsons testimony was appropriate. Jennifer Hudson testified at a preliminary hearing and was honest and credible at Preliminary Hearing. She also testified at trial and was honest and credible at trial, the DAs response said. She was extremely emotional during her testimony as she expressed regret for not having come forward sooner. The jury clearly thought she was credible and rejected defenses non-stop personal attacks and unprofessional line of questioning against her. Finally, the prosecution argued that the court appropriately chose what evidence to exclude from the trial, such as Smarts psychological report. Whats next? A Monterey County Superior Court judge will hear the motions on March 10. If the motions are denied, Flores sentencing will occur immediately after. Flores faces a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison or life without parole. This story has been updated. A Chicago man has been charged with the murder of a woman who was found shot to death over the weekend in a Glenview motel, police said. Advertisement Melvin Trimble, 37, of 1632 S. St. Louis Ave., was charged early Tuesday with the first-degree murder of Aliyaha Frierson, 27, of Chicago. Frierson was found with an apparent gunshot around 5:12 a.m. Sunday after Glenview police responded to reports of a shooting at the Motel 6, in the 1500 block of Milwaukee Avenue. Advertisement As police attempted emergency measures for Frierson, other officers simultaneously took Trimble into custody at the motel, Glenvuew police said. Authorities said they recovered a gun at the scene. Frierson was declared dead at the scene just before 6 a.m., police said. Authorities lodged murder charges against Trimble early Tuesday, and he was scheduled to appear in the Skokie branch of Cook County court Tuesday for a bond hearing. Police said they believe the shooting was an isolated incident. Bond was set at $500,000 cash during a Tuesday hearing in the Skokie branch of Cook County court. Prosecutors said Trimble and the victim had a tumultuous on again-off again relationship. Trimble, prosecutors said, called 911 to report the shooting, but the call came 45 minutes after motel guests reported hearing a gunshot. Trimble reportedly told the 911 dispatcher that he and the victim were in a tussle that ended deadly, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also said Trimble had a lengthy criminal history and is facing a predatory criminal sexual assault charge in a separate case. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Could Lake Lanier be renamed over its ties to a Confederate soldier? A federal commission is considering renaming both Lanier and Buford Dams for their namesakes connection to the Confederate south. Lake Lanier has been known by its name for more than 60 years. But now the Department of Defense Naming Commission is examining Army Corp projects like Buford Dam and Lake Lanier with namesakes of the Confederacy. Lake Lanier draws millions of visitors each year. It was built and is operated by the Army Corp of Engineers along with Buford Dam for flood control and water supplies. The lake is named after Sidney Lanier, a 19th-century musician, and poet, who penned the poem song of the Chattahoochee. He also served several months as a private in the Confederate army. TRENDING STORIES: Should that be grounds to change the name of the lake? I kind of get why the name should be changed and everything just because for such a beautiful place I think it shouldnt have such a bad connotation with it, lake visitor Ashley Davidson said. I dont think there is enough of a connection between the Confederacy and the namesakes of the lake and the dam to justify changing the names, said Clyde Morris, vice president of the Lake Lanier Association. Morris told Channel 2s Tom Regan that the decision to name the reservoir after Sidney Lanier had nothing to do with his short service in the Confederate army. Likewise, for Algernon Sydney Buford. The city took on his name in recognition of his ownership of a local railroad, not his participation in the Civil War. We dont think theres a good enough reason to be changing Laniers name or the Buford Dams name, Morris said. Would you vote to change the name if you could or keep it the same? Regan asked lake visitors Tom and Dena Lahalieh. Story continues I kind of like the name Lanier, they answered. Theres no timeline on when a decision on a possible name change of the lake and dam will be made, but it would likely be years. RELATED NEWS: At least 23 Georgia teenagers and children have been shot to death since the start of 2023, painting a stunning portrait of escalating gun violence among young people. The youngest victim was just two years old. Channel 2 Action News has spoken to the families of multiple victims in metro Atlanta, who are all now grappling with the unimaginable loss of a child. Many parents have told us that the gun violence needs to stop. Here are some of their stories: [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] April 8 A 15-year-old boy was shot to death after a car drove by his home and fired bullets inside, according to the Macon Telegraph. Ozias Gore was taken to the hospital, where he died. April 7 An 18-year-old Fayette County man was shot to death by his girlfriends brother after the two got into a fight. Jeremiah McCrae was from Newnan. Investigators said McCrae had gotten into a fight with his girlfriends brother. Thats when deputies said he went and got an AR-15-style weapon to confront the brother. Deputies said the brother had his own gun and shot McCrae. The Sheriffs Office has not released the name of the shooter at this point. March 20: A man is accused of shooting a 19-year-old to death in Augusta, deputies said. On Sunday, around 1:20 a.m., Richmond County deputies were called to the McDonalds on Peach Orchard Road in reference to a shooting. When deputies arrived, they found a teen, later identified as DaQuantavious Proctor,19, suffering from a gunshot wound. Later that day, deputies found and arrested Xavier Hatcher, 23, for the murder of Proctor. Hes facing charges of aggravated assault, murder, possession of a firearm or knife during a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. March 14 11-year-old Asijah Love Jones was shot and killed when a stray bullet intended for someone else flew through her bedroom window, deputies said. Kionta Jahuan Parks, 21, was arrested a month later and charged with murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children, terroristic threats and acts, as well as numerous violations of Georgias Street Gang and Terrorism Act. Story continues March 9 A 16-year-old boy was one of two people shot and shot and killed outside of a home in Dekalb County. The other victim was 22 years old. Neither victim has been identified. March 8: An 18-year-old was shot in Savannah and died days later, according to WSAV-TV. Savannah police responded to reports of a shooting on March 5 on East 55th Street. Nazentea Phillips died on March 8. So far, no one has been charged. A 17-year-old boy was shot to death in Morgan, Georgia in Madison County, according to the Morgan County Citizen. Police identified the victim as Kingsly Gibbs. A second teen, 17-year-old Imunn Sanford, was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Its unclear what lead to the shooting or if anyone has been taken into custody. March 6: A 10-year-old boy was shot to death in his own bed on Monday morning after someone opened fire on his home as he slept, according to WMAZ. Sheriff Bill Massee identified him as Damarion Byrd. Felony murder warrants were obtained for 39-year-old Rodracius Demaris Stephens of Milledgeville. He was arrested and taken to jail. March 4: A 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were shot and killed when someone opened fire outside of a Sweet 16 birthday party in Douglasville. Ajanaye Hill and Samuel Moon were both running from the scene when they were killed. On the same day in Troup County, a 16-year-old boy was shot to death outside of a LaGrange skate park. Nasir Truitt suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital. According to police, motive appears to be an argument between two groups of people, leading to multiple shots being fired. Family members say Truitt was a good kid and are still trying to wrap their minds around why another teen would kill him. As you can imagine, my family and I are beyond devastated and have more questions than answers. Of which no question or answer will bring Nasir back, the teens cousin Yormica Truitt-Jordan wrote in social media posts. He was a good kid. He never bothered anyone. This all seems so surreal and Im not exactly sure how things with me or my family will go back to normal. March 2: A 15-year-old boy was shot to death while he attempted to rob a home in Hawkinsville, police said. A person inside shot the teen, who has not been identified. TRENDING STORIES: March 1 A 2-year-old girl died after she was shot by another child with a pellet gun in Habersham County. The child was identified as Jaylea Hutchinson, 2. Deputies said the shooting appeared to be a tragic accident. Its unclear if anyone is facing charges. A 16-year-old boy was shot to death behind an abandoned home in Gwinnett County. Police said the family of Jose Daniel Martinez reported the teen missing Wednesday morning. He was found shot to death at a home on Paden Mill Trail that afternoon. Homicide detectives canvassed the area and were able to develop leads that lead to the arrest of Dennis Calzadilla, 20, of Lilburn in connection to Martinezs death. Feb. 23: Keymarion Manor, 19, was shot to death in Macon on Feb. 23, according to the Macon Telegraph. He had been charged in connection to a 2020 murder and was awaiting trial. Feb. 21: A 15-year-old girl was shot to death in her bed in Peachtree City. Police said Madison Gessweins body was found by her mother. Three teens have been arrested in connection to her death. Justus Smith, Jacobean Brown and Yeshua Mathis have all been arrested and charged with murder. Browns father was found dead of a gunshot wound just days earlier. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Feb. 18: A 19-year-old man was killed along with his mother and father at a motel in Columbus. Michael Carter, Jr. and his father, Michael Carter, Sr., both were pronounced dead at the scene. Tonya Carter, 50, died days later. Police told WTVM that the Carters were married for decades and Michael Carter Jr. was their son. A 4-year-old boy who was identified as their grandson was also injured in the shooting. Feb. 14 A 13-year-old boy was shot to death in front of his father outside a home in Norcross. Family members told Channel 2 Action News that Jaeden Travis was being harassed by a group of teens that showed up to his house that day. He ran outside to confront them with a pellet gun and was shot to death, police said. No one has been charged with murder in Travis death. Feb. 2: An 18-year-old man was shot to death during a home invasion in Baldwin County. Syee Devon Havior was shot multiple times and died at the hospital. According to investigators, multiple people went to Haviors home just after midnight, and one opened fire when they arrived. It is unclear if Havior knew the people who came to the home. Feb. 1: A 17-year-old boy was killed in northwest Atlanta after an argument. Police have not identified that teen. A 19-year-old was also injured in the shooting but survived. Jan. 28: A 13-year-old girl who lived in Jefferson County was pronounced dead days after she was shot in her grandparents home, according to WJBF. ARhianna Moye was shot in the neck at a home in Louisville on Jan. 12. Her 17-year-old brother, Anthony Maurice Mincey, was charged with 2nd degree cruelty to children, reckless conduct, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by someone under 18 and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Jan 21: A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed outside of a popular skating rink. Police said Deshon DuBose was shot outside Cascade Family Skating. Atlanta police later released surveillance video of the people they believe may know what happened to DuBose. Jan. 10 A 15-year-old boy was shot to death in Macon on Jan. 10, according to the Macon Telegraph. Officers arrested 57-year-old Algie Bryant and charged him with murder. Jan. 9: An 18-year-old boy was shot as he walked out of a gas station in DeKalb County. The teens mother says her son, Akhir Muhammad, was killed in an attempted robbery. She said her son worked in valet parking, but was studying to become a general electrician. Atlanta Police Department A legal observer with the National Lawyers Guild was arrested and charged with domestic terrorism while monitoring a Sunday night demonstration against an Atlanta police training facility that opponents have dubbed Cop City. Thomas Jurgens is an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the civil-rights group confirmed on Monday. Jurgens also works with the National Lawyers Guild, which monitors protests. Jurgens was acting as a legal observer at the time of his arrest in Atlanta, the NLG said in a statement. He is one of more than 40 people charged with domestic terrorism in connection to protests against Cop City, raising concerns from civil liberties advocates. An employee at the SPLC was arrested while actingand identifyingas a legal observer on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), the SPLC said in a statement. The employee is an experienced legal observer, and their arrest is not evidence of any crime, but of heavy-handed law enforcement intervention against protesters. The proposed police training facilitya $90 million, 85-acre project on the current site of an Atlanta foresthas been the subject of long-running opposition from environmentalists, racial justice activists, and religious leaders. Tensions escalated at the proposed construction site in late 2022, when police began a series of arrests on domestic terrorism charges, even though many of the defendants are not accused of any illegal activity beyond misdemeanor trespassing, Grist reported at the time. In January, police shot and killed the activist Manuel Tortuguita Paez Teran, whom they accused of shooting at them. The case is currently under investigation, but has fueled a fresh wave of demonstrations, including a Sunday night concert in the forest. Atlanta PD Slaps 23 Cop City Protesters With Domestic Terrorism Charges Some distance from the concert, demonstrators set fire to construction vehicles, hurling objects over a fence into a construction area, video shows. In a statement, Atlanta police said they had detained 35 people, 23 of whom were soon charged with domestic terrorism. Story continues On March 5, 2023, a group of violent agitators used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to conduct a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers, the Atlanta Police Department said in a statement. They changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers. Soon thereafter, concertgoers filmed mass arrests as police cleared out the makeshift music festival. Aurielle Marie, a poet who won Georgias 2022 Author of the Year Award, attended the concert and live-tweeted the crackdown. They were doing things like snatching and grabbing people indiscriminately and they ended up grabbing several legal observers who were there doing a protected job, which is to monitor protests, Marie told The Daily Beast. NLG legal observers are easy to identify, dressing in neon green hats to distinguish them both from protesters and police. Members of the group act as legal watchdogs at protests, recording potential abuses like police brutality. For its efforts, the group has sometimes become a target of the same forces it monitors. During protests in New York City in 2020, police were alleged to have given orders to round up all the green hats. The NLG legal observers who were targeted in that case later won a settlement in a federal lawsuit against the New York City Police Department. Marie filmed police leading away one handcuffed NLG observer who was wearing the bright green cap. Although the mans face is not visible in the short clip, he appears to have hair and a beard of the same color and length as Jurgens, and is wearing a light-green long-sleeved top, like Jurgens is wearing in his mugshot. Theyre arresting legal observers. Several. pic.twitter.com/EChx0tI0dh queer & black & beloved (@YesAurielle) March 6, 2023 Reached for clarification on its statement, which describes the defendants as black-clad, the Atlanta Police Department referred The Daily Beast to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Jurgens has been charged with domestic terrorism, a rarely used Georgia statute that comes with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison if convicted, and a maximum detention of 35 years. Legal experts have raised concerns about the use of domestic terror charges against Atlanta activists. As someone who handled capital murder cases in Georgia, I can tell you Georgia law has a lot of ways to deal with violence against law enforcement or against anyone, Patrick Keenan, a professor of law at the University of Illinois previously told NBC News. So this domestic terrorism statute is not necessary and it can lead to this politicized use that I think doesnt do anybody any good. As of Monday, more than 40 people are facing domestic terror charges related to the police training facility. The NLG and SPLC both issued statements condemning Jurgens arrest and police treatment toward Stop Cop City activists. Law enforcement detained at least 35 demonstrators in Atlanta on Sunday, including an NLG Legal Observer, the NLG said in a statement. All of these arrests are part of ongoing state repression and violence against racial and environmental justice protesters, who are fighting to defend their communities from the harms of militarized policing and environmental degradation. Each of these instances, including the many protesters charged with domestic terrorism, make clear that law enforcement views movement activists as enemies of the state. Marie said the moment calls for legal observers. As were aware, and the Atlanta Police Department is well aware, the legal observers are there to make sure the rights of protesters are not being infringed upon by law enforcement, they said, especially because of the death of Tortuguita that happened a month ago in the same forest. 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. Biometric technology may make it easy to unlock your phone, but democratic lawmakers have long cautioned against the use of facial recognition and biometrics by law enforcement. Not only have researchers documented instances of racial and gender bias in such systems, false positives have even led to real instances of wrongful arrest. That's why lawmakers have re-introduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Act. This actually marks the third time the bill was introduced to the Senate despite being introduced in 2020 and 2021, the act was never advanced to a vote. If passed, the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Act would outright ban any use of facial recognition or biometric surveillance by the federal government unless that use is explicitly approved by an Act of Congress. That approval itself would be pretty limited: It would need to define who was allowed to use biometric surveillance, the exact type of biometric surveillance they would be using and the specific purpose it would be used for. Approval would also have the burden of further restrictions, such as adhering to minimum accuracy rates that would hopefully avoid false positives in the rare instances when use of the technology is approved. The bill also hopes to encourage local and state governments to follow its lead, including a clause that would tie some federal funding for local law enforcement to complying with a "substantially similar" ban on facial recognition and biometrics. While the bill hasn't had much luck making it to the floor of either chamber of congress, some states and local governments have been banning facial recognition technology on their own. In 2020, Portland Oregon put strict guardrails on the use of facial recognition technology. New York State and Massachusetts have also put restrictions on the use of biometrics. Even the IRS walked back plans to use facial recognition for identity verification purposes. That sounds encouraging for the re-introduced bill, but that momentum isn't universal: Law enforcement still sees biometrics as a useful tool for investigating crime, and the TSA has been testing systems that compare travelers to the photo on their passport or driver's license. By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Toymaker Lego said store openings in China and strong demand in Western Europe and the Americas had delivered 17% sales growth in 2022, adding that it expects to outpace the market this year. The family-owned company known for its colourful plastic bricks said sales rose to 64.6 billion Danish crowns ($9.25 billion) last year, when it opened 155 new stores, bringing the total number of Lego shops globally to more than 900. "We have really good momentum, and I think it will continue in 2023," Lego Chief Executive Niels Christiansen told Reuters. Lego plans to open another 145 stores this year, mostly in China, which Christiansen said in an interview he expects will help it to grow sales by a high single-digit percentage. Top sellers in 2022 included Lego's Star Wars and Harry Potter building sets, and its City and Technic ranges. The Danish company, which employs more than 27,000 people globally, saw sales spike both during the pandemic when many people stayed home and after lockdowns were lifted. "After a few extraordinary years we may see a return to more normal growth," Christiansen said. "But we believe we can continue to outpace the market." 'EXTRA COSTS' Lego's operating profit of 17.9 billion crowns was up 5% from a year earlier, after 32% growth the previous year. Christiansen said it had raised prices on some products in September, but by less than increases in its input costs. "High growth in sales has helped us compensate for those extra costs on freight, energy and raw materials," he said. The CEO said that Lego has no immediate plans to raise prices and he was optimistic that costs of freight and raw materials were coming down. As part of its strategy of placing production close to its key markets, Lego plans to begin operating new factories in Vietnam and Virginia, U.S. in 2024 and 2025, respectively. ($1 = 6.9859 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Alexander Smith) Lena Dunham has responded to a joke Donald Glover made at Sunday's WGA Awards. (Vianney Le Caer / Invision / Associated Press) Lena Dunham denies ever using the N-word with Donald Glover after the "Atlanta" actor cracked a joke about it over the weekend. "Donald Glover told a joke referencing Lena Dunham for last nights WGA Awards," a representative for Dunham told The Times on Monday in a statement. "It included, for effect, language Lena never used, nor would use." A representative for Glover confirmed in an email to The Times that Glover's joke was indeed exactly that. Glover made the remark as a part of an eight-minute talk, full of wisecracks and roasts, to present a comedy award to writer-producer Paul Simms at Sunday's Writers Guild of America Awards. During the bit, Glover recalled working with Dunham on the set of the HBO series "Girls," in which his character dated Dunham's character. Glover said he asked Dunham for her take on Simms, who produced "Girls" and later produced Glover's FX show, "Atlanta." "I asked Lena ... 'Hey, what made you decide to work with Paul?' And she goes, 'Honestly, this n let's me do whatever I want,'" Glover said, drawing sparse laughter from the room. He added: "I remember thinking two things: One, Lena is using the N-word extremely liberal with me. Who does she think she is, Chevy Chase? ... And two, that's the kind of producer I want." Earlier in his speech, Glover had cracked another N-word joke, insinuating that Chase also used the slur with Glover when they worked together on the sitcom "Community" starting in the late 2000s. The joke renewed buzz around Chase's history of bad behavior.. He had reportedly used the N-word on set in 2012 and apologized to his "Community" colleagues, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Both Glover and the show's creator, Dan Harmon, also claimed in a 2018 New Yorker profile that Chase was known to make racist jokes while on set. Some of the jokes, Harmon said, were directed at Glover out of jealousy. Early last year, Chase addressed concerns about hisreputation during an interview on " CBS Sunday Morning ." When asked about stories from colleagues on "Community" and "Saturday Night Live" some of whom thought he was a "jerk" he said, I dont give a crap." "I am who I am," Chase said. "And I like who I am. I dont care. And its part of me that I dont care. And Ive thought about that a lot. And I dont know what to tell you, man. I just dont care. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Donald Glover has confirmed that Lena Dunham did not use the N-word after joking about it an awards speech. On Sunday (5 March), the Atlanta creator presented an honorary award to executive producer Paul Simms at the Writers Guild Awards. Later during his speech, Glover recalled meeting Simms on the set of Girls. I asked Lena [Dunham], Hey, what made you decide to work with Paul [Simms]? And she goes Honestly, this n**** lets me do whatever I want, said Glover. And I remember thinking two things. One, Lena is using the N-word extremely liberally. Who does she think she is, Chevy Chase? And two, thats the kind of producer I want. Glovers representatives confirmed to The Independent that the comment was a joke. Dunhams representatives also denied that the Girls creator had used the slur. Donald Glover told a joke referencing Lena Dunham for last nights WGA Awards, they said. It included, for effect, language Lena never used, nor would use. Full stop. Earlier in the speech, Glover had told a story about his Community co-star Chase allegedly referring to him using the word. Dunhams representatives claimed that Glover had added the word into his story for effect' (Getty Images for The Gotham Film) Chevy Chase once called [Saturday Night Live writer Herb Sargeant] one of the funniest writers working in television, Glover said. Chevy Chase once called me You know what? This is about Paul. The Independent has contacted representatives of Chase for comment. Glovers allegations about Chase are in line with previous reports of his on-set behaviour around Glover on Community. In a 2018 interview with The New Yorker, showrunner Dan Harmon said Chase would try to disrupt Glovers scenes and make racial cracks between takes, attributing these comments to Chase being jealous of his co-stars talent. I remember apologising to Donald after a particularly rough night of Chevys non-PC verbiage, and Donald said, I dont even worry about it, Harmon said. Glover added that he saw Chase as fighting time. Chase told the publication that he was saddened to hear that Donald perceived me in that light. Pexels Only one in every 100,000 people on Earth are breathing safe levels of fine particulate pollution, according to a new study. For the research, scientists gathered data on fine particulate matter from more than 5,000 on-the-ground monitoring stations, along with data on weather and geography, using machine learning to map out airborne particulate levels. The study found that on 99.82 percent of land across the six habitable continents, particulates exceed levels deemed safe by the World Health Organization. Tracking changes in air quality across time, scientists found that particulate pollution has fallen in Europe and North America over the past two decades, but risen in sub-Sharan Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The findings were published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health. Fine particulate pollution comes from cars and trucks, power plants, factories, wildfires, and cook stoves. It can aggravate asthma and heart disease and increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attack. Scientists say that particulates are a leading risk factor for premature deaths globally. The new study provides a deep understanding of the current state of outdoor air pollution, Yuming Guo, who researches environmental health at Monash University in Australia, said in a statement. With this information, policymakers, public health officials, and researchers can better assess the short-term and long-term health effects of air pollution and develop air pollution mitigation strategies. ALSO ON YALE E360 For Low-Income Pittsburgh, Clean Air Remains an Elusive Goal Ambulances line up outside the emergency department as they transport patients into MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles on Dec. 16. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: I strongly agree with Dr. Daniel J. Stone's piece on the key challenges that our healthcare system is failing to meet. He focuses on mental health needs, out-of-control drug prices, insufficient hospital funding and a bloated and inefficient private health insurance industry. I would also add inequitable hospital funding, glaring health disparities, healthcare professional burnout and the growing menace of profit-oriented private equity taking over U.S. healthcare. These problems are all linked, of course. Enacting Stone's "Medicare for all" solution, a unified system of public financing, would be a major effective step in meeting all these challenges. Other countries have already got this, and it works well. How much longer must Americans suffer? Steve Tarzynski, MD, Santa Monica The writer is president of the California Physicians Alliance, which advocates for single-payer healthcare. .. To the editor: Stone extols the virtues of a single-payer system for the U.S. We already have two single-payer plans called Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), but with built-in inefficiencies and costly limitations. As a result, a growing number of Medicare beneficiaries have been turning to Medicare Advantage, while in California, Medi-Cal is being transformed into a multi-specialty, managed-care plan like Kaiser Permanente. As for Ozempic, an injectable treatment for Type 2 diabetes, the same medication, formulated in a higher dose for managing obesity, is dispensed under the brand name Wegovy. In Great Britain, the list price for a month's supply of four injection pens of Wegovy which is not yet covered by the National Health Service is about $88, whereas in the U.S. the same prescription product sells for $1,349. Why the vast disparity? I imagine Stone and his patients are asking the same question. Harold N. Bass, MD, Porter Ranch .. To the editor: Stone hits the mark with his incisive and honest critique of our American healthcare system. My attention was drawn particularly to primary care physicians having to step outside their scope of practice to prescribe psychoactive medications. Story continues I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I cannot relay the amount of times my clients have been unable to book appointments with psychiatrists due to shortages, insurance glitches, prolonged waiting periods, or because more and more psychiatrists are becoming fee-for-service practitioners. Many times, these same clients have to pay out of pocket for psychiatric consults, and these were the fortunate ones. Having to pay cash for a service that is covered by your insurance, and for which you pay a handsome monthly premium, is appalling. Something has to change. It appears America prioritizes wealth over mental health. Regina Lehrer, Westlake Village .. To the editor: Stone should have added the exhausting healthcare expenditures associated with patient non-compliance. The most significant component is substance abuse, including alcohol and recreational drug abuse. Rates of cigarette smoking have diminished over many years, due in part to the prohibition on advertising. Unfortunately, it seems that alcohol advertisements have replaced cigarette advertisements. Bruce R. Ellinoy, Manhattan Beach The writer is a retired critical care pharmacist. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Members of a Lake County Board special committee on pandemic investment and recovery tasked with doling out $135 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act have their work cut out for them after receiving more than 75 project applications last fall from entities seeking a share of $45 million the county has left to distribute. The Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery and Investment, a subcommittee that reports to the County Boards Financial and Administrative Committee, met Friday for a presentation and discussion of more than 79 project proposals that were scored by the consulting firm Bronner Group on factors such as countywide impact, community feedback alignment, readiness, equity, budget and impact and effort. Advertisement Lake County has dispersed approximately $90 million of the ARPA funds so far, and all funds must be used Dec. 31, 2026. Special committee chair Paul Frank, D-Highland Park, said the county is in a position where a lot of these projects scored highly and that members would have to decide how much they are willing to spend on. Advertisement Maybe we want to not spend all of the remaining $35 to $40 million on these ARPA allocation projects, maybe we do, Frank said. Its a decision for us because there are some other things out there board members and the county are looking at. Committee vice chair Michael Danforth, R-Fox River Grove, said that among 79 applications the county scored, some, if not all of those projects are going to be worthy of serious consideration. Brenda OConnell, Lake Countys community development administrator, also updated the board on the Lake County Rental Assistance Program, which is set to wind down over the summer as the county disburses the last portion of $6 million it was granted in county board ARPA allocation. OConnell said the program, which has funded more than 400 households with up to six months of rent assistance since its launch last year, has been successful in helping both tenants avoid evictions and landlords receive rent payments. Can we continue to make sure that rental assistance is flowing to those populations? Were asking all those questions with our providers, OConnell said. The providers are continuing to see new need and most of that is around, housing is expensive, food is expensive, basic needs are expensive. Another possible destination for ARPA dollars, premium pay for Lake County Sheriffs Office deputies and corrections offers, was not among the proposals analyzed by the consultant, though it is on the radar for board members. Committee member Linda Petersen, R-Antioch, asked whether a request for premium pay for Lake County Sheriffs Office employees and corrections officers was factored into county staffs $10-$20 million soft cap range that had previously been discussed for the round of project considerations. Assistant county administrator Matthew Meyers confirmed that board members will still have to consider premium pay outside of the scope of the 79 project pitches. I think we have to look at, like Paul (said), at other things we havent really given a lot of attention to and look at those, too, Petersen said. Advertisement Petersens question followed Javier Perezs public comment imploring the board to add to a vote on the topic to a future meeting agenda. The federal government who gave our county ($135.2 million) recognized the daily sacrifices and unconscionable working conditions that your law enforcement employees experienced, Perez said. We ask you take serious consideration of awarding additional compensation to the people who were not able to work from home in the pandemic like most of your civilian employees did and in fact were forced by obligation of their duty to confront the coronavirus in person. Gail Weil, executive director of the Community Youth Network Counseling Center, called for the county during public comment to give serious consideration to a proposal to expand the centers physical space to serve more clients. We are seeing an unprecedented need for mental health services in Lake County, Weil said. Member Jessica Vealitzek, D-Hawthorn Woods, asked if underspending in general on items of mental health was factored into scoring. Bronner Group consultant Alex Iseri said that, on average, projects related to mental health and substance abuse scored better than most other categories. Advertisement Improving broadband service and access for Lake County residents is another area some county board members want to prioritize. I know (Special Committee on Broadband) Chair (Jennifer) Clark came to the committee, Meyers said. I know some dollar value thoughts have been tossed around a little bit. Premium pay certainly has been an item that has come up over the last couple of weeks. Theres certainly an opportunity to fund additional rounds for rental (assistance), as Brenda (OConnell) had spoke on this morning, he added. Food distribution needs are still evident based on the amount of funds were spending and the rate. This is the hard part, Frank noted near the end of the meeting, when were getting down to the end of the ARPA dollars. Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, seen in 2018, admitted in a deposition that he knew former President Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election were false. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) To the editor: An appropriate resolution to Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6-billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News would be to require Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs and Jeanine Pirro to record themselves apologizing to the American people for having knowingly lied to them about the 2020 election being rigged. They should be recorded saying that they knew all along that Joe Biden won the race, but they were only interested in ratings and money and had no interest in telling the truth. Fox News should be required to play the recordings frequently and at different times of the day for at least two months. Doug Emerson, Camarillo .. To the editor: We've learned that Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his dishonest minions at Fox News were aware they were pulling a fast one on their audience by insisting there was election fraud. In another article in The Times, we learned that two men pleaded guilty for conspiring to bomb Democratic sites in Sacramento because they were unhappy with the 2020 election results. One has to wonder that if these men had been successful in their plot, would the Fox News hosts have believed "mission accomplished"? Tom Brayton, Long Beach .. To the editor: At the daily newspaper where I once worked, the publisher made his views clear: "My first duty is to report the news. My second duty is the welfare of my employees. My third duty is to make a profit." Murdoch has obviously upended these commendable values: Money comes first, and reporting the news fairly comes last. No wonder many Brits call him the "dirty digger." Spencer Grant, Laguna Niguel .. To the editor: How awful it is that the only accountability for Fox News conscious and deliberate proliferation of lies about the 2020 election is a defamation suit from a voting machine corporation. Meanwhile, there is apparently no accountability for how this massive deceit has directly damaged our democracy, which will be ongoing for the foreseeable future and undoubtedly repeated. Story continues Fox News, and all other so-called news networks, should have to pay the price. Dain Olsen, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Minister of Defense of Lithuania Arvydas Anusauskas Lessons learned in Ukraine help us purposefully develop our military potential, he said. We are also taking a firm stand to support Ukraine with all our capabilities and are preparing a new support package for Ukraine. Read also: Lithuania to hand over anti-drone weapons to Ukraine So far, Lithuania has provided almost EUR 409 million ($437 million) worth of military support to Ukraine, in addition to training Ukrainian minesweepers. The minister added that Lithuania is preparing for the upcoming summer NATO summit in Vilnius. The summit will deal with, among other matters, the prospects of Ukraine's membership in the alliance. Read also: Lithuania sends L70 anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine Earlier, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called on Western countries to cross any remaining "red lines" in supplying military aid to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Mandatory Credit: Photo by NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13789701d)A row of houses in London, Britain, 02 March 2023. UK house prices in February dropped by the most in more than 10 years according to mortgage lender Nationwide showing signs of a slowdown in the housing market due to high inflation and rising borrowing costs.Housing market slowdown in Britain, London, United Kingdom - 02 Mar 2023 - NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The pandemic set Londons rental market on a rollercoaster ride. First, an exodus of tenants sent demand plummeting. Prices nosedived. Then, the easing of restrictions brought office workers, students and corporate relocators back all at once, forcing tenants into desperate bidding wars. Rents soared. But the problem is only going to get worse. Now, the London rental market is hurtling towards a third phase of the pandemic fallout: a supply black hole. City-living is back. Londons population is forecast to rise by 700,000 by 2031, according to the Greater London Authority. According to estimates by JLL property consultants, this means the capital needs another 300,000 rental properties in the next eight years. But a tax crackdown and high mortgage rates are driving landlords out of the market and housebuilding cannot keep pace. At the same time, higher housing costs mean tenants are renting for longer, and households are shrinking, meaning tenants are using homes less efficiently. Overall, by 2031, JLL estimates London will have a shortfall of 110,500 rental homes. In reality, this could be far higher, given the headwinds to home ownership and the challenges for small landlords limiting supply levels, warns Emma Rosser, of JLL. There is a snowball effect, this problem is growing cumulatively. We are already feeling the effects. Rents are rising. Tenants cant find somewhere to live, she says. Rental demand in London in February was 44pc higher than the five-year average, while supply was down by 41pc, according to property website Zoopla. The rents achieved on new lets in London rose by 14pc in 2022, according to referencing service Homelet. But this is not enough to encourage large-scale investment. Landlords know that there is demand but many are unable to step in to fill the supply gap, says Rosser. Demand historically has been met by small-scale landlords. Now we are at a tipping point. The population will increase, but while that is growing the supply from individual landlords will not continue growing." Story continues UK Finance, the lender body, expects a 27pc year-on-year drop in the value of buy-to-let lending across 2023. Mortgage rates and high taxes mean this year their profits are really eradicated," says Rosser. Tax changes that came into full effect in April 2020 mean that landlords who own properties in their own names are no longer able to offset all of their mortgage interest costs against their tax bills. This magnifies the blow of higher rates even if their properties become loss-making, they still have to pay the same amount of income tax. Total rental supply is likely to fall as mortgage-financed landlords find the cost of their mortgage payments rise close to, if not above, their rental income when they refinance at higher rates, says Andrew Wishart, of Capital Economics, a research consultancy. Supply is dwindling just as London is grappling with an all-mighty pandemic hangover. Initially, during lockdown, renters left London in droves. But when the capital reopened, they returned in droves. This created a bottleneck, made worse by the fact that the returning crowd wanted larger properties and outdoor space, says Tim Bannister, of property website Rightmove. In the first phases of the pandemic return to the capital, the use of the rental housing supply became less efficient as tenants leased properties with extra bedrooms. Tenants who secured deals in this initial return phase, before prices began to soar, signed long leases because they knew they had good deals. As prices rose, more tenants also renewed old leases, opting not to move in a rising market, says Bannister. In 2021-22, the average private renter had been living in their current home for 4.4 years, according to the English Housing Survey. This was the longest period of time since at least 2010 and a jump from 3.5 in 2013-14. This means there is less churn another factor that reduces the supply of properties being listed to rent. Every time peoples housing needs change, more tenants need to move house. The pandemic shift to homeworking brought a surge in people needing to move. I dont think were completely settled in terms of hybrid working. That is a structural change that is still working its way through the rental market, says Bannister. But now tenants have a new reason to reassess their living arrangements the cost of living crisis, says Bannister. Now, people want smaller, more affordable properties. That is a significant change heaped on top of a significant change, says Bannister. Rising costs create a spiral of pressures for rental demand. The lack of housing and particularly of homes at the right price, means people are delaying their life milestones. A large part of that is down to housing costs, says Rosser. Renters are increasingly likely to be childless. Data from the English Housing Survey shows that from 2014-15, the number of renting households with no children rose by 17.8pc to 3.2million. This meant the share of renters who did not have families rose from 62.6pc to 68.4pc. Based on current trends, the average household size will fall from 2.5 to 2.3 between now and 2031, says Rosser. This means the rental demand needs more properties even just to cater for the same number of people. But the number of people is growing and population growth in the capital flows disproportionately into demand for rental properties. Between 2011 and 2021, Londons population grew by 9pc, but the number of households grew by 19pc. Data from the English Housing Survey shows that the number of renting households rose by 33pc. This is partly because population growth in the capital is typically driven by young professionals who are much more likely to move into the rental sector than buy their own homes. High house prices, which have jumped by 83pc since 2011, compared to a 24pc increase in average gross pay, means Londoners are also increasingly being shut out of the housing ladder. This pressure will be made worse by the end of the Help to Buy scheme this month, says Rosser. Nationally, the scheme supported around 50,000 first-time buyer home purchases each year. Maybe more of those people who would have bought will be staying in the rental market, says Rosser. As small-scale landlords fall by the wayside, institutional build-to-rent investors are stepping in to fill the supply gap. A record 2.7bn was invested in London build-to-rent in 2022, but this will be slow to translate into new rental properties. The sector has delivered 5,400 homes a year over the last three years. Ariel Skelley / Getty Images Stretching your nest egg as far as possible is something that's most likely front of mind for retirees who aren't very wealthy. With no new sources of income aside from Social Security or possibly a pension, it's important to settle in a place to retire that won't drain your savings. Similar: Can I Draw Social Security at 62 and Still Work Full Time? Learn More: 3 Ways to Recession Proof Your Retirement However, getting a clear sense of exactly how long your retirement savings will last requires understanding how much it costs to live in the state you're calling home. As anyone trying to get by somewhere with a high cost of living can attest, even basic necessities can quickly winnow down your retirement account. And it only gets more complicated if you decide you don't want to spend your entire retirement in the same place, as your costs won't be consistent throughout your retirement. That's why GOBankingRates performed a study to compare the cost of living in every state and determine how long you can survive off of $100,000. Granted, $100,000 won't buy you a lot of time in any state. But, these results will give you a sense of just how much you need to save. kieferpix / Getty Images/iStockphoto 51. Hawaii Annual Expenditure: $95,939.44 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 0 month 13 days To say that Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in is something of an understatement: Hawaiians pay more than double the national average per year. You'll need over $2 million to survive retirement in this state -- the most in the country. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? 50. District of Columbia Annual Expenditure: $79.358.60 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 3 months 4 days The District of Columbia holds a special place on this list. Not counted as a state, the area stands as its own district designated by the federal government. The district is $16,000 cheaper than Hawaii but still falls under one of the most expensive places to retire. You'll need to budget over $25,000 for housing costs in the district. Story continues FilippoBacci / Getty Images/iStockphoto 49. Massachusetts Annual Expenditure: $78,055.08 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 3 months 11 days Massachusetts is not a state that's kind to your retirement savings, with sky-high housing costs playing the biggest part in making things difficult. MundusImages / Getty Images 48. California Annual Expenditure: $71,746.02 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 4 months 21 days California's not an easy place to stretch your retirement dollar, with the cost of housing coming in at more than double the average for the country. Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters xavierarnau / iStock.com 47. New York Annual Expenditure: $70,129.65 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 5 months 5 days Some might gripe that the only thing imperial about the Empire State is how much it costs to live there, with the average New Yorker needing more than $70,000 a year to cover expenses. pkujiahe / Getty Images/iStockphoto 46. Alaska Annual Expenditure: $66,010.51 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 6 months 4 days Costs in Alaska are generally high -- particularly for healthcare and utilities -- but there's one area where the state won't eat so far into your nest egg: Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees. WilliamSherman / Getty Images 45. Maryland Annual Expenditure: $64,654.84 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 6 months 19 days Maryland is one of the more expensive states for retirees to live in, but a lot of the older residents can afford it: It's one of the states with the richest retirees. Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men -- Here's Why RyanJLane / Getty Images 44. Oregon Annual Expenditure: $63,194.89 $100,000 Will Last: 1 years 6 months 30 days Oregon has a cost of living that's higher than the country as a whole, particularly in housing, which is almost $7,200 higher than the national average. However, if you're dead set on enjoying the beautiful coastlines of the Pacific Northwest in your golden years, consider making your home in Brandon. It's the best city in the state to buy a home. JayLazarin / Getty Images 43. Connecticut Annual Expenditure: $60,900.69 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 21 days Not only is Connecticut one of the pricier states in the country to live in, but for many retirees, the source of their income might not be as stable as they would hope. Connecticut is the worst state for pensions in the U.S. CHBD / Getty Images/iStockphoto 41(tie). New Hampshire Annual Expenditure: $60,535.70 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 24 days If you're dead set on living in New Hampshire in retirement but you're looking to avoid some of those high costs, steer well clear of the 03854 ZIP code -- home to New Castle Island. It's the most expensive ZIP code in the state. Social Security: No Matter Your Age, Do Not Claim Benefits Until You Reach This Milestone XKarDoc / Getty Images/iStockphoto 41(tie). Vermont Annual Expenditure: $60,431.42 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 24 days Not only is Vermont a tough place to maintain your nest egg, it's also a pretty rough spot for building it up as well. The Green Mountain State is the state where it's hardest to save $1 million for retirement, another GOBankingRates study found. edella / Getty Images 40. Maine Annual Expenditure: $60, 118.57 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 7 months 28 days It's possible that the high cost of living in Maine has some residents thinking big in terms of what it means to be wealthy. In a GOBankingRates survey, the most common answer for what it meant to be "rich" in Maine was an income of $10 million a year or more, the highest answer for any state. Joel Carillet / Getty Images 39. Washington Annual Expenditure: $59,545.02 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 4 days If you're surprised to see Washington so far down this list, keep in mind that it's home to Seattle, one of the most expensive cities in the country. Best to look for more affordable cities. Social Security: 20% Cuts to Your Payments May Come Sooner Than Expected BDphoto / Getty Images 38. Rhode Island Annual Expenditure: $58,867.19 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 11 days If you've compiled an impressive nest egg over the course of your career, Rhode Island isn't a great place to keep it protected. KenWiedemann / Getty Images 37. New Jersey Annual Expenditure: $58,606.48 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 8 months 15 days Like many of the most expensive states in the country, the main culprit for New Jersey's high cost of living is housing, with New Jersey residents paying more than $1,300 higher than the average American for a place to live. wanderluster / Getty Images 36. Arizona Annual Expenditure: $55,165.18 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 22 days Arizona's costs are a bit higher than the national average in every category except utilities, and healthcare. See: Can I Draw Social Security at 62 and Still Work Full Time? 1MoreCreative / Getty Images 35. Delaware Annual Expenditure: $55,060.90 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 25 days Although Delaware might be on the higher side for costs, it can also offer some great ways to protect your nest egg: It's one of the best states to retire rich in the country. Adventure_Photo / Getty Images 33(tie). Colorado Annual Expenditure: $54,539.49 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 29 days While your $100,000 will only last just under two years in Colorado, it depends upon which city you land in. If you want to stay in the Rocky Mountain State but don't like the "mile high" costs in Denver, consider Colorado Springs where it's over $10,000 a year cheaper. urbancow / Getty Images 33(tie). Montana Annual Expenditure: $54,643.77 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 9 months 29 days If you were hoping to keep your nest egg healthy after retiring to Montana by investing well, you might find it harder there than elsewhere. Montana is one of the worst states to grow your money, according to a separate GOBankingRates study. Learn: Ways You Can Lose Your Social Security Benefits ImagineGolf / Getty Images 32. Nevada Annual Expenditure: $53,809.51 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 9 days If you want to spend your golden years in the Silver State, prepare to spend a little more. Costs are at least 10% higher than the national average across every category except for utilities, where they're actually 20% under what the rest of America pays. Joel Carillet / Getty Images 29(tie). Virginia Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days You'll pay less for groceries, utilities and transportation than the average American if you opt to retire to Virginia, but there's clearly more to the story. That would be the cost of housing, which is over $1,100 higher than the national average. nycshooter / Getty Images 29(tie). Florida Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days Florida might only be middle-of-the-pack for stretching a six-figure retirement fund, but it's still a popular destination for many retirees. And you have plenty of options to choose from in terms of which Florida city stacks up the best for you. Read More: 7 Ways Baby Boomers Are Wasting Money in Retirement -- and How To Stop It amygdala_imagery / Getty Images 29(tie). Utah Annual Expenditure: $53,600.95 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 10 months 13 days Regardless of how long it lasts, Utah is doing plenty to help you build that retirement account. It's the state where it's easiest to save $1 million for retirement. Shutterstock.com 28. Idaho Annual Expenditure: $51,932.44 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 4 days Idaho's scenic landscape could be considered incentive enough to retire there, but the state's low costs are an additional perk. catnap72 / Getty Images 27. Pennsylvania Annual Expenditure: $51,202.46 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 12 days In Pennsylvania, housing costs are just a couple of hundred dollars below the national average. However, if you're looking to stretch your retirement savings as far as possible, you can still do better, especially when Pennsylvanians pay more than average for groceries, utilities and transportation. Read: 10 States That Receive the Most Social Security sharply_done / Getty Images/iStockphoto 26. Minnesota Annual Expenditure: $50,837.48 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 19 days In Minnesota, it costs about the same as the national average to live here. That's not true statewide, though, as Minneapolis is among the more expensive major cities in the country. Shutterstock.com 25. North Dakota Annual Expenditure: $50,628.91 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 23 days One place you probably won't overspend in North Dakota is on housing. You can expect to pay less than $9,500 per year. iofoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 24. North Carolina Annual Expenditure: $49,898.94 $100,000 Will Last: 1 year 11 months 30 days If you're looking for a place to live in retirement where you're not in the hustle and bustle of the city but also still close enough to take advantage of city living on occasion, North Carolina might be the place to look. Three of the best suburbs for retirement are in the Tarheel State: Bermuda Run, Fairfield Harbour and Sunset Beach. More: Expert Says 'Silent Crisis' with Retirement Savings Looms Worldwide -- How To Act Now dlewis33 / Getty Images 23. Wisconsin Annual Expenditure: $49,794.66 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 3 days You can make $100,000 last over two years in retirement if you're living in the Badger State. And your annual housing costs are lower than the national average, as well. Shutterstock.com 22. Kentucky Annual Expenditure: $49,481.81 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 6 days Kentucky's biggest cost advantage over other states is in its housing, where you'll pay almost $2,000 less than the national average. RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images 20(tie). South Dakota Annual Expenditure: $49,273.25 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 10 days There's one thing you don't have to worry about in South Dakota: state income tax. That's because it's one of the seven states without any, which could make a significant difference in how long you can stretch that nest egg. Find: 7 Affordable Places To Retire if You Love the Great Outdoors peeterv / Getty Images/iStockphoto 20(tie). South Carolina Annual Expenditure: $49,168.96 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 10 days The question of how long $100,000 lasts in retirement might be especially apt for South Carolina. A GOBankingRates survey determined that most residents of the Palmetto State have about $50,000-$100,000 saved for retirement. Shutterstock.com 19. New Mexico Annual Expenditure: $49,012.54 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 14 days If you enjoy life in the big city but can't handle the high cost of living that usually comes with it, New Mexico might offer you the best compromise. . peeterv / Getty Images/iStockphoto 18. Louisiana Annual Expenditure: $48,803.98 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 17 days Not only is Louisiana among the better states for stretching your savings in retirement, it's also the best state to grow your money, according to a separate GOBankingRates study. $2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin Kirkikis / Getty Images 15(tie). Illinois Annual Expenditure: $48,282.57 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days In Illinois, you can stretch $100K to a bit more than two years. And if you decide you want to make the Windy City your home, you'll have plenty of options in selecting from the many different suburbs around the city. Zview / iStock.com 15(tie). Texas Annual Expenditure: $48,230.43 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days Texas offers a range of advantages to its elderly residents when it comes to stretching retirement dollars. Jeremy Hardin / Getty Images/iStockphoto 15. (tie) Wyoming Annual Expenditure: $48,230.43 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 25 days The cost of living in Wyoming is lower than it is for the country as a whole. Housing Market 2023: Is a Double-Digit Drop in Prices Coming? RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images 14. Michigan Annual Expenditure: $48,074 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 0 months 28 days The Great Lake State is as welcoming as it is scenic, and the low costs mean you can enjoy more of it with your nest egg. Shutterstock.com 12(tie). Nebraska Annual Expenditure: $47,917.58 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 1 day Nebraska's cost-of-living scores are either at or below the national average in every category except for transportation. However, at least some of the money you can save on things like groceries and housing will end up with the state government: Nebraska is the least tax-friendly state for retirees. Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12(tie). Ohio Annual Expenditure: $47,917.58 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 1 day Housing is especially affordable in Ohio, coming in at almost $2,400 less than what the average American is paying. Add that to costs that are either below average or less than 2% over it, and it's not hard to see why Ohio cracked the top 20 in this study. I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn dlewis33 / Getty Images 11. Arkansas Annual Expenditure: $47,239.75 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 12 days The cost of a comfortable retirement in Arkansas is very low, coming in below any other state in the country save for Mississippi and its incredibly low cost of living. Joel Carillet / Getty Images 8(tie). Tennessee Annual Expenditure: $47,031.18 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days Whether it's the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville or Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee is a great state for American music. Of course, if you're retired and living there, it's the low costs that might be music to your ears. ablokhin / Getty Images 8(tie). West Virginia Annual Expenditure: $46,926.90 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days West Virginians are paying less for housing and utilities than most Americans, but that's counter-balanced by higher-than-average costs on groceries and "miscellaneous" expenses. Save More: 5 Things You Should Always Pay For With Cash Purdue9394 / Getty Images 8(tie). Indiana Annual Expenditure: $46,874.76 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 15 days Indiana offers retirees the chance to stretch their savings much further than most of the country; this is important to the Hoosier State, as Indiana is the state with the poorest retirees in the country. Shutterstock.com 6(tie). Iowa Annual Expenditure: $46,509.77 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 23 days Like many states in the Midwest, Iowa boasts low housing costs that help push the overall cost of living down significantly. However, while it's housing leading the charge, Iowa's costs are below what the average American pays across the board. TriggerPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6(tie). Missouri Annual Expenditure: $46,457.63 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 23 days Although most costs are lower in Missouri, the Show-Me State is especially affordable when it comes to housing. A year of a roof over your head costs an average of just $8,299.21, making it one of just twenty states where you can expect to pay under $9,000 per annum. Learn More: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret krblokhin / Getty Images/iStockphoto 5. Georgia Annual Expenditure: $46,196.93 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 1 month 26 days Low costs in Georgia mean a retiree can make $100,000 last them for two years and one month. Even if you're living well by saving on basic costs, though, not everyone is in the same situation: Atlanta is among the places in the U.S. with the most income inequality. Shutterstock.com 4. Alabama Annual Expenditure: $45,936.22 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 6 days You can expect to stretch your retirement savings by retiring almost anywhere in the Yellow Hammer State, but that's especially true if you decide to call the city of Birmingham home: It's one of the cheapest places to retire in the entire country. Shutterstock.com 3. Kansas Annual Expenditure: $45,623.38 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 9 days Kansas is a great state to retire to if you want to stretch your nest egg as far as possible, and it's even better if you're living off of a pension funded by the state: Kansas is one of the best states for pensions. See: 5 Kitchen Appliances That Just Aren't Worth the Money Tiago_Fernandez / Getty Images 2. Oklahoma Annual Expenditure: $44,736.98 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 2 months 28 days Oklahoma has low costs statewide that will help you stretch $100,000 for a full two and a half years. Shutterstock.com 1. Mississippi Annual Expenditure: $44,319.85 $100,000 Will Last: 2 years 3 months 4 days No state has a lower cost for a comfortable retirement than Mississippi, where you can expect to pay almost $3,400 less for housing than the country as a whole. All told, the cumulative cost of living in Mississippi is almost $8,000 lower than the national average. Andrew Zarivny / Shutterstock.com How Long $100K in Retirement Will Last in Every State States on either coast might offer a lot in terms of great weather and loads of culture, but they certainly ask a lot in terms of your pocketbook. The 15 states where $100,000 stretches the least in retirement include five states on the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska). On the East Coast, the worst states for your retirement nest egg are New York, Maryland, District of Columbia and all six of the states that make up New England. On the other end of the list, it's hard to miss that states from the South and the Midwest have the lowest costs by far. Of the 15 states where your $100,000 in retirement savings goes the furthest, all but one (Wyoming) are in one of those two regions. More From GOBankingRates Jordan Rosenfeld and Amen Oyiboke-Osifo contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: In order to find how long $100,000 will last across the country, GOBankingRates first found (1) the national average annual expenditures for people 65 and older, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2021 Consumer Expenditure Survey data. Then, GOBankingRates created (2) state-level annual expenditure estimates by multiplying the national figure by each state's overall cost of living index score for 2022 from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Finally, GOBankingRates found (3) how many years $100,000 will last in each state by dividing $100,000 by each state's average annual expenditures estimate. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were then ranked with No. 1 being the state where $100,000 will last the longest and No. 51 being the state where it will run out most quickly. GOBankingRates provided supplemental information on the average annual cost of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare for people 65 and older in each state by again using MERIC's cost of living indices for each category to factor out national estimates from the CES. All data was collected on and up to date as of February 21, 2023. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Long $100K in Retirement Will Last in Every State Vivek Ramaswamy at CPAC in Dallas, Texas, on August 5, 2022. Brian Snyder/Reuters Vivek Ramaswamy alleged that a consultant offered him the chance to buy his way onto a CPAC straw poll. He claimed the consultant said he would rank second if he paid "a few hundred thousand dollars." Ramaswamy only received 1% in the unscientific poll, with Donald Trump winning by a large margin. Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech millionaire turned longshot candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, claimed on Monday that he was offered the chance of a second-place finish at a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll. The only catch: he'd have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars. Appearing on Fox Business, Ramaswamy alleged that a consultant called his campaign shortly after he declared his candidacy on February 21. Ramaswamy alleged that the consultant, who he did not name, said: "Hey, we can get you up to number two on there if you pay a few hundred thousand dollars." Ramaswamy, who is a relative unknown in what is likely to be a crowded field of Republicans, said he was "shocked." Asked if he agreed to pay to be placed second in the straw poll, he responded: "Absolutely not." Ramaswamy, who has never served in political office, received just 1% of the vote in the unscientific straw poll of potential Republican primary candidates. Former President Donald Trump came in first with 62%, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's likely main rival, trailing him in second at 20%. Perry Johnson, a millionaire from Michigan who announced his candidacy last week, came in third with 5% of the vote. He placed higher than former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy added in a later tweet of the Fox Business exchange that his "#1 promise" would be to expose corruption in the political process. Insider contacted Ramaswamy asking for further information on the allegation, but did not immediately receive a response. Story continues In a statement sent to Insider, CPAC said that "Washington DC is riddled with unscrupulous consultants who make false claims including this one." It added that "anybody with a rudimentary understanding of politics knows how a straw poll work: it takes organization and/or popularity for a candidate to do well. One thing is enduringly true about presidential politics, it takes both to get to the Oval Office." According to Politico, a Ramaswamy aide said they recalled the phone call offer. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity and declined to provide the name of the consultant, fearing they would face retribution, the media outlet reported. The aide claimed the consultant offered to "get tickets and bus a bunch of people in for the straw poll" if they paid "upward of $100,000," per Politico. The aide added: "I was taken aback, because I've never been to CPAC before, and it's very activist driven but I think if any of them knew it was an artificial poll, they'd be pretty pissed about that." March 7, 2023: This story has been updated with a response from CPAC. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian service members inspect a destroyed Russian tank near Kivsharivka village in the Kharkiv region in December. (Sergey Bobok / AFP via Getty Images) Bound for the battlefield, sounding harried and anxious, the Russian soldier placed a hasty phone call to a Ukrainian military hotline. "They say you can help me surrender voluntarily, is that right?" asked the serviceman, explaining that he was soon to be deployed near the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. "When Ukrainian soldiers come, do I just kneel down, or what? Do you promise not to film me while this is happening?" In fluent Russian, the hotline operator calmly assured him hed be given detailed instructions on how to safely lay down his weapon and turn himself in. "When you get to the front lines, just call us right away," she said. At a crucial juncture in an extraordinarily bloody war, Ukraines military is focused on one task: removing Russian soldiers from the battlefield. But faced with a foe whose ranks are known to be riddled with unwilling fighters, Ukrainian military strategists realized there might be more than one means to that end. With that, the I Want to Live outreach was born, aimed at providing invading forces with step-by-step information on how to abandon the ranks. Initially run by Ukrainian police, the program has had a ramped-up, military-operated version in place since mid-September. Ukrainian soldiers on Sunday fire a self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. (Libkos / Associated Press) On Russian-language social media, Ukrainians have spread the word about the program's website, intended as a portal for the surrender-curious or their loved ones. It has attracted more than 13.3 million visits 7.6 million of those from Russian territory, organizers said. Russian soldiers also provide personal data through a chatbot on the encrypted messaging app Telegram information Ukrainian authorities use to winnow down those who are serious about turning themselves in. The chatbot, together with the hotline, has drawn nearly 10,000 contacts, according to organizers. Citing security reasons, Ukrainian officials declined to disclose how many surrenders have been brokered via the program. But hotline operators field calls around the clock from Russians who are soon to be mobilized, are in the midst of being deployed or are already on the battlefield. Callers might be jittery or stoic, defensive or remorseful, coolly businesslike or floridly emotional sometimes all of those in a single conversation. Story continues So, this is not fake? one Russian soldier asked. It is not fake, the Ukrainian operator replied. The 10-member hotline team, all active-duty service personnel with backgrounds in psychology, is tasked with providing callers with clear, concise instructions, while being alert to signs that the outreach might be a probe by Russian intelligence, meant to elicit information about Ukrainian methods and intentions. Vitaly Matvienko, spokesperson at the Ukrainian department for prisoners of war, which manages the "I Want to Live" hotline for Russians who wish to surrender. (Pete Kiehart / For the Times) However tense the backdrop, those dealing directly with would-be surrenderers try to calm them down, said Vitaly Matvienko, a junior lieutenant who serves as spokesman for the program, which is run by the department for prisoners of war. Hi, Im listening, goes a typically low-key operator salutation in an audio sampling of recent calls provided by the Ukrainian military. In the recordings made public, callers' voices are distorted to shield their identities. Hotline operators initially worked out of military headquarters in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, but were later moved to a secret location because they are now seen as a high-profile potential target, Matvienko said. The military refused to make any operators available for interviews but said they are male and female, a range of ages and all able to chat easily in colloquial Russian. When it comes to surrenders in the field, both sides are aware that the moment carries enormous risk for all involved, he said. In general, its a very dangerous process, said Matvienko. But strict protocols, clearly laid out in advance, improve the odds of everyone staying alive. Russians who want to turn themselves in are told to wave a white cloth, remove the magazines from their guns, point the barrels to the ground and eschew body armor and helmets. They are assured that in the event they want to be sent home in a prisoner swap, their paperwork will reflect that they were captured, not that they gave up voluntarily. If its a bring-your-own-tank surrender, which happens not infrequently, the turret is to be turned in the opposite direction. If its a group surrender also a fairly common occurrence, with a Russian squad often fearing retribution from commanders but agreeing to act jointly and surreptitiously the highest-ranking soldier must identify himself. The body of a Russian soldier lies amid abandoned positions in Mala Rohan, Ukraine, in May. (Pete Kiehart / For The Times) If a surrendering soldier runs out of options for separating himself from his unit, the hotline offers help. "We can coordinate with special units that will extract you safe and sound," one operator told a worried caller. Like so much in this conflict, the I Want to Live program employs both high-tech methods and simple communication tools. Russians facing deployment can communicate with the Ukrainian side using the Telegram chatbot, and before leaving for the front, they're urged to procure and hide a basic flip phone not a smartphone and use that to call the hotline. Ukrainians say they've heard from Russian soldiers already on the battlefield who learned of the hotline by word-of-mouth or from a scrawled-on slip of paper passed from hand to hand. In Russias battle to subdue Ukraine, now in its second year, one of Moscows greatest advantages is the sheer number of troops it can throw into the fight, Western military analysts say which is why Ukraine is willing to try novel tactics to reduce those numbers. In addition to the 190,000 Russian soldiers who took part in the initial multipronged invasion that began in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin last year ordered the mobilization of 300,000 more, many of whom are now in Ukraine. And another major mobilization is expected as Russia seeks to mount a spring offensive. But despite a more than 2-to-1 Russian advantage in its standing military, Moscows faltering performance has been blamed on troop quality, which has deteriorated as the war goes on. Western military observers consistently cite poor morale, substandard training and shambolic supply practices as key factors in a string of Russian battlefield routs last autumn. In order to snatch a victory of sorts from the jaws of defeat, Putin must now rely on the overwhelming numbers provided by mass mobilization, analyst Peter Dickinson wrote in a report last month for the Atlantic Council. This is a tried and tested Russian tactic, but it also carries considerable risks. Deploying thousands of untrained soldiers to fight against battle-hardened and highly motivated Ukrainian troops could result in the kind of carnage that breaks armies, he wrote. At the start of the invasion, some Russian troops apparently believed they would be welcomed by Ukrainians as liberators. But fierce military resistance, coupled with widespread shows of disdain and defiance from civilians, soon disabused them of that notion. Last autumn's mobilization by Putin prompted a huge exodus of fighting-age men from Russia, with hundreds of thousands settling in Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan and other nearby countries to avoid being conscripted. Western analysts say it has become more widely known within Russia that Moscows commanders have scant regard for the lives and welfare of their own troops. January and February saw an uptick in Russian-language social media postings about harrowing field conditions and chaotic leadership accounts widely echoed in months of intercepted calls home from deployed Russian troops. A man who asked to be identified by his call sign, Summer, checks bodies in a refrigerated train used to store the remains of Russian soldiers in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in May. (Pete Kiehart / For The Times) In mid-February, a British military intelligence assessment said Russian forces were suffering what appeared to be the highest casualty rates since the early weeks of the war many occurring near the hotly contested town of Bakhmut. While Ukraine has suffered heavy attrition as well, Russia lost exceptionally large numbers of troops and armored vehicles in a failed attempt last month to storm the Ukrainian-held eastern town of Vuhledar an apparently bungled opening volley in a much-vaunted Russian spring offensive. Ukrainian officials hope that such setbacks will serve a dual purpose: inflicting a costly defeat, and prompting Russian soldiers to recognize the sometimes suicidal role they are expected to play in human-wave attacks on fortified Ukrainian positions, which have been a recurring feature of recent fighting. With their own eyes, they see they are nothing more than cannon fodder, Matvienko said. They see one of their comrades being ordered to walk into a minefield to find a path, and he gets blown up, and another is told to go next, and hes blown up too, and on it goes. Episodes like this, he said, can galvanize a desperate sense of self-preservation. They realize this is real and not some war movie, he said. And the thought has to occur to them: How do I save myself? One caller, sounding angry and despairing, used an expletive to describe the prospect of sudden death in battle. A single mortar shell, and its done, he said. Who needs this war? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Jeffrey Hatton is escorted out of a courtroom after pleading guilty to a count of aggravated sexual assault of a child in exchange for a 25-year prison sentence. A 26-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison after admitting to raping a family member more than 10 years ago. Jeffrey Hatton pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison. He initially faced a five-count indictment charging him with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. However, as part of his plea, the remaining counts will be dismissed. He will be required to register as a sex offender for life. The case against Hatton began in 2017, when the family member told a counselor that Hatton had been sexually abusing her. The counselor, a mandatory reporter at the time, contacted Child Protective Services and the Lubbock police department. By then Hatton was about 19 years old but he was taken into custody as a juvenile and taken to the Lubbock Juvenile Justice Center on a directive to apprehend. He spent a night at the center before he was released. In 2018, Hatton was certified as an adult and was indicted by a Lubbock County grand jury. All instances of abuse occurred outside a 30-day window and Hatton would have been charged with a count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, which carries a punishment of 25 years to life in prison without parole. However because those acts happened when he was a juvenile, this prevented prosecutors from filing that charge, despite being certified as an adult. The investigation revealed Hatton abused the girl for years. "The Lubbock police department did a very thorough investigation in this case," said prosecutor Cara Landers after the plea hearing. "They were able to gather enough information to help substantiate the outcry by the victim and to help support her in this case. She is one of the strongest people I've ever met and we're hopeful that this in some way allows the family to move forward and to achieve closure." Story continues Hatton's attorney, Charles Blevins, declined to comment. Lander's said at the time the girl made her outcry, certain professions including counselors, teachers and clergy were designated under Texas law as mandatory reporters who were legally obligated to report outcries of child abuse to authorities. That law has since changed to include all adults. "It's a class A misdemeanor to fail to report suspected child abuse," Landers said. "And that if you know (that a child is being sexually abused), you have a duty to report." This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock man pleads guilty to sexually abusing family member for years Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko believes that Ukraine has challenged Belarus with the "sabotage" of the A-50 radar plane at Machulishchy airfield, and he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "louse" for this. Source: Belarusian state-owned national news agency BelTA Quote: "There is only one conclusion. I used to think that Ukraine needed peace, and that Zelenskyy was rooting for his people. President Zelenskyy is just a louse. Just a louse! Such operations are not carried out without the approval of the country's leader and commander-in-chief. I am telling you this as the president. He's a louse because he runs around Belarus, sends people to us, and asks, as I said before: Let's sign a non-aggression pact, let's make a deal, we have no problems with you. To which I said: We're not going to attack. No, let's sign a treaty under the auspices of the United Nations that you will not attack us. You heard me make all these statements. And at this time... Well, the challenge has been thrown. If they expect, I know that they want to drag us into a war at the behest of the Americans; if you think that by throwing this challenge you will drag us into a war tomorrow, which is already going on all over Europe today, you are mistaken." Details: Lukashenko said that Ukraine trained the "terrorist" and the Belarusians conducted a brilliant operation and "in some four, five days" were able to identify all his accomplices and detain those in Belarus. At the same time, he is convinced that "we cannot relax in any way". Quote: "I want to emphasise once again, especially to the local scoundrels and those who escaped: they have all been identified, and we will find them, there, abroad. And to the fugitives, I repeat: get ready, we are coming for you. And do not howl. And do not post in these messengers. We have strong nerves, we know what to do." Story continues Background: On 26 February, explosions occurred at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus in the morning. Later, there was information that a Russian A-50 military aircraft was damaged. Alexander Azarov, Head of the BYPOL initiative, reported that Belarusian partisans were involved in sabotage at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus. According to Azarov, the participants of the alleged sabotage in Machulishchy had left Belarus and are now safe. After the explosion, the entourage of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus claimed that the A-50 was fine and posted allegedly "fresh videos", although the military monitoring media outlet Belaruski Hajun reported that the Russian aircraft flew to Taganrog, Russia, for repairs. Andrii Yusov, representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, said that Russia cannot currently produce A-50 AWACS aircraft, one of which was probably damaged at the Belarusian Machulishchy airbase. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has said that Belarus had detained an alleged "terrorist of the Ukrainian secret services" and his accomplices, who were "involved in an attempted sabotage of an A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy airfield". Earlier, Lukashenko did not admit that anything had happened in Machulishchy. Source: Belarusian state-owned national news agency BelTA Quote: "The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the CIA leadership are either working on the side or behind the back of the Republic of Belarus. A terrorist has been trained. He is a Russian with a Russian passport and a Ukrainian passport. He was born in Kryvyi Rih and lived in Crimea. Some relatives are in Austria; some stayed in Kyiv. He was recruited by the Ukrainian Secret Service in 2014, I think. He is an IT specialist or well versed in IT technologies. He was preparing to commit terrorist acts." Details: Lukashenko said that the saboteur was "trained" by the SSU and used "the highest technologies". Quote: "What we saw when we implemented the operation in Belarus was really something incredible. The highest technologies were involved. He learned all this in more than one month. After training, he was routed [as the Belarusian KGB says] to our territory." Lukashenko also expectedly blamed Kyiv for everything. As the self-proclaimed Belarusian president states, the "operation" originates from the Ukrainian capital. According to Lukashenko, the "saboteur" chose the route "Warsaw Brest, Warsaw Lodz Riga Pskov, and then Minsk". Quote: "I won't go into detail about how the instruments of crime, these drones, were transferred. They chose a small drone. Because if they had used a large one, our surveillance systems would have tracked it, of course. But we established that this small Chinese-made drone, which is also sold in our stores, was sold in the United States (this Chinese drone), and then it was brought back to Ukraine. And in Ukraine, these two drones were used, this person was trained, and others helped him." Story continues Details: Lukashenko continues to insist that the Russian aircraft did not suffer any significant damage other than "scratches and one hole in the hull". Quote: "We showed you this plane. As I was told, it even met the president [Lukashenko ed.] when I was returning from Beijing. However, we asked the Russians to take this plane for maintenance and send us another one. That's what happened." Background: On 26 February, explosions occurred at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus in the morning. Later, there was information that a Russian A-50 military aircraft was damaged. Alexander Azarov, Head of the BYPOL initiative, reported that Belarusian partisans were involved in sabotage at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus. According to Azarov, the participants of the alleged sabotage in Machulishchy had left Belarus and are now safe. After the explosion, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus' entourage claimed that the A-50 was fine and posted allegedly "fresh videos", although the military monitoring media outlet Belaruski Hajun reported that the Russian aircraft flew to Taganrog, Russia, for repairs. Andrii Yusov, a representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, said that Russia cannot currently produce A-50 AWACS aircraft, one of which was probably damaged at the Belarusian Machulishchy airbase. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Lake County treasurer Holly Kim at the beginning of one of her TikTok videos, which feature self-deprecating jokes and a "behind-the-scenes" look at life in local politics. (- Original Credit: News-Sun (Holly Kim / HANDOUT)) Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim has ventured to an online frontier where few American politicians have dared to dip their toes: TikTok. The social media platform has more than 100 million American users and has elicited the fear and ire of politicians in Congress, facing skeptics in Illinois, too. Unlike the detractors, many of them up in there in years and unaware of the fun theyre missing, Kim is all-in on TikTok. Advertisement A former social media manager, the 42-year-old Mundelein resident sees TikTok where users create and share short videos garnished with a wide variety of sounds and imagery spliced from music, movies and even memes as the best venue through which to engage the emerging crowd of voting young adults and teens that make up Generation Z. Almost 40% of TikTok users are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old, a January Statista report found, and thats plenty enough for Kim to know its where she needs to be to reach that group. Advertisement Kim deploys multi-demographic campaigning using traditional methods like door-knocking and sending mailers, but the ability of such methods to reach younger folks drops off the face of the planet. Even a text campaign, like, theyre not going to text you, Kim said. Theyre texting their friends on Discord and Snapchat, theyre not text texting. Good luck with a robocall, and theyre not who the mailers are going to. And so its like, what avenues do you have for that demographic that is now voting? And they are an organized powerhouse. So, the self-described nerdly Democrat launched her TikTok channel as part of her detailed campaign social media strategy, where Kim regularly updates followers about the treasurers office, county politics and the ups and downs of daily life. Kims 5,000 Facebook followers dwarf her TikTok following of just over 600, but the audience is growing steadily thanks in part to consistent content, the ability to share videos across platforms and the apps algorithm. Help, Mom made a TikTok! Kims oldest son, Cal Ning, wasnt exactly over the moon he found out his mom had joined the platform. When she first told me, I was like, What?! Cal told the News-Sun. Usually, having your parents on TikTok is like this thing, like, Oh my goodness, my mom is on TikTok. But once Kims children started to digest the content and observe how she was taking her jokes and quips about local politics to a new audience, and how her channel was popping up on friends feeds, they saw the vision behind her leap onto the platform. Cal, whos been on and off TikTok as his interest swells and wanes, said friends started letting him know what he was missing on his moms channel. Advertisement (Friends) tell me about it, Cal said. If I havent seen it right away, if I havent seen my mom that day yet theyll be like, Oh my gosh I saw your mom on my For You page! Sometimes, Kim taps her kids to help showcase the behind-the-scenes life of a local politician, like one video with more than 1,500 views showing Kim bursting into Cals room wearing different shirts for political groups, asking, Hey, do you want to go to a rally? Quirky interactions with her kids makes for interesting fodder, but Kims life as a local TikTok politico also includes editing Gary Glitters Rock n Roll over videos of the governor and other area elected officials at groundbreaking ceremonies and recaps of other political events. Its interesting to see how my mom incorporates it into what she does, Cal said. Honestly, Ive learned a couple of the local shops and places like that because of my moms TikToks. Boom, roasted Beware, Lake County political hopefuls, or you may be a blunder away from finding yourself as the subject of Kims meme-making abilities. Advertisement Take the example of a Mundelein trustee candidate who recently came under fire for his comments about Asian people being smarter than others in a joint interview with the Daily Herald. Kim pasted the storys lead and looped music from a once-viral YouTube public service announcement campaign promoting rail safety called Dumb Ways To Die, slapped a quick tank your political aspirations caption over the loop and warned followers with a #dontdothis hashtag. All is fair in love, war and local politics. That applies to self-deprecation, too, a practice Kim honed in real life before taking it to her social media pages. TikTok fiction, Kim wrote in a recent video, Everyone knows Im on time. #running late #events. The video shows Kim lying in bed before receiving a text about an event she was supposed to be in attendance at, then dashing in a sped-up, cartoonish fashion to get dressed for work and make the photo op. Advertisement Another recently uploaded municipal election-themed video touts the start date for early voting this spring with a choose your character sound bite from the popular Super Smash Bros video game franchise as Kim depicts characters vying to serve on school, library, park and city or village boards. Its a given that Lake County politicians are constantly working on bringing more residents voters into their online folds through regular content on mediums like Facebook, and even Instagram and Twitter. Its not rare to hear, as Kim echoed, that politicians have to be where people are. Social-wise, Kim said, I encourage others, too, youve got to be where the people are. Other area politicians, including at least one Republican, and newly elected state representative Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness have dabbled on TikTok, but Kim is the standard-bearer. Her approach boils down to a hypothesis that voters, especially younger people, are sick of traditional campaigning methods from politicians. Being on TikTok, where users sometimes go viral for sharing personal and embarrassing stories, or just for doing fun dance routines, provides a lot of relatability to younger people and a chance to differentiate yourself as a candidate and political voice, Kim said. Oh, vote for me and heres why, blah, blah, nobody wants to hear that, Kim said. They want to know everything you stand for, but not like that. If there are digestible snacks in ways they can understand and hear it, then people are really receptive. Advertisement I think a lot of (politicians) are still kind of afraid, but Ive toed into it, Kim added. I actually really enjoy the madness because I grew up on the internet. I love memes, I make memes and so this is like a step up. She closed by playfully leveling a challenge at political rivals and allies. Im a little lonely, she said, so if all of the other elected officials could get on TikTok, Id really appreciate it. Cal cracked a laugh when asked about his moms observation about being herself TikTok without ruining her political career. My mom is already goofy and shows how she is in real life on other social media platforms, Cal said. And on TikTok, its just added to that a little bit. Idris Elba as John Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun. (John Wilson/Netflix) The last time we encountered Idris Elba as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, he was cuffed up and under arrest for a multitude of murders, for which he was, in fact, completely innocent. As cliffhangers go, the end of Luther Season 5 was a doozy, and now four years on were to finally find out what happened after that dramatic series five closer, with the release of the long-promised Luther feature film The Fallen Sun on Netflix today. Read more: Idris Elba really doesn't want to play James Bond But how did we get to that point? To prep you for Luthers inaugural big-screen adventure, heres the story so far, from that very first TV episode in May 2010 to his final terrestrial outing on 4 January 2019 Luther: Season one | 2010 When we first meet maverick cop DCI John Luther (Idris Elba), hes working for Londons Serious Crime Unit and separated from his wife, Zoe (Indira Varma), whos now shacked up with new beau, Mark (Paul McGann). Unlike later series, season one pits Luther against a different antagonist each episode, including a Satanist who kidnaps women and drains them of their blood, a former army sniper whos targeting random civilians and a serial killer who robs his victims of their jewellery. But threaded through those six episodes is Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), an icy, Oxford-educated psychopath who develops a close, quasi-romantic relationship with our rule-bending hero. The season climaxes with Luthers colleague, DCI Ian Reed (Steven Mackintosh), murdering Zoe, before being gunned down by Alice. Cue Nina Simones Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood. Luther: Season two | 2011 Luthers second series jettisoned the episodic format, and was made up instead of two two-part stories. In the first, Luther is tasked with finding a Punch mask-wearing serial killer (Lee Ingleby) who bases himself on the 19th century folkloric figure Spring-Heeled Jack, while at the same time attempting to rescue a teenage girl (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) from the world of organised crime. Story continues Read more: First look at the Luther movie In the second story, a set of twins (both played by Steven Robertson) begin a series of random attacks, deciding their victims fate on the roll on a dice (its Luthers computer whizz colleague Benny Silver who makes the role-playing game association). Alice, meanwhile, starts the series incarcerated at a mental institution, but escapes when a visiting Luther wedges a keycard into an apple and lobs it over the wall. Later, she tells Luther shes leaving the country for Mexico. Hasta luego! Luther: Season three | 2013 Another run of four episodes, made up of two double-parters. In the first story, Luther finds himself on the trail of a murderer who, it turns out, is being manipulated by a now ageing serial killer, while in the second, our hero is assigned to hunt a vigilante killer, Tom Marwood (Elliot Cowan), who targets criminals whom he believes deserve to die. While all this is going on, DS Justin Ripley (Warren Brown) is co-opted into an investigation into Luthers, lets say unconventional policing methods, before hes popped by Marwood. The series ends with a returning Alice stabbing Marwood in the neck before absconding. Luther: Season four | 2015 Just one two-part story this time. Several months on from the end of series three, Luther is lying low in a rundown shack on the coast, before hes drawn back into policing when a cannibalistic serial killer (John Heffernan), suffering from Cotard syndrome (thats a condition where someone holds the belief that theyre actually dead), begins a murder spree. At the same time, Luther is told that Alice Morgan is dead, and discovers that an organised crime boss named George Cornelius (Patrick Malahide) was instrumental in her death. Luther: Season five | 2019 Luthers final season, screened over four nights in January 2019, looked very much like a full stop. In it, Luther finds himself investigating a man (Enzo Cilenti) who leads a respectable life as a surgeon by day, but by night is a ruthless killer, aided in his crimes by his psycho psychologist wife (Hermione Norris). But our favourite DCI also has to contend with George Cornelius, who blames Luther for the kidnap of his son, who it turns out has been abducted by Alice Morgan who wasnt dead after all. Quelle surprise! Read more: Luther creator responds to BBC diversity chief claims Cornelius hires a hitman who kills Luthers long-time buddy Benny (Michael Smiley) only for George to shoot the assassin dead, framing Luther for the murder. The series ends with Alice falling to her apparent death and Luther under arrest. Luther: The Fallen Sun | 2023 Idris Elba as John Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun. (John Wilson/Netflix) And so here we are. Four years after being led away in cuffs, John Luther is back for his first feature film. Penned by series creator Neil Cross and directed by Jamie Payne (who helmed all four episodes of season five), Luther: The Fallen Sun begins with our hero in the clink, while London finds itself terrorised by yet another serial killer, someone that Netflixs official synopsis describes as a cyber psychopath (Andy Serkis). When I first read the script I literally wanted to have a shower, the Gollum actor told Good Morning Britain recently. It was one of the darkest parts I've ever been offered and I did almost consider not doing it. It's so well directed, he went on. For people who loved the TV series, this is on an elevated, bigger scale of that. What the critics think of Luther: The Fallen Sun Evening Standard: It's good to have Idris Elba's crime-fighter back (3 min read) Independent: Netflix film makes a good case for Idris Elba as the next Batman (3 min read) Digital Spy: Luther: The Fallen Sun is more of the same for better and worse (3 min read) We always knew that season five was the end of DCI John Luther, Neil Cross told Zavvi recently. He couldnt get his badge back after that, which meant there had to be a new dynamic in place for the movie. Even though Luther wont be a DCI in this, rest easy, the trench coat is back, as is his former boss (and one of the few Luther regulars who isnt now dead), Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley). So although this wont quite be the Luther of old, with its gritty London locations and grisly serial killer baddie, this is still very much the Luther weve all grown to love since 2010. Roll on the sequel. Luther: The Fallen Sun is streaming on Netflix now. Watch a trailer below. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney is working on a new documentary about Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter. Musk will be a definitive and unvarnished examination of the worlds richest man, and Gibney said: I have been working on this film, off and on, for some time and am hugely excited about it. I am delighted by this extraordinary group who are working with me. Onward! Gibney won an Academy Award for his 2007 film Taxi to the Dark Side, which focused on the December 2002 killing of an Afghan driver named Dilawar, who was beaten to death by American soldiers while being held in extrajudicial detention and interrogated at a black site at Bagram air base. He has also made the documentaries Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief and Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine. Gibneys Musk comes after the BBC series The Elon Musk Show, which included interviews with the controversial businessmans family, friends and employees. Read The Independents three-star review here. This month, a BBC investigation found that Twitter is struggling to protect users from online abuse and child sexual exploitation due to changes made since Musks takeover. BBC Panoramas report cited figures from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank that showed that tens of thousands of new accounts have popped up and immediately followed known abusive and misogynistic profiles since Musk took the reigns. Taylor Swift didn't wear red lipstick until an Allure photo shoot in March 2009. Her makeup artist told Elle Australia she had to ask Swift's mom permission to use red lipstick. Swift apparently loved the look so much that the artist gifted her a tube to take home with her. Taylor Swift hasn't always had that "red lip, classic thing" that fans like. In fact, it took until March 2009 for the pop superstar to claim her iconic look. Swift had just released her hit album, "Fearless," and the 19-year-old was gearing up for The Fearless Tour, her first-ever headlining run. Swift had signed on to do a cover with Allure that same month. Her makeup artist for the shoot, Gucci Westman founder of the clean beauty brand Westman Atelier claims she helped Swift venture into the world of the red lip. "Yeah, I've worked [with Taylor Swift], many times," Westman recently told Elle Australia. "I haven't worked with her in quite a while but I used to work with her, and I remember I was the first one to give her a red lip." Westman recalled the Allure shoot and said she had to ask Swift's mom, Andrea Swift, for special permission to use the bold color. "She'd never worn a red lip," Westman told Elle. "When the red lip happened, I had to get permission by her mom." At the time, Westman said Swift's management told her that "Taylor doesn't do red." "Well, Taylor needs to try red," Westman said she countered. An Allure article about the shoot explains that Westman was trying to give Swift "an updated Vargas-girl look, with a strong mouth and beautiful skin." Westman finished the look with "mauve blush, brown eye shadow, black mascara, and vivid red lipstick." Swift apparently loved the red lipstick so much that Westman gave her a tube of her own to take home, launching a recognizable look that has carried on throughout Swift's career. Taylor Swift performs during the Fearless Tour at Madison Square Garden on August 27, 2009 in New York City. Jason Kempin/Getty Images Red lipstick has since become synonymous with Swift's aesthetic since that fateful Allure shoot. She kicked off the Fearless Tour shortly after in April 2009, where she immediately took to showcasing her new red-lip look. Story continues Despite the many costume changes throughout the show each night, one thing remained constant: The red lipstick. Taylor Swift performs during the Fearless Tour at Madison Square Garden on August 27, 2009 in New York City. Jason Kempin/Getty Images Swift has since worn red lipstick to major events like the Grammys, in music videos like "Shake It Off," and on several album covers, including "Red," "1989," and "Midnights." She has also referenced the look many times in her lyrics, starting with the "Red" deluxe track "The Moment I Knew" ("In red lipstick with no one to impress"). This imagery appears most often throughout "1989," in "Blank Space" ("Cherry lips, crystal skies"), "Wildest Dreams" ("Red lips and rosy cheeks"), and "Style" ("I've got that red lip, classic thing that you like"), among others. Most recently, she mentioned red lips in "Maroon," the second track on her newest album "Midnights" ("The lips I used to call home / So scarlet, it was maroon"). Read the original article on Insider Federal charges have been filed against a man accused of attacking a flight attendant and trying to open a plane's emergency exit door on a weekend flight to Boston. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was on board a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles when a flight attendant believed he had tried to tamper with the emergency exit door, according to the U.S. attorney's office for Massachusetts. About 45 minutes before landing at Boston Logan International Airport, crew members were alerted that the "starboard side door" had been disarmed, the federal prosecutor's office said. A flight attendant who inspected the door noticed the handle had been moved toward the unlocked position. The attendant, who was not identified, secured the handle and went to notify fellow crew members. Another attendant noted that Torres had been by the door earlier and suspected he might have tampered with it, federal officials said. "A flight attendant then confronted Torres about tampering with the door, to which he allegedly responded by asking if there were cameras showing that he had done so," the prosecutor's office said. The captain was notified that Torres might pose a threat to the flight and asked to land as soon as possible. Torres later approached the same door as two flight attendants stood near it, according to the prosecutor's office. "Torres then allegedly thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times," the prosecutor's office said. Passengers tackled Torres and helped the crew restrain him until the plane landed, when he was taken into custody. The airline said no injuries were reported. Passengers interviewed after the flight landed told authorities that Torres had asked someone about where the door handle was on the plane's safety card, the prosecutor's office said. Video recorded from inside the plane and shared with NBC News shows a man yelling that if he were shot by authorities he would not die. He later enters the aisl, says he is taking over the plane and appears to attack a flight attendant near the front before others subdue him. Story continues Torres has been charged with a count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. Federal court records weren't immediately available for Torres on Monday, and it's unclear whether he has retained an attorney. Torres is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. United Airlines praised the quick actions of its crew and passengers in restraining Torres. "We have zero tolerance for any type of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying on United pending an investigation," the airline said. "We are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A man from Maui, Hawaii, who refers to himself as Dolphin Dave, is accused of harassing humpback whales and dolphins in Hawaii. This weekend, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) received an influx of calls about a man "pursuing a humpback whale," on the big island, the department said in a Facebook post on Monday. The suspect was identified as 65-year-old David Jimenez, who was allegedly seen snorkeling close to a humpback whale in Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park on Sunday, DLNR said. The video that allegedly shows Jimenez with the whale appears to have been filmed under water by himself. / Credit: Hawaii DLNR The department shared a video on social media that appears to have been filmed under water by Jimenez himself. He is seen swimming close to the whale, reaching out and nearly touching its fin. When the department's enforcement division arrived on the scene, Jimenez was near a pod of dolphins. A responding officer recorded Jimenez allegedly pursing the pod and leading a group to chase the animals. At one point in the video, Jimenez appears to extend his hand toward the whale, nearly touching it. / Credit: Hawaii DLNR Jimenez is known as "Dolphin Dave" on Facebook, where he shares dolphin-inspired art. When asked about the incident, Jimenez told officers "he's not going to stop swimming with whales and dolphins, 'because it's magical and others do much worse things,'" the department said. He was cited for allegedly violating two Hawaii Administrative Rules one that protects endangered whale species, and another that prevents the harassment of wildlife in a state parks. He is set to appear in court in May. CBS News has reached out to Hawaii DLNR and Jimenez for further comment and is awaiting response. Several animals in Hawaii are protected under the several federal and state laws, according to DLNR. Under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, humpback whales are protected, and other Hawaii state laws protected endangered, threatened and indigenous species like other whales, seals and many different types of dolphins. While humpback whales were once considered endangered and many populations around the world still are classified as endangered or threatened they are not considered at risk in Hawaii, according to NOAA. Still, they are at risk of harassment from boats, particularly because they often swim close to shore and attract whale-watching tours. Story continues NOAA advises whale watches to keep a safe distance and do not touch the whales. How small business owners can save this tax season Interest rates "likely to be higher," Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tells lawmakers 2 kidnapped Americans found dead in Mexico, 2 found alive, officials say HOUSTON (AP) A Texas inmate is facing scheduled execution Tuesday evening for fatally stabbing his estranged wife and drowning her 6-year-old daughter in a bathtub nearly 14 years ago. Gary Green, 51, is set to receive a lethal injection for the September 2009 deaths of Lovetta Armstead, 32, and her daughter, Jazzmen Montgomery, at their home in Dallas. The girl's father, Ray Montgomery, said he is not cheering for Greens execution but sees it as the justice system at work. Its justice for the way my daughter was tortured. Its justice for the way that Lovetta was murdered, Montgomery said. As of late Tuesday morning, Greens attorneys had not filed any appeals seeking to stop his execution at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. His attorney did not return several calls and emails seeking comment. In prior appeals, Greens attorneys claimed he was intellectually disabled and has had a lifelong history of psychiatric disorders. These impairments likely rendered (Green) unable to form the requisite intent to commit capital murder, Greens attorneys wrote in 2018. Those appeals were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower appeals courts. The high court has prohibited the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, but not for people with serious mental illness. Authorities said Green killed the two after Armstead sought to annul their marriage. On the day of the killings, Armstead had written two letters to Green, telling him that although she loved him, she had to do whats best for me. In his own letter, which was angry and rambling, Green expressed the belief that Armstead and her children were involved in a plot against him. You asked to see the monster so here he is the monster you made me ... They will be 5 lives taken today me being the 5th, Green wrote. Armstead was stabbed more than two dozen times while Green drowned Jazzmen in the homes bathtub. Authorities said Green also intended to kill Armsteads two other children, then 9-year-old Jerrett and 12-year-old Jerome. Green stabbed the younger boy but both survived. Story continues Told (Green) because were too little to die and we wont tell anybody about it, the 9-year-old told jurors in testimony about how he convinced Green to spare their lives. Josh Healy, one of the prosecutors with the Dallas County District Attorneys Office that convicted Green, said the boys were incredibly brave. Green was an evil guy. It was one of the worst cases Ive ever been a part of, said Healy, who is now a defense attorney in Dallas. Montgomery said he still has a close relationship with Armsteads two sons. He said both lead productive lives and one has a daughter who looks like Jazzmen. They still suffer a lot I think, said Montgomery, who is a special education English teacher. In recent years, Montgomery and Jerome Armstead have participated in domestic violence seminars. Montgomery said hes tried to help other people recognize the signs of domestic violence, signs he didnt see before Lovetta Armstead and his daughter were killed. Just being able to go out and help and spread awareness has been like therapy to me, he said. Montgomery, who is a deacon at his church in Dallas, said hes continued to live his life like his daughter is still here, including throwing her a party every birthday. He also had a high school graduation party for her, including a parade at her gravesite and a backyard barbecue with family. That was my way of dealing with it, to make it feel like shes still here. I prayed over her grave one day and I told her I would never let her name die down, Montgomery said. Greens execution is the first of two scheduled in Texas this week. Another inmate, Arthur Brown Jr., is set to be executed Thursday. Green would be the fourth inmate in Texas and the eighth in the U.S. put to death this year. Green is one of six Texas death row inmates who are part of a lawsuit seeking to stop the states prison system from using what they allege are expired and unsafe execution drugs. Despite a civil court judge in Austin preliminarily agreeing with the claims, three of the inmates have been executed this year. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at https://twitter.com/juanlozano70. A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly daylight shooting at an apartment complex in Boston over the weekend, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday. Austin Dillon, 36, of Dorchester, is expected to be arraigned Roxbury District Court on charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm after one person was killed in a shooting at an apartment building on Weaver Way in the citys Roxbury neighborhood on Saturday afternoon, according to the Boston Police Department. Officers assigned to the Boston Police Fugitive Unit nabbed Dillon on a murder warrant in the area of Razella Street on Monday night. Emergency crews responding to a report of a shooting at the apartment building around 3:30 p.m. found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The man, whose name hasnt been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. The fatal shooting marks the latest of eight homicides in the city since the start of 2023. Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives 617-343-4470. An investigation remains ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Editors Note: This content contains information about sexual assault of a child. If you know or suspect that anyone under 18 is being sexually or physically abused, call the Texas child abuse hotline at 1-800-252-5400. To learn more about how to identify signs of child abuse or neglect, click here. A convicted pedophile will spend life in prison plus 220 years. Graf Peter Arnold-Brooks Graf was convicted Thursday on a single count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, two counts of indecency with a child and nine counts related to child pornography. More:Archer County man convicted of multiple child sex crimes Seventy-Eighth District Court Judge Meredith Kennedy on Monday sentenced him to life in prison for the sexual assault conviction and 20 years in prison on each of the other convictions. She made the sentences consecutive. Graf was arrested in May 2018 for incidents involving a 10-year-old child that initially came to light in February 2016. Detectives learned in their investigation of crimes against multiple underaged children. When they reviewed digital devices, they found thousands of nude images of a child, including images where the child was in positions that displayed their genitals "lewdly." The images also showed a younger victim who was 1 or 2 years old at the time the photos were taken. This shows again our commitment of locking up those who prey on children in our community, Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie said. I am proud of the work that our Special Victims Unit Chief Brooke Robb did in going after this child molester with a vengeance. We applaud Judge Meredith Kennedy for stacking the sentence and sending the message that each act of child sexual abuse deserved its own punishment, Dobie Kosub, First Assistant District Attorney, said. This monster will never see life out of prison again, nor will he ever be able to harm another child. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Man found guilty of child sex charges get life sentence Troy Police Department An Illinois coroner has confirmed that a man reported missing last April only to be found eight months later in a hideaway closet in his own house had committed suicide. Richard Maedge, 53, disappeared on April 27 last year after phoning his wife, Jennifer, to tell her that he was leaving work early. She got home to find his Dodge Durango parked outside their house in Troy and his keys and wallet inside, but he was nowhere to be seen. She immediately reported him missing but a police search of the house found nothing, as did a second search after she complained about a bad smell in the building. On Dec. 11, as she was decorating the Christmas tree, Jennifer Maedge went to look for decorations in a storage area behind a clothes cupboard under a staircaseand found her husbands body. Thats when I discovered him, she told the St. Louis Dispatch at the time. He had committed suicide. That verdict was confirmed last week by the Madison County Coroners Office after toxicology tests and a physical examination of the mummified remains. Although the family was able to give Maedge a proper funeral, almost eight months after his suicide, the family says the police investigation was half-hearted and shoddy. Mistakes were made, and I want answers, said Maedges sister, Marilyn Toliver, after his funeral. If it means filing a complaint and going all the way to the governor, I will.... I should have been screaming from the beginning, but I was suckered in by the police department saying they were doing their job and looking for him. One possible explanation for Maedges suicide was that he and Marilyn had been involved in a battle with another sister for guardianship of their dementia-stricken father, who died in August. Stung by the familys accusations, Troy Police Chief Brent Shownes issued a statement last week, reported by the Belleville News-Democrat, listing all the steps his force had taken to find the missing manincluding no fewer than three searches of the house with specialist officers and cadaver dogs, searches around surrounding areas, and multiple interviews with family members. Story continues Officers investigating Maedges disappearance described the house as a hoarder home, making their search that much harder. Another issue appears to have been that although family members, neighbors, and even the mailman, complained of a sewer-like or ammonia-like smell around the home, it was never that strongand appeared to disappear entirely after a plumber visited and capped off a sewage pipe in the basement. 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. Phoenix police. A mother has died after a knife-wielding man suspected of injuring her and another woman was fatally shot by responding officers on Monday evening in south Phoenix. Officers responding to multiple domestic violence calls after 6 p.m. arrived at a home near 41st Avenue and Alta Vista Road. They found an elderly woman in front of the house with injuries, Phoenix police spokeswoman Sgt. Melissa Soliz said Monday night. The officers found another injured woman, identified as 40-year-old Monica Castro, near the inside of the doorway on her knees with a man, identified as 40-year-old Anthony Castro, kneeling behind her with a knife in each hand, Soliz said. Witnesses heard officers make multiple commands to Anthony Castro before they shot him, according to Soliz. He did not comply with commands to drop the items he was holding while "hiding" behind Monica Castro, police said. At least one officer discharged his weapon and no officers were injured in the incident, Soliz said. Police learned Monica and Anthony Castro's three children, between ages 9 and 14, were walking around the neighborhood and asking for help, Soliz said. The children were uninjured, Soliz added. The woman was taken to a hospital and was in extremely critical condition Tuesday night but police later said she died. The elderly woman, who is Anthony Castro's grandmother, was released from the hospital, Soliz said. "As part of our transparency protocol a critical incident briefing video will be released within 14 days," read a statement from Phoenix police on Tuesday. Law enforcement officers shot at least four people in Maricopa County in January, according to information from the Maricopa County Attorneys Office. A six-month analysis by The Arizona Republic revealed police statewide not only shot people more times in the first half of 2021 than they did in the same time span the past two years, but more of those shootings were fatal. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Woman dies in stabbing; suspect with knife killed by Phoenix police Pueblo County Sheriff deputies and Pueblo West firefighters responded to the scene of an explosion and house fire on May 5, 2020. A 42-year-old Pueblo man has pleaded guilty to four federal charges in connection with a May 5, 2020, explosion and fire at a Pueblo West home that was reportedly caused by an illegal butane hash oil operation. Jeremiah Bo Bryant pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Denver last week to four felony charges including manufacture of a controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture and distribute a controlled substance, maintaining drug-involved premises and creating a substantial risk of harm to human life while illegally manufacturing controlled substances, according to Pueblo County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Gayle Perez. Sheriff deputies initially responded to a home at 994 S. Tierra Buena on the report of an explosion. When they arrived, the homes attached garage was on fire and Pueblo West firefighters responded to put out the fire. Pueblo County Sheriffs Office detectives investigated the cause of the fire and determined it was the result of an explosion caused by an illegal butane hash oil operation set up in the garage and a back room of the rental home. Detectives executed a search warrant and recovered evidence of a hash oil manufacturing operation that reportedly included tubs of marijuana product, hash oil and extensive equipment used in the making of butane hash oil, including several butane tanks. Investigators alleged the hash oil operation was used to produce vape cartridges. Because of the explosion, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration was called in to assist with the investigation and federal charges were pursued, Perez said. The home was condemned by the Pueblo Regional Building Authority. At the time, then-Sheriff Kirk Taylor said with the extent of the damage to the home, "this couldve been a lot worse for not only the resident, but for the neighbors. Taylor said it was a very volatile situation because of the butane. Bryant was not immediately arrested because he suffered burns during the incident and had to be hospitalized for treatment. He has since recovered and was arrested in April on a federal warrant. Story continues The warrant was issued as the result of a November 2021 grand jury indictment, Perez said. Bryant entered the guilty pleas as part of a plea agreement and to avoid trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June. I commend the investigative work of our detectives, who in partnership with the DEA did a great job on this case which ultimately led to the federal grand jury indictment and this guilty plea, said Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero. More explosion news:Pueblo West home condemned after hash-oil lab explodes Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Man pleads guilty in Pueblo West explosion of illegal hash oil lab Firefighters rescued a 23-year-old man who was swept away by fast-moving storm runoff in the Pacoima Wash on Tuesday morning. (KTLA-TV Channel 5) A 23-year-old homeless man swept away by fast-moving storm runoff in the concrete-lined Pacoima Wash was rescued from the flood control channel Tuesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The man, who was described as hypothermic and not terribly communicative after being rescued from 3-foot-deep water moving 8 to 10 mph, had been carried 2.5 miles from San Fernando to Pacoima, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the LAFD. He fell into the water near Foothill Boulevard and was rescued near Laurel Canyon Boulevard. More than 100 firefighters were deployed in the rescue effort, he said. The man was hospitalized in "fair condition for treatment of hypothermia and abrasions to his hands," according to the LAFD. Bystanders did the right thing by alerting authorities and staying out of the dangerous water, Humphrey said, adding that often times people attempt to rescue and they become victims. After historic winter storms dumped several feet of snow on California's mountains in recent weeks, another atmospheric river forecast to hit the state this week has raised significant concern about flooding and structural damage. Warm rain is expected to fall on top of the state's near-record snowpack, which can melt the snow too quickly and cause major runoff issues at lower elevations. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In a statement Monday, United Airlines praised the "quick action of our crew and customers" and said the company was working with law enforcement. Above, a United jet in New Jersey. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press) A man tried to open an emergency exit door and stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon on a Los Angeles-to-Boston flight Sunday, prosecutors said. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was arrested Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport, the Department of Justice said in a statement Monday. Torres, of Leominster, Mass., was charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. The alleged incident took place on United Airline Flight 2609, which left Sunday morning from Los Angeles International Airport. About 45 minutes before landing in Boston, flight crew were notified that one of the planes door was disarmed, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Massachusetts on Monday. The starboard side doors locking handle had been moved out of the locked position, and an emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the disarmed position, according to prosecutors. Torres was seen around the door, prosecutors said, and a flight attendant confronted him. Torres asked the flight attendant if a camera had captured him tampering with the door, according to the complaint. Then, Torres got out of his seat, and thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion. He hit the attendant on the neck three times, prosecutors said. Passengers tackled Torres and helped restrain him. Torres was immediately taken into custody upon the flights arrival to Boston, prosecutors said. In an interview with police, Torres said he went into the bathroom and broke a spoon in half to make a weapon, according to the complaint. He also said that he disarmed the door. He told police he had the idea of jumping out of the plane and acknowledged that many people would die if he opened the plane door, according to the complaint. A message left for Torres' public defender wasn't immediately returned. United, in a statement Monday, praised the "quick action of our crew and customers" and said the company was working with law enforcement. "No serious injuries were reported," the statement read. "We have zero tolerance for any type of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying on United pending an investigation." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Reuters/Court TV For most of Alex Murdaughs six-week murder trial, Wendell Butterfield took up residence in the Colleton County courtroom on a gallery bench directly behind the disgraced former lawyer. Butterfield, an 80-year-old South Carolina state constable with over 50 years of law enforcement experience, wasnt just a spectator. The former judge, who also has a doctorate in theology, had a job to do: He was security for Judge Clifton Newman, Court of Clerk Becky Hill, and the court reporters. Along the way, however, Butterfields stoic presence behind Murdaugh caught the attention of viewers watching the proceedings online. That, and his brightly colored suitsespecially a yellow one. For the casting of the Murdaugh Murders Movie. Who should play Mr. Fashionista? one Twitter user asked. His daughter thinks Clint, I think Eastwoods a little long in the tooth these days. Another added: Dr. Wendell Butterfields suit was telling. It brought the sunshine today. Butterfield, who agreed to the courthouse gig just weeks before the trial began in January, told The Daily Beast that he was shocked to learn that the clothes his wife picked out for him got so much attention. He added that he wasnt thinking about his outfits when he arrived at the courthouse every morning to a sea of spectators and reporters from around the country. I had no idea that my suit choices were making quite a stir, he added. Its been surreal. Watch the officer watching Alex thinking Im going to have to tackle this dumb bitch today arent I #MurdaughTrial pic.twitter.com/dpOUVQ2zo2 Jay (@theshamingofjay) February 28, 2023 Hill told The Daily Beast it was a no-brainer to ask Butterfieldwhose resume includes stints as a Marine, in the Colleton County Sheriff's Department, and with Homeland Security conducting auditsto join the already-robust courthouse security team. Story continues He takes pride in his uniform and the way he looks and is always immaculately dressed with starched shirts and pants, a crisp blazer, a tie, and shoes that are shined, and a very similar likeness to a favorite and very loved actor of mine, Clint Eastwood, she said, adding that Butterfield showed up to work every morning before time to report with his coffee in one hand and my sweet tea in the other. The security job, Butterfield said, also allowed him to have a front-row seat to one of the most anticipated murder trials in South Carolina. He said that while he was concentrating on the safety of Hill, Newman, and other courthouse staffhe was also closely watching Murdaugh and the 12-person jury. There were a few times when Murdaugh seemed a little distracted and nervous. He was listening to witness testimonies and could tell when he didnt seem too pleased about what was being said, Butterfield said, adding that Murdaughs body language would change from time to time. Murdaugh seemed to be very involved in discussing some matters with his attorneys sometimes but the topic of discussion is unknown, he added. Originally, Butterfield said, he was stationed at the side of the courtroom out of everyones eyesight. But he wasnt too thrilled about the seat placement because it was too far away from the people he was tasked with protecting and did not have a good view of the proceedings. So I took the first seat in the second row behind Murdaugh so I could go right through the gate if something were to happen, he explained. But I didnt care for the fact that that meant the camera was right in my face. Interesting that the defense has attorney Maggie Fox sitting next to Alex Murdaugh today. Also CHECK OUT THAT YELLOW SUIT. pic.twitter.com/wkI3amwugz Mandy Matney (@MandyMatney) March 2, 2023 Butterfield said the live-streaming of the trial didnt stop him from concentrating on what I was doing. He said he closely listened to dozens of witnesses as prosecutors presented their argument that Murdaugh fatally killed his wife and son near the dog kennels of their familys hunting estate on June 7, 2021. And, he said, he watched how the jury and Murdaugh himself were responding to the trial. The thing I noticed that most was that the majority of the jury was paying attention to everything that was being said, Butterfield noted. They were very engaged. He said that he believed it was a very bad idea when Murdaugh made the decision to take the stand in his own defense. Several jurors have since come out and agreed with Butterfields analysis, saying they did not believe Murdaughs emotional testimony was genuine. The defense tried to talk him out of it, he added. But he knew what he wanted to do and he was going to do it regardless of what he was being told. Butterfield said his family would sometimes come to the courthouse while he worked, including his wife who one day sat next to the mystery novelist Rhonda Rich. They hit it off, Butterfield said. The only real stir in the courtroom, he said, came from Murdaughs own family. Butterfield said that the family was warned not to communicate with Murdaugh after his sister came up to the defense table. Despite a sharp warning, Murdaughs sister later passed a book to one of his legal clerks on the defense team. The clerk ended up giving it to Murdaugh and it was noticed. The book was confiscated and Murdaughs sister was told that was the second time the family was warned and if something were to happen again, she would be restricted from the courthouse, Butterfield explained. She wasnt too happy about it. Prosecutor Shreds Alex Murdaughs Vigilante Theory for Double Murders Court staff eventually moved Murdaugh's family several rows behind the defense table to ensure there was no communication for the rest of the trial, Butterfield said. On Friday, a jury only deliberated for about three hours before convicting Murdaugh of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Butterfield said that as the verdict was being read, Murdaugh was gritting his teeth. The next day, the packed courtroom was bristling with anticipation for Murdaughs sentencing. After a searing admonishment, the judge gave Murdaugh to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. There was no clapping or whooping or anything like that in the courtroom, Butterfield said. Everyone understood that Newman did not allow that. Since the end of the trial, Butterfield said, he has been blown away that his fashion choices have been talk of the town on all the different social media outlets. His daughter, Shanna Ayer, who first alerted him to his online fame, told The Daily Beast that she enjoyed his turn in the spotlight. I was very proud of him and honored that he was being showcased as the best dressed in the courtroom, Ayer added. My dad is an amazing man who takes pride in everything he does. He is very humble but he deserves all the attention and praise for sure. But Butterfield added that he has a different favorite moment about this trial. The moment it was over, he said with a laugh. 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. PATERSON Henry Rhodes, the manager of two city school transportation companies, pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he put childrens safety at risk by hiring unqualified bus drivers, including some with criminal records. Rhodes, 59, of Paterson, also admitted getting lucrative student busing contracts for the companies by giving school districts bogus information about the companys drivers credentials. Hes relieved that the cases are behind him, said Howard Lesnik, Rhodes attorney, adding that its been a long time with this hanging over his head, so hes glad to be able to move forward. Essex County Prosecutor's Office conducted a search warrant on A-1 Elegant Tours Inc., a school bus company, on Friday May 31, 2019 in Paterson, N.J. The guilty plea came almost three years after the first set of charges were filed against Rhodes and Shelim Khalique, the brother of a Paterson city councilman, who is the owner of one of the companies, A-1 Elegant. While the initial charges were pending, Rhodes admitted in his guilty plea that he engaged in the same type of driver-qualification scam with a separate company American Star Transportation owned by another Khalique brother, Jwel. State investigators say that after Shelim Khalique and Rhodes were indicted in the A-1 Elegant case, the company transferred its equipment, assets and employees including Rhodes to American Star and continued to engage in similar misconduct. A-1 Elegant has been linked to operating with at least 21 different names since 2005, according to a 2020 investigation published by the USA TODAY Network New Jersey. State authorities did not disclose Rhodes role in the American Star probe when they announced criminal charges against Shelim and Jwel Khalique last December. Rhodes was arrested on a separate complaint related to American Star and waived his right to have his case presented to the grand jury, Lesnik said. Essex County Prosecutor's Office conducted a search warrant on A-1 Elegant Tours Inc., a school bus company, on Friday May 31, 2019 in Paterson, N.J. Rhodes agreed to cooperate with the state in prosecuting the other cases, Lesnik said. The state has not disclosed the status of the pending charges against the two Khalique brothers. Story continues Mr. Rhodes has acknowledged playing a leadership role at these companies that misled and defrauded school districts and put childrens lives in danger, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Now he will be held accountable for not only committing these offenses, but also continuing to engage in the same crimes even after he and his employers were charged the first time. Personnel files seized during the execution of a search warrant revealed that A-1 Elegant employed numerous drivers who did not have valid commercial drivers licenses or required endorsements and had suspended licenses and/or criminal records, according to the Attorney Generals Office. The state also contended that A-1 Elegant employed bus aides with criminal records, and officials said two former A-1 Elegant bus drivers drove buses with one or more children on board while under the influence of narcotics, resulting in a bus crash in Essex County. The investigation revealed that the defendants employed over 30 drivers with criminal convictions, including a Megans Law registrant. The American Star probe started in February 2022 after a River Edge police officer stopped one of its buses for running a stop sign. Investigators said the driver was found to be unlicensed and had a pending case for patronizing a prostitute. American Star racked up more than 40 violations and more than $33,000 in fines in 2021-22, according to Paterson school district records. Many of those violations were related to drivers' operating the vehicles without insurance or other certifications and endorsements required by law. The company also accrued 13 violations during the same time period while working under contract at Jersey City Public Schools, according to violation notices obtained by NorthJersey.com through a public information request. Many of those reports identified drivers who repeatedly were found without the proper licenses, certifications or documents, and in one instance, students were left unattended during morning drop-off and a student was injured, according to the documents. Leading up to the plea deal, Rhodes was facing potentially more than 40 years related to the charges involving A-1 Elegant and American Star Transportation and more than $1 million in fines and restitution. As part of the deal, Rhodes pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree conspiracy and two counts of second-degree theft by deception. Prosecutors will recommend that Rhodes serve no more than four years. He also will not owe any fines or restitution. Rhodes is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ school bus drivers: Paterson companies used unqualified drivers Range Rover sports utility vehicles (SUV) in the paintshop at Tata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar Land Rover vehicle manufacturing plant in Solihull, UK - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg The head of Britain's manufacturing lobby group will today launch a scathing attack on the Conservative Party's disregard for the rule of law and call for closer ties with the European Union. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, will argue that the Tories have damaged Britain's international reputation and mismanaged their economy, and demand an industrial strategy to arrest the country's decline. Although the speech includes praise for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after he secured a deal with Brussels on the status of Northern Ireland, it is likely to be interpreted as a sign that business leaders are preparing for a Labour government. Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Phipson will say: We need to reset our political and trading relationship with the EU which has been marked by such rancour. While the unity of the response towards Ukraine has eased some of the tensions with the EU, the political mismanagement of our economy and, damage to the reputation of the UK as a partner on such a grand scale, together with the disregard of the rule of law in our political system cannot continue. Manufacturers, especially those in the complex car and aviation industries, have been long-term critics of the UKs terms of exit from the EU because of the extra paperwork and costs involved in moving parts back and forth over many borders. Steel makers and other energy-intensive manufacturers are also frustrated at a lack of a government plan over support for their businesses, since competitors abroad, particularly in the US, are having money thrown at them by way of subsidies which are not available in Britain. Manufacturers are bringing operations back to the UK amid a fracturing of globalisation following the war in Ukraine and diplomatic crackdown on China, according to a Make UK survey, with 40pc of companies switching to domestic suppliers in the past year. However, almost half of companies said that EU suppliers are more cautious about working with UK partners. Story continues Mr Phipson will ask Rishi Sunak to create an industrial strategy in part to attract battery plants for car making and to rescue Britains threatened motor industry whose production is still way below pre-pandemic levels. He will say: There is an urgent need to encourage battery capacity in the UK if we are to keep our automotive sector, one of the jewels in our manufacturing crown. The intervention comes after a series of complaints from UK business figures about how the government is prioritising other matters over growth and jobs. Businessman Iain Anderson, a friend of Liz Truss, the former prime minister, and Michael Gove, quit the Conservatives after 40 years last month, citing the partys f---business attitude to Brexit following an infamous outburst by Boris Johnson in 2018 and his concerns Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will focus on culture wars rather than the economy. The UK is expected to have the lowest growth this year of the G7 group of developed economies, according to the International Monetary Fund, behind the US, Japan, Canada, France, Italy and Germany. Donations from business leaders have helped propel Labour to its highest level of donations in 14 years with the Sainsbury family, of supermarket fame, leading the pack. Last year, Make UK told the government to stop treating businesses as the enemy within in targeting then-prime minister Mr Johnson and his perceived anti-business rhetoric. It warned that overseas suppliers in turn were turning their backs on the UK as there are more fights than friendly words between Britain and its nearest neighbours and lead times grow longer and longer. Two Americans are dead and two others have been found alive after the group was kidnapped in Mexico, officials say. The group crossed the border in Texas and disappeared after being caught in a crossfire between cartels near the border last week. Officials have not identified the four American citizens, but family and friends said the group were tight-knit friends from South Carolina traveling to Mexico with the intent of undergoing a medical procedure. Here's what we know about when and where the shooting and kidnapping took place. Americans crossed border from Brownsville to Matamoros, then shooting began On Friday, March 3, the group of friends were in a white minivan when they crossed the US-Mexico border. CNN reports that they traveled from South Carolina. They crossed from Brownsville, Texas, into the city of Matamoros in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. This map shows that communities sit right next to one another on the US-Mexican border: According to the FBI, unidentified gunmen fired upon them while in the van "shortly after" they crossed the border. The FBI says they were each placed into a pickup truck and taken from the scene by armed men. A video posted to social media captured the scene, with one person appearing alive and sitting up and others appearing dead or wounded, according to the Associated Press. A woman driving in Matamoros who asked not to be identified told the AP that she witnessed the event, saying the white minivan was hit by another vehicle near an intersection and then shots were fired. She said another SUV then came up to the scene and several armed men hopped out. All of a sudden (the gunmen) were in front of us, she said. I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, If we move they will see us, or they might shoot us. Tamaulipas governor confirmed two Americans were killed On Tuesday, March 7, officials confirmed two of the Americans were killed. Story continues Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone, saying details about the four missing Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors. He did not disclose additional details about the case. A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the four Americans were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups after they had entered Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday. Americans in Mexico identified as friends by family The four Americans have been identified as Latavia "Tay" McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams by family members. Zalandria Brown said her brother, Zindell, and two friends had accompanied another friend on the trip. The third friend was traveling to Mexico for a tummy tuck surgery, Brown said. She said the group was extremely close and they all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, she added, and her brother had expressed some misgivings. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Matamoros, Mexico: City where Americans killed seen on map North suburban gourmands searching for a top sirloin locally will have a choice of Brazilian and Argentinian steaks at a Morton Grove restaurant opening this week. Offering up the most-hyped red meat of the Western hemisphere, Cultura Steaks, 9432 Waukegan Road, is an expansion of its adjoining sub sandwich shop that has gained some notice in the past year with Brazilian steak. Advertisement The three partners who opened Cultura Subs will now offer a 40-seat restaurant with all food certified as halal for observant North Shore diners. The sit-down option and demand for the 12-ounce Brazilian Picanha fillet at the sub joint persuaded the trio to expand next door even as the restaurant business continues to endure a shakeout from the pandemic. People looked in at the subs shop and saw there was limited dine-in, partner Khaleel Musa said, noting the handful of chairs pushed against a ledge at the front window. Theyd turn around and drive off. But for many who came in, they liked the Picanha in a bowl. That gave us the idea to open Cultura Steaks. Advertisement The partners scouted the marketplace first. Several Brazilian steakhouses were popular in the city of Chicago before the pandemic, but dont have outposts in the suburbs. Although Coopers Hawk opened at the Sawmill Station shopping center, the likes of McCormick and Schmick and Bonefish Grill closed in recent years in Skokie. Room seemed to exist, they thought, for an eatery branding itself above fast casual. Musa, whose family is Palestinian, never previously worked in the restaurant business, and runs a fitness center in Bensenville. He handles the business end. Running marketing and promotions via social media and other means is Fabian Gonzalez, who was born in Argentina, moved here as a child and worked as a busboy and waiter at a steakhouse in Chicago. Chief cook is Jose Luis Vinueza, who said he ran 11 restaurants at the Quito airport in his native Ecuador before moving to Chicago and working as the butcher at a Brazilian steakhouse. Were a team, said Musa. We rely on the strength of our talents to complement each other. Jose Luis Vinueza separates a cut of meat into sirloin and picanha sections for Cultura Steaks, an offshoot of Cultura Subs in Morton Grove. (George Castle / Pioneer Press) Cultura Steaks will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner nightly. Musa said the restaurant plans to expand hours in the summer, offering a couple of tables for outdoor dining. The sub shop already has an outdoor table under an umbrella. Diners who cant wait for smaller version of steaks for lunch can visit the sub shop, which opens at 11 a.m. One kitchen will serve both outlets with Vinueza in charge. Entrees for the steakhouse include a 14-ounce version of the picanha steak; a 16-ounce bife ancho, a boneless 16-ounce ribeye; a mar y tierra, a 10-ounce filet mignon paired with jumbo shrimp, and a bife de chorizo, a 16-ounce New York strip steak garnished with portobello sauce. Non-steak entrees will be lamb chops, tilapia and grilled chicken. Several pasta dishes are also available. Appetizers include stuffed Ecuadorian-style empanadas, a steak-and-chicken combo, sauteed mussels and fried calamari. Distinguishing itself in the market was a key to Cultura Subs kickoff, and will be again with the steakhouse. Advertisement We branded it as the Latin-American steak shop, as most sub shops were Italian-style, said Gonzalez. Argentinian beef was long branded as prime cut before Brazilian beef became popular. Fabian said his homelands steaks are typically marinated with chimichurri sauce, comprised of parsley, garlic and paprika. They are usually cooked on a grill with hot stones to add flavor. Brazilian steaks also are garnished with chimichurri sauce, but are often served on a skewer. Argentinian steaks are flank steaks, and are more chewy and juicy, said Vinueza. Brazilian steaks are sirloin and are more tender. As Cultura Steaks is halal, no alcohol will be served. Instead, the partners will offer a non-alcoholic beer and wine along with mocktails. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has launched an audit of the Legislature where she previously served in both braches. As I committed, my office has begun an audit of the state Legislature, DiZoglio said in a statement Tuesday. We hope this will increase transparency, accountability and equity in an area of state government that has been completely ignored. Historically, the Legislature has been a closed-door operation, where committee votes have been hidden from the general public, and legislation has been voted on in the dark of night. DiZoglio ran on a campaign of encouraging transparency, after earning a reputation as an independent voice who was not afraid to stand up against leadership in her three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate. Taxpayers deserve more -- they deserve the opportunity to weigh in on legislative, budgetary and regulatory matters that are important to them. Everyone should have equitable and transparent access to and information about all state-funded agencies, including the Legislature. Unfortunately, the Legislature has not been audited since 1922, while Massachusetts ranks as one of the least transparent and least accessible state governments in the nation, her statement on the audit says. The Legislature is exempt from public records law and has come under criticism for keeping committee vote tallies private. Most committees do not publicly share a breakdown of how lawmakers vote on bills, and the House and Senate do not take recorded votes even on most of the bills that make their calendars. In the fiscal 2023 budget, about $46.9 million is going to the House of Representatives, $29 million is earmarked for the Senate, and $10.9 million is spent on joint operations. Gov. Maura Healey proposed an about $1 million increase across the board for the Legislature in her fiscal year 2024 budget recommendation. Two months into her term, DiZoglio has announced audits of the MBTA, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority in light of allegations of racial discrimination, and now the Legislature. Story continues It is my hope that the Legislature welcomes the opportunity for an audit to uncover where we can, and must, do better as a state government. Our office looks forward to working with them, DiZoglio said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW HARRISBURG, Pa. Doug Mastriano lost the Pennsylvania governors race last year by double digits, an almost unheard-of shellacking in a battleground state where winners and losers are often separated by a single percentage point. But another way to look at the election the way the ultra-MAGA retired Army colonel-turned-state senator looks at it is that he converted millions of voters to his cause and can now strategize, politically, about how to use them. What do you do with a movement of 2.2 million? he told POLITICO on a recent day in his office in the state capitol. Were keeping it alive. In a sit-down interview, Mastriano, who rarely speaks with the mainstream media, made it clear that he is not finished with his quest to win higher office and transform the Republican Party along the way. He said he is praying about whether to go forward with a potential Senate run in 2024. After God, his wife, Rebbie, will have the final word he said. Weve seen people in the past, other Republican gubernatorial candidates, they rise and they disappear when they lose. Why? he asked. You have people that love you and support you. If he pulls the trigger, Mastriano would run in a primary for the right to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, an institutional figure in the state. Virtually no one in the Pennsylvania GOP establishment is eager for that matchup. But Mastriano said Casey is a letdown to the anti-abortion cause. Casey's father, former Gov. Robert Casey Sr., signed abortion regulations into law that went all the way to a landmark Supreme Court case, where they were largely kept intact. I think hes a huge disappointment. Hes nothing like his dad, he said. His dad was more pro-life than most Republicans. Until now, Mastrianos future plans have been a mystery within political circles. He has few relationships with party leaders and eschews traditional consultants, leaving it all but impossible for GOP officials to know what hes thinking. In that vacuum of information, rumors have been swirling that he might be eyeing a challenge against Republican Rep. John Joyce, whose seat is safely red. But he ruled that out: Congressman Joyce and myself are friends. Story continues What Mastriano ultimately decides to do will illuminate just how chastened the most diehard supporters of former President Donald Trump are after the 2022 midterms. Usually, losses of that magnitude drive people out of electoral politics. But the last three federal elections have been discouraging for Republicans, and each time, theyve shown little desire to course correct. Trump himself is campaigning again in 2024 and remains the frontrunner for the nomination. Whether the GOP finally does move on will be determined, in large part, by how Republican primary voters treat potential and declared candidates like him and Mastriano. Inside Mastrianos small legislative quarters, an anti-abortion protest sign sat in the corner. Wearing his trademark spurs and a 3rd Infantry Division ball cap, he said that his fans have been encouraging him to run for the Senate. But he was open about the fact that those encouraging him arent Republican dignitaries. Its mostly supporters across the state, he said. Nobody with big names have come out and said, Doug, you need to think about this. Just people like you and me. In fact, Mastrianos flirtation with another statewide campaign is sure to give heart palpitations to GOP leaders. When a blue wave swept across Pennsylvania in 2022 Democrats won the gubernatorial race, Senate race and a majority of state House contests most Republican officials pointed the finger at Mastriano. His staunchly anti-abortion stance that allowed for no exceptions, his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Pennsylvania, and his appearance at the capitol the day of the Jan. 6 attack alarmed many swing voters. After staying out of primaries last year, the Senate GOPs campaign arm intends to get involved this time around. Party leaders at the national and state level have aggressively courted Dave McCormick, the former hedge fund CEO who narrowly lost the Senate primary in 2022, to run again against Casey. Though McCormick sought Trumps endorsement and employed former Trump aides during his campaign, Republicans believe he has a mainstream appeal that would attract suburban voters. Mastriano declined to weigh in on the possibility of a McCormick bid: Unbelievably, I've never met him, so I'd hate to make a judgment on him without meeting him since he's probably going to run. He also speculated that there could be a number of Republican candidates who vie for the Senate next year, though he declined to name names: I think I'll have a few people also running that I know and like. As he considers whats next, Mastriano is analyzing what went wrong in 2022, even showing a willingness to bend on certain political tactics that, last cycle, his party shunned. Republicans, he said, have to embrace no-excuse mail-in voting. That they did not is the reason he thinks he lost. He said he knew during the campaign that it was going to cost him. Its just so repugnants the wrong word its just so antithetical to how I view elections, he said. Mastriano said he was sure he was going to beat now-Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro right up until Election Day. He didnt buy the polls showing him down badly. Because Id go to these rallies and people would say, We've never seen this. In Josh Shapiro's home county the night before the election, I had over 1,000 people we stopped counting at 1,000. I saw no Shapiro signs in his own county, he said. Here I am in Montgomery County the night before the election, Im like, we got this. The rally was just electric. Mastriano did not formally concede until five days after the election. He acknowledged that taking on Casey could be a challenge. How do I beat the Casey name? Mastriano? he said with a grin. At least they know who I am now. In the meantime, Mastriano is taking steps to position himself for a possible run. He is holding a rally this Saturday in central Pennsylvania, which will feature Trump lawyer Christina Bobb and conservative media personality Wendy Bell as speakers. He led a hearing on the East Palestine train derailment over the border from the incident in western Pennsylvania, and he successfully pushed a committee he chairs to subpoena Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to testify. He also hired Dan Cox, the unsuccessful Maryland gubernatorial nominee, as his chief-of-staff. Toward the end of the interview, Mastriano said Cox was part of his A team. As it happens, Coxs hiring is also a reason political insiders think he might want to run for higher office again. Hmm, he said, laughing. Gute erkennung. As the Germans say, Good deduction. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says its fully investigating what caused a panel to fall from the ceiling at the Harvard Station last week. Surveillance video released Friday by the MBTA shows several riders can be seen walking near the bottom of an escalator when the tile suddenly crashed down on the southbound side at the Harvard Square Red Line stop, nearly hitting a rider. Cianna Navarro was the MBTA passenger who had a close call with the ceiling tile. In that moment I didnt really know is it was a one-off situation or if more of the ceiling tiles were going to come falling down, Navarro said in an interview Monday night. MBTA Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville says his inspectors believe the piece fell after the supports corroded. He explained the panels are decorative and hang from the actual ceiling. Gonneville says the panels were originally installed in 1978 but underwent a detailed inspection in 2021. But he says because of the design of the station the inspections didnt have a clear view of the problem area. You see a cloud of dust and debris when the panel that the MBTA says weighed about 20-25 pounds fell from above. Navarro said the entire ordeal stunned her into stillness for a moment as she was engulfed in a thick black cloud of debris while another passenger came her to aid. And I remember when I responded to the bystander that I was okay but when I went to go close my mouth, there was like a mouthful of dirt and dust - it was disgusting, said Navarro. The 21-year-old Suffolk University student said she is looking at the positive in the scary situation. But it has made me appreciate life more, I guess, you know, dont take things for granted. Inspectors are now removing any panels to give inspectors a clear view. The Harvard station has four to five hundred of these panels and so far ten have been removed. The MBTA says a system-wide safety audit of the ceilings will take a couple of weeks. Story continues This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is showing he can play offense against vulnerable Senate Democrats by forcing them to take tough votes, driving a wedge between red state Democrats up for reelection and the partys base. McCarthy put them in a difficult position last week by forcing them to vote on a GOP-sponsored resolution blocking a Biden administration rule encouraging retirement managers to consider environmental, social and corporate governance or ESG factors when making investment decisions. Senate Democrats will take another politically charged vote Wednesday on a House-passed resolution to block a new D.C. crime bill that would lower penalties for carjackings, burglaries and robberies. The looming vote prompted Biden to tell anxious Senate Democrats at a meeting last week that he would buck his own statement of administration policy and sign the resolution, giving them political cover to vote for it and dodge Republican accusations of being soft on crime. But its still a tough vote for Democrats up for reelection who support D.C. home rule and D.C. statehood, such as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who told reporters last week that he was undecided on what he called a complicated issue. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., center, and his chief of staff Dan Meyer, left, walk away from reporters at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) A PAC affiliated with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) quickly pounced on his uncertainty. Thousands upon thousands of Virginians work in Washington, D.C., every day . But Tim Kaine doesnt take keeping them safe seriously. Kaine refused to give a straight answer when asked if hed support GOP legislation that would reverse dangerous changes D.C. made to its criminal code, the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with McConnell, said Monday. Kaine told reporters Monday that he has decided to vote to block the D.C. crime bill. Story continues He holds one of 23 Democratic seats up for reelection next year. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said McCarthy is helping Senate Republicans put Senate Democrats on the defensive, which could help them win back the majority next year, given the favorable electoral map. The House has got off to a great start. Theyre doing their job, theyre helping us, he said. Its calling people out. The [environmental, social, corporate governance bill] last week, this week the crime bill here in D.C. Its obviously good votes for us, he added. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) argued that McCarthy is helping Senate Republicans put Senate Democrats on the defensive. (Greg Nash) McCarthys pressure campaign on Senate Democrats is part of an intensifying battle with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who tries to highlight what he calls MAGA extremism in the House whenever possible. Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), an adviser to the Senate Republican leadership, said McCarthy is defining important differences between the Republican and Democratic candidates for voters. I think it demonstrates the different policy choices depending on who would be in charge after the 2024 election. So I think a little definition is helpful, he said. Biden gave vulnerable Senate Democrats political cover when he told them he will sign the resolution to block the D.C. crime bill, but he enraged many House Democrats who voted against it after the White House budget office announced on Feb. 6 that the administration opposed the GOP-sponsored measure. After the Office of Management and Budget called it a clear example of how the District of Columbia continues to be denied true self-governance and why it deserves statehood, 173 House Democrats voted against the resolution. This could become an issue in the Arizona Senate race next year. Rep. Rubin Gallego (D-Ariz.), who plans to challenge Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) if she runs for a second term, was one of the Democrats who voted to uphold the D.C. crime bill. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) voted to uphold the D.C. crime bill, a vote that could become an issue in a potential race between him and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). (Greg Nash) The House resolution nullifying the D.C. crime bill has even split Democratic progressives. Sens. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.) are two progressive Democrats who say they will vote for it even though they both also support granting statehood to the District of Columbia. One House Democrat told The Hill last week that the White House flip-flop on the crime bill was amateur hour and heads should roll. McCarthy gave Senate Republican candidates more ammo for next years races by passing another resolution to disapprove a D.C. bill allowing noncitizens to vote, although that resolution will likely remain bottled up in a Senate committee, according to one GOP aide. If Senate Democrats refuse to let it come to the floor, it will give Republicans another talking point. Democrats are twisting themselves into knots trying to defend bills that go easy on violent criminals, allow noncitizens to vote, and enshrine Bidens radical green energy agenda. Its been fun to watch, said Philip Letsou, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. McCarthy passed an additional resolution to disapprove a D.C. bill allowing noncitizens to vote, although that resolution is not likely to make it out of a Senate committee. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) The House is working on another resolution to block a Biden expansion of the Waters of the United States rule that would give the Environmental Protection Agency broader jurisdiction over streams and wetlands. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a resolution last week to overturn the Biden water rule and the House is expected to pass it this week. That means Senate Democrats, especially those up for reelection in farm states, will take another tough vote on a GOP resolution blocking a Biden administration action. The idea that you could have the federal government taking over all waterways no matter how small or inconsequential, in some cases the equivalent of a puddle, I think strikes people in rural parts of the country as obnoxious, said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.). He said the issue could come up for a vote next week. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who will take the lead on the resolution in the Senate, said the Biden rule expands the [federal] jurisdiction on the waters into unnamed waters that are not within their jurisdiction. She said that would require more permitting in the agriculture and construction industries. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told The Hill on Monday that he will vote for the Republican resolution to block the expansion of federal authority over streams and wetlands. Farm-state senators facing potentially competitive reelection race next year include Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kaine, Sinema and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Twenty-four state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging the EPAs waters of the United States rule, including attorneys general from Montana, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Democrat Jennifer McClellan, holding the receipt for a poll tax her father once had to pay tucked into the pages of a family Bible, was sworn into the U.S. House on Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a ceremonial swearing-in with McClellan, who was joined by her two children, on the chamber floor. Members on both sides of the House Democrats and Republicans stood and applauded when it was noted she was the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. Virginia is now the 23rd state to be represented by a Black woman, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis of historical records. It is a tremendous honor, not only when I think back on my own family history, and what my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents went through to make this possible, but the fact that Im the first from Virginia, the birthplace of American democracy and the birthplace of American slavery, is kind of poetic justice, McClellan told The Associated Press in an interview Monday. McClellan recalled how her parents and grandparents faced Jim Crow-era obstacles just to vote. She said her grandfather had to prove he could read and find three white men to vouch for it. Her father, a pastor and professor, had to pay a poll tax to vote and kept the proof in his now-worn Bible. Her mother, the first woman in her family to attend school beyond eighth grade, did not vote until the 1965 Voting Acts Right was enacted. What sparked my interest in government was listening to them tell their stories, where they saw the best of government in the New Deal and the worst of government in Jim Crow, she told the AP. Those stories not only made me want to focus on making government a force for helping people and solving problems, but I'll carry those stories into the House chamber with me. The longtime state lawmaker won a special election last month to represent Virginia's blue-leaning 4th District, which stretches from Richmond south to the border with North Carolina. The seat was opened when Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin died weeks after being elected to a fourth term in November. Story continues McClellan won't shift the balance of power in the House, which is narrowly held by Republicans with a 222-seat majority. Democrats have 213 seats. McClellan called McEachin a big brother figure, starting with his mentorship of Black college students like her at the University of Richmond. McClellan went on to become an associate general counsel at Verizon over a 20-year career with the company. She also represented parts of the Richmond area in the General Assembly for nearly two decades and joined with McEachin in the statehouse to press a range of progressive goals. She became a force behind many Democratic proposals, including bills to expand voting access, ensure abortion rights and curb climate change. She ran for governor in 2021 but lost in a crowded Democratic primary to Terry McAuliffe. After McEachin's death from the secondary effects of colorectal cancer, McClellan considered following in his footsteps again, as she did in 2017 when he vacated a seat in the state Senate. This time, though, she missed McEachin's phone calls of advice. I really felt his absence, McClellan said, adding that she ultimately decided she could build on his legacy. McClellan, the first Virginia state delegate to give birth while in office, has two children. Speaking by phone over the background noise of children arriving home from school, McClellan told the AP she was ready to bring a brand-new perspective as a Black mom, a Black woman and a working mom. ___ Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report. As the newly appointed chief medical officer at the nations top public health agency, Debra Houry says her job is to make sure the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is ready to respond quickly to the next pandemic. Houry was named to her position as part of CDC Director Rochelle Walenskys massive agency reset aimed at correcting mistakes and regaining the publics trust after the COVID-19 and mpox responses. COVID certainly showed where we could improve, but I think the agency itself has just been changing too. And so we needed to look to where we can really be more proactive and flexible and respond to the public, Houry, who is based in the CDCs Atlanta headquarters, said in a recent interview from D.C. The CDC has been under intense criticism from Republicans, Democrats and the general public for a delayed and inconsistent response to the pandemic, and the changes are meant to make the agency more nimble. A new culture at the CDC Walensky came on as director in January 2021 after long saying the agency needed to move faster and communicate better. In April, she called for an in-depth review of the agency, and the initial public announcements came in August. My goal is a new, public health action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication and timeliness, she said in an August statement. Houry said moving quickly is a challenge for a government organization as large as the CDC with many long-tenured career officials, but its a way to try to ensure success. With change management, the longer you do it, the more people have angst, concern, she said. Houry, who comes from a background in emergency medicine, is part of a new leadership team that reports directly to Walensky, including the former director of Maine CDC Nirav Shah, who is taking over as principal deputy director. That direct line, Houry said, is important, because it helps the agency deputies make sure all the various divisions are talking with each other. Houry said she wants to knock down the artificial separations between divisions so that theres much more communication and collaboration. Story continues I think when theres more layers, its easier to hide is not the right word, its like its easier to stay in your silo. And when those layers are removed, the silos dont exist, Houry said. Houry has been at CDC since 2014, serving first as director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and then most recently as acting principal deputy director. Prior to her time at CDC, she was a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Prioritizing action and outreach Houry said she knows CDC has a reputation for being an academic-focused agency. One of the main criticisms it faces is that it is too focused on data analysis at the expense of action. Experts have said the agency was too slow to recognize the extent of the coronaviruss spread in the early days of the pandemic and continuously issued confusing and often contradictory guidance about masks and quarantines. The initial tests to detect the virus were also flawed, and rollout of vaccines was seen as sluggish. CDC has also struggled with how to communicate to a pandemic-weary and politically divided public, some of which is skeptical of health officials more broadly. Walenskys plan aims to fix that, and Houry is helping to lead the charge to make CDC much more response-ready. One of the main changes is to make deployments a normal part of an emergency response. During the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency needed to reassign people, and it was done on a volunteer basis for just a couple months at a time. Houry said the short rotations led to too much turnover, so there was a need to not only make deployment longer but also mandatory. I think it became clear that we needed to have a bigger bench for responders, but we also had other priorities and other issues that we had to make sure we were covering across the agency, Houry said. But it became very clear, both under the prior administration and the current administration, that we needed to have longer rotations. The goal is to have the majority of the agency ready to deploy on a response and not for one to two months but for six months at a time minimum, she added The initial phase of the reorganization wrapped up at the end of February, and Houry said she understands that Congress wants to see progress. People want to make sure that moving boxes is not all that were doing. And I agree, because if its just a reorganization, you know that doesnt solve things. Its like, how do you change the culture? How do you change processes? Houry said. Houry said Walensky is also pushing to get more flexibility from congressional appropriators. We have not received significant increases for a lot of our core work, Houry said. The CDCs nearly $11 billion budget is also too specific, she said. I think we have 150 budget lines. And so that makes it hard to be nimble. If we had fewer budget lines with more flexibility, we could be more nimble, Houry said. Improving staff morale She said the lines are targeting specific diseases and cant be shifted. But if instead of a budget line on Lyme disease, a line on malaria, it could be combined into an all-encompassing tropical disease unit. Another concern is agency morale. CDC employees have been enormous strain since 2020, and Houry said she hopes the reorganization can take some of the pressure off. Our staff are awesome. You know, theyve worked hard for the past few years, even pre COVID but they truly are 24/7, Houry said. She thinks morale is improving. I think staff are feeling, they certainly are still tired because you know, we have several different responses going on. But theyre able to be part of these changes. And for many of them, its exciting. Were looking at, how do we do our science differently? Houry said. People are inspired. So I think its an exciting time for the agency and its time for us to really innovate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Matt Johnson via Flickr In her latest bid to be president, Marianne Williamson seems to have some early and unlikely fans of her 2024 Democratic primary campaign: Republicans. No, Republicans arent actually interested in sending the geodesic dome-inhabiting, self-help book-writing, new age, far-left Democrat to the White House. But they are interested in wreaking some havoc in the Democratic primary. Williamsons presidential bidat least on the official calendaris all but three days old. But after a media circuit over the weekend, most notably including a sit-down interview with ABC News, Williamsons critiques of the Democratic establishment and President Joe Biden are being eaten up by the right, who quickly amplified them to their base. The Republican National Committees research page tweeted out three separate clips of Williamson over the weekendone in which she said the Democratic National Committee is rigging the primary for Biden, one comparing the news reports pronouncing her campaign a long shot to the ones that called Hillary Clinton a shoo-in, and one in which she said Biden should debate her. Biden Press Secretary Draws Laughs With Marianne Williamson Crystal Ball Joke He certainly should debate me, Williamson said. Its called democracy, and Im running as well. In a statement, RNC spokesperson Emma Vaughn told The Daily Beast it is no wonder the DNC rigged the primary calendar for Biden. They know Marianne Williamson would beat him in New Hampshire and Iowa. (Conversations about changing the DNCs nominating calendar have been happening for yearsand the calendar was set before Williamson hopped into the race.) Republican insiders say theres reason for boosting Williamson. She represents a divide among Democratsone Republicans want to amplify, perhaps to distract from their own intra-party chaos. The more we talk about Marianne Williamson, the weaker Biden looks. And Marianne Williamson, a perfect caricature of the Democratic Party, is a lot of fun to talk about, one senior GOP aide told The Daily Beast. Story continues Another Republican who wished to remain anonymousthis one a former Trump strategistsaid they were normally one to enjoy a good troll campaign, but I actually think Republicans should be very excitedand very quietabout running against Biden. The good thing, this strategist continued, is that anything that exposes the cracks in the Democratic Party is a good thingeven if its facilitated by a politician whose guiding principle is the power of the crystals. The GOP campaign to boost Williamson also seems to be percolating into right-wing media. Dick Morris, a former Clinton adviser turned Republican, talked about Williamson on Newsmax in late February, after reports surfaced that she was planning a run. If anybody offers an alternative to Biden, theyre gonna get a lot of votes simply because theyre not walking dead like Biden is. And I think that she will do very well in the early polling and might well be the leak that breaks the dam. All the other Democrats might be afraid to run because nobody is. But now she is, Morris said. Even Marianne Williamsons 2020 Campaign Manager Wishes She Wouldnt Run Other online conservative pundits lauded Williamson for joining the race. Finally a Democrat with the guts to take on Biden directly. NONE of the top Democrats think Biden should run again. But only @marwilliamson is stepping up. Watch thisshes fantastic, Steve Hilton, a conservative Fox News host, tweeted next to a video of Williamsons launch. Even publications that usually find any reason to dunk on Democrats seem to be giving her a clean read. The Citizen Free Press, a far-right quick-links site, circulated clips of her launch in which she criticized establishment politicians for knowingly allowing children to go hungry. An Insider reporter who attended Williamsons announcement speech at Union Station in Washington, D.C., also spotted a staffer for a GOP member of Congress at Williamsons launch event on Saturday. Williamson is a self-help book author by trade and a spiritual guru whos known for palling around with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Laura Dern, the latter of whom Williamson once lived with. Shes also known for her unconventional policy ideas, like creating a Department of Peace. She ran for president in 2020 in the crowded Democratic field and twice made it onto the debate stage, where internet commentators described her as the politician equivalent of a girl who carries crystals in her pocket. (Williamson, for the record, said in 2019 that shes never owned crystals.) Theres a pretty obvious motivation for Republicans to hammer the wedge between Wiliamson and Biden. Williamson and the GOP, for the time being, share a mutual target: Biden. They just also have different motivations. Williamson wants to beat him in the primaries. The GOP wants to beat him altogether. Although Williamsons bid is undoubtedly a long shot, if she manages to gain some momentum, she could take away crucial time and resources from the early months of Bidens re-election campaign and take a bite out of his incumbent advantage. Marianne Williamson Set to Mystify America Again With 2024 Run Williamsons campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the apparent favor from conservatives, or a question on whether Williamson would willingly accept Republican endorsements of her candidacy. Its unclear what her actual staffing situation is likeand whos on her early roster of support. Last cycle, Williamson did get caught on a hot mic acknowledging Republicans were often nicer to her than lefties. What does it say that Fox News is nicer to me than the lefties are? What does it say that the conservatives are nicer to me? she wondered in the 2019 hot-mic moment, going on to add, Im such a lefty. I mean, Im a serious lefty I didnt think the left was as mean as the right. They are. Williamson is the first to announce a primary bid against Biden, but theres no guarantee shell be alone in that effort. Progressive commentator and former congressional candidate Nina Turner, for one, hasnt ruled out a 2024 bid of her own. There is an appetite among people across our movement to keep working-class issues front and center in the national discourse. I am often asked if I am willing to take on that responsibility, but as of now, I have not made any decision, Turner said in a statement. However, what I do know is that our party will only benefit from having a transparent and open process, where dissent is welcomed and not shut out, Turner added. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a unique human amalgamation of Democratic politics and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, also says hes considering a run for president. He told a crowd in New Hampshire on Friday that he was thinking about it. And Ive passed the biggest hurdle, which is my wife has green-lighted it, he said. But those challenges are unlikely to sway the strategy for Democrats national campaign armthe Democratic National Committeewhich supports the incumbent by default. The Senate and House campaign arms for Democrats do the same. Marianne Williamson Calls for Primaries to Be Nullified After Bernies Weak Showing In February, the DNC also passed a resolution explicitly supporting Bidens re-election, expressing the committees complete support for President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration, and support their re-election in 2024. That would likely mean the DNC would not host debates between Biden and Williamson, or any other primary challengers, for that matter. Biden, meanwhile, has not officially announced his 2024 plans, though the White House is adamant he intends to run. Some polls show the majority of Democratic voters would prefer otherwise. A February poll conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only 37 percent of Democrats want Biden to run for another termdown from 52 percent prior to the midterm elections. The White House on Monday also presented itself as unbothered by news of Williamson hopping in the race. Im just not tracking that, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. I mean, if I had aa, uh, whats it called? A little globe herecrystal ballthen I can tell you If I could feel her aura. If by some exceptional circumstance Biden chose not to run in 2024, Williamson could get a bit of a first-mover advantage in what would surely become a crowded primary. But for now, she has the primary circuit all to herself. Williamson soon plans to visit New Hampshirea state that promises to host the first primary in the nation, even though it goes against the DNCs new primary calendar. Shes hoping Democratic voters there and elsewhere will hear her pitch. The Democratic Party needs to be a conduit for the healing of this country, Williamson told ABC News. But first, the Democratic Party needs to look in the mirror and heal itself. 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. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are not pushing back on King Charles' decision to evict them from their U.K. home, Frogmore Cottage. A source tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "matter-of-fact" about being requested to leave Frogmore Cottage and aren't trying to overturn the decision. The source adds that Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, are happy to raise their two children in California, where they moved in 2020 after stepping back as senior members of the royal family. However, those close to the couple say the decision is "unfortunate" especially in terms of security, as Frogmore Cottage in Windsor was a haven for the pair and their children, 3-year-old son Archie Harrison and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet Diana, when they visited the U.K. RELATED: All About Frogmore Cottage, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's U.K. Home That They've Been Told 'to Vacate' Frogmore Cottage GOR/Getty Frogmore Cottage Last week, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told PEOPLE, "We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage." The statement followed a report by The Sun that King Charles plans to move his brother Prince Andrew to the residence. The second son of Queen Elizabeth, who stepped back from public duties over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, currently resides at the much larger Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. PEOPLE understands that the couple knew about the move before the release of Prince Harry's book, Spare, in January. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle, Prince Charles and Prince Harry Prince Harry and Meghan lived at Frogmore Cottage from 2019 to 2020. The couple relocated from the two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, to the residence before the birth of Archie in 2019. After stepping back from their working royal roles in early 2020, they briefly stayed in Canada before settling in Meghan's home state of California. Story continues It remains to be seen whether the couple will receive a refund for part of the $2.9 million they spent on refurbishments and rental costs on the property over several years, as the time on their lease has not yet expired. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral Karwai Tang/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Royal historian Robert Lacey tells PEOPLE that King Charles is making moves that Queen Elizabeth did not. "Charles is now the guardian of the institution. The King just can't sit back," he says. "It shows Charles has a steel that his mother lacked. The Queen could never bring herself to confront Harry as an adult." Global Citizen Live, New York - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! It's still unclear if Prince Harry and Meghan will return to the U.K. in May for Charles' coronation. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement this weekend, "I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty's office regarding the coronation. An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time." Buckingham Palace had no comment. Melania Trump is backing congressional lawmakers efforts to bring a monument marking the womens suffrage movement to the National Mall in Washington. Wonderful to see bipartisan legislation introduced in the House to help secure a monument on the National Mall, Trump tweeted to her more than 2 million followers on Tuesday. A monument, Trump said, would tell the unique, moving and powerful stories of women throughout American history. The former first lady has kept a relatively low profile since exiting the White House in 2021. Shes made a limited number of public appearances and granted few interviews in recent years, typically tweeting out sporadic messages to recognize holidays or to promote her charitable work and line of Christmas ornaments. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) introduced the Womens Suffrage National Monument Location Act (H.R. 1318) last week. The legislation, timed to coincide with the beginning of Womens History Month, would authorize the location of a monument on the National Mall to commemorate and honor the womens suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sponsored a Senate version of the bill last year. Then-President Donald Trump signed a bill in December 2020 authorizing an outdoor suffragist monument, but securing a location to install it on the National Mall requires an act of Congress. The move to honor the womens suffrage movement has found unanimous, bipartisan support among at least one exclusive group. Jill Biden and every former first lady including Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter serve as honorary co-chairs of the Womens Suffrage National Monument Foundation, which is leading the push for the commemorative work. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two of the Americans who were kidnapped at gunpoint just over the Mexican border on Friday have been found dead, while two others were found alive with one wounded, a Mexican state governor said Tuesday. Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal said that the fourth kidnapping victim had no injuries, according to The Associated Press. The FBI revealed on Sunday that the group of four Americans were kidnapped by armed men on Friday, and asked for the publics assistance in helping locate them. The four Americans were in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates and were taken by the gunmen just after crossing into Matamoros in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The FBI confirmed the deaths on Tuesday evening, saying in a statement that the two surviving victims of the kidnapping were receiving care at a local hospital in Brownsville, Texas. One of the survivors suffered serious bodily injuries as a result of the attack, the FBI said. Earlier today, the FBI was notified that Mexican authorities had located the four missing American victims who were kidnapped on March 3 in Matamoros, Mexico. The FBI is saddened to report that two of the victims are deceased. We would like to express our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims in this tragic event, the statement read. The FBI added that the incident remains an ongoing criminal investigation, and that it will work with other federal agencies and international partners to determine the facts of what happened and to hold those responsible for this horrific and violent attack accountable for their crimes. The agency said that FBI Victim Services is working with the victims and their families to help them recover, and that the FBI is working with the State Department to recover the deceased victims. Several media outlets had reported on Tuesday that the group was traveling to Mexico for a medical procedure. The State Department has a Level 4 warning in place for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, warning Americans to not travel there due to crime and kidnapping, which it says is common along the northern border. Story continues White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that that the kidnapping was unacceptable, and that U.S. law enforcement agencies were working with Mexico to address the situation. She did not offer more details due to privacy concerns. These sorts of attacks are unacceptable. Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. U.S. law enforcement is in touch with Mexican law enforcement, she said. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement on Monday that a Mexican citizen was also killed during the incident. We have no greater priority than the safety of our citizens this is the U.S. governments most fundamental role, Salazar said. U.S. law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots. Updated at 6:29 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Courtship of wild giant pandas spotted in SW China Xinhua) 08:39, March 07, 2023 This photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 with an infrared camera shows a wild giant panda drinking water at the Ya'an area of the Giant Panda National Park in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua) CHENGDU, March 6 (Xinhua) -- While conducting a field patrol, staff with China's Giant Panda National Park found two wild giant pandas in search of mates. On March 3, Ma Wenhu, a staff member with the park's Tangjiahe area in southwest China's Sichuan Province, found a giant panda lying on a tree branch in the sun. "Because the light was particularly good that day, I scanned the slope opposite me with a monocular telescope. As a result, I accidentally came across the animal," Ma recalled. Ma added that another wild giant panda climbed up the tree and gradually approached the one in the tree. Ma observed that the giant panda who approached the tree constantly smeared perianal gland secretion on the branches and attracted the attention of the other by shaking the tree trunk. Park experts said the behavior of giant pandas smearing odor with their perianal glands, coupled with the fact that the first panda to climb the tree was a female, indicates the arrival of giant panda estrus in spring. The fourth national survey of giant pandas in 2015 found that there were 1,864 wild giant pandas in China. Owing to the relentless protection efforts by Chinese zoologists, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the giant panda from endangered to vulnerable in 2016. This photo taken on March 3, 2023 shows two wild giant pandas in search of mates in the Tangjiahe area of the Giant Panda National Park in Qingchuan County of Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Ma Wenhu/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chicago's South Shore Drill Team marches past East Dundee Village Hall on Barrington Avenue during the Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick's Day Parade. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News) Here are some other events happening from March 10 to 16 in Aurora, Naperville and Elgin. Dublindee Advertisement Celebrate St. Patricks Day in Dundee with the traditional Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patricks Day Parade at 11 a.m. March 11 at Rosie OHares Public House in East Dundee. Tickets are free. At 702 Water St. dundeestpats@gmail.com; dundeestpats.org. The festivities include the Kilted 5K run, a pet parade, corned beef eating contest and more. Fireworks are March 18. Advertisement St. Charles Irish parade The St. Charles St. Patricks Day parade will be at 2 p.m. March 11 in downtown St. Charles. Tickets are free. At Main Street between Sixth Street and Fourth Avenue. 630-443-3967; stcstpatricksparade.com. There will be an opening ceremony at 11 a.m., photo opportunities, a scavenger hunt, themed events and specials around town. Chicago tribute Brass Transit The Musical Legacy of Chicago performs the music of Chicago at 7:30 p.m. March 11 at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Tickets are $43-$63. At 425 Fawell Blvd. 630-942-4000; atthemac.org. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Brass Transit presents a show filled with all the hits from Chicagos golden age of 1969-1976, complete with trademark horns and vocals. Female composers celebrated Chamber Music on the Fox celebrates two American composers during Womens History Month with concerts at 7:30 p.m. March 12 at the New England Congregational Church in Aurora and at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at the First Congregational Church of Dundee in West Dundee. Tickets are $10-$20. At 406 W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora and 900 S. 8th St. in West Dundee. 224-276-8881; chambermusiconthefox.org. Advertisement Rediscovered: Piano Quintets of Florence Price and Amy Beach recognizes the contributions of two American women who earned their way into the male-dominated composer field at the turn of the 20th century. Pianist Liang-yu Wang and KAIA String Quartet will be featured. Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News. Gregory Morales, general manager of the new 1001 Mexican Restaurant & Bar in West Hartford, considers himself and the restaurants head chef, artists. Morales is creating the atmosphere, the specialty drinks made with fresh fruits and herbs, while chef Juan Carlos Carranza Cardona is creating the taste by adding his own twist to Mexican favorites. I like having a collaboration with another artist and seeing a portrait slowly come together, Morales said. Were blending our two concepts: craft cocktails and scratch food. The men, Morales, 30 and Cardona, 35, were brought together through silent partners to create the restaurant at 134 Park Road. Theyve been in soft opening mode for about a month, keeping the hours of Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. and plan to expand the hours when theyve completed finishing touches. Cardona, a native of Honduras who became an expert in Mexican cuisine while working in California, said through a translator he prides himself on making everything from scratch even the guacamole is made to order. The salsa and chips are all made in house and they are building a vegan menu where, for instance, the tacos are filled with ingredients such as cauliflower, mushrooms, zucchini. Cardona is such a stickler for freshness, he shops for ingredients every day, he said through a translator. He also likes to do his own twist on popular dishes. Hes passionate about his good quality and appearance, Morales said of Cardonas food. Juan Carlos is phenomenal. Morales, who works front of house and is an expert mixologist, has 12 years in the restaurant business. I like the thankfulness and the gratitude you get when you give quality service, Morales said. He loves talking to customers, setting the atmosphere and creating craft cocktails with herbs such as mint, sage, basil, thyme and fresh fruits such as blueberries and raspberries. You wont find any flavored vodka at his bar. Story continues The brands of tequila, gin, vodka and other alcohol are carefully selected for each cocktail. Three of the favorites hes created for the restaurant are called, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Hornets Nest, The Angry Flamingo. To me its like a party a party for your taste buds, he said of the signature drinks. I Layer the flavors so you taste it in a specific way. So far the eatery seats 32, has a seven-seat bar and theyre working on a patio envisioned with lots of plants, Morales said. While customers will know theyre in a Mexican restaurant there will be a flag, a few sombreros and a mural has been commissioned the atmosphere wont be overdone, Morales said. Each table is candlelit at night. In an effort to appeal to a broader audience and families, the background music will be todays pop, rather than Mexican, he said. I wanted it to be welcoming to everyone and family friendly, Morales said. The men also know what they dont want the restaurant to become. We dont want a party, nightlife place. It seems like theres a lot of those in West Hartford, Morales said. The four Americans kidnapped in Matamoros have reportedly been found. Two are dead, one is injured and the fourth is unharmed, according to the Associated Press. The tragic news came hours after the Americans were identified as a group of friends who travelled to Mexico so that one of them could get a tummy tuck procedure. Family members named the group as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams, who travelled from South Carolina. The four were travelling in a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates when they crossed the US border into Mexico on Friday. Not long after entering Matamoros an area dominated by the Gulf cartel they came under fire from a group of armed men and were bundled into the back of a pickup truck. A video circulating on social media appears to show the four friends being loaded into a pickup truck during their abduction many of them dragged limply into the vehicle. The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to their return and the arrest of those responsible. Key Points Four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Tamaulipas on Friday FBI appeals for publics help in identifying assailants Video of violence in Matamoros emerges Americans crossed border to buy medicine, Mexican president says Innocent Mexican citizen killed in incident Details on discovery remain scant 15:23 , Megan Sheets Details about the discovery of the four kidnapped Americans remains scant. The news that two of the Americans were found dead and two others alive initially came from Tamaulipas Governor Americo Villarreal, via the Associated Press. Mr Villarreal said that one of the survivors was wounded and the other was not. He did not give any identifying details. The Independents Andrea Blanco reports: Two Americans kidnapped in Matamoros, Mexico, are found dead, one wounded Missing Americans found in Mexico 15:10 , Megan Sheets The four Americans kidnapped in Matamoros have been found, according to a Mexican governor. Story continues Two of the victims are dead, one injured and another unharmed, according to the Associated Press. Kidnapped American Latavia Tay McGee travelled to Mexico for cosmetic surgery 14:51 , Andrea Blanco The four Americans kidnapped in Mexico on Friday have now been identified as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams, who travelled from South Carolina. Ms McGee, who is pictured below, had travelled to the country for cosmetic surgery, her mother told the Associated Press. LaTavia McGee is one of four Americans who were kidnapped after crossing the border into Mexico (Family handout) Family of kidnapped US citizen says it feels like a bad dream' 14:20 , Rachel Sharp The family of one of the kidnapped US citizens has spoken out to say that it feels like a bad dream. Zalandria Brown said that her younger brother Zindell Brown is one of the four victims who are now missing after being abducted by armed men in Matamoros on Friday. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, she told the Associated Press. To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. Ms Brown said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, had gone on the trip with his three friends because one of the women Latavia Tay McGee had booked to get a tummy tuck at a clinic in Mexico. She said that her brother had spoken about his concerns of going to such a dangerous place but the four had all gone to help share driving duties on the trip. Zindell kept saying, We shouldnt go down, she said. Mom of kidnapped American says she urged daughter not to go 13:50 , Rachel Sharp The mother of one of the four Americans kidnapped in Mexico has revealed that she urged her daughter not to go. Latavia Tay McGees mother Barbara Burgess told ABC News that her daughter had traveled with her three friends from her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to get a tummy tuck at a clinic in Mexico. Ms Burgess said she was worried about her daughter going and warned her it might not be safe. But, her daughter brushed off her concerns telling her: Ma, Ill be okay. Ms Burgess said she last heard from Ms McGee on Friday when she called to say that they were just 15 minutes from the cosmetic surgeons office where she was scheduled to have the procedure that day. She never heard from her again. Ms Burgess said she tried calling her daughter later that day but her phone went straight to voicemail. Not long later, she said she received a visit from an FBI agent, revealing what had happened. Four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico identified as group of friends who travelled for tummy tuck 13:20 , Rachel Sharp The four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Matamoros have now been identified as a group of friends who travelled to Mexico so that one of them could get a tummy tuck procedure. Family members named the group on Monday as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams. The four were travelling in a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates when they crossed the US border into Mexico on Friday. Not long after entering Matamoros an area dominated by the Gulf cartel they came under fire from a group of armed men and were bundled into the back of a pickup truck. They have not been seen since. Read the full story here: Identities of four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico made public Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for US military to rescue kidnapped Americans 12:50 , Rachel Sharp Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for the US military to take out the Mexicancartels after it was announced that four American tourists were kidnapped while in Mexico. Graig Gaziosi reports. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for US military strike on Mexican cartels PICTURED: Kidnapped American Shaeed Woodard 12:20 , Rachel Sharp The four Americans kidnapped in Mexico on Friday have now been identified as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams, who travelled from South Carolina. Mr Woodard is pictured below: Shaeed Woodard was identified as one of the four Americans kidnapped (Facebook Shaeed Woodard) PICTURED: Kidnapped American Latavia Tay McGee 11:59 , Rachel Sharp The four Americans kidnapped in Mexico on Friday have now been identified as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams, who travelled from South Carolina. Ms McGee is pictured below: LaTavia McGee is one of four Americans who were kidnapped after crossing the border into Mexico (Family handout) Innocent Mexican citizen killed in kidnapping incident 10:15 , Oliver O'Connell An innocent Mexican citizen was killed during the kidnapping of four Americans, according to US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Mr Salazar did not offer any additional details about the circumstances of the killing. We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens, he said, according to CNN. This is the most fundamental role of the US government. Officials from various US law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots. What we know about the abduction of four Americans in Matamoros 08:15 , Oliver O'Connell The FBI has launched an appeal for information after four American citizens were ambushed and kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico on Friday 3 March. An investigation involving the FBI, federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies is currently underway to find them. Oliver Rich, special agent in charge of the San Antonio Division of the FBI, said in a press release that the bureau is seeking the publics help in identifying the assailants. A reward of $50,000 is being offered for tip-offs leading to the return of the victims and the arrest of their captors. Details regarding the incident are currently sparse but here is everything we do know so far about this developing story. What we know about the kidnapping of four US citizens in Mexico State Department: Do not travel to Tamaulipas 06:15 , Oliver O'Connell The US State Department has advised Americans not to travel to the Mexican state of Tamaulipas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping, with the region featuring on its Level 4: Do Not Travel list. The US Consulate in Matamoros issued a warning to its employees on Friday in response to the latest outbreak of violence. Matamoros, Mexico: We received reports of police activity occurring in the vicinity of Calle Primera and Lauro Villar in connection to a shooting. U.S. government employees have been instructed to avoid the area until further notice. https://t.co/HmMr3HNJ9G pic.twitter.com/3pnP5cs0Jo Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) March 3, 2023 Ambassador Salazar: No higher priority than the safety of our citizens 04:15 , Oliver O'Connell US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar released a statement on Monday: On Friday, March 3, unknown assailants in Matamoros, Tamaulipas kidnapped four US citizens at gunpoint in an incident that tragically killed an innocent Mexican citizen. We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens. This is the most fundamental role of the US government. He also tweeted that the embassy is working with the Mexican authorities to secure the release of the Americans. Protecting citizens is our most important role. officials work with authorities to secure the safe return of 4 citizens taken at gunpoint on Friday in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The @FBI offers a reward for information leading to their return: https://t.co/NXgckIFiCP https://t.co/dqyMjQci9X Embajador Ken Salazar (@USAmbMex) March 6, 2023 White House closely following situation 03:15 , Oliver O'Connell Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the White House is closely following the assault and kidnapping of four American citizens in Mexico. Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Press sec. Jean-Pierre says White House is closely following the assault and kidnapping of four American citizens in Mexico. Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. https://t.co/GuJqZZuSDm pic.twitter.com/EQjHyfohje ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 6, 2023 Where were four US citizens abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros? 02:15 , Oliver O'Connell The FBI has launched a search for four US citizens who were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico. The group of four Americans drove across the US border with Mexico on Friday, crossing into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in their white minivan, according to the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. Not long after crossing the border, they were ambushed by a group of gunmen who fired on the passengers in the vehicle. Rachel Sharp reports. Mexico kidnapping map: Where were four US citizens abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros? 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell Twitter video reveals violence in Matamoros A widely shared video on Twitter appears to show the aftermath of violence in Matamoros on Friday, around the time the four Americans were kidnapped. Asi la violencia este viernes en Matamoros. Completamente rebasadas las autoridades en Tamaulipaspic.twitter.com/rZP1Y00kee Joaquin Lopez-Doriga (@lopezdoriga) March 4, 2023 New images of kidnap scene in Mexico 01:02 , Graeme Massie (AP) (AP) (Associated Press) FBI seeks publics help 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell Here is the full text of the FBIs call for public assistance in identifying the captors of the four Americans. Oliver Rich, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), whose territory includes Brownsville, Texas, announced today that the FBI is seeking the publics assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for the assault and kidnapping of four US Citizens, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on March 03, 2023. The FBI, federal partners, and Mexican law enforcement agencies are investigating. The FBI is announcing a reward of $50,000 for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved. On March 03, 2023, four Americans crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico driving a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle. All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men. The public is urged to call FBI San Antonio Division at 210-225-6741 with any information regarding this investigation. Tips can also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov Individuals who provide information may remain anonymous. Identities of four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico made public 00:09 , Graeme Massie The identities of three of the four US citizens kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico after being ambushed when they crossed the border have been made public. Christina Hickson says her son, 28-year-old Zindell Brown, is one of the group of four Americans who drove across the US border with Mexico on Friday, crossing into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in a white minivan, reported WPDE. Identities of three Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico made public Americans buying medicine were not intended target, reports say Monday 6 March 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell The four US citizens kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico are not believed to have been intentionally targeted, CNN reports. Citing a US official with knowledge of the investigation, the network reports that it was likely a mistake. The same official said the Americans were not thought to have been in Mexico for criminal purposes. Americans kidnapped in Mexico not intended target, US official says Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for US military strike on cartels Monday 6 March 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for the US military to take out the Mexicancartels after it was announced that four American tourists were kidnapped while in Mexico. The FBI announced that the Americans were kidnapped on 3 March in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Graig Graziosi reports. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for US military strike on Mexican cartels How did the Americans get caught up in a shootout? Monday 6 March 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell According to the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico, the group had crossed into the north eastern state of Tamaulipas on the Gulf Coast from Brownsville, Texas, driving a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates. Shortly after they had entered the country, they were attacked by gunmen in the border city of Matamoros. After firing on the van, the attackers then moved the passengers to another vehicle and drove them away from the scene, the embassy said. The identities of the Americans has not yet been disclosed and the purpose of their trip has not yet been substantiated. On Monday morning, an unnamed US official said the four Americans were not the intended targets and they had traveled to Matamoros for medical procedures. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the group were in the country looking to buy medicine. The information we have is that they crossed the border to buy medicines in Mexico, there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained, the president said. The whole government is working on it. Two cartel shootouts in Matamoros on Friday Monday 6 March 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell Matamoros is notorious as a centre for gang violence and illegal migrant smuggling. It is dominated by the Gulf drug cartel but there has been infighting between splinter groups in recent years. Tamaulipas state police said on its social media channel that people had been killed and injured in two shootouts in Matamoros on Friday in which neither the military nor police had been involved but did not offer any further detail on the shootings or say whether the kidnappings were connected. State Department: Do not travel to Tamaulipas Monday 6 March 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell The US State Department has advised Americans not to travel to the Mexican state of Tamaulipas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping, with the region featuring on its Level 4: Do Not Travel list. The US Consulate in Matamoros issued a warning to its employees on Friday in response to the latest outbreak of violence. Matamoros, Mexico: We received reports of police activity occurring in the vicinity of Calle Primera and Lauro Villar in connection to a shooting. U.S. government employees have been instructed to avoid the area until further notice. https://t.co/HmMr3HNJ9G pic.twitter.com/3pnP5cs0Jo Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) March 3, 2023 Marjorie Taylor Greene wants strike on cartels in Mexico Monday 6 March 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for the US military to strategically strike and take out the Mexican Cartels. The controversial congresswoman has tweeted several times about Mexico and the cartels sincw news broke of the kidnapping of four Americans on Friday. Initially she wrote: Mexican Cartels kidnapped 4 Americans this weekend and Mexico is so DANGEROUS that if you go to Mexico you are on your own! But but but.. Ukraine! Mexican Cartels kidnapped 4 Americans this weekend and Mexico is so DANGEROUS that if you go to Mexico you are on your own! But but but.. Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/TwBSmHSVZv Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 6, 2023 Later, she expounded: Our military should be stationed at our southern border. We should strategically strike and take out the Mexican Cartels, not the Mexican government or their people, but the Mexican Cartels which control them all. They are international terrorists and criminals murdering Americans everyday with drugs and crime! They are making BILLIONS on drug and human trafficking and are terrorizing anyone who stands in their way. Our military is competent and should take them out swiftly. Make an example out of these monsters. The only difference between the Cartels and ISIS is that the Cartels are on our southern border. Our military should be stationed at our southern border. We should strategically strike and take out the Mexican Cartels, not the Mexican government or their people, but the Mexican Cartels which control them all. They are international terrorists and criminals murdering https://t.co/4ETBxyfXQs Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 6, 2023 Rep Greene finally added: Whats the difference between ISIS and Antifa and the Mexican Cartels? Nothing. They are all terrorists and should be treated accordingly. Whats the difference between ISIS and Antifa and the Mexican Cartels? Nothing. They are all terrorists and should be treated accordingly. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 6, 2023 Ambassador Salazar: No higher priority than the safety of our citizens Monday 6 March 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar released a statement on Monday: On Friday, March 3, unknown assailants in Matamoros, Tamaulipas kidnapped four US citizens at gunpoint in an incident that tragically killed an innocent Mexican citizen. We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens. This is the most fundamental role of the US government. He also tweeted that the embassy is working with the Mexican authorities to secure the release of the Americans. Protecting citizens is our most important role. officials work with authorities to secure the safe return of 4 citizens taken at gunpoint on Friday in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The @FBI offers a reward for information leading to their return: https://t.co/NXgckIFiCP https://t.co/dqyMjQci9X Embajador Ken Salazar (@USAmbMex) March 6, 2023 White House closely following situation Monday 6 March 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the White House is closely following the assault and kidnapping of four American citizens in Mexico. Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Press sec. Jean-Pierre says White House is closely following the assault and kidnapping of four American citizens in Mexico. Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. https://t.co/GuJqZZuSDm pic.twitter.com/EQjHyfohje ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 6, 2023 What we know about the abduction of four Americans in Matamoros Monday 6 March 2023 19:00 , Megan Sheets The FBI has launched an appeal for information after four American citizens were ambushed and kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico on Friday 3 March. An investigation involving the FBI, federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies is currently underway to find them. Oliver Rich, special agent in charge of the San Antonio Division of the FBI, said in a press release that the bureau is seeking the publics help in identifying the assailants. A reward of $50,000 is being offered for tip-offs leading to the return of the victims and the arrest of their captors. Details regarding the incident are currently sparse but here is everything we do know so far about this developing story. What we know about the kidnapping of four US citizens in Mexico Innocent Mexican citizen killed in kidnapping incident Monday 6 March 2023 18:45 , Megan Sheets An innocent Mexican citizen was killed during the kidnapping of four Americans, according to US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Mr Salazar did not offer any additional details about the circumstances of the killing. We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens, he said, according to CNN. This is the most fundamental role of the US government. Officials from various US law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots. Mexican president says Americans were buying medicine Monday 6 March 2023 18:15 , Megan Sheets Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said the four Americans kidnapped were in the country for medical procedures. The information we have is that they crossed the border to buy medicines in Mexico, there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained, he said. The whole government is working on it. The president made his comments after an unnamed US official told CNN that the Americans were targeted in a case of mistaken identity. Where were four US citizens abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros? Monday 6 March 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell The FBI has launched a search for four US citizens who were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico. The group of four Americans drove across the US border with Mexico on Friday, crossing into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in their white minivan, according to the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. Not long after crossing the border, they were ambushed by a group of gunmen who fired on the passengers in the vehicle. Rachel Sharp reports. Mexico kidnapping map: Where were four US citizens abducted at gunpoint in Matamoros? Americans targeted by mistake says US official Monday 6 March 2023 17:01 , Oliver O'Connell CNN reports that the group of Americans assaulted and kidnapped in Matamoros were targeted by mistake and were not the intended victims of the attack. The network cites a US official with knowledge of the situation. It is also not believed that the group was in Mexico for criminal purposes. The four Americans crossed into Mexico on Friday in a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates and were abducted a short time later. FBI seeks publics help Monday 6 March 2023 16:38 , Oliver O'Connell Here is the full text of the FBIs call for public assistance in identifying the captors of the four Americans. Oliver Rich, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), whose territory includes Brownsville, Texas, announced today that the FBI is seeking the publics assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for the assault and kidnapping of four US Citizens, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on March 03, 2023. The FBI, federal partners, and Mexican law enforcement agencies are investigating. The FBI is announcing a reward of $50,000 for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved. On March 03, 2023, four Americans crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico driving a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle. All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men. The public is urged to call FBI San Antonio Division at 210-225-6741 with any information regarding this investigation. Tips can also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov Individuals who provide information may remain anonymous. Pictures of minivan after shooting emerge Monday 6 March 2023 16:19 , Oliver O'Connell #Ultimahora Secuestran a 4 estadounidenses en Matamoros, revela FBI. En un comunicado oficial, el gobierno estadounidense ofrece una recompensa de 50,000 dolares a quien aporte informacion para rescatar a las victimas y capturar a los delincuentes. https://t.co/yijXcvAdnA ElefanteBlancoMX (@MxElefante) March 6, 2023 Twitter video reveals violence in Matamoros Monday 6 March 2023 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell A widely shared video on Twitter appears to show the aftermath of violence in Matamoros on Friday, around the time the four Americans were kidnapped. Asi la violencia este viernes en Matamoros. Completamente rebasadas las autoridades en Tamaulipaspic.twitter.com/rZP1Y00kee Joaquin Lopez-Doriga (@lopezdoriga) March 4, 2023 Americans advised against travel to Tamaulipas Monday 6 March 2023 15:10 , Joe Sommerlad The purpose of the groups visit to Mexico is currently unclear. However, the US State Department is advising Americans not to travel to Tamaulipas due to the risk of crime and kidnapping. The region is on the Level 4: Do Not Travel list. The border city of Matamoros is largely controlled by the Gulf drug cartel, with violence and migrant smuggling rife. Tamaulipas lies in north east Mexico, just south of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico (Google Maps) FBI appeals for publics help in identifying assailants Monday 6 March 2023 14:30 , Joe Sommerlad Oliver Rich, special agent in charge of the San Antonio Division of the FBI, said in a press release that the bureau is seeking the publics help in identifying the assailants responsible for the assault and kidnapping. A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the return of the victims and the arrest of the kidnappers. An investigation involving the FBI, federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies is currently underway. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI San Antonio Division at 210-225-6741 or to submit tips anonymously online here. Four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Tamaulipas on Friday Monday 6 March 2023 13:55 , Joe Sommerlad Four US citizens who were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico on Friday have been made the subject of a manhunt by the FBI. The group had crossed the Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas, into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in a white minivan when they were ambushed by gunmen who fired on the passengers, according to the US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. The four Americans were then placed in another vehicle and driven from the scene by their captors, the embassy said. Heres Rachel Sharps report. FBI launches search for four US citizens kidnapped at gunpoint in Matamoros, Mexico Monday 6 March 2023 13:37 , Joe Sommerlad Hello and welcome to The Independents live coverage of the FBI investigation into the kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico. With its warm climate, beautiful beaches and proximity to the U.S., Mexico is a popular tourist destination for many Americans. But some people may be reconsidering their travel plans after four Americans were kidnapped and two of them killed when they traveled last week to Matamoros, Mexico. They were caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups in the border city in Tamaulipas state, according to Gov. Americo Villarreal. The deaths of the U.S. citizens who traveled south of the border for what Mexican authorities called a "medical treatment.'' "Im sure people will have some pause after such a graphic and horrible incident," said Gabby Beckford, a noted Seattle-based travel influencer who took a two-month excursion across Mexico last year. "This will remind me not to be lax about my safety precautions and to always be mindful of my surroundings." 2 KIDNAPPED AMERICANS DEAD IN MEXICO: 2 more survivors have returned to the US, authorities say: Live updates Mexico remains one of Americans' most traveled destinations. Nearly 29 million Americans traveled to Mexico in 2021, according to data researcher Statista. By contrast, about 75 American citizens died by homicide in Mexico in 2021, according to the most recent U.S. State Department statistics. And in the past few months, taxi drivers have been harassing Ubers in Cancun and three Americansdied in Mexico City in October 2022. Now an updated Travel Advisory warns of crime and kidnapping. "We get this one a lot, especially by folks who haven't traveled as much, haven't left the country before, or have read stories about 'Mexico being dangerous' but maybe don't recognize it's a large, diverse country, much like ours," Jack Benoff, president of Vacationeeze, which specializes in destination weddings in Mexico, told USA TODAY. Many of Benoff's clients plan trips to Cancun and Riviera Maya, known for their turquoise beaches and myriad resorts. Story continues IS IT SAFE TO TAKE A TAXI IN CANCUN?: Here are the safest ways to get around, per travel agents STAY SAFE WHILE TRAVELING: Here are 17 CIA tips, advice to think like a spy on vacation The State Department updated the Travel Advisory for Mexico on Oct. 5, which is done regularly. Several tourist destinations, like Mexico City, Sayulita and Cancun, now have warnings related to cartel-related crime. "The safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas is one of the departments highest priorities, and we provide U.S. citizens with relevant information so they can make well-informed decisions before they travel," a State Department spokesperson said. Read below to learn more about the Travel Advisory for Mexico's most popular tourist destinations and safety tips for visiting those areas. TAXIS VS. UBER: US issues Mexico security alert as Cancun taxi drivers block road, harass Uber cars Opinion: Mexican drug cartels are terrorizing Americans. Here's how the US needs to fight back. What is the updated Travel Advisory for Mexico? Tourists enjoy the beach in Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Rather than providing one overall assessment for the entire country, each state is assessed individually, because some areas have an increased risk of crime and kidnapping. The agency issued a "do not travel to" warning for the Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas state because of violent crime. A "reconsider travel to" warning has been issued for Baja California and Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is. Mexico City, Nayarit, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo and Oaxaca are issued an "exercised increased caution when traveling to" warning. Baja California Sur is home to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and La Paz. In Nayarit, many tourists visit the surf town Sayulita. Quintana Roo is home to Cancun, Tulum, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Surfers also like to visit Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca. Travelers can "exercise normal precautions" when traveling to Yucatan, which includes the popular attraction Chichen Itza. Yucatan state is right above Quintana Roo, where people should be more cautious because of crime and kidnapping, according to the State Department. PROTECTING THE SHARKS: Mexico indefinitely bans great white shark cage-diving at this tourist hotspot 'A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY': 3 American tourists die of gas inhalation in Mexico City Airbnb What are some safety travel tips for visiting Mexico? The State Department has several resources to help keep travelers safe. The agency encourages U.S. travelers to read the entire Mexico Travel Advisory and its Traveler's Checklist, which details more information about traveling abroad. There is also the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free service for U.S. travelers to receive safety alerts about their destination from the U.S. Embassy in real-time. STAYING SAFE: US tourists warned about popular Mexico spots plagued by drug cartel intimidation, violence "Generally speaking, if you're in a resort town and at a reputable location, you're at a much lower risk," travel agent Benoff said. Most resorts have security guards and gates, so staying on the property is pretty safe. "If you're leaving the resort property, ensure you have the correct address to where you're going and let the front desk know you're leaving and when you plan to return," he said. "Use the same safety precautions you would when traveling anywhere." A few of his top tips include: Don't flaunt cash. Use an ATM inside a bank or resort. Use the safe in your room. Bring two printed copies of your passport and other important documents, like medication or driver's licenses. Consider travel insurance to help protect against stolen or lost personal property. Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is travel to Mexico safe? What about Cancun, Cabo, Playa del Carmen A Miami influencer regularly flaunted her extravagant lifestyle to her 34,000 Instagram followers. Rides on private jets. High-end designer handbags. A luxury South Florida waterfront apartment. But her online person was a facade. The woman behind the account, Danielle Miller, funneled more than $1 million in a pandemic-related loan scam to finance the ruse she shared on social media, according to court records. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. From July 2020 through May 2021, Miller received pandemic-related relief loans by using fake business names and the stolen identities of more than 10 people, court records say. While making purchases and reservations, Miller presented the bogus drivers licenses in the victims names with her photograph on them. Miller brazenly publicized her lavish lifestyle, which assisted investigators in tying her to the scam. She posted a photo that linked her to luxury hotels in California, where transactions were made using one victims bank account. Miller also arranged private jet charter flights from Florida to California and rented the luxury Miami apartment using the forged IDs. According to officials, Miller is no stranger to fraud-related cases. She had previously been arrested in Florida and was even profiled last year in a New York Magazine piece detailing her scams. I more so consider myself a con artist than anything, Miller told the magazine. You know how they have that saying that you can sell ice to an Eskimo? If theres something that I want, Im getting it. A New York native, Miller grew up a block from Central Park, according to the New York Magazine profile. She is the daughter of Michael Miller, the former president of the New York State Bar Association. From 2016 to 2019, Miller attended Pepperdine Law, her LinkedIn profile says. Miller will be sentenced on June 27, 2023, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. She may face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge of wire fraud. The identity theft charge is a mandatory sentence of two years in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000. Two standardized test scores will no longer be required for admission to one area university. Miami University announced Tuesday that neither ACT nor SAT will be required for admission but optional for first-year and transfer students through spring 2026. >> Two standardized test scores will no longer be required for admission to one area university. The announcement comes after students admitted for the fall of 2021 and 2022 were the most academically accomplished in Miamis history, and an increase of 24.7 percent in applications, according to a release from the university. Since Miami has been test optional, about 50 percent of our applicants have asked us to use an ACT or SAT score in our evaluation of their application. We continue to enroll extremely accomplished students, and the academic profile of each new class continues to be among the best of all Ohio public universities, Miami University Director of Admission Bethany Perkins said. >> Dayton Police search for driver who crashed into building then fled According to the university, it will evaluate applications based on grades, GPA, the strength of the curriculum, application essays, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, talent, personal background, and other factors. A test score has never been the only factor Miamis admission committee considers in application evaluation, and it certainly isnt the most important factor. There are much better predictors of college success such as the strength of a students curriculum and achievements in high school courses, Perkins said. Additionally, standardized test scores are not required for merit scholarships or university-deemed competitive programs such as Honors College, the Farmer School of Business, or Nursing. Students wanting test scores to be considered will still have that option. >> Dayton police still investigating deadly February hit and run; Asking public for information The extension of our test-optional policy will allow us to evaluate the outcomes of Miami Universitys Class of 2025 before deciding whether the university should be test optional permanently. Analysis of graduate data, combined with the student retention and success data were already evaluating, will enable us to make a well-informed decision based on the best interests of future students, Vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success Brent Shock, said To learn more about the test-optional admission for Miami University, visit their website. Michael Guest (R-MS). Mississippi Republican Rep. Michael Guest, who represents the state's third district in Congress, reintroduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday targeted at fentanyl trafficking. The END FENTANYL Act, which Guest also proposed last year, would require customs and border protection to update its manuals at least every three years on the prevention of drug and human smuggling. It also would require the commissioner of CBP to report any changes to the House and Senate committees on homeland security and the Senate government affairs committee. In 2019, a study from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found that policies had not been updated in 20 years. Fentanyl is "50 to 100 times more potent than morphine," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, according to another set of CDC data. Joining Guest as cosponsors of the bill are three other Republicans and four Democrats. Rep. Mike Ezell, a Mississippi Republican from the state's fourth district, is a cosponsor. Rep. David Trone, D-MD, joined Guest in reintroducing the bill. The damage that has already been caused by fentanyl is irreparable. Overdoses caused by fentanyl is now the leading cause of death in Americans aged 18 to 45, but we can act to mitigate the continued devastation that the drug is causing in communities across our nation, Guest said in a statement. This bill is a strong step forward in our mission to save as many lives as possible from this deadly drug, and we must continue to work with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities. Im grateful for Congressman Trone and Senator Scott for their efforts towards this important goal. The bills is similar to one that passed the Senate last year by unanimous consent, but it did not reach the House floor before the end of that Congress. The bill will need approval in the House Homeland Security Committee, on which Guest serves as vice-chair, before it can reach the House floor. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Michael Guest files bill to address drug smuggling and fentanyl deaths President-elect Donald Trump (center) is greeted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama (left) as he arrives at the White House on Jan. 20, 2017. President-elect Donald Trump (center) is greeted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama (left) as he arrives at the White House on Jan. 20, 2017. Michelle Obama opened up about leaving Washington, D.C., with her husband, former President Barack Obama, after Donald Trumps inauguration. You walk through the Capitol, you wave goodbye, you get on Marine One, and you take your last flight flying over the Capitol, she said in Tuesdays debut episode of Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, according to People. Then, the former first lady dismantled one of Trumps very first lies in office: his claim that a massive crowd turned out to witness his inauguration. There werent that many people there, she said. We saw it, by the way! Trump, who has always been obsessed with crowd size, was reportedly enraged when the turnout for his inauguration was smaller than the turnout for Obamas 2008 celebration. Trump lied about the crowd size, and infamously sent Sean Spicer, then White House press secretary, to argue with the media about it. Spicer called it the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, which Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway defended as alternative facts. The former first lady called that final day in Washington emotional for so many different reasons, according to People. And she noted the lack of diversity among Trumps guests. There was no diversity, there was no color on that stage, she told interviewer Hoda Kotb. There was no reflection of the broader sense of America. As they left Washington, she finally let her emotions out. When those doors shut, I cried for 30 minutes straight, uncontrollable sobbing, because thats how much we were holding it together for eight years, she said. The first episode of the podcast is available Tuesday via Audible. First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and former First Lady Michelle Obama talk on the steps of the Capitol after Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2017. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call Michelle Obama said she cried uncontrollably on Air Force One on Trump's inauguration day. Obama said she cried because "that's how much we were holding it together for eight years." This was after the Obamas left the White House in 2017, on Trump's inauguration day. Former First Lady Michelle Obama says she cried uncontrollably when she boarded Air Force One for the last time on January 20, 2017. In a clip in "Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast," Obama described her experience on former President Donald Trump's inauguration day. A preview audio clip from the podcast was released on SoundCloud on Monday. "When those doors shut, I cried for 30 minutes. Straight, uncontrollable sobbing, because that's how much we were holding it together for eight years," she said, describing what it was like boarding Air Force One for the last time at Joint Base Andrews. Obama also talked about what it was like having to attend then-President-elect Trump's inauguration ceremony. "There were tears, there was that emotion. But then to sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display there was no diversity, there was no color on that stage," Obama said. "There was no reflection of the broader sense of America." "And many people took pictures of me and they're like, 'You weren't in a good mood?' No, I was not! But you had to hold it together, like you do for eight years," Obama added. In July 2019, Obama said in an interview with CBS host Gayle King that having to attend Trump's inauguration as one of the few people of color there was "a lot, emotionally." Four years after he took office, Trump became one of the few presidents to skip his successor's inauguration. He left the White House on the morning of January 20, 2021, on Marine One, to fly to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Representatives for Obama did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider DETROIT (AP) Prosecutors on Tuesday defended charges against the parents of a teenager who killed four students at a Michigan school in 2021, telling an appeals court that extreme drawings and the boy's fascination with guns should have been a wake-up call on the day of the shootings. A three-judge panel heard arguments in a groundbreaking case that could send James and Jennifer Crumbley to prison if they're eventually convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan Crumbley at Oxford High School. Ethan, 16, has pleaded guilty to terrorism and murder and could be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Charging the parents of a shooter is rare and, frankly, it should be, said Joseph Shada, an assistant prosecutor in Oakland County. It should be reserved for an egregious set of circumstances, an extreme set of facts. The Crumbleys have been ordered to trial in suburban Detroit, though the case was suspended in November when the Michigan Supreme Court called a timeout and told the appeals court to take a look at the charges. The appeals court challenged lawyers on both sides but seemed to sharply question the couple's lawyers more. There were warning signs all over the place. ... At the end of the day, arent we looking at foreseeability more than anything else to determine whether there can be criminal liability that attaches? Judge Chris Yates said. Judge Michael Riordan noted that James Crumbley bought the gun for Ethan, who was 15 at the time. Judge Christopher Murray said the first thing the father did when he heard about the shooting was go back home and see if the gun was there. Earlier on the day of shooting, the Crumbleys were summoned to school for a meeting. A teacher had discovered a drawing with a gun pointing at the words: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. The school apparently didn't demand that the Crumbleys take Ethan home. He subsequently killed four students and wounded seven other people with a gun that was in his backpack. Story continues There were a number of ways in which they could have exercised ordinary care to prevent this, Shada said. They could have checked to see if he had the gun they just gifted him days earlier. They could have simply taken him home from school. ... They did none of them. Defense attorney Mariell Lehman said the school's concern on the day of the shooting was that Ethan might harm himself, not others, and should not go home to an empty house. It was not foreseeable from the drawings on that homework that he was going to later carry out the premeditated murders of those students, Lehman said. Co-counsel Shannon Smith had a similar message, saying it was nowhere on their radar. I will concede that these parents made tremendously bad decisions," Smith said. But criminal trials for criminal culpability are not based on whether parents make the right decisions." Riordan said the case is being closely watched. There are a lot of families with kids who might not be as stable as the parents would like them to be, the judge said. What's going to be the guidepost that we lay out for other cases to follow? Is it the kid's bullied in school, comes home complaining about that lock up all the guns? Is it the kid seems down, make sure the kid doesn't go to school? ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez A handful of members of the Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center picketed the closing of the Naperville facility on Brom Drive over the weekend. The health system said the center is closing as of April 1 so the site can be used for other patient care services. (Steve Shamrock) Naperville resident Don Orchard and his wife joined Edward Hospitals Health & Fitness Center before it was built in 1988. The couple visited a construction trailer at 775 Brom Drive and liked the Naperville hospitals commitment to wellness, Orchard said. When they began using the facility, they liked seeing their doctors and other hospital staff exercising along with them at the first medically based fitness center in DuPage County, he said. Advertisement It created a camaraderie, and the sense that the hospital truly promoted healthy lifestyles, he said. People look at it as an institution, Orchard said. This is part of the fabric of the town. Advertisement But now he and others feel betrayed and abandoned, he said, after Edward-Elmhurst Healths executive leadership team announced last week that the center was closing April 1 so the site could be used for additional patient care services. No information was provided as to what will be filling the space. People are pretty upset, Orchard said. Naperville resident Steve Shamrock was so unhappy he started an online Change.org petition, Keep Edward-Elmhurst Fitness Center Open, which had collected more than 2,300 signatures as of Tuesday. He and a handful of people picketed outside the Naperville fitness center over the weekend. Shamrock, a center member for 15 years, said because so many people have been working out there together for years, its almost like a family. Whats really rankling people is that there was no community input whatsoever. It just strikes as just completely out of touch, he said. If the hospital system had given people more than a few weeks notice, members might have had time to adjust, Shamrock said. Now they want answers as to why members opinions werent sought. Edward-Elmhurst Health officials, speaking in an emailed statement, said since announcing the closure, theyve heard from a number of community members and appreciate the feedback theyve shared and the connection many of them have to the center. The decision to close the facility stemmed in part from COVID-19 pandemic, which created challenges for fitness facilities nationwide as members looked for and have continued with fitness options at home or elsewhere, the statement said. Advertisement Our membership at the two Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness locations is down nearly 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels and weekly member visits have decreased more than 15% over the same time frame, officials said. We want our members to know this was not a decision we made lightly, and we remain extremely committed to working with them to meet their health and wellness needs at our Seven Bridges location, officials said. Members can switch to their Seven Bridges health club, which is about 15 minutes to the east at 6600 S. Route 53 in Woodridge. It opened in 1997. I wont be going over to Seven Bridges, Orchard said. Besides the added distance, he said, the Naperville fitness center has a much different vibe than Seven Bridges. Families tend to prefer the Woodridge facility because it offers childrens programming whereas the Naperville membership is older and programs are catered to them, Orchard said. Advertisement Not everyone who exercised at the Naperville was physically fit, but they wanted to get healthy, he said. The proximity of the fitness center to Edward Hospital was reassuring should an emergency arise during exercise, which did happen when Orchard worked as the centers assistant director from 2000 to 2008, he said. Theres a lot of elderly that come in with walkers, crutches, you name it, Shamrock said. The Martin Avenue Apartments, which offers subsidized senior housing, is adjacent to the center so many residents there use it, he said. Shamrock swims because of arthritis, and the Naperville pool is very easy for anyone, even disabled adults, to exit, he said. Its also a short trip to the locker room. The lap pool at Seven Bridges is smaller and harder to get out of, he said, and its a hike to the locker rooms. Advertisement Its really far and so, if youre elderly, theres no way to get to it. Its going to be very painful, Shamrock said. Many elderly members use aquatics for cardio and therapy because it is their only choice, he said. Another concern is getting practice time for the Naperville Waves Masters Swim Club, which currently has hours at both the Naperville and Woodridge pools. Its already challenging to get pool time, said Shamrock, whose wife swims with the club. Edward-Elmhurst officials said schedules for land-based and aquatic classes and Waves master swim program classes at Seven Bridges are being expanded and will be available in mid-March. In addition, officials said all four of the Seven Bridges pools are designed for accessibility, including ADA-compliant pool lifts that lower and raise members into and out of the water from the pool deck as well as therapy and lap pools with graduated steps to enter the water so a ladder is not needed. Advertisement The move to close the fitness center, Shamrock said, sends a message that Edward-Elmhurst Health prioritizes profits over health by reallocating space used for preventative services for those in which people are already sick and need treatment. Orchard said he believes the health system sold out Naperville fitness center members because sick people generate more revenue than healthy ones. Obviously if its about the money, its about the money, he said. subaker@tribpub.com Former vice president Mike Pence has filed a motion asking a judge to block a federal grand-jury subpoena for his testimony relating to January 6. His legal team is arguing that he is protected by the Constitutions speech or debate clause. A source told CNN that the motion was filed Friday night. Special counsel Jack Smith is seeking documents and testimony related to January 6, 2021, and wants Pence to testify about his interactions with Trump leading up to the 2020 election and the day of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November to oversee the investigation into the alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and Trumps alleged mishandling of classified documents. Whereas many would expect Pence to assert executive privilege as a former member of the second branch, Pences team has decided to go a different route, claiming legislative privilege. According to his team, Pence was also acting as president of the Senate on January 6, meaning he is shielded by the Constitutions speech-or-debate clause, which protects lawmakers from certain law-enforcement actions targeted at their legislative duties. As president of the Senate, the vice president breaks ties when the chamber is deadlocked. Every four years in January, he or she also leads the electoral-vote count that facilitates the transfer of power from one administration to the next. It is admittedly a constitutionally murky area with no clear outcome, explained political scientist Mark Rozell to Politico. Since there is a legislative function involved in the vice president presiding over the Senate, a court very well could decide that it must address the scope of the speech or debate privilege and whether it would apply in this case. Efforts to resist the subpoena could be complicated by the release of Pences memoir detailing his interactions with Trump leading up to January 6. His team previously indicated to the Justice Department that hed be open to answering questions if they were limited to the matters he had previously discussed publicly. Story continues Also on Friday, former president Donald Trump filed a separate, sealed motion attempting to prevent Pence from speaking to a grand jury on certain matters related to the probe on the grounds of executive privilege, as first reported by CNN. The motion argues that the president can shield aides from sharing internal communications. However, some observers say Pences motion may prove to be more effective. Executive privilege has limits that can be overcome in criminal proceedings, while protections from the Constitutions speech-or-debate clause have remained mostly impenetrable. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard arguments in February in a similar case. Representative Scott Perry (R., Pa.) is attempting to shield access to his cellphone from January 6 investigators. He too is asserting legislative privilege. More from National Review This image provided by the Alexandria, Va., Sheriff's Office of Hatchet Speed. Speed, a military veteran accused of telling an undercover FBI agent about a plan to This image provided by the Alexandria, Va., Sheriff's Office of Hatchet Speed. Speed, a military veteran accused of telling an undercover FBI agent about a plan to "wipe out" the nation's Jewish population, was convicted on Tuesday of storming the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. (Alexandria Sheriff's Office via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) A military veteran accused of telling an undercover FBI agent about a plan to wipe out the nations Jewish population was convicted on Tuesday of storming the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. A federal judge heard trial testimony without a jury before convicting Virginia resident Hatchet Speed, a former U.S. Naval reservist who was assigned to an agency that operates spy satellites. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden is scheduled to sentence Speed on May 8 for his role in a mobs attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. McFadden convicted Speed of all five charges in his indictment, including a felony count of obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. The judge also convicted Speed of four misdemeanors. The FBI recorded Speeds conversations with the undercover agent more than a year after the riot. Speed told the agent that he marched to the Capitol with members of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group, authorities said. Speed also spewed antisemitic rhetoric linked to his dislike for government, according to prosecutors. They argued that Speeds hateful ideology helps explain why he joined the Capitol attack. Speed was deeply worried about a Biden presidency and believed false claims that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from Donald Trump, the Republican incumbent, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. They said Speed expressed his admiration for Adolf Hitler and told the undercover agent that he believes Jewish people control Biden, a Democrat. Story continues Speed saw the Jews as everywhere, fighting to destroy Christians, and he was not willing to sit by, prosecutors wrote. McFadden said the limited trial testimony about Speeds antisemitism wasnt a factor in his verdict. But the judge cited statements that Speed made about Jan. 6 in support of his conviction on the obstruction charge. His own words show the defendants actions were knowing and willful, the judge said. Speed was arrested in June 2022 on riot-related misdemeanor charges. A grand jury later indicted him on the felony obstruction charge. On Jan. 6, Speed drove to Washington, D.C, from his home in Vienna, Virginia. After attending the Stop the Steal rally, where Trump addressed a crowd of supporters, Speed joined the mob that attacked the Capitol. Around 3 p.m., Speed entered the building through a door to the Senate wing of the Capitol after other rioters breached it. He remained inside the Capitol for roughly 40 minutes. After leaving, he texted another rioter that he had backed out after hearing that the vote had been postponed. In other words, prosecutors wrote, because Speed thought he succeeded in obstructing the certification, he left the U.S. Capitol Building. An undercover FBI agent, posing as a like-minded individual, met with Speed at least three times in March 2022 and April 2022. The FBI recorded their discussions of his motives and actions on Jan. 6. Speed wanted to stop that certification. He left the U.S. Capitol only because he believed he succeeded in that effort, prosecutors wrote. During the recorded conversations, Speed also outlined a plan to enlist Christians to wipe out the countrys entire Jewish population. To defeat the Jewish threat and topple the government, Speed told the (agent) that a violent response was necessary and that the Jews stood in the way, prosecutors wrote. Speed began panic buying thousands of dollars worth of firearms and silencers in February 2021, prosecutors wrote. They said Speed later told the agent that he had a plan to kidnap and disappear his enemies after mock trials, and he thought the silencers could come in useful for the effort. The undercover agent testified under a pseudonym at a separate trial for Speed in Virginia on gun charges. After a retrial in January, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Virginia convicted Speed of three counts of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm silencer. He is sentenced to be sentenced for those convictions on April 13. Speeds attorneys accused prosecutors of treating him like a political puppet. They also accused the Justice Department of engaging in last-minute gamesmanship, bringing the felony obstruction charge in Speeds Washington case only after his first trial in Virginia ended in December with a deadlocked jury and a mistrial. Because the government failed to convince a jury of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt under the crimes alleged, the government simply chose to allege more crimes, they wrote in a court filing. Prosecutors said they decided to bring the obstruction charge as they began preparing for trial in earnest. This is not a vindictive prosecution. It is a well-founded one, they wrote. Speed was a petty officer first class in the U.S. Naval Reserves and was assigned to the Naval Warfare Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office, the FBI said. The National Reconnaissance Office operates U.S. spy satellites used by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. The agency said Speed was not part of the reserve unit at the time of the Jan. 6 riot. Ten more German-made Leopard 2 tanks would arrive in Ukraine this week, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said at a news conference on March 7, cited by Reuters. Poland has led Western efforts in providing Ukraine with modern Leopard main battle tanks, having delivered the first batch on Feb. 24. In total, Warsaw pledged to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks. The Polish defense minister also told reporters that his country was ready to launch a maintenance center for Leopard tanks transferred to Ukraine. Ahead of a meeting of European Union defense ministers in Sweden, Blaszczak said he would talk to his German counterpart Boris Pistorius about "the low availability of spare parts for Leopard tanks." According to Blaszczak, this problem could be tackled mainly by the German arms industry, but Poland is also ready to manufacture the spare parts. Pistorius said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk on Feb. 26 that NATO could likely provide Ukraine with a total of 62 German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks. After months of delay, Germany finally agreed to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allowed the re-export of the same models from other countries on Jan. 25. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is one step closer to being back under state control after a bill was approved by the Missouri House Monday, only a decade after the city regained control of its police. The bill, sponsored by St. Louis Republican Rep. Brad Christ, would place control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in the hands of a police board of commissioners, which would be made up of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, a former Democratic member of the Missouri House, and four commissioners appointed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson. The makeup of the board would be nearly identical to the one that controls the Kansas City Police Department, which is a rare setup and often a contentious topic. Kansas City is the only city in Missouri with a police department controlled by the state. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and several Kansas City area lawmakers and leaders have been pushing for more local control of the citys police department, but have been largely unsuccessful. The effort to place St. Louis police back under state control will certainly diminish the likelihood of Kansas City regaining control of its police department with the current legislature. Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, a St. Louis Democrat, said it is important to acknowledge the history of police boards in Missouri, which were created in Civil War-era racism. She also pointed out that St. Louis mayor is a Black woman and the city has a high population of Black residents. This bill within itself is infringing directly on the rights of people of the City of St. Louis in order to vote, Bosley said. Rep. Barbara Phifer, a St. Louis Democrat, said she was opposed to the bill because there was no evidence presented that showed shifting control would actually solve the problem of violence in the city. I think everybody here would agree we have a problem with violence in the City of St. Louis, Phifer said. No one has given us any evidence that this bill would help correct the problem. Story continues While debating the bill on March 1, Rep. Rasheen Aldrige, a St. Louis Democrat, questioned if state control would really help stop crime, and pointed out the three Kansas City police officers that were shot and injured Feb. 28 while executing a search warrant as an example of crime levels in a city where police are controlled by a state board of commissioners. Kansas City also had 171 killings in 2022, making it the second deadliest year for the city. The record for deadliest year was set in 2020 when 182 people were killed. Aldridge pointed out that several of the lawmakers sponsoring versions of this legislation dont live in St. Louis. He suggested they reach out to the lawmakers from St. Louis to collaborate on how best to handle crime in the city. Christ said the bill is intended to curb crime in a city he said has been inundated with violence. During the Feb. 28 debate, he discussed issues like long wait times for first responders and businesses being hesitant to open in the city as pressing consequences of the crime. Its insane how bad the crime situation has become in St. Louis, Christ said. However, violent crime declined in St. Louis between 2020 and 2021, according to data from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A group of bipartisan legislators are "deeply concerned" about how thousands of errors ended up permanently etched into a Korean War memorial meant to honor the more than 36,000 service members who died during the conflict. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance -- a $22 million project unveiled last summer -- contains more than one thousand spelling mistakes, incorrectly includes nearly 250 troops who died outside of the conflict, and omits about 500 others who should be on it, according to the independent Korean War Project, numbers first published by The New York Times. "Errors of this magnitude should not have made it past the initial blueprints, much less carved into stone, and certainly not erected and unveiled to the public," six lawmakers from both chambers of Congress wrote in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last week. "We find these errors deeply concerning and write to seek accountability on how the Remembrance Wall's glaring flaws went unnoticed until post-construction." Read Next: Top Ohio Guard General Keeps Job After Shoving Reporter The call for accountability included a request for a formal explanation from the Defense Department about how the errors came to be, due by the end of the month. The letter pointed to previous legislation meant to establish the Remembrance Wall, which directed the DoD to "transmit a complete, accurate list based on such criteria to the Department of the Interior" for its construction. That apparently did not occur. "We find it unfortunate that what should have been a touching tribute for bereaved family members and a grateful nation has turned into an embarrassing gaffe," the letter said. Military Times was first to report in 2021 that the Korean War Project, a database of Korean War casualties run by two Dallas-based brothers, Hal and Ted Barker, had warned that the soon-to-be constructed memorial would have errors. Story continues The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, the nonprofit charged with building the memorial, used data from the Defense Department, which was never scrubbed of errors, according to The New York Times. "That stone needs to be fixed," Neil Thorne, an Army veteran and volunteer military historian, told Military.com on Tuesday. "Moreover, though, I would say you have a database problem." Thorne, who processes paperwork for lost medals for veterans and was recently credited with recreating the documentation for Col. Paris Davis that finally led to his receiving the Medal of Honor on Friday, pointed to several possible reasons for the errors, including that the DoD may have misread the original records during transcription or that the records could have been put together by hand. "In World War II, Korea, Vietnam -- you're also dealing with clerk typists who are drafted, many of them, and they're there for two to three years and done," he said. "So even if it's a modern problem with interpreting the records, it also may be further back in how it was recorded at the time." The lawmakers -- who include House Committee on Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers; ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Roger Wicker; Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.; and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. -- called for the Pentagon to furnish a plan to "provide a revised and accurate list of names" to the Department of the Interior and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. "We must take the necessary steps to correct the issue, find the communication and research flaws that caused the errors, and ensure such errors are never repeated," the letter said. -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. Related: More Than 43,000 Names -- US and Korean -- on New Wall of Remembrance at Korea War Memorial Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday issued a rare rebuke of Fox News after one of its hosts downplayed the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, McConnell said his partys favorite cable network erred in its airing of Capitol security footage from that day on conservative host Tucker Carlsons program Monday night. Carlson claimed the violent attack on the Capitol was overhyped, pointing to cherry-picked footage of Donald Trump supporters calmly walking through the Capitol. It was a mistake for Fox News to depict this in a way thats completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks, McConnell said Tuesday, holding up a letter from the head of the Capitol Police that he said correctly summed up the events. Capitol Police Chief Tom Mangers letter to his department said the Fox News report was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions about the attack, in which more than 140 police officers were injured after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election. I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol Police about what happened on Jan. 6, McConnell said Tuesday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Fox News on Tuesday for the misleading footage of Jan. 6, 2021, shown on Tucker Carlson's show Monday night. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Fox News on Tuesday for the misleading footage of Jan. 6, 2021, shown on Tucker Carlson's show Monday night. It is very rare for McConnell to bring up, unprompted, anything having to do with Trump and the Jan. 6 insurrection. Its even more unusual for him to criticize a GOP-friendly network on which he often appears. Other GOP senators also ripped Carlson on Tuesday after he attempted to whitewash the Jan. 6 riot. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called it bullshit; Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said the event was clearly more than a peaceful protest of some rowdy boy scouts; and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) called the events of Jan. 6 an abomination. Story continues McConnells decision to call out Fox News stands in sharp contrast to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who gave Carlson exclusive access to the Capitol security footage. The speaker has yet to address Fox News use of the footage. Last week, McCarthy defended his decision to grant Carlson access to the footage. It almost seems like the press is jealous, he told The Washington Post. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, called on Fox News chief Rupert Murdoch to stop Carlson from airing more falsehoods about the Jan. 6 attack on Tuesday evening. I dont think Ive ever seen an anchor treat the American people, and American democracy, with such disdain, Schumer said of Carlson. And hes going to come back tonight with another segment. Fox News should tell him not to. Fox News Rupert Murdoch tell Mr. Carlson not to run a second segment of lies. You know its a lie. Youve admitted its a lie. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell holds up a letter from the Capitol Police chief at a press conference on March 7, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Mitch McConnell slammed Fox News for airing Tucker Carlson's misleading portrayal of January 6. He held up a letter from the Capitol Police chief calling the depiction "offensive and misleading." But he notably declined to fault House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for handing over the footage. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday issued a rare rebuke to Fox News for airing selectively edited footage of the January 6 assault on the Capitol on Tucker Carlson's show on Monday night. At the top of his weekly press conference at the Capitol, McConnell produced a print-out of an internal letter from US Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manager describing the footage as "offensive and misleading." "With regard to the presentation on Fox News last night, I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of Capitol Police about what happened on January 6," said McConnell. But he later declined to criticize House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for handing over 40,000 hours of footage to Carlson in the first place. "My concern is how it was depicted, which is a different issue," he said. "It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way that's completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks." Pressed further, McConnell again declined to fault McCarthy. "Now, you all know I have many faults, but one of them is not answering the question in a way that I don't want to answer it," he quipped. McConnell took a similar tack when asked about the issue last week, notably declining to offer commentary on McCarthy's move while reiterating several times that his "main concern is the security of the Capitol." Most other Republicans reserved judgment as well, praising the release of the footage as a victory for transparency while calling for broader distribution of the material to other news outlet. Story continues But this week, several Senate Republicans blasted the depiction of the footage, with Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina telling reporters that Carlson's portrayal was "bullshit." Democrats, for their part, have been staunchly critical of the decision. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at his press conference on Tuesday that Carlson's segment was "one of the most shameful hours we have ever seen in the history of the entire history of cable television." "Tucker Carlson is a propagandist publicly pretending to be a newsman," said Schumer. Manger's letter, a copy of which was obtained by Insider, specifically rebutted a series of claims Carlson made on his show on Monday night, including that officers acted as "tour guides" for rioters. "You fought like hell on January 6 and risked your lives to protect the Constitution and everything this country stands for," said Manger. "You, along with our law enforcement partners, saved every Member of Congress and their staff." "TV commentary will not record the truth for our history books. The justice system will. The truth and justice are on our side," Manger also wrote. Read the original article on Business Insider A man is in custody after he was accused of kidnapping his boss, killing her and throwing her in a Georgia river, news outlets report. Erica Atkins, 40, was first reported missing early in the morning March 5, The Eatonton Messenger reported. Ten hours later, a fisherman called the Jones County Sheriffs Office to report that he had seen a body while fishing on Cedar Creek. As deputies responded to the body in the creek, a report went out about a possible kidnapping in Locust Grove, about 40 miles southwest, The Eatonton Messenger reported. Officials determined the body in the river and the missing person were both Atkins, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills told the Union Recorder. Locust Grove Police Chief Derrick Austin told The Eatonton Messenger one of Atkins employees, 38-year-old Romero Johnson of Norman, Oklahoma, had been taken into custody. Austin told the news outlet Johnson and Atkins were friends and coworkers. Locust Grove police told the Union Recorder they believe Johnson kidnapped and killed Atkins at her home before driving her body through multiple counties headed east. They accused Johnson of then dumping her body in Cedar Creek along the highway. Johnson was arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder, and was booked in Henry County Jail, according to WSB-TV. Police did not share a motive for the killing. McClatchy News reached out to police for comment, but did not receive a response. Atkins was a mother and the owner of Birdsong Books, a bookstore in Locust Grove that specializes in new [and] used books ranging from fiction, non-fiction, children, African-American, and Christian living, according to the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau. There has been an outpouring of messages on social media for Atkins and her family, and she was a beloved member of her community. We will never forget your luminous light. You shined so very much! fellow business owner Shanna Amoah posted on her Facebook page. May your legacy of service and community, continue on. Story continues She was an awesome woman to work with and loved what she did with Birdsong Books, the McDonough Mistletoe Market, where Atkins was a vendor, shared on its Facebook page. Atkins leaves behind multiple children, the youngest of whom is 10 years old, according to The Eatonton Messenger. Locust Grove is 36 miles southeast of Atlanta. Body of Georgia man missing during business trip found rolled in a rug, officials say Missing moms boyfriend stole her disabled sons benefits after she vanished, feds say Womans suspicious death aboard Carnival cruise ship under FBI investigation, feds say Father and son shot to death at their car dealership, South Carolina cops say A man is in custody after being accused of driving away from a car crash that killed a mother and her 3-year-old daughter in West Virginia, police said. Sara Pettry, 30, was driving on March 5 with her 3-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, and two other children when they were involved in a two-vehicle crash, according to a West Virginia State Police news release on March 7 and family. Police said the other car, a gold Lincoln SUV, drove away from the accident. Officials did not disclose the cause of the crash. Pettry and her daughter died at the scene, and a 7-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy were taken to hospitals, according to police. State police were able to reconstruct the scene of the crash and identified the other driver as 54-year-old Kevin Graybeal. Graybeal was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, reckless driving, driving suspended, obstructing an officer and assault, according to the release. Police said after being arrested, Graybeal was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries they believe he received in the crash. Loved ones have shared their condolences on social media for the loss of Pettry and her daughter. She will be missed so so much (and) Ill miss her randomly texting me to just talk and going over in the summer to let our babies play, Pettrys cousin Laura Jeffries posted on her Facebook page. I still feel like this is a dream, I cant believe this has even happened. Willie lost his beautiful wife and little daughter in a horrific car crash last night on his birthday, another family member posted. They asked for financial support for Willie as he learns to navigate life without them while raising his other two girls. Pettry was a mother of three girls and a resident of Naoma, around 50 miles south of Charleston. Mom and bookstore owner kidnapped and killed by one of her employees, Georgia cops say Parents hid body of 16-year-old son they said ran away, Arizona sheriff says 2-year-old dies after his dad forgets him in car for hours, Florida police say Husband and wife die when deputy chasing another car hits their truck, NC cops say Chef Dan Moody poses at the new Smokeshow BBQ at 22 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville. Featuring smoked meats as well as vegan options, the American barbecue restaurant is the latest offering from Scott Harris Hospitality. (Scott Harris Hospitality) Customers visiting the new Smokeshow BBQ in downtown Naperville will get the feeling like theyre in their familys back yard having a great barbecue and a good time, chef and pitmaster Dan Moody says. Smokeshow BBQ at 22 E. Chicago Ave. in the River District dining and shopping center is the latest restaurant from the Scott Harris Hospitality group, joining Fat Rosies, La Sorella di Francesca and Vasillis and the soon-to-open Davanti Enoteca. Advertisement Before launching Smokeshow, Moody said he visited and sampled a lot of area barbecue restaurants to get a feel for the market. This place was really good with food; this place had a really good vibe. But no one had that complete package, he said. Advertisement Smokeshow is the best of both worlds, said Moody, who has been the culinary director for Scott Harris Hospitality for more than four years. Chef Dan Moody, pit master at Smokeshow BBQ in downtown Naperville, shows some of the smoked products he serves at his new restaurant, including vegan options like smoked jackfruit on the left. (Scott Harris Hospitality) Moodys had an interest in barbecue since he was a child that grew into a hobby as he got older, he said. Its just always been something thats kind of fascinated me, watching stuff on TV and all the backyard barbecues we did when I was younger. It just kind of stirs like the small passion, he said. It wasnt until he starting talking with Scott Harris Hospitality a few months ago about his ideas that Moody was able to turn that hobby into a business. His goal is for Smokeshow customers to experience mouthwatering, American barbecue the entire family will enjoy, he said. The menu features a variety of meats beef brisket, pastrami, pulled pork, spare ribs, house bacon and chicken that are smoked anywhere from six to 12 hours. Theres a big difference between barbecue and grilling, he said. People often confuse rubbing sauce on grilled chicken as barbecue. Advertisement Smokeshow focuses on the rub before the meat is smoked in a blend of hickory, cherry and oak woods. When we do it, the barbecue sauce should be an afterthought. You should enjoy the meat for the flavor of that meat or the ribs for the ribs, Moody said. Thats where good Texas barbecue is today. They really want you to focus on the quality of the meat, how tender it is, how juicy it is. And then if you want a little sauce to change up a bite here and there, thats what its there for, he said. For vegans, Moody smokes a jackfruit that creates a dish like a pulled pork sandwich. Fresh jackfruit is processed and tossed with a little bit of oil followed by one of the restaurants signature rubs used for barbecue pork. Then we smoke it (for two hours) in a separate smoker so that theres no cross contamination, he said. Advertisement The same wood blend is used, bringing in the flavor and the caramelization that pitmasters get from a smoker. No meal would be complete without side dishes, and those include coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, waffle fries and house pickles. The restaurant also will have a kids menu with burger or pulled pork sliders, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese. A full bar features cocktails and a variety of draft beers, including Shiner Bock and Lone Star, as well as nonalcoholic options, such as root beer, sweet tea and nitro cold brew. subaker@tribpub.com The author's twins Courtesy of Conz Preti On Twitter, an Argentine mom shared that she couldn't tell her twin babies apart. She took them to the police for fingerprints to figure out who is who. As a twin parent, I made sure to always know who was who when mine were newborns. In early March, Sofi Rodriguez tweeted that she had to take her twins to the police station for fingerprints. She couldn't tell her identical twins apart and needed help figuring out who was who. Rodriguez joked she was winning the "Best Mom" award of the year. Her viral tweet amassed over 350,000 likes and over 24,000 retweets, including other twin parents and twins sharing similar stories. Someone replied to Rodriguez's tweet saying that he and his identical brother used to have bracelets to identify them. One baby wore it on his right hand and the other on his left. One day their bracelets fell off and their parents put them back on without knowing who was who. "He could be me and I could be him," he said. As a twin parent, I can relate. I was terrified of confusing my newborn daughters when they were born. But I had my own methods to tell them apart. How I told my identical twins apart I knew my twins were identical before they were born. Because I was over 35 when I got pregnant, I took genetic testing to ensure everything was OK with my unborn daughters. One of those tests determined that they were genetically identical. My initial plan was to pierce their ears when they were born, a tradition in Argentina, and have them wear different colored earrings. But my babies were born in New York City, and the nurses at the hospital said they couldn't pierce newborn ears. When we were discharged, I decided to keep their bracelet tags with "Baby A" and "Baby B" for as long as possible. But that plan backfired because they were gaining weight steadily, and the bracelets were tight on their tiny wrists and needed to be cut off. I decided to buy organic, child-safe nail polish and paint one of the twins' toenails blue, and the other pink. Story continues Courtesy of Conz Preti While that did the trick, spending time with them made me realize I could tell them apart without the nail polish. To me, they looked different from each other, despite everyone saying they were identical. As their mom, I noticed that their ears and hairline were different and that one had a tiny birthmark which eventually disappeared. When we took them for their first haircut, one requested bangs and the other didn't, so now everyone can tell them apart easily. A midwife shares her tips for twin parents I reached out to Allison LaCross, a midwife who has attended over 1,000 births, including several sets of twins, to see if what I did made sense. She says that once the babies are born at a hospital, nurses will put different hats on the babies or mark them with "Baby A" and "Baby B" depending on the order they were born. In my case, only Baby A had a marked hat with a sharpie. "We often recommend keeping these items or choosing one color scheme per child to take the guess-work out of 'who is who?'" LaCross said. If a color scheme seems too limiting or redundant, LaCross says that painting the babies' toenails is safe as long as it's done with nontoxic nail polish. She also recommends being intentional about the spaces babies spend time in, like putting one baby always on the left side bassinet and the other always on the right, or choosing a side on the stroller for each and sticking to it. I do this with my twins and their car seats and haven't ever switched sides in three years. New parenting can feel like a haze, and LaCross says these small things can make a difference. "As they grow and you get to know your children better, there will be subtle mannerisms, physical features, or personality differences that will help you distinguish one from the other," she said. This is true for my twins. While physically identical, their personalities could not be more different. One of my girls is a daredevil and very independent, while the other wants to cuddle all day and is super gentle. All parents of twins know that at some point in your life, you will call your child by the other twin's names. Even when I know who is who, in the chaos of parenting multiple children, I sometimes go through the list of all the household's names before getting it right. Read the original article on Insider Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mon.) posed for a picture with members of the far-right neo-Nazi movement last week, but he says he did not know who the individuals were at the time. A photo taken March 1 in front of the Capitol shows Rosendale posing with Ryan Sanchez, who was part of a white supremacist group, and Greyson Arnold, a pro-Nazi podcaster and blogger who was at the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. The photo gained traction on social media, causing the lawmaker to speak out. I absolutely condemn and have zero tolerance for hate groups, hate speech, and violence. I did not take a meeting with these individuals, Rosendale said in an email to The Billings Gazette. I was asked for a photo while walking between hearings, accommodating as I do for all photo requests, and was not aware of the individuals identity or affiliation with these hate groups that stand in stark contrast to my personal beliefs. Rosendale has faced scrutiny in the past for his connections to fringe groups on the right. In 2014, a photo was taken of him speaking at an Oath Keepers rally in Montana. The leader of that group, Stewart Rhodes, was convicted last year of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol riot; he has yet to be sentenced. Rosendale voted to oppose the certification of election results from a number of states, amid pressure from then-President Trump to overturn the 2020 election because of baseless claims that the contest was stolen from him. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Mike Collett-White and Stefaniia Bern KYIV -At a memorial service on Tuesday for four Ukrainians killed last year while carrying out a raid on Russian territory, ordinary soldiers rubbed shoulders with volunteer fighters of the Brotherhood Battalion to which those killed belonged. The ceremony, at the historic gold-domed St. Michael's cathedral in central Kyiv, underlined the unclear relationship between irregular groups and Ukraine's formal armed forces fighting against Russia. The groups' role in the war is the focus of increasing scrutiny, after several videos purporting to show cross-border sabotage raids into Russian territory have surfaced and the Kremlin has raised the alarm over the security threat. Reuters has not independently verified the videos. Russian President Vladimir Putin has branded the saboteurs as "terrorists" and urged his security services to bolster defences along the frontier. The four members of the Brotherhood Battalion later buried in Kyiv were Yurii Horovets, 34, Taras Karpiuk, 38, Maksym Mykhailov, 32 and Bohdan Liagov, 19. They were killed on Dec. 25 last year, according to Russia's FSB security service, which said at the time that they were armed with foreign-made guns and four improvised explosive devices. Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the raid then, and have subsequently denied involvement in attacks claimed by Ukrainian-based groups on Russian soil. Last week, for example, a different group called the Russian Volunteer Corps led by a Russian nationalist in exile who opposes Putin's rule, said it had briefly taken control of a small border village. Putin denounced that attack in a televised address, saying: "We will crush them". Ukraine portrayed it as a false "provocation" by Russia to justify its full-scale invasion. Later the same day four members of Russia's National Guard were wounded when their car ran over a mine in the village of Sushany, just across the border from Ukraine, said Alexander Khinstein, a senior federal parliamentarian. Story continues The raids present Kyiv with a dilemma. If regular forces were involved, it would represent a significant escalation in a war that has so far been fought almost exclusively on Ukrainian soil. But Ukrainian officials have also cast the attacks, which have so far involved small armed groups on limited missions, as a sign Russians may take up arms against their leaders. "Maybe Russians will begin to wake up," Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov said in response to the operation claimed by the Russian Volunteer Corps. Ukraine is believed to have struck deep inside Russia on several occasions using drones, though officials decline to confirm them. 'PAIN AND PRIDE' At the memorial for the Brotherhood fighters, whose bodies local media said were returned to Ukraine in late February, hundreds of soldiers and civilians crammed into the cathedral's ornate interior to watch priests bless the coffins. Mourners lit candles and a man sobbed over one of the caskets. Outside, as the coffins were being carried into the cathedral, the leader of the nationalist Brotherhood movement which is associated with the Battalion said he felt both "pain and pride". "They were one of the most courageous ones to die in battle," Dmytro Korchynsky, a controversial figure in Ukraine for his ultra-nationalist and devout Orthodox Christian views, told Reuters. "Our aim is to bring the war over to Russian territory. It's bad that the war is currently only on our territory, it has to expand to the enemy's territory as well." Korchynsky was careful to distinguish between the battalion's activities in Ukraine, including areas occupied by Russians - where he said its members coordinate with Ukraine's armed forces - and those on Russian soil. "When we are on Russian territory, we act autonomously," he added. Ukraine's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its relationship with the Brotherhood Battalion, called "Bratstvo" in Ukrainian, and the armed forces. The conservative nationalist Brotherhood movement began around 20 years ago to promote Christian values. Western media reports say it has been active in sometimes dangerous combat missions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Korchynsky said most of the Brotherhood volunteers were Christians, and that the numbers were "constantly growing. "The battalion has several hundred fighters," he said. "We can't disclose precise numbers, as the battalion takes part in investigative and reconnaissance activity." (Reporting by Mike Collett-White and Stefaniia Bern; Editing by Alex Richardson) Credit - Illustration by Richard Mia for TIME Samuel Hammond sits at a cluttered desk in his Washington office, holding up the pamphlet that changed the world. Its a giant space fetus, the think-tank staffer says with a grin. Youre never going to get that from a liberal child-welfare organization. The pamphlet, titled The Conservative Case for a Child Allowance, does indeed show a big pink fetus, silhouetted against a globe and held by a pair of hands. Released in early 2021, the paper features an epigraph from the Book of Psalms: Children are a gift from the Lord. In it, Hammond and his co-author argue that giving cash to parents would strengthen families, bolster the institution of marriage, and reduce abortions, while at the same time boosting the economy and lessening dependence on the state. As the title suggests, its a right-wing argument for a proposal more often associated with the bleeding-heart left. Hammond is a scholar of poverty and welfare policy at the Niskanen Center, a little-known think tank that may be the most interesting institution in D.C. At Niskanens headquarters near Capitol Hill, a small team of wonks is busy cooking up unconventional proposals to address intractable problems. Want to solve climate change? Forget the Green New Deal and focus on building more electric transmission lines. Want to reduce incarceration? Dont defund the policegive them funding to solve crimes. Want to improve access to health care? Slash outdated regulations to increase the supply of doctors. More from TIME Its tempting to think theres no place for serious policy discussion in todays Washington. Politics is all about culture-war theatrics, Congress seems hopelessly stalemated, and the President cant even give a State of the Union address without it devolving into a yelling match. With the 2022 midterm elections bringing back divided government, few in D.C. expect much to come out of a new Congress that will be lucky to raise the debt ceiling without creating an economic catastrophe along the way, much less forge new and innovative approaches. Story continues But under the surface, something curious is happening in the world of American policy. In the wake of the Trump presidency, old ideological lines have melted away, and new space has opened for strange-bedfellows alliances. Conservatives, no longer wedded to abstract ideas of small government, have proposed protectionist boosts to manufacturing. Liberals, their eyes opened to the governments capacity for overreach, have proposed regulatory rollbacks to boost the supply of housing and clean energy. In December, protections for same-sex marriage and an overhaul of the Electoral Count Act both became law with broad bipartisan support, capping a congressional term that also included successful bipartisan legislation on infrastructure, veterans, semiconductors, and gun control. The Niskanen Center, a quirky eight-year-old policy shop with roots on the libertarian right, is both vanguard and driver of this underreported trend. Working outside, or between, the partisan silos in which most D.C. advocates are enmeshed, its gained a reputation on Capitol Hill for unorthodox policy ideas that can bridge left-right divides. Versions of Hammonds child-allowance expansion, for example, were included in both Donald Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and Joe Bidens 2021 American Rescue Plan. The latter expansion has been credited with cutting child poverty nearly in half before it expired, and a further expansion has been proposed by Senator Mitt Romney and two fellow Republicans. Niskanen played a role in many of last years bipartisan successes and has gotten traction with proposals on climate, immigration, and criminal justice. The New York Times columnist David Brooks has hailed Niskanen as one of the most creative think tanks in America today and credited it with helping birth a new center in the fallow fields of American policy thought. The aforementioned pamphlet, titled The Conservative Case for a Child Allowance. The Niskanen Center At a time of polarization, Niskanen has become a home for heterodox thinkers from left and right alike. In its D.C. office suite, a former Bernie Sanders campaign staffer is working on proposals to increase access to health-care and disability benefits by simplifying regulations; at the same time, a former staffer at the libertarian Cato Institute is mapping out new ideas for copyright reform. Niskanens head of immigration policy is a Republican former national-security lawyer; its head of climate previously worked for an environmental group that was accused of racism for supporting a revenue-neutral Washington state climate initiative. The influential center-left writer Matt Yglesias is a Niskanen fellow; the Times columnist Ezra Kleins embrace of supply-side progressivism echoes many Niskanen ideas. Niskanen is one of the most provocative, original players in the think-tank world and the ideas space overall, says Zach Graves, executive director of the Lincoln Network, another heterodox new institute that focuses on technology and innovation. Niskanens emergence in Washington is more than a story about an obscure think tanks fight to make a mark. Its about whether policymakers can pick up the pieces of the old ideologies Trump smashed and reassemble them for a substantive new era. Its about whether ideas have a place in our politics at all, or whether were doomed to division and stasis instead. Liberal democracy is in the balance, right? says Niskanens president, Ted Gayer, an economist who served in the Treasury Department under President George W. Bush. If our government institutions fail, people lose confidence in them. Youre left with populism or youre left with authoritarianism, but youre not left with a governing philosophy that is going to help promote public welfare and help government operate more effectively. Niskanen (pronounced Niss-CAN-enn) was founded in 2014 by Jerry Taylor, one of Washingtons great mad geniuses. A thinker of uncommon intellectual flexibility and charisma, Taylor blazed a 30-year trail through the world of policy thought before flaming out in scandal. But he started out as a conventional movement conservativea wild-eyed Reaganite, as he describes it today. As a college student at the University of Iowa in the 1980s, Taylor worked for the political campaigns of Sen. Chuck Grassley and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. When his college loans ran out, he ditched school and moved to D.C. to work for the American Legislative Exchange Council, the influential pro-business state-level conservative lobbying group. After a few years, he was recruited by Cato to work on environmental issues. Climate change was just starting to come on the public radar as an issue, but it hadnt yet acquired a polarizing left-right valence. (The conservative UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for example, was at that time an early evangelist for addressing global warming.) Taylors job was to change that, convincing right-wingers that the science was a sham and the solutions being proposed would constitute an unwarranted attack on Americans liberty and prosperity. Taylor had no background in the subject, but he read voraciously and had a knack for marshaling evidence to make persuasive arguments. For more than 20 years, he was wildly successful in a role he describes as Catos lead climate denier. The doubts he helped to sow became conventional wisdom on the right, lending ammunition to Republicans who blocked climate action for decades. But over the years, Taylor grew uncertain about his own conclusions. The more he looked at the evidence, the harder he found it to deny that the scientists sounding the alarm about climate were correct. He naively assumed his objective-minded allies in the libertarian movement would, like him, want to follow the data where it led. Instead, he found his views distinctly unwelcome among his colleagues. Taylor left Cato, proclaimed himself a climate hawk, and founded his own think tank. He named it after William Niskanen, a former Reagan economic adviser and Cato co-founder whose 2011 death led to a power struggle in which the Koch brothers sued to seize control of the institute. To inhabitants of the insular world of professional libertarians, the name was an obvious middle finger to Taylors former home. (To everyone else, Niskanen meant nothing; the name remains a puzzling albatross for the organization.) In his new incarnation as a climate denier whod seen the light, Taylor was instantly embraced by the environmental movement. The center was soon flush with money from liberal foundations. Jerry Taylor at the Niskanen Center in Washington, D.C., in April 2017. Greg Kahn Taylor oriented the nascent organization around his broadening doubts about libertarian ideology, which he increasingly saw as overly rigid and fixated on the wrong things. He made common cause with an emerging cohort of thinkers who questioned libertarianisms traditional home on the right side of the political spectrum. Libertarian values could just as easily lead to an embrace of left-wing causes like same-sex marriage and drug decriminalization, but organizations like Cato tended to ignore those issues in favor of a relentless focus on shrinking government. Liberaltarians, led by Taylors former Cato colleague Brink Lindsey, argued that the Bush Administration had betrayed libertarians with its foreign adventurism and big-government excess, and called for a new fusionism of libertarians and the political left. When I met him in 2015, shortly after Niskanens founding, Taylor was fixated on the idea that libertarianisms anti-statism was counterproductive to its supposed project of maximizing individual liberty. The Nordic countries, he pointed out, combine a robust welfare state with a strongly capitalist ethos. (Hammond would later articulate this agenda as the free-market welfare state.) At the time, I found Taylor interesting but not particularly relevant: Niskanen seemed to be serving a niche within a niche. Then Trump was elected, and suddenly Taylor had a lot of company among right-wing apostates. Scores of D.C. conservatives in good standingHill staffers and lobbyists, opinion journalists and advocates, lawyers and party veteransfound themselves politically homeless, appalled by the new Presidents actions. Taylor invited them to Niskanen, where he began hosting a secret, off-the-record weekly gathering called the Meeting of the Concerned. It was sort of comically sad, Bill Kristol, the former Republican commentator and operative, recalls of the meetings early days. As each Republican politician, organization and institution capitulated to Trump, it was like, There goes another one. It was at one of these meetings that Kristol met a young lobbyist named Sarah Longwell. The two would go on to found Defending Democracy Together and the Bulwark, cornerstones of a now-robust center-right anti-Trump infrastructure. The initial panic of the Trump Administration subsided, and the tenor of the groups conversations began to change. As Trumps GOP steadily turned against Republicans like Senators Jeff Flake, Bob Corker and John McCain, Taylor and his allies began to wonder whether their old party could be saved. Democrats had their own extreme elements, they felt, but were also welcoming moderate candidates as the midterms approached. It began to dawn on the group that their allegiance might be misplaced. As late as 2018, no one in that room wanted to come out and say, The only way to save the country is for the Democrats to take power, Taylor tells me in an interview from his home in Utah. Then the dam just broke. The ideological journey that began with the hard right had left Taylor in the center, or perhaps on the center-left. In October 2018, in an essay titled The Alternative to Ideology, he announced he was embracing a new label: moderate. Moderation has a poor image in American politics, he acknowledged, yet moderate politicians tend to be the most popular, and the plurality of voters describe themselves as moderates. The low regard we have for moderation in public life consequently fuels the ideological and partisan zealotry that is tearing this country apart, Taylor wrote, calling for a new politics of compromise marked by humility, prudence, pragmatism, and a conservative temperament. One area where he saw the need for moderation was climate. In the early 2000s, members of both parties were open to market-based approaches to reducing carbon emissions, such as cap-and-trade. But those glimmers of bipartisanship faded over the next decade. Conservatives, bolstered by Taylors Cato-era talking points, became resolutely hostile to any sort of action on an issue they saw as phony. (Taylors brother, James Taylor, played a key role in that effort as president of the pro-industry Heartland Institute, which continues to downplay the threat of climate change.) Meanwhile, a new generation of radical climate activists on the left viewed capitalism itself as part of the problem. Read More: The Sunrise Movement Rethinks Its Strategy. Taylor, who founded Niskanen in part to push for a carbon tax, believed his new friends on the left were getting dangerously off course. When the Green New Deal was put forward, I was just appalled, Taylor says. If youre going to tell me I cant be for climate action unless Im for universal education through grad school, free housing, every last paragraph of the [Democratic Socialists of America] platform, thats nuts. Taylor believed his view was widely shared in mainstream environmental circles, but no one wanted to say it for fear of criticizing an ally. In March 2019, he published a 30,000-word critique of the Green New Deal. The essay soured some liberal donors on Niskanen, Taylor says. But it epitomized the space the think tank hoped to occupy: practical approaches to real problems, unencumbered by the groupthink of left and right alike. A hard-drinking chain-smoker with a volatile streak, Taylor, associates say, struggled to manage Niskanen as it grew. In June 2021, Taylor was arrested for misdemeanor assault and battery after allegedly attacking his wife in a drunken rage. He resigned from Niskanen after the incident came to light. Citing a confidentiality agreement, Taylor declined to discuss the incident further, chalking it up to a messy divorce and noting that the charges against him were eventually dismissed. Gayer, who had been serving as interim president of the Brookings Institution, took the reins late last year, paving the way for the organization to move past its brilliant but erratic founder. Gayers task now is to professionalize Taylors ragtag band and give it coherence at a moment when its approach is suddenly in demand. The Trump years were not exactly a golden age of policy intellectualism. D.C. careened from crisis to crisis; Congress struggled to keep the lights on. But Trumps rise was also a wake-up call to the political world. He channeled a widespread sense of frustration with failing institutions and the status quoa fed-upness that policymakers had preferred to ignore or downplay. And he trampled party dogmas, disdaining former GOP commitments such as free trade, deficit reduction, foreign alliances, and entitlement reform. As the dust settles from his presidency, its become clear that the ideological reordering Trump set in motion is permanent and ongoingand that neither major party has successfully articulated a vision for Americas future thats persuasive to a broad swath of the electorate. Trump exploded the old-style, Reaganite fusionist conservatism, says Brink Lindsey, Niskanens Thailand-based vice president and Taylors former Cato colleague, who coined the liberaltarian idea back in 2006. Meanwhile, he says, on the center-left, there should be a profound frustration with the inability to mount a 60-40 coalition against the madness that has erupted on the Republican side. Whats wrong with the sane people that they cant all get together? This unsettled climate has created an opening in the middle that the old institutions on left and right are ill-suited to fill, and which Niskanen is trying to occupy. Both sides have firmly entrenched coalitional imperatives, things they have to say to be good allies, says Steven Teles, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University and Niskanen adviser. Were not part of either coalition. The biggest problem we have is that were kind of out there on our own. But thats also a strength. To critics, Niskanens neither-fish-nor-fowl posture can be bafflingly squishy. The iconoclasts it employs dont always play well with others: one of Taylors early staffers, Will Wilkinson, was fired for an intemperate tweet in 2021, and Hammond is known in policy circles almost as much for his pugilistic demeanor as for his ideas. The centers litigation arm recently boasted about suing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stop a pipeline in New Jersey, even as its climate shop broadly advocates for making it easier to build electric transmission lines. (Gayer acknowledged the apparent tension but told me the case was consistent with our commitment to opposing procedural requirements that inhibit the construction of productive and needed infrastructure.) Several contemporaries of the centers namesake, Bill Niskanen, told me he was surely spinning in his grave: Niskanen was a libertarian so principled that he was fired from his job as chief economist for Ford when he refused to go along with the companys opposition to Japanese imports. One of Niskanens seminal papers argued against government investment in research and development, whereas the Niskanen Center in 2019 cosponsored a study arguing for just that. If I had a time machine and I could go back and ask him, I would bet 10-to-one hed be opposed to a huge expansion of the welfare state for payments per child, says David R. Henderson, a Hoover Institution economist who served with Bill Niskanen on the Council of Economic Advisers in the 1980s. But on Capitol Hill, the Niskanen Center is widely seen as a breath of fresh air. The centers lobbyists often cold-call congressional offices to explore potential collaboration. They seek to provide objective analysis and high-quality information, not spin. And their relationships on both sides of the aisle can be crucial in the polarized atmosphere of todays Congress, where Democrats and Republicans rarely socialize and often harbor distorted ideas of each others priorities. Instead of assuming people disagree with us, we meet them where they are and see if we can find areas of agreement, says Kodiak Hill-Davis, a Republican lobbyist who broke with the GOP over Trump and now heads Niskanens government-affairs team. When you have an organization thats able to do outreach and get support from the other party, thats not tainted by politics, thats very helpful, says a Democratic policy staffer who worked with Niskanen on the VICTIM Act. Sponsored by then-Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat, after the failure of broader police-reform legislation, the bill would provide grants to law-enforcement agencies to hire more homicide detectives and improve evidence processing. Niskanens year-old criminal-justice team focuses on policies to prevent crime and improve policing. I worked on sentencing reform and decarceration for more than a decade, but I was continually frustrated that there was never a plausible affirmative argument for how to control crime and protect public safety, says Greg Newburn, Niskanens criminal-justice director. The VICTIM Act passed the House with unanimous Democratic support and 30 Republican votes, but hit a snag in the Senate, where it was killed late last year by a procedural objection from GOP Sen. Rand Paul. They spend a lot of time thinking through issues in a way thats refreshing, a Republican policy staffer whos worked with Niskanen on immigration tells me. Niskanen was heavily involved in serious bipartisan talks to reform immigration policy late last year by protecting Dreamers, fortifying the asylum system and increasing border security, multiple sources involved in the discussions told me. This is a policy area where the status quo is so terrible that even the tiniest incremental gain that might only help 100 people is still 100 more people than the status quo, says Niskanens immigration policy director Kristie De Pena, who recently teamed up with a well-known Iowa Republican and Democrat to argue that red states could ease their labor shortages by resettling refugees. Niskanen describes such initiatives as transpartisan rather than bipartisan. Its staffers see this as an important distinction: bipartisan implies a half-a-loaf compromise in which both sides give up much of what they want, whereas a transpartisan solution is a win-win that offers something to everyonelike a child allowance that Republicans see as pro-family and Democrats see as curbing poverty. The center recently published a major paper on housing policy, an area where Yes In My Backyard reformers are starting to make headway against opponents on both left and right. To Gayer, all these small-bore initiatives add up to big-picture optimism that the wrecking ball of the Trump years will give way to a new era of substantive policymaking. They say hope is not a strategy, but hopelessness is even worse, Gayer says. Its a messy world, and were still adjusting to massive changes in society. But this is what democracy looks like, and we need to engage. Correction, March 7: The original version of this story misstated the disposition of a domestic-violence complaint against Jerry Taylor. The charges were dismissed, not dropped. AP "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." This past week, former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife and son in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On March 2, Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty on four counts: the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, as well as two counts of possession of a weapon during a crime. The jury needed less than three hours of deliberation to deliver a verdict in the high-profile case, which has been the subject of documentaries on Netflix and HBO Max. The trial began on January 23 in Walterboro, South Carolina. There has been a great amount of national interest in the case because of the familys prestige, as well as its prior legal troubles. Heres what you need to know about Alex, Maggie, Paul, and Buster Murdaugh. Who Is Alex Murdaugh? AP Richard Alexander Murdaugh is a member of a prominent legal family in the South Carolina lowcountry. Three generations of his familyhis great-grandfather, grandfather, and fatherserved over 87 years as solicitor for the 14th Judicial Circuit. The elected position oversees prosecutions throughout the area. Because of its prosecutorial legacy, the family gained a reputation for its power and ability to wield influence. Murdaugh followed the family example by becoming a lawyer. He worked as an attorney in a local prosecutors office and also at the law firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED). The firm was founded in 1910 by Randolph Murdaugh Sr., Alexs great-grandfather. Murdaugh and his family lived in Hampton, South Carolina, before relocating to their sprawling Moselle property in nearby Islandton. At around 1,700 acres, the complex contained the Murdaugh house, dog kennels, a cabin, and stretches of swamp land. In light of his legal troubles, the South Carolina Supreme Court disbarred Murdaugh in July 2022. He is still facing 99 criminal charges not related to the murders. State prosecutors have accused Murdaugh of stealing more than $8.7 million from clients at his law firm and others in fraud schemes. Family members of Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaughs housekeeper who died in a trip and fall accident at the Murdaugh home in 2018, are among the potential victims included in the state grand jury indictments. The family reached a settlement with the PMPED firm in 2021, according to Live 5 news in Charleston, South Carolina. Story continues In September 2021, three months after the murders of Paul and Maggie, Alex Murdaugh allegedly conspired to pay Curtis Eddie Smith to kill him so that his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, would inherit a $10 million insurance windfall. Alex initially claimed he was ambushed in a drive-by shooting but later confessed to orchestrating the plot after his story unraveled. Attorney Richard Harpootlian revealed, upon Murdaughs 2021 arrest, that his client was a 20-year opioid addict. Murdaugh also admitted this during the murder trial. Who Was Maggie Murdaugh? Maggie Murdaugh, born Margaret Kennedy Branstetter, graduated from the University of South Carolina, where she met Alex Murdaugh, in 1991. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. The pair married on August 14, 1993, and later had two sons, Paul and Buster. The full-time homemaker was described as a dedicated mother, according to the BBC. According to a November 2021 New York Post article, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh had sold their house in Hampton, South Carolina, prior to the murders and split their time between Edisto Beach, South Carolina, and the Moselle hunting lodge. On June 7, 2021, Maggie was shot to death with a rifle at the familys Moselle estate. She was 52. In September 2021, People reported that Maggie had met with a divorce lawyer six weeks prior to the murders, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. Maggie Murdaughs sister, Marian Proctor, spoke in front of the jury on February 14. The Post and Courier reported that, in her testimony, she said Alex Murdaugh never talked about finding the person responsible for killing Maggie and Paul in the weeks after their deaths. Meanwhile, Proctor said the rest of the family lived in fear of the unknown killer. Who Was Paul Murdaugh? Paul Murdaugh, Alex and Maggies younger son, was an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina. Family and friends described Paul, known as Paw Paw by his father, as inquisitive and kind, according to the BBC. He took particular care of his elderly grandparents. However, his ex-girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, shared that Paul could be violent in the Netflix docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. The 22-year-old was also shot to death, likely with a shotgun, on June 7, 2021. He was found near his mother at the Moselle property. Paul had previously been in the spotlight as the suspected driver in a fatal boating accident in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in 2019 that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. At the time of the accident, six people were on the boat, which was owned by Alex Murdaugh. According to testimony from four others on the boat, Murdaugh became agitated and got into an altercation with his ex-girlfriend. After returning to the wheel of the boat, he accelerated. Records indicate the boat hit the front of a bridge and then a pylon before beaching itself. Beach was thrown overboard, and an autopsy showed she died of blunt force trauma to the head and drowning, according to authorities. Surveillance video showed Paul using his older brothers ID to buy alcohol at a local gas station earlier that night. The Post and Courier reported that hospital tests found his blood alcohol concentration was over 0.28 at the time of the accident, more than three times the legal limit to drive a car. Paul was indicted on charges of boating under the influence, causing great bodily harm, and causing death in the crash. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, according to ABC 4, but was unable to stand trial for any of the charges because of his murder. Who Is Buster Murdaugh? AP Richard Alexander Buster Murdaugh Jr., Alex and Maggie Murdaughs elder son, graduated from Wofford College in 2018 and had plans to follow his father into the family law firm, according to the BBC. However, the Wall Street Journal reported in September 2021 that Buster was expelled from the University of South Carolinas School of Law for plagiarism, according to court documents. The Post and Courier reported that the bulk of Alex Murdaughs jailhouse phone calls went to Buster, with their conversations ranging from small talk to the sons potential return to law school. The calls also revealed the family had paid a Columbia lawyer, Butch Bowers, around $60,000 to help secure Busters readmittance. Buster, 26, was consistently present at the trial and testified that his father was destroyed by Paul and Maggies murders. He put his head in his hands as the jury delivered its guilty verdict. Mallory Beachs family named Buster in a civil lawsuit over the boat accident that caused her death. However, his name was removed from the case as part of a settlement approved in January 2023, according to ABC 4. Buster has also been linked to the unsolved hit-and-run death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith in 2015, but no official allegations or charges have been brought against anyone in the case. Smith, who was openly gay, was found dead on the side of a Hampton County road. According to Newsweek, South Carolina Highway Patrol files indicate that 10 people interviewed about the incident suggested that Buster should be questioned. However, rumors of his involvement in the death or potential relationship with Smith remain unfounded. Buster currently lives with his girlfriend, lawyer Brooklyn White, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Elon Musk concluded a bizarre Twitter exchange with a worker who was not sure if he had been sacked by the company. A Twitter thread by Icelandic entrepreneur Haraldur Thorleifsson to which Mr Musk responded has gone viral on the platform, engaging more than 11 million people. Mr Thorleifsson, who goes by the pseudonym Halli, said access to his work computer was cut nine days ago when Twitter sacked about 200 more employees. However, your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. Youve not answered my emails. Maybe if enough people retweet youll answer me here? he said, tagging the Twitter CEO. He went on to ask for help from co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, saying: I joined because I believed in what you were building. Hours later on Monday, Mr Musk responded to the thread by asking: What work have you been doing? Mr Thorleifsson said his answer would mean breaking confidentiality and asked if his former bosss lawyers could approve that in writing so that he could break terms of confidentiality. Its approved, you go ahead, Mr Musk said. The Twitter employee said he led the efforts to save about $500k on one SaaS contract and led prioritisation of design projects across the company to make sure Twitter was able to deliver with a small team. What work have you been doing? Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023 Mr Musk asked Mr Thorleifsson more specific questions about the SaaS contract and design projects. Mr Musk ended the exchange by sharing two laughing emojis, without offering a clear answer to his question. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023 Mr Thorleifsson is a disabled Icelandic professional who founded and ran a design agency called Uneo for seven years before it was acquired by Twitter in 2021, according to his website. Mr Thorleifsson received the Person of the Year in Iceland in 2022 and made headlines for negotiating the acquisition price of his company Ueno to be paid as salary instead so that he could pay 46 per cent in taxes instead of 22 per cent. Story continues Taking Mr Musks reaction in his stride, Mr Thorleifsson said he did not mind Mr Musk laughing as he is himself quite funny. He said he got an email by HR confirming he was fired. But ok, fair enough, I've been laid off and I'm ok with that. Next up though is finding out if Twitter will pay me what they owe me per my contract. Or, will @elonmusk , one of the richest people in the world, try to avoid paying? Stay tuned!! Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023 Then all of the sudden, Twitters head of HR, (who had previously twice been unable to tell me if I had a job or not) emailed and said I was no longer employed, he said. Which is totally ok and it happens all the time. Companies let people go, thats within their rights. They usually tell people about it but thats seemingly the optional part at Twitter now, he added. He said next up is to find out if one of the richest people in the world will pay him his dues. In another round of layoff last week, Twitter let go at least 200 staff, cutting back 10 per cent of its 2000 people strong workforce, according to a report by The New York Times. Mr Musk, who acquired the social media platform in October 2022, has steadily sacked about 50 per cent of employees, laying off 7,500 as he sought to reduce costs. Haraldur Thorleifsson/Handout A day after Elon Musk commenced a war against a disabled former Twitter employee, in which he suggested that the staffer had asked for physical work accommodations he didnt actually need, the billionaire issued a rare apology. He also claimed that the ex-employee, Haraldur Halli Thorleifssonwho was swept up in Twitter's latest round of job cutswas considering staying at the company. I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful, Musk wrote, adding that he had spoken with Thorleiffson, who has muscular dystrophy, on a video call. Thorleifsson had worked for Twitter in Iceland since February 2021, when he sold his digital brand agency to the company. His battle with Musk began when he tweeted at the billionaire on Monday, claiming that he had lost access to his work computer nine days prior alongside roughly 200 other staffers. Subsequently, he said, the companys human resources department would not confirm whether he was still employed, while Musk ignored his emails. After the tweets went viral, Musk put Thorleifsson through a public trial, asking him to explain the work he had been doing for Twitter. Evidently unsatisfied with his former staffers answers, Musk responded to some of the tweets with a pair of crying-with-laughter emojis and a link to a scene from Office Space. That public humiliation wasnt enough. The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm, Musk wrote. Cant say I have a lot of respect for that. He added, But was he fired? No, you cant be fired if you werent working in the first place. Thorleifsson fired back several hours later in a long thread explaining his disability. My legs were the first to go. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair, he wrote. Story continues In the 20 years since, he said, the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet. Oh! I forgot to mention that I read you can't go to the toilet on your own either @elonmusk I'm sorry to hear about that. I know the feeling. The only difference is I can't do it because of a physical disability and you're afraid someone you hurt will attack you while you poop. https://t.co/0XcsMpJW9z Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023 He decided to sell his business to Twitter because he was tired, he said, and because my body was continuing to get weaker. His condition, he continued, has impacted his fingers, preventing him from doing manual work like typing or using a mouse for extended periods of time. But he can still write for shorter periods, explaining why he could tweet but not work full-time in certain roles at Twitter. In a tweet commenting on Musks situation, Joshua Erlich, an employment and civil rights attorney based in Virginia, wrote, lord grant me defendants this dumb. He expanded on that quip in a message to The Daily Beast, in which he said it isnt clear what region would have jurisdiction over a theoretical case Thorleifsson might file, and that some details about the firing are still unclear. But Musk's the reality is tweet reads like Musk looked up this employee's human resources file and is tweeting out the company's internal reasoning for the termination, he said. That reasoning seems pretty problematic and it would be more than enough to carry [a] disability discrimination or failure to accommodate case deep into litigation. 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. Im here because I want you to know that this is the chance to give people a chance to meaningfully contribute to their society, said Carissa McGee (left), a formerly incarcerated person from Albuquerque and supporter of Senate Bill 64. And I promise you that these individuals want it more than any other person that Ive ever come across. Denali Wilson (right) is an attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico and an organizer with the New Mexico Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. This story was originally published by Source New Mexico. A week before the Second Chance bill got through its final committee in the Legislature, another branch of government reaffirmed the importance of young peoples capacity for change, and that they should be treated differently than adults. Senate Bill 64 would end life without parole as a sentencing option for children and, in most circumstances, provide eligibility for parole after someone serves 15 years in prison for a crime they committed when they were under the age of 18. It has already passed through the New Mexico Senate, and the House Judiciary Committee on Monday approved it in a bipartisan 7-3 vote. If the entire House of Representatives gives approval, it would continue to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams desk. A week earlier, the New Mexico Supreme Court published its decision in State v. Rodriguez, a case about whether young people can ever give up their rights to have their age and life circumstances be taken into account when a judge decides to send them to a juvenile facility or an adult prison. We are hard-pressed to conceive of a decision that cuts closer to the core of societys interest than an election to give up on one of its children, the Justices wrote. In interviews with Source New Mexico, three people who worked on Rodriguezs case said the courts decision reaffirms that children, even those who are involved in very serious violence or harm, are capable of tremendous change and rehabilitation. What is an amenability hearing? Christopher Rodriguez, of Albuquerque, was 16 years old in June 2015 when the events happened that led to his case. Like most people caught up in the criminal legal system, Rodriguez took a plea deal, which is an agreement between prosecutors and defendants that can resolve charges of criminal conduct or delinquency without having to go to trial. Part of Rodriguezs deal entitled him to an amenability hearing under the New Mexico Childrens Code. Story continues State law requires judges to consider at least seven different factors during these hearings, including the childs maturity based on their home, environmental situation, social and emotional health, brain development, trauma history and disability. The state, at that point, has the burden to prove that they are not amenable, said Allison Jaramillo, who is representing Rodriguez in his appeal and is the go-to expert on juvenile issues among appellate public defenders in Santa Fe. When the district court makes that finding, and when the state has presented enough evidence to convince the court, then a judge is given jurisdiction to sentence the child as an adult, Jaramillo said. Despite overwhelming testimony from witnesses that Rodriguez was amenable to treatment and capable of reform, Second Judicial District Judge Brett Loveless found he was not, and sentenced him as an adult. Rodriguez tried to appeal Loveless findings, but the Court of Appeals in 2019 unanimously said he did not have a right to appeal his conviction because whenever someone enters a plea on the underlying charges, they sign away their right to appeal the trial judges amenability determination. The decision upended criminal defense practice in this area because prosecutors and defendants had struck these kinds of plea deals in many cases, Jaramillo said. Things only got worse for Rodriguez in 2020 when the New Mexico Supreme Court denied his request to review the appeals courts decision. The New Mexico Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth joined the Juvenile Law Center to ask the Supreme Court in March 2020 to reconsider the appeals courts decision. The lower courts ruling was disruptive to the spirit of so much of our law in New Mexico, said Denali Wilson, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties of Union and an organizer with the Coalition. Listen:The Reporter's Notebook Podcast, Ep. 55: Carissa McGee and Juvenile Justice Marsha Levick, chief legal officer for the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, wrote that the Court of Appeals ignored key differences between children and adults that are supposed to guide these kinds of decisions. Not only did the Supreme Court reopen Rodriguezs case, it allowed full written and oral arguments and on Feb. 28 unanimously reversed the lower courts ruling, concluding that a child defendant can challenge an amenability determination even if they have entered a valid guilty plea and waived their appeal rights. The justices wrote that if they were to conclude that a juvenile defendant waived the right to appeal an amenability determination, they would make the hearing itself, state law, and past court decisions pointless. They pointed to their previous decision in 2010 where they said the ability to appeal the outcome of an amenability hearing cannot be bargained away. They wrote that if a court could simply consider the childs amenability without actually looking at the factors required under state law, that would reduce the amenability hearing to nothing more than window dressing and the findings made in that hearing nothing more than an empty shell along the path to imposing an adult sentence upon a juvenile. Amenability is central to whether or not we punish children as adults, or we punish them or hold them accountable and responsible in the juvenile justice system, Levick said in an interview on Monday. The decision underscores thats almost a sacred right that kids have, Levick said. Levick said she is very grateful to see the New Mexico Supreme Court step up in the Rodriguez case and reinforce these principles that are really central to how we treat children in this country. How are these things connected? While Senate Bill 64 doesnt deal with amenability hearings, it allows the New Mexico Parole Board to consider cases again on the back end, either 15, 20, or 25 years into the sentence, Wilson said. All 75 people impacted by the legislation are people who either had an amenability hearing and the decision was to send the child to an adult prison, or they didnt have one at all, Wilson said. The New Mexico Senate chamber inside the New Mexico State Capitol on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Santa Fe, N.M. For children who arent entitled to an amenability hearing, the question of whether its appropriate for a child to be sent to an adult prison was never asked in the first place, Wilson said. We dont even consider them at all, Wilson said. We say, Automatically, this child is to be sentenced as an adult. Jaramillo told the committee on Monday the bill would bring New Mexico in line with current brain science and psychology which recognize that young people are different from adults in important ways, including decision making, impulsivity, and response to peer pressure. The Second Chance bill also addresses the problem of what is called functional life without parole, Jaramillo said, which is when someone gets a very long sentence where they might as well be sentenced to life without parole, because their parole eligibility date is when they will be either very old or dead anyways. It makes me hopeful to see New Mexico, both this bill having success in the Legislature, and our Supreme Court recognizing that children are different and that they need to be treated differently, Jaramillo said. Allowing more folks to make their case in front of the parole board earlier has everything to do with maintaining hope of actually regaining their freedom someday, Levick said. I have no doubts that for the men and women who are incarcerated in New Mexico who have been waiting for this opportunity, its all about hope, and they will hold on to that, and in most cases, hopefully, theyll be able to come home, Levick said. Austin Fisher is a reporter for Source New Mexico. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: N.M. Supreme Court reaffirms childrens capacity for change A man investigating noises in his kitchen came face to face with a naked woman who is accused of smacking him in the head with a pan, Virginia deputies say. He then shot her in the leg, the Carroll County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. It happened Feb. 26 at a rural home in Austinville, and the man and woman did not suffer life-threatening wounds during the ordeal, officials said. Austinville is in western Virginia, about 120 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina. During the course of the investigation, deputies determined that the shooting was the result of a breaking and entering, the sheriffs office said. The homeowner, who heard a noise at the rear area of the home, went to the kitchen and observed an unclothed female, who was unknown to the homeowner, coming into the rear door at which time (she) began hitting the homeowner with a cast iron fry pan in the head and hand. The homeowner said he was able to force the woman back out the door and lock it, officials said. However, she stayed on his porch, turning all the electrical breakers off, beating on his window and threatening to kill him, according to deputies. The female then began beating on the same door in which she had already made entry previously, at which time the homeowner discharged his firearm, striking the female in the lower leg area, the sheriffs office said. Deputies said they arrived to find the 35-year-old Austinville woman with a gunshot wound to the leg. She was taken to a hospital for medical care, then discharged into the custody of the sheriffs office. Details of the homeowners injuries and his identity were not released. The woman faces charges of felony breaking and entering an occupied home while armed with a deadly weapon, assault and battery, and damage property, officials said. No charges will be filed on the homeowner, after consulting with the Carroll County Commonwealth Attorney Roger Brooks, the sheriffs office said. The shooting was justified as self-defense. Story continues Awkward arrest sees naked man and woman in towel arrested in Florida, deputies say Woman fights off naked stranger who suddenly appeared as she showered, NJ police say Suspect loses pants in manhunt, continues his escape while naked, Florida cops say Oak Park police Sgt. Robert Monty talks about the event Feb. 25, 2023 at Oak Park Village Hall where the village was giving away free steering wheel locks to owners of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicle models. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press) A growing number of municipal police departments are responding to the theft of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicle models by offering residents steering wheel locks with the hope of deterring thieves and the towns of Oak Park and River Forest are among them. In fact, village officials told Pioneer Press that the Oak Park Police Department gave out about 80 of the locking devices during a giveaway Saturday. Advertisement This was a great opportunity to partner with residents to work together to try to deter some of these vehicle thefts that have been widespread throughout the country, said Sgt. Robert Monty, who is coordinating the distribution in Oak Park. In a news release announcing the giveaway that took place Saturday, village officials pointed to regional and national upticks in thefts, or attempted thefts, of Hyundai and Kia models that use an actual key to start the vehicle rather than a key fob and push-button. Advertisement Law enforcement officials recommend Hyundai and Kia owners take extra security measures such as a steering wheel lock device or engine immobilizer. Hyundai and Kia owners can also contact the manufacturer to learn about additional safeguards such as a recent software update for some of the targeted models, officials said. In River Forest, the police department is helping residents who own Hyundais to be proactive in stopping thieves. Residents who have purchased a Hyundai vehicle built between 2010 and 2021 are eligible to receive a complimentary, anti-theft, steering wheel lock device while supplies last, officials announced in the Feb. 17 village electronic newsletter and also posted on the village Facebook page. Village officials said the thefts could be inspired by a TikTok social media challenge referred to as Kia Boys, which shows easy ways of getting control of a vehicle and being able to steal it without the key. According to an August 2022 news release from Cook County Sheriff Tom Darts office, there were 642 reported thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in Cook County since from the start of 2022 to July 1, compared with 74 during the same period in 2021, representing an exponential increase. This is an extremely concerning trend and the public needs to know so they can be vigilant in protecting themselves, Dart said in the release. Oak Park resident Johnna Lemke received a steering wheel lock Feb. 25, 2023 at Oak Park Village Hall when the village was giving away free steering wheel locks to owners of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicle models. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press) Oak Park police Chief Shatonya Johnson, left, talks to Gretchen Frickx and her 16-year-old daughter, Anja Frickx Feb. 25, 2023 at Oak Park Village Hall where the village was giving away free steering wheel locks to owners of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicle models. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press) In response to increasing thefts targeting its vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices, Hyundai introduced a free anti-theft software upgrade to prevent the vehicles from starting if stolen. Launched Feb. 14 as a service campaign for nearly four million vehicles, the technology rolled out first to more than one million model year 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue vehicles and is scheduled for the remaining eligible affected vehicles by June, the release states. We have prioritized the upgrades availability for owners and lessees of our highest-selling vehicles and those most targeted by thieves in order for dealers to service them first, Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said in the release. Advertisement Hyundai is providing free steering wheel locks to law enforcement agencies for distribution to local residents who own or lease affected models, the release states. We reached out to Hyundai and they were offering (the device) to owners of their vehicles between those dates that were affected. Weve also reached out to Kia but we havent heard back from them yet. Hyundai has sent us multiple units of this device, Ben Ransom, crime prevention officer for the River Forest Police Department, told Pioneer Press. At one point, River Forest had more than 100 free steering wheel locks available for distribution. Police departments are asking that residents residents pre-register to get the devices. Ransom said there were 15 motor vehicle thefts between Jan. 1, 2020 and Feb. 23, 2023 in River Forest and several of those thefts were not associated with the TikTok challenge but, rather, keys being left in vehicles. This is particularly a concern in cold weather when people like to warm up their cars and either leave their key in the ignition or dont realize that keyless-start vehicles can be driven away even if the fob is not present, said Ransom. There are several steps that all motorists and vehicle owners can take to help prevent theft, law enforcement officials have said. Advertisement Park in garages if you have them. Lock your vehicle. Dont (leave out) anything of value within the vehicle, said Ransom, The advice is repeated across municalities. Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer. Pioneer Press staff contributed. Candice Gay, Quillan Jacobs sister, speaks to a crowd of friends and family during a vigil for Jacobs on Nov. 19, 2021 outside of the Second Baptist Church in downtown Columbia. Jacobs was shot and killed by police after a separate shooting incident incident left five people injured. Columbia community members are calling for greater police oversight following revelations in recent reporting related to the 2021 officer-involved shooting death of Quillan Jacobs. Jacobs was alleged to have participated in a firefight outside of Vibez Lounge Nov. 14, 2021 that resulted in five bystander injuries, with Jacobs shot and killed by officers soon after. More: Columbia police: 1 killed, 5 injured in 'mass casualty incident' downtown Recently released medical examiner and police reports have indicated officers failed to activate body-worn cameras, that Jacobs was shot 13 times and that there was lack of gunshot residue found on Jacobs. Chriss Jones, representing Stop Police Violence, a division of local advocacy organization Race Matters, Friends, during a public comment at Monday's Columbia City Council meeting called on the council and City Administrator De'Carlon Seewood to have the case reopened. "The coroner ruled (Jacob's) death a homicide," she said. "It is time we learn from history so we don't have to keep repeating the cycle of police violence. ... Join me and say his name, Quillan Jacobs!" She referenced conflicting police written reports and ballistics reports where only two bullets could not be attributed to handguns issued to Columbia Police Department officers. Jacobs' family was in the Columbia City Council meeting audience Monday holding signs with his name. Mourners stand stand around a vigil for Quillan Jacobs on Nov. 19, 2021 in the alley next to the Second Baptist Church in downtown Columbia. Other oversight concerns regarding the city's police were brought forth by Columbia business owner Anthony Willroth in relation to charges filed last week against Donye Jackson. Jackson was allegedly involved in an October shooting in the area of Hitt of Locust streets that left three injured, including a University of Missouri student. More: Three men wounded in Friday night Homecoming shooting near Hitt Street Prior to the October shooting, Jackson's family had a civil suit related to human rights violations against the city's police department leadership, Willroth said, referencing other media reporting, The civil suit was in U.S. District Court but dismissed after the death of the family's, Stephen Wyse, of natural causes in June, he added. Story continues Willroth said he has seen police body-worn camera footage from the civil suit, which he alleges features Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones, The officer behavior Willroth alleges should not be defended by attorneys for the city, he said. Better civilian oversight of police also was called for by Laura Gutierrez Perez, who is a former member of the Citizens Police Review Board. "These families are waiting for answers and I think you owe them those answers," she said. "... We need effective civilian oversight. SB 26 has rendered the police accountable to no one." The questions the public have need to be answered, said First Ward Council Member Pat Fowler following public comments at the end of Monday's meeting. She also referenced a closed-door meeting in which council members received more information giving further background to recent publicly released information. Council members are not yet able to speak publicly about the information that was received she said, which also was backed up by Third Ward Council Member Roy Lovelady. "I got lots of calls and questions. ... Extend us some grace because there are some things we just cannot speak about," he said. From 2021: Family of suspect in Nov. 14 shooting holds vigil after he was killed by police Mayor Barbara Buffaloe sought responses from City Manager De'Carlon Seewood specifically about the Jacobs death investigation. When Jacobs was killed, that set off an independent Missouri Highway Patrol investigation, Seewood said, adding there is misinformation out publicly in relation to his death. The patrol investigation only looks at the officer-involved shooting and does not review what led to it, he said. "We have three separate investigations. One is the highway patrol, one is the investigation that looks at what led up to the officer-involved shooting and the internal affairs investigation," Seewood said, adding a gun and shell casings were found. The city's investigative reports were released via authorization from the county prosecutor's office, he added. City leaders still have to figure out what can be said and acknowledge what happened, Buffaoloe said. "To not acknowledge it is just as harmful. ... It is important to acknowledge when these things happen," she said. Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Community members want new investigation of 2021 officer-involved shooting (Photo/Indian Health Service) Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer among women, behind lung cancer. But its treatable when caught early, and doctors recommend regular mammogram to screen for breast cancer for women between 40 and 89 years old. Neither white women nor their Indigenous counterparts are getting mammograms as frequently as they should, according to a new study. Researchers conducted the study between 2005 and 2019 using Medicare fee-for-service claims data, and later analyzed testing frequency for 457,476 women living in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Washington. The last claims-based trends on mammograms were from 1991 to 2001. The majority of the women (78%) were White, 1.5% were American Indian, and 20% were listed as another race. The study results were analyzed in 2022, and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine on March 1, 2023. Data showed that, over the 15-year study period, about 62% of women did not have any mammograms at all. Mammogram use over the same period declined significantly among White women and women of other races, with no significant change for Native women. In rural areas, annual mammogram use dropped among White women while it rose among Native women. The study also showed that white women in higher-income communities were 31% more likely to get mammograms, but higher incomes were not associated with mammography use for American Indian women. Still, overall, the study showed that Native American women were 13% less likely to have a mammogram than White women. Our results show that we should not assume that income will have the same impact on mammography across racial/ethnic groups, researcher Bhavika Patel, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology and a diagnostic radiologist in the Department of Radiology at the Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. The literature shows that among American Indian/Native American women, cultural factorssuch as comfort discussing [mammograms] and connection to their native culturemay exert more influence on mammography [uptake] than income alone. Hence, policies to improve mammography [uptake] need to be specifically tailored to American Indian/Native American women. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net On Tuesday, the North Carolina Economic Investment Committee awarded the German company Siemens Mobility a $5.6 million grant to construct a passenger rail vehicle manufacturing plant in the Davidson County city of Lexington, part of a broader $32.9 million package state and local governments plan to invest in the site. The facility is expected to create 506 jobs by 2029 with a minimum average wage of $51,568. Siemens Mobility, a division of the Munich-based conglomerate Siemens, currently produces passenger vehicles at a facility in Sacramento, California, but the company had sought to add a second U.S. plant east of the Mississippi River. On Tuesday, the state shared that Siemens selected Lexington over an alternative site in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The county seat of Davidson County, Lexington is about 60 miles northeast of Charlotte and 100 miles west of Raleigh. The expansion will provide additional capacity to meet anticipated growth in demand, provide facilities for maintenance and servicing for the Eastern region, said Mark Poole, finance director for the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Siemens Mobilitys initial agreement with North Carolina was set to begin in 2024, but the company requested a one-year delay citing potential supply chain issues and labor shortages. According to the Walden Model, which North Carolina uses to calculate the value of incentives it awards companies, the Siemens plant in Lexington will increase the state GDP by around $1.6 billion by 2036, the last year of the companys agreement with the state. By then, the state estimates the project will have added $30.3 million in net revenue. The $5.6 million job development investment grant, or JDIG, will only be realized if Siemens achieves its hiring targets. But the projects overall incentive package is much greater, as the North Carolina Department of Transportation will allocate $9.4 million to improve infrastructure around the site and the state will put $626,300 into a local utility fund. Additional public money will go to local community colleges to train future Siemens employees. Story continues In total, North Carolinas package for the Siemens plant is worth $16.8 million, while local incentives from Davidson County and the city of Lexington total an additional $16.1 million. This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Open Source Do you enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly technology newsletter and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. Sen. Thom Tillis is calling out coverage by Fox News on Monday night of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. I think its bullshit, Tillis told reporters. Fox News host Tucker Carlson released never-before-seen footage from inside the Capitol given to him by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Carlson called the Jan. 6 committee and members of the media liars for how they portrayed the insurrectionists over the past two years and said the attackers were simply sightseers who revered the Capitol. I was here, Tillis, a Republican, countered in remarks to NBC News. I was down there and I saw maybe a few tourists, a few people who got caught up in things. But when you see police barricades breached, when you see police officers assaulted, all of that ... if you were just a tourist, you shouldve probably lined up at the visitors center and came in on an orderly basis. Tillis confirmed his statements to McClatchy, adding that he believes Carlsons reporting is just as wrong as when a liberal media outlet says there were mostly peaceful protests with a burning Kenosha, making reference to the riots in Wisconsin that broke out following the police shooting in August 2020 of Jacob Blake. Theres no place for either of those two extremes, Tillis said. Tillis and January 6 Tillis is in his sophomore term in the Senate and talked about his memories of Jan. 6 as he walked from an underground train car to the Senate chamber on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol. Sen. Tillis reacts to Tucker Carlson's narrative that Jan. 6 was peaceful: "I think it's bulls**t." pic.twitter.com/eFHS09Lq0h Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) March 7, 2023 He said it began as any other day with protesters on the mall expressing displeasure. Then things took a stark turn. Story continues I saw people breaching fences, assaulting police officers, using pepper spray, breaking windows, destroying this building were walking through right now, Tillis said. And it was wrong. Was Tillis ever scared for his safety? Not at all, Tillis said. Because I would have picked up something and defended myself. Tuesdays reaction to Carlsons coverage of Jan. 6 isnt the first time Tillis has spoken out against the events of that day. Previously, he called it a dark day in American history that should not be repeated. He asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the insurrection and hold responsible anyone who broke the law in an attempt to stop the election certification of President Joe Biden and keep former President Donald Trump in power. Pushback to Jan. 6 accounts Not long after McCarthy became House speaker he released 44,000 hours of video footage from Capitol security cameras exclusively to Carlson. The decision was met with backlash from both political parties. Concerns included whether McCarthy might have inappropriately released security details and why he chose to release the footage to a news host who has repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories about the insurrection. Other members of Congress have spoken out against Carlson and McCarthy since Monday nights segment aired, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who called it one of the most shameful hours we have ever seen on cable television. Schumer said McCarthy is as culpable as Carlson and further eroded the countrys democracy. A woman in her 30s was found dead inside a car that sank into a lake overnight in Austin, according to Texas police. Calls started pouring in to the Austin Police Department at 3:37 a.m. on March 6 from residents of a neighborhood on the citys east side saying they could hear a woman screaming for help, a department spokesperson said at a news briefing. Officers arrived at the scene, 1502 Scenic Drive, in 15 minutes and spotted a vehicle in the water, near a boat ramp on the shore of Lake Austin, the department said. Rescue swimmers entered the lake at 4:01 a.m., found the woman, and pulled her onto land, police said. Despite life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the scene by 4:16 a.m. Its not clear how the car ended up in the water, but investigators say it appears to have gone down a boat ramp while the woman was inside, police said. Another person had been in the car with her but was unhurt and speaking with police. Homicide detectives are investigating, the spokesperson said, adding that while there are no signs of foul play, it is still early in the investigation. Man falls through ice while trying to rescue neighbors dog, Wisconsin officials say Brother comes to rescue after 3-year-old falls from 100-foot cliff, OK family says Four dead after car runs red light and causes SUV to flip off bridge, Missouri cops say Boater thought he hit log then hears horrified screams of American mother in Belize Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. Jabin Botsford - Pool/Getty Images The Supreme Court declined to take up a city's request to block a lawsuit brought by atheists over a prayer vigil. Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with the court, but questioned whether the atheists had a right to sue. "Really, most every governmental action probably offends somebody," Gorsuch said. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to block a lawsuit brought by a group of atheists against a Florida city's prayer vigil, but Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned whether the group had a right to sue. "Really, most every governmental action probably offends somebody," Gorsuch, who agreed with the court's decision not to intervene in the case, said in a statement, referencing a concurring opinion he wrote in a 2019 Supreme Court case involving the separation of church and state. "No doubt, too, that offense can be sincere, sometimes well taken, even wise," Gorsuch continued. "But recourse for disagreement and offense does not lie in federal litigation." A group of atheists, represented by the American Humanist Association, sued the city of Ocala, Florida, over its hosting of a 2014 prayer vigil after a local shooting that injured several children, claiming the event violated the First Amendment's establishment clause, which bans the government from endorsing religion. In 2018, a Florida federal district judge sided with the atheists. The city of Ocala appealed that decision, arguing the group lacked standing, or the legal right to sue. A federal appeals court found that that at least one of the atheists who attended the vigil, Lucinda Hale, had standing as she alleged she was "directly affected" by the event and suffered an injury because of it. The court returned the case back to the district court to further review whether the city violated the establishment clause. The city asked the Supreme Court to determine if the atheists were actually harmed by the prayer vigil to have their lawsuit move forward, and to rule on whether "psychic or emotional offense allegedly caused by observation of religious messages an injury sufficient to confer standing." But the Supreme Court refused to intervene on Monday. Story continues Gorsuch, in his statement, said the district court should reconsider whether the atheists had standing, noting that the Supreme Court "has never endorsed the notion that an 'offended observer' may bring an Establishment Clause claim." "It didn't matter that the plaintiff went to the vigil knowing that she would be offended," Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, wrote of the lower court's decision. "What mattered was that prayers reached her ears." While Gorsuch did appear sympathetic to the city of Ocala's request to dismiss the lawsuit, he agreed that the legal battle should play out in the lower courts. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented from the Supreme Court's decision, saying the justices should have reviewed the case to settle the so-called offended observer theory. "I have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the 'offended observer' theory of standing applied below," Thomas, widely considered the most conservative justice, said. The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority in recent years has reviewed a number of disputes concerning religious liberty and the First Amendment's free exercise of religious and establishment clauses, often handing down rulings in favor of religious groups and interests. In a notable case last year, the court sided with a former public high school football coach who lost his job for praying on the field after games. Read the original article on Business Insider By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's top court will hear a petition on Thursday demanding the arrest of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and an investigation into his leadership during a decade-long civil war that killed thousands of people, court officials and petitioners said. Dahal, a former Maoist guerrilla commander, led rebels against Nepal's security forces during the conflict, which raged for 10 years until 2006 and killed about 17,000 people before a peace deal overseen by the United Nations put an end to hostilities. The Himalayan nation is already in the midst of a political crisis since Dahal backed an opposition candidate as the country's president last month, prompting one of his allies in the communist-dominated ruling coalition to withdraw support. Bimal Paudel, an official at the Supreme Court, said the petition seeking Dahal's arrest has been registered and the first hearing is scheduled on Thursday. In a public gathering three years ago, Dahal - who still goes by his nom de guerre Prachanda - said he was ready to take responsibility "for 5,000 deaths" during the civil war, blaming the then state forces for the remaining fatalities. In December, Dahal, 68, was appointed prime minister for a third time after joining the political mainstream under the peace deal. Relatives of the victims of the conflict said in the petition: "Since the transcript of his objectionable expression accepting that he killed people, including our relatives, is available (on) the social media ... we demand that he be arrested and investigated". A spokesperson for the prime minister declined to comment on the petition. On Sunday Dahal said there was a "conspiracy" against him. The former rebels, including Dahal's ruling Maoist Centre party, have said that cases of abuse committed during the conflict must be settled by two transitional justice panels set up under the peace deal. Nepal abolished its 239-year old monarchy after the peace deal turned the Hindu-majority county into a secular republic and created seven federal provinces. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday that California will boycott Walgreens after the company decided not to distribute abortion pills in 20 GOP-dominated states, many of which have restricted the procedure. California wont be doing business with @walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts womens lives at risk. Were done, Newsom tweeted. The governors comments come amid the pharmacy chains move to refrain from dispensing mifepristone, one of two drugs required to chemically terminate a pregnancy, in various Republican states following demands from state officials. In a February letter, attorneys general from Missouri, Georgia, Florida, and other red states threatened litigation if the company started distributing the drug. We emphasize that it is our responsibility as State Attorneys General to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in our states, they said in the letter, which was also addressed to CVS. The letter noted the dangers of abortion pills, citing statistics suggesting that they are more likely to yield complications in the first trimester than surgical abortions are, therefore making them riskier. When the complications do arise, they often happen at home rather than with medical help nearby, the letter stated. Federal law and several state laws prohibit using the mail to send or receive any drug that will be used for abortion, the officials said. These state laws reflect not only our commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of children, but also of women, the letter reads. California is reviewing all relationships between Walgreens and the state. We will not pursue business with companies that cave to right wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls, a spokesperson for Newsom told the Hill Monday. Following its move not to supply abortion pills in certain states, Walgreens said in a statement provided to CNN that it is keeping within the confines of the law. Story continues We intend to be a certified pharmacy and will distribute Mifepristone only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible, the company said. Ahead of the Supreme Courts anticipated overturning of Roe v. Wade, Newsom proudly declared California a sanctuary state for abortion. Newsom assembled a coalition of prominent Democratic lawmakers in the California state government to draft a proposal to subsidize travel and lodging for out-of-state women seeking an abortion. Newsom told the Associated Press in December 2021 that California would strive to facilitate the abortions of women coming from other states. More from National Review Gov. Gavin Newsom gives the inaugural address on Jan. 6 in Sacramento. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In an attempt to counter GOP efforts to limit reproductive rights, Gov. Gavin Newsom said California will cut ties with Walgreens over the company's decision to stop selling abortion medication in 20 Republican states. "California won't be doing business with Walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk," Newsom tweeted Monday. "We're done." Newsom's missive is the latest political maneuver from the governor in the national battle between red and blue states over abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision last summer. Using the force of the California economy, Newsom is attempting to push back on the pressure GOP leaders are putting on retailers to cut off access to abortion medication in their states. Attorneys general in 20 GOP-led states sent a letter to Walgreens and CVS last month threatening legal action if the retailers sold abortion pills by mail in their respective states. On Friday, Walgreens responded and said it would not sell the medication in those states. Newsom's tweet, his spokesman said, was "a shot across the bow." "Companies seem to be caving to political pressure from right-wing extremists and there are consequences for those decisions," Anthony York said. Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. fell 1.8% on Monday after Newsom's announcement. The Illinois retailer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. How California might stop doing business with Walgreens and what impact such a move could have on Californians was not immediately clear. Newsom's aides said Monday that his administration did not have any details on what cutting ties would entail and was only beginning to review all relationships between Walgreens and the state, including Medi-Cal and Covered California contracts. On Wednesday, Newsom's office said the state would not renew at least one $54 million contract between the California Department of General Services and Walgreens that "allows the State to procure specialty pharmacy prescription drugs, primarily used by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and its correctional healthcare system." Story continues The contract would have renewed on May 1 and the state said DGS informed Walgreens Wednesday of its decision to withdraw from the agreement. The governor's office said the state "instead will explore other options for furnishing the same services" and continue to review other contracts with Walgreens that could be terminated. Advocates for Californians who receive state-sponsored healthcare said it was difficult to determine if the decision to sever ties with the retailer would affect patients given the lack of details. Newsom has a tendency to seize on hot-button political issues and make attention-grabbing announcements before he has determined how the state will carry out his plan. The governor declared his desire to pass a windfall profits penalty on oil companies last fall in response to record gasoline prices in California. He and lawmakers are still trying to figure out how to cap the industry's profits in a special legislative session. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. U.S. first lady Jill Biden speaks during a visit to the Ivy Tech Community College Valparaiso campus on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) First lady Jill Biden visited the Valparaiso campus of Ivy Tech Community College Monday to help highlight the schools Energy Technology Program that is currently training 80 students as early as their sophomore year in high school for high-paying union jobs in the energy sector. Biden, who is herself a teacher at a community college, told a crowd of college officials, local leaders and Ivy Tech students that such career-connected learning beginning in high school is the future of the American economy. These arent a Democratic idea, or a Republican idea. Theyre American ideas championed by people from both parties, she said. Its how we grow the economy from the bottom up, and the middle out. Advertisement Those in attendance didnt need any convincing. Sandy Strilich Daly was working in landscaping before receiving her certification and associate degree in electric line construction in the energy program and getting hired by NIPSCO 12 years ago. Now shes a working foreman heavy equipment operator for NIPSCOs gas construction department. Twelve years ago I knew I needed to find a job that paid well, that had benefits, Strilich Daly told Biden. Advertisement U.S. first lady Jill Biden, center, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor and nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, on left, speak with students during a visit to the Ivy Tech Valparaiso campus on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) She was one of a handful of current and former students at three stations set up to give Biden a snapshot of the electric line, renewables, and gas programs offered at the college. After one year in the program, students can earn technical certification, and after two years they can earn an associate degree. High school students as young as Chesterton High School sophomore Oliver Wood can achieve the certification and then continue on for their associate degree after high school graduation. Ivy Tech Energy Department Chair Majid Mohseni said apprentice linemen earn a starting wage of $45 per hour at NIPSCO and that the school has an agreement with NIPSCO that its students will be first in line for interviews off the street if they hold a certificate or associate degree. NIPSCO retiree Mike Jones helped start the Energy Technology Program at Ivy Tech and now serves as an emeritus professor at the school. He said the average graduate earns $25 per hour fresh out of school. U.S. first lady Jill Biden, on left, listens to Ivy Tech Valparaiso adjunct professor Mike Jones during a visit to the campus on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) High school education just isnt enough for the jobs of the 21st century, Biden told the crowd. She was accompanied by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk. Su gave a shoutout to the union steelworkers and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in attendance while explaining that good union jobs like theirs are dependent upon good community pathways. Community colleges are the on-ramp to that entire system, Su said. Turk said the United States will need over one million more electricians before the early 2030s. He said over $74 billion in private and public funds are being invested in over 100 new battery plants in the U.S. You can have a great job and you can be secure in expansion and you can save the planet while youre doing it, Turk said. U.S. first lady Jill Biden, on left, goes in for a hug with Ivy Tech Community College student Lane Seibert during a visit to the Valparaiso campus on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) Ivy Tech in Porter, LaPorte, Starke and Jasper counties serves over 10,000 students, including over 4,500 high schoolers. At its 90 locations throughout the state nearly 170,000 students are enrolled; 75,000 of them are high schoolers earning dual credit. Ivy Tech Valparaiso Chancellor Aco Sikoski said over 80% of the schools graduates have no debt upon graduation. Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann said nearly two million Hoosiers have no credentials beyond high school. These are the jobs that are most vulnerable to automation, she said of the roles those workers fill. Advertisement U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said its crucial Indiana starts educating its students at a very early age so high school students understand the pathways available to them for these quality jobs. U.S. first lady Jill Biden, center, laughs as she speaks with students during a visit to the Ivy Tech Valparaiso campus on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) We need more communities to follow Ivy Techs lead, Biden said. Together were going to be able to transform what it means to make a living and make a life here in America. Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Mar. 6The Saint Anselm College men's basketball team will host the eight-team East Regional of the NCAA Division II basketball tournament this weekend at Stoutenburgh Gym in Goffstown. Included among those eight teams is the Hawks' neighbor from seven miles away, Southern New Hampshire University. Saint Anselm, which received an automatic bid by winning the Northeast-10 Conference championship, is the top seed for the region and will host eighth-seeded Caldwell (New Jersey) on Saturday at a time yet to be determined. Saint Anselm is 22-7, Caldwell 21-9. The Hawks are 2-0 all-time against Caldwell, the last meeting coming in December of 2006. The NCAA appearance will be the 22nd for the Hawks under head coach Keith Dickson. The Penmen (20-8), who reached the NE10 semifinals before bowing out, received an at-large bid. SNHU is the third seed and will play sixth-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas of Sparkill, New York, on Saturday. St. Thomas is 26-4. The NCAA tourney appearance is the 21st for SNHU and the first since 2017. The Penmen are 1-2 all-time against STAC. Five of the eight regional teams are Northeast-10 Conference members. The other matchups feature No. 2 Bentley (21-6) of the NE10 vs. No. 7 Dominican (21-8), and NE10 runnerup New Haven (20-10), the fourth seed, against No. 5 Pace (20-10), also of the NE10. The field for the 64-team field was announced late Sunday night. Details on tickets will be announced in the coming days. SNHU women dancing, too The SNHU women's disappointment from dropping the NE10 championship game on Sunday lasted about seven hours. The Penmen late Sunday were picked as an at-large team for the NCAA Division II tournament and received the No. 2 seed for the East Regional at Assumption University in Worcester, Mass. SNHU will play St. Thomas Aquinas in a first-round game on Friday at 2:30 p.m. The SNHU women claimed the NE10's regular-season title. They are 21-7 and playing in the NCAAs for a second straight season, fourth all-time. St. Thomas Aquinas is 21-8 this season. Story continues The other matchups in the eight-team regional feature top seed Assumption against Dominican, NE10 tournament champ Bentley vs. Le Moyne, and Jefferson against Daemen. Keene State men at Swarthmore The Keene State College men's basketball, which survived the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III tournament in a four-team pod in Keene, plays at Swarthmore (Pennsylvania) College in a round of 16 contest Friday night at 7:15. The Owls (28-1) are ranked No. 5 in the country while Swarthmore (26-3) is ranked seventh. This season marks the third time since 2016 that KSC has reached the round of 16. Keene State beat Swarthmore 84-83 in an NCAA first-round contest last season, also on the Garnet's home floor. Plymouth State six to host NCAA game The Plymouth State men's hockey team, up to a program-best No. 8 in Monday's USCHO national poll after winning the MASCAC tournament crown over the weekend, will host the 10th-ranked University of New England in an NCAA first-round contest on Saturday night (7 p.m.) at Hanaway Rink. The contest is a rematch of last season's NCAA first-rounder won by the Nor'easters in double overtime. PSU is 23-3-1 while UNE is 19-6-2. The winner of the PSU-UNE game advances to visit the top-ranked team in the country, Utica, in a second-round game on Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Nicholas Braun has admitted to being sad as hell that Succession is coming to an end. The critically acclaimed HBO drama will return for its fourth and final season later in March. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Braun who plays Cousin Greg said that the cast were all bummed to say goodbye to Succession. We were expecting it while we were making the show, but you dont believe it till [creator Jesse Armstrong] says it, he said. Were all pretty bummed. Braun added that he was sad as hell on his last day of filming. I finished a couple of weeks ago, and it was a really tough day, you know, saying goodbye to everybody, he said. Its been the greatest working experience in my life. So, saying goodbye to those people is really tough. However, he stressed that the season finale was fire. The last episode of Succession will air in May, with showrunner Armstrong admitting as he announced the news that he was conflicted by the show ending. Season 4 will see the three Roy kids face off against dad Logan (HBO) Theres a promise in the title of Succession, he said. Ive never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind. Armstrong said that after considering extending the series, his team of writers decided to do something a bit more muscular and complete, and go out sort of strong. Last week, the trailer for season four was released, showing the Roy children teaming up to take on patriarch Logan (Brian Cox) after he ruthlessly cut off his kids from the familys global media empire at the end of season three. We were cut out behind our backs, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) tells his two siblings, before proposing partnerships with Logans enemies: Stewy Hosseini (Arian Moayed), Sandi Furness (Hope David) and Nan Pierce (Cherry Jones). Shiv (Sarah Snook) then suggests that they get into a knife fight, with Kendall replying: Lets blow it up. Succession returns to HBO Max in the US on Sunday 26 March. In the UK, the show will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 27 March. Nicki Minaj. Getty/Paras Griffin Nicki Minaj's former manager recalled quitting on her right before she scored the biggest hit of her career. "I was just like, 'God damn,'" said Sickamore. The producer said he quit on Minaj after an argument at a photo shoot. Nicki Minaj's former manager Sickamore has recalled quitting on the rapper just before the scored one of the biggest hits of her career. "She had this VIBE magazine shoot, you know, it's like a two-page spread, and she had a diner, and she got to the place, and I wasn't there, and she didn't have no trailer," Sickamore, who was Minaj's manager in 2007 and 2008, told VladTV. "She had to change in the bathroom, and she called me like flipping out as she should and then I was cocky. I was like, 'Man, I don't need all of this. Just don't worry about it, you can find your own manager.'" Sickamore said that after his outburst, Minaj tried to fix things, but he didn't want to. "So she calls me back. She gave me an opportunity. She's like, 'Are you sure? Like, you sure you know what you're doing?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, my own mother don't talk to me like this. I'm not going to let anybody talk to me like this,'" he said. "So we handled business. It was like a little bit of money or whatever. We cleaned that up, next thing I know, 'Super Bass.'" Released as a single in 2011, "Super Bass" made it to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song for a female rapper without a featured artist since Missy Elliot's "Work It" in 2002. To date, "Super Bass" has sold over 12 million units worldwide. Sickamore concluded: "I was just like, 'God damn.'" Sickamore. Getty/Johnny Nunez Last week, Minaj announced the launch of her own record label. "There's a big announcement coming. Well, I have a record label now," the 40-year-old said on the latest episode of her "Queen Radio" show. "I believe so strongly in loyalty, and because I've spend my whole life giving to others that turn around and shit on me." Minaj did not reveal the label's name, but did reveal some of the artists who will be on its roster, including Nana Fofie, Tate Kobang, Rico Danna, and London Hill. Minaj's longtime friend Patty Lauren, also known as Patty Duke, will be the artist relations representative for the label. "Don't think my label is just rap, or Black, or anything," added the rapper. "We got some other genres of music." Read the original article on Insider OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Republicans formally censured their nonbinary Democratic colleague Tuesday after state troopers said the lawmaker blocked them from questioning a transgender rights activist accused of assaulting a police officer during a protest over anti-trans legislation. The party-line vote means Rep. Mauree Turner, who uses they/them pronouns, will be removed from all committee assignments unless the second-term lawmaker issues a formal apology, including to the Highway Patrol, which provides security at the Capitol complex. Turner, the first openly nonbinary and Muslim person elected to the Legislature in Oklahoma, said Tuesday that won't happen, as Republicans continue to work to strip away the rights of trans people. I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do, said Turner, D-Oklahoma City, flanked by several Democratic colleagues. Its something that I actively refuse to do. Turner's denouncement comes as Republicans throughout the U.S. push proposals that advocates for LGBTQ rights say are trying to erase the legal existence of people who are trans and to restrict the expression of people nonbinary, gender-fluid or who perform in drag. In Oklahoma, recent efforts by the GOP-controlled Legislature to prohibit gender-affirming medical care for trans children and pass other anti-trans legislation, including a prohibition on insurance coverage for gender-affirming care for people of all ages, have led to demonstrations at the Capitol. One protest last week became heated when a protester was accused of pouring water on a state representative and scuffling with a trooper before being arrested. Officers wanted to question the activist, who was inside Turner's legislative office. When we go up to the representative's office, we were not allowed in, even from opening the door, said Trooper Eric Foster, with the Highway Patrol. Officers ultimately were able to speak to the person in Turner's office, who was later arrested on a complaint of assault and battery on a police officer, Foster said. Story continues Speaker of the House Charles McCall said in a statement that the House stands by law enforcement. I will not allow members of the House of Representatives to use their assigned offices and official positions to impede law enforcement from carrying out investigations or making arrests in the state Capitol, said McCall, R-Atoka. But Turner, who is Black and represents a diverse constituency that includes Oklahoma City's Asian business district, said one of their goals is making sure all people are welcome at the Capitol. I just provide my office as a space of grace and love for all the folks in all communities that seek refuge from the hate in this building, Turner said. Trans people don't feel safe here. House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson said the House's censure vote was absolutely embarrassing. Its clear what theyre trying to do is silence a member who does not think like them, act like them, dress like them, who challenges their positions, especially when they are running legislation to harm people in our community," Munson said. Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of national LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, also condemned the Oklahoma House, saying a statehouse is where everyone, including lawmakers, should feel safe and heard. Transgender people are under attack by extremists who are baselessly trying to limit their private, best practice healthcare," said Ellis. "Every Oklahoman and every American should be outraged that lawmakers are working overtime to target people, including their own colleague. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy A Norfolk Southern employee was killed after a train hit a dump truck in Ohio Tuesday. The accident happened on a rail line that runs through the Cleveland area at around 1 a.m., WKYC reports. A spokesperson for Cleveland-Cliffs, part of the area the rail line runs through, told WKYC the accident is being controlled by Cleveland police and Norfolk Southern. The victim was identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office as Louis Shuster, 46. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, WKYC reports. This is the third Norfolk Southern incident in Ohio in just over a month. On Feb. 3, 50 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, just under an hour drive from Pittsburgh. The train was carrying vinyl chloride in some of the cars and burned for days before a controlled release was executed. >>>>Vinyl chloride: What we know about the toxic chemical released at East Palestine train derailment Over the weekend on March 4, around 20 cars of another Norfolk Southern train derailed near the Clark County Fairgrounds near Springfield, Ohio. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Americans kidnapped in Mexico: 2 found dead, 2 alive, reports say At least one injured in explosion in New Castle Allegheny County Police no longer patrolling Pittsburgh, official says VIDEO: Pittsburgh police searching for suspects responsible for vandalizing Shepherds Wellness Center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts By Hyunsu Yim and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea said any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a declaration of war and blamed a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea for growing tensions, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, warned in a statement that Pyongyang would see it as a "declaration of war" if the U.S. took military action against the North's strategic weapon tests. She also hinted that the North could fire more missiles into the Pacific Ocean. The United States and its allies have never shot down North Korean ballistic missiles, which are banned by the United Nations Security Council, but the question drew new scrutiny since the North suggested it will fire more missiles over Japan. "The Pacific Ocean does not belong to the dominium of the U.S. or Japan," Kim said. Analysts have said that if North Korea follows through on its threat to turn the Pacific Ocean into a "firing range", it would allow the isolated and nuclear-armed state to make technical advances in addition to signalling its military resolve. In a separate statement, the chief of the Foreign News Section at North Korea's Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of "aggravating" the situation by conducting a joint air drill with a B-52 bomber on Monday and planning U.S.-South Korea field exercises. In response, South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said Pyongyang's "reckless nuclear and missile development" is to blame for the deteriorating situation. The United states deployed the B-52 bomber for a joint drill with South Korean fighter jets, in what South Korea's defence ministry said was a show of force against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The two countries will conduct more than 10 days of large-scale military exercises known as the "Freedom Shield" drills starting next week. Story continues On Tuesday, U.S. and South Korean warplanes practised quickly taking off in a drill designed in response to North Korean threats to destroy airfields, Yonhap news agency reported. North Korea's army said its enemy launched 30 rounds of artillery near the border on Tuesday and it demanded an immediate halt to what it called "provocative actions". South Korea denied doing so and said the claim was groundless. Around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty, leaving the countries technically at war. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Josh Smith; Editing by Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates and Ed Osmond) CAIRO (AP) A passenger train derailed Tuesday north of Cairo, killing at least two people and injuring 16 others, Egyptian authorities said. It was the latest in a series of rail accidents in the country in recent years. The train went off its tracks as it traveled through a station in the city of Qalyub on its way to the city of Menouf in the Nile Delta, state prosecutors said in a statement. They said they had opened an investigation into the cause of the crash. At least 20 ambulances were dispatched and the injured were transferred to hospitals, health authorities said. Videos of the aftermath posted on Facebook showed crowds of people and emergency services gathering around the rail cars, which had remained upright. In other footage, passengers were seen being pulled from the wreckage through rail-car windows. Train derailments and crashes are common in Egypt, where the railway system which has a history of mismanagement and poor maintenance of equipment. In recent years, the government announced modernization initiatives to improve its railways. In 2018, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said some 250 billion Egyptian pounds, or $8.13 billion, would be needed to properly overhaul the North African country's neglected rail network. In 2021, two trains collided in the southern Egyptian city of Tahta, killing 32 people. Later that year, a train derailed in the Qalyubia province, killing 11 people. Egypts deadliest train crash was in 2002, when more than 300 people were killed after a fire broke out on an overnight train journeying from Cairo to southern Egypt. Michael ONeill wants Paddy McNair to emerge as a leader within the Northern Ireland squad (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Archive) Michael ONeill wants Paddy McNair to head a new generation of leaders within the Northern Ireland squad as they look to a future when the stalwarts of the last decade are no longer around. ONeill on Tuesday named his first squad since returning to the job in December, and was forced to select a relatively inexperienced group with the likes of Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Ali McCann, and Shayne Lavery out injured. Jonny Evans is included, but it remains uncertain what role he will be able to play in the opening Euro 2024 qualifier away to San Marino on March 23 and the home match against Finland that follows, as the 100-cap defender has not featured for Leicester since November due to calf and thigh problems. The boss has named his squad for the @EURO2024 qualifiers #GAWA Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) March 7, 2023 In Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart and Shane Ferguson, ONeill has called up three players who were all in his first Northern Ireland squad back in 2012, but Davis and Corry Evans, two others from that group, are sidelined by long-term ACL injuries. Dallas has not yet recovered from the broken leg he suffered last season. What will be interesting about this window in particular is how we will cope without, at this moment in time, Steven, Corry, Stuart, players that have been with me a long time, ONeill told the PA news agency. Players emerge all the time. You look at Paddy McNair, 27 years of age, McNair needs to become a huge player in this group, a really big player and he has to embrace that role. McNair is well established as one of Northern Irelands most reliable players with 58 caps since his 2015 debut, and ONeill now wants the Middlesbrough man to have a bigger voice within the group. Story continues I dont think he needs to add anything (to his game), but at 27, he has to develop his leadership skills and that personality in his play, he said. I think he has that. ONeill also highlighted 23-year-old Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, a player who got his first call-up late in ONeills first reign but made his debut under Ian Baraclough and quickly established himself, earning 16 caps to date. (Dan) Ballard is the same, he said. I already see that in Daniel playing at Sunderland. Sunderland have a young team and I see him as a leader in that team. What I see in some of my younger players is the ability to step in and deal with situations they face. Watching Trai Hume at Sunderland, he looks very assured and calm, Conor Bradley at Bolton is playing very well. How those players are dealing with situations gives me a lot of confidence. We will need players to emerge very quickly in the next 12 to 18 months and the team may look different to what it does now, but it will certainly grow and progress in that period. Michael O'Neill on the new faces in the squad: Sean Goss, Cameron McGeehan, @Eointoal7 and Isaac Price #GAWA pic.twitter.com/muvBDBDfa6 Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) March 7, 2023 ONeill has called up four uncapped players in Motherwells Sean Goss, Ostends Cameron McGeehan, Bolton defender Eoin Toal and Everton teenager Isaac Price while the likes of Burton forward Dale Taylor, Aberdeen winger Matthew Kennedy and Manchester Citys Shea Charles have only a handful of caps. With so much experience missing there is an added importance on Jonny Evans being involved to whatever extent he can be, which may include him playing before he makes his first-team return for Leicester. Jonny is not a player that loses fitness very easily and also not a player who depends on that Jonnys game is played with his brain, his intelligence as much as anything else, ONeill said. Im optimistic hell be fit and I know hes desperate to be involved. Although hes not had 30 games this season I believe hell be able to come in and handle games at this level. At least 239 youths booked into Kentuckys juvenile detention centers in 2022 werent the significantly more violent predators about whom Gov. Andy Beshear and legislators warn as they call for guards to be armed with tasers and pepper spray, according to a state database obtained by the Herald-Leader. Instead, they were so-called status offenders, charged with minor, age-specific violations like truancy or running away from home. On average, they spent a week in custody, although five were locked up for a month or more in pre-trial detention. Unfortunately, sometimes, our prosecutorial team and judges feel its what has to be done. Its a tough thing to have to do, said McCracken County Attorney Cade Foster. Fosters county sent status offenders to juvenile detention 16 times in 2022. And more than 100 youths held in juvenile detention last year were wards of the state, usually teenagers from broken homes who were assigned to caseworkers at the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, according to a separate set of state records. Experts say there is almost certainly crossover between the two groups kids assigned to social workers who landed in lockup because of a lesser offense, such as fleeing foster care but its impossible to say exactly how much. The youths names typically are kept confidential, making it impossible to cross-reference them. Rules posted in the hallway near the classrooms at the Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center on Spurr Road in Lexington. Sad stories can be found in these numbers from the Department of Juvenile Justice. Last April, for example, a teen-aged boy in Boyd County was jailed in the Boyd Regional Juvenile Detention Center by mistake, according to state records. The boy was the victim in an abuse and neglect case, not an offender. It was his mother who had legal problems. But a district judges order to take the boy into custody and deliver him to DCBS apparently was misunderstood by police. By the time state officials realized the error and tracked him down, the boy was in the general population at the detention center alongside youths charged with crimes. Story continues DCBS did not know the youth had been found. (It) immediately sent a DCBS worker to the detention center to retrieve the youth, according to the states Report of Detention Violation filed two days later. The Boyd Regional Juvenile Detention Center, in Ashland, is not a desirable place for anyone to spend time, much less a child who did nothing wrong. During a riot at the facility in October, according to state records, some of the two dozen youths choked and attacked staff with a broom. One employee had the tip of a finger cut off. The Boyd detention center director wrote to DJJ in Frankfort to blame the eruption at least in part on perilously low staffing: Some staff are struggling to feel safe ... Even some residents are expressing concern for staff and wanting to retaliate. One girl, 54 rejections In other instances last year, DCBS social workers said they wanted to get youths in their charge out of the juvenile detention centers for a more appropriate setting. But they struggled to find any openings in foster homes or private agencies, especially if the kids had mental illness or a history of misbehavior. The phrase can be released when placement is found is repeated over and over in juveniles detention files. A DCBS supervisor wrote in an email last June that she collected 54 rejections for a Madison County girl locked inside the Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center, from therapeutic foster homes and qualified residential programs statewide. The girls own relatives likewise refused to take her, the supervisor wrote. She is now a non-offender in detention, a DJJ employee emailed a colleague. A violation report ... will go up the DJJ chain because she is only being held for placement, not on the actual charge. The detention center could not simply set her free, officials said, because she was a minor, and there would be nobody at the front door to greet her and to be responsible for her. This has always been an issue, said Rebecca Ballard DiLoreto, a longtime childrens advocacy attorney in Kentucky. Rebecca Ballard DiLoreto DJJ has kids who have served their time, as you could describe it, but DJJ has nowhere to put them. The release date arrives and there is not a placement for them, DiLoreto said. It would do the legislature well to study where exactly we are putting all of our kids in Kentucky. This is a deeper problem. One juvenile detention case in 2022, in Adair County, was a teenager with a 59 IQ, which is significant mental impairment. A second case, a teen girl in Warren County, had a traumatic brain injury from being dropped on her head as a baby. A third case, a teen boy in Fayette County, was left behind with expiring residency papers when his parents returned to Africa without him. State records did not identify what landed those teens in juvenile detention. Lock em up! Kentuckys problem isnt just that its juvenile detention centers are plagued by violence among youths and staff and by the chronic neglect of youths in their cells for days on end, making them dangerous places to be, critics say. Its that many of their residents shouldnt be there at all because theyre not the criminal threats to society for whom lockup is intended. Detention is ineffective. It is expensive. And it produces even worse conduct, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill. But thats the first instinct: Lock em up! State Sen. Whitney Westerfield Westerfield repeatedly has tried to convince his fellow lawmakers to stop jailing status offenders. His Senate Bill 200, in 2014, did at least significantly increase the number of status complaints steered toward diversion programs rather than detention, according to a 2020 analysis by the Urban Institute. Its terribly easy to be tough on crime. Its very popular to be tough on everyone who breaks the law. You look like youre the good guy, and its really easy to get carried away by that sort of mindset, he added. I get it. Thats what weve been doing decade after decade. Its just that it doesnt work. DiLoreto, the childrens advocacy attorney, said its not just politics. Past reform efforts also were thwarted by school districts, which view habitual truancy as a threat because their funding is tied to average daily attendance, she said. And judges do not like it when anyone, even a minor, ignores their orders, she said. A teenager who disobeys a judicial order to stop skipping school easily can find himself locked behind a steel door, she said. The judges have a particular view about their authority, and they will not let it go when they feel disrespected, DiLoreto said. Their view is, We always have contempt authority. That means we can always incarcerate. One peer-reviewed study, published in 2020 in the journal Crime & Delinquency, showed a significant increase in recidivism among more than 46,000 juvenile cases involving pre-trial time spent in custody, even for minor offenses. Generally, locked-up youths are less likely to benefit from any deterrence than they are to suffer from poor living conditions, risky new relationships and the stigma of having been a state prisoner, according to the study. However, none of the several juvenile justice measures advancing through the 2023 General Assembly this winter would end the practice of locking up status offenders. The only legislation that would, House Bill 591, is sponsored by Rep. Derrick Graham of Frankfort, the top House Democrat. But in the Republican-majority legislature, Graham doesnt have much clout. His bill has not moved as the session enters its final weeks. Nobody wants to detain a runaway Officials with the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department for Community Based Services declined to be interviewed for this article about the treatment of youths in their custody. In a brief statement, a DJJ spokeswoman said her agency has no authority over which youths are sent to its detention centers or when they are released. The courts do that. DJJ does not have any control over which juveniles are detained, spokeswoman Morgan Hall said. Also, DJJ cannot release a juvenile back into the community without them being picked up by their legal guardian or DCBS caseworker. Releasing a minor without proper supervision would be irresponsible of DJJ. The Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Bowling Green, Ky., photographed Sept. 6, 2021. Christian County locked up 25 status offenders in 2022, more than any other county, including the far more populous and urban Jefferson and Fayette counties, according to the state database. The most common charge was contempt of court, with an underlying charge of beyond control, bringing an average of 10 days in detention. Most Christian County youths were sent to the McCracken Regional Juvenile Detention Center, a 90-minute drive to the west in Paducah. That facility, like the one in Boyd County, has experienced riots. Christian District Judge John Lindsey Adams said he tries to avoid jailing status offenders whenever its possible. Adams said that he oversees one of the states last remaining juvenile drug courts, so he has a small population of youths whose behavior he closely tracks over an extended period. You very well could be seeing running away from home or beyond the control of the person exercising custodial control lots and lots of different circumstances. One thing I definitely can tell you about that is that every case is driven by its individual circumstances, facts and merit, Adams said. Still, the judge rejected the idea of a ban on detention for status offenses. There are times such as when kids keep running away, putting themselves at risk where locking them into a physically secured building looks like the only answer, at least in the short-term, he said. If you take that off the table, what are we supposed to do? Adams asked. Whether its me or a family court judge in some of those cases, what should you do with an habitual runaway? I promise you that nobody wants to detain a runaway. KY Senate gets bill with $48M in annual funding to fix juvenile justice system Ky. House gets juvenile justice bill with tougher rules for most serious charges Passengers on a flight from Charlotte to Sarasota, Florida, got an unexpected delay last month when the aircraft had to avoid another plane that was cleared to take off on the same runway. The National Transportation Safety Board says its investigating the incident, which happened on Feb. 16. SEE MORE: Dog surrendered by owner at Charlotte Douglas airport; rescue tries to find home The NTSB says an American Airlines flight from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport was set to land at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and it was cleared to use the runway. However, an Air Canada Rouge flight was also cleared to take off on the same runway. Update: The flights involved were Air Canada Rouge flight 1633 to Toronto and America 2172 from Charlotte. https://t.co/z3e5iDZIrn NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) March 7, 2023 According to the NTSB, the American Airlines crew self-initiated a go-around, which means the plane climbed again and circled back for another landing attempt. A flight path on FlightAware.com shows that the American Airlines plane was under 100 feet up when the pilots started the go-around. The plane climbed up to about 3,100 feet and circled around to successfully land about eight minutes later. No injuries were reported. A recent trend? This is the latest in a recent series of near-misses at U.S. airports. The NTSB is investigating another incident in Austin, where a FedEx cargo plane passed over the top of a Southwest Airlines jet. We still believe the planes were within 100 feet of each other, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in an interview about the Austin incident. Then weeks later, a Jet Blue plane that was landing at Boston Logan International Airport had to pull up to avoid a Learjet that was crossing an intersecting runway. ALSO READ: Family denied boarding, told they were on no-go list during layover at Charlotte airport Story continues The Associated Press reported that those incidents, and similar incidents in New York, California, and Hawaii have led the head of the Federal Aviation Administration to call for a safety summit while igniting a debate about whether air safety is declining. I dont know that I can say that its a trend, but these are disturbing because it just takes one, Homendy said in an Associated Press story. That is why we investigate incidents so that we can identify problems, especially when we see trends, and address them before they become a full-blown accident. (WATCH: Charlotte Douglas Airport firearm discoveries hit all-time high in 2022, TSA says) Whats Quickly? Its where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com. Why should taxes from the casino in Gary go to fund a convention center anywhere in Lake County? Are these other cities worse off? Seems to me they are booming with development! Look at Merrillville they have a brand new community center and already want tax money for improvements. Incredible! Let Gary develop itself if it is able to. Can Gary get tax revenue from other cities in Lake County? Advertisement The Trump troll has now set a new standard for dopiness, blaming Obama and Biden for reducing the number of ounces in a half-gallon. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures must be shocked to learn of it. Can someone please tell Trump calling people names should be left in the third grade? How does anyone with more than a 6th grade education find this rhetoric appealing? Advertisement The new Alien movie starts filming this week. Im sure they are going to ruin it by making the lead character a strong female, having the alien be a metaphor for sexual assault and making the plot center around corporate greed. Im sure there will also be a black character. Who would watch such woke garbage. Chevron should do a little better with their ads. They show workers loading boxes and the bottom of the boxes are not taped shut. The boxes show an opening where everything would just fall through. The boxes had to be empty for this ad. A tax refund is money you loaned the government. You get it back at the end of the year and they dont give you interest. You adjust the amount of the loan by the way you fill out your W-2. Total student loan debt relief if implemented by Biden will cost $389 billion. Total cost of the 2017 Republican tax cuts was $1.9 trillion. Republicans have no problem giving corporations and billionaires big tax cuts, but erasing some student loan debt that would benefit millions of our young adults is too much. They are nothing but hypocrites. Are you paying for Joes college loan buyout? No, you are paying for Don the Cons failed trickle-down economic scheme. It didnt work for Hoover, it didnt work for Reagan, it didnt work for Trump. It has never worked, except if you are part of the 1% then it works fine. During the 1992 presidential campaign Bill Clinton said: What I want you to understand is the national debt is not the only cause of declining economic conditions in America. It is because America has not invested in its people. It is because we have not grown. By the way, while you lost your tax cut, the uber-rich got to keep theirs. Prices in all areas are gradually coming down. Eggs, gas, prescriptions and other critical consumer products are now close to their pre-COVID levels or even better. I am not surprised that compliments from our conservative friends are on mute! Look for them to raise the volume on complaining about President Bidens age, the border, wokeism and college loan debt relief. I mention these items because Republicans apparently feel that complaining and catering to big business is their pathway to the White House. We must not forget former President Trump gave corporations a 14% tax cut. That means our government was receiving 14% less in tax collections. Yet, Republicans are hard set against giving individuals a break on their college debt. The reason is simple. Big corporations contribute to campaigns. Individuals with big college debt generally dont! Another Republican claiming huge tax returns. Monopoly Money does not count. I am not a Trump supporter because of the way he acts in public. That being said, some say he have a plan to save the country, but I cannot find out what the plan is. Trump just claims to election was rigged with no proof and has numerous lawsuits against him. Are these two things going to be his agenda for re-election? He has said he will deport most criminals but that is like saying he will build a wall. Advertisement Read more at www.post-trib.com/opinion. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating a close call between two flights at a Florida airport last month. In mid-February, an Air Canada flight was cleared for takeoff on the same runway that an American Airlines flight was cleared to land on at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, according to NTSB. The two jets were about 3,100 feet apart when the American Airlines jet discontinued its landing and began its climb-out, after an air traffic controller advised the flight crew that Air Canada was departing, the FAA said in a statement. The incident follows a recent series of close calls at U.S. airports. The NTSB and the FAA are also both investigating a Feb. 27 incident, in which a private charter jet nearly collided with a JetBlue plane. The private jet reportedly took off without clearance at Boston Logan International Airport while a JetBlue flight was preparing to land on an intersecting runway, according to the FAA. A near crash between two passenger planes at John F. Kennedy International Airport in mid-January has also triggered investigations from both agencies. A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to stop its takeoff from the New York airport midway because an American Airlines flight was crossing the runway, the FAA said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The National Transportation Safety Board has announced that they have launched a special investigation into Norfolk Southern after multiple recent accidents. Since December 2021, NTSB said they have launched investigations into five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern including when nearly 30 cars derailed in Springfield over the weekend. >> Safety plan released following NTSB initial investigation following East Palestine derailment Given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents, the NTSB also urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices, with the input of employees and others, and implement necessary changes to improve safety, the agency said in a media release. These accidents include according to NTSB: Dec. 8, 2021 in Reed, Pennsylvania : an employee for National Salvage and Service Corporation assigned to work with a Norfolk Southern work team replacing track was killed when the operator of a spike machine reversed direction and struck the employee Dec. 13, 2022 in Bessemer, Alabama: a Norfolk Southern trainee conductor was killed, and another conductor was hurt, when the lead locomotive of a Norfolk Southern freight train struck a steel angle iron protruding from a gondola car on another Norfolk Southern freight train that was stopped on an adjacent track Feb. 3, 2022 in East Palestine, Ohio: a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed. The derailment resulted in a significant fire and hazardous materials release. >> RELATED: East Palestine derailment: Timeline of key events in toxic train disaster March 4, 2022 in Springfield, Ohio: a 2.55-mile-long Norfolk Southern freight train derailed >> RELATED: Springfield train derailment: Clark Co. officials No hazardous materials leaked; NTSB on scene March 7, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio: a Norfolk Southern employee was killed during a movement >> RELATED: Dump truck crashes into Norfolk Southern train, killing conductor in Cleveland Story continues The investigation will also review an Oct. 28 derailment in Sandusky, Ohio. The agency will be looking at several organizational factors and safety cultures that may have contributed to these accidents. We will look at their management practices, their policies. Well also look at safety culture--thats an important part of this--to make sure there is a robust, comprehensive, strong safety culture in the railroad, Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chairwoman previously told CNN. The NTSB isnt the only one who wants answers. News Center 7s Brandon Lewis spoke with Springfield residents about their reaction to the investigation. If its such a frequent occurrence, I feel like they should look into it for sure, Hunter Combs said. Dallas Fitch agreed. I definitely think if all these derailments are linked to that company they should definitely be looked into, Fitch said. News Center 7 reached out to Norfolk Southern for comment. They replied in part: Moving forward, we are going to rebuild our safety culture from the ground up. We are going to invest more in safety. This is not who we are, it is not acceptable, and it will not continue. The full statement can be read here. THE NTSB recommended Norfolk Southern not wait to make safety changes. News Center 7 will follow this developing story and update as more information becomes available. The National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday that theyre launching a special investigation into Norfolk Southerns organization and safety culture. Given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents, the NTSB also urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices, with the input of employees and others, and implement necessary changes to improve safety, the NTSB said in a media release. Since Dec. 2021, the NTSB has launched five investigations involving Norfolk Southern incidents, with one of those being in Pennsylvania and three being in Ohio. On Dec. 8, 2021, an employee for National Salvage and Service Corporation assigned to work with a Norfolk Southern work team replacing track was killed when the operator of a spike machine reversed direction and struck the employee in Reed, Pennsylvania, the NTSB said. On Feb. 3, 50 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, just under an hour drive from Pittsburgh. The train was carrying vinyl chloride in some of the cars and burned for days before a controlled release was executed. >>>>Vinyl chloride: What we know about the toxic chemical released at East Palestine train derailment Over the weekend on March 4, around 20 cars of another Norfolk Southern train derailed near the Clark County Fairgrounds near Springfield, Ohio. On March 7, a Norfolk Southern employee was killed after a train hit a dump truck near Cleveland, Ohio. As part of the special investigation, the NTSB will also review the Oct. 28, 2022, Norfolk Southern derailment in Sandusky, Ohio, the media release said, marking the fourth Norfolk Southern investigation out of Ohio. The continued safe operations of Norfolk Southern is vital to the United States. The NTSB is concerned that several organizational factors may be involved in the accidents, including safety culture. The NTSB will conduct an in-depth investigation into the safety practices and culture of the company. At the same time, the company should not wait to improve safety and the NTSB urges it to do so immediately, the NTSB said. Story continues Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Americans kidnapped in Mexico: 2 found dead, 2 alive, reports say At least one injured in explosion in New Castle Allegheny County Police no longer patrolling Pittsburgh, official says VIDEO: Pittsburgh police searching for suspects responsible for vandalizing Shepherds Wellness Center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday it is opening a special investigation into Norfolk Southern Railway's safety practices and culture in the wake of a hazardous train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and other recent incidents involving the rail operator. The last time the agency opened such an investigation was in 2014 for Metro-North following several significant accidents. PHOTO: A view of the scene in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 24, 2023, as cleanup continues at the site of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3. (Matt Freed/AP) The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration also announced Tuesday that it will conduct a safety assessment of Norfolk Southern's railway safety operations "following multiple safety incidents." The scrutiny comes after a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed on Feb. 3 near East Palestine, Ohio, sending toxic chemicals into the air, soil and creeks in the area. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the derailment "100% preventable" and said it was "no accident." Most recently, a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday near Springfield, Ohio. The railroad company told authorities that this incident did not involve hazardous materials. But officials acknowledged Monday that cars on the train that did not derail did have hazardous contents. MORE: NTSB on East Palestine toxic train derailment: '100% preventable' A Norfolk Southern train conductor was killed in a collision with a dump truck at a rail crossing at the property of steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs, in Cleveland, Ohio, early Tuesday. DOT said information collected in its supplemental assessment will "[provide] a more expansive look at Norfolk Southern's overall safety culture and operations." The probe will review the findings and recommendations of the 2022 Norfolk Southern system audit and revisit FRA's recommendations and the scope of the railroad's responses. "After a series of derailments and the death of one of its workers, we are initiating this further supplemental safety review of Norfolk Southern, while also calling on Norfolk Southern to act urgently to improve its focus on safety so the company can begin earning back the trust of the public and its employees," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release. Story continues Following the announcement of the NTSB investigation into their safety and culture, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw told ABC News that "moving forward, we are going to rebuild our safety culture from the ground up." "We are going to invest more in safety," Shaw said in a statement. "This is not who we are, it is not acceptable, and it will not continue." PHOTO: Chair of the NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, listens as Robert Hall, Director of the NTSB's Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials, speaks on the East Palestine train derailment, Feb. 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images, FILE) Shaw is set to testify before the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee during a hearing on Wednesday amid calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators, led by Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown and Ohio Republican J.D. Vance, introduced legislation last week looking to regulate the railroad industry in the wake of the East Palestine disaster. "It shouldn't take a rail disaster to get us working together like that. And that's what we're going to be doing," Brown told ABC "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. NTSB's preliminary report into the East Palestine incident found that a wheel bearing appeared to overheat moments before the derailment. A final report with recommendations might not be finished for up to two years, officials said. Representatives from NTSB were on site Monday investigating the wreck near Springfield. The cause of the accident is not yet known, Shaw said. "In some ways, the cause does not matter," he said in his statement Tuesday, adding that he "called together every member of our management team this afternoon to emphasize the urgency of finding new solutions." The company plans to hold "safety stand-down briefings reaching every employee across our network" on Wednesday, Shaw said. ABC News' Amanda Maile contributed to this report. NTSB to open special investigation into Norfolk Southern following recent derailments originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is launching an investigation into Norfolk Southerns safety practices as the company faces increasing scrutiny following a string of train derailments, including a high-profile derailment in Ohio last month, the agency announced Tuesday. The NTSB said in a release it is launching a special investigation into the company, citing the number and significance of recent incidents involving Norfolk Southern. The NTSB is concerned that several organizational factors may be involved in the accidents, including safety culture. The NTSB will conduct an in-depth investigation into the safety practices and culture of the company, it said in a statement. At the same time, the company should not wait to improve safety and the NTSB urges it to do so immediately. Norfolk Southern has come under intense fire after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, sparking environmental and public health concerns. A second train derailed in the state last week, but the cars were empty and no injuries were reported. The NTSB said it has sent investigators to the sites of five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern since 2021, including the death of an employee in an accident Tuesday. Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement the cause of Tuesdays accident wasnt known but we will of course cooperate fully with the National Transportation Safety Board. I called together every member of our management team this afternoon to emphasize the urgency of finding new solutions. Tomorrow we will hold safety stand-down briefings reaching every employee across our network, Shaw said. Moving forward, we are going to rebuild our safety culture from the ground up. We are going to invest more in safety. This is not who we are, it is not acceptable, and it will not continue. Story continues The Norfolk Southern derailments have also placed federal rail regulations in sharp focus. The federal investigation comes as lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would increase rail regulations and enhance safety measures. The bipartisan proposal, however, has run into Republican opposition in the Senate, because it leaves specifics up to the Transportation Department. Updated at 5:19 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A coalition of New York Republicans on Tuesday introduced legislation that would ban Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from profiting off his fabrications if he is convicted of certain crimes, revving up their attack against the embattled congressman. The legislation does not mention Santos by name, but lawmakers who introduced the two related measures made clear they are directed toward the New York Republican, who has been the target of scrutiny for fabricating parts of his resume and submitting questionable financial disclosure reports. Its very simple, Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-N.Y.), the lead sponsor of the legislation, said at a press conference Tuesday. If you are defrauding the American people, if you are making a mockery out of the peoples House, or violating campaign finance law, you should not be able to turn it into a payday. Should fraudsters like George Santos be indicted or convicted of crimes listed in my legislation, our legislation, they wont be able to make money from a book deal, a TV movie, Dancing with the Stars or the next Netflix special, he added. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is seen outside of his office in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (Greg Nash) The group of Republicans introduced a bill and a resolution. The bill titled the No Fortune For Fraud Act would create a law that applied to House members who are convicted of offenses involving financial or campaign finance fraud, including conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and false, fictitious or fraudulent claims, in addition to violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. The resolution, known as the No Fame for Fraud Resolution, would amend House rules to make the policy apply to lawmakers indicted for the same offenses. DEsposito circulated the legislation last month. On Tuesday, he described the list of offenses as any unlawful acts that would result in members losing their pensions. Story continues This legislation is about ensuring that elected officials who break the publics trust are held accountable for their wrongdoings, DEsposito said. No one should be able to profit off lying to the American people and swindling their way into the Peoples House. Asked on Tuesday if he is confident that Santos will be convicted of an offense, DEsposito said yes. Of everything that we read, obviously none of us are part of the investigation, but everything that weve read, the holes and stories, the misinformation, you know, I think all roads are leading to, you know, to the issues at hand, and were going to let due process play out, he added. A number of groups have received formal complaints about or are said to be investigating Santos amid questions about his background and finances. Last week, the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into the congressman. DEsposito said the group has had conversations with leadership, adding that he is confident the measures will make it to the floor. New York GOP Reps. Nicholas LaLota, Brandon Williams, Mike Lawler, Nick Langworthy and Marc Molinaro all first-term representatives joined DEsposito as co-sponsors of the legislation. All six lawmakers have called on Santos to resign. DEsposito, LaLota and Molinaro have also expressed support for Santos to be expelled. George Santos is a scam artist, and we New York Republicans are here to stop him, LaLota said during Tuesdays press conference. Any other person should have been embarrassed for having been exposed for those lies. They wouldve shown remorse, they wouldve paid in shame. But not George Santos, he later added. He tweeted more, he went on national TV, he even positioned himself in a center-aisle seat during the State of the Union. Why? Because George Santos is dead broke, and hes trying to use his new infamy to enrich himself, to further what we set out to do three years ago to use his persona as a public figure to enrich himself. The congressman continued, saying, We New York Republicans can smell a scam from a mile away, and George Santoss scam absolutely stinks. Asked on Tuesday if the New York Republicans were satisfied with GOP leaderships reaction to Santos specifically pointing out House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) DEsposito said he was pleased with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) without commenting on Stefanik. Stefanik, the highest-ranking congressional Republican from New York, has pointed to the process Santos will go through. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sayfullo Saipov is "a proud terrorist" who deserves the death penalty for the "unremorseful slaughter of innocent civilians" during a Halloween 2017 terror attack in New York City, a prosecutor argued in federal court on Tuesday. Saipov was convicted in January of killing eight people and trying to kill 18 more in the ISIS-inspired truck attack on a bike path adjacent to the Hudson River. It was the deadliest terror attack in New York since Sept. 11, 2001. A jury will soon begin deliberating on whether he should get the death penalty. MORE: NYC truck terror attacker fights to avoid death penalty over ethnic discrimination claims During closing arguments in the penalty phase on Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Houle showed photographs of each of the deceased victims that depicted them in the bloodied, twisted state in which they were found. "It is brutal to look at these photographs but it is important because that brutality is exactly what the defendant intended," Houle said. "With each death he made himself more culpable, more deserving of the ultimate punishment." PHOTO: The mugshot of Sayfullo Saipov is displayed at a news conference at One Police Plaza in New York, Nov. 1, 2017. (Craig Ruttle/AP, FILE) Saipov, in a dark jacket and white shirt, sat at the defense table with his head bowed, hands in his lap and mask covering his face. Nine of the 28 counts he was convicted of carry the possibility of the death penalty. "Murder is always terrible but when the defendant made the choice to murder multiple people he exposed himself to a harsher punishment," Houle said. "He stole eight lives." Houle showed photographs of the victims with their families and reminded the jury of the anguished testimony of the victims' relatives. Hernan Ferruchi's widow testified her "life came crashing down." Diego Angelini's widow testified "she still thinks about Diego every single day" and how their children -- ages 11, 9, 7 and 5 -- cry because they miss him. "The defendant chose to take so much from all of these families," Houle said. Ann-Laure Decadt's baby, Joseph, was weeks old when she was killed in the attack. The jury saw photos of the mother and baby. Decadt's mother and sister were on the bike path with her and watched her die. Story continues "A word has not yet been invented to describe the pain she feels," Houle said of Decadt's mother's testimony. MORE: NYC bike path terror attack: Suspect found guilty During the prosecutor's closing statement, the husband of an FBI agent associated with the case suffered a medical episode and was taken from the courtroom. An ambulance was called. After a recess, the defense moved for a mistrial and asked that jurors be told who the person is. "There is no way they won't speculate about someone sitting with the victims' families," defense attorney David Patton said. At the time, the jury was watching a video that depicted the mangled school bus Saipov had struck. Children were inside and the driver was injured. "Someone had a very strong reaction to that," Patton said. PHOTO: A damaged Home Depot truck remains on the scene, Nov. 1, 2017, after the driver mowed down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center in New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP, FILE) Federal prosecutors objected to the mistrial. "The defendant has not been deprived of a fair trial because someone suffered a medical episode," Houle said. The defense compared the moment to an emotional outburst during the penalty phase by Saipov's father, who shouted "dirty ISIS bastards" and punched the door on his way out of court. "The two are not even close," Judge Vernon Broderick said. Broderick denied the mistrial and declined to identify to the jury who suffered the medical episode. He told jurors the episode "had no bearing on the case" and instructed them to disregard it. MORE: American couple could face death penalty for allegedly torturing foster child in Uganda During his closing argument, Patton said told jurors they face "an awesome responsibility and power" and should spare Saipov the death penalty and let him "die in obscurity, not as a hero, not as a martyr." "It is not necessary to kill Sayfullo Saipov, not for our safety or anyone else's and not to do justice," Patton said. "In this case, we are asking you to decide that meeting death with more death is not the answer." In seeking to convince jurors that Saipov would be sent to "one of the most locked-away places on the planet," Patton showed them photographs of ADX, the maximum security prison in Colorado, along with images of the maximum security unit where he would be confined to a cell at least 22 hours a day, be allowed two 15-minute phone calls per month and three escorted showers a week. "The width of the room is the length of the bed," Patton said, describing a photograph of the cell. "Mr. Saipov's life will be regulated to the nth degree." In the government's rebuttal, prosecutor Jason Richman took aim at the defense's request that Saipov serve life in prison. "The defendant decided death," said Richman, who noted that 17 children lost their parents in the attack. "He chose death and he chose hate. It is time for him to face the consequences of his choices." The jury will begin deciding Saipov's fate after Broderick reads the charge in court on Wednesday, a process that could take several hours, the judge said. A decision for death must be unanimous. A death sentence for Saipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, would be the first by a federal jury in New York in decades. Federal juries in Brooklyn approved a death sentence for a man who murdered two New York police detectives in 2007 and 2013, but both sentences were tossed out on appeal. NYC truck terror attacker deserves death penalty for 'unremorseful slaughter': Prosecutor originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Maggie Haberman, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, on Monday suggested why former President Donald Trump was yet to really go on full attack against Ron DeSantis, his potential 2024 GOP rival. CNNs Wolf Blitzer asked Haberman: Its interesting that Trump is so far avoiding criticizing DeSantis by name. Why is that? And should we expect the overt jabs to start flying soon? Haberman noted how Trump has been road-testing derogatory nicknames for the Florida governor. But in general, I think hes trying not to elevate him. I think hes trying not to put too much of a face on him, she said. Because he is somebody, DeSantis, that not every Trump voter knows, who not everybody is familiar with and I think he wants to keep him sort of at a remove. Haberman suspected it was going to change, though, as DeSantis embarks on a 90-day book tour to promote his new memoir, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for Americas Revival, which a New York Times book critic described as reading like it was churned out by an AI bot. Then we are going to know exactly how many other people are jumping into this field, so a lot could change, Haberman added. Watch the video here: Related... The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Obama-era consumer watchdog formed in response to the 2008 financial crisis, finds itself facing another existential threat. The Supreme Court recently agreed to take up a ruling from the ultra-conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the CFPBs funding mechanism is unconstitutional. The agency itself has long enjoyed public support: A voter poll conducted at the beginning of December 2022 found that 8 out of 10 people polled supported its mission. Depending on the high courts ruling, the CFPB could face major hurdles in its efforts to crack down on predatory lending and enforce other consumer protection laws. Other agencies could be threatened, too. Voters overwhelmingly support the CFPB: 8 in 10 voters support consumer watchdog agency: poll Heres what experts say is at stake. What does the CFPB do? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Greg Nash) The agency itself was created to help protect consumers from the types of business practices to led to the Great Recession and housing market meltdown in 2008. With fewer resources, the CFPB could struggle to go after large institutions such as Wells Fargo, which in December agreed to pay $3.7 billion to settle a CFPB lawsuit accusing the bank of unlawfully repossessing vehicles, freezing accounts and hitting consumers with surprise overdraft fees when they had sufficient funds. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who cheered the Fifth Circuit decision, has pledged to pass bills to bring the CFPB under the appropriations process and limit its rule-making authority, among other measures that would weaken the agencys power. Critics of the anti-CFPB push note that the Fifth Circuit lawsuit was brought by a trade association representing payday lenders, which the CFPB frequently sues for alleged predatory tactics. Story continues They also point to industry donations. Liberal advocacy group Accountable.US noted that McHenry was the top recipient of campaign contributions from commercial banks in the 2022 election cycle, receiving $1.6 million, and has brought in the third most campaign cash from payday lenders among sitting members of Congress. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Republicans would move to weaken the bureau Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, March 2, 2023. (Greg Nash) Republicans in Congress are preparing for a Supreme Court ruling that would require the CFPB to be funded through the appropriations process instead of the Federal Reserve. With control of the House, Republicans would have considerable leverage in appropriations negotiations, giving them considerable control over CFPBs future, experts say. GOP lawmakers, along with allies in the financial services sector, have long lamented that Congress has little control or oversight over the independent agency. Theyve also pushed back on the CFPBs recent efforts to cap bank overdraft fees and credit card late fees, arguing that theyd shift costs to other consumers. An ongoing fight: Supreme Court to review constitutionality of funding consumer protection bureau I think at the end of the day, the bureau probably survives, but with a smaller budget and maybe a bipartisan commission. But Republicans are gonna be in the drivers seat, so theyll be able to say, If Democrats want this bureau at all, youre going to do it our way, said Ian Katz, managing director of strategic policy firm Capital Alpha Partners. Several high-profile Republicans including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have introduced bills to abolish the CFPB altogether. Its very possible that youd have a situation where maybe the House of Representatives says, Well, were not gonna fund it anymore, and it [goes] out of existence, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told The Hill. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) addresses reporters during a press conference on Thursday, July 14, 2022 to discuss corporate greed. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) addresses reporters during a press conference on Thursday, July 14, 2022 to discuss corporate greed. Legal uncertainty could undermine the CFPB The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Greg Nash) The Supreme Court isnt expected to rule on the CFPB case until 2024, leaving a legal cloud hanging over the CFPB that is prompting companies to challenge the bureau. Last week, TransUnion asked a federal court to block a CFPB lawsuit against the company until the Supreme Court rules on the agencys constitutionality. Past agency actions have grabbed headlines: Wells Fargo settles CFPB allegations for $3.7B The CFPB is suing TransUnion for allegedly tricking users into signing up for recurring payments that are difficult to cancel, violating a 2017 settlement with the watchdog. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement that TransUnion is an out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law. The Fifth Circuit decision could also endanger proposed rules, like the CFPBs recently unveiled rule to cap credit card late fees, which the agency said would reduce those fees by $9 billion annually. Trade associations representing banks and other financial services firms are gearing up to challenge the rule in court. I think companies now are going to challenge the CFPB on everything that they dont like, whether its rulemaking or a fine, Katz said. They see a weakened institution, or one thats at least under a cloud of uncertainty. Existing rules could also be in jeopardy There are concerns that existing rules could be in trouble if CFPBs funding mechanism is found unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) If CFPBs funding mechanism is found unconstitutional, there are concerns that more than just the payday lending rule at the center of the case could be at risk. As part of the October decision by the Fifth Circuit, the court moved to vacate the 2017 Payday Lending Rule, saying then that the funding employed by the Bureau to promulgate the [rule] was wholly drawn through the agencys unconstitutional funding scheme. But in a legal sidebar detailing some of the potential legal ramifications the agency faces, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) argued that the reasoning could reverberate well beyond that one regulation. The reasoning could call into question the legality of every CFPB action funded by the Bureau Fund, the CRS stated in the January post. The CFPB uses the Bureau Fund to cover the costs of nearly all of its vast rulemaking, enforcement, and adjudicatory activities. Mitria Wilson-Spotser, vice president and federal policy director at the Center for Responsible Lending, made a similar argument, while also raising concerns about the impact the risks posed to policies such as the Qualified Mortgage rule. The reason we have this housing appreciation, the reason why we have homeownership rates at the rate that we do in the United States today is because of that rule, she told The Hill, while also saying she thinks everything is up for play if the Supreme Court ultimately rules against the CFPBs funding structure in the case. Other agencies with similar funding could be at risk The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is seen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Greg Nash) Proponents defending how the agency is funded have often cited how other banking regulators are financed outside the annual government appropriations process. That includes the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). There is no constitutional principle that says that Congress cannot have some agencies funded independently, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who helped set up the agency more than a decade ago. Congress has done that since the very first banking regulator was created in 1863, and every banking regulator since then has been funded the same way, she told The Hill. But, if the Supreme Court agrees with the judgment handed down by the federal appeals court, some have expressed concerns about what that could mean for other agencies and entitlement programs that are also funded independent of annual appropriations. We havent seen the same types of legal challenges to the Federal Reserve. We havent seen the same types of legal challenges to the OCC, Wilson-Spotser said. We havent seen the same types of legal challenges to Social Security and Medicare, she added. But if the court agrees with this precedent, there is no doubt in my mind that we will see them in the future. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) A road trip to Mexico for cosmetic surgery veered violently off course when four Americans were caught in a drug cartel shootout, leaving two dead and two held captive for days in a remote region of the Gulf coast before they were rescued from a wood shack, officials said Tuesday. Their minivan crashed and was fired on shortly after they crossed into the border city of Matamoros on Friday as drug cartel factions tore through the streets, the regions governor said. A stray bullet also killed a Mexican woman about a block and a half away. The four Americans were hauled off in a pickup truck, and Mexican authorities frantically searched as the cartel moved them around even taking them to a medical clinic to create confusion and avoid efforts to rescue them, Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal said. They were found Tuesday in a wooden shack, guarded by a man who was arrested, in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Tecolote on the way to the Gulf called Bagdad Beach, according to the state's chief prosecutor, Irving Barrios. The surviving Americans were whisked back to U.S. soil on Tuesday in Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas and just across the border from Matamoros. The convoy of ambulances and SUVs was escorted by Mexican military Humvees and National Guard trucks with mounted machine guns. A relative of one of the victims said Monday that the four had traveled together from the Carolinas so one of them could get a tummy tuck surgery from a doctor in Matamoros. The governor said the wounded American, Eric Williams, had been shot in the left leg and the injury was not life threatening. Its quite a relief, said Robert Williams, 38-year-old Eric's brother, reached by phone Tuesday in North Carolina. I look forward to seeing him again and actually being able to talk to him. Robert Williams was not sure if the other survivor, Latavia Burgess, was the one seeking the surgery. Story continues The survivors were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, the Brownsville Herald reported. A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI. The two dead Shaeed Woodard, age 33, and Zindell Brown, in his mid-20s will be turned over to U.S. authorities following forensic work at the Matamoros morgue, the governor said. Video and photographs taken during and immediately after Friday's abduction show the Americans white minivan sitting beside another vehicle, with at least one bullet hole in the driver's side window. A witness said the two vehicles had collided. Almost immediately, several men with tactical vests and assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene. The Mexican authorities' hypothesis is that it was confusion, not a direct attack, the state prosecutor said. The gunmen walked one of the Americans into the bed of a white pickup, then dragged and loaded up the three others. Terrified civilian motorists sat silently in their cars, hoping not to draw attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless. The shootings illustrate the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the people responsible would be punished. He referenced arrests in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border. Lopez Obrador complained about the U.S. medias coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. He said that when Mexicans are killed, the media go quiet like mummies. We really regret that this happens in our country, he said, adding that the U.S. government has every right to be upset by the violence. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland put blame for the deaths squarely on the drug cartels The DEA and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on Garland said. The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims return and the arrest of the abductors. Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that he and his brother Eric are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina. Williams described his brother as easygoing and fun-spirited. He didnt know his brother was traveling to Mexico until after the abduction hit the news. But from looking at his brothers Facebook posts, he thinks his brother did not consider the trip dangerous. He thought it would be fun, Williams said. When told that his brother was among the survivors Tuesday, Williams said that when they meet, Ill just tell him how happy I am to see him, and how glad I am that he made it through, and that I love him. ___ Loller reported from Nashville. AP writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. An award ceremony is held during the Aswan International Women Film Festival in Aswan, Egypt, on March 5, 2023. On the bank of the Nile River, Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan is hosting this week the seventh edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) that seeks to shed further light on women's causes and rights. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) On the bank of the Nile River, Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan is hosting this week the seventh edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) that seeks to shed further light on women's causes and rights. Sixty feature, short, animated, and documentary films from different countries including Egypt, Algeria, France, Switzerland, Argentina, South Korea, Bulgaria and Latvia take part in the competitions of the AIWFF that runs from March 5 to 10. The festival's founder and president, screenwriter Mohamed Abdel-Khalek, said at a red-carpet gala on Saturday evening that holding the festival in such difficult economic conditions was a challenge, hoping that "imagination would overcome economic conditions" in this AIWFF version. The festival's activities include symposiums, lectures and filmmaking workshops for young people in Aswan, who managed through training in past editions to make qualified films that competed in Arab international film festivals. Egyptian 40-minute short feature film Sara's Birthday, produced by Plan International Egypt and the National Council for Women and directed by Yasser Shafiey, was screened as the opening film of the festival. Fatima Nouali, president of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival and a jury member at the Egyptian film competition of AIWFF, said that this opportunity will allow her to watch various new Egyptian films, some of which might be picked to be screened at her festival in Morocco. "The role of women is very important in society and cinema is a reflection of society, so it is very important to have festivals concerned with women's causes and films," Egyptian actress Bushra Rozza told Xinhua. In the opening ceremony attended by the Egyptian culture minister and the governor of Aswan, the festival honored a number of filmmakers and stars, including Egyptian veteran movie star Nabila Ebeid, Spanish actress Cuca Escribano, Tunisian filmmaker Salma Baccar and Dutch filmmaker Mijke de Jong. "I mainly make films about women - brave women, lonely women and beautiful women. I think it's very important to hear women's voices," De Jong said. The festival is held with the support of the Egyptian ministries of culture, tourism and social solidarity and in partnership with the European Union delegation to Egypt. Since its first edition in 2017, AIWFF has established itself as a "window" drawing the features of the worlds of Egyptian and Arab women, said Egyptian Culture Minister Neveen El-Kilany in her remarks during the opening ceremony. VINNYTSIA, Ukraine (AP) As the mothers cries of anguish pierced the cold morning air, mourners who had fought back tears could hold them no longer. Oh Yana, oh my daughter, Olena Rikhlitska howled. My baby, my little one. Her only child, 29-year-old Yana Rikhlitska, lay in a coffin before her, the younger woman's blonde hair still in the tight braids she adopted when she voluntarily joined the Ukrainian army as a medic late last year. Just over a week ago, Associated Press journalists filmed Yana Rikhlitska as she helped treat wounded soldiers in a field hospital outside Bakhmut, which Russian forces have pulverized during a three-sided assault to seize the city in eastern Ukraine. A few days later she was dead. Rikhlitska and another medic were killed by shelling as they shuttled between the field hospital and the front line. As friends, colleagues and relatives gathered Tuesday in her home city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine to bid her a final farewell, they remembered a person full of vitality and spurred by a life-long drive to help others. She was really friendly and kind, said Viktor Fateyev, 39, a colleague from the IT company where she worked in the human resources department. She was like a mother to everyone; she was the focus point everyone gathered around. Rikhlitska was in Brazil just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. She spent a few months in the South American country practicing capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, Fateyev said, clutching a bunch of yellow tulips as he waited to pay his respects at the funeral. She flew home after the invasion, he said, and straight away began fundraising and working as a volunteer for troops to help the Ukrainian defense effort. It wasnt long before she decided to become a front-line medic. He spotted her in the AP video when it aired, Fateyev said, and posted it in a group chat of her co-workers. Everyone was so excited, he said. And then, the next day... he trailed off. Story continues Tetiana Obraztsova, 30, a member of a volunteer combat medic group who met Rikhlitska in September, said Rikhlitska ferried humanitarian aid to Bakhmut even before she became a medic. Russia has been trying to capture the city for six months. She did all that she could, right from the start of the full-scale war, Obraztsova said. Fellow volunteer Anastasia Muzyka, 29, recalled Rikhlitska as bright, kind and indefatigable. She was fiery, in a good way. She was so dedicated. It was like she was never tired, Muzyka said. In combat, eventually even soldiers need to rest, she added, but not Yara. She was always there, helping everyone. It was during her volunteer work in August that she met her future husband, Oleksandr, who was in the Ukrainian army. Amid the din of war, their love blossomed, and the couple married on Dec. 31, 2022. She was fire, the fire that cannot be extinguished. said Oleksandr, who would only give his first name. Childhood friend Snizhana Zaliubivska, 28, remembered Rikhlitska displaying a desire to help even as a little girl. The two had lost touch in recent years, but Zaliubivska was devastated to hear of her friend's death. It wasnt a surprise that she was volunteering. She was a true patriot of the country, she said. She would never refuse anyone, she was always helping everyone who would ask. Draped with the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, Rikhlitskas coffin was transported to the military section of the local cemetery and opened once more. Ashen-faced, her mother gently stroked her daughter's cheek, and kissed her one last time. No, no! Olena Rikhlitska sobbed as the coffin was carried to the grave and lowered to the sound of a gun salute. Only the support of her husband, Mykola, and another relative prevented her from sinking to the ground. Behind them, row upon row of Ukrainian flags fluttered above the graves of the war dead, snapping in the breeze. ___ Vasilisa Stepanenko contributed reporting. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors. Oklahoma would have become the 22nd state to legalize adult use of cannabis and join conservative states like Montana and Missouri that have approved similar proposals in recent years. Many conservative states have also rejected the idea, including Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota last year. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and many of the states GOP legislators, including nearly every Republican senator, opposed the idea. Former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent, and Terri White, the former head of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, led the "no" campaign. Were pleased the voters have spoken," said Pat McFerron, a Republican political strategist who ran the opposition campaign. "We think this sends a clear signal that voters are not happy with the recreational nature of our medicinal system. We also think it shows voters recognize the criminal aspects, as well as the need for addressing mental health needs of the state. Oklahoma voters already approved medical marijuana in 2018 by 14 percentage points and the state has one of the most liberal programs in the country, with more than 2,800 licensed dispensaries and roughly 10% of the states adult population having a medical license to buy and consume cannabis. On Tuesday's legalization question, the no side was outspent more than 20-to-1, with supporters of the initiative spending more than $4.9 million, compared to about $219,000 against, last-minute campaign finance reports show. State Question 820, the result of a signature gathering drive last year, was the only item on the statewide ballot, and early results showed heavy opposition in rural areas. Oklahoma is a law and order state," Stitt said in a statement after Tuesday's vote. "I remain committed to protecting Oklahomans and my administration will continue to hold bad actors accountable and crack down on illegal marijuana operations in our state. Story continues The proposal, if passed, would have allowed anyone over the age of 21 to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. Recreational sales would have been subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the states general revenue fund. The prospect of having more Oklahomans smoking anything, including marijuana, didn't sit well with Mark Grossman, an attorney who voted against the proposal Tuesday at the Crown Heights Christian Church in Oklahoma City. I was a no vote because I'm against smoking, Grossman said. Tobacco smoking was a huge problem for my family. The low barriers for entry into Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry has led to a flood of growers, processors and dispensary operators competing for a limited number of customers. Supporters had hoped the state's marijuana industry would be buoyed by a rush of out-of-state customers, particularly from Texas, which has close to 8 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area just a little more than an hour drive from the Oklahoma border. Michelle Tilley, campaign director for Yes on 820, said despite Tuesday's result, full marijuana legalization was inevitable. She noted that almost 400,000 Oklahomans already use marijuana legally and many thousands more use it illegally. A two-tiered system, where one group of Oklahomans is free to use this product and the other is treated like criminals does not make logical sense, she said in a statement. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy omakase Omakase, a Japanese culinary experience, is the latest foodie trend to hit the scene. The dining style translates to I leave it up to you, meaning leaving the meal totally up to the chef. With Omakase, you dont have to spend time deciding what to order at a restaurant. This experience is completely life-changing, and it is great for indecisive diners who love trying multiple flavors and want a culinary expert to lead the way. At an Omakase experience, the chef curates the menu using the finest ingredients, while you enjoy an exceptional meal in an intimate setting. In general, you should budget to spend between $100 to $300 per person at an Omakase experience. Whether youre taking yourself out on a date or gathering with family and friends for a celebration, Omakase is a great way to celebrate through fine dining. If you are looking to try Omakase, Travel Noire gathered eight omakase experiences around the U.S. Related: HAGS, A New Queer Fine Dining Experience In NYC Saishin New York City Located on the Gansevoort Meatpacking Hotel roof, a 12-course meal will cost about $135 and a 15-course meal $175. The quartz Omakase bar seats 16 guests. The restaurant honors traditional Japanese Cuisine and prides itself on mindful sourcing, quality and seasonal ingredients. Mujo Atlantas Only Omakase Spot This restaurant is the only place in the A where you can find Omakase. Costing $225 per person, the chef uses seasonal ingredients and fresh fish flown in straight from Japan. The restaurant honors the tradition of Edomae sushi. Hiroki Philadelphia Head to the Fishtown neighborhood of Philly for this Omakase concept. Chef Hiroki Fujiyama was inspired by his hometown Kyoto when putting together this menu. Omakase at Hiroki costs $155 per person. Akikos San Franciscos Family-owned Omakase Spot This downtown San Francisco spot is family-owned and operated. Only the finest local and seasonal fresh fish are used and arrive daily from Japans Tsukiji Fish Market. The menu changes daily to ensure that all ingredients are fresh. Story continues Blue Ribbon Boston Located at Kenmore Squares Hotel, this menu is crafted by Master Sushi Chef Yoshi Ueki. Fish is flown in daily from the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and local New England waters. This experience starts at $150 per person. Uchi Austin, Aspen, Dallas, Denver, Houston and Miami Originally opened in Austin in 2003, Uchi has grown to have homes in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Miami. From Dec. 14th to Dec. 17, there will be a popup at Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado, and theres even a vegetarian-tasting menu! Sushi Sho Waikiki Beach, Oahu When youre in Oahu, Hawaii, you have to dine at Sushi Sho. Make sure to make reservations months prior because this place is always booked. Located at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, this Omakase experience pairs different types of seasoned rice with over 40 varieties of fresh fish. This experience will cost about $300 per person. Soko Los Angeless Omakase Spot Take a trip to Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Los Angeles for an oceanfront Omakase experience. The menu includes fresh red snapper, tuna, yellowtail and more. This Omakase experience will cost you $185, and its totally worth it. Related: Louis Vuitton Opens A Fine-Dining Vegetarian Pop-Up In Seoul Renowned Brunello producer Biondi-Santi has simultaneously released two historic vintages, Biondi-Santi 2016 Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Biondi-Santi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The 2016 Riserva is the final vintage that previous owner and winemaker Jacopo Biondi-Santi had a hand in, while the 2017 is the first that was fully crafted by the new winemaking team with no input from the wineryand appellationsfounding family. Together, these two astounding wines are a piece of history representing the past, present and future of Biondi-Santi. The 2016 Riserva is only the 42nd produced by the winery since it was established in 1888 by Ferruccio Biondi-Santi; riserva wines are only made in exceptional years. Ferruccios grandfather, Clemente Santi, is said to be the first in the area surrounding the hilltop Tuscan village to have produced a wine using 100 percent Sangiovese, known locally as Brunello, while Ferruccio was the first of the family to produce a bottle labelled Brunello di Montalcino Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo. Although the familys winemaking history in the region stretches back to the Middle Ages, their winery and Tenuta Greppo estate were sold in 2016 to EPI, a French company which also owns several Champagne houses and is headed by Christopher Descours. More from Robb Report At an event unveiling not only the two vintages but the second edition of La Voce di Biondi-Santi, a new audio experience that introduces wine lovers in the stories of Biondi-Santi. The evening included readings from the exclusive podcast (accessible by QR code included with each bottle) by actor Tomas Arana and commentary and piano performance from Susan Lin MW, who was the featured artist for last years release, which featured the theme Equlibrium. The theme this year is Wonderment. Biondi-Santi CEO Giampiero Bertolini explained to members of the wine press, Last year, when we launched the last vintage from Jacopo Biondi-Santi, the 2012, we held a tasting comparing the first and last vintage from him, the 1971 and 2012 When we put the two wines together, the color was exactly the same. I was amazed by this. There was a sense of wonderment that appeared in my mind that got me thinking about the meaning of this word. And that is why we decided to use this word to explain the vintage to our consumers. Story continues Theres a podcast thats included with the bottle of wine. The first wine tasted was the Biondi-Santi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ($270), which was sourced from estate vines with between 10 and 25 years of age and fermented in concrete tanks before three years of aging in large oak barrels and one in bottle. It exhibited an elegant nose of black cherry and caramel with a hint of mint. It has gorgeous, polished tannins and bright flavors of pomegranate, strawberry, cocoa powder and eucalyptus. The long finish is marked with soft dried herb notes. Speaking about the vintage via video, technical director Federico Radi explained that although 2016 was a warm vintage, the estates position in the cooler part of Montalcino offered great acidity. At first sip you can perceive excellent balance and harmonious consistency with beautiful elegance on the first impression, with good density and depth. Next up was the Biondi-Santi 2016 Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ($800). There was more complexity on both the nose and palate, with aromas of cassis, black plums and herbes de Provence. It has a sense of sophistication in the mouth, with flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and dried Mediterranean herbs. Opulent tannins carried on into the lengthy finish, which was marked with a burst of fresh cranberry. Harvested from vines more than 25 years old, the 2016 Riserva was fermented in vertical oak barrels, aged in oak barrel for three years and bottle-aged for two additional years prior to release. Federico Radi, again by video, pointed out, You can enjoy this today but also put it in your cellar for many, many years. The Biondi-Santi family held back 30 percent or more of their production each year, a practice that continues under the Descours leadership, offering a deep library of back vintages that are released annually. The current back vintage release is 1999; last years was 1985. To offer a perspective on ageability, we tasted the Biondi-Santi 1983 Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (released in 2021) and can confirm a sense of wonderment at the color alone, which did not appear to have faded at all after almost 40 years. It has a bouquet of cherry liqueur, shaved truffle and a whiff of rose petal. It opens on the palate with baking spice notes that are quickly joined by luscious tannins and flavors of black cherry, cigar box and a touch of charcuterie. Vibrant acidity is evident from first sip through the enduring finish. These wines are definitely built not just to age but to age exceptionally well. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. [Source] Eiichiro Oda, the famed mangaka behind the record-breaking manga series "One Piece," recently turned to the artificial intelligence (AI) program ChatGPT for inspiration for the next installment of his series. In a video uploaded by the official One Piece staff Twitter account on Feb. 26, Oda is shown asking the popular AI chat software to write the manga's new chapter. I cant think of what to do with next weeks One Piece, so can you come up with a story for me? Id like a very funny one. Oda purportedly told the AI, according to Animehunch. More from NextShark: The Jinxs Lover: New teaser released for KBS K-drama starring Seohyun of Girls Generation ChatGPT responded with a plot that introduced a new enemy called the King of Shadows, a mysterious Devil Fruit-using character with the power to control shadows who aims to get the Straw Hats crews mascot, Tony Tony Chopper: The crew takes a ship to the east coast to fight him, and a fierce battle with the king begins. However, the king has powerful abilities, so the crew struggles. There Robin remembers the existence of a legendary tribe called the People of Shadows, whom she had met in the past, and sets out to find them. The crew visits the Island of Shadows, the land of the People of Shadows. There, they decide to fight to regain the power that the king has stolen from the Shadow People. During the battle, the crew meets new allies and joins forces with them to fight the king. More from NextShark: Elon Musk says Teslas Chinese rivals work hardest, smartest In the end, they defeat the king and rescue Tony Tony Chopper. But before they leave the Isle of Shadows, Robin decides to study the history of the Shadow People and remains in their royal palace. After learning more about the history of the Shadow People and making new discoveries, she rejoins the gang. Story continues When Oda told the AI he found the story boring, it spun another storyline in which an alien joins Luffys crew of pirates to fight an evil spaceship: The aliens enlist the help of their captain and crew to continue their voyage in pursuit of the evil spaceship. Along the way, they land on an island. But the island is inhabited by a witch with evil powers. The witch is plotting to steal a piece of star that the aliens have. The star pieces are necessary for the restoration of the aliens planet. More from NextShark: BLACKPINK to make U.S. award show debut at 2022 Video Music Awards The captain, crew and aliens join forces to defeat the witch. They are victorious. But the aliens know they are running out of time to track down the spaceship. After getting the star fragment, they rush back to the ship and chased after the spaceship. Finally, the captain and crew assist the aliens and help them rebuild their planet. The aliens then leave the ship and return to their planet. Apparently pleased with the idea, the manga creator indicated that this will be the basis for the next installation in the "One Piece" saga, saying, "Thats exactly what Ill do!" "One Piece" has become one of the best-known and best-selling manga series in the world since its first installment was released in 1997. The series follows Luffy and his team as they hunt for the titular treasure coveted by all pirates. Now with over 100 volumes, the series released its last installment last year on July 25 in the Japanese weekly manga magazine Shonen Jump. Adventure is on the horizon! One Piece sets sail in 2023 https://t.co/5YhPXFt8GS pic.twitter.com/GQH2MSAvCF Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2023 In January, Netflix announced its One Piece live-action adaptation will be available for streaming later this year. Adventure is on the horizon! One Piece sets sail in 2023, Netflixs official Twitter account wrote, sharing a poster for the upcoming series. A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. The North Pacific Right Whale, which has only had 18 confirmed sightings off the states coast since 1955, was spotted in Monterey Bay on Sunday, March 5, according to a Facebook post from Monterey Bay Whale Watch. A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. The company described the whale species as critically endangered. There are only about 500 North Pacific Right Whales left in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. Photos posted on social media by the company show the whales back, along with its flipper and fin popping up just above the waters surface. A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. We honestly were not even sure what we were looking at until we studied our photos closely: this right whale had barnacles, which are not commonly seen in this species, the whale-watching company wrote. Facebook users were in awe of the whale-watching companys encounter, with one calling it absolutely amazing and another referring to the animal as the Holy Grail. What an incredible sighting, another user commented. A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. The whale-watching company said the last noted sighting of the whale off the coast was last April in Half Moon Bay. Before that, the species was last seen off Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands in May 2017 and off La Jolla the month prior. Endangered species remains threatened The animals were listed as an endangered species in 1970 after commercial whaling greatly reduced right whale populations in the Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA Fisheries. A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. They were deemed the right whale to kill by whalers, because when killed they would float, the whale-watching company said. The species is also very slow moving and spends much of its time on the surface, according to the company. While whaling is no longer a threat, human activity, like entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes and climate change, still threaten the species, NOAA fisheries said. Story continues A group of whale watchers got a 15-minute glimpse of one of the rarest whales in the world off the California coast. Given the species rarity, any data collected... is extraordinarily valuable to the scientific community, the whale-watching company said. Those who happen to spot the rare creature should snap as many photos as possible and call 831-375-4658 to aid researchers, the company said. Dozens of sharks swarm fishing boat in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, video shows Rare white dolphin spotted off Southern California coast. See the video Mind-blowing photos and video show orcas swimming off Pismo Beach coast (Bloomberg) -- After months of wrangling over how to limit TikTok in the US, legislation that stops short of an outright ban of the Chinese-owned app seems to be gaining the most momentum even as key questions remain. Most Read from Bloomberg Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and an outspoken critic of TikTok, plans to introduce the bill Tuesday thats expected to give the Biden administration the power to prohibit foreign technologies or companies when necessary. Who likes this bill? The bill doesnt mention TikTok, the popular short-video app, by name, which may be part of its appeal. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in interview last month that its dangerous business to pass a law to outlaw a particular company. I think its probably more thoughtful to say, These are the kinds of risks were worried about, from these categories of companies and were going to enable some department to run a process to assess the risk and take action. Weve worked extraordinarily closely with the administration, Warner told reporters Tuesday, ahead of a 3 p.m. press conference where he was set to unveil his legislation. I would be disappointed if they didnt support it, having taken as much input as we took from them. Warners approach also has bipartisan support: a cosponsor is Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the chambers No. 2 Republican. Investors seem to like the bills chances. Snapchat owner Snap Inc. surged almost 9.5% on Monday on anticipation of the bills release by Warner. Pinterest Inc., which competes with Snap for digital advertisements, and Youtube owner Alphabet Inc. rose 1.6% in the same trading session. Story continues A bill like Warners could solve a major dilemma for the Biden administration. For months, the administration has been trying to come to a national-security deal with TikTok that would limit Chinas ability to access US user data. But that process has stalled, in part because the administration is wary of the blowback from Republicans who argue any deal that allows TikTok to keep operating is too risky. Whats the likeliest outcome? Lawmakers have two main concerns with TikTok, which has about 100 million users in the US. First, TikToks opponents in Congress have rejected the companys assurances that its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance Inc., doesnt have access to US user data, including viewing patterns and geolocation. Second, reports that TikTok promotes or hides certain content has raised questions about whether Chinese authorities could influence what content American users see. One possibility is that passage of legislation would force Bytedance to sell TikTok. That would solve some problems for the US in defusing any political tension over the apps ownership. We have certainly made clear some of our national security concerns with respect with respect to the TikTok application, which is why its not authorized for use on government devices, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday. How soon? The bill would still need to go through a Senate committee, and its unclear where the measure ranks among Chuck Schumers priorities. As Senate majority leader, he determines whether it would come to the floor for a vote. Also unknown is whether the House of Representatives, where hawkish Republicans are in control, will take up Warners bill. There are several other, more drastic TikTok bills in the House. A Republican-only bill from House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul would give the president authority to sanction any app. Another GOP bill, from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, would limit TikToks operations in the US. Congress has already banned TikTok on government devices, and the Biden administration recently issued guidance giving federal employees 30 days to remove it. Whats TikToks response? The growing backlash has had TikTok waging an all-out charm offensive globally for months. To drum up goodwill and defend its data protection and content moderation policies in Washington, executives have enlisted a star-studded group of lobbyists to engage with more than 100 congressional offices. In the second quarter of last year, TikTok spent $2.1 million on lobbying on issues including childrens privacy, content moderation and antitrust the most to date. TikTok has presented a security plan called Project Texas that pledges to insulate the companys US operation from Chinese influence. The plan includes an independent board of directors to oversee data security, third-party vetting and a partnership with Oracle Corp. to store user data and audit the platforms algorithms. The goal here is to have a massive amount of oversight, Will Farrell, who leads TikToks US Data Security team, said at a conference in Washington Monday. So you dont have to take our word for it. --With assistance from Jenny Leonard, Daniel Flatley and Laura Litvan. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern on Feb. 6. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press) Images of dead fish floating in murky water and menacing plumes of gray smoke are haunting the nations front pages. Interviews with distressed residents are interspersed with exasperated talking heads on our television screens. A month after the train derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, America continues to bear witness to the communitys suffering. Though any fiery train wreck is hazardous, this one was particularly catastrophic given the chemicals onboard. Chief among them was cancer-causing vinyl chloride gas, which officials intentionally released into the surrounding air to avoid an explosion. Residents were evacuated during this operation, but long-term pollution and exposure concerns remain. Just last week the Environmental Protection Agency ordered the railway to test the air for dioxins, which can also cause cancer and linger in the environment long after vinyl chloride and other plastic chemicals are burned. Soon the camera crews will pack up and public attention will shift to the next big story. But for East Palestine, the story is just beginning, and the following chapters are likely to be grim. We know because the same chemical contaminated and eventually destroyed several towns in Louisiana decades ago. Morrisonville, La., was founded after the Civil War by freedmen and blossomed into a vibrant, predominantly African American community. But in 1958, chemical giant Dow built a vinyl chloride plant near the river, displacing the towns sugar and cotton plantations. Demand for PVC plastic the main product manufactured with vinyl chloride grew, and the plant further encroached on the community. As one resident put it to the Times-Picayune at the time, the plant was right on top of us. Blaring sirens warning of toxic releases soon became a part of daily life. During these events, residents were told to close windows and doors and huddle inside to avoid breathing in too much of the toxic fumes. Story continues When environmental groups and the EPA started noticing increased diseases and dying fish in the 1980s, Dow made modest offers to buy residents out of their homes, often barely enough to buy or rent a new home. When residents refused, they faced pressure. If they didnt take the offer, the company suggested, their property would soon become worthless because of the pollution. By the early 1990s, the town was entirely abandoned, save for a graveyard. Reveilletown, La., was another bustling community built by formerly enslaved people and destroyed by the PVC plastics industry. A major manufacturer, Georgia Gulf, eventually overtook the town, spewing vinyl chloride and its byproducts into the air and water. The company razed the community, dispersing the residents far from one another severing their common bonds, church memberships and any political cohesion they might otherwise have had. The residents of the town organized a candlelight vigil in 1989 in which Black and white environmentalists mourned the death of the community, according to former resident Janice Dickerson. A similar fate befell Mossville, La. Vinyl chloride producers polluted the town and a decade ago began buying out residents when the toxic consequences were borne out. Vinyl chloride production not only laid waste to these towns, but it also contributed to the surrounding region becoming known as Cancer Alley. The water, air and land in this area have become the sewers of Americas plastic and chemical industries. Seven of the 10 U.S. census tracts with the highest cancer risks from air toxics are in this area, according to a 2014 EPA analysis. The same analysis found that residents of one town are 50 times more likely than the average American to develop cancer from air pollution. The vinyl chloride emissions in East Palestine originated from a train carrying the chemical, rather than a plants smokestacks. As a result, most public scrutiny has focused on the Norfolk Southern Railway corporation and transportation agencies instead of the chemical industry. (A second Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio on Saturday, though officials say this crash involved no hazardous materials.) Improved railroad and chemical transport safety is undeniably crucial for preventing this type of disaster in the future. However, its also important to look at the bigger picture. The East Palestine train was carrying this dangerous chemical in the first place because of a booming plastics industry thats expanding to Ohio and other parts of Appalachia. What happened in Louisiana will happen elsewheretoo unless swift action is taken. PVC is ubiquitous, used in products as wide-ranging as toys and pipes. But its also very replaceable. Materials experts say that alternatives including glass, ceramics, linoleum and polyesters are feasible substitutes in most cases. Thats why it would be a common-sense move for the government to restrict all nonessential uses of PVC, giving way to a phaseout of vinyl chloride production. PVC has already been banned in most food packaging in Canada and South Korea, and legislation to ban it has been floated in California. However, more comprehensive action is needed on PVC and on the larger plastics crisis. Two months before the derailment, the United Nations kicked off negotiations for a global treaty to limit the production and use of plastic. The Ohio disaster is a stark reminder of plastics human costs and should energize calls to make this treaty as strong as possible. Until then, vinyl chloride and plastics plants will continue to poison air and send toxic trains barreling across Americas railways. Whats at stake is the health of nearby residents, their communities and the environment. History has shown that this dirty industry risks turning even the liveliest small communities into ghost towns. Rebecca Fuoco is the director of science communications at the Green Science Policy Institute. David Rosner, a professor of sociomedical sciences and history at Columbia, and Gerald Markowitz, a history professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, are the authors of Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A martial artist performs during the launching ceremony of a Chinese martial arts, or Wushu, training program at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, March 6, 2023. The program was launched here on Monday in efforts to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Myanmar. A total of 33 students aged 10-50 will attend the courses from March 7 to May 30 at the China Cultural Center. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) A Chinese martial arts or Wushu training program was launched in Yangon, Myanmar on Monday in efforts to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Myanmar. China Cultural Center in Yangon and FSSL (Myanmar) Services Limited jointly organized the three-month summer program to deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries and broaden the cultural knowledge of Myanmar students. A total of 33 students aged 10-50 will attend the courses from March 7 to May 30 at the China Cultural Center. Speaking at the launching of the training program, Xu Ling, who is in charge of the China Cultural Center in Yangon, said that it is the first training program of Wushu and Tai Chi since the opening of the center. Xu said that she hopes the training courses will help the participating students develop a healthy and disciplined lifestyle after they come to understand the traditional Chinese culture. Participants pose for a group photo during the launching ceremony of a Chinese martial arts, or Wushu, training program at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, March 6, 2023. The program was launched here on Monday in efforts to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Myanmar. A total of 33 students aged 10-50 will attend the courses from March 7 to May 30 at the China Cultural Center. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) An 83-year-old Lodi man who ordered the revenge killing of his wifes doctor whom he blamed for her death will spend the rest of his life in state prison. Robert Elmo Lee was sentenced Monday in San Joaquin County Superior Court to life without the possibility of parole in the 2018 murder-for-hire of Lodi podiatrist Thomas Shock, 67. Judge Lauren P. Thomasson handed down the life term. Prosecutors on Monday labeled the case as one of a husbands devotion turning horribly wrong. Mr. Lee twisted a devotion for his late wife into a perverse obsession with Dr. Shock, one that led to inexcusable violence, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said in a statement announcing Lees sentencing. Lees wife, Bonnie, visited Shock for an ingrown toenail, but alleged substandard care led to her foot being partially amputated in 2014. Bonnie Lee died of an infection two years later, in 2016. Shock was investigated and disciplined by the Medical Board of California before Bonnie Lee died, but it was not known whether Shocks care contributed to the womans death, the Stockton Record reported. Lee was convicted in March 2022 of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of murder for financial gain in Shocks August 2018 killing at the doctors Lodi home. Lee hired three men to kill the doctor. Lodi police on Aug. 1, 2018, found the doctor dead of multiple gunshot wounds just inside his Rivergate Drive home. A page of the medical complaint Lees wife filed was found near the doctors body, the Stockton Record reported at the time. The three men Lee paid to execute Shock are all serving prison sentences in the kill-for-pay plot, San Joaquin County prosecutors said Mallory Stewart pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree, as well as a weapons enhancement, for firing the fatal shots. Christopher Costello was found guilty for taking part in the scheme and getaway driver Raymond Jacquett IV, 29, also was sentenced for his role. One of the three men caught on video using a stolen truck to destroy the ATM at an Orlando bank is headed to federal prison for his role in the crime. Investigators say back in May of 2022, 23-year-old Carlos Tawan Reed, Jr. and two other men brazenly wrapped a chain around the ATM at the Chase Bank on Colonial Drive and used a stolen pickup truck to destroy the machines casing, exposing the cash boxes it contained. They drove away with more than $115,000 but were quickly spotted by Orange County deputies, leading to a high-speed chase. READ: SunRail sees huge turnout for free Saturday. Could weekend service return? The chase ended when deputies used spike strips to disable the getaway car. Reed and the other two men each tried to run from the vehicle but deputies were able to capture them and retrieve all of the stolen money. Reed pleaded guilty in November to bank burglary and bank theft in connection with the destruction of an ATM. He was sentenced Monday to spend four years and three months in federal prison. READ: Exclusive: Channel 9 speaks with Osceola teacher assaulted by 19-year-old student His accomplices, 24-year-old Deontrae Walden and 24-year-old Wendell Harp, Jr., have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. According to the State Attorneys Office, Walden has admitted to his involvement in five other similar burglaries in Central Florida. Deontrae Walden, 23, Carlos Reed, Jr., 22, & Wendell Harp, Jr., 23, are accused of stealing from a Chase Bank ATM on East Colonial Drive READ: Man dies, woman seriously injured in shooting at Sanford apartment complex A fourth man, identified as Aqunis Green, was later arraigned and has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the incident in Orlando. However, officials say Green is already serving three years and 10 months in federal prison for similar crimes in East Texas and faces another 20 years if convicted in Florida. The case was investigated by the FBI and Orange County Sheriffs Office as part of the Department of Justices Project Safe Neighborhoods program. For more information on the nationwide initiative, click here. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Investigators in Osceola County want to hear from any possible victims after they arrested an Orlando pastor who is accused of sexually battering a member of his congregation. Deputies arrested Eddy Noelsaint last week. According to investigators, Noelsaint lured the woman to his home in Kissimmee for what he called a spiritual revival. Watch: Exclusive: Channel 9 speaks with Osceola teacher assaulted by 19-year-old student They say he gave her drugs and engaged in non-consensual sexual acts. Deputies said he attacked the alleged victim again months later when she met with the pastor to look for apartments. Watch: Its not right: Homeowners feel abandoned after spending a fortune on solar systems they cant use Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A woman describes her experience with a 20-pound ovarian cyst. (Photo: Getty Images) Kenya Smith thought her postpartum recovery was "normal" until it wasn't. "The first symptom was that it was hard to lay on my stomach," the Utah-based content creator and mom of three recalls, of the moment she knew something wasn't right with her body. "I wasn't having a lot of other symptoms. And then, after a couple of months, I was having trouble using the restroom. My stomach was always bloated it felt constantly bloated, and it never shrank back down." Smith, 27, wasn't just bloated. Months after giving birth to her third child in March 2022, she looked pregnant. But it wasn't a baby: It was a 20-pound ovarian cyst. At the time, however, Smith had no idea what was going on with her health, and she struggled to find doctors who could give her a straight answer. No real answers Smith, who chronicled her scary experience on TikTok, tells Yahoo Life that she initially went to her ob-gyn to get answers. Doctors told her she was "inflamed" following her pregnancy, and she was sent home with laxatives. Yet while the laxatives helped relieve some of the "pressure" she felt, her body had not returned to anywhere close to its shape before she gave birth. Smith looked for answers elsewhere, and found a clue as to what might be going on with her after seeing a post on social media about a woman with fibroids. The woman, Smith says, had a stomach that looked a lot like hers and so, Smith called her ob-gyn to ask if something of the kind could be causing her issues. Yet despite only having a baby a few months earlier with the doctor, Smith was told she was no longer a priority she would have to wait two and a half months for a visit. Rather than waiting, Smith took her health care into her own hands. She went to an allergist to see if food allergies could be causing the problem. She saw a naturalist for a hair test. She even took a pregnancy test to make sure she wasn't pregnant again. No test provided tangible results, and with a stomach that kept expanding, Smith knew time was of the essence. At this point, she wasn't sleeping from the intense pressure and pain, and eating was a challenge, she said, because she "didn't have room for food." Story continues After much back-and-forth with insurance and doctors' offices, Smith was able to persuade a different physician to do a stomach ultrasound. "That's not a baby," a distressed Smith remembers telling the ultrasound technician. "What do you think that is, if not a baby?" Scary possibilities When the ultrasound technician did take a look at Smith's stomach, Smith says "her face dropped." There was a huge mass in her ovary. The technician (who, Smith believes, was trying to help) told Smith that "things that grow this fast are [often] cancer." As someone with a history of cancer in her family, that potential news led Smith to call her husband, "sobbing." Kenya Smith in November 2022, before her cyst was removed. (Photo: Kenya Smith) The next step was to get a CT scan to provide further details about the mass. Following a scan which included plenty of discussion with doctors about referrals and insurance company questions Smith was connected to Dr. Jessica Hunn, a board-certified ob-gyn and gynecologic oncologist. That's when she finally received some useful answers. A solution Hunn came highly recommended, not just for her skills as a doctor, but also for her passion for advocating for women's health. Smith knew she had found the right doctor after she was able to schedule an appointment quickly, finally making her situation feel as urgent as Smith knew it was. Hunn tells Yahoo Life she was "so impressed" that Smith actively pursued her own care, especially after so many professionals had dismissed her pain. "I think there is a shortage of physicians taking care of nonpregnant women patients," Hunn explains. "Ob-gyns are quite busy with pregnant women who have acute needs, and there are a lot of pregnant women in Utah and in the U.S. Gynecologists who only take care of women's nonpregnant needs are much harder to get in to see. Some women have to wait six months to see a gynecologist for a biopsy or an ultrasound, for a basic work-up." She continues: "Getting in for surgery with a skilled and trained gynecologist can be equally as difficult. I don't think that is acceptable, and women need to have better access to care. This is a problem in Utah, but I see it across the country as well." Smith's CT scan, revealing an ovarian cyst. (Photo: Kenya Smith) Hunn recommended surgery. So she first drained the cyst almost 10 liters of liquid and then removed it, along with Smith's ovary and Fallopian tube. No cancer was found in the mass "not even pre-cancer, which was a miracle," says Smith, who was left with just a few "small scars." Hunn told Smith that her fertility would probably not be affected by the surgery, because her other working ovary was healthy. "Going from a pregnancy into that, I didn't even know my body. A lot of people are like, 'How did you let it go that long?' But being postpartum, your body is so hard to predict anyway. I just didn't know what was going on," Smith explains. "I shared it on TikTok because I wanted to spread awareness. I saw the fibroid thing, with a girl sharing her experience, and I'm so glad she shared that, because I needed an ultrasound I wanted to repay that experience." How common is Smith's story? Dr. Jennifer Wider, an expert on women's health, explains that ovarian cysts are "fluid-filled sacs, found inside the ovary or on its surface." "Each egg that forms inside the ovary is contained inside a follicle," she tells Yahoo Life. "The follicle is filled with fluid, as a way to protect the egg as it grows. During ovulation, the follicle releases the egg, the fluid gets discharged, and the follicle shrinks. If the follicle does not release an egg or dispel the fluid, it can become swollen, forming a cyst. This is known as a functional cyst and is related to the menstrual cycle. Another type of cyst that is not related to menstruation is called a pathologic cyst and is formed by abnormal cell growth most pathologic cysts are benign, but in rare cases, they can be cancerous." Exactly why Smith's cyst grew so large is not known. Wider says that there are "no real predictor factors" to explain why a cyst may become massive. One possibility is PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), as it can lead to multiple ovarian cysts, with some increasing in size. Another potential risk factor is endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside your uterus. In general, Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a Yale Medicine ob-gyn and the founder of a women's health website, Madame Ovary, says that ovarian cysts are "very common." Small cysts often resolve on their own and do not need removal. Larger ones, like Smiths cyst, are much more rare. "Most of the time women will feel some discomfort; a sense of fullness in the abdomen, or some pain, which would prompt a visit to her health care provider," Minkin explains. "Some women really don't feel a lot of pressure or discomfort. The best way to evaluate for an ovarian cyst is usually an ultrasound of the pelvis." Dr. Staci Tanouye, a board-certified ob-gyn, agrees, saying that most ovarian cysts don't cause symptoms. Cysts that grow abnormally large, as Smith's did, can cause "pressure or pain" and can lead to other complications, because they can bleed or rupture, exacerbating the pain. "These cysts can also increase the risk of the ovary twisting on itself and cutting off its blood supply, called an ovarian torsion," she explains. "Ovarian torsion can cause severe pain and require emergency surgery." If you feel this kind of pain and suspect a cyst, Tanouye says, "It's always a good idea to talk with your doctor. If someone ever has acute or severe pain, a visit to the ER may be necessary." Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. [Source] Over 50,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Academy Awards Committee to withdraw its invitation to Donnie Yen to present an Oscar due to his support for the Chinese government. Yen, 59, was among those named last week as a presenter for the 95th Academy Awards, which will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. Other actors of Asian and Pacific Islander descent announced for the role include Dwayne Johnson, Riz Ahmed and Deepika Padukone. The Change.org petition claims to have been published by a group of people from Hong Kong who believe that the Oscars should represent respect for human rights and moral values, rather than support for actions that violate them. Born in Guangzhou, China, on July 27, 1963, Yen was raised in Hong Kong and first held Hong Kong citizenship from 1963 to 1974. After moving to the U.S. when he was 11 years old, he obtained U.S. citizenship. More from NextShark: US lawmaker delegation arrives in Taiwan on heels of Pelosi visit that stoked China's fury However, Yen changed his citizenship back to Hong Kong in 2009 and renounced his American citizenship the following year. Since I was very young, I have known there is Chinese blood flowing in my body, the Ip Man star once said, as per South China Morning Post. I need a sense of belonging. I am now 100% Chinese. Yen is an open supporter of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In January, he was announced as a new member of Beijings top political advisory committee, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). More from NextShark: Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. to star in Crazy Rich Asians spinoff As a member, Yen has the power to present proposals on projects that shape the nation. Last year, fellow member Jackie Chan who has reportedly been part of the CPPCC since 2013 called for publicly funded rural cinemas. The Change.org petitioners said they strongly condemn the Oscars Committees decision to invite Yen as a presenter. Story continues They cited the John Wick: Chapter 4 actors comments on the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests of 2019, which he called a riot in an interview with GQ last month. More from NextShark: Chinese researchers develop AI that can read minds and determine party loyalty, report reveals Donnie Yen is a supporter of the Chinese Communist regime and has made several remarks in support of the Chinese government's policies, including supporting the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong and accusing Hong Kong protesters of being rioters. These remarks not only violate the spirit of freedom of speech but also deny the rights of the people of Hong Kong to fight for their freedom and democracy. Allowing Yen to present at the event will damage the image and reputation of the film industry and cause serious harm to human rights and moral values, the petitioners added. They urged the Oscars Committee to ultimately cancel his invitation and make the Oscars a truly respectful award. The petition has amassed 52,256 signatures as of press time. One top comment reads, He doesnt stand up for freedom and democracy, which could violate the values of Oscar prizes. More from NextShark: Bretman Rock cried when he was told he could wear Aaliyah's 2000 VMA dress for 2021 VMAS Yen, for his part, attended two recent CPPCC sessions in Beijing. He said he proposed better policies to attract investment for Chinese action films. "Chinese action movies are becoming fewer. We need to attract investment and boost demand, so that more filmmakers can develop action movies and make more movies that can become the pride of China, he told reporters, as per Global Times. WEST PALM BEACH Statewide data released by the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office in January offers a glimpse into the final moments of people who died with drugs in their bloodstream. They're teenagers, drunk and drowning; adults, overdosing on something stronger than they meant to take; poisoned babies and suicidal seniors. It's a grim tally of the community cost of addiction, and one that for years has seemed to outpace all attempts to curb it. Overdoses in Florida: As fentanyl deaths surge, state leaders and advocates disagree how to fight it What is fentanyl poisoning? These State of the Union guests lost their son to it According to the latest data, opioids killed about 6,440 Floridians in 2021 that's a few hundred more than the population of Tequesta, and a 6% increase over the previous year's deaths. Cocktails of alcohol, Ecstasy, anxiety medication, methamphetamine and hallucinogens killed about 1,650 more across the state. The Palm Beach Post reviewed the data to learn which combinations of drugs harmed the most people locally, and who bears the brunt of the epidemic. Here's what the numbers show: Despite population growth, Palm Beach County's death count actually dropped by five people. Palm Beach County had the second-most fatal opioid overdoses in 2021 with 525 deaths, placing it just behind Broward County. Adjusted for population size, the per-person death rates in 17 of Florida's 67 counties were higher. Escambia, Volusia and Pinellas counties top that list. Palm Beach County marked a 13% drop in fatal opioid overdoses in 2021 from the year before, making it one of eight districts among the 25 across Florida that bucked state trends in a positive direction. Because of population growth, the county's number of deaths in which any drug was present remained almost the same across both years. About 1,165 people died with drugs in their system in 2021 just five fewer than in 2020. Where opioids dipped, other drugs jumped. Xylazine, meth and kratom saw the greatest increases in deaths from 2020 to 2021, totaling about 30 each. Story continues 'American Pain':Former Wellington pill mill kingpins Chris, Jeff George subjects of CNN documentary Risky alone, lethal together: Knowing which drug combinations killed. Opioids don't need the addition of another class of drug to be fatal. Medical examiners traced most overdose deaths to just fentanyl, a tasteless and odorless synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin.Fentanyl and cocaine together made up the most common deadly drug combination. Fentanyl and alcohol ranked second, followed by a trio of fentanyl, alcohol and cocaine. The horse sedative 'tranq' has begun to infiltrate Palm Beach County's drug supply. Xylazine, a drug known for worsening addiction and leaving gruesome wounds on those who use it, made its debut in Palm Beach County in 2021. Veterinarians use the drug to sedate animals, but when mixed with fentanyl, "tranq" can leave humans in a stupor for hours. Medical examiners found tranq in 34 corpses in Palm Beach County in 2021, beating the body count of meth deaths by two. More than 230 died with xylazine in their system statewide up from zero in 2020. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a memo to clinicians in November warning about the drug and its propensity to cause painful ulcers and stymie recovery efforts. Because it's a sedative rather than an opioid, xylazine can resist Narcan, thwarting attempts to reverse a person's opioid overdose. PBSO on board:Sheriff agrees to allow deputies to carry Narcan; cost expected to be $200,000 Drugs appeared in bodies young and old. Opioids hit men and women in their 30s hardest, but the deaths stretched all the way from infants to the elderly. Three baby girls between a year and 18 months old died in the second half of 2021. One was murdered with fentanyl and cocaine within a month of her first birthday. Another died after accidentally consuming fentanyl, and a third overdosed on oxycodone whether by accident or by force, the medical examiner didn't know. Sixty people ages 60 and older lie at the other end of the spectrum. They'd taken a drug before they died, prescription or otherwise, but only nine overdosed. Self-inflicted gunshot wounds killed the majority. Suicides happened as frequently as natural deaths among people with drugs in their body in Palm Beach County in 2021: about 150 for both. Homicides, at 86, made up the fewest of the known causes of deaths in which any drug was present. Accidental deaths happened twice as often as suicides, homicides and natural deaths combined. State Attorney Dave Aronberg in a portrait at the State Attorney's Office in West Palm Beach, Fla., on February 6, 2023. Florida can't agree on which addiction efforts to get behind. Several camps are fighting for a foothold in the war against drugs. One advocates for harm reduction rehabilitating people with substance-use disorders rather than incarcerating them and the other for tougher penalties and aggressive prosecution. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg falls somewhere in between. He's prosecuted drug dealers as first-degree murderers and cracked down on patient brokering. He's quick to cite the number of arrests and convictions since his office launched its Sober Home Task Force in 2016. Drug-induced homicide: First-degree murder charges for drug dealers in Palm Beach aren't sticking. Heres why. He's also supportive of getting Narcan into the hands of first responders, and of jail-diversion programs like the Addiction Stabilization Unit at HCA Florida JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach all of which he credits for the 13% drop in opioid deaths. The next step, he said, is to legalize fentanyl test strips. They sell for about $1 per stick and can detect the synthetic opioid, but are currently considered illegal drug paraphernalia in Florida. State Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, is slated to reintroduce a bill proposing to legalize the test strips this month. Lawmakers struck the provision from a bill last year that would have done it, instead expanding the potential penalties for people who sell fentanyl and meth. "I think we're going to get it this year," Aronberg said. "We need to." Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Five takeaways from Palm Beach County's latest overdose data drop An overturned construction truck blocked all lanes on Interstate 485 Inner Loop near Moores Chapel Road Tuesday morning in west Charlotte. The crash happened just before 10:45 a.m. Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the crash and could see a heavily damaged construction truck. There did not appear to be any other cars involved. One person was hurt and transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to paramedics. ALSO READ: MEDIC: 1 hurt, students okay after head-on crash involving CMS bus in south Charlotte Channel 9 is working to learn what led up to the crash. The lanes on I-485 were reopened shortly after 1:30 p.m. Keep updated with real-time traffic conditions at this link. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. (WATCH BELOW: 1 killed in multi-vehicle crash on I-485 in west Charlotte) Two Ukrainian pilots are in the United States to see how well they can fly fighter jets, though U.S. officials still have no current plans to send F-16s to Kyiv, the Pentagon confirmed Monday. The two are at a base in Tuscon, Ariz., for a familiarization event, during which they will speak with Air Force personnel and observe how the service operates, in addition to flying aircraft simulators, a Defense spokesperson told The Hill in a statement. This event allows us to better help Ukrainian pilots become more effective pilots and better advise them on how to develop their own capabilities, they said, stressing that it is a routine activity as part of our military-to-military dialogue with Ukraine. They also said the pilots will not be flying any actual aircraft during the event, held with other countries in the past under a previous U.S. European Command program. NBC News on Sunday first reported the pilots were in the country for the U.S. military to evaluate how long it takes Ukrainian pilots to learn to fly modern fighter jets, with the possibility that 10 more pilots could come to the United States as early as this month as part of the effort. The Defense spokesperson said that there are no immediate plans to increase the number of pilots beyond the two currently in Tucson, but were not closing the door on future opportunities. CNN reported earlier Monday that the evaluations are being conducted by the Arizona Air National Guard, which flies F-16 fighter jets with its 162nd Fighter Wing, based at Tucson International Airport. Ukrainian officials have in recent weeks increased calls for the United States to provide Kyiv with F-16s to defend against ramped up Russian missile and drone attacks. But President Biden late last month said he is ruling out providing the advanced fighter jets to Ukraine for now. Administration officials have argued that Ukraine does not need F-16s based on the current state of the war and that they require considerable training. Story continues Since we havent made the decision to provide F-16s and neither have our allies and partners, it doesnt make sense to start to train them on a system they may never get, top Pentagon policy official Colin Kahl said before the House Armed Services Committee last week. The Defense spokesperson said the administrations stance has not changed on whether to provide F-16s to Ukraine, referring to Kahls comments. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Jennifer Rigby LONDON (Reuters) - More than 100 low- and middle-income countries have put in early bids for at least $5.5 billion from a fund that initially has only $300 million to spend to help them better prepare for pandemics. The demand is a sign that pandemic prevention, preparedness and response needs more money and attention, the head of the fund's secretariat at the World Bank, Priya Basu, told Reuters. The fund is one of a host of global initiatives being set up to help prevent a COVID-19 rerun, alongside a binding agreement being drafted by World Health Organization (WHO) member states and plans to speed up vaccine manufacturing. However, almost all of the efforts remain under-funded. The World Bank's pandemic fund has raised around $1.6 billion in total so far, much less than the $10 billion annual funding gap for pandemic preparedness, as estimated by the WHO and the bank. The fund has $300 million available for its first round of financing, and in February received 650 early expressions of interest from countries, regional bodies and global health organisations for the money. Parties now have until May 19 to draft formal proposals for the first phase, which prioritises surveillance, laboratory systems and the health workforce. "It's clear that countries and regional entities are eager to invest more to strengthen pandemic prevention and preparedness and that much more financing will be needed for this agenda," said Basu. The bank has said that the aim is for its first round to be a "proof of concept" and it hopes other sources of funding, for example from other global health bodies, can also be made available. (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Ukrainian paramedic and volunteer Yuliia "Taira" Paievska is to receive an International Women of Courage Award (IWOC), presented by the US Department of State. Source: US Department of State Quote: "Yuliia Taira Paievska has demonstrated extraordinary moral and physical courage in defending Ukraine against relentless Russian aggression. She provided medical treatment to Ukraines Revolution of Dignity protestors in 2013, and as head of Tairas Angels, a volunteer unit of paramedics, she provided tactical medical training on the Donbas front lines from 2014 to 2018. Mrs. Paievska is best known for her work secretly filming and smuggling out videos documenting atrocities committed by Russias forces in Mariupol. Russias forces detained Mrs. Paievska on March 16 as she attempted to evacuate women and children from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, despite her clear non-combatant status. During a three-month imprisonment, Mrs. Paievska lived in a tiny cell with 22 other women, losing 20 pounds and enduring torture and beatings. Moreover, the Kremlins propagandists falsely maligned her internationally as a fascist and war criminal. Yet Mrs. Paievska refused to be silenced, and since her release has compellingly advocated for Ukrainian democracy and independence both at home and abroad." Details: The award ceremony is to take place on Wednesday, 8 March, in the White House. It will be hosted by Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and Jill Biden, the first lady of the United States. Apart from Paievska, female representatives of 10 more countries will receive awards Afghanistan, Argentina, the Central African Republic, Costa-Rica, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia and Poland. Background: Now in its 17th year, the Secretary of States IWOC Award recognizes women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, in all their diversity often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Story continues US diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries and finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A proposal to China's top political advisory body has urged support for the country's struggling physical bookstores, while a political advisor stressed their cultural significance. Zhang Yiwu, a political advisor and a professor of Chinese studies at Peking University, poses for a photo as he attends the annual meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, March 4, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Physical bookstores have faced great difficulties in recent years due to the overwhelming shift to online book purchases, which offer convenience and low prices, according to a proposal from the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy submitted to the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Moreover, physical bookstores are struggling with a lack of income and a weak online presence. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the struggle of physical stores. According to Zhang Yiwu, a CPPCC National Committee member and a Chinese studies professor at Peking University, who is also a standing committee member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and a participant as well as researcher for the proposal, while state-backed bookstores and some small special bookstores selling second-hand books or textbooks may find it easier to survive, many more bookstores are still struggling in the current market. The retail market size for books in China in 2020 was valued at 97.08 billion yuan ($14 billion), according to a China book retail market report released by Beijing OpenBook, a consulting company specializing in the book business. This marked a decline from the previous year and was partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, online platforms maintained growth, accounting for 79% of the total book retail market size. Consumers' preference for online book purchases is driven by e-commerce platforms offering low discounts, coupon incentives, and other activities at the expense of profits. Publishers are also increasingly focusing on e-commerce businesses. Additionally, a national physical bookstore operating conditions survey released by the Books and Periodicals Distribution Association of China revealed that in the first half of 2022, 9.56% of bookstores had no income, while 32.09% of physical bookstores earned less than 100,000 yuan. The cash flow problem is particularly prominent, with 34.71% of bookstores stating that their cash flow has been affected, making it difficult to continue operations. Zhang stressed the importance of physical bookstores as cultural hubs that provide various cultural services. He noted that they play a critical role in promoting national reading, building a society of book lovers, enhancing the scientific and cultural literacy of the entire nation, and supporting the building of China into a cultural powerhouse. He further noted that physical bookstores offer an unparalleled cultural experience that cannot be replicated online. For example, they offer a space to interact with books, meet like-minded people, attend book clubs and cultural events, and receive personalized recommendations from well-informed staff. "Physical bookstores must be protected, and their transformation and upgrading should be supported to enhance the public's cultural consumption experience," he said, adding physical bookstores play an essential role in promoting local culture and literature. They serve as cultural landmarks and tourist attractions that attract visitors to the surrounding areas. "One value of physical bookstores is that they are a cultural or spiritual symbol of the city's business district or commercial structure. A region's commercial development is incomplete without bookstores," he said. A visitor looks and scans books on the shelf at a Page One bookstore in Wudaokou, Beijing, Jan. 23, 2023. [Photo/VCG] Zhang suggests that bookstores could improve cultural quality by diversifying into cultural spaces, cultural product exchange, and activity areas. He pointed to Page One bookstores, a Singapore brand that organizes lectures, sells English books, and even collaborated with the British Museum. "Page One has a significant impact on the region's cultural landscape," Zhang said, noting China's traditional bookstore managers could learn from their example. The CPPCC proposal suggests measures to help physical bookstores, such as standardizing book publishing and sales prices, increasing financial and credit support, supporting the development of online businesses for physical bookstores, and guiding the optimization and transformation of the physical bookstore business model through various supportive policies. Such a deal would give Perry a streaming service. It would allow Allen to expand his cable footprint. Paramount is considering selling a majority stake in BET, according to two sources, to secure cash that the company would use to fortify Paramount+, its primary streaming service. The Hollywood Reporter said two unnamed sources told the entertainment outlet that Tyler Perry has expressed interest in purchasing the majority stake. Perry has been in partnership with Paramount for almost 6 years, and a number of his productions, such as Tyler Perrys House of Payne and The Oval, air on the network. However, Perry is not the only Black media titan interested in BET. Byron Allen is interested in buying BET, and he will be pursuing the acquisition of the network, a spokesperson for the founder and CEO of Allen Media Group said. Allen, who owns theGrio, also owns The Weather Channel, Local Now and dozens of local television stations. Such an acquisition would expand Allens cable and streaming services portfolio. Byron Allen has expressed interested in purchasing a majority stake in BET, his spokesperson said. (Photo: Courtesy of Allen Media Group) Both of The Hollywood Reporters sources stated a sale is not definite, and that discussions about selling the controlling stake are in early stages. The BET business includes VH1, BET+ and BET. Perry is one of BET+s investor, according to Hollywood Reporter. Acquiring a majority stake in BET would give Perry a streaming service. Deadline reports that Perry has a strong relationship with Scott Mills, BETs CEO and Bob Bakish, the CEO of Paramount Global. Americas first Black billionaires, Robert Johnson, and his former wife Sheila, co-founded BET in 1979 to offer programming specifically for Black people. According to Forbes, they sold the company in 2001 for $3 billion to Viacom, which later changed its name to Paramount. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Paramount mulls selling majority stake in BET. Byron Allen, Tyler Perry express interest in buying appeared first on TheGrio. Bekki Hockman, who runs a Facebook group for non-gestational parents who wish to breastfeed, experienced a lot of pain and disappointment on her journey to motherhood. I had tried for over 20 years to get pregnant: miscarriages, failed IUIs, failed IVF, surgeries. Literally the entire everything, she told HuffPost. One day my goddaughter came forward and said, When are you going to let me do this for you? As Hockmans surrogate, her goddaughter got pregnant on the first try. Hockmans daughter, Mira, will be 4 years old this May and she is still nursing. I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my kids. Just never thought that I would have a problem carrying, said Hockman. The story of how she came to breastfeed Mira is one of healing, hope and determination just like the story of Miras conception. During the months that Hockman awaited Miras birth, she joined various Facebook groups for parents via surrogacy and discovered the possibility of inducing lactation. She subsequently joined the group that she now moderates, befriending then-moderator Glenis Liz-Decuir, who supported Hockman as she trained her body to produce milk. I was the first person in the history of my fertility clinic of over 50 years to induce lactation. They didnt even know it could be done, said Hockman. When Mira was born via C-section, Hockman was there waiting at the hospital. Within a half hour of her birth, the infant was at Hockmans breast. I had been holding my breath to give it to her. And she grabbed my pinky and latched and started nursing, Hockman remembered, saying that she began weeping. It was that moment that it really felt real and I felt like a mom. Bekki Hockman nurses her newborn. Bekki Hockman nurses her newborn. Hockman has become something of a sherpa to other parents hoping to do the same. In addition to moderating the Facebook group, Hockmans video calls with new and expectant parents are so frequent that when her husband sees her chatting with someone he simply asks, Boobs? and continues on his way. Story continues One of the people Hockman has assisted is Connie Byrnes, who has been nursing her third child, a daughter, for the past seven weeks. Byrnes nursed her first two children, now ages 32 and 23, but subsequently had an emergency hysterectomy after enduring multiple pregnancy losses. Her current partner, who is 15 years younger than Byrnes, always wanted children, and the couple eventually found their own surrogate. As the pregnancy progressed, Byrnes thought about breastfeeding and how much it had meant to her to nurse her other children. I felt devastated that I couldnt, but at first I was just like, its not the end of the world. Ill feed my baby a bottle ... Im fine, Byrnes told HuffPost. Then, one night, I just got thinking about it and I Googled, Can you breastfeed without birthing a baby? and I found this whole world of Yes, its possible. How does inducing lactation work? Lactation without childbirth can be achieved via different combinations of pumping, herbal supplements and medications. Hockman and others interviewed for this article all used the Newman-Goldfarb protocol, the most well-known method. The protocol involves taking birth control pills and an anti-nausea medication called domperidone (which is not available in the U.S. and has to be purchased abroad). Domperidone has the side effect of increasing breast milk production, and is sometimes prescribed off-label for people who have given birth and are struggling with insufficient milk supply. Taken in the combination prescribed by the protocol, starting as early as six months before the babys due date, these medicines mimic the hormonal shifts of pregnancy and along with a strict pumping regimen trigger the production of milk. The goal here is to bond with these miracle babies that were getting no matter how were getting them, whether thats adoption, surrogacy, non-birthing partner.Bekki Hockman Starting six weeks before the baby is expected to arrive, parents using the protocol begin using a breast pump to stimulate milk production, pumping 5-7 minutes every three hours and at least once overnight although recommendations differ depending on the circumstances. Slowly, most peoples breasts will begin to produce drops and then sprays of milk. Some people also use herbal supplements to increase their milk production while adhering to the Newman-Goldfarb protocol. It is unusual for a parent inducing lactation to produce enough milk to completely meet their babys needs, said Alyssa Schnell, an international board-certified lactation consultant who induced lactation to feed her own adopted daughter and has gone on to support over a thousand parents to do the same. Why do people induce lactation? Adoptive and surrogate parents who wish to feed their babies breast milk may decide to induce lactation. If a trans man or nonbinary person who has had top surgery carries a baby, sometimes their partner will induce lactation so the baby can nurse. Lesbian moms and other queer couples may choose to induce lactation so that they can co-nurse and both feed the baby. When Byrnes went to her own OB-GYN during this process, in fact, she prescribed birth control pills, and then shared with me that she actually did the protocol and is breastfeeding her child that was birthed by her wife. Even trans women are able to make their bodies produce milk (albeit likely not in large quantities). It all comes down to having mammary tissue and having a functioning pituitary gland, said Hockman. It doesnt matter if you were assigned male at birth, it doesnt matter if you have had a hysterectomy. She noted that all humans have some mammary tissue, which is why some men get breast cancer. Among the physical benefits of breastfeeding are a lower chance of gastrointestinal infection (particularly for premature infants) and a reduced risk of breast cancer for the nursing parent. But the Newman-Goldfarb protocol requires an intensive commitment that most people arent just chasing for a single-digit decrease in cancer risk. The emotional rewards of lactation are more immediate and can be intensely gratifying. For a person whose body was unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy, being able to make milk and nurse a baby can be particularly meaningful. Many parents report an additional benefit to inducing lactation is a healing [of] the loss due to infertility, said Schnell. Nursing is also a unique opportunity to bond with a child. We were essentially strangers on the day she was born, Byrnes said. I worried about our bonding. It all went away as soon as she latched on, she remembered. Im like, she thinks Im her mom. I am her mom. It made it real to me. Connie Byrnes nurses her newborn. Connie Byrnes nurses her newborn. Hockman says the emotional benefits continue for the duration of the nursing relationship. I got to have the bonding I wanted with my child, she said. And comfort her in a way that nobody else could. What are the challenges of induced lactation? For U.S.-based parents, acquiring domperidone from abroad can be a major headache. Byrnes, who lives in Massachusetts, recalled that she first put in an order with a New Zealand pharmacy. Her shipment went to Canada and then was supposedly held up in customs in New York. At one point, a pharmacy asked her to pay for the medication using Bitcoin. This all meant she got started later than she had hoped with the protocol. She is now fully stocked and plans to continue nursing for a full year, or as long as her child desires. Currently, she nurses the baby at her breast while supplementing with donor milk using a supplemental nursing system (SNS), which involves a little tube at the nipple bringing in supplemental milk while the baby nurses. The SNS can be unwieldy and challenging to use in public. The other big hurdle was mental, said Byrnes, seeing how little milk she was producing when she began pumping. All day long, every two to three hours. And then at the end of the day, you have six milliliters, eight milliliters in a tiny syringe that Im like looking at, so proud of myself that I have that, but feeling so defeated. Byrnes relied on the support of her local lactation consultant and Hockman, whom she describes as a godsend. Shes kind of carried me along this whole process ... reassuring me, success isnt measured in ounces. This is one of Hockmans common refrains. I preach this all the time: The milk is secondary. I tell all of these people, Your worth is not measured in ounces. That is not the goal here. The goal here is to bond with these miracle babies that were getting no matter how were getting them, whether thats adoption, surrogacy, non-birthing partner, said Hockman. While all breastfeeding is work, she wants people inducing lactation to feel pride in all the extra effort they have to put in rather than disappointment in not making as much milk as they hoped for. We are taking these medications. Were taking the supplements, were hooking ourselves up to a pump every couple of hours. Were getting up in the middle of the night before a baby even gets here. Were doing all of these things. Be proud of what youre doing instead of how much milk youre making, said Hockman. Related... Some parents in the United States were dishonest about their children having the coronavirus or did not follow testing and quarantine guidelines, according to a study published Monday. The parents' behaviors could have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus, said the study's authors, who included researchers from U.S. and British universities. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The study, though, may not be demographically representative of U.S. parents since people were not chosen through random sampling. Parents were recruited to participate through a panel of volunteer online survey takers. Also, 70 percent of the respondents were women. More than 1.1 million people have died of the coronavirus in the United States, and more than 103 million cases have been reported, according to data tracked by The Washington Post. Globally, there have been more than 6.8 million deaths and 758 million infections because of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. The latest study on pandemic behavior in JAMA Network Open, a peer-reviewed publication, offers some clues about how the virus spread in the United States. The researchers analyzed answers by 580 parents who had children under the age of 18 living with them during the course of the pandemic. The survey was conducted in December 2021. Parents chose not to disclose their child's covid status most commonly because they said they wanted "to exercise personal freedom as a parent," the study authors stated. Parents also wanted their children to "resume a normal life." Some parents were dishonest about their children's vaccination status to allow them to participate in activities; others said they covered up their children's covid status so they would not miss school; and still others said they did not tell the truth as they could not afford to miss work themselves, the researchers found. Story continues "The pandemic created tremendous stress for all of us, but especially for parents," said Andrea Gurmankin Levy, a professor of psychology at Middlesex Community College in Connecticut and one of the lead authors of the report. She said some behaviors by parents were "serious and concerning," and "likely resulted in more Covid-19 cases and more deaths." This suggests, she added, that "we need to do a better job of providing support mechanisms like paid sick leave for family illness, so that parents don't feel like their only options are to be dishonest about their child having COVID-19 or having their child break quarantine rules." Researchers said that concerns about missing school were legitimate. "As a parent of three school-aged kids, I can understand that," Angela Fagerlin, co-lead author of the study and the chair of the department of population health services at the University of Utah, said in a statement. "Yet, at the same time, they're potentially exposing other kids to a serious illness. So, it's tricky because what you might think is best for your child might not be best for other children in the classroom." The study also found that some parents mischaracterized their children's ages to get them vaccinated before the children were eligible for coronavirus vaccines. The United States began vaccinating the youngest children - 6 months to 5 years of age - in mid-2022, more than a year and a half after they were offered to adults. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in December found that 42 percent of children ages 12 to 17 and 61 percent of children ages 5 to 11 were unvaccinated. A Pew Research Center poll, though, found that concerns about covid risks to students and teachers fell sharply from mid-2020 to early 2021 and even during the omicron peak in January 2022, while concerns about students falling behind and their emotional well-being rose. An earlier study of pandemic behavior by the same researchers found that many Americans misled others about their covid status or whether they adhered to the public health guidelines. The researchers in this most recent study said that these findings also offer lessons for future pandemics. The concerns of parents need to be addressed so that "misrepresentation and nonadherence feel less necessary," they said. Related Content Talking to children who left Russia about the war in Ukraine As drug deaths soar, experts urge expanded access to methadone California was hit with 12 feet of snow. Is it enough to ease the drought? Enora Lavenir, age 19 months, died from ingesting fentanyl during her family's stay at a Wellington vacation home in August 2021. The family is suing Airbnb and the property's owner, alleging that the home was not properly clean prior to the family's arrival. WELLINGTON A couple from the French island of Guadeloupe is suing the Airbnb vacation-home rental company and the owner of a Wellington property after the death of their 19-month-old daughter from a fentanyl overdose during a family vacation in South Florida. According to a wrongful death complaint filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Lydie and Boris Lavenir were staying at a four-bedroom, two-bath lake house with their five children in August 2021 when their toddler, Enora, was exposed to a lethal dose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug that has been produced illegally, often sold and combined with other drugs. The lawsuit also lists the Wellington property's rental manager and a man who rented the home days before the Lavenir family, alleging that the home was was not properly cleaned after being used to host a party in which fentanyl and other illicit drugs were present. The home is along The 12th Fairway, a residential area off Forest Hill Boulevard west of the Mall at Wellington Green. The case is pending before Circuit Judge Maxine Cheesman and has not been scheduled for trial. For subscribers:19 stolen sharks: How the theft went down, as told by the divers and the angler who lost his catch How Westlake is growing:Publix, restaurants, warehouses bring 'downtown' look to city Wellington scooter crash:Rider injured when PBSO patrol vehicle runs stop sign west of mall Medical examiner: Acute fentanyl toxicity killed 19-month-old in Wellington According to the lawsuit, Enora Lavenir was napping with her older sister the afternoon of Aug. 7, 2021, when the toddler's mother "went to check on Enora and found her unresponsive and foaming at the mouth." Enora was rushed to Palms West Hospital in Royal Palm Beach, where she was pronounced dead. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity and listed it as an accident. The injury occurred from the child ingesting the fentanyl, a medical examiner's report said. A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office incident report did not indicate how the toddler was exposed to the drug. Story continues Overdosed and deadly: Five things to know about opioids in Palm Beach County Paramedics rushed Enora Lavenir to Palms West Hospital in Royal Palm Beach on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, when her mother found her 'unresponsive and foaming at the mouth,' accoring to a lawsuit the family has filed against Airbnb, which rented them the property. "I am currently unable to determine how the child Enora Lavenir ingested the fentanyl, therefore I am unable to develop probable cause for abuse or neglect leading to the death of Enora," a PBSO detective wrote in the most recent report. A walkthrough of the property following the child's death revealed no illicit drugs and the toddler's parents both tested negative for drugs, PBSO said. The agency closed its investigation pending new information, PBSO spokesperson Teri Barbera said Monday. Fentanyl is also used to treat severe pain from cancer or patients recovering from surgery. Palm Beach County had the second-most number of fatal opioid overdoses in Florida in 2021 with 525 deaths, including three children under the age of 2 who died in the second half of the year, state records show. In an interview with The Washington Post conducted in French, Boris Lavenir said: "What is certain is, Enora had contact with fentanyl in the Airbnb." Attorney: Child 'was always inside that Airbnb' during visit to Florida The child's death occurred just one day after the family traveled to South Florida from their home in Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the southern Caribbean. Thomas Scolaro, the family's Miami-based attorney, said the toddler remained in the vacation home from the moment the family checked in until she was rushed to the hospital. "This baby never left the unit," he said, speaking on the family's behalf. "She was always inside that Airbnb. She didn't go outside. They didn't travel with her. So she was exposed inside that Airbnb unit, 100 percent." 'I want him to pay':Husband to spend life in prison for killing man he found with his wife 'I think I hurt my Gracie':Married Salt Life co-founder admits he killed teen girlfriend in beachfront hotel However, attorneys for the homeowner and the man who previously rented the home argued in written filings that negligent and careless conduct by the toddler's parents was either the sole factor or a contributing cause in the child's death. In addition, the attorney representing the previous renter argued that his client cannot be liable for acts that occurred after he left the home, including its cleaning or subsequent rental by others. In an interview with The Washington Post conducted in his native French, Boris Lavenir said this of the August 2021 overdose death of his daughter, Enora (right): 'What is certain is, Enora had contact with fentanyl in the Airbnb.' The prior renter told PBSO investigators that about 10 to 12 people stayed at the home over the course of three days in late July and early August of 2021. He told investigators that the group used cocaine and marijuana in the home, but denied that there was any fentanyl present, according to a PBSO report. The lawsuit alleges that Airbnb breached its duty of care by failing to ensure that the home had been properly cleaned, and in failing to notify the Lavenir family that drugs had been used in the home. "In terms of Airbnb's culpability, it's very simple," Scolaro said. "If you are in the business of renting out homes and you tell people that it's safe and secure and it's sanitary and you end up having a baby killed as a result of (negligence), you should expect to be sued and rightfully so." Airbnb says it did not book prior guest into Wellington vacation home Airbnb has not filed a formal response with the court. However, an Airbnb spokesperson said the company had not done any bookings at the Wellington address prior to the Lavenir family's stay and noted that the previous guest booked a stay through a different vacation travel company. "Our hearts go out to the Lavenir family and their loved ones for their devastating loss," the company said in a formal statement. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Airbnb sued: Toddler dies from fentanyl at Florida vacation rental WELLINGTON, Fla. A couple from the French island of Guadeloupe is suing the Airbnb vacation-home rental company and the owner of a South Florida property after the death of their 19-month-old daughter from a fentanyl overdose during a family vacation. According to a wrongful death complaint filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Lydie and Boris Lavenir were staying at a four-bedroom, two-bath lake house with their five children in August 2021 when their toddler, Enora, was exposed to a lethal dose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug. The lawsuit also lists the Wellington property's rental manager and a man who rented the home days before the Lavenir family, alleging that the home was was not properly cleaned after being used to host a party in which fentanyl and other illicit drugs were present. Oregon: California man dies after falling from rocky bluff, getting swept into ocean 'A gator just bit me': An alligator attacked him on his front porch. Florida man shares his story. Enora Lavenir, age 19 months, died from ingesting fentanyl during her family's stay at a Wellington vacation home in August 2021. The family is suing a vacation rental home company and the property's owner, alleging that the home was not properly cleaned prior to the family's arrival. Medical examiner says acute fentanyl toxicity killed 19-month-old According to the lawsuit, Enora Lavenir was napping with her older sister the afternoon of Aug. 7, 2021, when the toddler's mother "went to check on Enora and found her unresponsive and foaming at the mouth." Enora was rushed to Palms West Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity and listed it as an accident. The injury occurred from the child ingesting the fentanyl, a medical examiner's report said. A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office incident report did not indicate how the toddler was exposed to the drug. "I am currently unable to determine how the child Enora Lavenir ingested the fentanyl, therefore I am unable to develop probable cause for abuse or neglect leading to the death of Enora," a PBSO detective wrote in the most recent report. A walkthrough of the property following the child's death revealed no illicit drugs and the toddler's parents both tested negative for drugs, PBSO said. The agency closed its investigation pending new information, PBSO spokesperson Teri Barbera said Monday. Story continues Attorney: Child 'was always inside that Airbnb' during visit to Florida The child's death occurred just one day after the family traveled to South Florida from their home in Guadualoupe, which is located in the southern Caribbean. Thomas Scolaro, the family's Miami-based attorney, said the toddler remained in the vacation home from the moment the family checked in until she was rushed to the hospital. "This baby never left the unit," he said, speaking on the family's behalf. "She was always inside that Airbnb. She didn't go outside. They didn't travel with her. So she was exposed inside that Airbnb unit, 100 percent." However, attorneys for the homeowner and the man who previously rented the home argued in written filings that negligent and careless conduct by the toddler's parents was either the sole factor or a contributing cause in the child's death. In addition, the attorney representing the previous renter argued that his client cannot be liable for acts that occurred after he left the home, including its cleaning or subsequent rental by others. In an interview with The Washington Post conducted in his native French, Boris Lavenir said this of the August 2021 overdose death of his daughter, Enora (right): 'What is certain is, Enora had contact with fentanyl in the Airbnb.' The prior renter told investigators that about 10 to 12 people stayed at the home over the course of three days in late July and early August of 2021. He also told investigators that the group used cocaine and marijuana in the home but denied that there was any fentanyl present. The lawsuit alleges that Airbnb breached its duty of care by failing to ensure that the home had been properly cleaned, and in failing to notify the Lavenir family that drugs had been used in the home. "In terms of Airbnb's culpability, it's very simple," Scolaro said. "If you are in the business of renting out homes and you tell people that it's safe and secure and it's sanitary and you end up having a baby killed as a result of (negligence), you should expect to be sued and rightfully so." An Airbnb spokesperson said the company had not done any bookings at the Wellington address before the Lavenir family's stay and noted that the previous guest booked a stay through a different vacation travel company. "Our hearts go out to the Lavenir family and their loved ones for their devastating loss," the company said in a formal statement. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Airbnb sued after toddler dies of fentanyl at Florida vacation rental In her new memoir, Paris Hilton writes how she learned she was pregnant in November 2003 after the first season of The Simple Life wrapped. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) Paris Hilton is opening up about her decision to have an abortion two decades ago. In her new memoir, the entrepreneur writes how she learned she was pregnant in November 2003 after the first season of The Simple Life wrapped. "I was living my best life," Hilton recalls in Paris: The Memoir. "I was having a wild-child moment, and it was sort of glorious." "It all came crashing down when I realized I was pregnant at 22. It was like waking up on the ledge outside a 40th-floor window. I was terrified and heartsick," she continues, noting how pregnancy hormones "sent my ADHD symptoms spiraling. Everything I knew about myself was at war with everything I'd been raised to believe about abortion. No one can ever know how hard it is to face this impossible choice unless she's faced it herself." The heiress had been dating Tommy Hilfiger model Jason Shaw for two years. Although they were in love, she knew she could not make the kind of commitment starting a family entailed. "It had nothing to do with him or a baby. I just wasn't capable of being honest or loyal or whole. After suffering abuse at Provo Canyon School and three other programs within the 'troubled teen' industry network, I was damaged in ways I couldn't tell him about, and the fact that I never confided in him about my past that says it all, doesn't it? Secrets are corrosive," she shares. "They destroy anything you try to layer over them." Hilton says making the choice to have an abortion was an "intensely private agony that's impossible to explain." She's choosing to talk about it now because she knows other women are in similar situations. "I want them to know that they're not alone, and they don't owe anyone an explanation. When there is no right way all that's left is what is. What you know you have to do. And you do it, even though it breaks your heart," she says. Story continues Although Hilton knows she made the right choice, she still looks "back on all this with sorrow." "In my loneliest moments, I've romanticized that time in my life and tortured myself with melodramathoughts like, What if I killed my Paris? but the fact is, there was no happy little family at stake. That was not going to happen. Trying to continue that pregnancy with the physical and emotional issues I was dealing with at the time would have been a train wreck for everyone involved," she continues. "At that moment, I was in no way capable of being a mother. Denying that would have jeopardized the forever family I hoped to have in the future, at a time when I was healthy and healed." Earlier this year, Hilton welcomed her first child son Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum with husband, Carter Reum, via a surrogate. "He is my everything, the child I was always meant to raise," Hilton says. "I know I wouldn't have this life if I hadnt made that difficult choice in my early 20s. Women need to control their reproductive destiny," she concludes. "We need to know ourselves, trust ourselves, and know what's right for us and when and stay in the driver's seat." If you or someone you know needs help obtaining an abortion or additional information and resources, visit abortionfunds.org or abortionfinder.org. You can also call or text the All Options hotline at 1-888-493-0092, which offers unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions, feelings and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption." By Ben Tavener and David Chkhikvishvili TBILISI (Reuters) -Police in the ex-Soviet state of Georgia used tear gas and stun grenades early on Wednesday to break up a protest outside Parliament against a draft law on "foreign agents". Reuters witnesses in the capital, Tbilisi, saw police with riot shields making arrests along Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare running through the centre of the city. Hours earlier police had clashed with demonstrators, some of whom threw petrol bombs and stones. The crowd then gathered outside parliament, where some people pulled aside light metal barriers intended to keep the public away from the building. In a statement, the interior ministry said people on both sides had been injured in what it called an extremely violent protest. Police would react to violations of the law, it added. The ministry said 66 people had been detained over the hours-long clashes. The protests erupted after legislators gave initial backing to the law, which critics say represents an authoritarian shift and could hurt the country's bid to join the European Union. Speaking in Berlin earlier on Tuesday, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Garibashvili reaffirmed his support for the law, saying the proposed provisions on foreign agents met "European and global standards". But European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the draft law was a "very bad development" for the country and could seriously affect its ties with the EU. Thousands of people, some waving EU and Ukrainian flags, stood outside Parliament and listened as speakers denounced the law, which would require any organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents" or face substantial fines. Critics say it is reminiscent of a 2012 law in Russia that has since been used to crack down on dissent. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has said she will veto the law it if crosses her desk, said she was on the side of the protesters. Story continues "You represent a free Georgia, a Georgia which sees its future in the West, and won't let anyone to take this future away," she said in an address recorded in the United States, where she is on an official visit. Late on Tuesday night protesters angrily remonstrated with police armed with riot shields who then used tear gas and water cannon. At least three petrol bombs, as well as stones, were thrown at police. Some shouted "No to the Russian law" and "You are Russian" at politicians inside the legislature. Russia is viewed as an enemy by many Georgians, after Moscow backed separatists in the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the 1990s. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was deeply concerned and troubled about a law that "would strike at some of the very rights that are central to the aspirations of the people of Georgia". Georgia's opposition parties called for fresh protests on Wednesday, which is a public holiday in Georgia to mark International Women's Day, with crowds expected to gather outside the parliament from 3 p.m. (1100 GMT). (Reporting by David Chkhikvishvili, Ben Tavener, Felix Light and Jake Cordell in Tbilisi; Writing by David Ljunggren and Jake Cordell; Editing by Grant McCool and Bradley Perrett) By Engen Tham SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Jack Zhang, one of thousands of people who lost access to their savings last year in a rural bank scandal, recently tried to go to Beijing to lodge a complaint with the national public complaints body, ahead of this week's parliamentary session. But when he was trying to board a high-speed train from Hunan province in southern China to Beijing at the end of February, 12 people identifying themselves as police and government employees stopped him, he said. "They created a human wall," Zhang said. He left the station and managed to board from a different station, hiding in the train's bathroom, before being apprehended by eight people and held in a hotel for two days. China has long tightened security in Beijing ahead of the National People's Congress and other big events, taking steps to head-off potential agitators or others who might create a disturbance from travelling to the capital. Three other depositors who lost money when at least $1.5 billion in funds were frozen last April - a fraud that sparked numerous protests - also reported attempts to curtail their movements, from having tracking devices fitted to their cars to being barricaded into their homes. While many customers with small deposits have been repaid by financial authorities in Henan, others from around China who placed large amounts with the small lenders are still owed significant sums. They became known to authorities after they travelled to Henan to try to withdraw their funds. China has a low tolerance for group displays of discontent, even if anger is not directed against the government. Some of those who spoke with Reuters declined to use their full names due to the sensitivity of the matter. The Ministry of Public Security could not be reached for requests for comment. The Shanghai, Zhejiang and Hunan province foreign affairs departments did not respond to or could not be immediately reached for requests for comment. Story continues TRACKED Last month, a depositor in Shanghai surnamed Dong found what he believed to be a tracking device stuck on his car, and filed a police report. Soon, at least six people started sleeping in their cars outside his building, following him every time he left, Dong told Reuters. "As soon as they see me getting in the car, they will get in theirs," he said. "They've asked me not to go to Beijing," he said, adding that he had not planned to travel to the capital. Depositors have reported numerous attempts by authorities to limit their movement since they lost their savings and started drawing attention to their plight. Last year, authorities used mobile phone health codes to prevent bank depositor protesters from leaving their homes, and a protest in the Henan capital Zhengzhou was violently broken up by security personnel. A retired depositor in Shaoxing, in Zhejiang province, said while she has not encountered violence, limits to her freedom of movement have been extreme. "They wont let me leave, (they) use their car to barricade me," she said, adding that she had requested permission to head to Beijing in the middle of February, to file a compliant. She says she has been under constant surveillance by local authorities since the middle of last year, which is why she has to get approval to leave the city. "I have no quality of life, Im just alive." ($1 = 6.9185 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Editing by Lincoln Feast.) By Idrees Ali and Amina Ismail BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, making an unannounced trip to Iraq on Tuesday nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, said Washington was committed to keeping its military presence in the country. The 2003 invasion led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and created instability that eventually paved the way for the rise of Islamic State militants after the U.S. withdrew its forces in 2011. Austin, the most senior official in President Joe Bidens administration to visit Iraq, was the last commanding general of U.S. forces there after the invasion. "U.S. forces are ready to remain in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq," Austin told reporters after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani. "The United States will continue to strengthen and broaden our partnership in support of Iraqi security, stability, and sovereignty," he said. Sudani later said in a statement that his government's approach is to maintain balanced relations with regional and international governments based on shared interests and respect for sovereignty, and that "the stability of Iraq is the key to the security and stability of the region." The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq - and an additional 900 in Syria - to help advise and assist local troops in combating Islamic State, who in 2014 seized swathes of territory in both countries. Islamic State is far from the formidable force it once was, but militant cells have survived across parts of northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. SYMBOLISM Austin's trip is also about supporting Sudani's push back against Iranian influence in the country, former officials and experts said. Iranian-backed militia in Iraq have occasionally targeted U.S. forces and its embassy in Baghdad with rockets. The United States and Iran came close to full-blown conflict in 2020 after U.S. forces killed Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike. Story continues "I think that Iraqi leaders share our interest in Iraq not becoming a playground for conflict between the United States and Iran," a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. Austin met Sudani and president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, amid a long-running dispute over budget transfers and oil revenue sharing between the national government and Erbil, as well as the lingering acrimony between the two main Kurdish parties running the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. "Erbil and Baghdad must work together for the good of all Iraqis and Kurdish leaders must put aside their divisions and come together to build a secure and prosperous Iraqi Kurdish region," Austin said following his meeting with Barzani. Austin also condemned Iran's "repeated cross border attacks," on Iraq. Last year, Tehran fired missiles at bases of Kurdish groups in northern Iraq it accuses of involvement in protests against its restrictions on women, displacing hundreds of Iranian Kurds and killing some. Former President George W. Bushs administration cited its belief that Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins government held weapons of mass destruction to justify the decision to invade Iraq. U.S. and allied forces later found that such stockpiles did not exist. Between 185,000 and 208,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in the war, according to the Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. Austin, a former head of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, said in 2011 that the United States had achieved its military objectives in Iraq. But under former President Barack Obama, the United States sent thousands of troops back into Iraq and Syria three years later to bolster the fight against Islamic State. (Reporting by Idrees Ali in Baghdad, additional reporting by Amina Ismail in Erbil; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Sharon Singleton) During the ongoing "two sessions," Yao Jianping, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), brought forward suggestions for accelerating the innovative development of traditional handicrafts and supporting the high-quality development of the arts and crafts industry. Yao Jianping, an NPC deputy and a renowned Suzhou embroidery artist. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Suzhou embroidery, named after the city where it originated in China's Jiangsu province, is one of the most celebrated styles of Chinese silk embroidery. With more than 2,000 years of history, this form of handicraft has earned a prestigious global reputation for its use of a variety of stitches, beautiful patterns, elegant colors, and consummate craftsmanship. Yao Jianping, a renowned Suzhou embroidery artist, is a recipient of the prestigious national-level title of "Chinese master of arts and crafts" in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field. For more than four decades, Yao has been ardently devoted to the cultural art of Suzhou embroidery. She has been instrumental in spearheading the formation of both the "Embroidery Art of Yao Jianping" and "Yao Silk" art brands, propelling the advancement of the art form and solidifying her reputation as an industry leader. Yao said that traditional handicrafts had achieved remarkable success in international cultural exchange and storytelling about China, with craft products such as embroidery and ceramics being used as diplomatic gifts on numerous occasions. A copy of Yao Jianping's embroidery displayed in the "Embroidery Art of Yao Jianping" exhibition in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China. The original work is in the official collection of British Queen Elizabeth II. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn] Nevertheless, following extensive research and visits to handicraft artisans, Yao Jianping observed that the current traditional handicraft industry suffers from an incomplete and underdeveloped industrial chain, marked by a small-scale, disorganized operation primarily comprising individual businesses or small workshops. Yao discovered that in addition to these challenges, there is also a lack of strong branding within the industry, which makes it difficult to develop on a large scale or become fully commercialized. She emphasized that the traditional handicraft industry's growth is hindered by factors such as talent shortage, inadequate funding, and a lack of technological advancements. "Creating traditional handicraft products requires significant time, ranging from several months to several years," Yao said. "Selling these products at a good price is also a challenging task. Moreover, in the market transaction link, the 13% value-added tax rate also makes it difficult for some traditional handicraft enterprises to expand their profits and scale." In addition, Suzhou embroidery entails a high level of technical difficulty, with new embroiderers needing to dedicate themselves to a lengthy training period. These factors discourage many young people from pursuing the craft, and there are already challenges with knowledge transfer from older to younger generations. Yao suggested boosting the traditional handicraft industry by promoting talent cultivation, revising taxation policies, strengthening IP protection, and nurturing leading companies to advance traditional handicrafts in modern times. She proposed to "establish a tax reform pilot program in regions where the handicraft industry is thriving, with simplified taxation method implementation," so as to foster industry growth. Suzhou embroidery art needs to embody both social and economic values to attract more young people to inherit the craft, Yao said. In addition, she also suggested establishing a Cultural Workers' Day in China aimed at inspiring cultural and artistic workers to preserve and perpetuate the country's rich heritage, engage in innovative endeavors, and promote the continued inheritance of China's fine traditional culture. Brits report they've learnt more about sex from TikTok than school. (Getty Images) Nearly half of Brits learn more about sex from TikTok than they do in school, a new survey reveals. Specifically, some 43% feel they have sourced more of their information on sexual health from the user-submitted video platform than from both primary and secondary education. A further 42% believe TikTok is the most accessible platform for health-related content, according to the new Superdrug Online Doctor survey of 2,000 UK-based social media users. Overall, as many as 80% of Brits consume their sex and wellbeing advice via social media. Read more: How to talk to your teens about porn as new study shows children as young as nine have been exposed to it The hashtag #HealthTok is often used by TikTok users posting about health issues. (Supplied) For the younger age groups, sex education via TikTok is even more prevalent 55% of 16-24-year-olds agree they've learnt more about sex on TikTok compared to an average of 29% across the older age groups surveyed (25-55+). It's evident that younger generations are increasingly turning to social platforms for 'reliable' health information. Interestingly, men generally are also twice as likely as women to use social media as their first port of call for health-related insight, but worryingly 38% of them are more inclined to take advice which has then turned out to be inaccurate. Read more: Why TikTok users are appalled by new Bold Glamour filter Consuming health and sex advice online can lead to a decline in mental health, confidence, relationships and social life, say experts. (Getty Images) With more people naturally believing the content they view is accurate (43%) than believing it's inaccurate (23%), over half have taken action for their health as a result of a post they've seen. This can have a positive impact, like checking in on your sexual health or booking a doctor's appointment, but it could also result in something more damaging. Overall, 59% of respondents have seen untrue or misleading health information on TikTok, leading to a range of consequences from people inaccurately self-diagnosing to experiencing needless anxiety due to viral videos spreading like wildfire and a lack of professional knowledge. Story continues More specifically, consuming this kind of content was found to have a negative impact on mental health (65%), general confidence (63%), personal relationships (53%) and social life (50%). Have you been affected by health misinformation online? (Supplied) For example, one young social media user from London told Superdrug Online Doctor, After noticing some irregularities in my vaginal health, I took to TikTok to see what these symptoms might mean and came away convinced that I had chlamydia. "As I had not had unprotected sex in ages, I assumed I'd this STI for at least six months (a time period that can negatively impact womens fertility). I was distraught, confused and scared. I was so convinced I went to a GP who informed me I simply had thrush a really common yeast infection. "If I had consulted my GP first instead of jumping on social media I could have saved myself a lot of sleepless nights. Read more: The TikTok trend where women call out #GymCreeps Watch: 'A band-aid on a serious wound': Critics slam TikTok for rolling out time limits for teens As many as one in five Brits turn to online 'sources' before looking at official NHS resources for information, the study also revealed. So, to help people stay safe, psychologist Smriti Joshi has shared her five top tips on how to avoid being misled by an incorrect piece of health information on social media. How to spot a misleading social post and check the facts Remember social media algorithms are created in a way to keep you hooked. It will feed you more of what you are already engaging with, which can stop you finding other options or seeking credible sources of information Take a critical stance and ask if this is right for you, as an individual and for your lifestyle. Think about the information you receive in context does it match up with other posts or news youve read? Dont be afraid to go to your GP and ask for their advice. Always check the source of the information you are accessing. It should be from credible brands and sources like the NHS or a qualified, licensed healthcare professional. Going directly to these websites will help you avoid following misleading posts on social media If a piece of information looks too amazing, transformational or weird and makes you wonder, think and judge it as critically as you can. If its too good to be true, it probably is. Dont engage with a piece of information suggesting you take a concoction of herbs or take up a certain challenge leading to a positive physical or mental health outcome just because someone on a social media platform did it. We all have unique bodies and it's best that this advice comes to you from a credible source in an informed way For any sex and health advice, speak to someone you trust, your local sexual health clinic, or your GP. stories. Here are some of the wildest ones: We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about a time when they heard someone at work bad-mouthing them behind their back, and people had. Here are some of the wildest ones: 1. "I was the only woman in sales at multiple car dealerships, and I was very good at it. But if I had a dollar for every time I overheard the guys saying that the only reason I was getting better numbers than them was that I was either fucking the customers on test drives, fucking the boss, or both, I'd be enjoying an early retirement." butthatsnoneofmybusiness Netflix 2. "I overheard two of my coworkers, one of whom I was friends with, talking about how they opened my paycheck to see how much I got paid and how it 'wasnt fair.' I told the manager, who did nothing. Safe to say, I quit my job shortly after." Anonymous 3. "When I was working my first job at a skating rink, I overheard a conversation between my male (college-aged) coworker and my male (late 20s) supervisors where my coworker told my supervisors that I gave off 'Fuck-me vibes.' My supervisors laughed in agreement. I was 17. This comment affected how I interacted with men, especially in the workplace, until well after college, for fear that I was the one being inappropriate. Spoiler: I wasnt the inappropriate one." Anonymous Netflix 4. "I came out as nonbinary a few years ago, and I use they/them pronouns. Last year, I overheard one of the 'mean girls' (for reference, most of us at this job were in our 30s ) talking about me, saying, 'She uses those fake pronouns because she's too ugly to be considered a girl,' both misgendering me and insulting me in one fell swoop. I couldn't even go to management because this particular coworker was not-so-secretly sleeping with one of the managers. This experience was one of the final nails in the coffin at that job, honestly." ssketchator1 5. "A dude I worked with accidentally messaged me instead of a coworker, calling me a 'c*nt.' Before I even saw it, he pulled me into the hallway and apologized. It was early startup days, so there was no HR, and it was early in my career, so I just brushed it off. I was also the only woman in leadership in the whole company. In moments of weakness, I sometimes wonder what else he said behind my back. "But looking at where I am in life and my success, I'm so thankful for the learning experience so I can support other women when similar issues arise. I do not put up with anything close to that." Story continues Lmh Disney-ABC Domestic Television 6. "Im a school counselor, and the walls of everyone's offices are not soundproof at all. I overheard one of my co-counselors complain to my boss about how depressed I was. I had just had a miscarriage, and it wasnt a secret to them. Earlier that day, I had asked my co-counselor to call a parent after a suicide screening we conducted together because I legitimately didnt think I could handle it at that moment. It made her SO ANGRY. My boss basically told her to calm down and have some patience with me, which made her even more irate. She stormed back to her office and SLAMMED the door. The next morning, she came into my office and questioned me about whether I was seeing a therapist and taking antidepressants. She literally told me I 'needed to do something' because she was 'going through a lot too.' Like, girl, this is not how we help each other. It was absolutely awful." quietppl 7. "When I was working as a critical care nurse, I prided myself in being an advocate for my patients, who were often unconscious and couldnt speak for themselves. One of the doctors I worked with didnt like that because sometimes my actions prevented him from moving out a medically unstable patient when he wanted to move in a new patient. I overheard him talking about me to one of his residents, saying, 'Shes a bitch, but a cunning one.'" Anonymous DisneyABC Domestic Television 8. "I didn't hear it myself, but my now-husband did. When we started dating and were still keeping it hush-hush at work, he was having lunch with some coworkers, and some of the men started talking about the women in the office. When my name came up, one of them said, 'Oh yeah, she's really good in bed.' And then he boasted about bogus sexual encounters with me, unaware that the guy sitting right next to him was dating me. My husband didn't say anything, knowing full well that on the days that the guy claimed I was with him doing the nasty, I was actually with my husband. "My husband told me about it on our way home, and I was livid. That guy's face when HR announced our wedding was a sight to behold. He never talked to us ever again." nsoeradi 9. "I was working in an office for home health aides. I was visiting another location and asked to use their computers. I found a roster with all the names of the employees on it. Next to my name, it said 'RUDE.' The name under mine said 'WORTHLESS.' I knew then that I wouldn't be there much longer." savant76 Netflix 10. "A coworker, let's call her Nancy, was showing me something she had written in her journal about a separate coworker, Janice, complaining to her about me (basically, Janice hated me and said I did petty things to make her job harder). But in that SAME PARAGRAPH, I saw Nancy was making fun of my clothes. I don't know if she was being careless or heartless, but either way, it shattered my confidence." Anonymous 11. "I was a volunteer at an after-school program at a church, and the pastor came in to give someone a tour. I was there with two friends who also spent the year volunteering, and we overheard her say that we were supposed to be running the program but didnt do anything. We were literally working on homework with students at the time. Honestly, that whole place was a shitshow." francesjoys Netflix 12. "Im a new college professor, and I was specifically asked in my interview to do a curriculum overhaul if I came on board. While discussing some of the changes with a colleague in another discipline, I mentioned there was one class on the books Id 'never teach' (because Im not qualified). He immediately left my office, pulled out his cellphone to call another one of our colleagues, and proceeded to shit-talk me for 'destroying the program,' 'not respecting [my] discipline,' not being a 'team player,' and, most shocking of all, 'actively trying to undermine the liberal arts.' All because I said I wouldn't teach one class because I dont have the right expertise! And he said all of this right outside my office door. SMH." Anonymous 13. "I received an email that was forwarded to me asking for help with a project. There were several emails on the chain beforehand. The initial email was actually from one of my partners saying that he wasn't sure I was proactive enough to handle the work. The person who forwarded the email to me hadnt even read far enough down to see the note about me, and they were mortified when I pointed it out." Anonymous Amazon Studios 14. "One time, I overheard these other girls at the hospital where I worked say that I didnt deserve to earn a higher level of our role despite working for it for years because they thought I was lazy. I would do anything for my patients, and yet they would sit and gossip all day. It felt awful knowing they thought so little of me." Anonymous 15. "I worked at a fast-food place in a part of town that had a lot of Indian immigrants. We had just received a resume (we were desperately hiring), and as I walked past the manager's office, I heard the assistant manager say, 'I'm not hiring anyone if I can't say their name,' and then she threw out the resume. I literally walked backward and said, 'Excuse me?' She hadn't realized that I, the child of an Indian immigrant, had heard. She tried to brush it off. I quit soon after that." smolpotaytos 20th Television 16. And finally, "I'm a manager, and one time I accidentally saw someone talking about me on Skype messenger. They said that I, a woman, drunk-dialed an employee, a man, to talk about my personal life. This ABSOLUTELY never happened. They work at a different location now, but I'm still so bothered by this lie and how low it makes me look." amaree3 Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. (Bloomberg) -- The government of Peru, the second-biggest producer of copper and zinc, expects that shipments of the commodities will begin to normalize within days as the nations worst street protests in decades ease. Most Read from Bloomberg The issue of protests has been reduced to a minimum at this time, Oscar Vera, newly-appointed energy and mines minister, said in an interview. The mining corridor is now open and in the coming days, mineral will begin to be taken out. The full resumption of shipments will come as a relief to tight global metal markets, which were roiled by a surge of protests prompted by the impeachment of former President Pedro Castillo. The months of unrest which constrained the transport of metal to ports and supplies to mines embroiled operations by companies including Glencore Plc and Freeport-McMoRan Inc., while highlighting risks to commodity output from emerging markets. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Toronto on Monday, Vera said authorities eased tensions by establishing lines of communication with communities and understanding their concerns. In many cases, conflicts related to stalled investments in local water and health projects, he said, adding that the government has stepped up efforts to ensure public works get done. To be sure, unrest lingers in some areas. In Puno, home to some of the worst protests, roadblocks have continued even after those in other mining regions were lifted. While Minsur SAs giant San Rafael tin mine has restarted operations after a 45-day halt, its still a long way from full capacity. Minister Vera said direct and ongoing communication and concrete action to address demands were paying off even at MMG Ltd.s Las Bambas mine, which has endured more than 400 days of roadblocks in its seven-year history. Story continues With blockades at a minimum, Las Bambas will probably resume copper transport between today and tomorrow, Vera said. He said hes hoping therell be a lasting solution with a military presence along roads and authorities on the ground to make sure mine commitments are met. There are also proposals to change the route used to transport ore to port. Perus copper production is likely to have taken a hit from the protests, but Vera said he was very optimistic that in the coming days everything starts to normalize, with output recovering over the rest of the year. The government has identified a total of $6.9 billion in mining investments this year and next, made up of seven likely projects. Still, there are some projects, such as Southern Copper Corp.s Tia Maria, that while technically sound, require further work to convince local communities of the benefits, he said. Oil Reentry Vera defended state-owned Petroleos del Peru SAs plans to resume drilling in the Amazon rainforest at what was once the nations largest and leakiest oil field. Petroperus move back into the highly profitable oil-producing industry carries little risk because its doing so in a field that only requires reactivation rather than a capital intensive development, he said. For Lot 192, in a remote area near Ecuador, Petroperu is seeking an operating partner and is negotiating with a company, I understand, the minister said. (Adds comments on oil in fnal two paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. [Source] Nearly four dozen Chinese warships were spotted near the Philippines Pag-asa Island in the province of Palawan over the weekend, worsening tensions in the disputed region of the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the sighting, writing that one belongs to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, one belongs to the China Coast Guard (CCG) and 42 other ships allegedly posed as fishing vessels but were actually part of the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM). The PLA Navy and CCG ships were spotted at a distance of 8 nautical miles and 4 nautical miles from Pag-asa, respectively. Meanwhile, the suspected militia ships were found within 4 nautical miles. Those areas are well within the 12-nautical mile range designated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as part of a nations territorial waters. More from NextShark: Downed Chinese balloon is part of larger surveillance program on 5 continents, US officials say Pag-asa, a natural island, has been occupied by the Philippines since 1971 and has an estimated population of 400, including 70 children. The PCG said in a statement: Story continues Based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the observed location of the Chinese vessels fall squarely within Pag-asa Island's 12 NM territorial sea. Their continuing unauthorized presence is clearly inconsistent with the right of innocent passage and a blatant violation of the Philippines' territorial integrity. More from NextShark: Japan PM aide apologizes for 'shameful' act of having hands in pockets on US trip Last month, a CCG ship targeted a PCG counterpart with what the latter described as a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded crew members. The incident resulted in Manilas 203rd diplomatic protest against Beijing. The PCG vowed to unceasingly carry out its patriotic duty in conducting patrols. More from NextShark: War game simulations find China failing to invade Taiwan at a huge cost to all, including US and Japan Our gallant men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard will continuously patrol our waters full of courage and determination, PCG Admiral Artemio M. Abu said. This article originally appeared on Velo News Lotto-Dstny is calling for evidence in the aftermath of the GP Monsere photo-finish controversy. The Belgian team wont rest easy until it has the proof that Caleb Ewan lost out in his millimeter sprint with Gerben Thijssen. "Please note, we are not filing a complaint with the UCI. We just want to see an image of the photo-finish, the photo that was viewed by the competition jury and used to determine the winner," team CEO Stephane Heulot told Het Nieuwsblad. The low-ranked Belgian race shot to the headlines this weekend when a to-the-wire sprint looked to have gone to Ewan only for the jury to rule otherwise. Also read: Did the jury get the photo-finish wrong? Caleb Ewan thinks so Ewan and officials on the ground were so certain the Aussie speedster had won that hed already conducted his winners interview when Thijssen was told to top the podium. With only sketchy images available and Ewan calling out the race jury, Lotto-Dstny wants the proof it lost out on an early season score and significant stack of UCI points. [Our team director] didnt get to see an image of a photo of the photo finish. Apparently there was a problem with the computer, Heulot said Tuesday. I simply ask if we can still view that photo finish in question. This way we have proof that our rider was rightly placed second." The palaver has now been passed to the Belgian Federation and UCI. We only want proof that the competition management rightly designated Thijssen as the winner, Heulot said. If so, I have no problem with that. We just want clarity." Here's another one. If anyone's got photo of big G clearly beating me it would actually make me feel a bit better to be honest pic.twitter.com/Zko46pUQI6 -- Caleb Ewan (@CalebEwan) March 5, 2023 For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. A composite image shows the main street through Marinka, Ukraine. Left is a satellite image taken in February 2022, just before Russia's full-scale invasion began, when most of the city was still standing. To the right is drone footage from March 2023 showing widespread devastation. (Note: Insider has aligned the two images along the main street, but the different vantage points of the source imagery mean the rest of the overlay is not a perfect match). Maxar Technologies/Presidential Office of Ukraine/Insider Drone footage showed how a city in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region was reduced to rubble. Intense fighting between Russia and Ukraine has left no building in Marinka intact, the photos show. Marinka has been a flash point of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict since 2014. Before-and-after photos show how Russia's invasion reduced a Ukrainian city to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Marinka, located in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, has been the focal point of intense fighting ever since Russian-backed paramilitaries first gained control of parts of the region in April 2014. It escalated sharply in February 2022, when the main Russian military invaded Ukraine. Located around 80 miles from Bakhmut, Marinka has recently found itself at the center of renewed battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Marinka in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on March 5, 2023. Presidential Office of Ukraine Photos published by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the weekend reveal how Marinka has been all but wiped out. They show scenes akin to a post-apocalyptic world: empty streets, skeletal trees, and bombed-out buildings. There are no signs of any people or cars. New video footage of Marinka shot from the air with a drone on February 19, 2023. Associated Press "It used to be home for around 10,000 people. It used to be a peaceful city. It used to beuntil Russia's war criminals razed it to the ground," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs captioned the photos. At the time of writing, the territory was roughly split between Russian and Ukrainian control, the Associated Press reported. New video footage of Marinka shot from the air with a drone on February 19, 2023. Associated Press Marinka's police chief Artem Schus said that every building in the city has been damaged, AP reported. "The city is completely destroyed. Completely," Schus said. "Currently, there are no civilians left in the city because the military administration and police evacuated all residents, all children. Living there is impossible." An aerial photo of Marinka in October 2022 (left) versus in February 2023. Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies. A satellite picture from February 15, 2022 a few days before Russia launched its attack shows a city with rows of houses and large administrative buildings. A video published by a local TV station in 2021 shows a city that is unremarkable in its normalcy. Trees line the streets; people are exercising or walking with their shopping bags, and vehicles are driving the roads. Read the original article on Business Insider Pittsburgh City Council is calling on Congress to pass stricter rail safety legislation in the wake of the massive train derailment and fire in East Palestine, Ohio. City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger says if what happened in East Palestine happened in city limits, it would be catastrophic, given the dense population. It would have impacted many, many more people, Strassburger tells Channel 11. Hundreds of thousands of people here. Its extremely important we get ahead of any future spill. She and all of city council are now calling on Congress to pass the Railway Safety Act of 2023. Its sponsored by Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman. Council is also calling on Congress the pass the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accidents Locally Act thats sponsored by Rep. Chris Deluzio. Those bills would really ratchet up the safety measures when it comes to our railroads, especially rail companies that are carrying hazardous or volatile materials, Strassburger added. Oftentimes, we arent even made aware of what trains are carrying volatile or hazardous materials, so thats one of the things in addition to fixing our infrastructure, we need to know what our trains are carrying. There is currently no legal requirement to notify cities or municipalities that toxic chemcials are being carried through the area. In East Palestine, Strassburger says the HAZMAT placards on rail cars melted off, so first responders didnt know what toxic chemicals they were walking into. Strassburger says it goes beyond whats being transported. We also need to improve the quality of our infrastructure, Strassburger added. The tracks themselves, the trains, staff up the number of people on these trains. The mayors office says its working with a coalition of 10 other mayors in western Pennsylvania to protect public safety. Trains come in and out of Pittsburgh, they go across Western PA, Maria Montano, the press secretary for the City of Pittsburgh tells Channel 11. It really is important for the mayor to work as a region to care for the regional infrastructure. Story continues The city and city council plans to utilize the Fast Act to get a better understanding of the state of our infrastructure. Public safety thats been a number one priority for this administration, Montano added. This is part of that. Making sure our infrastructure is safe knowing what we can do to protect folks in case of major accidents like this. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Americans kidnapped in Mexico: 2 found dead, 2 alive, reports say At least one injured in explosion in New Castle Allegheny County Police no longer patrolling Pittsburgh, official says VIDEO: Pittsburgh police searching for suspects responsible for vandalizing Shepherds Wellness Center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts SAN DIEGO (AP) A sharp drop in illegal border crossings since December could blunt a Republican point of attack against President Joe Biden as the Democratic leader moves to reshape a broken asylum system that has dogged him and his predecessors. A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows some support for changing the number of immigrants and asylum-seekers allowed into the country. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say the level of immigration and asylum-seekers should be lowered, while about 2 in 10 say they should be higher, according to the poll. About a third want the numbers to remain the same. The decrease in border crossings followed Biden's announcement in early January that Mexico would take back Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans under a pandemic-era rule that denies migrants the right to seek asylum as part of an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, the U.S. agreed to admit up to 30,000 a month of those four nationalities on humanitarian parole if they apply online, enter at an airport and find a financial sponsor. The administration has also proposed generally denying asylum to anyone who travels though another country on their way to the U.S. without seeking protection there effectively all non-Mexicans who appear at the U.S. southern border. The new rules put forth by Biden could help the president fight back against critics who complain he hasnt done enough to address border security issues. But the moves have also fueled anger among some of his Democratic allies who are concerned that he is furthering a Trump-era policy they view as anti-immigrant and hurting vulnerable migrants who are trying to escape dangerous conditions in their native countries. And the new changes and subsequent drop in illegal border crossings are unlikely to stop the barrage of attacks from conservatives who see border security as a powerful political weapon. Story continues Biden has been on the defensive as Republicans and right-wing media outlets have hammered him over the soaring increase in migrant encounters at the border. The new House GOP leadership has held hearings on what they call the Biden border crisis and talked of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Agents detained migrants more than 2.5 million times at the southern border in 2022, including more than 250,000 in December, the highest on record. According to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, Border Patrol agents stopped migrants about 130,000 times in February, similar to January. Among Republicans, the poll shows about two-thirds say there should be fewer immigrants and asylum-seekers, while only about 1 in 10 say there should be more. Democrats are split: About a quarter say the number of immigrants should increase, a quarter say it should decrease, and about 4 in 10 say it should remain the same. They are slightly more supportive of asylum-seekers specifically, with 37% supporting an increase, 26% backing a decrease, and 36% saying the number should remain the same. Under U.S. law, numbers are not capped on asylum, which was largely a policy afterthought until about a decade ago. Since 2017, the U.S. has been the worlds most popular destination for asylum-seekers, according to U.N. figures. Even those who lose in court can stay for years while their cases wind through a backlogged system. Omar Reffell, a 38-year-old independent voter in Houston, said that he supports immigration but that news coverage of caravans of people trying to cross the border sends the wrong message to migrants. People think that they just show up at the border, come across, there is not going to be any repercussions, Reffell said. Im not against immigration. I think immigration is good for the country, but it has to happen in a very orderly manner or it puts a lot of stress, especially on the border states being able to provide resources. More than 100,000 migrants each month were being released in U.S. border cities late last year with notices to appear in immigration court or report to immigration authorities. Dan Restrepo, a top White House adviser on Latin America during Barack Obamas presidency, believes the American public will accept high levels of immigration if a systematic process can be followed. The challenge in managing migration is the sense of chaos and disorder that can be created by images of overwhelmed processing facilities and the like at the physical border, he said. Its less the numbers and more the imagery that bothers voters. Republicans cast Bidens expansion of humanitarian parole for four nationalities as a political ploy to divert attention from the border and are not likely to let up on their criticism of the president on immigration. The Federation of American Immigration Reform, an anti-immigration group, called Januarys plunge in border numbers a shell game to boost Bidens reelection prospects. Fox News Channel has hit hard on the story over the last year. Reporter Bill Melguin said in a Battle for the Border special on Nov. 3 that he had spent more than 200 days on the Texas border. Weve been shooting the video all day long, Melugin said in a typical report from the Texas town of Eagle Pass. We keep getting these massive groups of 150 to 200 crossing every single day. The networks night-vision drone cameras have showed hundreds of migrants walking across the border, each one appearing as a luminous white stick slowly advancing across a dark screen. The poll found 39% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling immigration, and 38% approve of him on border security slightly below his overall approval ratings. About two-thirds of Democrats but only about 1 in 10 Republicans say they approve of his handling of either issue. The poll was taken Feb. 16-20, just before the administration proposed on Feb. 21 that asylum should generally be denied to migrants who pass through another country without applying for protection there if it is deemed safe. The administration is angling to have the new rule take effect before the pandemic-related limits on asylum are expected to end May 11, though legal challenges appear imminent. Becky Steelsmith, a 70-year-old independent voter from Zachary, Louisiana, is reluctant to heap blame on Biden because solutions also eluded his predecessors, but she notes that the optics are not great. The only reason why I disagree with Bidens handling of it is that I think hes a little too soft, said Steelsmith, a retired teacher. "I'm not saying its his fault that its happening. Im saying that as president, he needs to sit down and really focus and come up with some kind of a solution, or the beginning of a solution. ___ The poll of 1,247 adults was conducted using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Mariusz Baszczak, Polish Defence Minister, has confirmed that 10 of the promised 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks will arrive in Ukraine in the coming days. Source: Sky News citing Mariusz Baszczak Quote: "Four [tanks] are already in Ukraine, another 10 will go to Ukraine this week," Baszczak said. Poland was the first of the Western allies to transfer modern Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Warsaw will also provide 60 PT-91 Twardy tanks. Background: Earlier, German authorities have asked Switzerland to approve the sale of 96 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks to the Rheinmetall concern. At the end of January, Germany agreed to allow other countries to send German-made tanks to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! European experts question unusual silence over Nord Stream blasts Xinhua) 08:41, March 07, 2023 This aerial photo released by the Danish Ministry of Defense on Sept. 27, 2022 shows the Nord Stream gas pipeline leak site. (Danish Defense Ministry/Handout via Xinhua) Germany, has been particularly affected by the energy crisis due to the end of gas supplies from Russia. However, the country's government, like its allies, has refrained from talking about the explosions in public. BERLIN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Despite their own heavy losses, European countries -- especially Germany -- have unanimously kept silent over the blasts that destroyed the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines last September and subsequent investigations. Since veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh exposed the U.S. Navy's involvement in the explosions on the U.S. portal Substack last month, more and more experts have questioned Europe's atypical, collective silence. According to Hersh, a U.S. Pulitzer Prize winner, the U.S. Navy divers last June planted the remotely triggered explosives that destroyed three of the four Nord Stream pipelines months later. Europe's largest economy, Germany, has been particularly affected by the energy crisis due to the end of gas supplies from Russia. However, the country's government, like its allies, has refrained from talking about the explosions in public. Picture taken on Oct. 8, 2012 shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, some 60 kilometers from the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua) A German government spokesperson refused to comment on Hersh's article at Xinhua's request at a press conference last month. At the same time, German media have widely moved to discredit Hersh's article. Once proven that the pipelines were indeed blasted by the United States, it would overturn the European public's recognition of the current narratives by the West, which claimed that European infrastructure was "under the threat of Russia," said Li Xing, professor of development and international relations at Denmark's Aalborg University. That the U.S. Navy was involved in the Nord Stream pipelines explosions last year, as discovered by Hersh, was an "economic war" against its submissive allies in Europe, Jan Oberg, a Swedish expert, told Xinhua in an interview. "One must wonder when the Europeans will wake up and finally understand that they no longer share interests with the U.S.," stressed Oberg, director of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research. Photo taken in Arlington of Virginia, the United States, shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) attending a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. Feb. 7, 2022. Joe Biden told the press conference that if Russian tanks and troops cross the border and enter Ukraine, "there will be no longer Nord Stream 2," referring to the now-finished pipeline delivering natural gas from Russia to Germany through Ukraine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Croatian security expert Mirko Vukobratovic told Xinhua that the alleged involvement of the U.S. Navy in the September 2022 Nord Stream explosions was "not impossible." The United States has the most to gain from the destruction of the pipelines, Josep Puigsech, a Spanish political expert at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, told Xinhua. "I increasingly believe that the incident that led to the breaking of the gas pipeline was the result of an action by the United States," Puigsech said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) PORT ST. LUCIE A man accused of fatally shooting a man Monday in Port St. Lucie died Tuesday after he engaged Fort Lauderdale police, Port St. Lucie police stated. Manuel Sanabria, 41, was wanted in connection with a Monday night fatal shooting of a man in the 6200 block of Northwest Duke Circle, according to Port St. Lucie police. Police went to the address at 7:23 p.m. Monday. An adult male victim arrived at the house to visit an occupant and was shot inside his vehicle by another male occupant of the residence, police stated. The adult male victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Police said Sanabria was suspected in the shooting and that he left in a 2016 silver Ram pickup with a Florida license plate. Sanabria was considered "armed and dangerous," police stated. Police suspension:Officer disciplined after improperly handling domestic case nearly 2 months before woman's death Port St. Lucie Police said Tuesday morning Sanabria "was located in Fort Lauderdale where a brief pursuit ensued." "He stopped and engaged Fort Lauderdale police officers," police said. "The suspect was shot and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased." The area in Port St. Lucie where the fatal shooting happened is south of West Midway Road between Selvitz Road and Northwest St. James Drive. Fort Lauderdale Police reported learning just before 9 a.m. that a man operating a silver/gray pickup was wanted in connection with a homicide in Port St. Lucie, the agency stated. Our officers located the subject; a brief pursuit ensued, thereafter the subject stopped and engaged our police officers, Fort Lauderdale police stated. Our officers took the action they felt was necessary to defend themselves. Gator wary:Nuisance alligator removal permits spike in St. Lucie after 85-year-old woman dies Fort Lauderdale police did not state how he engaged officers, and did not specify the actions the officers took to defend themselves. Questions from TCPalm regarding that were not immediately answered Tuesday. Story continues Port St. Lucie police, however, said Sanabria was shot. Fort Lauderdale police reported during the pursuit, the man veered his vehicle onto the property of a business where multiple unoccupied cars and a pedestrian were struck. The male pedestrian was in critical condition. This story will be updated. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Accused shooter in PSL homicide fatally shot in Fort Lauderdale Ukraine continues to fight for its country, restraining the occupying forces of the Russian Federation In an interview published on March 7, Blaszczak said that Russia has stalled in the war against Ukraine, as it did in Chechnya or Afghanistan. Read also: The war will end with Ukrainian victory, US State Department says "Based on the scale of forces and means and the way the fighting in Ukraine is going on now, I'm afraid that this is a matter of months rather than weeks," he said. Russia is bogged down in Ukraine, just as it was in Chechnya and Afghanistan, and at the same time, to withdraw from the war now would mean recognizing the Kremlin's mistake and the need to deal with the consequences of this barbaric attack. Blaszczak expressed confidence that the war will end in Ukraine's victory and called it "the bloodiest conflict in Europe" since the Second World War. Read also: At meeting with president, Zaluzhnyi and Syrskyi support continuation of defense operation in Bakhmut "I believe that the resolute and courageous resistance of Ukrainians fighting for the freedom of their country, combined with the help of the entire free world, will lead to a happy ending to this war: Ukraine's victory, because it is the only just option," the Polish Defense Minister concluded. Representatives of the Ukrainian government, as well as political and military experts in Ukraine and around the world, predict a range of end dates for the Russian war against Ukraine. The Latvian security service has stated that the fight against Russian troops will continue at least until the end of 2023. A new Russian offensive against Kyiv is also possible, the service says. The Pentagon does not rule out that the war could last another three years. Previously, speaking to the UK Parliament, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was confident that Russia would be defeated in the war. The commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Nayev, said that the war in Ukraine would end with the restoration of the countrys 1991 borders. Story continues The head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, predicted that the Armed Forces would liberate Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea by the end of spring 2023. Meanwhile, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov previously stated that Ukraine's victory would require "the collapse of Russia, its disappearance as a coherent subject of history and politics." Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Minister of Defense of Poland did not say that the Patriot is already in Ukraine In an interview with the Spanish daily newspaper La Razon, Baszczak said that the positive decision to transfer Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv had been made thanks to Polands efforts, the agency said. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Baszczak just wanted to point out that the decision to transfer the Patriot battery had been made thanks to Polands efforts, the ministry said. Read also: Poland to transfer 60 PT-91 Twardy tanks to Ukraine, says Polish PM Read also: Poland transfers first four Leopard tanks to Ukraine, says visiting Polish PM The Spanish newspaper Razon quoted the Polish minister as follows: I must emphasize that thanks to the efforts made by Poland, the Patriot batteries or the first Leopard battle tanks, among other things, have already reached Ukraine. On Dec. 21, 2022, the U.S. White House announced a $1.85 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which for the first time included a Patriot missile defense battery. According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, the Armed Forces of Ukraine expect to receive the Patriot and SAMP-T air defense systems only after April 2023. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Portland General Electric, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.045 = US$400m (US$10b - US$1.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Thus, Portland General Electric has an ROCE of 4.5%. In absolute terms, that's a low return but it's around the Electric Utilities industry average of 4.7%. View our latest analysis for Portland General Electric roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Portland General Electric compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. The Trend Of ROCE The returns on capital haven't changed much for Portland General Electric in recent years. The company has consistently earned 4.5% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 21% in that time. Given the company has increased the amount of capital employed, it appears the investments that have been made simply don't provide a high return on capital. Story continues The Key Takeaway In conclusion, Portland General Electric has been investing more capital into the business, but returns on that capital haven't increased. Since the stock has gained an impressive 44% over the last five years, investors must think there's better things to come. However, unless these underlying trends turn more positive, we wouldn't get our hopes up too high. One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Portland General Electric (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) . If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Ukrainian tank in the Bakhmut direction Cherevaty said that the Wagnerites are coming to the end of playing an important role in the attempts to storm Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, because they are already physically running out. Recently, Prigozhin, also known as Putins chef, said that if his soldiers leave Bakhmut, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will break the Russian front and reach Russias borders, and perhaps even further. According to Cherevaty, this statement indicates an attempt by Prigozhin to intimidate and blackmail Russias leadership. Read also: Wagner Group has brought in more than 38,000 prison inmates: Podolyak I think this is just a good marker of the fact that, having lost almost all of his (mercenaries), trying to become some kind of military-political entity, he is actually approaching his (own) collapse, and therefore from all this boasting that he is the only one who can fight, Cherevaty said. It was also useful for us, because he constantly humiliated the Russian Armed Forces. Heavy fighting for Bakhmut has been going on for more than half a year. According to Ukrainian Defense Ministry, every day the Russian Federation loses up to 500 soldiers killed and wounded trying to storm the city. This is five times more than Ukrainian losses, according to assessments by NATO intelligence. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Princess Madeleine, Princess Adrienne, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Christopher O'Neill attend Prince Julian's baptism outside Drottningholm Castle Chapel Rune Hellestad/Getty Images America is losing one of its royal residents. Princess Madeleine of Sweden will return to her home country after living in Florida since 2018, the Swedish palace announced on Tuesday. "HRH Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill, together with their children, will move to Stockholm in August 2023," they said in a statement, adding that they'll relocate to Sweden "indefinitely." They will reside in an apartment at Stockholm's Royal Stables. Their two eldest children, 9-year-old Princess Leonore and 7-year-old Prince Nicolas, will begin elementary school in Stockholm in the fall, while 4-year-old Princess Adrienne will start preschool. Princess Madeleine documented her family's life in America on Instagram, from celebrating Halloween in costume to exploring Florida's beaches. RELATED: Sweden's Princess Madeleine Reveals the Newest Addition to Her Family an Adorable 3-Year-Old Dog Princess Madeleine and her family were familiar with the United States before their permanent move to Florida in 2018. On top of having a summer home in Florida, they previously lived in New York City. Madeleine moved to the Big Apple in 2010, where she began working for mother Queen Silvia's World Childhood Foundation as a projects manager. The couple lived in New York during the early years of their marriage, even welcoming their first child, Princess Leonore, at a private hospital stateside. In 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf announced that the children of Princess Madeleine and Chris as well as the children of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia were no longer official members of the royal house and lost their official HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles. However, they retained their titles of Prince and Princess, but these titles became personal and any future spouses or children will not have a right to them. Story continues Princess Madeleine responded to the news on Instagram, writing: "This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it's good that our children are now getting a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals in the future." Despite her royal status, Madeleine previously insisted that she's just a "normal mom." "They wake me up and we fix breakfast together and the breakfast flies all over the place!" she exclusively told PEOPLE at the 2016 World Childhood Foundation USA ThankYou Gala in New York City. "And then we go out to the park and we swing, we try to do a lot of activities because my little Leonore, she has lots of energy, so we have to keep her stimulated and busy." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Although Princess Madeleine is returning to Sweden, America still has some royal residents. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to her home state of California in 2020 after stepping back from their royal roles within the British royal family. They live in Montecito with their children, 3-year-old son Archie Harrison and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet Diana. Sisters (and Prince Harry's cousins) Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have also lived in the United States for stints. Japan's former Princess Mako gave up her royal status to marry her college boyfriend. The couple moved to New York City in 2021, and Mako reportedly got a job assisting curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Danish Defence Command A pro-Ukrainian group was behind the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, per new reports. But it's still unclear who sent the group to carry out the underwater bombings. The pipelines were controversial even before Russia launched the war in Ukraine. A pro-Ukrainian group was responsible for the undersea sabotage of the Nord Steam pipelines last September, according to new intelligence reviewed by US officials that was first reported on by the New York Times. The German newspaper Die Zeit also reported that investigators believe they've located the yacht used in the operation. Investigators found traces of explosives on a table in the vessel, and the yacht was rented from a Poland-based company that is seemingly owned by two Ukrainians, the report said. Echoing the Times report, Die Zeit also said that intelligence indicated a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the sabotage. But both reports emphasized that it's unclear who ordered the bombings, and neither implicated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said his government had no involvement in the attacks. "Although I enjoy collecting amusing conspiracy theories about the Ukrainian government, I have to say: Ukraine has nothing to do with the Baltic Sea mishap and has no information about 'pro-Ukraine sabotage groups,'" he tweeted. Six people took part in the operation, according to Die Zeit, including the vessel's captain, two divers, two diving assistants, and a doctor. Officials who've seen the new intelligence believe the perpetrators were most likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, or a combination of both, the Times said. NATO and the US have said the pipeline blasts in September were acts of sabotage but did not assign blame. Ukraine accused Russia of being behind the attacks while the Kremlin has blamed the West. The White House on Tuesday responded to the new reports with caution. "We need to let these investigations conclude, and only then should we be looking at what follow-on actions might or may not be appropriate," White House spokesperson John Kirby said, per Reuters. Meanwhile, the German government on Tuesday said it had not yet concluded its investigation into the sabotage. Story continues In discussions with the Times, US officials refused to detail the nature of the intelligence, how it was obtained, or the level of confidence behind it, only offering that the conclusions officials arrived at after reviewing the intelligence are not firm. The Nord Steam 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to Germany, were controversial even before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last year. Critics of the pipelines, which included Ukraine, felt they gave Russia far too much influence over Europe's energy supply. The Russian state-owned company Gazprom built the pipelines. Nord Stream 1 was shut down indefinitely last September, and Nord Steam 2 was never operational. Facing immense pressure to end its reliance on energy from Russia, Germany froze the Nord Stream 2 project two days before Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Read the original article on Business Insider Gas leakage after accidents at Nord Stream Read also: Ukraines top security official denies there is Zelenskyy-Zaluzhnyi conflict The sources emphasized that they have no evidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his administration were in any way involved in the operation or that the likely saboteurs acted on instructions from representatives of the Ukrainian authorities. The new intelligence indicates that the alleged perpetrators are opponents of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, stopping short of revealing their identities or indicating who organized and financed the operation. U.S. officials also declined to say how the intelligence was obtained or how much evidence Washington has to make these assumptions. According to the NYT, U.S. officials found no evidence that the Russian government were involved in the attack on the gas pipelines. Sources say, the saboteurs could be "saboteurs were most likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, or some combination of the two," adding no U.S. or UK nationals were involved in the operation. Read also: Coke and gas plant catches fire after explosion in Russias Moscow Oblast social media The report says the explosives were "most likely" planted by experienced divers who have no recent affiliation with military or intelligence services of any nation-state. In February 2023, U.S. journalist Seymour Hersh published an article on his blog called How America Destroyed the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline. Citing "anonymous sources", he suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden personally gave the order to blow up the gas pipelines, and that explosives were planted by U.S. divers. The White House refuted the report as fictional. Nord Stream and Nord Stream-2 (NS-1 and NS-2, respectively) were major supply routes of Russian natural gas to northern Europe chiefly Germany and the Netherlands. Read also: Gas prices in Europe dip to summer 2021 low On Sept. 26, 2022, pressure in NS-2 pipes has rapidly declined, with the same happening in NS-1 a day later. Despite being out of operation at the time, both pipelines were filled with technical gas. Story continues The incident that damaged the pipelines occurred some 70 kilometers away from Danish Island of Bornholm in neutral waters, but within Denmarks exclusive economic zone. Bjorn Lund, Professor of Seismology at Swedens National Seismology Center, said the pipelines were damages by clearly artificial explosions as opposed to some kind of geological phenomenon. Read also: Russia to mothball Nord Stream pipelines, Reuters reports The Kremlin denies any responsibility for the incident. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that Anglo-Saxons were behind the act of sabotage. The pipelines operator, Nord Stream AG, said its currently impossible to evaluate how long it could take to repair both NS-1 and NS-2. Read also: Swedish investigation confirms sabotage of Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines German security services suggested both pipelines could remain inoperable indefinitely, according to a report by German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Progressives and immigration advocates are appalled by President Bidens reported consideration of a border policy that would hold migrant families in detention facilities and break one of his central campaign pledges to voters. If reinstated, the move would set a hardline tone from Democrats for the 2024 election season on how migrants are treated at the border, blurring the differences over the issue with former President Donald Trump and Republicans. Locking immigrant families and children into cages along the border is dangerous, ineffective, and wrong, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a newly-elected House progressive from the states 35th congressional district, said on Tuesday. It is dangerous and wrong to incarcerate refugee children, regardless of political party. Casar and other Democrats were reacting in part to a report in the The New York Times that said Biden was considering bringing back elements of Trumps detainee policy. Progressives and a host of interest groups argued that Biden promised a different path forward on the issue. Those are now at risk of being unraveled, they say. We cant go back, said Casar, a Latino and freshman congressman whose campaign was backed by Justice Democrats. He suggested that Bidens possible embrace of what Republicans used during the Trump years after the temporary Title 42 policy ends in early May would be caving to anti-immigrant fear mongering, and effectively mimicking the GOPs playbook. Its infuriating, Setareh Ghandehari, who serves as advocacy director at the pro-immigration coalition Detention Watch Network, told The Hill. Immigration has been an ever-debated, ever-delicate policy focus during both the Trump and Biden administrations. Trump used a tough stance and strict rhetoric to gin up his base against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and carried it throughout his time in the Oval Office. Talk of building a wall along the Mexican border became his signature. Story continues Biden said he would offer a different position and Democrats embraced much of what he promised. He moved to do away with the Remain in Mexico program which is now tied up in court and he later established an immigration parole program. Now critics are worried Biden is backpedaling his pledges. He specifically made several statements condemning Trumps use of family detention and family separation and promised to do something different and specifically end family detention, said Ghandehari. And what weve seen is a continual walking back of his promises. While new reporting shows a potential change in direction has already sparked a debate, recent data indicates the topic is still highly polarizing at the national level. A recent survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that the country is divided on how to address individuals seeking asylum. According to the poll, 4 out of 10 respondents said that they believe the number of people seeking asylum in the United States should be eased, compared to 2 out of 10 who want it to be increased. Liberals, particularly in the House, see a clear right and wrong position, and fear Biden is on the wrong side. It is unacceptable that this administration would even consider going back to the Trump-era policies that caused so much harm and trauma to children and families, Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) wrote in a statement. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled a new rule that would limit which migrants can apply for asylum at the border, a plan that invoked criticism among liberals. Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), a prominent progressive, told reporters last week that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which she chairs, is working with the Congressional Tri-Caucus to craft a statement formally opposing the administrations new rule. Barragan, like other House Democrats, called the latest reported development deeply concerning this week. A just, safe, and humane immigration system should not place families in detention, she wrote in a statement. We should not return to the failed policies of the past where families are detained in substandard conditions with long-term damage to children. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is scheduled to virtually brief members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Tuesday evening on the administrations border security plans, a Democratic aide confirmed to The Hill. It will likely include questions regarding the potential controversial policy revival. Democrats are supposed to be the party of families and opportunity, said Natalia Salgado, who leads the Federal Affairs division at the Working Families Party. The president shouldnt even consider reinstating a policy that slams the door of opportunity shut for migrants and refugees in the most dehumanizing ways imaginable. We didnt turn the page on the Trump Administration just to return to the same cruel policies, Salgado said. Rafael Bernal contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Yao Jinbo, an NPC deputy and CEO of 58.com. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] As China transitions from high-speed growth to high-quality development, stabilizing employment is crucial, according to Yao Jinbo, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. At this year's "two sessions," Yao, also CEO of China's online marketplace 58.com, submitted a proposal urging efforts to eliminate information asymmetry between supply and demand in the job market. He also called for equal access to basic public services and leveraging technological innovation to unlock the potential of the gig economy through government-enterprise partnerships. China aims to create around 12 million urban jobs in 2023 and targets a surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 5.5%, according to this year's government work report. However, a record 11.58 million college students are expected to graduate this year, about 820,000 more than last year, according to the Ministry of Education. To address these challenges and meet the target, Yao suggested reducing or exempting social security contributions from enterprises, especially those that hire many fresh graduates. He also called on the government to encourage the development of emerging industries and enterprises related to the digital economy and livestreaming through tax exemptions, fee reductions, loan increases, patents, and subsidies. Yao also emphasized the importance of providing equal access to public services for all migrant workers, calling for efforts to ensure that the children of migrant workers enjoy equal education opportunities and access to government-subsidized vocational training programs. To further improve the welfare of migrant workers, he suggested integrating rural pensions and medical insurance into the urban social security system. This would provide them with access to the same medical and health services as other urban permanent residents. The former owner of a group of property companies treated women working under him as objects for his sexual gratification in the workplace, according to federal officials who filed a lawsuit on the womens behalf. The demeaning behavior which included sexual remarks about female workers bodies, putting his hand down his pants and touching himself when speaking with them and showing pornography on his cell phone became so intolerable that multiple women resigned from Kingston Properties in New York, a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says. The owner also habitually lost his temper on the women, according to an amended complaint filed in court. Hes accused of yelling at them, calling them expletives and throwing objects at them when angry. Although the women objected and complained about his behavior, the harassment continued, according to the EEOC. Now, Kingston Properties, which is in charge of five affordable housing complexes in Kingston, is paying $240,000 to five former employees to settle the lawsuit, the EEOC announced in a March 2 news release. McClatchy News contacted attorneys for the defendants for comment and didnt receive a response. Employees have a right to work in an environment free of sexual harassment, EEOC New York Regional Attorney Jeffrey Burstein said in a statement. It is well past the day when employers can allow managers to engage in this type of conduct in the workplace. Over the course of the lawsuit, which was filed in July 2019, a new owner bought Kingston Properties, the EEOC said. As part of the settlements consent decree, the new owner will not let the former owner manage the companys buildings or work with employees, according to the agency. More on the case Among the women who endured the former property owners sexual harassment, at least two worked as bookkeepers and resigned on Dec. 14, 2018, according to the complaint. One other former employee who resigned worked in Kingston Properties accounting department. Story continues Some of the comments he directed toward the female employees included how he said he knows how to satisfy a woman and likes the way [women] taste, the complaint says. In addition, he told one woman her body reminds him of his wife and stated he felt like a kid in a candy store after seeing another woman bend over, according to the EEOC. One female employee was repeatedly subjected to seeing pornography on his phone, the complaint says. We are glad that the employees working at these companies no longer need to fear the kind of harassment that led to this lawsuit, EEOC New York Acting District Director Tim Riera said in a statement. The former property owners behavior toward the female workers violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC said. Kingston is about 100 miles north of New York City. Woman gets hired for job then position is pulled because shes deaf, lawsuit says Supervisor harassed female auto technician and gave her demeaning jobs, feds say Employee groped his coworkers and flashed teen customers, feds say. Company to pay James Powell speaks with his attorney before being escorted by a Volusia County Sheriff's Office bailiff back to a holding cell during a break in his first-degree murder trial, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. An Oak Hill man who was shot and left paralyzed in 2019 died three years later of the gunshot wound, which led to a number of health problems, a prosecutor said Tuesday at the accused killer's trial. The prosecutor said that while Joel Tatro had COVID-19 when he died, it wasn't the coronavirus that killed him it was the gunshot. James Z. Powell's first-degree murder trial began Tuesday before Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach, exactly one year after Tatro's death at the age of 50. Powell, 19, was 15 at the time of the shooting. Previous coverage:Murder trial in Joel Tatro's killing set to begin. Here's what we know. Related:Oak Hill man dies 3 years after being shot, paralyzed by teen at kids' party After the shooting:Oak Hill man paralyzed in party shooting needs communitys help Tatro was hosting a gathering for his children and their friends at his East Church Street home in Oak Hill when Powell and two others showed up uninvited at 1 a.m. on Feb. 16, 2019, according to investigators. Assistant State Attorney Kevin Sullivan said the youth at the gathering recognized Powell from school and told him and his friends they had to leave that it was a private party for family and friends. Powell and his group refused to leave, Sullivan said. Tatro heard the commotion and walked out to see what was going on. Tatro told Powell and the others they had to leave. Sullivan said the confrontation between Tatro and Powell escalated. Powell then pulled out a 9 mm pistol, racked the slide to load a bullet in the chamber, placed the gun near Tatros head and fired, Sullivan said. The bullet went through Tatros neck, leaving him paralyzed. Sullivan said the gunshot ruined Tatros health, leading to several bouts of pneumonia and his eventual death. Powell's defense attorney says Tatro died after contracting COVID In his opening statement, defense attorney Richard E. Zaleski Jr. said that Tatro died after contracting COVID. And he said that a medical expert would be unable to testify that Tatro would have survived COVID even if he had not been shot. Zaleski said healthy people died of COVID. Story continues Joel Tatro What happened to Mr. Tatro was a tragedy, but it was not murder, Zaleski said. Powell was initially charged with attempted murder, but after Tatros death he was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder. Deputies also charged Powell with a separate attempted murder charge because investigators said he fired at another person, Dylan C. Talbert, who was not hit. Powell is also charged with aggravated battery. Before the jurors entered the courtroom Tuesday, Zaleski objected that the trial was taking place without a 12-person jury. Zaleski said that an adult charged with first-degree murder would be entitled to a 12-person jury, not a six-person jury. "If an adult is entitled to a 12-person jury, why wouldn't a juvenile?" Zaleski asked. Sullivan had argued that Powell was not entitled to a 12-person jury. Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano cited case law which held that a six-person jury was sufficient in this case. Zambrano said that since Powell was a juvenile at the time of the offense, he was not facing an automatic life sentence if convicted. Prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty because of Powell's age. The jury is made up of six men and two women, including two alternates. 'I'll (expletive) kill you' Powell allegedly said Joel Tatros son, Wyatt Tatro, 20, took the stand and said that night in 2019, there was a small gathering for some of his friends around a fire pit at the home. He said he had seen Powell at school, but was not friends with him. Wyatt Tatro, the son of shooting victim Joel Tatro, takes the stand during James Powell's first-degree murder trial, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the S. James Foxman Justice Center. Wyatt Tatro said his father had been stern with Powell, telling him he needed to leave, but Powell was getting louder and irritated. He said Powell went to push Joel Tatro and Joel Tatro shoved Powells hands off of him and pushed Powell. James said 'You dont know who youre (expletive) with,' Wyatt Tatro said. Wyatt Tatro said that Powell then pulled a pistol from the front of his pants. He pulled a gun out, racked the slide and said 'Ill (expletive) kill you' and put it to my dads head, he said. What happened next? Sullivan asked Then he shot my dad, Wyatt Tatro said. Wyatt Tatro said he belly-crawled toward the house, went inside and got a shotgun; he returned outside and fired a couple of shots into the air. According to testimony, Powell and those with him had sped off by then. During cross examination, Zaleski said there were some people at the party who had not been invited but were not told to leave. Zaleski asked Wyatt Tatro the race of those people. Wyatt Tatro said they were white, except for one whose race he did not know. Sullivan objected to the question, but Zaleski argued it was an issue in the trial. Zambrano overruled Sullivan's objection. Wyatt Tatro also testified that his father was grabbing the gun when it fired. Zaleski asked Wyatt Tatro if it was possible that the gun accidentally discharged as his father pulled on the weapon. Wyatt Tatro said no. Under questioning by Zaleski, Wyatt Tatro said Powell was having an altercation with Dylan Talbert when his father walked up and tapped Powell on the shoulder. Talbert, 21, said he was 17 at the time and said he is good friends with Wyatt Tatro. He said when Powell and his friends arrived unexpectedly, Joel Tatro asked him to go check on who was in the car. Talbert recognized Powell, who went by the nickname Buddha. Talbert had been captain of the wrestling team at New Smyrna Beach High School and Powell had been a member of the team. Talbert said he told Powell he had to leave because it was just a gathering for friends. He said Powell became angry and started raising his voice. He said Joel Tatro then walked over and told Powell in a stern voice that it was private property and he would have to leave. Talbert testified Powell pulled the gun from his waistband, but unlike Wyatt Tatro's testimony, Talbert said Powell didnt have to rack the slide. He didnt have to cock it or anything; he just pulled the gun out and shot, Talbert said. Talbert also said Joel Tatro did not grab the gun. Talbert said he started punching Powell and Powell fired a shot at him but missed. He said the punches gave him enough time to run behind a nearby vehicle. During cross examination, Zaleski asked Talbert the race of a number of people at the gathering. Talbert answered white. When asked about the people with Powell, Talbert said Black. But Talbert said race was not the issue. He said it was a gathering for a selected group of friends and Powell and his group were not invited. Zaleski asked Talbert if it was true that he had used racial slurs toward Powell. Talbert denied it. No that's is not true, Talbert said. The trial continues Wednesday. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Teen accused of killing Oak Hill man at party stands trial for murder Protesters throw rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Centre in DeKalb County More than 20 people are facing domestic terrorism charges in the US after police were attacked with fireworks and molotov cocktails in a protest at a new training centre dubbed Cop City. The Atlanta site has become the flashpoint of ongoing conflict between authorities and protestors for different causes including anti-police groups and environmental campaigners. On Sunday, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a midnight news conference that pieces of construction equipment were set on fire in what he called a coordinated attack at the site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Centre in DeKalb County. Surveillance video released by police shows a piece of heavy equipment in flames. It was among several destroyed pieces of construction gear, police said. Surveillance image shows a piece of heavy equipment in flames - CITY OF ATLANTA POLICE DEPARTMENT/via REUTERS Protesters also threw rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police, officials said. In addition, demonstrators tried to blind officers by shining green lasers into their eyes, and used tyres and debris to block a road, the Georgia Department of Public Safety added. Officers used non-lethal enforcement methods to disperse the crowd and make arrests, Mr Schierbaum said, causing some minor discomfort. Along with classrooms and administrative buildings, the training centre will include a shooting range, a driving course for chase simulations and a burn building for firefighters to practise extinguishing flames. A mock village featuring a fake home, convenience store and nightclub would also be built for rehearsing raids. Opponents have said that the site would be used to practise urban warfare, and the 85-acre training centre would require cutting so many trees that it would be environmentally damaging. Protesters can be seen throwing bricks - via REUTERS Some 21 of the 23 people arrested after the weekends unrest are from states across the US, while one is from Canada and another is from France, police said. Police have filed domestic terrorism charges against 23 of the protesters, a felony that carries up to 35 years in prison. In January, 26-year-old environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, or Tortuguita, was shot dead during a raid at a protest camp. Police have said that Tortuguita attacked them, a version that other activists have questioned. By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A group of Israeli air force reservists who are protesting the government's proposed judicial reforms by refusing to take part in a training sortie said on Tuesday they would still turn up at base for talks with their commanders. Wednesday's planned meeting at Hatzerim base suggested all sides of the corps were dialing down a demonstration that has shaken a country used to the military staying clear of politics. Thirty-seven reserve F-15 pilots and navigators from the 69th Squadron circulated a letter on Sunday saying they would ditch some training flights to "devote our time to dialogue and reflection for the sake of democracy and national unity". A person involved in the protest said seven members of the group were to have taken part in a training sortie on Wednesday. That would go ahead with regular crews replacing the seven, who would spend their time at the base "in dialogue with commanders," the person told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Asked about those talks, a military spokesperson said only: "Indeed, this situation is being taken care of internally." Israeli air force reservists are required to fly as often as once a week to maintain operational readiness. They sometimes carry out combat missions. Yet they are designated as volunteers, with no legal obligation to attend training. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who calls his push to curb Supreme Court powers a return to balance between branches of government, says threats by critics to encourage or take part in boycotts of military duties imperil Israel's existence. The opposition sees in the proposed reforms a menace to judicial independence, and some protest leaders - among them retired generals - argue that a non-democratic turn in government would warrant mass-disobedience within the ranks. Israel's armed forces are made up mostly of conscripts, and have long served a secondary role as a melting pot for an otherwise ethnically and religiously disparate society. Story continues On Sunday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant sounded the alarm over protests by reservists in the air force and other units, saying in a statement: "The situation demands dialogue, fast." That was widely interpreted as a call on Netanyahu to seek compromise with political opponents - as well as for engagement between commanders and subordinates inside the military. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Gigi Sohn, President Biden's pick to serve as the critical fifth vote on the Federal Communications Commission, is withdrawing from her nomination to the telecom regulator. On Tuesday, Sohn said she recently asked President Biden to appoint someone else to the FCC. The Biden administration originally announced Sohn's nomination in October 2021, only for her to go on to face intense resistance from Republicans and moderate Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Sohn's failure to win her confirmation is a major setback for the Biden administration and its bid to reshape US internet policy after a wave of deregulation under former President Donald Trump. The regulator has been mired in a two-to-two deadlock since the departure of former Chairman Ajit Pai, preventing current Chair Jessica Rosenworcel from moving forward on a host of policy issues, including the restoration of Obama-era net neutrality protections. "Unfortunately, the American people are the real losers here," Sohn said in a statement. "The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time. As someone who has advocated for my entire career for affordable, accessible broadband for every American, it is ironic that the 2-2 FCC will remain sidelined at the most consequential opportunity for broadband in our lifetimes." During her confirmation hearings, Republicans cast Sohn as an extreme partisan. She also faced resistance from industry players, including organizations like the Directors Guild of America. Conservative groups spent large sums of money campaigning against her confirmation. One organization, the Center for a Free Economy, spent $200,000 on Facebook ads opposing the nomination. Sohn pointed to those campaigns in explaining her decision. "When I accepted his nomination over sixteen months ago, I could not have imagined that legions of cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought-and-paid-for surrogates, and dark money political groups with bottomless pockets would distort my over 30-year history as a consumer advocate into an absurd caricature of blatant lies," she said. It's possible Democrats could have advanced Sohn to the FCC despite opposition, but the likelihood of that happening significantly diminished after Senator Joe Manchin came out against her nomination. Especially now, the FCC must remain above the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick and tired of, and Ms. Sohn has clearly shown she is not the person to do that, he said in a recent statement. Per The Washington Post, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that, as of Tuesday, the Biden administration did not have news to share on a new nominee. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators said on Monday their efforts to tackle foreign technology threats were advancing and they will on Tuesday unveil legislation aimed at granting President Joe Biden's administration new powers to ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok and other apps that could pose security risks. A White House spokeswoman told Reuters the administration is "working with Congress" but declined to say if it would endorse the Senate legislation. TikTok has come under increasing fire over fears that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew is due to appear before Congress on March 23. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, and John Thune, a Republican and others plan on Tuesday to unveil latest in a series of proposals to give the administration new tools to ban the ByteDance-owned app used by more than 100 million Americans. The bill is titled the "Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act" and it will "comprehensively address the ongoing threat posed by technology from foreign adversaries, such as TikTok," Warner's office said. The administration has provided input on the senators' draft legislation, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters. The White House declined to say if it would endorse the Senate bill. Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted along party lines on a bill sponsored by Representative Michael McCaul to give Biden the power to ban TikTok after then President Donald Trump was stymied by courts in 2020 in his efforts to ban TikTok and WeChat. Democrats opposed McCaul's bill, saying it was rushed and required due diligence through debate and consultation with experts. Some major bills aimed at China like a chips funding bill took 18 months to win approval. McCaul said he thinks the full U.S. House of Representatives could vote on bill this month. Story continues TikTok said last week that a U.S. ban on the app would amount to "a ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion people who use our service worldwide." The U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a powerful national security body, in 2020 unanimously recommended ByteDance divest TikTok because of fears that user data could be passed to China's government. TikTok and CFIUS have been negotiating for more than two years on data security requirements. TikTok said it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts and rejects spying allegations. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) These organizations were recognized in the 2023 Global Vision Awards for their efforts, which range from coral reefs in the Bahamas to the grasslands of Kenya. Justin Mott/Courtesy of Ol Pejeta Conservancy The worlds last northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, at Kenyas Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards aim to identify and honor companies, individuals, destinations, and organizations taking strides to develop more sustainable and responsible travel products, practices, and experiences. Not only are they demonstrating thought leadership and creative problem-solving, they are taking actionable, quantifiable steps to protect communities and environments around the world. What's more, they are inspiring their industry colleagues and travelers to do their part. Marrying wildlife conservation with goal-oriented tourism shows that passionate travelers can see the world and awe-inspiring animals while also contributing positively to fragile ecosystems. The dedicated conservationists honored in the 2023 Global Vision Awards take creative, research-backed approaches to their work that simultaneously protect endangered species and help travelers learn about the local environment. For example, one honoree below actively works with local cruise lines and tourism boards to regrow coral reefs at up to 50x the natural speed, while a special conservancy in Africa invites visitors to actively engage in valuable preservation projects. T+L Editors Harry Lee/Courtesy of Coral Vita A Coral Vita diver checks coral growth in the Bahamas. Coral Vita Understanding the value of coral reefs is key to saving them, according to Coral Vita cofounders Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern. An estimated $2.7 trillion in goods and services is generated annually by coral reefs, while supporting the livelihoods of up to 1 billion people and 25 percent of marine life. But more than 80 percent of Caribbean corals have been lost in the past few decades, Teicher says. Coral Vita, a company based in Freeport, Bahamas, is working to change that. The team grows native coral species at its farm on the Grand Lucayan Waterway and installs healthy fragments back into wild reefs on the south shore of Grand Bahama. Story continues The core part of our business is selling restoration services to customers that depend on tourism, coastal protection, and fisheries, Teicher says. The team is in talks with resorts, cruise lines, and local tourism operators about partnering to plan large-scale coral installations and hopes to one day offer people the ability to buy biodiversity credits to help fund their work. In the meantime, travelers can tour the farm to gain insight into the scientific process while helping fund the conservation efforts. Tours $20 per person. Hannah Selinger Justin Mott/Courtesy of Ol Pejeta Conservancy White rhinos Najin and Fatu, with one of their caretakers at Kenyas Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Ol Pejeta Conservancy Kenyas Ol Pejeta Conservancy exemplifies how tourism and wildlife conservation can be mutually beneficial. Located on 110,000 acres of the Laikipia Plateau, with views of Mount Kenya, the sanctuary is home to several upscale camps and safari cottages. Guests staying on site can see endangered species, such as the black rhinoceros, Grevys zebra and, most notably, the worlds last northern white rhinoceroses, two females named Najin and Fatu. Visitors can also participate in preservation activities like tracking and monitoring radio-collared lions, meeting the antipoaching K-9 unit, and even shadowing the conservancys armed rangers during exercise drills. Scientists at Ol Pejeta are currently working with partners across the globe to pull the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction. To date, they have created 22 embryos using assisted reproductive technology, including IVF. The next goal: transferring them to two surrogate females of a closely related rhino subspecies and, ultimately, bringing them to full term. In addition to this critical project, the conservancy also coordinates with surrounding communities on sustainable water management and land use, from building energy-efficient cooking stoves for local homes to helping to establish nurseries to foster native tree growth. Tom Vanderbilt For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center The Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, houses production of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck. Credit - DR/SP/Andia/Universal Images GroupGetty Images A belated global transition to electric vehicles is underway, but though the environmental cost of driving those cars is substantially less than using gasoline, the process of producing themextracting materials like lithium and aluminum and transforming them into auto components in industrial facilities around the worldcan still be enormously costly to the global environment, the atmosphere, and the people who work in those mines, refineries, and factories and live in communities surrounding them. Climate and Indigenous rights groups are trying to put pressure on global automakers to clean up their act. In the first of an annual series of rankings released today, a coalition of 11 environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and Transport and Environment, and pro-Indigenous groups such as Cultural Survival, scored 18 of the worlds biggest makers of EVsboth legacy carmakers and new entrantsaccording to the environmental footprint and human rights impact of their EV supply chain, based on publicly available information like quarterly shareholder reports. This transition to electric vehicles really provides an opportunity for automakers to not only bring cleaner options to consumers, but to also clean up their supply chains, says Erika Thi Patterson, the auto supply chain campaign director at Public Citizen, one of the organizations supporting the report. Supply chains, for example, often make up over 90% of a companys greenhouse gas emissions impact alone. We want to drive competition upwards. The ideal car, according to the rankings methodology, would have a fossil-free supply chain and the lowest possible negative impact on human health, biodiversity and resource depletion, and ecosystem resilience, while also respecting the rights of workers, Indigenous peoples, and local communities. Story continues The worlds largest seller of cars, Toyota, ranked low on the list, dragged down in particular by its sustained lobbying campaigns against climate legislation. The car company has lagged behind competitors in committing to phase out gasoline vehicles, though that operational fact is less relevant to this list primarily focused on supply chains. Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, ranked highest based on a combination of its environmental commitments and human rights scores. The German car maker has invested in zero-carbon steel maker H2 Green Steel (steel production, particularly from coal-fired blast furnaces, is responsible for a staggering 8% of all of humanitys emissions). The company is also requiring all its components suppliers to be carbon neutral by 2039. Ford was the highest ranked American company on the list, coming in second, thanks to a high score in human rights and responsible sourcing. A report linking aluminum Ford uses to a refinery in Brazil thats been alleged to have sickened thousands of people, published by Bloomberg last month, however, wasnt included in this years analysis because the information came after a cutoff date of Aug. 1, 2022, but will be factored into next years report, according to the study authors. Notable too was the placement of pure-play EV makers like Tesla on the listthe U.S. based automaker ranked 9th. Despite tending to have more helpful lobbying engagement on climate than companies that still make gasoline vehicles, they didnt tend to have better metrics in terms of supply chain ethics and environmental impacts. Tesla, for instance, ranked poorly with respect to environmental impacts from sourcing its materials. And as a group, Asian automakers, from Chinese EV-maker BYD to Kia in South Korea and Mitsubishi in Japan, tended to score poorly, a fact that may have to do with an insular corporate culture, which gives the public little opportunity to see what they are doing and how they can improve, and consequently offers little public information to go off of in the rankings. Its a business norm, says Conor Constable, a stewardship manager at PIRC, which conducted the research for the rankings. Disclosure tends to be less in Asian companies in particular. "Real Housewives of Potomac" star Wendy Osefo addressed a disclaimer that aired in season seven. The disclaimer said Johns Hopkins University, where Osefo teaches, has "no involvement" with "RHOP." Osefo mentioned the university in a heated argument with Mia Thornton, who threw a drink at her. "The Real Housewives of Potomac" season seven may be over, but viewers still have many questions. Among them, why did Johns Hopkins University distance itself from TV star employee, Dr. Wendy Osefo, this season? Fans will recall that back in episode seven of the latest season, a brief disclaimer aired at the end of the episode saying that the research institution has "no involvement" with the hit Bravo reality show. The disclaimer just so happened to appear in the same episode that Osefo and costar Mia Thornton were at each other's throats in Miami over their professional merits, and Thornton threw a drink at Osefo, which Osefo has described as assault. Osefo, who is an assistant professor in the institution's School of Education, is now explaining to Insider all about why the disclaimer appeared on screen, as well as what her superiors at Johns Hopkins made of her heated altercation with Thornton. "I was not surprised at that disclaimer at the end of the episode. When I joined the show, the agreement that I had with my university was, I can do the show they're okay with it but at a point where their name is mentioned they can ask for that disclaimer," Osefo told Insider last week. "It just so happened that in that episode, I had said their name." Indeed, Osefo namechecked Johns Hopkins during the showdown with Thornton on a cast trip to Miami, which was filmed last May, as she and Thornton engaged in tit-for-tat over their professional accolades. "I'm the only female Black female at the boardroom table," said Thornton, who runs a chain of chiropractic clinics. "I'm the only Black female that's a professor at Johns Hopkins, and I'm the youngest professor at Johns Hopkins," Osefo fired back. Story continues According to Osefo, the disclaimer wasn't a specific response to the drink-throwing and verbal threats that ensued but goes back to her agreement with the university when she signed up for "RHOP" in season five. "They didn't see that episode prior and say, 'Hey let's put a disclaimer,'" Osefo told Insider. "They had already to talked to production and the agreement was, 'Yeah, it's fine. She has academic freedom. If this is what she wants to do, that is fine. However, if our name is mentioned, we ask that at the end this disclaimer is put on.'" Representatives for Johns Hopkins University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Although the argument nearly got physical, Osefo said that the scenes that played out haven't impacted her reputation at work. Asked if any of her superiors have commented on the episode, Osefo told Insider: "I've actually been told about the amount of restraint I showed in that moment and how proud people are that I was able to, even in the face of adversity, compose myself, and know that that's not the woman I am." The mother of three added that, in general, at work, she's all business, and her students and colleagues aren't too distracted by her reality TV stardom. "I have the person I am when I work my 9-to-5, and I have who I am socially. So, what you guys as viewers are seeing is the Wendy that is with her friends," Osefo explained. "I will actually give kudos to my students, as well as my faculty. They have not said anything," the assistant professor continued. "I've had one or two faculty members who have said, 'My niece loves you on the show.' But outside of that, I am Dr. Wendy when I am teaching. My students have never brought it up. They've never asked for insider information." Read the original article on Insider You are here: China China's top legislator on Tuesday urged the National People's Congress (NPC) to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, made the remarks while delivering a work report at the first session of the 14th NPC. The NPC must carry out its political responsibilities as the national legislature, said Li, urging it to step up to the front lines of any legal struggle without the slightest hesitation whenever the country requires. The ongoing annual session of the NPC, which started on March 5, will run through March 13. Yevheniia Dudka, Head of the press service of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, who came under Russian fire in April last year, died on Tuesday, 7 March. Source: SES Details: The woman had been fighting for her life for 11 months. Her colleagues considered Yevheniia a professional in her field. Quote from SES: "There are no words in this world to express the sadness and horrible pain of a terrible loss. Yevheniia was a true professional in her field, a patriot," the statement reads. Yevheniia Dudka Yevheniia had been undergoing treatment in a Kyiv medical facility. She came back to Ukraine after a long treatment abroad. "11 months of struggle. Dozens of surgeries. But God needs you in heaven. I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't save you," wrote Ihor Hetalo, Yevheniia's husband. Screenshot from Yevheniia's husband, Ihor Hetalo's Instagram page Yevheniia's colleague Olena Perevoznyk also reacted to the sad news: "I can feel the pain of loss with my whole body, the pain that her mother, husband, family, friends are feeling now..." On 10 April 2022, Yevheniia Dudka and her fellow emergency workers were dealing with the aftermath of the Russian bombardment of an airport in the city of Dnipro. Then Russia struck once more, injuring six rescuers. Yevheniias injury was the most severe. She was treated in Germany for a long time. On 1 December, Yevheniia wrote on her Facebook page that she had been in Berlin for six months. Yevheniia recalled her first time abroad as follows: "When Ihor and I arrived at Charite [one of Europe's largest university hospitals], the intensive care doctors said I would be fine in three months. However, there was more to come: four days of coma, liver bleeding, round-the-clock haemodialysis, bilateral pneumonia, constant pain and nausea, no sleep at all and an abnormal perception of everything that was happening." Yevheniia and her husband, Ihor Yevheniia married Ihor, who also works for the State Emergency Service, after her injury while undergoing treatment on 27 May, 2022. Her husband proposed to her in the intensive care unit. Story continues "Some people are proposed to with a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Some in the most beautiful cities and countries. And so on. I got mine in the intensive care unit. We got married there as well," the woman said. On social media, Yevheniia actively shared the details of her recovery with her followers, answering the questions she and her husband were asked most often, particularly about her treatment, current condition, and doctors' prognoses. "Believe me, the smile in the photo is tough to come by. After each walk, I take another three days to recover. Ten minutes of walking means two hours of ringing in my ears and trembling in my arms and legs," Yevheniia wrote. On 18 January, the woman celebrated her 32nd birthday. Yevheniia promised herself to dream more and listen to her heart. Yevheniia celebrating her birthday in the hospital "I promise to love life, myself, and my body more. I promise to take care of myself and not betray my feelings. And I also promise not to be afraid to be myself," Yevheniia wrote at the time. Later, she admitted that treatment in Germany was a real challenge for her: "I have a question... Why not provide Ukrainian hospitals with the medications available abroad, as only our doctors heal and save. You are being tested here!" Yevheniia's last post was dated 24 February this year. Back then, on the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, she confessed: "For me, 24 February ended on 10 April. And to this day, I live on 10 April. The war has changed my life dramatically. It took away my health, my favourite job and did not allow me to enjoy family life," the woman wrote on 24 February 2023. See also: "Angel of the troops": 29-year-old paramedic killed near Bakhmut during evacuation of wounded Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Reuters Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes taking this whole culture war thing a little too literally. Shes recently mused about a national divorce, to protect red states from the dangers of woke policies practiced in blue states. Another idea shes offered is a ban on blue staters from being allowed to vote for five years after moving to a red state. Ridiculous, unworkable, unconstitutional stuff, for sure. But also familiar territory. Greene is merely updating the long-held myth that conservatives would be better off on their ownwithout the heavy hand of the federal government and without blue-staters bringing in new ideas that challenge their customs and culture. Life in a bubble may sound good, but its a mirage in a country with a rapidly changing economy and demographics that favor cities. Bidens Biggest 2024 Battle Is to Keep the Blue Wall Intact The reality is red staters should want blue staters to move to their states. Theyll help improve the economy and theyll attract information workers with college degrees and greater earning potential. In general, blue-state people are better educated. better equipped for the information age, and better at generating more jobs that raise the tax base and raise the boat for everyone, says Don Kettl, author of The Divided States of America and former dean in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. But they inevitably increase the tension around red states cultural policies. What is the price theyre willing to pay for a faster growing economy? How much tension are they willing to put up with for the kind of jobs that blue state people would bring? When I spoke to Kettl, he was in Austin looking out his window at nine different building cranes constructing an 80-story tower that will be filled by information techs who have migrated to Texas, mainly from California. Texas is a blue state magnet, he says, pulling people from Democratic-run states and creating jobs and tax revenue. Its also creating friction because these people are not red-state leaning, and they bolster the liberal community around the University of Texas at Austin. Story continues Greene says national divorce, but red states are, economically, takers compared to blue states. On average, low-tax red states receive $1.14 in federal spending for every tax dollar they send to Washington, one of the reasons the federal government has a budget deficit. According to a 2015 Rockefeller Institute of Government study, Mississippi received $2.13 for every tax dollar sent to Washington, D.C., while West Virginia received $2.07, Kentucky got $1.90, and South Carolina got $1.71. On the blue side of the ledger, New Jersey received 74 cents in federal spending for every tax dollar sent to Washington, New York got 81 cents, Connecticut 82 cents, and Massachusetts 83 cents. And yet, many blue staters are moving to blue cities in red states. Why is this happening? The pandemic made people rethink their lives and their priorities, and the ability to work remotely opened up options for young families to seek a calmer life where living is a lot less expensiveas is the case in many red states. But blue staters tend to favor certain rightslike abortion accessthat many red staters don't want. So how do you convince red staters that incoming blue staters are a good thing? Its an economic argument, and it involves a trade-off. Getting ahead in todays world means adapting to a new information economy, and its not risk-free. Red staters might be uncomfortable with the idea of blue staters bringing their own values to the state, and thus changing the culturebut its not like radical change could happen overnight. Ron DeSantis Anti-Free Speech Crusade Would Cancel Fox News Sometimes, youd end up with something like Greenes home state of Georgiawhich voted for Joe Biden and has two Democratic senators, but which is still very purple overall. What part of Georgia would secede into red country? What would Greene like to do with Atlanta in a national divorce? Are red and blue states even real things? As the country changes demographically, red states have an opportunity to end their dependency on the federal government and become more productive on their own. Jake Grumbach, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington and a specialist in state politics, says that red states are conflicted about the new economy. Theyre creating hubs to attract young tech workers, and at the same time theyre talking trash about the blue states. A political realignment sparked by blue staters moving into red states may not be imminent, but strategists in both parties are taking notice of the college/non-college education divide. It was never a real voting divide until recently, says Jim Kessler, a co-founder of Third Way, a centrist Democratic group. Now, you can make predictions about how a state will trend based on the relative size of its college-educated population and how rapidly it is adding new college degree holders to the state. And roughly nine percent of the country moves to another state every year. The percentage of college degree holders in Georgia is 36.1 percent, which is slightly higher than the national average of 35.7 percent. Floridas population is booming, but its college educated percentage is slipping in the other direction, with only 32.1 percent of the state college educatedplus the population is older than average. Nevada (26.9 percent) and Arizona (31.9 percent) are the only states Biden won that had college educated populations less than Florida. Trumps Right On One ThingGOP Is Picking Political Losers The rising number of college graduates in Georgia is one data point both sides of the red/blue divide should cheer. And its worth reminding ourselves that for all the easy categorization of red versus blue states, There is huge polarization within the states. Even the reddest of states have 40 percent Democrats, says Professor Grumbach, whose new book, Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politics, describes how states went from the laboratories of democracy to working against it. Blue staters moving to red states can be beneficial for both sides of the divide. The economic dividends are obvious. And blue state reinforcements can be welcomed to challenge the entrenched mainly male politicians in GOP-dominated state legislatures. Their extreme restrictions on reproductive health care and gender issues are as out of touch with many red-state voters, just as they are with the Democrats in their state. Conservatives say they believe in state control, and in a democracy that means thrashing things out at the local level. E pluribus unum is the nations motto. Its a fairer playing field for everyone when you have different points of view represented, and each side is being heardeven when they dont win. 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. Florida is a popular spot for Ohioans to head for spring break. But as you prepare to hit the beach, make sure you know where toxic algae is hitting and what risk it poses to you and the environment. Here's what you need to know: What is red tide? Dead fish are washing up on the Southwest Florida coast thanks to the red tide. The algae, which is known formally as the single-cell Karenia brevis, has concentrated near Tampa Bay and neighboring communities. Scientists have found the algae at rates ranging from 10,000 cells per liter to more than 1 million cells per liter levels that result in fish kills and breathing difficulties in exposed humans, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Red tides produce a toxin called brevetoxin that can make humans ill if they breathe the toxin in through sea spray or get wet with contaminated water. What are symptoms in humans after exposure to red tide? The illness can cause a range of symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including: Coughing and sneezing Shortness of breath Eye, skin, and throat irritation Asthma attacks Recent samples have also detected red tide at background levels on the eastern coast of the state. Red tides are a naturally occurring phenomenon that have been observed in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1800s. They begin to form on the coast beginning in the fall, and typically clear up by Spring. Heres where you can find red tide in Florida. Florida red tide map Go deeper This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Florida red tide map 2023: Where is the red tide now? Credit - Illustration by Pete Reynolds for TIME It wasnt long after the pandemic began that people around the world started to notice something weird was going on. As the rhythms of daily life changed, some peoples days seemed to run together; others felt theirs stretched on indefinitely. The sense of what an hour felt like was corroding. News outlets filled with attempts to explain what was happening. Ruth Ogden, an experimental psychologist who studies time perception at Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K., says she had only ever gotten maybe one interview request before the pandemic, and has since received at least a hundred. And while the study of time is certainly not new, she says the volume and pace of academic publication on the topic seem to have increased, too. Studies published since early 2020 have suggested, in no particular order, that dragonflies process the movement of time very quickly while starfish do so slowly; that virtual reality and ADHD are both linked to difficulty judging how much time has passed; that time flies when youre making eye contact and seems to drag when youre guilty of hiding something. (The International Bureau of Weights and Measures is even in the course of redefining the second, though that ones a coincidence.) Another attempt to get to the bottom of things arrives Tuesday. In Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, the artist Jenny Odell follows the threads she plucked in her best-selling 2019 debut, How to Do Nothingwhich found an eager audience in people looking for ways to shore up their souls against the drain of productivity cultureand arrives at a sweeping yet personal challenge to assumptions Western society makes about the relationships between individuals and the finite hours in a given day. COVID-19 was not the original impetus for the project; she says her interest was sparked when she kept hearing the odd complaint from readers that they wanted to do nothing, but simply couldnt find the time. Still, the pandemic not only provided a jolt to her writing processif youre trying to blow up assumptions about time use, theres nothing like a worldwide shift in the way people spend their days to help the project alongbut also helped create a world particularly eager to join in her reexamination. Story continues Lockdowns ravaged the routines by which we used to define our hours; what had once seemed as sure as the ticking of a clock was exposed as mere social construct. And then there was the virus itself. Everyone was faced with deaths, and really had that in their face every day, Odell theorizes. So [the] question of How do I spend my time? or What is my relationship to time? becomes a lot more urgent. Today, almost exactly three years after the WHO declared a pandemic, with so many of the lifestyle changes of COVID-19 reverting to the status quo, Odells book arrives at what could be a turning point. The pandemic created a window in which almost everything, from office culture to trust in the government, could be up for debate. Time itself was no exception, which for many represented a major shift: the realization that decisions made by mere humans can shape something so fundamental. And once youve realized it, you also know that you have some control over your own experience of it. Now, in the return to normal, well find out if what we learned will stick, and perhaps give us new models for a happier relationship with time. To be sure, time in a physics sense, rather than a psychology sense, is a different story. There, it takes something like a black hole, not a lockdown, to mix things up. Perhaps fittingly, then, Carlo Rovelli, the Italian physicist and author behind 2017s The Order of Time, says he doesnt see the last few years as likely to have changed much in this area. And if widespread reflection did have an impact, he doesnt see that lasting once the crisis passes. But that reversion, others argue, is not a foregone conclusion. I think people dont quickly forget that there was a one-to-three-year period of their lives where they lived in a very different way than before, says Oliver Burkeman, author of the popular 2021 book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. A 5% difference in how you spend your time as a result of an experience like the pandemic is huge. Which way does Odell think things will break? Only time will tell, she says, then reconsiders. I do think there are certain thingsonce youve seen them, you cant unsee them. What Odell cant unsee is the fact that the pre-pandemic mainstream Western way of thinking about time isnt the only way. Her conclusion, after studying how those norms came about and how theyre put to use today, is that time is not so much money but power. Read an excerpt from Saving Time: The Beauty of What Happens When Nothing Happens When people say they dont have time, what they mean is they dont have control. That lack of autonomy may come from a demanding boss, an internal voice, or existential-level problems such as climate anxiety. Odell uses the concept of a zeitgeber, German for time giver, to discuss the systems that determine how our experiences of time are structured; the examples she gives range from a childs school schedule to the UX design of a gig-work app. One way for the powerless to find some control, she posits, is to reject the most basic assumptions of the system that keeps them down. In Indigenous societies, for example, she finds alternatives to the kind of clock-based living that can feel natural but isnt. (In fact, she believes, rigid ways of thinking about the future are holding us back from productive attitudes toward the fate of the planet.) Her own epiphany during the pandemic was that her time was not so much hers as it was created within relationships. One clear example she cites in the book is the siesta, a time-use norm that only exists as long as a culture decides collectively that it should. She pushed herselfwhile acknowledging the privilege of being able to do soto see hours not as a personal resource to expend, but as a material that was molded by the way she and others chose together to use it. It was almost as if a grid had been lifted off the topography of time, she recalls. Of course, Odell wasnt the only one encountering a new experience of time. Researchers like Ogden, the psychologist, moved their work outside the lab because of COVID-19 and took advantage of the unprecedented moment to conduct studies all over the world asking people how the pandemic affected their impressions of time. The fact that having your life messed with can alter the experience of times passage isnt a new revelation; as Ogden pointed out in one paper that came out of her work during this period, decades of studies, including of families locked in fallout shelters during the 1960s, confirmed that life feels different if you stop being told what time it is. But, she argues, the pandemic was the first significant proof that it doesnt take a nuclear bunker to see that effect: you can be in your home, with your roommate, the clock on your microwave glowing, your inbox filling with emails, and still feel that the hours have come unglued from expectation. And those studies arrived just at a moment when people were inclined to be interested in the results. Thats because, Ogden suggests, you had this period of time in which life stopped, but time continued. And I think that got us all much more aware of the idea that time is finite, and its valuable. And when its lost, or when you cant control it, it feels weird, and you want to know why it feels weird. Illustration by Pete Reynolds for TIME That said, this shift might not have happened were it not for a conference held years before the pandemic. When Marc Wittmann, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health in Freiburg, Germany, was a doctoral student a few decades back, he says, even a major neuroscience or psychology conference might have just one symposium or presentation related to time. Then, about a decade ago, the E.U. supported a networking drive that brought together time and timing scholars across countries and disciplines. It all culminated in 2014, in Corfu, Greece, at the first International Conference on Timing and Time Perception. Since then, Wittmann says, theres been a snowball effect of interest: more people are getting professorships related to their focus on time perception, and those professors have students, and those students become professors who study new aspects of time. Argiro Vatakis, an experimental psychologist at Panteion University in Athens and an organizer of that Corfu conference, says that the biggest change in the last decade is an increase in research that focuses on questions relevant to everyday life. The pandemic only furthered that trend. Now the fact that we lose track of time or time seems to pass fast or slow, she says, became on the forefront of what people were talking about. Case in point: Wittmann and Vatakis are among the 32 contributors to the Blursday database, which compiles survey results from nearly 3,000 people in nine countries who were asked about their experience of time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those studies confirmed, among other findings, that the less isolated individuals felt [during lockdown], the closer in time past and future events seemed to be. In other words, isolation makes time drag. In the absence of commutes, many of us learned something similar to Odells takeaway: that our days can be shaped instead by communityand maybe thats a better way to live. Of course, knowing that the brains experience of time can be shaped by our relationships doesnt necessarily mean its easy to reset our internal clocks; if you dont feel in control of your time, thats not necessarily your fault. Where Odell concerns herself with the systemic societal and economic structures that constrain us, Ogden cautions that the way trauma alters ones experience of times passage is a biological process that cant be self-helped away. That said, there are certain things that people who spend all day thinking about time do to seize what control they can over it. Ogden, for one, finds comfort in using her knowledge of the fallibility of time perception to remind herself that negative periods came to an end faster than it perhaps seemed they did. Wittmann says he is more aware of the way that breaking out of ones emotional routine can keep it from feeling like the fun times are flying by too quickly: looking for additional depth in your feelings, he says, can create the kind of variety that can make a good moment seem to have lasted. Vatakis, for her part, hopes her current research project, meant to figure out how to purposefully modulate our experience of time in order to increase well-being, allows us to use our knowledge of times malleability to live better lives, rather than suffering passively the fickleness of the clock. And with the Blursday data available online, theres hope that this eras trove of studies will inform time-perception research for years to come. Read more: How Listening to Silence Changes Our Brains As for Jenny Odell, she has come out of the project of Saving Time preaching a kind of mindfulness marked by a loving, curious, fascinated feeling of interest in time, as she puts it: living in the now without thinking about it so much that it cant be enjoyed; seeing time as a series of moments, each as rich as the meaning we put into it. She finds that balance in nature, in collective action, in friendshipappropriate for someone who now defines time as both the context for and the output of relationships. Maintaining that perspective is anything but simple, and is sure to only get harder as the gravity of the pre-pandemic status quo gets stronger. But maybe itll be easier if we know were not alone in the quest. Together, it turns out, we can make time for ourselves. A woman who went missing after she left home Monday morning to walk her dog along a beach in Fairhaven was found alive Tuesday on a rocky jetty that extends well out into New Bedford Harbor, authorities said. Anapaula Huggins, 43, was tracked down more than 30 hours after she was first reported missing following an extensive search that included a helicopter, K9 teams, drones, and divers, according to Massachusetts State Police. Huggins had last been seen around 7:30 a.m. Monday when she was spotted on surveillance video walking her dog near Pope Beach on Manhattan Avenue. Her disappearance was reported to police around 11:30 a.m. Family members told police that Huggins left her Raymond Street home with her dog, which was found around 9:30 a.m. by Fairhaven Animal Control, but there was no sign of Huggins. State and local officials, with the assistance of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Search and Rescue Unit, spent hours scouring the shoreline in the area of the Acushnet River just west of Sconticut Neck. Huggins was found in New Bedford Harbor shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday. There was no word on if Huggins had suffered any injuries. Additional information wasnt immediately available. An investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW [Source] Adeline Rudolph has been cast in the upcoming Hellboy reboot The Crooked Man. The 28-year-old Hong Kong-born actor, who is of German and Korean descent, is best known for her work in TV series such as "Resident Evil," "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and Riverdale. She has been cast as the character Bobbie Jo Song in "The Crooked Man." The film features Deadpool 2 star Jack Kesy as Hellboy and Yellowstone actor Jefferson White as Tom Ferrell, a rookie agent working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. "The Crooked Man" is set in rural Appalachia in the 1950s and features Hellboy and Ferrell investigating a community haunted by witches. The Crooked Man, a devilish entity who has a connection to Hellboy's past, leads the coven. More from NextShark: Chloe Zhao Becomes the First Woman of Color to Be Nominated for Best Director Filmmaker Brian Taylor, best known for his work on the 2011 film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, will direct the reboot, with filming set to begin in Bulgaria in the coming weeks. Chris Golden and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola penned the script. More from NextShark: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' subtitles panned by Taiwanese viewers for 'over-translating' Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! From Asian Jim to 'Blockbuster' Timmy: Randall Park takes a nostalgic trip as his new Netflix show premieres Studio Ghibli is Making 2 New Films in 2020 MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Tuesday that the United States was driving the war in Ukraine, saying China's foreign minister was joking when he said an "invisible hand" was to blame. In effusive comments on China's stature in world affairs, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said Moscow was paying close attention to a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine that Beijing published last month. He was speaking after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the Ukraine crisis seemed to be driven by an invisible hand, pushing to extend and escalate the conflict and using it "to serve certain geopolitical agendas". "Here we can probably disagree with our Chinese comrades. This is of course a joke. You know what the joke is: this is not an invisible hand, this is the hand of the United States of America, this is the hand of Washington," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Washington does not want this war to end. Washington wants and is doing everything to continue this war. This is the visible hand." Moscow has repeatedly declared that the United States and its allies are using Ukraine to wage war against it. That narrative is rejected by Kyiv and the West, which say Ukraine is fighting for survival against a Russian imperial land grab. CHINA'S VOICE Referring to a Chinese ceasefire initiative announced last month, Peskov said Moscow was in constant contact with Beijing. "A big, giant, powerful and authoritative country like China can't fail to have its own voice on those problems that stand high on the world agenda," Peskov said. "We pay great attention to all the ideas we hear from our colleagues in Beijing." The deferential tone reflected Moscow's growing reliance on China at a time when the West is trying to isolate Moscow and pounding its economy with sanctions. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signed a "no limits" partnership less than three weeks before Putin sent his army into Ukraine last February. Story continues China has refused to name Russia as the aggressor, while often criticising the United States for bullying other countries with sanctions. At the same time, it has expressed deep concern that the conflict may escalate or "spiral out of control". In comments likely to hearten Moscow, China's Qin said Beijing must advance its relations with Russia as the world becomes more turbulent. Trade data published on Tuesday provided further evidence of the growing commercial ties between the two neighbours. China's exports to Russia jumped 19.8% in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period last year, while imports soared by 31.3%, resulting in a Chinese trade deficit with Russia of $3.6 billion with Russia in January and February. China's trade with Russia hit a record high in 2022 as Moscow was cut off from Western markets and Beijing snapped up the opportunity to buy Russian oil at a discount. (Writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth Jones and Angus MacSwan) For anyone holding on to some latent hope that Idris Elba will be the next James Bond, I have some bad news: Luther: The Fallen Sun puts (another) nail in that very firmly sealed coffin. In one of the rare moments of levity in the sinister film, the embattled detective John Luther sits down at a chic bar and tells the bartender its been a long day (an understatement). I would say a long day calls for a martini, the bartender says. Luthers response? No. Hell take some water, and, if it makes you happy you can make it fizzy. This was not an accidental moment, Luther creator Neill Cross has said. Elba even wondered if it was a bit too cheeky. But its worth remembering that Elba doesnt need Bond. Hes already got a moody, tortured bachelor with a talent for hunting bad guys. And Luther belongs exclusively to him. In this outing, written by Cross and directed by Jamie Payne, Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Luther finds himself imprisoned for his unconventional methods at work and haunted by the unsolved missing person case that opens the film and sets its macabre tone. His imprisonment and the missing teen are related the work of a wealthy villain David Robey (Andy Serkis) who film introduces to the audience as such in the first few moments. Serkis character is a kind of gentleman psychopath, with his blown out James Spader in Pretty in Pink coif and maniacal smile. Hes one of those villains for whom chaos, misery and gore are the point. David Robey is methodical, patient and unsparing hell even go so far as to befriend the families of his victims after the fact. At the start, the film takes on a kind of David Fincher vibe, with echoes of Seven and Zodiac crossed with some of Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight. Unfortunately it takes the conceit to such absurd lengths by the end that the premise takes on an unintentional silliness. Thats not even counting the brawls between Elba and Serkis, whose sizes could not be more mismatched. Story continues But the good news is that its a pretty fun, tense ride up until that point with some stunning shots of London at night. Elba slips back into Luther like no time has passed, though he has taken on some superhero-adjacent talents here, evident in his escape from jail a sequence that is somehow both violent and cartoonish. Its not an easy or straightforward role, but Elba makes it look so. This is a guy who is so devoted to his former job that hell risk death to break out of prison and get right back to work trying to solve the case, knowing well that hes also being hunted by his replacement, DCI Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo, not to be trifled with). Odette does not want to collaborate with Luther and even enlists his old boss Martin (Dermot Crowley, a comforting presence) to help figure out how to find him. This resistance starts to get a tad redundant and futile, especially since its quite obvious that eventually theyll figure out a way to collaborate and perhaps could have saved some lives had they done so earlier. And at times, you just kind of wish Luther could take a vacation it can be exhausting watching his relentless pursuit, but there's little room for boredom in a movie that never lets its protagonist take a breath. And then of course theres the ludicrous theatrics of Robeys ultimate plan, which hinges on the assumption that would be serial killers and snuff-porn fetishists are everywhere just waiting for a twisted mind to live-stream gruesome murders. As if going by some bad guy checkbook, this Saw-like game show also takes place in a hidden lair in the snowy north. But even though it may go over-the-top at the end, Elba keeps you interested. You neednt have watched all five seasons of Luther to take a chance on Luther: The Fallen Sun." But theres also a chance that you may find yourself wanting to afterwards. Luther: The Fallen Sun, a Netflix release streaming Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for disturbing/violent content, language and some sexual material. Running time: 129 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. - MPA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr. Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman Prime minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary Suella Braverman. If the UK or its Conservative government now led by prime minister Rishi Sunak hoped Brexit would solve the countrys immigration problems, it was wrong. While the total number of migrants coming from the EU to the UK has fallen since the UK voted to leave in 2016, migrants from elsewhere are still trying, often through unofficial border crossings. Read more In the last five years, for instance, thousands of people have started making the dangerous journey from France across the English Channel in small boats. In 2018, when 300 people attempted the crossing, the government declared it a major incident. But numbers in the years since have only risen. Some 28,500 people tried to cross in small boats in 2022, and another 46,000 in 2023. More than half of those people had legitimate reasons to seek refugee status, according to a January report from the Refugee Council, a nongovernmental organization in the UK. About 8,700 of them were children. Most of these migrants came from just five countriesAfghanistan, Iran, Syria, Eritrea and Sudan. Most of them now languish in the UK immigration system, housed in detention centers or hotels. About 160,000 refugees from the Ukraine war have also come to the UK, but under government schemes that allow them to legally enter the country, work, and claim benefits. In an attempt to stem the flow of migrants entering illegally, Sunaks government outlined its most extreme plan to date, saying that the vast majority of people who make the attempt to enter Britain without first securing permission will be detained, deported, and even forcibly resettled in a third country. That third country would most likely be Rwanda. Former prime minister Boris Johnson brokered a deal in 2022 to outsource much of the UKs processing of asylum claims to the African country. Story continues Suella Braverman, the UK home secretary, presented the countrys latest plan to curb immigration on March 7. During her speech she said the UK government intended to set the bar very high when assessing if a migrants life is in danger at home and should be granted asylum or not. Only those under 18, medically unfit to fly, or at real risk of serious or irreversible harm an exceedingly high bar in the country we are removing them to, will be able to delay their removal, she said. Any other claims will be heard remotely, after removal. Are the UKs plans legal? During her speech, Braverman admitted that the governments plan pushes the boundaries of international law. International treaties protect refugees, allowing people to seek asylum in other countries if their safety is threatened in their own. Exporting the problem to a third country has not yet been put to the test as a solution in the UK. Human rights groups have criticized the Rwandan deal, which hasnt been put into practice yet due to legal challenges. But Braverman doubled down on the idea. She said that the vast majority of people caught entering the country illegally would be first detained, and then deported either to their home country if the UK government deemed it to be safe or to a third country. In response to criticism that the UKs treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants may violate their human rights, the UK has in the past considered leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. While Braverman didnt threaten that in her speech today, her assertion that the UK is willing to stretch the limits of the law to limit immigration recalls that suggestion, which was first put forward by former prime minister Theresa May, when she had Bravermans job. Are the deportation threats real? Opposition from the Labour Party, which vies with the Conservative Party for control of the UK, was swift. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, insisted that the plan announced today was nothing but a rehash of promises the government has been making for years specifically that it will stop the boats which have manifestly failed. Calling the current situation chaos, Cooper noted that thousands of people who cannot be imprisoned but are not being processed simply exist in a legal limbo, often living in UK hotels for months or years on end. Those hotel accommodations costs the UK 7 million ($8.3 million) a day. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. UPDATE, March 15: Rocket Lab is targeting Thursday, March 16, for its next launch attempt of Electron rocket from Wallops Island, with a 6-8 p.m. EDT launch window. Saturday's initial launch attempt was scrubbed because of high winds. UPDATE, March 13: This article was updated at 5:08 p.m. Monday to include the announcement by Rocket Lab of when it will next try to launch its Electron rocket from Wallops. Saturday's initial launch attempt was scrubbed because of high winds. Rocket Lab has announced a big upcoming launch from Virginia's Wallops Flight Facility, with the window for its second launch of the Electron rocket now set for Thursday, March 16, between 6 and 8 p.m., with liftoff targeted for 6:38 p.m. The private company announced its Stronger Together mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island for American space tech company Capella Space, a provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery. The first launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, also of an Electron rocket, took place Jan. 24, 2023. Stronger Together will deploy two 100-kg class satellites to low Earth orbit and expand the existing Capella Space SAR constellation, increasing imaging capacity to meet growing customer demand. Capella Space SAR satellites can gather images of Earth any time of day, in any weather and penetrate conditions including clouds, fog, smog, darkness and smoke. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket takes off Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The "Virginia is for launch lovers" mission is the first of three Electron launches for Hawkeye 360 to deploy satellites to low Earth orbit. This upcoming launch is one of five missions for Capella Space scheduled to start launching on Electron this year, following the recently announced multi-launch deal securing four rapid succession launches for Capella by Rocket Lab. More on the company's initial launchRocket Lab's big Electron rocket launch from Wallops a 'flawless success.' ELECTRON LAUNCH PHOTOS:Liftoff! Rocket Lab's first Electron launch in US from Wallops: PHOTOS Initially, Capella was slated to use Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. However, there is the option for Capella to move any of these missions to Virginia's Launch Complex 2 should that be needed to meet Capellas requirements. Members of the public wanting to watch Electrons upcoming launch from Virginia can visit nearby viewing locations in Accomack County, such as Robert Reed Park and Curtis Merrit Harbor on Chincoteague Island. The Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Atlantic beaches also provide good viewing locations. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Rocket Lab sets new Electron launch window this week, find out when BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania aims to buy Abrams tanks made by General Dynamics, a defence minister official in charge of military public procurement was quoted as saying on Tuesday. The European Union and NATO state has raised defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product this year from 2%, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The country, which shares a 650-km (400 mile) border with Ukraine, is host to a U.S. ballistic missile defense system and, as of last year, has a permanent alliance battlegroup stationed on its territory. "We are in the process of sending our (ministry) request for preliminary approval to acquire a batallion of Abrams tanks," lieutenant general Teodor Incicas was quoted saying by defence ministry publication Observatorul Militar. Incicas heads the army's general weapons division. Incicas said the acquisition, once approved, will be done through a government to government deal. The timeline for the purchase was unclear. Countries close to Russia like Poland, Finland and Germany are striking deals to build U.S. weapons in Europe, negotiating new deals and looking to speed up existing contracts. In December, Romania's defence ministry signed a deal to acquire seven Watchkeeper X unmanned aircraft systems from Israeli defence electronics firm Elbit Systems for roughly 1.89 billion lei ($410.19 million). Romania aims to overhaul its state defence industry by investing in new technologies to boost output and exports in the region, its economy minister said in December. ($1 = 4.6076 lei) (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Nick Zieminski) SEOUL, South Korea The influential sister of North Koreas leader warned Tuesday that her country is ready to take quick, overwhelming action against the United States and South Korea, a day after the U.S. flew a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber in a demonstration of strengthen against the North. Mondays U.S.-South Korean training involving the B-52 bomber over the Korean Peninsula was the latest in a series of drills between the allies in recent months. Their militaries are also preparing to revive their largest field exercises later this month. Kim Yo Jong didnt elaborate on any planned actions in her statement, but North Korea has often test-launched missiles in response to U.S.-South Korean military drills because it views them as an invasion rehearsal. We keep our eye on the restless military moves by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment, Kim Yo Jong said in the statement carried by state media. The demonstrative military moves and all sorts of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so extremely frantic as not to be overlooked, undoubtedly provide (North Korea) with conditions for being forced to do something to cope with them, she said. After Mondays training, South Koreas Defense Ministry said the B-52s deployment demonstrated the allies decisive capacities to deter North Korean aggressions. The U.S. deployed a long-range U.S. B-1B bomber or multiple B-1Bs to the peninsula a few times earlier this year. South Korea said those drills demonstrated the allies ability to make a decisive response to potential North Korean aggressions. Last Friday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would conduct a computer-simulated command post training from March 13-23 and restore their largest springtime field exercises that were last held in 2018. The allies had canceled or scaled back some of their regular drills since 2018 to support now-dormant diplomacy with North Korea and guard against the Covid-19 pandemic. But theyve been restoring their exercises after North Korea last year conducted a record number of missile tests and openly threatened to use its nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with its rivals. Story continues In a separate statement Tuesday, North Koreas Foreign Ministry called the flyover of the U.S. B-52 bomber a reckless provocation that pushes the situation on the peninsula deeper into the bottomless quagmire. The statement, attributed to the unnamed head of the ministrys foreign news office, said there is no guarantee that there will be no violent physical conflict if U.S.-South Korean military provocations continue. North Korea often unleashes fiery rhetoric in times of heightened animosities with the United States and South Korea. Possible steps North Korea could take include a nuclear test or the launch of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile targeting the mainland U.S., observers say. Last month, Kim Yo Jong threatened to turn the Pacific into the Norths firing range. In her statement Tuesday, she said North Korea would consider a possible U.S. attempt to intercept a North Korean ICBM a declaration of war. She cited a South Korean media report saying the U.S. military plans to shoot down a North Korean ICBM if its test-launched toward the Pacific. All known North Korean ICBM tests have been made at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries, and the weapons landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea on Monday took a step meant to ease a thorny history dispute with Japan in what was seen as an effort to boost the trilateral Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation. The step involves a plan that uses local funds to compensate Koreans who performed forced labor during Tokyos colonial rule, but without requiring require Japanese companies to contribute to the reparations. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Monday praised the leaders of South Korea and Japan, saying the two came to understand that potential of collaboration into the future is more important and have a greater value and realizing you have to deal with historic issues. One of the prisoner exchanges Previously, the agencys response was that if a Ukrainian prisoner of war was held captive in Russia, work could begin on including the prisoner in the exchange lists. Now such a scheme is impossible as the Russian Defense Ministry ignores such requests. Read also: Air Force does not confirm Patriot systems already in Ukraine "Such actions make it impossible for relatives to establish, at least on paper, whether their relative is alive," the lawyer said. Now, inclusion in the lists is possible only through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or through commissioners. Read also: Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides, says UK intelligence Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Russian army has suffered more losses in the battle for Bakhmut; during the day, 244 occupiers were killed, 315 more were injured. The Russians are already searching for reserves to replenish the lost units. Source: Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman of the Eastern grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the air of national 24/7 newscast Details: According to him, 9 more skirmishes took place in Bakhmut in the course of the last 24 hours; the Russians have also carried out 26 strikes on the positions of Ukrainian forces. Quote: "They [the Russians ed.] are now searching for reserves, they are already deploying those who were instructors, those who were on the command posts, the ones they valued." Details: Cherevaty reported that the Wagner Group mercenaries are also helped by the regular army of the Russian Federation, airborne and infantry units, as well as artillery and aviation. The spokesman of the Eastern grouping said that the current task of the Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut is to "deplete the combat potential of the enemy" and prepare approaches for reinforcements, which are currently undergoing combat training and "mastering new equipment." Cherevaty is sure that new Ukrainian units will be able to "thwart the enemy back". Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine have repeatedly emphasised that the Russians do not count with the losses on the Bakhmut front. In particular, on 6 February, CNN, citing NATO intelligence, reported that the Russian occupiers lost five times more soldiers in the battles for Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast than the Ukrainian defenders did. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Bakhmut on March 5, 2023. Libkos/AP Photo Russia has lost at least five soldiers for every Ukrainian soldier killed in Bakhmut. This is according to an informed estimate by a NATO official who spoke to CNN. Ukraine has also suffered significant losses while defending the ruined city, the official said. The Russian effort to take Bakhmut, a former salt-mining city in eastern Ukraine, has become one of the longest and bloodiest battles in the war. And NATO intelligence estimates suggest it has been especially bloody for the Russian side. Russian forces have lost at least five soldiers for every Ukrainian soldier killed while defending Bakhmut, a military official with NATO told CNN on Monday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the five-to-one ratio was an informed estimate based on Western intelligence. The official told CNN that although the ratio was favorable to Ukraine, it had also suffered significant losses. The unnamed official wasn't the only one to highlight Russian casualties around the city. Over the weekend, Oleksiy Danilev, the secretary of Ukraine's national security council, claimed an even higher ratio. He said that Russia had lost potentially seven times as many soldiers as Ukraine in Bakhmut, per The New York Times. However, both sides are known to inflate the other country's casualty figures, and no independent and reliable death toll exists. Battles around Bakhmut have raged for seven months, with thousands dying and the city now lying in ruin. Trench warfare and the intensity of the fighting have led some to compare the battle to fighting in World War I. Volodymyr Nazarenko, a senior Ukrainian commander, described the situation in the city as "utter hell" in a Telegram on Sunday, per Reuters. Initially, Russian forces fighting in Bakhmut were largely drawn from the pro-Kremlin Wagner Group mercenary army, many of them convicted criminals who were used as little more than cannon fodder, The Washington Post reported. But The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a Monday update that Russian forces have now committed higher-quality special forces operators in a bid to take control of the city. Story continues Over the weekend, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, complained about "shell hunger" and a lack of support from the regular army, Insider's Mia Jankowicz reported. He added that Russia's entire front line would collapse if Bakhmut wasn't taken. But according to the ISW assessment, taking Bakhmut is not "intrinsically significant operationally or strategically" for Russia to win the war, nor would the loss of the city be a strategic setback for Ukraine. That hasn't stopped both sides from throwing equipment and manpower at it, even as the death toll rises. Read the original article on Business Insider In the fall of 2022, satellite images of Russian trenches in the north of occupied Crimea began to appear According to information from open sources, Russian military trucks, mainly from the 126th Coast Guard Brigade of Russias Black Sea Fleet, are being transferred to the north of the occupied peninsula through Simferopol, the report says. Read also: NATOs Stoltenberg reaffirms support for Ukraine in possible return of Crimea, even by force The agency noted that Russian invaders were also looking for trench diggers in the town of Krasnoperekopsk, asking them to come with their tools. Krasnoperekopsk sits on the Perekop Isthmus, a strip of land about 8 kilometers wide connecting Crimea to mainland Ukraine. Ukraines General Staff also reported in the autumn of 2022 that the invaders had started improving the fortification of the defense lines on the left bank of the Dnipro River and the north of the peninsula. Read also: US supports Ukrainian strikes on Russian military facilities in occupied Crimea Nuland Prior to that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russias war against Ukraine should end with the liberation of Crimea, just as it began with its occupation. The Financial Times business newspaper reported that three main roads of the land bridge to Crimea with an important supply route for Russian troops would be within the range of Ukrainian artillery after the liberation of the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. Read also: Ukraine responds to Croatian president after his scandalous statements on Crimea Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine One of the many symbolic illustrations of a Ukrainian prisoner of war who was shot Yusov stressed that the prisoner of war was unarmed and was under the legal protection of the Geneva Convention. Here is another illustration of who we are dealing with, said Yusov. Read also: Ukraine not only holding back Russian offensive, but preparing to turn tide of war says brigadier-general He was actually killed after (saying) the slogan Glory to Ukraine. This is yet another manifestation of the genocidal war and the aggressor's policy of genocide. Yusov added that Russians deliberately recorded the apparent crime and deliberately made the footage public. According to him, Russian troops and their commanders are not ashamed of these acts of genocide. This is done to raise the level of hatred towards Ukrainians inside the country, and to intimidate the Ukrainians themselves, Yusov added. Read also: Footage of Russian missile strike captured through plane's window But as in all other cases, with the so-called blitzkrieg, or missile strikes these things only unite the Ukrainians. Yusov noted that the search for the perpetrators of this crime is already underway, adding that this is an "matter of honor." On March 6, a video of the execution of an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war after he utters the phrase Glory to Ukraine spread on social media. Its unclear when or where the footage was taken. Read also: Details of life of Tymofiy Shadura, who was shot by Russians on video, come to light According to Ukraines Defense Ministry, the dead soldier is Tymofiy Shadura, a member of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He has been considered missing in action since Feb. 3, 2023, after fighting near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine As a result of the attack of the Russian occupiers, a high-rise building was destroyed He said that two people had been injured as a result of the attack on the town. The rockets damaged a school, four high-rise buildings, a private house, garages and cars. Kyrylenko also posted photos showing serious destruction. Read also: Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are Ukrainian, not for trade or sale Danilov Pavlo Kyrilenko/Telegram Pavlo Kyrilenko/Telegram Read also: Ukraines SBU detains collaborator in Donetsk Oblast The situation in Donetsk Oblast remains extremely difficult. The Ukrainian military is holding back the offensive of the Russian invasion forces near Bakhmut, stopping the enemy's attempts to advance further. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also remain in control of the strategic road from Bakhmut to Kostiantynivka. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Ukrainians with pet carriers were a frequent sight among the stream of refugees heading west. Ukrainians carried their dogs, cats, rabbits and even fish for hundreds of miles as the scale of Russias attack on their country became clear. The mass exodus of pets was such that bordering nations waived their normally strict quarantine protocols to allow in the displaced with four legs. Puppies peep out from an enclosure at the Mishan Animal Shelter in Kherson, Ukraine, in February. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) However, many animals did not accompany their owners to safety. Whether owing to the speed of the initial Russian advance or because some creatures ran away in sheer terror at the sounds of explosions and artillery fire, many were left behind to fend for themselves. This tragic reality was particularly noticeable in eastern Ukraine, where many dogs and cats surviving in the bombed-out ruins still wore their collars and name tags. Animal shelters have since sprung up, staffed by dedicated teams of Ukrainian volunteers looking after all the strays. Dogs rescued from the frontlines of fighting are seen through the gate at the animal shelter in Kherson. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Yahoo News visited one such shelter run by Maxim and Tanya on the outskirts of Odesa, in southern Ukraine. Situated on an old farm on the outskirts of the port city, the shelter takes care of over 150 dogs, 27 goats and 14 cats. Maxim and Tanya began running it before the full-scale invasion and have continued caring for their animals throughout the war, despite the frequent missile and drone strikes on Odesa. Most of the animals come from the front, Maxim said, explaining that the noise from other farms, even those in the distance, can upset the still traumatized animals. Animals roam the yard at an Odesa animal shelter. (The refuge is unnamed for security reasons.) (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Theirs is a ramshackle affair; stalls have been built using scrap metal, old doors and shipping pallets. Yet the animals are clearly well fed and cared for. Mishan, another shelter, established in an old fire station in the recently liberated city of Kherson, takes in animals rescued around the city. Most suffer from physical or psychological trauma from the months of shelling that occurred during the battle for Kherson. Several animals have the distinctive ear tag that marks out a stray that has been spayed or neutered in a state-sponsored program. Others are household pets willingly or unwillingly abandoned by their owners. Story continues Many of the dogs at the animal shelter in Kherson suffer from physical and mental problems. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Vova, one of the owners of the shelter, showed Yahoo News a picture of one of the dogs, named Cherneka, who had arrived at the shelter looking emaciated and on the verge of starving to death. After extensive veterinary care, she is now a healthy weight, and while she still has difficulty eating solid food, it doesnt stop her from playing happily with other canine residents of the shelter. We doubted whether she could be saved when she arrived, Vova said. But in the end, thank God, she will be fine. Vova, one of the owners of the animal shelter in Kherson, shows a photo of Cherneka when she first arrived at the shelter. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Cherneka, center, is now playful and healthy. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Other Ukrainians help in different ways. Newly adopted stray dogs are a common sight in Kyiv. Yahoo News spoke to Volodymyr, who had taken in a young mutt he had found in the woods around the capital, earlier in the war. I never meant to keep her, he said. Id never had a dog before, but I figured she was Ukrainian too, and we have to stick together. And I dont have any children, so I decided to adopt her. Esbitlana, one of the owners of the Mishan Animal Shelter, which is in an old fire station, tends to the dogs. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) The Ukrainian affection toward animals stands in stark contrast to how Russian soldiers have treated them in the territories under their occupation. In Hostomel, a suburb just outside Kyiv, Russians set fire to a stable containing 32 horses, of which only two managed to survive. Other Russian soldiers have posted pictures of themselves on social media torturing animals left behind. Phone calls made by Russian soldiers and intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence also reveal how some of them began eating dogs in March 2022. They have branded other animals with the Z or V markings signifying Russian President Vladimir Putins so-called special military operation. In Kamianka, a village in Kharkiv Oblast, which was liberated by Ukraine last fall, Ukrainian investigative journalist Anna Babinets found one black mutt with the Russian V burned into his face. In a village near the city of Izium, a city Ukraine took back in the same period, Ukrainian soldiers found a dog with the Russian Z carved onto the top of his snout. Another dog with a Z carved into his snout was found by Ukrainian writer and activist Victoria Amelina in recently liberated Kherson. A dog at the animal shelter in Kherson wearing a coat to protect against the freezing temperatures. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Beasts the Russians didnt maim, they stole. When retreating from Kherson in November, the Russian army stole the majority of the exotic animals from the city zoo, including raccoons, wolves, a number of peacocks, a llama and a donkey. They were transported to the Taigan Lion Park, a private zoo in Russian-occupied Crimea. Footage of a Russian soldier picking up a raccoon by its tail as it hissed in anger prompted Ukrainians to praise the animals fighting spirit, vowing to rescue the creature when they liberate Crimea. More images from the shelters in Kherson and Odesa A dog walks by the outdoor kennels at the Mishan Animal Shelter in Kherson. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Goats tend to a newborn at an animal shelter in Odesa in February. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Maxim, one of the owners of an animal shelter on an old farm in Odesa. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A dog in an enclosure at an animal shelter in Odesa. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Dogs in the outdoor kennels at the animal shelter in Odesa. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A volunteer visits one of the rescued dogs at the animal shelter in Odesa in February. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A goat roams the yard at the animal shelter in Odesa. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A resident at the Odesa animal shelter peeks out through his door. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A goat looks on as mother and baby get a helping hand from Olga, a volunteer at an animal shelter in Odesa. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Tanya, one of the owners of the Odesa animal shelter, and a volunteer tend to the goats. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Olga checks on a newborn goat. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A shelter volunteer gives a baby goat a hug. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) How you can help rescue animals in Ukraine SBU calls to be vigilant and immediately report suspicious SBU agents have identified numerous attempts by Russian security services to obtain intelligence posing as foreign media workers, using specialized Internet platforms and forums for reporters working in Ukraine. Read also: Ukraines SBU detains ex-Donbas terrorist in Odesa They reportedly used to place information requests claiming they gather information to write "stories" or make "documentaries" about the Russian war against Ukraine, on behalf of international media outlets. According to the SBU, Moscow was looking to verify the accuracy and impact of its waves of missile strikes on Ukraines power grid and civilian infrastructure, in order to make further adjustments to target selection. Read also: SBU detains Moscow church priest in Sumy Oblast for spying on Ukrainian army Authors of these posts promise payments as rewards for providing relevant media files or text messages, the SBU said. The SBU urges people to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious "requests" to law enforcement officials. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine MOSCOW (AP) Viktor Bout, a former Russian arms dealer who was released from prison in the U.S. in a swap for WNBA star Brittney Griner in December, unveiled an exhibition of his artworks at a Moscow gallery on Tuesday. Bout, widely known abroad as the Merchant of Death, was convicted in 2011 on terrorism charges with prosecutors saying that he was ready to sell up to $20 million in weapons, including surface-to-air missiles to shoot down U.S. helicopters. He strongly denied the charges and proclaimed his innocence, describing himself as a legitimate entrepreneur who didnt sell any weapons. Russian officials have cast him as a victim of a nefarious U.S. sting operation and demanded his release for many years. When Moscow and Washington made a deal to swap him for Griner in December, Bout was held in a medium-security facility in Marion, Illinois and had not been scheduled to be released until 2029. After his return to Moscow, Bout, 56, quickly became a member of the Kremlin-backed Liberal Democratic Party but has dodged questions about a possible political career. Bout's art exhibition features a wide gamut of styles and subjects from portraits of Soviet-era movie stars to warplanes to animals. Most of his drawings and paintings are done in a realistic manner, but there are also some attempts at abstract composition. The exhibition includes personal objects, photos and a floor plan of his cell in the U.S. prison. When you are surrounded by absolutely grey walls topped by barbed wire and when you dont see the horizon for a long time, its hard, Bout said Tuesday at his exhibition. The deprivation of such visual stimuli was a challenge for me. Drawing helped me overcome all that." He added that his experience taught him that life can always change drastically. You must not give up, you must do everything to the end, and you must remain faithful to your fate despite any difficulties, Bout said. The cyber experts of the Security Service of Ukraine have recorded numerous intentions of the Russian security services to receive intelligence in Ukraine by disguising themselves as representatives of foreign media. Source: Security Service of Ukraine on Telegram Details: According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the Russians use specialised online platforms and professional online forums of Ukrainian journalists in order to collect classified information. On these websites, the Russians post requests seemingly from representatives of renowned Western media channels. In their requests they address the media workers and other relevant groups in regards to provision of materials for alleged production of "news coverages" or "documentaries" on the war in Ukraine. Quote: "Above all, the enemy is interested in the results of the Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, in particular the location of the strikes and their repercussions. The authors [of the requests ed.] promise royalties for provided mediafiles or text." Details: The Security Service explains that the received information is used by the Russians to adjust their subsequent attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. The intelligence officers call on Ukrainian citizens to report suspicious requests from unidentified sources. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian invaders have intended to set up their barracks in a clinic in occupied Luhansk to use the patients as cover from possible attacks. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 7 March Quote: "The Russian invaders have decided to use a part of the city clinic as a barracks to protect their servicemen in temporarily occupied Luhansk. Bunk beds for personnel have been delivered to the premises. The management of the medical facility has to resolve a number of issues regarding staff accommodation and admission of patients." Background: Teenagers born in 2006 are being urgently registered for military service in occupied Luhansk Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Jake Cordell (Reuters) -Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that the seizure of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine was critical to punching a hole in Ukrainian defences and would allow Moscow's forces to mount further offensive operations deeper inside the country. Russian forces have been waging an intense campaign for months to seize control of the small city in what would become their first significant territorial advance since last summer. "The liberation of Artyomovsk continues," Shoigu said in televised remarks, using the old Soviet-era name for Bakhmut. "The city is an important hub for defending Ukrainian troops in the Donbas. Taking it under control will allow further offensive actions to be conducted deep into Ukraine's defensive lines," Shoigu said. The heavily industrialised Donbas region of eastern Ukraine comprises Donetsk and Luhansk, which are both claimed by Russia along with two other Ukrainian regions as its own territory, claims Kyiv and the West reject as illegal. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group which has been spearheading the battle for the city, said last Friday his forces had "practically surrounded" Bakhmut. But he said on Monday he needed the regular army to supply him with more ammunition, reinforcements and covering support to win. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Ukrainian troops would keep defending the city, as talk of an imminent Ukrainian retreat continued to swirl. 'SKINNING THE BEAR' Asked about Shoigu's comments on Tuesday, Prigozhin said he did not know what would happen after the capture of Bakhmut, but called on Russia not to get ahead of itself. "They say 'don't sell the skin until you've caught the bear,' but nobody talks about the consequences of trying to remove the skin while the bear is still alive," he said in a post on Telegram. The mercenary boss and defence ministry have been embroiled in a long-running row over Russia's campaign in Ukraine. Story continues In his latest criticism, Prigozhin accused Shoigu of hobbling the Bakhmut offensive by not supplying his Wagner forces with enough ammunition. The defence ministry has rejected such allegations in the past. In his post on Tuesday, Prigozhin made pointed reference to the defence minister, saying he "had not seen him in Bakhmut" and said Wagner forces were coming up against well-equipped Ukrainian forces, who could number up to 20,000 in strength. "Zelenskiy is not running out of people, thousands more are being thrown into the 'meat grinder'. They have ammunition and weapons," he said. Prigozhin also appeared to criticise Shoigu for publicly commenting on what Russian forces might do after seizing Bakhmut. "Why Sergei Kuzhugetovich (Shoigu) commented on that I do not know ... perhaps in order to please the Russian audience. Perhaps to annoy Zelenskiy," he said. In his own televised remarks, Shoigu said the West was increasing its arms deliveries to Ukraine but said that would not change the course of events on the battlefield saying Russian forces were inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian troops. Both Kyiv and Moscow have said they have killed significant numbers of enemy troops in the battle for Bakhmut. Reuters is unable to verify accounts of battlefield losses. While military analysts treat both sides' claims of fatalities and casualties with scepticism, it is acknowledged that the months-long fight for control of Bakhmut has turned into possible the bloodiest campaign of the year-long war. (Reporting by Jake CordellEditing by Gareth Jones, Andrew Osborn and Angus MacSwan) Sacheen Littlefeathers sisters have spoken out against the Oscars, saying that including Littlefeather in its 2023 In Memoriam segment would perpetuate the Academys biggest blunder. Littlefeather, who died in October 2022, was famously known for rejecting the Best Actor statuette intended for Marlon Brando on live TV at the 1973 Oscars. At the time, she gave a speech condemning the film industrys poor representation of Native American people, which was met with boos and little audience support. Nearly 50 years after the incident, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued an apology to Littlefeather. Shortly after she died from breast cancer at 75, the San Francisco Chronicle published a bombshell report in the outlets opinion section with interviews from Littlefeathers biological sisters, alleging that her claims of Native American ancestry were lies. Now, in a new interview with the New York Post, her sister Rosaline Cruz has argued that honouring Littlefeather in Sunday (12 March) nights In Memoriam section, would continue the biggest blunder in the history of the Oscars. At each ceremony, the Oscars remember significant industry figures who have died in the last year. Sacheen Littlefeater (AP) They will [include her] because they need to keep covering up for themselves, Cruz predicted. Theyre endorsing a Pretendian and keep pushing the lie and slander of our family and they dont care. The Academys Los Angeles museum features Littlefeathers Oscars speech in an exhibit dedicated to the award ceremonys most iconic speeches. In February, Cruz and her sister Trudy Orlandi, sent the Academy a letter requesting it remove any tribute to Littlefeather to protect our family and the public from the continued shame. We request that the Academy immediately cease and desist from lionising or perpetuating the myth of Sacheen Littlefeather, they wrote in a letter, seen by The Post. Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley Scott Gries/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The Chrisleys were banned from acknowledging Todd and Julie's federal trial on "Chrisley Knows Best." That is according to Savannah Chrisley on the latest episode of her podcast, "Unlocked." "We just wanted to talk about it but executives would not allow us to speak about it," she said. Savannah Chrisley said that her family was banned from acknowledging the bank fraud and tax evasion charges brought against Todd and Julie Chrisley while the cameras were rolling on the latest seasons of their reality show, "Chrisley Knows Best." In the latest episode of her podcast, "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley," released Tuesday, the 25-year-old said that since her parents were indicted in 2019, they had been instructed not to mention the trial on the USA Network reality show. "All throughout the years, everything my parents going through, we were never allowed to speak about it," she told her guest on the episode, SiriusXM presenter Storme Warren. Savannah said that being unable to address the legal issues made her and her family feel like "liars" and "fakes." "We just wanted to talk about it but executives would not allow us to speak about it," she continued. Savannah did not identify who exactly the executives were. Representatives for the USA Network and Maverick TV USA, which produces the show, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "Chrisley Knows Best" was canceled in light of the family's legal troubles. USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Savannah said that having to hide something so important while shooting a reality show that purportedly follows your day-to-day life, "will literally eat you alive" and left her feeling like she didn't "even know if I know who I am." In a recent episode of the same podcast, Savannah was joined by her grandmother, Elizabeth "Faye" Chrisley who is affectionately known by the family and fans as Nanny Faye and spoke about the family's plans for a new series now that the USA Network show has been canceled. Savannah said that "tons of production companies have reached out and networks that want to do a show." Story continues Faye even suggested a potential title for their comeback series: "Bounce Back Chrisleys." "I love that actually, that's absolutely amazing because it's so true," Savannah responded. "At the end of the day, we're not going to allow this to stop us from moving forward." Faye said that a new show would allow the family to "let the world see that we're really who we were." "Chrisley Knows Best," which followed the large tight-knit family, began airing on the USA Network in 2014 and was abruptly canceled when Todd and Julie were convicted in June 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion. However, episodes from the show's 10th season, which were shot prior to the trial, began airing on the channel in February, with little to no fanfare or promotion from the family and the network. A court sketch shows Todd and Julie Chrisley listen in court as their accountant was sentenced on November 21, 2022 Lauren Lacy The show spawned a spinoff that followed Savannah and her brother Chase, 26, titled "Growing Up Chrisley," which was also axed in light of the family's legal troubles. Todd and Julie were convicted of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million by providing fake financial statements to make them appear wealthier than they were. Their sentences were announced in November. Todd, who prosecutors called the "mastermind" of the couple's years-long tax and bank fraud scheme, was sentenced to 12 years at Federal Prison Camp Pensacola. Julie, who prosecutors believed played a lesser role, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Federal Correctional Institution Marianna in Jackson County, Florida, but when the couple reported to the Bureau of Prisons on January 17 to begin their combined 19-year sentence, she instead reported to the Kentucky-based medical facility. Read the original article on Insider Scout Motors and the S.C. Department of Commerce are closer to receiving the $1.3 billion incentive package planned to help the electric vehicle manufacturer open a $2 billion plant in the Midlands. A panel of state House budget writers Tuesday approved a spending about $1.3 billion out of existing surplus money and projected surplus cash expected to come in to go toward the planned Blythewood project, which is expected to bring 4,000 jobs to the Midlands. About $1.2 billion will come from previous budget surpluses, and about $86.2 million will come from surplus money expected to come in this year, under the plan. This plan will keep the state from needing to borrow the money for the project. The Department of Commerce promised Scout the state would spend $1.3 billion for a package that includes construction of a railway bridge over Interstate 77 to the Blythewood industrial park site, building a new I-77 interchange to serve the eventual factory, additional road improvements, electrical work, water and sewer infrastructure. The $1.3 billion package includes $25 million to build a publicly owned Midlands Technical College training center for employment with Scout Motors and $16 million to buy property to connect to a Class I railroad. Scout Motors, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen, also is slated to receive a $400 million grant from the state to help with construction of its facility and a $200 million loan for soil stabilization. Were doing this to really secure jobs for the future, for our children and our grandchildren, said state Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey. The incentive package is subject to approval by the Legislature. Lawmakers started that process Tuesday, as a House Ways and Means panel gave first approval to Commerces plan. They full Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to discuss the plan Wednesday. Volkswagen has promised to pay back up to $800 million to the state if it doesnt meet certain goals, Lightsey said. Story continues Lightsey conceded the amount he requested is a lot of money. We think the commitment of the largest automobile manufacturer in the world and the seventh-largest company in the world to making this project a success is a commitment that we can take to the bank for our state, Lightsey said. Lightsey said the average hourly employee at the plant is expected to earn about $58,000. The average salaried worker will earn about $100,000. Economists estimate the construction of the plant and the operation itself will have a $15 billion economic impact on South Carolinas economy by 2029. House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, called the Scout project a win for the Midlands, saying BMWs facility has been an economic boon for Spartanburg and nearby counties. It was awesome, Bannister said. So I know thatll be a great thing for Blythewood and Richland County. A school bus driver in charge of driving students with disabilities attacked three of the young children while bringing them home in New Hampshire, police said. The attacks were caught on video. Virene Poliquin, 68, of Hudson, assaulted one child seven times and assaulted two others once on Feb. 17, Hudson Police Chief Tad Dionne said at a March 7 news conference live-streamed by WMUR-TV. The assaults on the 5- and 6-year-olds included slapping, kicking, grabbing, covering a mouth with her hand, and pouring water on one child, according to Dionne, who described Poliquins actions as disturbing. Authorities arrested Poliquin on nine counts of simple assault, Dionne said. She posted $500 bail and is due in court for an arraignment of April 6. Poliquin had worked for Durham School Services, the company that operates the bus she was driving the day of the assaults, since 2017 but is no longer employed there, school district Superintendent of Schools Dan Moulis said at the news conference. Ive been a police officer a long timethere are not too many events that make me pause when reviewing a case, Dionne said. This incident did so. The victims in this case are among our most vulnerable. He said police are now investigating whether Poliquin assaulted students on other dates. Authorities started their investigation after a parent complained to the Hudson School District on Feb. 20 saying a bus driver threw water on a student, according to Dionne. The district immediately notified police, he said. Dionne confirmed that audio and video recording captured the assaults on Feb. 17. But he said police werent going to release the recordings. The students who were assaulted werent injured, according to Dionne. Hudson is about 45 miles west of Boston. School bus driver accused of touching 3 girls inappropriately, Louisiana police say Screaming kids rush out school bus windows after parent slaps driver, GA video shows Woman poses as child, boards school bus and tries breaking into school, PA cops say Driver runs away after crashing bus with teens inside, NJ officials say. He faces DUI Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has agreed to testify before a Senate committee after weeks of a standoff between him and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), setting up a showdown over the coffee giants anti-union practices. Sanders announced Schultzs decision to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday ahead of a planned vote Wednesday to subpoena the executive after he previously declined an offer to speak to the panel. Sanders, a progressive lawmaker who has long voiced support for labor unions, has aggressively pursued testimony from the Starbucks head, as the coffee giant has faced federal repercussions for anti-union activity. Earlier this month a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled that Starbucks committed egregious and widespread violations of federal law in its campaign to halt unions. Lets be clear. In America, workers have the constitutional right to organize unions and engage in collective bargaining to improve their wages and working conditions, Sanders said in a statement. Unfortunately Starbucks, under Mr. Schultzs leadership, has done everything possible to prevent that from happening. (Getty) A Starbucks spokesperson also confirmed the plans to The Hill. The company said in a letter to the committee that Schultz has agreed to testify on March 29. Through the agreement reached today, our testimony will seek to foster a better understanding of our partner-first culture and priorities, including our industry leading benefit offerings and our long-standing commitment to support the shared success of all partners, the company said in a statement on its website. Starbucks leadership has rebuked requests for Schultz to testify, instead offering other executives to speak in his place. Sanders has stood his ground, with the panel gearing up to vote for a subpoena of Schultz on March 8. Bottom line is we have a billionaire running a multinational corporation breaking federal labor law, Sanders said at a press conference Tuesday. And we intend to put an end to that. Story continues More than 280 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize in the U.S. since 2021, but the company has very publicly clashed with organizers in that time, firing 200 of them. The interest that Sanders has in Schultz goes beyond the companys treatment of organizing activities, however. It likely has more to do with what Sanders argues is Schultzs direct involvement in shaping Starbucks labor practices. In a letter to the company last week, Sanders pointed to a 2021 meeting in Buffalo where Schultz spoke to all workers in the area. These workers were forced to attend this meeting while every Buffalo-area store was closed to listen to Mr. Schultz one month prior to union elections that were held in the area, the Vermont independent wrote. This meeting makes clear the enormous power and influence Mr. Schultz has over labor policy at Starbucks. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said hed support a Republican-backed measure to nullify a District of Columbia law on criminal penalties, underscoring Democrats defensive position on crime before an election year. Most Read from Bloomberg Im going to vote yes, Schumer said at a news conference on Tuesday. It was a close question, but on balance Im voting yes. His statement came after President Joe Biden announced last Thursday that he wouldnt veto the GOP-backed resolution. That marked a reversal of his position last month, when the White House said it opposed overturning the DC law. At least three Democrats are expected to join Senate Republicans on approving the measure, in a vote scheduled for Wednesday. The GOP-led House voted to overturn Washingtons criminal code overhaul on Feb. 9. Proponents say the overhaul would modernize the citys byzantine criminal code, and that Congress shouldnt interfere in local decisions. The congressional measure would override the changes, which include reduced penalties for some violent criminal offenses at a time when crime in Washington is soaring. Senate Republicans have used the resolution to attack Democrats for their stance on crime. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that Democrats were trying to jump ship at the 11th hour trying to act like theyve been tough on crime all along. --With assistance from Laura Litvan. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. It takes an army to relaunch an iconic Americana automotive brand. An army of about 4,000, as it turns out. Thats how many employees Scout Motors, which is backed by Volkswagen, says it will hire for its recently announced $2 billion electric vehicle plant in Blythewood. Scout, which essentially introduced the SUV to the U.S. market in the 1960s and was known for two decades for its rugged vehicles geared toward outdoor adventure, plans to make trucks and SUVs at the coming Columbia-area facility. While Scout is making plans to have the plant operational by 2026 aided in part by more than $1.2 billion in state incentives to get the plant up and running, plus local tax breaks from Richland County it also will be tasked with procuring a workforce ready to build the high-tech electric vehicles. Scout President and CEO Scott Keogh said during a Monday roundtable with S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and others that he is confident the Midlands and South Carolina will be able to provide workers to make the technologically advanced vehicles the Volkswagen-affiliated company is planning to roll out. Keogh said the labor prospects in South Carolina were perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle in Scout choosing South Carolina and Richland County for its plant. The company evaluated more than 70 other sites for the project, the company president said. If you look at the talent, from the engineering that comes from the universities, obviously from the University of South Carolina and Clemson and Benedict College, the talent is there, Keogh said. Also, there is a history of automotive (in South Carolina). You have 75,000 automotive employees (across the state), the supply chain, the logistics. So the infrastructure is there, in place. Among South Carolinas most prominent automakers are BMW, which for more than three decades has had facilities in the Upstate along the Interstate 85 corridor, and Volvo, which has facilities in Berkeley County in the Lowcountry. Story continues The announcement that Scout will establish a plant in the Columbia area and bring 4,000 new jobs with it comes at a time the labor market remains tight in South Carolina. The statewide unemployment rate is low, at 3.3% according to the latest state Department of Employment and Workforce statistics, and its even lower in Richland County, at 2.9%. Unemployment rates are low in neighboring counties, as well, including 2.5% in Lexington, 2.6% in Newberry, 3% in Kershaw, 4% in Sumter and 4.4% in Fairfield. Still, McMaster pointed to the talent in area colleges and universities even touting the states technical college system as the best in the whole world as being ready to help staff the project, and he insisted there will be labor availability for the EV automaker, particularly in the Midlands. Theres an untapped labor pool around the Midlands, McMaster said. Its been tapped some around the Upstate and in the Lowcountry with BMW and Volvo and others. But people here are ready to go. I think Scout is going to be inundated with high-quality workers who want to come and work and be happy. This is the missing ingredient that is going to set a spark of prosperity here in the Midlands, that will of course transmit out statewide, as well. Opportunity of a lifetime Midlands Technical College Provost Barrie Kirk said the college has had preliminary conversations with Scout and, while there are details to be worked out, Midlands Tech is looking forward to helping train students to be ready to work at the facility. We are thrilled to collaborate with Scout and help make sure they have the skilled workforce they need to hit the ground running, Kirk told The State. It is truly game-changing for our region. This is the employment opportunity, really, of a lifetime for thousands of our students and Midlands residents at the same time. And thats what we do: We work to understand the needs of our area employers and match those needs with our students and skilled residents. According to the S.C. Department of Commerce, the more than $1.2 billion incentive package the state is offering the EV carmaker will include $25 million to build a training center publicly owned by Midlands Technical College to train South Carolinians for employment with Scout Motors. Kirk noted the Scout electric vehicle project blends the nostalgia piece with ingenuity, a nod to the love many had for the original Scout vehicles that were produced between the 1960s and 1980s and their coming resurrection as cutting-edge electric SUVs and trucks. What we know is that many of the programs we already teach are so completely transferable to the skills that Scout is going to need, Kirk said. She also said that the ReadySC program within the states technical college system has long been a pipeline to help provide industry with workers. Chad Hardaway is the deputy director of the University of South Carolina Office of Economic Engagement. He said that office has been working with key industries across South Carolina for the last several years to help create a more direct pipeline for engineers to get from the halls of USC to offices of specific companies, including IBM, Nephron, Siemens and others. He noted his office already has had discussions with Scout. Weve actually been engaged with industry partners for the last four to five years doing exactly what we are going to be doing with Scout, Hardaway said. And thats getting industry partners to come and tell us what their needs are. Everyone knows companies need engineers. But the real issue is not delivering them engineers. The real issue is delivering them engineers or students that can come in day one and do the work. As South Carolina continues to be a hub for automotive manufacturing and, increasingly, the electric vehicle side of that industry, Hardaway said its is imperative for schools to prep students for that workforce. Because of a number of factors, our state is becoming one of the most attractive places for manufacturing, Hardaway said. We are becoming to place to be. We are starting to land these (huge projects). The Department of Commerce said in a Monday afternoon statement that it feels strongly the Midlands will be fertile ground for recruiting workers for Scout. Nearly 51,000 people are enrolled in higher education in Richland County, and that number jumps to 65,600 when you add in surrounding counties such as Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Kershaw, Sumter and Calhoun, the departments statement said. Also in Richland County, more than 3,000 people are enrolled in four-year engineering and two-year engineering tech programs, with 545 engineering degrees completed each year. The department also pointed to the states Historically Black Colleges and Universities and technical college system as potential talent pools for Scout, and noted Clemson has recently launched the nations first undergraduate bachelor of science program in automotive engineering. Kirk said she felt confident that Scout would not have a problem filling the 4,000 jobs it is planning in Richland County. But more importantly, they feel confident, or they wouldnt have located here, the Midlands Tech provost said. During Mondays roundtable, Keogh nodded toward that confidence, saying the establishment of a $2 billion production plant is a move that is meant to stand the test of time. A plant is a massively strategic decision, the Scout CEO said. This is not some retail environment where you come and go and move. This is strategic. We have factories across the globe that have been there for 70, 80 years. This is a place you want to call home, a place you want to stay. And you need bedrock stability to deliver that. Keogh indicated that the bulk of Scouts hiring in the Midlands will come around 2025 or 2026, as the company has said it plans to start producing vehicles at the Blythewood plant by the end of 2026. Those interested in inquiring about a job at the forthcoming Richland County Scout facility can visit scoutmotors.sctechjobs.com for more information. EV manufacturing ramps up Scout will arrive in South Carolina during a period of population growth statewide. The states population swelled by 10.7% between 2010 and 2020, per census figures, with the population topping 5 million for the first time. The population grew another 1.4% between 2020 and 2021, according to a release last year from the State Department of Employment and Workforce. The Scout announcement also comes at a time when manufacturing in the U.S. seems to be nudging toward a revitalization. For instance, companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars toward establishing facilities to make semiconductor chips the ones needed for smartphones, cars and computers on U.S. soil, the need for which was highlighted during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, carmakers across the spectrum are ramping up electric vehicle production. For example, Consumer Reports notes that General Motors is looking to have 20 EV models ready by 2025, aided by a partnership with Honda in which the companies are sharing technologies and engineering for the electric cars. Theres a return to industrialization, Keogh said. Theres a return to doing things and making things and creating things in America. The search for the identity of the alleged Ukrainian prisoner of war executed in a video that emerged on March 6 appears to be coming to an end. On March 6, a video was shared by popular Ukrainian bloggers in which an unarmed man in a military uniform with a Ukrainian flag on it appears to be shot dead by multiple rifle bursts from off screen, after saying Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine), a Ukrainian national salute. The original source of the video remains unknown, as well the time and place where it was filmed. The video has sparked nationwide outrage, with Ukrainians flooding the social media with their reactions, condemning the execution and saluting the bravery of the man in the video. President Volodymyr Zelensky weighed in, saying that the perpetrators of the murder must be found and punished. More than a day after the video started circulating, it's still not clear who the man in the video was. The video is of poor quality and the man's face blurry, obstructing the identification process. Two versions have emerged regarding his identity. Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade has tentatively identified the man as its serviceman who went missing near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 3. Shortly after their statement on March 7, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces presented the same version in their own post, but added that final confirmation would come after an investigation. According to the 30th Brigade, if the man in the video is the soldier in question, then his body is still in the occupied territory, and his identity can be confirmed only when the body is retrieved. Almost simultaneously, another version emerged. Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov asserted on March 7 that the soldier was, in fact, someone else serving in the 163rd Battalion of the 119th Territorial Defense Brigade. According to Butusov, he has spoken to the soldier's comrades. They identified the soldier and said that his mother has also recognized him in the video. Story continues In a Facebook post, Butusov said that the soldier in question went missing on Dec. 30, also near Bakhmut, and his body had been retrieved and buried in February. Butusov added that the man's fatal bullet wounds, as recorded in his autopsy, closely matched those observed during the execution in the video. Another matching detail is the band-aid seen in the video above the POW's right eye the 163rd Battalion's soldier had a band-aid in the same place when he went missing, according to the testimony of his comrades, cited by Butusov. While the identity of the man in the video remains to be established, the nationwide condemnation of what appears to be a blatant execution of a Ukrainian POW continues. Ukraine will not forget the feat of each and everyone whose lives gave freedom to Ukraine forever, Zelensky said on the evening of March 6. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on March 6 appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the alleged execution. Kuleba called the video horrific, adding that its imperative (the ICC) launches an immediate investigation into this heinous war crime. Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin added that an official investigation had been launched to be carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine. Even war has rules," Kostin said. "There are norms of international law that are systematically neglected by the criminal Russian regime. Sooner or later, the crime will be punished. All those involved will be held accountable. Since the launch of the full-scale invasion, repeated cases of Russian soldiers mistreating Ukrainian prisoners of war have emerged. In the most heinous incident, on July 29 last year, 53 Ukrainian POWs held in a prison near Olenivka in occupied Donetsk Oblast were killed, and 75 sustained injuries after their quarters were damaged by an explosion. In an article for the Guardian, volunteer Anna Vorosheva, who was captured by Russian forces while delivering aid nearby and held for 100 days in the notorious prison, said that she believed it was done to cover up evidence of torture of Ukrainian soldiers. Im sure some of those killed in the explosion were already corpses. It was a convenient way of accounting for the fact they had been tortured to death, Vorosheva said. The UN disbanded a fact-finding mission into the massacre on Jan. 5 after they announced that Russia had not provided officials with the opportunity to visit the site. Two of the four Americans who were shot at by gunmen and kidnapped shortly after they crossed the border into northern Mexico for a medical procedure last week are dead, and the two survivors are back on U.S. soil, Mexican and U.S. officials said Tuesday. Tamaulipas state Gov. Americo Villarreal said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that a woman and a man had survived the kidnapping. The woman, whom Villarreal identified only as LaTavia, was unharmed. The man, whose first name is Eric, had a gunshot wound to the leg, Villarreal said. Both were taken to a clinic for medical treatment and returned to the U.S. by an international bridge between Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas, before noon Tuesday, he said. A 24-year-old man from Tamaulipas, identified only as Jose N, "was found guarding the victims" and arrested, Villarreal said. The charges against the man were unclear. Villarreal announced the casualties by phone at a news conference Tuesday morning. At a State Department briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ned Price confirmed the survivors had returned to the U.S., adding, "We are in the process of working to repatriate the remains of the two Americans who were killed in this incident." He said the U.S. is providing assistance to the victims and their families. What we know about the discovery of the victims The Americans were found Tuesday morning in a wooden house close to an area called La Lagunona in Matamoros, Villarreal said Tuesday. Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica tweeted that the Americans were found by joint search actions. Villarreal said the Americans had been transported to various places, including a clinic, to create confusion and to interrupt the rescue work. An investigation to catch other suspects continues, he said. Earlier Tuesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered his sympathies to the victims. We are very sorry that this happened in our country, and we send our condolences to the families of the victims, friends and the United States government, and we will continue doing our work to guarantee peace and tranquility," he said. Story continues U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland offered his condolences and said the Justice Department is working closely with the State Department. A trip for medical care gone wrong The FBI had been offering a $50,000 reward for the safe return of the U.S. citizens, who were kidnapped Friday after having driven into Matamoros, just south of Brownsville. Dramatic video showing a gunman dragging people into a white pickup captured the kidnapping as it unfolded, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the matter confirmed. LaTavia Washington McGee. (WMBF) One of the victims was identified as LaTavia Washington McGee by her cousin, Aliyah McCleod, who is acting as a family spokesperson. On Tuesday, LaTavia's mother, Barbara Burgess, confirmed her daughter is alive and said she has spoken with her. McCleod also identified another member of the group as Shaeed Woodard. Eric Williams' wife said he was kidnapped and shot in the leg before he returned to the U.S. on Tuesday. Williams' Michelle Williams said she was thankful that her husband and McGee were coming home but added that she was "heartbroken that the other two families can't say the same." She described the group as childhood friends. Eric Williams. (Courtesy Michelle Williams) McCleod said the group is from South Carolina and had been traveling in a rental vehicle with North Carolina license plates when it entered Matamoros. The FBI confirmed the group was traveling in a white minivan with North Carolina plates. McCleod said the group had traveled to Mexico for a "medical procedure." A law enforcement official with knowledge of the matter said a woman in the group had been seeking a cosmetic medical procedure. The official said cartel gunmen targeted the group in a case of mistaken identity. Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, told The Associated Press that her younger brother, Zindell, was among the four victims. She said she had been in contact with the FBI and local officials after she learned her sibling had been kidnapped. A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the four Americans were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups after they had entered Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday. (AP Photo) (AP) This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, she told the news agency. To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. Brown said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, had been on the trip to accompany a friend who was traveling to Mexico for a procedure. She also said her brother had some reservations about their making the trip because of the potential dangers in Mexico. Zindell kept saying, We shouldnt go down, Brown told the AP. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at a news briefing Monday in Washington that the Biden administration was "closely following the assault and kidnapping of four U.S. citizens." "These sorts of attacks are unacceptable," Jean-Pierre said. "We will continue to coordinate with Mexico and push them to bring those responsible to justice," she said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the four Americans were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups after they had entered Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday. (AP) Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, said in a statement Monday that an innocent Mexican citizen was tragically killed in the kidnapping. Lopez Obrador said at a news conference that the Americans were in Mexico to buy medicine, a common practice for people seeking cheaper medications across the southern border. A Do Not Travel for Tamaulipas state the State Department issued because of crime and kidnapping" says organized crime activity, including gunbattles, armed robberies and kidnappings, are common along the border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments, the warning says. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Georgetown County student has been charged with making student threats. This is the second Georgetown County student in a week who has been charged with making threats at a school. Georgetown County Sheriffs Office charged the 12-year-old Waccamaw Middle School student Tuesday with making the threats, and the child was detained at school until his parents arrived, according to a statement. No weapons were found at the school. The school continued to operate under normal conditions and no students or staff were in danger, the statement said. On Feb. 28, a 10-year-old Waccamaw Intermediate School student also was charged with making student threats, according to the sheriffs office. A male student allegedly made threats to three female and one male student at the Pawleys Island school, according to a police report. The report did not say what type of threats were made. Wall Streets top cop on Tuesday slammed crypto businesses for refusing to get in line even after a crackdown by regulators and said he sees no risk in them pulling up stakes to head overseas. We lose more if investors get harmed here, SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in an interview at the agency's headquarters in Washington. Its a basic bargain in finance: If you want to raise money from the public, disclose certain facts and figures. Genslers agency has pursued an aggressive enforcement campaign against the $1 trillion crypto market since FTX founder Sam Bankman-Frieds indictment on conspiracy, fraud and campaign finance charges late last year. The SEC has announced lawsuits and forced settlements with banner firms like Genesis Global Capital, Gemini Trust and Kraken for offering unregistered securities products to investors. Now, as Europe moves ahead with rules for digital assets and U.S. lawmakers remain locked in a stalemate over the need for new regulations, crypto giants are threatening to move their businesses across the Atlantic. Gensler brushed off concerns about the plight of the U.S. industry as he faces a barrage of criticism from digital asset executives and their allies in Congress over how hes regulating the space. House Republicans are ramping up oversight of his crypto enforcement actions and plan to scrutinize his every move, but hes also under pressure from progressives like Sen. Elizabeth Warren to continue clamping down. Yet Gensler said the flurry of litigation and enforcement actions hasn't done much to convince firms to follow the law. He said crypto businesses have eschewed what typically happens when agencies come down on bad behavior in financial markets. Rather than coming into compliance with U.S. securities, this is a field that seems to belie that in some circumstances, he said. The path to compliance is clear. Its [that] the firms, in some regard, have generally been operating outside of those parameters, he said. Story continues Gensler, a Democrat who led the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the Obama administration, has long claimed that securities laws already apply to digital asset businesses and that the agency does not need new broad authority from Congress. Top firms like Coinbase and Ripple have resisted those claims and have lobbied lawmakers and regulators to create new rules for their industry an effort set to soon pay off in Europe with the Markets in Crypto-Assets law, or MiCA. Gensler is skeptical of the European laws effectiveness. Do you know that MiCA doesnt even cover Bitcoin? he said, before adding that while the SEC often consults and talks with its international counterparties, he has to focus on how to best help the American public. U.S. lawmakers, meanwhile, are still debating how to regulate the markets exchanges and brokerages. Crypto lobbyists have framed Genslers push to force their industry to comply with 90-year-old securities laws as a war against financial innovation. Whatever changes brought by crypto markets will pale compared to what could come as brokerages and financial data aggregators move to incorporate artificial intelligence into their offerings, Gensler said. The much more transformative technology right now of our times is predictive data analytics and everything underlying artificial intelligence, he said, adding that he looked forward to working with lawmakers on how those tools could be regulated. Zachary Warmbrodt contributed to this report. Selena Gomez said her heart has been heavy and called on people to be kinder as she returned to social media following reported drama with model Hailey Bieber and reality TV star Kylie Jenner last month. The Rare Beauty founder announced on Feb. 23 that she would be taking a break from social media after fans accused Bieber and Jenner of mocking her. It revolved around an Instagram story in which Gomez joked that shed over-laminated her brows. Shortly afterward, Jenner posted up-close pictures of her brows and Biebers brows, which many fans interpreted as ridiculing Gomez. Im 30 and am too old for this, Gomez said at the time. Gomez was back on TikTok Sunday with a beauty tutorial. In the comments, she wrote: Please, please be kinder and consider others mental health. My heart has been heavy and I only want good for everyone. All my love. Selena Gomez attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 10, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California. Selena Gomez attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 10, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California. The Only Murders in the Building star, who used to date Hailey Biebers husband, Justin Bieber, has taken social media breaks routinely throughout her career. In a March 2021 interview with Vogue, she said shed largely been off the internet for three years and would send photos and captions to her assistant to post on Instagram and Twitter. Shes clapped back at critics who make observations about her body on several occasions, including after the recent Golden Globes. After fans accused Bieber and Jenner of bullying, both Gomez and Jenner said there was no drama. Jenner said she meant no shade towards selena ever and Gomez said she agreed and it was all unnecessary. However, Gomez later commented I love you in response to a fan who criticized mean girls and nepo babies for attacking her. So, its all very ambiguous, and its not clear if this was real drama or just drama manufactured by online onlookers. Story continues According to BuzzFeed, Bieber lost over 1 million followers following the alleged feud, while Jenner lost 500,000 and Gomez reportedly gained 10 million. Related... Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., "will be back soon," his chief of staff tweeted Monday, posting the first photos of the senator since he was voluntarily hospitalized for clinical depression nearly three weeks ago. The photos showed Fetterman and his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, huddled over papers in apparent discussion. Jentleson wrote in a tweet that the two discussed rail safety legislation, the Farm Bill and other Senate business. Last week, Fetterman co-sponsored a rail safety bill while receiving in-patient care. "John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes," Jentleson wrote, adding that the senator was "laser focused" on Pennsylvania and would "be back soon." Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last month at the recommendation of Brian Monahan, Congress' attending physician. At the time, a senior aide said Fetterman would most likely remain in inpatient care for "a few weeks" as doctors tried different medications and adjusted the dosage. The senator had struggled to adjust to his new reality post-stroke and had been navigating questions about his self-worth, the aide said at the time. Fetterman suffered a stroke last year before winning the Pennsylvania Senate race. Depression is common after a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association. It can be caused by chemical changes in the brain that make it difficult to feel positive emotions or by a psychological response to the stress of the event. The senator's office has so far not released concrete information on when he will return to the Senate, where Democrats have a 51-49 majority. Last week, Fetterman spokesperson Joe Calvello said in a statement that the lawmaker was "on a path to recovery" and visiting with family and staff members daily. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com At least four Senate Democrats announced on Monday they will follow President Bidens lead and back a Republican-led resolution of disapproval of the District of Columbias crime bill that would lower penalties for violent crime ahead of an expected Wednesday vote. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), along with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), all revealed that they will support a resolution to overturn the Districts bill. The move comes after Biden told the Senate Democratic caucus late last week that he will side with Republicans on the measure, specifically citing the lessening of sentences for crimes such as carjackings that have become more regular occurrences across the District. The bill is not ready for prime time, Kaine told reporters on Monday, adding that he plans to encourage Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the D.C. City Council that unanimously passed the measure to get on the same page. Bowser vetoed the bill in early February, citing the updated violent crime penalties included among other items. The council overwhelmingly overrode the veto. Tester, who is up for reelection in 2024 and is a top target on the map for Republicans, told reporters that he would voting with the president on the measure. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who is considered the other prime GOP target, announced early last week that he would be voting to overturn the D.C. crime bill. Hickenlooper told reporters that he is voting against bill in part because of the altered violent crime penalties. There are certain crimes that we shouldnt be softening, Hickenlooper said, adding that he would have voted to nix the bill even if Biden hadnt said anything last week. Other senators had reasons outside of the violent crimes portion of the bill to vote against it. King told The Hill that he was opposed in part because of the provision that allows for more jury trials for misdemeanor offenses. Story continues Theres not enough jurors in the world to do that. Theres an infrastructure problem, King said. The mayor had reservations. The police have reservations, and I want to see them rework it. Earlier on Monday, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) attempted to withdraw the criminal code bill before it could come up for the midweek vote. However, a Senate leadership aide said that the Home Rule Act governing the District does not allow for the withdrawal of legislation and that the vote will go on as planned. At this point the Senate Republican privileged motion will be acting on the House disapproval resolution, rather than the D.C. Councils transmission to the Senate, the aide said. We still expect the vote to occur. There are still some Senate Democrats who continue to back the Districts ability to govern itself: Sens. Ben Cardin (Md.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.) both told reporters they will vote against the resolution. In addition to support for home rule, Murphy told The Hill that specifics of the criminal code update have been greatly overhyped and noted that the carjacking penalty in the bill in question is higher than it is in his home state. The vote will take place roughly a month after the House advanced the resolution. Thirty-one House Democrats voted with every Republican to block the bill, while 173 Democrats voted against it. Alexander Bolton contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Top Senate Republicans are taking Tucker Carlson to task for characterizing the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as mostly peaceful chaos, with Senator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) going so far as to call the Fox hosts remarks bullsh**. On his primetime program Monday, Carlson aired never-before-seen surveillance footage of the January 6 attack and argued that the new evidence disproves the predominant narrative about the scale of the violence perpetrated on January 6. Although Carlson admitted a few of the Trump supporters who gathered that day were bad apples, he called most of them sightseers and claimed police were escorting them through the building. Tillis explained that the depiction was inexcusable in comments reported by NBC News. He also compared Carlsons comments to those who downplayed the devastation caused by the 2020 riots in Kenosha, Wis. In comments to reporters, Senator Kevin Cramer (R.,Nd.) firmly rejected the portrayal of the attack as some rowdy peaceful protest of Boy Scouts. I think that breaking through glass windows and doors to get into the United States Capitol against the borders of police is a crime. I think particularly when you come into the chambers, when you start opening the members desks, when you stand up in their balcony to somehow put that in the same category as, you know, permitted peaceful protest is just a lie, Cramer said. Senator Mitt Romney (R., Utah) said its really sad to see Tucker Carlson go off the rails like that, adding that hes joined a range of shock jocks that are disappointing America and feeding falsehoods. The American people saw what happened on Jan. 6, Romney told reporters. Theyve seen the people that got injured, they saw the damage to the building. You cant hide the truth by selectively picking a few minutes out of tapes and saying this is what went on. Its so absurd. Its nonsense. U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Thomas Manger wrote in a inner memo to his staff that Carlsons show did not reach out to the department for accurate context, instead cherry-picking footage and misleading viewers. Story continues The program conveniently cherry-picked from the calmer moments of our 41,000 hours of video. The commentary fails to provide context about the chaos and violence that happened before or during these less tense moments, Manger said. Manger specifically refuted the idea that police officers had acted as tour guides, explaining that the force was terribly outnumbered and used every de-escalation tactic at its disposal. The chief also honed in on Carlsons disturbing accusation about Officer Brian Sicknick, who died the day after the attack. Carlson argued in his Monday night segment that video footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after clashing outside with rioters proved that he didnt die as a result of those clashes. Finally, the most disturbing accusation from last night was that our late friend and colleague Brian Sicknicks death had nothing to do with his heroic actions on January 6, wrote Manger. The Department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) held up the letter from Manger as an exemplary response to Carlson. MCCONNELL comments on Tucker Carlson, holds up this letter from USCP Chief Manger: With regard to the presentation on Fox News last night, I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol police about what happened on January 6. pic.twitter.com/tHGfoxwUsw Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) March 7, 2023 With regard to the presentation on Fox News last night, I want to associate myself entirely with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol police about what happened on January 6, McConnell told reporters. The New York Times was forced to retract its initial report on Sicknicks death, which incorrectly claimed he died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head caused by a fire extinguisher. A medical examiner later found that Sicknick died after suffering a series of strokes. A man caught on camera pepper spraying Sicknick was sentenced to seven years in prison, though the pepper spray was not directly tied to his death. According to a Justice Department report marking 26 months since the attack, 140 officers were assaulted at the Capitol that day, including 60 Metropolitan Police officers and 80 USCP officers. More than 999 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More from National Review Senators introduced Tuesday a White House-backed bipartisan Senate bill that aims to give the federal government more power to regulateor ultimately bantechnology linked to foreign adversaries such as TikTok. Unlike bills introduced by Republicans so far this year, the bipartisan RESTRICT Act led by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) does not specifically target TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, but rather takes a broader whole of industry approach. The proposal would call for the Commerce Department to identify and then mitigate risks posed by technology linked to foreign adversaries, including China, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Cuba and Venezuela. Warner said that while the threat that everyone is talking about is TikTok, other threats have emerged before from tech from foreign adversaries. We need a comprehensive, risk-based approach that proactively tackles sources of potentially dangerous technology before they gain a foothold in America, so we arent playing Whac-A-Mole and scrambling to catch up once theyre already ubiquitous, Warner said. Thune said the bill addresses concerns about TikTok while dealing with attacks made in the past constitutionally about how you approach specific or individual companies. The bipartisan bill has better odds at getting passed then GOP-led bills targeting TikTok specifically that have come before it. In all the RESTRICT Act is cosponsored by 12 bipartisan senators, and has support from the White House. This legislation would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services operating in the United States in a way that poses risks to Americans sensitive data and our national security, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. Warner said the bill would give the Commerce Department the tools to mitigate and divest up to and including banning applications. With a popular application, such as TikTok, it is going to be incumbent upon the government to show its cards in terms of how it is a threat, Warner said. Story continues TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement, We appreciate that some members of Congress remain willing to explore options for addressing national security concerns that dont have the effect of censoring millions of Americans. TikTok has repeatedly pushed back on allegations that it poses national security risks. Oberwetter also said that the Biden administration doesnt need additional authority from Congress to address national security concerns about the app because of the ongoing Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review President Biden ordered in June 2021. Warner said the proposal introduced Tuesday is ancillary to the CFIUS process. The CFIUS process requires a transaction to trigger its tools, he said. In addition to the bipartisan Senate support and White House support, Warner said he has had positive conversations with his Democratic colleagues in the House. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Elon Musk (left) engaged in a Twitter spat with former employee Haraldur Thorleifsson. Patrick Pleul/POOL/AFP/Haraldur Thorleifsson A Twitter director said he spent nine days trying to figure out whether or not he'd been laid off. Haraldur Thorleifsson said he emailed Elon Musk and Twitter HR but got no response. Amid a Twitter spat with Musk, Thorleifsson said he received confirmation he'd lost his job. A senior Twitter employee said he spent nine days trying to figure out whether or not he'd been laid off by the social-media company. Haraldur Thorleifsson, a former Twitter director based in Iceland, engaged in a public spat with Elon Musk on Monday after questioning the Twitter owner about his employment status at the company. "You have every right to lay me off," Thorleifsson said in a tweet to Musk. "That's totally fair and fine. But usually people are told when that happens. Maybe with a letter or something. Which didn't happen for 9 days despite multiple emails to you and others." Three minutes after posting the tweet, Thorleifsson said he'd received confirmation that he no longer had a job at Twitter. "Again, that's totally within your rights," he said. "No complaints. But can you make sure I get paid what I'm owed?" In another tweet, Thorleifsson said Twitter's head of HR had emailed to tell him he'd been laid off. Twitter and Thorleifsson didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Earlier on Monday, Thorleifsson tagged Musk in a tweet saying he'd lost access to his work laptop nine days ago but was unable to confirm whether or not he'd been laid off. Thorleifsson said Twitter's head of human resources had failed to confirm on two occasions whether he still worked there, and that he'd emailed Musk about the matter but received no response. Musk later responded to Thorleifsson's tweet and said: "What work have you been doing?" This sparked a fractious back-and-forth between Thorleifsson and Musk. Thorleifsson founded Ueno, a creative agency that Twitter bought in 2021. According to Thorleifsson's LinkedIn profile, after the acquisition, he worked as a director at Twitter based in Reykjavik, Iceland. Story continues Platformer reported on February 28 that Thorleifsson was one of four senior managers who'd been put on a "do not fire" list because it would be too costly to pay them off. All four were fired anyway, the report said. The four were among the roughly 200 Twitter workers who were cut during the latest round of layoffs, according to Platformer. Musk has cut thousands of Twitter staff since completing his $44 billion acquisition of the company in October. Similar to Thorleifsson, other former Twitter employees who were laid off said they were locked out of their work laptops and emails amid the layoffs. Read the original article on Business Insider This file photo shows downtown Laramie, Wyoming. After more than 37 years, the coldest case in Laramie in now under a national microscope. The murder of Shelli Wiley a 22-year-old University of Wyoming student who was found stabbed in her burning Laramie apartment on Oct. 20, 1985 is the subject of a new podcast by Serial Productions and The New York Times. Aptly named "The Coldest Case in Laramie," the podcast follows New York Times investigative reporter Kim Barker as she revisits the decades-old case. Barker was a sophomore in high school in Laramie at the time of Wiley's murder. In the podcast's early episodes, Barker interviews police, Wiley's family and friends, witnesses and various other people tied to the case including two interview subjects who lived in Fort Collins at the time of the podcast's taping. Barker's interest in revisiting the case was spurred in 2020 when she learned a former police officer had been arrested in 2016 as a suspect in Wiley's murder and the arson of her apartment, she told the podcast's listeners in its first episode. Are you a podcast fan?:Catch up on "The Way it Was," the Coloradoan's history podcast Months after the suspect's arrest, the Albany County attorney dropped the charges, citing a need for more time for additional DNA testing of evidence. Charges against the suspect have not been refiled, according to the New York Times. Laramie's Assistant Police Chief Robert Terry, who spoke with Barker for her podcast, told the Coloradoan the Serial production has so far resulted in a few "words of advice from folks" including a plea to try increasingly popular genetic genealogy techniques like those used to catch the Golden State Killer in 2018. More:There are 1,700 cold cases in Colorado. Could genealogy sites be the key to cracking them? While the Laramie Police Department is familiar with such techniques they were one of several agencies to use them in recent years to help identify a serial rapist and murderer who sexually assaulted victims across Wyoming and Utah in the 1990s and early 2000s Terry said there are no unknown DNA profiles in the Wiley case that could benefit from such testing. Wiley's case remains the oldest open cold case at the Laramie Police Department, Terry said, noting that any next steps will be determined by the Albany County Attorney's office. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Serial, New York Times take on 'Coldest Case in Laramie' in podcast A 17-year-old is dead after being hit by a car in Miami County Monday night. Around 7:30 p.m., Troy police and medics were called to reports of someone hit by a car in the 400 block of North Elm Street near Treasure Island Park, according to Miami County dispatchers. Police arrived on scene and found a 17-year-old male trapped underneath the car, according to a sergeant with Troy Police Department. >> Springfield train derailment: Clark Co. officials No hazardous materials leaked; NTSB on scene The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation found that the 17-year-old was holding onto a bike that was being pulled by a car driven by a 16-year-old when he somehow went underneath the car and was injured. The 16-year-old driver is not facing any charges pending an investigation, according to police. The crash remains under investigation by Troy Police Department. We will update this story as new information becomes available. Brenda Rivera Stearns and Isaiah Stearns are sharing new details about their movie-worthy meet-cute with TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager. The story begins in 2009, when Brenda was trying to text a new friend an uplifting Bible verse, but accidentally typed in a number belonging to Isaiah. The message read, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit... Brenda Rivera Stearns and her husband, Isaiah Stearns, share six children. (Courtesy Brenda Rivera Stearns) "I get a reply back saying Amen to that. Who is this? Brenda, 36, told Jenna on March 16. "And Im like, 'Oh, its Brenda." Brenda explained that they had been introduced through her sister. Isaiah wrote back, "Weve never met, but by the looks of your text, I can see that you love God, thats awesome. "I viewed it as, this is another person who can help me in my walk with God," Isaiah told Jenna. Brenda apologized to the stranger for bothering him. But Isaiah wanted to keep the conversation going and asked if he could call her sometime. "I thought it was a little weird," Brenda told TODAY.com earlier this month. At this point, he didnt know her age or what she looked like. Brenda Rivera Stearns and her husband, Isaiah Stearns, took a photo on their first date in Dec. 2009. (Courtesy Brenda Rivera Stearns) The next day, her phone rang. It was Isaiah. Obviously, I didnt answer. I was a little creeped out. But I was also sort of hoping hed leave a voicemail so I could hear what he sounded like, Brenda recalls. Isaiah came through and left a voicemail. In the message, he said that the Bible verse Brenda sent had lifted his day and made him smile. I could just tell he was very genuine. So I decided OK Im gonna call him back, Brenda says. He answered right away. During that first chat, Brenda revealed that she lived in Georgia, but her mom and sister resided in Ohio, about 50 minutes from Dayton, where Isaiah was based. I said maybe we could meet up when I visited my family, she says. We had an immediate connection. This is the first photo that Brenda Rivera Stearns saw when checked out her future husband's Facebook page. (Courtesy Brenda Rivera Stearns) After the call, the two added each other on Facebook. At the time, Isaiah had a shaved head. I thought he was cute, but he wasnt the type of guy I was typically drawn to, Brenda says, noting that she moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 12. Story continues I pictured myself with a dark-skinned, curly-haired, Spanish-speaking guy who loved salsa dancing basically the opposite of him," she says. Isaiah was bald and he didnt...know how to dance. Brenda says she quickly fell in love with Isaiah, despite them being physically apart. They would talk on the phone for hours. My mom volunteered to go spy on him. She was like, What gym does he go to? Where does he work? Brenda says. Instead, she arranged a proper lunch date for her mom and Isaiah. Isaiah was all for it, Brenda says. When the meal was over, Brenda asked her mom to rate Isaiah on a scale of 1 to 10. She gave him an 11, which Brenda says was so out of character. She was like, Youre going to marry this guy, Brenda says. Brenda Rivera Stearns and Isaiah Stearns, 41, will celebrate their 13-year wedding anniversary in June. The couple are parents of six children: Victoria, 11, Veronica, 10, Samuel, 9, Vanessa, 7, Benjamin, 4, and Ezra, 1. Brenda regularly shares videos and photos of her family on TikTok and Instagram. Im either pregnant or breastfeeding, she says. But she adds that there will not be a seventh baby. Their brood is complete. I love us so much. Sometimes Ill just look at my children and my husband and I wonder what I did to deserve all of this, Brenda says. I wouldnt have this many kids if my husband wasnt so involved. He makes dinner. He does the laundry. He doesnt ask, Hey, do you need help? He doesnt see it as helping me, because its his house, too, she says. I feel so lucky. Calling Isaiah the "perfect partner," Brenda adds that while he now has a full head of hair, he still can't dance. Related video: This article was originally published on TODAY.com Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Pixabay/Helixitta Maggie Cruz always knew she was the product of rape. Her mother, now 66 and living in a disability care facility in upstate New York, was developmentally delayed from birth, with an IQ that constituted profound mental retardation, according to a suit Cruz just filed. She could not form words or be toilet-trained and needed diapers. The very fact that she had become pregnant and given birth to Cruz indicated that something terrible had happened. But Cruz did not know how terribleuntil now. According to the suit Cruz filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court, the man who raped and impregnated her mother was a caretaker at the facility where she lived, who had a direct hand in her care. The suit claims the facility never filed a police report or conducted an internal investigation, leaving Cruz to determine the identity of the attacker on her ownby conducting an Ancestry.com DNA test. If Maggie hadnt come to us and filed this lawsuit, no one ever would have known this happened, her attorney, Susan Crumiller, told The Daily Beast. Its as in the shadows as you can get. Cruz first started looking into the circumstances around her birth four years ago, when she was 33, according to the suit. Until then, she knew only what the facility, Monroe Development Center, had told her grandparents: Her mother had been impregnated in 1985, likely by another patient, and was temporarily moved to another facility for her safety and for prenatal care. She returned to MDC shortly after Cruzs birth and remained there another nine years, when she was moved to a private facility in Penfield, New York. Cruz was raised by her grandparents and went on to marry and have five children of her own. But she often wondered about her fathers identity and struggled with the ambiguity around what had happened to her mother, Crumiller said. In 2019, she made a public records request, asking local law enforcement and the the regional developmental disability office for records related to her mothers rape. Story continues Weinsteins Los Angeles Rape Accuser Steps Out of the Shadows The request yielded numerous records about her mothers care but no indication of an investigation into her mothers attacker, according to the complaint. There were no records of employee interviews, remedial actions, or a police report to the surrounding city or town. MDCs contemporaneous progress notes indicated no meaningful efforts to identify, let alone punish, the perpetrator(s) of numerous violent physical attacks on I.C. around the time her rapist impregnated her, the complaint states. What the notes did reveal was several previous injuries her mother sustained at the facility in the year leading up to her rape: a 9-inch abrasion on her back, swelling and deep discoloration in her right hand, and a cross-shaped bruise on her left shoulder in January 1985; a bloody, 1-inch cut on her head, a 2-inch bruise on her hip, and other bruises on her back and shoulder in July, according to the complaint. A caretaker named J.B. wrote in October that the patient likes men of color, strips, sometime [sic] yells, jumps, eats very fast. In December of that yeararound the same time the woman would have been impregnated, based on Cruzs birth dateanother employee wrote: [I.C.] has still been attacking James. Horrified by the results of the records request, the complaint says, Cruz ordered an Ancestry.com DNA test to try to identify her mothers attacker. The test identified a few relatives on her fathers side living in Virginia, whom she promptly looked up on social media. She found photos of a girl with eyes that looked strikingly similar to hers, the complaint states, and the name of the girls father: James. Further internet research revealed that while most of his family lived in Virginia, the man lived in Rochester, New York, miles from MDC. When Cruz brought her findings to the Brighton Police Department, they confirmed he had worked at MDC in 1985, according to the complaint. Cruz was convinced that the man was J.B., the caretaker who made the lurid notes about her mother, as well as the James that she had apparently attacked in December 1985. But the criminal statute of limitations had expired, meaning the police could take no further action. Rupert Murdoch, Serial Divorcee, Already Eyeing His Next Marriage Cruz eventually sought help from Crumiller, a well-known legal advocate for sexual abuse survivors. They worked together to devise a legal strategy that would reopen the statute of limitations and allow them to seek justice. Then, in May of last year, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year lookback window for complaints of sexual abuse that were past the statute of limitationscomplaints just like Cruzs. Cruz filed her suit against the New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities, which allegedly operated her mothers facility, just months after the window opened. My mother has had a hard life, and I hope this lawsuit will help her get the care that she deserves after OPWDD failed to protect her from her attacker 37 years ago, she said in a statement. I live a blessed life and I thank God for my amazingly supportive husband and five kids, who give me the strength to lead with compassion and grace every day. The complaint lists several other reported of instances of sexual abuse at MDC. In its first year in operation, seven employees were arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a developmentally delayed boy in its care. A therapist was discovered in a 15-year-old female patients bed a few years later, resulting in a lawsuit and a finding of liability against the state. According to the suit, at least 10 MDC staff members from 1976-1985 were identified as pedophiles and rapists. Cruzs suit requests compensatory and punitive damages for sexual assault, negligence, and gender discrimination, among other claims. Shes motivated to help others, Crumiller said of her client. Shes motivated to expose the pattern, and stop the pattern. We want people to see how common this is, and how institutions closed around abusers, and just how vigilant we need to be about protecting vulnerable people, she added. 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. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced on Tuesday that he will vote for a resolution to effectively overturn the District of Columbias crime bill, joining several other vulnerable Democratic incumbents. The mayor vetoed it, so she opposed it, Brown told The Hill. This is important to law enforcement, important to my state. I still support home rule. They should have full home rule, but I dont think picking and choosing like this makes sense. Among other things, the update to the D.C. criminal code would lower penalties for some violent crimes, including carjackings and robberies. It would also increase the number of jury trials for misdemeanor offenses. The Ohio Democrat, who is seeking reelection in 2024, joins Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in voting for the resolution and against the crime bill. They are considered the three top targets for Republicans to defeat this election cycle given they all hold seats in red-leaning states. President Biden told the Senate Democratic caucus during lunch on Thursday that he would not veto the resolution, and in the days since a number of Democrats have followed his lead in supporting the bill. Five senators who caucus with the Democrats announced on Monday they would vote for the resolution. The resolution vote is expected to take place on Wednesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] A couple in Singapore has been fined $17,000 after a revealing video they uploaded to a private Telegram channel spread online. Nguyen Thi Anh Thy, 30, and Jeffrey Chue Tze Jeong, 50, were charged with violating Singapores laws on nudity and obscenity for sharing sexually suggestive images and videos of Nguyen, including one where she reveals her breast outside a shopping mall in central Singapore in May 2020. In the clip, which Chue recorded, Nguyen is seen wearing a spaghetti-strap top and short shorts while walking outside the mall. After checking their surroundings, she removes her top to expose one of her breasts to Chue. Chue uploaded the clip in the supposedly private Telegram group they created for people who participate in partner swapping and group sex activities. More from NextShark: This Asian baby is New York City's first baby of 2023 The pair charged $19 a month and $52 for three months for full access to the content on their Telegram channel. After more new members joined the group, the video and other erotic images were eventually spread outside the platform and became widely shared online. The pair, who were also convicted of providing and abetting false information, shared that they were forced to sell their belongings to settle their fine in full. During the hearing, Chue admitted that he is to blame for the incident, calling it a stupid mistake. More from NextShark: Washington Teens to Supply Over 30,000 Masks to Frontline Medical Workers Chue was fined 14,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $10,400) after pleading guilty to three charges of conspiring to take photos of his nude wife in public, uploading obscene images to Twitter and obstructing justice by claiming he had lost his phone. Meanwhile, Nguyen was fined 9,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $7,000) after pleading guilty to two charges of appearing nude in public and obstructing the course of justice. District judge Janet Wang highlighted in her ruling it was irrelevant that the platform caters to consenting parties and that the objection lies in the obscene nature of the materials being disseminated. Story continues More from NextShark: Soil from 75 former Japanese American WWII incarceration sites collected for memorial Feeling they were severely punished, the couple moved to Nguyen's hometown of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in November, a month after their conviction. While they are now having difficulties finding work in Vietnam due to their high-profile case, both Chue and Nguyen no longer have plans of returning back to Singapore. The couple lamented that their alternative lifestyle has been negatively viewed as a form of perversion. A number of Chue and Nguyen's supporters have spoken against the couple's charges online, with many questioning why such activity between two consenting adults is even criminalized in the first place. More from NextShark: Who is Kim Yo-jong and Why is Twitter Suddenly Obsessed With Her? We didnt do what we did at the expense of anyone, Chue told The New York Times. Our point is, what theyve done to us do we deserve this? The pair said they found it absurd that they were penalized for sharing images while prostitution is allowed in Singapore in a regulated district. Local rights advocates have since urged the Singaporean government to look into using consent to determine what activity constitutes as illegal in cases involving sexual acts. Singapore is known to impose strict penalties for violations, particularly those that involve public safety and conservative moral views. In 2022, content creator Titus Low was fined $2,200 for uploading risque content on the platform OnlyFans, a site where subscribers pay a fee to gain access to exclusive content, including sexually explicit photos. Similarly, a man was fined $1,900 in 2009 for being in the nude inside his own apartment while in full view of his neighbors. Lansing Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin kicks off her campaign for U.S. Senate at the UrbanBeat bar in Lansing on March 6, 2023. LANSING Lansing Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin kicked off her U.S. Senate campaign Monday night to a packed crowd at an Old Town bar. Supporters of Lansing Democrat gathered at UrbanBeat to cheer on the three-term representative who is seeking higher office in the 2024 election. During the event, Slotkin emphasized what will likely become defining issues for her campaign, including economic support for families, maintaining democracy and civil rights protections and reducing gun violence and opioid abuse. Really simple things about the United States of America have become really hard, she said. It should be really simple that you have a job with dignity and benefits where you can afford your life. You can do well and your kids are going to do better. Slotkin, whose district includes Michigan State Universitys main campus, said that the schools recent mass shooting shows that the country needs to do better protecting children from the things that are truly threatening them. When I say protect our kids from things that are truly threatening them like the leading cause of death for children under 21 which is gun violence in our country, but also opioids, the mental health crisis. It does not mean banning books in their library, she said to applause from the crowd. The truth is right now, we can't take our rights and our democracy for granted, Slotkin said. We must defend them actively. And we need people who will stand up and fight and do that. There is nothing more American than protecting our rights and our freedoms. It is our birthright and we will demand it and secure it. Lansing Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin kicks off her campaign for U.S. Senate at the UrbanBeat bar in Lansing on March 6, 2023. Slotkin also reassured voters that shell be able to perform the duties of her Congressional position while running her campaign and assuring her current 7th District seat remains in Democratic hands. We have a great crop of folks who are looking at the seat, she said. The minute you sleep on this district, it will go back to being Republican. We're not going to let that happen. Story continues Slotkin is running to replace retiring Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow, who has represented Michigan since 2001. Slotkin is leaving a seat that is seen as one of the most competitive of the 2024 cycle. She held off former Republican State Sen. Tom Barrett in the 2022 election with a five-point victory in what became one of the most expensive races in the country. Now, Barrett has expressed his interest to run for the seat again. I smiled when I saw that, Slotkin said referring to Barretts revived campaign. His voting record doesn't change. His approach to the job doesn't change. His view on women's issues doesn't change. So, he's beatable. We just need someone who will do the work. Jason Roe, Barrett's campaign strategist, confirmed late last month that Barrett is planning on running again for the 7th District seat. "Sen. Barrett has received a lot of encouragement from around the state to seek the congressional seat in 2024 and plans to do so," Roe told the State Journal at the time. An official announcement will be made in the coming weeks, he said. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has formed an committee to explore a run in the district, while Ingham County Clerk and Democrat Barb Byrum, State Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing and State Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township have publicly said they are considering running. Slotkin encouraged prospective candidates to make sure they address voters from all over the 7th District, which includes Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Shiawassee and and Livingston counties and portions of Oakland and Genesee counties. She also said that she wasnt sure if she would endorse a candidate in the possibly busy primary race. It's not typically what I've done in the past on these kinds of things, but if there's a real difference between candidates then I'd be willing to consider it, she said. Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin kicks off US Senate campaign in Old Town A view of Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In September 2021, Elizabeth Webster and Alexander Burckle were finally on the Hawaiian honeymoon they had delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple from Hayward in the San Francisco Bay Area, both of whom have graduate degrees from Stanford University, booked a snorkeling expedition with the company Sail Maui. They and 42 other passengers boarded a vessel and headed out to the waters between the islands of Lanai and Maui for the first of two scheduled dives, according to court documents. After about an hour, Webster and Burckle attempted to swim back to the boat but found that they were not getting any closer. "They started swimming harder for about another 15 minutes, and it seemed like the boat was going into deeper water," the couple's attorney, Jared Washkowitz, said in an interview with The Times. "They were trying to swim toward it, and the water was getting rougher. At that point, they realized that the boat was actually leaving them." The couple survived the ordeal with a harrowing swim to shore, according to a complaint filed last month in Hawaii. But they were badly shaken. They are still suffering from PTSD symptoms, including sleeplessness, stress, anxiety and fear of water, Washkowitz said. The couple are suing Sail Maui and the boat's captain, alleging negligence and infliction of emotional distress. According to the complaint, the boat's crew miscounted the passengers on the vessel before it departed for the second dive spot, leaving Webster and Burckle behind. Sail Maui did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One passenger allegedly told a crew member that the couple were still in the water as the boat prepared for departure. But the individual was reportedly assured that all passengers 44 in total had been accounted for, according to the complaint. Another crew member reportedly performed two headcounts that came up with 42 passengers, then used a clicker and counted 44. The boat then departed, leaving the couple about half a mile off the coast in worsening conditions, as waves grew to between 6 and 8 feet in height. Story continues "Plaintiffs were beginning to panic and were struggling to swim in the ocean conditions," the complaint says. "They feared that drowning was imminent." The couple decided to head to the Lanai shoreline, which the boat's captain had said to avoid because of shallow reefs. Webster and Burckle eventually made it to shore, where they wrote "SOS" and "help" in the sand and attempted to wave down a passing boat, to no avail. Eventually, two Lanai residents found the couple, gave them water and allowed them to use a phone. About 45 minutes after the boat left the first dive spot, Webster contacted Sail Maui and said they had been abandoned. "It was apparent that Sail Maui did not realize at this point anyone was missing from the charter," the complaint states. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Update: The Biden administration approved the Willow project on March 13. Read the latest here. Our earlier story is below. As the Biden administration comes closer to announcing a decision on an Alaska drilling plan called the Willow project, social media users are calling for the project to be stopped. The project, pitched by petroleum refinery company ConocoPhillips Alaska, would entail drilling in the Willow oil field, a federal oil reserve in Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope, according to The Associated Press. According to the company, the project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day, or 1.5% of total U.S. oil production. ConocoPhillips initially asked for five drilling sites, but the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said in February that three sites would be a "preferred alternative." There is bipartisan support for the project in Alaska, AP reported, and some indigenous groups close to the area support the plan because it would provide more revenue and create jobs in the area. However, the project has come under fire from climate advocates. According to AP, it's estimated that even using the "preferred alternative" of only three drilling sites, the project would produce 278 million tons of greenhouse gases over the course of its proposed 30-year run, about the same amount of emissions that two million passenger cars would create over the same period. Area locals have also spoken out against the project as well, with the mayor of the nearby city and native village of Nuiqsut writing a ten-page letter expressing concern about the plan and its impact on the environment and wildlife. In February, the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the BLM, said in a statement that it has "substantial concerns" about the project and the preferred alternative presented by the BLM. The Department's concerns, the statement said, include the effects of "direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to wildlife and Alaska Native subsistence." Story continues Students and community members demand President Biden stop the Willow Project by unfurling a banner on the Ellipse outside the White House on December 02, 2022 in Washington, DC. / Credit: Paul Morigi President Biden, who campaigned on promises of slashing carbon emissions, ending new oil and gas drilling on federal lands and moving away from oil and gas power, is expected to announce a decision on the project in the next week. Those campaign promises are part of what has galvanized the #StopWillow social media trend, in which people are calling on Mr. Biden to say no to the plan. Many of the posters are young Gen Z voters. According to 2021 research by the Pew Research Center, Gen Z and millennial voters favored Biden by a margin of about 20 points in the 2020 election. The #StopWillow posts are commonly shared on TikTok in the form of short videos, some of which have gained hundreds of thousands or even millions of views while explaining the project and its potential negative impacts. Several of the videos provide concrete steps that people opposed to the Willow project can take, including links to petitions or a script to read when contacting local representatives or the White House to express opposition to the proposal. Protests have also taken place in Washington, D.C., with groups standing outside the White House in December and the Department of the Interior in November. Climate activists hold a demonstration to urge President Biden to reject the Willow Project at the US Department of Interior on November 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. / Credit: Jemal Countess Larger advocacy groups have also issued statements, and it's likely the project would face legal challenges even if it were approved by the Biden administration, AP reported. How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected businesses nationwide Silicon Valley Bank client speaks about the impact of the collapse on her business Trump campaigning in Iowa on heels of Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley making trips to state Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript March 2, 2023 Operator: Good morning, and welcome to the SQM Fourth Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please note, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Irina Axenova of Investor Relations. Please go ahead. Irina Axenova: Good morning. Welcome to joining SQM's earnings conference call for the fourth quarter of 2022. This conference call will be recorded and is being webcast live. Our earnings press release and our presentation with a summary of the results have been uploaded to our website where you can also find a link to this webcast. Speaking on the call today will be Ricardo Ramos, Chief Executive Officer; and Gerardo Illanes, Chief Financial Officer; Carlos Diaz, Executive Vice President of Lithium; Felipe Smith, Commercial Vice President of Lithium and Juan Pablo, Bellolio Commercial Vice President of Iodine will be also available to answer any questions. Before we begin, let me remind you that, statements in this conference concerning the company's business outlook, future economic performances, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth, together with other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined under federal securities laws. Agriculture, Seeds, Production Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash Any forward-looking statements are estimates, reflecting the best judgment of SQM based on currently available information and involves a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Risks, uncertainties and factors that could affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements are identified in our public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in our earnings release issued today. And these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of those factors. We assume no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of our new information, future developments or otherwise, except, as required by law. Story continues I now leave you with our Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Ramos. Ricardo Ramos: Thank you, Irina. Good morning and thank you for joining the call today. We are very pleased with the 2022 results we published last night. Leasing business contributed to almost 80% of our gross profit for the year, driven by significantly higher sales volumes and average prices. Our long-term vision for the lithium market investments in technology, innovation and new capacity along with the risks we took and our operational success enable us to make the most of favorable market conditions since last year. Through the public private alliance with CORFO for our total contribution $2 trillion, including corporate taxes surpassed $5 billion in 2022. We see a strong indicators of demand growth in the lithium market driven by the electric vehicle sales growth worldwide, and the investment in renewable energy that require energy storage systems. We estimate that the total global lithium demand will reach 1.5 million metric tons by 2025 and deliver at least 20% growth in 2023. After unexpected a slowdown in demand during the Chinese New Year celebrations, electric vehicle sales have increased in recent weeks in China, while the U.S. market electric vehicles sales are doubling when compared to last year. This growth rate should continue for the remainder of the year, with major OEMs showing an increase in their production volumes. Consequently, our sales volume during the second half of the year should be higher than compared to the first half of the year. We will continue to invest in growing our lithium production globally. Our capital expenditure plan for the next three years includes investment in lithium iodine and Nitrates capacity expansion in Chile. Competition of the Mt. Holland project in Australia and lithium refining capacity in China. We are also active on lithium mining exploration and we will continue looking for attractive assets worldwide. This CapEx plan also includes investment in certain activities and initiatives related to our Salar Futuro project, which technically documentation we expect to submit for evaluation to the Chilean authorities in 2024. I would like to highlight our operations success during last year. We successfully completed a ramp up of our lithium capacity, reaching 180,000 metric tons, and finished the year with record high IRM production volume. So, over those 12,000 metric tons. None of these schools have been possible without the continuous dedication, support and commitment of our team at SQL. Thank you. Irina Axenova: Operator, we will now open the line for questions. See also Ken Griffin's High Dividend Stock Picks and 12 Stocks to Sell According to Motley Fool. To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here. RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA (Reuters) -A criminal probe into former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's alleged efforts to illegally bring $3.2 million of jewelry into the country could further delay his return from the United States, sources tied to Bolsonaro told Reuters on Tuesday. Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Monday ordered police to investigate the case. Bolsonaro is in self-imposed exile in the United States after losing his re-election bid last year. Luxury jewelry gifted to Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro by the Saudi government was seized by customs officials at Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in October 2021. Brazilians are allowed to bring in $1,000 of goods or gifts and pay hefty taxes for anything over that value. The Bolsonaro administration unsuccessfully tried to recover the jewelry multiple times through government officials, according to local media. The episode is further complicated, the sources said, by a series of letters from officials in Bolsonaro's government asking for the jewelry to be released. One was sent on the eve of his departure for the United States two days before his term ended in December, they said. Bolsonaro has said he plans to return to Brazil this month to lead the opposition and defend himself against accusations that he instigated the Jan. 8 riots in Brasilia, in which his supporters stormed government buildings. He has also indicated plans to run again for president in 2026. Bolsonaro lost the Oct. 30 election to his leftist rival President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. For months ahead of the vote, he had cast baseless doubts on the electoral system, creating a potent force of election deniers. Bolsonaro, who began his self-exile in Florida, has been seen greeting supporters, eating at fast food restaurants and addressing conservative meetings. He has been unwilling to put a firm date on his return. He entered the United States on a visa reserved for heads of state and other government officials, then applied for a six-month tourist visa. Since he no longer holds public office, he is more vulnerable to court-ordered measures such as search and seizure warrants. Story continues His son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, said earlier on Wednesday his father would return on March 15, but quickly deleted the post. "I'm sorry for the previous post, I might be missing him a lot," he tweeted, adding date was "likely but still unconfirmed." (Reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia and Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama and Richard Chang) A Southwest Airlines flight was diverted after turbulence that was so bad it caused passengers to vomit and the plane to shake like crazy. Southwest flight 3094 had its landing at Raleigh in North Carolina aborted at the last moment at a height of around 1,350ft and was diverted to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina because of the bad weather. The conditions were so poor on the Friday evening flight that one passenger even reportedly passed out as the plane came in for a landing at around 9pm. And once diverted to Myrtle Beach, the passengers, who had got on the plane in Baltimore, Maryland, say they were stranded for hours overnight in a closed airport until a replacement plane and crew could be sent for them. It was quite a horrifying experience. We go to land in Raleigh and the plane starts shaking like crazy. Then they decide to tell us 15 minutes later we are going to Myrtle Beach, Nicholas Reed told WNCN. Once the full Boeing 737 arrived safely in Myrtle Beach the passengers were held onboard for two hours before being allowed off to sit in a deserted terminal for a further four hours. We couldnt go anywhere because they wouldnt give us our luggage, Mr Reed said. One group of guys found a bar and went behind it and just started pouring themselves drinks because there was no security. And he added: Coming into Raleigh they started landing like normal. We had the window open in our seat so we could actually see the ground. Two people were vomiting pretty close to us. But everyone was pretty silent. I guess they were just in suspense like this could be it, Mr Reed said. An empty plane eventually reached the group at around 1am on Saturday and they finally reached Raleigh at 4am. We made the decision to safely divert Southwest flight 3094 (BWI RDU) to MYR due to weather conditions at RDU. We brought in another crew and aircraft to transport the passengers to their final destination as soon as we were able to safely do so, Southwest said in a statement. MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has approved a statute regulating the functions of its recently launched state space agency amid a push by European countries to keep pace with global rivals, Science Minister Diana Morant said on Tuesday. "Space is considered a space for opportunities, and it is a national priority for us," Morant told reporters. "That is why we're creating this agency." The Spanish Space Agency (AEE), based in the southern city of Seville, will have a budget of 700 million euros ($746.4 million) in its first year and a staff of 75, the minister said. In November, European nations agreed to boost spending on space by 17% to stay on the heels of the United States and China. While the AEE was given a one-year deadline since its official creation in September to kick off, it already started operating last month. "We're six months ahead of schedule," Morant said. She added that Spain's international position in the aerospace sector had been bolstered not only by increased public spending but by the European Space Agency's recruitment of the first two Spanish astronauts in 30 years, Pablo Alvarez and Sara Garcia. Morant also highlighted the 45 million-euro open tender for the development of a microsatellite launcher. "The future of space lies in microsatellites, a technology that does not yet exist in Europe," she said. ($1 = 0.9378 euros) (Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Christina Fincher) The top general in charge of U.S. special operations forces vowed Tuesday to focus on "eradicating" misconduct from his command. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., asked Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of Special Operations Command, to comment on a "series of concerning incidents" among the special operations community at Fort Bragg in the senator's home state, including "suicides, murders, overdoses, drug trafficking." In response, Fenton said that misconduct is "not behavior that is welcome" in Special Operations Command, or SOCOM. Read Next: Top Ohio Guard General Keeps Job After Shoving Reporter "This type of behavior, atypical to the 70,000-plus that are doing the right thing each and every day -- a majority are absolutely doing that -- first and foremost disrespects that type of work that our SOCOM enterprise is known for," Fenton said. "And the command sergeant major and I, first of all, are very angry when we get reports like that, and we're deliberately, laser-like focused on this. In fact, we talk about it as a corrosive. These are corrosives toward the trust and confidence that this committee, the secretary and certainly the nation has in us. And we're laser-focused on eradicating that from SOCOM enterprise." Fenton's comments come after U.S. Army Special Operations Command revealed in January that at least 13 soldiers at Fort Bragg are under investigation for drug trafficking, though no arrests have been made. Also in January, a pair of shootings, including one that killed a soldier assigned to Fort Bragg, also rocked the special operations community there. Meanwhile, statistics the Pentagon disclosed to Congress last month showed that 31 soldiers at the base died of drug overdoses between 2017 and 2021, accounting for more than 10% of the total number of overdose deaths reported by the military. An officer at the base also told local media in 2021 that the installation had seen an "over 100 percent increase" in drug-related crime over the course of that year. Story continues The recent woes at Fort Bragg come after an internal review conducted by SOCOM in 2019 found that a culture of extreme focus on mission accomplishment among special operators often allowed misconduct and unethical behavior to go unchecked. At Tuesday's hearing, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., said the recent trouble makes "additional efforts to build upon" the 2019 review "seem necessary." "A number of high-profile misconduct cases have reflected poorly on the special operations community," Reed said in his opening statement. Responding to Budd later in the hearing, Fenton said he's working on stamping out misconduct by emphasizing the need for leadership in preventing drug use and other "untoward, illegal, not ethical and not moral behavior," reinforcing existing policies and standards against such behavior, and holding people accountable for any wrongdoing. Accountability "sends a very big signal back to the enterprise about, this behavior is absolutely not welcome and not part of the SOCOM enterprise," he said. "You've got my commitment on this," added Fenton, who previously led SOCOM's Joint Special Operations Command before assuming his current role in August. "I've been in about six months. It's been a top priority because of what it does not only to the trust that this committee and others have in the SOCOM team, but to our overall readiness." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: More Than a Dozen Special Operations Soldiers at Center of Drug Trafficking Probe By Angelo Amante STECCATO DI CUTRO, Italy (Reuters) - Five days after leaving Turkey, migrants crammed in darkness aboard a wooden sailboat pleaded with their traffickers to radio for help as they rocked in increasingly stormy seas off Italy. The people smugglers reassured them they were safe, holding up an iPad to show how close they were to the shore and saying they wanted to land on the southern toe of Italy in the dead of night to avoid police patrols and certain arrest. Their confidence was misplaced. Hours later, the boat, named "Summer Love", smashed apart on rocks within sight of the village of Steccato di Cutro, killing at least 72 of the estimated 180 migrants aboard. Unbeknownst to them, a plane from the European Union's Frontex border mission had spotted the vessel around 5-1/2 hours earlier and signalled to Italian authorities that it could be carrying migrants below deck. However, two police boats sent out to intercept the vessel failed to locate it and turned back because of bad weather. Larger coastguard boats, better suited to search and rescue operations, were not called on. The disaster has cast a spotlight on ruthless smugglers who are increasingly using Turkey as a launch pad for voyages to Italy. It has also raised questions about why the Italian authorities failed to prevent one of the worst shipwrecks in the country's recent history. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who takes a hard line on immigration, has dismissed suggestions that more could have been done, saying Frontex did not warn that the boat was at risk of sinking. "No emergency communication from Frontex reached our authorities," she said last week. Frontex said it was up to local officials to decide how to respond to its sightings. Reuters spoke to relatives of victims and officials involved in the investigation, and reviewed survivors' accounts of the deadly voyage. They revealed the efforts made by the traffickers to avoid detection in a boat not fit for purpose. They also show how authorities on land failed to grasp the danger at hand. Story continues SUSPICIONS IGNORED The migrants, including Afghans, Pakistanis, Iranians and Syrians, set sail from a secluded Turkish bay on Feb. 22, paying 8,000 euros each for safe passage. After barely three hours, their yacht broke down and they eventually transferred onto an old wooden 'caicco'. "It was dilapidated and didn't have any seats.... there were pools of oil on the floor," one of the migrants told police, according to a transcript seen by Reuters. Frontex said one of its planes that regularly patrol the Mediterranean spotted the boat 40 miles from the coast of Italy at 10.26 p.m. (2126 GMT) on Saturday as the weather deteriorated. "There were no signs of distress," the agency said in a statement, adding that it nonetheless raised suspicions because the plane's thermal imaging showed there might be people below deck -- an indication it could be smuggling migrants. Frontex informed a coordination centre housed in a building used by the Guardia di Finanza (GdF) customs police near Rome. Italian officials sent two GdF patrol boats to investigate rather than order a rescue operation. An official with knowledge of the mission, who declined to be named, said the GdF boats were unable to reach the 'Summer Love' due to rough seas and rebased at around 3.40 a.m. Police were not sure if they were dealing with migrants or possible drug or cigarette smugglers, the official said. Retired coastguard Admiral Vittorio Alessandro told Reuters the authorities were less likely to order a rescue mission for migrant boats than for registered vessels. "If we are dealing with boats that do not involve migrants then precaution takes precedence," he said. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have reached Italy by boat over the past decade, fleeing conflict and poverty back home. Meloni's government has vowed to crack down on arrivals, but has denied any suggestion it delayed a rescue operation. "Is there anyone in this country who really believes that the government deliberately let more than 60 people die, including children?" Meloni said at the weekend. TRAGEDY UNFOLDS Survivors told investigators the traffickers changed direction in the early hours of Sunday, fearing there were police nearby. They hit the rocks at around 4.00 a.m. Nobody aboard issued a distress call. Two migrants told police that the traffickers were equipped with a device for jamming telephone calls to prevent communication that could give away their location. The first indication that a tragedy was unfolding came from three fishermen on the shore, who saw the boat smash apart. The first police car arrived on the scene at 4.30 a.m. and officers immediately looked to save those struggling to reach land. Many of those aboard could not swim. So far, the bodies of 28 minors and 30 women have been recovered. Seventy-nine people survived and around 30 are still missing, believed dead. Crotone chief prosecutor Giuseppe Capoccia has launched two investigations one into the traffickers and another into whether enough was done to avoid the tragedy. He told Reuters it was vital for the government to bolster security forces in the area to deal with arrivals from Turkey, which last year numbered as many as five a week. "Rescue and law enforcement structures here are those of a small town. We face a phenomenon that probably overwhelms us even as a nation," he said. Rome last month passed new tough rules on sea rescues on the back of surging arrivals -- the latest in a string of measures taken over the past seven years to try to deter migrants. Lawyer and human rights expert Fulvio Vassallo Paleologo told Reuters the cumulative effect of these initiatives was to limit rescues in international waters. He said the coastguard had to coordinate with the interior ministry, slowing its response time. However, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told parliament on Tuesday that human smugglers were entirely to blame. "Claiming that the government conditioned or prevented a rescue is a grievous falsehood," he said. (Editing by Crispian Balmer and Christina Fincher) Police say they have identified human skeletal remains that were discovered on Feb. 13. On that day, Springfield Police were sent to the wooded area north of Rivendale Institute of Learning, northeast of the intersection of Sunshine Street and Kansas Expressway, in reference to a maintenance worker finding the remains. The Greene County Medical Examiner's Office soon confirmed they were human remains. The Springfield Police Department Homicide Unit investigated the incident and determined the identity of the person through forensics. They also determined there was nothing suspicious regarding the death of the person. The deceased female was identified as Susan N. McInturff, 40, from Harrison, Arkansas. McInturffs family has been notified. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield police identify found skeletal remains found Feb. 13 By Uditha Jayasinghe and Andrea Shalal COLOMBO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sri Lanka looks set to get a sign-off on a long-awaited $2.9 billion four-year bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on March 20 after the crisis-hit country secured new financing support from China. The IMF and the island nation confirmed on Tuesday that Sri Lanka had received assurances from all its major bilateral creditors, a key step to deploy financing and an important moment for the country engulfed in its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament there were signs the economy was improving, but there was still insufficient foreign currency for all imports, making the IMF deal crucial so other creditors could also start releasing funds. "Sri Lanka has completed all prior actions that were required by the IMF," Wickremesinghe said, and that he and the central bank governor had sent a letter of intent to the IMF. "I welcome the progress made by Sri Lankan authorities in taking decisive policy actions & obtaining financing assurances from all their major creditors, incl. China, India & the Paris Club," IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Twitter, adding that she looked forward to presenting the IMF-supported program to the executive board on March 20. Approval is expected since the board generally will not add items to its agenda unless its members are ready to act. The country's international debt and currency soared higher on the news, with bonds adding around 3 cents in the dollar, while the Sri Lankan rupee jumped as much as 7.8% to a 10-month high. Stocks closed more than 2% higher. A new letter by the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) sent on Monday to Sri Lanka resolved the stalemate. Sources close to the talks said EXIM provided "specific and credible" financing assurances for a debt restructuring, with a specific link to the IMF program and clear language on debt sustainability. Story continues The first tranche of funding was expected to be released shortly after the board meeting, the sources added. In a letter in January, EXIM had offered Sri Lanka a two-year debt moratorium, but sources said this was not enough to meet IMF conditions. "This is a positive development: it might be the first time that China provides textbook financing assurances to the IMF outside of a Common Framework process," said Theo Maret, senior research analyst at Global Sovereign Advisory, in Paris. By end-2020, Sri Lanka owed EXIM $2.83 billion, or 3.5% of its central government debt, according to IMF data. In total, Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion, or nearly a fifth of public external debt, by end-2022, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative showed. IMF financing provides an anchor for countries to unlock other funding sources. Sri Lanka was in negotiations with India, its second biggest creditor, to extend a $1 billon credit line due to expire by March 17, two sources said. Sri Lanka needs to repay about $6 billion on average each year until 2029 and will have to keep engaging with the IMF, Wickremesinghe said. Countries in debt distress such as Zambia and Sri Lanka have faced unprecedented delays in securing IMF bailouts as China and Western economies have clashed over how to provide debt relief. Sri Lanka has been waiting for about 187 days to finalise a bailout after reaching a preliminary deal. This compares to a median of 55 days it took low- and middle-income countries over the past decade to go from preliminary deal to board sign-off, according to data compiled by Reuters. "Debt restructurings both within and outside the Common Framework have been taking longer than usual due to issues with creditor coordination and foot-dragging by China," said Patrick Curran at Tellimer. "The restructurings in Sri Lanka and Zambia are likely to set important precedents for future restructurings." Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday that Beijing would continue to participate in the settlement of international debt problems in a constructive manner. Responding to a question on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting, Qin also said China should be the last to be accused of causing debt traps and called on other parties to share the burden. (This story has been corrected to say central government debt instead of external debt in paragraph 12) (Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru and Uditha Jayasinghe in Colombo; Additional reporting by Jorgelina do Rosario in London; Writing by Krishna N. Das and Karin Strohecker; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Ed Osmond and Shounak Dasgupta) Ukraines lines are holding against a Russian onslaught in Bakhmut as both Kyiv and Moscow appear unwilling to give up a town that has become symbolic of the wars brutality. After signaling a potential retreat last week, Ukrainian troops have yet to withdraw and are still holding onto their fortified positions in the center of the city. And Russian forces, while struggling to encircle the city, are putting tremendous pressure on Ukrainian troops through constant, grinding assaults. Bakhmut has been reduced to rubble and its once-70,000 inhabitants are nearly all gone. But neither side is ready to give up the Battle of Bakhmut, which has taken on a level of symbolic significance for both sides that far outweighs its strategic value. The head of the Russian mercenary group leading the fighting in Bakhmut complained over the weekend that ammunition was running short, and said retreat from the city would cause a collapse of Russias front lines. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at a press conference in Jordan on Monday that both sides are really leaning into this in a major way. I think its more of a symbolic value than it is a strategic and operational value, Austin said, adding the caveat that he didnt want to discredit Ukrainian soldiers who were fighting for their lives. For Ukraine, holding Bakhmut has become a rallying cry signifying Kyivs resistance, while its soldiers inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces. The defense of Bakhmut could also pave the way for a future counteroffensive. And for Russia, taking Bakhmut would serve as an important sign they are making advances in the war after months of setbacks, even if the town only gives them a minor foothold in the Donetsk region for a push further west. Amid the intense pressure around Bakhmut, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with his top commanders on Monday, agreeing to maintain defensive positions in the town, according to a readout of the meeting. Story continues If Ukrainian commanders did decide on a strategic withdrawal, it would likely be conducted at the most opportune and favorable time for its forces, said Hein Goemans, the director of the Peter D. Watson Center for Conflict & Cooperation at the University of Rochester. He said Ukraine is extremely wily and wants to chew through Russian reserves surrounding Bakhmut. Its one of those ways to attrite the Russian forces, Goemans said. They would like the Russians to throw as many of their troops as possible. But at the moment its no longer worth it, they will withdraw without any question. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed on Sunday that Russian forces have advanced from the north, east and south of Bakhmut, although it does not appear they have fully encircled Ukrainian defenders in the center of the city. In the event of a Ukrainian withdrawal, it would likely be a gradual retreat, aimed at complicating Russian advances by putting up heavy fortifications, according to ISW. Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, said holding Bakhmut has allowed Ukraine to grind down Russian power, but clinging to the town could be costly. Strategies can reach points of diminishing returns, Kofman wrote Sunday in a Twitter thread, and given [Ukraine] is trying to husband resources for an offensive, it could impede the success of a more important operation. Ukraine has killed seven Russian soldiers for every one of its own, according to an estimate from Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. For Russia, those losses of manpower, along with ammunition and equipment, means Moscow will be hard-pressed to continue an offensive operation after taking Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russias private Wagner army, complained over the weekend that ammunition was running low and a representative of his mercenary outfit was denied access to Russias military command in Ukraine. Prigozhin accused the Kremlin of ordinary bureaucracy or a betrayal, adding that if Wagner were to withdraw, the Russian front in Bakhmut would collapse. I am knocking on all doors, sounding the alarm with ammunition and reinforcements, Prigozhin wrote on Telegram. The United Kingdoms Ministry of Defense also noted Russia has been forced to deploy 60-year-old battle tanks and even older versions of armored vehicle carriers after large vehicular losses on battlefields across eastern Donetsk. As both sides jockey for leverage, fighting in the region has become especially brutal and reminiscent of World War I, with troops dug into trenches just a few dozen feet or less from each other. Russian forces are sending in waves of soldiers toward Ukrainian defenses often to test where enemy fire is coming from then sending in more troops to break new ground. In his remarks on Monday, Austin said if Ukraine does reposition, he would not view it as an operational or a strategic setback, adding he doubted Russia can keep up its pressure campaign for much longer. What I do see on a daily basis is the Russians continuing to pour in a lot of ill-trained and ill-equipped troops, and those troops are very quickly meeting their demise, the defense secretary said. I think well continue to see that with the Russians going forward. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Kanishka Singh, David Shepardson and Hilary Russ WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Starbucks Corp interim Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz has agreed to testify this month before a U.S. Senate committee after earlier resisting requests to appear and answer questions about the company's compliance with labor law. Schultz will testify on March 29 before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the company and panel chairman Senator Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday. Schultz, who is stepping down from his post this month, had earlier declined an invitation from 11 senators to testify before the panel on March 9. Committee Democrats had scheduled a vote for Wednesday - canceled after Schultz agreed to testify - on issuing a subpoena to compel Schultz's appearance. The company previously offered other executives to speak instead. Over the years, Schultz helped Starbucks build a reputation as a progressive employer, offering higher salaries and more benefits - including company stock and health insurance - than other restaurant chains. But the company's response to a growing union campaign, as well some of Schultz's public comments, have been described by some critics, including some shareholders, as overly aggressive. Democratic lawmakers have accused Starbucks of illegally firing pro-union employees and shuttering freshly unionized stores, which the company denies. "Despite the fact that over 280 Starbucks coffee shops have successfully voted to form a union over the past year, Starbucks has refused to negotiate in good faith to sign a single first contract with their employees," Sanders said in a statement. At its March 23 annual shareholder meeting, Starbucks investors will vote on a proposal for an external audit of the chain's labor policies. Two top proxy advisers have recommended 'yes' votes on the proposal, and Starbucks has since said it is conducting its own review. UNION POLICIES Story continues As head of the company, Schultz was not involved in making decisions about labor law, instead delegating them to other executives, Starbucks' Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer AJ Jones II said in an interview. The company had made 17 requests in the past to meet with Sanders' staff to discuss unions, before finally being granted a meeting on Feb. 17, he said. Jones said he and other Starbucks representatives met again with Sanders' staff on Monday. Schultz plans to testify about how Starbucks has led the industry in offering higher wages and better benefits, and will discuss "who we are as a company... and what we stand for," he said. In a statement, Starbucks Workers United, the Service Employees International Affiliate organizing most of the newly unionized Starbucks cafes, said it looked forward to hearing from Schultz. "As the architect of Starbucks' unprecedented anti-union campaign, it is high time for him to be held accountable for his actions," the union said. Employees at more than 280 of Starbucks' roughly 9,000 company-operated U.S. locations have voted to join a labor union since 2021. The union is seeking better pay and benefits, improved health and safety conditions and protections against unfair dismissal and discipline. Sanders said that the U.S. National Labor Relations Board has issued more than 80 complaints against Starbucks for violating federal labor law. Sanders also noted that an administrative law judge in New York has ruled that the company engaged in "egregious and widespread misconduct" in the union organizing campaign. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and David Shepardson in Washington and Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Will Dunham, Tim Ahmann and Rosalba O'Brien) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday that outgoing Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has agreed to appear before a Senate committee to address allegations of union-busting that workers and regulators have leveled against the coffee chain. Sanders had threatened to subpoena Schultz to force him to take questions from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Sanders had teed up a vote on Wednesday for the committee to determine whether Schultz should be compelled to testify. Starbucks confirmed Tuesday that Schultz would appear before the committee, sharing a letter the company had sent to Capitol Hill saying the company had reached an agreement with Sanders after constructive discussions with Committee staff. Schultz is serving as CEO in an interim capacity and intends to step down this month. We look forward to continuing to work with the Committee to foster productive dialogue, Starbucks general counsel, Zabrina Jenkins, wrote in the letter. As part of those efforts, we will endeavor to provide a deeper understanding of our culture and priorities. Starbucks had originally offered to send a different executive, former Capitol Hill staffer A.J. Jones II, to testify in Schultzs place, and then proposed augmenting Jones testimony with that of two additional executives. The union alleges that Starbucks has fired union activists, closed stores and made promises to workers all in an effort to stop the organizing campaign from spreading. But Sanders appeared intent on having Schultz, the public face and co-founder of the company, take questions from lawmakers. Sanders called the celebrity CEO the driving force of labor policy at Starbucks. In a statement on Tuesday, Sanders noted that the National Labor Relations Boards general counsel has filed roughly 80 complaints against the company alleging violations of labor law. In America, workers have the constitutional right to organize unions and engage in collective bargaining to improve their wages and working conditions, Sanders said. Unfortunately Starbucks, under Mr. Schultzs leadership, has done everything possible to prevent that from happening. Story continues Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had threatened to subpoena Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and compel him to testify before a Senate committee. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had threatened to subpoena Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and compel him to testify before a Senate committee. He added: I look forward to hearing from Mr. Schultz as to when he intends to end his illegal anti-union activities and begin signing fair first contracts with the unions. Since late 2021, the union Workers United has organized nearly 300 of Starbucks roughly 9,000 corporate-owned U.S. stores, pulling off one of the most notable organizing feats in decades. The union alleges that the company has fired union activists, closed stores and made promises to workers all in an effort to stop the organizing campaign from spreading. The labor boards general counsel has found merit in many of those claims, and brought formal complaints against the company that are now being litigated. Just last week, an administrative law judge at the agency ruled that Starbucks had committed egregious and widespread misconduct, including illegal firings. Related... Howard Schultz has agreed to appear before a U.S. Senate committee that is examining Starbucks actions amid an ongoing unionization campaign. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Tuesday that Schultz has agreed to testify before the committee on March 29. Sanders had been asking Schultz to testify for several weeks, but Schultz had previously refused, saying the companys chief public affairs officer would be better equipped to discuss the companys labor record. But the committee disagreed and had scheduled a Wednesday vote to subpoena Schultz in an effort to force him to testify. I look forward to hearing from Mr. Schultz as to when he intends to end his illegal anti-union activities and begin signing fair first contracts with the unions, Sanders said Tuesday in a statement. In a letter to the committee, Starbucks said it looks forward to productive dialogue with the committee. We will endeavor to provide a deeper understanding of our culture and priorities, including our industry leading benefits offerings and our long-standing commitment to support the shared success of our more than 450,000 global partners, Starbucks Chief Counsel Zabrina Jenkins wrote. At least 290 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late 2021. Workers are asking for better pay, more consistent schedules and safer stores, among other things. Starbucks and the union have not yet reached a contract agreement at any of those stores. The company opposes unionization, saying it already provides industry-leading benefits and its stores function better when it works directly with its employees. The effort has been contentious. Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing workers, has filed 509 unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of firing union organizers, spying on workers and taking other actions to hinder the union campaign. The company has filed 102 charges against the union and says its failing to bargain in good faith. Last week, a federal labor judge found that the company violated U.S. labor laws hundreds of times during the unionization campaign in Buffalo, New York. The judge ordered Starbucks to reinstate seven fired workers and required Schultz to read or be present at a reading of employee rights and distribute a recording of the reading to all of Starbucks U.S. employees. Schultz is a longtime Starbucks CEO who built the company from a small Seattle chain into a global coffee giant. He came out of retirement last year to assume the interim CEO job after Starbucks previous CEO retired. Laxman Narasimhan, a former PepsiCo executive, will become Starbucks new CEO on April 1, but Schultz plans to remain on the companys board. (Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp. Interim Chief Executive Howard Schultz agreed to testify March 29 before a key US Senate panel, averting a planned Wednesday committee vote to compel him to answer questions on alleged labor law violations. Most Read from Bloomberg Schultzs decision wards off a formal subpoena and follows a months-long battle with Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. The longtime Starbucks leader refused Sanders earlier invitation to testify about complaints filed to the US National Labor Relations Board alleging that the coffee chain used illegal tactics to thwart union organizing efforts. The March 29 testimony from Schultz, who will appear solo, will allow the company to first get through its annual shareholder meeting this month and also a planned CEO transition, Andrew Trull, a Starbucks spokesperson, said Tuesday. Laxman Narasimhan will take the reigns from Schultz starting April 1, and will be faced with the union push at some of Starbucks US cafes that first began in 2019. It is clear to everybody that Mr. Schultz who sets the policy of that company, Sanders said at a news conference. Hes been clear about it, and it is he who has got to defend his actions and not send some subordinate. Sanders added that he will demand that Starbucks management end stalling tactics in the face of union organizing drives. While workers at more than 280 Starbucks locations have voted to form a union in the last year, the company hasnt signed a single contract, Sanders said. They understand that it is cheaper to break the law than to follow it, Sanders said. Story continues US National Labor Relations Board prosecutors have issued complaints accusing Starbucks of illegal anti-union tactics including threats, store shutdowns, and terminations of about 50 activists. Federal judges have ordered the company to reinstate some of those fired employees. Last week a group of white-collar Starbucks employees and managers released an open letter condemning the alleged union-busting, increasing the pressure on executives. Starbucks has said repeatedly that all claims of anti-union activity there are categorically false. --With assistance from Leslie Patton and Josh Eidelson. (Adds Sanders comments starting in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. For the fifth time in 12 months, Florida lawmakers are back in Tallahassee, this time for the regular session. With a supermajority in the house and senate, the GOP has a long list of priorities, including a new abortion bill. Many people see this regular session as a kick-off for Gov. Ron DeSantis expected presidential run. It is no secret that the governor had been laying the groundwork for a presidential bid. In fact, DeSantis will be heading to Iowa later this week, a key state in the early Republican primary season. WATCH: Gov. DeSantis delivers State of the State address ahead of Florida legislative session But before he can announce a presidential campaign, lawmakers need to tend to the business of the state. Florida is number one, and working together, we will ensure that Florida remains the number one state in the United States, DeSantis said during Tuesdays legislative session. In his remarks, the governor highlighted the states response to hurricanes Ian and Nicole, while also taking aim at COVID-19 and vaccines. READ: Floridas 2023 legislative session: Lawmakers plan to tackle these 9 key issues We defied the experts, we bucked the elites, we ignore the chatter, DeSantis said. We did our way the Florida way On the issues ahead of the legislature this session, the governor threw his support behind insurance litigation changes and an expansion of school vouchers for K-12, while also renewing his push for overhauling state universities and banning in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. READ: Florida blogger registration bill insane, Gingrich tweets For Florida Democrats who have seen their power diminished to its lowest level in more than a decade, there is little they can do to stop or change the agenda, other than raise concerns. Banning books, thats not freedom, limiting protest against the government, thats not freedom, Sen. Lauren Book (D Broward County) said. Claiming to be pro-business yet attacking Floridas businesses, both big and small -- that is not freedom. READ: FBI investigating womans suspicious death on Carnival cruise ship Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. John Candys children and wife have paid tribute to the late actor, 29 years on from his death. The Splash star died from a heart attack in Mexico on 4 March 1994. He was 43 years old. On Saturday (4 March), his surviving family posted messages of love for their father and husband on the anniversary of his death. His wife, Rose who is now 73 posted a picture of her late husband, writing: I was going through photos today and I thought this is a great one to post. Miss you today. As always with love, she added. His daughter Jennifer, 43, shared a photo of herself as a toddler with her father. You will always be around. You will always be missed. You will always be loved, Jennifer wrote next to the photograph. Meanwhile, Candys son Chris, 38, said he still thinks of his father every day. Sending love to my father today. 29 years ago you started a new journey, he wrote next to a picture of his dad. I miss you and think of you often. I still think of you daily. Loss is never easy but I can optimistically say it is one of the great teachers in life. Candy was best known for his roles in Splash, Home Alone and Uncle Buck, among many others. It was recently reported that a documentary about Candy has been made by family friend and actor Ryan Reynolds, along with Tom Hanks son, Colin. Reynolds produced the film, while Colin whose father starred with Candy in Volunteers directed the documentary. The documentary reportedly contains home videos, giving an insight into the actors life outside of work. The film has been made with support from the Candy family, with Amazon in discussions about buying the film, Variety reported in February. SUMTER COUNTY A joint law enforcement strike force, including the Sumter County Sheriffs Office, discovered 15 people being brought into the United States and seized more than 4 pounds of fentanyl, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. We know were on one of the main lines, because of the interstate, Sumter Sheriff Bill Farmer told the Daily Commercial on Tuesday, referencing I-75. We try our best, he said, but added that working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol and Hernando County was especially gratifying. Lady Lake shooting: Man shot and killed at Applebee's in Lady Lake Daylight saving time: Sunshine Protection Act gets reintroduced. What it means for Florida, spring forward FHP is responsible for patrolling I-75 and Floridas Turnpike, which come together in Wildwood, though sometimes the Sheriffs Office is called to assist. There are three other I-75 exits in Sumter south of Wildwood. The problems sometimes spill over onto Sumter roads, including truck stops and motels. Years ago, a truck stop in Wildwood was notorious for prostitution problems. Thats not like it used to be, Farmer said. Undercover investigators and marked patrol cars are on the lookout for problems, including a sex crime unit that checks motels. Farmer said the joint strike force operation came about after his agency, Hernando, Citrus and Pasco counties came together and decided to ask state and federal authorities for help. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Operation Strike Force to be formed. I-75 has long been a problem area. For example, in 2021, an FHP trooper stopped a 2014 Toyota for illegal window tint and discovered that a Louisiana temporary tag had been altered. The driver presented a Honduras ID card but no drivers license. The trooper then noticed four nervous passengers. The trooper, who had previously worked in Texas, recognized obvious signs of human trafficking, according to reports. Two men had been smuggled into the country from Guatemala and two women from Mexico. They said they had paid smugglers to bring them to Florida, according to the reports. Story continues Less than a month later, troopers arrested a man and charged him with smuggling four people into the country. That arrest also involved seizure of a large amount of cash. Human trafficking is a big problem in Florida, with victims forced into prostitution or labor, according to the Childrens Advocacy Center in Leesburg. Often the victims are children brought in through ports in the Miami area. In a news release issued on March 6, FHP said the weeklong operation also resulted in the seizure of 30 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana, $22,000 in cash, and cocaine, heroin and Suboxone. FHP made 114 stops, issued 29 citations, handed out 17 faulty equipment notices, and made 38 misdemeanor and 58 arrests. Law officers also seized vehicles and two guns. This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Law enforcement 'strike force' effort results in arrests, drugs seized [Source] The Indian police have started filing a case against the college student who allegedly peed on another passenger during an American Airlines flight from New York City to India over the weekend. The incident reportedly occurred on a 15-hour flight from New York Citys JFK Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, on Saturday when the student, identified as 21-year-old Aryan Vohra, allegedly urinated on a fellow passenger, according to Asian News International (ANI). Vohra was reportedly flying to India to attend his sisters wedding. In a statement, American Airlines explained that Vohra, an Indian national studying in the United States, boarded the plane heavily intoxicated and was not following instructions. More from NextShark: California man charged for driving through Stop Asian Hate rally, yelling racial slurs The airline said the student also argued with the flight crew and refused to be seated, which endangered the aircraft and other passengers. The incident peaked when Vohra suddenly urinated on the passenger seated on 15G. American Airlines said it had contacted Delhi Air Traffic Control before landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where it requested security assistance to handle the unruly passenger. An airport official said Indias Central Industrial Security Force escorted the student from the plane upon landing, noting that he was also being unruly to the authorities. More from NextShark: Police: Minnesota woman, 23, killed her 3 children and herself after her husband's suicide In a statement acknowledging the incident, the Delhi police said Vohra is a resident of Defence Colony, a neighborhood in Delhi. Vohra was taken into police custody following his flight's arrival in India, but he was released on bail on Sunday Morning as his offense was reportedly under bailable sections, authorities said. Devesh Kumar Mahla, deputy commissioner of police at Indira Gandhi International Airport, told ANI that the authorities are now taking legal action against Vohra, adding, we will do our best in this case. They have registered a case against the student under Indias Penal Code and the Civil Aviation Act. Story continues More from NextShark: These plastic-hungry fungi in China might just be the key to solving the worlds waste Vohra told us that he went to the washroom, but the door was locked, Mahla said, Times of India reported. We are verifying his testimony, he added, noting that investigators will take statements from other passengers and the flight crew. Although ANI did not mention the victim's gender, the Times of India, citing sources, noted that Vohra had urinated on a male business-class passenger. Vohra allegedly begged the man not to file a complaint against him, to which he agreed. Vohra, however, was still arrested due to the complaint made by the airline, police said. "He was in a state of inebriation and urinated while he was asleep. It somehow leaked and fell on a fellow passenger who complained to the crew," a source at the airport told Press Trust of India. More from NextShark: Man Involved in Past Anti-Asian Incidents Arrested For Spitting at Asian Couple in Canada Meanwhile, American Airlines announced it would forever ban Vohra from boarding its planes again. Were grateful to our crew members who are consistently dedicated to the safety and care of our customers and handled the circumstances with the utmost professionalism, the airline said in a statement. An artists impression of the CatSat and beachball-esque antenna, which features a clear bottom half and a reflective, aluminum-coated top half that will reflect data down to Earth. In an attempt to optimize communication in space across vast distances, a team of researchers from the University of Arizona will rely on a unique antenna for CatSat, a small satellite that will study the ionosphere. The antenna resembles a space-age beachball that can beam information to Earth at high speeds. The inflatable antenna is actually the brainchild of Freefall Aerospace, a space startup in Tucson that spun off from the University of Arizonas Tech Launch Arizona. The antenna folds into CatSat until its ready to be deployed, during which reserves of helium and argon gas fill it up. The researchers are planning to pack the antenna onto CatSat, a student-designed cubesat from the University of Arizona. The cubesat is roughly the size of a cereal box and its designed to collect data on how radio waves warp as they encounter the ionosphere. Read more This technology could drive down the cost of high-quality scientific measurements in space by enabling the use of lightweight, low-cost antennas with very high data rates, said Aman Chandra, a University of Arizona PhD student studying mechanical engineering, in a press release. The inflatable sphere features one clear half and an aluminum-coated half thats designed to reflect data back to Earth, including some high resolution images of the planet. The inflatable antenna, which can transmit data almost instantaneously due to its large surface area, is a leap in cubesat communications, since previous cubesats have had to carry small antennas that can take days to transmit data, according to the press release. CatSat | Student-led CubeSat Project CatSat will study how radio signals interact with the ionosphere using a smaller, 2-foot-long (0.6-meter-long) antenna on the opposite side of the satellite that will receive transmissions from amateur sources on Earth. The student researchers that built CatSat want to test how the density of the ionosphere fluctuates, since these fluctuations can affect radio transmissions used in GPS, for example. CatSat will listen to radio frequencies using its smaller antenna and researchers on the ground will compare the transmissions heard in space to those heard on the ground to try and identify trends in the ionospheres density. Story continues The ionospheres density changes between night and day as radiation from the sun affects the density of its charged particles, Chandra said in the press release. By listening to the strength of radio signals in the high-frequency range, we can estimate how the density of the ionosphere changes over time. CatSat currently has no set launch date, but the University of Arizona says itll eventually launch from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California aboard a Firefly Alpha rocket from space transport company Firefly Aerospace. Once in space, CatSat will operate in Sun-synchronous orbit and perched 340 miles (547 kilometers) above the planet. More: Florida Startup Moves Closer to Building Data Centers on the Moon More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Supreme Courts looming decision over the legality of President Bidens student loan forgiveness program is threatening to undermine a key pillar of the presidents outreach to young voters and efforts to tackle racial inequality. Biden himself acknowledged last week that while he was confident his forgiveness of up to $20,000 in federal student debt is legal, he was less sure the Supreme Court and its 6-3 conservative majority would uphold it. A Supreme Court reversal would leave millions of Americans scrambling while striking down a key part of Bidens legacy that excited the progressive wing of the Democratic base. One of the main concerns is, how does the sitting president meet, in this case, his promises that he made to young people? Theres still a lot left to go, said John Paul Mejia, chief national spokesperson at the Sunrise Movement. When the president is able to tout a message that says, its fine, itll get better, trust me. Thats not enough. Young people are feeling really alienated in an economy that doesnt really work for us and never has, Mejia said. Biden said last week that hes not confident that the Supreme Court will clear his plan, but the White House has avoided outlining any kind of Plan B. Right now, the plan that we have before the Supreme Court is the plan that we have for the American people, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday. We believe that again, we have the legal authority, that the other side does not, it does not have the standing or the merit to really move forward with what theyre trying to do. She also took a jab at challenges to the program, which have come from six GOP-led states as well as from two individuals, calling it unfortunate that we have certain elected officials across the country that are trying to prevent nurses and doctors and teachers from getting this type of benefit. Bidens student debt plan was a clear nod to progressives, who wanted to see forgiveness granted through executive action since the beginning of his administration. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and others had pushed the president to forgive up to $50,000 in federal debt before Biden settled on $20,000. Story continues The policy was also among the most prominent ways Bidens administration had sought to close the racial inequality gap, something that the president and Vice President Harris speak frequently about as a focus of their administration. Roughly 70 percent of Black undergraduates with student loans are Pell Grant recipients, and 65 percent of Latino undergraduate borrowers are Pell Grant recipients, meaning those minority groups were more likely to benefit from loan forgiveness. White House officials have maintained confidence that the loan program is on solid legal footing, and they pointed to other ways Biden has sought to address racial inequality, including through funding for historically Black colleges and universities, executive orders to eliminate barriers to jobs and housing for minorities, and initiatives to increase diversity and opportunity in government. But the student loan forgiveness program is perhaps Bidens most high-profile effort to date, and it is one that resonated with young voters, many of whom were skeptical about Biden during the 2020 Democratic primary but had come around since he took office. Voters ages 18-29 backed Biden over former President Trump 59 percent to 35 percent in the 2020 election, according to Pew Research data. And young voters helped carry Democrats to a better-than-expected midterm election performance last November, according to a Brookings Institution analysis. Bidens approval rating among 18 to 29-year-olds sat at 39 percent last November, down from 41 percent last spring, according to a national poll conducted by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. While a final ruling isnt expected until this summer, a decision to strike down Bidens plan could give the president ample fodder to go on offense against Republicans heading into 2024, and strategists said he should be prepared to do so. Its only going to further the anger at Republicans through the youth vote, said Michael Starr Hopkins, a progressive strategist. I think that Joe Biden should go after the Republican attorneys general, and therefore the Republican Party, that are attacking the student loan forgiveness. These are kids. There are kids all over the country who have been straddled with six figures in debt. Biden will struggle to accomplish much legislatively toward his agenda with the Republican-controlled House, and he has started to steer Democrats toward touting accomplishments from the last two years while out on the campaign trail in 2024. But progressives arent satisfied with just those accomplishments and want to see more through executive action. Seeing a president who was elected by the majority of people in this country, seeing a president who crossed the finish line in a hard-fought election in 2020 in large part because young people showed up, we want to see a fight in that president and we cant just see a president sit down and lay back and not do anything about that, Meija said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CAIRO (AP) A powerful paramilitary commander slammed Sudan's ruling generals Tuesday, saying they oppose stepping down to allow for a democratic transition under a civilian administration. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, said his conflict with other military leaders, which has become public in recent weeks, is centered on the issue of handing over power to civilians. We are against anyone who wants to be a dictator," he told RSF troops at a military base in the capital of Khartoum. Sudan was plunged into chaos after a military coup removed a Western-backed government in October 2021, stalling its short-lived transition to democracy after nearly three decades of autocratic rule under President Omar al-Bashir. The coup came more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019. Under mounting pressure, the generals and pro-democracy groups reached an initial agreement in December that would allow the formation of a civilian government. Other groups, including rebels, opposed the deal and internationally backed talks were still ongoing to have them join the Framework Agreement, a condition the military has set to hand over power to civilians. The dispute between Dagalo and other military generals has escalated in recent weeks. The RSF commander, who is backed by the United Arab Emirates, has recently become critical of other military leaders, partly over the issue of handing power to civilians but also over the incorporation of his powerful force into the military as stated in the Framework Agreement. The rhetoric has fueled concerns of possible clashes between the military and Dagalo's paramilitary force, best known for its scorched-earth campaigns in the Darfur conflict, and its leading role in the June 2019 deadly break-up of a protest camp outside the military's headquarters in Khartoum. In his speech, Dagalo played down any tensions between his forces and the military as an institution. Story continues There is no problem between the military and the Rapid Support (Forces), he told cheering RSF troops. We want to achieve a true democratic transition. We want this country to rise. Dagalo did not offer evidence to support his claim that the country's military leaders are opposed to handing over power to civilians. But his comments Tuesday were apparently referring to Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, chairman of the ruling sovereign council. A spokesman for the military did not answer calls seeking comment. Burhan has previously said they were ready to hand over power once civilians settle their disputes. Both Burhan and Dagalo, who is also the deputy chairman of the sovereign council, led the 2021 coup. However, Dagalo has in recent months sought to reinvent his public image and that of his forces. He portrayed himself as a defender of the restoration of democratic transition, describing the coup as a mistake. In his speech Tuesday, Dagalo said that foreign countries including wealthy Gulf monarchies and European governments have made restoring the democratic transition a condition for resuming assistance to Sudan. Many foreign governments and international institutions ceased providing aid to Sudan following the coup and have pressed Burhan and Dagalo to rescind their grip on power. Any party we ask to support Sudan, it tells us: after the formation of the civilian government, he said. Jens Stoltenberg Mr. Putin is launching new offensives and waves of deadly missile attacks, Stoltenberg said. Read also: Ukrainian defenders hold on in Bakhmut, Putins mobilization fails He went on to say that NATOs response to Moscows determination to prosecute the war must be unwavering commitment to providing Ukraine with whatever it needs to achieve victory. Later, he added: We must continue to provide support for as long as it takes. Read also: Russia losing five times more soldiers in Bakhmut than Ukraine, NATO assesses According to Ukraines General Staff, as many as 140 Russian attacks were repelled near Kupyansk, Lymansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Shakhtarsk in eastern Ukraine in the last 24 hours. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A different Tesla being charged. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Two people accused of stealing $8,000 of merchandise used a Tesla as their getaway vehicle. But they stopped to charge it 15 minutes down the road, where police located them. An image shared by police on social media shows the Tesla packed full of gaming systems. Two suspects accused of stealing over $8,000 of merchandise in Buford, Georgia were caught 15 minutes down the road after stopping to charge their Tesla getaway vehicle. Gwinnett County Police told Insider that the suspects were arrested around 10 miles away while attempting to charge the car near the Gas South Arena venue on February 19. The police shared details of the theft on social media on Sunday alongside images of the car packed full of boxes of gaming systems and electric toothbrushes. In a statement to Insider, a police spokesperson said the thieves were fleeing a Sam's Club store. Witnesses told police responding to the 911 call that the pair had fled in the electric vehicle their description was then broadcast to surrounding officers. The suspects were found about 15 minutes away. Google It is unclear whether the shoplifters owned the car themselves or if it was previously stolen. On a full battery, current Tesla models can travel over 300 miles according to the company's website. This isn't the first time that criminals have been thwarted by a Tesla battery. In 2019, a woman in Arizona tried to steal a Model S but it ran out of charge as she drove away. The following year, a 21-year-old attempted to carjack a Model 3 in California, but when the driver got out he remotely locked the would-be thief inside the vehicle, using his iPhone. In 2014, The Verge reported that the first person to ever die in a Tesla had stolen the vehicle from a service center before crashing it in a nearly 100 miles-per-hour police chase. Read the original article on Business Insider UBS CEO Ralph Hamers received a pay hike for 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann UBS gave CEO Ralph Hamers an 11% pay hike in 2022, taking his pay to $13 million. But the Swiss bank cut the bonus pool for its employees by 10% to $3.3 billion. UBS' full-year profits rose in 2022 even amid a challenging deal-making environment. Swiss bank UBS gave its CEO an 11% pay hike in 2022 even as it cut the bonus pool for the rest of the company by 10%. The Zurich-based lender awarded CEO Ralph Hamers 12.2 million Swiss francs, or $13 million, for 2022, according to UBS' annual report published on Monday. His paycheck includes a base salary of 2.5 million francs and a performance award of 9.7 million francs. Hamers had made 11 million francs in 2021, after UBS cut executive bonuses over the collapse of Bill Hwang's Archegos Capital Management, a family office. Archegos had borrowed heavily from banks, including UBS, for his risky bets. "Ralph Hamers successfully led UBS through a challenging year and delivered good financial results despite significant headwinds due to geopolitical and macroeconomic developments," UBS said in its annual report. It added that the company's performance last year was in line with targets. For the rest of the bank's employees, however, the news wasn't so upbeat as the overall bonus pool shrank by 10% to $3.3 billion in 2022 amid a challenging year for deal-making. UBS employed over 71,000 full-time workers as of December 31, 2021. UBS reported $7.6 billion in full-year net profit for 2022 beating analysts' expectations of $7.3 billion, per Refinitiv. However, revenues in UBS' global banking division which advises on mergers and acquisitions and IPOs nearly halved to $1.6 billion in 2022. UBS said in its annual report it expects 2023 to be "a year of inflections" with investors navigating the markets and economy against "a complex geopolitical backdrop." The bank highlighted the Ukraine war and US-China tensions as two areas of concern. UBS shares closed 0.3% higher at 20.74 Swiss francs apiece on Monday. They are up 19% so far this year. Read the original article on Business Insider Germany to face severe economic losses due to climate change: study Xinhua) 08:43, March 07, 2023 The bank of the river Rhine is seen flooded in Cologne, western Germany, July 15, 2021. (Photo by Tang Ying/Xinhua) In addition to financially measurable effects, there will be numerous health impairments, deaths from heat waves and flooding, a strain on ecosystems, a loss of biodiversity and a reduction in quality of life. BERLIN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Germany is set to lose up to 900 billion euros (960 billion U.S. dollars) by 2050 due to climate change related damages to its economy, according to a study published Monday. Even the best-case scenario calculating with only a moderate rise in temperatures forecasts losses of around 280 billion euros in the same period, reveals the study jointly carried out by Germany's Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). In addition to financially measurable effects, there will be "numerous health impairments, deaths from heat waves and flooding, a strain on ecosystems, a loss of biodiversity, and a reduction in quality of life," the ministries said. This photo taken on Jan. 9, 2023 shows a high-voltage grid facility in Berlin, Germany. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) "Climate change is already having severe economic consequences today," parliamentary state secretary Stefan Wenzel said. "Every euro invested in climate protection reduces the economic costs that could arise in the future as a result of extreme events." Hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters inflicted damages worth 270 billion U.S. dollars worldwide in 2022, according to recent figures by German reinsurer Munich Re. Although the figure was less than that in 2021, the trends in recent years had shown a steady increase in such damages, the company said. "Climate change is taking an increasing toll," Thomas Blunck, member of the board of management of Munich Re, said in a statement. According to Blunck, the damages in 2022 were mainly caused by events that were more intense or were occurring more frequently than in earlier years. Loading equipment operates at a coal yard of a thermal power plant in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) On Monday, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina called on the government to speed up the transformation of the country's energy system to help achieve the Paris climate targets both in Germany and Europe. "It is also important to come up with the technologies that make this possible worldwide," it said. Germany aims to be climate neutral by 2045, partly by increasing the share of renewable energy sources in gross electricity consumption from around 44 percent in 2022 to at least 80 percent by 2030. The energy transition in Europe's largest economy is "not progressing fast enough," a study published in February by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) and the consulting firm Ernst and Young (EY) has found. In particular, the roll-out of renewable energy technologies was still proceeding "far too slowly." (1 euro = 1.07 U.S. dollar) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Flash People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] Two Chinese officials on Monday urged Japan not to arbitrarily start discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the Pacific Ocean. Liu Jing, deputy director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors that Japan's nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but concerns the global marine environment and public health. Liu said the IAEA has neither completed its assessment of Japan's disposal plan nor drawn specific conclusions, and all its three reports published so far pointed out the plan's non-compliance with the agency's safety standards and suggested improvement. However, Japan has arbitrarily approved its own plan and expedited the construction of discharge facilities, ignoring the authoritative advice from the IAEA and the opposition from both home and abroad, Liu said, calling Japan's move "an extremely irresponsible act that has drawn grave concerns from the international community and relevant countries." Noting that China supports the IAEA's work on Japan's discharge plan, the Chinese nuclear official said he hopes the agency will continue to perform its duties in an objective and impartial manner, listen to the opinions of stakeholders, strictly implement the agency's safety standards and international good practices, and help the international community ensure absolute safety. Liu stressed that Japan's plan to dump contaminated water into the ocean is not the only feasible way of disposal, and Japan should not use the assessment from the IAEA technical task force as a free pass on its discharge plan. He urged Japan not to distort the reports of the IAEA task force to justify its discharge plan, nor ignore the authoritative suggestion from the task force, nor set a deadline for the release of the task force's final assessment report. Noting that the disposal of the contaminated water will span a long time and involve many uncertainties, he said that Japan should allow effective international supervision on the water disposal, address the legitimate concerns of its neighbors and Pacific island countries, and hold meaningful consultations with stakeholders. Li Song, China's permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna, also decried Japan's "extremely irresponsible act" of pushing ahead with its discharge plan despite international opposition. Li urged Japan to respond to the concerns of the international community and refrain from arbitrarily discharging contaminated water into the ocean. Such water disposal is a highly controversial issue that needs to be seriously and prudently addressed by the international community and IAEA member states, the Chinese envoy said. Instead of endorsing Japan's discharge plan, the IAEA should maintain its scientific, impartial and transparent approach and lead the establishment of a long-term international monitoring system that involves laboratories and experts from China and other stakeholders, he said. China will participate in the relevant work of the IAEA with a strong sense of responsibility, Li said. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen persuaded House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to meet in the US due to security worries, the Financial Times said, a move that appeared aimed at avoiding another crisis with China. Most Read from Bloomberg Tsais government shared intelligence with McCarthy about threats posed by Beijing, the newspaper reported, citing a senior Taiwanese official, who added that risks could be limited if Washington and Taipei worked to control them. McCarthy has said he wanted to visit Taipei at some point. A separate official from Taiwan said McCarthy viewed the concerns as reasonable, the Financial Times said, and that Tsais representatives suggested a meeting in the US while the president stopped over on a trip to Central America. Taiwans representative office in the US declined to comment on the report. The Foreign Ministry in Taipei said in a statement it didnt have any information to offer on Tsais trip, adding it would brief the public when the details are confirmed. Read: Xi Woos Taiwan Opposition Ahead of Pivotal Presidential Vote China responded to then-House speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei in August by holding unprecedented military exercises in areas all around Taiwan, which appeared to show it could enforce a blockade of the island that Beijing views as its territory. The Peoples Liberation Army also fired missiles over Taiwan. The US said that China overreacted to the trip, the first by a sitting House speaker in 25 years. China has eased up its military pressure on Taiwan of late. The island holds a presidential election next year that Beijings preferred negotiating partner, the opposition Kuomintang, has a chance to win. Story continues Tsai will leave office after serving the maximum two, four-year terms. --With assistance from Nick Wadhams and Cindy Wang. (Updates with comment from Taiwans Foreign Ministry.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Ben Blanchard and Ryan Woo TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Taiwan will not allow "repeated provocations" from China, the island's defence minister said on Tuesday, as China's foreign minister said Taiwan was the "first red line" that must not be crossed in Sino-U.S. relations. Tensions over democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, have spiked over the past three years as Beijing ramps up diplomatic and military pressure to get Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty. China staged war games near Taiwan in August to protest the Taipei visit of then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen plans to meet current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States in coming weeks, two sources told Reuters. Speaking to reporters at parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said he was not aware of a planned meeting between Tsai and McCarthy. "The Chinese communists use any reason to send troops," Chiu said. "But we won't just say 'bring it on'. We will take a peaceful and rational approach." Although it hopes this does not happen, Taiwan's military is prepared to fight, he added. "If the Chinese communists move again, the armed forces' job is to fight," Chiu said. "We won't allow repeated provocations against us. We can't accept that." Taiwan's government has not announced a Tsai visit to the United States, which previously she has made as stop-overs on the way to countries which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in Latin America and the Caribbean. Taking lawmakers' questions, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said it was "inappropriate" to talk about foreign travel arrangements for the president "before there are definite plans". McCarthy has also not confirmed a meeting with Tsai. 'INTERNAL AFFAIR' In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said it was "absurd" for U.S. officials to say that Taiwan is not an internal affair of China's. Story continues "The Taiwan question is the core of the core interests of China, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations," he said on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament. "The United States has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question." China will keep working for "peaceful reunification", but reserves the right to take all necessary measures, Qin said. "No one should ever underestimate the firm resolve strong will and great capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's territorial claims though has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing, and says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. One of the sources told Reuters that should the U.S. meeting go forward - likely in April - it did not necessarily rule out McCarthy visiting Taiwan in the future. Four other sources - including U.S. officials and people with knowledge of the U.S. and Taiwan administrations' thinking - said both sides were deeply uneasy that a future visit by McCarthy would severely increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait at a time when the island is preparing for its own presidential election early next year. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Ryan Woo; Editing by Stephen Coates) Tarrant County College settled with a former employee in a discrimination suit which helped set a precedent for protecting LGBTQ employees from discrimination. In 2019, Amanda Sims filed a lawsuit against Tarrant County College on the allegation that the college discriminated against and eventually fired her because she is a lesbian. Tarrant County College settled the suit by paying Sims $45,000. When the Star-Telegram contacted Tarrant County College for comment on the suit Monday, a representative said the staff member who handles requests was out of town and hung up the phone. The suit said the discrimination started after Sims revealed to her supervisor that she was gay. The supervisor expressed religious views that held gay people in a negative light and once said to Sims: I have to overlook my bias when it comes to you, according to the suit. I was a good employee who worked my heart out for TCC students, Sims, who worked for TCC for three years as a coordinator with student groups, said in a news release Monday from her attorneys office. When I stood up for who I was and filed my complaint is when they decided to come after me. After Sims reported to the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission that Tarrant County College was discriminating against her, the college put her on administrative leave and fired her, the suit says. Sims suit was initially filed under the Texas Constitution and the Texas Whistleblower Act, which protects employees from being retaliated against for good faith reporting. Tarrant County College filed a motion for a judge to dismiss the suit, but Dallas County 116th Civil District Court Judge Tonya Parker denied the motion. The college appealed Parkers decision, which led to the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas hearing arguments in the case. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the Georgia case of Bostock v. Clayton County and made a ruling that changed the fate of Sims case. In June 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ employees are protected from employment discrimination under federal law. Story continues On March 10, 2021, the Fifth District Court of Appeals used Sims case to align Texas state law with the federal decision made in Bostock. The justices ruled the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act must extend its protections to include discrimination based on a persons sexual or gender orientation. Because of the ruling, the justices found Sims lawsuit could be brought under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, which enforces state laws prohibiting employment and housing discrimination. The Courts message to employers could not be clearer: Texas law makes it illegal to discriminate against gay and lesbian employees, said Sims attorney, Jason Smith. When the case was sent back to the trial court, Parker rejected Tarrant County Colleges assertion that there was no evidence of sexual orientation discrimination, and the case was set for trial on Jan. 30. The Friday before the trial date, Sims and Tarrant County College reached a tentative settlement on Jan. 27. On Feb. 21, the Tarrant County College Board of Trustees approved the settlement agreement. Im glad I stood up for myself and that other gays and lesbians will be protected as a result, Sims said in the release from Smiths law firm. Late last month, Artifact, a personalized news reader built by Instagrams co-founders, opened to the public. The launch was a surprise to many consumers, who wondered why the team behind one of the world's most iconic social apps would return to startups to focus on one of the toughest areas instead: news. It's an ecosystem where publishers are failing left and right and misinformation is rampant, as the founders surely saw themselves while working at Facebook. In an interview, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom explains what drew him to this space and how his new app's underlying technology will serve to differentiate it from the competition. The startup's existence, in some ways, can be credited to the COVID pandemic, as that's what brought the Instagram co-founders, Systrom and Mike Krieger, back together. During the early days of the pandemic in 2020, the co-founders teamed up for the first time since leaving Facebook to create a COVID-19 dashboard called Rt.live that tracked the spread of the virus across the U.S. But in later months, other COVID trackers emerged and people were no longer as interested in tracking the virus's spread on a state-by-state basis. Invigorated by the experience, the founders began then to think about returning to work on a "real company" instead of a public good side project. Machine learning is the "future of social" AI - artificial intelligence CPU concept. Machine learning. CPU on the board with glow tracks. Background scientific concept in blue light, 3D illustration Image Credits: Usis / Getty Images Deciding on their next act took time. The founders hacked around on stuff for a year and a half or so after their initial collaboration, Systrom says. The founder, who describes himself as a "very frameworks-driven person," knew he wanted to do something that involved machine learning, having seen its power at Instagram. "It was super fascinating to me to work on it at Instagram and watch it go from a company without machine learning to a company driven by machine learning," he says. "I also witnessed the rise of TikTok and realized how important machine learning would be for the future of social." Story continues He himself observed how social networking's underlying graph had changed a lot over the years, watching as Facebook invented what's now known as the "friend graph" -- a user's personal social network of real-life connections. Later, he saw Twitter pioneer the "follow graph," or a graph of connections based on the user's explicit choices of who they want to follow on a service. Then, at Instagram, Systrom saw firsthand the shift from the "follow graph" to the "inferred graph" or, rather, the "interest graph." This, he explains, was basically a "follow graph" powered by machine learning, instead of by users clicking a button. The potential to leverage machine learning and an interest graph within a new product appealed to him, he says. "We looked for an area that was social in nature, but where we could apply 20% new techniques -- and that would be the machine learning side of what we're doing," Systrom says, describing how the founders narrowed their focus. Fixing a broken news ecosystem Image Credits: jayk7 (opens in a new window) / Getty Images The other consideration that prompted the founders' interest in news, more specifically, was the potential impact if the app succeeded. They wanted to work on a startup they felt the world needed, Systrom says. No doubt, some of that interest may have been fueled by working at Facebook (now Meta), which had changed consumers' news consumption behavior, impacting publishers as well as the spread of misinformation. "It felt like our consumption of information -- both factual, balanced, entertaining, etc. -- had an existential crisis," Systrom tells TechCrunch. Plus, he adds, "many of the people producing this content are going out of business." Meanwhile, on the consumer side of the news reading experience, there's so much information swirling around that people don't know what they can trust or which item to read. People are asking themselves if a link shared by a friend is actually legit and they're wondering why they're reading one article over the many others published on the same topic. "It might be cheesy to say, because I've now said it a bunch of times, but I feel like the worst part about social media is that it's social," Systrom says. "I think the 'social' part of social media -- for a long time, in terms of information consumption -- has been a hack to filter for information that would be interesting to you. But we now don't need that hack, because we can learn what's interesting to you," he continues. "We can quantify it. We can build profiles. And then we can serve you content that is both high-quality, balanced and interesting to you." This realization led to the creation of Artifact, a social news app powered by machine learning. Image Credits: Artifact personalization and stats The app in some ways is very much like others that exist today, which have been founded in other countries, including ByteDance's Toutiao in China, Japan's SmartNews and News Break, another personalized news reader with Chinese roots. Like its rivals, Artifact learns from user behavior, engagement and other factors in order to personalize which headlines are presented and in which order. Despite this competitive landscape, Systrom believes U.S. news consumers want an option that's actually based in their home market. "They want a domestic player with a team they trust," Systrom says, speaking to the news aggregation landscape in the U.S. His comment is a timely one, given how tensions in the U.S. have been growing over China's grip on the social networking market with TikTok. The short video app, which is often used as a source for news by Gen Z, is now banned on government phones and bipartisan legislation to further police it is in the works. Clearing out the clickbait In addition to its locale, Systrom believes Artifact will be able to differentiate itself based on its unique combination of technology and taste -- a directive that could also be used to describe Instagram's founding for that matter. Unlike Facebook -- which became a platform by which any publisher could deliver news, and oftentimes clickbait -- Artifact's news sources are curated up front, the founder explains. "When I say taste, I mean the top of the funnel in our system -- the publishers we choose to distribute," notes Systrom. "It's not a free-for-all. We don't crawl the entire web and just let everything go in." Instead, Artifact has selected the top publishers across different categories to fuel the content in the app. Customers can add their own paid subscriptions, as well. At this time, Artifact doesn't sell those for a revenue share or involve itself in publishers' ad sales, though one day that could change, depending on how the app chooses to monetize. For now, however, the focus is on gaining traction with consumers and ensuring the app's news sources are worth reading. Screenshot of Artifact app. Image Source: Artifact "The line, internally...is we want a balanced ideological corpus, subject to integrity and quality," Systrom says. "And the idea is not that we only choose left-wing, or we only choose right-wing. We drew the line at quality and integrity subject to a bunch of the metrics that a lot of these third-party fact-checking services have. The third-party services basically rate the integrity of different publishers based on their research and based on public events -- like how quickly they correct their stories, whether their funding is transparent, all that kind of stuff," he notes. "You can claim it's editorial," he continues. "But it's more about making sure that the set that we're going to distribute and pour into this powerful machine -- that can distribute content widely -- that we're being responsible by giving it content that isn't going to be misinformation." Beyond the integrity of reporting, Artifact aims to deliver a news experience that's more fulfilling. "If you log on to a lot of these other sources, you get pretty clickbaity-stuff," Systrom points out. "I'm not trying to throw shade on folks working in this area, but we wouldn't work on it if we thought that it was solved. We focus a lot in our system on a different objective, which is this idea of value...if we put in the top-quality sources in these categories and we have coverage -- whether it's parenting or mental wellness, or exercise -- that we can create a differentiated content set that feels much different than the front page of a major newspaper but also feels very different than a lot of the other aggregators," he says. Yet, even as the app personalizes its content selection to the end user, it doesn't leave them in so-called "filter bubbles," necessarily, as Facebook did. Instead, when users click on a headline to read a story, they're shown the entire coverage across sources, allowing them to peruse the story from different vantage points. Artifact's recommendation system Artifact displayed on smartphone laid on colored tiles/blocks Image Credits: Artifact Systrom credits Toutiao for driving innovation in recommendation systems, noting that Toutiao essentially helped ByteDance give birth to TikTok. The technology developed for its news discovery was brought to its acquisition of Musical.ly, which became the Chinese app Douyin and its international counterpart TikTok. But Systrom believes some of the machine learning that Artificat is doing is different. "The machine learning that a lot of what we're doing is based on was invented in 2017 at Google. It's called the transformer...without that, GPT 3, 3.5 etc., wouldn't exist. Without that, you wouldn't have DALL-E. Without that, you wouldn't have ChatGPT," he says. "You're inventing a core technology that can then be applied in many different ways." The app's algorithms are focused on more than just tracking clicks and engagement. It weighs other factors, too, like dwell time, read time, shares, stories that get shared in DMs (private messages) and more. "If you let your algorithm focus on clicks, it will end up serving clickbait. If you simply optimize for only what people have clicked on, you end up having tunnel vision," Systrom explains. The model additionally involves an algorithm called Epsilon-Greedy. "That's a technical term for you taking some small portion of your time -- like 10% or 20% -- and you explore. You do something different than you would normally do...you go to the outside of the recommendation spectrum rather than the core of it," Systrom says. "It's shown many, many times, especially in reinforcement learning, that having this 'explore' budget we'll call it, actually is optimal for users." That's the same reason why TikTok has begun testing tools that let users refresh their feeds. Without the added spice of unexpected content, the video app's suggestions had grown stale for some users. But because the news changes every day, Artifact's use of this Epsilon-Greedy algorithm also has to adapt as users' own interests in topics grow and wane. For example, someone might be very into reading about the upcoming elections up until Election Day has passed. Or a new story may immediately capture their attention when it comes out of nowhere, as the story about the Chinese spy balloon did. Artifact's editorial consideration, if you can call it that, will also come into how the app's algorithm is programmed, not just its publisher selections. "Actually, building the algorithm is enormously editorial," Systrom says. "Because what you choose to train your algorithm on -- the objective function, the data you put in, the data you include, the data you don't include -- is all in editorial judgment. The way you weight different objectives." "All of the edge a company has is in its ability to wrangle the data in such a way that produces an outcome that's optimal," Systrom says. If anything is Artifact's secret sauce, it's that. Does Artifact have a future? Whether all this tech and "taste" is enough for Artifact to succeed remains to be seen. The U.S. news aggregation landscape is not like China's. And here, Artifact will have to fight against the default ways people access news, including through the news apps that come bundled with their smartphones, as well as the large internet portals like Google and Facebook, and some extent, YouTube and TikTok too. At launch, Artifact added new functionality, including a new feature that allows users to track how they've been engaging with the app and its content in a metrics section, which shows a list of publishers and topics they've been reading. Over time, Artifact plans to let users adjust which topics they want to see more and less of, or even block publishers. They'll also later be able to socialize through comment threads around the stories themselves, in what could be a stealth competitor to Twitter -- an app that's seen a small exodus in the wake of Elon Musk's takeover. (In fact, Artifact just added a feature similar to Twitter's with its ability to show you articles trending in your network, if you sync your contacts to the service.) As for Artifact's future, Systrom says he hopes it will eventually become a place where users can go, first and foremost, to discover content around their interests and be able to discuss them with others. That said, it's still immeasurably hard for a new consumer app to gain traction without fueling customer acquisition costs with buckets of money. But one thing the team learned from building Instagram, is that Facebook can be a useful tool for gaining adoption. Many of its first users found the app by way of Instagram photos posted to Facebook. "It turns out that Artifact is actually very similar," Systrom says. "People discover articles and they want to share them elsewhere...You can share an article from Artifact and it has our branding and it has our domain and URL. It works fairly well for top-of-mind awareness." He's not all that worried that this would have him wading into Facebook's territory, which to some represents an unbeatable giant. "I might be a contrarian here, but I think the window has always been open [for new social experiences]. The question is whether or not people choose to attack it and if the right people choose to attack it. I could have never predicted that Snapchat would have risen during Instagram, which obviously had a stronghold on images and social -- there was no way to predict there was an opening there. There's no way to predict that TikTok would have come about when Snap and Instagram were so big. I think these things are far more random than you think." These changes tend to be around fundamental changes in technology, like the interest graph, Systrom says. But, he adds, "I do think we see this wave of machine learning right now that opens up an enormous window to do new things in social." Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County officials praised the impending signing of a bill Tuesday that would require people charged with violent crimes to serve all or most of their sentence. The praise came as part of a morning press conference about the city's 2022 crime statistics. The city saw 38.82 property crimes per 1,000 people and 6.21 violent crimes per 1,000 people both slight increases from the numbers seen in 2021, although violent crimes were still below the 2020 peak of 6.55 per 1,000 people. Those numbers are growing at a slower rate than the city's population, up to 208,884 in 2022 from 202,600 in 2021. And Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said while some crime categories had seen increases, the city was also clearing crimes at rates much higher than the national average. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken speaks at a press conference on the city's crime statistics Crime is always a topic of conversation, but despite the perception, Sioux Falls is, and continues to be, a safe city," Thum wrote in a press release distributed alongside the press conference. Still, Thum and Mayor Paul TenHaken said it didn't mean they could relax. "Crime in a community is not the responsibility solely of the police," TenHaken said, naming off the collaboration required between groups like the state's Unified Judicial System, the Department of Corrections and the city who all need to work together to keep a city safe. Specifically, he noted, "we can catch the bad guys but, if the UJS and the court system doesn't allow us to put the right sentences in place or the parole system lets people out who shouldn't be out, we have a cyclical recidivism effort." More:Lawmakers vote to fundamentally change how South Dakota handles parole for violent offenders And both of them spoke positively about Senate Bill 146, also known as the Truth in Sentencing bill, as something that could improve safety in the city. TenHaken said the bill was born from discussions during "Safe South Dakota," a group of city, county and state officials representing Minnehaha and Pennington counties who have begun meeting on a monthly basis to discuss public safety topics. Story continues The bill would require those convicted of 13 violent crimes including first-degree manslaughter and first-degree human trafficking to serve the full sentence given to them by a judge, without the possibility of receiving credits for a shortened term. Those convicted of another set of 10 violent crimes could receive such credits after serving at least 85% of their sentence. House lawmakers approved the bill last week on a 53-17 vote, and it's now headed to the desk of Gov. Kristi Noem, though opposition to the bill came from several Republicans, including Rep. Tim Reisch, R-Howard, a former Corrections Secretary. More:Parolees speak out about why Sioux Falls has become their landing spot after prison "The reality is that if this bill passes, even more crimes are likely to occur, because inmates will release from prison without supervision, without having to take random drug tests, and without being required to attend AA or other community based programs," said Reisch. "They'll be unencumbered by that pesky parole agent and for the most part, free to do whatever they want to." Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Haggar said the bill is focused on violent crimes, and does not take judge's discretion in handing down sentences. "What this bill primarily does is help restore faith in our criminal justice system with victims," Haggar said, with victims able to be confident that a sentence will be served in or close to full. Haggar said rehabilitation was also a crucial aspect of the criminal justice system, but that across the board, there needed to be a focus on what was and wasn't working. Should Noem sign the bill into law, it will go into effect on July 1. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls crime: Mayor, Police Chief praise Truth in Sentencing bill A Tennessee state representative has apologized after proposing that the state make public hangings a valid form of execution. The comment has drawn significant horror and backlash within the state and across social media, where a video of the lawmakers remarks went viral. The controversy comes as debates over the death penalty and racism in the criminal justice system continue throughout the country. The post Tennessee Republican Lawmaker Apologizes For Lynching Amendment Suggestion appeared first on Blavity. Rep. Paul Sherrells remarks came on February 28, as Republican Dennis Powers proposed legislation that would revive the use of firing squads as a form of state-administered execution for death row inmates. I think its a very good idea, Sherrell said of the firing squad proposal before adding, Could I put an amendment on that it would include hanging by a tree, also? At the time, Sherrells suggestion drew little reaction from the other legislators in the room. However, significant outrage to the remarks grew from several sources. Tennessee Republican state legislator Paul Sherrell says on the floor of the House he wants to bring back lynching, announced writer Chris Evans in a tweet about the proposal. NEW: Tennessee Republican state legislator Paul Sherrell says on the floor of the House he wants to bring back lynching. pic.twitter.com/6O2hclTeBI chris evans (@notcapnamerica) March 1, 2023 This is UNREAL! exclaimed civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Twitter. This is UNREAL! Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell proposed Tennessee amend their death penalty to include HANGING by tree during a House Criminal Justice Committee meeting! How in 2023 can a government official have such a grotesque suggestion leave his mouth?! : @thetnholler pic.twitter.com/ZaSMotHvcP Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) March 2, 2023 The Tennessee Holler posted Sherrells remarks and noted he is the same legislator who proposed changing the name of John Lewis Way to Trump Boulevard. Story continues WATCH: Rep. Paul Sherrell (R-Sparta) wants to bring HANGING BY A TREE back to Tennessee as an amendment to @DennisHPowers firing squad bill. (Reminder: SHERRELL also had a bill to change John Lewis Way to Trump Blvd) pic.twitter.com/9aSTinwKAo The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) March 1, 2023 Faced with the backlash over his comments, Rep. Sherrell apologized for his suggestion while doubling down on his support for the death penalty. I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been hurt or offended, Sherrell said on Wednesday, according to a report by The Tennessean. Nevertheless, Sherrell claimed that his hanging comments were not to be taken literally, but he supported the death penalty. My exaggerated comments were intended to convey my belief that for the cruelest and most heinous crimes, a just society requires the death penalty in kind, Sherrell explained, adding that he was attempting to advocate for the families of crime victims by supporting the death penalty. The original proposal to bring back the firing squad in Tennessee replaced the states lethal injection procedure, dismissing objections from groups like the Southern Christian Coalition that reject the death penalty altogether and warn against going back to the dark days of Jim Crow. The Equal Justice Initiative has identified 236 instances of Black people being lynched in Tennessee between 1877 and 1950. These examples of mob violence against Black people in Tennessee were part of a campaign of terror against Black people during this period; the EJI has documented 4,400 instances of lynching across 12 states. Shockingly, lynching was not designated a federal hate crime until 2022 with the passage of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. Even as Congress has belatedly outlawed lynching, various states are debating expansions to the death penalty. In addition to the Tennessee debate, Republicans in Idaho recently voted to add a firing squad as a form of execution in that state. And former President Donald Trump has reportedly indicated that if he wins reelection, he will expand the use of the federal death penalty and increase options to include firing squads, hangings or possibly even guillotines. These Republican efforts to expand the death penalty appear to be part of a trend toward more extreme proposals and laws from the GOP. Meanwhile, the specific debate over capital punishment feeds into a discussion driven by progressives over the injustices of the criminal justice system. Even with Sherrells partial apology, the topic in Tennessee and across the country is far from over. [Source] On Tuesday, the Taling Chan Criminal Court sentenced a man to two years in jail for the distribution of calendars containing cartoon ducks that allegedly mock Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X. The 26-year-old, whom the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) identified as "Ton Mai," sold the Yellow Duck Calendar 2021 through a Facebook page that shared the same name as Thai anti-establishment group Ratsadorn. While the ducks themselves did not look like the monarch, accompanying phrases and the ducks attire could be interpreted as satirizing the king and his family members, a prosecutor reported. In one image, a duck can be seen wearing a sash with medallions along with the text No.10, allegedly to represent Rama X. In another, a duck was pictured wearing a black crop top that was similar to one worn by the king in a tabloid photo. In total, the court ruled that six of the calendars photos were made to imitate the king. More from NextShark: Anti-Asian hate bills unanimously passed in California now await Gov. Newsom's approval (1/2) BREAKING: Criminal Court on Tues sentenced a man to 2 yrs in jail for defaming king by selling calendars on FB with photos of yellow ducks interpreted as mocking the king. The duck wore a sash with medallians & the word No.10 interpreted as Rama X, said TLHR. #Thailand Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) March 7, 2023 More from NextShark: Army vet charged for attacking 7 NYC Asian women had mental issues, wanted to learn Japanese, mother says Ton Mai was charged under Thailands lese-majeste law, which punishes those convicted of insulting or threatening monarchy members with three to 15 years in prison. Though he was initially sentenced to three years in jail, the court later reduced it to two years without parole for his cooperation with the courts orders. Story continues TLHR reported that 233 people have been prosecuted for royal defamation under lese-majeste laws since November 2020. More from NextShark: Queens man with history of violence charged for attacking 2-year-old sitting in a stroller Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! San Jose robbery crew suspects charged with hate crimes for targeting over 100 Asian American women BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday agreed to waive corporate income tax and value-added tax for companies that issue digital tokens for investment, a government spokeswoman said. Companies will have access to alternative ways of raising capital through investment tokens in addition to traditional methods like debentures, Rachada Dhnadirek told reporters at a news conference. The government estimates that there will be 128 billion baht ($3.71 billion) worth of investment token offerings over the next two years, Rachada said, and that the government would lose tax revenue worth 35 billion baht. Cryptocurrencies have gained popularity in Thailand in recent years after the country's Securities Exchange Commission began regulating digital assets. Last year, the government relaxed tax rules in crypto trading to promote industry development. The country's central bank and other regulators, however, have banned the use of digital assets as a means of payments, saying it could impact the country's financial stability and overall economy. Cabinet separately also approved support measures for electricity use and import duty exemption for components of electric vehicles, including batteries. ($1 = 34.5700 baht) (Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat) Police crime photos of assault rifles and handguns are displayed during a news conference near the site of a mass shooting in San Bernardino in 2015. (Associated Press) To best understand California's desire to uphold its bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, consider recent history. In January, a man armed with a 9-millimeter MAC-10 with an extended magazine, a gun prohibited under state laws, massacred 11 people and injured nine others at a Monterey Park dance studio where mostly older patrons were celebrating the Lunar New Year. Assault-style weapons that are banned in California were also used to slaughter 19 elementary school students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, in May, and five patrons of a queer club in Colorado Springs in November. Over the last decade, the same sort of guns were used in many of the worst mass shootings in the country, mowing down high school students and teachers, concert-goers and church parishioners, nightclub patrons and county employees. However, in the high-stakes legal battles currently being waged over California's bans in federal court where decisions are anticipated soon America's gruesome modern history with the powerful weapons hasn't been the focus. Instead, lawyers for the state and gun rights groups seeking to overturn the bans have been arguing over the relevance of much older laws governing very different weapons. In the case over the assault weapons ban, recent filings have focused on a New Jersey law enacted in 1771 that prohibited people from setting up "trap guns" to fire at animals or intruders who tripped a rope. In the case over high-capacity magazines, part of the focus has been on a New York law enacted in 1784 that limited to 28 pounds the amount of gunpowder that could be stored in any one place in New York City. Such is the nature of recent litigation in a whole host of consequential gun cases both in California and across the country in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's monumental pro-gun rights decision last summer in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. vs. Bruen. In the Bruen decision, the high court took an originalist view of the Constitution and ruled that restrictions on firearms violate the 2nd Amendment if they arent deeply rooted in the nation's history, or at least analogous to some historical rule. The high court also rejected another legal precedent, long relied on by states such as California in defending gun laws, that held that firearm restrictions could also be legitimate if they served a compelling state interest such as preventing mass shootings. Story continues While leaving space for restrictions with historical precedent, such as those against particularly "dangerous and unusual" weapons, the ruling nonetheless exploded modern American jurisprudence around gun control. It forced judges to start disregarding current government interests in passing modern gun control measures and had them focus instead on whether the framers of the U.S. Constitution or some other long-dead lawmakers had ever approved similar governmental limits on the right to bear arms. Gun rights proponents have praised the Supreme Court's reframing of the debate and its focus on the intentions of the Constitution's authors. But others have blasted the high court as out of touch with reality and willfully blind to the tremendous violence such weapons could inflict if they are allowed to proliferate more than they already have. "This new 'history and tradition' test that the Supreme Court established last June is wreaking havoc on America's gun laws," said Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who focuses on 2nd Amendment law. "Instead of having a reasonable debate over whether a ban on assault weapons is good policy or not, we have to debate whether a ban on assault weapons has historical antecedents." UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky put it more bluntly: "It's all about the absurdity of originalism." At stake in California When the Supreme Court's decision in Bruen came down, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had several legal challenges to California gun laws before it and promptly sent them back down to the lower courts to be re-litigated there. Three major cases those to do with the assault weapons ban and the high-capacity magazine ban, plus a third over ammunition background checks are all now before U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, who is well known for his past rulings striking down gun laws. A fourth 2nd Amendment case before Benitez involves a challenge to California's ban on billy clubs. Other district court judges are reconsidering a second challenge to the assault weapons ban and a challenge to California's law barring certain semiautomatic rifle sales to adults younger than 21. In the four cases before him, Benitez ordered the state to identify historical laws analogous and "relevantly similar to" each of the laws being challenged. In response, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office conducted an exhaustive review of centuries of weapons law to prove that government restrictions are nothing new, especially when it comes to particularly dangerous weapons. In the assault weapons case, Bonta's office submitted two spreadsheets to the court outlining 316 different laws it considered relevant, starting with a 1383 English law that banned the possession of launcegays, or medieval throwing spears, and ending with an early 1930s law in Wisconsin that banned the possession of machine guns, hand grenades and other explosives. The collection of laws, the state argued, showed that "governments have adopted laws like the challenged [assault weapons ban] consistent with the 2nd Amendment restricting particular weapons and weapons configurations that pose a danger to society and are especially likely to be used by criminals, so long as the restriction leaves available other weapons for constitutionally protected uses." A page from a pdf document showing a table chart listing gun laws A page from a pdf document showing a table chart listing gun laws The state argued that its assault weapons ban, which has stood for three decades, restricts a specific category of weapons that are particularly dangerous, incorporate substantial technological advances from past weaponry, represent a relatively small portion of guns owned in America, are designed more for military-style offensive firing than self-defense and have played an outsize role in the devastating modern phenomenon of mass shootings. In response, Benitez ordered the state to file another brief, this time limited to five pages and focused on only the most relevant historic law the state's lawyers had found. The state questioned the appropriateness of that exercise by noting the Supreme Court did not call for governments to find a single "dead ringer" for their modern law among historical statutes, but to show that their current law would have been consistent with historical readings of the Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. "In assessing the constitutionality of a modern firearm regulation especially in a case implicating 'unprecedented societal concerns or dramatic technological changes,' " the state wrote, "... the historical analysis cannot be limited to the assessment of a single past law." Still, the state offered its lone analog: the 1771 New Jersey "trap gun" law. The state argued that law banned guns that had certain features attached to them namely rope or string for tripping the traps. Likewise, it said, California's assault weapons ban does not prohibit the possession of all semiautomatic rifles or pistols, just those equipped with certain accessories such as a pistol grip or a flash suppressor. "The burdens are comparably minimal because they restrict only 'the manner in which persons may exercise their 2nd Amendment rights' and do not 'bar firearm possession completely,' " the state argued. The coalition of gun rights proponents challenging the ban has offered vociferous rebuttals to the state's arguments. They have argued assault weapons banned by California's law are "incredibly popular and common," are not particularly dangerous and are used for self-defense. And they have said the historical analogs selected by the state were not analogous to the assault weapons ban at all. The New Jersey ban on "trap guns," for instance, was "far from a sufficient justification for Californias unconstitutional ban on common semiautomatic arms," they wrote, because it "was a ban on conduct (the setting of a trap using a firearm), not a prohibition on the possession of a 'dangerous unusual weapon' or any particular set of characteristics." They also argued that the state's repeated references to mass shootings were irrelevant to the discussion, given the high court's Bruen decision, and that the notion that the nation's founders couldn't have conceived of mass shootings as they exist today was "simply history reimagined." "Knowing full well the potential of mass violence and killing, the Founders did not suppose that a greater government would provide an antidote," the challengers wrote. "To the contrary, they enshrined the pre-existing right of the People to defend themselves against such evils into this Nation's constitution and enacted an enduring bulwark against the government's infringement of that sacred right." Similar back-and-forth debates have played out in the other California gun cases before Benitez. What happens next Legal experts who have been following the California gun cases have little doubt Benitez will rule against the state and declare the laws unconstitutional. Benitez already declared the assault weapons ban unconstitutional when it first came before him in 2021, before the Bruen decision was handed down, in a decision in which he famously compared the AR-15 to a Swiss Army Knife. In that decision, Benitez rejected the idea that firearms such as the AR-15 are particularly dangerous and unusual which might justify a ban. He instead called them "average" weapons that are commonplace in American homes. "The banned 'assault weapons' are not bazookas, howitzers, or machineguns," he wrote. "Those arms are dangerous and solely useful for military purposes." In the same opinion, Benitez noted that AR-15 platform rifles are "ideal" for use by militias, which he said was another reason the ban ran afoul of the 2nd Amendment. "Quite apart from its practicality as a peacekeeping arm for home-defense, a modern rifle can also be useful for war," Benitez wrote. Given that and other past rulings, experts believe Benitez is poised to overturn the California gun laws that are now before him thanks to Bruen though it's unclear when. His won't be the last word on the matter, however. "He's just a step in this process," Chemerinsky said. "Benitez isn't ultimately going to decide." For example, if Benitez strikes down the assault weapons ban, the state is expected to once again appeal the case to the 9th Circuit. And depending on the decision there, it could be appealed once more to the Supreme Court. Bonta, in a statement, said the state's gun laws have helped California reach "one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country" on a per capita basis, and his office will "continue to push forward" in its efforts to save lives. "The 2nd Amendment is not a regulatory straitjacket," he said. "States have the power to protect their communities and provide reasonable safeguards to allow citizens to carry out their business and live freely." Legal experts are skeptical the assault weapons ban will fare well if it does reach the Supreme Court, but they aren't as uniformly convinced about the outcome there as they are with Benitez. Eugene Volokh is a UCLA law professor who teaches about gun regulations. He has done consulting work in the past for the Firearms Policy Coalition, which is one of the plaintiffs suing to overturn the state's assault weapons ban, but he has not worked for them on that case. Volokh said assault weapons as defined by California can be dangerous and deadly, just like all guns. But he questioned whether they are any more deadly or dangerous than other guns that are not banned. And that along with the fact that they aren't particularly unusual in the U.S. probably negates any argument for upholding the ban that isn't based on a more precisely analogous historical law, he said. Whether the courts will consider any of the hundreds of historical laws that California has cited as sufficiently analogous to make the ban constitutional under Bruen remains to be seen, Volokh said. UCLA's Winkler said assessing modern gun laws based only on whether a similar law existed in the distant past may be absurd, but it's how the law works now because of Bruen and "the path for the assault weapons ban and several other California gun laws is not promising." Benitez was correct in finding that assault weapons are common in American society, Winkler said, and that undermines any argument that they are both dangerous and unusual. "Dangerous and unusual are two different things," Winkler said. "It's hard to say these guns are not in common use for lawful purposes. Recreational shooters across the country have bought millions." Chemerinsky said he believes there is a strong legal argument that assault weapons, as defined by California, are particularly dangerous and subject to regulation, and he hopes the higher courts will see it that way too. To suggest an AR-15 is like a Swiss Army Knife is not only wrong, he said, but offensive to the families of those murdered by such firearms. "AR-15s are military weapons to kill a lot of people in a short amount of time," Chemerinsky said. "There was no weapon in 1791 that could kill so many people so quickly." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Flash Nearly three dozen people have been detained after violence broke out at a police training site in Atlanta, the U.S. state of Georgia, on Sunday, police said. The Atlanta Police Department said in a release that violent agitators conducted "a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers" and that 35 individuals have been detained. Police said more protests have been planned this week and asked for them to remain peaceful. Plans to build the police training facility have met with resistance in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, nearly three years ago. Environmental activists have also protested against the project. Earlier this year, one of the protesters was fatally shot by police officers in the forest where the training center was being built. [Source] Theodore "Ted" Shigeru Kanamine, the U.S. Armys first-ever Japanese American general, died on Thursday at 93. According to Kanamines daughter Linda, the former active duty general died of lung cancer at Linda's home in Naples, Florida. Kanamine, who spent almost 27 years serving the Army, was born on Aug. 29, 1929, to Japanese immigrants and was sent to an incarceration camp in Jerome, Arkansas, with his parents and younger sister at the age of 12, according to The Washington Post. Although he was forced to leave his home in California behind, Kanamine joined the Army and became the most patriotic human being you could imagine, Linda told The Post. She also shared that her father never complained and never disparaged his country or the government. More from NextShark: 'Somebody made a mistake': Details on fatal police shooting of man inside his NJ home are released Throughout his decades-long career, Kanamine notably received several honors, including two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. Despite his numerous accolades, Kanamine considered commanding soldiers in war to be the highlight of his career, as told to his family. He reflected on being given command of the 716th MP Battalion, which provided security to Saigon, as well as serving as an aide-de-camp to Gen. Creighton W. Abrams during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. He notably moved 21 times while in the Army, ultimately becoming a brigadier general in 1976. That year, he made history by becoming the Army's first Japanese American general. More from NextShark: Ex-CEO fired for alleged LSD use files discrimination suit, says startup sacked him for being Asian Kanamine's Army career began after he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Military Police Corps (MP) in 1955. The year prior, he had graduated from the University of Nebraskas law school and married Mary Stuben, a fellow graduate. At the time, Nebraska barred interracial marriage, so the pair got married in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Story continues Following his time in the Army, Kanamine and Mary retired to Florida in 1981. He joined the American Red Cross in St. Lucie County, serving as its disaster chairperson. More from NextShark: Rescuer Reunites Lost Baby Goat With Family in Philippines, Makes Internet Cry In addition to his wife, Kanamine leaves behind their two daughters Linda and Laura; their three sons Ted, Michael, and David; their 12 grandchildren and their 12 great-grandchildren. Kanamine is currently in the care of Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens. A viewing will take place at the funeral home from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, while a funeral mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church will occur in Naples at 11 a.m. on Monday. Kanamine will be buried with full military honors at Sarasota Veterans National Cemetery on March 14 at 2 p.m. More from NextShark: Journalist Andy Ngo loses criminal trial against Oregon journalist John Hacker Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We can see that Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? What Risk Does Debt Bring? Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for Mastercard What Is Mastercard's Net Debt? As you can see below, Mastercard had US$14.0b of debt, at December 2022, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. However, it also had US$7.41b in cash, and so its net debt is US$6.62b. A Look At Mastercard's Liabilities The latest balance sheet data shows that Mastercard had liabilities of US$14.2b due within a year, and liabilities of US$18.2b falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of US$7.41b as well as receivables valued at US$3.43b due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling US$21.5b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined. Of course, Mastercard has a titanic market capitalization of US$349.8b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time. Story continues We measure a company's debt load relative to its earnings power by looking at its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and by calculating how easily its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) cover its interest expense (interest cover). The advantage of this approach is that we take into account both the absolute quantum of debt (with net debt to EBITDA) and the actual interest expenses associated with that debt (with its interest cover ratio). Mastercard's net debt is only 0.49 times its EBITDA. And its EBIT covers its interest expense a whopping 30.8 times over. So you could argue it is no more threatened by its debt than an elephant is by a mouse. Another good sign is that Mastercard has been able to increase its EBIT by 23% in twelve months, making it easier to pay down debt. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Mastercard's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting. Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. So we clearly need to look at whether that EBIT is leading to corresponding free cash flow. Over the last three years, Mastercard recorded free cash flow worth a fulsome 81% of its EBIT, which is stronger than we'd usually expect. That puts it in a very strong position to pay down debt. Our View The good news is that Mastercard's demonstrated ability to cover its interest expense with its EBIT delights us like a fluffy puppy does a toddler. And the good news does not stop there, as its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow also supports that impression! Considering this range of factors, it seems to us that Mastercard is quite prudent with its debt, and the risks seem well managed. So we're not worried about the use of a little leverage on the balance sheet. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Mastercard that you should be aware of. Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Three main avenues of investigation for the plane crash in Brovary, in which the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was killed: violation of flight safety rules, technical malfunction and sabotage, remain on the agenda of the Service Security of Ukraine (SSU) investigation. Source: Ihor Klymenko, Head of Minister of Internal Affairs, in an interview with Ukrinform Quote: "For now, all three main avenues remain viable." Details: Klymenko also noted that all helicopters operated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are currently being inspected, primarily Airbus and, in particular, the Airbus 225 model. As the minister states, this applies to all parts of their use, from repair and maintenance to providing pre-flight tasks and, of course, the work and training of crews. Previously: Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, stated that the investigation has the data from the black boxes of the helicopter that crashed in Brovary, Kyiv Oblast, killing the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! TikTok is staring down yet another potential national ban, as Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) are set to introduce a bipartisan bill seeking to shut the app out of the U.S. The legislation, called the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information Communications Technology Act, or RESTRICT Act, is just the latest effort by Congress to sideline the short-form video app. Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the Deterring Americas Technological Adversaries, or DATA, Act, which would give President Biden the ability to ban the app. Though theres no word on whether the legislation will move to a full House vote. Shares of Meta (META) and Snap (SNAP) were up on the news. TikTok is under ever-increasing scrutiny in Washington, with intelligence agencies saying the app could be used by China to spy on Americans or spread pro-Chinese propaganda. TikTok is owned by China-based parent company ByteDance. Under Chinese law, organizations are required to turn over data to Chinese authorities at their request. The U.S. government has tried to kill TikTok, which has some 100 million U.S. users, before. Former President Trump attempted to force the app to shut down via executive order, though that was blocked in the courts. TikTok is facing a potential national ban. (Image: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports) The U.S. government, states, and foreign governments including the E.U. have already banned TikTok from official devices. While government agencies and politicians have raised concerns about Chinas ability to influence TikTok, theres been little evidence that its actually doing so. In 2022, TikTok migrated all U.S. user data to Oracle servers from its own located in Virginia and Singapore. At the time, the company also had backups on servers based in Singapore but is deleting those, as well. Sign up for Yahoo Finance's tech newsletter. TikTok has denied that it is a threat to U.S. national security, while groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have said an outright ban of the app would violate the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans. Story continues Cybersecurity experts say that TikTok collects the same amount and kind of data as other social media platforms. An investigation by Toronto Universitys Citizen Lab found that TikToks program features and code do not pose a threat to national security. A study by the Georgia Institute of Technologys Internet Governance Project, meanwhile, found that TikTok is a commercially motivated enterprise and not a tool of the Chinese state. The study also found that TikTok is not exporting censorship, either directly by blocking material, or indirectly via its recommendation algorithm. Experts say that the Chinese government could use other means to collect Americans user data, such as by scraping publicly available data from sites like Facebook and Instagram. Chinas government already uses American social networks to spread its own propaganda. Whether a ban on TikTok will hold up is an open question. The company is likely to challenge any law that attempts to keep it from operating out of the U.S. And based on its past success, the company could once again come out on top. Editor's note: Tiktok is working with Oracle to move user data to that company's servers and off of its own in Virginia and Singapore. Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The TikTok logo and the Irish tricolor. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images; Douglas Sacha/Getty Images TikTok executives met with British policy advisers and think tanks on Monday, per the WSJ. The visit was part of "Project Clover," which aims to convince European lawmakers that user data is safe. The codename appears to reference Ireland, where TikTok is planning a second data center. TikTok has reportedly launched a new initiative codenamed "Project Clover" to try to convince European lawmakers that it's safeguarding users' data. Politicians around the world have grown skeptical of the Chinese company amid fears that it could be forced to hand over users' information to the Chinese government or intelligence services. In the US, federal employees have been banned from using the app on government-issued devices since December 2022, per NBC News. TikTok has previously said it wouldn't comply with any demand from China, and has rolled out "Project Clover" in Europe, and "Project Texas" for the US in an attempt to assure politicians. The app nonetheless faces a US ban, with Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Republican Sen. John Thune of Dakota set to introduce a Senate bill Thursday to try and rein in national security threats from foreign tech. In a Monday meeting, TikTok executives told British political advisers and think tanks that they had been speaking with the cybersecurity arm of GCHQ, the UK's intelligence and security organization, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story. Some attendees told the newspaper that, while they appreciated the transparency efforts, they still remain skeptical that TikTok could refuse an order from the Chinese government. A spokesperson for TikTok told Insider the discussion on Monday was part of TikTok's regular engagement with European policymakers. The name "Project Clover" appears to reference one of the national symbols of Ireland where it currently has one data center and plans for a second, per a company statement. Several tech companies, including Apple, Twitter, and Google, have their European headquarters in Ireland, which is known for its low corporate tax rate of 12.5% compared to the US's 21%. A TikTok spokesperson told Insider: "We have been pursuing a strategy of data sovereignty in Europe for some time now and we will be announcing further details on the industry-leading data security measures we will be implementing in Europe in the coming days." Read the original article on Business Insider A Toblerone chocolate bar. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images While Toblerone is one of the world's most famous chocolate bars, it was reported Monday that the brand will soon be stripped of its iconic Matterhorn mountain logo due to a controversy over Swiss regulations. The brand, which has long been manufactured in Bern, Switzerland, uses the mountain, along with the Swiss logo, as part of its distinctive packaging. However, as Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung previously reported, Toblerone's American owners, Mondelez International, are shifting parts of production to Slovakia. This created a headache for Toblerone based on Switzerland's "Swissness laws." According to marketing guidelines from the Swiss government, national symbols can only be used on chocolate products when the milk it contains comes exclusively from Switzerland. At least 80 percent of all other ingredients in the chocolate must also be Swiss-sourced. With Mondelez moving production to Slovakia, Toblerones will no longer be made under these conditions, and the company began looking into changes for the packaging. David Starkle, head of the Swissness enforcement team, told The New York Times that it would've been misleading for Toblerone to continue using the Matterhorn on its packaging, adding, "If anyone will use the Matterhorn for whatever, you don't have any value anymore on Swiss products." Mondelez confirmed in a statement to NPR that it would "remove the Swissness notice on the front of the Toblerone pack" for legal reasons. The company will also change the phrase "of Switzerland" on the box to "founded in Switzerland," though Mondelez reiterated that "Toblerone bars are still and will continue to be produced in Switzerland." While the Matterhorn logo may be gone, Mondelez said that it would continue to pay homage to Switzerland by using "a modernized and streamlined mountain logo that is consistent with the geometric and triangular aesthetic." You may also like Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Why drivers don't want to let go of the stick shift Semen Kryvonos, the newly-appointed head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), has previously held jobs associated with anti-corruption reforms. Kryvonos was appointed as head of the NABU by the Cabinet of Ministers on March 6 after being selected from a shortlist of three people chosen by a commission including foreign experts. However, he has faced corruption accusations himself, with journalists and activists questioning whether his assets are compatible with his official income. Moreover, evidence has emerged that he has links to officials of the Presidents Office, which raises questions about Kryvonos political independence. Under the law, the head of the NABU must be politically neutral and independent from the government. Kryvonos did not respond to a request for comment sent via Facebook. President Volodymyr Zelenskys spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov told the Kyiv Independent that all questions about Kryvonos should be addressed to the selection commission that chose him. The commission and the Cabinet of Ministers did not respond to requests for comment. Dmytro Kuleba Ukraine is calling for the creation of a special tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The creation of the tribunal was supported by the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which have both passed resolutions on the matter. They (the joint investigative group) should make progress on the issue of the form of the tribunal and on the issue of immunities of (Russian President Vladimir) Putins as head of state, and of the prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Kuleba said. Read also: War crimes tribunal to limit geography of Putins trips abroad, says Presidents Office He said that in international law, all countries have such a trio, who enjoy complete immunity from prosecution. And our goal is to definitely solve this issue of immunities, Kuleba said. Legally, its possible, but it is like a delicate neurosurgical operation, to create the legal conditions for the tribunal to operate, he said. He also added that 30 countries already support the creation of a special tribunal for Russia for the crime of aggression. On March 6, Greece joined. On March 4, there were 29 such countries. According to him, joining such a group means agreeing to the need to create a separate special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression. Its task is to work out legal ways to create a tribunal and resolve legal issues. Read also: First Latin American country to support creation of Special Tribunal for Russian Federation On March 3, the United for Justice conference (described as a legal Ramstein) was held in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. It was attended by representatives of European institutions, general prosecutors and ministers of justice of various countries, the president of Latvia, the deputy prime minister of the Netherlands, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and others. The conference was dedicated to restoring justice for Ukraine. Story continues On April 2, 2022, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, announced the immediate start of the investigation into the situation in Ukraine following the appeal of 39 member states of the ICC. Kuleba previously said that a special tribunal is, in fact, the only way to prosecute the highest political and military leadership of Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine You are here: World Flash Thailand and China jointly launched a training program on Monday at Thailand's Chiang Mai University to sharpen e-commerce skills among vocational school students in the Southeast Asian country. The "Chinese Language plus Professional Skills" e-commerce training program features Chinese e-commerce experiences combining with Thai characteristics, according to the training program organizers. The five-day training program, with 65 participating students, provides courses on development of the China-Thailand e-commerce industry, e-commerce platform operations, short video making, e-commerce platforms basics, and network marketing. "Thai vocational students will improve their e-commerce skills while also learning Chinese through this training program," said Somporn Pandam, deputy secretary general of Vocational Education Commission, Thailand's Ministry of Education. According to the official, the training program is a cooperation project between multiple partners in Thailand and China. The training program is part of a series of "Chinese Language plus Professional Skills" projects organized by Chiang Mai University and the Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University, said Pitipong Yodmongkol, vice president of Chiang Mai University. It is expected to help cultivate knowledgeable and capable talents and has become an important force in promoting the exchanges on culture, economy and trade between the two countries, he said. Hao Shumei, vice president of Yunnan Normal University, which provides support for the training program, said the training program will promote the expansion of cultural and economic exchanges between China and Thailand. Data showed over 2,000 Thai vocational school teachers and students have participated in the e-commerce training programs introduced in 2021. East Palestine Train Derailed This video screenshot released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows the site of a derailed freight train in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 3. Credit - NTSBXinhua News Agency/Getty Images Norfolk Southern, the railway company whose train derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, will face an investigation into its safety measures by the National Transportation Safety Board, officials announced Tuesday. Federal investigators pointed to five significant accidents since Dec. 2021. In the latest incident on Tuesday, a Norfolk Southern conductor was killed after being struck by a dump truck at a facility in Cleveland, Ohio. The NTSB is concerned that several organizational factors may be involved in the accidents, including safety culture, the federal agency said in a statement on Tuesday. Of the five accidents highlighted by federal authorities, two included trains that derailed this month. Train derailments are quite common in the U.S. The Department of Transportations Federal Railroad Administration has reported an average of 1,475 train derailments per year between 2005-2021. Despite the relatively high number of derailments, they rarely lead to disaster. The East Palestine derailment was an exception. The derailment included cars carrying vinyl chloride, which is used to make plastic products and can cause cancer at high levels of exposure. In an effort to avoid an explosion, the railroad burned the chemical. The derailment led to the evacuation of the Ohio town, as well as concerns about air and water quality. Federal, state and local officials are still investigating, but so far have maintained that the drinking water and the air is safeeven as a major grocery chain pulled its water that was bottled from a spring 25 miles away. Some residents reported symptoms of dizziness, headaches and rashes. Experts say its unlikely that toxic chemicals could have spread beyond a one-mile radius from the crash site. Story continues The East Palestine derailment, however, has increased attention on railroad safetyand led to questions about whether deregulation has made the railroad industry less safe. How common are train derailments? The Department of Transportation has registered more than 12,400 train derailments over the past decade and of these accidents, roughly 6,600 tank cars were carrying hazardous materials and 348 cars released their contents, according to the Associated Press. Annual fatalities from derailments have been in single digits since 1993; there were no fatalities caused by derailments from 2018-2020 and in 2021 there were three deaths, according to Department of Transportation data. The agency reported 83 injuries related to derailments in 2021, 28 in 2020 and 21 in 2019. An analysis from the Eno Center for Transportation found that less than 1% of railroad incidents involving fatalities occur because of a derailment; the most common reasons for fatalities are trespassing on railroads and trains colliding with vehicles. Other recent train derailments On March 4, Norfolk Southernthe same rail company involved in the East Palestine derailmenthad a train of 212 cars derail in Springfield, Ohio. Kraig Barner, a general manager for Norfolk Southern, said Sunday that 28 of the trains cars had derailed, the New York Times reported. This time, the consequences were not as severe and the crash entailed no risk to the public, officials noted. Ohio Governor MikeDeWine said no hazardous chemicals were on the train, although residents were temporarily requested to shelter in place. Another incident occurred in Trinway, Ohio on Jan. 19 when dozens of train cars derailed on the Ohio Central Railroad. Local officials said the cars were empty and no leaks occurred, the Zanesville Times Recorder reported. At least three derailments occurred in South Carolina this year in Lake City, near Loris and in Enoree. No injuries were reported, although in the Lake City incident, the train hit an unoccupied car that was on the train tracks. On Feb. 18, a train derailed in Belle Ville, Mich.with six train cars out of 30 crashing off the tracks, Reuters reported. A train derails in Michigan with several cars veering off track in Van Buren Township, in Michigan, United States on Feb. 18. Nick HagenAnadolu Agency/Getty Images Calls for greater safety measures Ohio lawmakers are calling for stricter oversight. The railroads got a lot of questions theyve got to answer and they really havent really done it very well yet, Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, told ABCs This Week on Sunday. Brown and fellow Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Republican, have introduced a bill that would require increased planning for disasters as well as limits on train size and weight. Norfolk Southern announced plans for safety upgrades Monday that included using detectors along railroad tracks to anticipate overheating before it leads to a disaster. The company has said that it plans to add about 200 hot bearing detectors to its network. In the East Palestine derailment, investigators learned that hot bearing sensors had flagged high temperatures before a wheel failed on a train car, it but took too long to alert the train crew, according to a Feb. 23 National Transportation Safety Board report. The Federal Railroad Administration has highlighted the importance of these detectors in the aftermath of recent derailmentsas well as ensuring they are adequately inspected by employees; the agency has said overheating bearings were to blame for four other derailments since 2021, according to the AP. However, experts such as Professor Allan Zarembski, who leads the University of Delawares rail engineering and safety program, told the AP that they only cause a handful of the many derailments each year so its important to go beyond a knee-jerk reaction. Key Insights The projected fair value for TransDigm Group is US$585 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity TransDigm Group is estimated to be 32% overvalued based on current share price of US$770 Analyst price target for TDG is US$800, which is 37% above our fair value estimate In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for TransDigm Group Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.28b US$1.59b US$1.81b US$1.93b US$2.02b US$2.09b US$2.15b US$2.21b US$2.26b US$2.32b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x9 Analyst x9 Analyst x9 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.43% Est @ 3.02% Est @ 2.73% Est @ 2.54% Est @ 2.40% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.9% US$1.2k US$1.4k US$1.4k US$1.4k US$1.4k US$1.3k US$1.3k US$1.2k US$1.1k US$1.1k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$13b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$2.3b (1 + 2.1%) (7.9% 2.1%) = US$41b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$41b ( 1 + 7.9%)10= US$19b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$32b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$770, the company appears potentially overvalued at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at TransDigm Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.977. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for TransDigm Group Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Total liabilities exceed total assets, which raises the risk of financial distress. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For TransDigm Group, there are three additional aspects you should assess: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with TransDigm Group (at least 2 which are significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does TDG's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The March 14 trial in the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl in Nelson Township nearly two years ago has been pushed back two months, even as defense attorneys say they have evidence that could exonerate their client. A new trial date of May 9 was set on Monday for Zachary David Blosser, 20, according to Portage County Court of Common Pleas records. This is the ninth time the rial has been continued and rescheduled for Blosser since a grand jury indicted him in the March 2021 death of Kaylee Freitag. According to a motion of continuance filed on Friday, the Portage County Prosecutor's Office requested the trial be rescheduled due to primary prosecutor Steve Michniak being scheduled for "major surgery" on Tuesday following an unspecified medical emergency. Michniak is not expected to return to work for four to six weeks. "The State believes it is necessary for Prosecutor Michniak to be at the trial in this matter," states the motion. In a motion also filed on Friday, defense attorneys Leonard Hazelett and Abigail Schock, both public defenders, objected to the continuance. The defense attorneys claim in their motion that past continuances they have requested were due to the Portage County Sheriff's Office lead investigator in the case failing to provide evidence favorable to Blosser to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for examination. This evidence in question includes Freitag's cell phone and DNA. Continuances were requested by the defense and court orders issued to have the evidence submitted to BCI. The defense motion claims that text messages and photos found on the phone and a comparison of Freitag's DNA to DNA of an "unidentified female" found on the gun that killed her is evidence in Blosser's favor. The sheriff's office did not respond to a phone call and email requesting comment on the allegation. More:Man charged in girl's murder declared competent to stand trial; new trial date set Story continues Zachary Blosser defense attorneys oppose continuance In arguing against the continuance, Hazelett and Schock contend that Assistant Prosecutor Sean Scahill has served as "second chair" on the prosecution team and could present the state's case himself and that there are other prosecuting attorneys on staff who could assist Scahill. The defense motion also states that Schock, who has been working on the case for two years, is leaving the Portage County Public Defender's Office in early April and that she had delayed her departure to see the Blosser trial to its conclusion. "The effect will be that the proverbial shoe will then be on the other foot in that the continuance will result in the defendant losing an essential party to defendant's defense," the motion states. The defense also states that issued more than 40 subpoenas to witnesses more than a month ago and all have acknowledged receipt of the subpoenas and were presumably ready to testify at the March trial. Girl shot at home Blosser is accused of shooting Freitag once in the mouth in the basement of a Knowlton Road home. Blosser reportedly attempted CPR on Freitag immediately following the shooting. Court records include a Ravenna address for Blosser, but the sheriff's office said he had been living at the Nelson home, where Freitag also lived, for about six weeks at the time of the shooting. The home is owned by Freitag's uncle. A grand jury indicted Blosser on two counts each of unclassified felony murder and second-degree felony assault, as well as single counts of third-degree felony tampering with evidence and fourth-degree felony safecracking. The murder and assault charges all include firearms specifications. One of the murder charges alleges that Freitag was killed during an assault and one of the assault charges alleges the assault was committed with a deadly weapon. The gun was reportedly kept unloaded in a locked safe in the home. Blosser has been held on a $2 million bond in Portage County Jail since March 2021. Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com. This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Trial in Nelson Township girl's March 2021 murder delayed again (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yielded to pressure over allegations China interfered in Canadas elections, appointing a special investigator to study the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Upholding confidence in our democratic process in our elections, in our institutions, is of utmost importance, the prime minister told reporters Monday evening in Ottawa. The independent special rapporteur will have a wide mandate and make recommendations on fighting foreign meddling, he added. The issue will also be studied by a group of lawmakers cleared to see top-secret intelligence, Trudeau said. A series of media reports in recent weeks said Trudeau received intelligence briefings alleging that China meddled in both the 2019 and 2021 votes that returned him to power. The reports included claims that Chinese officials spread misinformation to hurt certain candidates, including Conservative Party candidates, and funneled money and volunteers toward people it wanted to see elected. The most serious allegation came in a Feb. 17 Globe and Mail report, citing intelligence that China preferred to see Trudeaus Liberal Party elected over the alternative of a Conservative government. Last week, a non-partisan group of government officials published a report that found there were attempts at foreign interference in the 2021 vote, but not enough to have met the threshold of impacting electoral integrity. Recent polling has found that two-thirds of Canadians believe China tried to interfere, and more than half see it as a serious threat to Canadas democracy and want Trudeau to do more in response. Opposition politicians and independent experts have urged the prime minister to call a judicial inquiry, but he instead opted to name a special investigator and refer the matter to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. The investigator may recommend a full judicial review, Trudeau said, and we will abide by their recommendation. Story continues The cross-partisan group of lawmakers is cleared to review classified intelligence, but is also sworn to secrecy about it. The committees reports are published in parliament with significant redactions to any secret intelligence. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Trudeaus chief rival, said earlier Monday that any situation in which opposition politicians are bound by secrecy is unacceptable to him. Were not going to have a situation where Conservatives are told that they have to be quiet about this scandal because theyre sworn to secrecy, Poilievre said. What we need is a public inquiry that is truly independent to get to the bottom of it. Minority Government Trudeaus standing as prime minister could also be at risk if his response doesnt satisfy the New Democratic Party, a left-leaning party that signed a power-sharing deal with his government last year. The Liberals dont have a majority in the House of Commons and have leaned on NDP support to pass legislation. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said the election-meddling issue shouldnt be investigated behind closed doors. But the partys response to Trudeaus Monday announcement was muted, merely repeating an earlier call for an independent, non-partisan public inquiry. While Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping have clashed in public, the Liberals are seen as more open to doing business with the Asian superpower than the Conservatives, who take a harder line on human rights issues and national security concerns. China maintains it doesnt interfere with Canadas internal affairs and has warned that the northern nation should stop smearing Beijings government with what it calls unfounded allegations. (Updates with additional information and political context in second half of the story.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trumps eldest daughter Ivanka Trump has asked for a delay in bringing the $250m fraud lawsuit filed against her, her brothers, her father and their familys eponymous real estate company to trial. Her lawyers argue that the fraud complaint filed last year does not contain a single allegation that Ms Trump directly or indirectly created, prepared, reviewed, or certified any of her fathers financial statements. Other individuals were responsible for those tasks, they added. In news about Mr Trumps other legal issues, it emerged his former aide Hope Hicks had met with Manhattan prosecutors investigating the former presidents alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The former White House communications director visited the office of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg with her lawyers on Monday. This comes as prosecutors ramp up the long-running investigation into the payments to Daniels leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Meanwhile, Mr Trump is praising Fox News host Tucker Carlson for airing footage of the January 6 Capitol riot falsely depicting it as a peaceful process. He has called for the prosection of the House select committee that investigated the attack on Congress. Key points Trump mocked over half full CPAC crowd Fact check: Trumps lies at CPAC Trump says criminal charges wont derail his 2024 bid Rupert Murdoch and Fox News sued for sharing Bidens ads with Trump campaign Larry Hogan rules himself out of 2024 race Voices: Why Kevin McCarthy really gave Tucker Carlson the Jan 6 videos 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell Eric Garcia writes: The conservative movement and right-wing media has never really trusted Kevin McCarthy. They often see him as a chameleon devoid of any real ideology who has shifted as his party has changed. Indeed, last year, Mr Carlson said in private Mr McCarthy sounds like an MSNBC contributor and called him a puppet of the Dem Party after The New York Times revealed recordings of his conversations with House GOP leadership after the January 6 riot. Story continues Read on: Why Kevin McCarthy really gave Tucker Carlson the Jan 6 videos Watch: The five most bizarre lines from CPAC 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell The five most bizarre lines from CPAC 2023 Voices: Trumps Jan 6 song is as bad as youd expect... Its also dangerous 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell Ahmed Baba writes: On Friday at midnight, Donald Trump dropped a new song with the J6 Prison Choir. No, thats not an Onion headline. That just happened. Who needs SNL when we have reality? According to Forbes staff writer Zach Everson, Trump, in partnership with former Trump Admin official Kash Patel and former Fox News Host Ed Henry, collaborated with January 6 insurrectionists awaiting trial in a DC jail. Ill save you time. The song is as bad as youd expect. Read on: Trumps new Jan 6 song is as bad as youd expect. Its also dangerous Trump uses Tucker Carlson tapes to call for Jan 6 prisoners to go free 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump has used the January 6 insurrection surveillance footage released to Fox News host Tucker Carlson to call for prisoners to go free. The decision by Speaker Kevin McCarthy to release around 40,000 hours of security footage from the attack on the Capitol has been blasted by critics. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on Tuesday that Monday nights broadcast by Mr Carlson was one of the most shameful hours of television. Gustaf Kilander reports. Trump uses Tucker Carlson tapes to call for Jan 6 prisoners to go free Defensive Trump insists CPAC speech was packed after being extensively mocked 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump went on the defensive bright and early on Monday morning as he chafed over coverage of his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC over the weekend. He claimed the room was packed. The reality was a little different... Defensive Trump insists CPAC speech was packed after mockery over empty seats Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) concluded on Saturday with a speech from former President Donald Trump, still considered the heavy favourite (especially by this crowd) for the 2024 GOP nomination. But while Republicans attending the three-day Trumpfest at Marylands National Harbor were certain of who should be at the top of the ticket even breaking out into chants of Trump! Trump! during a speech by his competitor, Nikki Haley they were far less certain about who the former president should pick as his running mate should he secure his partys nomination. John Bowden and Eric Garcia filed this report from the conference. CPAC veepstakes: Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? Kristol alarmed as Trump all in for the insurrection and Republicans silent 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell Bill Kristol, Conservative commentator and editor-at-large of The Bulwark, voiced his alarm that the Republican Party seems incapable of denouncing the January 6 insurrection. Posting Trumps praise of Tucker Carlson and Kevin McCarthy, he wrote on Twitter: Trump is all in for the insurrection. His Republican competitors wont denounce the insurrection. The Republican Party is half insurrectionist and half anti-anti-insurrectionist. He added: I am alarmed. Trump is all in for the insurrection. His Republican competitors won't denounce the insurrection. The Republican Party is half insurrectionist and half anti-anti-insurrectionist. I am alarmed. pic.twitter.com/sPUWRdILqt Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 7, 2023 This morning in Trump Truth Social posts 16:36 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump began his morning on Truth Social with a big ALL-CAPS thank you to Tucker Carlson and Kevin McCarthy for the airing of the US Capitol surveillance tapes reframed to make the attack on Congress look peaceful and raising the ire of Democrats and the family of Brian Sicknick who died soon after. The former president posted: LET THE JANUARY 6 PRISONERS GO. THEY WERE CONVICTED, OR ARE AWAITING TRIAL, BASED ON A GIANT LIE, A RADICAL LEFT CON JOB. THANK YOU TO TUCKER CARLSON AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KEVIN McCARTHY FOR WHAT YOU BOTH HAVE DONE. NEW VIDEO FOOTAGE IS IRREFUTABLE!!! More than 1,000 people have now been charged with crimes committed Turning his attention to Florida Governor Ron De Santis, Mr Trump wrote: FLORIDA WAS DOING GREAT FOR MANY YEARS, LONG BEFORE RON DESANCTUS GOT THERE. THE SUNSHINE AND OCEAN ARE WONDERFUL THINGS TO HAVE! After a series of reposts concerning debunked 2020 election fraud conspiracy theories, Mr Trump took up the topic of Hunter Biden and his laptop, writing: Everything is exposed on Hunter Bidens Laptop from Hell, including massive crime by Joe and Hunter But nothing happens, they just keep coming after me. The good news is that AMERICA WONT TAKE IT ANY LONGER! He then took a moment to praise former aide Steve Bannon for his speech at CPAC: He tells it like it is!!! Mr Trump rounded off the morning with another post on the topic of the Capitol surveillance footage: Tucker Carlson a MUST WATCH tonight. Releasing more VIDEO which was HIDDEN BY THE CROOKED J 6 UNSELECT COMMITTEE. They should be prosecuted for their lies and, quite frankly, TREASON! Five takeaways from CPAC 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell The latest Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington DC proved that former President Donald Trump remains firmly in control of the Republican Party going into the 2024 election. Eric Garcia presents his key takeaways from the conference. Five takeaways from CPAC and what it means for the 2024 race Trump asserts his dominance over GOP in CPAC speech 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell Former president Donald Trump delivered the closing speech of the 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference, where he targeted his enemies not just in the Democratic Party and the media, but also the Republican Party. The former president spoke in grave terms before a crowd at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland on the third full day of the gathering of right-wing elected officials and activists. This is the final battle, Trump told the crowd at CPAC of the 2024 presidential race and the fate of the country itself. This is it. Eric Garcia filed this report over the weekend. Trump asserts his dominance over GOP in CPAC speech and calls 2024 final battle Fact checker spots at least 23 lies in Trumps CPAC speech 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump made at least 23 false statements during his CPAC speech over the weekend, a fact check has found. CNNs Daniel Dale noted that this was far from the total, adding that the speech was full of wildly inaccurate claims. Gustaf Kilander has the details. Trump sparks outrage as fact checker spots at least 23 lies in CPAC speech DoJ reaches 1,000 January 6 arrests in just over two years since riot 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell At least 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the US Capitol more than two years after a mob fuelled by Donald Trumps false election claims breached the halls of Congress to forcibly disrupt the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Alex Woodward reports. More than 1,000 people arrested in connection with January 6 Larry Hogan rules himself out of 2024 race 14:00 , Rachel Sharp Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ruled himself out of the 2024 race, after saying that he will not go head-to-head with Donald Trump. The Republican, who has become one of the partys fiercest critics of Mr Trump, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that he will not challenge the former president. I would never run for president to sell books or position myself for a Cabinet role, he wrote. I have long said that I care more about ensuring a future for the Republican Party than securing my own future in the Republican Party. And that is why I will not be seeking the Republican nomination for president. While he said he appreciated all those around the nation who have for many years encouraged me to run for president, after eight years of pouring my heart and soul into serving the people of Maryland, I have no desire to put my family through another grueling campaign just for the experience. Hope Hicks meets with Manhattan prosecutors over Stormy Daniels hush money 13:30 , Rachel Sharp Donald Trumps former aide Hope Hicks has met with Manhattan prosecutors investigating the former presidents alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. The former White House communications director visited the office of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg with her lawyers on Monday spending several hours there before they were spotted leaving. This comses as prosecutors ramp up the long-running investigation into the payments to the adult film star leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Ms Hicks is only the latest in a growing number of people who were in Mr Trumps inner circle at the time. Mr Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and former political adviser Kellyanne Conway spoke to prosecutors about the probe last week. CPACs sea of empty seats: Trumpworld celebs address half-empty ballroom 13:00 , John Bowden If the audience of CPAC 2023 was evidence of one thing, it was the increasingly rightward tilt of both the American Conservative Union which hosts the event, as well as the broader GOP activist base. What could have been a massive big tent gathering of DC Republicans and their nationwide grassroots allies instead appeared to be more of a muted affair held to celebrate the glory of Donald Trump and his dominant but still incomplete segment of the Republican Party. The split was evident in the crowd sizes at the event on Friday, when many big-name speakers including Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump Jr., and others were slated to speak. All of the above spoke to half-empty ballrooms which struggled to reach the same tenor and excitement of your average Trump rally. John Bowden has more from the ground at CPAC: Trumpworld celebs address half-empty CPAC as mainstream Republicans shy away VOICES: Donald Trumps CPAC speech proves why he is a problem for the GOP 12:31 , John Bowden In his keynote CPAC speech, Donald Trump once again demonstrated why his leadership of the Republican Party has led to electoral loss after electoral loss. His rambling speech was unlikely to appeal to anyone not already firmly ensconced in the conservative bubble. When he did settle into a coherent statement, it was more often than not a vicious attack on his Republican rivals. The combination is a looming nightmare for the GOP. Trump has no vision for the future himself and is determined to torch the party if it attempts to move on from him. The media loves Democrats in disarray stories, but Trump makes it clear that there is an almost limitless potential for Republican dysfunction in 2024. Noah Berlatsky writes for The Independent: Donald Trumps CPAC speech proves why he is a problem for the GOP Larry Hogan rules himself out of 2024 race 11:31 , John Bowden Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ruled himself out of the 2024 race, after saying that he will not go head-to-head with Donald Trump. The Republican, who has become one of the partys fiercest critics of Mr Trump, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that he will not challenge the former president. I would never run for president to sell books or position myself for a Cabinet role, he wrote. I have long said that I care more about ensuring a future for the Republican Party than securing my own future in the Republican Party. And that is why I will not be seeking the Republican nomination for president. While he said he appreciated all those around the nation who have for many years encouraged me to run for president, after eight years of pouring my heart and soul into serving the people of Maryland, I have no desire to put my family through another grueling campaign just for the experience. CPAC veepstakes: Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? 10:31 , John Bowden The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) concluded on Saturday with a speech from former President Donald Trump, still considered the heavy favourite (especially by this crowd) for the 2024 GOP nomination. But while Republicans attending the three-day Trumpfest at Marylands National Harbor were certain of who should be at the top of the ticket even breaking out into chants of Trump! Trump! during a speech by his competitor, Nikki Haley they were far less certain about who the former president should pick as his running mate should he secure his partys nomination. Its a unique question for the once-president. He obviously cannot run again with his former vice president, Mike Pence, who is mulling his own 2024 bid and has publicly broken with his ex-boss on Mr Trumps most important issue: The certainty of their shared 2020 defeat to Joe Biden. The former president also has far fewer ties with the GOP establishment than he had the last go around or even was able to forge in 2016, meaning that his hypothetical pick for several reasons could likely end up being someone with much stronger ties to the GOPs far-right activist base. John Bowden and Eric Garcia take a look at the possible choices, and gauge the enthusiasm at CPAC: CPAC veepstakes: Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? Rupert Murdoch and Fox News sued for sharing Bidens ads with Trump campaign before they aired 09:31 , John Bowden Rupert Murdoch and Fox News parent company are being sued over claims that they shared campaign strategy from Joe Bidens 2020 presidential run with Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. The suit filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by progressive activist group Media Matters on Friday alleges Fox made an illegal contribution to the Trump campaign when they shared his opponents ads before they had aired on the network. (Foxs) actions are not only an egregious violation of the (Federal Election Campaign) Act and the Commissions regulations, but also a nefarious attempt by people in power to operate a press entity as a political organisation, in blatant disregard of the rules that govern our elections and democracy, Media Matters CEO and president Angelo Carusone writes in the filing, which was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The Independents Bevan Hurley has the full story: Rupert Murdoch and Fox News sued for sharing Bidens ads with Trump campaign SNL cold open slays Fox News over Dominion defamation lawsuit 08:31 , John Bowden Saturday Night Lives cold open went after Fox News over its conspicuous silence about damning revelations in a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. Internal communications and sworn depositions in the court battle have revealed that Foxs star anchors and executives knew that Donald Trumps false 2020 election fraud claims were bogus. Since the allegations were made public in unsealed court filings last week, Fox News has barely acknowledged them. Watch the sketch here: SNL cold open muddles Rupert Murdoch and Alex Murdaugh Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and husband are divorcing 07:31 , John Bowden A senior presidential adviser in the Trump White House, Kellyanne Conway, and her husband, attorney George Conway, a prominent critic of the former president, say they are divorcing. The news marks the end of one of Washingtons strangest power couples. Read more in The Independent: Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and husband are divorcing Ex-Trump aide Hope Hicks meets Manhattan prosecutors 06:55 , Stuti Mishra Former senior adviser to Donald Trump, Hope Hicks, was spotted entering the Manhattan district attorneys office yesterday in a signal of a possible escalation of the investigation into the former presidents alleged involvement in hush money payments to a porn star during his presidential campaign. Prosecutors from district attorney Alvin Braggs office have been presenting evidence to a grand jury since January, with Ms Hicks being the seventh witness to meet with them, the New York Times reported. It remains unclear whether she was simply answering questions or will be asked to testify before the grand jury. Mr Trump has labelled the investigation a witch hunt, and it is unknown whether the district attorney will seek an indictment against him. Hope Hicks served as White House Communications Director under Trump administration (AP) Five takeaways from CPAC and what it means for the 2024 race 06:31 , John Bowden The latest Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington DC proved that former President Donald Trump remains firmly in control of the Republican Party going into the 2024 election. CPAC 2023 was the first in the nations capital since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The gathering has long been a cattle call for potential Republican presidential nominees and other rising stars in the party. And it sets the tone for what conservatives will likely focus on in the next election. Eric Garcia dives in to what we can learn from the conference: Five takeaways from CPAC and what it means for the 2024 race Five takeaways from CPAC and what it means for the 2024 race 04:31 , John Bowden The latest Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington DC proved that former President Donald Trump remains firmly in control of the Republican Party going into the 2024 election. The latest CPAC gathering was the first in the nations capital since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The gathering has long been a cattle call for potential Republican presidential nominees and other rising stars in the party. And it sets the tone for what conservatives will likely focus on in the next election. Eric Garcia breaks down what we can learn from this years Trumpfest: Five takeaways from CPAC and what it means for the 2024 race Defensive Trump insists CPAC speech was packed after Chris Christie led mockery over empty seats 03:31 , John Bowden Donald Trump went on the defensive bright and early on Monday morning as he chafed over coverage of his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC over the weekend. The former president contended that you couldnt get into the building as he insisted that seating for his speech was filled and that his supporters had flocked to CPAC to see him. In reality, any delays getting in to the massive Gaylord hotel and convention centre were likely caused by the security screenings put in place by the US Secret Service while the main ballroom notably filled up moreso than it had for smaller-name speakers like Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, it was far from a standing room only event like the rallies Mr Trump became known for in 2016 and, to a lesser extent, in 2020. Read more in The Independent for an exclusive on-the-ground look into CPAC 2023: Defensive Trump insists CPAC speech was packed after mockery over empty seats Brick suits, lawsuits, insults and pillows: The otherworldly atmosphere at CPAC 02:31 , John Bowden Where else on earth but the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) can you see a pillow salesman treated like royalty, with his own security detatchment? Or see Sebastian Gorka, former White House official, yelling at The Bulwarks Tim Miller that he was f***ing fake news and should go to hell? Take a trip to National Harbor, Md, and catch up on the rage that infects the right-wing media sphere following Donald Trumps unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Read more: The otherworldly atmosphere at CPAC as Trump waits in the wings Russell Brand rails against Rachel Maddow, MSNBC and Fox News propaganda in viral rant 01:31 , John Bowden Actor Russell Brand ranted against MSNBC and claimed that the left-leaning network is an equal source of propaganda to Fox News, the conservative news network which now faces a massive defamation lawsuit over amplifying Donald Trumps election lies in 2020. The episode of Real Time with Bill Maher on which Mr Brand made his remarks aired on Saturday evening, after which the clip was spread widely around social media, largely by conservatives celebrating Brands comments. Read more: Russell Brand rails against Rachel Maddow and Fox News propaganda in viral rant Michelle Obama reveals why she was uncontrollably sobbing after Donald Trumps inauguration 00:31 , John Bowden Michelle Obama has reflected on former US President Donald Trumps Inauguration Day and revealed why she was sobbing after it. The former first lady discussed her and her husbands, former President Barack Obama, time in the White House during the first and upcoming episode of Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast. Learn more in The Independent: Michelle Obama reveals why she was sobbing after Donald Trumps inauguration Marjorie Taylor Greenes Happy Purim message greeted with reminders of antisemitism scandals Monday 6 March 2023 23:30 , John Bowden Marjorie Taylor Greenes Happy Purim message was greeted on Twitter Monday with reminders of her past statements which have drawn accusations of antisemitism. The Jewish holiday commemorates Jews from Persia being saved from annihilation following a decree put in place by Haman, an Achaemenid Empire official. The story was outlined in the Book of Esther, the third book of the Jewish Tanakh the Hebrew Bible. Ms Greene is one of a handful of members of Congress who have met publicly with Nick Fuentes, one of Americas most infamous white nationalists. She has defended her presence at his past events by claiming she did not know who he was. Read The Independent for more: Marjorie Taylor Greenes Happy Purim message greeted with scandal reminders Oversight committee Republicans wont sign Democrats letter denouncing white supremacy Monday 6 March 2023 22:32 , John Bowden Democratic members on the House Oversight Committee asked their Republican colleagues to sign a two-sentence statement that plainly rejects white supremacy, white nationalism, and a far-right conspiracy theory that suggests politicians are intentionally seeking to displace white Americans by loosening immigration. All 26 Republicans on the GOP-led committee have signalled that they will not sign the statement, which a committee spokesperson characterised in a statement to The Independent as a distraction. Some Republican members of Congress (to varying degrees) have been accused of using rhetoric similar to that espoused by Great Replacment theory advocates in their own anti-immigration messages. The accusation has drawn strong backlash from some of those same Republicans, like House Republican caucus chair Elise Stefanik. Alex Woodward has more: Oversight GOP wont sign Democrats statement denouncing white supremacy Ex-Trump campaign chairman agrees to pay $3.15m to settle case over failure to report foreign bank accounts Monday 6 March 2023 21:29 , John Bowden Former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to pay $3.15m to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Department of Justice. The case stems from Mr Manaforts failure to report the ownership of bank accounts in other countries in a timely fashion. Its just the latest legal snafu Mr Manafort since he was pardoned by Donald Trump for crimes uncovered during the Mueller investigation. The DOJ sued Mr Manafort last year in US District Court in Southern Florida for $2.9m, alleging that he did not report money he made from his consulting work in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that was deposited into bank accounts opened on his behalf in Cyprus, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United Kingdom. Read more: Paul Manafort agrees to pay $3.15m to settle case with Department of Justice Ron DeSantis is engaging in fascism, says Florida Democrat Monday 6 March 2023 21:00 , John Bowden Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost criticised his home state Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, saying the potential Republican presidential candidate is engaging in fascism. The freshman Democratic congressman, who is currently the youngest member of the House of Representatives, spoke on CNN with Jim Acosta about Mr DeSantiss plan to ban the use of preferred pronouns and gender studies in the state of Florida. He isnt acting on education, we have to be clear, Mr Frost said. Hes acting on scapegoating vulnerable communities due to his failures. Eric Garcia has more: Ron DeSantis is engaging in fascism, says Florida Democrat Trump launches new 3am Truth Social rant at Rupert Murdoch Monday 6 March 2023 20:31 , John Bowden Former President Donald Trump was up late into the night or perhaps very early in the morning seething at FoxCorp founder Rupert Murdoch over the continued fallout from the massive lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. Testimony and evidence uncovered by the lawsuit and made public as a result has been astonishingly embarassing for Mr Trump, who continues to insist that the 2020 election was stolen from him even after failing to produce any hard evidence in his multiple legal fights to overturn state results and his own attorney admitting that his team didnt have any to speak of. Read more: Trump launches new 3am Truth Social rant at Rupert Murdoch CPAC veepstakes: Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? Monday 6 March 2023 20:00 , John Bowden The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) concluded on Saturday with a speech from former President Donald Trump, still considered the heavy favourite (especially by this crowd) for the 2024 GOP nomination. But while Republicans attending the three-day Trumpfest at Marylands National Harbor were certain of who should be at the top of the ticket even breaking out into chants of Trump! Trump! during a speech by his competitor, Nikki Haley they were far less certain about who the former president should pick as his running mate should he secure his partys nomination. Kari Lake, former candidate for governor, won the events veepstakes poll with just 20 per cent of the vote. The Independent spoke with prominent Republicans who attended the conference and heard their thoughts on Donald Trumps selection of a new running mate. CPAC veepstakes: Who does Trumpworld want to replace Mike Pence? Trump's deputy national security adviser says he won't support his old boss in 2024 Monday 6 March 2023 19:36 , John Bowden One of Donald Trumps former top deputies has just revealed that he will not support the former president in 2024. Matthew Pottinger, former deputy White House national security adviser, revealed his thoughts about his ex-boss running a third time during a Washington Post interview. "Well, I'm likely to support other candidates this time around," he said. Trump scorches Larry Hogan after ex-governor says he wont run in 2024 Monday 6 March 2023 19:00 , John Bowden Donald Trump had nothing nice to say about Larry Hogan, the popular former Republican governor of Maryland, on Monday after Mr Hogan released a statement announcing that he would not seek the presidency in 2024. Mr Hogan had been strongly hinting at a run for months. Too bad Larry Hogan, the RINO Former Governor of Maryland, is dropping out of the Presidential Race. While he didnt stand a chance, he would have been fun to practice on! Mr Trump quipped on Truth Social. Polls showed Mr Hogan, despite his popularity at home, winning only a few per cent of the vote in a hypothetical 2024 GOP primary matchup against Mr Trump and other candidates. Donald Trump mocked for half full CPAC event: Its TPAC, Trump PAC Monday 6 March 2023 18:00 , John Bowden Donald Trump has been mocked by Chris Christie over the poor turn out at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the weekend. Mr Christie, the one-time presidents former ally, reacted to the event in an interview on ABCs This Week on Sunday. You saw the scenes at CPAC, that room was half full, said the former New Jersey governor. What got him upset on January 6th? The crowd size. What got him upset on January 20th 2017? The crowd size. He measures that as an example of his own power and own authority, and I dont think he has it anymore, Mr Christie added. Read more: Donald Trump mocked for half full CPAC event: Its TPAC, Trump PAC CPAC speaker sparks alarm with call for trans people to be eradicated Monday 6 March 2023 17:16 , John Bowden Michael Knowles of the Daily Wire sparked widespread condemnations and disgust on Saturday with his anti-trans rhetoric made during his speech at CPAC. If [transgenderism] is false, then for the good of society, transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely, he said. John Knefel of Media Matters called it eliminationist, genocidal rhetoric. Adam Vary of Variety urged people to pay attention. This is genocidal. That is not hyperbole or alarmist; this rhetoric is calling for the eradication of a group of people for who they are. Mr Knowles, through a spokesperson, has since denied that he was speaking about violence against individuals, though he did not explain how eradicating transgenderism could be done without eradicating transgender people. Read more: CPAC speaker sparks alarm with call for transgenderism to be eradicated Brick suits, lawsuits, insults and pillows: The otherworldly atmosphere at CPAC Monday 6 March 2023 16:00 , John Bowden Where else on earth but the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) can you see a pillow salesman treated like royalty, with his own security detatchment? Take a trip to National Harbor, Md, and catch up on the rage that infects the right-wing media sphere following Donald Trumps unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Read more: The otherworldly atmosphere at CPAC as Trump waits in the wings CPACs sea of empty seats: Trumpworld celebs address half-empty ballroom Monday 6 March 2023 15:00 , John Bowden If the audience of CPAC 2023 was evidence of one thing, it was the increasingly rightward tilt of both the American Conservative Union which hosts the event, as well as the broader GOP activist base. What could have been a massive big tent gathering of DC Republicans and their nationwide grassroots allies instead appeared to be more of a muted affair held to celebrate the glory of Donald Trump and his dominant but still incomplete segment of the Republican Party. The split was evident in the crowd sizes at the event on Friday, when many big-name speakers including Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump Jr., and others were slated to speak. All of the above spoke to half-empty ballrooms which struggled to reach the same tenor and excitement of your average Trump rally. John Bowden has more from the ground at CPAC: Trumpworld celebs address half-empty CPAC as mainstream Republicans shy away SNL cold open slays Fox News over Dominion defamation lawsuit Monday 6 March 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp Saturday Night Lives cold open went after Fox News over its conspicuous silence about damning revelations in a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. Internal communications and sworn depositions in the court battle have revealed that Foxs star anchors and executives knew that Donald Trumps false 2020 election fraud claims were bogus. Since the allegations were made public in unsealed court filings last week, Fox News has barely acknowledged them. Read the full story here: SNL cold open slays Fox News over Dominion defamation lawsuit Larry Hogan rules himself out of 2024 race Monday 6 March 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ruled himself out of the 2024 race, after saying that he will not go head-to-head with Donald Trump. The Republican, who has become one of the partys fiercest critics of Mr Trump, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that he will not challenge the former president. I would never run for president to sell books or position myself for a Cabinet role, he wrote. I have long said that I care more about ensuring a future for the Republican Party than securing my own future in the Republican Party. And that is why I will not be seeking the Republican nomination for president. While he said he appreciated all those around the nation who have for many years encouraged me to run for president, after eight years of pouring my heart and soul into serving the people of Maryland, I have no desire to put my family through another grueling campaign just for the experience. Rupert Murdoch and Fox News sued for sharing Bidens ads with Trump campaign before they aired Monday 6 March 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp Rupert Murdoch and Fox News parent company are being sued over claims that they shared campaign strategy from Joe Bidens 2020 presidential run with Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. The suit filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by progressive activist group Media Matters on Friday alleges Fox made an illegal contribution to the Trump campaign when they shared his opponents ads before they had aired on the network. (Foxs) actions are not only an egregious violation of the (Federal Election Campaign) Act and the Commissions regulations, but also a nefarious attempt by people in power to operate a press entity as a political organisation, in blatant disregard of the rules that govern our elections and democracy, Media Matters CEO and president Angelo Carusone writes in the filing, which was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The Independents Bevan Hurley has the full story: Rupert Murdoch and Fox News sued for sharing Bidens ads with Trump campaign WATCH: The five most bizarre lines from CPAC Monday 6 March 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp VOICES: Donald Trumps CPAC speech proves why he is a problem for the GOP Monday 6 March 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp In his keynote CPAC speech, Donald Trump once again demonstrated why his leadership of the Republican Party has led to electoral loss after electoral loss. His rambling speech was unlikely to appeal to anyone not already firmly ensconced in the conservative bubble. When he did settle into a coherent statement, it was more often than not a vicious attack on his Republican rivals. The combination is a looming nightmare for the GOP. Trump has no vision for the future himself and is determined to torch the party if it attempts to move on from him. The media loves Democrats in disarray stories, but Trump makes it clear that there is an almost limitless potential for Republican dysfunction in 2024. Noah Berlatsky writes for The Independent: Donald Trumps CPAC speech proves why he is a problem for the GOP Fact check: Trumps lies in CPAC speech Monday 6 March 2023 11:50 , Rachel Sharp During Donald Trumps speech at CPAC over the weekend, he continued to spew a series of lies. A CNN fact check tallied up at least 23 falsehoods covering topics including crime, the war in Ukraine, the border wall and of course the 2020 election. I won the second election, OK, won it by a lot. You know, when they say, when they say Biden won, the smart people know that didnt [happen], he claimed. Of course, Mr Trump did not win the 2020 election. He lost by more than 7 million votes. Other lies included his claim that he completed the construction of the border wall between the US and Mexico something which is irrefutably untrue. Donald Trump vows retribution and will stay in 2024 race if he faces criminal charges Monday 6 March 2023 11:40 , Rachel Sharp Donald Trump is vowing to stay in the 2024 presidential race even if he is indicted in any of the multiple criminal investigations bearing down on him. Absolutely, I wouldnt even think about leaving, the former president told reporters ahead of his speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, speculating that being the target of a criminal indictment could even enhance his poll numbers. During his remarks, Mr Trump vowed to take revenge against Democrats, the media, and even fellow Republicans who opposed him. In 2016, I declared: I am your voice, he told the crowd. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution. The Independents John Bowden has the story: Donald Trump vows to stay in 2024 race if he faces criminal charges Trump wins huge majority in CPAC 2024 straw poll Monday 6 March 2023 11:35 , Rachel Sharp Donald Trump was the overwhelming winner of the CPAC 2024 straw poll on Saturday, taking 62 per cent of the vote at the gathering of his loyalists on the Potomac. The result was a predictable certain; the three-day Trumpfest was little more than a gathering of Trump campaign and former administration personnel and many attendees were draped in Trump campain attire, official or otherwise. The former presidents team immediately blasted out the results of the straw poll to their supporters, writing that Mr Trump had dominated the field. Read the full story here: Trump wins huge majority in CPAC 2024 straw poll as DeSantis trails in distant second Trump is mocked over half full CPAC crowd Monday 6 March 2023 11:27 , Rachel Sharp Donald Trump is facing mockery over the half full crowd which showed up to hear him speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Sunday. Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and onetime close ally of Mr Trump, poked fun at the size of the crowd who attended the former presidents speech at the weekend. You saw the scenes at CPAC, that room was half-full, Mr Christie said on ABCs This Week. The reason I dont think the rallies are going on I dont think the rallies would be nearly as big as they were before. He added: There are lots of indicators here, that hes not what he used to be, in most respects, youre talking about and so were going to see how that plays out. Mr Trump gave a headline speech at CPAC, where he spewed his election lies and vowed to stay in the 2024 race even if he is criminally charged. Yet, the room was not even close to full capacity. Mr Christie has become a vocal critic of Mr Trump. The two men were once close allies with Mr Christie working on the former presidents 2016 and 2020 campaigns before their relationship soured. Monday 6 March 2023 11:22 , Rachel Sharp Welcome toThe Independents liveblog where you can find all the latest developments in Trumpworld. Justice Department notes 1,000 January 6 defendants milestone Monday 6 March 2023 23:00 , John Bowden The Department of Justice on Monday marked an important milestone into the investigation into the January 6 attack on Congress. The agency has now charged 1,000 people with crimes stemming from the riot. Speculation continues to persist about whether Donald Trump or his inner circle will face any charges resulting from the attack as well. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters The Trump Organization says it ended a tumultuous 2022 without telling anyone outside the company how business is doinga claim that, if believed, could be an indication of its looming financial difficulties in the face of a tsunami of legal trouble. In practical terms, however, the claim also keeps New York state investigators from getting a clear picture of whether the real estate firm has continued lying to banks about its property values, even as investigators barrel toward a trial that could kill off the Trump Organization. The disclosure about how the Trumps haven't made any financial statements to banks or accounting firms was made in a Feb. 3 letter written by a retired judge tasked with babysitting the Trumps real estate empire, in a document that was made public in court filings last week. The Trumps have not provided a 2022 statement of financial condition to any third parties, and do not intend to do so, Barbara S. Jones, a former federal judge now in private practice, wrote to the state judge who appointed her. Trump Org Pays $1.6 Million Fine for Tax Fraud Conviction Shes referring to the same type of financial record that has the Trump Organization in hot water now, given that former President Donald Trump issued so many of them based on outrageously phony valuations, as documented by the New York AGs lawsuit against the company last year. In accounting, a statement of financial condition is a sensitive legal document that serves as a summary of a companys assets and liabilities. But notably, it must also include disclosures describing how the numbers were put together. These are the very documents the Trumps are accused of faking for years, padding the numbers with nonexistent real estate space in Trump Tower and hyperinflated values for undeveloped land. Jones noted that the lack of information wasnt exactly a surprise, as the court had previously been told the Trumps were keeping mum about last year. Story continues That line wouldnt be alarming, were it not for two things: the Trump Organizations financial statements are now the center of the New York attorney generals massive fraud investigation; and any large real estate company would have to regularly make financial condition statements anytime it seeks to borrow money for a project from a reputable lender. That means that, either the Trump Organization has fallen on hard times, found a bank willing to do business without responsible paperwork, or isnt telling the truth. One person with knowledge of the AGs investigation noted that the companys explanation only makes sense if it found a sketchy bank willing to do business without relying on official financial statements. Notably, there was one bank in particular that came to the Trumps rescue last year amid a wave of revelations that the company had engaged in fraud for over a decade: Axos, an internet-only bank based in San Diego. As the Trump business and political legacy began to crumble, legitimate banking and accounting firms finally started to distance themselves from the Trump Organization. Following Trumps incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, his go-to German lender, Deutsche Bank, dropped him. When New York AG Letitia James revealed how her investigators discovered the companys pattern of lying on financial forms in early 2022, Trumps longtime outside accounting firm of Mazars USA ditched him too. Axos Bank swooped in and refinanced a $100 million loan to U.S. Bank National Association, according to documents filed with the New York City Department of Finance and signed by Eric Trump as president of Trump Tower Commercial LLC. Axos then gave the Trump Organization a lifeline by paying off its $125 million loan to Deutsche Bank in May 2022, according to the AGs civil fraud lawsuit against the Trumps. Axos is run by Gregory Garrabrants, a financial executive who has donated $65,000 to GOP candidates since 2012, with the bulk of that during Trumps time in the White House, according to Federal Election Commission records. That spending includes $9,600 on Trumps failed re-election campaign in 2020. Oddly, the Trumps business deal with Axos appeared to hinge on the ability to keep them from having to make the very disclosures that caused so much trouble in the first place, according to the AGs lawsuit. Deutsche Bank, Trumps Biggest Lender, Has Reportedly Decided to Stop Doing Business With Him During the negotiations with Axos Bank in February 2022, the Trump Organization sought to avoid submitting a statement of financial condition or making representations about Mr. Trumps net worth. Instead, the Trump Organization pushed to provide a schedule of material real estate assets and liabilities and leave it to the lender to calculate net worth, the AGs office claimed. That arrangement essentially shifted the burden over to Axos. In previous deals with other banks, the Trump Organization had put together financial condition statements summing up its valueafter adding massive injections of seemingly nonexistent values based on intangible stuff like brand value, a claim Trump has made several times in public but also in court. The court-appointed monitors Feb. 3 letter confirms the idea that the Trump Organization went the entire year without making any of the typical disclosures required when borrowing money from a financial institution. Axos did not reply to a request for comment. The Trump Organization also did not answer questions about its deal with Axos. Justice Arthur F. Engoron, a New York state judge, took the rare step of appointing Jones as an outside monitor after hearing the AGs concerns that the Trump Organization might restructure itself to become an empty shell and avoid paying hefty fines that could total $1 billion. After her appointment on Nov. 14, Jones began meeting with company representatives and attorneys at the AGs office, according to her first letter to the court. Since then, the Trumps have been turning over information proactively, she said. In a subsequent letter, Jones told the judge that she has sent the Trump Organization questions more than a dozen times to clarify their corporate structure and various corporate transactions. Shes clearly getting some answers, because Jones noted she had to hire her own accountants to carefully assess issues regarding Trump Organization entities and has spent considerable time reconciling and ensuring the accuracy of the extensive list of entities that fall under the Trump Organization umbrella. Jones did not respond to a request for comment to expand on the missing 2022 financial statements. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. WASHINGTON (AP) Handed some 41,000 hours of Jan. 6 security footage, Fox News' Tucker Carlson has launched an impassioned new effort to explain away the deadly Capitol attack, linking the Republican Party ever more closely to pro-Trump conspiracy theories about the 2021 riot. The conservative commentator aired a first installment to millions of viewers on his prime-time show Monday, working to bend perceptions of the violent, grueling siege that played out for the world to see into a narrative favorable to Donald Trump. A small additional bit was shown Tuesday amid calls from critics to stop. The undertaking by Fox News comes as Trump is again running for president, and executives at the highest levels of the cable news giant have admitted in unrelated court proceedings that it spread the former president's false claims about the 2020 election despite dismissing Trump's assertions privately. The effort dovetails with the work of Republicans on Capitol Hill, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who turned over the security footage to Fox. The Republicans are trying to claw back the findings of the House Jan. 6 investigation, which painstakingly documented, with testimony and video evidence, how Trump rallied his supporters to head to the Capitol and fight like hell as Congress was certifying his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump on Tuesday contended that Carlson's presentation was irrefutable evidence that rioters have been wrongly accused of crimes and he thanked the host and the speaker for their work. Carlson praised McCarthy as having rectified the official record. Trump called anew for the release from custody of people who have been convicted or have pleaded guilty to charges from the attack. At the same time, criticism poured in from Democrats and some top Republicans, too over the GOP's attempt to amplify falsehoods about the attack that was seen around the world as Trump supporters laid siege to the seat of U.S. democracy. Story continues Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Democrat who chaired the House Jan. 6 Committee investigating the riot, called McCarthy's decision to selectively release the security footage a dereliction of duty." "The speaker decided it was more important to give in to a Fox host who spews lies and propaganda than to protect the Capitol, Thompson said in a statement. He called Jan. 6 one of the darkest days in the history of our democracy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the Monday night Fox News episode from Carlson one of the most shameful hours we have ever seen on television. The show's portrayal was "an insult to every single police officer, Schumer said, especially the family of Brian Sicknick, who died later after fighting the mob. Nonviolent? Ask his family. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said it was a mistake for Fox News to depict the footage as it did at odds with the Capitol Police assessment and what he and others witnessed firsthand at the Capitol on Jan. 6. But McCarthy, who has shifted from blaming Trump for the riot to softening his criticism of the former president, stood by his decision, saying people can watch and "come up with their own conclusion. In the roughly 30-minute segment, Fox distilled the thousands of hours of footage of the gruesome scenes at the Capitol that day and did show some of the hand-to-hand combat as rioters laid siege to the building, broke windows and kicked down doors to gain entry. But Carlson also emphasized imagery of the invaders, some in combat gear and wielding flagpoles, merely milling about the gilded halls, taking pictures of the surroundings during pauses in the hours-long attack. These were not insurrectionists. They were sightseers, Carlson said. The footage he aired focused on one of the highest-profile rioters, Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, garbed in his horned hat and bare chested, as he poked around the building, officers standing by or opening doors. Chansley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding and was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Carlson denounced the Jan. 6 committee led by Democrats in the past Congress, and called out Trump's chief Republican critics Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger as liars on the panel. Carlson is reviving the falsehoods launched by Trump and his allies, including Republicans in Congress, that the attackers were peaceful protesters and acted like tourists, despite the well-documented carnage of the day and the deaths of five people in the riot and its aftermath. It's part of an effort to reverse criminal charges for those being prosecuted in the attack, many of whom have pleaded guilty and said they regretted their actions on Jan. 6. Capitol Police officers who were defending against the mob have testified to their harrowing experiences one said she was slipping in other people's blood, while another told of being crushed in the mob as they worked and ultimately failed to block the rioters from storming the Capitol. The criminal cases stemming from the riot have laid bare the violence. Officers have testified in court about being chased, hit, dragged and scared for their lives as they tried to defend the Capitol. One tweeted images late Monday of his cuts, stitches and swollen bruises from that day. Among those who died in the riot and its aftermath were Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt who was shot by police and Capitol Police officer Sicknick who died after fighting the mob. Carlson aired footage of Sicknick inside the Capitol picking up posters and politely ushering protesters out the door, portraying that as evidence the officer was not killed in the crush. That last was denounced by Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger as the most disturbing accusation from last night." The Department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day, Chief Manger said in a memo to his police force. He said the program cherry-picked from calmer moments of the day, ignoring the chaos and violence that happened before or during. The Sicknick family said in a statement that the footage simply showed that Brian Sicknick bravely resumed his duties for a time after he had been attacked by a chemical agent. Ken Sicknick, Brian Sicknicks brother, said in an interview that the family is at a loss about how to fight back against a network with millions of viewers and the speaker of the House who gave access to the footage. Law enforcement failures on Jan. 6 have been investigated in Congress and acknowledged: Police failed to heed signs of a looming attack and were slow to provide an adequate response, including reinforcement from the National Guard. More than half of the roughly 1,000 people charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes have pleaded guilty, including more than 130 who pleaded guilty to felony crimes, according to an Associated Press tally. Members of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups are facing rare charges of sedition for their roles at the front of the assault. Several members of the Oath Keepers have been found guilty of sedition. Hundreds of other rioters were charged only with misdemeanor offenses and many have served no prison time. Republicans on Capitol Hill are mounting an effort to retell the history of Jan. 6 through the House Administration Committee, which has opened an online portal for submissions from the public. Some GOP leaders, however, appeared uncomfortable with McCarthy's move and the way the footage was being used. Senate Republican leader McConnell quickly distanced himself from the endeavor, saying he wanted to associate myself entirely" with the police chief's views. McConnell said, Clearly the chief of the Capitol Police correctly describes what most of us witnessed firsthand on Jan. 6. ___ AP reporters Michael Balsamo and Alanna Durkin Richer and videojournalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this story. Fox News host Tucker Carlson used surveillance videos from inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to falsely claim on his show Monday that no riot happened that day. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) gave Carlson, a well-known Jan. 6 denialist, access to more than 40,000 hours of security camera footage from which Carlson cherry-picked several minutes of Donald Trumps supporters calmly walking through the Capitol. Taken as a whole, the video record does not support the claim that Jan. 6 was an insurrection, Carlson said. In fact, it demolishes that claim. Virtually no one in Washington, Republican or Democrat, wanted to see this tape released tonight. pic.twitter.com/YfpvaIZTbn Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 7, 2023 Supporters of then-President Trump fought police officers and smashed windows to gain access to the Capitol, where they ransacked several offices while lawmakers and staff barricaded themselves inside others. Rioters injured about 140 police officers, according to the Justice Department, and of the more than 1,000 people arrested in connection with the attack, 326 have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees. The former president sent his supporters to the Capitol after riling them up with months of lies about the 2020 election being stolen, which he capped off with a combative speech that day near the White House. The mob stormed the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify the election results in a proceeding that is usually little more than a formality. At any given moment, of course, there were hallways where not much was going on, so Carlson used footage of quieter scenes to claim they better represent the days events than the videos of rioters attacking police. The crowd was enormous, Carlson said. A small percentage of them were hooligans. They committed vandalism. Youve seen their pictures again and again. But the overwhelming majority werent. They were peaceful. They were orderly and meek. These were not insurrectionists. They were sightseers. Story continues Most sightseers at the Capitol dont have to step over police barricades or broken glass in order to enter the building, and there usually arent loud explosions and screaming mobs. Several HuffPost reporters were present on Jan. 6, and its hard to claim that day in any way resembled a normal tourist visit. But Carlson fixated on video of police officers appearing to escort the so-called QAnon Shaman through Senate hallways, suggesting he and others shouldnt have been charged with crimes. The Capitol Police told the New York Post they were trying to de-escalate the situation because they were outnumbered that day. The Capitol Police declined to comment. But a Hill source told HuffPost on Tuesday that Carlsons show never reached out to the [Capitol Police] department to balance out the commentary, which will fuel more dangerous conspiracy theories. McCarthys decision to hand the footage to Carlson represents a major escalation of the Republican effort to cast doubt on the insurrection, which McCarthy blamed on Trump in the early days after the attack before he then tried to deflect accountability from the former president. Still, McCarthy said last year that he agreed the attack was a violent insurrection. With McCarthys help, Carlson insisted Monday night that not only was Jan. 6 not an insurrection, it wasnt even a riot. Carlson claimed on Monday that Democrats suppressed video evidence so they could lie about the riot as a pretext for a federal crackdown on opponents of the uniparty in Washington. Carlson also claimed that Capitol Police murdered a rioter named Ashli Babbitt as she tried to break into a room next to the chamber of the House of Representatives (McCarthy said recently the officer did his job). And Carlson once again claimed, without credible evidence, that undercover federal agents caused the hooliganism that did occur. As for the nearly $3 million in damage rioters inflicted that day, Carlson suggested they didnt mean it. Theyre not destroying the Capitol, he said. They obviously revere the Capitol. Related... Fox News host Tucker Carlson whipped up a firestorm Tuesday on Capitol Hill, sparking bipartisan backlash and igniting tensions with Capitol Police by downplaying the Jan. 6 Capitol riot on his prime-time program as mostly peaceful chaos. His show divided Republicans, with a number of GOP senators ripping his portrayal of the incursion at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, who rarely offers opinions on political issues, said the Monday night show was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions about the Jan. 6 attack. The program conveniently cherry-picked from the calmer moments of our 41,000 hours of video. The commentary fails to provide context about the chaos and violence that happened before or during these less tense moments, Manger wrote in a memo to lawmakers. Those of you who contributed to the effort to allow this countrys legislative process to continue know firsthand what actually happened. The segment was the first of two installments planned for this week relying on security footage granted to Carlson by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Carlson was expected to air more clips from the footage during his show on Tuesday evening. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a scathing rebuke of Carlson and Fox on Tuesday, holding up a copy of the memo and saying he wanted to associate himself with the opinion of the chief of the Capitol police about what happened on Jan. 6. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) holds up a letter from U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger during a media availability following the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. McConnell supports Mangers view against the released video footage to Fox News Tucker Carlson of the Jan.6 attack on the Capitol. (Greg Nash) It was a mistake, in my view, [for] Fox News to depict this in a way completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official in the Capitol described, McConnell said. Story continues Its an unusual position for the host of one of Foxs most-watched programs, who, while often a magnet for the ire of the left, seldom gets such direct criticism from those on the right. Carlson, who has previously criticized McCarthy on his show, suggested at the start of the year that the new House Speaker release all Jan. 6 security footage in order to win support from detractors threatening to block his path to the gavel. McCarthy later gave Carlson exclusive first access to the footage, but has denied that release came as a result of negotiations for the Speakership. McConnell says Fox News made a mistake by underplaying violence of Jan. 6 Though McCarthy and other Republicans said last week that footage released for broadcast would be subject to a Capitol Police security review, and Carlson said as much on his show, Capitol Police said it saw just one of the several clips that Carlson aired on Monday: An interior door that Carlson said was blurred as a result of security concerns. We repeatedly requested that any clips be shown to us first for a security review, Capitol Police told The Hill on Monday. So far we have only been given the ability to preview a single clip out of the multiple clips that aired. A senior GOP aide with knowledge of the process of releasing the footage said the Capitol Police provided a list of what would be considered security sensitive, and only one clip that Carlson wanted to air met that standard, which Capitol Police then cleared. The same camera angle was released without any blur on the door during the 2021 impeachment of former President Trump. We worked with the Capitol Police to identify any security-sensitive footage and made sure it wasnt released, McCarthy spokesman Mark Bednar said in a statement. Capitol Police says it reviewed just one Jan. 6 clip Tucker Carlson showed A representative for Fox News declined to comment on Tuesday. A number of lawmakers offered pointed and direct criticism of Carlsons first use of the footage. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), meanwhile, told multiple news outlets said that Carlsons show on the Jan. 6 footage was bullshit. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told CNN: To somehow put that in the same category as a permitted peaceful protest is just a lie. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Sen. Kevin Cramer is among the Republicans that have criticized Tucker Carlson airing Jan. 6 footage. (Greg Nash) Carlson at the same time won plaudits from other Republicans who have similarly criticized and downplayed the attack. When will judges begin applying justice equally? Doesnt look like thousands of armed insurrectionists to me, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said in a tweet after thanking McCarthy and Carlson for showing the footage. Ive seen enough. Release all J6 political prisoners now, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) said in a tweet as Carlsons show aired. Trump also weighed in on the footage, praising Carlson and McCarthy over its publication and calling the tapes the Fox host played for his audience irrefutable. Carlson aired the footage after being granted access to the trove of security tapes by McCarthy, prompting outrage from Democrats and pundits who raised concerns that the tapes could threaten Capitol security procedures and amplify conspiracy theories. Former President Trump Former President Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. (Greg Nash) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on the Senate floor on Tuesday called Carlsons show one of the most shameful hours weve seen on cable television, saying he was furious with both Carlson and McCarthy. He called on Fox News and its owner Rupert Murdoch to tell Carlson to not run more footage on Tuesday evening. Speaker McCarthy has played a treacherous, treacherous game in catering to the far right, Schumer said. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who was one of the members on the Jan. 6 committee, is among those who have raised security concerns over the release of the footage, noting it could be used to map the Capitol and the evacuation path of lawmakers. He called Carlsons show and conspiracies about Jan. 6 pushed through his documentary a central part of the GOP agenda and playbook as they try to get Donald Trump elected to the White House again. They didnt even apparently honor their agreement with the Capitol Police to provide the clips in advance. So there can be some attempt to contextualize whatever silly potshots theyre taking, he told The Hill. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) Rep. Jamie Raskin (Annabelle Gordon) The absurd part is they act like their fragmented and disoriented potshots from Capitol security footage are the only documentary record of what happened. There are thousands and thousands of hours that have already been published not just security footage but also [by] media that were present and insurrectionists themselves. The whole world was watching and everyone knows exactly what happened. They are involved in a fraudulent enterprise here, he added. Among the unfounded theories Carlson floated in his Monday program were suggestions that federal agents helped incite the violence, though he stopped short of providing evidence to prove it. He also cast doubt on the circumstances surrounding the death of Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick. It was something Manger deemed the most disturbing accusation from last night in asserting his death had nothing to do with heroic actions on Jan. 6. The department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day, the chief said. The top-rated host last year produced and published a multi-part documentary series dubbed Patriot Purge, which purported to tell an alternative story of the attack and features at least one subject who suggests the event may have been a false flag operation. Pence asks judge to block special counsels Jan. 6 subpoena The publication of the tapes also comes as Carlson specifically and Fox more generally are taking intense heat from critics over revelations the companys top executives and talent embraced and discussed Trumps false claims about the 2020 election on air but privately cast doubt on them. They believed the election they had just voted in had been unfairly conducted, Carlson said Monday of the people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. They were right. In retrospect, it is clear the 2020 election was a grave betrayal of American democracy, given the facts that have since emerged about that election, he said. No honest person can deny it. Yet the beneficiaries of that election continue to lie about what is now obvious. Manger dismissed those conclusions in his Tuesday letter. TV commentary will not record the truth of our history books, he wrote in his letter. The Justice system will. Truth and justice are on our side. Alexander Bolton contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Flash This video screenshot released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows the site of a derailed freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, the United States. [Photo/NTSB] In leaked audio heard by The Guardian, a manager of one of the U.S. largest rail companies once told a former carman to stop tagging railcars for broken wheel-bearings because doing so delays other cargo. The report on Friday came as federal agencies were investigating the derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio. A wheel-bearing failure was cited as the cause of the accident in a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. According to the report, in late 2016, Stephanie Griffin, a former Union Pacific carman, went to her manager with concerns that she was getting pushback for tagging -- or reporting for repair -- railcars, but the manager told her it was OK to skip inspections. Griffin said the boss wanted to skip the inspection because it increased the dwell time. "It's very obvious that management is not concerned with public safety, and only concerned with making their numbers look good," the report quoted Griffin as saying. "The regulation at the time stated that a wheel bearing was bad when it had 'visible seepage'. But that was very vague, and the bosses used that vagueness to their advantage," she said. "Most railroad workers are fighting against an entire system that only exists as a money-making apparatus to the wealthy. Those trains run through our towns, but they do not run next to rich folks' homes, nor next to our politicians' homes. This is a top-down problem," she added. Editors note: Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) was asked to sit for a voluntary interview by the House select committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. The information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. Fox News host Tucker Carlson released the first portion of never-before-seen angles of footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters on Monday, describing the scene at one point as mostly peaceful chaos. Deadly insurrection. Everything about that phrase is a lie, Carlson said on his widely watched weeknight program. Very little about Jan. 6 was organized or violent. Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos. There have been multiple deaths tied to the attack, and roughly 1,000 arrests have been made in connection with it, while some 500 have pleaded guilty over their roles that day. More than 100 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot. Carlson showed footage of people who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 roaming the hallways without vandalizing or warring with police officers, including QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley being followed by officers walking behind him and passing a group of several officers without being stopped. While Carlson said that it was not clear how Chansley got into the Capitol, documents filed relating to a plea agreement from the QAnon Shaman said he admits that he entered the building through a broken door around a minute after it was breached, becoming one of the first 30 rioters in the Capitol. Already-public security footage shows his entrance. Carlson downplayed other widely circulated footage from Jan. 6 that showed rioters assaulting officers who were met with bear mace and violence, in some cases getting pinned in doorways. Other footage shows rioters breaking windows and vandalizing the building as they roamed through the hallway. Carlson aired the footage after being granted access to the trove of security tapes by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), prompting outrage from Democrats and pundits in the media who raised concerns that the tapes could threaten Capitol security procedures and amplify conspiracy theories. Story continues The influential Fox News host on Monday nights show continued to nod to such a theory circulating on the right that federal agents helped incite the violence, though he stopped short of providing evidence to prove it. For more than two years we have wondered why some in the crowd that day who seem to be inciting violence were never indicted for it, Carlson said. We assumed these were federal agents of some sort. We still assume that. In fact, there were many examples of behavior we saw in those tapes that didnt seem to make sense As of tonight, we dont know. Because we dont know, we will not put their faces on the screen and suggest they were federal agents. That would be irresponsible. So there were many mysteries we could not solve. Carlson said he was grateful to McCarthy, whom he has criticized in the past, for granting his team access to the footage. As McCarthy faced GOP opposition that threatened to derail his Speakership election at the start of the year, Carlson had suggested that he pledge to release the full Jan. 6 security footage online. Carlson charged that members of the Jan. 6 select House committee lied about what they saw on the security footage. Whatever you think of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, he rectified that crime, and were grateful that he did, he said. Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), the former chairman of the Jan. 6 panel and the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a Monday evening statement that it is a dereliction of duty for Kevin McCarthy to give Tucker Carlson carte blanche access to sensitive U.S. Capitol security surveillance footage from one of the darkest days in the history of our democracy. Despite repeated warnings as to the sensitive nature of this footage, the Speaker decided it was more important to give in to a Fox host who spews lies and propaganda than to protect the Capitol and the police, members, and staff that serve in it, Thompson said. Carlson said that his producers had unfettered access to the Capitol surveillance video, and that neither the Speakers office nor his bosses at Fox News interfered with their review of the footage. Most of the more than 40,000 hours of tape was irrelevant views of empty rooms, he said. Capitol Police reviewed the footage shown on air, and Carlson said their reservations were minor and reasonable. His show blurred the details of an interior door in the Capitol due to those concerns. Theres a limit to the decisions we can make about the footage, Carlson said. He also revisited the clip of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) fleeing the Capitol, complaining it had been selectively edited, as Hawley was at the tail end of a group of senators who jogged out of the Senate chambers. When the Jan. 6 committee aired that clip in July, however, the purpose was to demonstrate that Hawley, too, rushed to leave the chamber to avoid a crowd that hours earlier he had greeted with a raised fist of solidarity. Then-Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) had said Hawley also had to flee the crowd, noting the annoyance of a Capitol Police officer who felt the senator had riled up protesters shortly before they stormed the building while under the protection of a police-manned barriers. Carlson also offered a selective retelling of the tour Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) gave a crowd of constituents the day before the riot. The Fox News host rehashed details already known about the episode: that Loudermilk gave the tour to constituents and toured only House office building and hallways while failing to make it into the actual Capitol. But Carlson failed to mention that two of the men in Loudermilks party did show up at the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. Theres no escape Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler. Were coming for you. Were coming in like white on rice, for Pelosi, Nadler, Schumer, even you AOC. Were coming to take you out, and pull you out by your hairs, one of the men Loudermilk gave a tour to said outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. Loudermilk was asked to sit for a voluntary interview by the Jan. 6 panel alongside four other Republican lawmakers, but he did not meet with their investigators. McCarthys granting of the tapes to Carlson comes more than a year after the conservative pundit produced and published a multi-part miniseries for Foxs streaming service, dubbed Patriot Purge, which purported to tell an alternative story of the Jan. 6 insurrection and features at least one subject who suggests the event may have been a false flag operation. Patriot Purge led to two Fox contributors quitting the network and reportedly caused concern within Foxs news ranks, including among top anchors. As he opened his show Monday, Carlson described the anger among supporters of then-President Trump in the weeks leading to the Capitol riot, noting they believed the election they had just voted in had been unfairly conducted. They were right. In retrospect, it is clear the 2020 election was a grave betrayal of American democracy, given the facts that have since emerged about that election, he said. No honest person can deny it. Yet the beneficiaries of that election continue to lie about what is now obvious. A recent deposition Carlson gave to lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems as part of the companys ongoing $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox shows him throwing cold water on false claims of electoral fraud being spun by Trump and his allies in the weeks following the election. You keep telling our viewers that millions of votes were changed by the software. I hope you will prove that very soon, Carlson confronted Trump attorney Sidney Powell after the election, according to a recent court filing. Youve convinced them that Trump will win. If you dont have conclusive evidence of fraud at that scale, its a cruel and reckless thing to keep saying. Carlson said his team plans to show more clips from the Jan. 6 footage McCarthys office granted him during his show on Tuesday. Updated Tuesday at 11:21 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Orhan Coskun and Daren Butler ANKARA (Reuters) -A call by Turkey's pro-Kurdish party for talks with an opposition alliance on supporting its joint candidate to challenge President Tayyip Erdogan in a May election has caused unease among some nationalist elements of the diverse union. Mithat Sancar, co-leader of the left-wing Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), parliament's third biggest, made the appeal late Monday after the six-party opposition bloc announced that Kemal Kilicdaroglu would be its candidate. Two officials in the alliance told Reuters there were fears that such talks with the HDP, which faces potential closure in a court case over alleged ties to Kurdish militants, could undermine support among nationalist voters hostile to its pro-Kurdish politics. The HDP is widely seen playing a kingmaker role in the presidential and parliamentary votes expected on May 14. The separate six-party bloc will likely need its support to end Erdogan's two-decade political reign. Encompassing social democrats, nationalists, secularists and Islamists, the bloc put aside differences on Monday to endorse candidate Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition centrist Republican People's Party (CHP). Around the same time, Sancar invited the bloc to hold talks that might pave the way for the HDP supporting Kilicdaroglu. "Our goal is democracy, justice, freedom. Basically, we want to talk about principles," he told broadcaster Haberturk. A senior alliance party official told Reuters that Sancar's invitation was "a little early," adding the issue of how the HDP provides support was set to be the opposition's biggest problem. "The open support of the HDP would draw (negative) reactions, notably from the IYI Party and its grassroots," he said of the nationalist party, second biggest in the alliance. "HDP support is extremely critical," he said, but added that it could undermine backing elsewhere. Story continues A senior figure in another alliance party said public HDP endorsement could cut IYI support by 5 percentage points and CHP by 2-3 percentage points. Some polls put the opposition alliance ahead of the ruling coalition of Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AKP and the nationalist MHP but they generally point to a tight race. The HDP has about 10% support nationwide. "FINE BALANCE" Kilicdaroglu in a speech on Tuesday did not reference the HDP and said that the other five parties would help seal victory. "A very fine balance has to be found here. Otherwise, there may be a price to pay," the second official said. "Votes coming from the HDP may be matched by those lost in the alliance." Asked about Kilicdaroglu's potential dialogue with the HDP, IYI Party leader Meral Aksener told Haberturk on Tuesday that everyone should respect the relations between other political parties. But she said that the HDP can never join their alliance or be given a ministry if the opposition wins. Turkey's Constitutional Court is hearing a case aimed at closing the HDP over alleged ties to Kurdish militants, which the party denies. In campaigning, Erdogan will likely play up alleged links and the HDP's opposition role, analysts say. The timing of a verdict was unclear, but the court rejected an HDP request to delay a ruling until after the elections. It has already frozen the party's bank accounts. The second official, who was not authorised to speak on the record, said some Kurdish voters would not back the opposition alliance due to IYI's involvement. Sancar said the HDP played a key role in creating political balances in Turkey and this should take place in the open, not behind closed doors. He added that no progress had been made since it set out its policies in September. The HDP previously signalled that it would field its own candidate in the absence of talks, but Sancar said the party was reconsidering that after last month's earthquake. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Alexandra Hudson and Mark Porter) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House backed legislation introduced on Tuesday by a dozen senators to give the administration new powers to ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok and other foreign-based technologies if they pose national security threats. The endorsement boosts efforts by a number of lawmakers to ban the popular app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance and used by more than 100 million Americans. The bill would give the Commerce Department the ability impose restrictions up to and including banning TikTok and other technologies that pose national security risks, said Democratic Senator Mark Warner, who chairs the Intelligence Committee. It would also apply to foreign technologies from China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, he said. TikTok criticized the measure, saying in a statement that any "U.S. ban on TikTok is a ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion-plus people who use our service worldwide." The bill would require Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to identify and address foreign threats to information and communications technology products and services. Raimondo's office declined to comment. TikTok has come under increasing fire over fears that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. The senators introducing the legislation, led by Warner and Republican John Thune, also includes Democrats Tammy Baldwin, Joe Manchin, Michael Bennet, Kirsten Gillibrand and Martin Heinrich along with Republicans Deb Fischer, Jerry Moran, Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins and Mitt Romney. Warner said it was important the government do more to make clear what it believes are the national security risks from TikTok. "Its going to be incumbent on the government to show its cards in terms of how this is a threat," Warner said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan praised the bipartisan bill, saying it "would strengthen our ability to address discrete risks posed by individual transactions, and systemic risks posed by certain classes of transactions involving countries of concern in sensitive technology sectors." Story continues "We look forward to continue working with both Democrats and Republicans on this bill, and urge Congress to act quickly to send it to the Presidents desk," he said in a statement. Raimondo, in a separate statement, said she "welcomes this legislative framework for addressing these threats and protecting Americans safety and national security" and vowed to work with senators "to advance this legislation through Congress." TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew is due to appear before Congress on March 23. Senator Marco Rubio told Fox News on Tuesday that Warner's bill doesn't go far enough, saying that it "takes steps" in the direction of barring TikTok in the United States. "We should pass a bill that bans TikTok," Rubio said. "I have the only bipartisan, bicameral bill that actually does that." The House Foreign Affairs Committee last week voted along party lines on a bill sponsored by Republican Representative Michael McCaul to give Biden the power to ban TikTok after President Donald Trump was stymied by courts in 2020 in his efforts to ban TikTok and Chinese messaging app WeChat. Democrats opposed McCaul's bill, saying it was rushed and required due diligence through debate and consultation with experts. Some major bills aimed at China such as a chips funding bill took 18 months to win approval. McCaul said he thinks the full House could vote on his bill this month. The U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a powerful national security body, in 2020 unanimously recommended ByteDance divest TikTok because of fears that user data could be passed on to China's government. TikTok and CFIUS have been negotiating for more than two years on data security requirements. TikTok said it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts and rejects spying allegations. "The swiftest and most thorough way to address any national security concerns about TikTok is for CFIUS to adopt the proposed agreement that we worked with them on for nearly two years," TikTok said Tuesday. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter, Anna Driver and Leslie Adler) Twitch already forbids explicit deepfake images and videos, but it's taking a tougher position against them today. The livestreaming service is updating its policy on adult nudity to include a ban on synthetic NCEI (non-consensual exploitative images), even if it's only shown briefly or to criticize its existence. It's also revising ts sexual violence and exploitation policies to make clear that intentionally making and sharing non-consensual deepfakes can lead to a ban with the first offense. The policy changes should take effect within the next month. The company hopes the added clarity and modernized language will deter potential offenders. The company is holding a virtual Creator Camp with NCEI expert Zara Ward on March 14th to help spot and deal with malicious deepfakes. We've asked the company if it has any plans to detect deepfakes as they appear, and will let you know if we hear back. The update comes after an incident in which well-known streamer Atrioc briefly showed a browser tab with a website selling access to deepfakes of female Twitch streamers, including some high-profile creators. Atrioc has since apologized and says he was only "morbidly curious," but that still left broadcasters and viewers angry. None of the women consented to these images. Women on Twitch are no strangers to harassment, including brigaders who try to get them banned for allegedly violating policies forbidding sexually suggestive content. Twitch has added more tools to discourage harassment and trolling, but critics have also accused it of implementing confusing guidelines that enable abuse and force women to dress conservatively. Deepfakes can be used for positive purposes, such as clever music videos. However, the non-consensual versions remain a problem and have prompted government crackdowns. Both states and countries like the UK are either enacting or drafting laws that criminialize sharing such deepfakes. In that regard, Twitch is just adding another mechanism to help limit the spread of this content. By Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) - Twitter's lead European Union privacy regulator said on Tuesday she was concerned that the Elon Musk-owned U.S. firm had launched its Twitter Blue subscription service in the region without consulting her office, despite a pledge to do so. Twitter, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has in recent days launched the service in several EU markets, offering the kind of blue check mark previously free for verified accounts of public figures to anyone prepared to pay. It was launched last year in the United States. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, Twitter's lead EU regulator due to the location of its European headquarters in Dublin, said the service raised privacy issues including around verification of accounts to prevent users posing as public figures. "We're a little bit more concerned this week now that we see that the blue tick subscription service is rolling out here in EU countries having been reassured that it wasn't going to roll out in the EU and certainly not before there have been discussions with our office," Dixon said in an interview. While no formal inquiry has been launched "we're at a heightened state of contact with Twitter," she said, describing consultation prior to a product launch as "best practice." Dixon in November expressed concern about the impact of steep job cuts on Twitter's ability to meet privacy obligations following billionaire Musk's takeover the previous month. Twitter now has a "very strong" data protection officer, she said. "But beyond the data protection office, there are clearly other forces at play. And we need to understand a little bit more about those," Dixon added. (Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Alexander Smith) Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Facebook Two of the four Americans who were kidnapped after driving across the border into Northeastern Mexico were rescued from a rural house on Tuesday after being bound, shot in the leg, and transferred from place to place to create confusion, according to local reports and official accounts. Latavia Tay McGee, 33, a Myrtle Beach resident and mother of six, reportedly traveled from South Carolina to Matamoros, in Tamaulipas State, for a tummy tuck last week. She and the three others, who accompanied her to split the driving, were close friends, according to her family. They were identified by family members as Zindell Brown, Shaeed Woodard, and Eric James Williams. However, they were ambushed in Matamoros by gunman who shot up their minivan before taking them hostage. Brown and Woodard were killed. McGee, who was not seriously injured, and Williams, who was shot in the leg, were rescued on Tuesday morning, Irving Barrios, the attorney general for Tamaulipas. They've since been driven back into Texas to be treated at a hospital. Its crazy. Its shocking. It feels like a movie or something, McGees cousin Hakquan Burgess told The Daily Beast on Tuesday from his home in Lake City, South Carolina. He said McGee had even visited the same area last year without encountering any trouble. It doesnt even feel real... Im still in shock. Like, I believe it, but its still kind of hard to believe. All four Americans were found at a house in a rural area of Tamaulipas, Barrios said. The bodies of Woodard and Brown will remain in Mexico for examination before being returned stateside. The scene where authorities rescued two of the kidnapped Americans and found the bodies of two more. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril Barrios said they had arrested a 24-year-old Mexican national, identified as Jose Guadalupe N, who had been guarding the house. Authorities have not said if he's part of the violent Gulf Cartel that operates in the region. Investigators are looking for other assailants, including those who moved the group around Tamaulipas to evade authorities. The four people were transferred to different places, including a clinic in order to create confusion and avoid rescue efforts, Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal said Tuesday. Story continues Photos from the rescue posted online by EnlaceMx Noticias appeared to show officers removing restraints from McGee. In a separate video taken at the scene, Williams can be seen in the back of an ambulance, receiving oxygen but seemingly alert. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=757929902700733https://www.facebook.com/EnlaceMxNoticia/photos/pcb.1733454233756704/1733454023756725 Burgess, 31, is also Woodards cousin, he told The Daily Beast. Right now, Burgess, like everyone else in the family, is waiting for more information about what exactly happened. I never expected this, he told The Daily Beast. Until I got that video, I was like, Oh lord, its for real now. The four entered Mexico near Brownsville, Texas, last Friday, crossing into Tamaulipas in a white minivan with North Carolina plates, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Gunmen then opened fire on their car, killing a Mexican womanidentified as an innocent bystanderwho was a block and a half away. A graphic video obtained by Mexican newscast Telediario and verified by Reuters appeared to showed the kidnappers then loading the four friends into the bed of a white pickup truck, in broad daylight. Two of the friends lifeless bodies had to be dragged onto the bed. A woman could be seen in a video being dragged to the back of a white pickup truck. Reuters The friends were targeted in a case of mistaken identity, an unnamed U.S. official told CNN, saying the four may have been erroneously IDed by cartel members as Haitian drug smugglers. Barrios confirmed that suspicion on Tuesday but did not mention Haitian drug smugglers. For his part, Burgess told The Daily Beast he heard the group had been watched from the time they crossed into Mexico and that they became lost while driving to their medical appointmentsomething another close friend told CNN on Tuesday. When I reached out to the doctors office they told me that Latavia had reached out to them to ask them for directions because she was lost, the unnamed friend told CNN. They sent me a screenshot of the messages and they said they sent her the address and asked her if she was using a GPS. Burgess described his relationship with Woodard and McGee as more like siblings, as they all grew up together. He is also friendly with Brown and Williams, he told The Daily Beast, calling them all laid-back people who are good-hearted and stay to themselves. When Burgess first heard about the kidnapping, he couldnt imagine it was actually true. The news came via a phone call from his mom, Burgess said. They said that the doctor had called and said she never made it to her appointment, he recalled on Tuesday. I was like, Man, she aint missing. I wasnt sweating it. And then I started getting text messages: Hey man, you aint seen what happened? And thats when I got the video, and thats when I believed it. A distraught friend of McGees, Mariah Roman, said on social media that she was the last person to see McGee before she left town. (Roman declined to comment when reached Monday night by The Daily Beast.) Zindell Brown was wary about traveling to Mexico, his sister Zalandria told the Associated Press. Zindell kept saying, We shouldnt go down, she said. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=917013719290926&set=pb.100029469201658.-2207520000.&type=3 The U.S. State Department cautions Americans from visiting Tamaulipas state at all, warning, Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Organized crime activityincluding gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assaultis common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria, the State Department website reads. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments. The area is controlled by the Gulf cartel, a group responsible for countless drug-fueled kidnappings and murders. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, Zalandria Brown told the AP. To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. A Matamoros resident interviewed by the AP said she witnessed the abduction, which she said occurred after the groups minivan was hit by another vehicle at an intersection. Shots were then fired as an SUV pulled up and discharged a band of armed men, the woman said. All of a sudden [the gunmen] were in front of us, she told the news service. I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, If we move they will see us, or they might shoot us. A Matamoros resident interviewed by the AP said she witnessed the abduction, which she said occurred after the groups minivan was hit by another vehicle at an intersection. Shots were then fired as an SUV pulled up and discharged a band of armed men, the woman said. Those responsible are going to be found, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in a press conference on Tuesday. They are going to be punished. 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. (AP/Family handout) Two Americans kidnapped in Mexico last week have been found dead. Another individual was found wounded while a fourth person was unharmed, Tamaulipas Governor Americo Villarreal said, the Associated Press reported. Ambulances crews were sent to assist the surviving victims, Mr Villareal said on a call with Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador, which was televised. The group had crossed the US border into Mexico on Friday. They were identified on Monday as Latavia Tay McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams, who travelled from South Carolina. The names of the deceased individuals have not been revealed. McGees mother told the AP that her daughter had travelled to Mexico to get a tummy tuck and her three friends had decided to tag along to help with driving duties. Not long after entering Matamoros an area dominated by the Gulf cartel they came under fire from a group of armed men and were bundled into the back of a pickup truck. This is a developing story ... check again for updates. A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes on Friday. AP Photo Two of the four American citizens who were kidnapped shortly after crossing the border with Mexico on Friday have been found dead, US and Mexican officials said Tuesday. Speaking via phone at a news conference held by the Mexican president, Americo Villarreal, the governor of the state of Tamaulipas, said the four Americans were located earlier on Tuesday morning. Villarreal said the local prosecutors office confirmed that two of the Americans had been killed, a third was wounded, and the fourth was unharmed. Ambulances are rushing to the area to recover them and offer them medical care, the governor said. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed to reporters at an afternoon briefing that the two Americans had been killed and their bodies had not yet been returned to the US. "We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased," he said. The two survivors had been repatriated to the US, Price said, adding that they had endured "what by all accounts must have been a traumatic and harrowing experience." The Brownsville Herald reported that the pair were accompanied by the FBI to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, for treatment. Family members of the four had identified them to US media as Latavia Tay Washington McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown, and Eric James Williams. This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from, Zalandria Brown, sister of Zindell, told the Associated Press . To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable. Brown said that one member of the group was scheduled to have a tummy tuck cosmetic procedure in Mexico. Members of the Mexican National Guard prepare for a search mission for the four on March 6. AP Photo According to the FBI , the group had crossed from Brownsville into Matamoros, in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. But soon after they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen before being forced into another vehicle and abducted. Ken Salazar, the US ambassador to Mexico, said Monday that an innocent Mexican citizen was also killed in the crossfire. Story continues Video posted to social media purported to show at least three men two of whom are wearing bulletproof vests dragging people across a road and into the bed of a white pickup truck. At least one of the men appeared to be holding a large weapon. The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward leading to the return of the Americans and the arrest of the perpetrators. In a statement on Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland offered condolences to the victims' loved ones and pledged that his team would pursue justice on their behalf. "We will do everything in our power to identify, find, and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack on American citizens," Garland said. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China on Tuesday pledged its commitment to global peace and development, as well as its readiness to confront "jackals or wolves" head on to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. Foreign Minister Qin Gang stated China's commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace and a mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up at a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress. Qin emphasized China's opposition to decoupling, the severing of industrial and supply chains, and unilateral sanctions, saying the country firmly opposes hegemony and the Cold War mentality. China champions an open and inclusive world economy and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, offering more Chinese insight and solutions to help meet humanity's common challenges, he said. New type of int'l relations Qin said China pursues coordination and sound interactions among major countries and promotes a new type of international relations. In terms of major-country relations, Qin stated that China-Russia ties are characterized by strategic mutual trust and good neighborliness, and they serve as a model for a new type of international relations. The China-Russia relationship "is not a threat to any country, nor is it subject to any interference or discord sown by any third party," Qin said. "The more unstable the world becomes, the more imperative it is for China and Russia to steadily advance their relations," he said. Regarding China's relations with the United States, Qin said China "pursues a sound and stable relationship with the United States." The China-U.S. relationship should be determined by common interests and shared responsibilities of the two countries, and by friendship between the Chinese and American people, rather than by U.S. domestic politics or hysterical neo-McCarthyism, he said. "The U.S. claims that it seeks to out-compete China but does not seek conflict. Yet in reality, its so-called competition means to contain and suppress China in all respects, and get the two countries locked in a zero-sum game," Qin said. He said the U.S. rhetoric of "establishing guardrails" and "not seeking conflict" simply means China should not respond in words or action when slandered or attacked. "That is just impossible." "If the U.S. does not hit the brake but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails could prevent derailing and there will surely be conflict and confrontation," Qin said. In response to a question about the Ukraine crisis, Qin said China chooses peace over war, dialogue over sanctions, and cooling down the situation over fueling the flames, calling for calm, reason and dialogue among the parties involved. China has not provided any weapons to either side of the Ukraine conflict and it always makes its judgments independently, based on the merits of the issue, he said. "There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict," using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agenda, Qin said. Qin expressed China's hope that Europe will achieve true strategic autonomy as well as lasting security and stability, saying China is willing to work with Europe to uphold "true multilateralism" and deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. Concerning the United States' "Indo-Pacific Strategy," Qin said its real purpose is to "encircle China," warning that such an attempt will only disrupt the ASEAN-centered open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture, and undermine the overall and long-term interests of countries in the region. Qin said that China always treats Japan with goodwill and hopes for friendship and good-neighborliness. "Yet, should some people from the Japanese side choose a beggar-thy-neighbor approach rather than pursue partnership, and even take part in a new Cold War to contain China, bilateral relations would only suffer new wounds when the old ones are yet to be healed," he said. Also during Tuesday's press conference, Qin noted that developing countries account for more than 80 percent of the global population and more than 70 percent of global economic growth. "People in developing countries are entitled to better lives, and developing countries are entitled to greater representation and a louder voice in international affairs," he said. Chinese path to modernization According to Qin, Chinese modernization serves as an important source of inspiration for the rest of the world, particularly for developing countries. Qin said the Chinese path to modernization fits in well with China's national conditions, and its success "proves that every country has the right and ability to choose its own path and hold its future firmly in its own hands." Chinese modernization is characterized by peaceful development and "is not pursued through war, colonization or plunder," he said, calling it "a new path different from Western modernization." Qin said the right of every country to pursue a modernization path tailored to its national reality should be respected. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a high-quality public good initiated by China, has benefited the world. Over the past decade, the BRI has brought nearly a trillion U.S. dollars of investment, established over 3,000 cooperation projects, created approximately 420,000 jobs in countries along the routes, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty. In response to allegations that the BRI can lead to debt traps, Qin said it is never China that should be accused of creating so-called debt traps, and that multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors account for over 80 percent of sovereign debt in developing countries. Qin expressed his belief that, as China accelerates high-quality development, promotes high-standard opening-up and fosters a new development paradigm, it will surely bring new opportunities to all countries in the world. Confronting 'jackals, wolves' head on At the very heart of China's core interests, the Taiwan question is the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and "the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations," Qin said. Qin urged the United States to cease containing China by exploiting the Taiwan question, and to return to the fundamentals of the one-China principle. The real threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence," he said, noting that the one-China principle serves as a solid anchor and the three China-U.S. joint communiques serve as genuine guardrails. "Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-U.S. relations," he warned. No country has the right to interfere in Taiwan affairs, as resolving the Taiwan question is China's own business, he said, emphasizing that "one should never underestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Responding to another question, Qin said that so-called "wolf warrior" diplomacy is just a narrative trap fabricated by those who either know little about China or its diplomacy, or have a hidden agenda that disregards the facts. "There is no shortage of kindness and goodwill in China's diplomacy, but in the face of 'jackals or wolves,' Chinese diplomats have no choice but to confront them head on to protect the motherland," Qin said. By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The day before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right, religious government was sworn in on Dec. 29, a popular chat show host asked whether Israel might be better off dividing into a liberal secular state and a more nationalist theocracy. The host's whimsical nod to Biblical times when Israelites split into the rival kingdoms of Judea and Israel with dire results encapsulated a sense of alarm about how deep divisions were becoming under Netanyahu's emerging coalition. And that was a week before it unveiled the sweeping judicial reforms that have triggered nationwide protests and soul-searching about whether two camps with very different views of what it means to be a Jewish democratic state can coexist. Reuters spoke with coalition and opposition lawmakers, legal experts, economists, former and serving security officials as well as ordinary Israelis on both sides of the divide who voiced concern that Netanyahu's rapid judicial reform drive was pushing the country to the brink. The changes going through parliament would rein in the power of the independent Supreme Court and give the government decisive sway over picking judges for a bench some conservative politicians have accused of harming national interests. For a ruling coalition that relies on settlers pushing to tighten Israel's grip on the occupied West Bank and ultra-Orthodox religious parties, the court is an enemy of democracy because it has too often overruled parliament. The camp opposing the judicial changes is a cross-section of Israeli society, with former army chiefs, scientists, business leaders and economists among the most vocal critics. For them, weakening the Supreme Court would undermine the bedrock of Israel's democracy and could set the country on the path to becoming a corrupt and religiously coercive state. And the feelings run deep. THE GHOST OF GAZA "I despise them," Elad Ziv, 52, said of the Supreme Court judges who in 2016 ordered the demolition of the Amona settler outpost in the West Bank, where he and his wife had lived for more than a decade and raised seven children. Story continues He said the court had been usurping power from lawmakers since the 1990s, intervening in debates it had no mandate to rule on. In 2020, the Supreme Court struck down a law that had retroactively legalised homes built by settlers on land owned by Palestinians, like Amona. Such rulings could become near impossible if the judicial overhaul goes through because the court's power to overturn laws would be limited by parliament. Israel has no written constitution and only one house of parliament, which is typically controlled by majority coalitions, so weakening the court could remove one of the only brakes on government's ruling with unbridled power, experts say. Netanyahu's office declined to comment for this story. For Moriya Taassan Michaeli, her deep-rooted opposition to the court dates back to 2005, when it allowed the forced eviction of thousands of settlers from Gaza as Israel pulled out of the Palestinian enclave. Almost 20 years later, it is still an open wound. "The court has been hostile to the settlers for years," she said in her West Bank settlement, Givat Harel. "The legal reform comes from a just place, from a population discriminated against for years by a court conducting itself as a left-wing bastion." Settlers driven by ideology see themselves as pioneers redeeming land that was promised by God and many feel betrayed by Supreme Court rulings against settlements. The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment. In rare remarks about government policy, Supreme Court President Esther Hayut said in January that the changes would crush the justice system, deal a fatal blow to democracy and harm the defence of human rights and civil liberties. She said rulings against the government and legislature over the years had always been done responsibly and with restraint. Opinion polls show a majority of Israelis are against the way the government is ploughing ahead with the reforms. Many conservatives and liberals say they want a compromise solution, such as the one being pushed by President Isaac Herzog. The surveys show a quarter to a third of Israelis stand firmly behind the reform drive. West Bank settlers account for about 5% of Israelis. They include some parts of the fast-growing Ultra-Orthodox community, which nurses its own grievances against the court and makes up about 13% of the population. Other supporters of the reforms come from Netanyahu's Likud party, the biggest in parliament. But for many protesters, the judicial plans have become the front line in a battle for Israel's identity. 'TEARING US APART' "1973 - Yom Kippur War. 1982 - Lebanon War. 2023 - War to save Democracy." So read a placard carried by an army veteran marching with other reservists on a cold February morning along a hilltop that straddles the highway from the freewheeling business hub Tel Aviv to the poorer and more religious Jerusalem. "This country is changing from being democratic, liberal to a very religious country," said former commando Itzhak Aviram. "As we fought once for Israel, we are still fighting for democratic Israel." A few days after the reservists protested, former heads of Israel's National Security Council, including hawkish Netanyahu appointments, urged political leaders to compromise in a letter to the parliament speaker. They wrote in the undated letter, which has been seen by Reuters and was circulated around Feb. 10, that the depth of the divisions could weaken Israel's ability to withstand external threats. "We identify the intensity of the present social and political conflict as a danger to national resilience," read the letter signed by 12 people including former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, who is widely seen as a Netanyahu confidant. There is alarm in the business community too. Worried central bankers have urged politicians to slow down, some technology firms have said they're moving their money out the country and leading economists foresee disaster as the currency slumped to its weakest in years. Israel's mainly Muslim Arab minority, which makes up about a fifth of the population, may find the reforms troubling too. Israel's Arab citizens, who often lament being treated as second-class citizens, are well aware of the dangers posed by the proposed changes, said lawmaker Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List faction. Fellow opposition lawmaker Moshe Torpaz, an observant Jew and member of the centrist There is a Future party, urged parliament's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Feb. 5 to put the brakes on the contentious legislation. "You are tearing us apart with what you're doing here into two peoples: Judea and Israel." 'A PEOPLE OF TRIBES' For some in the ultra-Orthodox community, a more divided society might not be a bad thing. "We are a people of tribes - each should stay in his own," said Yitzhak Pindrus, a lawmaker from the ultra-Orthodox UTJ party. "The Supreme Court has challenged parliament time and again, playing politics, not nicely." Some ultra-Orthodox politicians, loyal allies of Netanyahu who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, are aggrieved with the court for striking down cabinet appointments because of past criminal convictions. Others want a law providing blanket exemption to religious seminary students from military conscription. Past attempts to give religious students the right to skip army service to pursue full-time studies have been thrown out by the Supreme Court for breaching equality. Ultra-Orthodox leaders say their men must dedicate their time to the study of scripture to ensure the continued survival of the Jewish people. That's not an argument popular with army veterans setting off to protest from a park named after Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister assassinated in 1995 by a nationalist-religious student trying to stop a land-for-peace deal with the Palestinians. "We won't let this legal putsch happen," said Ilan Margalit, a 69-year-old former fighter pilot. (Additional reporting by Emily Rose and Dan Williams; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by James Mackenzie and David Clarke) An injured suspect is handcuffed after an LAPD pursuit ended in a crash at Washington Boulevard and Western Avenue early Tuesday. (OnScene.TV) A pair of LAPD street pursuits ended in crashes that left at least six people hospitalized late Monday and early Tuesday, authorities said. Around 12:35 a.m., officers began chasing a car near Washington Boulevard and Figueroa Street in Historic South-Central that had been involved in a carjacking earlier that night, police told The Times. Two teenage suspects armed with handguns had stolen the car from its owner, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Soon after police began to chase the vehicle, it crashed into two other cars at Washington and Western Avenue. Six people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including a 20-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman in critical condition, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. No officers were injured. Video from the scene showed firefighters trying to pry open the door of one of the cars to free trapped passengers. Four suspects in the stolen car three 14-year-olds and one 16-year-old tried to run away but were all apprehended, police said. Video showed police arresting a pair of suspects, one of whom was crying and bleeding from the knee and the other who had a bloody face. About two hours earlier, officers began chasing a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe on East 84th and San Pedro streets in Florence after a license plate check determined it was stolen, according to the LAPD. The Tahoe crashed into another SUV at 82nd Street and Central Avenue, and the female driver, 29, and a male passenger, 37, fled the area on foot but were arrested shortly after, police said. The woman was booked on suspicion of evading police and the man on suspicion of possession of heroin and other charges. It was not clear whether anyone was taken to the hospital. None of the suspects or other motorists were identified. The late-night crashes follow a string of recent collisions involving vehicles pursued by the LAPD that have killed and seriously injured bystanders. On. Feb. 16, a woman driving to a concert was struck by two suspects fleeing police, leaving her in a medically induced coma. Story continues The crash happened just hours after a 19-year-old Cal State Northridge student was killed when a robbery suspect being pursued by police ran a red light and crashed into his car. A Jan. 31 high-speed crash in Panorama City left two bystanders dead. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the department would examine whether that pursuit followed policy. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Two United Airlines Boeing 737 clipped each Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock A United Airlines wing clipped the tail of another aircraft during pushback at Boston airport on Monday. Both aircraft were taken out of service and passengers were accommodated on later flights. The event is one of several near-accidents and airport collisions in recent months. Two United Airlines Boeing 737 planes scheduled to depart from Boston Logan International Airport on Monday collided on the ramp, the carrier confirmed to Insider. United flight 515 heading to Newark, New Jersey, was being pushed back from the gate at around 8:30 a.m. local time when its wing clipped the tail of United flight 267 parked at an adjacent gate and heading to Denver. The airline told Insider that both aircraft were taken out of service and passengers were rebooked on different planes to their destinations. No injuries were reported, but the Federal Aviation Administration told Insider it is investigating the event. The news comes after a series of near-misses and airport incidents over the past few months. In early February, two other United planes a Boeing 787 and a Boeing 757 collided at Newark, with the latter nearly losing its entire winglet. About a week later, an American Airlines aircraft crashed into a shuttle bus at Los Angeles International Airport, sending four to the hospital. Some even closer calls have occurred since the beginning of the year, including a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 nearly colliding with an American Boeing 777 on the runway at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in January. Then, in February, a FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane nearly landed on top of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet in Austin. And, most recently, a JetBlue Airways plane had to take "evasive action" to avoid crashing into a private jet in Boston. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they are investigating the near-accidents. While these back-to-back events may sound alarming, runway incursions meaning a plane is incorrectly situated on a runway are rare, with the FAA reporting 1,732 total in the US last year. That is out of an average of 16 million flights handled by the agency per year. Story continues And, the FAA said over 75% of pilot-error incursions involve general aviation pilots not those who fly commercial airliners. "The fact that these events are so high profile and garnered so much attention means that eyes are really on it and that exposure is a good thing," Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety investigator and associate professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, told Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Ty Pennington shares a message for body-shamers. (Photo: Getty Images) Ty Pennington wants people to stop making comments about others's bodies after being body shamed. The former Trading Spaces contractor, 58, reflected on hateful comments he received on a video he posted on Instagram in Jan. 2022 of himself dancing in his swim trunks on a beach. "I didn't even plan it. I just had to move, man. I was like: When Booker T. & the M.G.'s comes on, I'm gonna groove, man. So I had no idea 1) that it would get so many views and 2) it would get so many reactions," he tells Yahoo Life. "The funny part is, [at first, I had my shorts] very low and then I hiked 'em up to like my nipples. So that's the joke. But even then I got comments." Pennington shared that he was called "disgusting," "old," "gross" and "fat" in the comments section below the fun video. The reaction was both unexpected and disheartening. "The main point is you don't have to waste your time making negative comments about anybody's body, about anybody's dance capabilities, about anybody's anything. All you can say is: 'Oh, I like that song.' That would be lovely. Or, you know, 'You may want to get a belt.' That I can handle," he said. "I just find it interesting that even I who's loved by just about everybody, it's not like I was voted off an island, I've helped people do great things in life was shamed." It also made him reflect on people who may be dealing with difficult relationships with their body. "If you're gonna take the time to shame somebody like me who's just a regular guy, who's not fat, not skinny, just an average guy then what are you saying to other people who are worse off in either direction?" he said. "It's important that we all remember how painful it can be to a male or female who thinks they posted something funny about themselves, having a good time, and that turns into this absolute shaming, where they feel disgusted about themselves and it goes straight to depression. It's just not OK in my book." Story continues Pennington reminded people of the reality of aging in a follow up Instagram post in Feb. 2022, sharing that it had been 22 years since his debut on television. "No, I dont have a six pack anymore or a luscious head of hair (with frosted tips ) but what I do have is wisdom, empathy, life lessons and at 57 years old, I've TRULY never been happier! Anyways, all this to say: Im human and I have feelings," he wrote. As he returns to TV as the host of HGTV's Rock the Block, which premiered on Monday, Pennington assures fans that he's not letting the shaming change how he shows up. "I think the female body is a beautiful thing. For some reason, I find the male body hilarious, and I don't know why [laughs]. That being said, it should also not be just like shame because you think, 'Oh, God, you're too old to be dressed like that,' or 'You're not in shape enough to be showing that off,'" he says. "I'm going to continue to post videos of me dancing in hopefully less clothing and be more offensive because I find it very funny." He also hopes to inspire people to make a positive impact on another person rather than a negative one. "How about you wake up and you decide to make someone's life better not worse?" he says. - Reporting by Suzy Byrne Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. Tyson Furys promoter Frank Warren has admitted that they are none the wiser about a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, despite recent reports of a 29 April clash. Fury and Usyk are expected to square off this year to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion the first since Lennox Lewis in 2000 and it has seemed in recent weeks that the undefeated pair would fight each other next month. While Saudi Arabia was named as a potential host location for the bout, Londons Wembley Stadium was marked out as the frontrunner. However, Warren has now suggested that the location and potential date of 29 April are still far from confirmed. Were still none the wiser, Warren told Talksport. You need the agreement of both boxers to make it happen, and at the moment we havent got that. I have a pot and can only pay whats in it. If its not enough money, then it wont happen. Usyk last fought in August, beating Anthony Joshua on points for the second time in 11 months. The Ukrainian, 36, took the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles from the Briton in September 2021 and retained the belts in the pairs rematch. Meanwhile, WBC champion Fury, 34, retained his title in his most recent outing, stopping fellow Briton Derek Chisora in a trilogy bout in December. Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank acquired Japanese-owned Union Bank in December, and the merged company will now close at least 145 branches that are either U.S. Bank or Union Bank locations all over California, including in San Luis Obispo County. U.S. Bank, owned by U.S. Bancorp, has three locations in SLO County while Union Bank, owned by Mitsubishi UFG, has two. The bank says the closures and some branch exchanges will happen by May 26. After Union Bank branches are integrated to the U.S. Bank brand, current Union Bank customers will have more than double the number of branches available to them in California. At the same time, existing U.S. Bank customers will gain more than 100 new locations in the state. Official notice of the closures comes from the weekly report from the Comptroller of the Currency released Feb. 25. What the bank merger means to SLO County The changes will affect customers of the two banks across the county. In San Luis Obispo, the U.S. Bank branch at 3991 S. Higuera St. near Trader Joes will close, and the current Union Bank location at 995 Higuera will be rebranded as U.S. Bank. The Union Bank at 995 Higuera in San Luis Obispo, seen here on March 6, 2023, will be rebranded as U.S. Bank after the two companies merged. In Los Osos, the U.S. Bank at Ralphs grocery store will go dark, and the space has an uncertain future. The town will be down to two brick-and-mortar banks, Mechanics and Chase. In Atascadero, the Union Bank will be rebranded U.S. Bank. In recent years, U.S. Bank closed its location at what was then the Albertsons market. The U.S. Bank at the Albertsons in Paso Robles will stay open. Elsewhere on the Central Coast, closure notices will also come to Santa Maria with the shuttering of the U.S. Bank branch at the Albertsons at 2320 S. Broadway. There is a Union Bank branch nearby that will be rebranded U.S. Bank. In its statement the bank said, In nearly all cases, customers who are accustomed to going to a branch that will be closed will be able to go to another branch that is very close by. One out of three consolidated branches are less than 0.2 miles away, more than 50 percent are within a half mile and 80 percent are less than a mile away. Story continues Besides the 145 California locations detailed in the most recent comptroller report, more than two dozen U.S. Bank branches in other parts of the country have been posted to close since the first of this new year. Union Bank, too, has been closing branches since the merger was announced. How the two companies compare U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 70,000 employees and $601 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2022, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. U.S. Bank had 2,572 branches nationwide as of 2021, behind No. 1 Wells Fargo. U.S. Bank closed 257 of its branches that year. As of June 30, 2022, MUFG Union Bank operated 297 branches, consisting primarily of retail banking branches in the West Coast states. Most did business as Union Bank. A news article from Pacific Coast Business Times in September 2021 noted the that the merger was pending and said that Union Banks 29-branch network in the Tri-Counties will become part of U.S. Bank in an $8 billion deal that will give Union Banks Japanese parent a nearly 3% stake in Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bank had 20 locations in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The acquisition will combine the No. 4 and No. 5 largest banking operations in the region, the article also noted. U.S. Bank will emerge with a branch network that makes it a clear rival to JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, the top two banks in the region with more than 40 branches each. U.S. Bank CFO Terrance Dolan said in a 2021 statement that U.S. Bancorp will not be exiting any markets or reducing availability to branches or banking services in any low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The acquisition will add about 190,000 small business customers from Union Bank, which will increase the number of business banking relationships at U.S. Bank by about 18%, a spokesman said at that time. Market share in SLO County An annual FDIC report on market share in the the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area as of September 2022 said Union Bank had two branches in the county with $284 million in deposits and a 3% market share. U.S. Bank had four locations with $172 million in deposits and a 1.8% market share. If they retain all deposits, the merged company would be the sixth largest bank, based on deposits, in the county. Chase and Mechanics Banks are the largest players, each with above 18% market share. Mechanics Bank has 13 locations vs. Chase with seven. Union Banks history dates to end of World War II The demise of all Union Bank locations closes a chapter on some interesting history of a California bank, based in Los Angeles, with ties to Japan. An LA Business Journal story published this year notes the following. The banks history is closely linked with the Bank of Tokyo of California, which was founded in 1946 and established a branch in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles in 1952. The bank helped Japanese Americans reestablish their homes and businesses after they were released from World War II-era internment camps; many found their homes and businesses gone and had trouble getting loans otherwise. The parent company of Union Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank will hold a small stake in the newly merged financial company. John Lindt is the editor of the news website Sierra2theSea.net. United Nations Russia's top diplomat said Thursday that it would be "quite complicated" for Moscow to sign onto a renewal of the deal struck between his country and Ukraine last year that has allowed for the export of grain from both countries, easing a global food crisis. A day after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Kyiv in a bid to shore up support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov amplified long-standing complaints from Moscow that the deal was being "half fulfilled," claiming Western sanctions were blocking the export of Russian fertilizers covered under the agreement. "If the package is half fulfilled, then the issue of extension becomes quite complicated," Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow. The agreement, negotiated and implemented by the U.N. and Turkey, must be renewed by March 18, but there has been mounting concern that Russia may decline to keep it going. "Our Western colleagues, the United States and the European Union, pathetically declare... that no sanctions apply to food and fertilizers, but this position is dishonest," Lavrov said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meet in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 8, 2023. / Credit: Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images After meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Wednesday morning, Guterres thanked Zelenksyy for welcoming him "in such difficult circumstances," and said it was important to "underscore the critical importance of the rollover of the Black Sea Grain Initiative." Representatives from the U.N. and Turkey have been meeting to try to keep the grain exports flowing. The Grain Initiative was signed in July 2022 in an urgent bid to free up some 20 million tons of grain that were stuck at the time in silos, ships and other storage facilities amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. With Ukraine's ports blocked and sanctions preventing the export of some Russian grains and fertilizer, global food prices soared, putting humanitarian aid efforts around the world at particular risk. CBS News met starving mothers and aid workers in South Sudan who said Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports was exacerbating one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet. Story continues The U.N. has called the deal vital for helping "to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people." According to the Joint Coordination Center in Turkey, which manages the shipping lanes and cargo inspections under the auspices of the agreement, some 23 million tons of grains have been exported since it came into effect. The deal also aimed to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizers, but Moscow has long complained that those shipments have been disrupted by U.S. and European sanctions. Russian officials said as recently as November that they would renew the pact, but the intense fighting still raging in Ukraine had put the extension in question, and Lavrov's latest remarks were sure to heighten concerns over its renewal. Although food exports have not been placed under global sanctions, Moscow claims restrictions on banking and insurance companies have stalled the export of thousands of tons of Russian fertilizer. The agreement reached in July has been hugely important to Guterres, who personally helped negotiate its terms. In his statement on Wednesday, the U.N. chief said that until a "just peace can be secured" in Ukraine, he and the U.N. would "continue working hard to mitigate the impacts of the conflict which has caused enormous suffering for the Ukrainian people with profound global implications." He said the grain deal had "contributed to lowering the global cost of food and has offered critical relief to people, who are also paying a high price for this war, particularly in the developing world." A crew member prepares a grain analysis for a control made by members of the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) onboard the Barbados-flagged ship The U.N. chief said previously that the four parties to the deal Ukraine, Russia, the U.N. and Turkey were "working hard to remove all the remaining obstacles. to facilitate exports of Russian food and fertilizers to global markets." Both Kyiv and Moscow have reestablished their grain exports under the agreement, easing global food prices. Bloomberg reported last week that Russian grain exports were booming and that shipments of wheat had almost doubled over the past year. There were early warning signs last week that Russia could decline to renew the agreement when Lavrov, during a G-20 summit in India, accused the U.S. and Europe of "shamelessly burying" the pact. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia at that meeting of "deliberately and systematically" slowing the export of Ukrainian grain shipments. China poses "most consequential threat" to U.S. national security, intelligence officials say Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend sues to nullify their non-disclosure agreement Emails and text messages become public as part of Fox-Dominion lawsuit By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - The United Nations called on Tuesday for $876 million in funding for Rohingya Muslims in the worlds largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh as the crisis entered its sixth year. The call came at a time when the World Food Programme slashed food aid to Rohingya refugees from this month, blaming a funding shortfall. More than a million Rohingya are living in squalid camps in southern Bangladesh that make up the world's largest refugee settlement, with little prospect of returning to Myanmar, which many fled in 2017 to escape an army crackdown. The United Nations is seeking funding for 1.47 million people, including 495,000 in host communities, to provide food, shelter, health care, access to drinkable water, protection services, education, as well as livelihood opportunities and skills development, its refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement. "With decreased funding, refugees stand to face even more challenges in their daily lives in terms of proper nutrition, shelter materials, sanitation facilities and livelihood opportunities." The UNHCR said in August that it received $426 million in 2022, less than half of over $881 million it sought. Refugees said it was crucial the world did not forget the plight of the Rohingya, who are unable to return to Myanmar, but have no future in Bangladesh, where they are not allowed to work. "The global community should not forget the crisis. They should come forward and help us as much as they can," Mohammed Jafar, a Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh, told Reuters. Increasing numbers of refugees embark on perilous and often fatal boat journeys to reach countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia as violent crime adds to longstanding troubles like a lack of educational and work opportunities and bleak prospects of returning to military-ruled Myanmar. The UNHCR said Bangladesh relocated some 30,000 Rohingya refugees on a voluntary basis from the camps in Coxs Bazar to Bhasan Char island and plans to continue voluntary relocations up to a total of 100,000 refugees by the end of 2023. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) By Suzanne Smalley WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone on Tuesday expressed concern during congressional testimony about Chinese-owned video app TikTok's data collection and potential to facilitate broad influence operations. Asked by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville about any concerns he has about TikTok's influence on American children, Nakasone told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, "TikTok concerns me for a number of different reasons." Nakasone said his concerns include "the data that they have." "Secondly is the algorithm and the control of who has the algorithm," Nakasone added. Nakasone ended his comments by asserting that the TikTok platform could enable sweeping influence operations. Nakasone said his concern is not only the fact that TikTok can proactively influence users but also its ability to "turn off the message," and noted its large number of users. The app is used by more than 100 million Americans. The NSA, part of the Defense Department, is the agency responsible for U.S. cryptographic and communications intelligence and security. The U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a powerful national security body, in 2020 ordered Chinese company ByteDance to divest TikTok because of fears that user data could be passed onto Chinas government. "The swiftest and most thorough way to address any national security concerns about TikTok is for CFIUS - of which the Department of Defense and the NSA are a part - to adopt the proposed agreement that we worked with them on for nearly two years," said TikTok representative Brooke Oberwetter, adding that TikTok's "status has been debated in public in a way that is divorced from the facts of that agreement and what we've achieved already." For three years, TikTok has been seeking to assure the United States that the personal data of American citizens cannot be accessed and its content cannot be manipulated by China's Communist Party or anyone else under Beijing's influence. Story continues TikTok, a unit of China's ByteDance, has come under increasing fire over fears that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew is due to appear before the U.S. Congress on March 23. A bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators is set to introduce legislation on Tuesday that would give Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo new powers to ban TikTok and other foreign-based technologies if they are found to pose national security threats. (Reporting by Suzanne Smalley; Editing by Will Dunham and Mark Porter) By Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress, has been released from the hospital after being treated for shingles, she said on Tuesday, though she did not specify when she would be able to return to Washington. Democrats control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 margin, meaning that even one or two absences can impact whether contentious legislation can pass. "I continue receiving treatment and look forward to returning to the Senate as soon as possible," Feinstein, 89, said on Twitter. Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator, recently said she would not seek reelection to the Senate seat she has held since 1992, triggering a race among Californian Democrats to replace her. With her absence, along with that of Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who is currently being treated for clinical depression, both Democrats and Republicans have 49 votes in the Senate. (Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler) By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price will step down this month after more than two years and take up a new position reporting to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the secretary said on Tuesday. Price was sworn in as spokesperson on Jan. 20, 2021, the day Joe Biden was inaugurated as president. His service was marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the chaotic withdrawal of diplomats and other personnel from Afghanistan. In a statement, Blinken said Price held more than 200 briefings with journalists, acting as a face and voice of U.S. foreign policy. "Ned has helped the U.S. government defend and promote press freedom around the globe and modeled the transparency and openness we advocate for in other countries. His contributions will benefit the department long after his service," Blinken said. Shaun Tandon, president of the State Department Correspondents' Association, praised Price for restoring the department's daily press briefings and facing reporters' scrutiny, as in the case of the Afghan pullout. The department responsible for U.S. diplomacy held briefings only sporadically during the administration of former President Donald Trump. "Thanks to Ned, the Daily Press Briefing now seems routine and that is how it should be it offers an opportunity for press from around the world to question the foreign policy of the United States, often critically, and requires the State Department to defend it," Tandon said in a statement. "It is a tribute to the health of American democracy." (Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Chris Reese and Daniel Wallis) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Tuesday it approved $185.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds for broadband infrastructure projects in South Carolina expected to connect about 31,650 homes to affordable, high-speed internet. The Treasury said the funding comes from the $10 billion Capital Projects Fund, a pandemic aid program for states and tribal governments to fund capital projects that enable work, education and health monitoring. It will fund a South Carolina grant program that prioritizes last-mile broadband projects in rural areas that lack adequate internet service. The Treasury began announcing state awards from the Capital Project Fund in June 2022, and said that to date, 34 states have been approved to invest approximately $5 billion in internet access projects estimated to reach more than 1.4 million locations. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci) El Paso, Texas The Biden administration is considering reinstating the practice of holding migrant families with children in long-term detention facilities as it prepares for the end of pandemic-era border restrictions in early May, three sources familiar with the internal deliberations tell CBS News. The proposal, the sources said, is one of several policy options being considered at a high level by senior White House and Department of Homeland Security officials in preparation for an expected increase in migration along the U.S.-Mexico border beginning on May 11, when the Title 42 migrant expulsion policy is set to end with the expiration of the national COVID-19 public health emergency. The move would allow the U.S. government to resume the practice of detaining migrant parents and minor children in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities while asylum officers determine whether they should be allowed to seek U.S. refuge. That practice, first implemented at scale by the Obama administration and expanded by the Trump administration, was discontinued in 2021 by the Biden administration, which converted the two migrant family detention facilities in Texas into rapid processing hubs and detention sites for single adults. If approved, the reinstatement of the family detention policy would be a major reversal by President Biden, whose administration has recently sought to stiffen border enforcement amid mass migration in the Western Hemisphere. A father holds his daughter after they illegally crossed the U.S. southern border with Mexico on Oct. 10, 2022, in Eagle Pass, Texas. / Credit: ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images As part of multiple promises to replace hardline Trump administration border policies with a "humane" approach to migration, Mr. Biden vowed to end the prolonged detention of migrant families. In response to the proposal, which was first reported by The New York Times on Monday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Luis Miranda said no final decisions had been made. "The Administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants," Miranda added in a statement. Story continues A Biden administration official said any detention of families with children would comply with a court consent decree known as the Flores agreement that governs the detention of minors in U.S. immigration custody. As part of the litigation surrounding this case, the government generally has to release migrant families within 20 days. The official said the families would undergo an expedited process under a proposed regulation that will make it harder for non-Mexican migrants to secure U.S. asylum. That rule is slated to be finalized before Title 42's termination. The asylum restriction proposed last month is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to crack down on illegal crossings along the southern border, which spiked in 2021 and 2022. In January, the administration announced an expansion of Title 42, after Mexico agreed to accept the return of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who attempted to enter the U.S. Before the expansion, Mexico generally only accepted the return of its citizens and Central American migrants. The administration has paired the application of Title 42 for those who cross the border illegally with expanded opportunities for certain migrants to enter the U.S. legally. A sponsorship program is allowing up to 30,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans to fly to the U.S. legally each month if Americans agree to sponsor them. Officials are also allowing roughly 20,000 asylum-seekers to request entry at official ports of entry along the southern border per month through a mobile app. The strategy has so far led to a sharp drop in unlawful border crossings. But officials predict that numbers could spike again once Title 42 expires. European Union grapples with ongoing recession concerns despite optimistic outlook House subcommittee holds first hearing on COVID pandemic origins Changing the game: Kim Roxie on vegan makeup line, "Lamik Beauty" Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Screenshot This reporting is one of several scoops featured in this weeks edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media. Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here. A writer named on The Shitty Men in Media list has settled his lawsuit for a six-figure sum with the woman who created the infamous spreadsheet, Confider has learned. The Adderall Diaries author Stephen Elliott sued columnist Moira Donegan for defamation after being accused of rape, sexual harassment, and coercion on the Google spreadsheet that was widely shared at the height of the #MeToo movement and accused upwards of 70 men of sexual misconduct. The lawsuit had gone 4 and a half years and would have gone 4 more years I think before going to trial, Elliott told Confider via email. They were doing everything possible to avoid defending their views in court so when they offered enough money I agreed to settle. Elliott said Donegan wanted a confidentiality clause which he did not agree to, describing it as a Harvey Weinstein thing to ask for. And while he wasnt successful in determining who had added him to the list, he suspects it was a woman he fired at the online literary magazine The Rumpus, which he founded. Like what youre reading? Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night. Whoever put me on that list is deeply disturbed and Moira was taking advantage of people like that. Im certain there is no one out there in this world who thinks that I raped them, and Im certain that I never raped anyone. I dont even like penetrative sex with women, he told Confider. When reached by Confider on Monday, Donegan said she couldnt comment and referred questions to her attorney, Gabrielle Tenzer, who did not respond to a request for comment. Elliott said his life has been permanently changed as a result of being on the list. He says he was fired by his agent while his publisher and editor publicly supported the list. Story continues Imagine, a non-profit publisher publicly supporting a media blacklist, even while telling me privately they knew I was innocent, and they believed other people on the list were innocent as well, he told Confider. But theres some closure here. Its enough money that its basically an admission of guilt, and it feels like a victory. And most importantly its helped push back on false accusations and presumptions of guilt. Because believe it or not, ultimately I filed the lawsuit for moral reasons. I felt there was a moral obligation, and I dont regret that at all. Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night. 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. A woman pulls a child on a sledge through the snow beside the beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland on Tuesday. (PA via Getty Images) The UK is bracing for snow for the rest of the entire week. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice from Tuesday until Friday. It said that temperatures on Tuesday evening could drop to -15C, which would make it the coldest night of the year so far. Warnings for snow and ice have been issued for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales this week, as cold Arctic air blasts in. Many parts of the country, particularly in northern areas, including Yorkshire and Northumberland, have already experienced some snow. Watch: Coldest night of the year expected on Tuesday The Met Office said temperatures could drop to minus 15C in some sheltered Scottish glens, especially where there is fresh snow cover, on Tuesday night. The lowest temperature in the UK so far this year is minus 10.4C, which was recorded at Drumnadrochit near Inverness in the Highlands on 19 January. Temperatures are set to drop almost six degrees below their coldest last March, when they reached minus 9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across the UK this week. (Met Office) The Met Office has issued snow warnings for much of the UK on Friday. (Met Office) Temperatures dipped to minus 7.6C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands on Monday night and the small hamlet was covered in 12cm of snow, more than anywhere else in the UK. Snow has also settled across Northumberland and North Yorkshire with some spots experiencing 2-3cm of cover. Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said people should expect to wake up to snow on Wednesday if they live in the south. He said: I think over higher grounds such as Exmoor, the Chilterns and the Cotswolds there will be a fair amount of snow. Read more: How cold does it have to be to snow? Snow on a street in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Tuesday. (PA) Goathland train station in North Yorkshire is covered in snow on Tuesday. (PA via Getty Images) Elsewhere it is going to be quite difficult, especially after todays wet weather, to say how much snow will settle. He added snow which is expected to fall in the north of England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday is likely to be much more impactful. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place in much of northern and eastern Scotland and north-east England until 10am on Wednesday. Story continues London, the south of England and South Wales will be covered by a yellow warning for snow all day on Wednesday and until 9am on Thursday and a few centimetres could fall in those areas. Northern England, North Wales, most of Scotland and Northern Ireland will be covered by a yellow warning for snow between 3am on Thursday and 6pm on Friday. Laura Tobin, a meteorologist on ITV's Good Morning Britain, tweeted a graphic of the Earth showing how rain moving north will turn to snow when it hits the Arctic air above the UK. Cold vs warm Along that line is rain moving north, as this hits the cold air itll turn to #snow pic.twitter.com/7x4HxgtexN Laura Tobin. (@Lauratobin1) March 7, 2023 Burkill warned people to travel in snowy conditions only if essential and to bring a blanket in case they get stuck overnight. He said: Through the worst of the weather, keep up to date with warnings, be prepared your journey may take longer than normal and you may end up stranded in your car. If there is significant snow take water and maybe a blanket just in case, thats if you absolutely need to travel. St Mary's Church in Goathland, North Yorkshire, is surrounded by snow on Tuesday. (PA via Getty Images) Treat the weather sensibly and be aware it could be dangerous. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a level-three cold weather alert for the whole of England which is likely to be reviewed in the coming days. The agencys head of extreme events and health protection, Dr Agostinho Sousa, said people should check on vulnerable relatives and told pensioners and anyone with an underlying health condition to heat their home to at least 18C. On 14 March 1958, the temperature dropped to a record low for the month of minus 22.8C at Logie Coldstone, Aberdeenshire. Grain exports from Ukraine decreased by 26.6% Read also: Turkey working to renew Black Sea grain deal, Foreign Ministry says According to a senior source in the Ukrainian government, Ukraine didnt negotiate with Russia, which blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports after invading the country in February 2022. Instead, Turkish and UN presentative act as intermediaries between Ukraine and Russia. The situation with the negotiations is rather complicated, the source told Reuters. Now, much depends not on us, but on (our) partners. At the same time, Moscow said it would agree to an extension of the grain deal only if the interests of its own agricultural producers are taken into account. Read also: Black Sea grain deal set to expire soon, Ukraine warns While Russia's agricultural exports arent a directly affected by Western sanctions, Russia claims that restrictions on its payments, logistics, and insurance are a "barrier" to its ability to export its own grain and fertilizers. In the 2022/23 season, grain exports from Ukraine decreased by 26.6% to 32.9 million tons as of March 6, due to a modest harvest and logistical difficulties caused by the Russian invasion. Read also: Russia blocks operation of grain corridor and transports military cargo on merchant ships, says Ukraine In November 2022, the grain deal was extended for another four months. The United Nations and Turkey remained the guarantors of the implementation of the Grain Initiative. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine has brought 307 children out of Russia-occupied territories, the country's human rights ombudsman said on Monday, including an 8-year-old boy who was recently reunited with his grandmother. Ukraine's authorities estimate more than 16,000 children have been deported to Russia since the start of the war a year ago. Russia has said it has been evacuating people voluntarily from Ukraine. "At the end of February, the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights received a request to help bring back a child who was in the territory temporarily occupied by Russia," Dmytro Lubinets, the ombudsman, said on the Telegram messaging platform. "Within a few days, with the assistance and work of the staff of the ombudsman's office, Sashko met his grandmother." The ombudsmen did not reveal details on the operation. Most of the movement of people occurred in the first few months of the war before Ukraine started its major counter offensive to regain occupied territories in the east and south in late August. Russia's defence ministry said in mid-August that 3.5 million people had been brought to Russia by then, including more than half a million children. According to Ukraine Prosecutor General's office, 464 children have died so far in the war, now in its 13th month with no end in sight, while the police estimate that 356 are still missing. Moscow has denied intentionally targeting civilians in what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, and has pushed back against previous claims that it had forcibly moved Ukrainians. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Josie Kao) Ukraines Defence Forces will continue the defence of Bakhmut in order to exhaust the Wagner Group Private Military Companys elite units, according to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Source: ISW Details: The ISW emphasised that Ukraines fight for Bakhmut has become strategically significant because of the current composition of Russian forces arrayed in the area. Some Western reports have recently suggested that Ukraine is expanding its own elite manpower and scarce equipment on mainly Wagner Group prison recruits who are "mere cannon fodder". The ISW believes that such an observation is valid in general, although the pool of Russian convict recruits suitable for combat is not limitless, and the permanent elimination of tens of thousands of them in Bakhmut means that they will not be available for more important fights. At the same time, the ISW noted that Russian forces near Bakhmut have recently changed tactics and committed higher-quality special forces operators and elements of conventional forces to the fight. "The Wagner Group is still likely using prisoners to support operations in Bakhmut, albeit to a much more limited extent than in previous months due to massive losses suffered by those recruits in attritional frontal assaults. But Wagner has now also committed its very best soldiers to the fight, and it is they who are being attrited along with the conscripts. The Battle of Bakhmut may, in fact, severely degrade the Wagner Groups best forces. Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin apparently fears that the Russian Defence Ministry is fighting the Battle of Bakhmut to the last Wagner fighter," the ISW said. The ISW analysts are convinced that the severe degradation or destruction of the elite Wagner fighting force would have positive ramifications beyond the battlefield. "Badly damaging Prigozhins power and reputation within Russia would be an important accomplishment from the standpoint of the long-term prospects for restoring sanity in Russia. That is an aim in Americas interests as well as in Ukraines, and it raises the stakes in the Battle of Bakhmut," the ISW analysts said. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Volodymyr Zelenskyy Read also: Russia losing five times more soldiers in Bakhmut than Ukraine, NATO assesses The president said that Bakhmut was the main topic at the recent Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief meeting, where he directly asked Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, how they see the defense operation near the city should proceed. Both generals replied: dont retreat and reinforce, Zelenskyy said. And this position was unanimously supported by the HQ. There were no other positions. I instructed the Commander-in-Chief (to Zaluzhnyi) find the right forces to aid the guys in Bakhmut. Read also: At meeting with president, Zaluzhnyi and Syrskyi support continuation of defense operation in Bakhmut Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, told Ukrainian TV broadcasters that all present at the meeting supported the decision to continue defending Bakhmut. On March 5, Syrskyi arrived in Bakhmut. This was his third visit to the city in recent weeks. Read also: ISW says fighting for Bakhmut exhausting Russians, preparing ground for Ukrainian counter-offensive Ukraines Operational Command East spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty said that as Ukrainian troops defend Bakhmut, they are depleting Russian personnel and equipment reserves, ensuring the success of Kyivs future counteroffensives. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A man who appeared to be shot dead by Russian-speakers in a short video was tentatively identified Tuesday as a missing Ukrainian soldier while the footage circulated widely on Ukrainian social media and caused an uproar. The country's chief prosecutor announced a criminal investigation into the killing, and human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets argued that it was a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Senior Ukrainian officials alleged, without providing further evidence, that the man was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers. In the video, the man did not appear to be armed. The 30th Mechanized Brigade on its Facebook page named the man as Tymofii Shadura. The identification is based on preliminary information and is not final, it said. Shadura has been missing for just over a month, since disappearing during bitter fighting in the Bakhmut area of eastern Ukraine, the post said. The city has been a combat hot spot as the war extends into its second year. His identity is to be confirmed once the body is returned from a Russian-occupied area, the post added, though it did not say when that might happen. The Ukrainian military's general staff gave the same name for the dead soldier, saying it was according to preliminary information." In the 12-second video, the man in combat fatigues is seen in a wooded area smoking a cigarette. Someone off-camera is heard speaking in Russian. The man then says Glory to Ukraine and is hit by a volley of gunshots, falling into a hole in the ground, with an off-camera voice saying Die, followed by an expletive. The Associated Press could not verify the videos authenticity, any details about when it was recorded or anything about the people involved. Questions sent by the AP to the Russian military about the clip did not immediately receive a reply. The video circulated widely on social media in Ukraine and unleashed an outcry. In his nightly video address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: I want us all together, in unity, to respond to (the soldiers) words: Glory to the hero! Glory to heroes! Glory to Ukraine! And we will find the killers. Story continues Moscow also has expressed suspicion about the treatment of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces. Last November, Ukraine said it would open an investigation into video footage that circulated on Russian social media, which Moscow alleged shows Ukrainian soldiers killing Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender after one of the men seemingly refused to lay down his weapon and opened fire. In other developments: Ukraine and Russia completed another exchange of captives. Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak reported that 130 Ukrainian soldiers returned from Russian captivity, most of them with severe injuries. Russia's Defense Ministry said 90 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv. Since the beginning of the war, 1,993 people have been returned from captivity, according to Lubinets. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was on his way to Ukraine for a meeting Wednesday in Kyiv with Zelenskyy. The two are due to discuss the extension of an agreement that allows Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports and permits Russia to export food and fertilizers. Ukraines presidential office reported Tuesday that at least one civilian was killed and 11 more were wounded in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours. Fierce battles continued in the region for the key city of Bakhmut, where fewer than 4,000 civilians remain from a prewar population of 70,000, according to Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. A parliamentary delegation from Hungary said Tuesday during a visit to Denmark that it supports Swedens NATO membership. Some Hungarian lawmakers had balked at supporting the NATO membership applications by Sweden and Finland, due to what they called blatant lies from Stockholm and Helsinki on the state of Hungarys democracy. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Ukrainian military Drapatyi said that now that Ukraines forces have gained a strategic advantage in Kherson Oblast, the Ukrainian army will create the prerequisites for a general victory. Read also: Ukrainian forces conduct counteroffensive near Bakhmut, NYT reports Bakhmut remains one of the hot spots where the fiercest fighting continues. The Russians are throwing all their forces into attempting a breakthrough and encirclement of the Donetsk Oblast town. Fighting at Bakhmut has been going on since July 2022. The Ukrainian militarys General Staff reports that the Russian army continues to try to surround and capture the city, but its assaults are unsuccessful. The Russian invaders threw trained units of the Wagner private military company and other regular units of the Russian army into efforts to capture the town. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov estimated the Russian invaders daily losses in the battles for Bakhmut at 500 people killed and wounded. Read also: Ukraine intends to hold Bakhmut, Zelenskyy says As the situation in Bakhmut became increasingly challenging for the Ukrainian military, Kyiv dispatched additional reinforcements there, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Malyar, told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on Feb. 28. She said the decision to hold Bakhmut is purely military, and not political. U.S think tank the Institute for the Study of War also believes that the Russian occupation forces will not be able to force the Ukrainian troops to retreat from Bakhmut in the near future, although they have secured a positional advantage in certain areas of the city. Earlier, the spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty, said that there was no mass withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the city of Bakhmut going on, but a planned rotation of defense units. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraine will receive Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, but it is worth waiting for official information from authorised persons. Source: Yurii Ihnat, Spokesperson of the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on air of the national 24/7 broadcast; response of the Ministry of National Defence of Poland to the information request of Ukrinform news agency Quote from Ihnat: "Definitely, the Patriot will be in Ukraine. The decision has been made, and people are learning [how to use these systems ed.] When you see that the commander of the Air Force is testing at the wheel of a Patriot, it will definitely be in Ukraine. Or we will announce the first Ruscist plane that will be shot down by a Patriot (they can shoot down targets up to 150 kilometres away)." Details: On 7 March, several media outlets, referring to the Spanish media La Razon, which published an interview with Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak, wrote that Ukraine had already received the Patriot air defence system. At the same time, the ministry noted to Ukrinform that the mention in the Spanish edition of the Polish minister's receipt of the Patriot air defence system by Ukraine was apparently due to an error during translation. In an interview with La Razon, Baszczak did not say that Ukraine had already received the Patriot air defence system, but claimed that the favourable decision to transfer this air defence system to Kyiv was made thanks to the efforts of Poland, the ministry states. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President's Office Head Andrii Yermak reported that 126 servicemen and four servicewomen were released from Russian captivity during a prisoner exchange on March 7. Most of the released soldiers were defending the now-occupied port city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine, according to Yermak. Seventy-one soldiers were reportedly evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant. The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that among the freed POWs were also personnel captured by Russian troops near Bakhmut and Soledar in Donetsk Oblast as well as those fighting in Luhansk Oblast. Forty-five of the freed military POWs belong to Ukraine's Armed Forces, 25 to the National Guard, 23 to the State Border Service, 21 to the Naval Forces, eight to the Territorial Defense Forces, and eight to the State Special Transport Service. Most of the soldiers who returned to Ukraine have serious injuries or illnesses acquired in battles and during captivity, according to the coordinating headquarters. The youngest released POW is not yet 21 years old, while the oldest will soon turn 64. On the other side of the swap, 90 Russian soldiers were returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory, Russian state news agency TASS reported on March 7, citing the country's defense ministry. During the previous prisoner exchange on Feb. 16, Ukraine returned 100 military personnel and one civilian. 1,464 service members and 132 civilians were freed from Russian captivity in 2022, according to the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. Gas bubbles from the Nord Stream 2 leak rise to the surface of the Baltic Sea - DANISH DEFENCE COMMAND/Reuters New intelligence reviewed by US officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. There was no evidence that President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top lieutenants in Ukraine were involved in the operation, or that the perpetrators were acting at the direction of any Ukrainian government officials, the newspaper said, citing US officials. The attacks on the pipelines fuelled speculation on both sides of the Atlantic over who was responsible, with Russian officials in particular accusing a host of Western powers of being behind the incident. It came as the battle for Bakhmut continued on Tuesday, with both sides reportedly suffering heavy losses in the fight to control the eastern salt-mining town. Read the latest updates below 05:25 PM More than 20 held over attack on Russian plane: Belarus Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said that more than 20 people had been detained in connection with an attack on a Russian military plane, claimed by regime opponents last month. "To date, more than 20 accomplices who are in Belarus have been detained. The rest are hiding," said Lukashenko, a key Kremlin ally. He identified the presumed main culprit as a dual Russian-Ukrainian citizen. Members of Belarus's exiled opposition said partisans had destroyed the Russian plane at an airstrip near the capital Minsk. The authoritarian leader confirmed today that an A-50 plane had been targeted but claimed it "did not suffer any significant damage". A Russian Beriev A-50 - REUTERS/File Photo 05:06 PM Hundreds mourn Ukrainian saboteurs killed in Russia Hundreds of mourners packed a Kyiv church today for the funeral of volunteers killed on a sabotage mission in Russia, following a spate of attacks along Moscow's frontier. Mourners, many in camouflage and covering their faces, attended a service in a central church for four men - one still a teenager - killed in December during an incursion into Russia's southern Bryansk region. Story continues Ukrainian servicemen carry a coffin with the body of a member of the Brotherhood volunteer's battalion, killed during a raid on Russian territory on December 25 - REUTERS/Alina Yarysh Russia's FSB security service announced it had killed the men, saying they were armed with rifles and explosives. Russian media reported their bodies were handed over this month. The men's coffins were draped with the banner of a nationalist battalion called Bratstvo, or Brotherhood, created on the basis of a party of the same name. Memorial ceremony for members of Ukrainian Brotherhood volunteer's battalion, killed earlier during a raid on Russian territory, in Kyiv - REUTERS/Alina Yarysh 04:43 PM Ukraine denies involvement in attempted sabotage at Belarus air field Ukraine's foreign ministry has denied that Kyiv was involved in attempted sabotage at a Belarusian air field last month. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko alleged that Ukrainian and US intelligence services were involved in the drone attack in late February which was claimed by Belarusian anti-government activists. "It is clear that this is another attempt to create an artificial threat from Ukraine for the sake of justifying (Belarusian) support for Russia's aggression," Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said in a statement. 03:57 PM Prisoners of war exchanged Russia and Ukraine have exchanged scores of prisoners of war, the latest swap in more than a year of fighting. Russia's defence ministry said 90 Russian prisoners of war had returned from Ukraine in the latest exchange. Kyiv said 130 Ukrainian service personnel had been released from Russian custody. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential staff, said 87 of the Ukrainians had taken part in the defence of the southeastern city of Mariupol before its capture by Russia. 03:01 PM Today's top stories Ukraine has identified the prisoner of war gunned down in a brutal execution Poland is sending 10 more Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine this week, and will set up a repair hub for the vehicles Belarus's President admitted that a drone attack damaged a Russian spy plane at an airbase in his country A Nato official has revealed that Russia is suffering heavy losses in its assault on Bakhmut Ukraine wants the US to send it cluster bombs so it can take them apart and arm its drones with their bomblets. 02:55 PM Dangerously low UK ammunition stocks put Ukraines resupply at risk Britains ammunition stocks are at dangerously low levels amid support for Ukraine, the Defence Select Committee has warned. Rebuilding the countrys dwindling stockpile of munitions in the wake of the conflict could take at least a decade, putting UK national security at risk, the MPs warned. The Commons Defence Committee said the process for buying weapons is not fit for purpose and urged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to cut the time needed to restore stockpiles. Read more from Dominic Nicholls here 02:31 PM Poland to set up tank repair hub for Ukraine's Leopard 2s Poland will set up a service hub for the battle tanks being used in Ukraine, Mariusz Blaszczak, the Polish Defence Minister, has said. "We are ready to launch a service hub in Poland that will repair and service the Leopard tanks delivered to Ukraine," Blaszczak said, adding that he would raise the issue in his talks with the German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. "The fundamental issue that we will discuss is the low availability of spare parts for Leopard tanks," Mr Blaszczak said. Poland spearheaded efforts to send the modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with Germany, which holds the export license for the advanced armoured vehicles, initially resisting the pressure from allies to authorise the move. But earlier this year Berlin finally agreed to send its own Leopards and opened the door for other countries, including Poland, Sweden, Finland and Portugal, to do the same. 02:07 PM Thousands in need of help after suffering injuries in Ukraine Thousands of people in Ukraine have sustained complex injuries linked to the war and need rehabilitation services and equipment to help them, a senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official has said. Attacks on healthcare facilities, fewer healthcare workers due to displacement and power shortages were all making it difficult for people to get care, Dr Satish Mishra from the WHO's regional office for Europe, told a media briefing. Even before the war, in 2019, about half the population in Ukraine could have benefited from rehabilitation services for non-communicable conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, Dr Cathal Morgan, another WHO official said. Since then, the Covid pandemic and the war have significantly increased the need for rehab services, he added. "Hence the need for urgency." 01:42 PM Ukraine identifies prisoner of war who declared glory to Ukraine moments before execution The Ukrainian military has identified the Ukrainian prisoner of war who was gunned down in cold blood after saying Glory to Ukraine in front of his Russian captors. The Ukrainian defence ministry on Tuesday identified the man as Timofey Shadura, a 41-year-old soldier from the 30th Mechanised Brigade, who had been missing in fighting around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine since March 3. The body of our soldiers is currently on the occupied territory, the ministry said. Conclusive identification will be held once the body is retrieved and goes through the necessary procedures. Read more from Nataliya Vasilyeva here Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura, the Ukrainian prisoner whose execution on video sparked outrage in Kyiv 01:08 PM UN chief en route to Kyiv to meet Zelensky UN chief Antonio Guterres was travelling to Ukraine on Tuesday to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his third trip since Russia's full-scale invasion, his spokesman said. "The Secretary-General has just arrived in Poland on his way to Ukraine," Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Mr Guterres was due to arrive in Kyiv later on Tuesday before meeting the Ukrainian President on Wednesday morning "to discuss the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in all its aspects, as well as other pertinent issues," the spokesman said. 12:43 PM Poland says it will send 10 more Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine this week A further 10 Leopard 2 tanks from Poland will be sent to Ukraine this week, the Polish defence minister has said. "Four [tanks] are already in Ukraine, another 10 will go to Ukraine this week," Mariusz Blaszczak told a news conference. Poland had promised to send Ukraine a total of 14 Leopard 2 tanks. 12:28 PM Watch: Russian Wagner mercenaries reach eastern Bakhmut 12:01 PM EU sanctions Russian officials for violence against women The European Union on Tuesday imposed sanctions ahead of International Women's Day against officials from six countries, including Russia and Afghanistan, for violence and rights abuses against women. According to a document seen by AFP, nine individuals and three official entities have been added to sanctions lists, subject to visa bans and the freezing of any assets held in the EU. The sanctions target two Moscow police officers, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Fedorinov and his subordinate Ivan Ryabov, who are accused of ordering the arrest and torture of female anti-war protesters. Also named are Russian special forces commander Major General Nikolai Kuznetsov and tank commander Colonel Ramil Ibatullin, whose units are accused of systematic acts of rape and sexual violence in Ukraine. 11:47 AM Russian court jails activist who opposes Ukraine war for 8.5 years A Moscow court on Tuesday sentenced the founder of an opposition social media platform to nearly nine years in jail on charges of spreading "false" information about the army, Russian news agencies reported. Dmitry Ivanov, 23, who ran a protest channel on the Telegram social network for students of Moscow State University, denied any wrongdoing. Ivanov told the court he stood by his original statements which he said were factually accurate. He reportedly shared posts critical of what Russian President Vladimir Putin describes as Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The verdict is the latest in a series of rulings under legislation that critics say is designed to criminalise opposition of the Russian intervention. 11:20 AM Kremlin says it does not recognise Western price cap on its oil The Kremlin has said it does not recognise the price cap imposed on its oil exports by Western countries, after the United States said that the cap was "working well". Washington was one of the key architects of the Western price cap on Russian oil, which aims to drive down Moscow's revenues used to fund its invasion of Ukraine. "We do not and will not recognise any cap. We are working so that this system does not harm our own interests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday. Russia's economy has proved remarkably resilient in the face of tough Western sanctions, but the price cap has complicated its efforts to sell oil globally. US officials argue that the price cap is working, as Russia's Urals blend - a benchmark of Moscow's exports - sells at a steep discount to international marker Brent. "I think the beauty of the process is that it is working and that Russian oil and Russian products are being traded below the price cap," US Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein said on Monday. 10:54 AM Belarus detains 'terrorist' behind airbase sabotage attack Belarus on Tuesday claimed to have detained what it said was a "terrorist" working with Ukrainian and US intelligence services over attempted sabotage at a Belarusian air field, the Belta news agency reported, citing President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarusian anti-government activists said last month they had blown up a sophisticated Russian military surveillance aircraft in a drone attack at an airfield near the Belarusian capital Minsk, a claim disputed by Moscow and Minsk. "The Security Service of Ukraine, the leadership of the CIA, behind closed doors, are carrying out an operation against the Republic of Belarus. A terrorist was trained," Belta quoted Mr Lukashenko as saying. The suspect detained over the attack against the Beriev A-50 surveillance plane is a dual Russian-Ukrainian national, Belta also cited the President as saying. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of its military campaign against Kyiv a year ago. 10:29 AM Lukashenko admits Russian spy plane damaged in drone attack Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian President, has admitted that an audacious drone attack damaged a Russian spy plane at an airbase in his country. It is the first time that a senior Russian or Belarusian leader has commented on the attack, which was claimed by Belarusian partisans. Belarus's Belta news agency on Tuesday quoted the President as saying that the aircraft had sustained light damage in the attack. Satellite imagery appeared to show damage to the A-50 spy plane - MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Reuters 10:01 AM Capture of Bakhmut will allow further offensives in Ukraine, says Russia's Shoigu The seizure of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine would allow Russian forces to mount further offensive operations, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has said. Gen Shoigu also said the West was increasing its arms deliveries to Ukraine, but vowed they would not change the course of events on the battlefield. 09:41 AM Russian losses far greater than Ukraine's in Bakhmut, says Nato Approximately five Russian soldiers have died for every Ukrainian soldier killed in the battle for Bakhmut, according to Nato. Russia's Wagner mercenary group has led a brutal assault on the eastern town that has lasted for months, suffering heavy casualties in its effort to seize Bakhmut. An unidentified Nato official told CNN late on Monday that the five-to-one death ratio was an estimate based on the bloc's intelligence. The official noted however that Ukraine was also suffering heavy losses in its defence of the town. 09:10 AM Ukraine begins talks with partners on grain deal extension Ukraine has started online talks with partners on extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative aimed at ensuring Kyiv can keep shipping grain to global markets, a senior Ukrainian government source has said. The source said Ukraine had not held discussions with Russia, which blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports after its invasion last year, but that it was Kyiv's understanding that its partners were talking to Moscow. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July and was extended in November. It is due to expire on March 18 unless an extension is agreed. 08:51 AM Ukraine accuses Louis Vuitton of endorsing Russian invasion A top aide to Volodymyr Zelensky has accused French fashion house Louis Vuitton of being drenched in blood for posting an advertisement he claimed featured the colours of the Russia flag and a V symbol. The Russian military uses "V" as a symbol meaning strength in truth and the letter "Z" meaning for victory, according to the Defence Ministry. Launched to promote its show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, the Louis Vuitton advertisement shows the unfurling of a large blue, red and white flag. Read more from Henry Samuel here 08:31 AM Prisoner of war hailed a hero for declaring glory to Ukraine moments before execution A Ukrainian prisoner of war gunned down in cold blood after saying glory to Ukraine in front of his Russian captors has been hailed as a martyr. In footage shared on social media, the lone man smokes a cigarette in a clearing in a forest while Russian guns are pointed at him. In his last moments, he defiantly says slava Ukraini - the Ukrainian war motto - before being shot to death in repeated bursts of gunfire. Read more from Joe Barnes and Verity Bowman here It is unclear where or for what unit the Ukrainian soldier had been fighting when he was captured. 08:16 AM Ukraine wants US to send cluster bombs so it can take them apart to drop from drones Ukraine has broadened a request for controversial cluster bombs from the United States to include a weapon that it wants to cannibalise to drop the anti-armor bomblets it contains on Russian forces from drones, according to two US politicians. Kyiv has urged members of Congress to press the White House to approve sending the weapons but it is by no means certain that the Biden administration will sign off on that. Cluster munitions, banned by more than 120 countries, normally release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area, threatening civilians if they fail to detonate and remain on the ground. Ukraine is seeking the MK-20, an air-delivered cluster bomb, to release its individual explosives from drones, said US Representatives Jason Crow and Adam Smith, who both serve on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. That is in addition to 155 mm artillery cluster shells that Ukraine already has requested, they said. 07:39 AM Russian forces resort to makeshift tankenstein vehicles Russia is welding ageing naval turrets onto old armoured vehicles to make crude tanks as Vladimir Putins forces face worsening arms shortages. The crudely engineered vehicles are being deployed in a likely attempt to shoot down Ukrainian drones as the armed forces grapple with crippling shortages of armoured vehicles and ammunition. New footage from an undisclosed location appears to show a 25mm 2M-3 twin-barrelled naval anti-aircraft turret fitted to a Soviet-era MT-LB amphibious fighting vehicle to form a new hybrid weapon. Read more from Joe Barnes here 07:33 AM Mud hampers Ukraine's Bakhmut resupply efforts Muddy conditions around Bakhmut are likely hampering Ukraine's efforts to resupply its troops, according to the Ministry of Defence. In its daily intelligence briefing, the ministry said: "Muddy conditions are likely hampering Ukrainian resupply efforts as they increasingly resort to using unpaved tracks." Numerous reports have suggested that Ukrainian troops defending the eastern town are running seriously low on ammunition as they battle to hold back Russia's advance. "The Ukrainian defence of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides," the ministry said. "Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces likely stabilised their defensive perimeter following previous Russian advances into the north of the town." Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 7 March 2023 Find out more about Defence Intelligence: https://t.co/5TdU6qsbqH pic.twitter.com/0BPha4pqqO Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 7, 2023 07:25 AM China claims Ukraine crisis driven by 'invisible hand' The Ukraine crisis seems to be driven by an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict, China's foreign minister Qin Gang has claimed. The "invisible hand" is "using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agendas", Mr Qin said on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing, calling for dialogue to begin as soon as possible. An estimated 60 Ukrainian aircraft have been downed since Russia's invasion began a year ago, but Moscow has lost more than 70, the top U.S. Air Force commander in Europe said. Gen. James Hecker, speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, said that Russias larger air force failed to establish air superiority in the early days of the war and that a virtual stalemate now exists in the skies, Air and Space Forces Magazine reports. Russian, as well as the Ukrainian, success in integrated air and missile defense have made much of those aircraft worthless, Hecker said. "Both of their integrated air and missile defense, especially when youre talking about going against aircraft, theyve been very effective. And thats why theyre not flying over one anothers country. Russian air defenses are located in Russia, Belarus and parts of occupied Ukraine, he said. That will make it difficult for Ukraine to use air power in a counteroffensive the Ukrainians are planning for spring and summer. Hecker said the U.S. is providing AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, jerry-rigged to work with the countrys Soviet-designed fighters. Obviously, theyre not as integrated with the airplane as it would be if theyre on the U.S. aircraft, so they do have limitations, Hecker said. But theyre doing a pretty good job. 'WE WILL FIND THE KILLERS': Outrage over video showing Ukrainian soldier's apparent execution; military wants to defend Bakhmut Developing: 130 Ukrainian prisoners, most of them with serious injuries, were returned by the Russians, Ukraine presidential spokesman Andriy Yermak said. Russia announced that 90 of its soldiers had been released. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak said 10 more German-made Leopard 2 tanks will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming days. Four of the first 14 tanks promised by Poland already have been delivered; Poland says it will send 60 more in coming months. More than 300 tanks have been promised to Ukraine from Western allies. Story continues Drones have been banned in 28 Russian regions since a spate of what appeared to be Ukrainian drone attacks last month across much of the country including within 60 miles of Moscow. Fewer than 4,000 civilians remain in the embattled city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Tuesday. The industrial city was home to more than 70,000 before the war. Ukrainian ambassador says country will 'defend every inch' of its territory With the Russian military refusing to relent in its assault on Bakhmut, Ukraines ambassador to the United States reiterated Tuesday that the embattled nation is committed to protecting all of its land. We will defend every inch of our territory because defending our territory and actually liberating it is a priority. Because we need to not only restore the territorial integrity but we need to save lives, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova told USA TODAY. Markarova said the Ukrainian military has demonstrated it is very capable and effective, and that while it sometimes makes tactical movements on the ground, the goal is to liberate all of Ukraines citizens from occupied areas. We are in awe of how our brave defenders are defending everything, we are at awe (of) how the fortress Bakhmut, as we call it, stands for such a long time, she said. We trust our military commanders and the president as our supreme commander in this war. -- Francesca Chambers Ukrainian military tentatively identifies soldier shot in grisly video The unarmed man seen apparently getting shot to death by Russian speakers in an unverified video that has sparked outrage was tentatively identified Tuesday as a missing Ukrainian soldier. The Ukrainian militarys general staff said his name was Tymofii Shadura but added the identification is based on preliminary information. Shadura had been missing for just over a month, since disappearing during fighting in the Bakhmut area of the eastern Donetsk province, the 30th Mechanized Brigade said on a Facebook post. Ukrainian officials have denounced the killing as a war crime, and the countrys top prosecutor announced a criminal investigation. In the unauthenticated 12-second clip, which has been circulating widely on social media, the uniformed soldier is seen standing in a wooded area and smoking a cigarette. Someone off-camera is heard speaking in Russian. The man then says, Glory to Ukraine and is hit by gunshots, falling into a shallow hole in the ground. A voice then says, Die and an expletive in Russian. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among those expressing indignation over the video, saying Monday, I want us all together, in unity, to respond to (the soldiers) words: 'Glory to the hero! Glory to heroes! Glory to Ukraine!' And we will find the killers. The Russian military did not immediately reply to questions about the video from The Associated Press. Russian defense minister: Bakhmut is crucial for control of Donbas Taking control of Bakhmut known as Artemovsk in Russia would allow Russian forces to advance deep inside the Donbas region of Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin covets, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. Shoigu was explaining why Russia was fighting so long and hard for the relatively small city. Russia has lost thousands of soldiers and extensive military hardware trying to seize Bakhmut but has failed to encircle the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday night that his military commanders were unwilling to retreat from the city, adding that he and other top Ukrainian leaders "unanimously supported this position." Russian protester sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for 'fake news' A Moscow court sentenced a student activist to 8 years in prison for social media posts criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine as the Kremlin stepped up its crackdown on dissent fueled by the invasion. Dmitry Ivanov, 23, was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian army, a criminal offense under a new law. Prosecutors described as "fake news" Ivanov's posts accusing the military of murdering Ukrainian civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure. Ivanov also refused to use Putin's term special military operation instead of "war." The case drew added interest because the judge approved a defense request to issue summons for Ministry of Defense Igor Konashenkov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose words Ivanov contradicted. They never appeared in court, however. Priests walk to the cemetery during the funeral of Vladyslav Bondarenko 26, in Kozyntsi, near Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 6, 2023. US providing Ukraine with bombs that extend strike capability The U.S. has begun supplying Ukraine with JDAM precision-guided bombs that have extended the Ukrainians strike capability, Hecker said. He said that allows Ukraine to hit targets beyond the range rockets fired by the HIMARS launchers that have drawn rave reviews from military experts. The bombs have a range of nearly 50 miles; the U.S. has declined to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, which have a range of nearly 200 miles. Weve just got them some precision munitions that had some extended range and can go a little bit further, Hecker said. Thats a recent capability that we were able to give them probably in the last three weeks. Ukraine has asked for U.S. fighter jets such as F-16s, but the Biden administration has declined to provide them. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Ukraine has shot down 70 Russian jets during war Training of Ukrainian soldiers in Great Britain Great Britain. Early morning. Engines roar at a military training ground in the forest. Four heavy military vehicles rush down a country road at full speed. They are AS-90 self-propelled howitzers British artillery systems which first began serial production in the 1990s. Each weighs 45 tons, armed with a 155 mm gun with a 25 km range. The British military has been the main user of this system, but now Ukrainians are learning how to operate it. Read also: Ukraine will ultimately join NATO, UK PM Sunak says In mid-February, at the Munich Security Conference, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his country would supply Ukraine with long-range ammunition and air defense systems. In addition, Great Britain, one of the leading donors of military equipment to Ukraine, was the first to promise the transfer of modern Western tanks, pledging a company of Challenger 2s. This is in addition to many other types of much-needed weapons that the UK has provided to Ukraine. The other side of the coin of this military support is the training of the Ukrainian military. According to current plans, 20,000 soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will undergo various kinds of training in the UK over the course of 2023. NVs correspondent visited the training grounds of Ukrainian tankers, artillerymen, and infantry at UK training grounds, which were green even in February. *** Every Ukrainian defender who arrives for training in the UK undergoes combined arms training an analogue of the course for a young fighter in Ukraine, but according to NATO standards. In the process of training, the British, together with Ukrainian officers, do a reselection of the troops who have arrived, determining who will be an artilleryman, tanker, infantry soldier, sapper, and recon scout. Part of the combined arms training is preparing for the de-occupation of Ukrainian cities. In Britain, there is a special center with low-rise urban buildings, where soldiers practice the skills of storming and clearing the enemy in street battles. Story continues According to the scenario of the exercises, several advanced units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces enter Russian-occupied Melitopol and carry out a cleansing of the area. They need to neutralize the enemy firing from the windows of neighboring houses. Visibility is limited due to smoke grenades and the air thick with the smoke of burning. One unit takes up positions along the wall of a two-story building. The second is near another building, on the flank. The soldiers move in small columns back to back. The British instructor orders them to open fire on the windows. Here, on the second floor, the enemy appears. He confidently shoots back, then disappears. To neutralize him, the group needs to go up to the second floor. The Ukrainian soldier feels the perimeter of the door frame for stretch marks. Then he taps his neighbor on the shoulder, upon which he breaks into the building. The most difficult moment of street fighting is entering a building occupied by the enemy. These urban conditions, the instructor continues, are the most difficult to fight in, since the enemy has many places to hide. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians hesitated before entering the first house. Look out the windows, they say to each other along their chain from the beginning to the end of the squad. A series of blank shots and the enemy is still neutralized. Plus one, someone shouts. Plus two, is heard after a while. I immediately saw his head! the soldier excitedly tells his comrade. Gentlemen, boys, come on, the translator translates the words of the British instructor. The intensity of communication between Ukrainians and the British is ensured by at least 300 civilian interpreters in all centers and bases of the United Kingdom where training is being held. Now the Ukrainians are waiting for their debriefing: at the end of each training session, their British instructors lay out their students mistakes. 20-year-old serviceman Andriy (he, like all other Ukrainians undergoing military training in the UK, did not give his last name to NV for security reasons) came to these exercises with combat experience from the liberation of Kyiv Oblast. He had volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the age of 18. Andriy explains to NV the mistake his group made: when one soldier eners the building, the other two are supposed to remain outside, with the first aiming at the door, and the second acting as a shield towards the enemy. His troika all tumbled through the door together. The main problem of urban fighting is that you never know where the enemy is hiding and whether there is someone behind the wall, says Andriy. You have to be always ready to meet him around the corner. Ukrainian fighter with the call sign Guf on training in Britain Dmytro Bobrytskyi In Andrei's group, there is a serviceman with the call sign Guf. He was abroad when the full-scale invasion began. I tried to get into the French Foreign Legion, but I couldnt gain a foothold there, says Guf. As soon as I learned that a war had begun in Ukraine, I returned and signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. *** Another part of the exercises concerns military operations in open areas. 25 soldiers attack positions, while another 25 fight back. An enemy drone hovers over the Ukrainian trenches. A series of rolling booms is heard, imitating artillery. And now a group of enemy troops descends from the hill like a thin ribbon. The British instructor rushes to the left flank at full speed and gives the command to the Ukrainians to suppress the enemy with fire. The turmoil, the screams, and the clatter of blank rounds firing. The Ukrainians need to arrange evacuation under these conditions leaving the battle and bringing their wounded to the other side of the hill. Due to the chaos, several soldiers do not hear the order to retreat and remain in the trenches. Some hundred meters from what is happening, a couple of British civilians are taking a horseback ride. They ride on white and black horses, and neither they nor their horses can understand what is happening here. Training of Ukrainian infantry at a training ground in Great Britain Sgt Jimmy Wise / UK MOD A lanky young instructor with an appearance straight out of central casting explains to NV: in the chaos of battle, soldiers do not hear each other, and they even sometimes dont receive orders. Therefore, he recommends shouting louder for better communication. According to him, Ukrainian soldiers do not receive such assessments during the exercises, but nevertheless, the coherence of actions during the exercises must meet a certain standard. In addition to British instructors, there are Canadians working here with the Ukrainians. They are considered the tougher trainers, one of the interpreters explains to NV, since they are more involved in training sappers, whose mistakes are more costly than those of infantry. *** Under the vigilant monitoring of their British instructors, the Ukrainians are in a hurry to drive their self-propelled guns to pre-planted flags and quickly deploy their guns into combat positions. The crew consists of five people. There is also an instructor and an interpreter. After several repetitions, the crew of one of the self-propelled guns is running far behind the rest. However, they will still have time to polish their skills. This is the first course that the British Army has started to run for the Ukrainians in artillery, Colonel Ed Cotterill, chief self-propelled gun (SPG) instructor, tells NV. He, along with 70 other Britons, are helping Ukrainians to master this system. The entire course will last several weeks, and some of the Ukrainian soldiers have already completed a related course on spotting targets for artillery. A Ukrainian artillery battalion commander named Serhiy will soon be given British self-propelled guns into his command in Ukraine. He does not hold back his emotions, because he used to command 1960s-vintage Soviet artillery models like the MT-12 (Rapier) and D-30. According to him, the instructors respond to any requests that arise during the training. Serhiy is also confident that self-propelled guns will not gather dust in Ukraine due to a lack of shells. If the British provide equipment, then they supply shells, says Serhiy. The British have a pretty tight fix on personnel security. We [in the Ukrainian Armed Forces] are a bit simpler. Overall, Ukrainians are full of praise for their opportunity to study in the UK: not only is the infrastructure better here than in Ukraine, but they can fully focus on the training itself and not waste time taking cover during air raids. A native of the Sumy Oblast, Oleksander diligently loads the self-propelled guns. He spent a month under occupation, and came into the army in December when a conscription summons was placed in his mailbox. There was a medical examination, and a week later Oleksander was sent to a training center where he underwent basic training. Great Britain is the first country he has been to outside Ukraine. Oleksander says that in his village, six neighbors were mobilized before him. When you go outside or to work, you somehow feel uncomfortable, he says. People are already serving, and you seem to be inferior. This is the rural psychology. Perhaps in cities people live in their buildings and do not see each other for years. We all know each other very well." He gives the British food an A++, while giving the Ukrainian food which he tried in training a C, though he understands that this is the best he can expect in a country at war. British self-propelled guns AS-90 Dmytro Bobrytskyi The training on self-propelled guns is structured like this: there is a theoretical component in the classroom, a driver's component on the training ground where the skill of maneuvers is worked out, and a shooting component on special simulators. There is a similar training program for the Challenger 2 tanks. Target engagement is perfected in a huge hangar with several simulators that precisely replicate the cabin of an SPG or a tank. It's as noisy as a bowling alley on the weekend. The Ukrainians load shells into the barrel, and then, after their simulated shot, they do not hit the target, but fall onto a special conveyor to be used again. Live firing takes place only in the last days of the artillery and tank course. *** Training goes on six days a week for eight to nine hours a day. Combat crews alternate with each other throughout the day from the training ground to the simulator. They also work through scenarios for manually operating the SPGs guidance and loading in case of a complete or partial failure of the electronics. There is also time for troubleshooting. "It's first-class!" one Ukrainian says of his training in Britain. In his hands is a 45-kilogram 155-mm training projectile, which he must hoist into one of the 40 launch cells. However, as soon as this correspondent approached his comrade for an interview, a stout British instructor shouts with displeasure from the training cabin, saying that press must not interfere with the training process. Training on tanks follows a similar pattern as on the SPGs. The only difference is that Challenger 2 drivers practice their skills on a training tank with a transparent turret so that several people can fit in there at once, including an instructor. After working out the basic elements of tank control on an asphalt section of the road, the next stage begins - practicing skills on a tank training ground, reminiscent of a rally track with a corresponding level of dirt. I was able to handle the Challenger 2 on the very first day of training, because I had previously driven a T-80, tanker Oleksander says with a smile. His combat record includes participation in the counter-offensive operation to liberate Izyum and Lyman. Although in dry numbers the Soviet car is lighter and faster than its British counterpart, Oleksander argues, the Challenger 2 has a far superior suspension, ride, and handling. He is not yet accustomed to some features of the British tank. For example, the driver is in a prone position in the Challenger while in combat. The tank is too comfortable you can fall asleep, and there is also a handbrake, says Oleksander. He is satisfied with the training: the British provide information about combat vehicles simply and in detail, which allows a warrior of any level of training to master new equipment. Dmytro Bobrytskyi If they cannot immediately answer some tricky question from us, then they raise the literature and come with an answer the next day, says Oleksander. His colleague is no less impressed by the capabilities of the British tank. The rifled gun shows much better accuracy of fire, he says, comparing the Challenger with the T-80. 90% of the time, the projectile hits the target and can fire from 6 km, while Soviet tanks hit objects the first time only 40% of the time, while having half the effective range or lower. The Ukrainian soldier does not hide his delight at the reception provided by the British. Everything is excellent here: the attitude of the instructors, the living conditions, and the well-organized educational process. One of the commanders of the unit, which is returning to Ukraine after the end of the training course, says that the British are too loyal to the Ukrainians and dont particularly drive the exercises. However, he is nearly the only person that NV spoke to who expressed dissatisfaction with the training. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, said on Ukrainian national television on March 7 that claims there was a dispute between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi regarding the defense of the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast were false Read also: Ukrainian army to hold Bakhmut as long as it is reasonable, President Zelenskyy says I want to say that someone really wants us to have discord here, Danilov said. Id (also) would like to point out that internal destabilization has always been one of Russias goals. Read also: Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides, says UK intelligence Danilov said Russia cannot defeat Ukraine by military means, so it is now trying the tactic of internal destabilization. Russia is considering the issue of the so-called Minsk-3 (agreements) today, and they (Russians) are doing everything possible and impossible for this, the official added referring to an earlier peace agreement that scaled back the fighting in 2015, but did not halt it. Earlier, German newspaper Bild, citing its sources in the Ukrainian political leadership, claimed there were disagreements between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi regarding the further actions of the Ukrainian military in the Bakhmut area. Read also: More than hell. What is going on in Bakhmut and how long will the defense last? According to Bilds sources, a few weeks ago, Zaluzhnyi recommended that Zelenskyy think about withdrawing the Ukrainian defense forces from Bakhmut for tactical reasons. In turn, Zelenskyy denied there was a conflict with Zaluzhnyi. In a video address on March 6, Zelenskyy emphasized that both Zaluzhnyi and the Commander of Ukraines Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, had informed him about the situation in Bakhmut during a meeting of the Ukrainian High Command. Unfortunately, there are many disinformation messages from those who cant even hear completely closed conversations about defense, but claim about some defense decisions, the president said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine dismissed accusations of Ukraines participation in the incident on the Machulishchy airfield voiced by Alexander Lukashenko, self-proclaimed President of Belarus, calling it "an act of impotence". Source: Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Facebook Quote: "We categorically reject Alexander Lukashenkos insinuations in regards to Ukraines alleged participation in the events on the Machulishchy airfield. It is evident that it is yet another attempt to create a phoney threat posed by Ukraine in order to justify his [Lukashenkos ed.] support of Russian aggression Lukashenko has also allowed himself a gross personal rebuke of the President of Ukraine. We would not leave this act of impotence unanswered." Details: Nikolenko has called to search for threats in Russia as opposed to Ukraine, as it uses all the means to "try to involve Belarus in the war even more, stripping it of its independence and sovereignty". Previously: Lukashenko said that Belarus had supposedly detained a "terrorist of the Ukrainian secret services" and his accomplices, who were "involved in an attempted sabotage of an A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy airfield". The Belarusian dictator also believes that Ukraine has challenged Belarus with the "sabotage" of the A-50 radar plane at Machulishchy airfield; he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "louse" for this. According to him, more than 20 people have been detained in Belarus, who are supposedly involved in the explosion of the A-50 plane in Machulishchy. Background: On 26 February, explosions occurred at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus in the morning. Later, there was information that a Russian A-50 military aircraft was damaged. Alexander Azarov, Head of the BYPOL initiative, reported that Belarusian partisans were involved in sabotage at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus. According to Azarov, the participants of the alleged sabotage in Machulishchy had left Belarus and are now safe. After the explosion, the entourage of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus claimed that the A-50 was fine and posted allegedly "fresh videos", although the military monitoring media outlet Belaruski Hajun reported that the Russian aircraft flew to Taganrog, Russia, for repairs. Andrii Yusov, representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, said that Russia cannot currently produce A-50 AWACS aircraft, one of which was probably damaged at the Belarusian Machulishchy airbase. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, released a video of an educational conversation with Russian prisoners of war who were returned to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange on Tuesday. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, on Telegram Quote from Lubinets: I represent the Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights. What questions, problems, suggestions, complaints do you have while you stayed illegally in Ukraine? Do you have any? No [In Russian ed.]. Are they absent? No complaints? Were you treated normally? What about food? Yeah. I hope we won't see each other again!? No. Promise, guys? Yeah. You have the same institution [Commissioner for Human Rights ed.] in Russia. It is run by Tatyana Moskalkova, if you have heard of her. If they want to send you here again, you have the right to contact her. She is ready to help you. I hope so. Yeah? Yeah. Details: Lubinets called this format of conversation traditional. Background: On 7 March, as a result of the negotiation process, another exchange of captured soldiers between Ukraine and Russia took place; Kyiv brought back 130 defenders. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Defense forces of Ukraine shot down a Russian aircraft Over the past day, the Ukrainian Air Force carried out 15 air strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, as well as a strike on an anti-aircraft missile system at its firing position. Rocket and artillery units struck a command post, eight concentrations of enemy troops, two air defense facilities, an artillery unit at its firing position, an ammunition depot, and an enemy radar station. Read also: Six Su-34 fighter jets disappear from airfield in Russias Yeysk The Ukrainian Air Force reported on March 3 that anti-aircraft gunners from the Nikopol Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of Air Command East shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter near Russian-occupied Yenakiieve in Donetsk Oblast. Video of the plane, on fire and dropping vertically towards the ground, circulated on social media shortly after reports of the shoot-down started coming in. Later, photos of the wreckage of the downed plane also appeared. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Streets of Bakhmut destroyed by Russian strikes, March 3, 2023 This battle could completely deplete the best forces of Russias Wagner mercenary company and inflict losses on other elite units, depriving Russia of some of its most effective strike forces, ISW analysts said. Statements by a number of Ukrainian officials about their intention to continue defending Bakhmut are likely at least partly in response to ongoing concerns expressed by some U.S. officials about the cost to Ukraine of continuing to defend Bakhmut, ISW analysts said, commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's latest statements. The Ukrainian leader on March 6 said he had ordered reinforcements to be sent to Bakhmut and there was unanimity of opinion with Ukrainian Generals Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Oleksandr Syrskyi on the need to continue the defense of the Donbas town. Read also: Ukrainian army reveals two key tasks of Bakhmut defense Advisor to the Presidents Office Mykhailo Podolyak also said on March 6 that the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut had "achieved its goals" and was a significant strategic success. ISW experts note that the town is not inherently significant from an operational or strategic point of view, but the capture of Bakhmut is a necessary (though not sufficient) condition for Russia's further advance in Donetsk Oblast. However, Russian forces have already suffered such heavy losses in the battle for the settlement that their offensive is likely to culminate after they capture it if not before, ISW said. Thus, even the loss of Bakhmut should not pose a serious operational or strategic problem for Ukraine, as previously confirmed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Still, the fight for Bakhmut has become strategically important for Ukraine because of the current composition of Russian forces stationed in the area. Some Western reports have recently suggested that the Ukrainian army is expending manpower and ammunition mainly on Wagner PMC recruits former prisoners who are common cannon fodder making such losses unprofitable for Ukraine even if the ratio of Russian to Ukrainian casualties is high. Story continues Read also: Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides, says UK intelligence In general, ISW states that this observation has merit, although the number of combat-ready Russian prisoners is not unlimited, and the final destruction of tens of thousands of them in Bakhmut means that they will not be available for more important battles. Moreover, the Russian forces fighting in Bakhmut now consist not only of convicts, but also of elite elements of the Wagner PMC and Russian airborne troops (VDV), along with other lower-quality units. The new Ukrainian intelligence data on the involvement of more "high-quality" troops in the Bakhmut battle coincides with ISW's previous observations of an increase in Russian airborne troops in the Bakhmut area since late December. In fact, the battle for Bakhmut could severely deplete Wagner's best troops, depriving Russia of some of its most effective strike troops, who will be difficult to replace. ISW recalls that Wagner's offensive had already reached a climax once (previously in the Bakhmut area ed.), forcing the Russian Ministry of Defense to deploy some of its elite airborne troops to the battle. It is quite possible that the offensive on Bakhmut will again culminate before the town is taken, forcing the Russian army to choose between abandoning further offensive efforts or having to throw even more high-quality troops into the battle. Hence, there is an opportunity for Ukraine to deal a blow to the most elite Russian troops in defensive battles in urban areas, where the enemy's attrition gradient significantly favors the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ISW said. At the same time, recent statements by Wagner PMC financier Yevgeny Prigozhin indicate that he is probably dissatisfied and has reservations about his forces being wasted in this way. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is returning to its previous (and ineffective) practice of recruiting "volunteers" for the war and covert mobilization, apparently to avoid another large forced conscription of "reservists." ISW analysts have noticed that Russian Telegram channels have started advertising recruitment to "volunteer battalions" again after such calls were stopped in September 2022, at the beginning of the "partial mobilization" in Russia. Additionally, some local Russian officials are now setting up mobile recruitment centers to promote "voluntary" military service under contract, a phenomenon ISW observed between late May 2022 and September 2022. Russian ultra-nationalist social media also increasingly advertise recruitment for Wagner PMC units in nearly 30 cities across Russia, and Ukrainian officials have documented cases of the Russian military recruiting teenagers born in 2006 in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast. Such recruitment campaigns may indicate that the Kremlin is running out of combat-ready reserves to continue Russian offensive operations after the Battle of Bakhmut and unsuccessful offensives around Vuhledar and in Luhansk Oblast. Previously, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched similar campaigns in late May 2022, when the Russian military began to run out of reserves during a grueling offensive on the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk line more than a month before the Russian offensive reached its climax and was exhausted in Luhansk Oblast. Perhaps the Kremlin is now repeating similar efforts in the hope that the involvement of such irregular forces will be enough to keep the initiative of the Russian army on the front line, ISW analysts said. However, Russian veterans and "milbloggers" have noted that Russia will not be able to achieve its goals and reach the administrative borders of Donetsk Oblast without a large-scale mobilization of personnel, the economy, and industry. The resumption of volunteer recruitment and covert mobilization campaigns probably also indicates that the Kremlin will launch the next wave of mobilization no earlier than the summer of 2023, as the spring conscription cycle is due to begin on April 1. Earlier, Western officials suggested that since January 2023, Putin had been postponing the announcement of the second wave of mobilization and was leaning toward a "quiet mobilization" due to concerns about the stability of his regime. Since the fall of 2022, ISW has observed numerous signs that Russia was preparing to conduct a second wave of mobilization, but Putin missed this mobilization window to avoid further escalating tensions in Russian society. Now, the Russian Defense Ministry is unlikely to be able to actively mobilize reservists in the near future, the Institute's analysts predict. They note that Russian military enlistment offices have the administrative capacity to raise only 130,000 conscripts per six-month cycle. Other conclusions of ISW analysts over the past day: regarding the high-profile video of the Russian military shooting a Ukrainian prisoner, ISW stresses that "executing POWs without a prior judgement from a regularly constituted court is a violation of Article III of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War"; A reportedly captured Russian military manual suggests that Russian forces intend to use the newly created assault detachment elements in urban warfare; Russian forces utilized a new type of guided aerial bomb, the UPAB-1500 B, against Ukrainian targets amid continued precision missile shortages; Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks northwest of Svatove and near Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast; Russian forces secured territorial gains in Bakhmut, but have not yet encircled the city or forced Ukrainian forces to withdraw; Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks near Avdiyivka and west of Donetsk City; Russian forces continue struggling to maintain fire control over the DniproRiver Delta in Kherson Oblast; Russian military command is failing to properly equip its forces despite forces increasingly conducting close combat in Ukraine. Battle map: battle for Bakhmut, fighting in Donbas and Zaporizhzhya Oblast, situation in the south and northeast of Ukraine Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia has lost 154,830 soldiers, 3,432 tanks, 6,714 armoured combat vehicles, 2,456 artillery systems and 303 fixed-wing aircraft in its war against Ukraine. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 7 March 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses ed.]: approximately 154,830 (+1,060) military personnel, 3,432 (+9) tanks, 6,714 (+11) armoured combat vehicles, 2,456 (+23) artillery systems, 488 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems, 253 (+3) air defence systems, 303 (+1) fixed-wing aircraft, 289 (+0) helicopters, 2,095 (+9) operational-tactical UAVs, 873 (+0) cruise missiles, 18 (+0) ships/boats, 5,323 (+16) vehicles and tankers, 236 (+2) special vehicles and other equipment. The data is being confirmed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! British intelligence reported on the situation in Bahmut UK intelligence said that over the weekend, Ukrainian forces likely stabilized their defensive perimeter following previous Russian advances into the north of the town. Read also: ISW says fighting for Bakhmut exhausting Russians, preparing ground for Ukrainian counter-offensive A Russian strike destroyed a bridge over the only paved supply road into Bakhmut still under Ukrainian control around March 2, the ministry said in its daily summary. Muddy conditions are likely hampering Ukrainian resupply efforts as they increasingly resort to using unpaved tracks. The agency also notes that public disagreements between the Wagner Group and Russian Ministry of Defense over the allocation of munitions highlights Russias difficulty in sustaining the high levels of personnel and ammunition required to advance with their current tactics. Read also: Russia losing five times more soldiers in Bakhmut than Ukraine, NATO assesses Heavy fighting for Bakhmut has been underway for more than six months. According to Ukraines Defense Ministry, Russia loses up to 500 soldiers killed and wounded every day, trying to storm the town. This figure exceeds Ukrainian losses by five times, according to NATO intelligence. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military leadership announced on March 6 that the defense operation would continue in Bakhmut. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers in the area of Bakhmut Read also: Ukraine Air Forces carry out 12 strikes on enemy positions According to the report, on March 4, Ukrainian assault brigades pushed against Russian positions, carrying out a ground assault and a number of artillery strikes on enemy formations. Before starting the offensive, Ukrainian forces drove Russian troops away from the last remaining highway to Bakhmut. This allowed Ukraine to maintain a supply line and an escape route in case the troops need to withdraw from the city. Vladislav, the commander of an artillery battery located 6-8 kilometers from the outskirts of Bakhmut, told reporters that Ukrainian fighters repel 15 to 20 enemy attacks every day and fire 80 to 120 shells a day on average, adding theres still an ammunition shortage. The enemy would send 20 guys to attack, six to seven times a day, said Oleksandr, a company commander who participated in assaulting Russian Wagner Group PMC positions south of Bakhmut. Read also: At meeting with president, Zaluzhnyi and Syrskyi support continuation of defense operation in Bakhmut Imagine: Twenty guys come; we kill them. In five minutes, 20 more guys come; we kill them. In an hour 20 more. They dont care about people. On March 5, the Commander of Ukraines Ground Forces, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, arrived in Bakhmut. This is his third visit to the city in recent weeks. Read also: Russia losing five times more soldiers in Bakhmut than Ukraine, NATO assesses On March 6, during a meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Ukrainian military leadership spoke in favor of continuing the defensive operation in Bakhmut and further reinforcing Ukrainian positions there. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine via Telegram A Ukrainian soldier who was filmed by Russian troops being executed by firing squad had been missing since early February, Ukrainian authorities revealed Tuesday. Timofei Shadura was seen in a video circulated by Russian propagandists earlier this week. Upon being told he was being filmed, Shadura appeared ready to meet his fatehe stood and faced his executioners, and, taking one last drag from a cigarette, said, Glory to Ukraine! His killers, who were all out of view of the camera, immediately opened fire with machine guns, before the unknown cameraman bitterly said, Die, bitch. Ukraines Defense Ministry on Tuesday said Shadura had been among troops fending off a Russian takeover of Bakhmut. He was declared missing on Feb. 3 after intense fighting in the area. Revenge will be inescapable, the commander of Ukraines 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade said. At the moment, the body of the serviceman is in temporarily occupied territory. Final confirmation of his identity will occur upon return of the body and examinations, the brigade said. Prior to the announcement, Shaduras sister, Olga, told a Ukrainian journalist she was 90 percent sure the soldier in the video was her brother. A video appeared today showing how the invaders brutally killed a soldier who bravely looked in their eyes and said, Glory to Ukraine! I want us all together, in unity, to answer his words: Glory to the hero! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukraine! And well find the killers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the nation late Monday. Russian officials have not yet commented on the video, but the Kremlins mouthpieces have already begun circulating conspiracy theories about it. There is reason to believe that they shot our soldier, who was dressed in a Ukrainian uniform for the sake of an international scandal and to accuse our side of war crimes, Daniil Bezsonov, the deputy information minister of the Russias puppet republic in Donetsk wrote on Telegram. Story continues 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. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, said on Monday that the global progress on womens rights has been disappointing, adding that worldwide gender equality appears to be centuries away. During a General Assembly speech, Guterres said that progress in the womens rights movement has been vanishing for decades, noting ongoing issues such as threats to abortion rights and the current state of women and girls in Afghanistan living under Taliban rule. Gender equality is growing more distant, he said. On the current track, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women puts it 300 years away. Guterres called on world governments, civil society organizations and private sector groups to launch initiatives on gender equality, including increasing education, income and employment for women and girls and encouraging world leaders to promote womens and girls full participation and leadership in science and technology. It calls for gender-responsive education and skills training, algorithms that align with human rights and gender equality and investment in bridging the digital gender divide, Guterres said. More than ever, we need collective action by Governments, civil society, the private sector and the technology community. His comments come after the U.N.s economic and social council voted out Iran from its Commission on the Status of Women in December due to its governments ongoing repression of a women-led social movement, according to the Guardian. Iranian authorities have cracked down on waves of protests in recent months sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested by authorities for improperly wearing her hijab, which violated Irans strict rules on female dress codes. Protesters have been calling for an end to violence and discrimination toward women in the country and in some cases for the overthrow of the ruling regime. Story continues Women and girls will not be silenced, Guterres said. Their demands for their rights and freedoms echo around the globe. The Commission on the Status of Women is a dynamo and catalyst for the transformation we need. Together, let us push back against the pushback on womens rights, against misogyny and forward for women, girls, and our world. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday criticised governments, including China and Russia, for restrictions on civil society in a speech that also took some Western states to task for their records on poverty and police violence. The highly anticipated speech which mentioned dozens of countries was Turk's most comprehensive address to the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council since he took office in October, and was being closely watched by diplomats and rights groups to see what he would prioritise. Turk, who is Austrian, said his main message to governments was to listen to people, victims and human rights defenders. "Harsh restriction of the civic space is the Achilles heel - the fatal weakness - of governance," he said, mentioning incidents such as Beijing's "arbitrary detention" of human rights defenders and lawyers and Russia's closure of newspapers. Turk opened the speech by referring to the "shocking magnitude" of the impact of the war in Ukraine, which would harm the rights of Ukrainians "for generations to come". He censured Mali's military for "serious violations" and stressed the need for continued independent oversight of the situation in Ethiopia, after Reuters reported Addis Ababa was seeking to end a U.N. probe into alleged Tigray war atrocities. In rarer criticism of Western democracies, Turk raised the issue of U.S. police violence against Blacks and a possible record drop in living standards in Britain, urging London to talk with striking workers. He raised China's alleged rights' violations, including the large-scale detention of minority Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Turk said his office had opened up channels of communication to follow up on rights issues in China. Beijing vigorously denies all abuses. "That's it?!," said Kenneth Roth, the former head of Human Rights Watch, said in an email to Reuters on Turk's China comments. "He offers only quiet diplomacy," he added. Story continues Power in the 47-member council, which has the authority to launch rights investigations, has tipped towards autocracies in recent years. This has sometimes led to set-backs in Western-led efforts to boost scrutiny of individual countries' rights records, such as in Yemen or China. Olaf Wientzek, director of the Geneva office of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation think tank, described the speech as a "balancing act" which sought to raise issues that were important to different regional groups, such as China and women's rights for Western countries; racism for African countries; and climate change for small island states. (Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Matthias Williams, Alex Richardson and Bernadette Baum) A police officer on trial for his role in the violent arrest of a tourist who led cops on a chase through South Beach two summers ago won a major victory Tuesday when a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge significantly downgraded the charge against the officer. Moments after prosecutors concluded their case against Miami Beach Police Officer Kevin Perez, Judge Alberto Milian reduced the charge against the officer from felony battery, to simple battery meaning that if found guilty, Perez would spend no more than a year in prison, far less than the five-year sentence that could have been imposed with the felony charge. To prove felony battery, the state had to show that Dalonta Crudup suffered great bodily harm which includes some type of permanent disfigurement when Miami Beach police roughed him up during a scrum in the lobby of the Royal Palm Hotel. But Milian, acting on a request by Perez attorney Robert Buschel to dismiss the case, said he was unable to see a scar on Crudups chin from just a few feet away. Milian also based his decision, he said, on Mount Sinai physician Ramin Vejdanis testimony that Crudup didnt suffer any serious bodily injury, just some bruising. The doctor also said the cut on Crudups chin highlighted by the state was three centimeters long. Assistant State Attorney Joshua Novak failed in his attempt to convince the judge that Vejdani was not an expert witness and that great bodily harm should be determined by the six jurors. The judge also seemed to indicate that even the simple battery charge against Perez may be on thin ice. Crudup has charges pending for fleeing and eluding police, which gives officers the leeway to use force, even deadly if necessary, when taking someone into custody. People may not like it. But that is the law in Florida, Milian said. When Buschel argued the case should be dismissed because the law gave officers the right to use force on someone fleeing from police, Novak countered that by the time Crudup was beaten, he was no longer trying to get away. He was on the floor of the hotel lobby face down with some officers on his back and his hands behind him, Novak said. Story continues The judge said he would wait until after the jury verdict to decide whether the case should be tossed. After his ruling, jurors were called back into the chamber and the defense began its case during the fourth day of trial. Jurors were not informed of the change in charge against Perez. Then the defense rested after about two hours of more testimony from police. Closing arguments are Wednesday. Perez and four other officers were charged with taking part in the beating of Crudup, 26, in July 2021, when crowds of visitors were staying on Miami Beach during the Rolling Loud hip-hop festival, one of the largest in the country. One of the officers, Sgt. Jose Perez, avoided a felony charge by retiring. The other three are facing future court dates. During trial testimony, Crudup, who was visiting from Maryland, and witnesses described a minor incident that began with Crudup almost falling off his scooter as he started it at a road closure off Collins Avenue and ballooned into an international story. Crudup said when he got up, both friends and the police were laughing at him. He admitted to giving police at the scene the finger, then riding off. Somewhere along the route to his room at the Royal Palm Hotel, police say Crudup ran his scooter over an officers foot. Police say thats when they began to chase Crudup, radio signaling that a 332 had just occurred. Thats the signal for officer down and a call every cop is required to answer. Prosecutors argued that police began chasing Crudup after he made the lewd gesture toward officers. Police caught up to Crudup in the hotel lobby, where surveillance video shows almost two dozen officers surrounding him, some drawing their weapons and kicking and punching him. Perez is accused of picking Crudup up after he was handcuffed and slamming his face toward the ground. Prosecutors also say he sat on Crudup as Jose Perez kicked him in the face, and that another officer punched Crudup in the back of the head and kicked him. Crudup has been charged by state prosecutors with fleeing and eluding police. He pleaded not guilty. By Clotaire Achi and Stephane Mahe PARIS (Reuters) -France's nationwide strike against a planned pension reform, which disrupted train services, shut schools and halted fuel deliveries, will spill into Wednesday as unions seek to force a government retreat on the deeply unpopular policy. Around 1.28 million people took to the streets on Tuesday in demonstrations across the country, the interior ministry said, making turnout for the protest day - the sixth against the reform this year - the highest so far. This is a critical time for labour and the government since French President Emmanuel Macron hopes parliament will adopt his plan to raise the pension age by two years to 64 before April. Looking to pile pressure on lawmakers, France's hardline unions said there would be rolling strikes going forward that could go on for days, at least in some sectors including at TotalEnergies' oil refineries. "The real fight starts now," said Marin Guillotin, FO union representative at the Donges refinery in western France. "We haven't been heard or listened to. We are using the only means we have left: It's the hard strike ... we are not going to give up." Trains will experience disruptions again on Wednesday, as will the Paris metro system, though slightly less than on Tuesday, the SNCF and RATP transportation companies said. The government said 10,000 more protesters turned out nationwide on Tuesday than the previous peak of 1.27 million on Jan. 31, and bigger crowds were reported by media and local officials at rallies in some cities, including Marseille. The strike also drew in more industrial sectors, extending to truck drivers and garbage collectors. Local media quoted the CGT union as saying 700,000 marched in Paris. Police put the number at 81,000. Another round of protests will take place on Saturday, France's union leaders announced on Tuesday evening as they again urged Macron to drop the reform, saying the president's rigid stance could lead to an "explosive" situation. Story continues 'UNFAIR' Macron's proposal to make people work longer before they are eligible for pensions is deeply unpopular, opinion polls show. "This reform is unfair," said Aurelie Herkous, who works in public finance in the Normandy town of Pont Audemer. "Macron offers tax gifts to companies ... he's got to stop coming down on the same people time after time." France's leading trade unions have so far acted with rare unity, but the coming weeks will test that. The CFDT, France's biggest trade union and generally reform-minded, has not committed to the rolling strikes and has said there could be other forms of protest. While the government will be looking for divisions among the unions, the CGT and FO, which are powerful within the transport and energy sectors, would still be able to bring significant disruption even without CFDT participation. The government insists its reform plan is essential to ensure the pension system does not run out of money. "I can understand that not many people want to work two more years, but it's necessary to ensure the viability of the system," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told France 5 TV. Macron's centrist alliance does not have an absolute majority in parliament, and his government may use special constitutional powers to enact the legislation by bypassing the lower house - something union leaders have warned him not to do. "Forcing (the bill) through would spark a crisis," CGT leader Philippe Martinez said. The Senate was likely to adopt overnight the bill's Article 7, that pushes retirement age to 64. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Forrest Crellin, Benjamin Mallet, Ingrid Melander, Elizabeth Pineau, Alain Acco, Blandine Henault, Marc Leras, Yonathan Van der Voort, Layli Foroudi, Tassilo Hummel, Geert de Clercq, Richard Lough; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Christina Fincher, Aurora Ellis and Cynthia Osterman) Students showing off their creatively named borgs. Screenshot/TikTok - @kettlebellkel 28 ambulances were reportedly called to off-campus parties at UMass over the weekend. The school is now warning students about "borgs," which are believed to be the culprit. The TikTok trend involves people mixing alcohol and water into huge jugs. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is blaming a TikTok drinking fad for 28 ambulances getting called to off-campus parties over the weekend. According to school officials, students on Saturday were seen carrying large water jugs that contained a mixture of alcohol, electrolytes, and flavoring, believed to be what TikTokers call "borgs," or "blackout rage gallons." The phenomenon has been fueled by recent viral videos featuring college students on TikTok making and drinking the concoction (though some videos referencing the drink date back to 2020). The viral drink has spawned borg tutorials, borg challenges, and borg skits. While it's unclear if all 28 instances were related to "borg" drinking, UMass officials said they had never seen so many of these drinks before Saturday's "Blarney Blowout," an annual school celebration that typically comes before St. Patrick's Day, The Associated Press reported. None of the cases were life-threatening, the Amherst Fire Department said. The university said it's assessing the weekend's events and warning its student body about the drink recently popularized by TikTok. Borgs have become particularly attractive to the college-aged population because people claim it keeps you hydrated as you binge-drink. While the electrolytes and water do help with hydration, the large quantity of alcohol is what makes it dangerous, experts say. "Consuming this much alcohol would be fatal for the vast majority of people, even if spread out over a full day," George F. Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National Institutes of Health, told CBS News. "It is unknown how many students actually follow borg recipes that call for a half gallon of vodka, but doing so could turn deadly depending on how much they end up consuming." Story continues Over the weekend, multiple TikTok posts from UMass students drinking borgs went viral. In one video with almost 2 million views, a student interviews other students about punny nicknames they gave their borgs. "Bad day to be a borg at umass," the video description reads. The University of Massachusetts and the Amherst Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read the original article on Insider Diamonds The meeting was held by Head of the U.S. Office of Sanctions Coordination James OBrien and the European Commissions Deputy Director General and Chief Trade Enforcement Officer Denis Redonnet with the U.S. and European offices of leading diamond retailers, manufacturers, laboratories, and industry trade associations. Read also: EU prepared to sanction China if it supplies Russia with weapons, Reuters reports Russia continues to earn billions of dollars from the diamond trade, and the discussion centered on the most effective and impactful ways to disrupt that revenue stream, the report says. The United States and European Union remain committed to imposing economic consequences on Russia for its unprovoked war in Ukraine. In September 2022, five of the blocs 27 countries said in a joint proposal that the European Union must stop importing diamonds from Russia. Read also: Russian oil price halved after Western sanctions Earlier Belgium, home to the worlds biggest diamond trading hub Antwerp, rejected such a ban. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called for the introduction of sanctions against Russian nuclear and diamond industries. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) A Missouri law banning local police from enforcing federal gun laws is unconstitutional and void, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes ruled the 2021 law is preempted by the federal government under the U.S. Constitutions supremacy clause. At best, this statute causes confusion among state law enforcement officials who are deputized for federal task force operations, and at worst, is unconstitutional on its face," Wimes wrote. Missouri's Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey in a statement said he will appeal the ruling. As Attorney General, I will protect the Constitution, which includes defending Missourians fundamental right to bear arms," Bailey said. "We are prepared to defend this statute to the highest court, and we anticipate a better result at the Eighth Circuit. The Missouri law had subjected law enforcement agencies with officers who knowingly enforced federal gun laws without equivalent state laws to a fine of $50,000 per violating officer. Federal laws without similar Missouri laws include statutes covering weapons registration and tracking, and possession of firearms by some domestic violence offenders. Conflict over Missouris law wrecked a crime-fighting partnership with U.S. attorneys that Missouris former Republican attorney general, now-Sen. Eric Schmitt, touted for years. Under Schmitts Safer Streets Initiative, attorneys from his office were deputized as assistant U.S. attorneys to help prosecute violent crimes. The Justice Department, which last year sued to overturn the Missouri law, said the Missouri state crime lab, operated by the Highway Patrol, refused to process evidence that would help federal firearms prosecutions after the law took effect. The city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County also filed a separate lawsuit over the gun law, which is pending. They said in a joint statement that they were encouraged by the ruling and complained about the passage of dangerous bills that make it more difficult to prevent gun violence in our communities. Story continues Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, meanwhile, described the decision in a tweet as a monumental defense of the safety of our families, our police, and our neighborhoods The city is planning to file a brief in support of the pending lawsuit, detailing its opposition to the law. Concerns about the law led the Missouri Information and Analysis Center, also under the Highway Patrol, to stop cooperating with federal agencies investigating federal firearms offenses. And the Highway Patrol, along with many other agencies, suspended joint efforts to enforce federal firearms laws. Wimes said police can now work with federal partners without worrying about breaking the voided law. State and local law enforcement officials in Missouri may lawfully participate in joint federal task forces, assist in the investigation and enforcement of federal firearm crimes, and fully share information with the Federal Government without fear of H.B. 85s penalties, the judge wrote. Several Missouri prosecutors had testified against the bill, saying it jeopardized investigations and prosecutions against serious offenders while exposing state and local officers to civil liability. Given today's ruling, Missouris prosecutors and our state and local law enforcement partners look forward to again utilizing federal assistance when appropriate to apprehend and punish violent offenders who endanger the citizens of our state, the statement said. Police and prosecutors will return to their work without fear of losing their jobs or being held liable personally to criminal offenders simply because they are doing vital work to keep our communities safe. Republican lawmakers who helped pass the bill said they were motivated by the potential for new gun restrictions under Democratic President Joe Biden, who signed the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades last year. The federal legislation toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keeps firearms from more domestic violence offenders and helps states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous. ___ Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth and Margaret Stafford contributed to this report from Kansas City, Missouri. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said on Tuesday the railroad will hold safety meetings and work to revitalize its safety culture as U.S. officials announced two new wide-ranging reviews in the wake of a spate of accidents. Norfolk Southern has been under fire after a number of derailments of its trains, particularly one it operated on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio that caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals to spill and catch fire. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) both announced new safety probes. The announcements came after the death of a conductor in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday when a train was struck by a dump truck. The NTSB, Federal Railroad Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Administration earlier on Tuesday said they were investigating the death. "Tomorrow we will hold safety stand-down briefings reaching every employee across our network," said Shaw, who will testify Thursday before a Senate Committee hearing into the East Palestine derailment. "Moving forward, we are going to rebuild our safety culture from the ground up. We are going to invest more in safety. This is not who we are, it is not acceptable, and it will not continue." Late Tuesday, the FRA said it would conduct a 60-day supplemental safety assessment of Norfolk Southern Railway. "After a series of derailments and the death of one of its workers, we are initiating this further supplemental safety review of Norfolk Southern, while also calling on Norfolk Southern to act urgently to improve its focus on safety so the company can begin earning back the trust of the public and its employees," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. FRA will use information collected "to push Norfolk Southern to develop measures to mitigate risks while identifying appropriate enforcement actions" and will issue a public report, Buttigieg added. Story continues The NTSB said that given the number and significance of recent Norfolk Southern accidents it is opening what it called a special investigation and "urges the company to take immediate action today to review and assess its safety practices." Shaw added he "called together every member of our management team this afternoon to emphasize the urgency of finding new solutions." Following the East Palestine derailment, some of the town's 4,700 residents have reported ailments such as rashes and breathing difficulties and fear long-term health effects but no deaths or injuries were reported after the accident. Since December 2021, NTSB has launched investigation teams to five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern including a March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near Springfield, Ohio. "The continued safe operations of Norfolk Southern is vital to the United States. The NTSB is concerned that several organizational factors may be involved in the accidents, including safety culture," the NTSB said. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler, Will Dunham and Lincoln Feast.) Leaders who oversee some of the US militarys most secretive missions are seeking a new, unprecedented kind of weapon: deepfakes, which use machine learning to create life-like phony videos. US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which contains elite units from the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force, is working to develop a next generation of deep fake or other similar technology to generate messages and influence operations via non-traditional channels, according to a procurement document discovered by The Intercept . In recent procurement requests, SOCOM is seeking partners to develop capabilities using lasers, holograms, and the hacking of internet-connected devices as part of its covert operations. When it comes to disinformation, the Pentagon should not be fighting fire with fire, Chris Meserole, head of the Brookings Institutions Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, told The Intercept. At a time when digital propaganda is on the rise globally, the U.S. should be doing everything it can to strengthen democracy by building support for shared notions of truth and reality. Deepfakes do the opposite. By casting doubt on the credibility of all content and information, whether real or synthetic, they ultimately erode the foundation of democracy itself. The Independent has contacted SOCOM for comment. Last year, the so-called Twitter Files document dump revealed that Twitter had knowingly allowed the US military to conduct influence operations on the site using phony news sources with deepfake avatars. US officials have repeatedly voiced concern around other countries using social media manipulation to target the US, following widespread Russian disinformation campaigns on Facebook and elsewhere during the 2016 election. In 2018, 13 Russians and three companies were charged with attempting to interfere in the 2016 election. Federal prosecutors said hackers took on American identities and used Facebook groups, social media ads and inflammatory images to boost support for Donald Trump and sow division across the US. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block JetBlue's bid to merge with Spirit Airlines, the opening salvo in a coming antitrust trial as the agency fights to prevent the carriers from combining. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal district court in Boston, said that the deal would end direct competition between JetBlue and Spirit and eliminate Spirit, the nations biggest "ultra-low-cost carrier." "We allege that if allowed to proceed, this merger will limit choices and drive up ticket prices for passengers across the country," Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference announcing the lawsuit. "By acquiring Spirit, JetBlue will eliminate the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States." JetBlue CEO: 'We're obviously disappointed' about antitrust lawsuit in Spirit merger JetBlue has previously made clear that they intend to push regulators to approve their bid and reaffirmed that position just hours before the announcement out of Washington. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said Tuesday on "CBS Mornings" that he was "disappointed but not surprised" that the DOJ was moving to block the merger. "We said when we got the offer approved by the Spirit shareholders last year that we didn't think we would close 'til the first half of 2024, you know, expecting a trial," he said. New flights: JetBlue service to Paris set to begin in June, tickets now on sale for as little as $479 A JetBlue Airlines plane is seen near Spirit Airlines planes at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 16, 2022. How did we get here? JetBlue successfully bid for Spirit Airlines over the summer, after Spirit's board rejected a merger bid from rival ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier. JetBlue offered $3.8 billion to buy Spirit, in a deal that would create the fifth-largest airline in the country. According to William McGee, senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, the merger would give travelers less choice in airlines and would likely lead to higher fares on many routes. Story continues "Spirit is going to go away and when it does, the fares are going to go with it," he said. "You don't have to fly Spirit or Frontier or Allegiant to benefit from their presence." Tell us your story: Mobility device lost or damaged by an airline? USA TODAY wants to hear about it However, JetBlue insists merging with Spirit will have little effect on fares, and will actually position the airline to better compete with larger carriers in the U.S. "A combined JetBlue-Spirit will bring together the best of both airlines to create a customer-centric, low-fare alternative to the dominant 'Big Four' airlines," a statement on the airline's website says. JetBlue is also waiting on the result of an antitrust trial about its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines. A decision in the case, which was heard late last year in Boston, is expected imminently, and which DOJ officials said on Tuesday is harmful to consumers on its own merits, separate from the issues it alleged with the proposed Spirit deal. "JetBlue's plan would eliminate the unique competition that Spirit provides and about half of all ultra-low-cost airline seats in the industry and leave tens of millions of travelers to face higher fares and fewer options," DOJ lawyers wrote in the suit. Family travel: New DOT dashboard makes airline seat selection policies more transparent What happens next with the JetBlue-Spirit merger? As the merger moves toward trial, it's likely that JetBlue will continue campaigning for the deal in an effort to sway public opinion. It already has some strong supporters, including the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents Spirit's flight attendants. "This is the first time in my 26-year career that our union has enthusiastically supported a merger," Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson said during a press conference Tuesday. "This is the anti-merger merger," she added, saying it would position a larger JetBlue to "dilute the power that has accrued to those four mega airlines," namely American, United, Delta and Southwest. The Transportation Workers Union, which represents JetBlue flight attendants, opposes the deal. Donna Hitscherich, a member of the finance faculty at Columbia University's business school and a director of the school's private equity program, said that Nelson's position is a common school of thought when it comes to corporate mergers. "There may be considerations toward making a stronger competitor," she told USA TODAY. "Maybe you are consolidating to making a stronger competitor to the incumbents." However, the DOJ made clear in announcing the civil suit on Tuesday that it will fight to block the deal, which the agency views as anti-consumer. "After spending many years criticizing consolidation in the airline industry, JetBlue seems to have changed its tune," Doha Mekki, principal assistant deputy attorney general for the antitrust division said during the press conference. "Rather than compete to win share, JetBlue has chosen to consolidate and cooperate." The DOJ also said that a potential combination of JetBlue and Spirit would do the most harm to the most cost-conscious travelers, who would likely face higher fares if the deal goes through. Contributing: David Koenig, Associated Press Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JetBlue-Spirit merger in peril: Justice Department sues to block union Vanessa Feltz believes it is ok to fake an orgasm on occasion. (Getty Images) Vanessa Feltz has shared her thoughts on faking orgasms, hinting that she has done it herself as she believes it's not always a negative thing for your sex life. The broadcaster, 61, has recently announced her break-up with her partner of 16 years, Ben Ofoedu, 50, following allegations of infidelity. Despite admitting her "shock and sadness" over the end of the relationship, Feltz has been keeping fans updated on life post split, celebrating her birthday with friends and family and travelling to Ireland for a "healing" holiday. She also recently opened up about intimacy, discussing why she believes being told never to fake an orgasm is the "worst piece of advice" she's been given. Read more: 9 ways to increase your chances of having an orgasm Feltz told the Grazia Life Advice podcast, in a chat recorded before her split: "Experts say if you fake an orgasm, you're giving a false impression of what you do and don't like and if you fake an orgasm how will your lover/partner ever really know what you like? So never ever do it. "I think that is the worst advice because sometimes it is just rude not to fake it." Feltz went on to explain that there are certain intimate moments when an orgasm might never actually happen and in those situations, in her opinion, it is acceptable to fake it. "Sometimes your partner is trying every trick in the book," she says. "They have been twiddling and licking and flicking, whispering dirty words in your ear and there's not one flipping thing that they could possibly do that they're not doing. Theyre absolutely 10 out of 10 for effort." Vanessa Feltz believes being told never to fake an orgasm is bad advice. (Getty Images) The TV and radio presenter continues: "On those occasions when you've suddenly remembered defrosting the freezer, you've just taken your eye off the ball, you're not concentrating and you're never ever, ever going to get to orgasm. "I'm not saying do it every time, that's not a good idea either. But sometimes, and you will know the times, the only courteous and polite thing to do is fake an orgasm. Story continues "But at least make sure you fake it convincingly," she adds. "At least it is a way of concluding it satisfactorily," she continues. "It's over, thank God and then you can go do something else, can then go and defrost the freezer, which is what you really wanted to be doing all along." Read more: 'Find the clitoris' challenge: Sexperts hit the streets to see if public know exact location Is it ever ok to fake an orgasm? No doubt Feltz's advice that it is ok to fake an orgasm on occasion will come as welcome news to the 71% of women and 31% of men who have pretended to climax with a partner. Recent research, of 2,000 people by IllicitEncounters.com, also explored the reasons behind the 'fake off' with over half those surveyed (54%) admitting to pulling a Meg Ryan because the sex was taking too long and they didn't want to hurt their partner's feelings. Other reasons women gave for pretending include the fact they were finding the sex boring (37%), were not in the mood (36%), felt too tired (35%), had drunk too much alcohol (28%), their partner was new and could not satisfy them (16%) and they struggle to climax through intercourse (15%). Sparing a partner's feelings was the main reason men fake it, which was the case for 22% of those questioned, followed by consuming too much alcohol (20%). Watch: Vanessa Feltz wanted for Celebs Go Dating So should you ever fake an orgasm or is it better to 'fess up to your partner that it's just not quite hitting the spot? Javay Frye-Nekrasova, certified sex educator and sex expert for Lovehoney, believes there are some misconceptions surrounding orgasms that could help to explain why some people feel so much pressure to fake it, including the fact that you have to orgasm every time you engage in sexual activity. "When you put the goal of orgasm on the sexual activity you are adding a layer of pressure that inherently detracts from the pleasure aspect of the sexual activity itself," she explains. It's also worth noting that you shouldn't necessarily worry if you don't achieve an orgasm with your partner. "The body can experience orgasms from a wide variety of stimulations so if one way does not lead to an orgasm it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem," Frye-Nekrasova continues. "Another reason you don't need to worry is because it takes some time exploring your body to figure out what actually leads to pleasure that results in an orgasm." Read more: Eight ways to know youve just had an orgasm 71% of women have faked an orgasm with a partner. (Getty Images) Whether or not you choose to fake an orgasm, experts agree that communication is a vital aspect to enjoying a healthy sex life. "If you can comfortably talk about sex you can better talk about what you like with partners, express to them what you would want to be done differently, and how experiences can be improved," Frye-Nekrasova adds. And even if you believe your other half has your wants and needs sussed, it can't hurt to keep talking about it. Even an experienced partner needs feedback about what you need to reach orgasmland, Dorian Solot, sex educator and co-author of I Orgasms: A Guide to More (16.99, Hachette), told Yahoo UK. You can communicate this with words (yes, it's OK and even recommended to talk during sex), moans, sighs, adjusting their hand or mouth, or classic-for-a-reason phrases like, 'Right there!', 'Don't stop!', or 'Yes, yes! Ohhh, yes!' REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko The demented prison-recruitment scheme top Russian military brass are using to find fresh cannon fodder for the war against Ukraine apparently isnt going so well: 11 inmates are on the run in Donetsk while their fellow recruits have been tossed into basements for refusing to fight. Thats according to the independent outlet Ostorozhno, Novosti, which released damning leaked audio on Tuesday that captures the unfolding chaos. About 70 inmates are being held against their will in a basement in Donetsk after a conflict with their commanders went off the rails, one inmate told the outlet. He said he and 10 others had managed to flee during the mayhem, but now theyre terrified the military will track them down, execute them, and list them as missing so the circumstances of their deaths will be kept under wraps and their families will never receive compensation. If you refuse to go fight, people from Wagner will come and well shoot you, the inmate recalled being told. Just before the prisoners escape, a man identified as a Russian Defense Ministry official was caught on tape trying to convince the group of angry inmates that they better follow orders. A 10-minute clip shared by Ostorozhno, Novosti was reportedly surreptitiously recorded after the group of inmates recruited for the war effort refused to storm Ukrainian positions in the Donbas, and apparently began to catch wind of the fact that they were simply seen as an easily expendable resource to carry out human-wave style attacks. You were given a task yesterday, and you refused, an unnamed representative of the Defense Ministry says as he scolds them. I havent scared you with anything yet. Why would I need to scare you? I want to ask you, why didnt you go carry out the task? Those before you went through the exact same thing, there were 75 people the official says, before an inmate cuts him off and yells, Of whom only 11 people remained? I was with them in the hospital! Story continues The inmates can be heard protesting that the contracts they were initially shown upon recruitment didnt contain the same terms that they were now being told of. At that, the military official references Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, and tries to entice the inmates into obeying. What is Yevgeny Viktorovich always saying everywhere? The only thing you have to do is once you get to the positions, you kill them. Everything the enemy has, we will allow you to take, he says. You can only take the spoils from those you kill. He tells them that the only way they can leave the war before their six-month term is up is if they are killed or severely injured. Commanders have the right to use weapons to install discipline in their ranks, or use against inmates if they abandon their positions, he warns, prompting one of the inmates to audibly laugh. Theres no need to smile! the official immediately shoots back. Calling the inmates volunteers from a special contingent, the official can be heard telling them they cant carry even one document with them. Just like you I have not a single document with me since the start of the special military operation. Not even one document. If something happens to me, well, theyll identify me with DNA, he says. The situation here is this: the task has been assigned, you need to fulfill it. Trust me, he says, informing the men that after their refusal to take part in assault teams, they will now be serving in the police force of Russias proxy republic in Donetsk in accordance with orders from the president. Backfired: Putins Prison Recruits Spiral Out of Russias Control The inmates, apparently unswayed, ask what happened to their commander, who one of them notes was taken away somewhere. What is actually happening? the inmate asks. After others piped up to argue that with no proper documents, they have no guarantees that the military isnt simply tricking them, another inmate pleads, At least give our families some kind of guarantees, even if were killed. The official appears unswayed, however, telling the men hes leaving in five minutes and, After I leave here, thats it. After that, I will take this as a straight-out refusal, and I will report it as a straight-out refusal [ to follow orders.] One of the inmates from the group, who called his enlistment a monstrous mistake, told Ostorozhno, Novosti the military had tried to toss the inmates onto the battlefield with next to no training. After they protested, he said, a military officer candidly told them all, Youve been screwed. 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. As a young military officer at the height of the war on terror, Lt. Ron DeSantis was often seen running on the beach of Guantanamo Bay and along its ridgeline, encircling Camp America. It was a chaotic time at the U.S. military detention facility in Cuba, and as an ambitious Navy lawyer, DeSantis was positioned to witness history up close. He arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo in the spring of 2006 as its leaders were grappling with multiple challenges and global scrutiny. Aggressive tactics were adopted to break a hunger strike. An armed clash erupted between detainees and a riot squad in May. Three men were found dead in their cells in the same hour of a single night in June. And the CIA would transfer some of its highest-value detainees to the camp in the fall of that year. DeSantis had little authority to address these crises as a 27-year-old lieutenant at a notorious facility micromanaged from Washington. But it was a formative period for a career-minded officer who had enlisted hoping for a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, where he would come face to face with the realities of Americas least conventional war. It is an experience in the Florida governors life that he rarely discusses publicly and remains largely unexplored, even as he appears poised to mount a campaign for the White House. This guy has the potential to run for president of the United States, said Yvonne Bradley, who represented Guantanamo detainees as a military lawyer at that time. I think its important for the story to get out. Interviews with over a dozen former Navy officers and personnel, defense attorneys and former detainees shed light on the access DeSantis would have had to the men held captive on the base, suspended in a legal and ethical gray zone during a turbulent phase in the camps history. DeSantis team did not respond to requests for comment. But in sparing remarks on his service there since entering public life, he has expressed only admiration for the detention facilitys operations. DeSantis came away from his time at Guantanamo Bay advocating for the camp to remain open, convinced that its inhabitants were terrorists at a time when hundreds of detainees were being released by a Republican president after years of imprisonment and without ever facing charges. Story continues He would have had very, very intimate knowledge of the conditions at the camp, Retired Colonel Michael Bumgarner, commander of the Joint Detention Group at Guantanamo during DeSantis service there, told McClatchy and the Miami Herald. He wouldve had face-to-face contact with them he wouldve known them intimately, their backgrounds and all. READ MORE: DeSantis meets with Iowa influencer ahead of book release as 2024 hopefuls make moves CAUSE TO ENLIST By the time DeSantis joined the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in Guantanamo in 2006, Americans were already well aware of the nature of the facility and deeply divided over the indefinite detention of its prisoners. President George W. Bush first opened the detention center in 2002, after the Sept. 11 attacks, to hold hundreds of enemy combatants that his administration said were primarily al Qaida and Taliban operatives. In the intervening years, human rights groups protested the detention of suspected combatants without the filing of criminal charges, and reports emerged from released or repatriated Guantanamo inmates alleging torture at the camp, prompting widespread controversy back at home. In a new book published in February titled The Courage to be Free, DeSantis said the prospect of a deployment to Guantanamo factored into his decision to join the military in 2004. One recruiter told me that the assumption was that the Iraq campaign would be over relatively quickly, and that there would be a need for military JAGs to lead prosecutions in military commissions of incarcerated terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, DeSantis wrote, using the acronym for a judge advocate general. That turned out not to be what happened, but it seemed plausible at the time and also seemed like a good opportunity to make an impact. READ MORE: Why the unwritten parts of DeSantis book are among its most interesting tidbits DeSantis was in his second year at Harvard Law School when he enlisted. After graduating, he was sent to Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, as a prosecutor, before being sent to Guantanamo shortly thereafter. Hundreds of individuals were being detained at the facility at that time. Its clear they liked DeSantis, Charles Swift, a former career Navy lawyer who also came out of Jacksonville, said of DeSantis supervisors. Swift retired from service in 2007 after successfully defending one inmate, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, in a landmark case before the Supreme Court. He had been in what we call a get-out job a position you get when you dont want to stay, Swift said. Everyone Ive ever talked to said he was smart. But he had not joined the JAG corps for a career. What I take away as an intelligent observer is that Ron DeSantis was a politically motivated individual who saw a value to military service. DeSantis wrote in his new book that he was sent on temporary-duty-travel stints to Guantanamo Bay, and has spoken of celebrating Christmas at the camp in 2006. Military records obtained by McClatchy show he spent at least six months in Cuba between March 2006 and January 2007 where his primary duty was as trial counsel and he served as a JTF-GTMO scheduler/administrative officer. Ron DeSantis Military Records by dsmileyherald At the time, he was extremely green in the JAG corps he had just become a lawyer, said Joseph Hickman, who told McClatchy that he frequently saw DeSantis while serving as a staff sergeant at the camp. He was very inexperienced, very young, and from what Ive seen those guys didnt have a lot of responsibility. But his superiors saw promise in the new officer. Retired Navy Capt. Patrick McCarthy, who served as the staff judge advocate at Guantanamo in 2006, told McClatchy that DeSantis was among the officers he would send to speak with detainees when there were any complaints to ensure they were lawfully addressed. DeSantis served honorably and professionally in a very complex mission, McCarthy said. McCarthys office frequently butted heads with defense attorneys, including Bradley, an Air Force JAG who successfully defended Binyam Mohamed during his prominent military trial. Bradley said she had repeated conversations with McCarthys team in 2006 over allegations of improper contact between JAGs and her clients. She does not remember interacting with DeSantis specifically, but unlike most in the military, servicemen and women at Guantanamo do not wear name tags and do not identify themselves. Bryan Broyles, former chief defense counsel for military trials at Guantanamo, described the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate where DeSantis worked as a tiny little office with six cubicles, and McCarthys office off to the side. We would only see them when they were directly dealing with our cases, explained Broyles, who said he would not have been able to pick DeSantis out of a lineup had he not become governor. That JAG office would have been in much more regular contact with the detainees than the rest of us, Broyles said. They intimately would have known the best of their treatment, and the worst of it. READ MORE: Better than Trump? DeSantis media strategy floods zone with news DETAINEE CLAIMS The war court headquarters at Camp Justice, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, seen through a broken window at an obsolete air hangar at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. DeSantis interactions with detainees would have exposed him to complaints about conditions at the detention center, including accusations of torture and abuse, at a time when tensions at the camp were reaching an inflection point. The deaths of three detainees and clashes with guards roiled the facility. And restraint chairs had been introduced at the facility in early 2006, during the height of a massive hunger strike, facilitating the forced feeding of prisoners. Guards would strap detainees into the chairs while medical personnel would conduct the feedings, using tubes they would pass through the nose. Some inmates took the feedings willingly. But others decried the procedure as an act of torture. Ahmed Abdel Aziz, a former detainee who was released after 13 years without being charged with a crime, told McClatchy in a phone call from Mauritania that he recognized DeSantis after being shown a photo of the Florida governor. I remember his face very well, Abdel Aziz said. He was coming regularly on the blocks, and sometimes he talked, sometimes he didnt. Abdel Aziz recalls first seeing DeSantis on what he described as a tour of the facility for the new officer. DeSantis visits on the block became routine, Abdel Aziz said, noting that he paid particularly close attention to the JAGs because their positions as attorneys made them especially valuable to the detainees. DeSantis witnessed and received complaints about forced feeding sessions, Abdel Aziz said. He didnt start as a very bad guy, but the course of events, I think, led him to have no choice, Abdel Aziz said. Many of the very big leadership, if they want to be harsh, its hard from the lower people to take a different turn. He aligned with the bad people in the end. Mansoor Adayfi, a Yemeni national who was sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002 and also held without being charged for 14 years, told McClatchy that he realized after seeing Floridas governor on the news that DeSantis was present at one point as he was force-fed in Camp Delta. Adayfi said he remembers DeSantis being there alongside Zak Ghuneim, the camps longtime cultural adviser, and that he vomited on both of them, an account that Ghuneim denied in a phone interview. McClatchy was unable to verify claims that DeSantis witnessed forced feeding sessions. Multiple former officers and attorneys who worked around the camp in various capacities said it was possible, but not likely, that DeSantis personally observed them. While he would have had access to areas of the camp where they were conducted, it would not have been in his job description to witness them. Adayfi keeps up with other former inmates on WhatsApp from his home in Serbia. Adayfi shared text messages with McClatchy that he said were between himself and three additional former inmates, all of whom identified DeSantis from their detention there. Alongside many other former detainees, Abdel Aziz and Adayfi believe the forced feeding of Ensure meal replacements were acts of torture. No U.S. court ever made that determination, and even President Barack Obama, who sought to shut down the facility, defended the practice. But the U.N. Human Rights Commission at the time did describe forced feeding techniques at Guantanamo as a form of torture, and the World Medical Association also condemned the procedure as unethical. Guantanamo is horrible not only because of the torture and the isolation they couldnt see anyone, couldnt do anything but because they had no control, said Thomas Wilner, who represented Kuwaiti detainees at the forefront of the hunger strike in 2006 and visited the facility over a dozen times that year. The hunger strike, in a way, gave them sort of psychological control over something. The inmates considered the force feeding torture, but it was complicated, Wilner added. Their families didnt want them to starve, of course. At first, enteral feedings or tube feedings were conducted in designated, private settings. But they ultimately were performed in open areas of the cell blocks around central tables surrounded by detainee cells, and on some occasions outside in the block yards, where DeSantis could theoretically have observed them, Bumgarner said. Was he involved directly? Was he giving orders? I didnt see him giving orders. I didnt see him involved directly doing this himself, honestly, Adayfi said of DeSantis. And Im not here to try to make him look good or bad. But what makes me talk about it is when he said in 2016 that those in Guantanamo are terrorists, and he was against closing the camp, Adayfi continued. I was honestly shocked, because as a lawyer as someone who worked at Guantanamo, who watched everything as a lawyer he should know better than anyone that Guantanamo shouldnt exist in the first place. Its not about prisoners. Its about us as humans. Its about the American Constitution, American law. READ MORE: DeSantis, GOP lawmakers ready for Culture Wars 2.0 as Florida Legislature convenes ISLAMISTS ARE ON THE MARCH House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., looks through a packet with a photograph of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen on the front as he arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 24, 2016, to testify before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on allegations of misconduct against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) DeSantis went straight into politics after his military service in Cuba and Iraq and, from his new perch as a U.S. congressman, repeatedly advocated to keep the Guantanamo Bay facility open. In February of 2016, DeSantis wrote on Facebook that, based on his experience there, I know you do NOT want these terrorists released. And in May of that year, he presided over a congressional hearing on the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay as chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security. To me, the Islamists are on the march, DeSantis told the panel. If we close Guantanamo tomorrow and remove the detainees, either release them to other countries or in the United States, is there anybody here that thinks that that would cause a drop in terrorist activity around the world? Since the U.S. first opened the detention center, presidents of both parties have released hundreds of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, a number of whom were found to be wrongfully detained. The CIA transferred 14 high value detainees to the camp from black sites around the world in the fall of 2006, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the chief architect behind the Sept. 11 attacks. But out of roughly 780 individuals that have gone through the detention facility since it opened, only 32 remain indefinitely detained today, according to the Pentagon. Just 11 of those have been charged with a crime. They werent treated like prisoners of war, said Zachary Katznelson, an attorney who represented over 50 people imprisoned at Guantanamo. They werent getting charged in civilian court, they werent getting tried in military court it was a completely made-up legal category where people were treated horrifically, with basically no rights, and the vast majority were ultimately found not to pose a threat to the United States. After the Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that detainees had a right to an impartial trial, the U.S. government formed combatant status review tribunals to establish whether individuals held at the camp qualified as enemy combatants. Work from the tribunals uncovered that, at the time of DeSantis service, a majority of the detainees were not accused of taking action against the United States, according to a 2006 study published by Seton Hall School of Law, whose work on the subject was submitted into the records of the House, Senate, and European Parliament. In the absence of even an accusation, theres just no basis to say that someone is a terrorist, said Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, who represented Guantanamo detainees pro bono and has at least one client who recognizes DeSantis from his time in detention. Today, with just a fraction of its detainees left, the facility still costs taxpayers $540 million a year to stay open and running. Plenty of people have left Guantanamo and said like me, Hey, lets shut it down, Hickman said. But youre always going to have two sides. Its a controversial issue. I could serve with a guy down there who would have the opposite opinion of me. Its a weird place, man. READ MORE: This candidate for Florida governor cites serving at Guantanamo. What did he do there? Recalling his time in Cuba, DeSantis told the House subcommittee hearing in 2016 that the camp was a very professionally run facility that is a very stressful environment for our uniformed personnel who are there. These guys should not be treated like they are committing civilian crimes. They should be treated like they are violating the laws of war, DeSantis said. And when they are being captured in accordance with that, that should be the prism by which we see this. I know this will be an issue that will continue to rear its head, DeSantis added. Miami Herald staffer Monika Leal and reporter Ana Ceballos, Tampa Bay Times reporter Emily L. Mahoney, and Charlotte Observer reporter Michael Gordon contributed to this article. Walgreens (WBA) is facing significant backlash after responding to a letter from more than 20 Attorneys General, telling them that it does not intend to dispense abortion pills in states via mail order where it is illegal. Meanwhile, in a memo to employees obtained by Yahoo Finance, CEO Roz Brewer tried to assure them that the company would, as it has done all along, consider selling mifepristone in states where it is legal. In a separate, but similar, controversial letter to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Walgreens said it "does not intend to dispense mifepristone within your state and does not intend to ship Mifepristone into your state from any of our pharmacies. If this approach changes, we will be sure to notify you." But the response, similarly sent to the 20 other AGs in Republican-lead states, according to a report by Politico, has spurred criticism ranging from calls to withdraw its decision from U.S. lawmakers and an all out boycott of the drug chain giant on social media. Various reports have erroneously said that Walgreens will stop dispensing the drug. In reality, it has not begun that process. Furthermore, it would not be legally allowed to sell the drug in states with abortion bans in place. "What we're talking about hasn't even happened. This is more about how will this affect access in the future," said Alina Salganicoff, a senior vice president and the director of Women's Health Policy at Kaiser Family Foundation. The FDA decision in January to allow retail pharmacies to apply for approval to dispense the pill, known generically as mifepristone a process which could take several months is the reason behind the backlash. During the pandemic, the Biden administration temporarily waived restrictions on mail order for the pill, and in January made the change permanent. In the internal memo, Brewer expressed an understanding of the sensitive issue. "I understand that our team members, patients and customers have deeply-held beliefs on this issue, and we must be very respectful of those beliefs," Brewer said, adding that other retailers like CVS (CVS) and Rite Aid (RAD) are also applying to distribute the pill. Story continues "I want to be very clear about what our position has been all along: Walgreens plans to dispense mifepristone where it is legal, and not to dispense mifepristone where it is illegal," Brewer, a former executive of Walmart and Starbucks, said. The FDA decision follows the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court last year. Mifepristone is one of two pills used for early-stage abortion, up to 10 weeks, which blocks a hormone that would allow the pregnancy to continue. It is considered an oral contraceptive but has been highly regulated by the FDA, requiring a doctor's consultation to use. The second pill is misoprostol, which is commonly used to prevent stomach ulcers, but also helps relax the uterus, and is already available at any pharmacy. Legal issues ahead The exchange with Kansas is a preview of what other pharmacies are set to contend with as a slew of court cases and legislation could impact their potential market share and whether or not they end up dispensing it all. This includes a case in Texas that threatens the use of mifepristone. The lawsuit alleges the FDA did not conduct proper testing of its use, and is one KFF and clinics like Planned Parenthood are monitoring closely. While Kansas does allow the use of mifepristone for abortions, it has strict access rules. The state is currently in the process of banning tele-health abortion visits which would take mail order off the table. "At this time, we are working through the certification process, which includes the evaluation of our pharmacy network to determine where we will dispense Mifepristone and training protocols and updates for our pharmacists," the company said in its response to Kansas. "Walgreens has not made any representations about using our mail order pharmacy business to dispense this drug," it added. A hasty decision on mifepristone? A Walgreens store in Chicago. REUTERS/Eileen T. Meslar Of the 20 states which signed on the separate letter, abortion is still legal in a few but some of those could face legal challenges or are at various stages of restricting access to abortion. The 20 include Missouri, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. Florida, where abortion is legal, just introduced legislation Tuesday that would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This legislation mimics Texas's prior law, which was the strictest in the country short of a full ban, because it left women with an unreasonably tight window to find out they are pregnant and schedule the abortion. One study, for example, showed at least 33% of women find out they are pregnant after six weeks. All told the situation remains dynamic, and any pharmacy, whether retail or online, is contending with the same uncertainty. DiRx, an online pharmacy dealing in generics that is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., is doing the same thing Walgreens intends to do. "This came up even earlier when the Roe v. Wade overturning was happening. We do ship oral contraceptives to states where it is legally OK to do so, without getting into the politics of it. Wherever there are question marks, we always make sure we check on the compliance aspects," said DiRx CEO Satish Srinivasan. Walgreens is doing no different. "Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate," the company said Monday. Backlash Despite the nuance involved, the response from Walgreens to the Attorneys General has caused significant backlash, with top U.S. lawmakers calling for a reversal of the decision as well as a boycott of the pharmacy. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening to not do business with Walgreens. California won't be doing business with @walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk. We're done.https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 6, 2023 California has been working on creating a generic drug manufacturing strategy for its residents, and the clash with Walgreens means it could be cut out of the distribution process if Newsom holds to the threat. In addition, Walgreens is currently doing business with the state through its Medicaid and other government-run health services. It is not clear if Newsom's threat extends to the Medicaid program. But the situation has still caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups alike. This is the exact result anti-abortion actors want from their intimidation tactics. When politicians have the ability to interfere in the patient-provider relationship in defiance of well-established science and medical evidence people seeking access to timely, essential health care suffer," said Danika Wynn, vice president of abortion access at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a statement. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), meanwhile, expressed similar outrage on social media. "Its outrageous for MAGA extremists to intimidate pharmacies into refusing to dispense a medication that FDA deemed safe & effective over two decades ago," she said in a tweet, adding that all pharmacies should not be intimidated, including Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid. Follow Anjalee on Twitter @AnjKhem Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance BIZ-SCOTUS-ABORTION-WALGREENS-TB Chicago Tribune / Getty Images Walgreens says it will sell abortion ills in states where it is "legally permissible to do so." The drugstore had assured Kansas' attorney general that it wouldn't provide Mifepristone in the state. The mixed messaging sparked fury from abortion rights groups and calls for boycotts. Following nationwide calls to boycott Walgreens, the drugstore chain clarified its decision on selling abortion pills, saying it will distribute Mifepristone the drug approved by the FDA to abort a pregnancy "in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so." But the new statement may not be enough to quell outrage as the pharmacy lands square in the middle of the country's contentious abortion debate. The move comes after over a month of back-and-forth between Walgreens and 20 Attorneys General, who, on February 1, wrote to the chain and several other pharmacies including CVS, Walmart, and Costco telling them it would be illegal to distribute abortion pills through the mail. Later that week, Kansas' Attorney General followed up with the healthcare giant, emphasizing that the state "will not hesitate to enforce the law." On February 17, Danielle Gray, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Legal Officer at Walgreens' holding company, responded to Kansas AG Kris Kobach. She said Walgreens "does not intend" to sell Mifepristone at any of its locations in the state. A spokesperson for Walgreens told Insider on Friday that it responded to the initial inquiry from the 20 AGs and assured them that it would not sell Mifepristone in any of their states, though it could not confirm the states in which the medication would be legally sold. But that group includes Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana, where the procedure and medications for abortions are largely still legal, Politico first reported. The spokesperson added that Walgreens still intends to become an FDA-certified seller of the pills, and will distribute the pills "only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible." Story continues The move sparked a backlash from abortion rights supporters, specifically in states where abortion is still legal, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowing the state will boycott Walgreens. "California won't be doing business with @walgreens or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk. We're done," Newsom tweeted on Monday. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sent a message on Thursday to all of the other pharmacy chains in light of this news: "We'll stand with you so you can provide this lifesaving care," adding that Walgreens should "rethink their policy." Ron Klain, President Joe Biden's former Chief of Staff, also chimed in. "Their slogan is "Trusted since 1901" -- but if @Walgreens won't fill prescriptions for lawful, needed medicines, where is the "trust" in that?" By Monday, Walgreens had put out a new statement that assured customers it would sell Mifepristone at locations in states where it was legal. "We want to be very clear about what our position has always been: Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so," a statement from Walgreens said, reversing its initial messaging that it would sell Mifepristone where it is "legal and operationally feasible." "Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate," the statement concluded. Walgreens still has not released any information on which states it plans to distribute Mifepristone. Walgreens did not respond to questions asking in which states it would sell Mifepristone. Kansas AG Kris Kobach's office also did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Special operations soldier fires heavy machine gun at mock targets China Military Online) 09:00, March 07, 2023 Comprehensive supply ship Kekexilihu (Hull 903) and guided-missile frigate Rizhao (Hull 598) attached to the 42nd Chinese naval escort taskforce sail in formation with full speed during a comprehensive training exercise on February 6, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ma Yubin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ukrainian troops fire at Russian occupiers "It was very clear from the earliest hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that whenever this ended, it would end in a strategic failure for Russia," Price said. At the same time, he warned that heavy battles still lie ahead. Read also: Russian tanks were intended for invasion of NATO countries, Estonian FM says We have been very clear that there are going to be tough days ahead, the official added. Fighting, while it has lowered somewhat during the winter months, it continues to reach, especially in the east, especially in the south. Read also: War crimes tribunal to limit geography of Putins trips abroad, says Presidents Office According to Price, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will fail to achieve any of his strategic goals in Ukraine. Read also: 21,793 civilians became victims of Russias war against Ukraine, UN reports This will be a strategic failure for Russia; Ukrainians have demonstrated that they are in a position not only to withstand the advancing Russian forces, but to take back territory that has been rested away from them, the spokesman concluded. That won't change." Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Washington State Senate passed a bill Monday aimed at addressing the states healthcare worker shortage by removing penalties for retired nurses who want to rejoin the workforce. Currently, retired nurses in Washington state who return to work face a penalty of losing their retirement benefits. Retirees of the Public Employees Retirement System and the Public Safety Employees Retirement System can work up to 867 hours per year while receiving a retirement benefit; anyone who works more than 867 hours loses that benefit. Senate Bill 5538, introduced by Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver), gets rid of that penalty through June 2026 and lets retired nurses work up to 1,040 hours without losing retirement benefits. It is crucial that we do what we can to address our healthcare workforce shortage, Sen. Cleveland said. Removing this barrier for our retired nurses to return to work is one step we can take to broaden our nursing workforce and better serve patients in our state right now. It has been a winter of temperature fluctuations. The extremes can cause issues for wildlife and plants but doctors say it can also take a toll on peoples health. When you look around this winter, so many things seem out of place from people wearing shorts to families sitting on balconies for lunch. One day its cold, the next day it is warm, said one Boston woman. Remember the scene last month, when there was bitter cold one day and not even 24 hours later there was a complete 180? One day no jacket, the next day you have to have hats and gloves, a South Boston woman said. Aside from the toll its having on peoples winter wardrobe doctors say these up and down temps can take a toll on your health. Dr. Eduardo Garcia is a Neurologist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. In the general population, it can lead to mood disorders or problems where you are more tired the next morning and if you are more tired that can make you anxious, said Dr. Garcia. The doctor explains how the barometric pressure changes with the weather and that can exacerbate all sorts of health issues especially for people with underlying health conditions. If you have untreated sleep apnea for example and you have fluctuations in the weather, that can make you more tired, said Dr. Garcia. The doctor says there is a growing number of health questions as we learn more about climate change. Our bodies are very sensitive to those changes, said Dr. Garcia. Locals admit this winter has been a nice break but adding this pattern has been alarming. Im scared now of global warming, said a woman. Dr. Garcia says they are seeing more patients with complications from the temperature fluctuations. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Jenna Ortega in "Wednesday." Netflix Jenna Ortega said she had to put her "foot down" several times on the set of "Wednesday." She told the "Armchair Expert" podcast she was "unprofessional" and changed lines amid filming. Ortega added that her viral dance scene was supposed to be a flash mob but she vetoed it. The "Wednesday" star Jenna Ortega said she changed several lines while filming the hit Netflix series because she was "very protective" of her character. Ortega received critical acclaim last year for playing Wednesday Addams in the mystery teen series. In the past, she has spoken about how she disagreed with parts of the script, especially the love triangle between Wednesday, Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White), and Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan). In an interview on the "Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard" podcast released Monday, the Netflix star spoke in more detail about her disagreements with the script. "I don't think I've ever had to put my foot down on a set in the way that I had to on 'Wednesday' because it's so easy to fall into that category, especially with this type of show," Ortega told Shepard and Monica Padman, his cohost. "Everything that she does, everything that I had to play, did not make sense for her character at all," she added. "Her being in a love triangle made no sense. There was a line about this dress that she has to wear for a school dance, and she says, 'Oh, my god, I love it! I can't believe I said that. I literally hate myself.' And I had to go, 'No, there's no way.'" Ortega as Wednesday Addams in "Wednesday." Netflix Ortega added: "There were times on that set where I even became unprofessional, in a sense, where I just started changing lines. "The script supervisor thought I was going with something, and then I would have to sit down with the writers, and they'd be like, 'Wait, what happened to the scene?' And I would have to go through and explain why I couldn't do certain things." Ortega said she had to accept certain story elements she disagreed with so that the show would have an "emotional arc." Story continues "I grew very, very protective of her, but you can't lead a story and have no emotional arc because then it's boring and nobody likes you," Ortega said. "And Wednesday is a teenager," she added. "When you're little and you say morbid, offensive stuff, it's funny and endearing and, 'Aww, you don't know any better.' But then you become a teenager it's, 'Now you're being nasty and you know it.' There's less excuse." Ortega also discussed the dance scene in episode four, which went viral and has been replicated by Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and her daughter North West, and Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk. The actor said she asked Tim Burton, an executive producer and director of the show, not to hire a choreographer because she was "so overwhelmed," adding that she asked to come up with the dance herself because she "stopped trusting outside opinion" about her character. Ortega as Wednesday Addams and Christina Ricci as the character. Netflix/Paramount Pictures "Initially, it was supposed to be a flash mob, and she was supposed to start dancing, and everyone was supposed to pick up on it and start dancing with her. And that, I vetoed because why would she be OK with that?" the "Scream" star said. "I said, 'Either cut it or have Wednesday knock someone out, and then it's done.'" Despite the success of "Wednesday," Ortega said the show was not the "proudest moment" of her acting career so far. "I can't watch my work, but I can go home from set and say, 'The scene that we shot today felt good.' On 'Wednesday,' there was not a scene in that show that I went home and was like, 'OK, that should be fine,'" Ortega said. "Now a lot of people know me from that. It's not my proudest moment internally, which, I think, also adds an extra level of insecurity and stress," Ortega added. "Because it's like, no, I'm finally getting these offers to these places that I want, but I don't want to be known specifically for that." Speaking about receiving Screen Actors Guild awards and Golden Globe nominations for the role, Ortega said: "My brain completely disregards that: 'Oh, the general public must be so easy to please.' People are shipping out content so fast, and the fact that we actually sat down and spent considerable time on that, I think, naturally would elevate or maybe make a show more appealing to an audience." The "X" actor added that she had "seen a lot" of the show "against my will" because she had to complete roughly 200 lines of automated dialogue replacement, where actors record lines in the studio to replace what was filmed. "Wednesday" is available to stream on Netflix. Read the original article on Insider (Reuters) -WeWork Inc is in talks with investors to restructure its outstanding debt of more than $3 billion and raise more cash, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. Shares of the company rose about 5% in extended trading following the news. The company, which offers workstations, private offices and customized floors, had enjoyed a pandemic-driven shift to flexible work outside traditional offices, but is now gearing up for a potential fallout from a likely economic downturn. In February, WeWork forecast weak current-quarter revenue in a sign that its business was feeling the heat of mass layoffs as companies reduce their real estate footprint. An infusion of cash would most likely give WeWork the hundreds of millions of dollars it needed to keep operating for at least a few years, the NYT report added, citing people with knowledge of the negotiations. Yardi, a real estate software provider in Santa Barbara, California, is among the investors considering new investment in the company, the people told the newspaper. WeWork did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The report citing one of the people, said there is no guarantee that the WeWork deal will close, and even if it does, it could be weeks away. Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, which is both WeWork's largest shareholder and its largest debtor, is playing a key role in the negotiations but is not expected to put any additional money into the company, the report said. In January, the New York-based company also planned to eliminate about 300 roles across countries after announcing last year, it would exit about 40 underperforming U.S. locations due to high expenses and a strong U.S. dollar. (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said that the White House is aware of the situation regarding troubled crypto bank Silvergate, and will continue monitoring the reports. "It is obviously only the latest company in the cryptocurrency field to experience significant issues," Jean-Pierre said, while declining to comment specifically on the situation at Silvergate. The Press Secretary pointed to recently-issued guidelines from U.S. banking regulators on how banks can protect themselves from crypto-related risks, noting that President Joe Biden has repeatedly called on Congress to take action to protect everyday Americans from the risk posted by digital assets. In late February, the U.S. Federal Reserve released a statement on the risks posed to banks by exposure to crypto, cosigned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Certain sources of funding from crypto-asset-related entities may pose heightened liquidity risks to banking organizations due to the unpredictability of the scale and timing of deposit inflows and outflows, the statement said. Silvergate bank struggles The news comes as crypto-friendly bank Silvergate has faced significant financial uncertainty in recent weeks. Last week, Silvergate Capital Corporation, Silvergate Banks parent company, postponed filing its annual 10-K report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm claimed it needs additional time to allow an independent accounting firm to complete certain audit procedures. In its filing, it referred to, a number of circumstances that will negatively impact the timing and the unaudited results previously reported in the Earnings Release. Silvergate Stock Plunges 31% as Crypto Bank Delays SEC Financial Report The turmoil affecting Silvergate has seen many of the largest firms in the crypto world cut their ties with it in some capacity, for example by limiting payments to and from the bank. Story continues These firms include, but are not limited, to crypto exchanges such as Crypto.com, Coinbase, Gemini, and Bitstamp. Growing List of Crypto Companies Cutting Silvergate Ties Recent events have had a devastating impact on Silvergates share price. The firms stock now trades at $5.41 at the time of writing, a decrease of over 200% since its peak in November 2021, when the firm's stock reached a high of $219.75. By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is considering restarting the detention of migrant families caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, four current and former U.S. officials told Reuters, which would reverse a move to end the practice. The Biden administration also is weighing reviving immigration arrests of migrant families within the United States who have been ordered deported, two of the officials said. "It's all on the table," said one of the officials, all of whom requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The Biden administration is exploring options as it prepares for a possible rise in border crossings with COVID-19 restrictions blocking migrants expected to lift on May 11. President Joe Biden, a Democrat who took office in 2021, pledged to reverse the more restrictive immigration policies of Republican former President Donald Trump but has embraced some of his measures as border arrests soared to record levels. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that no final decisions had been made and that "the administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants." The New York Times first reported the possible restart of family detention. The Biden administration has discussed using two Texas detention centers that previously housed families, three of the U.S. officials said. A separate Biden official, when asked about reviving family detention in those two centers, said that idea was no longer under consideration. The Biden administration said in a February 2022 memo that it was repurposing family detention centers to hold only adults, a major shift away from Trump's push to expand such detention. Neha Desai, who represents migrant children in a decades-long lawsuit that governs conditions for their detention, criticized the possible detention restart. "Even in conditions that actually meet minimum standards of health and safety, there is absolutely no humane way to detain families," she said. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Kristina Cooke, Robert Birsel) The Biden administration is considering a return to the policy of family detention for migrants who cross the border illegally, according to The New York Times, in what would be a stark reversal by the president, who ended the practice two years ago. A final decision has not been made, according to the Monday evening report in the Times, which cited officials familiar with the discussions. The family detention policy garnered widespread criticism from Democrats and migrant advocates during President Trumps administration. But as the Biden administration faces a growing crisis at the southern border, it is considering a pivot to more strict measures than the use of ankle bracelets and other methods of tracking migrants that it has used in the near past. Reached for comment by The Hill, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not deny the Times report, but said that the administration is preparing for when it lifts the Title 42 order, which has given the federal government the ability to turn away asylum seekers. No decisions have been made as we prepare for the Title 42 Public Health Order to lift, the spokesperson said. The Administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants. An administration official said that Biden has sought to increase both work visas and pathways for asylum, seeking to build a more humane approach to immigration. The turn to more restrictive immigration policies by the president, including a policy unveiled last month that could significantly rollback the protections for those seeking asylum, has been met with outrage from advocates. Republicans have made the security of the southern border a rallying cry and have placed intense pressure on Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to deal with the situation more effectively. The family detention policy was also used by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Trump, who made hardline immigration policies a cornerstone of his administration, has repeatedly ripped Biden for what he describes as opening up the southern border. Updated at 9:31 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre managed to throw a little shade while answering a question about Democrat Marianne Williamsonsrecent decision to challenge Joe Biden in 2024. It happened after a reporter asked Jean-Pierre if the president was frustrated that the self-help author was running against him rather than giving him a clear field for his reelection bid. Jean-Pierre said that the White House is just not tracking that, before making a joke that tweaked Williamsons New Age sentiments. Were just not tracking that, she said, before cracking up reporters by saying, If I had a, whats it called? A little globe here, a crystal ball, then I can tell you, a Magic 8 Ball, whatever. If I could feel her aura. I just dont have anything to share on that. White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked if President Biden is annoyed by Marianne Williamson (D) announcing her 2024 presidential bid: Just not tracking that. I mean, if I had a ... crystal ball, then I can tell you ... If I can feel her aura pic.twitter.com/zy5NU67UAN The Recount (@therecount) March 6, 2023 Williamson famously suggested creating a Department of Peace when she ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and argued against focusing on the wonkiness of policy details rather than trying to stop what she called then-President Donald Trumps dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred. However, she told Yahoo! News in 2019 that her image as a crystal woo woo lady ... has no relation to reality. She added: Ive never had a crystal, Ive never written about crystals. Ive never talked about crystals. Ive never had a crystal onstage with me. Some Twitter users found Jean-Pierres comment as funny as the reporters did. Karine Jean Pierre just finished Marianne Williamson! The media correspondents out loud laughter confirms Marianne got cooked! pic.twitter.com/LkZrvYNMSn Barbara Lee 4 Me! (@JuneSummer1) March 6, 2023 Lmao we have the same energy pic.twitter.com/GURmmXa3NWhttps://t.co/W5E6pK93ka Madam Vice President Harris is THEE GOAT! (@flywithkamala) March 6, 2023 White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre had time https://t.co/CwfNIxUidn The Chanteezy Is Real (@iamchanteezy) March 6, 2023 Others felt Jean-Pierres remarks verged on insulting Williamsons spiritual beliefs. Story continues I would submit that the attitude of smug condescension on display here is part of why the media and this white house have lost the trust of the American people. They are smearing a woman for her religion and cackling at everyone who would like an option other than Biden in 2024. https://t.co/kIvaFdga1t Krystal Ball (@krystalball) March 6, 2023 A Democrat mocking new age stuff would be like Sarah Huckabee Sanders getting up there and dunking on NASCAR tailgating https://t.co/6UOvk7JIQ5 Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) March 6, 2023 These people are so entitled to your votes they're wiling to openly condescend to everyone left of Biden. And the tragic part is that half of the left sounds exacatly like Biden mouthpiece Karine Jean-Peirre. https://t.co/aBjarkGOri Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) March 6, 2023 Mariannes positions on universal healthcare, a living wage, student debt forgiveness etc are very practical which is why they need to try and paint her as crazy orb lady https://t.co/sGLycaW7Lo eve6 (@Eve6) March 6, 2023 HuffPost reached out to Jean-Pierre for her reaction to these comments, but she did not immediately respond. Related... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday brushed off bellicose rhetoric from China that the United States risked a confrontation with Beijing, saying Washington was not seeking a conflict and saw no change in U.S.-Chinese relations. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, responded to China's foreign minister's warning to Washington to change its "distorted" attitude or risk conflict. "We seek a strategic competition with China. We do not seek conflict," Kirby told reporters. "We aim to compete and we aim to win that competition with China but we absolutely want to keep it at that level." Kirby said the United States respected the "one-China policy" and did not want to see a change to the status quo pertaining to Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. Kirby also urged China not to provide military assistance to Russia in support of its war with Ukraine. U.S. officials have previously expressed concerns that such aid might be forthcoming. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland) The White House on Tuesday would not deny that it is considering reinstating a policy of migrant family detention to deter groups from coming to the U.S. border. Im not going to go weigh in on rumors that are out there or conversations that are happening at this time, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. The Department of Homeland Security is certainly continuing to prepare for the eventual lift of Title 42. No decisions have been made. But weve been very clear with how the president wants to move forward by putting forward a comprehensive immigration reform. Jean-Pierre was pressed multiple times on whether the administration would rule out using the policy, which was implemented during the Trump administration as part of a broader effort to crack down on the flow of migrants to the southern border. Im not saying its being considered Im not saying it is not, Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre reiterated that President Bidens approach to immigration is focused on expanding legal pathways, increasing border security and making sure the administrations approach is humane. The New York Times reported late Monday that the Biden administration is considering bringing back the practice of detaining migrant families who cross the border illegally, though no final decision has been made. The discussions come in anticipation of the expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that has allowed U.S. officials to quickly expel migrants. The Trump administration used the policy of family detention as a deterrent and attempted to detain families, including minors, indefinitely. Those attempts were eventually blocked by the court system. As a candidate, Biden repeatedly condemned his predecessor for his immigration policies. Reports that migrant family detention is under consideration drew criticism Tuesday from Democrats. Reports in the New York Times that Administration officials may reinstate family detention as an option to deter migrants are deeply concerning, Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said in a statement. A just, safe, and humane immigration system should not place families in detention. We should not return to the failed policies of the past where families are detained in substandard conditions with long term damage to children. Story continues Jean-Pierre on Tuesday dismissed comparisons between Bidens immigration policies and those of the Trump administration. She noted the former president tried to deport Dreamers who were brought to the country illegally as children; separated migrant families; and funneled millions of dollars toward a useless wall on the southern border. That is not what is happening here, Jean-Pierre said. What we saw in this last administration, the administration before us, was a gutting of the administration system. Updated at 10:59 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two Americans have been found dead and two alive after they were abducted while traveling to Mexico in an incident that is raising questions about whether people in the U.S. are at risk when they cross the border to access health care. The four U.S. citizens vanished Friday in an attack carried out by multiple gunmen in the northern Mexico border city of Matamoros, the FBI said. The city in Tamaulipas state is just south of Brownsville, Texas, across the Rio Grande. It's one of many places along the U.S.-Mexico border where Americans flock to save money on medical care. Details about the four Americans' trip remained sparse Tuesday, but one relative told The Associated Press they had traveled to Mexico for tummy tuck surgery. Travel for medical treatment and even surgery is not uncommon along the border. "Medical tourism has been a very big part of the border communities for many, many, many years," said Ricardo Ainslie, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and director of research and education at the health care partnership AMPATH Mexico. "It's primarily driven by the fact that it's easy to get appointments and that it's much less expensive." Why do people in the U.S. cross into Mexico for health care? About 1.2 million people in the U.S. traveled to Mexico for medical, dental or other health care services each year before the COVID-19 pandemic, said Josef Woodman, CEO of Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based Patients Beyond Borders, citing another consultant's estimates. Woodman estimates U.S. residents getting medical care in Mexico can save 40% to 60% off the cost of similar procedures or operations at U.S. hospitals or clinics. "People in the United States need access to cost-effective medical care," Woodman said. '"The U.S. has priced itself out of the market." Pedestrians cross Gateway International Bridge on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Brownsville, Texas, into Matamoros, Mexico. People who are not insured can access cheap care in Mexico, said Kathleen Staudt, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas at El Paso. She noted that some people living in the U.S. may already have insurance coverage in Mexico. Meanwhile, some nonprofits in Mexico offer low-cost private insurance, she said. Story continues Consumers often travel to Mexico to seek elective care such as weight loss or cosmetic surgery that might not be covered by their health insurance, said Irving Stackpole, a Newport, Rhode Island-based medical tourism consultant. Others choose services like purchasing eyeglasses or getting prescriptions filled at pharmacies, Stackpole said. "As soon as you cross the border, there are all kinds of pharmacies on the main streets," Staudt said. Many of those pharmacies have doctors on staff, she said. Ainslie pointed to the ease of access to prescription drugs, including pain medications and antibiotics. "You can get things in Mexico just by going into a pharmacy. You don't need a doctor's prescription," said Ainslie, whose friends in California have been getting dental care in Tijuana for years. Why the American group went to Mexico Information about the four kidnapped Americans was limited Tuesday. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that the group was in the country for medicine. Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, told The Associated Press she was in contact with the FBI after learning her younger brother, Zindell Brown, is one of the four victims. She said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied a third friend who was going to Mexico for a tummy tuck. Brown said the group was extremely close and they all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, she added, and her brother had expressed some misgivings, the Associated Press reported. "Zindell kept saying, 'We shouldnt go down,'" Brown said. What U.S. officials say about safety in the region The State Department advises Americans not to travel to Tamaulipas, citing organized crime activity, including gunbattles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion and sexual assault. "Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments," the department says. Woodman said Matamoros is "not on our radar screen as a medical travel destination" but added people might seek less expensive prescription drugs there. "It's a horrible tragedy," Woodman said. "But it's also a cautionary tale." Do your research before traveling to Mexico for health care U.S. consumers should do their homework before choosing a doctor or clinic in Mexico, Woodman said. People should ask for a clinic's credentials as well as avoid choosing the lowest-cost provider. Consumers should also ask clinics or doctors how often they have done particular procedures and ask to speak with patients who have used the clinic before, Stackpole said. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found single pills sold as oxycodone and Adderall at pharmacies in four northern Mexico cities often had illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine or heroin. Though the researchers declined to name the cities or the pharmacies, they were located in tourist areas with English advertisements for erectile dysfunction medications and painkillers. Researchers tested only single pills, not prescriptions sold in bottles. Researchers said consumers should be aware these single pills might by spiked with drugs that can be harmful. "The risk is that someone who doesn't have an opioid tolerance is really at risk of having an overdose which can be fatal," said Chelsea Shover, an assistant professor-in-residence at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Woodman said the tragedy should not discourage others from seeking care in Mexico. "Everybody is really saddened by it," Woodman said. "It's something that's really, really given us a lot of pause. How do we keep our patients safe? And the answer is, for something like that, it's such a freak (occurrence) that you just can't." Dig deeper Motorists pay a bridge toll at Gateway International Bridge on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Brownsville, Texas, to cross into Matamoros, Mexico. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deadly kidnapping puts focus on Americans using Mexico for health care A calendar with money and a pound sign (edit) (1).jpg Savers are often advised to invest for the long-term in order to achieve the best returns, yet a report has revealed that half of all actively-managed funds have failed to make it past their tenth birthday. Investors choosing a fund today may find it has ceased to exist in a few years time, the investment company Morningstar warned. It found that just 50pc of active managed funds that launched 10 years ago were still around today Passive funds, which do not have a manager and merely mirror the performance of a country or stock market, had a much higher chance of surviving, at 64pc on average. Only about 50pc of actively-managed UK "large-cap" funds, covering big British companies, have survived the last 10 years, the firm's analysis showed. However, survivorship rates vary massively depending on the sector. Small-cap and mid-cap sectors have some of the best survival rates overall, with 72pc of actively managed UK mid-cap funds and Eurozone small-cap funds making it to a decade. James Yardley of investment firm Chelsea Financial Services said: UK large-cap funds have gone nowhere for 20 years, with the FTSE only recently reaching a new high and getting back above where it was in 2000. By contrast, the FTSE 250 is a multiple of what it was in 2000. Over the past decade, 27 of the 36 funds in the UK smaller companies sector outperformed the widely used benchmark index, Numis smaller companies (excluding investment companies). Rob Morgan of wealth manager Charles Stanley said this was because relatively little proprietary research is taking place compared to the multitude of analysts poring over US or UK behemoths. Fund managers getting under the bonnet of these businesses are more likely to discover anomalies and opportunities missed by others and add value accordingly. He added: Active investors frequently struggle to outperform in large, well-researched markets where it is difficult to gain an edge over other investors. Story continues Analysts attributed active managers' higher failure rates to poor stock-picking decisions and the corrosive impact of higher fees compared to their low-cost passive peers. Some funds have especially dismal survival rates, experts said. Only about one in five active managers invested exclusively in Brazilian or Turkish equities are still around today a sign of the challenges of investing in more niche markets, where investor sentiment can fluctuate dramatically, Mr Morgan said. He said: Latin America was an area in particular that has struggled to garner interest before its commodity-orientated markets drew attention last year. So it is more about fund flows and the ongoing viability of funds in specific areas where interest can fluctuate quite substantially and lead to a cycle of launches and closures. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine has been fighting to keep control of the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut for months as Russian troops level the area. Most Read from Bloomberg President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to send reinforcements to the hotspot on Monday, signaling that he will continue Bakhmuts defense even at the risk of tying down many of his most able troops. 1. What is this city? Bakhmut is part of the heavily industrialized eastern area of Ukraine called Donbas. The city, situated near a large natural salt deposit, had a population of 70,000 before the war. That plunged to fewer than 4,000 as civilians fled the fighting, which has reduced much of the city to rubble. 2. Why does it matter? Bakhmut, especially in its current ruined state, has limited strategic importance, according to military analysts. But a Russian victory there would be a symbolic triumph, marking the first major urban center to fall to Moscows forces since a string of defeats began in the summer. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said taking the city would allow his forces to penetrate further into Ukrainian defenses. Both sides also argue that continuing the fight allows them to tie down opposing forces that might otherwise be used for offensive operations in other parts of the front. 3. How long has the battle for Bakhmut been going on? Russian forces have been shelling the area since May of last year and troops kicked off the siege of the city in early August. After months of slow progress, Russian forces renewed a push to surround the city early this year, capturing settlements to the north and south. But those advances have slowed in recent weeks as Ukraine continues to fight back. Neither side releases casualty figures, but each says the other is suffering massive losses. Story continues 4. What is the role of Russias Wagner military contractor? Fighters from the Wagner private military contractor, a company run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, have been concentrated on the siege. The battle has become a key test of their ability to deliver for the Kremlin, which has given them a significant role in the conflict. Lately, however, Prigozhin has complained that ammunition shortages have hamstrung his forces and blamed sabotage by the Defense Ministry. 5. Will Ukraine give the city up? After months of vowing to defend the city and with Russian forces slowly gaining ground, Zelenskiy in February signaled that Kyiv may ultimately have to cede it. But shortly afterward, he met top generals and agreed with their recommendation that the defense should continue, ordering reinforcements to be sent. Senior commanders have visited the besieged city repeatedly in recent weeks. --With assistance from Olesia Safronova. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Supreme Court looks increasingly likely to sidestep a clash over an election law that has weighty stakes for gerrymandering and setting election rules. The justices were headed toward a decision by June in the closely watched appeal from North Carolina Republican lawmakers, who are advancing a sweeping legal theory that would hand near-total authority to state legislatures in regulating federal elections. But legal experts say a recent move by the justices on the countrys high court to question whether they have the authority to even hear the state case means they may be considering holding off on resolving the matter this term. Should the majority-conservative U.S. Supreme Court side with the GOP lawmakers, it would allow the theory that claims the U.S. Constitution gives states sweeping authority over how to run federal elections to apply nationwide. Opponents of the theory contended that adopting it would leave legislators power over elections unchecked, while those who support it argue that state courts shouldnt be able to supercede the authority of state legislators. The justices agreed to take the case after attorneys for the North Carolina GOP lawmakers argued that resolving how to interpret the U.S. Constitutions Elections Clause was imperative ahead of the next election cycles and shouldnt wait for the remainder of the case to proceed in state court, contending a similar case would otherwise soon come about. Waiting for that dispute to reach this Court would do nothing but waste time, they wrote. The Elections Clause issues will be the same, but likely in an emergency posture again, without time for this Courts merits review. The justices on Dec. 7 heard oral argument in Republicans appeal of the North Carolina Supreme Courts decision, which struck down the states GOP-drawn congressional map. Less than four weeks after the argument, however, Republicans regained control of the states top court. In early February, the newly-installed 5-2 conservative majority in the state court voted to give the Republican lawmakers a second shot in their case. But without being alerted, the U.S. Supreme Court justices in an unsigned order dated March 2 have now asked for an additional briefing on whether they still have jurisdiction to move ahead. Story continues David Thompson, who argued on behalf of the Republican lawmakers, in an email wrote that hes confident the jurisdiction remains with the high court. For the high court to move forward, legal experts suggest the justices would rely on an exception that, despite having thorny requirements, seeks to preserve Supreme Court review of federal questions even when additional state court proceedings remain. The justices during Decembers oral argument appeared to consider a middle path in the dispute without fully embracing the theory. But the jurisdictional concerns present a genuine legal question. Jurisdiction is something the court takes very seriously, said Derek Muller, an election law expert and professor at the University of Iowa College of Law. Its not a proxy for the merits. I would say jurisdiction is a hard-and-fast rule that theyre going to be looking at. The appeal that reached the U.S. Supreme Court arose after the North Carolina Supreme Courts then-Democratic majority struck down the states GOP-designed congressional map as a partisan gerrymander. It ruled the map was a violation of the state constitution. The ruling split the case into two tracks: state courts began overseeing the drawing of new maps, and meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court justices agreed to consider if the state court had authority for its ruling. The parties had battled in court filings over whether the North Carolina Supreme Courts decision could be considered as such for purposes of the second track, although court proceedings to design new maps still remained ahead. The parties had battled in court filings over whether the U.S. Supreme Court could take up the second track as state court proceedings to design the new maps still remained ahead. Ongoing proceedings in the North Carolina Supreme Court could complicate this Courts review, the North Carolina Department of Justice, which opposes the lawmakers argument, wrote in court filings. Those debates largely fizzled once the justices agreed to take up the appeal. When the high court appeared headed for a high-stakes ruling on the merits, voting rights groups, more than 30 state attorneys general and various politicians filed amicus briefs on both sides. The agreement of the North Carolina Supreme Court to rehear the case doesnt change the Supreme Courts jurisdiction, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. But if the North Carolina Supreme Court were to overrule the earlier decision, and so that the earlier decision no longer stands, then the Supreme Court could say this controversy is moot and wouldnt have jurisdiction, continued Chemerinsky, who suggested the justices will likely hold the case until the rehearing in North Carolina concludes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A 39-year-old woman was convicted on charges of sexual abuse of her minor child after a two-day jury trial in Wicomico County Circuit Court. Qwenda Jones was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor, rape in the second degree, sexual offense in the second degree, and related offenses, according to a release from the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office. Sentencing was deferred pending a mandatory pre-sentence Investigation and mental health assessment. She will remain in custody pending sentencing. From October 2012 through October 2014, Jones, along with her boyfriend at the time, Orlando Hill, sexually abused Jones child who was between 9 and 10 years of age at the time of the offenses, the release said. Hill was tried and convicted of sexual abuse of a minor, sexual offense in the second degree, and related offenses in connection with these acts in November 2022 and is currently awaiting sentencing. When a parent sexually abuses their own child, it is an indescribable act of evil. The victim in this case exhibited strength and courage in disclosing the abuse and testifying at trial against the defendant. The jurys considered verdict of guilty as to all charges is a testament to the victims bravery, said States Attorney Jamie L. Dykes. WICOMICO SHOOTING: Maryland State Police trooper shot during Route 50 traffic stop More on similar casesTwo arrests made in Salisbury rape, shooting incident This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Wicomico woman convicted of sexual abuse of her minor child A royal commentator has said that the Prince and Princess of Wales would rather have Prince Andrew as their neighbour over Prince Harry and Meghan. It comes after reports last week revealed King Charles III evicted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, Windsor, and reportedly offered the keys to his disgraced brother Prince Andrew. But reports also suggest that he is set to extend an olive branch and offer a suite in Buckingham Palace to Harry and Meghan Markle. In response to the news that the Sussexes could be staying in Buckingham Palace, just 10 minutes away from Kensington Palace where the Prince and Princess and Wales live, English journalist and royal commentator Jennie Bond said that William and Kate would prefer Andrew as their neighbour over Harry and Meghan. They [Prince and Princess of Wales] will be absolutely supportive of Charles decision. They probably dont want Harry and Meghan as their near neighbours, Bond told OK! Magazine. I think theyd probably have Andrew, she added. It comes after Prince Harry alleged in his tell-all memoir Spare that his brother had once hit him. Harry also claimed that William and Kate did not like his wife Meghan and repeatedly described them behaving with hostility, while William is alelged to have urged his brother not to marry Markle before their wedding in 2018. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday 1 March that the Sussexes had been asked to vacate the residence. We can confirm the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage, the statement said. Prince Andrew is claimed to be resisting calls for him to move into Frogmore Cottage (Alamy Stock Photo) It is not known if the request for the couple to vacate will affect their chances of being invited to the Kings coronation this spring. Prince Andrew will be moving out of his current residences at the Royal Lodge, according to The Sun. A source told the publication that hes resisting being removed from the the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, which he has occupied since 2003. Story continues Andrew stepped down as a working royal over his association to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Last year, he reached a multi-million pound settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her while she was underage. Andrew vehemently denies the allegations. The source also claimed that the Duke and Duchess eviction from the space surely spells the end of Harry and Meghans time in the UK. The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives of the Sussexes for comment. HONG KONG (AP) A woman accused of assisting a suspect in the gruesome killing and dismemberment of model Abby Choi in Hong Kong has been arrested in mainland China and charged, Hong Kong police said Tuesday. The arrest of the 29-year-old woman brought the total number of people allegedly involved in the case to seven. Police said they suspect she assisted another suspect and then fled to mainland China. She was handed over to Hong Kong authorities at Shenzhen Bay Port and charged on Tuesday, they said. The grisly killing of Choi, 28, has gripped many in Hong Kong and in mainland China because the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has a very low level of violent crime. Last week, her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, his father, Kwong Kau, and his brother, Anthony Kwong, were charged with murder after police found body remains in a house rented by Kwong Kau in a suburban area of Hong Kong near the border with mainland China. Alex Kwongs mother, Jenny Li, faces one count of perverting the course of justice. All four were detained without bail. Police also arrested two others accused of assisting other suspects in the case. Choi, who had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, disappeared Feb. 21, according to a report filed later with police. She had financial disputes involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars (millions of dollars) with her ex-husband and his family, police said earlier, adding that some people were unhappy with how Choi handled her finances. While violent crime is rare in Hong Kong, the case recalls a handful of other shocking killings. In 2013, a man killed his parents, and their heads were later found in refrigerators. In 1999, a woman was kidnapped and tortured by three members of an organized crime group before her death. Her skull was later found stuffed in a Hello Kitty doll. Federal prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old woman with transporting over 3,700 grams of fentanyl after she was found hiding at the scene of a Kansas City police standoff where three officers were injured. Ashley Davis is charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Court documents allege she picked up the drugs in February after taking a trip to Lynwood, California, with 50-year-old Jimmie Lewis, Jr., who also faces charges. The Jackson County Drug Task Force received word of the trip on Feb. 23 and obtained a search warrant of Lewis phone to access his location data, according to documents filed in federal court. Officers monitored Lewis location for days, until they observed him pulling into a home on the 2300 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 28. After watching him pull in, officers with the Kansas City Police Departments Tactical Response Team approached the home to execute a search warrant. As the door was broken open with a battering ram, an officer was struck by gunfire coming from the area of the door and window, according to court documents. Officers returned fire, and two other officers were also shot, authorities said. The injured officers were transported with non-life threatening injuries. They have since been released from the hospital. Police surrounded the home for 18 hours, attempting different tactics to communicate and diffuse the situation. At one point during the barricade, officers deployed gas in the home. Lewis then exited through the basements rear door, as did another man, who was determined not to be involved in the assault, according to court documents. Federal prosecutors brought charges against Lewis stemming from a November 2021 arrest in which he was accused of possessing 400 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Lewis has been charged with distribution-level drug possession and two gun crimes. In a motion seeking to hold Lewis without bail before trial, federal prosecutors said he is a suspected high-level member of a drug trafficking organization. Story continues During a second attempt to enter the home, police found Davis inside, uninjured. A man identified as Matthew Carrell was discovered dead inside. A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman said in a previous statement that MSHP investigators, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office and the Jackson County Medical Examiners Office concluded Carrell died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though investigators would continue to go through evidence to determine all that occurred inside the house when the police officers fired their service weapons. After being taken into custody, Lewis agreed to speak with law enforcement. During an interview with police, Lewis admitted he and Davis had driven to California to meet with a supplier. Lewis said he gave their vehicle to the supplier, and he and Davis slept in a hotel room until they received word that the vehicle had been loaded. The pair drove back to Kansas City, where Carrell was waiting for them. In a separate interview, Davis told police Lewis had asked her to take a trip with him to California. While they were en route, Davis told police she asked Lewis, What are we doing? Lewis allegedly replied, Going to pick up drugs. Davis said the two of them arrived at the hotel to meet the supplier. The two of them traded off driving on the way back to Kansas City, she told police. After they pulled into the garage of the residence on Blue Ridge Boulevard, Davis said she heard a loud noise outside and was told to run inside and hide by Lewis and Carrell. Tactical officers later found her hiding behind a basement couch. Upon a search of the vehicle, officers found over 3,700 grams of fentanyl, 155 grams of methamphetamine and 28 grams of powder cocaine hidden inside. Federal prosecutors filed a motion to hold Davis without bail pending trial, claiming shes a member of a drug trafficking organization. Davis was aware law enforcement officers were attempting to gain entry into the residence and clear the residence of subjects inside, the motion reads. However, Davis never voluntarily surrendered and instead barricaded herself in the residence until officers forcibly removed her after an eighteen-hour standoff. Davis is set to appear in court on Wednesday. The Stars Glenn E. Rice, Luke Nozicka, Bill Lukitsch, Robert A. Cronkleton and Katie Moore contributed to this report. TriStar Pictures film The Woman King has been given official permission to release in cinemas in mainland China. It is expected to debut on April 14. The Viola Davis-starring action drama film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September last year and went into U.S. and international commercial release shortly after. More from Variety The film has grossed $97.2 million worldwide, with $29.9 million coming from international markets and $67.3 million in North America. While the China release is significantly later than the rest of the world, potentially opening the film to online piracy, the launch date was communicated by Chinese authorities with some five weeks of advanced notice. That is more than many Hollywood films have received in China and gives the local marketing teams a reasonable chance to promote the films theatrical launch. Hollywood films have begun to trickle back into mainland Chinese cinemas after a near drought in 2022 and an unofficial ban on Marvel-branded movies that ran from mid-2019 until early 2023. With the exception of Avatar: The Way of Water, Hollywood films have largely under-performed in their comeback. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the highest-grossing this year with a cumulative of $37 million after three weekends on release. Others released and upcoming include Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (released on Feb. 3 and grossing $15.7 million to date); The Son (Feb. 24, $220,000); M3gan (March 17); Shazam! 2 (March 17); Dungeons & Dragons (March 31); and Super Mario (April 5). The Woman King is the story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness. Inspired by true events, it follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Story continues It is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood with a story by Maria Bello and Dana Stevens and a screenplay by Dana Stevens. It was produced by Cathy Schulman, Davis, Julius Tennon and Bello. Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and John Boyega also star. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. [Source] Hong Kong police have arrested a seventh suspect in the gruesome murder of 28-year-old socialite and influencer Abby Choi, whose dismembered body was found in large pots of soup. On Tuesday, police arrested a 29-year-old woman surnamed Pun for assisting Lam Shun, an employee of a yacht rental company, and Alex Kwong, Chois ex-husband, to escape the city by sea. Pun, who is reportedly a friend of Kwong, allegedly helped arrange a boat to aid his escape before fleeing to mainland China. She was arrested at the Shenzhen Bay Port by Hong Kong authorities and charged with one count of assisting an offender. More from NextShark: She Volunteered in Women's Prisons at 14, Mentored The World's Youngest Nobel Prize Laureate By 20 Pun is the third person to be arrested for aiding and abetting an offender in relation to Chois murder case. Last week, Lam was arrested and charged with the same offense for helping Kwong flee Hong Kong by sea for a reward of 300,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $38,000). On Monday, the Kowloon City Magistrates Court granted Lam a cash bail of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $6,400) after appearing in court. More from NextShark: Korean Man Wrongfully Jailed 20 Years For Murder Freed After Real Killer Confesses He is prohibited from leaving Hong Kong and is required to report to the Tsing Yi police station two times a week. On Feb. 27, Kwong along with his brother and father, Anthony Kwong and Kwong Kau was charged with the murder of Choi. Kwongs mother, Jenny Li, was also charged with perverting the course of justice. More from NextShark: Chinese American Socialite 'Jumps' to Death While Holding 5-Month-Old Daughter All four defendants were detained without bail. Kwong Kaus mistress, Ng, was the fifth suspect arrested on suspicion of hiding Kwong. She was released on bail without charge. Choi disappeared on Feb. 21 and was last seen via CCTV footage in Tai Po District. More from NextShark: Racist Plaques Are Being Put on Businesses Around East Atlanta Parts of her dismembered body were found in two large stainless steel pots of soup and in a freezer at a village house in Lung Mei Tsuen. Story continues Chois torso and hands are still missing. The investigation remains ongoing. The model, who shared a daughter and a son with Kwong, was involved in a financial dispute with his family, which police believe was the motive for her murder. All suspects involved in the case are expected to return to Kowloon City Court on May 8. Despite the Running of the Roses still being a couple months away, Kentucky Derby season is in full swing, with special bourbon releases coming out leading up to the main event on May 6. The latest is two batches of special Woodford Reserve bourbon, which is available exclusively from the Kentucky Derby Museum. But act fast, because you only have till tomorrow at midnight to enter the lottery to secure your bottle before it goes on sale to the public. More from Robb Report The Kentucky Derby Museums Secretariat Bourbon Box Set was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the the worlds most famous horse winning the Triple Crown. The packaging is a Derby lovers dream, with artwork capturing Secretariats run down the Homestretch on the front cover of the box. On the inside of the lid, youll find a short history of the legacy of this horse written by the museums director of curatorial services, Chris Goodlett. But its the whiskey inside thats the real winner here. Woodford Reserve has its own Secretariat-celebrating Kentucky Derby bottle available now as well, but that one is all about the packaging (its classic Woodford bourbon inside the glass). This, however, is truly a special release whiskey. The team from the museum personally traveled to the distillery to select two different batches of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, an expression that takes the core bourbon and finishes it in a second set of new charred oak barrels to amplify the flavor. There are only 400 box sets available, and while they will go on sale to the public in the coming weeks theres still time to enter the lottery to win a chance to purchase one of two box sets, each numbered #73 to celebrate Secretariats victory year. Story continues Bottle 73 of the first batch has a blue tie, and is said to be the lighter of the two with notes of dried apple and pear, cinnamon, citrus oil, cedar and sweet honey glaze. Bottle 73 from the second batch has a white tie, and is richer with notes of baking spice, dried dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate and seasoned oak. The museum staff will select which bottle you get due to high demand, but you can be sure itll come with a few add-ons like a 50th anniversary medal with an image of Secretariat jockey Ron Turcottes signature, a special mint julep cup, tasting notes and a Collector Secretariat Tac Pin. Each box set costs $750, but dont be surprised if you see these floating around the secondary market for much higher than that at some point down the road. You can register to enter the lottery here, but note that Kentucky law does not allow the museum to ship the booze to you. And of course you can always find a regular Woodford Derby bottle from retailers like ReserveBar if youre not traveling to Kentucky anytime soon. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. It turns out everybody is feeling the squeezeeven the extremely wealthy. The worlds richest people collectively lost $10 trillion (8.3 trillion) last year, according to a new wealth report by Knight Frank. It marks the biggest annual decline in the fortunes of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) since the annual study was first published in 2010. For context, UHNWIs have a net worth of $30 million or more, including their primary residence. More from Robb Report The worlds 218,000 UHNWIs saw their combined wealth drop by 10 percent from $101.5 trillion in 2021 to $91.4 trillion in 2022, as per the report. Although four in 10 wealthy individuals did see their fortune increase in 2022were looking at you, Elonthe overwhelming trend was negative. The change in aggregate wealth held by UHNWIs in 2022 The firm cited a triumvirate of shocksenergy, economic and geopoliticalas the cause of the monumental drop. The year has been aptly described as the permacrisis, according to Knight Frank. The wealth shrinking also coincides with a drop in the value of residential property, commercial property, fixed income, investments of passion (like art or whiskey) and other assets. (You can watch the video below to hear experts further explain the findings.) The fall in wealth is unsurprising given the dramatic pivot in monetary policy that culminated in the worst performance for the traditional blended portfolio since the 1930s, the firm said. As for who took the biggest hit, Europes ultra-rich saw the largest drop in wealth, with an average decline of 17 percent. Australasia and the Americas followed, falling 11 and 10 percent, respectively. Africa saw the smallest decline with a small drop of 5 percent, while Asia also only fell by 7 percent. The big question now is: How will 2023 play out? In a sharp reversal, 69 percent of wealthy investors expect growth in their portfolio this year amid an expected economic rebound. Heres hoping thats the case. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Full Worm Moon in March peaks on Tuesday, 7 March, 2023 (Getty Images/ iStock) Marchs full moon will peak this week, rising in the sky just after sunset on Tuesday. Traditionally known as the Worm Moon, the full moon in March typically coincides with creatures appearing with the warming spring weather. The name was given by colonial and Native Americans, with the worm referring to a type of beetle larvae that emerges from the thawing bark of trees. The full moon in March peaks on 7 March at 12.40pm GMT, when the Moon is not actually visible in the sky. Sky gazers will need to wait until just before 6pm to see the moonrise, which takes place just as the Sun is setting. This is when the Moon will be at its fullest and brightest, however it will continue to appear full to the casual observer for the following couple of nights. The best time to see the Moon is when it is closest to the horizon, either just after it rises in the evening, or just before it sets in the early morning. An effect called the Moon Illusion means it seems bigger when it is near the horizon, though even Nasa scientists are unable to fully explain why. Despite the fact that people have been observing this illusion for thousands of years, we still dont have a rock-solid scientific explanation for it, the US space agency wrote in a blog post. Perhaps trees, mountains, and buildings help to trick your brain into thinking the Moon is both closer and bigger than it is. This theory does not explain why astronauts also claim to have witnessed the Moon Illusion from the International Space Station (ISS), despite having no objects in the foreground to compare it to. Weather forecasts from the Met Office suggest good viewing conditions across large parts of the UK and Ireland, with partial cloud cover obscuring only southern areas of both countries. For those whose view is blocked, a live stream of the Full Worm Moon will be broadcast on the official YouTube page of the Virtual Telescope Project. The next full moon, known as the Pink Moon, will take place on 6 April. The first supermoon of the year is set for 3 July, with two more due at the beginning and end of August. President Xi Jinping, right, says Western countries have encircled, suppressed and contained China - GREG BAKER/AFP Xi Jinping issued a rare, direct rebuke against the US, accusing Washington of seeking to "suppress and contain" China in remarks that echoed the Cold War. Western countries, led by the United States, have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression against us, bringing unprecedentedly severe challenges to our countrys development," the Chinese leader said. Mr Xi's comments directly naming the US are a departure from his often pointed references to certain countries. The Chinese version of his remarks in state media differ, however, from the English translation published, which neither names the US specifically nor uses the word containment. China's new foreign minister, Qin Gang, echoed Mr Xis sentiments on Tuesday, saying the US should change its "distorted attitude towards China or conflict and confrontation would follow. The Cold War-era rhetoric aligns with increasingly shrill messaging from Chinas foreign ministry and state media, both of which have in recent years sought to paint the US as a bad-faith actor and to blame Washington for deteriorating bilateral relations. China's leaders at the opening session of the National People's Congress - NOEL CELIS/AFP Tensions between the US and China have worsened, as the two nations continue to clash on human rights, trade, technology, the war in Ukraine and the issue of Taiwan, an island nation with a democratic government that Beijing claims as its territory. In an apparent effort to diffuse escalating tensions with China, a highly anticipated but sensitive meeting between Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwans president, and Kevin McCarthy, the US House Speaker, is now due to take place in the US, rather than in Taiwan, this spring, the Financial Times reported. Ms Tsai has been invited to speak at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library while she travels through California on a planned visit to Central America. Last year, when Mr McCarthys predecessor Nancy Pelosi visited, China staged unprecedented military drills around the island. Mr Xi himself has made clear his intent to re-unify with Taiwan, even if it means resorting to force. Story continues Sudden entry into Taiwan Taiwan's defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, warned on Tuesday that the island must be on alert this year for a "sudden entry" into areas near its territory by the Chinese military. The US and its allies are already carrying out contingency planning for the region one of the worlds most dangerous flashpoints as Washington and Beijing intensify their military and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr Xi, who renewed his status as the leader of the ruling Chinese Communist Party last fall, is expected to be elected again as president this month. Li Qiang, a Xi loyalist, is set to become the next premier, the countrys second most-powerful person, at the end of the annual meeting of Chinas rubber stamp parliament, which kicked off over the weekend and typically lasts two weeks. A Chinese parliamentary delegate has proposed that China make public a blacklist of people who try to split Taiwan from mainland China, allowing anyone to arrest and shoot them without being held accountable in the event of a special operation in the island nation. This language that echoes how Russian president Vladimir Putin has described his invasion of Ukraine. Those doing so would even be awarded a medal of honour for promoting unity. Its unclear whether the proposal has much backing, though it gives a sense of where discourse is within Chinese political circles. Many delegates put forth ideas though usually what will pass has already been decided by the Communist Partys most senior ranks. Additional reporting by Jenny Pan (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping praised and at the same time raised concern about battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. at a meeting with delegates during annual national meetings in Beijing. Most Read from Bloomberg Xi expressed both joy and worry about CATL ranking as the worlds biggest cell maker for six-straight years, Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday, saying the company has a global market share of 37%. The good news is that our industry has come to the forefront of the world. The worry is that I am afraid of a big boom, first rushing up, and finally dispersing, the news agency cited Xi as saying. Xi, poised to start a third term as Chinas leader and consolidate his rule, said the growth of emerging industries should be well planned and closely assessed for risk. He said companies must balance development with security. CATL didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is based in Ningde, Fujian the province where Xi was once governor. China has emerged as a dominant force in electric-vehicle battery making, with BYD Co. in second place in terms of global market share, ahead of South Koreas LG Energy Solution Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp. and Samsung SDI Co., according to January figures from SNE Research Inc. Chinese authorities are scrutinizing a CATL agreement with Ford Motor Co. to work together on battery making in the US, concerned that core technology could be accessed by the American automaker, Bloomberg News has reported. The Biden administration is also nearing completion of an order that would restrict US investments in parts of the Chinese economy. Story continues CATLs shares slipped 1.5% on Tuesday. --With assistance from Chunying Zhang and Linda Lew. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping sought to rally Chinas private sector to help overcome containment by the US and other countries, in rare direct criticism of the nations biggest trading partner. Most Read from Bloomberg China is grappling with comprehensive containment and suppression by western countries led by the US over the past few years, which have brought unprecedented and severe challenges for Chinas development, Xi told the countrys top political advisory body on Monday, according to state broadcaster China National Radio. He stressed the importance of the private sector to Chinas economy, and urged companies to strengthen innovation and play a bigger role in establishing technology independence. Xis comments underscore mounting tensions between the US and China, especially over advanced technology, and raise questions about whether the two sides can establish guardrails to reduce the risk of miscalculation. After Xi and President Joe Biden pledged to improve ties during a November meeting, relations took another turn for the worse. In addition to concerns over an alleged Chinese spy balloon the US shot down last month, the Biden administration has continued to take actions to prevent major Chinese companies from accessing American technology. Earlier this year, the US also rallied Japan and the Netherlands to restrict exports of some advanced chipmaking machinery to China, largely to curb military expansion. Xis comments come as China holds its annual meeting of its legislature, the National Peoples Congress. Beijing is seeking to restore business and consumer confidence in the economy after growth weakened to just 3% last year, missing the governments target by a wide margin. Authorities are targeting growth of around 5% for this year. Story continues While Xi made encouraging comments about supporting private business and entrepreneurs, he said the government will regulate their growth according to the law and reminded them they have a role to play in rewarding the society in order to achieve common prosperity a reference to his goal of driving down inequality by spreading wealth in the country. He warned private companies to build a harmonious relationship with workers and make sure that the development of the firms benefit all employees in a fairer way. Xis campaign to reduce inequality under the common prosperity drive has led to an overhaul of the for-profit education industry, regulatory crackdowns on technology platform companies, and fueled concerns about wealth taxes. Investors took the speech in their stride on Tuesday. Chinese stocks trading in Hong Kong added 1.6% as of 10:52 a.m. local time with tech shares including Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent Holdings and JD.com Inc. being the biggest point contributors. The mainlands benchmark CSI 300 Index was little changed. Whole Nation Strategy In his government work report released at the start of NPC on Sunday, outgoing Premier Li Keqiang reiterated the call for a whole nation strategy to edge out Washington on basic scientific research and advanced technologies ranging from advanced intelligence to space. China in particular has sought to mobilize national resources to develop its own chip industry. Earlier this month, Vice Premier Liu He told a meeting of executives in Beijing that developing the industry requires China to make good use of both government and market forces. China has already pledged to invest an extra $1.9 billion in the countrys biggest maker of memory chips, Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., a deal that could herald a renewed influx of government capital into the sector. The capital infusion from the Big Fund, as Beijings signature investment vehicle is commonly known, was slated for completion on Jan. 31, according to Tianyancha, a government website that discloses company registration information. Chinas senior leaders have grown frustrated by the lack of progress in developing local chip alternatives. Last year they launched a sweeping corruption campaign in 2022 that took down senior officials and several executives linked to the Big Fund. YMTC is one of only a handful of domestic chipmakers within striking range of the global leaders, competing with South Korean giants Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. to provide memory chips for applications from smartphones to data center servers. Seen as a national champion, the firm was placed last year on Washingtons lengthening US trade blacklists. --With assistance from Fran Wang. (Updates with additional details.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to warn on Tuesday that climate change is already having an economic impact in the U.S., cautioning that it could cause asset value losses in the future, according to Reuters. Yellen is expected to issue the warning to an advisory board that includes academics and leaders from both the nonprofit and private sector, according to Reuters. The secretary will also argue that a slow transition to a net-zero carbon economy could have deep impacts on the countrys financial system. As climate change intensifies, natural disasters and warming temperatures can lead to declines in asset values that could cascade through the financial system, she said in remarks prepared for delivery at the advisory boards first meeting. And a delayed and disorderly transition to a net-zero economy can lead to shocks to the financial system as well. The climate change alert from Yellen comes as weather disasters in the last year have caused billions of dollars in damage across the U.S. A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concluded that 2022 tied 2017 and 2011 for the highest number of billion-dollar disasters. The report also found that last year was the third costliest year when it comes to natural disasters, with damages totaling at least $165 billion trailing only 2017 and 2005. The advisory board, the Climate-related Financial Risk Advisory Committee, was organized last year to help promote U.S. policies to mitigate the risks that climate change poses to the economy. The Biden administration has taken executive actions to try to combat climate change risks, including an expected new rule from the Securities and Exchanges Commission that would require companies to disclose more information about their greenhouse gas emissions. But Republicans in Congress have argued the White House is overextending its authority in its moves to address climate change. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A fresh bout of heavy rainfall could increase flood risk in California later this week, as yet another atmospheric river sweeps through the region. A strong storm system over the Pacific Ocean will likely approach the Pacific Northwest coast on Thursday night and into Friday, dragging an abundance of subtropical moisture inland over Central California, according to the National Weather Services (NWS) Hanford branch. Accompanying heavy rains are expected to cause snowmelt in areas below 5,000 feet, with 4 to 6 inches accumulating in the Sierra Nevada foothills by Saturday night, the outlook stated. It now appears increasingly likely that a potentially significant and very likely warm atmosphere river will probably affect some portion of Northern or Central California, University of California, Los Angeles climate scientist Daniel Swain said during virtual office hours on Monday. Theres a lot of uncertainty at this point regarding how intense it will be how prolonged it will be in the impacts it will likely have, Swain continued. However, confidence has grown that a warm rain event of some magnitude will occur later this week. Weather Channel meteorologist Domenica Davis made similar remarks on Tuesday, noting that by Friday, we have this intense moisture flow that is going to be coming in, and this is going to bring widespread heavy rain. This latest episode of precipitation comes following a series of winter storms, with snow piling up in Sierra Nevada ski resort areas last weekend. Sugar Bowl received about 60 inches of snow, while the Sierra Snow Lab recorded 48.5 inches and Palisades Tahoe amassed 36 inches, according to the NWS Sacramento office. Its been another remarkable week of California weather, Swain said during his office hours. The situation has become particularly noteworthy, he explained, because this accumulation occurred on top of already extremely heavy snowfall from previous weeks. Story continues In some cases, its approaching record snowpack accumulation levels for the time of year, Swain said. So much snow has piled up that some areas are beginning to experience structural issues, with buildings collapsing under the weight of the snow and ski resorts shutting down, according to Swain. Some of the chairlifts at the highest peaks are no longer that high above the snow itself, he said. With such enormous amounts of snow, the incoming deluge of rain could lead to what Davis described as a quick melt and creating major concern about flooding. Persons living near rivers and streams should closely monitor water levels and be ready to move to higher ground if the threat of flooding becomes imminent, the NWS Hanford outlook warned. Now would be a good time to prepare and have an evacuation plan in place in the event high water becomes a threat to your safety, the forecast added. While Swain agreed that the storm system is likely going to increase flood risk later this week, he stressed that this is not going to be a widespread catastrophic flood event. Swain said that he is most concerned about flooding in the Sierra Nevada foothills regions, particularly in urban areas where storm drains have been clogged by snow. At higher elevations, Swain said that the rain influx could make accumulated snowpack heavier and potentially exacerbate existing structural issues. If you can, go out and try and remove some snow from structures that might be vulnerable, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -The man who killed eight people with a truck on a Manhattan bike path in 2017 should be spared the death penalty and instead be sent to prison for life because execution was "not necessary" to achieve justice, his lawyer told jurors on Tuesday. Sayfullo Saipov, a 35-year-old Uzbek national who moved to the United States in 2010, was convicted in January by a jury in Manhattan federal court of committing murder with a goal of joining the Islamic State Islamist militant group, also called ISIS. Jurors heard closing arguments on Tuesday in the trial's penalty phase and are expected to begin deliberations this week on whether to impose the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Saipov has been jailed since mowing down his victims with a rented U-Haul truck alongside the Hudson River on Oct. 31, 2017. More than a dozen other people were severely injured. Federal public defender David Patton told the jury that Saipov was to blame for his actions and the grief that his victims and their relatives experienced, but it was the "right decision" to let him live. "Meeting death with more death is not the answer," Patton said. "The decision in front of you isn't about more or less punishment. It is about life or death. It is a deeply moral decision." The trial marks the first time jurors in any case have been asked to consider the federal death penalty since U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, took office in January 2021 after campaigning to abolish that punishment. Jurors would have to agree unanimously on the death penalty, otherwise Saipov would get a life sentence. In her own closing argument, federal prosecutor Amanda Houle displayed photos of Saipov's bloodied victims and called him a "proud terrorist" who deserved the stiffest possible sentence. "When ISIS called upon him to fight overseas or attack here, he chose here, this city," Houle said. "He chose to ruin so many lives, lives he still does not value. And he chose it all for the fame of being a soldier of the caliphate for ISIS." Story continues The United States considers Islamic State a terrorist organization. Patton said that if Saipov got a life sentence, he would serve it at the Colorado "Supermax" prison, where he would be confined to a tiny cell with a concrete bed for 22 or 23 hours a day, and spend recreation time in a cage by himself. "The only two options for him," Patton said, "are dying alone in prison, or dying in an execution chair." "It is not necessary to kill Sayfullo Saipov," Patton said. "It is not necessary to do justice." (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Bill Berkrot) New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that shop owners should require customers to enter stores without masks to prevent theft. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images NYC Mayor Eric Adams said face masks obstruct stores from identifying potential shoplifters. "Do not allow people to enter the store without taking off their face masks," he told a local radio station. Adams' comments come as retailers have sounded the alarms about above-average theft rates. New York Mayor Eric Adams has a clear message for retailers: If you want to prevent theft, don't allow shoppers to enter with face masks on. "Do not allow people to enter the store without taking off their face masks," Adams told a local radio station Monday. "When you see these mask-wearing people, it's not about being fearful of a pandemic. (They're) fearful of the police catching (them) for their misdeeds." Adams said that stores need to be able to use technologies to "identify those shoplifters and those who have committed serious crimes," but that face masks an item that has become commonplace, albeit decreasingly so, due to the coronavirus pandemic make it hard to do so. He added that once in the store, shoppers can feel free to wear face masks. Adams' comments come as retailers have sounded the alarms about above-average theft rates for months. Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon said in December 2022 that stores would close and prices would rise if theft levels did not drop. Missing inventory also reduced Target's gross margin by more than $400 million in fall 2022 compared with the year prior, Target CFO Michael Fiddelke said in November 2022 during a company earnings call. He said the company expected those profit losses to grow to $600 million by the end of the fiscal year, The theft issue has ballooned into a $94.5 billion problem for the retail industry, according to a 2022 study conducted by the National Retail Federation. Still, other retailers are walking back their messaging around theft. Walgreens CFO James Kehoe said in January the company "cried too much" about theft the year prior, saying it hadn't seen as much shrinkage in recent months. Read the original article on Business Insider By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Charlotte Greenfield FOLADI VALLEY, Afghanistan (Reuters) - In a small village circled by velvety white snow-topped mountains in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, Aziza Rahimi mourns the baby son she lost last year after a harrowing birth with no medical care. "It was too hard for me when I lost my baby. As a mother, I nurtured the baby in my womb for nine months but then I lost him, it is too painful," said Rahimi, 35. The village's rugged and remote beauty in Bamiyan's Foladi Valley comes with deadly barriers for pregnant mothers. A narrow road to the village with few vehicles is sometimes cut off by snow, severing a lifeline to hospitals, clinics and trained health workers. However, a potentially life-saving improvement is on the way. Rahimi's village is one of several around Bamiyan that have sent 40 young women to train for two years as midwives in the provincial capital, after which they will return home. Isolation can become a death sentence in any difficult birth, doctors and aid workers say, contributing to Afghanistan's extremely high maternal and infant mortality rates, among the worst in the world. The United Nations estimates an Afghan woman dies every two hours during pregnancy and childbirth, making Afghanistan's maternal mortality rate the highest in Asia. The trainee midwife programme has been spearheaded by the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) with the Watan Social and Technical Services Association, a local charity. They hope to expand the programme, which also takes place in neighbouring Daikundi province. Since taking over in 2021, Taliban authorities have barred women from universities and most charity jobs, but they have made exemptions in the healthcare sector and UNHCR says local health authorities are supportive of the project. DONKEYS "When the roads are blocked of course there is no means of transportation, people even use donkeys to move patients to the clinic centres, but sometimes there is not even the opportunity for that," said Mohammad Ashraf Niazi, the head of UNHCR's Bamiyan office. Story continues Rahimi, who has five other children, said riding a donkey was out of the question when she was jolted by pain while nine months' pregnant in the middle of the night four months ago. Stumbling, bleeding, for two hours to her in-laws' house after her husband was unable to find a car or ambulance to take them to hospital, she gave birth there. The baby died shortly after. Too late, an ambulance arrived. Women giving birth experience a very different situation in Bamiyan's main city hospital where the trainee midwives work alongside staff, and with the help of a trainer learn how to assess and guide pregnant women, deliver babies and provide post-partum care. "We want to learn and serve the people of our village," said one 23-year-old trainee, who walks two hours each day to the hospital. UNHCR asked the trainees not be named for safety. In one small hospital clinic, with dozens of women waiting outside, a trainee midwife guides a woman with the help of a book of images on what to expect to prepare for birth under the watchful eye of two trained healthworkers. Any women with risks of complications are admitted to a maternity ward in a nearby building where another trainee midwife takes the blood pressure of a pregnant patient suffering from an infection. She checks regularly on a woman who gave birth six hours earlier, her baby daughter nestled by her side. Many of the trainee midwives, some with small children of their own, have faced logistical and financial challenges, often having to travel huge distances, or live far from home to attend the programme. "At first, I didn't want to study nursing or to be a midwife, but after I faced problems and pains during my pregnancy, I got a desire to study midwifery," said a 20-year old trainee, the mother of an 18-month old son who struggled to access care in her village. She said many women and families in remote areas did not have the information and support they needed to prepare for a safe delivery. "We have to change such kind of thoughts ... I want to go to remote areas to treat women who face problems." (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Bamiyan; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) KYIV (Reuters) - A senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Kyiv was "absolutely not involved" in last year's attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines and has no information about what happened. A New York Times report on Tuesday cited U.S. officials suggesting a pro-Ukrainian group was responsible for the blasts in September 2022, seven months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Without a doubt, Ukraine is absolutely not involved in the excesses on the pipelines," Mykhailo Podolyak said in a statement to Reuters. "It does not make the slightest bit of sense." He added that Ukraine has no information about exactly who was involved but speculated that what he called Russian efforts to destabilise the region might have been to blame. "Starting from the first day of construction on the pipelines at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, Ukraine repeatedly drew the attention of its Western partners to the sharply growing strategic risks for the security of Europe carried by the realisation of this project," Podolyak said. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Mark Heinrich) President Volodymyr Zelensky in his nightly address on March 6 said that along with Ukraine's top-level commanders, the decision was made not to withdraw from Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast and instead to reinforce the troops currently defending the eastern city from Russia's relentless attacks. "Today at the General Staff meeting, I directly asked both commander of the Khortytsia operational and strategic group of troops, (Oleksandr) Syrsky, and Commander-in-Chief (Valeriy) Zaluzhny about their view on the further defense operation in Bakhmut: either withdraw or continue to defend and reinforce the city." "Both generals replied: do not withdraw and reinforce. The General Staff unanimously backed this opinion. There were no other opinions," he said. Russia has been attempting to encircle Bakhmut for months as part of its larger objective of capturing the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, comprised of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russia has occupied nearly all of Luhansk Oblast since it first invaded in 2014 and then later during its full-scale invasion. The losses on both sides are thought to be extremely high. Ukrainian forces near Bakhmut Narciso Contreras/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Monday that after meeting with Ukraine's top commander and the commander of eastern forces, all three agreed on "continuing the defense operation and further strengthening our positions in Bakhmut," the flattened city in eastern Ukraine that Russian forces have been trying to capture for eight months. The losses have been tremendous, especially on the Russian side. "Do not withdraw," Zelensky said in his nightly address, summarizing the clear directives from the generals. "Reinforce." Russia's Wagner mercenaries and regular Russian forces have surrounded Bakhmut on three sides, though a Ukrainian counteroffensive over the weekend reinforced the main supply and escape route. Ukrainian forces have completely withdrawn "from the roughly one-third of the city's area that sits on the eastern bank of the Bakhmutka River," The Wall Street Journal reports, and "are concentrating on holding the central and western parts of the city, with easily defensible positions." The fighting is so close-quartered that hand-to-hand combat is not uncommon, Ukrainian soldiers say. "Ukraine has been able to use Bakhmut as a kill box to grind down the vast numbers of newly mobilized Russian soldiers" and Wagner forces, The New York Times reports. Wagner sends waves of untrained recruits to their certain death, and when Ukraine troops are exhausted and their positions exposed, the elite Russian troops try to gain territory. "It's a working tactic," acknowledged Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine's eastern ground forces. "It's based on constant advancement, however slight, and takes absolutely no account of human losses." Several Western analysts have suggested that Ukraine would be better off withdrawing from Bakhmut to conserve troops and ammunition for a planned spring offensive. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday that Bakhmut "is more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value," and a potential Ukrainian pullback "won't necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the tide of this fight." Story continues Austin is right that "Bakhmut is not intrinsically significant operationally or strategically," and losing it would not be "of major operational or strategic concern to Ukraine," the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank assessed. "But Ukraine's fight for Bakhmut has become strategically significant," because Ukraine is now grinding down not just Wagner prison recruits but also "elite elements of the Wagner Group and from Russian airborne units." Wagner may not have enough men and ammunition to capture Bahkmut, ISW added. But either way, degrading Wagner's forces its best troops and its "cannon fodder" and elite Russian forces in an arena so favorable to Ukraine means "they will not be available for more important fights" to come. You may also like Egyptian archeologists discover Sphinx from 1st century A.D. Companies are turning to personality tests as remote and hybrid work becomes normal Can Fox News survive? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his troops would continue to defend the embattled town of Bakhmut, stressing that holding off Russian forces in the area denies Moscow a symbolic victory and an important foothold. Zelensky told CNNs Wolf Blitzer in an exclusive interview airing Wednesday night that taking Bakhmut would give Russia access to an open road for a push further west into the Donetsk region. This is tactical for us, Zelensky said, according to early remarks published by CNN. We understand that after Bakhmut they could go further. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Sloviansk, Zelensky added. It would be open road for the Russians after Bakhmut to other towns in Ukraine, in the Donetsk direction. Zelensky also said Russia needs at least some victory, and if Moscow were to put their little flag atop Bakhmut, it would mobilize their society in order to create this idea theyre such a powerful army. The Ukrainian leaders comments offer more detailed insight into the decisionmaking around the defense of Bakhmut, which some analysts have suggested is becoming more and more dangerous for Ukrainian forces to hold. Russian forces, led by the mercenary Wagner Group, are slowly encircling the Ukrainian defenders in the center of the city after months of brutal fighting. Although has lost a staggering number of soldiers and armor, and is running low on ammunition, Russian troops are putting tremendous pressure on Kyiv. Bakhmuts value is considered more symbolic than strategic because Ukraine has fortified defenses toward the industrial hubs of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. But the town has become a major Russian focus for the war effort in recent months. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said in a military conference call on Tuesday that Bakhmut is a major defense line for Ukrainian troops in the Donbas, which is made up of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and breaking through would pave the way further west, according to Russian state media outlet TASS. Story continues Holding Bakhmut for so long has allowed Ukraine to inflict heavy losses on Russia while Kyiv prepares for a counteroffensive, but there is a risk that Ukrainian troops could get caught in the town if Russia continues to close in. Zelensky met with his top commanders on Monday and decided that Ukraine would continue to hold the town. The Ukrainian president explained in an address the choice to defend Bakhmut was unanimous, and the town has yielded and is yielding one of the greatest results during this war. I told the commander-in-chief to find the appropriate forces to help the guys in Bakhmut, Zelensky said in the address. There is no part of Ukraine about which one can say that it can be abandoned. There is no Ukrainian trench in which the resilience and heroism of our warriors would be disregarded. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Multiple incidents of cat killings that came to light in Japans Saitama city over the last month have triggered fear among the residents. One of the bodies of the mangled feline was found near an elementary school, raising concerns about childrens safety The horrendous killings of cats in Japans Saitama city last month have raised alarm. In early March, a teenager was arrested at a junior high school near Tokyo for stabbing a teacher. As per The Japan News, the 17-year-old has claimed he was behind the recent brutal murders of cats in Saitama, located near greater Tokyo. The police are probing his possible role in the cat murders, Japanese media has reported. Early in February, the severed head and paws of a brown spotted cat were discovered along the banks of the Arakawa River in Saitama, as per CNN. Days later, the remaining body, of what police believe was the same cat, came up on the grounds of an elementary school. Till mid-February, two more mutilated cats, one on a park bench, and the other tied with a piece of string and hanging from the climbing frame at a junior school were found. ...continue reading 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. While Europe holds the crown for investment migration programs in 2023, a growing number of African states is joining the fray, looking to attract high-net-worth individuals by offering residence and citizenship through investment programs. Migration investment programs allow people to purchase citizenship or residency in exchange for an investment in a country. African economies looking to attract fresh investments are turning to innovative programs that offer residence and dual citizenship opportunities to high-net-worth individuals. For example, foreigners seeking Namibian residency must purchase real estate valued at least $316,000 at an exclusive Bay of Whales estate. Foreign investors in a similar program in Mauritius must purchase luxury real estate valued at a minimum of $75,000 from six eligible real estate projects, while interested investors need to fork out at least $1 million to be eligible for Seychelles citizenship by investment program. Meanwhile, South Africas residence by investment program grants individuals with a minimum net worth of $820,000 the ability to work, study, or manage their own business in the country. Egypt looks to attract high-net-worth individuals, offering them a passport by investing a minimum of $250,000 with the option to invest $500,000 or more. Kenya and Uganda are also at an advanced stage of introducing citizenship by investment, while Rwanda and Zanzibar already have their respective programs with specific terms and conditions in place. Overall, residence by investment programs has the potential to be a game-changer for African economies, providing a much-needed injection of foreign capital and promoting sustainable economic growth. The majority of the Andean Parliament has reaffirmed unwavering support to Moroccos territorial integrity and autonomy plan offered for a lasting and peaceful solution to the Sahara regional conflict. In a petition addressed to President of this deliberative body of the Andean Community, 15 MPs out of the 25-member regional organization called for the promotion of peace and stability, stressing the importance of dialogue in building consensus for enduring peace in the region. They recalled the meeting held by the Andean Parliament in the Moroccan Saharan city of Laayoune in July 2022, with the participation of the Moroccan Speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, a meeting which contributed to enhancing further dialogue and parliamentary cooperation between Moroccan lawmakers and their Andean peers. This petition deals a hard blow to Speaker of the Andean Parliament, Colombian Senator Gloria Florez, a supporter of Algeria and its Polisario puppet. Few weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Committee of the Andean Parliament rebuked Gloria for siding with Algeria and its Polisario armed militia, fuelling tension in the region and threatening its stability. Morocco is an observer member of the Andean Parliament formed of 25 elected MPs, five from each of the five member countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This regional body seeks to harmonize legislations among member countries, enhance regional cooperation and speed up integration of the Andean community for shared prosperity and progress. Iranian drones have made their way to North Africa through Algeria, posing a threat to the stability of the region, at a time Morocco has been calling the international communitys attention to this threat and warning against the acquisition of drones by terrorist and separatist groups. At the end of 2022, Moroccan Senior Officials highlighted Iran and Algerias new alliance along with statements made by Iranian officials about the sale of drones to Algeria as part of a significant arms deal. Senior officials from the Kingdom have also highlighted statements made by Polisario Front about the receipt of drones and other weapons from Algeria, along with training and the development of infrastructure to operate them, reports the Egyptian Military Africa magazine. Late last year, the separatist Polisario Front threatened to use military drones against Moroccos Royal Armed Forces stationed along the Western Sahara defence wall. The announcement came as the Polisarios leader Brahim Ghali was preparing to launch a military movement from Tindouf for the fronts war of attrition against Morocco, the magazine recalls. Omar Mansour, the Polisarios envoy to Mauritanias President revealed the news at a press conference in Nouakchott at the time. The Sahrawi army will soon use armed drones in the war of attrition in Western Sahara, Mansour threatened. The magazine warned that Iranian drones on Moroccos borders pose a serious concern for the country, as unmanned aerial vehicles can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and even military operations. The drones are capable of surveying vast areas of Moroccan territory, allowing the Iranian government to gain insight into the Kingdoms activity and movements. Furthermore, the drones could be used to provide intelligence on the Moroccan military on the Polisarios positions, making them vulnerable to airstrikes and other forms of aggression. For the publication, as the Iranian drones become increasingly prevalent in the region, Morocco is likely to face a heightened risk of attack, making this an urgent matter that must be addressed. Accordingly, the Moroccan Armed Forces enforced a land and air exclusion zone east of the defensive wall and started operating a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Turkish-designed Bayraktar TB2 drones. Less than twenty-four hours after the Polisario threatened to use unmanned aircraft against Morocco, Moroccos Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita warned against the acquisition of armed drones by terrorist and separatist groups. Iran, after undermining the stability of Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, is in the process of destabilizing our region, declared Omar Hilal, Moroccos ambassador to the United Nations. With the Wests eye firmly on the role Iranian drones are playing in Ukraine, concerns are rising in Africa that Iran is playing a major destabilizing role in the region through the support of terrorist proxies. Having supported Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Fatimiyoun in Afghanistan, its well known that Iran is playing a significant role in West Africa. It is typical of Irans approach to foreign intervention to identify proxy wars and then offer support to the non-state actors requiring weapons. Iran is also using both its soft power through education and marriage to build up its presence in North Africa. At the same time, it is providing weapons, training, and other types of support with the engagement of a range of other countries to militias in the region. Iran is playing an active role in the Sahel across North Africa with various groups while Morocco, one of the U.S.s most long-standing allies in the region raised concerns as early as 2006 that the region was becoming a breeding ground and exporter of a new generation of terrorists. In Africa, there is rising concern that the support and materiel being provided to individuals by Iran and other malign actors in North Africa would result in increased attacks and instability. Attacks are taking place against local populations and Western forces in the region with French and U.S. special forces having already experienced casualties. The provision of drones to Polisario by Iran and Algeria, and their likely spread to other groups is a major escalation in their offensive capabilities. Morocco, which has experienced devastating terrorist attacks in the past, because of its pro-Western role as a firewall against Islamic extremism, is once more on the front lines. As is being seen in Ukraine, armed drones provide the ability to attack targets from a distance not too long ago only an option for countries with air forces or ballistic missiles. Having weaponized drones on the border of Morocco controlled by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front is the equivalent of Russian missiles in Cuba. In the same way that this had major geopolitical consequences, independent observers and Moroccan officials are raising concerns that this very real threat is being lost in the fog of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the focus on China spy balloons, and the Turkey-Syria earthquake. Irans growing military-industrial complex is producing and shipping drones, and weapons including missiles and cluster bombs, to stoke conflicts and instability around the world. While the world focused on Ukraine, its weapon sales and ability to work around sanctions to generate revenue at home should be a major cause for concern for the West. The Algeria and Iran axis as it relates to Morocco and Polisario needs far more attention from the U.S. and others who tend to look at this through the lens of a dispute between neighbours, rather than as is increasingly the case Polisario as a proxy for Iran and Algeria, building up capabilities to attack a U.S. ally. Similarly, Russias invasion of Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to reform the Soviet Bloc, Irans engagement with Algeria needs to be seen as part of its objective of an arc of influence stretching from the Middle East through North Africa and into the West Africa. Morocco is a key buffer between these regions and of critical importance. The magazine warned that in this broader context, theres a real danger that, just as in the past, as Morocco sounds the alarm about drones on its borders that the warnings will not be heard, and the Iran-Algeria axis will grow stronger and more dangerous for the region. The International Monetary Fund intends to approve Moroccos request for a 5 billion-dollar Flexible Credit Line (FCL) during a meeting of its executive board meeting. Considering Moroccos very strong policy frameworks and track record, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva intends to recommend approval of the FCL arrangement for Morocco when the IMF Executive Board meets again to take a decision in the following weeks, the IMF said in a statement. The IMF stands ready to continue to support Morocco face the risks from the highly uncertain global environment, it said. The Moroccan government plans to treat the line as precautionary to safeguard against external shocks as was the case with the 3-billion-dollar precautionary liquidity line that the IMF offered Morocco in 2016. Morocco raised 2.5 billion dollars in a dual tranche bond last week after it was removed from the FATF list of countries under scrutiny, a decision that the Moroccan government expects to help improve its sovereign rating. The World Bank said it halted cooperation with Tunisia after a surge in racism in the country triggered by anti-migrant speech by its president. President Kais Saied stoked racism in the country, triggering a spate of state-condoned violent acts that affected many Sub-Saharans living in the country. News agencies, including Reuters, said the World Bank paused its partnership with Tunisia, which mapped out future programs from 2023-2025, and had postponed it until further notice. The safety and inclusion of migrants and minorities is part of our institutions core values of inclusion, respect, and anti-racism in all shapes and forms, World Bank President David Malpass told staff in a note. Public commentary that stokes discrimination, aggression, and racist violence is completely unacceptable, he wrote. As President Kais Saied continues his power grab and control over the judiciary, economic conditions worsen with shortages of basic goods leading Tunisians to stand in long queues. Picking Sub-Saharan migrants as a scapegoat to distract from the erosion of financial, political, and economic stability in the country has backfired as the noose tightens on the government to halt its crackdown on migrants. As you heard from the World Bank, we too are deeply concerned by President Saieds remarks regarding migration from sub-Saharan Africa to Tunisia and reports of arbitrary arrests of migrants in recent weeks, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said. We urge Tunisian authorities to meet their obligations under international law to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, he added. Social media was awash with videos showing Tunisians acting to the Presidents racist comments tormenting and terrorizing Sub-Saharan migrants in the country. The situation has led many African countries to ask their nationals to leave the country. A 42-year-old Lincoln man is facing decades in prison after he allegedly sexually abused at least one child for eight years and subjected three other children to some form of abuse. Prosecutors with the Nebraska Attorney General's Office on Tuesday charged Jesse J. Widick with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, four counts of felony child abuse and two additional felony sex crimes for the alleged abuse, first reported to police in November 2021, according to court records. "My God," Widick said at his initial court appearance Friday, after Judge Laurie Yardley read aloud the charges levied against him and the possible penalties the charges carry, which could include a life sentence. "This is just wow," he said. A judge signed a warrant for Widick's arrest Wednesday and ordered the affidavit for his arrest and the criminal complaint against him sealed. In an affidavit for a search warrant filed in November 2021, Lincoln Police Investigator Lynette Russell said that a high school-aged girl told a friend in Texas that Widick had been sexually abusing her for eight years. The friend relayed the report to Texas authorities, who contacted police in Lincoln, Russell said in the affidavit. The girl later told investigators that Widick had sexually assaulted her about 2,000 times starting in 2013 in a string of assaults that lasted until about a week before her interview with police, Russell said in the affidavit for a search warrant for Widick's computers and hard drives. Widick at times would bribe the girl for sex, she told police, paying her money after assaulting her. He also threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse, Russell said in the affidavit. It's unclear what led to the child abuse charges, which describe the teenage girl and three other children as victims. Documents relating to those charges were sealed from public view. At his court appearance Friday, which Widick attended via Zoom from a Lancaster County Jail cell, he said he had been in counseling at the direction of authorities for nearly 18 months and seemed to be surprised by his arrest. "Now all of a sudden they pulled me out of the cab (of a truck)," he said, describing his Thursday arrest. "What's all this?" he asked. Yardley set his percentage bond at $500,000. He must pay $50,000 to be released. Biggest exports from Nebraska Biggest exports from Nebraska #30. Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included #29. Furniture; bedding, mattresses, and stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings #28. Railway or tramway stock etc.; traffic signal equipment #27. Rubber and articles thereof #26. Organic chemicals #25. Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers #24. Ships, boats and floating structures #23. Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof #22. Prepared cereal, flour, starch or milk; bakers wares #21. Sugars and sugar confectionary #20. Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof #19. Articles of iron or steel #18. Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes #17. Iron and steel #16. Animal or vegetable fats, oils etc. and waxes #15. Plastics and articles thereof #14. Other products of animal origin #13. Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations #12. Miscellaneous chemical products #11. Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories #10. Raw hides and skins (no furskins) and leather #9. Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories #8. Pharmaceutical products #7. Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof #6. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes #5. Cereals #4. Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. #3. Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed #2. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts #1. Meat and edible meat offal I better sit right here. Reply Parent Thread Link Dead @ Julia hungrily trying to woo DDL, lol. Her loss re: Ralph Reply Thread Link Ralph is a dreamboat! Lol at her saying he wasn't funny when he was HILARIOUS and PERFECT in movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Menu! Reply Parent Thread Link He has a great sense of humor in interviews too. It's funny she was all over DDL but not into Ralph, when I feel like they have similar vibes [though Ralph's never cared that much about method acting, lol] He sure wasHe has a great sense of humor in interviews too. It's funny she was all over DDL but not into Ralph, when I feel like they have similar vibes [though Ralph's never cared that much about method acting, lol] Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Not that I follow these people like that but The Menu as an example, is almost 30 years after this story. He could have learned to be funny in that time Reply Parent Thread Expand Link MTE on Ralph. He was such a dreamboat in the 90s, and he's still hot now that he's older Reply Parent Thread Link Her loss re: Ralph For real. His kiss with Angela Bassett in Strange Days is one of the best ever put to screen. And lemme tell you it made young me feel some strange thangs Reply Parent Thread Link the way i know so much about the drama behind this movie but i've never actually sat down and watched it lol. it doesn't really seem like anyone has sat down and watched it since 1998. Reply Thread Link I haven't seen it in YEARS but I remember liking it. But lol it's BP win is forever overshadowed by the drama and how much everyone knows it shouldn't have won. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah i just think it's funny in 2023 no one ever talks about the actual movie, just the drama behind the movie! now i'll have to watch it to find out what the fuss is about. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My mom rewatched it sometime in the 2000s to show it to me, but she may be the only one! Reply Parent Thread Link my lit teacher in high school let the whole class borrow her VHS copy of the movie to watch it as homework before we tackled shakespeare, it was 2003 i think XD Reply Parent Thread Link I know I watched it but not in the last 2 decades Reply Parent Thread Link I watched it a few years back while recovering from having my wisdom teeth out, and it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours but that was about it lol. It absolutely should not have won Best Picture, especially considering the competition that year. Reply Parent Thread Link It was terrible Reply Parent Thread Link I've never seen it either. Reply Parent Thread Link once was enough Reply Parent Thread Link I remember it was cute enough but how it won best picture is beyond me lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I watched it during quarantine since I hadn't seen it since I was like 10 and I thought it held up? But I also like goop as an actress so Reply Parent Thread Link I loved it when I was in high school and rewatched it so many times. I liked it even more than Romeo+Juliet, lol. Haven't seen it again in ages but I rewatched R+J recently and gained a newfound appreciation for it; I still think it has pacing issues but the art direction for the entire film has so much personality, and that gas station scene is camp perfection. Reply Parent Thread Link I remember renting it from Blockbuster and falling asleep twice (two separate attempts that weekend) lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i hated it when i saw it as a kid when it came out, and i hated it when i did my oscars bp watch 3 years ago. i dreaded when i was getting up to it during my bp watch lmao Reply Parent Thread Link "wanted Daniel Day-Lewis to be her male lead (she was in London for the following chaos). He turned it down due to commitments to film In the Name of the Father He was also offered the role of Lestat in Interview with the Vampire too but dropped out cause he was pre-occupied with in In the Name of the Father too. I could never imagine Julia in that role. Reply Thread Link ddl wouldve been amazing! pitt would go, though he dragged things down enough in the movie we got. if river phoenix lived to be the journalist.something wouldve shifted. Reply Parent Thread Link lol i wonder if she was so set on ddl that she deliberately tanked things when he declined bit of an overreaction but tbh i get it Reply Thread Link Thats actually alluded in the article so you interpreted correctly Reply Parent Thread Link What an asshole if thats true Reply Parent Thread Link She IS an asshole, so... Reply Parent Thread Link Are there any actresses today that can make co-star demands like this? I know actors have always had a huge say when it comes to final casting but this is the first time I've heard an actress having that type of pull. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That's what I was thinking, too! Reply Parent Thread Link LOL my mom would love this. I'm sorry, but I can't read stuff like this about Julia Roberts without thinking about my mom. She hated Julia so much. Of course, she also hated Gwynnie. Honestly she hated every actress, except Natalie Wood. But she hated Julia most of all! "America's Sweetheart my ass!" Reply Thread Link And she was right. Julia's built this wholesome America's sweetheart image, when irl she seems like such an asshole. Now we know whose genes run through Emma Reply Parent Thread Link My partners grandma hates gwenyth lol Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, your mom wasn't exactly wrong in her assessment of Julia lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Im always going to be bitter about this particular Best Actress Oscar, but I dont think the movie itself is as bad as everyone always makes it to be. Its entertaining, has some great cameos/smaller roles and some funny bits. Reply Thread Link I dont mind the movie at all lol Reply Parent Thread Link I'm with you on that Best Actress win. There was pure magic there in the competition. Reply Parent Thread Link i watch it every time it's on Reply Parent Thread Link Im watching it right now for the first time in, er, decades. I completely forgot Ben Affleck was in it lol. Ladies upstage gentlemen downstage ARE YOU A LADY MISTER KENT? He dies? Also watching Colin Firth single handedly destroy his Mr Darcy persona. You may show your pleasure lmao. Hope those coals under Geoffrey Rushs feet were real, though. Edited at 2023-03-07 01:14 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I really dislike Ben Affleck but that line is the first thing I think of when I think of this movie for some reason Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It's a solid 6. Not terrible but it didn't deserve any award Reply Parent Thread Link I actually think the fact that it won Best Picture and Best Actress hurt its reputation in the long run, because it's a perfectly entertaining movie but should not have won those awards. Reply Parent Thread Link I love the movie unironically. It's a love letter to English majors and theater kids! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link And it's all wrapped up in a Harvey Weinstein shit infested sandwich Reply Thread Link my main takeaway is that now I want to rewatch In the Name of the Father. Reply Thread Link I haven't seen it. I also haven't seen My Left Foot and The Last of the Mohicans either. Reply Parent Thread Link Im very meh on Last of the Mohicans but it does have a banger score and at some point DDL tells some dudes to go north then turn to the left when they ask him to guide them west lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link my left foot is good. last of the mohicans has an awesome soundtrack and eric schweig at his peak. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I really liked The Last of the Mohicans and In The Name of the Father but theyre both heavy films. Reply Parent Thread Link Just coming in to add TLOTM has an iconic soundtrack. And I love that movie because my sister loves that movie so I watched it a lot as a kid lol Reply Parent Thread Link I was obsessed with Last of the Mohicans when I was 14. The score is absolute magic. Reply Parent Thread Link In the Name of the Father is simply sublime. It's a perfect movie. The scenes with DDL and Pete Postlethwaite (playing DDL character's father) are riveting. Bonus points for an awesome soundtrack! I think I have to rewatch it tonight. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so old that I vaguely remember this. Reply Thread Link I have never liked the story of Romeo and Juliet. Having to read, write and watch about it in school AND keep hearing about it as the most romantic story EVER about 2 teenagers are enough for me. After highschool, I have never watched any version of this story. This movie was even on TV at one point and I just switched channel when I saw it. Reply Thread Link Also, growing up as East Asian, there's already an abundance of the romanticization of suicide in our media. Reply Parent Thread Link The fact that its viewed as some great romance instead of the tragedy if teenage hormones and stupidity it is kills me. The poetry is beautiful but romes especially is a dud. Reply Parent Thread Link It's honestly the reason I don't like Zeffirelli's version of the story (other than the fact that both minor actors were forced into doing nudity), like it's romanticizing it all a little too much for me. Whereas I liked that Baz Luhrman focused on the spectacle of it all + the rashness of all the youth (and the pettiness of the adults) in their actions/interactions that just created all that endless chaos Reply Parent Thread Link Joseph Fiennes was so fucking hot in that movie. WHEW!!! It was saying, "Ichabod- look over here now!", tugging at my crotch. Reply Thread Link i know shakespeare in love has a lot of bullshit surrounding it thanks to harvey and miramax but it's actually a great movie with a brilliant script and goopy was perfectly cast Reply Thread Link yeah I know everyone hates her now but she was so damn good in that movie lbr Reply Parent Thread Link She was good when she was an actress, and not a 'wellness promoter' ... Reply Parent Thread Link my problematic opinion is that i think goop is great in every movie Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I dont think it deserved Best Picture over Life is Beautiful and I think Blanchett was better that year but Goop was fun and Tom Stoppard definitely deserved that screenplay win. It was an innovative take on Shakespeare and the ending is fire. Reply Parent Thread Link stephen warbeck's score is amazing and i still put it on when i'm vibing at home Reply Parent Thread Link I really gotta rewatch it. I remember liking it more than Elizabeth, which had a great mood but wasnt quite great. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I love it! I rewatch it once a year probably lol Joseph Fiennes is perfect in the role. Yes, the Oscar for Goop was undeserved, but she was good in the role. The whole cast is great (even Ben despite his accent) And the score is so good. Reply Parent Thread Link I liked it a lot, a top-tier prestige Miramax tbh. Goop didn't work great in Emma, but here she's very good. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i rewatched it for the first time since 8th grade literally like two weeks ago and i agree! i remembered loving it as a kid and expected to enjoy myself but i was surprised by how much i fell in love with it. the script is very smart and knowing and self-indulgent in a fun, cheeky way its constantly winking but also totally earnest in its big dramatic emotions, and its above all clearly written by people who love shakespeare for real, not for some idealized vision of him as a Great Poet but for the things that actually make him pleasurable, his earthiness and horniness (romeo and juliet is SUCH a horny play) and, yes, silliness, and the way he includes silliness even in some of his saddest plays. i also just appreciated that it was a big budget lavish movie with sumptuous period costuming and a lovely score and a smart script that was also concerned above all with being FUN. like yeah its a period piece that won an oscar but its not an oscar-bait movie the way we think of them at all. i would vote blanchett over gwyneth for that year bc elizabeth was a tour de force but in general i think how annoying gwyneth is makes people forget that while shes not on the level of a blanchett or a streep (IMO) she really is quite good at acting and is delightful in this movie Reply Parent Thread Link goopy winning an oscar for that role is just laughable. Reply Thread Link i wonder who would have won all those oscars if harvey hadn't gotten so heavily involved in campaigning Reply Parent Thread Link The second best campaigner, unfortunately. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Imma say Scott Rudin, who is also a POS Reply Parent Thread Link 5 OEHS Professionals Die in Plane Crash The professionals, all employed by the same environmental consulting firm, were departing from Little Rock, Arkansas, when the incident occurred. Five occupational and environmental health and safety professionals died after a plane crashed late last month, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) reported. Aboard a small aircraft, Gunter Beaty, Kyle Bennett, Micah Kendrick, Glenmarkus Walker and pilot Sean Sweeney were flying from Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 22 when the plane crashed just a few miles outside of the airport they departed from, Arkansas station KATV reported. They were headed toward Columbus, Ohio, where a previous metal plant explosion resulted in worker injuries and one death. All five of the professionals were employees of CTEH, an environmental consulting firm. "We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues," Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH told KATV. "We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers." One of the professionals, Kendrick, was also a former member of AIHA. We are heartbroken by the untimely passing of our OEHS colleague Micah and his coworkers, Gunter Beaty, Kyle Bennett, Sean Sweeney, and Glenmarkus Walker, said Lawrence Sloan, CEO of AIHA in a news release. This tragedy is close to the hearts and minds of AIHA members and the OEHS community. All of us at AIHA extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims families, friends, and colleagues. KATV reported that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash and its cause, respectively. India last week stepped up its negotiations with the U.S. aimed at continuing to import as much oil from Russia as it requires, regardless of current and future sanctions against Moscow. This runs in tandem with Indias ongoing refusal to vote in favour of United Nations resolutions that condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. As recently as December, on a visit to Moscow, Indias Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stated: For us, Russia has been a steady and time-tested partner and, as I said, any objective evaluation of our relationship over many decades would confirm that it has served both our countries very, very well. Last week also saw Jaishankar meet with his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, at which both countries agreed to promote the improvement of relations between them. Back in 2020, when the U.S. was rolling out its relationship normalisation deals with Middle Eastern states as a counterbalance to ever-increasing Russian and Chinese influence in the region and wanted to use India as an alternative to Chinas backstop bid for oil, it was not how Washington thought things would play out. Back then in 2020, it had been around two years since the U.S. had unilaterally withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or colloquially, the nuclear deal) with Iran, which had allowed Russia and China to pick up the pace of expanding their influence across the Middle East even more than before. The U.S.s key ally in the Middle East, Israel, was becoming increasingly certain that Iran was no longer years away from being able to create a nuclear weapon but rather just weeks away around three weeks away, in fact. In several conversations with former President Donald Trump it was made very clear by Israel that if the U.S. did not do something to halt this progress then Israel would take matters into its own hands. Israel had already undertaken several covert missions under the bar that denoted outright war to delay Irans progress towards being nuclear weapon ready. The U.S. knew that any escalation by Israel against Iran over and above what it had been doing could well be a catalyst for a broadening and deepening of the conflict across the entire Middle East, which could eventually draw China and Russia into the conflict, in direct opposition to the US. This was, and remains, a conflict scenario in war planning on all sides that almost inevitably leads to global nuclear war. Those around Trump had forged a plan to counterbalance the U.S.s loss of direct influence in the key countries in the region and would also appease Israel, as analysed in depth in my last book on the global oil markets. This plan became clear on 13 August 2020 when it was announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would normalise relations in a deal that had been brokered by the U.S. The plan coincided with then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus announcing that he was suspending plans to annex more areas of the West Bank that Israel seized during the 1967 Six Day War. Related: Russia Remains Indias Top Oil Supplier For Fifth Month In A Row In the scheme of the broader strategy at play in these relationship normalisation deals, the U.S. and the Middle Eastern countries it was targeting with them required an alternative country to China to be the big backstop bid for oil and other hydrocarbons purchases. Chinas massive disparity between its enormous economy-driven energy needs and its minimal level of domestic oil and gas reserves had almost alone created the 2000-2014 commodities supercycle of rising commodities prices, including for oil. As late as 2017, Chinas high rate of economic growth allowed it to overtake the U.S. as the largest annual gross crude oil importer in the world, having become the worlds largest net importer of total petroleum and other liquid fuels in 2013. It was largely through leveraging this financial buying power initially that China had laid the groundwork in the Middle East for its multi-generational power-grab programme, One Belt, One Road (OBOR) in the Middle East. Beijing had augmented these efforts militarily where necessary through its geopolitical partner, Russia, and their key regional ally, Iran. India had been identified by the U.S. as the ideal candidate to take over this vital role in its new strategy based around the relationship normalisation deals for two key reasons, as also analysed in depth in my last book on the global oil markets. First, India had a long-running regional rivalry with China, which had just seen another bloody eruption back then in 2020. On 15 June that year, in the disputed territory of the Galwan Valley in the Himalayas, troops of China and India had clashed in what the U.S. thought marked a new push back strategy from India against Chinas policy of seeking to increase its economic and military alliances through the OBOR project. The U.S. believed that this military push back might also be echoed in Indias economic desire to finally make substantive progress on its Neighbourhood First policy as an alternative to Chinas OBOR initiative. Second, Indias role as the U.S. counterpoint to China in the Asia-Pacific region, led by its economic development and the corollary development of its demand for oil and gas, was further underlined by data released in the first quarter of 2021 by the IEA. This showed that India would make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25 percent over the next two decades, as it overtook the European Union as the worlds third-biggest energy consumer by 2030. Several major new deals between India and the UAE for which the U.S. also had high hopes at the time in its relationship normalisation process - followed shortly afterwards. All was seemingly going well with the U.S. plan until just before Christmas 2021, when three very bad things happened all at once. The first was that U.S. intelligence sources identified that China had been building a secret military facility in and around the big UAE port of Khalifa. Based on classified satellite imagery and human intelligence data, U.S. officials stated that China had been working for several months to establish a military foothold in the UAE. The second bad thing was that that Saudi Arabia was manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China. The third, as also analysed in depth in my last book on the global oil markets, was that Russian President Vladimir Putin had secretly orchestrated the signing of 28 investment deals between Russia and India during his visit to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. These deals included Russia, via state oil giant Rosneft, supplying almost 2 million tons of crude oil to Indian Oil, by the end of 2022, and several other oil, oil products, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals. The two countries also released a statement that: [We have] reiterated their intention to strengthen defence cooperation, including in the joint development of production of military equipment. Specifically, India stated that it would produce at least 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles the weapon of choice for terrorists and militias across the Middle East and elsewhere and that a 2018 contract for Russias S-400 air defence missile systems was being implemented. Quite what the reaction of CIA Director, William Burns, was to this trio of titbits has not been officially documented but one can assume that his enjoyment of his Christmas lunch was not as it otherwise might have been. It would also not have been helped by Indian Prime Minister Modi adding that: We have set a target of US$30 billion in trade [with Russia] and US$50 billion in investment by 2025. Aside from the abysmal goings-on from India in the past week or so, India had already been busy cementing its relationship with Russia since its invasion in February 2022 at a time when the key aim of the U.S. and its allies was to isolate Putin through increasing sanctions to cause financial repercussions for his actions. According to industry figures, the end of 2022 had seen a sevenfold year-on-year increase in Indias imports of crude oil from Russia up to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), from 100,000 bpd in 2021. Additionally, just over a month ago, Russian LNG giant Novatek stated that it is open to accepting payments in Indian rupees for any LNG term deal it signs with Indian gas entities. Novateks chairman, Leonid Mikhelson, added that his company was in talks with Indias state-owned gas utility GAIL and other Indian companies for LNG term deals in this context. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Offshore oil and gas drilling is a complex process that involves drilling into the seabed to extract oil and natural gas reserves. The process has been used for decades, with many countries relying on it as a source of energy. In this article, well take a closer look at how offshore oil and gas drilling works, where the best places to drill are, why we need to keep drilling offshore, its environmental impact, and ways to reduce its impact while still producing oil. 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In some areas where there are few other job prospects, offshore drilling can be a lifeline for communities. Economic Growth Offshore drilling also contributes significantly to national economies. The oil and gas industry generates billions of dollars in revenue every year, which helps fund infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and schools. In addition, countries with significant oil reserves can use their resources as leverage in international trade negotiations. The United States has become less dependent on foreign oil thanks to increased domestic production from fracking and offshore drilling. Advancements in Technology Technology has made significant advances in recent years that have made offshore drilling safer than ever before. Modern rigs are designed with safety features that prevent spills from occurring or quickly contain them if they do happen. Furthermore, companies have developed new techniques for extracting oil without harming marine life or disrupting ecosystems. For example, directional drilling allows companies to access reserves without disturbing the ocean floor or disrupting fish habitats. ADVERTISEMENT Environmental Impact of Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Offshore oil and gas drilling has become a major source of energy production in recent years. However, it also poses significant environmental risks. Here are some of the ways offshore drilling can impact the environment: Oil spills: Accidents can happen during drilling or transportation, leading to oil spills that harm marine life and damage coastal communities. Accidents can happen during drilling or transportation, leading to oil spills that harm marine life and damage coastal communities. Noise pollution: The loud sounds produced by offshore drilling equipment can disrupt the communication and behavior of marine animals. The loud sounds produced by offshore drilling equipment can disrupt the communication and behavior of marine animals. Air pollution: Drilling rigs emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the air, which can contribute to respiratory problems in nearby communities. Drilling rigs emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the air, which can contribute to respiratory problems in nearby communities. Habitat destruction: Building and operating offshore drilling facilities can harm sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs and wetlands. Despite these risks, there are steps that can be taken to make offshore drilling safer for the environment. Reducing Environmental Impacts While it may seem challenging to produce oil while minimizing environmental impact, some strategies can help achieve this goal: Investing in technology: Developing new technologies for detecting leaks, preventing accidents, and cleaning up spills can reduce the impact of offshore drilling on the environment. Developing new technologies for detecting leaks, preventing accidents, and cleaning up spills can reduce the impact of offshore drilling on the environment. Regulating operations: Governments can impose regulations on offshore drilling companies to ensure they follow best practices for safety and environmental protection. Governments can impose regulations on offshore drilling companies to ensure they follow best practices for safety and environmental protection. Using alternative energy sources: Investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels altogether. By taking these steps, we can minimize the impact of offshore oil and gas drilling on our planet while still meeting our energy needs. Conclusion Offshore oil and gas drilling is essential in meeting global energy demands today but must be done responsibly with minimal environmental impact. By utilizing improved technology designs that prioritize safety measures while reducing risk factors like spills through regular maintenance checks or employing quieter seismic survey techniques during exploration activities before any production begins, we can ensure responsible production without compromising environmental health concerns associated with this industry's operations. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The offshore oil and gas (O&G) sector is set for the highest growth in a decade in the next two years, with $214 billion of new project investments lined up. Rystad Energy research shows that annual greenfield capital expenditure (capex) will break the $100 billion threshold in 2023 and in 2024 the first breach for two straight years since 2012 and 2013. As global fossil fuel demand remains strong and countries look for carbon-friendly production sources, offshore is back in the spotlight. Offshore activity is expected to account for 68% of all sanctioned conventional hydrocarbons in 2023 and 2024, up from 40% between 2015-2018. Comparisons against this period are prudent as it predates the Covid-19 pandemic and related oil price crash. In terms of total project count, offshore developments will make up almost half of all sanctioned projects in the next two years, up from just 29% from 2015-2018. These new investments will be a boon for the offshore services market, with supply chain spending to grow 16% in 2023 and 2024 , a decade-high year-on-year increase of $21 billion. Offshore rigs, vessels, subsea and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) activity are all set to flourish. One of the leading global drivers is the sizable expansion of offshore activities in the Middle East. For the first time, offshore upstream spending in the region will surpass all others, lifted by mammoth projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. The areas offshore spending growth looks set to continue at least for the next three years, growing from $33 billion this year to $41 billion in 2025. These countries are tapping into their vast offshore resources to meet rising global oil demand, backed by the necessary capital and infrastructure to outpace other producers. Related: The Kremlin Will Not Recognize Any Price Cap On Russias Oil Offshore oil and gas production isnt going anywhere, and the sector matters now possibly more than ever. As one of the lower carbon-intensive methods of extracting hydrocarbons, offshore operators and service companies should expect a windfall in the coming years as global superpowers try to reduce their carbon footprint while advancing the energy transition, says Audun Martinsen, head of supply chain research with Rystad Energy. Although the Middle East is leading the way, South America, the UK and Brazil are just slightly behind. Investments in the North Sea from the UK and Norway will rise in the next two years. UK offshore spending is set to jump 30% this year to $7 billion, while Norwegian investments will hit $21.4 billion, an increase of 22% over 2022. Brazilian upstream spending is projected to approach $23 billion this year, with Guyana investments totaling $7 billion. In North America, spending on offshore in the US will top $17.5 billion and $7.3 billion in Mexico. Brazil state giant Petrobras plans to deploy 16 FPSOs across six fields before the end of this decade, while growth in the Guyanese Stabroek Block will also contribute to regional expansion. In long-term forecasts, Middle Eastern growth is set to continue, if not accelerate, while South American spending will slow in 2025. By Rystad Energy ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The United States wants to see the world producing more crude oil, including OPEC members. This is what a State Department official said on the sidelines of CERAWeek, noting that the global economy is recovering and more supply is necessary to meet demand. "As world economies recover, we'll see more consumption. And therefore we'd like to see supply meet demand," Jose Fernandez, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, Energy and the Environment, said, as quoted by the AFP. He then went on to add that this included output from OPEC+, which last year agreed to slash production by around 1 million bpd and has signaled it has no immediate plans to reconsider that agreement. The AFP report notes that although oil prices have retreated from highs reached last year in the first months after Russias invasion of Ukraine, they are still quite a bit higher than they were before the pandemic. The Biden administration released close to 200 million barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve to counter the price rally, which caused a spike in retail fuel prices - a move that prompted various reactions from experts. Now, the SPR is at 40-year lows and needs to be replenished but prices are too high for the U.S. federal government. The bigger and more global problem, however, is spare production capacity. This capacity was among the issues that U.S. energy executives and OPEC delegates discussed on the first day of CERAWeek. According to a Reuters report quoting one attendee, both executives and OPEC officials were concerned about spare oil production capacity and its sufficiency to meet growing oil demand. Some analysts have forecast that the global oil market will swing into a deficit in the second half of the year, driven by Chinas recovery, which will push global demand higher while supply lags behind. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Global interest in oil and natural gas related assets is still high, maybe even higher than ever before. In a statement made by Abu Dhabis national oil company ADNOC, the company stated that it had raised $2.5 billion from the initial public offering of its gas business. Until now, this is the biggest listing of 2023, showing that the Middle East, especially the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are in the spotlights of international finance. ADNOC also reiterated that the IPO has been 50X oversubscribed, as more than $124 billion worth of orders by investors have been received for the 5% stake in ADNOC Gas. The national oil company, which is the parent of ADNOC Gas, has priced the shares at 2.37 dirhams ($0.65) each after offering a range from 2.25 to 2.43 dirhams. With this price range, the value of ADNOC Gas is set at around $50 billion, the same value as U.S. oil and gas company Occidental Petroleum. The main driver behind the extremely high interest in ADNOC Gas is the global energy crunch, a big part of which is the gas market related. The impact of Russias war in Ukraine, combined with Western sanctions on Moscow, and the debilitating effects of renewables not being able to fill the gap left by Russia in Europe are the main drivers behind the gas crisis. For ADNOC Gas, the gas supply crunch is reflected in its financial figures for FY2021-2022, which show record earnings of $8.7 billion in the 12 months through October. Even at lower prices, global gas demand is expected to be strong, and prices are expected to remain elevated for at least until 2026. ADNOC Gas and others have been investing billions of dollars to keep up with expected demand in the future. The ADNOC Gas shares are expected to start trading on March 13. Related: Russia Plans To Mothball Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines The last week, due to the large interest of investors, ADNOC increased its offering size by 25%. High energy prices and a very positive outlook for the next years are expected to generate high cash flow, and new gas-related IPOs can be expected in the region in the next few years. The ADNOC Gas IPO is the most successful of the Abu Dhabi giant until now. Retail investors put orders in for $23 billion (58X oversubscribed). But the main investors are institutional investors, including Abu Dhabi state-linked firms, which committed to buy $850 million of stock in the IPO, such as Alpha Dhabi and International Holding. Just before the IPO, 5% of ADNOC Gas was transferred to TAQA, the state-owned power company of Abu Dhabi. ADNOC Gas will be focusing on reaping the rewards of Abu Dhabis gas reserves, which are the worlds 7th largest, as it targets to triple its LNG exports to 15 million tons per year. More IPO-related news can be expected in the next few months as other parties in the region will have been looking at the results and appetite of investors for hydrocarbon-related assets. Without any question, Qatar will be reassessing its options, as the worlds largest gas exporter is looking to retain its dominant role. Any additional share sales of its LNG-related companies would be a major boost for the country. North African gas producer Egypt may also consider public offerings. In order to reinvigorate its economy, Cairo could be assessing the option of publicly offering a stake in its fast-growing LNG industry to reap some additional cash without needing to ask Arab producers for a new tranche of financial support. The most surprising offering then could come from Aramco. As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been playing with the idea to offer more shares to the public, and the success of the ADNOC Gas IPO will not go unseen in Riyadh. A possible sale of another 2.5-5% of Aramco could be a very attractive proposition for the Saudis. The current high valuation of hydrocarbon assets and the need to finance megaprojects such as NEOM and Oxagon could be a great incentive for the decision-makers in Riyadh. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia started exporting diesel to Saudi Arabiaits ally in the OPEC+ groupin February, after Moscows key fuel export outlet, the EU, enacted an embargo on seaborne imports of Russian oil products on February 5, Reuters reported on Tuesday, quoting traders and ship-tracking data. Ahead of the EU ban on Russian petroleum products, Russia began to divert its oil product cargoes to North Africa and Asia, while Europe is ramping up imports of diesel from the Middle East and Asia to offset the loss of Russian barrels, of which it imported around 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) before the February 5 embargo took effect. Now, according to Refnitiv data cited by Reuters, at least three cargoes carrying 190,000 tons of diesel loaded in the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk in February and were headed to deliver the fuel to Saudi Arabia. According to traders who spoke to Reuters, the Saudis could export part of the Russian diesel to other countries after some refining. In February, Europe was on track to import the highest volumes of diesel from the Middle East and Asia in seven years as the EU turned to alternative supply after the ban on Russian imports. Just before the fuel embargo, Europe was buying more diesel from the United States and Saudi Arabia, yet Europe still remained the biggest buyer of Russian diesel in January. Estimates by S&P Global cited by BNE IntelliNews showed last week that Russias oil product exports dipped by 20% in February, hitting the lowest level since May last year. Russia has said it would reduce its oil production by 500,000 bpd this month in response to the Western sanctions, a move that may affect the level of its oil and fuel exports. According to JP Morgan, Russian fuel exports could slip by 300,000 bpd as a result of the EU embargo, but the bank added Russia could maintain production of crude oil at pre-war levels. It would be harder, however, to return to pre-pandemic levels of production, JP Morgan also said. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The European Union will make its first move as a buyers group on the international gas market next month as it launches the first tender for suppliers. The tender follows months of discussions on how best to secure natural gas supplies for the 27-member bloc in such a way as to avoid some member states outbid other member states because of their deeper pockets. The solution was found in what would effectively be a buyers cartel, shopping for gas as one. According to Bloomberg, the first offers, from gas suppliers in the United States, the Middle East, and Africa are to be signed in June. Price will be the sticking point in that joint buying exercise. One of the purposes of the whole endeavor was to keep gas prices low by buying in larger volumes. Besides, natural gas prices are currently a lot lower than they were a year ago. Yet the EU needs to buy a lot of gas and such bulk buying may very well push prices higher. The total gas needs of the EU plus four neighboring countries amount to 24 billion cubic meters over the next three years, according to European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic. This is a lot of gas to be sourced on the global spot market. We clearly need to turn the economic tide in Europe, Sefcovic told Bloomberg in an interview. I believe were creating a new system that will increase competition and bring in new suppliers and push energy prices down. Since we started this exercise, theres enormous interest from international suppliers. According to him, some 50 gas suppliers have expressed interest in participating in the EUs joint gas buying. There is also interest in joint buying from large industrial gas consumers in the EU, Sefcovic also said. Price, however, remains of crucial importance. Europe has been paying a lot more for its gas than the U.S., for instance, and China, according to Sefcovic. This needs to change if the bloc is to remain competitive on the world stage. What is increasingly important is that we have to deal with prices. We cant power our economy at such a huge price differential compared with the US or China, the official told Bloomberg. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Kremlin does not and will not recognize any price cap on its oil, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday after the U.S. said the Western price cap was working well. We do not and will not recognize any cap, Peskov told reporters in Moscow as carried by Russian news agency Interfax. Russia has taken its own measures in response to the price cap and is working to ensure that the mechanism doesnt harm its interests, Putins spokesman said. On Monday, U.S. Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein said that the price cap on Russias crude oil and oil products was working well. I think the beauty of the process is that it is working and that Russian oil and Russian products are being traded below the price cap, Hochstein said on the sidelines of the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, as carried by Reuters. Russian crude is still flowing to the global markets, but buyers are paying much lower prices for it, which shrinks Putins revenues from oil exports, the mainstay of his budget. Thats essentially the dual purpose of the price cap on crude as intended by the U.S. Administrationkeep the oil market well supplied and reduce revenues for Russia. Russias oil production and exports have been resilient so far, defying early expectations of a plunge in supply after the West agreed to impose sanctions on Russian oil to cut Putins revenues from energy sales. But Russias budget revenues are sinking due to the low prices of its flagship Urals blend, whose discount to Brent Crude has widened to $30 per barrel. Due to the low price of Urals in January, Russias budget was $24.7 billion (1.76 trillion rubles) into deficit in January, compared to a surplus for January 2022, as state revenues from oil and gas plunged by 46.4% due to the low price of Urals and lower natural gas exports, the Russian Finance Ministry said in preliminary estimates earlier this month. Budget revenues from energy sales including taxes and customs revenues plummeted last month to the lowest level since August 2020. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Matthew Ray is officially the interim superintendent for the Omaha Public Schools and will receive a $325,000 salary for the job. During a Monday meeting, the school board approved Rays employment contract, which begins July 1 and will end one day before a permanent superintendent starts. Rays total compensation package will be worth $462,575, which includes a $12,000 travel stipend. Cheryl Logan, the current superintendent, has a similar salary of $329,113, with a total compensation package of $516,618. This is a critical time for OPS. Our work for students and staff cannot be paused through a transition, said board member Ricky Smith. We must get this transition and larger superintendent search right. Ray was selected by the school board to serve in an interim role at a Feb. 22 meeting. He began his career in the district teaching at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary. Because Ray will still be the deputy superintendent and board secretary until Logan leaves at the end of June, the district also will be paying him for transition services. According to the contract, Ray will provide services beyond the scope of his current roles to facilitate the transition from the current superintendent from April 1 to June 30. This is work that will be assigned by the school board or Logan to help with a seamless transition. Ray will receive $250 for each day he provides services, with a maximum payout of $15,500 for 62 days of work. He will also receive a $3,000 travel stipend. Ray isnt the only interim superintendent to be hired in the state recently. Besides a few rural districts around Nebraska, the Grand Island Public Schools hired an interim superintendent in early January for a 17-month contract. OPS is still in the early stages of its superintendent search process, so there is no solid timeline of when Rays tenure as interim will end. OPS board members have said they have a goal of selecting finalists for the superintendent job by January 2024. Ray wont be involved in the superintendent search because he is also allowed to apply for the permanent job. The school board is scheduled to select a search firm to manage the superintendent search at its March 20 meeting. The board received proposals from six companies. Matt Ray has dedicated his entire career to the Omaha Public Schools, Smith said. He is uniquely qualified to lead us through this time. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023 FURNAS COUNTY, Neb. The Furnas County Sheriffs Office has opened an investigation into an incident in which a communications tower south of Oxford was intentionally destroyed. The Sheriffs Office said preliminary findings indicated intentional damage to a guide wire anchor that resulted in complete structural failure of the tower, owned by Strayer Communications, causing the tower to topple and fall to the east. Authorities were alerted to the damage Saturday. The suspect or suspects caused an estimated $575,000 in damage to the tower. Also, the Oxford Fire and EMS, Southern Valley Schools, Verizon Wireless and the Sheriffs Office all had equipment on the tower that was destroyed, the office said. The Sheriffs Office requested a forensic evidence team from the Nebraska State Patrol to collect evidence. Deputies have also filed for and received a preservation of cellular data from the tower in hopes of identifying a suspect or suspects. Several items of evidence were seized and will be examined at the Nebraska State Patrol crime lab. Local authorities contacted the FBI, which is considering investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism. Verizon was able to erect a temporary tower to provide limited cellphone coverage for the area. Furnas County was able to relocate the Oxford Fire and EMS channels to a temporary location. Southern Valley Schools and the Sheriffs Office are still trying to find a suitable location for their equipment. Oxford is about 53 miles southwest of Kearney. The Sheriffs Office requested that anyone with information on the incident contact authorities. The office can be reached at 308-268-2245. LINCOLN In spring 2015, Jeff Cooley was the conductor on a coal trail headed west out of North Platte. The train had just hit 50 miles an hour when he saw something on the track ahead. The engineer thought it might be a dead animal or maybe a turkey. After a few more seconds, Cooley noticed hair blowing in the wind and started the emergency braking process. The obstruction turned out to be a 4-year-old girl, sitting on the tracks, crying because her parents were fighting at home, Cooley said. The girl, fortunately, was unharmed. But the experience left the North Platte railroader even more convinced that trains need two-person crews to operate safely. Four eyes and two minds, they equate to a lot better decision making, he told members of the Nebraska Legislatures Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Monday. Cooley joined numerous railroad workers, local officials and supporters testifying in support of a bill that would mandate two-person crews at a minimum on trains in Nebraska. Legislative Bill 31 was introduced by State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, home to the Union Pacific Railroads Bailey Yard, the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Jacobson said last months derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio, underlined the reasons for the proposal. The derailment on Feb. 3 spewed vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals into the air, killing fish in nearby streams and prompting an evacuation. Initial reports have alleged problems with railroad safety technology that was supposed to alert the crew to the failure of a wheel bearing. This is a public safety issue as well as a worker safety issue, Jacobson said. But representatives of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the two major railroads in Nebraska, opposed the measure. Both said the issue should be handled through collective bargaining between the companies and employee unions. Rod Doerr, representing Union Pacific, acknowledged that contracts currently require two-person crews. But he said the railroad industry needs the flexibility to go with one person on a train as technology improves. He said U.P. is working on plans to redeploy conductors so that they no longer ride on trains but are stationed at key locations and able to respond to emergencies with trucks. Meanwhile, safety technology would ensure that engineers are alert and able to operate trains alone. Jeff Davis, with BNSF, made similar arguments, while assuring lawmakers that the railroad would stick with two-person crews until employees agree to change. We want to be free to work this out with our union to use the technology we have invested in, he said. Although the East Palestine derailment has brought increased attention to railroad safety, the issue of two-person crews is not new. The Federal Railroad Administration proposed a regulation last July that would require at least two crew members. More recently, the proposed Railway Safety Act of 2023 would include a national mandate for two-person crews. Measures similar to LB 31 have been introduced at least six times previously in the Legislature. A 2017 proposal was killed in committee. None of the others got out of committee. Nebraska lawmakers approved a legislative resolution in 2015 urging the federal agency to adopt a rule on appropriate train crew sizes that ensures public safety and promotes the efficient movement of freight, while supporting interstate commerce. The resolution, introduced by then-Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis, said the volume of freight transported by rail is particularly heavy through Nebraska, and these freight shipments include hazardous materials such as ethanol, chlorine, and Bakken crude oil. It said safety risks could be reduced by requiring train crews of at least two people. The hearing on LB 31 came as Gov. Jim Pillen urged the Nebraska Public Service Commission to refocus attention on railroad safety. He cited reports that the commission has left a railroad track safety inspector position vacant for two decades. Recently, there have been multiple railroad derailments in Nebraska while key railroad inspector positions have remained unfilled at the PSC for years, the governor said. I call on the PSC to refocus on its core duties and remain diligent in bettering rail safety. However, Commissioner Tim Schram said the Legislature has not approved funding for the position since 2011, despite numerous requests. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023 LINCOLN Nebraskas public schools would be required to display the words In God We Trust in areas where every student can see it under a bill proposed in the State Legislature. Legislative Bill 178, introduced by State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, would require Nebraska schools to display the national motto in every classroom or in another prominent place in each school building where each student is able to see and read it each day. The bill was the subject of a public hearing in the Legislatures Education Committee on Monday. Erdman has brought similar measures before, without success. Colby Coash, who spoke against the bill representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said Nebraska school boards already have the option of voting to display the motto in their schools. However, Erdman said he believes some boards are scared to do so. LB 178 is one of several bills this session that raised questions about the role religion should play in education. Several bills would indirectly aid faith-based parochial schools, and another bill would provide guidance for schools wishing to have a moment of silence during the school day, which critics have argued is a veiled attempt to allow schools to require prayer. Erdman argued that LB 178 had nothing to do with the establishment of religion, and was more about commemorating an important part of U.S. history. The national motto is not being taught and displayed in Nebraskas public schools, yet it plays an important role in our history and in our heritage, Erdman said. Still, many people who testified in favor of the bill did express support for teaching students about religion and prayer, along with promoting a positive outlook on the country and its future. Supporter Ward Greisen said faith has played a role in many notable points of the nations history. We know God is there, and to deny that I think would be wrong, Greisen said. Others, however, said requiring a prominent display in schools would violate students freedom of religion. Opponent Ron Cunningham argued that the United States was not based on a single religion, and that every individual should have the right to choose what religion they want to follow, if any. LB 178 does nothing to educate our youth, Cunningham said. But it does enable power. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023 The Nebraska State Patrol on Monday identified a 31-year-old Michigan man as the victim of last week's fatal shooting near Hartington. The investigation began after the Cedar County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call regarding a shooting Wednesday morning. They responded to a tower construction site 2 miles north of Hartington and found Israel Matos-Colon of Fowlerville, Michigan, with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the Nebraska State Patrol. Several crew members working on the tower were present at the time of the shooting and were attempting lifesaving measures when law enforcement arrived. Matos-Colon was transported to a hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, where he later died of his injuries. Investigators said they believe the shooting occurred during a workplace argument between Matos-Colon and David Phillips, 20, of Kenner, Louisiana. Phillips was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. He was lodged in the Cedar County Jail. The Sheriffs Office requested that the State Patrol conduct the homicide investigation. NORMAL Two men shot in a Normal apartment complex remained in critical condition Tuesday, police said, as an investigation into the shooting continues. Officers responded at 6:09 p.m. Monday to a report of shots fired at Orlando Northbrook Estates in the 700 block of West Orlando Avenue, according to a statement from the Normal Police Department. Police said the initial investigation determined that gunfire came from a vehicle that drove through the parking lot. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. On Monday night, residents at the scene reported hearing several shots in rapid succession but not any disturbance leading up to the gunfire. Sgt. Landon Richmond of the Normal police said evidence indicated the men were shot in the street in front of Building 4, which is at the north end the complex. One man went into that building and another headed south on the street to the area of Building 8, Richmond said. The buildings' entrances are about 200 feet apart. Police placed several orange traffic cones in the street and yard in front of Building 4, marking where evidence such as shell casings was found. They used yellow tape to cordon off the street from Building 4 to Building 8. Police cars also blocked the two entrances into the complex from Orlando Avenue. Members of the Normal Fire Department, Illinois State University Police Department, McLean County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police all assisted. TO HELP REPORT INFORMATION: Anyone with information is asked to contact Normal police at 309-454-9535. ANONYMOUS TIPS: You can provide information anonymously through the Normal PD app or by texting NORMALPD to 847411, leaving a space and then entering your tip. Today in history: Mar. 6 1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1964: Cassius Clay 1973: Pearl S. Buck 1981: Walter Cronkite 2002: Monica Lewinsky 2012: R. Allen Stanford 2016: Nancy Reagan 2017: Donald Trump 2021: Carla Wallenda How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago March 7, 1923: A petition to erect a large billboard along the south side of a lot at the northwest corner of Washington and East streets, which has been vacant for a number of years, met with disapproval of three members of Bloomington City Council and was deferred until a future meeting. The petition was presented by the Rue Motor company, which obtained rights from property owner Fred Wolkau Jr. Mayor Jones said the billboard would make Bloomington look like a hick town, and two others expressed disapproval. 75 years ago March 7, 1948: Henry Carlson, a resident of Sweden, felt like a man without a country during World War II. They wouldnt let him join the Swedish army because he was born in America, and he couldnt join the U.S. army because he was living in Sweden. He was eventually able to sign up for the U.S. army and started corresponding with a girl he had never seen, Miss Jeanne Shaffer of Bloomington. When he was discharged, he headed for the city, married the girl last year and started clerking at the Lang-Fuller Printing Co. 50 years agoMarch 7, 1973: The village board of Astoria, pondering for months whether to build an all-weather landing strip at Astorias small airfield, has decided to do so at once or have only limited service from a flying doctor. Dr. Rudolf Urban of Pekin, 56 miles away, has had difficulty landing his single-engine plane on the soggy grass strip, He is the only doctor for the Fulton County village with a population of 1,200, making noon-time visits twice a week. 25 years ago March 7, 1998: Illinois State University philosophy professor Thomas Simon will be part of history as he helps with the writing of the constitution of Albania. Simon, an attorney, is among legal scholars who have been invited to Washington, D.C., to help a delegation from Albania draft their constitution. Nothing brings out the hopes and fears of a nation more than trying to create a long-lasting constitution, said Simon, who has special expertise in human rights and judicial systems. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaru Sissoco Embalo, has commended Ghana for playing a leading role in the independence struggle on the African continent. He said the exceptional leadership demonstrated by Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, gave hope to many African countries in the independence struggle. At the 66th Independence Day celebration at Adaklu Tsrefe, near Ho in the Volta Region yesterday, Mr Embalo, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said Ghana remained a strong force Africa looked up to for democratic governance. Nkrumahs legacy is still valid for the whole of Africa, President Embalo, the special guest at the event said. He added that the people of Guinea-Bissau remained grateful to Ghana for supporting that country's democratic journey. Bilateral cooperation President Embalo said his country looked forward to greater bilateral corporation with Ghana towards improving the welfare of their people and social development in both countries. The celebration was on the theme: Our unity, our strength, our purpose. The special guest said he was highly honoured to take part in the Independence Day celebration as Ghana still stood tall with gallantry for the liberation of the African continent. The celebration took part on a carnival note with a large number of people from all works of life turning up at the venue long before sunrise. When President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo turned up at the venue soon after 10 a.m., the crowd burst into a state of euphoria with loud applause as he lit the perpetual flame. The day also featured thrilling cultural displays, with chiefs from more than 50 paramountcies in the region and others present. Among them were the Chairman of the Council of State and Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Otuo Siriboe II; the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Anfoega, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV; the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, the Awomefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri II; the Paramount Chief of Adaklu, Togbe Gbogbi Atsa V; the Paramount Chief of Ziavi, Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, and the Paramount Chief of Klefe, Togbe Kwaku Dzaga. Activities on the ground The Youth Resource Centre at Adaklu Tsrefe, near Ho, the Volta regional capital, was a sight to behold as the security agencies treated members of the public who converged there for Ghanas 66th Independence anniversary to artistic display of skills and drills. The 20 contingents drawn from the various security agencies, namely the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), as well as the National Ambulance Service (NAS) engaged in a quick match past, after performing various drills. The GAF, in particular, performed more drills and displayed essential skills, including risky rescue operations and gymnastic displays to the admiration of spectators. Besides the security services, 14 selected senior high and basic schools also took part in the march past at the centre. Displays The displays by the security commenced with soldiers from the physical training school of the GAF, based at the El-Wak Barracks. They engaged in physical fitness displays and rescue exercises. Led by Lt Paa Kwesi Owusu of the 66 Regiment, the officers engaged in a series of ground operations, including forehead springs, dive and roll in pairs, running handsprings in pairs, staggered dive and roll, front somersault in pairs as well as individual skills. The breathtaking moment of the gathering was when the soldiers took a dive and somersaulted through the loop with flames of fire around it. The team also engaged in gymnastic displays including the pyramid formation. As if that was not enough, the Special Force Unit of the GAF took the display to another level with deployments of ground troops to support an air assault team on a mock risky mission to rescue a government appointee from terrorists who are demanding hefty ransom. About 10 rescuers, with a Belgian-trained dog, Hazy, rappelled down a helicopter that hung about 70 metres from the ground to conduct the rescue exercise. Equipment Aside from the gymnastics, the security agencies also demonstrated their capacity to execute their mandate with the showcasing of sophisticated weapons, armored vehicles, fire-fighting equipment, helicopters, motorbikes for improved visibility and other resources. The Ghana Police Service also showcased some equipment and new units such as the Canine Unit and the Formed Police Unit, alongside crowd control vehicles and three helicopters. A 21-gun salute by the GAF was flooded by flypasts by a fighter jet, heralding the end of the parade and an invitation to the President to deliver the anniversary speech. With patriotic songs in a background, the gun salute was sounded amid cheers from the crowd. Cars and human beings competed for space at the venue, giving security personnel a hectic time controlling the crowd at the celebration which witnessed no untoward incident. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has urged Ghanaians to become an integral part of fighting corruption in the country. In a message to mark Ghana's 66th Independence Day Anniversary celebration which took place on Monday, 6 March 2023, the OSP said "corruption continues to undermine Ghanas democracy, development and independence" and that Ghanaians need to support to fight the canker. When you suspect corruption, say something to us. Together, we will make corruption a costly venture in Ghana, the office said. Yesterday marked exactly 66 years since Ghana attained independence from British colonial rule. The Independence Day Parade to mark the occasion was held in the Volta regional capital, at the Volta Regional Youth Resource Centre, located at Adaklu-Tsrefe - Ho. This year's celebration is on the theme: Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaians in New York City in the United State of America also joined their counterparts in Ghana in the celebration of Independence Day Celebration on the 6th, of March by hoisting a flag in a short ceremony in New York. The occasion saw New York City Mayor Eric Adams happily joining Consul General, Ghana Permanent Mission UN, New York, Hon Daniel Kingsley Atta Boafo hoisting the Ghana flag to commemorate the day. Hon Atta Boafo underscored the need to cherish and uphold the values of Ghana to sell the country to the world reiterating the respect the Mayor of New York City has for Ghana hence his visit to the country after winning an election. Ghana attained its independence in 1957 after being colonized by the British Empire. Since then Ghanaians have been commemorating this day every year by marching past Security Services, School Children, organizations, associations and market women. This year's own was held in the Volta Region of Ghana with the President of Guinea Bissau who doubles as the Chairman of the ECOWAS, H.E Umaro Sissoco Embalo Umaro as the Special Guest of Honor. Since time immemorial, Accra has been hosting the occasion every year but from 2019 to update, the event has been rotating from one region to another every year allowing Ghanaians in another part of the country to have a feel of the occasion. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the Independence Anniversary is a very historic day in the history of Ghana as they trace their road to sovereignty 66 years ago. He said many people have lost their loved ones through slavery saying many people have left the shores Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video African Students Union in Ohio University has announced Former President of Ghanaian Students in Hungary Gabriel Asante as Winner of the 2023 African Heros Award. His award according to the organizers was based on his hard work, advocacy initiatives and passion in fighting for cost -elimination in upper secondary level in Sub Saharan Africa as well as his contribution to the achievement of Goal 4 of Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations which according to them speaks volumes of his Pan Africanism. Mr. Gabriel Asante giving his Key note address at event under the theme The Rebirth of African Heroism revealed that about 60% of youth of upper secondary school age, that is, level 3 of educational level classifications, are not in school in Africa. He said these statistics are unacceptable and expect to achieve about 90 to 100% enrollment rate to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4.1 in 2030 adding that in the United States, for example, when we are talking about access to Education, we are talking about the tertiary level, not the high school. What is Africa doing, and what can Africa do to change this? We all have a role to play to change things, to solve this problem, and uniting for a common purpose is an essential component he quizzes. He recounted how through hardworking and zeal way back at his Hometown, Behenase, a community in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, he formed CONCERNED YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF BEHENASE in 2011 aimed at prioritizing education within the community. Our impact is that today, many youths in my Behenase Village have completed and attending Senior High School, thanks also to the free Senior High School policy in Ghana he added. He believed the youth can do much better with or without support to help with the growth of the education sector when they join forces. Garbriel Asante recalled that during the Ukrain Russian War with teamwork and unity, they managed to recue some Ghnaiam students who were affected by the war I realized my teamwork spirit was activated. UNITY. My mobile number was released out there by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that all those fleeing to Hungary can call for assistance. The first batch of students fleeing the War, numbering 26, were arriving on February 27, and about 200 more were on their way coming, per the information we had from them. In fact, it was a difficult moment he hinted. Ending his speech he implored African students all over the world, to start exploring and look at the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) describing it as a great vision from forebearers. Lets look at how we can utilize that great idea and the potential of AfCFTA in our respective small ways, in our communities and our countries. Lets trade among ourselves; lets do things in common. Thats the surest way to prosper and become a hero. To our traditional and political leaders, let us continue to prioritize Education. We should aim to educate the younger generations, at least to the upper secondary level. Primary and lower secondary school as the terminal point for compulsory schooling in many African countries must be re-looked at. We need to redefine compulsory basic Education to capture the upper secondary level. As Prof Putnam of Harvard University said, America is America today because of the provision of access to Education through free public senior high school to everyone as far back as the 1900s he said. AFRICAN HEROS AWARD The African Heros Award was created to mark and celebrate the release of the former and the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, from prison. As such, President Mandela became the first award recipient in 1991. Since then, the African Community at Ohio University has been nominating, voting, and giving the award every spring semester to an African or Africanist who is contributing to the development and advancement of the African continent and people of African descent on the continent or in the diaspora. Previous winners of this award included Her Excellency Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, former Permanent Representative of the African Union Mission to the USA and Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of African Diaspora Development Initiative; Dr. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, former Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and current Director of The Kenya School of Law; Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghanaian undercover investigative journalist; Dr. Ibrahim Soce Faal, Regional Emergencies Director of the Health Emergencies Program of the World Health Organization; Physician Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the founder of National Cardiothoracic Center and the Ghana Heart Foundation among others. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video At least 30 school children and security officers collapsed during the Independence Day parade in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, on Monday, 6 March 2023. Six of them, the Regional Coordinator for Non-Communicable Diseases, Mrs Lydia Owusu Ansah, told Class News Elisha Adarkwah, were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. The situation, she said, was a result of dehydration and loss of glucose, while others were hungry. The number of persons who collapsed, Mrs Ansah said, reduced this year due to advice given to the schools and the security officers earlier. The parade was held at the jubilee park in the Kumasi Metropolis of the region on the theme:" Our unity. Our strength. Our purpose". Six school cadets, six non-cadet, 13 basic schools, four volunteer organisations, and 11 state security contingents participated in the parade. Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah called on Ghanaians to unite and forge together to help the nation progress. Source: classfmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. The Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu-Gyan, is proposing the introduction of mandatory stopovers for drivers to curb the frequent road accidents on the Kintampo-Tamale highway. If implemented, the measure will require drivers to take breaks or stop at specific intervals while traveling on the stretch to help reduce driver fatigue and improve road safety. The move to implement mandatory stopovers for drivers comes after a fatal accident involving a Yendi-Kumasi bound bus and a trailer truck on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in between Babatokuma and Kintampo claimed twenty-one lives on the spot with one later dying at the hospital. Speaking at the accident scene, Kwasi Adu-Gyan, indicated that the plan is one of the many interventions that his outfit will be implementing to reduce the carnage on that stretch. He disclosed that most of the gory accidents involve vehicles traveling long distances so they are going to implement some measures which will be aimed at saving lives. One thing in the pipeline is the introduction of a mandatory stop because this driver was from Yendi and got involved in an accident here so it could be that the driver was exhausted or tired, it could be any of these things. He added that government will also be stepping up the upgrading of the Kintampo Government Hospital due to its strategic location to be able to attend to critical accident cases that occur on the stretch. Another thing we plan to do as a government is to facilitate the upgrading of the Kintampo Hospital to handle critical accident cases. Accidents on Kintampo-Tamale highway The Kintampo-Tamale highway has gained a reputation for being one of the deadliest roads in the country. According to statistics, the highway has been responsible for claiming the lives of over 150 individuals since 2016. In February 2016, a head-on collision between a Metro Mass bus and a truck resulted in 53 fatalities and 23 injuries. Similarly, fatal accidents in March 2019 and March 2020 claimed 57 and 27 lives respectively. 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 Automobile Assemblers Association of Ghana will host its maiden Automotive Summit on the 20th of March 2023, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) Grand Arena. The theme for the summit; Creating A New Economic Backbone for Ghana and The Sub-Region, will present the opportunity for leading experts and industry professionals in the sector to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the automobile industry. The summit will concurrently run along an exhibition of over 20 vehicle models locally assembled in Ghana by the members of the AAAG. We are delighted to host this maiden summit, which will explore the future of the automobile industry and the technologies and innovations that will shape it. This will provide us the opportunity as a country to discuss the issues and opportunities impacting businesses and the automobile industry as a whole, the AAAG President, Mr Jeffrey Oppong Peprah emphasised. The AAAG membership include Volkswagen Ghana, Japan Motors, Rana Motors, Kantanka Automobile, Silverstar Ghana, Stallion Group Toyota-Tsusho Company. Associate members are Toyota Ghana and CFAO Motors Ghana. The event will attract an audience of hundreds of senior-level representatives from across the breadth of the industry, including vehicle manufacturers, component manufacturers, engineers, government, the financial sector, insurance, global organisations, and the media. The panel discussions will address the key areas of focus for the automotive industry including sustainability, competitiveness, standards, the creation of a local used car market, component manufacturing, retail, auto financing, and insurance, amongst others. Speakers include senior executives from vehicle manufacturers, policymakers, and a host of content experts from automotive and aligned industries. This summit is proudly supported by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariate, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. This event which is strictly by invitation is also believed to provide attendees with valuable insights and opportunities to connect with other industry players. For more information, please contact the project team by email: [email protected] Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Dramani Mahama has explained why he was absent from Ghana's 66th Independence Day celebration at Ho in the Volta Region. According to Mahama, I just came from the Volta Region, and just when I was leaving they were preparing to celebrate the Independence Day. I have stopped going to Independence day because it has become a party jamboree. I went to Tamale and they told GBC to take the camera off me, they bussed their supporters in and filled the whole stadium. Speaking at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Professional Forum Dinner and Awards Night held in Accra on Sunday, March 5, continued I said I dont want to be part of this party jamboree. Independence is a solemn national celebration that is celebrated at Independence Square and everybody could come. Today, they bus their supporters in, they have party flags, and they are wearing party T-Shrts, I dont want to be part of the party jamboree. Nkrumah got us independence, I am a Nkrumahist, I will attend an Independence Day anniversary any day if it is not hijacked by one party, it is a national day for all of us, so I am not going to be there because I dont want to be part of an NPP Jamboree. You watch what will happen, they will bus their people there and occupy the whole place he added. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has met with the leadership of Ghanas Apostolic Movement over controversies surrounding the National Cathedral. In a post on his Facebook page, he wrote: Earlier today I honoured an invitation from the leadership of Ghanas Apostolic Movement to offer a comprehensive briefing on matters relating to the National Cathedral Scandal. The deliberations were extensive, transparent and frank in the best interest of our dear nation and our Lords Kingdom. I also received special prayers asking for the Lords fortification in the pursuit of what they described as my exemplary parliamentary oversight. I am profoundly grateful to these revered ministers of the gospel. Always, for God and Country Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former president John Dramani Mahama has asked president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take governance serious and to take control and command of the government. Mahama is particularly concerned about the state of the economy and the fact that government refuses to take any cuts despite begging for debt restructuring from external creditors. He lamented how the presidency reportedly spent over 15 million cedis on tyres and batteries of cars according to an official expense list submitted to Parliament. Portions of the list were released by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa months back. Its just a comedy. This government is jaguar jokers and until the president wakes up and takes control, he must take control and command, Mahama said whiles addressing party faithful during his campaign to win the National Democratic Congress flagbearership contest. There are 1000s of presidential staffers and personal assistantsall over the place writing stupid things on social media, he jabbed. This Akufo-Addo led administration are bunch of jaguar jokers - J.D Mahama#MetroNews pic.twitter.com/mWuqkhDAwM Metropolitan Television (@metrotvgh) March 6, 2023 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama on March 5, 2023 disclosed that he would not be attending Ghanas 66th Independence Day celebration in the Volta Region. According to the aspiring presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Independence Day celebration is a national event in the country but has unfortunately been turned into a political jamboree by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), hence his decision not to associate himself with political events. "I am not going to be in Ho because I don't want to be part of an NPP jamboree," the former President said, whilst speaking with the media concerning the celebration. The decision by John Dramani Mahama was met with mixed reactions from internet users. A section of them described the former presidents decision as apt and a bold statement, while others believe his absence does not show statesmanship. 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 On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Parliament of Ghana hosted representatives of the Electoral Commission, National Identification Authority and Ministry of Finance to debate on the proposed Constitutional Instrument (C.I) for voters ID registration. The electoral commissioner, Madam Jean Mensah during her presentation mentioned the laid out requirement for the exercise which is yet to take place. The ECOWAS Identity Card otherwise known as Ghana card appeared to be the basic and the sole required document for the voter ID registration. The proposed C.I also recommends registration centers will be cited at the commissions office at the various districts instead of the polling stations as in previous C.Is. This means that, every citizen of the age 18 years or more would have to move to the electoral commission office in his district with his Ghana card to register for the voters ID. Meanwhile, article 42 of the 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana guarantee citizens the right to vote. It states that every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda. However, under regulation 1(3) of the proposed C.I by the electoral commission states that a person who applies for registration as a voter shall provide as evidence of identification the national identification card issued by the National Identification Authority. This means that, the regulation by the EC seeks to restrain many Ghanaians from exercising their voting rights. According to the National Identification Authority (NIA) statistics, over 3.5 million cards have been locked up due to financial constraints from the government and other millions of citizens have not started the process yet. This means that, all persons at eighteen or more who are a victim of this would have their voting right seized by the EC only because they do not have the Ghana card. There have been so many factors to be looked at as far as the 1992 constitution is concerned. This proposed C.I is flawed. It has no credibility and it poses a threat in the coming elections. Many Ghanaians would have to travel miles to get to their district capitals where the EC offices are mostly located. This will make it very difficult for people who have the district offices at such distances to get registered thereby disenfranchising them. Coupling the distances with current economic state where almost everything is expensive will keep many eligible voters unregistered. In view of this, the leader of the 18Plus4NDC group, Miss Bridget Bonnie, has vehemently opposed the new proposal tabled before parliament by the EC and is asking members to disallow its passage. She argues that the new C.I will disenfranchise many young but qualified voters in so many ways. Miss Bonnie said that, the National Identification Authority (NIA) do not have offices in every district. This means that, to register for the card, one may have to move from one district to another district access NIA offices before they can register for their Ghana Cards. She believes will be challenging to young people who may not have the economic power to make such trips just register to obtain their cards, which the EC is proposing as the sole requirement for voter registration in the coming elections. Young eligible voters will be denied their mandate to vote with the new C.I she said, adding this will frustrate young people turning 18 but without the financial capacity to travel to available offices to obtain their cards. Moreover, Miss Bonnie has argued that, although there are NIA premium centers facilitating the process of obtaining the Ghana Card, it is quite expensive for many young people to obtain the services of such centers. It is therefore going to be pandemonic to insist on the national ID card for registering new voters. There are regions without NIA premium service centers and to access a premium center for a card, one must pay Ghc250.00, she said. If this is not properly done, it may lead to chaos come 2024. The E.C chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa, in parliament, has argued that, the Ghana card will be the sole document to register all new eligible voters that want to register for the voters ID card. She explained that, the position of the EC is to do away with the guarantor system because the guarantor system allows non- Ghanaians and under-age persons to register for voting. She also claimed passports and birth certificates are not prove of age and nationality, which is quite debatable. Another case of interest to the 18Plus4NDC is that, the current C.I makes it easier for registered persons to identify their polling stations just on the day of registration since the process is coordinated at the polling centers. This makes it easier on the voting day as new voters to be familiar with where to vote. In view of the above, the 18Plus4NDC insists that the EC is employing tactics to favor the current government by entrenching their mandate. The leadership of the group insists that, many youth will find it easier registering at known polling centers where they will cast their votes come 2024. It will be, therefore, frustrating to new voters who may register to vote at EC determined offices, far away from polling centers, to identify their polling stations on the day of elections. Ghanaians will be displeased in their members of parliament if they allow this C.I to hold. It is the fervent call of all Ghanaians and a constitutional mandate to vote when eligible and there should not be any law that will deter citizens from enjoying their rights. The members of parliament should not allow the EC to lay proposed C.I as it lacks credibility and put the safety of the country in danger. Our long existed peace and unity cannot be taken for granted. Source: Akudugu Haruna Ibrahim/student 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 Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM 1, the CEO of Zylofon media has stated that Ghanaian actress cum socialite, Efia Odo behaves just like the popular American television host, Oprah Winfrey. He made this statement after seeing how the actress composed herself when she appeared as a guest on United Showbiz on March 4, 2023, and is of the view that, she suits a corporate brand for ambassadorial deals. Being amazed by Efia Odos composure, he took to his Twitter page to applaud the actress. On his twitter page, he wrote, Who else have noticed how @Efiaodo1 seems very Oprah Winfrey like, on United Showbiz now on UtV based on her views and composure. Seems a perfect fit for a corporate brand ambassadorial endeavor. Kudos. Efia Odos attention was drawn to the tweet and upon seeing the message, she replied the businessman by asking if he is willing to sign her or not. You coming to sign this bad bitch or nah, her reply to NAM 1s comment about her. Nana Appiah Mensah 9(NAM 1) didnt hesitate to also reply her. According to him, he is ever ready to sign her because she has the voice and the qualities thus if he is given the opportunity, he wouldnt think twice to do so. He wrote, With a given opportunity why not?!. Sounds smart. Youre clearly a good Ghanian arts material, fits as a global business export, especially for the American market in all honestly. I would gladly welcome a synergy. Youre good. PLEASE DONT STOP. Check out NAM 1 and Efia Odo's posts below: Who else have noticed how @Efiaodo1 seems very Oprah Winfrey-like, on United Showbiz now on Utv based on her views and composure. Seems a perfect fit for a corporate brand ambassadorial endeavor. Kudos. Nana Appiah Mensah (@nam_the_patriot) March 5, 2023 You coming to sign this bad bitch or nah https://t.co/w1UW9LdA23 EFIAODO (@Efiaodo1) March 5, 2023 With a given opportunity why not?!. Sounds smart. Youre clearly a good Ghanaian arts material, fit as a global business export, especially for the American market in all honestly. I would gladly welcome a synergy. Youre good. PLEASE DONT STOP. https://t.co/22FsJqIE5B Nana Appiah Mensah (@nam_the_patriot) March 5, 2023 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 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Artist's rendering of the accretion disk in ULAS J1120+0641, a very distant quasar powered by a supermassive black hole with a mass two billion times that of the Sun. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser Astrophysicists in Australia have shed new light on the state of the universe 13 billion years ago by measuring the density of carbon in the gases surrounding ancient galaxies. The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, adds another piece to the puzzle of the history of the universe. "We found that the fraction of carbon in warm gas increased rapidly about 13 billion years ago, which may be linked to large-scale heating of gas associated with the phenomenon known as the Epoch of Reionization," says Dr. Rebecca Davies, ASTRO 3D Postdoctoral Research Associate at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia and lead author of the paper describing the discovery. The study shows the amount of warm carbon suddenly increased by a factor of five over a period of only 300 million yearsthe blink of an eye in astronomical timescales. While previous studies have suggested a rise in warm carbon, much larger samplesthe basis of the new studywere needed to provide statistics to accurately measure the rate of this growth. "That's what we've done here. And so, we present two potential interpretations of this rapid evolution," says Dr. Davies. The first is that there is an initial increase in carbon around galaxies simply because there is more carbon in the universe. "During the period when the first stars and galaxies are forming, a lot of heavy elements are forming because we never had carbon before we had stars," Dr. Davies says. "And so one possible reason for this rapid rise is just that we're seeing the products of the first generations of stars." However, the study also found evidence that the amount of cool carbon decreased over the same period. This suggests that there might be two different phases in the evolution of the carbona rapid rise while reionization occurs, followed by a flattening out. The Epoch of Reionization, which took place when the universe was "only" one billion years old, was when the lights came back on after the cosmic Dark Ages following the Big Bang. Before this the universe was a dark, dense fog of gas. But as the first massive stars formed, their light began to shine through space and reionize the cosmos. This light may have led to rapid heating of the surrounding gas, causing the rise in warm carbon observed in this study. Studies of reionization are vital to understand when and how the first stars formed and began producing the elements that exist today. But measurements have been notoriously difficult. "The research led by Dr. Davies was built on an exceptional sample of data obtained during 250 hours of observations on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory in Chile," says Dr. Valentina D'Odorico from the Italian Institute for Astrophysics, the Principal Investigator of the observational program. "This is the largest amount of observing time assigned to a single project carried out with the X-shooter spectrograph. "Thanks to the 8m VLT we could observe some of the most distant quasars, which act as flashlights, illuminating galaxies along the path from the early universe to the Earth." Rebecca Davies,. Credit: ASTRO 3D As the quasar light passes through galaxies in its 13-billion-year journey across the universe, some photons are absorbed, creating distinctive barcode-like patterns in the light, which can be analyzed to determine the chemical composition and temperature of gas in the galaxies. This gives an historical picture of the development of the universe. "These 'barcodes' are captured by detectors at the VLT's X-Shooter spectrograph," Dr. Davies explains. "This instrument splits the galaxy light into different wavelengths, like putting light through a prism, allowing us to read the barcodes and measure the properties of each galaxy." The study led by Dr. Davies captured more barcodes of ancient galaxies than ever before. "We increased from 12 to 42 the number of quasars for which we had high quality data, finally allowing a detailed and accurate measurement of the evolution of the carbon density," says Dr. D'Odorico. This major advance was enabled by the ESO VLT, one of the most advanced telescopes on Earth, and a strategic partner of Australia. "The study provides a legacy data set which will not be significantly improved until 30m-class telescopes comes online towards the end of this decade," says Professor Emma Ryan-Weber, a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) and second author of the study. "High quality data from even earlier in the universe will require access to telescopes like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) now under construction in Chile." Astronomers are using many different types of data to build a history of the universe. "Our results are consistent with recent studies showing that the amount of neutral hydrogen in intergalactic space decreases rapidly around the same time," says Dr. Davies. "This research also paves the way for future investigations with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which aims to directly detect emission from neutral hydrogen during this key phase of the universe's history." Professor Ryan-Weber says the research goes to the heart of ASTRO 3D's mission to understand the evolution of elements, from the Big Bang to present day: "It addresses this key goal: How did the building blocks of lifein this case carbonproliferate across the universe? "As humans we strive to understand 'Where did we come from?' It's incredible to think that the barcode of those 13-billion-year-old carbon atoms were imprinted on photons at a time when [...] Earth didn't even exist. Those photons traveled across the universe, into the VLT, and then were used to develop a picture of the evolution of the universe." More information: Rebecca Davies et al, Examining the Decline in the C~IV Content of the Universe over 4.3 = z = 6.3 using the E-XQR-30 Sample, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad294 Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Provided by ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Creative destruction. Top: Creative destruction as a mechanism of circular permutation; genes fuse, an ancestral fold is destroyed, and a daughter fold is created. This figure shows, in three-dimensions, (A) an ancestral fold (PDB: 5YYA), (B) the notional ancestral folds of the fused polypeptide (PDB: 5YYA), (C) the immature daughter fold of the fused polypeptide in which parts of the ancestral folds and some secondary elements have been destroyed and an immature daughter fold has been created (PDB: 7D4A, edited), and (D) the mature daughter fold (PDB: 7D4A), which has inherited some but not all supersecondary elements of the ancestors. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207897119 Proteins have been around a lot longer than we haveas building blocks of biological evolution, our existence depends on them. And now, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are applying a 20th-century theoretical concept to study how proteins evolve, and it might lead to the answer of one of humanity's oldest questions: How did we become us? Inside a typical human cell are tens of thousands of proteins. We need so many because proteins are the skilled laborers of the cell with each one performing a specific job. Some lend firmness to muscle cells or neurons. Others bind to specific, targeted molecules, ferrying them to new locations. And there are others that activate the process of cell division and growth. A protein's specific function depends on its shape, and to achieve its functional shapeit's native statea protein folds. A protein begins its life as a long chain of amino acids, called a polypeptide. The sequence of amino acids determines how the protein chain will fold and form a complex, 3D structure that allow the protein to perform an intended task. In the lab of Loren Williams, researchers are using "creative destruction" as a model for protein fold evolution and innovation. The term, coined by Austrian economist and political scientist Joseph Schumpeter in the 1940s, describes the deliberate dismantling of an established thing, like the wired telephone, to develop a new thing, like the smart phone. "We have protein structures that have evolved over almost four billion years, and we don't really understand where they came from or how they came to be what they are," said Claudia Alvarez-Carreno, a postdoctoral researcher in the Williams lab, which is called the Center for the Origin of Life, or COOL. "It's a very complex process forming these structures, and there are many hypotheses on how they could have emerged in early evolution." Out with the old, in with the new Alvarez-Carreno is the lead author of the paper, "Creative Destruction: New Protein Folds from Old," published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS. She and her co-authors (Williams, Rohan Gupta, and Anton Petrov) excavated the deepest evolutionary history found within the translation machinerywhich resides within all cells in the ribosome and is the birthplace of all proteins. The researchers provide evidence supporting the common origins of some of the simplest, oldest, and most common protein folds. It suggests a form of creative destruction at work, explaining how simple protein folds spawn more complex folds. They discovered that once a protein can fold and achieve its 3D structure, when it is combined with another protein which has folded into a different 3D structure, that combination can easily become a new structure. "So maybe it's not as difficult as we thought to go from one structure to another," said Williams, professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "And maybe this can explain the diversity of protein structures that we see today." In Schumpter's creative destruction model, developing "daughter products" involves the destruction of ancestral products. "Daughter products can inherit features of ancestors but can in essence be different from them," they write in the paper. In the smart phone example ancestral wired phones, computers, cameras, global positioning, and other technologies that are merged to create a daughter, i.e. the smart phone. The daughter inherits many features of the ancestors. These features, which interact in specific ways in the daughter, create new functional niches that were not accessible, or even possible, in the ancestors. "So, the creative destruction of protein folds might account for a lot of the diversity we see," Williams said. Molecular mergers Ever since the simplest and most ancient protein folds emerged on Earth billions of years ago, the number of folds has expanded to form the universe of protein function we see in modern biology. But the origins of protein folds and the evolutionary mechanisms at play pose central questions in biology that Williams and his team considered. For instance, how did protein folds arise, and what led to the diverse set of protein folds in contemporary biological systems, and why did nearly four billion years of fold evolution produce fewer than 2,000 distinct folds? The researchers believe that creative destruction can be generalized to explain a lot of this. In creative destruction, they explain, one open reading framethe span of DNA sequence that encodes a protein merges with another to produce a fused polypeptide. The merger forces these two ancestors into a new structure. The resulting polypeptide can achieve a form that was inaccessible to either of the independent ancestors, before the merger. But these new folds are not totally independent of the old. That is, a daughter fold inherits some things from the ancestral fold. This, broadly speaking, is what Williams and his team observed, and they think their creative destruction model has some application in studying diseaseproteins that fold improperly can impact the health of the cells and the human comprised of those cells. "For example, we think this process is important in the biology of cancerthere are many, many proteins that have fused and, we believe have refolded, in cancers," said Williams. "And there's the world of protein aggregation diseases, like Parkinson's or Alzheimers, and proteins that have not folded correctly, or have refolded." But right now, Williams and his team are most interested in how their creative destruction model helps them understand some of the deepest questions of our evolution. "Like, where did we come from," Williams said. "Creative destruction could help us understand where the proteins in our body came and how we came to be what we are." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Illustration of 2 image acquisition types. (A) Ground-level acquisition. (B) UAV acquisition. Credit: Plant Phenomics (2023). DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0017 The selective breeding of grain crops is one of the main reasons why domesticated plants produce such excellent yields. Selecting the best candidates for breeding is, however, a remarkably complex task. On one hand, it requires a skilled breeder with trained eyes to assess plant resistance to disease and pests, crop growth, and other factors. On the other hand, it also requires precise tool-assisted measurements such as grain size, mass, and quality. Although all these standard measures are useful, none of them takes into account the number of panicles or 'heads' per plant. Head density is closely related to crop yield in most cases, and it could easily be a staple characteristic to measure in breeding programs. However, estimating the number of heads per plant and per unit area is very time consuming and requires tedious manual work. To address this issue, many researchers have developed machine learning models that can automatically detect individual heads on grain crops in images taken either at ground level or by drones. While these models are aimed at simplifying the otherwise manual counting process in the field, the reality is that they are usually trained in limited testing conditions and focus exclusively on head detection without providing more metrics. In other words, using these models outside of the context in which they were developed and trained can be difficult, tedious, and even yield poor results. Against this backdrop, a research team including Professor Scott Chapman from The University of Queensland, Australia, sought to promote deep-learning models for head counting by providing a detailed pipeline outlining their use. As explained in their paper, which was recently published in Plant Phenomics, this pipeline covers most of the quirks and challenges that one could find when using these models. "We took various real-world variables into consideration, including data preparation, model validation, inference, and how to derive yield-specific metrics," explains Chapman, "We aimed to outline a practical and end-to-end pipeline for head detection in sorghum." There are two variants to the proposed pipeline, which are demonstrated by way of two independent illustrative experiments. In the first one, the researchers show how one should proceed if one needed to prepare training, testing, and validation datasets for a given machine learning model from scratch. This is usually the case when publicly available datasets are not suitable for the target field, which can happen, for example, when one is dealing with a different stage in plant development than the available datasets. In the second experiment, the team showcases the steps required to use various pre-trained deep-learning models for sorghum head detection and/or counting. They demonstrate how the detection results (that is, the output of models that only outline sorghum heads on a set of given images) can be 'stitched together' into larger mosaic images. This enables one to observe and analyze large areas more easily and calculate important metrics, such as head density per tilling row or per square meter. "Our pipeline produces a high-resolution head density map that can be used for the diagnosis of agronomic variability within a field without relying on commercial software," highlights Chapman. Overall, this study will be useful to researchers and people involved in the agricultural industry alike. Not only it explains how deep learning models can be leveraged to assess grain crops more efficiently, but it also helps unlock new functionalities for camera-equipped drones in agriculture. Worth noting, the proposed pipeline could be adapted to other plants besides sorghum, as Chapman remarks: "Although we demonstrated our pipeline in a sorghum field, it can be generalized to other grain species. In future works, we intend to test our pipeline on tasks involving other grain types, such as wheat and maize yield estimation." More information: Chrisbin James et al, From Prototype to Inference: A Pipeline to Apply Deep Learning in Sorghum Panicle Detection, Plant Phenomics (2023). DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0017 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Proxy dataindirect records of the Earth's climate found in unlikely places like coral, pollen, trees and sedimentsshow interesting oscillations approximately every 100,000 years starting about one million years ago. Strong changes in global ice volume, sea level, carbon dioxide concentration, and surface temperature indicate cycles of a long, slow transition to a glacial period and an abrupt switch to a warm and short interglacial period. Milutin Milankovitch hypothesized that the timing of these cycles was controlled by the orbital parameters of the Earth, including the shape of its path around the sun and the tilt of the planet. A slightly closer orbit or more tilted planet could create a small increase in solar radiation and a feedback loop that leads to massive changes in climate. This idea suggests that there may be some predictability in the climate, a notoriously complex system. In the journal Chaos, Stefano Pierini of Parthenope University of Naples proposed a new paradigm to simplify the verification of the Milankovitch hypothesis. "The main motivation behind this study was the wish to characterize and illustrate the Milankovitch hypothesis in a simple, elegant, and intuitive way," Pierini said. Many models suggest that Milankovitch is correct; however, such methods are often detailed and study specific. They incorporate climate feedback loopsfor example, increased ice cover reflects more radiation back into space, leading to further cooling and more ice coveras threshold crossing rules. This means that an abrupt jump in climate only occurs once a parameter reaches a given tipping point. Pierini's "deterministic excitation paradigm" combines the physics concepts of relaxation oscillation and excitability to link Earth's orbital parameters and the glacial cycles in a more generic way. The relaxation oscillation component describes how the climate slowly returns to its original glacier state after it is disturbed. At that point, the excitability piece of the model captures the external orbital changes and triggers the next glacial cycle. By using his own threshold crossing rules and adopting a classical energy-balance model, Pierini obtained correct and robust timing of the most recent glacial cycles. "The application of the deterministic excitation paradigm in the present basic formulation can explain the timing of the last four glacial terminations," he said. "Extending the same analysis to the whole Pleistocene will be the subject of a future investigation." Pierini believes similar methods could be used in other fields of nonlinear science and in connection with other climate phenomena. The article "The deterministic excitation paradigm and the late Pleistocene glacial terminations" is authored by Stefano Pierini. It is published in Chaos on March 7, 2023. More information: The deterministic excitation paradigm and the late Pleistocene glacial terminations, Chaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science (2023). DOI: 10.1063/5.0127715 Journal information: Chaos This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The injection of bubbles from waves breaking in turbulent and cold high-latitude regions of the high seas is an underappreciated way in which atmospheric gases are transported into the interior ocean. An improved mechanistic understanding of gas exchange in high latitudes is important for several reasons, including to better constrain climate models that are used to predict changes in the ocean inventory of key gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide. A new WHOI-led study, "Dissolved gases in the deep North Atlantic track ocean ventilation processes", published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, combines new geochemical tracers and ocean circulation models to investigate the physics by which atmospheric gases get into the deep ocean. The study uses a new technique to precisely measure noble gas isotopes dissolved in samples of seawater collected from as deep as 4.5 kilometers in the North Atlantic. Noble gasesthe elements on the far right-hand side of the periodic tableare unreactive and unused by biology, making them useful tracers of physics. Noble gases are neither added nor removed from water after the exchange with the atmosphere at the sea-surface. As a result, measuring dissolved noble gases in the deep North Atlantic off the coast of Bermuda tells scientists about the physics of gas exchange that happened in special regions like the Irminger Sea, where the surface ocean becomes dense enough under stormy wintertime conditions to sink and form deep water that slowly flows south. Alan Seltzer, lead author of the paper, said these new findings suggest that the dissolution of bubbles in the high-latitude ocean "may be the dominant pathway by which all of the noble gases, oxygen, and nitrogen get into the deep ocean." This study is a step forward toward understanding the basic physics by which gases get into the ocean, said Seltzer, an assistant scientist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). "Anything we can do to improve the accuracy of the way models represent our world is helpful, especially when it has to do with gases," he said. "We care about oxygen for global ecosystems, and we care about CO 2 because the ocean is a huge player in taking up our emissions. So if we can improve the way models represent physical processes such as gas exchange, we can have more confidence in future simulations with models as a way of predicting how things will change in a warmer world with more CO 2 ." "Understanding how the ocean takes up and releases gases to the atmosphere is a challenging but critically important step toward predicting their response to climate change. Being chemically and biologically inert, noble gases are powerful tools for probing the physical processes involved," said journal article co-author William Jenkins, an emeritus research scholar in WHOI's Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department. "The Seltzer et al. paper is an important step forward in this journey in that it combines new high-precision noble gas concentration and isotope ratio measurements that are key to unlocking an understanding of these vital processes. Their results also shed light on the oceanic nitrogen cycle, which is both important for climate change issues, but also our fundamental understanding of how ocean food web is supported." Measurements for the study come from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) site (3140 N, 6410 W), where repeat cruises have surveyed the ocean from top to bottom nearly monthly since 1988. The BATS site is an ideal place to collect samples, because it is located downstream of deep-water formation regions. Deep-ocean noble gas concentrations at the BATS site allow scientists to study gas exchange during wintertime events where the deep ocean is formed as surface waters cool and become more dense. Under these harsh conditions, direct observations are challenging and scarce, which is why measurements from the deep ocean in warmer, more southern locations are so valuable. Seltzer said a way to understand why bubbles play such a huge role in transporting noble gases, oxygen, and nitrogen into the deep ocean is to realize that "every time a wave breaks, that massively increases the available surface area for the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the ocean." "The exchange of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases between the deep oceanapproximately 75% of the total ocean volumeand the atmosphere occurs at high latitudes during winter, particularly during storm events. Measurements of inert noble gas concentrations in the deep North Atlantic Ocean documented the importance of large bubbles that form during windy storm events, significantly increasing our understanding of the gas exchange rate for the deep water," said co-author William Smethie, special research scientist and retired research professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. "This improves our ability to quantify the exchange of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases between the ocean and atmosphere and predict how their atmospheric concentrations will impact the earth's climate, which is critical for developing policies to mitigate global warming." More information: Alan M. Seltzer et al, Dissolved gases in the deep North Atlantic track ocean ventilation processes, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217946120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Map of the Phlegraean volcanic fields (left), with details of carbon dioxide emissions from Solfatara crater (right). Source: G. Buono et al., 2023. Credit: Source: G. Buono et al., 2023. The Phlegraean volcanic fields just west of Naples, Italy, are among the top eight emitters of volcanic carbon dioxide in the world. Since 2005, the Solfatara craterone of many circular depressions in the landscape left by a long history of eruptionshas been emitting increased volumes of gas. Today it emits 4,000-5,000 tons of carbon dioxide each day, equivalent to the emissions from burning approximately 500,000 gallons of gasoline. In a new paper published ahead of print in Geology, researchers estimate that as much as 20%40% of the current carbon dioxide emissions are from the dissolution of calcite in the rocks, while 60%80% is from underground magma. "Estimating the source of the carbon dioxide is important to properly reconstruct what is happening in the magmatic system and the hydrothermal system," says Gianmarco Buono, a volcanologist at Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology and lead author of the study. "Our aim is to provide a tool to better discriminate the contribution of magmatic and non-magmatic carbon dioxide that can also be applied to other systems." When magma moves toward Earth's surface, the decreasing pressure on the magma results in degassingthe release of gases that were previously trapped inside the magmaincluding water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Scientists monitor volcanoes for unrest and possible eruptions using a variety of observationsdetecting earthquakes and tremors related to magma movement, taking detailed measurements of ground deformation, and assessing the types and volumes of gases released at the surface from fumaroles, which are openings in the earth that emit steam and other gases. Eruptions are often preceded by increased fluxes of gas, but that does not mean that every increase in gas emissions will be followed by an eruption. It is also possible for carbon dioxide to come from sources besides magma. Interaction between hot underground fluids and host rocks can also release carbon dioxide. Fumaroles at Solfatara crater. Source: Lucia Pappalardo (INGV). Credit: Source: Lucia Pappalardo (Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology). The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has been monitoring gas emissions from Solfatara crater since 1983, providing a long record of the changes in volume and composition of the gases released there. By comparing ratios of nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide in the emissions, researchers had previously established that the gases were coming from deep sources of magma. "We focused mainly on geochemical variation, especially for carbon dioxide, helium, and nitrogen, because they are non-reactive species. They contain information about what is happening in the magma," explains Buono. But when the region started experiencing increased unrest in 2005, the data began to deviate from the chemical fingerprints of the magmas, a trend that continued to increase over time alongside rising temperatures in the shallow hydrothermal system. The unrest continued, and in 2012 the alert level was raised from green to yellow, indicating that there is heightened activity but not an imminent threat of eruption. In addition to small earthquakes and higher gas emissions, the region also experienced deformation of the ground surface. Circulation of hot fluids underground could explain the rising temperatures, ground deformation, and increased gas emissionsinteraction of hot acidic fluids with calcite in the rocks also releases carbon dioxide. Drill cores of the rocks from previous studies reveal that calcite in the rocks has similar composition to the gas emissions. The researchers estimate that 20%40% of the carbon dioxide at the Solfatara crater site was from removal of the calcite in the host rock. The Phlegraean Fields have hosted volcanic activity since first erupting approximately 40,000 years ago, with the most recent eruption in 1538. There have been several unrest phases since the 1950s. The current research is part of a strategic project by the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, LOVE-CF: Linking surface Observables to sub-Volcanic plumbing-system: a multidisciplinary approach for Eruption forecasting at Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy). More information: Gianmarco Buono et al, Discriminating carbon dioxide sources during volcanic unrest: The case of Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy), Geology (2023). DOI: 10.1130/G50624.1 Journal information: Geology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The fossil extinct giant ant Titanomyrma from Wyoming that was discovered over a decade ago by SFU paleontologist Bruce Archibald and collaborators at the Denver Museum. The fossil queen ant is next to a hummingbird, showing the huge size of this titanic insect. Credit: Bruce Archibald Simon Fraser University scientists say their research on the latest fossil find near Princeton, B.C. is raising questions about how the dispersal of animals and plants occurred across the Northern Hemisphere some 50 million years ago, including whether brief intervals of global warming were at play. The fossil was discovered by Princeton resident Beverly Burlingame and made available to the researchers through the town's museum. Researchers say it is the first Canadian specimen of the extinct ant Titanomyrma, whose biggest species was surprisingly gigantic, with the body mass of a wren and a wingspan of half a foot. SFU paleontologists Bruce Archibald and Rolf Mathewes, together with Arvid Aase of Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming, have published their research on the fossil in the current edition of The Canadian Entomologist. A decade earlier, Archibald and collaborators discovered a gigantic Titanomyrma fossil from Wyoming in a museum drawer in Denver. "This ant and the new fossil from British Columbia are close in age to other Titanomyrma fossils that have been long known in Germany and England," says Archibald. "This raises the questions of how these ancient insects traveled between continents to appear on both sides of the Atlantic at nearly the same time." Europe and North America were connected by land across the Arctic then, as the North Atlantic had not yet opened enough by continental drift to fully separate them. But was the ancient far-northern climate suitable for their passage? The scientists found that the ancient climates were hot where these ants lived in Wyoming and Europe. They further found that modern ants with the biggest queens also inhabit hot climates, leading them to associate large size in queen ants with high temperatures. This creates a problem, however, as although the ancient Arctic had a milder climate than today, it still wouldn't have been hot enough to allow Titanomyrma to pass. The giant fossil queen ant Titanomyrma, recently discovered in the Allenby Formation near Princeton, British Columbia, the first of its kind in Canada. Credit: Bruce Archibald New findings build on earlier research The researchers suggested in 2011 that this might be explained by geologically brief intervals of global warming around the time of Titanomyrma called "hyperthermals" creating short-term intervals of friendly conditions for them to cross. They then predicted that Titanomyrma wouldn't be found in the ancient temperate Canadian uplands, as it would have been cooler than Titanomyrma appears to have required. But now one has been discovered there. The story becomes more complicated and interesting, as the new Canadian fossil was distorted by geological pressure during fossilization, so its true life size can't be established. It might have been gigantic like some of the largest Titanomyrma queens, but it could equally be reconstructed as smaller. "If it was a smaller species, was it adapted to this region of cooler climate by reduction in size and gigantic species were excluded as we predicted back in 2011?" says Archibald. "Or were they huge, and our idea of the climatic tolerance of gigantic ants, and so how they crossed the Arctic, was wrong?" Archibald says the research is helping scientists better understand how B.C.'s community of animals and plants were forming when climate was much different. "Understanding how life dispersed among the northern continents in a very different climate 50 million years ago in part explains patterns of animal and plant distribution that we see today," says Archibald. "Titanomyrma may also help us better understand how global warming could affect how the distribution of life may change. To prepare for the future, it helps to understand the past." He adds, "We'll need to find more fossils. Do our ideas of Titanomyrma's ecology, and so of this ancient dispersal of life, need revision? For now, it remains a mystery." More information: S. Bruce Archibald et al, Eocene giant ants, Arctic intercontinental dispersal, and hyperthermals revisited: discovery of fossil Titanomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formiciinae) in the cool uplands of British Columbia, Canada, The Canadian Entomologist (2023). DOI: 10.4039/tce.2022.49 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Tissue chambers loaded into a plate habitat designed for research aboard the International Space Station. Credit: Deok-Ho Kim and Devin Mair, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers are collaborating with NASA to send human heart "tissue-on-a-chip" specimens into space as early as March. The project is designed to monitor the tissue for changes in heart muscle cells' mitochondria (their power supply) and ability to contract in low-gravity conditions. The tissue samples will be launched into space aboard SpaceX CRS-27, a resupply mission to the International Space Station, slated for liftoff no earlier than Tuesday, March 14, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Astronauts on board during the mission will also introduce three FDA-approved medicines to the samples in efforts to prevent heart cell changes known or suspected to occur in those undertaking long-duration spaceflights. "It's possible that what we learn from these experiments in space could also inform how we treat age-related cardiac problems," says Deok-Ho Kim, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, because many heart cellular changes already detected in space explorers mimic changes linked to heart muscle aging in general. To develop the micro-engineered human heart tissue-on-a-chip, researchers begin with human induced pluripotent stem cells grown in the laboratory. Such cells are able to develop into nearly any type of cell, and are coaxed biologically to develop into beating human cardiomyocytes, the muscle cells that make hearts contract. Groups of cardiomyocytes form tissue that can be strung between two posts, one flexible and one stiff. The flexible post has an embedded magnet and, when placed over sensors, allows for collection of information on tissue contraction. The chamber enclosing the tissue is sealed so that liquid media feeding the tissue doesn't float away in space. These tissue chambers are then loaded into so-called plate habitats with the magnetic sensors located beneath the tissue. The experimental payload consists of two of these plate habitats, which measure about 7 inches long, 5 inches tall and 4 inches wide. Kim, his previous postdoctoral researcher Jonathan Tsui, and his doctoral student Devin Mair previously sent heart tissue into space in March 2020. Those experiments, presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society-Americas 2022 Annual Meeting, showed that microgravity in space changed the cells' mitochondria and the tissues' ability to contract. In the new experiments with their micro-engineered human heart tissues-on-a-chip, the scientists will focus on the proteins activated during tissue inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. The astronauts aboard the space station will also test whether any of three medicines can stave off the problems anticipated in space-bound heart cells. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This map shows mean net emissions and removals of carbon dioxide from 2015 to 2020 using estimates informed by NASAs OCO-2 satellite measurements. Countries where more carbon dioxide was removed than emitted appear as green depressions, while countries with higher emissions are tan or red and appear to pop off the page. Credit: NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio A pilot project has estimated emissions and removals of carbon dioxide in individual nations using satellite measurements. A NASA Earth-observing satellite has helped researchers track carbon dioxide emissions for more than 100 countries around the world. The pilot project offers a powerful new look at the carbon dioxide being emitted in these countries and how much of it is removed from the atmosphere by forests and other carbon-absorbing "sinks" within their borders. The findings demonstrate how space-based tools can support insights on Earth as nations work to achieve climate goals. The international study, published in Earth System Science Data and conducted by more than 60 researchers, used measurements made by NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission, as well as a network of surface-based observations, to quantify increases and decreases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from 2015 to 2020. Using this measurement-based (or "top-down") approach, the researchers were then able to infer the balance of how much carbon dioxide was emitted and removed. Although the OCO-2 mission was not specifically designed to estimate emissions from individual nations, the findings from the 100-plus countries come at an opportune time. The first Global Stocktakea process to assess the world's collective progress toward limiting global warming, as specified in the 2015 Paris Agreementtakes place in 2023. This animation shows yearly fossil fuel emissions by more than 100 countries from 2015 to 2020. Countries with high emissions, including the U.S. and China (seen here in dark red), appear to pop from the page, compared to those with lower emissions. Credit: NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio "NASA is focused on delivering Earth science data that addresses real world climate challengeslike helping governments around the world measure the impact of their carbon mitigation efforts," said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA's Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This is one example of how NASA is developing and enhancing efforts to measure carbon emissions in a way that meets user needs." Traditional activity-based (or "bottom-up") approaches to carbon measurement rely on tallying and estimating how much carbon dioxide is being emitted across all sectors of an economy, such as transportation and agriculture. Bottom-up carbon inventories are critical for assessing progress toward emission-reduction efforts, but compiling them requires considerable resources, expertise, and knowledge of the extent of the relevant activities. This map illustrates changes in the amount of carbon stored in organic matter on land, called terrestrial carbon stock changes, from 2015 to 2020. Activities such as improved land stewardship and deforestation, which is more extensive in the tropics than other regions, affect these stock changes. Credit: NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio This is why developing a database of emissions and removals via a top-down approach could be especially helpful for nations that lack traditional resources for inventory development, the study authors assert. In fact, the scientists' findings include data for more than 50 countries that have not reported emissions for at least the past 10 years. The study provides a new perspective by tracking both fossil fuel emissions and the total carbon "stock" changes in ecosystems, including trees, shrubs, and soils. The data is particularly useful for tracking carbon dioxide fluctuations related to land cover change. Emissions from deforestation alone make up a disproportionate amount of total carbon output in the Global South, which encompasses regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. In other parts of the world, the findings indicate some reductions in atmospheric carbon concentrations via improved land stewardship and reforestation. The authors said that bottom-up methods for estimating carbon dioxide emissions and removals from ecosystems are essential. However, those methods are vulnerable to uncertainty when data is lacking or the net effects of specific activities, such as logging, aren't fully known. "Our top-down estimates provide an independent estimate of these emissions and removals, so although they cannot replace the detailed process understanding of traditional bottom-up methods, we can check both approaches for consistency," said Philippe Ciais, a study author and research director at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement in France. Tracking carbon The study offers a complex picture of carbon moving through Earth's land, ocean, and atmosphere. In addition to direct human impacts accounted for by national inventories, unmanaged ecosystems like some tropical and boreal forestswhere humans have a minimal footprintcan sequester carbon from the atmosphere, thus reducing potential global warming. "National inventories are intended to track how management policies impact emissions and removals of CO 2 ," said study author Noel Cressie, a professor at the University of Wollongong in Australia. "However, the atmosphere doesn't care whether CO 2 is being emitted from deforestation in the Amazon or wildfires in the Canadian Arctic. Both processes will increase the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 and drive climate change. Therefore, it is critical to monitor the carbon balance of unmanaged ecosystems and identify any changes in carbon uptake." Looking forward, the researchers said their pilot project can be further refined to understand how emissions from individual nations are changing. "Sustained, high-quality observations are critical for these top-down estimates," said lead author Brendan Byrne, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "Continued observations from OCO-2 and surface sites will allow us to track how these emissions and removals change as the Paris Agreement is implemented. Future international missions that provide expanded mapping of CO 2 concentrations across the globe will allow us to refine these top-down estimates and give more precise estimates of countries' emissions and removals." Launched in 2014, the OCO-2 satellite maps natural and human-made carbon dioxide concentrations with the help of three camera-like spectrometers. These devices are tuned to detect the unique spectra, or light signature, of carbon dioxide. They measure the gas indirectly by how much reflected sunlight it absorbs in a given column of air. More information: Brendan Byrne et al, National CO2 budgets (20152020) inferred from atmospheric CO2 observations in support of the global stocktake, Earth System Science Data (2023). DOI: 10.5194/essd-15-963-2023 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The vertical axis is the temperature divided by the Fermi temperature, and the horizontal axis is the attractive interaction strength. The red solid curve shows the superfluid critical temperature. The blue dashed line shows characteristic temperatures between normal and pseudogap phases. The green dotted line shows the characteristic temperatures between pseudogap and bound dimer phases. (b) Schematics for the tunneling transport process in the normal phase, the pseudogap phase, and the bound dimer phases. The Fano factor, the ratio between the current noise and the current, helps us distinguish pair-current and single-particle current. Credit: Tajima et. al. 2023 If you cool down low-density atomic gas to ultralow temperatures (273C), you get a new state of matter called the Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). A BEC has strongly coupled two-atom molecules behaving like a collective wave following quantum mechanics. If you reduce the pairing strength between themfor example, by increasing the magnetic fieldthe atoms form Cooper pairs according to Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory (which won a Nobel Prize). The process is called BCS-BEC crossover. And the theory forms the basis of superfluids and superconductors, materials that do not display viscosity or electrical resistance. Hiroyuki Tajima and his team from the University of Tokyo proposed a new method to distinguish current carriers in the BCS-BEC crossover. The key is in the fluctuations of current. Electronic devices display images thanks to electrons moving in a conductoraka single-particle current. Your device may heat up due to the resistance caused by collisions of electrons in the conductor that dissipate electric energy as heat. But superconductors show zero resistance to current flow, saving lots of energy. This is possible because of paired electrons, which would have otherwise repelled each other due to their negative charge. In other words, the current in superconductors is mainly due to the pair-tunneling transport involving moving paired-current carriers rather than a single-particle current carrier. Tajima and his team investigated the quantum transport phenomena using an ultracold Fermi atomic gas. It is an artificial quantum matter mimicking an electron or fermion system with adjustable interaction strength. "To understand non-trivial transport, we need to distinguish whether single-particle tunneling or pair tunneling is dominant in strongly interacting gas," said Tajima. "The identification of single-particle tunneling and pair tunneling is vital for understanding quantum transport not only in cold atomic systems but also in high-temperature superconductors." Because the researchers could control the interactions between particles, the atomic gas allowed them to systematically study quantum many-body physics. The gas shows a normal phase when the interaction strength between atoms is weak. In this phase, it behaves like a relatively good conductor such as a metal showing electrical resistance. So, one can expect a single-particle current (electron tunneling transport) under a chemical potential bias (voltage). If you increase the interaction strength, the gas crosses over to the bound dimer phase via an in-between pseudogap phase. The pseudogap phase is where the BCS-BEC crossover happens at low temperatures. At a critical temperature for a given interaction strength, the atomic gas becomes superfluid with no viscosity. Below the phase transition temperature, Cooper pairs form and lead to pair current. In the pseudogap phase, non-superfluid Cooper pairs form due to attractive interactions, which leads to anomalous current in this region. But in the bound dimer phase, pair current is predominant. Tajima's team found a way to distinguish the current carriers in each phase by measuring an observable macroscopic property. The team showed that the fluctuations of currents, quantified as the Fano factor, can distinguish single-particle- and pair-currents in a tunneling transport of strongly interacting Fermi gases. The Fano factor value is 1 for single-particle current and 2 for pair current. In the future, their approach can be applied to other unconventional superconductors and different many-body phenomena realized in cold atoms. Fano factor (the ratio between the current noise and the current) in ultracold Fermi gases with controllable attractive interaction strength. Credit: Tajima et. al. 2023 "Our results show that it is possible to identify the microscopic transport carriers from the macroscopic observables (i.e., current and noise) even in strongly correlated quantum matter," added Tajima. "This collaboration happened completely through online discussions, which surprisingly enabled us to exchange interdisciplinary knowledge, resulting in this research." The study is published in the journal PNAS Nexus. More information: Hiroyuki Tajima et al, Nonequilibrium noise as a probe of pair-tunneling transport in the BCSBEC crossover, PNAS Nexus (2023). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad045 Journal information: PNAS Nexus This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A commonly used scientific method to analyze a tiny amount of DNA in early human embryos fails to accurately reflect gene edits, according to new research led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University. The study, published today in the journal Nature Communications, involved sequencing the genomes of early human embryos that had undergone genome editing using the gene-editing tool CRISPR. The work calls into question the accuracy of a DNA-reading procedure that relies on amplifying a small amount of DNA for purposes of genetic testing. In addition, the study reveals that gene editing to correct disease-causing mutations in early human embryos can also lead to unintended and potentially harmful changes in the genome. Together, the findings raise a new scientific basis for caution for any scientist who may be poised to use genetically edited embryos to establish pregnancies. Although gene editing technologies hold promise in preventing and treating debilitating inherited diseases, the new study reveals limitations that must be overcome before gene-editing to establish a pregnancy can be deemed safe or effective. "It tells you how little we know about editing the genome, and particularly how cells respond to the DNA damage that CRISPR induces," said senior author Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy; and, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, molecular and cellular biosciences, OHSU School of Medicine, OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center. "Gene repair has great potential, but these new results show that we have a lot of work to do." The findings come during the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing in London. On the eve of the last international summit, held in Hong Kong in November 2018, a Chinese scientist revealed the birth of the world's first babies resulting from gene-edited embryos through an experiment that generated global condemnation. Misdiagnosing embryos Before an edited embryo can be transferred to establish a pregnancy, it is important to make sure the procedure worked as intended. Because early human embryos consist of just a few cells, it's not possible to collect enough genetic material to effectively analyze them. Instead, scientists interpret data from a small sample of DNA taken from a few or even a single cell, which then must be multiplied millions of times during a process known as whole genome amplification. The same processknown as preimplantation genetic testing, or PGTis often used to screen human embryos for various genetic conditions in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Whole genome amplification has limitations that reduce the accuracy of genetic testing, said senior co-author Paula Amato, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine. "The concern is that we might be misdiagnosing embryos," Amato said. Amato, who uses in vitro fertilization to treat patients struggling with infertility as well as to prevent the transmission of inherited diseases, said PGT using more advanced technology is still clinically useful for detecting chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders caused by a single gene mutation transmitted from parent to child. The study highlights the challenges of establishing the safety of gene-editing techniques. "We may not be able to reliably predict that this embryo will result in a healthy baby," Mitalipov said. "That's a major problem." To overcome these issues, OHSU researchers, along with collaborators with research institutions in South Korea and China, established embryonic stem cell lines from gene-edited embryos. Embryonic stem cells grow indefinitely and provide ample DNA material that does not require whole genome amplification to analyze. Researchers say the discovery highlights the error-prone nature of whole genome amplification and the need to verify edits in embryos by establishing embryonic stem cell lines. Study verifies gene repair Using embryonic stem cells, the new study verifies the process of gene repair that Mitalipov's lab developed; the findings were published in the journal Nature in 2017 and verified in 2018. In that study, scientists cut a specific target sequence on a mutant gene known to be carried by a sperm donor. Researchers found that human embryos repair these breaks, using the normal copy of the gene from the other parent as a template. Mitalipov and co-authors confirmed that this process, known as gene conversion, occurs regularly in early human embryos following a double-strand break in their DNA. Such a repair, if used to establish a pregnancy through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, could theoretically prevent a known familial disease from being passed on to the child, as well as all future generations of the family. In the study published in 2017, the OHSU researchers targeted a gene known to cause a deadly heart disease. In this new publication, researchers targeted other discrete mutations using donated sperm and eggs, including one mutation known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, and a different one associated with high cholesterol. In each case an enzyme known as Cas9, used in tandem with CRISPR, induced a double-strand break in DNA at the precise site of the mutation. Creating problems In addition to replicating and confirming the gene-repair mechanism reported in 2017, the new study examines what happens in the genome beyond the specific site where the mutant gene is repaired. And that's where a problem can occur. "In this paper we asked, 'how extensive is that gene conversion repair mechanism?'" Amato said. "It turns out that it can be very lengthy." Extensive copying of the genome, from one parent to the other, creates a scenario known as loss of heterozygosity. Every human being shares two versions, or alleles, of every gene on the human genomeone contributed from each parent. Most of the time, the alleles are identical, given 99.9% of any individual's DNA sequence is shared with the rest of humanity. In some cases, however, one parent will carry a recessive disease-causing mutation that's normally canceled out by the other parent's dominant healthy version of the same gene. These polymorphisms in the genetic code can be critically important. For example, a gene may encode a protein that protects against specific types of cancer. "If you have one abnormal copy of a recessive mutation, that may pose no risk," Amato said. "But if you have loss of heterozygosity leading to two mutant copies of the same tumor suppressor gene, now you're at significantly increased risk for cancer." The more genetic code that's copied, the greater the risk of dangerous genetic changes. In the new study, scientists measured gene conversion tracts ranging from a relatively small segment to as large as 18,600 base pairs of DNA. In effect, the repair of one known mutation may create more problems than it solves. "If you're cutting in the middle of a chromosome, there could be 2,000 genes there," Mitalipov said. "You're fixing one tiny spot, but all these thousands of genes upstream and downstream may be affected." The finding suggests that much more research is needed to understand the mechanism at work in gene-editing before using it clinically to establish a pregnancy. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When it comes to lung-damaging smog, Chicago and the rest of Cook County are the nation's worst neighbors. Newly released data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show air pollution from the city and 120 of its suburbs contributes more to smog violations in other states than any other county. Wisconsin suffers the brunt of Cook County's dirty air during hot summer days, when smog is formed by a reaction between sunlight and pollution from car and truck exhaust, power plants and factories, fumes from volatile solvents and gasoline vapors. Based on an analysis of air quality monitoring during the past several years, the EPA projects Chicago and the Cook County suburbs will account for more than a fourth of this summer's smog problems in Kenosha and about a fifth of the noxious air Wisconsinites breathe in Racine and Sheboygan. Only New York comes close to being that bad of a neighbor. The EPA determined the state is responsible for 16% of the dirty air in nearby Fairfield County, Connecticut, which also gets hit by pollution drifting east from Chicago. But smog, technically known as ground-level ozone, doesn't travel in just one direction. Pollution from Wisconsin is responsible for more than 3% of the smog in Cook County, the EPA concluded, enough to violate the federal Clean Air Act. Indiana polluters also send worrisome concentrations of dirty air to Illinois' largest county and to Wisconsin, the EPA data shows. So do states as far away as Texas. With scientists concluding smog is more dangerous than previously thought, the Biden EPA is moving to clamp down on large polluters. The agency's Good Neighbor Plan, expected to take effect by May, will impose more stringent limits on nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and 22 other states. A handful of other industries will be required to reduce their smog contributions for the first time. "Air pollution doesn't stop at the state line," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said last year after releasing a draft of the regulations. "This step will help our state partners meet air quality health standards, saving lives and improving public health in smog-affected communities across the United States." Breathing even low levels of smog can inflame the lining of the lungs and aggravate asthma and other respiratory diseases; long-term exposure can permanently scar lung tissue. In 2026, when the Good Neighbor Plan is fully implemented, the EPA estimates it will prevent roughly 1,000 premature deaths and avoid more than 2,000 hospital and emergency room visits, 1.3 million asthma attacks and 470,000 missed school days. "The good news is the air is getting cleaner," said Tracey Holloway, an air quality researcher at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "But the bad news is researchers are finding there are health effects at lower levels of exposure." Power plants, in particular coal burners, have been subject to interstate smog standards since the late 1990s. The EPA is adding other industries in part because scores of the dirtiest coal-fired power plants have closed during the past decade and others are equipped with modern pollution-control equipment, yet in large swaths of the U.S. the air still isn't clean enough to protect public health. "This illustrates the need for a strong Good Neighbor rule," said Kathleen Riley, an attorney with Earthjustice, a nonprofit legal organization. To say the newly affected industries aren't happy about joining the bad neighbor list is an understatement. Some have sued the EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where in September two of the three judges reviewing the case expressed skepticism about complaints the agency cut corners while drafting the new rules. The federal regulatory docket is packed with opposition from cement makers, steel companies, chemical manufacturers, oil refiners, glass makers, gas pipeline operators and paper mills, all of whom question the methodology, legality and practicality of the EPA's regulations. Opponents also are invoking many of the same arguments from past battles about clean air regulations, which have generally been held up in court. What the EPA is proposing to do "threatens to hamstring the economy and national security with extended downtime or closures and resultant shortages of domestic iron and steel supply," U.S. Steel wrote in its response to the Good Neighbor Plan. "Multiple boilers at Dow sites in several different covered states would be subject to costly emissions control measures on an unrealistic time frame," the Michigan-based chemical giant said. State-level business groups denied their industries are responsible for smog problems elsewhere and pleaded for exemptions. "EPA has proposed extremely burdensome regulations that will unnecessarily hurt Wisconsin manufacturers," the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce group wrote, urging the agency to crack down more aggressively on industries in Illinois and other upwind states. Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, noted the nation's industries have dramatically reduced air pollution during the past three decades. Moving the goal posts, Denzler said, could jeopardize new investment. There is no question the targeted industries contribute to smog problems. The EPA estimates the Good Neighbor Plan will cost industry $1.1 billion but result in health benefits worth at least $9.3 billion and as much as $18 billion. It remains to be seen if the EPA will allow states to enforce the new regulations as it has done with earlier versions. On Feb. 13, the agency rejected compliance plans submitted by Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and 17 other states. But lawyers familiar with the process said most, if not all of the states likely will respond with amended plans. "This is a tried and trued game where the states exploit the maximum time available to them under the statute and then, as belatedly as possible, develop their own plans after the EPA has effectively told them what they need to do," said John Walke, an attorney at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council who works on air quality issues. States have been fighting about air pollution for decades. The Northeast still blames coal plants in the Ohio River Valley for chronically dirty air in cities and acid rain that despoils remote forests and lakesproblems that led Congress to approve a bipartisan overhaul of the Clean Air Act in 1990. Wisconsin contends some of its counties can't meet federal standards because pollution from Cook County drifts over Lake Michigan during summer afternoons and is baked into smog by the sun before drifting back inland. "It's not a good look for us," said Mayor Ryan Sorenson of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, population 49,931, where average smog levels last year were higher than the average in Cook County. "These problems demonstrate the importance of the federal government providing some assistance and direction because there are multiple states, not just Illinois, that impact our air quality." 2023 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Whether people invest in stocks depends on what they think about stockholders. This is what a team led by Luca Henkel, a member of the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence: Markets & Public Policy at the University of Bonn, found out. The study has been published as an ECONtribute Discussion Paper. The study found that 80% of respondents consider people who invest in stocks to be selfish and greedy "gamblers." "Which opinion people have of stockholders plays an important role in whether someone invests in stocks themselves," says Luca Henkel, who conducted the study with Christian Zimpelmann. The researchers asked about 4,700 study participants from the Netherlands and the U.S. what they thought about people who are active or inactive on the stock market. On a scale of one to ten, participants could indicate how strongly they assigned character traits such as selfishness and greed to the respective group. The result: More than 80% of participants rated the group of stock owners as significantly more selfish and greedy than non-stock owners. In a second step, the researchers use experiments to show that these views causally influence investment decisions: the more negatively participants view stockholders, the less they invested in stocks. According to the researchers, only two reasons are more important for the decision whether to invest in the stock market than people's opinion about stockholders: their income or wealth and the belief whether shares yield positive returns. Equity investments are part of people's identity "The negative picture contributes to the low participation in the stock market," says Luca Henkel. In Germany, less than 30% of people invest in shares. The study reveals that respondents have a stereotype of stockholders in their minds, which in reality only applies to a small group. People overestimate character traits such as egoism and greed in relation to the total group of all shareholders. This may lead to the decision not to invest in stocks to become an important part of people's identity. For instance, 40% said they were proud not to own stock. "We should talk about who is investing in the stock market in the first place," says Luca Henkel. "In reality, this is not a homogenous group, but consists of individuals having a wide variety of characteristics." Education, for example in the form of school lessons on finance or public information campaigns, could encourage more people to engage with the stock market. More information: Proud to Not Own Stocks: How Identity Shapes Financial Decisions. ECONtribute Discussion Paper; www.econtribute.de/RePEc/ajk/a tribute_206_2022.pdf This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This graph shows a teachers Quality Teaching score (the mean of 18 elements), compared to their experience. Credit: Jenny Gore The past four decades have seen an endless stream of reviews into teacher education. Australia has clocked up more than 100 since 1979. This comes amid constant concerns teachers are not adequately prepared for the classroom. Our latest research, published in the Australian Education Researcher, provides a powerful counternarrative to concerns about teacher education and early-career teachers. We analyzed data from two major studies over the past decade and found it did not matter if teachers had less than one year of teaching experience or had spent 25 years in the classroomthey delivered the same quality of teaching. These results indicate teaching degrees are preparing new teachers to deliver quality teaching and have a positive impact in their classrooms right away. Recent reviews into teacher education The most recent review into teacher education was finalized in February 2022. Led by former federal education department secretary Lisa Paul, the review found an "ambitious reform agenda" was needed to attract "high quality" students and make sure teacher education was "evidence-based and practical." Sydney University vice-chancellor Mark Scott (who also chairs The Conversation's board) is now leading another expert panel, partly in response to Paul's review and partly due to concerns about teacher shortages. It is looking at how to "strengthen" teacher education. It is also looking at developing a "quality measure" for teaching degrees and whether funding for universities should be tied to quality. In among this, we have already seen an emphasis on attracting the "best and brightest" into teaching degrees and increasing requirements to graduate. To enter a classroom, teachers now need to have passed extra literacy and numeracy tests on top of their degrees. The underlying assumption in all this government messaging and accompanying media commentary is that failings in education are those of teachers and teacher educators (the academics who teach teachers). Our research Our research used direct observation of 990 entire lessons to investigate the relationship between years of teaching experience and the quality of teaching. We analyzed the teaching of 512 Year 3 and 4 teachers from 260 New South Wales public schools in separate studies conducted over 201415 and 201921. The schools involved in the study were representative of schools across Australia, and the lessons observed included a range of subjects, with the majority in English and mathematics. Most of the teachers observed had between one and 15 years of experience, although almost a quarter of the observations were of lessons taught by teachers with 16 years' experience or more. How we assess quality teaching We used the Quality Teaching Model as the basis for the observations. The model was developed by education academic James Ladwig and me for the NSW Department of Education in 2003. It has been the department's framework for high-quality teaching since. It is based on research into the types of teaching practice that make a difference to student learning and centers on three dimensions: "intellectual quality"developing deep understanding of important knowledge "a quality learning environment"ensuring positive classrooms that boost student learning, and "significance"connecting learning to students' lives and the wider world. Under these three dimensions are 18 elements of teaching practice that enable detailed analysis of lesson quality. Researchers coded the lessons they observed, with more than one researcher coding many of the lessons to ensure a high level of reliability. Our findings We found no statistically significant differences in average teaching quality across the years of experience categories. Even when we broke down the experience categories in different ways to test for accuracy, we continued to find that years of experience did not equate to differences in the quality of teaching delivered. On the graph below, each dot represents the average Quality Teaching score of an observed lesson. These have been grouped in a line based on how experienced a teacher is. The average lesson quality in each experience category is represented by the large black dot and the horizontal lines represent the margin of error. The average Quality Teaching score across all the experience categories falls within the same margin of error range illustrating no statistically significant difference. Why does experience appear to make no difference? Teaching quality is consistently described as the most important in-school factor affecting student outcomes. Our finding that newly graduated teachers deliver teaching of a similar quality to that of their more experienced peers is surprising and somewhat counterintuitive. There are at least two possible explanations for this result. First, the result suggests graduate teachers are entering the profession "classroom ready" because initial teacher education programs are performing far better than is typically assumed in policy and the media. That is not to say improvements in teaching degrees aren't possible or warranted, or that graduate teachers don't face difficulties. We know attrition among teachers in their first five years is high and is a major contributor to teacher shortages. Second, on-the-job experience is insufficient on its own to raise teaching quality. While experienced teachers make many valuable contributions through leadership and mentoring, it could be that much of the professional development they do over the course of their careers makes little difference to the quality of their teaching practice. Teachers need professional development that builds knowledge, motivates them, develops their teaching techniques and helps them make ongoing changes in their classroom practice. It should be backed by rigorous evidence of a positive impact on teaching quality and student outcomes. Teachers and teaching Part of the problem in debates about schools and education is the relentless use of "teacher quality" as a proxy for understanding "teaching quality." This focuses on the person rather than the practice. This discourse sees teachers blamed for student performance on NAPLAN and PISA tests, rather than taking into account the systems and conditions in which they work. While teaching quality might be the greatest in school factor affecting student outcomes, it's hardly the greatest factor overall. As Education Minister Jason Clare said last month: "I don't want us to be a country where your chances in life depend on who your parents are or where you live or the color of your skin." We know disadvantage plays a significant role in educational outcomes. University education departments are an easy target for both governments and media. Blaming them means governments do not have to try and rectify the larger societal and systemic problems at play. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A Saguaro, from the iNaturalist app and used under the Creative Commons license. Credit: Marianne Skov Jensen See an interesting plant while out hiking in Arizona and want to learn more about it while also contributing to the knowledge of our unique ecosystem? There's an app for that. The iNaturalist app allows usersalso called community scientists or iNaturaliststo snap a picture of the plant while also collecting GPS data about where the plant is located. The application then uses an algorithm to provide a likely species identification to the community scientist and then crowdsources final confirmation of species identification to expert naturalists. Sara Souther, an assistant professor in NAU's School of Earth and Sustainability, is a member of the Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative, which uses the app to better track species diversity among plants that have traditional uses with cultural, medicinal or economic values important to tribal communities. It takes the smartphone, which 96 percent of Americans have with them all the time and puts it to use, capturing high-quality ecological data on species diversity at an unprecedented rate and scale. Suddenly everyone is looking out for the health of plants that play a significant role in tribal traditions, and that's just what the creators want. "Culturally important species are critical for the continuation of traditional lifeways," Souther said. "While these plants are not endangered, the traditions connected to these species are threatened by myriad factors including globalization, cultural and linguistic erosion and land access issues. Since the land held by Native American tribal nations represents only a fraction of the ancestral lands of Indigenous people, it is important to conserve these species on public lands and welcome traditional harvest practices." A banana yucca plant, from the iNaturalist app and used under the Creative Commons license. Credit: Matt Berger The project started because two U.S. Forest Service tribal liaisons, Nanebah and Mike Lyndon, received frequent requests from tribal community partners for harvest location information. They also asked what the USFS was doing to ensure the continued viability of these culturally important plant species, and the idea for the iNaturalist app was born. From there, the researchers compared lists of culturally significant plant species generated by representatives from seven tribal nations in Arizona. They removed sensitive species from the list to ensure they were safeguarding cultural knowledge. The 34 plant species often get overlooked, since they are neither invasive nor endangered. Collecting information on these species will help fill a critical knowledge gap to ensure the persistence of culturally important species for future generations, Souther said. The plants include some familiar species, like the saguaro, sunflower, yucca and juniper, and others that may be less recognizablecoyote tobacco, broom snakeweed, Goodding's willow and curled dock. The saguaro and banana yucca are the most observed. "I think that all of the plants are beautiful and unique," Souther said. "I really like the yucca species because they are easy to identify, possess a substance that can be used as a natural shampoo and also produce fruits that can be cooked and eaten." The data are being used in several ways. Tribal partners can request information on harvest locations while the researchers are using the data to generate habitat suitability models, which can be used to identify new population locations and understand what environmental factors contribute to these species' growth. The data also provide an early warning systema steep drop in observations will trigger a field visit to determine if something is threatening the plants and then address it. To become an iNaturalist, download the app and search for the Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative. Join the project, then start taking pictures. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers from Pusan National University report that the interaction between soil moisture and temperature was the major driving force behind the increase in compound droughts and heatwaves in the region, since the late 1990s. Credit: Kyung-Ja Ha from Pusan National University, Korea With global warming on the rise, the severity and frequency of extreme weather events are also rising dramatically; this includes an increase in the number of compound extreme events. The latter term describes scenarios in which bad weather and climate events combine together, making the event more devastating than a separate weather and climate event. Compound drought and heatwaves (DHWs), for example, can cause massive damage to society through agricultural losses, wildfires, and deaths. Thus, there has been a lot of research into the mechanisms of these DHWs based on the interaction between land and the atmosphere. However, most previous studies have primarily focused on Europe, with little research looking at DHW mechanisms in northern East Asia, a region that has been experiencing an increased occurrence of DHWs since the late 1990s. Fortunately, a team of researchers led by Professor Kyung-Ja Ha from Pusan National University in South Korea, has stepped in to bridge this gap. In their paper published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, the team looked at the occurrence of DHWs in northern East Asia by exploring the soil moisturetemperature coupling. According to Prof Ha, "Regional differences in temperature and precipitation can have a large impact on compound extreme events. By looking at the connection between soil moisture and air temperature, we were able to find the land-atmosphere interaction that serves as the mechanism for the occurrence of DHWs in this specific region." The team studied the aforementioned data, along with the occurrence of DHWs for regions in northern East Asia, like parts of northern China and eastern Mongolia, from 1980 to the present day. They found that, since the late 1990s, the continuous lack of moisture in the soil from spring to summer led to reduced evaporation and transpiration of water from the soil, which increased evaporative stress and amplified heatwaves, triggering a compound DHW that led to a further reduction in soil moisture. This increased moisturetemperature coupling enhances landatmosphere interactions, leading to compound DHWs in the region. "Compound DHWs can cause damage, often times more than either droughts or heatwaves alone, thus understanding them is important for society to better handle the risks associated with these events. As global temperatures keep increasing, soil moisture deficits are bound to increase, causing more DHWs in the region. Understanding and predicting them is going to be of utmost importance. Our study shows that soil moisture may be used to predict the occurrence of DHWs in the region," concluded Prof Ha. Understanding the complicated dynamics of compound extreme events is crucial for societal safety, and this study takes us one step closer towards this goal. We can then learn to combat the increasing risks associated with extreme events, especially in the face of global climate change. More information: Ye-Won Seo et al, Changes in land-atmosphere coupling increase compound drought and heatwaves over northern East Asia, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41612-022-00325-8 Provided by Pusan National University This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Science academies of the G7 have called for urgent action from governments to meet commitments to protect the environment and human health. The academies have highlighted three key areas for action: the need to address systemic risks in a world vulnerable to climate change, conflict, and global health crises; the protection and restoration of the ocean; and improvement to health and well-being in an aging society. Three statements, published ahead of the G7 Summit in Japan, call for long term, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and increased investment in education to build awareness around these topics. They also call for open and data-driven science that uses the latest technological approaches and increases data accessibility, enabling countries to develop evidence-based road maps to reach climate and sustainability goals and provide lasting solutions to the challenges of aging. Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said, "The invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related flooding, droughts and wildfires have all had an impact on global well-being, economies, and ecosystems. Added to that, our oceans are under threat and aging populations are facing many health and social care challenges. Those already most vulnerable to these dangers are now even more so. The G7 governments therefore have a responsibility to support scientists and provide countries around the world with access to the latest science and data to mitigate the impacts of these interconnected global crises." The statements were jointly developed ahead of the G7 Summit, under the leadership of the Science Council of Japan. They were submitted at the G-Science Academy (S7) 2023 International Symposium held in Tokyo on 7 March 2023. The topics are summarized as: Addressing systemic risks in a changing climate: Science and technology in support of cross-sectoral decision-making Three recent major challengesthe Russian invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and increased occurrence of climate disastershave intensified the complex and systemic risks already present within societies, economies, and the environment. The cumulative impact of these challenges threatens human lives and prosperity beyond national boundaries. To realize a sustainable and resilient society in which no one is left behind, the academies call for G7 governments to support national roadmaps to net zero and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration on local and global scales. This includes combining scientific and indigenous knowledge through expert advisers; promoting globally coordinated activities to increase data accessibility; and enhancing financial support by repurposing funds, especially for the most vulnerable countries with a large resource deficit. Restoration and recovery of the ocean and its biodiversity The ocean is the largest living space on Earth, but more than 90% of marine life has not yet been described. Meanwhile human-induced climate change is leading to rising water temperatures and sea levels, ocean acidification and more frequent and intense extreme weather events. To manage human impacts on the ocean, the academies call on G7 governments to develop a roadmap for decarbonization and the sustainable management and protection of the ocean and its biodiversity. This includes raising awareness of climate change and biodiversity in society and increasing scientific knowledge of the ocean and marine life; increasing funding for field surveys and research while championing students and early career scientists; strengthening fishery regulations; and establishing further protected marine conservation areas. Delivering better health and well-being of older people through wisdom sharing and innovation Recent and complex changes in human demography are fundamentally transforming the planet and thereby represent a global challenge for our future. To achieve a society in which people can enjoy health, well-being, and independence to the fullest extent throughout their lives, the academies call on G7 countries with an advanced aging population and long history of implementing various health care measures for older people to share knowledge and solutions with the world. This includes improving understanding of aging biology, promoting the construction of comprehensive healthcare systems and increasing the efficiency and quality of care through technological innovation and adequate support systems. Provided by Royal Society State and county officials are investigating complaints filed against Warren Countys longtime information technology director. North Country Gazettes June Maxam filed a complaint against Michael Colvin, the countys IT director, with the Warren County Board of Supervisors and Board of Ethics on Dec. 12. Maxams accusations against Colvin were followed up and supported by a formal complaint to the state Office of Inspector General filed on Dec. 20 by StoredTech CEO Mark Shaw. The complaint with the county states Colvin is allegedly using his county position for personal gain and egregious conflicts of interest, piggybacking off his county position to further his own personal financial interests with his outside personal business. In addition to holding his title at the county, Colvin owns Colvin Technology, which contracts with some of the towns in the county to provide IT and security services. Shaws complaints to New York state claim Colvin is performing his personal business while he is on the clock as a county employee. He also provided emails with timestamps to back up his claims. Colvin did not respond to requests for comment, but County Administrator John Taflan shared with The Post-Star in January his thoughts about the complaints. Warren County has not been contacted by any New York State agency involving allegations raised by StoredTech regarding any Warren County employee. In addition, StoredTech has not filed any complaint with Warren County regarding any concerns about Warren County employees, including the allegations raised in a letter dated Dec. 20, 2022, Taflan wrote in an email. Warren County always cooperates fully with any New York state investigation and would do the same in this matter. He did also address Shaws claims of Colvin performing personal business on county time. As occurs in many workplaces, some of our employees have secondary employment outside of their Warren County employment, during hours when they are not on the clock for Warren County, he said. Colvins salary in 2022 was $94,362, according to seethroughny.net, a private website that compiles government spending data. Maxams complaint outlines which sections of the General Municipal Law, Article 18 and Warren County Ethics and Disclosure Law she believes Colvin has violated including: SECTION 5: Prohibition on use of municipal position for personal or private gain SECTION 6: Disclosure of interest in legislation and other matters SECTION 11: Private employment in conflict with official duties SECTION 14: Use of Warren County resources SECTION 18: Confidential information Maxams claims state that Colvin, along with former county employees and Warren County supervisors, was allowing unauthorized access to employee emails, including allegedly allowing former Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore to view former County Attorney Mary Kissanes emails. The complaint also alleges Colvin of illegally installing and maintaining security systems, alarms and surveillance systems within the county for hire without the required licensing by the NYS Department of State. In addition to installing the Warren County surveillance system, Colvin also installed a video surveillance system for the town of Lake Luzerne. Though Shaw is the CEO of his own IT company, he has stated he is taking action as a concerned taxpaying citizen. He said in an email that as someone familiar with IT and liabilities surrounding technology, he is concerned about Warren County providing IT services to local towns and the Warren County IT director having a private business that services local towns with county resources allegedly during working hours. Shaw also believes that Colvins private for-profit business appears to be exposing the taxpayers to unnecessary risks. I believe there are questions to be answered in terms of ethics, legality and licensing, Shaw said in an email. The Warren County Board of Ethics has not acted on the complaint yet. Shaws complaint was forwarded to the attorney general from the Office of Inspector General. Shaw says both agencies are actively investigating the claims. Lucy Lang wanted a new direction for the state Offices of the Inspector General. In the past, there were doubts about the inspector generals independence. Langs predecessor, Letizia Tagliafierro, was an ally of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She resigned after Cuomos successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, took office. Lang told The Citizen that when she was asked to serve as inspector general, she wanted to ensure the office would be wholly independent. I was very clear that that was the only way that I would take the position, she said. In October 2021, Lang was named the states 11th inspector general. She is a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorneys office and served as executive director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution. Before being appointed inspector general, she ran for Manhattan district attorney. She lost to eventual winner Alvin Bragg in the Democratic primary. Under Lang, the inspector generals office has examined a myriad of issues, from faulty drug tests in state prisons to how state agencies complied with domestic violence policies. An important part of that work, though, is making that New Yorkers are aware of whats happening in state government. Transparency is a top priority for Lang. Her office has bolstered its social media presence, released monthly data, including the creation of a complaint dashboard, and published historical letters that were sent to state agencies. In many cases, the letters were sent several years ago but were never disclosed to the public. We are just trying to do everything we can to show what happens inside this office, Lang said. I would say in the same vein, part of our commitment is to helping other agencies and government entities to do the same. As an example, she highlighted her offices investigation that found racial disparities in discipline at New York state prisons. The report, which recommended anti-bias training for Department of Corrections and Community Supervision staff, included data from every prison. It is one of the devastating truths of prison is that we sort of put often the saddest problems we have to deal with as a society and the hardest problems we have to deal with as a society out of sight, Lang said. The ability to improve any systems functioning does require the administration of some sunlight. Prisons will keep Lang and her staff busy. More than half of the complaints that the state Offices of the Inspector General receives are from the corrections system. The complaints are filed by incarcerated individuals and staff. As inspector general, Lang oversees a few offices and holds multiple titles she is the gaming inspector general, welfare inspector general and workers compensation inspector general. She also provides oversight of major infrastructure projects. Regarding the Interstate 81 project in Syracuse, which will take years to complete, she said that we will be watching. Entering her second full year on the job, Lang is proud of what her team achieved in 2022. They diversified the office, she said, and strengthened internal policies. The independence she sought when she took the job has been granted. In a break from past practice, Lang does not serve in the governors cabinet. She does not have regular communications with Hochuls staff and does not take direction on cases from the governors office. We really do operate as an independent agency, she said. Chinese technologies contribute to world's sustainable development 09:04, March 07, 2023 By Yan Huan, Xu Hailin ( People's Daily The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 hosted by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) kicked off on Feb. 27 in Barcelona, Spain. The four-day event, focusing on the new impetus of 5G development, digitalization and financial technology, called for enhanced international cooperation to narrow the technological gap and strive for a sustainable future. As one of the grand events in mobile communication industry, the MWC was joined by over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 200 countries and regions. Chinese tech firm ZTE exhibits a tablet with a naked eye 3D display at the Mobile World Congress 2023. (People's Daily/Yan Huan) At the event, Chinese communication and tech firms displayed their latest results in frontier communication and electronics technology, attracting high attention. GSMA CEO John Hoffman told People's Daily that China has built the world's largest and technologically leading 5G infrastructure and has the largest number of 5G users in the world. He believes that Chinese enterprises would share more stories and experiences of technological development with the world via this year's MWC. Thanks to the in-depth application of 5G technology, virtual reality, augmented reality, metaverse and other futuristic application scenarios based on the technology are bringing profound changes to people's life and work. The upgrading of 5G technology and infrastructure is constantly accelerating Africa's development, said John Omo, Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union. He said China's Huawei has provided technologies and equipment for the digitalization of South Africa's mining industry, helping the latter improve its management, productivity and safety. In a plant producing cardboard boxes in east China's Zhejiang province, an intelligent industrial cloud base station has been built by China Mobile, one of the largest mobile communication carriers in China and Chinese communication giant ZTE. The base station covers the entire plant with 5G network and connects every production device. The plant employs 5G-guided robots with machine vision to accurately achieve pick-up, delivery and coordination. Images and videos in the plant are sent back to the control end in real time for analysis and management. China Mobile and ZTE have won the 2023 GSMA 5G Smart Production Challenge Award for their exploration and innovation in the application of 5G in manufacturing. "Today, the role of people working in the communication industry is changing rapidly," said Wang Xiyu, executive vice president and chief technology officer of ZTE, adding that the evolution of the industry is making the impossible possible and becoming an important driving force for social transformation. Photo shows an intelligent workshop of a cardboard box manufacturer in east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo from the official account of China Mobile on WeChat) The MWC 2023 was joined by about 150 Chinese communication and tech firms, such as China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, Huawei, ZTE and Xiaomi. Their digital technologies exhibited at the event are empowering the global development, especially the sustainable development of developing countries. Huawei had a 9,000-square meter exhibition booth at the MWC 2023, which, according to CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona Francesc Fajula, is the largest in history of the MWC. "Chinese companies keep close cooperation with international organizations and communication carriers in many countries, which has not only improved their capability in 5G application, but also created opportunities for these countries in training young talents in digital technology," Fajula said. As the world pays more and more attention to carbon emission reduction, Chinese enterprises are joining hands with domestic and foreign partners to contribute to carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality in the communication field. In Chile, China's Lenovo is cooperating with a non-profit organization Island Conservation and has launched Work for Humankind initiative in the Robinson Crusoe Island. Volunteers with different backgrounds and knowledge came to the island to work with local communities to promote technology upgrades, update education and digital approaches and help with ecological protection as well as cultural preservation. Lenovo has set up a cutting-edge technology center for the initiative, equipped volunteers and staff members on the island with laptops, augmented reality goggles and smart home appliances. The center also offers online education software for local schools. So far, the center has benefited around 30 percent of residents on the island. During the 2023 MWC, Huawei announced it has joined the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) and will work with relevant parties to raise literacy with technology. Only by enhancing education on digital technology and ensuring no country or individual is left behind can true sustainable development be achieved, said David Atchoarena, director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, adding that Chinese enterprises are offering richer educational resources for young people through cooperation and investment. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Its a multiple parade weekend, and you know what that means the shenanigans shall be epic. Between the spectacular and unexpected resurrection of the Atlantic City St. Patricks Day Parade, the first annual Shake the Shamrock Weekend in Brigantine, and the always-festive parades in North Wildwood and Sea Isle City, there will be parties and after-parties all over the area. Here are a few of our favorites: Atlantic CityThe Orange Loop Orange its not just a stripe on the Irish flag. Its also the name of the Atlantic City neighborhood The Orange Loop with plenty of parade day celebrations. At Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, parade weekend specials include $3 Miller Lites, $5 Guinness draughts, $7 Jameson shots, $3 Homemade Irish Cream Shots, $10 Car Bombs, $12 Shamrock Shakes as well as Irish culinary delights like Shepherds Pie, a Corned Beef Sandwich and Corned Beef and Cabbage plus a Glenn Roberts will perform at the St. Patricks party 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, and after the parade from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday. At Rhythm & Spirits, celebrate with DJ Skyline on Saturday with $5 Guinness and $7 Jameson Shots, while at Bar 32, Saturday specials include $5 Guinness, $7 Jameson shots $5 House Made Irish Cream and $5 lucky charm bars. Located on Tennessee Avenue. TennAveAC.com The Yard at Ballys Consider The Yard at Ballys Atlantic City your parade-day headquarters with pre- and post-parade parties. Party starts at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with beers starting at $5, breakfast sandwiches, corned beef specials and more. Located at 1900 Pacific Ave. BallysAC.com St. Paddys Downbeach Bar Crawl Its a bar crawl, St. Paddys celebration and Ryfes three-year anniversary party, all rolled into one sweet event on Saturday. Kicking off at 9 a.m. with a Kegs and Eggs at Ryfe, the bar crawl stops at Nuckys Kitchen & Speakeasy, Santuccis and Bocca Bistro on complimentary shuttle service, with live music from Mike and Laura as well as Dan Kee at Ryfe and a Ryfe anniversary dance party at 8 p.m. Registration is $15 in advance, $25 day of event, and includes complimentary welcome drink, complimentary drink cup, exclusive access to drink and food specials, VIP access to bar seating and dinner reservations at Ryfe for the After Crawl Party, complimentary transportation to bars on the crawl and participation in giveaways. Ryfe is located at 4101 Atlantic Ave. RyfeAC.com BrigantineThe Cellar 32 Whether its Irish food, Irish drink specials or just celebrating all things green, The Cellar 32 in Brigantine is your place to be. Head over there 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday for live music from Tom Pacitti and The Side Story Girls. Located at 3119 Revere Blvd. Cellar32Brigantine.com The Pirates Den Got yourself a lucky dog? Then get to The Pirates Den for a traditional Irish menu all weekend plus and this is the best part a dog costume contest 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, where all dogs get treats, and the best dressed pup gets a prize. Located at 1417 W. Brigantine Ave. ThePiratesDen.net North WildwoodKeenans Irish Pub One of the best Irish pubs in North Wildwood re-opens just in time for a weekend of Irish festivities, including food and drink specials and live music from Animal House Band on Saturday. Its all Irish, all the time. Located at 113 Olde New Jersey Ave. KeenansIrishNW.com The Anglesea Pub Another cant-miss Irish pub in North Wildwood, The Anglesea Pub has great Irish and American food, great beer and a great crowd of merry revelers. Get there pre-parade for happy hour with Jamie Ratchford 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and a Guinness Pint Engraving event 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Located at 116 W. 1st Ave. TheAngleseaPub.com Sea Isle CityKix With six bars under one roof, Kix is the place to be both before and after the 32nd Annual Sea Isle City St. Patricks Day Parade. After a 1 p.m. Jameson warmup and costume contest at Kix, the parade takes off from the venue before returning for the after-party. Located at 120 63rd St., Sea Isle. KixSeaIsle.com 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. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Two higher education leaders are joining the National Aerospace Research & Technology Parks Board of Directors, the park said Tuesday. Atlantic Cape Community College President Barbara Gaba and Rutgers University interim Dean of the School of Engineering Alberto Cuitino will sit on the board at least until their terms expire Feb. 21, 2026. Gaba, who is both Atlantic Capes first woman and Black president, said she is looking forward to helping support the park as a means of broadening the economic scope in South Jersey. This is a tremendous opportunity to help advance economic development in Atlantic County while ensuring there are affordable educational pathways for our students, especially our underserved and underrepresented students, to take advantage of exciting careers in aeronautics, Gaba said in a statement. Cuitino, who also is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing. A 2022 Faculty of the Year honoree for Rutgers Engineering, his work has been published extensively in academic journals, and he is often invited to speak at conferences. By proudly accepting the invitation to join the NARTP board, I ensure that Rutgers University has a seat at the table as this aerospace innovation ecosystem is being developed in southern New Jersey, Cuitino said in a statement. Both our students and faculty look forward to shaping the future of aviation at the NARTP. BRIGANTINE The city is working with Volunteers of America Delaware Valley to bring affordable housing to the island by turning the site of the former civic center into housing for veterans. While we can never fully repay the debt we owe our veterans for their brave service, we certainly can take steps like this to show our appreciation and respect for all they have done to make our country one of the greatest places to live on Earth, Mayor Vince Sera said. There are 357 veterans living in Brigantine, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Five apartments will be made available to preferably low- or moderate-income veterans at the site. The units, which include one- to two-bedroom apartments, are expected to be ready by July 2025. The city entered a memorandum of understanding with Volunteers of America Delaware Valley to do a veterans preference project in the city. And we were having difficulty finding a site for this project, but we had the former civic center, a site that has been abandoned and is currently a vacant lot, Sera said. Solicitor Linda Galella said Volunteers of America came up with a concept plan for the site that led to an agreement. The group will buy the 31st Street South property from the city for $350,000. Atlantic City Boat Show reels in a crowd ATLANTIC CITY New Jersey has a massive boating scene, whether it be commercial or recreati The proposed facility would help the city meet its affordable housing obligations. The plan includes a 30-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the project to ensure its long-term affordability, said Sera. Under the PILOT, Volunteers of America will have property taxes phased in over a period of time. Every municipality in the state has a legal responsibility to provide affordable housing, and what better way to meet this obligation than to provide affordable housing for our veterans? Sera said. As part of the agreement, the city will contribute $850,000 from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the project. The money will go toward construction, engineering and other soft costs associated with the project. Volunteers of America is also going to seek funding from the state Department of Community Affairs. Galella said the city will give Volunteers of America access to the site so it can perform a review before finalizing the purchase. Vineland City Council is considering imposing fines over abandoned shopping carts. A city ordinance says shopping carts removed from stores for private use beyond the confines of the premises have become a nuisance for pedestrians and litter the streetscape. City Council introduced the ordinance last month. A public hearing and final vote will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 14 in City Council Chambers, second floor of City Hall, 640 E. Wood St. If adopted, the ordinance would fine any person or legal entity convicted of violating it $50 per shopping cart per event. Millville supports cannabis project The City Commission issued a letter of support last month for Community Growth Partners New Jersey LLC to lease property at 1401 Wheaton Ave. for use as either a licensed cannabis cultivator or a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility. Vineland approves spending $5 million more to build new firehouse VINELAND City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a bond ordinance providing a supplem Commissioners Lisa M. Orndorf, Benjamin J. Romanik, Joseph Sooy and C. Kirk Hewitt voted for the resolution. Commissioner Stephen E. Watson Jr. voted against it. Community Growth Partners has sought a letter of local support to apply for a state license to operate a licensed cannabis cultivation facility within the designated Cannabis Business Zoning District. The city has imposed a limit on the number of licensed cannabis businesses within its jurisdiction. Bridgeton to decide March 7 on cannabis project City Council members will decide Tuesday whether to execute a redevelopment and purchase and sale agreement with CI Bridgeton LLC to construct a cannabis business incubator containing up to 15 cannabis businesses in accordance with the citys development plan. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Police and Municipal Court Complex at 339 Fayette St. Alan Truzuskoski, principal of CI Bridgeton LLC, is seeking designation as the exclusive redeveloper of the property, which takes up two lots within the Southeast Industrial Redevelopment Area. Cannabis cultivation business approved The Vineland Planning Board unanimously gave final major site plan approval last month for Veterans for Alternative Medicine to construct a 42,000-square-foot building for medical cannabis cultivation on the south side of Park Avenue between Delsea Drive and West Avenue. The site consists of about 293,906 square feet of land and contains an existing parking lot. Vineland fire, EMS crews honored for summer rescue VINELAND City officials honored members of the Fire Department and EMS division during Thu The proposed fence will be 8 feet high and surround the building between the pavement and grass area. There were no proposed signs with the application. If Veterans for Alternative Medicine intends to provide signage, the proposed signage must conform to ordinance standards. Otherwise, additional variances will be required. What's Happening in the Region Blinken Visits Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the largest countries in Central Asia, with the biggest populations and biggest economies. For these reasons, many regard the two as the most important countries in Central Asia. So, it was perhaps no coincidence that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited those two countries before heading to India for a meeting of G20 foreign ministers. Blinken noted during his visit that the Central Asian countries have been more affected than others in the region by Russias war in Ukraine. Traditional trade routes to and through Russia have become less reliable due to international sanctions. While none of the five Central Asian governments have openly criticized Russia for the war, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan stand apart as officials from those governments have voiced support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty. There were no surprises during Blinkens visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but the timing was good, coming after the leaders of Russia and China already made their visits. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited all five Central Asian countries in 2022 as the Kremlin was losing partners due to its war in Ukraine and needed to shore up relations with allies. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in September 2022. Blinkens visit came as Russias international image has been shattered by the military failures in Ukraine. China has cultivated strong ties with all the Central Asian governments, but Beijing has not tried to increase its influence in Central Asia at Russias expense. So, Blinkens first visit was likely a welcome reminder to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan of their foreign policy options. On March 3, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev went to the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent for an informal meeting with Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev. Again, nothing significant came from the meeting, but the timing was interesting after both leaders met with Blinken. It was also significant as Uzbekistan rarely cooperated with Kazakhstan when Islam Karimov was Uzbekistans president. The new Kazakh-Uzbek partnership opens many economic and security possibilities for the two countries and for countries outside Central Asia. Why Its Important: Blinken's visit, then the meeting of the Kazakh and Uzbek presidents in Shymkent, are the latest indications of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan emerging as the major players in Central Asia. Blinken did meet in Kazakhstan with the foreign ministers of all five Central Asian countries, but the choice of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan demonstrates the trend of many countries to focus diplomatic efforts on those two countries. Its a new division in Central Asia with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as the dominant countries in the region and Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan garnering secondary interest. Is Kyrgyzstan Closing in on Realizing Old Hydropower Projects? For years, Kyrgyz authorities have been trying to develop the countrys hydropower potential, but it has been difficult for the cash-strapped country to find investors for costly hydropower plant (HPP) projects that have sat on the drawing board for decades. Recent reports indicate Kyrgyzstan has found potential foreign partners for two key Soviet-era HPP projects, although one partner seems questionable. The Kambar-Ata-1 project aims to construct a HPP on the Naryn River that would be the biggest HPP in Kyrgyzstan, generating 1,860 megawatts (MW) of electricity annually.In June 2022, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended a ceremony for the start, or rather restart, of construction of Kambar-Ata-1. He called for foreign investors to participate in the project. On March 4, there was a report that representatives of Frances EDF Energy, a company that has already built HPPs in the United States, Europe, and Asia, met with Kyrgyz officials to discuss financing for Kambar-Ata-1. Less promising are developments with the Upper Naryn Cascade HPP project, a series of four smaller HPPs with a combined output of 238 MW. A March 3 report said Kyrgyzstans cabinet of ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with British company Minddock Limited DBA Enterprise Energy Investments to build the project. The report noted the British company does not seem to have any experience building HPPs and as of September 30, 2021, shares in the company totaled 8,779 ($10,430). The estimated cost of constructing the Upper Naryn Cascade project is more than $800 million. Why Its Important: In 2017 it appeared Kyrgyzstan had found Czech company Liglass to build the project. But it turned out Liglass also had no experience building HPPs and Czech media reported Liglass sales in 2014 amounted to $15,000. The news about Kambar-Ata-1 is encouraging, but the report about the Upper Naryn Cascade shows the current government may not have learned from the mistakes of previous governments. The Latest Majlis Podcast This weeks Majlis podcast revisits the topic of gender-based violence in Central Asia. The views of society can work against victims of violence. Even when there are laws meant to protect against abuse, these laws are often not enforced. What is and is not being done, and what what work remains to end violence against women and girls? This weeks guests are Najla Ayoubi, chief of coalition and global programs at the Every Woman Coalition; Gulbakhor Makhkamova, head of the Gulrukhsor Crisis and Womens Shelter Center (@Sgulrukhsor on Twitter) located in Khujand, Tajikistan; and Leila Nazgul Seitbek, chairwoman of the NGO Freedom for Eurasia and member of the working group for the global treaty to end all forms of violence women and girls. What I'm Following The Cost of Gender Inequality in the Workplace The World Bank released a report on March 2 that linked economic growth in Central Asia to greater participation of women in the workforce. The report said if womens role in the labor market was equal to mens, national income would be anywhere from 27% higher in Kazakhstan to 63% higher in Tajikistan. The report said removing legal barriers to equality is a critical first step, and noted some Central Asian countries have started addressing the problem. Fact of the Week Kazakhstans government said cargo transit time across the Caspian Sea has been reduced from 12 to six days, and by the end of the year it should be five days. Delivery of cargo from China to Georgias Black Sea port at Batumi has been reduced from 38-53 days to 19-23 days. Thanks for Reading Thanks for reading our Central Asia in Focus newsletter! I appreciate you sharing it with other readers who you think may be interested. Feel free to contact me on Twitter or by responding to this email, especially if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to connect with me about topics concerning Central Asia. Please consider filling out this brief survey so that I can better understand how this newsletter can be useful for you. See you next week for more on whats happening in Central Asia. Until next time, Bruce Sherrard schools will host a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the district's $6.7 million addition to the grade school. The groundbreaking site is located north of Sherrard Elementary School, and guests are encouraged to enter via the parking lot for the 5 p.m. event. School district leaders are scheduled to speak at the ceremony, including superintendent Dr. Carl Johnson, school board president Rhys Fullerlove and Sherrard Elementary principal Casey Wyant, along with representatives from Hodge Construction and Richard L. Johnson Associates. The roughly $6.7 million expansion marks the first major project to the school in more than 20 years and will add 14,750 square feet to the building, including two classrooms, two conference rooms and a gymnasium. This is truly a project for the whole community to be proud of and admire for years to come, Johnson said in a news release. Not only does it increase instructional space, but the new gym will allow the district a space where all elementary students can gather in a single space. When explaining the funding, Johnson previously said, In planning, our School Board and former superintendent, Alan Boucher, utilized federal funds and greatly reduced bond rates last year to implement this phenomenal project at a significant cost benefit for our families. By investing in the elementary addition, the school district also is investing "heavily" in the future of Sherrard students, staff and community, Wyant said in the release. ...I could not be more proud to be a part of the Sherrard School District, especially during this time, as we are building and making plans to support our current and future generations in ways we can only imagine, he said. Hodge Construction of Moline and Richard L. Johnson Associates, an architecture firm out of Rockford, Ill., are planning and coordinating the expansion project. Construction is set to begin on Monday, March 20, and is slated for completion by December 2023. Photos: Sherrard girls basketball Class 2A regional champs with 51-31 win over Mercer County A bill giving Iowans more control over their personal data online is one step closer to law after passing in the Senate on Monday. The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 262 unanimously on Monday. If signed into law, Iowa would be the sixth state in the United States to establish data privacy rights. Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, who chairs the Senate Technology Committee, said the bill is designed to increase protections for Iowa consumers in the absence of a federal law that regulates how companies can collect data. While I expect this may eventually be preempted by federal legislation, I would also expect that what we pass here will influence what Congress does in the future and used as a potential model, Cournoyer said. The bill requires companies that control the personal data of at least 100,000 Iowans or 25,000 when half of their revenue comes from selling data to notify consumers of their data collection practices and provide them with the data upon request. Under the bill, consumers would be able to request a company to provide a copy of their personal data or delete the data collected on them. Companies would also need to notify users about the type of personal data they collect, what they use the data for and whether they share the data with third parties. If a company sells data or uses targeted advertising, it would be required to disclose that and allow users to opt out. It includes a raft of exemptions, including data related to health records and information collected for research. The bill is modeled after laws passed in states like Virginia and Utah that impose similar requirements on companies collecting consumer data. California, Colorado and Connecticut have similar data protection laws. The bill was supported by the Technology Association of Iowa, which represents technology-based companies in the state. Mollie Ross, the groups vice president of operations, said the measure would give Iowans control over their data and provide consistency for companies that operate in the state. This is a big step forward in granting (Iowans) some rights for their data, she said. And also from an industry perspective, it lays some guidelines, sets up groundwork so that everybody is playing within the same boundaries. As the bill has made its way through the legislative process, lawmakers and representatives for technology companies said they would prefer to see data privacy measures enacted at the federal level, but the bill is an attempt to set out parameters until a nationwide law is passed. This may be used as a format the federal government could take on, but at least getting it passed here in the state would be a good first step, Ross said. The attorney general would have exclusive jurisdiction over enforcing the provisions of the bill. The requirements would take effect in 2025, which Ross said would give companies enough time to adjust to the requirements. A companion bill in the House, House File 346, advanced out of a committee last month but has yet to be passed by the chamber. A special Silvis City Council meeting is being requested by aldermen who seek to disqualify a Chicago-based law firm from representing the city. Aldermen say they want to fire Ancel Glink and hire a labor attorney. The issue stems from council members' claims that Ancel Glink was hired by Mayor Matt Carter to represent him during a no-confidence vote by the council. Carter has maintained that Ancel Glink was hired to represent the city, and his attorney is Mark Daniel, of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Council members have said that Ancel Glink cannot represent the city due to a conflict of interest, which they say resulted when Carter hired the firm to represent him, then appointed the firm to represent the city. Aldermen have accused Carter of violating Illinois whistleblower statute by retaliating against a person or persons who filed harassment complaints against a longtime city employee who then was fired. Specific allegations have not been discussed in public. Rock Island County States Attorney Dora Villarreal is investigating to see if any laws have been broken. They cant dismiss Ancel Glink, Carter said. That power has been granted to the mayor. The city has a culture problem and getting in Ancel Glink is an opportunity to get us square," the mayor said."Weve lost our definition of the roles, and there is miscommunication when that happens and anger and so on. Carter described Ancel Glink as a world-class law firm, adding that, right now they are perfect for Silvis. I was asked to fix a problem, and Im going to fix that problem." The city has been racking up legal bills due to the council/mayor dispute, Carter said. "In two months we have spent $16,000 on attorney fees because of this fiasco they tried that has solved absolutely nothing," he said. "That would have paid for lunches for our kids on the summer park program twice over. I just want to see whats best for Silvis, Carter said. Alderman Joshua Dyer, 4th Ward, however, said that the council does have the authority to dismiss Ancel Glink and hire legal counsel aldermen trust. The mayor lacked the authority to fire the city's previous attorney, he said. On Feb. 8, a letter signed by all eight aldermen was given to Carter, asking for his resignation. A no-confidence vote was taken at the February 21 council meeting, passing 4 to 3 with one council member, Ian Pavelonis, 2nd Ward, absent. The vote had no impact and is regarded ceremonial. Carter said he has done nothing wrong, has violated no law and will not resign. In the meantime, an attorney with Ancel Glink and Daniel on Feb. 22 filed in Rock Island County Circuit Court an injunction and temporary restraining order against a former city attorney, fired by Carter. The complaint alleges that she no longer represents the city and has failed to return city records, including the citys labor grievance, collective bargaining and arbitration files. The former labor attorney the city used, Allison Wright, said the mayor/council strife should be taken seriously. Ive heard suggestions that what is going on is just small-town politics and I could not disagree more with that statement, she said. Its not politics. Its the law. Theres a clear difference that must be acknowledged. A Pleasant Valley student is among those to receive the University of Iowas Grant Wood Art Colony (GWAC) Legacy Prize for outstanding visual arts. The Grant Wood Legacy Prize enables the University of Iowa to discover young Iowa artists to encourage their talent, GWAC director Maura Pilcher said in a statement. The Grant Wood Legacy Prize is part an annual GWAC contest aiming to identify and uplift the work of young artists, in collaboration with the university's Belin-Blank Center, the Iowa and Midwest Region-at-Large Scholastic Art & Writing Awards affiliate. This year's winners were selected by current GWAC fellows for their demonstration of a "Regional voice and skill." PV sophomore Tanya Rastogi, of Riverdale, was among the three winners for her illustration titled "Homemade Samosas." This also earned a 2023 Gold Key Award in the contest. Judges selected recipients from over 400 visual arts entries in a range of categories, including: jewelry, painting, drawing and illustration, printmaking, design, ceramics and glass and mixed media. Samantha Bassanmas, a junior at Norwalk High School, and Charlotte Littlemoon, a senior at Iowa City High School, were the other two winners alongside Rastogi. Prize winners and their educators were recognized during the Midwest region's Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Celebration on March 5. GWAC established the Grant Wood Legacy Prize in 2016 to honor and continue the legacy of Iowa's most famous artist, Grant Wood, and his passion for education and developing young artists. Photos: Sudlow students create collaborative mural entitled, Courage & Identity Scott County Sheriff's deputies responded Monday morning to a crash in Davenport between a school bus and a semitrailer. Scott County Sheriff's deputies were called to the intersection of 130th Street also known as Chapel Hill Road and 110th Avenue at 8:41 a.m. Monday, where a Davenport Schools bus carrying nine students collided with a semitrailer. All nine students were able to exit the bus through the rear emergency door. The driver of the semi also was able to exit his vehicle. The driver the the bus, the driver of the semitrailer, and one student were transported by MEDIC Ambulance for injuries not considered life-threatening. All students were released to parents or family members who arrived on scene. An investigation determined the bus was driven by Kimberly Skipper and stopped for the stop sign on 130th Street at 110th Avenue. The school bus proceeded west on 130th Street, failing to yield the right of way to a semitrailer traveling southbound on 110th Avenue. The school bus struck the semitrailer in the southbound lanes. The semitrailer was driven by Patrick Irons from Blue Grass and investigators noted in a news release that he was " ... able to take evasive action to avoid a much worse collision." The semitrailer continued a short distance before overturning on its passenger side in the west ditch of 110th Avenue. Skipper was cited for failure to yield. Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender had to cast a tie-breaking vote Monday in favor of the City Council's resolution to oppose South Dakota's proposed social studies standards after the council split 5-5 on the non-binding measure. The city will add their voice to a growing list of local entities that oppose the state Board of Education Standards' proposed guidance on social studies including the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education, the Rapid City Youth City Council and Elevate Rapid City. Of the comments received by the state so far, approximately 85% have been against the controversial standards. Ward 1 Alderman Pat Jones brought the council's resolution forward for discussion. He is a former teacher and school administrator. Jones said while it is unusual for a city council to weigh in on a matter of education, the proposed standards are out of line with the city's vision of economic and community development. He said the social studies standards are not really standards, but more like a "doctrine that removes critical thinking and exploration from teaching itself." He said the city should join the school district in opposing the standards, even though their roles in government are usually separate. Because the city and school district are the two largest taxing entities, Jones said, it is appropriate for the two to come together on the issue. "At a moment like this when something that's going to impact so many people of our community kids, parents, grandparents, teachers, aunts, uncles, everyone who cares about the success of kids, when those things are on the table it takes a village to raise a child," he said. "It's times like this where we all have to come together and say that this is wrong." Fellow council members Bill Evans, Ritchie Nordstrom and Laura Armstrong also voiced support for the resolution as a way of continuing to grow Rapid City. Jones' fellow Ward 1 Alderman Jesse Ham expressed reservations on approving the resolution in its presented form. "I think we should mirror the school board's decision and that is to propose a resolution in favor of consolidation of the social studies standards. That was their dialogue and I think that we should support that notion," Ham said. "So it may change the wording of what we say here. But I think we'd be in favor of consolidation of the social studies standards." Prior to calling for a vote on the resolution, Allender provided comments on the nature of how the proposed social studies standards were developed. He said the standards were about "politics, not education." Allender pointed out that the standards were developed by an out-of-state entity specifically the conservative, Christian-based Hillsdale College in Michigan. He said the way the standards were developed is causing division in the community and the state. That division, he said, is not good for the city or the city's residents. "It's about the kind of division that politics brings into communities. I think this is a solution to the perceived whether real or imagined problem of teachers filling our kids' brains full of liberal ideas," Allender said. "And the reaction of the far-right, in this case, is to overcompensate with a bunch of standards taken from a Christian conservative university and try to counter all of these beliefs. "All of this being done without coming into our classrooms and our communities to see what's being taught, without asking the thousands of professionals across the state what [it is] the students need." This impacts the community and the city in a negative way, Allender said. He called the exclusion of South Dakota's teachers and education professionals in the discussion of the standards as "inappropriate and offensive." When Allender called for the vote, the council split 5-5 on supporting the resolution. In the event of a tie, the mayor must cast the deciding vote. Allender voted to approve the resolution. Jones, Evans, Nordstrom, Armstrong and Pat Roseland voted yes. Ham, Lance Lehmann, John Roberts, Jason Salamun and Greg Strommen voted no. Ham was the only opposing council member who provided comment on why he voted no on the resolution. Bystanders intervened multiple times in a February Rapid City convenience store hostage situation that resulted in police shooting and killing the hostage-taker, according to a summary report by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. The report, released Tuesday, also cleared the Rapid City Police officer of any wrongdoing. The chaotic scene unfolded on the afternoon of Feb. 3 at the Loaf 'N Jug at 1601 Haines Avenue in north Rapid City. According to the report, footage shows 40-year-old Eric James Wright in the convenience store at 12:20 p.m. He walked behind the counter holding a knife. Employees and bystanders tried to intervene as he grabbed the clerk and held her at knife-point, but they were unsuccessful. Wright took the clerk outside the store and stood there, holding the knife to her neck, until police arrived. According to witnesses, he asked employees to call 911 and told them he did not intend to hurt anyone. He also said he "needed this." The officer responded to a call for a robbery in progress. He parked near the gas pumps and saw several people standing outside the store near the front door. When he got out of his vehicle, he saw Wright standing with the hostage in a headlock and holding a knife to her neck with his right hand, the officer told investigators. The officer pulled his gun and a bystander came out of the store to intervene. Regardless of the officer telling the bystander to stay back, Wright let go of the clerk during the confrontation. The clerk ran south and Wright moved north along the building. The officer moved parallel to Wright, who stopped by a vehicle. The officer said he was afraid that Wright might take the driver hostage or get in the vehicle to flee. While Wright was near the driver's side door and the officer was at the back of the vehicle telling him to drop the knife, the same intervening bystander returned and threw an object at Wright. "The officer again told the bystander to move back," the report states. Wright then "jumped up and down and then sprinted toward" the officer with a knife in each hand. The officer than shot at Wright twice, who fell to the ground and dropped one knife. A bystander it's unclear if it was the same bystander "was observed running in and kicking Wright near the head" before grabbing one of the knives and tossing it away. Other officers arrived and approached Wright, who picked up the knife and made a stabbing motion. After yelling at him to drop the knife, one of the officers used a taser on Wright, who dropped the knife. He was arrested and then taken to Monument Health in Rapid City, where he died the same day. Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick made a statement following DCI releasing the report thanking the agency, the Pennington County Sheriffs Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol for "their diligence and thorough independent investigation into this incident." He said the situation demonstrates "the dangers the men and women of the RCPD face every day as they work to keep our residents safe, and I am proud of their bravery and dedication to our community." "The... report paints a clear picture of a recently paroled armed individual who was willing to do whatever it took to force a confrontation with police. Mr. Wright decided to do so by taking an innocent clerk hostage at knife-point. I am extremely thankful the clerk, or any one of the many bystanders, was not injured by the actions of Mr. Wright, and that our officer was not harmed as they were being charged by a violent suspect with a knife," Hedrick said. An employee of Hart Ranch testified in court Monday that a Rapid City man accused of shooting at construction workers complained to him about road construction and people driving too fast on Spring Creek Road before firing a gun. Carl Relf, 53, appeared in Pennington County court Monday for the first day of his trial. He faces seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in June 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on July 21. If convicted, Relf could face a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine for each count. If the state also proves that Relf has three prior felonies, the maximum penalty will increase to 50 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for each count. At a September 2022 hearing, the state referenced that Relf has a failure to appear conviction from 2016, a receiving a stolen vehicle conviction from 2015 and a felony DUI from 2008. The employee of Hart Ranch, located near the shooting site, said he spoke with Relf at the camping resorts gas station and he seemed agitated that he had to present identification at the gate. Relf allegedly complained about the construction going on at the intersection of Highway 79 and Spring Creek Road. He also told the man about people driving "too fast" on Spring Creek Road. In the states opening statement on Monday afternoon, Deputy Pennington County States Attorney Aaron Hellbusch said the seven victims one who was four-months pregnant at the time will testify to what happened. Hellbusch said the first victim will testify that, as he was pulling out of Hart Ranch, Relf asked if he had a body in his vehicle. He told Relf that he didnt, and he just had a sleeping bag. Both Relf and the man drove away, but Relf allegedly started chasing him in his vehicle before getting out and shooting at him. The man, terrified, drove back to the police station in Rapid City without stopping, the prosecutor alleged. Relf reportedly went to the construction site at the intersection of Highway 79 and Spring Creek Road on June 6, 2022. The prosecutor said witnesses will testify when Relf arrived at the construction site, two workers sitting in a truck would hear him say you guys, before allegedly pointing a gun at them and then walking away. Hellbusch said the two men fled in their vehicle to the staging area of the construction site to warn the other workers, Hellbusch told the 10-women, four-man jury. Relf allegedly followed the men to the site after firing the gun again. Hellbusch said witnesses will testify that one man hid behind a vehicle to avoid the gunshot. Hellbusch said a woman will also testify that she crouched down inside a vehicle as far as a woman who is four-months pregnant can. Hellbusch said another one of the victims will testify that he saw Relf drive by the site earlier in the day and yell that someone had a body in their vehicle. None of them knew the defendant, Hellbusch said. The owner of the construction company reportedly followed Relf before he was arrested. Hellbusch said law enforcement will testify that when they arrested Relf, he was intoxicated and had an open container of alcohol, a black handgun and a spent shell casing. Hellbusch also said that Relfs DNA was reportedly found on the gun. This is not Relfs first run-in with the law. Journal archives show Relf barricaded himself in a camper when Pennington County Sheriffs deputies tried to arrest him on multiple warrants for failure to comply, driving under the influence, possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest. The incident was a week after police used a taser on Relf when they found him in the drivers seat of a stolen pickup with numerous beer cans and he refused to obey officer commands. Relfs trial is set to resume on Tuesday, if inclement weather does not affect the court's schedule. A 51-year-old Manderson man was sentenced Feb. 27 to three years and five months in federal prison for sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl in March 2021. John Joseph White Plume Sr. pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor on July 11, 2022. In October 2021, a federal grand jury indicted him for sexual abuse of a minor and sexual abuse. A superseding indictment added tampering with a witness to his charges for attempting to "intimidate, threaten and corruptly persuade" a witness to the crime to withhold her testimony. Those charges were dropped by the government after White Plume pleaded guilty. According to a factual basis statement by White Plume and the government describing the crime, on March 1, 2021, White Plume was at a house party in Manderson where people were using methamphetamine and alcohol. The 14-year-old victim joined the party during the evening. Two witnesses then discovered White Plume having sex with the girl that night. White Plume admitted to knowing the victim was not over the age of 16, the age of consent in South Dakota. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken also ordered White Plume to serve five years of supervised release once he's completed his prison sentence. He will also have to pay a routine $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI investigated the case, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted White Plume and Angela Colbath represented him. A vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 has left Richmond area traffic backed up as many as five miles Tuesday morning. The crash, which was reported by the Virginia Department of Transportation around 7 a.m. Tuesday, closed the center and right lanes and right shoulder of I-95 North just past the I-195 exit. VDOT initially reported a two-mile backup, but by 8:00 a.m., the affected area had ballooned to five miles. The center lane reopened shortly after 8:00, but the right lane remains closed, so the agency is still cautioning drivers to seek alternate routes if possible and expect significant delays.This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 Richmond police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man who was found in the drive-thru lane of a fast-food restaurant. Police said Monday that 22-year-old Davonte Straus of Richmond was killed in the incident. Officers responded to the 4100 block of Hull Street at 7:39 p.m. Sunday for the report of a person shot. They found Straus unresponsive in the lane at Southside Plaza. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiners office will determine Straus cause and manner of death. Anyone with information is asked to call Richmond police at (804) 814-7123 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. State spending analysis: Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? State spending analysis: Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? Democratic and Republican state policing and corrections spending Police are investigating a Manchester shooting that left one adult male dead Monday night. The Department of Emergency Communications received a call just after 8:30 p.m. Monday reporting gunfire in the 1600 block of Bainbridge Street, according to a police statement. Officers arriving at the scene were notified by a citizen that a man was down a few blocks away, in the 00 block of East 16th Street, with an apparent gunshot wound. The man, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have asked anyone with information about this incident to call Detective Tovar of the Major Crimes unit at (804) 467-4433 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available. The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 Richmond consumers could see utility rates increase up to nearly 9% under Mayor Levar Stoneys proposed $3 billion fiscal year 2023-24 budget. The proposed budget, introduced to the City Council Monday afternoon, calls for increasing the citys general funds to roughly $950 million, a 13% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the budget calls for an 8% pay increase to all city employees with an $18 minimum wage and an additional $21.2 million in funding for Richmond Public Schools. The operating and $1.6 billion five year capital improvement plan budgets allow us to continue to make critical investments in our shared priorities, Stoney said. 1 found dead in Richmond drive-thru lane Richmond police are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred off Hull Street in Southside Plaza, after discovering a downed person in the drive-thru lane of a fast food restaurant Sunday. Stoney said these shared priorities include schools, public safety, affordable housing, economic development and efficient city government. While the proposed budget is a $300 million increase from last year, there are no proposed changes to real estate or personal property tax rates, which will remain at $1.20 per $100 of the assessed real estate value and $3.70 per $100 assessed personal property value. The city is anticipating a 7.7% increase in real estate tax collection as a result of higher property assessments. However, if approved, there would be an anticipated increases of 3.75% for natural gas, 4% increase for water, 6.5% for wastewater and 8.75% for storm water in terms of public utility rates, depending on what residents need to pay. From some, the rates may increase approximately 9%. The city estimates this will result in an average $8.86 per month increase. In late-February, the Richmond School Board approved its proposed $228 million. Stoney has proposed to allocate $221 million, a 10.5% increase from the previous year. The bulk of these funds will go toward teacher raises. Im very proud of our work together to prioritize and invest in our schools and students, Stoney said. Additionally, the city plans to set aside $200 million for school modernization efforts, $15 million for Fox Elementary and $2.5 million to address general school maintenance needs. Overall, the proposed budget will result in a 3% increase, $112.4 million, to the Richmond Police Department; a 7% increase, $66.1 million, the Fire Department; a 9% increase, 48.9 million; and a 16.5% increase, $1.5, million to the Mayors office. Stoney said access to affordable housing in the city is crucial. In order to help address the need, the proposed budget accounts for a $10 million a year commitment for affordable housing projects. Together, we will prioritize and be intentional about how we spend the limited time, limited money and resources at our disposal, Stoney said. I look forward to working with you in the coming weeks to advance this budget across the goal line, at the benefit of our entire city. While the mayor met before the City Council, council did not comment on the presentation. Over the next couple weeks, the City Council will hold public work sessions to dive into the proposal. The next meeting will be held 12:30 p.m., Monday, March, 13 at City Hall. In April, the City Council will hear from the public before introducing amendments before making a final decision in May. Close In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. 29 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. Eileen Filler-Corn, the first woman to serve as Virginias speaker of the House, said Tuesday that she will not run for re-election, continuing an exodus of senior leaders from the General Assembly. Filler-Corn told The Washington Post that she is seriously considering a run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025. The legislative departures continued Tuesday morning as Sen. Lynwood Lewis, D-Accomack, a senator since 2014, announced that he will not seek re-election in a new district in which he is paired with Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach. Filler-Corn, a member of the House since 2010, served as House speaker from 2020-22, breaking a gender barrier that had stood for more than 400 years. But House Democrats ousted her as leader of their caucus in April 2022 after Republicans regained control of the chamber. She became speaker following a 2019 blue wave election that gave Democrats control of the House of Delegates as well as the Senate and the governorship. Filler-Corn helped usher through landmark Democratic measures, including efforts to ban the death penalty and to legalize recreational use of marijuana by adults. I am proud of the transformative actions we took during my tenure, Filler-Corn said in a statement. We invested in public education and transportation, made our communities safer from gun violence, supported working families, expanded reproductive freedom, rooted out discrimination, secured voting rights, protected our environment, and kept Virginia the top state for business in the nation. In just two years, we brought historic change to the Commonwealth that followed the will of the people and remains popular today. More importantly, we did this by including diverse voices from across Virginia. She added: We have made significant progress in Virginia and I will continue this work for our communities and our Commonwealth outside the confines of the House of Delegates. As for my next chapter, there are many exciting options ahead and I look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks and months. I am eager and energized for the next challenge! Republicans regained the House majority and the governorship in the November 2021 elections, and Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, became House speaker. In April 2022, House Democrats voted out Filler-Corn as head of their caucus and subsequently picked Del. Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, as their leader in the chamber. Scott said in a statement Tuesday: Our House Caucus and the entire Commonwealth is forever indebted to former Speaker and Leader Eileen Filler-Corn. I am proud to have served with her during her time in Richmond and look forward to all she will continue to do to move Virginia forward. In December 2021, the state Supreme Court imposed new legislative boundaries without regard to protecting incumbents. The new map paired dozens of legislators in districts with other incumbents and has prompted a cascading wave of retirements ahead of this years contests in which all 40 Senate seats and all 100 House seats are up for election. In addition to Filler-Corn, who was paired in a district with Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, key retirees include Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax; Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City; Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, co-chair of the Finance & Appropriations Committee; and Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee. Notable retirees in the House include Del. Ken Plum, D-Fairfax, the chambers currently most senior member, as well as a host of committee chairs, including Dels. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford; Rob Bell, R-Albemarle; Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland and Roxann Robinson, R-Chesterfield. So far, seven of the 40 senators are not running for reelection, not including Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who will be sworn in Tuesday evening as a member of Congress. Two redrawn Senate districts still feature two incumbents each, which means at least two more senators will leave the chamber. In the House, 15 of the 100 delegates have announced they are not seeking reelection. An additional 13 are running for state Senate seats. Four other House districts feature paired incumbents. This means the Senate is assured at least a 25% turnover, and the House is set to upend nearly a third of its membership, before the first votes are cast in summer primaries and fall elections. Filler-Corn likely would face competition in seeking the Democrats nomination for governor in 2025. Others that pundits mention as potential candidates include some members of the states congressional delegation such as McClellan and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th as well as Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. More than three months after his death, Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, will be present in more than one way when Congresswoman-elect Jennifer McClellan takes the oath of office on Tuesday evening to succeed him in the U.S. House of Representatives. McClellan will feel his presence as a longtime friend and political mentor, and will also feel it in her new office. Most of the late congressman's congressional staff will go to work for his successor as she enters the 118th Congress almost two months after it convened in January. "Knowing that I was coming in in the middle of the session, I want to be able to hit the ground running," she said Monday. Out of 16 staff in McClellan's congressional office, 11 worked for McEachin, including his chief of staff, Tara Rountree, whom the congresswoman-elect has chosen for the same role. Rountree, who announced McEachin's sudden death on Nov. 28, acknowledged, "Obviously, it's been a trying time for the staff and the family, but we're doing our best." She had first worked for McEachin on his first congressional campaign, when he defeated Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade in 2016. A native of Chesapeake, which was part of the previous 4th District, she worked for nearly seven years in his congressional office, including two as chief of staff. Rountree said she is confident that McClellan will make the transition to Congress with ease because of her experience, work ethic and intellect after serving for 18 years in the Virginia General Assembly. "She's going to have the exact right qualities it takes to get things done for the district, even in a [politically] divided Congress," Rountree said. Among the other holdovers from McEachin's office are communications director Shahid Ahmed; senior policy adviser Melody Tan; legislative assistant Rahmon Ross; district director Charity Howell; constituent services director Sylvia Copeland; district representative Elizabeth Hardin; press and digital assistant Lena Jacobson; and staff assistant Sarah Houle, a former intern for McEachin; Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd; and state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax. Abbi Easter, a longtime adviser to McEachin, will serve as senior adviser to McClellan. John Montgomery, a former Henrico School Board member and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will remain as coordinator of service academy appointments. Two members of McClellan's Senate staff will join her congressional office former Chief of Staff Maryn Campbell as director of outreach, and former legislative assistant Bianca Casper as senior constituent services liaison. Both roles are important to the communication between McClellan's office on Capitol Hill and offices in the 4th District, with information flowing in both directions. The district covers all or part of 15 localities, including Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield counties and the Petersburg area. It extends to the North Carolina line. McClellan also is adding Capitol Hill experience from the staffs of other members of Congress, including Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Donald Pollard III, previously a policy adviser to Kaine, will serve as legislative director for the new congresswoman. Jazmine Bonner, a former assistant to Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., will be director of operations. Jannie Kamara, a former assistant to Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., will serve as legislative correspondent and aide. "We're bringing in not only a lot of experience, in the 4th District and Virginia, but also on the Hill," McClellan said. "We're making sure that they bring the same passion for public service," she added. "The overarching goal of the office should be, 'How can we help people?'" Pulling together a staff has been a challenge for McClellan, who cleaned out her Senate office on Monday. Her last assembly session adjourned on Feb. 25, four days after she won a special election to fill McEachin's congressional seat. She will resign her Senate seat on Tuesday. "The hardest part was the last day of session," she said. "It felt a little bittersweet." McClellan expects to carry on much of McEachin's legacy because they shared common backgrounds and priorities. Both were successful lawyers before entering politics. They served together in the House of Delegates for one term before McEachin moved to the Senate in 2008 and she succeeded him there after his first election to Congress. "I'm going to have a lot of the same priorities he did," she said, citing health policy and environmental justice as two of them. "At the same time, I want people to realize, hey, I'm a different person. I have a different style and approach." Richmond spring festivals: Arts in the Park, Dominion Riverrock & Richmond Greek Festival Swine & Brine Something in the Water Blues & Brews in the Bottom Arts in the Park Que Pasa? Festival Dominion Energy Riverrock Lebanese Food Festival Richmond Greek Festival Commentators from the left and right believe our democracy is at risk. But few look to the 50 states to find solutions to our present polarization, preferring instead to focus on the divisive jousting in Washington, D.C. We would all benefit from by looking more closely at the states. Buttressing the political guardrails of democracy takes work, and strong institutional traditions are key to the process. Sometimes, little things can help make a difference. In Virginia, there is an unwritten procedure that builds respect across party lines and occurs at the conclusion of each legislative session when it becomes known that legislators are retiring or leaving the General Assembly to pursue other opportunities. Even with the crunch of bills to be passed at the last minute, the bodies always find time to honor their service. And it is done in a bipartisan way, where members of each party take turns commemorating their colleagues and celebrating the institution of the legislature. This year, the legislative losses are substantial in both number and quality. It is impossible to replace Dick Saslaw, Janet Howell and Tommy Norment in the Senate or Ken Plum in the House, who together brought 150 years of distinguished service to the commonwealth and whose institutional memory is unparalleled. The General Assembly also loses Sen. Jennifer McClellan, as her incredible talents move to Congress, and Del. Rob Bell, whose knowledge of criminal law is unsurpassed and whose commitment to mental health reform approaches that of Charlottesville Sen. Creigh Deeds. Bells speech to the House and McClellans to the Senate provide great insights into the nature of the General Assembly and the role of the citizen legislator. There will be time to discuss the political implications of these developments (the Senate Republican caucus keeps moving to the right and the Democratic caucus loses its most business-friendly legislator). But retirements provide an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work, commitment to public service, and respect for those with whom you disagree that are the bedrock of democratic governance. The word celebration may seem odd for the process of saying goodbye. But it is the appropriate term, for in singing the praises of those whose public service in the body has ended, legislators are reaffirming a commitment to the institution and the principle of democracy itself. In doing so, they reinforce the normative guardrails of our republic, and strengthen the power of selfless public service. These moments are especially important when one considers the tremendous legislative turnover occurring both in Virginia and throughout the nation. Only 11 of 100 House members remain from the day I entered the body in 2006. And when the new House is sworn in next January, almost 50% of the legislators will have less than four years experience, even if all incumbents are reelected. Virginia is not alone in facing challenges of institutional memory; high turnover rates are affecting other state legislatures as well. About one-quarter of the 6,279 state legislators elected in 2022 are new to their respective bodies. The states that reported the highest turnovers rates included chambers under Republican control, such as Arizona (54%), Idaho (47%) and Nebraska (54%); and places like Michigan (47%) and Minnesota (35.3%), where Democrats now control both the House and Senate. While some turnover is productive in bringing new energy and perspectives to legislative bodies, it increases the risks that partisan infighting could further weaken the democratic norms upon which so much of our public legitimacy is built. During my 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates, I saw ideological disagreements increase in intensity, and witnessed a widening chasm between the parties that threatens the ability of the commonwealth to accomplish good things for its citizens. The causes of this were myriad, from hyperpartisan redistricting that occurred in 2011 to the nationalization of politics. The threat or actuality of a primary challenge from the right has hardened the views of some GOP legislators while encouraging others to retire. And similar though not yet as effective forces are having a similar impact on Democratic officeholders. These developments are increasing polarization in the commonwealth. But hopeful signs remain. Virginia has its share of stop the steal zealots, but there was little appetite in 2021 for the fielding of an alternate slate of electors to keep Trump in power, and seemingly little enthusiasm for returning the former president to office. More significantly, and despite the occasional rhetorical flourish suggesting fraud is rampant in our electoral process, most Virginia legislators believe that our elections are fair and continue to profess allegiance to our governmental institutions and democratic traditions. In this polarized age, it is important to reinforce democratic traditions at every opportunity. They can only help the process. Close 09-09-1962 (cutline): Beth Askew, Westhampton Sophomore, shows freshman sister, Ann, around campus. She points to Keller Hall, Westhampton College Gymnasium. 05-01-1980 (cutline): Co. Sophomore Cara Westin studies in her dorm room--one of 130 rooms. 02-20-1974 (cutline): New glass encloses North Court Corridor to dining hall. Open archways once admitted wintry winds to waiting students. 12-31-1961 (cutline): Dormitories are quiet, deserted at Westhampton College 10-01-1989 (cutline): Diamond Anniversary Celebrated- Elizabeth Ellyson Wiley, of the class 1918, is escorted to her seat in Henry Mansfield Cannon Memorial Chapel by Andrea Beltran (left) and Elizabeth Salley before yesterday's convocation celebrating the 75th anniversary of Westhampton College. The college was founded in 1914 by Virginia Baptists to be a complementary women's institution to the men's Richmond College. 04-24-1961 (cutline): Westhampton Senior puts geography in style. Miss Adrienne Price rates best dressed title. From the Archives: Westhampton College Westhampton College was founded in the early 20th century by Virginia Baptists to be a complementary womens institution to the mens, Richmond College, established in the 1800s. Today, some photos of Westhampton College from our archive. Interested in a print of any of these photos? Click here. 09-09-1962 (cutline): Beth Askew, Westhampton Sophomore, shows freshman sister, Ann, around campus. She points to Keller Hall, Westhampton College Gymnasium. 05-01-1980 (cutline): Co. Sophomore Cara Westin studies in her dorm room--one of 130 rooms. 02-20-1974 (cutline): New glass encloses North Court Corridor to dining hall. Open archways once admitted wintry winds to waiting students. 12-31-1961 (cutline): Dormitories are quiet, deserted at Westhampton College 10-01-1989 (cutline): Diamond Anniversary Celebrated- Elizabeth Ellyson Wiley, of the class 1918, is escorted to her seat in Henry Mansfield Cannon Memorial Chapel by Andrea Beltran (left) and Elizabeth Salley before yesterday's convocation celebrating the 75th anniversary of Westhampton College. The college was founded in 1914 by Virginia Baptists to be a complementary women's institution to the men's Richmond College. 04-24-1961 (cutline): Westhampton Senior puts geography in style. Miss Adrienne Price rates best dressed title. Mexican and U.S. authorities continue search for four kidnapped Americans Matamoros, Tamaulipas The FBI office in San Antonio has issued an alert regarding the kidnapping of four American citizens. The alert was issued Sunday after the four Americans were forcefully removed from their white minivan on March 3. The four had driven over the border from Texas to the city of Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas for medical purposes when they became part of a criminal gang clash. Oliver Rich, special agent in charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced a reward of $50,000 USD for information leading to the return of the victims alive. He added that, according to initial investigations, the Americans crossed from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen shot at them and then removed them from their vehicle into the bed of a pickup truck. They have not been heard from since. One innocent bystander, a Mexican citizen, was killed by gunfire during the clash. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that his entire government is working to help locate the four American citizens who were captured in Matamoros March 3 by members of organized crime. The white minivan happened to stumble into the middle of a confrontation between two criminal groups. Some of those criminals involved in the confrontation have been arrested. Lopez Obrador confirmed that They are people from the United States who crossed the border to buy medicine in Mexico and there was a confrontation between groups and some of them were arrested. The entire government is working on it, he said adding that Mexicos Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodriguez Velazquez, is in command of the rescue operation of the Americans. U.S. media has identified the four American citizens as Zindell B, Latavia M, Shaeed W and Eric W. According to Zalandria B, the sister of Zindell B, the four traveled to Matamoros for a cosmetic procedure, specifically so one of them could get a tummy tuck. United States media has associated the Gulf Cartel with the kidnapping of the four Americans. According to an unnamed US official quoted by CNN, the Americans were likely confused with Haitian drug traffickers because they are African Americans. One of the arms of the Gulf Cartel known as Escorpiones, is believed related to the kidnapping. Guzman said that it was likely a dispute between an arm of the Gulf Cartel and the Northeast Cartel who are fighting over territory. The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, has issued a statement regarding the kidnapping. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Photo: Ken Salazar March 5, 2023. On Friday, March 3rd, unknown assailants in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, violently kidnapped at gunpoint four US citizens in an incident in which an innocent Mexican citizen was tragically killed. We have no greater priority than the safety of our citizens this is the U.S. governments most fundamental role. US law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots. The Mexican state of Tamaulipas is one of six that the U.S. State Department advises travelers not to visit because of known crime and kidnapping incidences between the drug cartels. Mexico will have new innovative and effective cell therapy treatments against cancer Mexico City, Mexico Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard says Mexico will have a new leukemia cancer treatment that will be able to save thousands of lives. Ebrard made the announcement Monday from India. He reported that scientists anticipate clinical tests of cell therapy will begin in Mexico this year, and is one of the most innovative and effective treatments against cancer. A new cell therapy against cancer, potentially more effective than current treatments, will arrive in Mexico from India, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon announced. The Foreign Secretary led a delegation of Mexican scientists and diplomats that visited the laboratories of ImmunoACT, an Indian company based in Mumbai. ImmunoACT developed the so-called CAR T cell therapy, which uses the modified cells of cancer patients themselves to fight cancer. The foreign minister said that today, this therapy costs half a million dollars in the United States, so we are going to make it accessible to the people, that is, that we can have it in the public system and Mexicans can access that technology. Thats what our job is, thats what the president asked us to look at, this particular technology and the Indian and Iraqi governments and ImmunoACT are helping us to do that, he said in a statement. This type of cell therapy has demonstrated safety and efficacy and has regulatory approval in the United States as well as in several European countries. Secretary Ebrard emphasized that with the technology, We will be able to save thousands of lives of people who have leukemia and that we cannot save now. Ebrard meets with scientists to being new cancer treatment to Mexico. Photo: SRE March 6, 2023. Mondays visit follows up on an agreement signed on November 8, 2022 between the Salvador Zubiran National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition (INCMNSZ), the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and ImmunoACT for technology transfer to Mexico of therapies CAR T cell phones to care for cancer patients. As a result of this visit, a technology transfer plan is being initiated so that the therapy benefits Mexican patients in the short and medium term. With financing from the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (Amexcid), the first clinical trial of CAR T therapies will be carried out with Mexican patients, after complying with due regulatory process, and consequently they will receive this therapy during the course of the present year. The process has been accompanied by the health and regulatory authorities, with face-to-face and virtual meetings between Amexcid, scientists and the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris). MIA work started for construction of secondary Puerto Morelos road Puerto Morelos, Q.R. A request for the provisional Environmental Impact Statement for a secondary road in Puerto Morelos has been submitted. The secondary road will be built and used to transport the stone material arriving from Cuba. Armando Lara De Nigris, head of the Secretariat for Sustainable Urban Territorial Development (Sedetus) in Quintana Roo, said work is being done with the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) on the provisional Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) for the alternate road. He explained that the road will be constructed next to the existing Jose Maria Morelos highway and used by the industrial dump trucks to transport the more than 2.2 million tons of stone expected to arrive between March and December. On March 3 they submitted the request for the provisional MIA. I helped them with the draft to start the work on an alternate road, he said. The stone will be unloaded in Puerto Morelos and transported by land to Leona Vicario. Until the alternate road is built, they will use the main roads in and out of the Old Town. Once the alternate road is built, it will be used to transport the stone material until December. After that, it will be converted for public use. What is sought, in addition to having a road for the transfer of material that does not affect citizens, is to improve the wetland areas on both sides of the road. It will be a nuisance for 10 months for citizens, but it will turn out to be something good with a boulevard, an avenue, with twice the capacity of what currently exists with bike paths, bus stops, Lara De Nigris said. With the adaptations, the main access to Puerto Morelos will be able to double its width, but with the hydrological steps for a lower impact on the environment, it will guarantee hydrological flows and improve the quality of vegetation. Maybe a week or two we can start doing studies, have the project and start working on the definitive MIAs, he added. Security cameras to be installed after ongoing disruption in Cancun suburb Cancun, Q.R. After a night of destruction in a Cancun suburb, authorities say security cameras will be installed. On Sunday night, Cancun firemen were sent to deal with two vehicle fires while police were sent to the same area to deal with reports of gunfire. Cancun firemen located two industrial trucks on fire in the Alfredo V. Bonfil area of Cancun after responding to an emergency 911 report around 8:15 p.m. The two dump truck fires are believed to have been intentionally set. Cancun firemen extinguished two burning trucks believed intentionally set. Photo: March 5, 2023. The trucks are believed to have been burned in retaliation for the non-payment of extortion floor rights. According to local reports, the owner of the trucks had received extortion threats earlier that same day, extortion money he refused to pay. Cancun officers were also on scene a few hours later in the same neighborhood after residents reported hearing gunfire. Police searched the public streets where residents reported hearing shots, but did not report injured people or arrests. A few hours later, Cancun police arrive in the same area after residents report hearing gun fire in the streets. Photo: March 5, 2023. Cancun Police posted a late night notice on social media warning the public of the report of gun fire in Alfredo V. Bonfil. Since the disruptive night, Ruben Oyarvide, State Secretary for Public Security said security cameras will be installed. He said the cameras will be connected to the citys C5 system. Years ago, city police officers were not even able to enter that area of Cancun, he said, but that has gradually changed. Before you could not enter, now yes, there is a police presence so that citizens are not affected, he noted. On Monday afternoon, Cancun police were reportedly shot at by armed men traveling in a truck in the Alfredo V. Bonfil area of Cancun. The gunfire lead to a chase between the armed men and Cancun police. Nearly a dozen police units responded to the highway chase after officers were shot at by criminals from Alfredo V. Bonfil. Photo: March 6, 2023. Their afternoon chase came to an abrupt end along Guayacan Avenue in the suburbs after the driver of the truck crashed into a large mound of dirt. Those inside fled the vehicle and were chased by officers on foot. It was around 2:00 p.m. when Cancun Police posted an emergency notice on social media warning of a red code in Alfredo V. Bonfil. Nearly a dozen municipal police units were on scene of the foot chase. At the time of publishing, Cancun police had not provided an update on the pursuit. Two of four Americans kidnapped in Tamaulipas Mexico found dead Matamoros, Tamaulipas The governor of Tamaulipas has confirmed the death of two of the four kidnapped Americans. The four American citizens who had crossed the border from Texas into Tamaulipas March 3, were kidnapped after being caught in a criminal gang crossfire. On March 7, authorities reported finding the four American citizens. Two were found dead. One was found injured and the fourth, unharmed. The governor of Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal, confirmed the deaths. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador received the news live from the Tamaulipas Governor during his Tuesday morning press conference. We are very sorry that this is happening in our country and we send our condolences to the families of the victims, to friends, to the people of the United States, to the government of the United States, Lopez Obrador said after the phone call. The four Americans became caught up in criminal gang crossfire. Photo: March 3, 2023. One person was reported detained during the rescue of the U.S. citizens. That person has been identified as 24-year-old Jose Guadalupe N. He was arrested after being found left in charge of the Americans. On Monday, the Tamaulipas Prosecutors Office announced that at least eight Mexican, state and federal security agencies were searching for four Americans. The two surviving Americans identified as Latavia and Eric, have been turned over to U.S. authorities. The He Gets Us ad campaign that drew so much attention during the Super Bowl is sleek Christianity for a secular audience, but what does success really look like? With perhaps the exception of the recent Asbury revival, its rare to see Christianity referenced in popular culture in a positive way. Be it debates over Christian nationalism or the tragically unending list of church abuse scandals, Christianitys portrayal within modern media often swings on a doom-and-gloom pendulum, between the cheery endpoints of authoritarianism and abuse. Enter He Gets Us, an ad campaign trying to change the way Christianity is perceived in popular culture. The brand gained tremendous popularity following a $100 million gambit that put two ads in the 2023 Super Bowl. The first, a 30-second ad, exhorts viewers to be childlike over images of children at play. The second, a 60-second spot, told viewers to love your enemies over images of violence and division. The Super Bowl strategy isnt the only messaging employed by He Gets Usthe brands been making appearances on billboards and social media since its launch late last year, fueled by a group of donors that includes David Green of Hobby Lobby. Whatever you are facing, Jesus faced it too, says He Gets Us, be it an appeal to the archetype of the rebel, the refugee, or the unwed single mother. For an inside look at the production and reception of these ads, I talked to two individuals connected with the campaign: He Gets Us spokesperson Jason Vanderground and Bill McKendry, chief creative officer at HAVEN, a creative hub associated with the HGU ads. Whats the denominational background of the production crew behind the He Gets Us campaign? JV: He Gets Us is not associated with any specific group or denomination, and the team behind it includes a variety of denominations and viewpoints. Whos the main audience for this ad campaign? JV: He Gets Us has two primary audiences and goals: first, to reintroduce spiritually open skeptics to the Jesus of the Bible and his confounding love and forgiveness. Second, we want to call up Christians to reflect the authentic Jesus in how they treat others. Think about your ideal consumers for this ad. What do you want them to walk away from the ad thinking and feeling? JV: The ultimate goal of He Gets Us is to raise respect and relevance for the Jesus of the Bible. The goal was that the two commercials would not only inspire those who may be skeptical of Christianity to ask questions and learn more about Jesus, but also to encourage Christians to live out their faith even better and exhibit the same confounding love and forgiveness Jesus modeled. Whats been the most common bit of feedback youve been getting on this ad campaign? BM: The most common feedback we get are questions regarding our agenda and the sources of funding for the campaign. Maybe we shouldnt be surprised, but audiences on all sides (Christian and non-Christian, conservative and progressive, etc.) seem to be skeptical about our motives and desired outcomes. Understandably, in these divisive times, it is hard to believe that our goals are simple and free from political leanings. Weve been surprised to see that, since the Super Bowl, the media have been fair and balanced in their analysis of our work and stated goals. It is not that they havent been critical, but theyve also been complimentary and objective about what it is we are attempting to accomplish and communicate. Whats been the most useful bit of feedback youve gotten on this campaign? BM: Our campaign over the last year has created significant buzz, but that was brought to a new level with our Super Bowl efforts. Many were discussing Jesus and the ads in national and regional media, as well as on social media. But perhaps the best feedback weve received is to see that Google searches for the term Jesus went up 3,800% in January as we began promoting our ad presence in the Super Bowl. The key to understanding the significance of this is that Jesus is already a top search term, so to see numbers swell as they have is a very encouraging outcome from our presence in the market. How do you balance the corporate responsibility of creating an ad campaign to create business and generate traffic and the evangelical responsibility to actually reach people with the Gospel? BM: Weve established KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for the campaign which both measure standard responses (e.g., web traffic, shares, likes, views, chats, texts, etc.,) and shifts on attitudes and behavior, so were measuring both the return and impact of the campaign at a level of sophistication expected for an effort of this scale. Looking at other people whove sought to create broad-based Christian advertisement, what lessons did you learn in the production of these ads that Christians should take to heart? JV: He Gets Us is about the radical forgiveness, compassion, and love that Jesus embodied and nothing else. We learned through extensive research what to focus on and what to avoid to be successful. Most other broad-based Christian campaigns weve observed were not driven by developing strong insights through extensive market research and message testing. No other effort we are aware of has spent the time and resources we have to prepare their effort at the level and scale we have. He Gets Us has presented a well-funded, sleek Christian product for a secular audience. To a point, its workedboth of the He Gets Us spots ranked in the top 20 Super Bowl ads via consumer ratings. But is the emphasis on relatability really humanizing Jesus and making Christianity appealing to a younger generation? Or is it actually undercutting the transformative power of the Gospel? Is it the motives behind the campaign that are suspect, as McKendry implies, or is the campaigns efficacy that should be questioned? To hear a conservative critique of He Gets Us, I spoke with Douglas Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson has written for decades on subjects from classical education to Christian engagement with culture, and garnered a legacy as one of Reformed Christianitys most outspoken and controversial advocates. Wilson sat down to explain the conundrums inherent in modern Christian marketing, but began by giving credit where he believes its due. Im grateful for people who are out there sharing the Gospel, and Im sure there are people who will be helped, says Wilson, before giving a pastoral analogy, albeit one that puts He Gets Us in a less-than-amazing light. The reason Im not completely hostile is, if I went through my congregation, When you first came to Christ, how much of your initial discipleship was dumb and stupid, a lot of people came into the church in a big-box evangelical church and then outgrew it. In Wilsons words, the content created by He Gets Us is nobly intentioned but falls into the category of what he deems ad-copy Gospelmarketers trying to preach the Gospel. Its calculated to offend no one. Jesus and the apostles and the prophets just didnt talk that way. To him, the offense-free evangelism strategy has traded authority for relatability: One of the things that people require is a sense of authority, that brings security, he asserts. We dont want to present Christ as the sky-buddy, and neither do we want to portray him as how-do-you-do-fellow-kids. Yet whats the difference between the kind of relatability created by a He Gets Us ad and the kind of relatability that a pastor seeks to create when preaching? For Wilson, once again, the problem arises from the marketing-first approach. Every preachers task is to connect that word with where the people are. You have to connect that word with the temporal word and where the people are. You have to understand cultures and mores, he admits. But what is it that Im trying to relate to? Im talking about a Savior thats there to save them from their sin. Im trying to relate the Gospel to their sense of sinfulness, rather than their felt needs. At the end of the day, though, Wilson maintains that the He Gets Us strategy has merit, even if more conservative Christians differ strongly with the tone of the messaging. Lets say my critique is correct and that its too ad-copy-gospel and its too relatable. Its odd for me to say that God cant use that. The Botetourt County Sheriffs Office is looking for an armed man who was involved in a domestic dispute. The sheriffs office had warrants Monday to arrest Lucas Taylor Moseley, 36, of Buchanan on four charges: assault and battery, interfering with the property rights of another, brandishing a firearm and possessing of a firearm as a convicted felon. Sheriff Matt Ward said on Facebook at about 7:30 p.m. Monday that someone reported a possible sighting of Moseley in the Little Timber Ridge Road area. He may have been sighted. He may not have been sighted, Ward said in a video message. Reports were that they had seen a white male with a long gun leaving an area and was seen spotted in the Little Timber Ridge area. The sheriff said Mosely, a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, about 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds, had made no threats to the general public. The sheriffs office actively searched for Moseley in the Little Timber Ridge area Monday evening. Ward said a drone with thermal capabilities was deployed. But no heat signatures were located in the area. A canine was deployed earlier with no success, Ward added, but he assured residents that deputies would be monitoring the area. Deputy David Moyer said Tuesday morning that the sheriffs office had no updates to share. He added that an active search would not continue Tuesday unless another sighting was reported. According to Virginias online court case information system, Moseley has a criminal record in Botetourt County that dates from 2012 and includes drug possession and traffic charges. Following a Virginia State Police investigation, a Roanoke grand jury has indicted a Roanoke Sheriffs Office deputy on felony drug delivery charges. Jonathan Hildalgo, 33, of Roanoke, whose last name also appears as Hidalgo in court records, faces four charges: delivering narcotics to a prisoner, attempting to deliver narcotics to a prisoner and two counts of bribery in a correctional facility. The Virginia State Police announced its investigation of the sheriffs office in January, when the city sheriffs office said the investigation was related to a deputys alleged misconduct. The sheriffs office said in a press release Tuesday that it had identified potential misconduct by one of our deputies, and upon discovery, Virginia State Police were immediately contacted to ensure no bias for or against the deputy in question. After collaboration among state police, the city sheriffs office and the Roanoke Commonwealths Attorney Office, a grand jury was presented with evidence, and a direct indictment was brought against Hildalgo on Monday, the release said. Hildalgo joined the sheriffs office in July 2019, but he has been suspended without pay since Jan. 13, the department said. He was terminated on Tuesday after warrants for his arrest were served. Hildalgo was listed as a fugitive in Virginias online court case information system Tuesday afternoon. But Tameka Paige, a sheriffs office spokesperson, said state police arrested him Tuesday and he was taken to another agency. Tuesdays press release said Sheriff Antonio Hash and those within this department have worked hard to gain and increase the communities trust. He has and will continue to be transparent with the citizens and there will be no tolerance for those that do not hold true to the moral standards and rules of conduct which guide those employed with the Roanoke City Sheriffs Office, the press release read. The department released no additional information Tuesday about the state polices investigation or the pending charges. PEARISBURG Two former employees of the Kollmorgen plant in Radford are suspected of taking more than $411,784 from the company, according to a search warrant. Virginia State Police began an investigation in September 2021 after the company reported the two men collected on fake bills for repairs and calibration of equipment, according to the warrant, filed this month in Giles County, where one of the employees lives. Company representatives interviewed one of the men in 2021 and he apologized then killed himself the next day, according to the warrant. Because no criminal charges have been filed in the case to date, The Roanoke Times is not yet naming the men. State police recently collected a laptop, cellphone and financial documents from the Giles County home of the surviving former employee. On Tuesday, state police Sgt. Rick Garletts described the situation as an active and ongoing investigation and said no information will be released for now. Giles Countys commonwealths attorney wrote in an email Monday that he had not received a report about the two former employees. At Kollmorgen, questions were referred to an official named in the search warrant as involved in the companys own look at the payments, but she did not reply to a message. According to the search warrant, the two men, while working at Kollmorgen, set up a supposed outside company and billed Kollmorgen for work on equipment. But there was no evidence that work actually was done, and state police suspected the company existed only as a name and billing mechanism, according to the search warrant. The mens company was not an approved vendor for Kollmorgen. But in 2008, Kollmorgen began making payments to it that eventually totaled more than $411,784, according to the warrant. Records for a bank account set up in the names of the mens company and of the former employee who died showed that money from the account was used for personal transactions at restaurants, shopping, checks to family members, home repairs and other non-business expenses, according to the warrant. There also were cash withdrawals from the bank account that totaled hundreds of dollars every month, according to the warrant. The Kollmorgen representatives told state police that when they confronted the men with suspicious invoices, each man said that the other had been responsible for repairs, according to the warrant. Kollmorgens interview with the second man occurred after the first had died, the search warrant noted. When Kollmorgen officials interviewed the first employee, he told them that he just took care of the business side of the mens company and that he billed Kollmorgen whatever the other man told him to, according to the warrant. He said that he charged the amounts to a Kollmorgen credit card assigned to the other man, and that he kept whatever was needed to operate the business, and gave the rest to a third man, according to the warrant. At the end of the interview, the man apologized and stated he never intended for it to get like this, according to the warrant. The man told the Kollmorgen officials that he realized that he probably would be fired. The next day, the man committed suicide, according to the warrant. The state medical examiners office determined that the cause of death was a self-inflicted shotgun wound. An obituary said that the man had worked for Kollmorgen for more than 30 years. CHRISTIANSBURG The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors decided Monday night to advertise a real estate tax rate of 73 centswhich represents a 16-cent reduction. In deciding to advertise that rate, the board did not deviate from what the county administration is recommending for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The advertised figure, which must be publicized for a certain period of time, is the highest the board can approve when it decides to formally adopt the tax rate later this year. That means the board this spring can adopt a rate lower than 73 cents, but not higher. Although a tax rate of 73 cents is 16 cents less than the current rate, Montgomery County officials said the figure still amounts to an increase of 4.3% over the revenue-neutral rate because of the latest reassessment increase. The 73 cents included in the proposed budget last week would amount to one of the biggest tax rate cuts for the county over the past two decades. The advertised rate, which passed on a 5-2 vote, was accepted after the board voted down a call to advertise a 75-cent rate. Democrats Sara Bohn and Mary Biggs cast the no votes on the 73-cent rate. The advertising of the 75-cent rate, which was supported by each of the three Democrats on the board, failed on a 4-3 vote along partisan lines, with Democrat April DeMotts joining Bohn and Biggs. Bohn, who initially pushed for the 75 cents, said she proposed the measure to allow for some extra cushion in the event that the Montgomery County schools dont receive sufficient funding needed to cover proposed raises. That will buy us time until we approve the budget, said Bohn, who added that she really hoped they wouldnt need to pass a rate higher than 73 cents. Bohn received pushback from the other supervisors. I understand why you want to see it higher, but I think 73 cents is where Im at, said Republican Supervisor Steve Fijalkowski. The other board Republicans are Sherri Blevins, Todd King and Darrell Sheppard. The proposed budget of approximately $239.9 millionwhich the board agreed to advertise on a separate 7-0 voteincludes $136.1 million for Montgomery County Public Schools, the countys single-largest expense. The county is recommending $4 million in additional funds to the schools, an amount that falls short of the districts request for an additional $6.1 million. The school districts proposed budget earlier this year included funding for 5% raises, but measures discussed at the state level would boost the raises to 7%. Supervisors on Monday, pointed out that there remains a great deal of uncertainty over the funding for the extra raises brought up by state lawmakers. Additionally, both county and school officials are still waiting for answers on how the state plans to address the Virginia Department of Education calculation error that led to funding cuts for MCPSand other districts across the state. The tax rate is half the equation the county uses to determine a homeowners annual real estate tax billthe other half of the formula is the property assessment. Montgomery County this past fall completed its four-year reassessment, which saw property values go up by an average of approximately 30%. That means many tax bills would have gone up substantially even if the county ended up keeping its current rate of 89 cents per $100 of assessed value. The dialogue about making Roanoke a safer place for its youth continues. The city council is asking community members to participate in two community meetings this month to talk about just that. The first meeting is slated for 6 p.m. March 14 inside the cafeteria of William Fleming High School. The second meeting will take place at 6 p.m. March 30 in the Patrick Henry High School cafeteria. We want to engage as many of our citizens as we can. ... We want citizens to come out and share their thoughts with us as they relate to juvenile curfew and ... other interests they may have [about] gun violence, Mayor Sherman Lea said Monday. All community members including youth are welcome to participate. I think that they [the youth] will be able to provide solutions and perspectives that we might not see, council member Luke Priddy said. Ancillary to the youth safety conversation is an ongoing dialogue about Roanokes Gun Violence Prevention Commission. At Mondays city council meeting, Kathy Cohen a member of the nine-person citizen commission responded to recent criticisms of the commission. A WSLS story published online Feb. 23 quoted Stephanie Moon Reynolds saying that if the commissions role is unclear, it should be abolished. On Monday, Moon Reynolds offered some clarification of her comment. If the commission has been or will be spending funds without proper permission or not according to established policy and procedures, she said, it may be necessary to revisit the ordinance establishing the commissions purview. To that end, the results of an ongoing process audit of the commission should provide more information. Cohen said she was speaking Monday on her own behalf and that of four other commission members, but not the entire commission, she said. She declined to disclose which members she was speaking on behalf of, saying she did not ask their permission to do so. Every member of the Gun Violence Prevention Commission was publicly undermined, actively, by one member of this council, and tacitly by most of you, Cohen said, addressing the city council and mayor. Cohen said she was disappointed Moon Reynolds did not reach out to members of the commission before speaking to the media. This is extremely difficult and emotional work. Your loud and enduring support is crucial to our efforts, Cohen said. Vice Mayor Joe Cobb, the commissions chairman, spoke to The Roanoke Times two weeks ago for a previous interview about the groups work and purpose. He commented on the sometimes experimental nature of the commissions work. Cobb said the commission is new and not all of the things it tries will work as intended the first time around, but that its members are open to constructive criticism and new ideas. Above all, he said, the commission members are passionate about the work they do. When he spoke with The Roanoke Times Monday, Cobb added that it may be years before Roanoke is able to realize the full impact of the commissions work real, long-lasting change takes time. He acknowledged comments made by Peacemakers President Shawn Hunter about the importance of groups such as the Peacemakers, which tries to meet the root causes of gun violence head on, in the streets. Cobb agreed that Hunter and his colleagues are integral to the success of the citys gun violence prevention and reduction efforts, and that they are the only ones capable of the work they do. At the same time, Cobb said, the city must keep an eye on a comprehensive strategy, incorporating many different approaches, programs and policies. Three years after the deadly pandemics onset, COVID-19 is becoming less of a concern for Roanoke health officials. Since the most recent peak in infections in early January, both infections and hospitalizations have dropped considerably for the region. In the most recent weekly report from the Roanoke City and Alleghany Regional Health Districts, there were 149 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region between March 1 and March 7, resulting in 17 hospitalizations. During another seven-day period that ended on January 10 the height of the most recent, post-holiday infection peak there were 792 infections resulting in 68 hospitalizations. Hospitals and other medical entities in Roanoke have begun to shift focus following several weeks of steadily declining infections. Carilion Clinic closed its two community drive-thru COVID-19 testing facilities last week, citing the drop in infections as one of the reasons for the closure. Dr. Cynthia Morrow, director of the local health district, said that area hospitalizations are near their lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic. Our hospitalizations are at their lowest level since last May, Morrow said. In March 2000, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Virginia, there were significant concerns over the upcoming St. Patricks Day holiday, with many bars and restaurants refusing to close before their annual celebrations. The first early surges in infections followed, starting a trend of infection peaks following holidays. The most recent dominant strain of COVID-19, Omicron XBB 1.5, had just begun to spread last December, and contributed to the post-holiday spike in infections. Morrow said that she doesnt anticipate another large spike following this years St. Patricks Day celebrations. I dont think well see significant increases, Morrow said. And the reason I say that is that there isnt anything on the very near horizon that we see as a new dominant strain. Morrow stressed that while she didnt see any threat of infection spikes in the near future, that didnt mean that future spikes were out of the question, though she said she was hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. COVID is unpredictable, Morrow said. We dont know if and when the next strain is going to appear. With pandemic concerns abated for the time being, Morrow said that the Virginia Department of Health was beginning to shift focus back to pre-pandemic concerns, such as sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment, outreach for substance use disorder, and immunizations, as well as public hygiene. However, Morrow said that, with the pandemic exacerbating community health concerns that existed well before the first COVID-19 infections, her focus has permanently changed. Were a different department than we were, Morrow said. Reporting on the anniversary of the war in Ukraine saturated media recently, and I watched, listened to and read a lot of it. One item was about a demonstration in downtown Roanoke led by city council members who, standing in front of blue and yellow flags, appeared proud to be ditching our Russian Sister City. But are Pskovs citizens any more responsible for the war than Roanoke people are responsible for our illegal war in Iraq? Council members didnt cite any evidence either way. One voice that was heard this Feb. 24 was that of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Asked in an interview on CBS about the billions in aid the U.S. has given to Ukraine, he replied that most Americans dont like to see a big country bullying another, and they just feel its wrong and want to do something about it. He claimed that after World War II, everyone agreed on some basic rules, some basic principles, like one country just cant attack its neighbor, it cant try to seize its land by force, cant try to erase it from the map, cant bully it, accusing Russia of doing just that in Ukraine, which, regrettably, Russia did. In response, in an interview on Telegram, Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, asked, Was it not the U.S. that attacked Iraq? Zakharova then mentioned nine other wars of aggression started by the U.S., starting with the 1846 invasion of Mexico, which ended with us annexing a third of its territory. The Vietnam War made her list, plus our 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia and occupation of Serbias Kosovo province. She noted our ongoing illegal occupation of a third of Syria (part of our War on Terror) and that the U.S. now controls Guam and Puerto Rico since the 1898 Spanish-American War. She also commented on our several regime change interventions in Latin America. My mother would have said that Blinkens speech was the pot calling the kettle black. Media reports repeated the claim that Russias invasion was unprovoked. Dont those reporters remember the CIAs 2014 involvement in the far-right coup of Ukraines pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych? That regime change prompted the outbreak of the ongoing civil war in east Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and U.S.-backed Ukrainian military. The West ignored the 2014 Minsk II peace agreement and began arming and training Ukraines army. Germanys Prime Minister Angela Merkel admitted that Minsk II was just a way to allow time for Ukraines militarization. Last March, Turkish President Erdogan appeared to have brokered a peace deal, but the West said no way. Now China has offered to mediate a solution and has put on the table a reasonable basis for settling, but Blinken rejected Chinas plan out-of-hand. Why does the West still refuse diplomacy? And now Chinas been threatened for considering aid to Russia. As journalist Caitlin Johnstone noted, Washington is warning Beijing with a red line against doing something that Washington does constantly, and is currently doing to an unprecedented extent in Ukraine. The U.S. sends weapons to proxy forces all over the world, including to Saudi Arabia in facilitation of its mass atrocities in Yemen, to Al Qaeda and its aligned forces in facilitation of the western dirty war on Syria, and to Israel in facilitation of its apartheid regime and its nonstop attacks on its neighbors. Prominent voices, including Noam Chomsky, fear creeping escalation toward a nuclear war. Economist Jeffrey Sachs puts it: Neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve a decisive military victory in their ongoing war: both sides have considerable room for deadly escalation. Ukraine and its Western allies have little chance of ousting Russia from Crimea and the Donbas region, while Russia has little chance of forcing Ukraine to surrender. More weapons and munitions to Ukraine escalates violence and could lead to unintended consequences. More effective would be for the U.S. to use its influence to encourage negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. During the Iraq and Afghan wars, our governments war hawks were supported by our media, and now that is the case in the Ukraine war. Press scrutiny is light and few hard questions are asked. Rarely reported is the wars context, at least a decade of history. The U.S. and NATO assure Ukraine that winning the war is possible, rejecting the judgement of many experienced military leaders including Gen. Mark Milley who told the Financial Times last month that the war will end at a negotiating table, adding that it will be very, very difficult for Ukraine to expel all Russian forces from occupied territory. Newspapers and other media could wage peace by calling out the unwillingness of our leaders to push for mediation or negotiations. Diplomacy, not war, is the only way to achieve lasting peace. Martin Luther King Jr. knew: The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. I often think about Ukraine about Putins evil attack, Russias inhumane and criminal assault on Ukrainian civilians, the heroic stand of the Ukrainian people, led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the support given Ukraine by the U.S., NATO allies and others. The war is in the news daily. Even in my leisure reading of unrelated books, I am often reminded of Ukraine. In Pat Conroys "My Reading Life," I recently found the authors fascinating analysis of Tolstoys "War and Peace," including this on the 1812 Battle of Borodino: Tolstoy is completely convincing when he states that this bloody and unnecessary battle marked the beginning of the dissolution of the Napoleonic era. It is Tolstoys strongly held conviction that no man knows the forces that may be set loose when an army enters the homeland of a proud enemy whose people speak a different language, dance to a different music, worship a sterner god, and do not take well to an invasion of the motherland by an arrogant enemy. If I have one certainty in the world, it is that Adolf Hitler did not read 'War and Peace' before he sent armies of the Third Reich into the heart of Russia. I wonder if Putin ever read "War and Peace" before he launched his forces against Ukraine. Will the war against Ukraine lead to the end of the Putin era in Russia? Reading Winston Churchills history and memoir of World War II, I am often reminded of Ukraine. Like Churchill, Zelenskyy is a strong leader, standing firmly against evil and the odds, and seeking help from others. Churchill in the 1930s argued for a strong stand against Hitlers rearming of Germany and aggression against neighbors and later wrote that West European leaders at that time had the ability and power but not the foresight and willpower to confront Hitler and contain Germany how the malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous. Zelenskyy has said, The world is too connected and interdependent to allow someone to stay aside to feel safe when such a battle continues. To their credit, democracies have stepped forward to help. In late June 1940, as Great Britain stood nearly alone against Hitler, Churchill said, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end we shall defend our island we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender " Similarly, Zelenskyy has said, Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender. Even some specific instances mentioned by Churchill remind me of Ukraine. For example, in March 1938, when Hitler launched German forces into Austria, German tanks broke down and motorized artillery had problems, resulting in a logjam on the route to Vienna. Hitler was convulsed with anger at the obvious shortcomings of his military machine, which had tarnished his unopposed grand entry into Austria. Who now can forget a year ago when Russian columns, headed to seize Kyiv and replace Ukrainian leaders, became logjammed and the Ukrainian military beat them into retreat. Putin, like Hitler, must not have been pleased. Like Churchill, Zelenskyy has appealed for outside help. Churchill, speaking in early 1941 of Lend-Lease assistance from the U.S., then a non-belligerent, said, Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Zelenskyy has expressed appreciation to the U.S. and other democracies for their sanctions on Russia, humanitarian support of the Ukrainian population, and military armaments and other assistance. He has said, Your money is not charity. Its an investment in the global security and democracy, and defeating the Russian invasion is in the strategic interest of other countries and preserving a world structure of principles of international security. I close with three thought-provoking quotations: "Russia has attacked not just us, not just our land, not just our cities, it went on a brutal offensive against our values, against our right to live freely in our own country, against our national dreams. Just like the same dreams you Americans have. (Zelenskyy) The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing. (I would add, or not do enough.) (quote often attributed to Edmund Burke) all the great struggles of history have been won by superior willpower wrestling victory in the teeth of odds or upon the narrowest of margins. (Churchill) America and others should continue their strategic support of Ukraine. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday strongly condemned an Israeli attack on Syria's Aleppo International Airport as a "crime against humanity." Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the ministry's website, reacting to an air raid by Israel on the civil airport on Tuesday morning. Israel targeted the city's airport, the main route for the delivery of international humanitarian aid to the Syrian city, when the quake-stricken people in Aleppo are still under tough circumstances, he said. Slamming the attack as a flagrant case of "crimes against humanity," Kanaani regretted that some countries as well as Western and human rights organizations have remained silent in the face of continued "brutal and inhumane" Israeli attacks on Syria. The Tuesday attack has damaged the Aleppo airport's runway and taken it out of service, according to the state-run SANA news agency. Already heavily destructed as a result of the years-long war in Syria, Aleppo has also suffered considerable damage in the deadly earthquakes that hit southern Turkiye and northwestern Syria on Feb. 6. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. FLORENCE, S.C. The Mavericks will bring an eclectic mix of country and rock to the FMUPAC Saturday at 7:30 p.m. as they entertain with a night of high-energy music during their first trip to the Pee Dee. Founded in Miami in 1989, The Mavericks have celebrated much success over the years. Despite taking a nine-year hiatus from 2003 to 2012, the group reunited with the same chemistry and charisma as beforeonly this time with more experience. The Mavericks are ushering in their newest era with the release of their first all-Spanish album, titled En Espanol. Some of their top hits include All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down and Dance the Night Away. The band is led by lead vocalist Raul Malo, and backed by drummer Paul Deakin, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and lead guitarist Eddie Perez. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 13 and may be purchased for $52/45/35. Reserve tickets at www.fmupac.org, (843) 661-4444 or at the FMUPAC Ticket Office located at 201 South Dargan Street from 12pm to 5pm Monday Friday. "Recommended but Rarely Followed: Downward Departures of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Among Child Pornography Offenders" | Main | Texas completes its fourth execution of 2023 March 7, 2023 The Sentencing Project launches a "Second Look Network" Regular readers should know that I am a big fan of second-look sentencing mechanisms, so I am also now a fan of a new "network" that I learned about via email today. Here is a portion of the email (with links from the original): The Sentencing Project is excited to announce the launch of the Second Look Network! The Second Look Network is a coalition of attorneys and post-sentence advocates across the country working on behalf of incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences. The Network will facilitate the exchange of ideas and information between its members, and provide various opportunities for collaboration on effective litigation and mitigation strategies, host training sessions, and provide connections to experts and local policy efforts. The Network will also provide communications and media support to its members. With support from Arnold Ventures, we are proud to create such a space to fill this need for the litigation community. To help build and maintain this Network, The Sentencing Project has welcomed a Director and Program Manager to our team. Becky Feldman, Second Look Network Director Becky is a post-conviction defense attorney and came to The Sentencing Project with 17 years of litigation and reentry experience on behalf of incarcerated people serving life sentences in Maryland prisons. Leyda Pereyra, Program Manager Leyda is a social justice, equity and human rights advocate. Previously, Leyda served as an operational strategist and consultant to various campaigns that centered on health equity, economic empowerment, research and public policy through culturally responsive social justice frameworks. We welcome you to learn more about the Network here. We also invite you to review the membership criteria, and, if applicable, apply to join us as we build this community. I have written a whole lot about a broad array of second-look ideas and related issues in a a number of article through the years. Here is a sampling of some of my major second-look related writings: March 7, 2023 at 02:50 PM | Permalink Comments Obviously, the first step in any second look project a has to be to examine the laws in a given state to see what avenues ae available. My state has a very limited ability of the trial court to reduce sentences (limited to non-violent offenses in which drugs or alcohol played a role and defendant has completed treatment) and the main tool for reviewing sentences are applications for commutations (which are handled by the governor with all of the problems that would be expected as a result). The second step is defining what should be the proper scope of any such review -- what does it take to trigger a review, who are the parties, when should it be granted. I think that many people can agree that there are some cases in which the passions of the moment lead to courts and prosecutors being stricter than, in hindsight, they should have been. But, if the remedy appears to cover too many cases (or cases which the public thinks the sentences are generally right or even too light, it will be difficult to get any such proposals adopted. It is only once the tools are in place that individual cases can be examined. The cynic in me expects this new group to be more concerned about being "right" than the difficult task of building the political consensus needed to create potential solutions to what they perceive to be the problem. Posted by: tmm | Mar 7, 2023 3:46:52 PM Post a comment HARTINGTON, Neb. Authorities have released the identity of a man who was fatally shot last week at a work site near Hartington. Israel Matos-Colon, 31, of Fowlerville, Michigan, died Wednesday after being shot at a tower work site near the intersection of Nebraska Highway 57 and 885 Road, approximately two miles north of Hartington. David Phillips, 20, of Kenner, Louisiana, was arrested at the scene and faces charges of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Cedar County Sheriff's Office was called to the shooting scene, where crew members were attempted life-saving measures on Matos-Colon. He was transported to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, where he died. Investigators believe the shooting occurred during an argument between the two men. The State Patrol continues to investigate the incident. SIOUX CITY Vicki Hulse doesn't remember ever receiving a certified letter from a pipeline company informing her it planned to survey her land, much less denying acceptance of it. Had she received those letters, Hulse testified Tuesday, she still wouldn't have let survey crews onto the land she and her husband, William, own north of Moville, Iowa, and in the route of Navigator Heartland Greenway's proposed liquid carbon dioxide pipeline. "I just feel that against my property rights as an owner they can just come on my property whenever they want against my will. ... I don't think that's right," Hulse said. After being twice denied entry to the land, which lies in the pipeline's proposed route, last summer, Navigator sued the Hulses in August to get a temporary injunction allowing survey crews to enter the property. The couple responded with a counterclaim that Iowa's laws giving pipeline companies the right of entry to private land to survey and examine it are unconstitutional. Navigator pipeline lawsuit Ann Welshans, upper right, Director of Right of Way for Navigator Heartland Greenway, listens as Navigator attorney James Pray asks her a ques District Judge Roger Sailer in October denied Navigator's request for the temporary injunction. After a quick one-day trial Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court, he'll now decide whether to grant the company's request for a permanent injunction and also rule on the constitutionality of the pipeline laws. Navigator has applied for a state permit to build a pipeline through five states, including Iowa, that would collect carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois, convert it to liquid form and transport it under high pressure to an Illinois site, where it would be pumped thousands of feet beneath the surface. Many Iowa landowners have refused to grant surveyors access to their land or sign easements. Navigator depends on Iowa's law allowing surveyors the right to complete surveys if landowners don't voluntarily agree to them. "We fall back on Iowa code that we have a right to enter the property," Ann Welshans, Navigator's director of right of way, testified. "In order to review the route and determine the feasibility of the route we need to be on the property." Vicki Hulse Navigator pipeline Vicki Hulse stands at the gate to 151 acres of land she and her husband, Bill, own north of Moville, Iowa, near the Woodbury/Plymouth county l Navigator agents had earlier entered the land without Hulse's knowledge and performed a civil survey, a walkthrough over the land, Welshans said. But when a friend of the Hulse family who saw surveyors entering the field to perform biological/environmental surveys told them to leave, Vicki Hulse received a phone call from Daniel Rogers, who works for a subcontractor that facilitates the survey process with landowners. "I told her per the letter that we have the right. She said, 'you do not, I rejected all those letters,'" Rogers testified. Hulse's attorney, Brian Jorde, challenged Rogers' recollection of the conversation in light of Hulse's testimony that she'd never received notification about the surveys. "How can someone reject a letter that they never received?" Jorde asked. Navigator pipeline lawsuit Landowner Vicki Hulse, upper right, listens to a question from Navigator Heartland Greenway attorney James Pray Tuesday in Woodbury District C Navigator attorney James Pray had showed Welshans a certified letter addressed to the Hulses and marked by postal workers that acceptance was refused. Jorde challenged the letter, stating it did not comply with a state law requiring restricted certified mail to contain the wording "deliver to addressee only" on the envelope. Two days after Rogers called Hulse, he met her at her land with a sheriff's deputy and a survey crew. Hulse presented the deputy with a letter from her attorney stating they needed an injunction to enter the property. Rather than risk being arrested, the survey crew left, Rogers said. Her husband in the Iowa Veterans Home with dementia and Parkinson's Disease, Hulse said she has guardianship and power of attorney to make decisions on his behalf. She said she doesn't want the pipeline running under their land, and she was upset to know surveyors had previously been there. A portion of it is farmed, but the rest is in the federal Conservation Reserve Program and is home to pheasant and pollinator habitat. "I don't want them out there trampling on my land," Hulse said. Navigator pipeline lawsuit Moville, Iowa, landowner Vicki Hulse flips through court exhibits Tuesday while answering questions during a trial in Woodbury District Court. Both sides have previously filed briefs outlining their many arguments in the case. After concluding evidence Tuesday, Sailer gave Navigator five days to file additional post-trial briefs and Hulses five additional days after Navigator's deadline. He'll review the case and issue a ruling as quickly as possible after that, he said. Navigator has filed similar lawsuits in Clay and Butler counties against other landowners who have denied access to their property. Those landowners also have filed constitutional challenges similar to the Hulses'. The Clay County case is scheduled for trial in April. The Butler County cases are scheduled to go to trial in May. Navigator pipeline lawsuit Moville, Iowa, landowner Vicki Hulse answers a question Tuesday during a trial in Woodbury District Court. She and her husband, William, were The pipeline would run approximately 900 miles through 36 Iowa counties, including Woodbury, Clay and Butler counties. Other Siouxland counties include Plymouth, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Cherokee, Dickinson and Buena Vista in Iowa and Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska. It's one of two carbon pipelines proposed to run through the area. Navigator pipeline lawsuit Daniel Rogers, a subcontractor for Navigator Heartland Greenway, testifies Tuesday in Woodbury District Court. Navigator is suing Moville land SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Council, by voting in favor of its consent agenda Monday, approved a resolution to amend the citys bike facility study to include a trail on the Gordon Drive Viaduct. The council approved the bike facility study on Aug. 8. However, city staff prefers the single multi-use trail facility over sidewalk on the viaduct, which is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists. The Iowa DOT wants to see an updated bike/pedestrian plan from the city to determine the appropriate accommodation, as both the city and the DOT have been working together on the planned reconstruction of the viaduct. The 3,970-foot-long viaduct, built in 1937 and improved in 1963 and 1966, is deteriorating. Gordon Drive viaduct trail proposal Vehicles travel on the Gordon Drive Viaduct along the sidewalk on the viaduct's north side Monday. The Sioux City City Council approved amendi Before the vote, Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore asked Senior Planner Chris Madsen to clarify the amendment. Madsen told Moore the original proposal from the Iowa DOT is two five-foot sidewalks on either side of the viaduct. This proposal and the citys recommendation would be one trail, ideally on the south side, that would be around 15 feet wide, Madsen said. City staff and the Active Transportation Advisory Committee created the amendment to the bike facility study to include a trail on the Gordon Drive Viaduct. A trail connection on Cunningham Drive would connect to the Riverfront and Chautauqua trails. Last month, the citys Active Transportation Advisory Committee voted to recommend approval of the amendment. The trail will allow also for ease of access for winter maintenance and accommodate a better bicycle connection along Gordon Drive. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Police Department received City Council approval Monday to submit an application for a $240,000 homeland security grant, which would fund the purchase of an armored rescue vehicle for SWAT. Police Chief Rex Mueller told the council the Lenco G3 Bearcat Armored Rescue Vehicle would replace the surplus military truck the department currently has. He said the Lenco G3 Bearcat is "purpose-built" by a company for law enforcement use. "Nothing that we have is bulletproof. We don't have armored doors on our squad cars. We have nothing that can stop bullets," Mueller said. "So, in the instances of barricaded gunmen, or, god forbid, we ever have an active shooter in this town, we would need a resource that would allow us to get folks out of harm's way." Councilman Alex Watters expressed concerns over how the use and purchase of such vehicles, as well as the discussions surrounding them, are "very militaristic." "I'm hearing rumors and discussions about that," he said. "Obviously, in that type of situation, you want a vehicle that can withstand fire, which is exactly why it would be built with militaristic capability." Mueller said the department's current vehicle, a 6x6 MRAP (mine-resistant ambush-protected) vehicle, has only been deployed once or twice a year. He said the armored rescue vehicle would not be a military vehicle. "That's part of the reason for seeking this. What we have is a military vehicle. It's simply a convoy truck. But, it is not well-suited. It's extremely heavy. It wasn't built for what we're using it for," Mueller said of the MRAP, which the department got free from the federal government and has been using for eight years. Watters asked if there would be ongoing costs associated with the armored rescue vehicle. Mueller said it would require preventative maintenance. "Most of these vehicles have a commercial-grade chassis and the manufacturer, then, converts that to what they need for it," Mueller said. "It wouldn't be anymore, probably, troublesome or costly than the vehicle that we do have serving that function." As the biggest law enforcement agency in the area, Mueller said the department sees "a lot of benefit" to loaning such a vehicle, when available, to other agencies. But he cautioned that there is no guarantee the department will receive the grant. "Part of any piece of equipment that we have is that we loan that to nearby agencies in the event of things happening," he said. "When South Sioux was dealing with the grain bin that was about to fall over, we loaned them equipment. We loaned them our mobile command. What the biggest agency in the area should do is support our fellow law enforcement agencies in the area." If Sioux City were to receive the grant, Mueller said the Lenco G3 Bearcat would be the only vehicle in the department's fleet that would be armored. He said the MRAP would be released to the federal government or another agency via an agreement through the federal government. "Were we able to get it, we would switch one for the other," he said. In addition to the $240,000 grant, $50,000 in state asset forfeiture funds would be used to complete the purchase of the armored rescue vehicle. $1 for 13 weeks Need a gift for the holidays? $1 gets 13 weeks of unlimited access to our E-edition as well as unlimited articles on siouxcityjournal.com, wit SIOUX CITY A 57-year-old Sioux City man was sentenced Monday to 56 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute meth while illegally possessing firearms. Alden Hendrickson pled guilty in October 2022 to the meth and gun charges, according to the U.S. District Court in Sioux City. According to the court, from January 2021 through March 2022, Hendrickson and others "conspired to distribute over 6 pounds of methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area." On March 23, 2022, the Court said that law enforcement officers purchased 42.5 grams of pure methamphetamine from Hendrickson and executed a search warrant the same day which turned up: 394.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, marijuana, $5,975, and five guns. The Court said Hendrickson admitted to meth distribution and use, which bars a person from owning guns or ammo. Following the prison sentence, Hendrickson has to serve three years of supervised release. Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed a bill allowing Chicago school principals to unionize and possibly go on strike. But Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, also a Democrat and in an equally liberal state, said just the other day she opposes legislation that would explicitly permit teachers to strike. Across the country, teachers and other employees in public schools continue to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as pressure from parents and politicians ramps up on divisive matters such as LGBTQ-themed library books and classroom discussions of racism and gender identity. Add perennially poor pay to the mix, and the result is deep dissatisfaction among educators and threats of work stoppages that are splitting even union-supporting Democrats. In about a dozen states, teacher strikes are specifically legal. In the remaining states, strikes are illegal, whether by statute singling them out or in a general law aimed at public sector unions. In some of those places, illegal strikes happen with a wink and a nod to the law and a tacit agreement to use union funds to pay whatever fines are levied as punishment. Whether such strikes are legal is contested in South Carolina and Wyoming, according to a breakdown from the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. States and cities are charged with providing essential services to the public, a free K-12 education among them. But governments recognize that if most teachers refuse to work, its impossible to keep schools running, said Jon Shelton, a democracy and justice studies professor at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, and an education unions and strikes expert. Teacher unions can be punished for going on strike illegally, but you really cant stop them because its hard to find and replace (them), Shelton said. The pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on teachers and other educators. During the pandemics first year or two, many educators had to teach online as well as in person, sometimes at the same time. Teachers were deputized to enforce social distancing, masking and cleanliness rules. Meanwhile, many worried about their own safety. As a result, according to Shelton, embattled teachers have begun to feel they deserve more attention, deference and compensation. And surveys show that teachers have the respect of both students and parents, emboldening educators to ask for more. Thats led to teachers feeling like they need more control over the workplace, he said. Even after a series of teacher strikes across the country in 2018, a USA Today/Ipsos poll showed two-thirds of Americans supported allowing teachers to strike for higher pay, more funding for schools and better benefits. And during the height of the pandemic, other polls revealed support for walkouts because of safety concerns. Teachers unions like to draw a connection between educator welfare and student performance, Shelton pointed out. Its bargaining for the common good. In Illinois, that led to a drive to bring administrators principals and assistant principals into the collective bargaining. A strike that ended in February in Woburn, Massachusetts, is typical of technically illegal walkouts. Teachers and other educators went on strike when they could not agree on a new contract to raise salaries. After five days of no classes, the city administration advanced a better offer, and the union approved it. The contract increased teacher salaries by 13.5% over four years. Paraprofessionals (formerly known as teachers aides), whose salaries start at $22,621, will get a 40% raise. Because teacher strikes are technically illegal in Massachusetts, the union was slapped with $85,000 in state fines and $225,000 in city fines. Similar work stoppages occurred last year in the Massachusetts cities of Haverhill, Malden and Brookline. A bill in the Massachusetts legislature would explicitly permit teachers and other educators to strike. State Sen. Rebecca Rausch, a Democrat, is among a group of lawmakers who introduced the legislation, which would allow public teachers and other educators to strike after six months of unsuccessful negotiations. A similar bill garnered little attention last year, Rausch said in a phone interview, but in the wake of the Woburn strike and several others in the state, the landscape is notably different. Were seeing a lot of change in the landscape and a lot of parent and family support in particular, she said. But that support does not extend to Democratic Gov. Healey. Healeys spokesperson, Karissa Hand, wrote by email that Healey the daughter of union educators is focused on keeping kids in school, making sure they receive a high-quality education and supporting our hardworking educators. She does not believe right to strike legislation is the solution to move forward on those goals. Rausch said the governors stance illustrates that Democrats are not a monolith. This is a conversation starter. Its the start of a term her first term as governor. Its a healthy debate. Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page is optimistic that Healey can be persuaded to support educators right to strike. She understands concerns educators have, Page said. If she meets with some of our members, I think she may see that this bill would make strikes less likely. He also noted the backing of parents in Woburn and other places as a powerful tool for teachers. In Illinois, Pritzker appeared to need no persuading. He signed the law allowing school administrators to collectively bargain, and possibly strike under certain circumstances, without comment. How teachers unions have changed since the 1980s How teachers unions have changed since the 1980s 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 This photo taken on March 7, 2023 shows medical equipment and other supplies donated to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) by the 23rd Chinese medical team in Lusaka, Zambia. The 23rd Chinese medical team in Zambia on Tuesday donated medical equipment and other supplies to the UTH, the biggest public hospital in the country, to help improve healthcare delivery.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun) LUSAKA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The 23rd Chinese medical team in Zambia on Tuesday donated medical equipment and other supplies to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), the biggest public hospital in the country, to help improve healthcare delivery. Charles Mutemba, senior medical superintendent at the UTH, expressed his gratitude to the medical team not only for the donation but also for the training of local medical personnel, who are now able to conduct brain surgery. "We are willing to share China's medical experience and work with Zambian doctors to help improve Zambia's medical technology," said Liu Guoyu, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, noting that more extensive cooperation with the UTH is expected. The 23rd Chinese medical team has been in Zambia for the past year and will leave this month. The 28-member team was scattered in four hospitals in Zambia's three cities. Charles Mutemba (L), senior medical superintendent at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), and Liu Guoyu, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, sign the handover certificate of medical equipment and other supplies donated to the UTH by the 23rd Chinese medical team in Lusaka, Zambia, March 7, 2023. The 23rd Chinese medical team in Zambia on Tuesday donated medical equipment and other supplies to the UTH, the biggest public hospital in the country, to help improve healthcare delivery.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun) An Iowa man turned himself in to Lincoln authorities Monday morning after he allegedly stole more than $340,000 from a Lincoln trucking company as an employee there from 2019 to 2022, according to police. Bradley Brown, 43, was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony theft by unlawful taking and felony theft by deception, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said. Brown's arrest comes months after the owners of M & D Trucking told police in September that they discovered irregularities in the company's payroll and fuel purchases. The suspected fraudulent transactions totaled $340,825.58, Vollmer said. Brown, of Ackworth, Iowa, turned himself in at the Lancaster County Jail at about 12:30 a.m. Monday. Ethan Zavitz Burroughs, 20, of Schleswig, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident March 4. The Crawford County Sheriffs Office says that Burroughs was driving a blue 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe east on County Road E-16. His vehicle crossed the centerline, left the road and entered the north ditch. From there the vehicle traveled six to eight car lengths and struck a large tree in the ditch. The report says that the vehicle and the man's body were found at the time of the call, but it is believed that the wreck happened much earlier in the morning. The report lists 6:33 a.m. as the time the sheriffs office was notified of the accident. Burroughs was not wearing his seat belt, but the front airbags deployed. There was no sign of over-correcting on the highway. Two visible sets of tracks were on the north shoulder leading down into the grassy area of the north ditch. Crawford County Medical Examiner Dr. Dennis Crabb went to the scene and ordered that Burroughss body be sent to the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny for an autopsy. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. For this edition, Rebecca Onion, a Slate senior editor, will be filling in as Prudie. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, I recently went through a rough breakup with my on-and-off-again ex. Recently, my ex experienced a traumatic accident at work that left him paralyzed from the waist down. I would often travel two hours away, where he lived and was seeking recovery in the hospital, to support him. This sometimes consisted of staying at his rental home which he shares with his twin brother. His twin brother and I had established a routine of living together when I would stay over the weekends. Often sharing responsibilities at the house and even visiting his brother, my ex, in the hospital together. We even shared past experiences with our own mental health struggles with one another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When my ex broke it off again, I was not only devastated because I lost a boyfriend but because I felt like I lost the friendship with his brother. After some discussion, his twin brother and I decided to stay friends. To my knowledge, my ex does not know that I have remained friends with his twin brother. The twin brother and I will message each other occasionally, make plans to hang out, and I have even spent nights at the house again. In fact, we plan on getting matching tattoos. At times, I feel guilty for continuing this friendship, but I do believe that I have a right to continue it and be happy. I am worried in regards to the twin brother filling a void that his brother, my ex, left when he ended the relationship. But I do recognize that even though they are twins they are very different people. Advertisement Recently, I have been confused about the feelings that I have for the twin brother, do I like him as a friend or more? I am not sure. What do I do Prudence? Am I wrong to be friends with my exs twin brother? How do I know if I have feelings for the twin brother or just missing my ex? Advertisement Confused Dear Confused, I dont think you have to stop being friends with the twin brother for your exs sake. But I do wonder about the circumstances that led to this friendships formation, and whether you can perceive the nature of the friendship clearly at this point in time. It sounds like you had a long-term, volatile relationship with your ex. When you add in a serious life event like him becoming paraplegic, theres more stress, more strain, more high-key emotions. Your exs twin was the one who went through that time with you, and while that doesnt mean that the bond you feel now isnt real, it does mean that it was forged under duress. Id vote to give both twins a bit of breathing space, to see what the truth of your feelings might be, and get your feet underneath you after a stretch of time that has to have been very destabilizing. Advertisement Advertisement Help! I Need a Great New Podcast in My Headphones! The Dear Prudence podcast is back. Listen every Friday on Slate or your podcast player of choice. Dear Prudence, My husband and I recently had friends round for dinner, along with their 3-year-old son. Frequently, they told him not to do things (like hitting our wall, running around the house, and walking around with his food) but he still did these things. We felt so awkward because if we had been looking after him without his parents being around, we would have sat him down, explained our house rules, and outlined the consequences (like no dessert). But because his parents were in front of us, it felt out of place for us to essentially discipline him. How do we deal with this awkward situation without simply not inviting them back inside the house? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please Dont Break Our Home Dear Please Dont Break Our Home, You need to disentangle what seem like some strong feelings of judgment toward these parents from your actual fear for your belongings and your home. How much of the former was there in your response, and how much of the latter? Either way, it certainly would have been out of place for you to try to discipline him. This sounds like the dinner from hell for these parents, and you stepping in to lay down the law would have only made it worse. Then theres the fact that discipline means different things to different people. I would not, for example, use sweets as a carrot or withdrawal of sweets as a stick, because I dont want to elevate treats onto an even higher pedestal than they already occupy, and thats an increasingly common position among parents. I mention this to make the point that this is really not ground upon which you want to tread. Advertisement Advertisement Also, I am not sure whether you are parents, or whether youve recently parented a 3-year-old, but for many such younger children, I cant see explaining house rules as an obvious answer to this problem. They can certainly follow rules and respond to contextually appropriate expectations. We have medium-fancy, much-beloved stereo equipment, for example, and never had to put it under lock and key while raising a small child, because we reinforced dont touchand stay way back extremely consistently. But thats in our house, an environment where our (relatively sedate and cooperative) child was every single day. Your mileage in stating new rules to a random toddler, and expecting them to follow them for one night only, will very much vary. Advertisement Advertisement If you really were afraid that your walls would get marked up and your rugs would have pizza ground into them, you should not invite this family back to your house for dinner unless you have a way to make sure they wont have the child with them. It would be kinder not to put any of you (you, your friends, and the kid themselves) back in the position of having to worry about this during dinner, a time thats supposed to be relaxing. If they cant get a babysitter, maybe you could eat outdoors together at a child-friendly restaurant, or get takeout and eat it at a playground that has picnic tables, in the glorious oncoming spring. Then, the kid can wander and maraud to his hearts content! Advertisement Need Pet Advice? We want to hear about your pet problems! For a special feature, let our writers give you advice for handling the unruly critters in your life. Dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, birds, horses, exotic fishwe welcome them all. Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) Advertisement Dear Prudence, My kids school district and daycare closed due to snow. I had to call off to my employer because I had no childcare. I dont typically call out. Maybe less than seven times in a five-year tenure. My husband makes more than double what I do and cannot miss work. He is a one-man band so missing work for him is not possible as he is the breadwinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My manager shamed me for calling out. She started grilling me with questions and giving me parenting advice that I do not need. She questioned me like I was in an interrogation, mostly to make sure there were no holes in my story, asking why I dont have a backup plan. Everyone is snowed in so all sitters are unavailable. Im pretty sure she sent someone to check our driveway to see if my story adds up. I cant prove it. The company has about 75 employees. I get it, having someone call out is inconvenient. But the stress and fear that it puts on me are far worse. Can she do that? What do I do to cope with this guilt? I get paid well and looking for a new job is tedious. Telling her how I feel is not an option if I want to keep my career. Advertisement Snowed In Stress Dear Snowed In Stress, Im furious at this boss on your behalf. You are an adult and (I assume) a good employee, when the gods of weather dont throw obstacles in your path. She is not showing you that she trusts you to do whats best, and besides being annoying and uncomradely, this attitude is bad for employee retention! Advertisement Legally speaking, she doesnt need to cut you slack for childcare outages. If she were to, say, cut fathers more slack than mothers, or white employees more slack than Black ones, when employees find themselves in equivalent situations, that would be illegal, and could form the basis for an EEOC complaint. But if thats not the case, your recourse is only to keep an eye out for new jobs in your field, and consider applying. I know applying for a new job as a parent, when your resources are thin, is not an easy thing. But even just taking one or two steps toward investigating whats out therea search or two on LinkedIn, saymight help you feel a little better about your ability to find something new in the future. Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, absolutely, feel no guilt. Banish that guilt to a cave in the woods. This situation was not your fault. Get Dear Prudence in Your Inbox 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. Dear Prudence, I need some advice on how to help my mom while also not helping my mom. She has recently become very vocal with me, particularly online, about some marital troubles shes having with my dad after 30-plus years of marriage. Mostly, I think she isnt feeling seen by my dad, feels neglected and distant from him, related to some arguments about big decisions concerning retirement, etc. I dont think they would ever divorce at this point (immigrant family and they dont have much of a support system in the U.S.my mom relies on my dad entirely financially) The way my mom has been expressing these problems to me makes me uncomfortableshell send quotes via social media (think empowering woman quotes about a woman not chasing a man who doesnt love her Pinterest-style). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont really feel like I can be the person to hear about my parents marital problems. I dont know how to help, and honestly dont want to be the person TO help, and I REALLY would like to stop receiving canned quotes related to how my parents dont love each other anymore. Im an adult; I wish I could be there for my mom in this regard, but I just cant. I love my dad. I know he is oblivious and my moms problems with him are rooted in reality, but I have a lot of trouble providing advice or even just LISTENING to her feelings about him. It makes me very anxious and upset. How can I help my mom, while also not being her main soundboard for these types of feelings? Advertisement Advertisement Not Taking Sides Dear Not Taking Sides, It sounds like youve got two issues here. One: A privacy concern. Is your mom sending you these messages directly, or posting them publicly? If the latter, its uncomfortable that shes sending you these where anyone could see and figure out that shes unhappy. If you think shes unaware that her online complaints are visible to others (maybe she doesnt really have a deep, intimate knowledge of privacy settings or the way her activity shows up on public feeds), that might be worth bringing up. Two: An interpersonal concern. Its just flat-out not your place to be her sounding board. Thats going to take a moment of boundary-setting: Mom, I dont think Im the right one to talk with you about your feelings about Dad. It makes me very uncomfortable. I dont feel like I should have to take a side. I hope she has a friend, a sibling, or a therapist to speak withsomeone whos not you. Suggest this to her, and then respond the same way, every time, when she brings this up. Advertisement Dear Prudence, I moved to a new city a year ago and made what I thought were two good friends. I hadnt known them long but still sent them wedding save the dates. But then our friendship dynamic started to feel off (passive-aggressive remarks, mean girl cliquey behavior, etc.) I recently broke my leg and theyve both been completely absent. Theyll text and say what can I do to help, Ill say Id love visitors (I cant get around much with just one leg) and then they ghost. They both live 10 minutes away but havent come around once. Some other acquaintances have been really lovely, and I think Id rather stop investing in these friendships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what do I do about the wedding invite? They dont have all the details yet and Id rather just not mention it. Im only having a wedding celebration so my partner and I can celebrate with friends were truly close to, and I think Id feel really used if they came and it would sour the event. But what should I do if they ask about the wedding? Mean Girl Phobia Dear Mean Girl Phobia, Woof! Those girls arent it! I dont know how often you see them now, how vocal you are, or plan to be, about your wedding on social media, and whether you all follow one another online. In other words: Could there be a ghosting approach here, where the friendship fades away and you dont ever say anything about the wedding and the saved date passes under the bridge and you sail off into the sunset, getting closer and closer with these other new friends, who sound way better? Advertisement If thats not possible (maybe you want to be able to share about the wedding online, whichfair enough!), I fear you might need to invite them to the wedding and chalk it up to one of those things. As a wise man once wrote, there will be at least one friend at your wedding you never see again. Your wedding wont be perfectly curated, in terms of personnel. Most weddings arent. These women are not your people. But they didnt do something super serious, like if they were longtime friends who stole money from you or revealed a big secret you begged them to keep quiet. They just turned out to be a passing fancy. Id invite them, see if they even come (they might not!), and if they do, try to downplay the significance of their presence in your mind. When it comes time to make the guest list for your next big event, they wont be on it. Oh well! It happens. More Advice From Slate Ive been with my fiance for five years. The first six months of our relationship were an affairI was 24 and he was 31and I found out early on that he was married, kept telling myself to break things off, but was never was able to do it. His (now ex-)wife learned about the relationship and was willing to try to work things out, but he ultimately chose to divorce her. During the initial months following the revelation of the affair, I put up with a lot of abuse from her. I knew I was in the wrong, and I did what I could not to add to her pain. But after all this time, she still hates me, and to this day I have never met the kid they had together, though my fiance sees his daughter at least once a week. One of the few reliable truths in electoral politics is that voters like tall presidents. The average U.S. president is about two inches taller than the average U.S. man, who is 59. Recent presidents have skewed even larger: Every president since Jimmy Carter (59.5) has been 511.5 or taller. We havent elected a president smaller than the average man in nearly 130 years, when short king William McKinley won his election. We are a species that equates larger size with maturity, leadership and sex appeal, wrote Jay Mathews in the Washington Post in 1999. If we were like some insects, where adults are smaller than larvae, we might not think this way. But we do. Advertisement So it stands to reason that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is thirstily gunning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, would want to, lets say, amplify his stature. Rumor has it that the governor is around 59. His expected closest competitor in the GOP primary, Donald Trump, was, at 63, our third-tallest president, a fact he repeats to himself five times in the mirror every morning before taking a deep, restorative breath and going on to face the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the man DeSantis would have to face in the general election, Joe Biden, clocked in at 6-foot-even at his 2023 physical. (Biden measured just 5 feet, 11.65 inches in 2021, an enduring mystery that suggests either some kind of supernatural yoga practice or a White House physician with poor attention to detail.) Advertisement Any height is a great height to betheres no wrong way to have a body, et cetera. But Republican primary voters are not exactly known for their body positivity. Knowing this, DeSantis has adopted a signature wardrobe trick to juice his stats: cowboy boots. Though Florida is not closely associated with rancher culture in our national mythologyand out of respect for Floridians, I will not attempt to name the things it is associated withDeSantis has paired his suits with black cowboy boots for years. At Vanity Fair, Gabriel Sherman reports that DeSantis wife, Casey, bears responsibility for the accessory, which she recommended as part of a broader glow-up after he won a seat in Congress. She bought him these dumbass cowboy boots, a former staffer told Sherman, because she thought it was part of the image. Advertisement The image, one imagines, is that of a man 2 or so inches taller than DeSantis. Now, as DeSantis travels the country in preparation for his presidential bid and wages war on books and Disney in Florida, his leg-lengthening footwear is drawing greater scrutiny. The Lincoln Project recently tweeted a quip about the boots. Ron Filipkowski, a never-Trump Republican and former DeSantis appointee who resigned in protest after a state data scientist was allegedly fired for refusing to distort Floridas COVID numbers, pointed out that DeSantis mustve had a growth spurt to wind up looking the same size as 61 Tiger Woods in a February photo. Advertisement Wow, Ron Desantis is taller than Tiger Woods now. Mustve had a growth spurt. pic.twitter.com/AcGdcY1a38 Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 23, 2023 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a viral tweet wondered whether DeSantis shoes qualified as high heels. And a few weeks before that, the president of a Democratic Partyaffiliated PAC that produces opposition research on Republicans tweeted a series of photos of DeSantis, writing that he consistently wears high-heeled boots in order to appear taller. Republican commentators mocked the tweet, accusing the Democrat of being out of touch with everyday American working-class footwear. Tell me youve never seen cowboy boots without telling me, read one such response. This line of argument establishes a false binary, with high-heeled boots on one side and cowboy boots on the other, when they are actually overlapping categories. The height of a cowboy boot heel can vary from shoe to shoe, but the existence of a heel is non-negotiable: Its the thing that would hold ones foot in the stirrup of the saddle, the raison detre of the boot. (A cowboy boot would never cop to having a French-kissy raison detre, so lets call it a big-boy purpose.) Advertisement Of course, not every cowboy boot is as high-heeled as the ones DeSantis wears. There are plenty of options with lower, squared-off heels, but DeSantis prefers a higher, slanted heelthe kind thats better suited to riding horses. Since DeSantis was not riding a horse at any of the political events at which he was photographed wearing these boots, there is only one reason why he would choose them: because he likes the way it makes him look. The main thing it makes him look is taller. Advertisement Advertisement But conservatives are unwilling to admit that DeSantis shoes are both cowboy boots and high-heeled boots. Why? Because to do so would concede the blurred boundaries of gender presentation within this genre of footwear. For people invested in the militant regulation of gender norms, heels are a fraught territory. If a 2-inch heel is attached to a cowboy boot, its Big Mac, Super Bowl, troops. If its attached to any other kind of boot, its green juice, chick lit, drag queen. DeSantis would rather sign the Green New Deal in the front row of a Dixie Chicks concert than admit that the blocky thing on the bottom of his shoe is a heel, and hell hyperventilate into his bag of decommissioned MAGA hats if you try to convince him otherwise. Advertisement Two presidential cycles ago, another conservative Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio, stepped onto the wrong side of this divide. While campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in January 2016, the senator, whom the Washington Posts well-informed Florida sources peg at 58, wore a pair of shiny heeled boots on a visit to New Hampshire. His GOP primary competitors ridiculed the femininity of the look and all had a good laugh at his expense. Advertisement Advertisement Rubios heels were no higher than a cowboy boots, and they even had a similarly slanted heel. (His were technically Cuban heels, but to the untrained eye, theyre cowboy heels.) But because they lacked the stitching and shape of cowboy boots, they were cupcakes, Kesha, body glitter. Got it? Advertisement DeSantis and his supporters are determined to inoculate him from such associations. To admit that he cares enough about his appearance to deliberately alter it would reveal a side of him that is insecure, and thus vulnerable. There are not many socially acceptable ways for men devoted to classic American machismo to enhance their appearance (think: makeup) without compromising on their gender expression. The cowboy boot is one of them, nestled in the slender Venn diagram center of masculinizing footwear and height-augmenting footwear. But the recent focus among DeSantis critics on his heeled footwear may do more to boost his image than to make him look desperate and vain. The more people talk about DeSantis cowboy boots, the less likely a Google search for DeSantis boots will turn up that photo of him wearing white, knee-high rubber boots in the aftermath of Hurricane Ianone of the least flattering images of a politician in recent history. In contemporary politics, its not just the shoes that make the man. Its the SEO. Picture yourself in a dark grand ballroom of a Marriott conference center on a late-winter Saturday in business-casual dress. Youre finishing watching your 16th consecutive speech of the day, since 8:30 a.m., about the need to fight against the RINOs. You get a break and go to the atrium market, pick up a soggy chicken Caesar salad wrap, and eat by yourself on a bench. You wander around the vendor area to look at Trump apparel and investment opportunities for gold or cryptocurrency, and then take the escalator back up. Through the high-paned glass windows, you look, vacantly, at the brownish-grey Potomac River and an empty Ferris wheel. Its an uninteresting temperature outside, 47 degrees. You go back to the grand ballroom and sit for four more hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You paid hundreds of dollars for this. Youre an attendee of the Conservative Political Action Conference. And this year there are a lot fewer of you. CPAC, the regular gathering of the conservative movement, returned to the D.C. area this year after a couple of years in Florida during the pandemic. Previews of the confab focused on how CPACs star had diminished in stature on the right. In past presidential election cycles, any candidate, of any ideological leaning, would attend the gathering to prove themselves before the partys conservative base and right-wing media gatekeepers. It was at CPAC in 2012, for example, that GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney went before the judges and awkwardly described himself as severely conservative. Advertisement But CPAC was skippable this year for potential presidential candidatesand attendees. Major contenders, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, didnt show. (Former Vice President Mike Pence also didnt attend CPAC.) Part of the lighter attendance was the fact that the guy who runs CPAC, lobbyist and operative Matt Schlapp, is under scrutiny for a sexual misconduct allegation. But CPAC had also turned into a show for Trump, and those in the right-wing universe that make money off of him, than anything else. Advertisement Its a content machine for the right-wing media ecosystem, a former Romney advisor told the New York Times. The most notable images of CPAC, then, were the ones showing what appeared to be a consistently half-empty ballroom. And what were they listening to? Well, the hard sells of investment opportunities werent just limited to shady operators in the vendors room anymore. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the conservative media personality and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., was doing it herself off of a teleprompter. Advertisement But even with limited attendance from presidential hopefuls and, you know, attendees in general, did this scammier-than-usual CPAC offer any traditional news, in terms of advancing presidential-cycle plotlines? A bit. Advertisement DeSantis and other presidential hopefuls didnt want to show up for what was, essentially, a Trump rally. Trump certainly showed up, though, giving a 90-minute speech on Saturday. In the speech, the former president laid out themes for his 2024 run, which he dubbed the final battle. The themesas you might expect for a battle of such finalityare pretty grim! This was not the relaxed, riffing Trump regaling attendees about his NBC ratings or how he saw a famous persons boob in 1988. This was more of the dystopian, resentful Trump of his American Carnage inauguration speech in 2017, or his marching over to the Capitol speech before the mob invasion of Jan. 6, 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He spoke about his influence reshaping the party. We had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neocons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools, but we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush, he said. We will expel the warmongers, we will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists, we will throw off the political class that hates our country. The country, he said, is in an epic battle against sinister forces as the nation was becoming a crime-ridden, filthy communist nightmare. In 2016, I declared: I am your voice, Trump said. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution. Advertisement Yeah, so not exactly a sunny, shining city on a hill view of things. Trumps campaign vision is more about, say, razing the communist city on the hill and its heathenistic cultural mores. Hes a lot more fun when hes talking about how toilets dont work anymore. Advertisement Trump won the CPAC presidential straw poll with 62 percent of the vote. DeSantis got 20 percent. Speaking of DeSantis, the Florida governor now has enough hype and recognition that he can afford to miss CPAC, especially as it aint what it used to be. Those polling in single-digitswhich is to say, everyone elsecant. A half-crowd of people is still a crowd of people for them, and they needed to seize the half-opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement The only other well-known candidate to have formally launched a presidential campaign, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, did put up a double-digit performance in the CPAC straw poll. Unfortunately for her, it was the CPAC vice presidential straw poll, in which she earned 10 percent. (Kari Lake, a person from Arizona who may believe shes the current governor of Arizona, won with 20 percent.) In her speech, Haley delivered the usual fare about how the socialist Democrats just dont want to spend our money, they want to take our freedom and reiterated her call for mandatory brain testing of politicians over 75 years old. The response was reportedly tepid. Tepid, however, seems generous, given that Haley was heckled in the hallways with chants of we love Trump! after finishing her speech. Advertisement Nikki Haley is getting a very warm welcome from CPAC. Oh wait theyre yelling Trump at her pic.twitter.com/6PuJ6606Ph Ada Lluch (@ada_lluch) March 3, 2023 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not that you need to say anything about Trump for his mercenaries to shout at you while youre living your life, but what potshots may Haley have taken at Trump? One of her arguments for generational change is that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, a line she reiterated at CPAC. This at least points to the question of Trumps electability. (Trumpand his many CPAC supporterswould likely inform you those are fraudulent numbers and he actually won the popular vote both times.) Advertisement Another likely presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, was a little more direct. Not only had they lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, he said, but weve lost three elections in a row. This acknowledged that Trump lost the 2020 election. We cant become the left, following celebrity leaders with their own brand of identity politics, those with fragile egos who refuse to acknowledge reality, Pompeo said. Pompeo earned one percent in the CPAC straw poll. In his speech, Pompeo noted that previous administrations, Republican and Democrat alike, had mismanaged the national debt. That is deeply unconservative, he said. Its a point he would reiterate on Fox News later in the weekend, implying that Trump was not a true conservative. Its all a little odd. Why did he, or anyone else walking into Trumps lions den this weekend, think the Conservative Political Action Conference had anything to do with conservatism? Welcome to State of Mind, a section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. Ive always had a soft spot for Tommy. When we met in a support group, I found it endearing that, at 26, he hadnt decided to go by Tom or Thomas instead. During his first share, I was charmed by the matter-of-fact way he stated, Welp, I dont have any friends. A few months after we met, I made him cry when I shared something with the group: A person in the schizophrenia space who doesnt have the condition themselves had told me that there could never be a schizophrenia pride movement. They claimed that a pride movement would be counter to the goals of their advocacy. A pride movement, they seemed to suggest, might encourage us to stop engaging with treatmentas though shame is tolerable if it keeps us taking our meds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was when Tommy, the only other participant with schizophrenia, started to cry. The idea that we couldnt have pride in our condition reminded him of how people reacted when he first started to experience the symptoms of schizophrenia: It was like I was dead, he said. Tommy and I both take our medication daily, and neither of us has plans to stop anytime soon. But we both still yearn for a pride movement. It doesnt matter how effective our treatment is or how many people tell us, I never would have guessed you have schizophrenia! As though were not already aware of that fact. As though its a compliment. We can lead normal lives, we can hold down full-time work, we can get married and have children, but every time we see a schizophrenic villain in a crime show or read a headline about a politician scapegoating schizophrenics for mass shootings, we are reminded of exactly what we are to others. Its a lifelong challenge for people like Tommy and me to separate that judgment from our views of ourselves. Advertisement When doctors pin the scarlet letter of a schizophrenia diagnosis on us, they tend to advise us not to get hung up on labels, saying things like I dont see you as schizophrenic and Your schizophrenia does not define you. But people like Tommy and me cant avoid getting hung up on labels when the label in question changes everything. Advertisement Schizophrenia is not just a disease I live withits also an inextricable part of my identity. Like many of my peers, I tried to run from the label at first, only to learn that denying it amplifies the shame and difficulty of living with one of the most stigmatized mental health conditions. Advertisement While there are pride days, weeks, and months for other stigmatized and misunderstood diagnoses, there has yet to be any such celebratory occasion for people with schizophrenia. Instead, we have World Schizophrenia Day, which is focused on raising awareness and reducing stigma. But World Schizophrenia Day and other events like it focus on external perceptions of our community, while a pride movement would focus on our perceptions of ourselves. Some advocates, like the person I mentioned in my support group, think a pride movement could drive people away from proven treatments. But I think it might actually inspire members of our community to overcome the denial that prevents so many from accepting their diagnosis and subsequent treatment. With any illness, the first step to recovery is recognizing you have something you need to treat. But tragically, the most common reason that 50 percent of people with schizophrenia dont take their prescribed medication is that they dont understand they have schizophrenia to begin with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors label this state of not believing ones diagnosis anosognosia, a symptom of schizophrenia in which an individual is unable to understand that they are ill. Many well-meaning doctors and caregivers give great weight to the distinction between anosognosia and denial. They argue that people with schizophrenia who dont believe theyre ill should not be blamed for this lack of understanding because its strictly a symptom of the illness and not a deficit of emotional maturity or an intentional refusal to accept the facts of ones existence. The widely accepted, traditional approach to combating this phenomenon is to pump schizophrenic bodies full of medication with or without the individuals consent. Involuntary treatment saves lives by reducing or eliminating symptoms including anosognosia, but it can also be weaponized in illegal and traumatic ways. And its typically not a permanent solutionno matter how you feel about the ethics of long-term involuntary treatment, our legal system rarely permits its use. Advertisement Advertisement Though it has its place, involuntary treatment in its current manifestation is often not enough for recovery. It does nothing to address the complex emotional state of denial, which Ive found can also be detrimental to recovery. As a result, people who have been treated involuntarily often abandon their medications as soon as theyve stabilized to the point that theyre legally allowed to do so. Advertisement Though medication reduced my symptoms during my onset, it still took me many months to accept my diagnosis. At several points during my 10-month-long psychotic episode, the logic of my delusions broke down, and I considered the possibility that I was experiencing psychosis. When I found myself in a psych ward five weeks after my first psychotic break, I distinctly remember contemplating that much of what I had experienced might have been delusions. Advertisement But I had been subjected to 23 years of societal conditioning that schizophrenics are dangerous, irredeemable leeches on society. Before my own onset, when I told others about my relative with schizophrenia, I found that they had more sympathy for me than for my loved one. Some went as far as to tell me that caregivers and family members of people with schizophrenia suffer the most. I was not a dangerous, irredeemable leech on society, but I had internalized this understanding of people with schizophrenia, and it was much easier to fall back into my delusions than to accept my new identity. Though medication reduced my symptoms, I didnt stop believing my life was a hyperreality psychological experiment until I was finally ready to admit I have schizophrenia. Perhaps I might have come out of psychosis sooner had there been a schizophrenia pride movement to teach me not to deny but to love and accept this aspect of myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres this idea in traditional mental health advocacy that someone like me is an innocent victim of a diabolical illness. Many in this space seek to eradicate the use of language like Sally is schizophrenic or Sally is a schizophreniclanguage that equates my entire being to my schizophreniain favor of language that puts as much space between my schizophrenia and me as possible. To some, Sally has schizophrenia still doesnt go far enough, and they prefer Sally lives with schizophrenia because they find comfort in the additional distance the extra word creates between person and disease. Though it usually strikes me as pejorative when able-minded people call me schizophrenic or a schizophrenic, it also bothers me when the many schizophrenia advocates without direct lived experiencecaregivers, family members, and doctorscorrect me when I refer to myself that way. Its ingroup language, and while its problematic to use these phrases if you havent been there, it can feel accurate if your identity has been fundamentally transformed by this diagnosis. Advertisement To advocates of person-first language, loving ones schizophrenic self might seem pretty radical. But there is no line between an individual and their schizophrenia. Advertisement My symptoms feel more like an extension of myself than elements of an alien disease. Ive described my hallucinations and delusions as Sally Littlefield fanfiction because their content is personalizedthey reflect and expand upon my greatest fears, desires, strengths, and insecurities. Psychosis is often a deeply introspective state during which Ive done the self-examination and critical thinking behind major life decisionsdecisions I havent regretted. Forcing an artificial divide between an individual and their condition creates a slippery slope from You are not your schizophrenia to In psychosis, youre not you. If Im not me in psychosis, then what do I become? Less than a person? Advertisement Advertisement During my nearly yearlong psychotic episode, that was how strangers reactions made me feel as I talked to myself on the street, shoplifted cans of wine, and smoked other peoples used cigarette butts. Perhaps this attitude is why were so often taken advantage of in psychosis: Despite stereotypes that were violent and dangerous, we are actually 14 times more likely to be the victims of violence than to be arrested as the perpetrator. Many people have implied my psychosis was so prolonged because I was too irrational, stubborn, selfish, and immature to accept helpand I wonder if they would think it was my own fault if Id been robbed or assaulted. To put another false assumption to rest, having pride in my diagnosis doesnt mean I wont do everything in my power to avoid falling into psychosis again. Though much of my psychosis was whimsical and beautiful, I also experienced delusions so terrifying I almost took my own life just to make them stop. In addition, the more time your brain spends in psychosis, the greater the chance you will have longer and more frequent episodes. I will take medication daily for the rest of my life to prevent this gradual erosion of my sanity. But given that my schizophrenia will be with me forever, I also treasure the awe-inspiring moments of that life-defining experience. In a world that actively disowns people like meto the point that we feel like were already dead, as Tommy tearfully put itcelebrating our schizophrenic identity can save lives in a way medication never will. My schizophrenia is and will always be a fundamental part of who I am. Loving myself means loving my schizophrenia. Its time the healthcare system acknowledges the need for a movement to convince people with this condition of their worth, schizophrenia and all. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. We know for sure that his widow remarried in present-day Bratislava. The palace with the plaque indicating that Wolfgang Amadeu Mozart gave a concert in this palace. (Source: Jana Liptakova) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Stroll through the streets of Bratislavas historical centre and you will come across a white marble plaque, attached to the wall of the Palffy palace on Venturska Street, declaring that the six-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert here in 1762. Although the inscription presents the event as an unambiguous fact, the circumstances surrounding the musical prodigys purported appearance in Bratislava or Pressburg, as it was then known are rather less certain. There are some strong hints that Mozart (who was born on January 27, 1756, and died aged just 35 on December 5, 1791) did visit the present-day capital of Slovakia more than 260 years ago but direct evidence of either his stay or his concert remains to be found. The marble plaque (Source: Courtesy of Zuzana Godarova) The primary source for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts only visit to Pressburg, and at the same time his only visit to the Hungarian Kingdom, are the letters of his father Leopold Mozart to his friend Lorenz Hagenauer in Salzburg and to the publisher Johann Jakob Lotter in Augsburg. Another letter was later written by 17-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself to his sister Maria Anna Mozart, where he mentions a certain Mr. Greibich, whom the learned to know in Pressburg, said Zuzana Godarova, a tourist guide in Bratislava and Vienna who specialises in music and is co-author of the very first musical guide to Bratislava. She added that the one newspaper that might have written about the event, the Pressburger Zeitung, only began publishing two years later, in 1764. But both Wolfgang, and Maria Anna remembered to be in Pressburg, and I can see no reason why they would invent it later, said Godarova. But while, for some, mentions in correspondence are adequate evidence (i. e. Otto Biba, Austrian musicologist and Archive Director of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, Pavol Polak, leading Slovak musicologist and others), for others they are not enough. Historian Stefan Holcik considers the hints in these letters to be insufficient proof that the child prodigy even visited Pressburg, much less that he ever gave a concert in the city. Above all, there is no historical document or mention in the archives of noble families that a concert was held here in which the little Mozart played, said Holcik, as quoted by the Sme daily, adding that such families recorded all kinds of everyday events and they would hardly have missed such an extraordinary event as the appearance of a prodigy. First tour by the child prodigy Four foreigners discuss the successes and failures of healthcare in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky podcast, with the support of Fjuzn, is continuing its series on the migrant experience with a new episode. This time we are talking about foreigners experiences with getting health insurance, visiting doctors, and how to improve the system. For most foreigners, their very first experience with the Slovak healthcare system is gaining health insurance (a residency requirement). This first act reveals just how different the experience of seeking basic care can be for foreigners. Health insurance for foreigners from outside the EU is often more expensive and offers less coverage than that of the major state-run health insurance that other residents receive. This leaves those newly arrived in the country with difficult and costly decisions to make. https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/47OBpJ4o1o51EtEG0DmWb6?utm_source=generator As they take these important decisions on, third country migrants must also submit to a thorough physical exam. This is often a foreigners first exposure to doctors and hospitals in Slovakia. The experience can be bewildering and frightening, especially for those who do not speak Slovak. This was true for Robert from Boston, who lamented, Those nurses had no time for someone not speaking Slovak. [They] basically dragged and pushed me from one bench to another piece of equipment. It was like an alien autopsy. Susan relies on her husband Once a foreigner is established in the system, he or she can then begin their search for a local general practitioner. Naturally, they want to find doctors who can speak a common language, but even for those living in Bratislava, this is a tall order. Most are forced to select a doctor nearest to them, and rely on spouses or friends to serve as translators. This has prompted Sarah from the UK, who depends on her husband to attend each doctors visit, to improve her Slovak so that she may maintain some dignity and some privacy. Unfortunately, eventually, most foreigners will need to use the services of specialists, or they may find themselves in a medical emergency. Again, speaking Slovak well can lessen the complications that arise from a lack of understanding of the system. Foreigners can be overwhelmed with the referrals process or lost in a complex of buildings full of signs in Slovak and nurses who do not have the patience to guide them. However, once foreigners have a chance to see the doctors face to face, they discover that, despite the sometimes ramshackle appearance of the buildings, their care is mostly on par with that of other more developed systems around the world. Doctors are often well-trained and professional. Foreign patients receive the same quality of care as their Slovak neighbours, at a fraction of the cost of some western European countries. Some even prefer the care they receive here as compared with that of their rich home countries. How to improve Slovak health care Not that the Slovak healthcare system is without problems. Foreigners often comment on the same issues that plague Slovak patients. There is a lack of young doctors with up-to-date knowledge, and many other highly skilled doctors have left the country due to low pay and structural challenges. The system must modernise to provide optimal care, and soap in the restrooms is a good place to start. Our guests in this episode had many other observations and recommendations that come from a variety of experiences, both personal and professional. Looking at Slovak healthcare from their eyes can offer a path to improvement that both benefits Slovaks and foreigners alike. Guests: Navid, Robert, Sarah, and Suzanne Taylor Experts' disagreement over Mozart's performance in Bratislava, Dutch royal couple visiting Slovakia, and the world marks International Women's Day on March 8. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, March 7 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. At night and on Facebook, Heger leaves OLaNO Interim PM Eduard Heger. (Source: TASR) Interim Slovak PM Eduard Heger announced on late Monday night that he was leaving the ruling OLaNO party. He did so in a very Matovic way: via Facebook. On Tuesday, Heger revealed that his party is called Demokrati, or Democrats, and that several ministers have joined the party. It is not a new party. While some observers are surprised by his decision to join a small party, others say Demokrati could win some parliamentary seats if other democratic parties join Heger's project. Related: Former PM Mikulas Dzurinda has not given up on his ambition to create a more European Slovakia, as Michaela Terenzani explains in her weekly column. MORE NEWS FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR Business: EV charging stations will be produced in Martin by a US firm. EV charging stations will be produced in Martin by a US firm. Music: Experts cannot agree on whether Mozart performed in Bratislava. Experts cannot agree on whether Mozart performed in Bratislava. Travel: Trencin plans to turn an old bridge into an "Eiffel Tower". If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. PODCAST FOR TUESDAY Some doctors draw pictures, others frustrated when talking to foreigners in Slovakia Foreigners share their experience with Slovak health care. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) American Jeremy Hill is talking about foreigners' experiences with obtaining health insurance, visiting doctors, and how to improve the health care system in Slovakia. Listen to his Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky podcast episode. SONG OF THE DAY Piargy Since its release last September, Ivo Trajkov's Slovak film "The Ballad of Piargy" has won 56 awards and impressed juries at festivals in Brussels, Paris, London, Rome, New York, Milan, Hollywood, Amsterdam, Florence, and beyond. video //www.youtube.com/embed/l4NAC4Owmrw Listen to "Piargy", the title track to this successful Slovak film based on a story written by Slovak novelist Frantisek Svantner. The song is sung by Veronika Rabada. In a few lines: Women in Slovakia earn an average of 25 percent less than men . While men's gross earnings reach an average of 1,896, women's average earnings stand at 1,407, an analysis by the Platy.sk website shows. . While men's gross earnings reach an average of 1,896, women's average earnings stand at 1,407, an analysis by the Platy.sk website shows. Senior posts in companies in Slovakia are overwhelmingly held by men. The situation has improved marginally over the past five years, a study by the Dun & Bradstreet firm shows. The situation has improved marginally over the past five years, a study by the Dun & Bradstreet firm shows. The Smer-Slovak Social Democracy party, led by ex-PM Robert Fico, has filed three criminal complaints with the Prosecutor General's Office against commentators Marian Lesko, Michal Havran, and Tomas Hudak. WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Overcast weather. The highest daytime temperature will range from 6C to 14C. Light wind. Scattered showers in the evening. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Or you can complain about our work. It can help us get better, too. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/chancellor-scholz-meets-biden-trump-cpac-speech-sudan-oil-expansion-1108132735.html Chancellor Scholz Meets Biden; Trump CPAC Speech; Sudan Oil Expansion Chancellor Scholz Meets Biden; Trump CPAC Speech; Sudan Oil Expansion Former President Donald Trump vows to crush Biden, purge neocons, and punish China for COVID. 07.03.2023, Sputnik International 2023-03-07T11:43+0000 2023-03-07T11:43+0000 2023-03-07T11:43+0000 the critical hour radio ukraine taiwan donald trump cpac tunisia sudan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108132588_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_4bc4f032940ec3ef8505c0bf50ed0562.png Chancellor Scholz Meets Biden; Trump CPAC Speech; Sudan Oil Expansion Former President Donald Trump vows to crush Biden, purge neocons, and punish China for Covid. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. The US claims to be considering Ukrainian pilots to train for US aircraft. Also, Germany accepts the US attack on its infrastructure and Artemovsk (Bakhmut) is falling as Zelensky holds on.Ted Rall, political cartoonist, and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss Olaf Scholz in DC and the 2024 presidential race. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems to have completely dismissed the allegations that President Biden spearheaded a military attack on his nation. Also, former President Donald Trump vows to crush Biden, purge neocons, and punish China for COVID. And RFK Jr is looking into challenging President Biden in the Democratic primaries.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Africa. The African nation is struggling to recover from an international incident in which the leader allegedly made disparaging comments about Sub-Saharan African migrants. Also, Sudan is looking to boost its ties with Moscow and increase its presence in the world's energy market.KJ Noh, writer, teacher, and activist, joins us to discuss China. A GOP senator threatened the leadership of Japan and his Twitter account was temporarily suspended. Also, the US Ambassador lectures China and claims that the US is the leader in the Pacific zone of influence.Laith Marouf, broadcaster, and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Israel will continue demolishing Palestinian homes. Also, the UN says that any attack on Iran would be illegal and an Israeli leader claims that Palestinian protesters planned his murder.Camila Escalante, Editor at Kawsachun News, and Latin American Correspondent at PressTV, joins us to discuss Brazil. Brazilian President Lula De Silva has intensified his push to mediate the Ukraine crisis as he conveyed that message to the President of Ukraine.Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, joins us to discuss domestic politics. Another Norfolk Southern train has derailed in Ohio. Also, we discuss the Valdai meeting and the US renewing sanctions against Venezuela.Marjorie Cohn, Professor Emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, joins us to discuss the Supreme Court of the United States. The court seems poised to put a halt to President Biden's plan for a limited student loan forgiveness plan.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. ukraine tunisia sudan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.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://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg radio, ukraine, taiwan, donald trump, cpac, tunisia, sudan, NAIROBI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Airways on Monday launched its trafficking in persons (TIP) policy and public awareness campaign in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Hellen Mwariri Mathuka, the chief financial officer of Kenya Airways, told journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the policy outlines the airline's stand and actions against human trafficking that are geared toward the elimination of the exploitation of human beings and modern slavery. "We have invested in capacity building programs to give our employees the tools to identify and report suspected cases of human trafficking because we recognize that our employees at the airport and on flights are uniquely positioned to look out for this type of crime," Mathuka said. She noted that Kenya Airways connects Kenya to the rest of Africa and the world through its vast network, which should only be used for good and to advance the development of Africa. Maria Temesvari, deputy regional representative for eastern Africa at UNODC, said it provided technical support for the development of the policy that will further enhance Kenya's capacity in combating human trafficking as well as increasing the number of detections and investigations related to the vice. Temesvari said the policy identifies the correct procedures for airline cabin crew to follow when faced with potential trafficking victims on their flights. Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Transport, said the Kenya Airways policy provides action points that have protected its systems from being misused to facilitate the transportation of human trafficking victims. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/enough-is-enough-braverman-launches-illegal-migration-bill-with-blast-at-labour-1108147601.html 'Enough is Enough': Braverman Launches Illegal Migration Bill With Blast at Labour 'Enough is Enough': Braverman Launches Illegal Migration Bill With Blast at Labour Home Secretary Suella Braverman said three-quarters of those claiming political asylum after crossing the English Channel in small boats were men under 40 with enough money to pay people-traffickers 2023-03-07T13:37+0000 2023-03-07T13:37+0000 2023-03-13T11:59+0000 english channel suella braverman world illegal immigration people trafficking yvette cooper uk britain great britain asylum seekers /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/15/1097662415_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_51fa63e921e2d2c1e8acaf7df980ffbb.jpg Britain's home secretary has unveiled new legislation to deport illegal immigrants trafficked across the English channel with no right of appeal.Suella Braverman told Parliament the Illegal Migration Bill would honor Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge of "no half measures" in dealing with illegal immigration and people-trafficking.To jeers from the opposition benches, she said the system had to be humane but stressed that "people are dying in the channel" on overloaded traffickers' boats.Many of those immigrants were from the peaceful European nation of Albania or had come through through France, and the "vast majority" 74 percent in 2021 were adult males under 40, "rich enough to pay criminal gangs thousands of pounds for passage.""In the face of todays global migration crisis, yesterdays laws are simply not fit for purpose," Braverman insisted.Braverman said the deadly trade in human misery would not end "until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed."She confirmed that those arriving illegally would be deported to their homeland or a "third country," including Rwanda. However, those under 18, medically unfit to fly or at risk of serious harm if deported would be allowed to stay.In addition, the government would put an annual limit on the number of refugees and asylum-seekers the UK will accept through "safe and legal routes."She said illegal immigrants were abusing human rights legislation to stay in the UK after being caught, adding: "That's why this bill disqualifies illegal entrants from using modern slavery rules to prevent removal."Responding to earlier reports that the legislation would "push the boundaries" of existing treaty commitments, Braverman insisted she was "confident that this bill is compatible with international law" as "Some of the nations finest legal minds have been and continue to be - involved in its development."Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Conservative government's plans were "Groundhog Day," repeating pledges by previous home secretaries. She accused the Tories of allowing trafficking gangs to flourish along the coast and pledged her party would act decisively to stop the stream of small boat arrivals.Braverman responded that "after five minutes of hysteria, histrionics and criticism... I've got no idea what Labour's plan is," accusing the strident opponent of Brexit of wanting unlimited immigration "by the back door." She pointed out that many Labour MPs had opposed deportations of illegal immigrants and foreign residents convicted of crimes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/uk-plan-to-stop-people-trafficking-pushes-boundaries-of-international-law-1108142465.html english channel britain great britain rwanda albania Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png uk, parliament, suella braverman, illegal immigration, people trafficking, asylum-seekers https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/f-16-fighters-us-and-nato-getting-bogged-down-in-ukraine-conflict-1108156881.html F-16 Fighters: US and NATO Getting Bogged Down in Ukraine Conflict F-16 Fighters: US and NATO Getting Bogged Down in Ukraine Conflict Two Ukrainian pilots are reportedly undergoing simulator assessments for operating attack aircraft including F-16s at an air force base in Arizona after top... 07.03.2023, Sputnik International 2023-03-07T18:31+0000 2023-03-07T18:31+0000 2023-03-07T18:31+0000 analysis us opinion joe biden ukraine f-16 us military aid pilots nato nato expansion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/14/1100999118_0:90:1024:666_1920x0_80_0_0_93b3246a50653191db458dcdaf09ef6c.jpg If Washington decides to train Ukrainian military personnel, it will take a lot of time and effort, according to retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense.Needless to say, two pilots would not be enough. According to the air force veteran, the USAF estimates that they would need 50-80 fourth Generation F-16s, over time, and that it would take several years to get them incorporated into a Ukrainian Air Force."By that time, I would expect there would be no active battlefield, only a smaller western oriented Ukraine responding to Russian or other airborne surveillance activities, much as we see off the coast of Alaska and Japan, for example," she remarked.In addition, the F-16 is by no means a low cost. Kwiatkowski explained that the price depends on the model and what it is equipped for, older, possibly 4th Generation, F-16s are $30 to $40 million each.According to Rasmussen, sending F-16 to the Ukrainian military in order to tip the balance of the unfolding conflict does not seem viable, unless NATO dispatches its own pilots to operate the combat aircraft.Foreign F-16 Pilots Would Lead to West's Deeper Involvement"Potential pilots could come from Poland, Norway, Romania, the US, or Morocco perhaps," suggested Kwiatkowski.Sputnik's interlocutors highlighted that the involvement of foreign pilots is fraught with geopolitical risks for the countries those military specialists originate from.Likewise, there will be a certain risk of escalation if Ukraine uses NATO airfields for launching F-16 attack missions, according to the observers."And I would think, especially if you're using, let's say, Polish air bases to take off from, that then opens up fair game for counterattacks into NATO's space," said Rasmussen. "And it's not necessarily an attack against NATO, really. Basically, NATO has thrown themselves directly into it aside just from providing arms and that just creates a very, very dangerous situation."Furthermore, "beyond risk of direct engagement in a war with Russia that NATO members, and NATO itself, is unprepared and unequipped for is the political and economic uncertainty of Ukraine itself, and thinking about what will be left of Ukraine to rebuild and for the West, to invest in," highlighted Kwiatkowski.Still, she does not rule out Washington going ahead with its military adventurism. The US Air Force veteran suggested that the US may use contract pilots or artificial intelligence in order to hide traces.Biden is Ambiguous About Sending F-16 to KievUS President Joe Biden had repeatedly ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. Speaking to an American broadcaster on February 24, Biden said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "doesn't need F-16s now," adding that "there is no basis upon which there is a rationale" for doing this. At the same time, however, the US president made it clear that it does not mean "never."In the aftermath of Berlin and Washington's pledge to provide the Ukrainian military with Leopard and Abrams main battle tanks in January 2023, some top Kiev officials started to call upon the Biden administration to go even further and send F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine.Some US lawmakers, from both parties, joined those calls insisting that the American-made fighters could prove decisive for control of Ukrainian airspace this year" in a letter which they sent to Biden on February 16.Earlier, Washington's NATO allies dropped the hint that they could supply Kiev with the US-made fighters, as per Zelenskiys most senior adviser Andriy Yermak. He particularly referred to Poland, which, however, was careful to emphasize that it would act in full coordination with its NATO allies. French President Emmanuel Macron said that "nothing is excluded in principle" while referring to potential deliveries of fighter planes to Ukraine, but warned against further escalating the conflict.Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries against getting involved in the Ukraine conflict via the supply of weapons to the Kiev regime. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has recently reiterated that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Kremlin also pointed out that flooding Ukraine with weapons is prolonging the conflict, increasing the number of civilian casualties and disrupting the prospects of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. Lavrov particularly stated that the US and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, "including not only through the supply of weapons, but also through the training of personnel (...) on the territory of the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries."In the wake of the reports that two Ukrainian pilots are being evaluated for skills with attack aircraft in the US, the White House specified that it still does not plan to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/shoigu-natos-increased-arms-supplies-to-kiev-regime-dont-lead-to-ukraines-success-on-battlefield-1108142710.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230306/live-updates-air-defense-triggered-in-russias-belgorod-region-one-person-wounded-says-governor-1108078232.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230228/top-democrat-says-f-16s-for-ukraine-not-wise-use-of-resources-1107881067.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 ukrainian pilots evaluated for us attack aircraft, f-16 fighters, biden ruled out sending f-16s to ukraine, how long does it take to train an f-16 pilot, us military aid to ukraine, nato military support to ukraine, nato direct involvement in ukraine conflict, russia warns nato against direct involvement in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/four-kidnapped-americans-found-two-dead-one-wounded-mexican-authorities-say-1108153686.html Two Out of Four Kidnapped Americans Found Dead, One Wounded, Mexican Authorities Say Two Out of Four Kidnapped Americans Found Dead, One Wounded, Mexican Authorities Say Mexican authorities said on Tuesday that two of the four US citizens who had been kidnapped by armed men in the border city of Matamoros on Friday had been found dead. 2023-03-07T15:47+0000 2023-03-07T15:47+0000 2023-03-07T15:48+0000 americas mexico kidnapping us citizens /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108135051_0:146:3125:1903_1920x0_80_0_0_f9069a3110515b4a8f5ab16b29f5d81e.jpg "Two of them are dead, one person is injured and the other is alive," Americo Villarreal Anaya, the governor of Mexicos Tamaulipas state, told reporters. He did not say which were alive or dead, or give any other details about finding them.Latavia Tay Washington McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams crossed the border from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday, and quickly came under weapons fire. The four were a tight-knit group of friends who drove from South Carolina so McGee could receive a medical procedure.The US State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for US citizens thinking of going to Tamaulipas, warning of the dangers posed by crime and kidnapping. americas mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier 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 Fantine Gardinier americans kidnapped in mexico, four americans kidnapped in mexico https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/french-unions-protest-against-macrons-pension-reform-1108136039.html French Unions Protest Against Macron's Pension Reform French Unions Protest Against Macron's Pension Reform Nationwide strikes and protests will likely paralyze French infrastructure. Transport minister Clement Beaune claims that Tuesday will be "one of the most difficult days we have seen." 2023-03-07T13:03+0000 2023-03-07T13:03+0000 2023-03-07T13:03+0000 world france protests mass protests /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/15/1106553194_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_664a6b0b502f4b96806ad554a92fcbe2.jpg Sputnik is live from Paris, where French trade unions demonstrate against controversial pension reforms again.The draft for the reform was unveiled in January by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, as the government planned to adopt it in 2023. Under the initiative, French authorities intend to gradually rise the retirement age in the country by three months a year from September 1, 2023. By 2030, the retirement age will reach 64.The reform has caused a wave of protests in French society. Since Borne's announcement, five nationwide demonstrations against the reform have already taken place. The most remarkable, which were held on January 19 and 31, gathered over a million people across the country. The reform plan was also criticized by prominent French politicians, including former president Francois Hollande, who dubbed it "unfair and brutal."Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more! france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 French trade unions protest against pension reforms French trade unions protest against pension reforms 2023-03-07T13:03+0000 true PT297M11S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International macron pension reform, protests erupt in france, unfair pension reform, france strikes, france against macron https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/from-tiktok-to-chinese-sranes-what-else-is-there-that-us-is-not-afraid-of-1108146710.html From TikTok to Chinese ranes, What Else is There That US is Not Afraid of? From TikTok to Chinese ranes, What Else is There That US is Not Afraid of? Recently, some American politicians have one more concern. They worried that giant Chinese-made cranes operating at American ports could become hidden spying tools for China. 2023-03-07T12:30+0000 2023-03-07T12:30+0000 2023-03-07T12:30+0000 americas us us-china relations paranoia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108146501_0:23:1200:698_1920x0_80_0_0_d64cd9c2e4e6b3356b4e519e967aeca9.jpg This absurd claim, which fits the narrative style of American science fiction movies, is not only baseless but also typical of paranoid thinking. It's unbelievable that the US, as a superpower, could be scared by cranes at ports and imagine them as spying tools.From Huawei to TikTok, from balloons to cranes, American politicians' hysteria over so-called national security is becoming increasingly perverse. Observers suggest that if American politicians are really so afraid of "Made in China," they should take off all their clothes and run naked together. After all, the clothes that many Americans wear, even if not made in China, are made of fabrics provided by China or manufactured with equipment from China. How can US politicians dare to wear clothes made in China when they are afraid of a crane at a distant port? Is the next step, in the minds of these politicians, to spread rumors that Chinese clothes have gene-level surveillance that will threaten national security? It is precisely because of their excellent performance and reliable quality that Chinese products, including giant cranes, are widely used around the world. US government officials and media outlets, in fact, know this well, yet they are deliberately downplaying it to suit their own interests.The intention behind such absurd, pathological and irrational hype is very clear - to hijack domestic and foreign public opinion with the collaboration of media and politicians, thus creating an unfriendly, extreme and confrontational environment toward China. This is to ensure that when US politicians implement tough policies against China, they can sustain long-term support and recognition both domestically and internationally. In fact, the emergence of such remarks also exposes the anxiety of US politicians about the decline of their own national strength. Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University, told the Global Times that a country can have legitimate national security concerns and maintain reasonable sensitivity to national security. However, the US today blames all its backwardness and shortcomings on others, thereby failing to reflect on itself but carrying out malicious attacks against others hysterically. This is a manifestation of the decline of US hegemony. Washington has sensed its declining hegemony and thus taken preventive action against challengers.Washington's hyper-vigilance makes Chinese people wonder how the US has come to such a state. This is not just anxiety; it is a kind of persecution delusion, a form of excessive paranoia.Perhaps what the US needs now is some kind of collective calming therapy.Ironically, from Huawei to cranes, Washington has been enjoying the benefits of affordable and quality Chinese manufacturing but has never stopped seizing any opportunity to play the "China threat card." Not only does it hype up security threats from China, it also continuously pressures its allies to stop using Chinese equipment.The US has always been like this: enjoying the benefits while letting others bear the cost or consequences. The situation with the Nord Stream pipelines makes it clear that other countries suffer while Washington benefits. The US' strategy of sacrificing other countries to meet its own needs is a selfish approach. One must remain vigilant and avoid being used or treated as Washington's pawn.In addition, American politicians's unwarranted concerns about Chinese cranes are clearly lacking in actual basis.He noted that if all normal market competition is viewed by Washington as a security threat, then it will ultimately suppress the US' own innovation and progress.This article originally appeared on Global Times. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230305/not-by-balloons-alone-us-officials-worry-chinese-port-cranes-could-spy-on-american-cargo-1108074200.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230301/buildup-for-war-us-spins-covid-lab-leak-narrative-to-pin-blame-on-china-1107899842.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us bloating chinese threat, us exploits alleged chinese threat, us anti-china bias, american anti-choina paranoia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/global-study-reveals-theres-no-place-on-earth-you-can-be-fully-safe-from-deadly-air-pollutants-1108134506.html Global Study Reveals There's No Place on Earth You Can Be Fully Safe From Deadly Air Pollutants Global Study Reveals There's No Place on Earth You Can Be Fully Safe From Deadly Air Pollutants A team of scientists conducted a meta-study of daily levels of PM2.5 in different parts of the world over the 2000-2019. Only 0.001% of the global population live at levels, considered safe by WHO standards, study reports. 2023-03-07T03:58+0000 2023-03-07T03:58+0000 2023-03-07T03:57+0000 science & tech earth pm2.5 pollution world health organization (who) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108133413_45:0:1263:685_1920x0_80_0_0_061f5d099a496ab119b1cebbfd7e844d.png A team of scientists led by professor Yuming Guo, from the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, Australia, conducted a meta-study of daily levels of particulate matter in different parts of the world over the 2000-2019 period. It found that only 0.001% of the global population live at PM2.5 levels, which is considered safe by WHO standards.In order to conduct the study properly the research team used data from a wide range of sources, such as:Researchers have identified patterns of PM2.5 change that are specific to the respective periods of different macro-regions:New 2021 WHO guidelines limit state that in 2019 only 0.18% of the global land area and 0.001% of the global population had concentrations lower than the annual limit.The professor noted the importance of the study, since "it provides a deep understanding of the current state of outdoor air pollution and its impacts on human health. With this information, policymakers... and researchers can better assess the... health effects of air pollution and develop air pollution mitigation strategies."The study, named "Global estimates of daily ambient fine particulate matter concentrations and unequal spatiotemporal distribution of population exposure: a machine learning modelling study," was published in The Lancet Planetary Health. earth Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov 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 Egor Shapovalov pm2.5, pm2.5 levels, air pollution in different earth regions, how polluted is the air in different regions, latest air pollution studies https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/greek-railroad-workers-extend-strike-by-48-hours-after-deadly-train-crash-1108136850.html Greek Railroad Workers Extend Strike by 48 Hours After Deadly Train Crash Greek Railroad Workers Extend Strike by 48 Hours After Deadly Train Crash Greek railroad unions have extended by 48 hours the strike launched on March 2 because of the recent train accident that killed at least 57 people, the Greek Federation of Railway Employees (POS) said. 2023-03-07T07:22+0000 2023-03-07T07:22+0000 2023-03-07T07:22+0000 world greece train collision strike /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/01/1107886623_0:257:2731:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_7d435c63ec9248f102daa7a92907f8da.jpg Last week, a passenger train collided with a freight train near the city of Larissa. The passenger train had switched to the freight train's lane before the accident, which brought them both on the same track and resulted in a head-on collision. POS stated that it held a meeting with newly appointed Greek Infrastructure Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Monday reaffirmed its demands that railways in the country be safe and reliable. In response, the minister pledged to announce appropriate measures in coming two-three days. The representatives of the union are expected to meet with the minister once again on Friday, according to POS. Initially, the strike was launched on March 2 and expected to last 24 hours, but have been repeatedly extended since then. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230306/new-audio-reveals-greek-station-manager-told-driver-to-pass-red-signal-moments-before-crash-1108128262.html greece Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 deadly train crash in greece, protests in greece, train accident in greece, train derailment in greece, unions strike in greece https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/gunmen-kidnap-four-us-citizens-in-mexico-by-mistake-1108135374.html Gunmen Kidnap Four US Citizens in Mexico by Mistake, Report Says Gunmen Kidnap Four US Citizens in Mexico by Mistake, Report Says Investigators believe that members of a Mexican cartel abducted the Americans after they arrived in the city of Matamoros allegedly to buy medicine. 2023-03-07T05:39+0000 2023-03-07T05:39+0000 2023-03-07T05:45+0000 us mexico gunmen citizens police investigation americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108135051_0:146:3125:1903_1920x0_80_0_0_f9069a3110515b4a8f5ab16b29f5d81e.jpg US and Mexican authorities have launched probes into "a case of mistaken identity" after four American citizens were assaulted and kidnapped in north-eastern Mexico late last week.Mexican President Lopez Obrador said on Monday that his "whole government is working on spotting the four, who have yet to be identified.The statement came after a US media outlet cited an unnamed source as saying that the missing Americans are believed to have been targeted by mistake and were not the intended victims.According to investigators, a Mexican cartel apparently mistook the four for Haitian drug smugglers after the Americans arrived in the border city of Matamoros for purported medical procedures last Friday.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has meanwhile said that President Joe Biden had been informed of the situation, and that that the White House was "closely following" the developments.The US State Department earlier issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for those American citizens who plan to visit the Mexican state of Tamaulipas where Matamoros is located, citing crime and kidnapping. According to US government estimates, hundreds of thousands of Americans cross the border into Mexico annually to receive healthcare services, including prescription drugs. Most of them cite cheaper costs as the most common reason to get treatment in Mexico. mexico americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg a police probe into abduction of four us citizens in mexico, a case of mistaken identity, an assault on four us citizens in mexico UN Stands Ready to Mediate in Potential Talks to Demilitarize Area Around ZNPP - Guterres UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday offered the world body's mediation services in potential talks to demilitarize the area around the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. "Safety and security around the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is also vital. I believe that a possible mediation to seek the full demilitarization of the area, while ensuring that the plant can return to normal operations, would also be important," Guterres told reporters. Guterres also emphasized the importance of continuing exporting grain and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia to ensure food security as well as affordable food prices around the world. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/no-one-size-fits-solution-to-replace-russian-gas-in-european-markets-says-petronas-executive-1108132894.html 'No One Size Fits Solution' to Replace Russian Gas in European Markets, Says Petronas Executive 'No One Size Fits Solution' to Replace Russian Gas in European Markets, Says Petronas Executive There is no single solution to replace Russian gas on the European market, Petronas Chief Operating Officer Adnan Zainal Abidin told Sputnik, on the margins of the CERAWeek conference. 2023-03-07T01:23+0000 2023-03-07T01:23+0000 2023-03-07T01:23+0000 economy russia europe gas market petronas ceraweek conference /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/03/1106007427_0:8:3617:2042_1920x0_80_0_0_7303bcbbaf0cf87ffbff2094e4c669ab.jpg The Petronas COO added that he is unsure how high oil and gas prices will rise to by the end of the year amid the Ukraine conflict, but added that high prices are not sustainable.After Russia began its special military operation in Ukraine, the West actively searched for ways to limit Moscows energy-related income, notably from oil and gas. The effort culminated with a $60 price-cap imposed by G7 member states and Australia on December 5.In response to the price cap, Moscow banned the supply of Russian oil and petroleum products if contracts directly or indirectly provide for a price cap, in a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin in late December.Moreover, the Ukraine conflict also stopped the flow of Russian gas to Europe, which led to a spike in gas prices for the energy and shortages that the United States is trying to help alleviate through liquefied natural gas exports. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230303/lavrov-russia-will-not-allow-west-to-blow-up-any-more-gas-pipelines-1107973280.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian gas, europe gas market, ceraweek conference, petronas chief operating officer adnan zainal abidin HARARE, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government will begin a 20-day physical mapping exercise on March 12 to identify locals who wish to be helped in relocating from neighboring South Africa before their special work permits expire on June 30. About 180,000 holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP), which allowed them to work in South Africa under a special dispensation, will have to return home at the expiry of the permits unless they acquire special skills visas that qualify them to stay on. These are part of an estimated 800,000 Zimbabweans staying in South Africa, most of them illegally and surviving on menial jobs where they are often taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers. A public notice, issued on Monday by Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi, said the government would help repatriate its nationals who wanted to voluntarily leave the country, as had been previously announced. "The Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in South Africa wishes to recall its announcement on 2 February, 2023, that the Government of Zimbabwe has taken a decision to assist and facilitate the repatriation of its nationals, holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits, who voluntarily wish to return home before the expiry of their permits on 30 June, 2023," the notice said. "In that regard, an in-person/physical mapping exercise will be undertaken across all the provinces of South Africa from 12 to 31 March, 2023, to identify and register ZEP holders and their dependents who may require assistance or facilitation to return to Zimbabwe," the notice said, giving locations where the exercise would be done. Initially, the permits were to expire on Dec. 31, 2022, but the South African government extended them to the end of June to allow holders to apply for mainstream work permits. However, there have been reports that the number of applicants has remained low because the Zimbabweans are not sure that they can convince the authorities to keep them in the country. One of the affected Zimbabweans said he would definitely be returning home in June because he did not possess a special skill that would qualify him for a work visa. "Also, employers must show proof that they are paying you a salary that is in line with the standard one, for example, for a teacher. To avoid this, companies have to apply for waivers for employees. It is a complicated process," said the Zimbabwean who declined to be named. Zimbabweans and other foreigners have often come under attack from xenophobic South Africans who allege that they are stealing their jobs. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/norfolk-southern-unveils-safety-plan-after-another-train-derails-in-ohio-1108133837.html Norfolk Southern Unveils Safety Plan After Another Train Derails in Ohio Norfolk Southern Unveils Safety Plan After Another Train Derails in Ohio US rail giant Norfolk Southern announced a series of safety measures on Monday after a train derailed in Ohio over the weekend, the second such incident in the state within a month. 2023-03-07T02:58+0000 2023-03-07T02:58+0000 2023-03-07T02:57+0000 americas norfolk southern railroad east palestine us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/19/1107790172_0:150:2881:1770_1920x0_80_0_0_a0c174d804f531697315320590a64513.jpg Earlier in the day, the US National Transportation Safety Board said it is deploying a team of federal investigators to probe Saturday's 20-car derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train near Springfield, Ohio. The incident comes about a month after a catastrophic derailment leaked toxic chemicals into the air and water in East Palestine, Ohio. The new safety plan is largely focused on enhancing its network of hot bearing detectors. Overheated bearings were identified by investigators as one of the root causes of the East Palestine crash. The Senate plans to convene a hearing on Thursday to grill Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, top US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials, as well as local heads of sanitation and emergency services departments. On Sunday, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Anne Vogel said there was no release of chemical or hazardous material to the soil, air or water after the crash in Springfield. The NTSB said it has not determined the cause of the crash. On February 3, a train hauling 20 cars from Norfolk Southern with hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. A big fire erupted due to the derailment, leading to officials burning vinyl chloride inside five of the tanker cars to avoid a catastrophic explosion. The accident released toxic chemicals, including hydrogen chloride, phosgene, butyl acrylate, and ethylene, into the environment. Despite repeated assurances that the air and water are safe, residents in the area told Sputnik of recent health impacts, including headaches, burning skin and irritated eyes as well as anxiety about long-term health risks such as cancer. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources told Sputnik in mid-February that approximately 3,500 fish had died in waterways near the train derailment site. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230303/report-railcar-that-overheated-in-east-palestine-crash-was-owned-by-lessor-not-railroad-1107997550.html americas east palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 norfolk southern, ohio, east palestine, train derailment https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/report-us-special-forces-looking-to-tap-deepfake-tech-to-influence-foreign-populations-1108160392.html Report: US Special Forces Looking to Tap Deepfake Tech to Influence Foreign Populations Report: US Special Forces Looking to Tap Deepfake Tech to Influence Foreign Populations Deepfakes were popularized in 2017. They use machine learning to paste the face of an individual onto another person's body in a realistic way. It is typically used for entertainment purposes and pornography. 2023-03-07T22:49+0000 2023-03-07T22:49+0000 2023-03-07T22:48+0000 military deepfakes mass surveillance propaganda misinformation us special operations command (socom) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107920/50/1079205059_134:0:1786:929_1920x0_80_0_0_477bb3f320e2d883f8e0db4c5c2e9b00.jpg The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is asking companies to develop technologies that will allow them to create realistic deepfakes and hack internet-connected devices allowing them to spy on foreign populations to determine what kinds of propaganda are the most effective.This comes as US politicians and officials clutch their pearls over alleged Chinese spying through social media apps like TikTok and warnings that deepfake technologies pose an existential threat to democracy.The requests for bids from private companies come from a procurement document published by the Intercept. It includes a wishlist of what the outlet describes as next-generation toys for special forces commandos. In addition to hacking and deepfake technologies, the document also requests bids for technologies including robots, holograms, lasers, directed energy and electromagnetic warfare and other technologies that would not be out of place in a Sci-Fi action film.It is standard procedure for the US government and military to award contracts to private businesses for development. What makes this disclosure unique is that it represents the first time a government openly requested that deepfake technologies be created for offensive purposes.Meanwhile, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Pentagon have been spending tens of millions of dollars to detect deepfake technology. At a 2018 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) called deepfake technologies the next wave of attacks against America and Western democracies.The National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2021 also mentioned deepfake technologies as a threat, directing the Pentagon to perform an intelligence assessment of the threat posed by foreign government and non-state actors creating or using machine-manipulated media (commonly referred to as deepfakes). And in 2020, it was reported that SOCOM itself was developing deepfake technologies.But in October the Pentagon procurement document was updated to include a new section: Advanced Technologies for Use in Military Information Support Operations (MISO). Military Information Support Operations is a term used by the Pentagon to describe propaganda.It requests technologies be created for influence operations, digital deception, communication disruption, and disinformation campaigns at the tactical edge and operational levels, including the ability to provide a next-generation of deepfake or other similar technology to generate messages and influence operations via non-traditional channels in relevant peer/near peer environments.In plain language, SOCOM wants to spread disinformation using deepfakes, presumably of military or political leaders, to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt among foreign populations.Using deepfake videos to influence global events has been attempted before. Shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, a deepfake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordering his troops to surrender appeared online. Although the video was not very advanced and was quickly debunked, its creation created a stir about the dangers of such technology.Essentially, SOCOM is asking for the ability to listen to a foreign populations everyday conversations to create targeted advertising or propaganda, including deepfake technology, to get the population to believe and think what SOCOM wants them to believe.If created, it would be a data gathering operation that would make the likes of Google and Amazon blush.This is while the US and Canadian governments are accusing China of using TikTok to spy on and influence their citizens. But while TikTok is an app limited to the phones of those who choose to install it, SOCOM wants the ability to listen in on conversations from any internet-connected device. The document also requests technologies that will help it enable MISO to craft and direct influence operations and messages in relevant peer/near peer environments, e.g. spread their propaganda online in a clandestine way.However, that is something SOCOM has already been doing. In December, it was reported by the Intercept that SOCOM convinced Twitter to allow it to set up a network of sham accounts designed to spread misinformation, including that the Iranian government was harvesting the organs of Afghan civilians.Rules for thee, not for me it seems, is the US governments policy surrounding deepfake technologies, online misinformation campaigns and mass surveillance. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220115/people-cant-distinguish-deepfake-from-real-videos-even-if-warned-in-advance-study-says-1092275613.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/us-senate-to-consider-new-bipartisan-bill-to-empower-biden-to-act-against-tiktok-media-reports-1108132267.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino socom uses deepfakes, us government deepfakes, deepfakes to spread fake news, misinformation, propaganda https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/riddle-me-this-egyptian-archeologists-unearth-smiling-sphinx-with-roman-emperors-face-1108140410.html Riddle Me This: Egyptian Archeologists Unearth Smiling Sphinx With Roman Emperor's Face Riddle Me This: Egyptian Archeologists Unearth Smiling Sphinx With Roman Emperor's Face The finding is much smaller than the famous Sphinx near the Pyramids of Giza, which is roughly 20m. 2023-03-07T11:39+0000 2023-03-07T11:39+0000 2023-03-07T11:39+0000 science & tech egypt history ancient rome ancient egypt sphinx /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107580/31/1075803179_0:14:1601:914_1920x0_80_0_0_3c9af409d55b5d95fd613ed2942453d7.jpg A team of archeologists in Egypt has discovered a statue of a smiling sphinx with the face of Roman Emperor Claudius, who expanded Pax Romana to Northern Africa during his rule from AD 41 to 54. Researchers from Ain Shams University lead by Mamduh al-Damati - former Egyptian minister of antiquities described the statue as "beautifully and accurately carved." They also unearthed a Roman-era stone slab with demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions.These artifacts were discovered during archaeological excavations east of the temple complex of Dendera. The nearest of the excavated temples was consecrated to the Goddess Hathor the patron of the sky and a consort of major Egyptian deity Horus.While historians believe that the sphinx has the face of Emperor Claudius, this fact must be double-checked during further research.A sphinx - a mythic creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle - is one of the most ancient symbols of Egypt, alongside the pyramids. It is notorious for its riddles, being the epitome of wisdom.Emperor Claudius was a Roman ruler who conquered several new regions and carried out major economic and administrative reforms in Rome. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220123/archeologists-uncover-two-giant-sphinxes-built-3300-years-ago-1092457837.html egypt ancient rome Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev 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 Sergey Lebedev sphinx, ancient egypt, archeology, emperor claudius, smiling sphinx https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/swedish-foreign-ministry-vows-not-to-host-nuclear-weapons-in-country-after-joining-nato-1108161708.html Swedish Foreign Ministry Vows Not to Host Nuclear Weapons in Country After Joining NATO Swedish Foreign Ministry Vows Not to Host Nuclear Weapons in Country After Joining NATO Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on Tuesday pledged not to deploy nuclear weapons in the country after Sweden joins NATO, following the example of other Scandinavian states. 2023-03-07T22:56+0000 2023-03-07T22:56+0000 2023-03-09T19:18+0000 world sweden nato nato expansion nuclear weapons /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108161560_0:161:3067:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_79f992ba2342d125276fda32f8a13b31.jpg "No, it will not," Billstrom said, responding to a related question from the Swedish newspaper.The Swedish government will "follow what the other Nordic countries have said," the minister noted, referring to Norway and Denmark, which, as an exception, also do not host nuclear weapons of any third power, according to the report.On February 11, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that Stockholm was going to pursue a policy aimed at a deeper military integration with NATO amid the country's problematic accession into the alliance.All NATO allies but Turkiye and Hungary have approved and ratified the accession of Sweden and Finland to the bloc. Turkiye has accused Stockholm and Helsinki of supporting "terrorists", referring to supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. After a controversial Quran-burning incident in Sweden earlier this year, Turkiye asked NATO allies if Finland's application can be approved separately. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230211/finnish-president-believes-helsinki-stockholm-will-join-nato-by-july-1107338974.html sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 sweden, nato expansion in sweden, will sweden deploy nato nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon in europe, what are the swedish concerns about nato https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/uk-plan-to-stop-people-trafficking-pushes-boundaries-of-international-law-1108142465.html UK Plan to Stop People-Trafficking 'Pushes Boundaries of International Law' UK Plan to Stop People-Trafficking 'Pushes Boundaries of International Law' More than 45,000 people reached the UK illegally in overloaded small boats across the English Channel in 2022. Another 3,000 have already been trafficked this year despite harsh weather conditions. 2023-03-07T11:47+0000 2023-03-07T11:47+0000 2023-03-07T11:49+0000 uk world britain great britain suella braverman people trafficking illegal immigration english channel europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/12/1097429843_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7683009d06e78b684b8b923a77b91578.jpg The British home secretary has said the plan to crack down on the deadly cross-channel trade in human misery "pushes the boundaries of international law."Suella Braverman will unveil proposed new legislation to human trafficking and the ongoing migrant crisis later on Tuesday.It will include changing immigration laws to prevent those taking illegal routes to British shores from claiming political asylum or from appealing against deportation orders using human rights law.Those caught making illegal crossings would be deported to a third country and forbidden from returning to the UK or applying for citizenship.Braverman will reportedly ask for the new rules to apply immediately to prevent traffickers using the remaining window of opportunity to rush as many victims across the English channel in dangerously overloaded small boats where many will end up in below-minimum wage jobs, organized crime or even prostitution.But former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland said the new policy would not step outside current international agreements.Abandoning those conventions would create "a bit of a free for all for everybody to try and do their own thing" as other European countries are also struggling to halt people-trafficking.However, the government is also planning to take advantage of the UK's formal exit from the European Union to overhaul and slim down human rights laws.Buckland said he would examine the new legislation to make sure it contained exemptions for anyone "who clearly is coming for the right reasons to be able to seek asylum here in the UK" giving examples of those fleeing war, among others.The former minister admitted there had been "a lot of over-promising and under-delivering" on the issue from a string of Conservative governments, but that new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was right in taking things "one step at a time" and focus on initiatives like the recent deal with France "to avert the problem from reaching the Channel in the first place."Nearly 3,000 people have already made the perilous crossing of the freezing, treacherous waters since the start of this year. At least 45,728 are estimated to have arrived by the same route in 2022, a large proportion of them from the peaceful European country of Albania. Many are being housed in hotels, while others are in reception centres described as overcrowded and squalid.At least 27 people drowned in November 2021 when a traffickers' boat capsized in the channel. Another 59 died in a similar incident off the Italian coast in February this year.Opposition parties and refugee NGOs have already condemned the government's plan as both inhumane and impractical before the legislation has been launched."There has got to be action that goes after the criminal gangs and overhauls the asylum system and also gets a new agreement with France," she added. "We need a serious plan, not just more headlines."Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, accused the government of shattering "the UK's long-standing commitment under the UN Convention to give people a fair hearing regardless of the path they have taken to reach our shores," adding that the plan was "unworkable, costly and won't stop the boats." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230305/sunak-promises-no-more-migrant-boats-as-new-law-set-to-be-announced-next-week---1108031269.html britain great britain english channel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png uk, people trafficking, illegal immigration, english channel, suella braverman, human rights https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/us-china-trade-shrinks-by-174-in-january-february-barely-surpassing-100-bln-1108136286.html US-China Trade Shrinks by 17.4% in January-February, Barely Surpassing $100 bln US-China Trade Shrinks by 17.4% in January-February, Barely Surpassing $100 bln Trade between the United States and China decreased 17.4% to $101.847 billion in the first two months of 2023, the data provided by the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday. 2023-03-07T07:56+0000 2023-03-07T07:56+0000 2023-03-07T08:03+0000 asia trade us china russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/07/1108136688_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6fc03c9d0f3291223f9af105456a6329.jpg Despite the downturn in trade, the United States remained in the top three of China's leading trading partners, along with ASEAN and the European Union.Based on the information provided, US-bound exports from China in January-February sank 21.8% year-on-year and amounted to $71.56 billion, while the United States exported goods to China to the tune of $30.27 billion, which is 5% less than in the same period last year.In contrast, trade between Russia and China saw a 25.9% surge to $33.685 billion in the first two months of 2023.During the said period, China exported $15.03 billion worth of goods to Russia, which turned out to be 19.8% higher than for the same period in 2022. China-bound exports from Russia jumped 31.3% to $18.6 billion. In 2022, trade between both countries climbed 29.3% to a record $190.27 billion.Trade between China and Russia has soared over the past year as Moscow embarked on its economic policy of pivoting to the East. In January 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Russian economy proved to be far more resilient than Western governments believed. He stressed that Moscow expects a record foreign trade surplus "not only due to changes in commodity prices, but also Russia's trade reorientation with the countries of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America."In the meanwhile, US-China trade is being impacted by global economic rivalry between both nations. The White Houses national security strategy adopted in Fall 2022 views China as the most consequential geopolitical challenge to the United States. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230302/russias-external-debt-in-2022-sees-3-year-record-drop-debt-to-gdp-ratio-lowest-in-g20-1107947951.html china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us-china trade, russia-china trade, russian turn to east, trade balance https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/us-only-nation-that-could-have-bombed-nord-stream-ex-senator-says-1108156681.html US Only Nation That Could Have Bombed Nord Stream, Ex-Senator Says US Only Nation That Could Have Bombed Nord Stream, Ex-Senator Says Former Virginia State Senator Richard Black told Sputnik that the United States is the only country that could have blown up the Nord Stream pipelines last year, as he commented on the latest report by the New York Times. 2023-03-07T18:02+0000 2023-03-07T18:02+0000 2023-03-07T18:02+0000 nord stream sabotage us nord stream pipeline nord stream 2 nord stream 1 explosions seymour hersh richard black /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/08/1097116390_0:130:2501:1536_1920x0_80_0_0_ebd8c7b47b157e7bff7f2d0ee239f4e2.jpg The day after the blasts, I commented publicly that the U.S. was the only nation that could have carried this out, Black said when asked to comment on the report. Even a child could see it wasn't Russia and no NATO country would dare act without U.S. approval, since the U.S. leads and dominates NATO. Earlier on Tuesday, the New York Times reported that US officials said intelligence indicated a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines last year. The saboteurs were most likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, the report also said, adding that no US or UK nationals were involved. The New York Times' report comes on the heels of a report by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh detailing the USs alleged involvement in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, which provided a substantial amount of gas to Germany. The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, have been inoperable since they were hit by explosions last September. Nord Stream's operator, Nord Stream AG, said that the damage was unprecedented and it was impossible to estimate the time repairs might take. Russia considers the explosions of the two pipelines an act of international terrorism. There are no official results of the investigation yet, but Hersh wrote that the explosions were organized by the United States with the support of Norway. Following Hersh's report, Moscow has reiterated its calls for an impartial and thorough investigation. The US denies its involvement in the incident. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/blame-game-us-intel-tells-nyt-pro-ukrainian-group-behind-nord-stream-bombing-1108155572.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 nord stream sabotage, nord stream pipelines, former virginia state senator richard black, us only nation that could have bombed nord stream, us bombed nord stream, us blew up nord stream https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/us-sees-eus-von-der-leyen-as-main-candidate-for-nato-head-position-media-reports-1108149133.html US Sees EU's von der Leyen as Main Candidate for NATO Head Position, Media Reports US Sees EU's von der Leyen as Main Candidate for NATO Head Position, Media Reports Washington considers European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen its candidate of choice for the post of NATO Secretary General, Italian newspaper reported. 2023-03-07T13:16+0000 2023-03-07T13:16+0000 2023-03-10T12:13+0000 military nato ursula von der leyen jens stoltenberg joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/13/1095638815_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_442c4787086a0aaef384a5cfcfaf66e6.jpg Von der Leyen is not opposed to being re-elected as the European Commission's president, but she is also considering heading NATO, with this opportunity becoming increasingly realistic due to the United States' position, the newspaper said. US President Joe Biden has long ago made it clear that the time has come for the alliance to get its first female secretary-general, and, being Germany's former defense minister, von der Leyen has all the competences and traits this post requires, Italian news outlet reported, adding that her visit to Canada and the US should be considered from this perspective. The newspaper added that the EU top executive's election as NATO's head would be ideal for Washington, as she has to first finish her five-year term at the head of the European Commission in the summer of 2024. In this regard, the US is increasing the pressure in order to persuade NATO's incumbent secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg of Norway, to further extend his mandate, which has already been extended for one year due to the situation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/election-of-new-nato-secretary-general-least-transparent-procedure-reports-say-1107379069.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 ursula von der leyen, nato leadership, nato secretary general, nato and us, nato proxy us ADDIS ABABA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR on Tuesday said it is scaling up assistance in Ethiopia's Somali region to support and assist recently arrived refugees fleeing clashes in Somalia. Some 100,000 Somalis have arrived in Ethiopia's Doolo zone in the Somali region in the past four weeks to escape clashes and insecurity in the city of Las Anod of Sool region, a statement issued Tuesday quoted UNHCR Representative in Ethiopia Mamadou Dian Balde as saying. Noting that most of them are women, children -- many arriving unaccompanied -- and elderly, UNHCR said its teams together with partners are rushing to provide assistance to the newly arrived Somali refugees in the hard-to-reach area of Ethiopia. "Many arrive in shock, telling stories of loved ones lost during flight or killed in the conflict. Some have arrived injured. Newly arrived families are sheltering in schools and other public buildings while others have no choice but to sleep outside," Balde said. As the refugees are arriving in a remote area, heavily affected by the ongoing drought, the UNHCR said its teams and partners are taking two days of driving on dry, sandy roads to reach those newly arrived from Las Anod. Since the refugees started arriving in early February, the Ethiopian Government's Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) together with the UNHCR and other partners have worked around the clock to provide these families with life-saving assistance. Noting that some 30,000 people have already been registered so far, the UN refugee agency said protection desks have been set up to rapidly identify vulnerable individuals and refer them to services. Family tracing and reunification support programs have been put in place. Critical relief items, such as sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets and high-energy biscuits are being provided. While food distribution is expected to take place soon, the provision of water and shelter remain key challenges. The UNHCR said Ethiopia, a long-standing refugee host country, is facing a worsening humanitarian situation with conflict and drought triggering large-scale internal displacement over the past years. It, however, said despite the increased needs, the UNHCR's operation in Ethiopia was among the least funded last year. As the new emergency unfolds, the UNHCR called for additional financial support to meet the urgent needs of these newly arrived Somali refugees. Management at Rideau Carleton Raceway has shared an update regarding the start of the 2023 harness racing season following a fire that destroyed the racing paddock last month. Pending regulatory approval, the start of the 2023 season will be pushed back two weeks from March 19 to April 2 despite the best efforts of the track and community to clean up and rebuild following the Feb. 15 fire at the Ottawa oval. Since Februarys fire, we have been forging an alternative to race as quickly as possible while our gutted paddock is rebuilt, said Peter Andrusek, Racing Manager at Rideau Carleton Raceway. After extensive consultation, it has been determined that we require three more weeks of time to perform the work followed by an additional week for approvals and inspections in order to retrofit barn D to a standard that would accommodate horsepeoples needs as well as satisfying both provincial and federal regulators. Unfortunately, this will delay the start of our race season until Sunday, April 2. "However, to mitigate damages to horsepeople, Rideau Carleton will immediately apply to move those two lost March programs to the first two weeks of April. Racing two days a week immediately upon opening should help to get everyone raced and perhaps some horses could occasionally race twice a week in April." Rideau's proposal, pending regulatory approval, includes adding Wednesday evening cards through the month of April (April 5, 12, 19, 26) and dropping the following race dates: Sunday, March 19, Sunday, March 26, Thursday, April 20 and Thursday, April 27. The track plans to return to its original schedule of Thursdays and Sundays in May. The primary reason for evening races on Wednesdays would be in case the track is soft in the afternoons in April. Andrusek explained that, based on experience, the track tends to tighten up as the sun sets. Andrusek also noted that the track is now financially and physically limited to 10 races per program and management feels that, if accepted by regulators, it would quickly replace the lost money for the two cancelled March programs and it will also decrease the probability of any horse not drawing in at least weekly in April. Qualifying races will continue Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for the month of March. The live racing schedule will be confirmed when it has received regulatory approval. (With files from NCHHRA/Rideau Carleton Raceway) A talented cast of performers clashed in the opening leg of the New Holland Trotting Series during Mondays 10-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and it was upset city in leg one. Itstimetogohome erupted for a 34-1 upset in his $30,000 division for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Carmen Auciello. The five-year-old son of Creatine-Wake Up Susie got away sixth from Post 9 while Toccoa Falls (:28) and Shadrack Hanover (:56 and 1:24.4) took turns on the lead. Toccoa Falls came on to reclaim the lead in the late stages of the contest, but Itstimetogohome found late real estate to work with at the pylons and his closing quarter of :28 was enough to earn him the neck decision over Toccoa Falls in 1:53.4. Third prize went to longshot Franks Angel. Dan Sarafian of Unionville , Ont. , who recently purchased the gelding privately, watched the 15-time winner win for the first time this season from six attempts. Hes banked over $20,000 this season and more than $160,000 to date. Ritson went to the front and didnt look back en route to posting a 1:53.3 triumph in the $30,000 second division for the duo of driver Scott Young and trainer Shawn Steacy. The five-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Sheenas Shadow powered to the top from Post 3 and successfully sliced out splits of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.4 before sprinting home in :27.4 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Dealin With Dewey. Taking home the show dough was El Toro Loco, who was fourth-placed-third. Sent off at odds of 7-1, Ritson won for the first time this season from nine attempts for owners Mark Steacy, Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc, Dale Larson and Stephen Downey. The 10-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings to $286,404 with the win. Due to impending storms, Cal Expo has moved its Friday, March 10 program to Saturday, March 11, and will now race Saturday and Sunday night this week. Saturdays card will get underway at 6:15 p.m. (PST). This weekends highlight will be a pair of $20,000 California Sire Stakes for the four-year-old pacers, with Cenalta Hawk and JP Jetty heading the race for males and Give Me This Dance and Divine Art renewing their rivalry in the distaff division. (Cal Expo) Current and past Nebraska railroad engineers and conductors gave North Platte state Sen. Mike Jacobson plenty of backing at Mondays State Capitol public hearing on his bill to keep at least two crew members aboard trains. Twenty people urged the Legislatures Transportation and Telecommunications Committee to advance Legislative Bill 31, the latest in a series of two-person crew bills that have repeatedly failed to make it to floor debate. Jacobson, in his first full session representing District 42, made LB 31 the first bill he personally introduced as a state lawmaker. Looming over Mondays three-hour hearing was the Feb. 3 derailment of 38 Norfolk Southern cars carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, and the ensuing nationwide debate over major railroads recent cost-cutting practices and their impact on safety. Jacobson said the disaster makes the case for LB 31, because the presence of a conductor on board that train the position Union Pacific and other Class I railroads hope to eliminate or move to motor vehicles kept the disaster from being even worse. Conductors are the first responder, he said. In East Palestine, the conductor literally got off the train, had the manifest, shared the manifest to know what was in those cars with first responders and helped remove first responders who were hurt. Because engineers typically cannot leave their engines, Jacobson and railroaders said, its up to the conductor to know the order and contents of each rail car; get out to inspect, fix or decouple problem cars; and warn of people, vehicles or objects on the track. Most vitally, the engineer and conductor can give immediate medical aid if either has a medical emergency in the cab. That can save lives in remote areas where first responders need time to arrive, they said. If you think about going to the Powder River Basin (in Wyoming), youre going to go across a huge section of area. There are no roads. Its the railroad. Theyre out there in the middle of nowhere, he said. Executives for U.P., the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the short-line Nebraska Central Railroad renewed their historic opposition to the Legislature intruding in what they deem a collective bargaining matter. Rod Doerr, the Union Pacifics vice president of crew management and interline operations, said his railroad wants to move conductors into pickup trucks driving on parallel highways. They would be able to get to damaged or overheating cars and wheels faster that way, he said. If we maintain the status quo, we have very limited ability in this industry to make changes changes for the good, he said. Nebraska Central representatives Mitch Harris and Nichole Bogen said they already have conductors driving alongside trains with little to no loss in safety. LB 31 would preclude them from doing that, they said. Jeff Davis, BNSFs executive director of state government affairs, said railroads have spent many millions of dollars investing in safety technology. We want to be able to work this out with our unions and with the FRA and use the technology that we have invested in, he said. North Platte area supporters of Jacobsons bill included Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns and Bailey Yard-based conductors Jeff Cooley of Lemoyne and Amanda Snide of Hershey. Bruns, referring to a County Board resolution passed 5-0 Feb. 27, said commissioners strongly disagree that two-person crews should be left to collective bargaining. Employment, wages and benefits are collective bargaining issues, he said. Public safety is not. Jeff Cooley, a 17-year U.P. conductor, said his most profound and alarming incident on the job took place in spring 2015. Thats when he saw something on the opposite track as he and his engineer hauled an empty coal train at 50 mph from North Platte to South Morrill. His engineer thought it was a dead animal, said Cooley, president of the Midwest Nebraska Central Labor Council and Local 200 of the SMART-TD union. But after Cooley eyed the object for five to 10 seconds, it was a little 4-year-old girl who was sitting on the rail who was crying because her parents were arguing at her house, he said. He put the train in emergency mode, called authorities on the radio and blocked other train traffic. I ran to the girl, picked her up and took her to the sheriff, Cooley said. Snide, Local 200s legislative representative, said she once spotted two vehicles on the U.P. right-of-way waving her engine down and pointing to a pickup truck stuck on the track. It took two minutes of braking before the train halted just 9 feet from the pickup. Pat Pfiefer of Gothenburg, Nebraska state legislative chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, noted that Union Pacific has had two derailments in nine months the most recent one Feb. 21 near the same milepost in his hometown. Pfiefer denounced the job-slashing, train-lengthening precision scheduled railroading model that U.P. adopted in fall 2018 and almost all Class I railroads now follow. Technology does not replace a human being, said Pfiefer, who works a local U.P. train from Lexington. They try. See how technology worked at East Palestine. Doerr, U.P.s vice president of labor relations until last April, said U.P. leaders realize some areas are too remote and difficult for ambulances or first responders to reach for engineer-only trains to be feasible throughout the railroads 32,000-mile system. If it makes better sense to leave the conductor aboard, then clearly thats what were going to do, he said. But he and Davis contended that one of the contracts binding both sides is evergreen and cannot be canceled or unilaterally changed by either side. Because of that, they added, any regulations added by the Legislature would preclude both rail labor and management from implementing improved technologies that could give conductors more predictable hours and drive home after their shifts. Railroads need the ability to change how we do work, Doerr said. Putting large numbers of people on call is not acceptable. We need to morph to a schedule so people can schedule their rest and their life. Jacobson disputed rail leaders assumption about leverage. My constituents and your constituents are the ones sitting in this room saying LB 31 is needed, he said. Doerr, Davis and their Nebraska Central counterparts said the Federal Railroad Administration is expected to issue a final rule on train-crew sizes within a year. Whatever decision it makes would override LB 31 even if it passed, they said. Jacobson replied that eight other states have adopted two-person crew minimums. A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled they could in February 2021, overturning a 2019 FRA decision that not only reversed course on requiring two-person crews but also denied states powers to mandate them inside their own borders. I would like to see the FRA and the federal government rule, Jacobson said. But until that time, this is pushing in the right direction. The City of Mitchell will be looking for a new city administrator. Mitchell City Administrator Perry Mader told the Star-Herald Tuesday that he has submitted his resignation. According to his resignation letter, Mader's last day will be Friday, April 7. Mader said that he has accepted a new position at Nebraska City, pending final details being worked out. "I will help with the transition the best that I can," he said, saying he had told Mayor Paul Murrell that he would help with the city's search for an administrator as needed or desired. "It will be business as usual for the next month." Mader has served as Mitchell's city administrator for just over four years. Prior to that, he worked for 11 years as the City of Scottsbluff's parks and recreation director. Murrell said that the City of Mitchell has already begun advertising to fill the city administrator position. The number of applicants will impact the timeline for a search, he said, but "the sooner the better. We will see what comes in as far as applications and resumes." During past searches by the city, Murrell said, there have been quite a number of applicants and representatives of other cities have expressed they have garnered a lot of interest in recent city manager searches. With that, Murrell said, he doesn't anticipate any issues in filling the Mitchell's city administrator position. In his resignation letter, Mader said, "I want to thank the public, staff, mayors and council members that supported me during my tenure." Also on Tuesday, the Mitchell City Council is set to consider the appointment of Matt Holcomb as its next police chief, according to its agenda. The action by the council is "just a formality," Murrell told the Star-Herald. Holcomb has accepted the job and will start immediately. Holcomb has been a longtime Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's deputy, serving as an investigator and on the WING (Western Nebraska Intelligence Group) task force, a multi-agency task force that investigates drug and violent crimes throughout the Panhandle. Murrell terminated Mitchell's previous police chief, Kevin Krzyzanowski, Jan. 4. Krzyzanowski, a former Nebraska State Patrol lieutenant, had served in the position for nearly two years. The council will also consider the hiring of two full-time and one part-time officer during Tuesday's meeting. With the recent hires, Murrell said, the Mitchell Police Department will have four full-time positions, including the chief, and one part-time officer. In January, he said, the department had three full-time positions, including the chief. The Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners voiced approval and support of increased cooperation with the Kimball County Transit Service at its regular meeting on Monday evening. Kimball County Transit Administrator Christy Warner attended the meeting in order to provide the commissioners with background information on the recent developments regarding KCTS, including its significant growth in recent years. We started with one bus and one driver in 2017, and we are currently at 13 vehicles, and I have 30 employees as of today, Warner said. I wanted to give you a little bit of a heads up on what were doing and speak to you about building some partnerships between Kimball County and Scotts Bluff County. Kimball County already provides 27,000 one-way trips annually via its transit system in a network that stretches from Scottsbluff to Denver International Airport and from Sidney to Cheyenne. Plans for additional services were discussed, some of which were contingent on formalizing cooperation between the Kimball County and Scotts Bluff County transit services. In addition to providing standard services for residents of both counties, Warners presentation included some insight on the effects of upcoming development in the Kimball area, particularly the military contract and Clean Harbors expansion project, which are expected to bring a multitude of temporary and permanent residents to the region. We wont see all those people all at once, and we dont know how theyll spend their money, Warner said in reference to the military contract. What we do know is that there are 3,000 living units and only 650 parking spots, so theyre not intended to have vehicles. So, were working to make sure that were ready for that on top of the normal growth that were seeing. Warner pointed out the fact that Kimball alone cannot support the influx of workers from both sources, meaning they would look to the surrounding communities in search of housing. With workers spread across the area, demand for transportation is expected to increase greatly as well. Scotts Bluff County Public Transit Manager Curt Richter voiced his support of increased cooperation between the two county transit services and recognized the trend toward a more unified transit system across the state of Nebraska. We all need support from everybody. I think its very beneficial to show that were partnering and working together, said Richter. In the state of Nebraska, all the transit agencies are working together, and transit is quite honestly blowing up in the state of Nebraska right now. Any way we can support Christy in getting her funds is only going to help us in the long run. The commissioners expressed verbal approval of several supportive measures, including a letter of support to assist KCTS in its pursuit of 5311 and 5311(f) grants as well as pursuing memorandums of understanding allowing KCTS to park vehicles at the Tri-City Roadrunner facility and develop joint emergency response transportation protocols. Action on those items is expected to take place at future meetings. The board also approved a resolution allowing Richter to apply for the same 5311 and 5311(f) grants for the operation of Tri-City Roadrunner to provide public transportation within Scotts Bluff County through 2025. <&rule> Scottsbluff city council considered the purchase of property from Scotts Bluff County during the Monday, March 6 meeting. The property in question is Scotts Bluff Assessor Parcels 010304193 and 010304185, excluding 0010304207. City manager Kevin Spencer addressed the council during a public hearing set for 6 p.m. The nearly 17-acre property is located due west of the citys wastewater plant. At the center of the property of interest is a 0.6-acre parcel of land owned by Nebraska Public Power District. The 10.5-acre property is where the city would like to place its transfer station, Spencer told the council. There is also a strip to the west that is roughly 7 acres, which stretches to 21st Avenue. We like the property because of the access to Highway 26, Spencer told the Star-Herald. It will be used as a transfer station within our sanitation department for garbage. The two entities agreed to the price of $20,000 to be paid at closing within 30 days of all conditions being met. The conditions to closing are conditional upon the Scottsbluff council, represented as the buyer, to authorize the purchase and giving public notice as required by Nebraska Revised Statute 18-1755. The city must also receive a title commitment insurance binder showing marketable title can be conveyed by the county, represented as seller. The county must also complete the statutory requirement outlined under revised statute 23-107.01. Following the closure of the public hearing, the council discussed and took action for Mayor Jeanne McKerrigan to sign the purchase agreement. The board moved to accept the agreement unanimously. Once the city takes ownership of the property, they will also assume the duty to repair and maintain South Beltline Highway from 9th Avenue in Scottsbluff and east until it ends at Highway 26. The section of roadway is included in the real estate boundaries. Officer Tyler Weber and K-9 Officer Duke also met with the council, with Spencer noting this is Webers second dog and he is one of the best handlers he has worked with. Weber has worked alongside Duke since 2021. Duke, a then 3 year-old Belgian Malinois, had his first day at the Scottsbluff Police Department with Weber as his partner and handler on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. The Scottsbluff Police Department purchased Duke from the Grand Island Police Department, where Weber said he had worked until the department experienced staffing issues. Duke went through the training academy for several months and since Weber had a background in narcotics, he immediately began training Duke. The K-9 officer is able to do narcotic detection as well as patrol work that includes apprehension, tracking and evidence recovery. Most K-9 dogs complete 6 weeks of narcotics training and 8 weeks of patrol training. Dukes background allowed them to streamline the training to only 8 weeks of patrol; however, the training continues. Last night, we were working on bite work with the sheriffs office handler, he said. The night before that, we did some narcotics (training). Shortly after patrol camp, they were dispatched to a residence of a possible breaking and entering because of a broken window. Upon arrival someone was found inside. We got access to the building, and we got Duke about 25 feet from the front door. Duke could see the guy inside sleeping on the couch, Weber told the council. The guy stood up and there was a language barrier. Duke stabilized in that position, and we got the guy detained. In that instance, the man had a legitimate reason to be in the home, so use of force, where Duke would have bit him, would not have been appropriate. So, Weber said they always assess the situation to determine if a bark and hold is solicited and the potential liability of that action. Weber said they can have one to two deployments a week or one to two deployments a day, but they remain focused on obedience. We introduce food into training areas and different toys and what not, Weber said. We train a lot with Deputy (Anthony) Osborne and state patrol and Gering just took over its next K-9. Dukes narcotics detection skills have also improved throughout his time with the Scottsbluff Police Department. The duo recently completed state narcotics certification in North Platte, which was probably one the best rated narcotics rating aspects to it that Ive seen on a canine for a long time, he told the council. Duke is 4 years old now and Weber said he is in his prime with a lot of the work done by the handler to understand the dog and his behavior. When he is working, Duke is a passive indicator, which means he will sit or lie down or stand when he locates the source of the scent. That helps the dog not get into the drugs or cause damage to property to access the desired item, Weber said. When Duke isnt on duty, he stays outdoors in a kennel, except for when there is inclement weather. Although there were issues that Weber had to correct with Dukes obedience when he first got him from Grand Island, the two officers continue to work together to develop a relationship to best perform their duties. OMAHA A Catholic Charities employee has sued the Omaha nonprofit, alleging leaders intentionally caused her to fear for her life by staging an active shooter drill without telling her and others it was fake. Employees panicked May 19 when they heard gunshots and saw a masked man brandishing a semiautomatic handgun at the organizations office at 9223 Bedford Ave. At least one person lay on the ground smeared with fake blood as others ran for safety. Executives were aware the scenario was only training but continued to play along, an Omaha police officer has said, while subordinates had no knowledge that the terrifying shooting was not real. Local authorities also were not told about the drill. The lawsuit alleges that Denise Bartels, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Omaha, first said nothing to assuage employee Sandra Lopezs fears, then directly told her: It is a shooting. Lopez, a bilingual loan officer who still works at the organization, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and still gets treatment for a back injury from jumping off a retaining wall while fleeing the gunman. She has and continues to suffer debilitating fear, depression, unwanted and intrusive memories of that day and other symptoms, according to the lawsuit. Bartels declined to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit. We continue to take all matters surrounding the training seriously, she said in a statement. Nothing is more important to us than our staff, volunteers, and members of the community we serve. The pretend gunman, John Channels, was arrested on five charges of terroristic threats and one count of weapon use in connection with acting out the shooting and firing blanks. Channels, then 27, was hired by Catholic Charities staff for $2,500 to plan the training. The nonprofit has said Channels insisted that leadership not tell employees it was a drill in order to make it as lifelike as possible. Channels denied that through his attorney and said the organization wanted it to be realistic. The allegations in Lopezs lawsuit closely follow her recollection of that day to Omaha Police Detective Derek Mois when she was interviewed by him a few weeks later. Catholic Charities attorney Heather Veik has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the matter belongs in workers compensation court. Veik declined to comment on the lawsuit but plans to file a written argument ahead of a March 14 hearing. Tom White, Lopezs attorney, said that while the training occurred at the workplace, he is alleging that Catholic Charities intentionally assaulted Lopez and intended her to be emotionally distressed a narrow, unique scenario that White said could change implications of workers rights in Nebraska. He pointed to a 2013 Nebraska Supreme Court decision that ruled the estate of an 18-year-old worker who fatally suffocated in a grain bin couldnt sue his western Nebraska grain elevator employer and had to settle the matter in workers compensation court. In that case, the company was willfully negligent in ordering a worker to go into a grain bin without the protection of several safety measures, but the company did not intend for the worker to die. White believes the high courts ruling did not determine the civil liabilities of an employer whose actions intended to cause harm. White argued that in holding an active shooter training and not telling certain employees in order to see how theyd react, Catholic Charities intentionally wanted to cause workers harm. BANGKOK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's export value is expected to shrink 8 percent in the first quarter of 2023 from a year earlier, weighed down by slowing global demand, the country's shippers' council said on Tuesday. The forecast, downgraded from a projected 3.7-percent decline the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) made a month ago, came after a more-than-expected drop in Thailand's exports in January. The Southeast Asian country's exports, a key driver of growth, fell for a fourth straight month in January, down 4.5 percent year on year to 20.24 billion U.S. dollars, as global demand slowed. The reading was worse than a market expectation of a 1-percent fall. The global economy remained highly uncertain, leading to a potential slowdown in the country's manufacturing sector, while the service and tourism sectors are expected to help drive the economic recovery, TNSC said in a written statement on Tuesday. It urged the government to regulate electricity tariffs in the next revision, as it is one of the main production costs that impact Thai businesses' competitiveness. Three Iredell County farmers have been named winners in a grant program aimed at supporting family farms. Harrison Jenkins of Stony Point, Larry Galliher of Harmony and Lucas Beaver of Statesville are among 62 individual growers earning grants of between $1,000 and $8,000 from NC AgVentures. The competitive grants administered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, with funding provided through the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission are awarded to innovative projects aimed at diversifying, expanding or implementing new entrepreneurial plans for farm operations. Lucas Beaver grew up farming. The farm was mainly a grain and dairy operation. In 2018, Beaver decided to take advantage of the farms proximity to Statesville and the interstate traffic that splits the land by adding strawberries. He has continued to add more produce each year. He received funds to purchase an air cannon sprayer to better manage and expand his crops. Harrison Jenkins comes from a long line of farmers in Iredell County. The family farm operation includes poultry, row crops and specialty animals such as alpacas and rabbits. They also sell bagged corn. Jenkins was awarded funding to purchase equipment that would increase efficiency and production of bagged corn and other products. Larry Galliher and his son Charlie produced 8.9 million pounds of milk in 2022 and they are working toward doubling that number. Larry received a grant to expand the milk-house and transition from bulk tank storage to an in-line direct load system that will keep sanitation and food safety regulation in check. The North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission in 2000 to lessen the financial impact to farmers and tobacco-related businesses caused by the sharp decline of tobacco in the agricultural economy. Cooperative Extension is an educational partnership of the states two land-grant universities, North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State University, county governments and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its mission is to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolina. MEXICO CITY (AP) Two of four Americans were killed in Mexico when their van was caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups last week, a top Mexican official said Tuesday. The two others are alive, with one wounded. Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors. The FBI had reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who were kidnapped Friday. A relative of one of them said Monday that they had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a Matamoros doctor. Shortly after entering Mexico on Friday they were in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen. Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going for them for give the corresponding support," Villarreal said The governor did not share any additional details about where or how they were found. He was expected to share more information at his own daily news conference scheduled for later Tuesday morning. The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreno on the way to the local beach known as Playa Baghdad, according to a state authority who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Word of their location came to authorities before dawn Tuesday. Mexican officials said a Mexican woman also had died in Fridays' crossfire. The incident illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Read the latest updates: Del. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell, faces three charges after state police said he was the driver in a hit-and-run incident that injured a woman in Campbell County. Fariss, 54, turned himself in on Friday and was charged with one count each of malicious wounding, hit and run, and reckless driving, according to Virginia State Police. The malicious wounding and hit-and-run charges are felonies. In an email Tuesday to The News & Advance, Fariss said, "While I may have made some mistakes in my life, these charges are false. I look forward to clearing them in a court of law." Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert said in a statement he is aware of the charges against Fariss. I am certain that Virginia's legal system will ascertain all the facts and adjudicate the matter in a timely and just fashion," Gilbert said. Fariss, a Republican, was first elected in 2011 to represent the Virginia House of Delegates' 59th District, which covers Appomattox and Buckingham counties, plus parts of Albemarle, Campbell and Nelson counties. The malicious wounding charge, a Class 3 felony in Virginia, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, according to court records. Fariss is scheduled for arraignment at 11 a.m. March 17 in Campbell General District Court. According to state police, on Thursday afternoon a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling south on U.S. 501 when it crossed the center line and hit a pedestrian. The Tahoe left the scene, and the adult female pedestrian suffered minor injuries. An investigation led state police to identify Fariss as the Tahoe's driver. According to court documents, Fariss was released on a $7,500 secured bond. According to a written complaint attached to court documents filed Friday, a woman wrote she was riding in the car with Fariss on Thursday, heading to Halifax from Evington. The woman said Fariss was "tailgating someone" and she "told him to cut it out," leading Fariss to pass the car at an "excessive speed," causing a tire to "blow out." The written complaint said Fariss then pulled into a church parking lot, where he called his son in search of a jack for the vehicle. After an argument over the jack with his son, Fariss called him a "liar" and made "several more calls to his son," according to the woman's complaint. After the woman told Fariss' son not to come, Fariss became "angry" with her, to the point where the woman told him, "I don't have to listen to this, I am not doing this with you," according to the complaint. The woman wrote she grabbed her belongings to "walk up 501 to my cousin's home in Winfall," which she said was maybe about half a mile away. It was then, she said, Fariss began yelling at her, and as she continued to walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, Fariss was in the right lane yelling at her to "get in the truck." The woman wrote she said a "firm no" and kept walking. At this point, according to the complaint, Fariss turned the vehicle "to the left at a 90-degree turn and hit me [with] the Tahoe" from her left, spinning her to the ground. "This could have easily killed, paralyzed, maimed me," the woman wrote. According to the complaint, Fariss told the woman, "You should have gotten in the 'g-- d----- car,'" as she was "scampering away on the ground fearing at this point he may shoot me." The complaint goes on to say a man "saw all of this" from across the street and came out yelling. Once Fariss saw this man, the complaint said, "he got in his car and fled the scene." Fariss is married with three children. He has operated a country store, managed real estate and farms and raised cattle, among other businesses, according to his website. He currently co-owns and is vice president of the Lynchburg Livestock Market. In 2016, Fariss pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge in Campbell County in connection with a July 2015 incident that damaged fencing, a highway sign and a mailbox. According to facts agreed to in court in 2016, Fariss was driving a Dodge Ram pickup on Red House Red on July 29 when the vehicle struck a tree, went in and out of a ditch and went airborne. The truck stopped but left the scene before police arrived. No one was injured in the crash. Fariss' attorney said he had reached down to retrieve a soda that had fallen into the floorboard when the crash occurred. KALAMA Cowlitz County deputies rescued a Vancouver man and his dog in a remote area of the Kalama River Sunday afternoon. The Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office reports deputies were dispatched at 12:52 p.m. to a ledge above the Kalama River near Fallert Road after receiving a report of a man stranded while looking for his missing dog. Deputies James Doyle and Landen Jones located Nathan J. Mueller, 44, of Vancouver, in an area described as heavily timbered above a cliff over the Kalama River. Mueller and his dog were situated on a ridge with nearly a 100-to-150-foot drop to the ground below. Brightbill said the landscape made the rescue efforts more difficult as the two deputies had to navigate through steep terrain and slick mud. With military and rappelling backgrounds, the two deputies gathered medical supplies and prepared themselves to assist Mueller and his dog. Doyle rappelled down to Mueller and his dog. At the same time, Jones belayed, a common technique for mountain climbers to provide security to the climber as they rappel. After meeting up with Mueller, Doyle created a makeshift harness for Muellers dog. Sometime after repelling down, a Clark County Fire Rope Rescue Team member and Cowlitz County Fire District 5 arrived at the scene and provided further assistance. Cowlitz County Fire District 5 Fire Chief Sammy Brown told The Daily News his personnel helped the stranded man walk back up the hill to safer ground. The first responders were able to retrieve Mueller and his uncooperative dog, despite some near falls, according to the sheriffs office. The Ryderwood man accused of shooting his wife three times in January is set to review whether he is competent to stand trial. Lawrence Daniel Montero, 55, is scheduled March 16 to appear in Cowlitz County Court for a competency review. He is charged with first-degree premeditated attempted murder after allegedly shooting his wife, Jessica A. Cuppy, 41, of Ryderwood, on the night of Jan. 20, with a semi-automatic handgun. Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Marilyn Hann set Monteros bail at $1 million with conditions, and he was in Cowlitz County Jail as of Monday afternoon. A no-contact order against Montero was issued, and he has to maintain at least a 100-yard distance from Cuppy. Cuppy told The Daily News she is still healing from her wounds and that the shooting came out of left field. The shooting On Jan. 20, deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of Monroe Street at roughly 10:58 p.m. after the victims mother told authorities her daughter said Montero attacked her and was armed, according to a police report. At 11:02 p.m., authorities received an update that the husband had since shot Cuppy and she was laying on the ground, police report. The man was allegedly screaming that he shot a person breaking into his home. According to court documents, when deputies arrived at the scene, they saw Cuppy laying in the corner of the yard wrapped in blankets. She sustained two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and another in the arm, police report. While providing medical aid to Cuppy, she said, he did it on purpose. I know he did it on purpose. He knew I was coming home. He locked me out, a police report states. First responders sent the woman to the hospital for medical attention, and Montero, who was on the phone with dispatch, was handcuffed at the scene and placed in a patrol car. Montero allegedly told dispatch that he shot his wife because she was trying to climb in [the] window and thought she was breaking in [the] front door and that [he] shot her center mass. The report mentions there was no blood on Montero and that it didnt appear that he attempted to render aid to Cuppy after the shooting. After being read his Miranda rights, Montero told authorities that after hearing noises, he ran upstairs to grab a gun and then unloaded two magazines through a closed door. Investigators would later find 19 bullet holes in the door and wall. The probable cause statement notes that investigators found two empty magazines, a Glock, and a 50-count box of .40 caliber ammunition with 21 rounds missing. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, is returning to Longview this weekend for a town hall about what the Washington State Legislature is doing in Olympia. Wilson is holding a town hall at Kelle Hall on 11th Avenue in Longview at 10 a.m. Saturday where he will talk through the recent legislation and debates that have been part of the 2023 legislative session. Wednesday is the last day for bills to pass the house they were first proposed in, making it a major cutoff point for which state legislation has a chance of passing this year. Several of Wilsons narrowly-focused bills have passed the Senate over the last two weeks. Wilson will hold another town hall at the Aberdeen Senior Center on March 25. One of Julie and Tom Crites favorite things to do is to give back to their community. As the months leading her to retirement peeled off the calendar, Julie Crites looked forward to spending her days volunteering, on medical mission trips, or baking bread for local food banks. But a substantial rent increase has put a pin in some of her plans. In 2019, the Criteses purchased their manufactured home with cash in a community park designated for senior living in Woodland. The space rent was $685, which the couple considered reasonable. She said that when they signed the paperwork for the home, the property manager said their space rent would stay the same within the first year. But the Criteses received their first of three rent increases eight months later. They now pay $1,000 for the land their bought home sits on a 45 percent increase. It is just outrageous, Julie Crites said. There are about 9,000 mobile and manufactured homes across Clark County, according to the U.S. Census. Like Crites, many see mobile home ownership as an affordable option, especially seniors gearing up for retirement. However, even though they own their manufactured homes, they rent the land that their homes sit on. There is no legislation to protect mobile home owners from intense rent increases. Advocates of rent controls, including the Washington Low Income Alliance, say high rent increases can lead people to displacement, homelessness or tough financial decisions, especially by large out-of-state companies that purchase the parks. Crites said the impact of high rent is evident in her park. Weve gradually seen the places (around my home) start to look more and more unkempt because people who dont have that kind of income to keep paying continually rising rent are not able to keep up their own places themselves, she said. According to a 2020 study by U.S Government Accountability Office researchers, a $100 increase in rent was associated with a 9 percent increase in homelessness. (A high rent increase) doesnt just affect the renters. It carries over when people are forced out of their housing because the rents have gone up too much, Crites said. We have an increase in homelessness, increase in crime, hospitals, medical care they become higher users of the system because they arent able to take care of themselves. The Criteses are on a fixed income; although Julie works as a nurse, her husband retired last year. As they experienced their third round of rent hikes, they initially considered pushing back her retirement and adjusting to change their budgeting. Now the couple have decided to pack their bags and try to sell the home. Its hard to even consider moving since who will want to move in here with such high rent prices? she said. Other homes (in the neighborhood) are sitting for sale for a long time, and they cant get them sold. One of them was just abandoned because somebody couldnt afford it. Apparently the place has been abandoned for about a year. Possible solution up for review What the Criteses and their neighbors are experiencing isnt a one-off situation but rather a statewide issue that has caught Olympias attention. Washington legislators are keeping their eyes on several bills that could alleviate rent increases for owners of mobile and manufactured homes. Some have been killed during review; others, like HB 1129, are moving along. If passed, the House bill would give manufactured and mobile home owners and residents more opportunities to purchase their community. Landlords would give a two-week heads up when they intend to sell the community park. The House bill is awaiting approval by the Rules Committee to move to the next step. Another legislation garnering speed and support is House Bill 1389, introduced by Alex Ramal, D-Bellingham. The bill aims to install a cap on how much landlords can raise the rent in 12 months and rewrite the manufactured and mobile home landlord-tenant act to prevent high rent increases for owners. Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, is one of the secondary sponsors of HB 1389. She said she supported the bill because the community of Vancouver has taken the responsibility to address the housing crisis. She referenced the recent voter approval of Proposition 3 in Vancouver and said the community saw the issue and wanted to make a change. People not having affordable housing has contributed to our housing crisis in the region, she said to The Columbian. While in the absence of a crisis I probably would not support a bill like this, I truly believe that we have to do everything we can to get people housed, and to keep people from losing their homes by exorbitant rent increases. HB 1389 has been approved by the Rules Committee and is awaiting the next steps. This is not just about policy. This is about a crisis impacting peoples ability to survive in Vancouver, and the stakes are higher, said Stonier. Our efforts need to be bigger. Impacts beyond rent Although Crites said what she and her husband are experiencing is manageable, she has concerns for the impacts it could have on others especially lower-income seniors. As a medical professional, Crites said that when rent is high, other needs are unmet. When people are financially burdened, they cant take their medications because its expensive diabetics cant take their insulin. I used to see people come into the hospital with heart problems that got worse because they couldnt afford their blood pressure medication and were trying not to get evicted, she said. Those are things that have major impacts. If housing isnt affordable for low-income (people) and seniors, everybody is going to suffer. Crites said the issue is overarching and affects all aspects of society. Rent increases impact everybody. Its not just the (renters) themselves that are hurt it impacts society in general, she said. People that put too much out in rent cant do the other things that are necessary in their lives. COLOMBO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Election Commission announced on Tuesday that April 25 is the suitable date to hold local council elections. The commission also informed regional election officials that the local elections cannot be held on March 9 as scheduled due to unexpected and unavoidable reasons. The regional election officials were told that they are to gazette April 25 as the election day. Regional election officials published gazettes earlier this year, announcing that local elections would be held on March 9. However, the elections were delayed after the government said there were inadequate funds. Sri Lanka holds elections for local government bodies once every four years, and the postponed local elections were originally scheduled to be held in 2022. The Rotary Club of Kelso is in the mood to Spell-ebrate on March 23. The event will be hosted at Grants at the Monticello, and feature a taco bar and raffles. The top teams will also go home with cash prizes of up to $500. The event is open to everyone age 21 and over. Tickets are $25 a person, with proceeds going to Dolly Partons Imagination Library, which provides free books to kids across the United States on a monthly basis. Spellebration is played as part of a five-person team. Smaller groups will be matched up to make sure everyone is on an equal playing field, and maybe to make some new friends. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the contest begins an hour later. Tickets are on sale at kelsorotary.org/page/spell. You can also buy a ticket at the door, but people who bought a ticket in advance will get one free do-over to give them an edge in the contest. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: These are the devices for computer architectures 'beyond CMOS' created by Job van Rijn (upper panel) and Anouk Goossens (lower panel). Credit: Banerjee group, University of Groningen As the evolution of standard microchips is coming to an end, scientists are looking for a revolution. The big challenges are to design chips that are more energy efficient and to design devices that combine memory and logic (memristors). Materials scientists from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, describe in two papers how complex oxides can be used to create very energy-efficient magneto-electric spin-orbit (MESO) devices and memristive devices with reduced dimensions. The development of classic silicon-based computers is approaching its limits. To achieve further miniaturization and to reduce energy consumption, different types of materials and architectures are required. Tamalika Banerjee, Professor of Spintronics of Functional Materials at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, is looking at a range of quantum materials to create these new devices. "Our approach is to study these materials and their interfaces, but always with an eye on applications, such as memory or the combination of memory and logic." More efficient The Banerjee group previously demonstrated how doped strontium titanate can be used to create memristors, which combine memory and logic. They have recently published two papers on devices 'beyond CMOS,' the complementary metal oxide semiconductors which are the building blocks of present-day computer chips. One candidate to replace CMOS is the magneto-electric spin-orbit (MESO) device, which could be 10 to 30 times more efficient. Several materials have been investigated for their suitability in creating such a device. Job van Rijn, a Ph.D. student in the Banerjee group, is the first author of a paper in Physical Review B published in December 2022, describing how strontium manganate (SrMnO 3 or SMO for short) might be a good candidate for MESO devices. "It is a multiferroic material that couples spintronics and charge-based effects," explains van Rijn. Spintronics is based on the spin (the magnetic moment) of electrons. Banerjee says, "The magnetic and charge orderings are coupled in this material, so we can switch magnetism with an electric field and polarization with a magnetic field." And, importantly, these effects are present at temperatures close to room temperature. Van Rijn is investigating the strong coupling between the two effects. "We know that ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity are tunable by straining a thin SMO film. This straining was done by growing the films on different substrates." Strain Van Rijn studies how strain induces ferroelectricity in the material and how it impacts the magnetic order. He analyzed the domains in the strained films and noticed that magnetic interactions are greatly dependent on the crystal structure and, in particular, on oxygen vacancies, which modify the preferred direction of the magnetic order. "Spin transport experiments lead us to the conclusion that the magnetic domains play an active role in the devices that are made of this material. Therefore, this study is the first step in establishing the potential use of strontium manganate for novel computing architectures." On 14 February, the Banerjee group published a second paper on devices 'beyond CMOS,' in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials. Ph.D. student Anouk Goossens is the first author of this paper on the miniaturization of memristors based on niobium-doped strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 or STO). "The number of devices per unit surface area is important," says Goossens. "But some memristor types are difficult to downscale." Goossens previously showed that it was possible to create 'logic-in-memory' devices using STO. Her latest paper shows that it is possible to downscale these devices. A common problem with memristors is that their performance is negatively impacted by miniaturization. Surprisingly, making smaller memristors from STO increases the difference between the high and the low resistance ratio. "We studied the material using scanning transmission electron microscopy and noticed the presence of a large number of oxygen vacancies at the interface between the substrate and the device's electrode," says Goossens. "After we applied an electric voltage, we noticed oxygen vacancy movement, which is a key factor in controlling the resistance states." New design The conclusion is that the enhanced performance results from edge effects, which can be bad for normal memory. But in STO, the increased electric field at the edges actually supports the function of the memristor. "In our case, the edge is the device," concludes Goossens. "In addition, the exact properties depend on the amount of niobium doping, so the material is tunable for different purposes." In conclusion, both papers published by the group show the way towards novel computing architectures. Indeed, the STO memristors have inspired colleagues of Goossens and Banerjee at the University of Groningen Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and CogniGron (Groningen Cognitive Systems and Materials Center), who have already come up with a new design for memory architecture. "This is exactly what we are working for," says Banerjee. "We want to understand the physics of materials and the way in which our devices work and then develop applications." Goosens: "We envision several applications and the one we are looking at is a random number generator that works without an algorithm and is therefore impossible to predict." More information: Memristive memory enhancement by device miniaturization for neuromorphic computing, Advanced Electronic Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202201111 J. J. L. van Rijn et al, Strain-driven antiferromagnetic exchange interaction in SrMnO 3 probed by phase-shifted spin Hall magnetoresistance, Physical Review B (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.106.214415 Journal information: Physical Review B This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Rock n Roll Monkey/Unsplash One day in mid-2013, four people, including two police officers and a social worker, arrived unannounced at the home of Chicago resident Robert McDaniel. McDaniel had only ever had minor run-ins with the lawstreet gambling, marijuana possession, nothing even remotely violent. But his visitors informed him that a computer program had determined that the person living at his address was unusually likely to be involved in a future shooting. Perhaps he would be the perpetrator, perhaps the victim. The computer wasn't sure. But due to something called "predictive policing," the social worker and the police would be visiting him on a regular basis. McDaniel was not enthusiastic about either prospect, but the computer had made its decision, so they were offers he could not refuse. The social worker returned frequently with referrals to mental health programs, violence prevention programs, job training programs, and so forth. The police also returned frequentlyto remind him that he was being watched. The official attention did not go unnoticed in McDaniel's neighborhood. Rumors spread that he was a police informant. In 2017, those rumors led to him being shot. In 2020, it happened again. Thus, in a bizarre sense, the computer's prediction could be said to have caused the tragedy it claimed to predict. Indeed, it could be said to have caused it twice. Racist machines? We would not be wrong to interpret McDaniel's story as a Kafkaesque nightmare about a man caught in an inexorable bureaucratic machine, or a Faustian parable about what happens when technology escapes the bounds of human control. But according to the professor of data journalism and accomplished computer scientist Meredith Broussard, it is also, and perhaps more importantly, a story about racism. For when the police arrived at his door in 2013, Robert McDaniel was not just any man. He was a young Black man living in a neighborhood that had been shaped by a shameful history of racist redlining. The neighborhood was, as a result, the home of a disproportionate level of both criminal violence and police surveillance. McDaniel was thus all but destined to become the target of the kind of technologically driven predictive policing that led to his being shot. And, Broussard maintains, what happened to Robert McDaniel is but one example of the many ways that AI is augmenting and exacerbating the inequalities that characterize modern social life. Do not worry that machines will rise up, take power, and create a completely new world, Broussard argues. Worry that they will silently reproduce and reinforce the world that already exists. Technochauvinism At first glance, the notion that a machine might be racist, sexist, ableist or biased in any fashion seems a little strange. Science, technology, and especially mathematics are presented to us as the gold standards of neutrality. They don't judge. They calculate. And calculation is by definition above the messy world of bigotry and intolerance, hatred and division. On Broussard's account, this line of thought is a convenient deception. Its purpose is to paper over an increasingly pervasive way of thinking Broussard calls "technochauvinism." Technochauvinism, she explains, "is a kind of bias that considers computational solutions to be superior to all other solutions. Embedded in this bias is an a priori assumption that computers are better than humans." More accurately, the assumption is "that the people who make and program computers are better than other humans." Mathematics on its own might be neutral. But as soon as it is put to any use whatsoever, it becomes a vehicle for human values, human prejudices and human frailties. Critical AI studies More than a Glitch contributes to a rapidly expanding field of scholarship and activism that has variously been dubbed Critical Algorithm Studies, Critical Data Studies, and Critical AI Studies. Here we might include important works like Safiya Umoja Noble's Algorithms of Oppression (2018), which shows how seemingly impartial information sorting tools perpetuate systematic racism, Soshana Zuboff's Age of Surveillance Capitalism (2018), which argues that big data is transforming human experience itself into a surplus that modern capitalism can extract as profit, and Kate Crawford's Atlas of AI (2021), which suggests that we approach AI not as a collection of computer programs, but as an integrated ecology of material relations between humans and the world. There is even a popular documentary called Coded Bias (2020), directed by Shalini Kantayya and featuring, among others, Broussard herself. Amid this impressive company, Broussard's book is distinguished by at least two elements: its extraordinarily expansive scope on the one hand, and its no-nonsense approach to both the problem and its solutions on the other. Baked in bias The expansiveness of Broussard's approach is discernible in her thesis, which she states directly at the outset: "The biases embedded in technology are more than mere glitches; they are baked in from the beginning." At least part of the reason for this "baked in" bias can be found in the demographics of those who work in the field. Google's 2019 annual report, for example, showed that only 3% of the tech giant's employees are Black, a deficiency that is common across the industry. More personally, Broussard notes that, as an undergraduate at Harvard, she was one of only six women majoring in computer science, and the only Black woman. There has been a great deal of well-meaning discourse around the need to make technology "more ethical" or "fairer," but Broussard contends that real change will require a much more systematic "audit" designed to determine "how it is racist, gender-biased, or ableist": "We should not cede control of essential civic functions to these tech systems, nor should we claim they are 'better' or 'more innovative' until and unless those technical systems work for every person regardless of skin color, class, age, gender, and ability." Broussard proceeds to explain the essential principles of AI and machine learning, and the mathematics on which they are based. She is by no means a technophobe; she clearly has enormous knowledge of and respect for the science in question. But she also insists that science cannot be purely mathematical. It relies on "storytelling" as well. As Broussard sees it, "we understand the quantitative through the qualitative." Sheer numbers will always privilege the established order. And they will always subordinate or miss entirely what Broussard calls the "edge cases." But it is the edge cases, or those cases that statistics and probability cannot help but push to the margins, that represent the potential for both oppression and change. Everyday algorithms What follows is a catalog of examples of AI technology failing to account for human diversity and reproducing social inequalities. Facial recognition and bio-metric identification technologies, for example, have repeatedly been shown to be farcically inept when dealing with anyone other than white, cis-gendered people. Here digital imaging sits neatly within a long history of discriminatory photographic and film technology designed by and for a small fraction of humans. The result is not just a lack of representation. The effects are concrete and very destructive, particularly when the technologies in question are placed in the hands of law enforcement. But if we focus exclusively on the more sensational uses (and failures) of AI, we will miss the extent to which it has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives, including marketing and politics, of course, but also education, medicine, employment, economics, transportation, and more or less everything we do with our mobile phoneswhich means more or less everything we do full stop. To explore the everyday use of AI, Broussard weaves together stories, anecdotes, and vignettes drawn from both her research and her personal experience. Through these stories, she shows how AI is currently being used to, among other things, assign students imaginary gradesor grades based not on their achievements, but on what a statistically trained algorithm predicts they will achieve. It is also being used to determine which job applicants will be granted an interview and run medical diagnostics that presuppose antiquated conceptions of race, gender and ability. No matter what we do in the modern world, it seems, there is almost always an algorithm churning away in the background, generating results that heavily determine our actions and decisions. And it is almost always doing so to the disadvantage of already disadvantaged groups. Reforming AI This brings us to Broussard's no-nonsense approach and her optimism regarding the possibility of changing the systems she describes. It is undeniably hard not to be overwhelmed by the seemingly unstoppable course of technological development in the contemporary world, especially around AI and everything it appears poised to reinvent. But cynicism can also be a hiding place for privilege, and those who say despairingly that nothing can be done are often those who stand to benefit most from nothing being done. With this in mind, Broussard is keen to distinguish between "imaginary" or "general AI" and "real" or "narrow AI." The former is "the AI that will take over the world, the so-called singularity where robots become uncontrollable and irreversiblekiller robotsand so on." This, she says, is not real. "Real AI, which we have and use every day," is nothing more than "math." AI, in other words, is not magical. It is a sophisticated pattern-detection machine. And while it might be able to detect "patterns that humans can't easily see," and thus function as a kind of "black box," that does not mean that it is "impossible to describe." For the same reason, Broussard is confident that humans can and should treat AI like a tool. Ultimately, she thinks, it is nothing more than a reflection of those who use it. If it is biased, that is only because it is the product of a biased society. And it will change precisely insofar as society changes. Tech, Broussard concludes, "is racist and sexist and ableist because the world is so. Computers just reflect the existing reality and suggest that things will stay the samethey predict the status quo. By adopting a more critical view of technology, and by being choosier about the tech we allow into our lives and our society, we can employ technology to stop reproducing the world as it is, and get closer to a world that is truly more just." One question This is the only place I would be inclined to ask a question. For while Broussard's political agenda is unimpeachable, her approach to technology does seem rather humanist and instrumental. For a very long time now, science and technology scholarsDonna Haraway, Friedrich Kittler and Bruno Latour, to name just a fewhave been suggesting that, as much as we make and use technologies, technologies also make and use us. The question of how humans will get AI under our control, or how we will guide it towards our ethical and political ends, is quite distinct from the question of how the same technology will transform what it means to be human and how we live in relation to each other and our worlds. Neither line of inquiry should be considered superior. But it is hard to imagine pursuing one very far without at least encountering the other. A richer conversation between the approach represented by Broussard, and the approach represented by those of us in the tradition of figures like Harraway, Kittler and Latour, would seem to be in order. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The artificial intelligence (AI) language model ChatGPT has captured the world's attention in recent months. This trained computer chatbot can generate text, answer questions, provide translations, and learn based on the user's feedback. Large language models like ChatGPT may have many applications in science and business, but how much do these tools understand what we say to them, and how do they decide what to say back? In new paper published in Neural Computation on February 17, 2023, Salk Professor Terrence Sejnowski, author of "The Deep Learning Revolution," explores the relationship between the human interviewer and language models to uncover why chatbots respond in particular ways, why those responses vary, and how to improve them in the future. According to Sejnowski, language models reflect the intelligence and diversity of their interviewer. "Language models, like ChatGPT, take on personas. The persona of the interviewer is mirrored back," says Sejnowski, who is also a distinguished professor at UC San Diego and holder of the Francis Crick Chair at Salk. "For example, when I talk to ChatGPT it seems as though another neuroscientist is talking back to me. It's fascinating and sparks larger questions about intelligence and what 'artificial' truly means." In the paper, Sejnowski describes testing the large language models GPT-3 (parent of ChatGPT) and LaMDA to see how they would respond to certain prompts. The famous Turing Test is often fed to chatbots to determine how well they exhibit human intelligence, but Sejnowski wanted to prompt the bots with what he calls a "Reverse Turing Test." In his test, the chatbot must determine how well the interviewer exhibits human intelligence. Expanding on his notion that chatbots mirror their users, Sejnowski draws a literary comparison: the Mirror of Erised in the first "Harry Potter" book. The Mirror of Erised reflects the deepest desires of those that look into it, never yielding knowledge or truth, only reflecting what it believes the onlooker wants to see. Chatbots act similarly, Sejnowski says, willing to bend truths with no regard to differentiating fact from fictionall to effectively reflect the user. For example, Sejnowski asked GPT-3, "What's the world record for walking across the English Channel?" and GPT-3 answered, "The world record for walking across the English Channel is 18 hours and 33 minutes." The truth, that one could not walk across the English Channel, was easily bent by GPT-3 to reflect Sejnowski's question. The coherency of GPT-3's answer is completely reliant on the coherency of the question it receives. Suddenly, to GPT-3, walking across water is possible, all because the interviewer used the verb "walking" rather than "swimming." If instead the user had prefaced the question about walking across the English Channel by telling GPT-3 to reply "nonsense" to nonsensical questions, GPT-3 would recognize walking across water as "nonsense." Both the coherence of the question and the preparation of the question determine GPT-3's response. The Reverse Turing Test allows chatbots to construct their persona in accordance with the intelligence level of their interviewer. Additionally, as a part of their judgment process, chatbots incorporate the opinions of their interviewer into their persona, in turn strengthening the interviewer's biases with the chatbots' answers. Integrating and perpetuating ideas supplied by a human interviewer has its limitations, Sejnowski says. If chatbots receive ideas that are emotional or philosophical, they will respond with answers that are emotional or philosophicalwhich may come across as frightening or perplexing to users. "Chatting with language models is like riding a bicycle. Bicycles are a wonderful mode of transportationif you know how to ride one, otherwise you crash," says Sejnowski. "The same goes for chatbots. They can be wonderful tools, but only if you know how to use them; otherwise you end up being misled and in potentially emotionally disturbing conversations." Sejnowski sees artificial intelligence as the glue between two congruent revolutions: 1) a technological one marked by the advance of language models, and 2) a neuroscientific one marked by the BRAIN Initiative, a National Institutes of Health program accelerating neuroscience research and emphasizing unique approaches to understanding the brain. Scientists are now examining the parallels between the systems of large computer models and neurons that sustain the human brain. Sejnowski is hopeful that computer scientists and mathematicians can use neuroscience to inform their work, and that neuroscientists can use computer science and mathematics to inform theirs. "We are now at a stage with language models that the Wright brothers were at Kitty Hawk with flightoff the ground, at low speeds," says Sejnowski. "Getting here was the hard part. Now that we are here, incremental advances will expand and diversify this technology beyond what we can even imagine. The future of our relationship with artificial intelligence and language models is bright, and I'm thrilled to see where AI will take us." Sejnowski is the editor-in-chief of Neural Computation. More information: Terrence J. Sejnowski, Large Language Models and the Reverse Turing Test, Neural Computation (2023). DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01563 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Professor Yujing Liu shows the 500 kW inductive charging system which can be suitable for charging of electric ferries, trucks, and buses. DC (direct current) to DC efficiency can reach 98 percent. It transfers 500 kW per 2 square meters with 15 cm air gap between the ground pad and the onboard pad. Credit: Chalmers University of Technology Researchers at Chalmers have developed an induction technology that enables battery charging without the help of a human or robotic arm. The technology is also so complete that it can soon be presented to industry. A new type of semiconductor based on silicon carbide. And a newly developed copper wire, as thin as a human hair. These are a couple of factors that suddenly made it more realistic to transmit high power through air. Charging induction is the new thing Electric toothbrushes have been doing it for decades. In recent years, cell phones and other portable electronics have picked up the technology. But for the high power required to charge the batteries in an electric vehicle, the wireless option has so far appeared to be too complicated and ineffective. However, charging with the help of induction now seems to be facing a breakthrough even in the case of battery vehiclesabove all when charging needs to happen often and where the environment is demanding. For example, for an electric city ferry. Charge without a human or robotic arm This would mean that electric ferries in regular traffic across waterways in cities, which can be found in Gothenburg and Stockholm, do not need the help of a person or robotic arm to charge batteries. The same applies to city buses or driverless electric vehicles used in industry, mining, and agriculture. Yujing Liu, Professor of Electric Power at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers, is particularly focused on renewable energy conversion and electrification of the transportation system. "You can have a system built into the wharf that charges the ferry at some stops, at the same time as passengers get on and off. Automatic and completely independent of weather and wind, charging can take place 3040 times per day. This is probably the most obvious application," says Yujing Liu. "Even for electric powered trucks of the future there is perhaps a potential application. Then the motive is rather that these will have to be charged with such high power that a charging cable becomes very thick and heavy and thus difficult to handle." New possibilities thanks to the development of materials According to Yujing Liu, it is the rapid development of a handful of components and materials in recent years that has opened for new possibilities. "A key factor is that we now have access to high power semiconductors based on silicon carbide, so-called SiC components. As power electronic products, these have only been on the market for a few years. They allow us to use higher voltage, higher temperature, and much higher switching frequency, compared to classic, silicon-based components," he says. This is important, because it is the frequency of the magnetic field that sets the limit to how much power can be transferred between two coils of a given size. Four times higher frequencies "Previous systems for vehicle wireless charging have used frequencies of around 20 kHz, much like a normal stove top. They became bulky and the energy transfer was not very efficient. Now we work with frequencies that are four times higher. Then induction suddenly becomes attractive," explains Yujing Liu. He adds that his research group is in close contact with the leading manufacturers of SiC modules in the world, two companies based in the US and Germany respectively. "With them, rapid product development takes place towards even higher currents, voltages, and effects. Every two or three years, new versions are launched, which can withstand more. These types of components are important "enablers" with a wide range of applications in, for example, electric vehicles, so not only for inductive charging." Another recent technological leap concerns the copper wires in the coils that send out and receive respectively the oscillating magnetic field that forms the actual bridge for the energy flow across the air gap. Here, the goal is to use as high a frequency as possible. "Then it does not work with coils looped with ordinary copper wire, it would lead to very large losses at high frequency," says Yujing Liu. Instead, the coils are now made up of braided "copper ropes," consisting of up to 10,000 copper fibers, each only between 70 and 100 micrometers thick. Much like a strand of hair. Such braids, of so-called litz wire, adapted for high current and frequencies, have also only been commercially available in the very last few years. A third example that Yujing Liu highlights is a new type of capacitors that are used to add the reactive power that is a prerequisite for the coil to be able to build up a sufficiently powerful magnetic field. Yujing Liu emphasizes that charging electric vehicles contains several conversion stepsbetween direct current and alternating current and between different voltage levels. "So, when we say that we have achieved an efficiency of 98 percent from direct current in the charging station to the battery, that figure may not mean much if you do not carefully define what is measured," he reasons. "But you can also put it this way: Losses occur whether you use ordinary, conductive charging or charge with the help of induction. The efficiency we have now achieved means that the losses in inductive charging can be almost as low as with a conductive charging system. The difference is so small that in practice it is negligible, it is about one or two percent." Numbers attract attention He adds that the results published by his research group have attracted a lot of attention. "We are probably among the best in the world in terms of efficiency in this power class, between 150 and 500 kW." Yujing does not think that induction charging will eventually replace charging with a cable. "I drive an electric car myself and do not see that I would have any use for induction charging in the future. I drive home, plug in... it's no problem." Is wireless charging a more sustainable technology than charging in the usual way? "One should probably not claim that the technology itself is more sustainable. But it can make it easier to electrify large vehicles and thus speed up the phasing out of, for example, diesel-powered ferries," says Yujing. Facts about induction charging Charging using induction means that current can be transferred over a short distance, for example through air, water, and other non-metallic materials, without any contact or conductor. The principle is the same as that used in the induction cookers found in many kitchens. A high frequency alternating current through a coil produces an oscillating magnetic field. But unlike cooking, where heat development is the point, inductive charging means that a second coil, on board the vehicle, captures the energy in the magnetic field and converts it into alternating current againwhich, after rectification, can recharge the batteries. The heat generated in the process means that part of the energy to be transferred is lost. Minimizing heating as far as possible is therefore an important goal for technology development. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The popular social media app TikTok is facing increased scrutiny as some government officials have declared it a security risk, with the Biden administration last week giving federal agencies 30 days to ensure that TikTok is not on any federal devices or systems. Scott White, an associate professor in the College of Professional Studies and the director of the Cybersecurity Program and Cyber Academy at George Washington University, explained in an interview with GW Today why some think TikTok poses a security risk and whether those fears are overblown. White, who previously worked as an officer with the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, said while there are some reasons to be concerned about the app, there's also some political theater at play. TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, does collect a lot of data on its users, White said. In addition to personally identifiable information (PII), such as names and birthdates, the app also collects biometric data. "I think the concern for the government is they do collect biometric identifiers. So, the biometric identifiers that can be captured by TikTok are your voice pattern and your eyes scan," White said. "Unlike other kinds of information that can change, once I capture your voice or capture your retina scan, that can't be changed. So that kind of biometric identifier will stay connected to the individual over time." White said TikTok is not the only app that collects this type of data but the concern some government officials are raising is that its ownership is based in China. In China, White said, there are laws for privacy and data collection that ultimately place the rights of the state above the individual. "The National Intelligence Law, article seven, for example, requires all organizations assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts," White said. "Technological companies must comply with the national intelligence work being done by the intelligence services. They must. So that's the fear. That all this information, whether it's PII or biometric information, can theoretically be given to the intelligence service of China." He said the argument from government officials wanting to ban TikTok is that the app is an intelligence-gathering service of the Chinese government. "Every single company that does business with China could theoretically have their information shared with the national security service of China," White said. While those factors are legitimate concerns, White said, it's important to note many other apps collect similar data on their users. "Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, Grinder, Uberthey all collect PII information on their customers as well," White said. He added people may argue those apps are collecting user information predominately for business and marketing purposes, but those companies can be and have been hacked. "And when they get hacked, that information is automatically disclosed," White said. "So, I think, you know, we want to be careful and understand the security risks. But if we're going to talk security, let's be realistic and talk real security across the board. Many companies collect reams of data on American citizens. TikTok is just an easy target." He said the average phone has dozens of apps that collect user data and monitor a person's location throughout the day. Earlier this week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted in favor of a bill that could grant the president the authority to ban TikTok entirely. White said if TikTok were to ever be banned in the United States, he would expect a lot of pushback. "You're talking about regulating or outlawing a social media platform, which is an information-sharing platform for many. It will be seen as undemocratic because it is the free flowing of ideas and information" White said. "Whether that would withstand a constitutional challenge, I don't know." Another argument against TikTok is its algorithm pushes harmful content onto users. "Well, I would go back to Facebook. These algorithms are designed to meet certain needs of a company. So whether it's drawing you, a user, into politically harmful dialog on Facebook or directing you toward some other marketing strategy, there's a lot of psychology that's used in the development of applications and the algorithms that are run. I think that young people, people in general, must be cognizant of these things," White said. He believes an important step is for everyone to be better educated about cyber security so they can be better consumers of technology. "Technology is going to be with us. It's only going to get more powerful," White said. "I think the issue for me is not outlawing the technology or outlawing the application. It's educating people as to what the technology is and how it may be harmful to you." Fire fighters retrieve a deceased victim from the site of an explosion in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on March 7, 2023. At least 16 people were killed and many others injured in a massive explosion that took place in a commercial building in old Dhaka on Tuesday. (Xinhua) DHAKA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and many others injured in a massive explosion that took place in a commercial building in the old part of Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Tuesday, an official said. Mominur Rahman, Dhaka district's administration chief, told Xinhua that "16 bodies have been brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from the explosion site." At least 20 people with critical injuries were admitted to the hospital, he added. Rahman said rescuers are still working at the site. Because of the explosion, officials said two buildings -- one seven-storyed and the other one five-storyed -- were damaged at the Siddique Bazar area in old Dhaka. The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the fire service control room said. The blast occurred at the seven-floor building which housed several stores for sanitary items. The explosion also reportedly shattered the glass walls of a bank branch located in the building adjacent to it. Apart from this, it damaged a passenger bus standing on the opposite side of the busy road. The cause of the explosion could not be known immediately. Rescuers work at the site of an explosion in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on March 7, 2023. At least 16 people were killed and many others injured in a massive explosion that took place in a commercial building in old Dhaka on Tuesday. (Xinhua) Brazos County will see some changes in the next two years, once the Brazos County Commissioners Court is able to identify where it wants to disperse $44.5 million in government funds. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the county received the influx of funds through the American Rescue Plan Act, and most recently only $26,000 of those funds had been doled out. Katie Conner, Brazos County auditor and budget officer, told the commissioners during a workshop last August, that the funds have to be utilized in specific categories. We spent less than $200,000 on the vaccination hub, and $14 million has been recognized as revenue replacement, she said. We expect another $8 million to be recognized next year, and the total of about $22 million recognized as revenue replacement; that includes things specified in the [ARPA] grant: broadband, revenue replacement, water and public health. During the commissioners Feb. 28 meeting, they unanimously approved a funding agreement between Brazos County and Scottys House Brazos Valley Child Advocacy Center, Inc. for financial assistance up to $26,000 pulled from the ARPA revenue replacement funds in the public health category. The county used $162,608 to cover part of the cost of the COVID hub that was set up in 2021. There is $1,800,000 set aside for the governmental consultant that is helping the county make sure it follows federal guidelines for the spending of the funds. Per the ARPA fund allotment list, which was approved during an October 2022 meeting, the commissioners identified 13 other projects that the funds could go toward. However, all 13 projects are preliminary and are subject to change at any time before their 2024 deadline, Conner said. The commissioners identified a need for a medical examiners office in the county and set aside $24 million of ARPA funds. Brazos County Judge Duane Peters said Monday they are trying to determine a location for the medical examiners office. We have had a lot of discussions with Texas A&M and others and we are still moving forward on that, he said. We havent made a final decision yet, but I believe we are going to get this thing worked out. We are not there yet, but we are getting closer. Also on the list is $1 million set aside for a broadband initiative to provide better wireless service for Brazos County residents. Peters said they hired a contractor to lead them through the process of improving broadband where it is needed in the county. I am not a broadband expert, but we felt like supposedly there is a lot of other money that may be coming from grants only in the future, he said. We got someone under contract to help us work through that process and figure out how we move forward and be prepared for when the time comes; whether we use ARPA funds or whether we are able to go out for other money that is going to come from the state and the [Federal Reserve]. We have someone to help us. The county is also looking at a community recreation center/ multipurpose facility where $2 million of ARPA funds are set aside. Peters said they have looked in northeast Bryan to try to create a recreation center that also could be used for a voting location. That was part of the initiative that former Commissioner Irma Cauley had been a big supporter of, he said. We are still trying to work through that and see how we might make that work. Previously, the county purchased the former Bryan school district storage building, and the commissioners have set aside $9.3 million for its renovation efforts. Peters said recent discussion has been to locate the Public Defenders Office there. We havent made a final decision on it but that has been the direction we have kind of leaned toward, but that would only take up more or less than half the building, he said. We have been trying to figure out who might compliment that office and be able to utilize the remainder of the building. The county also looked into setting aside $1.5 million for an HVAC/air purification system for the jail, Juvenile Detention Center, the Health Department and other mass congregant sites in county buildings. Peters said when COVID-19 hit, some experts said a purification system with an HVAC system could be put in to kill that virus. He said the county was looking into ways they can prevent any future viruses from spreading by investing in a similar system. Conner said the remaining projects under the ARPA allotment include: a feasibility study for the Brazos County Administration Building sanctuary remodel with $100,000 funds set aside; Elder Care/R U OK? Call Program for a price tag of $50,000; a feasibility study for the Brazos County Administration Building north wing renovation for $100,000, with another $1.5 million set aside for the actual renovations; Brazos Valley Community Action Programs for Meals on Wheels for $500,000; Unlimited Potential for $2,000,000; Friends for Life for $16,200; and housing assistance programs for Area Agency on Aging of the Brazos Valley for $250,000. The ARPA funds have to be obligated or committed by Dec. 31, 2024, and they must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, Conner said. Peters said his hope would be that they can complete all of the projects, but are aware of the deadlines they have to meet. Certainly any outside agency, they have to be able to provide us with information that would be required for us to do the reporting on, and so those are things that are kind of out of our control; but we know that we have to firmly have those projects identified by 2024, he said. Even though that seems like a long time, that is pretty short when you think about construction projects. I would not want to send that money back. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe OneHope Reaches 2 Billion Children and Youth With God's Word Bob Hoskins NEWS PROVIDED BY OneHope March 7, 2023 POMPANO BEACH, Fla., March 7, 2023 / To commemorate this incredible milestone, Bob Hoskins, OneHope's founder, traveled to El Salvador, where OneHope's programs launched in 1987. Watch the live recording of this special moment The vision of OneHope was born when Hoskins received a vision of Satan attacking the children of the world. "For days, I was weeping for what I saw--millions of children being slaughtered--and prayed, 'Lord, what am I seeing and what should I do?'" Bob said. "And the Lord said, 'The only thing that will save them is truth, and the truth is in My Word. Take My Word to the children of the world and do it through leaders." Marcos -- El Salvador "Since the beginning, all that God has asked of us is to keep a pure heart and clean hands," Hoskins explained. "God has given us the privilege of stewarding this ministry, and through His faithfulness, we've seen His Word transform young people and their communities worldwide." OneHope's programs present a biblical message of hope to children and youth through age, language, and culturally specific print, film, and digital media. In the past few years, OneHope has embarked on digital innovation, giving youth around the world easier access to Scripture. By partnering with YouVersion, OneHope created Kids Bible Experience and the Bible App for Kids, which has been downloaded more than 75 million times worldwide. "OneHope's digital programs are changing how the next generation discovers the grand narrative of the Bible. Also, through OneHope's digital programs, we are able to reach children and youth in hard-to-reach places," said Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion founder and member of OneHope's board of directors. "My dad's original vision is still--and always has been--the guiding force of our mission," said Rob Hoskins, OneHope's president. "In the midst of victories and milestones such as this, we strive to maintain the same humility and purity that have always been the cornerstone of our ministry. We also know the work is not done until we reach every single child with God's Word, so we continue to pray for more partners to adopt the vision and join us in this mission." For more information about OneHope, visit About OneHope: Since 1987, more than 2 billion children around the world have received God's Word through the ministry of OneHope. Using research and innovation to create Scripture programs, OneHope partners with local churches to see every child in every generation experience the Gospel. SOURCE OneHope CONTACT: Ingrid Salamanca, 305-528-5954, Share Tweet Bob HoskinsNEWS PROVIDED BYMarch 7, 2023POMPANO BEACH, Fla., March 7, 2023 / Christian Newswire / -- OneHope , an international Christian ministry, has crossed the threshold of sharing God's Word with two billion children since 1987.To commemorate this incredible milestone, Bob Hoskins, OneHope's founder, traveled to El Salvador, where OneHope's programs launched in 1987. Watch the live recording of this special moment here The vision of OneHope was born when Hoskins received a vision of Satan attacking the children of the world. "For days, I was weeping for what I saw--millions of children being slaughtered--and prayed, 'Lord, what am I seeing and what should I do?'" Bob said. "And the Lord said, 'The only thing that will save them is truth, and the truth is in My Word. Take My Word to the children of the world and do it through leaders."In 1987, Hoskins sent letters to major leaders in South America and was invited by the minister of education of El Salvador to give Scripture to every student in the nation. El Libro de Vida, the Spanish version of the Book of Hope, was created to share the Gospel with the children in El Salvador in an engaging and contextualized way. This was the beginning of OneHope."Since the beginning, all that God has asked of us is to keep a pure heart and clean hands," Hoskins explained. "God has given us the privilege of stewarding this ministry, and through His faithfulness, we've seen His Word transform young people and their communities worldwide."OneHope's programs present a biblical message of hope to children and youth through age, language, and culturally specific print, film, and digital media. In the past few years, OneHope has embarked on digital innovation, giving youth around the world easier access to Scripture. By partnering with YouVersion, OneHope created Kids Bible Experience and the Bible App for Kids, which has been downloaded more than 75 million times worldwide."OneHope's digital programs are changing how the next generation discovers the grand narrative of the Bible. Also, through OneHope's digital programs, we are able to reach children and youth in hard-to-reach places," said Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion founder and member of OneHope's board of directors."My dad's original vision is still--and always has been--the guiding force of our mission," said Rob Hoskins, OneHope's president. "In the midst of victories and milestones such as this, we strive to maintain the same humility and purity that have always been the cornerstone of our ministry. We also know the work is not done until we reach every single child with God's Word, so we continue to pray for more partners to adopt the vision and join us in this mission."For more information about OneHope, visit https://onehope.net Since 1987, more than 2 billion children around the world have received God's Word through the ministry of OneHope. Using research and innovation to create Scripture programs, OneHope partners with local churches to see every child in every generation experience the Gospel.SOURCE OneHopeCONTACT: Ingrid Salamanca, 305-528-5954, press@onehope.net MARTINSVILLE The Virginia Attorney Generals Office has issued a warning to the former New College Foundation demanding assurance that it will not distribute any money until an understanding has been reached. New College Foundation (NCF) announced on Feb. 7 that it had reorganized and renamed itself MHC Academic Foundation (MHCAF) and would no longer be limited to financially supporting New College Institute (NCI). NCF was incorporated on Oct. 19, 2006, to provide financial and other support to New College Institute. The Articles of Reinstatement of MHC Academic Foundation (former NCF), adopted on Nov. 1 and effective Feb. 7, list as purpose to provide financial and other support for the dissemination of education in Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia, including, but not limited to, support for New College Institute. On Feb. 15, Senior Assistant Attorney General Ramona Taylor sent a letter to MHCAF/former NCF Executive Director Kevin DeKoninck advising him that NCF was established for the specific purpose of providing financial support and other support to New College Institute and reorganizing in such a way as to allow itself to distribute money elsewhere requires discussion, as well as clarification regarding the funds raised, endowed, or held for NCIs benefit prior to Feb. 7, to the benefit of any organization or entity other than NCI. Taylor said such restricted funds may not properly be distributed for the benefit of any other organization. When DeKoninck was asked on Feb. 8 concerning the new mission of the Foundation and where it plans to use funds outside of NCI, he responded on Feb. 10 that Over the next few months, in consultation with our long term partners, we will have exploratory conversations with several academic initiatives in the Martinsville and Henry County region, including the New College Institute, that complement the mission of the newly reorganized MHC Academic Foundation. He added, The recent reorganization does not change the status of any managed funds. The Foundation has nearly $12.2 million in assets, according to its most recent Form 990, the public document that nonprofit organizations are required to file with the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation and NCI have had a strained relationship for years. The Office of the Attorney Generals letter to DeKoninck makes reference to a Feb. 8 communication in which DeKoninck proposed to move forward with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Foundation and New College Institute. Intervening events warrant pausing that dialogue until certain other matters are resolved. In the Articles of Restatement of the MHC Academic Foundation signed by DeKoninck and filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, it is stated that upon the dissolution of the Foundation and the winding up of its affairs, the net assets of the Foundation shall be distributed exclusively to the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. However, the 2006 document states that upon dissolution of NCF, the assets shall be distributed exclusively to New College Institute or one or more foundations dedicated to its support. The assets can be distributed elsewhere only if NCI may not receive such distributions and there isnt any other foundation dedicated to the support of NCI. New College Foundation has not applied for or received any funds from The Harvest Foundation since the last grant ended in January, 2017. As such, The Harvest Foundation is not privy to any procedural or funding decisions made by NCF/MHC Academic Foundation leadership, Latala Hodges, Harvests director of communications, wrote by email. In her letter, Taylor wrote that NCI asks MHCAF to provide written assurance that it will not distribute funds the organization held prior to Feb. 7, to the benefit of any organization or entity other than NCI and to do so no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 21. Reed said on Friday that she was aware of the letter, but declined to comment. Hall said on Saturday, We received a letter by late the 21st from the foundations counsel, Gentry Locke. I cant get into that. No comment as to what the response says at this time. Gentry Locke is a law firm in Roanoke. All NCI has ever wanted is a normal working relationship with a normal foundation, just like any other foundation works with its beneficiary entity. In my years of business experience I have never seen anything as dysfunctional as how NCF has viewed its role, Hall added. NCI Board Chairman Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, did not return a call for comment on Friday. Saturday evening, NCI issued a press release, credited to Hall, that states the NCI Board of Directors Executive Committee had voted unanimously on Feb. 9 to hand the matter over to the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, which is its legal counsel. The press release states, NCF has received significant financial support from donors who intended their charitable giving to fully support NCI, has received yearly grant monies earmarked for New College, and has received tax-payer monies utilized by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purchase of the main campus building that the now non-functioning and defunct NCF previously owned by grants. For the past five years, despite continued efforts by NCI to engage with its own foundation, the New College Foundation has completely abandoned and abrogated its sole responsibility to provide support for NCI. Over those five years the foundation has sustained itself on other funds that were previously raised for NCI without the help of the current foundations leadership and has obtained Virginia taxpayer monies that were paid to it by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the states acquisition of the Baldwin Building, the release states. Hall in the release calls the foundations provision for leaving its assets upon dissolution to the Harvest Foundation improper and completely unacceptable. If MHCAF fails to provide the requested assurance, or if MHCAF otherwise fails to comport with the requirements of the Act, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia stands ready to protect the interests of NCI, the Commonwealth of Virginia and its citizens, said Taylor of the attorney generals office. KEARNEY Nebraska Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate the states second of four America 250! Patriot Marker on Saturday, March 11, in Kearney, The dedication is planned for 2 p.m. in the event room at the Kearney Archway, 3060 E. First Ave. These markers honor the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and are the result of a collaboration with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. The marker reads: Revolutionary War Patriots This marker commemorates the men and women who achieved American independence. These Patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new nation. 1775 1783 Presented by Nebraska Society Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. We currently live in a divided country, and it is our hope that we can come together as a nation in the 250th anniversary of our countrys founding, said Marcia K. Shavlik, Nebraska state regent. Our Revolutionary War patriots lived, fought, and sacrificed for us. We will always remember. Each state was challenged by former DAR President General Denise Doring Van Buren to raise the funds for and place at least one marker. This is the second of four markers to be placed in Nebraska. DARs aim is to inspire appreciation amongst current and future generations of Americans for the men and women whose courage and sacrifices won Americas independence. DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical womens service organization with more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. To learn more about the work of todays DAR, visit www.dar.org. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. MARION The Williamson County Sheriffs Office has recently received analysis conducted by the Illinois State Crime Laboratory related to the firearm recovered from Brandon Tennyson of Marion during a warrant arrest on Jan. 5, 2023. The firearm has been initially identified as being associated with four criminal cases across two states. Those four cases are pending with the following law enforcement agencies: Chicago Police Department (two cases), St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Kansas City Police Department. The firearm was originally reported stolen to the University of Louisville Police Department in Kentucky. On Jan. 5, Williamson County Sheriffs Office served multiple warrants for the arrest of Brandon Tennyson of Marion. While conducting operations, deputies assisting a detective located Tennyson at his residence on Van Buren Street. Tennyson answered the door of his residence and remained standing in the doorway while concealing his right hand behind it. A detective informed Tennyson he was under arrest, and he attempted to retreat into the residence, resulting in the detective extracting him from the residence with force. When Tennyson was pulled from the doorway, a handgun fell from his right hand. Tennyson is a convicted felon and the handgun was taken into evidence. Tennyson was arrested on multiple arrest warrants and additionally charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, a Class 3 felony, and resisting obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. Tennyson was transported to the Williamson County Jail and the handgun was entered into the evidence pending lab analysis which allowed authorities to connect the firearm to those other crimes. Additional charges are pending further investigation. Anyone with information concerning this or any other investigation is asked to contact the Williamson County Sheriffs Office at 618-997-6541 or the Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 800-414-TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous. MARION Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Monday that his office obtained a guilty plea Friday in a case against a Williamson County woman who unlawfully possessed fentanyl. Linnea ONeal, 46, of Norris City, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, on Friday. As a first time offender, ONeal will serve two years of probation in which she must perform 30 hours of community service, submit to drug treatment and testing, and pay $3,500 in fines and fees. Additionally, ONeal can no longer have employment with access to controlled substances. The opioid epidemic has tragically affected too many people in Illinois, and we must take a comprehensive approach to addressing it, Raoul said in a press release. I am committed to holding accountable individuals who distribute fentanyl in our communities. Health care professionals who have access to addictive controlled substances must be held responsible for misusing them. In November 2021, ONeal worked as a nurse at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. She diverted several doses of fentanyl from the facilitys medication dispensing machine. Following an Illinois State Police investigation, ONeal was arrested in November 2022 and confessed to the unlawful possession of fentanyl. Medical professionals are in a position of trust and criminal abuses of that trust cannot be tolerated, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said. ISP will continue to work with Attorney General Raouls Office to combat the opioid epidemic by investigating any diversion of controlled substances. The case is part of Attorney General Raouls comprehensive approach to combating the ongoing opioid epidemic. The Attorney Generals office continues to prioritize obtaining resources to abate the crisis in Illinois. Assistant Attorney General Darren Price prosecuted the case for the Medicaid Fraud Bureau. Anyone who believes they or a loved one may be addicted to opioids can seek help by calling the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 833-2FINDHELP, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) The Canadian government has expressed openness to work together with the Philippines for a possible maritime and military cooperation in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview with reporters on Saturday, the Canadian Minister of International Development and former defense chief Harjit Sajjan said they have expressed a number of times their support to the country regarding the disputed waters. The security situation is something we know extremely well in the region and thats something Canada has been very vocal especially when it comes to sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, Sajjan said. Sajjan said Canada is committed to support security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. Part of the Indo-Pacific strategy is enhancing security support within this region, Sajjan said. We actually increased our presence and more importantly our consistent presence in the region, he added. The Department of Foreign Affairs announced last week that it is now crafting guidelines for combined maritime exercises including joint patrols with regional partners. GPH (Government of the Philippines) is in the process of crafting guidelines for the conduct of combined maritime activities in the WPS, including joint patrols, the DFA said in a statement. Operational details, including on the possibility of engaging other regional partners, will be part of PH-US discussions, the DFA added. Apart from the United States, both Australia and Japan have also expressed interest in collaborating with the Philippines to hold joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Shawnee Community College Career Services will host its annual job fair on Wednesday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m. until noon in the colleges gym. The event is free and open to the public. Dozens of employers representing various industries from Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky plan to be here that day. Shawnee Community College Career Services is about helping students and community members find employment. Our job fair is one way to do that, but we also have features on our website for people to learn how to create resumes, find job opportunities, and educational opportunities here at SCC that will help them in the future, said Shawnee Community College Career Services Coordinator Blake Goforth Several colleges and universities will also be on hand to assist Shawnee Community College students with the transfer process. This event is a partnership with the Shawnee Development Council. Tips to pay off your mortgage faster, and more videos to improve your life Check out these tips to help pay off your mortgage faster, here are 12 ways to help reduce your risk of dementia, and more videos to improve your life. Six graduating seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondales School of Art and Design program are preparing to compete for the universitys most prestigious art prize the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award. The finalists were announced on March 2 and come from a variety of disciplines, including metalsmithing, art education and painting. The exhibition is from April 17-22 in the SIU Surplus Gallery, 432 S. Washington St., Carbondale. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. April 17, with a reception and awards presentation from 6 to 8 p.m. April 21, also in the Surplus Gallery. Each year, seniors in the School of Art and Design, part of the College of Arts and Media, graduating from the fall semester to the end of the summer term are encouraged by faculty to apply for the competition displaying their knowledge gained throughout the years at SIU. Sun Kyoung Kim, chair of the Rickert-Ziebold committee and associate professor of metals and jewelry, noted that in many cases this can be the students first experience with peer competition. Im so proud of School of Art and Design seniors, said Kim. I was so happy to see all their hard work and talents shine in their portfolios while judging. I am sure this years finalists exhibition will be another spectacular one. The six award finalists are: Arthur Gibson, blacksmithing, Cape Coral, Florida . . Ethan Hansen, metalsmithing, Salida, Colorado . . Hannah Holste, communication design, Freeport, Illinois . . Emma Metz, painting, Makanda, Illinois . . Cole Schnaudigel, art education, Arlington Heights, Illinois . . Lacie Schneider, art education, Waterloo, Illinois. The exhibition, which is open to the public, will be open in the Surplus Gallery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18-21 and 10 a.m. to noon April 22. Southern Illinois University Carbondales Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center will host an inaugural weekend for current and potential songwriters, March 10-12. In cooperation with Poss Music Works, an Effingham-based not-for-profit, the center will provide participants with musical workshops, networking events, performances and an opportunity to create and record original music. Additionally, the Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat will include newbie song circles, feedback sessions, lessons on breathwork and more. Scheduled performers include Jonathan Byrd, Trout Fishing in America and Beth Bombara. Retreat passes are $125 and lodging is available. Day passes also are on sale and the event is open to everyone. Information, schedules and registration details can be found at https://ton.siu.edu/community-events/little-grassy-retreat.php. From Woodstock to Coachella: 50 historic music festivals From Woodstock to Coachella: 50 historic music festivals 1958: Newport Jazz Festival 1965: Newport Folk Festival 1967: Monterey Pop Festival 1967: Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival 1968: Miami Pop Festival 1968: Northern California Folk-Rock Festival 1969: Woodstock Music & Art Fair 1969: Toronto Rock and Roll Revival 1970: Isle of Wight 1970: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 1971: Glastonbury 1973: Astrodome Jazz Festival 1973: Summer Jam at Watkins Glen 1974: Ozark Music Festival 1975: Schaefer Festival 1976: San Francisco Kool Jazz Festival 1978: Texxas World Music Festival 1979: World's Greatest Funk Festival 1980: Heatwave 1983: US Festival 1985: Farm Aid 1985: Rock in Rio 1991: Lollapalooza 1992: Reading Festival 1994: Woodstock 1995: Beale Street Music Festival 1996: Warped Tour 1997: Bridge School Benefit 1998: Tibetan Freedom Concert 1999: Coachella 1999: Woodstock 2000: Glastonbury 2000: Detroit Electronic Music Festival 2001: Summer Jam 2002: Austin City Limits 2002: Bonnaroo 2004: Coachella 2004: Dave Chappelle's Block Party 2005: Sasquatch! 2006: Street Scene 2007: Pitchfork 2008: Lollapalooza 2009: Bonnaroo 2010: Lollapalooza 2011: Austin City Limits 2012: Coachella 2013: Riot Fest 2015: Camp Flog Gnaw 2016: Desert Trip 2017: FYF Fest A Holly Hill man has pleaded guilty to malicious injury to real property valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 and first-degree domestic violence. Brandon Gerard Walters, 30, of 131 Sinbad Lane, was originally charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, but pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic violence instead. Circuit Judge Heath P. Taylor sentenced Walters to 10 years in prison, provided that after he served 90 days, the remainder of his term would be suspended to two years of probation. Taylor said Walters may serve his jail time on weekends. In other guilty pleas heard during a recent term of court at the Orangeburg County Courthouse: Desi Lamar Miller, 35, of 418 Congress Lane, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to unlawful carrying of a pistol. Taylor sentenced him to one year in prison, provided that after he served one day, the remainder of his term would be suspended to two years of probation. He gave Miller credit for having already served one day in jail. Joshua Clayton Pringle Jr., 23, of 1262 Pringle Road, Pinewood, pleaded guilty to reckless driving and unlawful carrying of a pistol. Pringle was originally charged with first-offense driving under the influence less than .10, but pleaded guilty to reckless driving instead. Taylor ordered him to pay a $200 fine or spend 100 days in jail if he doesnt pay the fine within 30 days. Shelton Dequince Richardson, 40, of 2681 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony. Taylor sentenced him to five years in prison, provided that after he served one day in jail, the remainder of his term would be suspended to two years of probation. Prosecutors dismissed Richardsons charge of third or subsequent driving under suspension, license not suspended for DUI. Ricardo Dante Riley, 39, of 2210 Russell St., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense manufacturing/distributing cocaine base, first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug and possession with intent to distribute drugs near a school. Taylor sentenced him to 10 years in prison, provided that after he served two days, the remainder of his term would be suspended to three years of probation. He also ordered Riley to undergo random drug/alcohol testing. He gave Riley credit for having already served two days in jail. Prosecutors dismissed Rileys charges of first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug and first-offense possession of narcotics. Amanda Mae Simons, 37, of 12139 Old Number Six Highway, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen goods valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Simons was originally charged with two counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent but pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen goods instead. Taylor sentenced her to three years in prison, provided that after she serves two days, the remainder of her term will be suspended to three years of probation. He gave her credit for having already served two days in jail. Anthony Shawn Summer, 39, of 183 Lemuel Drive, Wellford, pleaded guilty to four counts of residential home builder article violation. Taylor sentenced him to two years in prison, provided that after he serves 30 days, the remainder of his term would be suspended to four years of probation. He gave Summer credit for having already served two days in jail. He also ordered Summer to pay restitution. Prosecutors dismissed Summers three charges of breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000. Alfonza Williams III, 35, of 1391 Ridgewood Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second or subsequent possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. He was originally charged with second or subsequent possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug, but pleaded guilty to second or subsequent possession of one ounce or less of marijuana instead. Taylor sentenced him to one year in prison, provided that after he serves one day, the remainder of his term would be suspended to two years of probation. He also ordered Williams to undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Wade Hampton Witherspoon, 27, of 534 Whitman St., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense failure to stop for blue lights. Taylor sentenced him to 11 days in jail and gave him credit him for time served. Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office Someone broke into the Subway restaurant on Five Chop Road Sunday night and stole money, according to an incident report. The Subway manager arrived at the business on Monday morning and noticed someone had thrown a brick through the front door of the restaurant. The computer system was damaged and two cash registers were stolen. The cash registers contained money, according to the report. The damage to the front door is estimated at $300 and the damage to the computer system is estimated at $2,500. The cash registers are valued at $500 each. In a separate report, a Georgia man said his car was stolen from a Buckley Street residence. The man said he gave someone a ride in his 2007 white Chevrolet Tahoe early Monday morning. The Georgia man left the person in his Tahoe, with the engine running, while he went inside the Buckley Street home. When the Georgia man came out the house, the Tahoe was gone. The vehicle is valued at $9,000. (TBTCO) - Ngay 14/4/2023, Bao hiem Bao Viet chi tra 200 trieu ong boi thuong tu vong theo chuong trinh bao hiem suc khoe cho hai nan nhan do gap su co bat ngo khi du lich Vinh Ha Long (Quang Ninh) tren truc thang Bell 505 vua qua. ay la 2 trong 5 nan nhan, nhung la 2 khach hang a tham gia chuong trinh bao hiem suc khoe cua Bao hiem Bao Viet voi ten goi Bao Viet An gia tu ngay 28/10/2022 cua Bao Viet a Nang. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) The effects of the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro are already being felt in marine protected areas, beach resorts, and shorelines of surrounding provinces, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The DOT on Monday said the oil spill has affected marine protected areas in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, namely: the King Fisher Reserve, St. John the Baptist Marine Sanctuary, Song of the Sea Fish Sanctuary, Stella Mariz Fish Sanctuary, Bacawan Fish Sanctuary, St. Peter the Rock Fish Sanctuary, and the San Isidro Labrador Fish Sanctuary. Beach resorts in Oriental Mindoro impacted by the spillage include: Bihiya Beach, 3 Cottage, Long Beach, Aguada Beach Resort, Oloroso Beach Resort, Munting Buhangin Tagumpay Beach Resort, and Buhay na Tubig White Beach Resort. The oil spill also affected Caluya town in Antique, especially the shorelines of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Tinogbo, Liwagao Island, Barangay Sibolo, and Sitio Tambak in Barangay Semirara. Authorities are conducting coastal clean-ups in affected areas as an immediate remedy to prevent further damage, the DOT said. "Anent this, the DOT notes with seriousness the oil spill incident and its grave impact on the tourism industry, including disruptions in the livelihood of the affected communities, tourism-dependent businesses, and recreational activities," Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said. Meanwhile, Malay town in Aklan, which oversees Boracay Island, is already making preparations to lessen the possible effects of the oil spill if it reaches the popular resort destination. It has declared a state of heightened alert, as it closely monitors the expanding leakage from the sunken MT Princess Empire. Memorandum Order No. 2022-01 reads, The possibility that the Oriental Mindoro oil spill would affect Boracay Island and other areas of Northern Panay was very remote--thus, all concerned are advised to implement preparedness measures to mitigate the possible effect of this oil leakage. Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista ordered the towns Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and the Philippine Coast Guard to inspect the areas that may be hit by the oil spillage based on wind direction. These include Puka Beach, Crimson Boracay, Movenpick, and Shangri-La Boracay. Aklan-based journalist Carla Doromal contributed to this story. Israeli warplanes struck Aleppo airport before dawn Tuesday, causing significant damage that halted flights to and from Syria's war- and quake-battered second city, the defence ministry said. The airport has been a major conduit for aid flights since a February 6 earthquake devastated swathes of southeastern Turkey and neighboring Syria, and they too were brought to a stop, a transport ministry official said. "At exactly 2:07 a.m., the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack from the Mediterranean west of Latakia targeting Aleppo international airport," the defense ministry said in a statement. The damage forced authorities to close the airport to all flights, the ministry added. There was no immediate word on any casualties. More than 80 aid flights have landed in Aleppo over the past month with relief supplies for quake-hit areas, transport ministry official Suleiman Khalil told AFP. "It is no longer possible to receive aid flights until the damage has been repaired," he said, adding that the strike had put the runway out of service. Aid deliveries have been diverted to Damascus and Latakia airports, a ministry statement said. An Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on the reported strike. Syria's foreign ministry decried a "double crime", saying the strike targeted "a civilian airport ... and one of the key channels for the arrival of humanitarian aid" for quake victims. It marked the second Israeli attack on government-held areas since the devastating quake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 50,000 people in the two countries. On Feb. 19, an Israeli strike killed 15 people in a Damascus district housing state security agencies. Damascus ally Iran condemned the strike, calling it a "crime against humanity." "While the Syrian earthquake victims in Aleppo are experiencing difficult conditions, the Zionist regime [Israel] is attacking Aleppo airport," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement. Israel has attacked Aleppo airport several times in recent years, with a strike last September putting it out of service for a few days. Since civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes against its neighbor, primarily targeting positions of the Syrian army and its Iranian and Hezbollah allies. The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes against Syria but has vowed repeatedly to keep up its air campaign to stop arch-foe Iran from consolidating its presence. The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday condemned persistent Israeli violation of international law through its attack on Aleppo's International Airport." The statement concluded that Syria "is still receiving international humanitarian aid to soothe the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria, which reveals once again the aggressive nature of the policies of Israel in the region. Lebanon regularly condemns Israeli strikes against Syria. An official Lebanese delegation visited Damascus in the days following the quake, and humanitarian aid was sent to Syria via Lebanon. For the Wyoming communities chosen as the site of a first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor, water management remains a major obstacle. Last week, though, the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board committed $3 million to the effort. Kemmerer and Diamondville are twin coal towns with a combined population of a few thousand people. Theyve been that way for generations. But as the countrys need for coal faded, the towns fell on hard times. Thats taken its toll on critical infrastructure. If TerraPowers nuclear project succeeds, it will need a reliable water source and enough wastewater treatment capacity for all the people who move in to run it. Right now, the communities cant guarantee either. The pipelines for both systems are decades old and breaking down, said Brent McClarnon, superintendent of the Kemmerer/Diamondville Water and Wastewater Joint Powers Board. A low-water-pressure area needs fixing, as do a few wastewater lift stations. Water meters that were installed 10 years ago are also starting to fail. Its to the point where we have to do something, McClarnon said. Even without TerraPower coming in, and all the other businesses. The possibility that the population could double, if not triple, in the coming years only adds to the pressure on the system and on the people responsible for keeping it operational. Already, businesses are moving into long-empty storefronts, while new construction is springing up on the outskirts of town. Meanwhile, Kemmerer and Diamondville are relying on a wastewater system so old that theyre struggling to find replacement parts when something breaks, McClarnon said. The towns water treatment plant, though newer, lacks a backup generator. And when the power goes out, sometimes the machinery there gets fried. Weve spent a large amount of money just fixing things because of brownouts, he said. Community officials are still trying to scrape together the $40 million or $50 million theyll need, according to a preliminary estimate, to build a new wastewater treatment plant. The pair of grants they were awarded by the state this week $1.8 million for water and $1.2 million for wastewater will reinforce their water supply but mostly fund temporary fixes for their wastewater system. The towns split their grant requests in half to boost their chances. Originally, the state only planned to fund one. But McClarnon, Kemmerer Mayor Bill Thek and Lincoln County Commissioner Kent Connolly all drove to Cheyenne to make the case for both. When the nuclear plant arrives, McClarnon said, if we dont have the infrastructure to support these people, theyre going to be moving to, you know, Rock Springs or Green River or Evanston or whatever and commuting, and we want to keep that tax base here. Their pitch worked. But the money Kemmerer and Diamondville were awarded is still far below what the towns need just to patch their infrastructure. Originally, theyd planned to ask the State Loan and Investment Board for roughly $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The problem was that they didnt know how theyd come up with the required 15% match for that funding. Thats when we went through and just kind of picked, OK, which of these items are really pressing? McClarnon said. Its kind of hard to do when things are starting to fall apart. The towns dropped their request to a combined $3.5 million offering a 16% match in the hope it would boost their chances and ultimately came away with $3 million. Which means that, unless more money becomes available, another of the projects at the top of the priority list will likely have to be cut. It also means they still need to produce about $480,000 to meet the terms of the grant. For a small system, thats difficult, McClarnon said. Can we do it? We might be able to. And were working on that. PHOTOS: Visits to Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Fossils Kemmerer Nonviolent felons will regain the right to own and use guns, serve on a jury and hold public office by July 1. We are always pleased to see a bill like this become signed into law, said ACLU of Wyoming Communications Director Janna Farley. Studies show that when felons have their rights restored, they have lower chances of reoffending. The Wyoming Department of Corrections also fully supported the bill for the same reason, Director Dan Shannon said at a previous hearing. But the agency requested the creation of a new temporary job contract to handle the workload that comes with restoring felons rights. First-time, nonviolent offenders were already eligible to have their right to vote restored if they completed supervised release or were discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2010. While voting is seen as the paramount civil right, these additional rights will only improve life for those who made a one-time mistake, Farley said. Anything people can do to vote and be a part of society is really important, she said. About 3,400 Wyomingites have already seen their voting rights restored, Sen. Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, who sponsored the bill, said in January. Those individuals, and any others who are able to get their voting rights back, will have the ability to restore their other civil rights after a five-year waiting period. The waiting period is intended to lessen the chance of recidivism. Talk about a cruel and unusual punishment i.e., losing your rights forever, Barlow said before the bill was signed into law. The total U.S. population with a felony roughly equaled or exceeded 24 million as of 2019, which included both violent and nonviolent offenses, a Bureau of Justice Special Report shows. Drug offenses, counterfeiting and tax crimes are examples of nonviolent felonies. Those who have committed crimes such as murder and kidnapping are not eligible for their civil rights to be restored without a pardon from the governor. And anyone who is a repeat offender is automatically ineligible. The bill has yet to be officially signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon. Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday submitted a disaster declaration request to the United States Department of Agriculture related to the impact of this years unusually severe and persistent winter weather on Wyomings livestock industry. The letter, addressed to the federal agencys secretary, Tom Vilsack, asks for assistance to help Wyomings stockgrowers recover. The agriculture department can designate counties as suffering agriculture-related disasters when weather and other natural events like drought, flooding, mudslides and more wreak havoc on local farmers and ranchers. When a county receives a disaster designation from the department, it becomes eligible for certain kinds of financial relief from the federal government, like low-interest loans for farmers. States usually have to demonstrate that the affected counties suffered agricultural production losses of more than 30%, according to the agencys website. Under Gordons proposal, Jan. 10 through Monday would be marked a disaster period. According to National Weather Service data, Wyoming was under a winter weather advisory, winter storm warning, high wind warning or blizzard warning for 66.5% of the time between Jan. 1 to Feb. 27. Thats more than any other state in the nation, Gordon wrote in the letter. He said the long winter has caused ranchers to spend more money on supplemental feed, since a lot of grazing land has stayed buried under the snow these last couple of months. Feed, meanwhile, had been more expensive and more scarce than years prior. This has been a problem in every county in the state, the governor continued. Livestock producers are trying to transport their herds from their winter grazing areas closer to home to keep a better eye on them, he wrote, but recurring road closures have made that difficult. Access to traditional winter grazing resources has become dire, as well, because many ranch, county, and BLM roads are drifting shut and, even when cleared, continue to re-drift because of high winds, the letter said. According to the USDAs website, after state governors submit letters for disaster consideration, county offices must put together information for loss assessment reports. Then, county emergency boards in the affected areas review the reports and issue a recommendation to approve, defer or deny the request for disaster designation. Those reports must also be cleared by state-level emergency boards before they go to the USDAs Farm Service Agency. The Farm Service agency then looks at the reports and ultimately decides whether the counties in question qualify for the designation. PHOTOS: Blizzard batters Casper Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Wyoming prides itself on having one of the only citizen legislatures in the country a legislature made up of people who live and work in the communities they govern. But the expectations for Wyoming lawmakers now are very different than the ones they experienced in the states early days. Issues tend to be more complicated. Workloads have increased. Attending to obligations like full-time work outside of legislative duties isnt easy, leading some to worry that Wyomingites who might otherwise run for the Legislature dont end up doing so simply because they cant afford to. For many years, lawmakers have proposed tackling this predicament through two main avenues: cutting back lawmakers workload and increasing their compensation. The former approach hasnt made headway; the number of meeting days for lawmakers has steadily increased from 90 days in 2002 to 155 days last year, data from the Wyoming Legislative Service Office show. With the number of days that the Legislature can spend in session limited by the Wyoming Constitution, a lot of lawmakers work is pushed to the interim the time in between session when lawmakers meet to draft legislation. Cheyenne Republican Rep. Landon Brown, who was on the subcommittee that looked at legislator compensation for this years session, estimated he had about 30 days of interim meetings last year. Brown, who has been in the Legislature since 2017, has a job that gives him the flexibility to spend that time on legislative work. But not everyone is as lucky. This continues to make it harder for those who want to serve to be able to serve without having severe professional repercussions in their daily lives, Brown said. The Joint Management Council sponsored three bills this year to increase lawmaker compensation. Only one of them which increases lawmakers daily allowance ended up surviving the Legislature. (The governor hasnt taken action on the bill yet.) That bill will adjust lawmakers per diem compensation every July from $109 a day to the rate established by the United States general service administration for places in Wyoming. Brown, the Cheyenne lawmaker, described the boost as a catch up; lawmaker per diem compensation rates havent increased since 2008, according to the Legislative Service Office. The Senate resoundingly killed the other two bills that came out of the Management Council one to boost lawmaker constituent service allowances from $750 to $1,000 a quarter, and another that would have allowed lawmakers to enroll in the state employees and officials group health insurance plan. Prior to the session, the Management Council voted down another that would have increased lawmakers salaries from $150 to $230 a day during the session and for all days worked in the interim. Some lawmakers believed the health insurance bill would go farthest in lowering the barrier for people to run for a seat in the Legislature. Wyoming is one of three states that doesnt provide health insurance benefits to lawmakers, according to the Legislative Service Office. But concerns about that particular bill centered on its potential to erode Wyomings citizen legislature. This bill is a major step in the efforts that some are making to turn this into a full-time, professional Legislature, Casper Republican Sen. Charles Scott said on the Senate floor in January the same day lawmakers in that chamber shot down the health care bill in a resounding 22-9 vote. PHOTOS: Opening day of the 67th Wyoming Legislative Session 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins Rep. Jeanette Ward 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins 67th Wyoming Legislative Session begins Telecoms provider Flow will increase prices next month. In a notice to its customers on Wednesday, Flow said the 3.5-per cent increase in its Internet and cable packages will come into effect on May 1. Another notice was sent to customers with multiple cable boxes via e-mail on Wednesday. T&T rap legend Make It Hapn (Rayon Bernando) is back in the lab creating new music. Anybody and their mama that followed the local hip hop scene in the early 2000s knows Make It Hapn is rap royalty. The Diego Martin-born MC had a ubiquitous flow that earned him snaps and standing ovations everywhere he went, from the quad at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine campus to spoken word exposes and open mic nights across the island. The regional symposium on crime to be held tomorrow and Tuesday is an important step toward addressing the problem facing Caricom countries. So said Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne yesterday. Trinidad and Tobago will host the two-day symposium at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel in Port of Spain. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) The plan to relocate the Bureau of Corrections' (BuCor) headquarters to the Masungi Georeserve is placed on hold, according to Acting Director-General Gregorio Catapang. During a Senate hearing on Monday, Catapang bared that the plan to build its headquarters in 270 of the 300 hectares of the georeserve is "held in abeyance pending further studies to be undertaken, taking into consideration the impact on the environment with the construction of BuCor facilities in the area." The Masungi Georeserve Foundation welcomed this, while still holding out hope that the project will be scrapped entirely. "Knowing the potential environmental impacts of the plan, we are hopeful that the project will be scrapped altogether," it said in a statement Thursday. The organization also urged Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga to convene the Masungi Geopark Project's Oversight Committee to resolve conflicts within the project site and prevent future ones. The BuCor earlier claimed control over 270 hectares of land within Masungi Georeserve through a proclamation signed by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006, which reserved the majority of the ecotourism spot in Tanay, Rizal for the new site of the New Bilibid Prison. The georeserve's management argued that the Supplementary Agreement with Blue Star Construction and Development, which was signed in 2002 to expand the Masungi Georeserve project, cannot be terminated. READ: BuCor claims to own majority of Masungi Georeserve, relocates headquarters Environmental groups previously urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to intervene against the construction of BuCor facilities that could endanger the Upper Marikina Watershed's biodiversity and natural resources. While the Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition said it recognizes BuCor's need to address the overcrowding in the New Bilibid Prison, it opposes the agency's plans to build its facilities in Masungi as they "firmly believe that this should not come at the expense of the environment." Catapang, meanwhile, expressed hope that an urban or environmental planner would help BuCor in evaluating the environmental impact of constructing its facilities within Masungi. "If it's not worth it, we will not pursue," the corrections chief said. "What I will do now, if this is really not available or it's not for us, we'll just put also our forest rangers, we have also our agroforest team that can help reserve and strengthen the ecosystem in the area." Catapang said the study may last from six months to a year as he promised to inform senators of its findings. Despite BuCor's decision, the Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition maintained that the agency should abolish the plan altogether. During an Easter Sunday break from my column, I was forcibly struck by the disconnect between the official messages about Easter from those clothed with high constitutional authority and the grim reality on the ground. Many persons would have been engaged in pleasurable activities over the Easter weekend. However, the country remains gripped by fear of violent crime, in respect of which the official messages have long ceased to be comforting or inspiring. How can it be otherwise when, in addition to rampant murder, we are frequently confronted with the results of brutal home invasions? Beware strange men in dark suits and red ties. Such a man dropped into a gathering of old buddies in Conor McPhersons brilliant The Seafarer, now on stage at the Rogue Theatre. Just in case the red tie isnt a giveaway, that stranger (an impeccable Joseph McGrath) is the devil himself, coming to collect on a long-ago deal. The story takes place on Christmas Eve in a shabby house in a rural town outside Dublin. It is the home of Richard (Matt Walley), blind after he fell into a trash container a few months before. His brother, Sharky (Aaron Shand), has just come home to help him and because he lost his job as a chauffeur. Their friend, Ivan (Ryan Parker Knox), is there, too, too drunk to have gone home the night before. Sharky is trying to stay away from alcohol, but the other two have no such desire. They drink and drink and drink. When old friend Nicky (Robert Anthony Peters) shows up with the red-tied stranger (they drink, too, of course) a friendly game of poker ensues. Turns out, that stranger, who goes by the name of Mr. Lockhart, intends to claim what was promised to him so many years before Sharkys soul. He gave it to the devil in exchange for getting out of prison after killing a man. He declares he is going to beat Sharky in the poker game, and when he wins, he will take possession of what is his. Christopher Johnson directed this production with an obvious reference for the material, and rightfully so McPherson is one of Irelands greatest living playwrights, and The Seafarer is among his best works. With great humor and terrifying moments, McPherson gives us a story about forgiveness of oneself as well as others, despair and hope. And this cast embraced the story and all its nuances with fervor. As Richard, Walley, in a full beard and stumbling around thanks to booze and blindness, is mean, really mean, to his brother Sharky. But there is a moment toward the end when his love and concern for him bursts through. Walley was seamless. Richards internal despair and ultimate glimpse of redemption glistened in Shands hands. Knox made Ivans sadness, loneliness and fear palpable. The whole cast committed deeply to this powerful play, a piece of work that pulls you in, at times repels you, oftentimes makes you laugh, and always fascinates. The Rogue Theatres production of The Seafarer runs through March 19 at 300 E. University Blvd. Linda Ronstadt, 11-time Grammy-winner and Tucson native, talked about her new memoir "Feels Like Home" with co-author Lawrence Downes at the festival on March 5. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) Four people tagged in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo are facing murder and frustrated murder charges, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday. In a statement, the DOJ said "sets of information for three counts of murder and frustrated murder" were filed at the Regional Trial Court in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental against the four arrested suspects and 12 John Does. Separate sets of information for three counts of violating laws on the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives were also filed against three respondents. "Upon the instruction of the Justice Secretary (Boying) Remulla and DILG Secretary (Benhur) Abalos, the two respondents who previously expressed their intent to cooperate were immediately turned over to the NBI's custody for protective custody and further investigation," said the DOJ. It added that the remaining two respondents later said they wanted to cooperate as well, and were likewise turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation. In an earlier briefing, the Philippine National Police said the four suspects were detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City while the investigation was ongoing as well as for their own protection. The DOJ said the respondents' statements are now being verified, though the motive behind the killing was still being confirmed. "The specific motive of the murder has yet to be confirmed as the DILG and the DOJ will exert every effort to see all the factors at play in this incident," the DOJ added. It said the two agencies are closely coordinating for any future cases that may be filed in relation to Degamo's killing. During Tuesday's briefing, PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo said some personnel from the police station in the area where Degamo was killed would be reassigned to other stations. "In the coming days we expect yung ilang pulis ng Oriental ay malilipat pansamantala at papalitan ng ibang pulis to make sure na yung ongoing operation and investigation ay hindi maha-hamper because of the possible familiarity ng ibang pulis sa area na 'yan," said Fajardo. [Translation: In the coming days, we expect some policemen will be transferred temporarily and replaced to make sure the ongoing operation and investigation will not be hampered because of the possible familiarity of some personnel in that area.] A man was shot and killed early Sunday during a fight outside a house in midtown, Tucson police said. About 3:30 a.m. a 911 caller reported that his roommate had shot a man in the 900 block of East Elm Street, near North Euclid Avenue. Jacob Lera, 23, was found in the street critically wounded. He died later that a hospital. Police say Lera was causing a disturbance at the caller's house then got into a fight with the caller and his roommate, who had a gun. Lera was shot during the fight. The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster line. An ad-hoc faculty committee has stopped its investigation of the University of Arizonas campus safety protocols, saying university officials were unsupportive and dismissive of its preliminary findings. The investigation came in response to the Oct. 5 death of Thomas Meixner, a professor who was shot and killed on campus. The committee has determined that certain recent statements and actions of the university leadership have materially impacted our ability to complete our inquiry, says a letter the General Faculty Committee on General Safety For All sent to the Faculty Senate on March 3. Additionally, the university leaderships public statement about the legitimacy and integrity of the committee created concerns that committee members might experience negative consequences for serving on the committee, the letter continues. We asked the university leadership to diffuse the concerns. We have not received any direct response to this request. The university leaderships disregard for such concerns has naturally exacerbated the concerns. As a result of the UAs chilling response, the letter says, the committee unanimously agreed to conclude our inquiry at this point. In response to the committees announcement, Jon Dudas, the UAs senior vice president and chief of staff, said in an email: We appreciate the work the committee put into their report and that the committees entire record has been made available to the Pax Group the third party safety and security experts conducting an independent review of the events leading up to the tragic killing of our colleague Thomas Meixner and campus security in general. The UA, Dudas added, will continue to implement actions to advance campus safety and security and looks forward to reviewing and responding to the Pax Groups findings and recommendations. The UA did not respond to questions about when PAXs report would be complete and available to the public. The premature end to the faculty committees campus safety investigation comes about a month after the panel released its interim report, which concluded the UAs approach to violence risks, established an administrative culture that consciously and consistently disregards employee and students safety concerns. The committee was investigating campus safety as a whole, but its formation late last year was in direct response to the killing of Meixner in the UA hydrology building. Murad Dervish, a former graduate student in the hydrology and atmospheric sciences department who had been expelled and barred from campus by early 2022, was arrested and is being held in jail on a first-degree murder charge. He pleaded not guilty. University officials had been aware of Dervish as a potential threat long before the shooting. Dervish, who had a violent criminal past, had been sending Meixner and others disturbing messages for months. All of those targeted individuals made several attempts to report Dervishs behavior to various university departments, including the Office of General Counsel, UA Police Department, Office of Institutional Equity and the Dean of Students. Campus safety probes After Meixners death, the UA vowed to examine its campus safety protocols and announced it had hired Chicago-based consulting firm PAX Group, LLC to complete that investigation. The university has yet to release any results from that report. At the same time, the group of faculty members created the separate committee to investigate campus safety, which released its interim findings on Feb. 1. The faculty-led investigation relied on numerous interviews with people who had been aware of Dervishs behavior before the killing. Committee members also combed through public records and gathered feedback from numerous listening sessions with relevant stakeholder groups, including members of the hydrology department. Those preliminary findings identified four systemic failures within the UAs campus safety operation: A chronic trust problem, lack of a comprehensive risk management system, excessive bureaucratization and barriers to accessing services, and insufficient units to address safety concerns. Interim UA faculty safety report The General Faculty Committee on General Safety For All, which was created after the on-campus shooting death of Tom Meixner last fall, releas In response to the faculty reports criticisms, UA spokeswoman Pam Scott raised questions about its credibility. The report represents the work of a subset of faculty that has reached sweeping conclusions based in large part on misleading characterizations and the selective use of facts and quotations, Scott said on Feb. 1. That response didnt sit well with many in the UA community, and received condemnation from Meixners family, the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and the full UA Faculty Senate, which unanimously passed a resolution in support of the interim reports findings. At that meeting, UA President Robert C. Robbins told the Faculty Senate that despite not being aware of Dervish as a potential threat, I am the sole person you can hold accountable for this. He also said he hoped the UA could merge the faculty report and the PAX report because we all have the same objectives, and that is to provide safety for faculty, staff and students. Withdrawal of cooperation But, according to the letter the faculty-led safety committee wrote explaining its decision to stop investigating, communication between its members and the UA and PAX hasnt been productive over the past month. Until the release of the (faculty) report, university offices charged with safety-related responsibilities communicated with the committee and answered questions, the letter reads. It also details how, after the UA characterized the interim report as misleading, the committee made an attempt to address the allegedly incorrect pieces of the report by reaching out to UA administrators. They were deferred, however, to Phil Andrew, principal of PAX, who, according to the report, has not responded to the committees request to collaborate. Together, the university leaderships dismissive approach to the committee and withdrawal of cooperation with the committee have undermined the committees ability to complete its inquiry, the committee said. Moreover, the committee wrote, it sent a strong message to the entire community that only external experts selected by the university leadership and who report to the university leadership are positioned to engage in scrutiny and criticism. The chilling effect of the universitys response, according to the committee, will likely affect the willingness of other individuals to serve on committees and willingness to share valuable information and concerns. As for the last word before it closes its investigation, the committee said UA leaderships dismissive reaction to the interim report is consistent with the reports conclusions: They raise meaningful concerns regarding the university leaderships attitudes toward safety, organizational culture, stakeholders, and accountability. Two groups, including a Virginia organization founded by conservative Republicans, have filed suit to overturn the process now used by Arizona counties to verify signatures on early ballot envelopes. The lawsuit filed in Yavapai County Superior Court said state law requires election officials to match the signatures on the envelopes only with each voters registration record. But attorney Kory Langhofer, representing the challengers, said counties are following the instructions in a manual prepared by the Secretary of States Office that permits comparison with other signatures the county may have. The problem is that manual directly conflicts with state law, Langhofer said. He said it creates a situation where there could be multiple signatures on file for any given voter. That makes it more likely someone else could submit a ballot in that voters name and have it declared valid and counted, he said, though the lawsuit has no examples of early ballots that were improperly counted. Failed Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake has unsuccessfully raised the same objections about signature verification on early ballots as she tried to convince courts to throw out the results of the election she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs. A trial judge ruled she raised the claim too late, saying she should have known about the conflict between the Election Procedures Manual and state law long before the 2022 election. Lakes case is now on appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court. Lawsuit seeks a court order By contrast, this new lawsuit does not seek to overturn any results of last years election. Instead, it seeks a court order against Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes invalidating the current process, voiding the provisions in the election manual, and requiring recorders in the states 15 counties to use the narrower standards in future elections. That, in turn, could result in more early ballots being tossed out due to what appear to be unmatched signatures, unless county election workers can track down individual voters and personally verify that they were, in fact, the people who signed the envelopes. An aide to Fontes said he would not comment until he has been served with a copy of the lawsuit. But Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said there is a good reason his office uses every signature it has on file to verify a signature on an early ballot. This allows us more comparison points, he told Capitol Media Services. Richer said it also allows for evolution of the voters signature, which can change over time. He also pointed out that those who register to vote while getting a drivers license submit a signature electronically on a touchpad at the Motor Vehicle Division. That is often the worst exemplar, he said. Richer said if a court rules that using additional signature comparisons is not allowed, we will follow the statute as it is interpreted. The challengers position A section of law requires the county recorder, on receiving early ballots, to compare the signatures thereon with the signature of the elector on the electors registration record. Langhofer, in his court filing, acknowledged there is nothing in state law that explicitly defines a registration record. But he argued that it most naturally means the state or federal documents by which someone signs up to vote and provides certain other information. The most recent version of the Election Procedures Manual says county recorders should also consult additional known signatures from other official election documents in the voters registration record. Those include rosters signed by voters and early ballot request forms. Langhofer said state election officials also interpret this to include signatures on early ballot envelopes submitted in prior elections. That manual was approved in 2019 by not just Democrat Katie Hobbs, who was secretary of state at the time, but also by then-governor Doug Ducey and then-attorney general Mark Brnovich, who are Republicans. Langhofer said the problem goes beyond what he contends state law allows. The likelihood of a reviewer mistakenly determining that an affidavit signature corresponds to a signature in the registration record increases with each additional signature added, he wrote. He said that is true even if all the additional signatures are known with certainty to have come from the voter. This problem grows even worse, however, when there is some chance even a small chance that an added signature might not have come from the registrant, he said. The lawsuit is being pursued by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club. It has backed various measures to impose new identification requirements on voters while opposing efforts to restore the states permanent early voting list. Also suing is an organization called Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections. It bills itself as opposing changes in election laws that seek to give one group a partisan advantage and enforcing constitutional standards against voting laws and procedures that threaten or dilute the right of qualified citizens to vote. Founders include former U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Karl Rove, who was a top adviser to former President George W. Bush. Also named as plaintiff is Dwight Kadar of Sedona, who has long contributed to Republican candidates for state and federal office. PHOENIX Gov. Katie Hobbs has tapped a former Democratic lawmaker who has advocated for higher taxes and against Republican-proposed tax cuts to head the Arizona Department of Child Safety. But David Lujan told Capitol Media Services on Monday he hopes that doesnt become an issue when he is screened by a special Senate panel for the job. Hobbs chose Lujan, who is executive director of the Childrens Action Alliance, after she withdrew the nomination last month of Matthew Stewart to be DCS director. That occurred even before he went in front of the Senate Committee on Director Nominations. The governor said it was a decision that was made for the best interests of all parties involved. But Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, who chairs that panel, said there were troubling events involving Stewart that suggested Hobbs wasnt properly vetting her nominees. Whether her new pick has better luck remains to be seen. Were concerned with making sure that we have qualified candidates that are thoroughly, accurately and honestly vetted for these positions, Hoffman said Monday. And he called DCS one of the most important agencies that we have. It takes care of vulnerable children in our state, Hoffman said. So were going to be looking at qualifications that are relevant to doing that job. In naming Lujan, Hobbs cited his experience as president and CEO of Childrens Action Alliance, describing it as a nonpartisan voice for children at the state Capitol. She also mentioned his time as a state senator and representative and that he was an attorney for a nonprofit organization that provided legal services for abused and neglected children and was the chief administrator of the Arizona State University Preparatory Academy, a public charter school. What is not in the governors news release is Lujans role as executive director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, a separate arm of Childrens Action Alliance. That organization was at the forefront of a 2020 initiative to impose a 3.5% surcharge on income taxes owed by individuals making more than $250,000 a year. Voters approved the measure, only to have the levy and the $800 million a year it would have raised declared it was not collectable after a court challenge by Republican lawmakers. And Lujan has stayed active in the tax arena. Just last month he opposed a GOP-backed measure to cut the corporate income tax rate nearly in half that legislative budget analysts said eventually could cut state revenues by nearly $670 million a year. Lujan said he hopes his role in opposing Republican efforts to cut taxes does not affect his nomination. Protecting children should be a nonpartisan issue, he said. Hoffman, at least for the time being, appears to agree that the screening process should focus on the nominee and not his political background. We need to make sure that we have folks who understand the job, that can do the job, that can collaborate and communicate not only inside the agency but also outside providers, he said, noting that DCS has contracts with many private entities who provide direct services to children, including group homes. We have lots of vulnerable children in this state, Hoffman continued. We need to make sure they get taken care of. Prior to this year, gubernatorial nominees were screened by existing Senate panels who have expertise in that area. So a pick for the health chief would go to the Health Committee; the Public Safety Committee would review someone named to head the Department of Public Safety. All that changed this year when Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, formed the nominations panel and tapped Hoffman to chair the committee, with three Republicans and two Democrats. Hobbs has made it clear she is not happy with the process. Her frustration came out after the committee voted against her pick of Pima County Health Director Theresa Cullen to head the Department of Health Services. The governor withdrew Cullens nomination, though the full Senate went ahead anyway and voted to reject her. The committee has made it very clear that theyre not interested in seriously vetting my nominations, the governor said last week of Hoffmans panel. Theyre interested in carrying out the personal vendetta against me and using my name as proxy to do that, she said, accusing Hoffman of creating a stage for his political theater. Hoffman on Monday said he would not respond to the governors statements. Im just not going to get into the weeds and name-call and whatnot like Katie Hobbs has done, he said. Were focused on doing the work of the people and thats what were going to keep doing. PHOENIX Republican state senators voted Monday to let voters across Arizona decide how Tucson residents get to elect their city council. SCR 1027, approved on a party-line vote, seeks to put a provision into the state constitution that says there are only two methods by which councils can be elected: either on an at-large basis or on a district basis. That second method could be used only if the voting is limited to those people who live in each individual district, or in Tucsons case, an individual ward. And its no secret whose practices Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, has in her sites. Only her home city has a modified ward system where council members are nominated by district but have to survive a city-wide general election. And Wadsack acknowledged during debate that only Tucson would be affected. All that goes to objections, largely by Republicans, to Tucsons unique modified ward system, something approved by city voters as part of their power being a charter city entitled to make decisions on matters of strictly local concern. Under that system, candidates are nominated in each of the citys six wards by each political party. But in the general election, the nominees are elected on a city-wide basis. Proponents say this ensures that each ward has a local representative but that they also be responsive to city-wide needs. Wadsack said the system is unfair. We dont have fair elections, she said during earlier debate on the measure. Our council members are being voted for by voters that are far outside of their area of interest. But theres a political component to all this. Democrats outnumber Republicans on a city-wide basis by a margin of two to one. And that has made it difficult for a Republican nominated from any district to survive a general election. In fact, there currently are no Republicans on the city council. On Monday, Democratic Sen. Priya Sundareshan, also of Tucson, said lawmakers should butt out. The city of Tucson should govern as the city of Tucson does, she said. If the voters of the city of Tucson want to amend the method by which they conduct elections, they have that opportunity. But Sundareshan said the problems with SCR 1027 go beyond lawmakers seeking to interfere with Tucsons method of electing council members. The Arizona Supreme Court has repeatedly slapped down multiple efforts by the Republican-controlled legislature to tell Tucson how to run its elections. The justices said thats because of its constitutional status as a charter city. SCR 1027 seeks to get around that by amending the Arizona Constitution to say that, regardless of everything else, no city charter of otherwise can have a modified ward system. But heres the thing. While lawmakers can propose constitutional amendments, changes can be made only if approved by a majority of voters at a statewide general election. Sundareshan said that would allow voters of the entire state to opine on and prohibit how one particular city does its elections. And that, she said, is unfair. The measure that now goes to the full House actually would have an impact on not just Tucson, but on the states more than 90 other cities and towns. An amendment added to the proposal would preclude any community from having ranked choice voting, a system by which voters rate which candidates they support first, second, third and beyond. Then, if a voters first choice is not among the top vote-getters to qualify for a runoff, the voters second choice gets the vote. And it goes on and on until only one candidate remains. No Arizona community currently uses that system. But it is being pushed by those who say that the current method of forcing voters to choose between only the contenders nominated by each party tends to result in polarized choices. Ranked choice voting, they contend, tends to result in the election of more moderate candidates. Mondays Senate action comes after Wadsack could not round up the votes for SCR 1023, a broader proposal which would have abolished the right of cities to form their own charters. But her original plan ran into trouble when GOP lawmakers who represent Prescott and Casa Grande, both cities with their own charters, refused to undermine their own voters interests simply to help get more Republicans elected in Tucson. Still, SCR 1023 may not yet be dead. WASHINGTON Archaeologists found the earliest direct evidence for horseback riding an innovation that would transform history in 5,000-year-old human skeletons in central Europe. When you get on a horse and ride it fast, its a thrill Im sure ancient humans felt the same way, said David Anthony, a co-author of the study and Hartwick College archaeologist. Horseback riding was the fastest a human could go before the railroads. Researchers analyzed more than 200 Bronze Age skeletal remains in museum collections in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic to look for signs of what co-author and University of Helsinki anthropologist Martin Trautmann calls horse rider syndrome six tell-tale markers that indicate a person was likely riding an animal, including characteristic wear marks on the hip sockets, thigh bone and pelvis. You can read bones like biographies, said Trautmann, who previously studied similar wear patterns in skeletons from later periods when horseback riding is well-established in the historical record. The researchers focused on human skeletons which are more readily preserved than horse bones in burial sites and museums and identified five likely riders who lived about 4,500 to 5,000 years ago and belonged to a Bronze Age people called the Yamnaya. There is earlier evidence for harnessing and milking of horses, but this is the earliest direct evidence so far for horseback riding, said University of Exeter archaeologist Alan Outram, who was not involved in the research, but praised the approach. The study was published Friday in the journal Science Advances. Domesticating wild horses on the plains of Eurasia was a process, not a single event, the researchers say. Archaeologists previously found evidence of people consuming horse milk in dental remains and indications of horses controlled by harnesses and bits dating back more than 5,000 years, but that does not necessarily indicate the horses were ridden. The Yamnaya culture, known for its characteristic burial mounds, originated in whats now part of Ukraine and western Russia, an area called the Pontic Caspian steppe. The horses they kept were distinct from modern horses likely more easily startled and less tolerant of humans though they may have been the immediate genetic ancestors of modern horses, which emerged a few centuries later, the researchers say. The Yamnaya are most significant because of their dramatic expansion across Eurasia in only a few generations moving westward to Hungary and eastward to Mongolia, said University of Helsinki archaeologist and co-author Volker Heyd. The spread of Indo European languages is linked to their movement, and they reshaped the genetic make-up of Europe, he said. Their relationship with horses may have partly enabled this stunning movement, the researchers suggest. Horses expand the concept of distance you begin to think about places previously out of reach as being reachable, said co-author Anthony, the Hartwick College archaeologist. That does not mean the Yamnaya people were warriors on horseback, as the horses they rode were likely too skittish for stressful battlefield situations, he said. But horses may have allowed the Yamnaya to more effectively send communications, build alliances and manage the herds of cattle that were central to their economy. Because only a small percentage of the skeletons studied clearly showed all six markers of riding horseback, it seems that a minority of the people at that time were riders that does not suggest that a whole society was built on horseback riding, said molecular archaeologist Ludovic Orlando, who is based at the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France and was not involved in the research. Still, he praised the work for helping to better pinpoint the potential genesis of horseback riding. This is about the origins of something that impacted human history like only a few other things have, Orlando said. Breakthrough discoveries in the evolutionary biology and behavior of pets Breakthrough discoveries in the evolutionary biology and behavior of pets Dog eyebrows evolved to communicate with humans Some cat meows sound like baby cries to get you to do their bidding The guilty look is in response to owner cues, not actual guilt Domesticating cats likely caused them to keep 'making biscuits' into adulthood Canine and human genomes evolved together Dogs evolved to understand our hand signals When a baby cries, dogs react similarly to humans Dogs may have domesticated themselves For cats, boxes are their safe space Animals may have been domesticated as living tools The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: It seems like our Republican-led state Legislature has set its sights on city charters as a means of shutting down Tucsons City Charter. This is a time-honored tactic of our states GOP, as they always seem to need an enemy and Tucson seems to be a pleasurable whipping boy. For example, in the early 2000s Tucsons TUSD became a target simply because we had the odd idea that Hispanic students might be better served by history and literature taught from a Hispanic perspective. Scandalous, they charged, as they postulated that we were training our students to overthrow the United States government. If this sounds familiar, you might be thinking of the oft-used dog whistle woke and the inclusion of Critical Race Theory as a consistent talking point used by our friends on the right. Within TUSD, we offered classes as an elective, thus forcing it on no one, but that didnt matter. The Arizona GOP was there to save our children. Cutting to the chase, the strategy worked, and Arizona public education suffered. Enter Tucsons election system. We elect our city council with an at-large system. This means primaries are held within a ward, and general elections are held citywide. Simply put, this allows the majority to select representation for the minority. This practice was implemented in Tucson in 1929 and can easily be considered a Jim Crow law of the time. It effectively removed Hispanic representation from our city council until 1960. In the 1965 Voting Rights Act, at-large systems were eliminated throughout the Southeast. Tucson got a bye because the federal government needed to show cause and Tucson had conveniently elected two council members of color. But the issue of our elections had shifted here from one of ethnicity to one of partisanship, which was not covered by the Voting Rights Act. Proponents charge that our at-large system requires council members to serve the whole city. The consequences are that Republican areas of our map are consistently represented by Democratic council members, though population densities could challenge that in Wards 2 and 4. If we dont see that as a problem, as the Pima County Democratic Party has not, then we dont seem to have a problem with disenfranchisement. We, therefore, hold true to the cause of our 1929 former selves. We can do better, or we can at least try. Multi-seat elections would add a fair chance at a seat on the council and preserve that citywide idea. Ranked Choice Voting would enhance minority input while it ensured a majority outcome, something not required currently. There are a host of better ideas to consider if we have the courage to make the attempt. Perhaps a task force with the ability to put a proposal before the electorate in the next mayoral election would be prudent. The most difficult thing within the human experience is the need to cede power. Our American Experiment requires it, though. We Tucson Democrats must make the difficult choice to change at the expense of permanent power. Otherwise, we must remove ourselves from any discussion of election integrity and fair governance. Make no mistake. The Republican Party would never have such a dilemma. Nationally, they have proven to be more interested in power than fairness. The state party and its American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) regulators are little different. What-about-isms prevail there and shouldnt in Tucson. A wise man once said that Democrats are defined by what we wont do. That is meant as a compliment. Our election system here is unfair. For proof of that, simply check the math. We can do better, and we should. Lest we get whats coming to us. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) A transport group on Tuesday dared the government to cancel the franchise of jeepney drivers and operators who joined the first day of the strike on Monday. Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena made the statement after Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said they plan to file administrative cases against those who joined the protest and abandoned their routes. Subukan nila kung bawiin nila (ang prangkisa) ngayon at 'wag ng pumasada yung mga sumama sa transport strike, ano pong mangyayari? Mas maraming Libreng Sakay ilalabas nila at wala pong masasakyan ang taong bayan, Valbuena told CNN Philippines The Source. [Translation: If they cancel our franchise now and not let those who joined the strike ply the roads, what will happen? They will need to provide more Libreng Sakay units and people will have no rides.] Several groups started their planned week-long strike on Monday to protest the phaseout of traditional jeepneys and the mandatory consolidation of franchises, which are part of the governments public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program. Valbuena downplayed LTFRBs alleged scare tactics. He also pointed out that participants ply the roads early in the morning and join the strike in the afternoon. Matatakot pa po ba kami kung babawiin na nga po yung prangkisa namin at ipe-phase out kami. Kaya nga po inagahan na namin ito na iparating sa kanila kung ano yung mangyayari pag dumating 'yung deadline, he said, referring to the Dec. 31 franchise consolidation deadline. [Translation: Should we still be scared if they cancel our franchise and phase out our jeepneys. We did this now to show them what will happen when the deadline comes.] He also questioned the statement made by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, who described their protest action as communist-inspired. "Kung kami ay nire-red-tag, sige, karapatan ho din nila yan na i-voice out pero dapat may kongkreto (ebidensya).] [Translation: It is their right to red-tag us, to voice out their opinion, but they should have concrete evidence.] Valbuena said the government has yet to reach out to them for a dialogue. But for now, he said they are determined to continue the strike following its success on Monday. A Tulsa man was arrested Saturday afternoon after the car he was driving hit and killed a pedestrian on a sidewalk before he drove away, the Tulsa Police Department alleges. Marlon Evans was driving near 61st Street and Lewis Avenue around 2:30 p.m. when his car went onto the sidewalk, hit 53-year-old Michael Cobb and then sped away, a TPD social media post states. Cobb died shortly after the collision, the post continues. Officers arrived moments later, and witnesses gave them a description of the car that hit the man, the post says. Police found Evans in a car that matched the description a short time later in the 6700 block of South Zunis Avenue, where he was taken into custody, the post states. Police believe Evans to be the driver. Evans was booked into the Tulsa County jail on felony and misdemeanor complaints of first-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an injury or fatal accident both after a felony conviction, driving on a sidewalk, driving without a license and driving without insurance, according to online booking records. He remained held Monday in lieu of $200,000 bond. An Oklahoma corporation commissioner asked Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Monday to investigate possible market manipulation and violation of the federal Commodity Exchange Act by natural gas marketers during Winter Storm Uri, a prolonged bitter-cold spell in February 2021 that left Oklahomans on the hook for billions of dollars in electric and natural gas utility hikes. The letter was sent to the attorney general by Commissioner Kim David on Monday. The (Oklahoma Corporation Commission) lacks the legal authority to conduct this type of investigation into these companies; however, as the chief law enforcement officer for the State of Oklahoma, your office can do so, David wrote. The Kansas Attorney General recently opened its own investigation into similar companies and their actions surrounding Winter Storm Uri. I believe that you should conduct a similar investigation. Should you determine that wrongdoing occurred, it is my hope that any over payments can be returned to Oklahoma ratepayers in compliance with the February 2021 Regulated Utility Consumer Protection Act. The recent state of Kansas lawsuit accused Macquarie Energy LLC of purchasing next-day gas at a key midcontinent hub at irrational prices during Uri, which, according to the lawsuit, resulted in artificially inflating prices by hundreds of dollars per million British thermal units. Corporation Commission Vice Chairman Bob Anthony repeatedly has called for the commission to investigate utilities practices during the extreme weather event. Chairman Todd Hiett said Monday in a statement that he is pleased that Drummond could be looking into the matter. I have always said that any examination into the largely unregulated gas markets must come from the federal level and/or the states attorney general, he wrote in a statement. That is a position also taken by the Kansas Corporation Commission, which also held that it (has) no legal power to investigate the gas market. In fact, both Commissions handled the high fuel costs from Uri in almost identical ways. Both conducted audits of the utilities gas costs to ensure they adhered to state law, both decided to securitize the costs in order to keep the monthly charge to ratepayers as low as possible, and both referred the question of investigations into the actual gas market to the Attorney General and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. May 2022 video: AARP Oklahoma fights proposed $164 million utility rate hike One of the worlds most iconic toy brands is coming to Woodland Hills Mall. A Lego store is expected to locate in the mall this summer, the shopping center announced Tuesday. The 2,153-square-foot outlet will be the second Lego shop in the state, joining one in Oklahoma City. The Tulsa store, which will be on the malls lower level across from the Apple store, will feature a pick-and-build wall, brick specialists and hands-on play opportunities. It will also offer a offer a wide range of new products available only from Lego stores and lego.com. The Denmark-based, privately held company was established in 1932 by carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen and remains a family company owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, one of the founders grandchildren. The Lego name is an abbreviation of two Danish words leg godt which means play well. The business first produced wooden toys but by 1949 began producing plastic bricks under the name Automatic Binding Bricks. The Lego Group patented the Lego brick with the familiar tubes inside and studs on top on Jan. 28, 1958, and the blocks made then still fit perfectly with the ones made today, according to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. On average, every person on Earth owns 86 Lego bricks, according to the museum. Featured video: OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana Tuesday in a statewide special election. State Question 820 will be the only item on the ballot for most voters, although a few cities and counties will have local propositions up for a vote. When a state question to legalize medical marijuana was on the ballot in 2018, Oklahomans turned out in droves during the primary election to support the measure. Voter turnout is expected to be lower on Tuesday, but how many people cast ballots could be the deciding factor in whether SQ 820 passes or fails. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters are required to present a valid form of identification in order to cast a ballot. Early in-person voting has already occurred. Weve known that a majority of Oklahomans support this, said Michelle Tilley, head of the Yes on 820 campaign. Weve known that all through this process. But with this March special election, it really is just going to depend on who shows up. SQ 820 would legalize recreational marijuana for people age 21 or older. If approved, Oklahoma would be the 22nd state to implement an adult-use cannabis program open to Oklahomans and visitors to the state alike. The recreational marijuana program would operate alongside the states medical cannabis program. Recreational marijuana purchases would be taxed at 15%, compared to the 7% tax levied on medical cannabis purchases. About 10% of Oklahomans have obtained a medical marijuana card after getting a doctors recommendation and paying a fee. Recreational users could buy cannabis at a dispensary without a medical marijuana card. Tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales would help fund the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which would oversee implementation of SQ 820. Additional tax dollars would be divided among localities, schools, drug-addiction treatment programs, the states general revenue fund and the courts. SQ 820 would also implement criminal justice reforms for nonviolent drug offenders that would set up a process for some people convicted of cannabis crimes to have their convictions reversed and their criminal records expunged. Supporters and opponents of the state question made their closing arguments on the steps of the state Capitol on Monday. A coalition of mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, district attorneys and educators gathered to warn that SQ 820 could make it easier for kids to get marijuana despite the age restrictions on sales. The last thing I want to see is a stoned society, said former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, who leads the No on 820 campaign. It makes no sense to me to open the floodgates and permit a substance as destructive to health, wealth and welfare as the legalization of recreational marijuana would be. Ryan Kiesel, a senior adviser to the Yes on 820 campaign, said thousands of campaign volunteers were out knocking on doors and making phone calls on Monday to remind people to go to the polls. He said the opposition campaign is using scare tactics to try to to influence voters. Twenty-one other states have done exactly what were asking Oklahoma to do tomorrow, Kiesel said. Not a single one of them have ever gone back and said that was a bad idea. More than 34,000 Oklahomans cast early ballots leading up to the election. Just over 20,000 were Republicans, 11,000 were Democrats and close to 3,000 were independents, according to the State Election Board. If passed, SQ 820 would take effect on June 5, which would give the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority time to prepare for its implementation and give lawmakers a few months to pass any laws necessary to create guardrails for the states recreational marijuana program. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday signed legislation for the state to make an $850,000 appropriation to the State Election Board to help cover the costs of Tuesdays election. The Election Board will pair the new funds with more than $300,000 in unspent cash to pay for the statewide election. The last statewide initiative to pass in Oklahoma was the Medicaid expansion question in 2020. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said there is still room for improvement for the Philippines' military capabilities as he underscored the need to "effectively cover" the country's territory. Marcos made the comment during the turnover event of the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) newly-acquired aircraft in Pampanga. "While these equipment will boost the readiness of our air force to respond to any contingency, there is still a need to further improve our capabilities to effectively cover our territory," Marcos said in his speech. "Equally important is to ensure the airworthiness of air force assets and the corresponding training of crew and personnel to guarantee the safety of all," he added. The new C-295 medium lift aircraft units purchased as part of the Armed Forces' modernization program are seen to boost the government's defense system as well as response to emergency, humanitarian, and disaster operations, Marcos said. The chief executive also stressed how the country needs to become more "agile" amid maritime issues. "Our country's archipelagic nature and geostrategic location is both a blessing and a challenge," Marcos noted. "As much as our maritime environment provides us with much needed resources, it also requires us to be constantly adapt to become more mobile and agile." The president likewise reiterated that his administration will continue to support the military's modernization a 15-year program which enjoys hundreds of billions in funding. Actor Richard Dreyfuss had a good message to a Tulsa Town Hall crowd on Friday about the importance of teaching civics to youth. He also has no idea what hes talking about. The actor famous for such hits as Jaws and Mr. Hollands Opus contends that America is on the brink of collapse and that its the fault of schools for removing civics. It takes a 20-second Google search to find the Oklahoma Department of Education standards for public high school graduation. Students must complete a year of U.S. history and a semester each of Oklahoma history and U.S. government. They also must pass a 100-question citizenship test. It takes another 15-second search to find the Oklahoma civics curriculum standards. A person can see how each grade level has civics. A snapshot of standards before high school: Pre-K students learn about the American flag and concept of being a citizen; second graders are introduced to the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment; fifth graders analyze the Declaration of Independence and describe the roles of the federal branches; seventh graders compare representative and authoritative governments and identify a citizens role in selecting government leaders; and eighth graders get more in-depth about the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution and responsibilities of citizenship. High school graduates must meet the minimum requirements, but thousands take Advanced Placement courses in government and U.S. history and participate in civics-related extracurriculars like student government and speech and debate. Public school students say the Pledge of Allegiance every day and sing The Star Spangled Banner at events. Schools have robust Junior ROTC programs that regularly perform a presentation of colors at events. Civics is integrated throughout the educational experience, from pre-K to senior year. Civics is being taught, though it may not be the brand that Dreyfuss and others like. Over the weekend, social media posts showed the Tulsa Town Hall crowd largely embracing his message. I met a couple of students in a group who met with the actor before the speech. They had a less enthusiastic take on his view of their generation. Public school educators, who were teaching at the time of his speech, reacted wearily. They are already fighting anti-public school activists, and this adds to it. Dreyfuss didnt have a beef with public schools; if anything, he sounded supportive. But his criticisms mirror some right-wing talking points. At the student meeting with Dreyfuss, a few pushed back on his claim that they learn no civics. He reportedly dismissed their class descriptions, harkening to his 1965 high school days. One student asked what he meant by civics. He responded that it meant to fight for your country and recognize the miracle that is the U.S. government. Thats not civics; thats blind patriotism. One girl told me he said they needed to read his book to learn more. This A student who is enrolled in AP government at a top Tulsa high school rolled her eyes as she recounted the meeting. As I listened to their thoughts about the encounter, it occurred to me how few adults ask teenagers about their views and experiences. The teens arent invited into the conversations. Dreyfuss, and all of us, ought to consider what todays youth have seen in their role models for the American government system. Political divisions in the past decade have ruined family Thanksgiving dinners and led to an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Adults think nothing of offending others on social media, and propaganda disguised as news on cable networks stokes outrage steeped in stereotyping. At our state Capitol, some top lawmakers are targeting teens transgender classmates, think their libraries are filled with porn, mock their teachers and disparage their academic results. These lawmakers take no responsibility for underfunding their schools. Even at the Tulsa Public Schools board, three members are using pettiness and personal grudges to create chaos. Last month, those three stopped the district from entering into an agreement with Generation Citizen, a nonprofit that provides civics curriculum and teacher professional development. No wonder kids are jaded about American government. They have witnessed adults tearing it apart. Schools did not cause the problems Dreyfuss references that comes from the attitudes and behaviors of adults. Students bring that to schools, which are educating the most diverse population in U.S. history. An American tradition has been older generations complaining about the younger generations. Dreyfuss certainly plays to type. Good thing Oklahoma has educators spending their lives, every day, teaching students how to navigate our government to make it better once they are in charge. Tulsa World Opinion podcast Oklahoma does not need to waste its money and time challenging the U.S. Constitution to allow tax dollars to fund religious education. The state has higher priorities when it comes to public schools. Thats just one reason the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board ought to vote down a request from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa to create an online religious charter school. The church asked the board to approve a sponsorship of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, saying it wants to serve Catholic students in rural areas who cannot attend a private Catholic school and to boost course offerings at existing Catholic schools through online options. However, nothing is stopping Catholic leaders from doing either of those using their private funds. Oklahomas current and former attorneys general disagree about the requests legality. Gov. Kevin Stitts appointee, John OConnor, issued an opinion arguing that sending public money to religious schools is constitutional. Current Attorney General Gentner Drummond, elected in November, reversed that opinion, outlining several reasons, including that OConnors opinion misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion. We are swayed by Drummonds position, especially because the application is overtly religious in its teachings and operation. It would open the door to funding schools of all faiths and pseudo-faiths. The Oklahoma Constitution is clear in stating that the Legislature must establish and maintain a system of free public schools. Even more, Oklahoma is being used as a test case, meaning the proposals authors know this is unprecedented. The church and its attorneys from the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Clinic intended the application to be bound for courts to push the limits of the U.S. Constitution. This is part of a conservative national agenda, not something a groundswell of Oklahoma families are seeking. Oklahoma doesnt need to take on the battles of out-of-state interests. Our state has better use for its legal resources. In Oklahoma, more than 90% of students attend public schools. There are options in traditional, charter, virtual and alternative public schools. Many districts offer hybrid models. Private schools operate without government mandates of curriculum standards, academic testing or financial reporting. Families wishing to explore those choices are free to do so. A better use of tax dollars for education is bolstering the public schools already in place. Pay teachers more, invest in classroom resources, encourage more people to enter the teaching profession and become allies with public schools. Faith institutions have traditionally been critical partners with their communitys public schools, even providing volunteers to help with fundraisers. Bringing together students, parents and residents of different faiths is mission work in action. We encourage Oklahomas Catholic leaders to explore how the church can be more collaborative and supportive of public schools, which also educate Catholic youth. It would be time well-spent that doesnt force a courtroom showdown. Despite the potential for growth, a law on industrial development has yet to be formulated, while planning management, development strategies, and regional connectivity for industries remain limited in Vietnam. At a seminar themed 'Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Joining Global Supply Chains' held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in association with the Industry Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade at Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday last week, experts agreed that it is necessary to build the law on industrial development to foster the development of industries and serve as a foundation to boost industrialization and modernization. Tran Anh Hao, head of the industrial management division under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Early introduction of law on industrial development proposed Regarding Ho Chi Minh Citys assistance for supporting industries, Tran Anh Hao, head of the industrial management division under the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city has drawn up a plan to spur supporting industry development since 2015. To date, the plan has attracted many enterprises, which has helped the localization rate in the city exceed 50 percent. Nevertheless, the state management of industry remains inefficient. Enterprises in the sector are mainly small and medium ones, so they face limitations on personnel, financial resources, and product development research. To beef up industrial development, it is key to focus on expanding the industrial land bank, developing human resources and priority industries, and enhancing trade promotion, market expansion, and supply-demand connection. A legal framework should be completed early, specifically introducing the law on industrial development and establishing a national steering committee for such development. Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, former vice-president of the Central Institute for Economic Management, says that appropriate support policies should be worked out for industry in Vietnam. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Supporting leading enterprises Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, former vice-president of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), said that during the process of getting involved in global supply chains, Vietnam has many advantages as it is located in the center of Asia-Pacific, which is the most dynamic region for development and has participated in many free trade agreements. However, there is no specific answer to the question whether Vietnams industrialization and modernization will be a success. Global supply chains, in the context of the Russia - Ukraine military conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, are uncertain, but enterprises opportunities for development are obvious. Supply chain development is often associated with comparative advantages in transport costs and automation, so it is related to not only efficiency and technology but also confidence among partners and increasing protection tendency. The partnership between Vietnam and its partners is comprehensive and strategic, which will open up opportunities for cooperation," Thanh noted. Once Vietnam determines industry as a potential sector, support policies, especially those for leading enterprises, should be issued. The leading enterprises are pioneers in establishing the connection with relevant companies and institutions. However, it is a great pity that the CIEM had earlier proposed these policies but they were later scrapped, Thanh said. Phil Kyun Choi, an expert from South Korea, detailed processes that helped his company get the support from the South Korean government in its initial stage of taking part in global supply chains, saying, The most remarkable support is developing an online export platform where export enterprises can introduce their products and services to foreign importers. We also expect to build a similar platform for Vietnamese enterprises to access importers easily." Phil Kyun Choi, director of South Korea-based Korean Business Services. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Challenges of Vietnamese enterprises Vietnamese firms do not have advantages in capital and technology and are holding low positions in supply chains. In particular, the Southeast Asian country fails to develop supporting industries for value chains of autos and electronic products, which are ruled by manufacturers. Meanwhile, as for value chains ruled over by purchasers, such as those of textiles-garments and footwear, Vietnam faces pressure from high human resource and service costs. Amid the fourth industrial revolution, its participation in free trade agreements, financial connection, and the flexibility of partners have forced Vietnam to engage in higher added value chains. Therefore, the apparel, footwear, and electronics sectors, which are labor-intensive, reliant on imports, and ruled over by purchasers as well as have a large proportion of foreign investment, should review and improve their capacity and come up with appropriate support policies. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Despite the potential for growth, a law on industrial development has yet to be formulated, while planning management, development strategies, and regional connectivity for industries remain limited in Vietnam. At a seminar themed 'Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Joining Global Supply Chains' held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in association with the Industry Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade at Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday last week, experts agreed that it is necessary to build the law on industrial development to foster the development of industries and serve as a foundation to boost industrialization and modernization. Tran Anh Hao, head of the industrial management division under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Early introduction of law on industrial development proposed Regarding Ho Chi Minh Citys assistance for supporting industries, Tran Anh Hao, head of the industrial management division under the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city has drawn up a plan to spur supporting industry development since 2015. To date, the plan has attracted many enterprises, which has helped the localization rate in the city exceed 50 percent. Nevertheless, the state management of industry remains inefficient. Enterprises in the sector are mainly small and medium ones, so they face limitations on personnel, financial resources, and product development research. To beef up industrial development, it is key to focus on expanding the industrial land bank, developing human resources and priority industries, and enhancing trade promotion, market expansion, and supply-demand connection. A legal framework should be completed early, specifically introducing the law on industrial development and establishing a national steering committee for such development. Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, former vice-president of the Central Institute for Economic Management, says that appropriate support policies should be worked out for industry in Vietnam. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Supporting leading enterprises Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, former vice-president of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), said that during the process of getting involved in global supply chains, Vietnam has many advantages as it is located in the center of Asia-Pacific, which is the most dynamic region for development and has participated in many free trade agreements. However, there is no specific answer to the question whether Vietnams industrialization and modernization will be a success. Global supply chains, in the context of the Russia - Ukraine military conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, are uncertain, but enterprises opportunities for development are obvious. Supply chain development is often associated with comparative advantages in transport costs and automation, so it is related to not only efficiency and technology but also confidence among partners and increasing protection tendency. The partnership between Vietnam and its partners is comprehensive and strategic, which will open up opportunities for cooperation," Thanh noted. Once Vietnam determines industry as a potential sector, support policies, especially those for leading enterprises, should be issued. The leading enterprises are pioneers in establishing the connection with relevant companies and institutions. However, it is a great pity that the CIEM had earlier proposed these policies but they were later scrapped, Thanh said. Phil Kyun Choi, an expert from South Korea, detailed processes that helped his company get the support from the South Korean government in its initial stage of taking part in global supply chains, saying, The most remarkable support is developing an online export platform where export enterprises can introduce their products and services to foreign importers. We also expect to build a similar platform for Vietnamese enterprises to access importers easily." Phil Kyun Choi, director of South Korea-based Korean Business Services. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Challenges of Vietnamese enterprises Vietnamese firms do not have advantages in capital and technology and are holding low positions in supply chains. In particular, the Southeast Asian country fails to develop supporting industries for value chains of autos and electronic products, which are ruled by manufacturers. Meanwhile, as for value chains ruled over by purchasers, such as those of textiles-garments and footwear, Vietnam faces pressure from high human resource and service costs. Amid the fourth industrial revolution, its participation in free trade agreements, financial connection, and the flexibility of partners have forced Vietnam to engage in higher added value chains. Therefore, the apparel, footwear, and electronics sectors, which are labor-intensive, reliant on imports, and ruled over by purchasers as well as have a large proportion of foreign investment, should review and improve their capacity and come up with appropriate support policies. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, has established Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (GSM), which offers VinFast electric cars and motorbikes for rental and taxi services. This is the first green transport service model in the world aiming to popularize the experience of electrified mobility and encourage a green lifestyle, the company said. GSM has a charter capital of VND3 trillion (US$126.8 million), to which Vuong contributed 95 percent. The company will offer electric car and motorbike rental services to conventional taxi and ride-hailing firms as well as their rideshare partners. It will also provide taxi services itself using its own electric cars. The services will be made available in Hanoi next month and spread nationwide this year. VinFast electric motorbikes. Photo: D.H. / Tuoi Tre All vehicles provided and used by GSM are produced by VinFast, including 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes. Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM, said the company aims to further improve the green and smart mobility ecosystem in Vietnam and provide more options to use electric vehicles at reasonable costs. Customers will have opportunities to experience electric vehicles, thus accelerating the green revolution in Vietnam, Thanh added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, has established Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (GSM), which offers VinFast electric cars and motorbikes for rental and taxi services. This is the first green transport service model in the world aiming to popularize the experience of electrified mobility and encourage a green lifestyle, the company said. GSM has a charter capital of VND3 trillion (US$126.8 million), to which Vuong contributed 95 percent. The company will offer electric car and motorbike rental services to conventional taxi and ride-hailing firms as well as their rideshare partners. It will also provide taxi services itself using its own electric cars. The services will be made available in Hanoi next month and spread nationwide this year. VinFast electric motorbikes. Photo: D.H. / Tuoi Tre All vehicles provided and used by GSM are produced by VinFast, including 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes. Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM, said the company aims to further improve the green and smart mobility ecosystem in Vietnam and provide more options to use electric vehicles at reasonable costs. Customers will have opportunities to experience electric vehicles, thus accelerating the green revolution in Vietnam, Thanh added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The governor of a region of Colombia where a herd of some 150 hippos -- descendants of animals once owned by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar -- are breeding out of control said Monday he hopes for the greenlight to send half of them to sanctuaries in India and Mexico. "We hope that the permits required by the national institutions can be approved in the first half of this year, so that we can make arrangements for the air shipment," Anibal Gaviria, governor of Antioquia in the northwest, told AFP. A small herd of hippos arrived in Colombia in the late 1980s, brought in by the fabulously wealthy cocaine lord Escobar. After his death in 1993, the animals were left to roam freely and populated the region of Magdalena Medio, a hot savanna criss-crossed by rivers, marshes and swamps where food for hippos is abundant. Gaviria wants to transfer 70 of the herd -- declared invasive by the government a year ago -- to sanctuaries in India and Mexico. The growth of the hippopotamus population "is a complex situation for the inhabitants" of Magdalena Medio, some of whom have been threatened by the animals, which can weigh two to three tons, he said. The local environmental agency recorded two assaults on residents in 2021. In 2022, after unsuccessful attempts at a sterilization program, the government declared the hippos an invasive species, opening the door to hunting. Experts and the environmental agency agreed it was a necessary solution, given the threat to local people and wildlife. The governor of a region of Colombia where a herd of some 150 hippos -- descendants of animals once owned by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar -- are breeding out of control said Monday he hopes for the greenlight to send half of them to sanctuaries in India and Mexico. "We hope that the permits required by the national institutions can be approved in the first half of this year, so that we can make arrangements for the air shipment," Anibal Gaviria, governor of Antioquia in the northwest, told AFP. A small herd of hippos arrived in Colombia in the late 1980s, brought in by the fabulously wealthy cocaine lord Escobar. After his death in 1993, the animals were left to roam freely and populated the region of Magdalena Medio, a hot savanna criss-crossed by rivers, marshes and swamps where food for hippos is abundant. Gaviria wants to transfer 70 of the herd -- declared invasive by the government a year ago -- to sanctuaries in India and Mexico. The growth of the hippopotamus population "is a complex situation for the inhabitants" of Magdalena Medio, some of whom have been threatened by the animals, which can weigh two to three tons, he said. The local environmental agency recorded two assaults on residents in 2021. In 2022, after unsuccessful attempts at a sterilization program, the government declared the hippos an invasive species, opening the door to hunting. Experts and the environmental agency agreed it was a necessary solution, given the threat to local people and wildlife. Japan said it had destroyed a new medium-lift rocket it launched into space on Tuesday after the vehicle's second-stage engine failed to ignite, in a blow to its efforts to expand access to space and remain competitive in a launch market roiled by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The 57-metre (187 ft) tall H3 rocket had lifted off from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Tanegashima space port, following an aborted launch last month. JAXA said it sent a self-destruct signal to the rocket after the engine failure. The H3 was carrying the ALOS-3, a disaster management land observation satellite that is also equipped with an experimental infrared sensor designed to detect North Korean ballistic missile launches. Shares in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI), the H3's builder, fell 1.8% in morning trade, while the broader Japanese benchmark index was up 0.4%. Powered by a new simpler, lower-cost engine that includes 3D-printed parts, the H3 is designed to lift government and commercial satellites into Earth orbit. It also meant to ferry supplies to the International Space Station. As part of Japan's deepening cooperation with the United States in space, it will eventually carry cargo to the Gateway lunar space station that NASA plans to build as part of its programme to return people to the moon, including Japanese astronauts. MHI has estimated that the H3's cost per launch will be half of its predecessor, the H-II, helping it win business in a global launch market increasingly dominated by SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket. In a report published in September, the Center for Strategic and International Studies put the cost of a Falcon 9 launch to low Earth orbit at $2,600 per kilogramme. The equivalent price tag for the H-II is $10,500. Japan said it had destroyed a new medium-lift rocket it launched into space on Tuesday after the vehicle's second-stage engine failed to ignite, in a blow to its efforts to expand access to space and remain competitive in a launch market roiled by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The 57-metre (187 ft) tall H3 rocket had lifted off from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Tanegashima space port, following an aborted launch last month. JAXA said it sent a self-destruct signal to the rocket after the engine failure. The H3 was carrying the ALOS-3, a disaster management land observation satellite that is also equipped with an experimental infrared sensor designed to detect North Korean ballistic missile launches. Shares in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI), the H3's builder, fell 1.8% in morning trade, while the broader Japanese benchmark index was up 0.4%. Powered by a new simpler, lower-cost engine that includes 3D-printed parts, the H3 is designed to lift government and commercial satellites into Earth orbit. It also meant to ferry supplies to the International Space Station. As part of Japan's deepening cooperation with the United States in space, it will eventually carry cargo to the Gateway lunar space station that NASA plans to build as part of its programme to return people to the moon, including Japanese astronauts. MHI has estimated that the H3's cost per launch will be half of its predecessor, the H-II, helping it win business in a global launch market increasingly dominated by SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket. In a report published in September, the Center for Strategic and International Studies put the cost of a Falcon 9 launch to low Earth orbit at $2,600 per kilogramme. The equivalent price tag for the H-II is $10,500. The military command in Tra Vinh Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta, said on Monday they had removed a 150-kilogram wartime bomb that was found by local residents. The bomb was discovered at a construction site in Truong Long Hoa Commune, Duyen Hai Town. After receiving a report from local residents, the provincial military command dispatched a specialized unit to assess the situation and set up warning signs. Military officers handle a 150-kilogram wartime bomb in Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam, March 6, 2023. Photo: Huu Hiep / Tuoi Tre The bomb was identified as a Mark 81 bomb weighing 150 kilograms. It was buried deep in the soil for a long time and still has a detonator. The bomb was later transported to the shooting range in Tieu Can District, awaiting detonation in accordance with regulations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnam considers Japan as a long-term and trustworthy strategic partner, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Secretary-General of Japan's National Security Secretariat Akiba Takeo during a meeting in Hanoi on Monday, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Society -- It will remain dry and sunny across Vietnam on Tuesday, with a slight chance of showers in some areas, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported. -- Fire engulfed two houses in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Monday afternoon, killing a 58-year-old man who suffered from a stroke and was unable to walk. -- Police in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang confirmed on Monday they had initiated legal proceedings against a kindergarten teacher on suspicion of beating a four-year-old boy. -- The military command in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh said on Monday they had handled a 150-kilogram wartime bomb that was previously found by local residents. -- Officers in north-central Nghe An Province have arrested a truck driver after his vehicle crashed into a motorbike and killed a woman and her two children on Monday morning. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday inspected the headquarters and multiple branches of pawnshop chain F88, which specializes in lending money in the form of mortgages of cars, motorbikes, phones, and laptops. -- The Peoples Court in Hanoi on Monday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for causing a house fire that killed his girlfriend in late 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnam considers Japan as a long-term and trustworthy strategic partner, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Secretary-General of Japan's National Security Secretariat Akiba Takeo during a meeting in Hanoi on Monday, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Society -- It will remain dry and sunny across Vietnam on Tuesday, with a slight chance of showers in some areas, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported. -- Fire engulfed two houses in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Monday afternoon, killing a 58-year-old man who suffered from a stroke and was unable to walk. -- Police in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang confirmed on Monday they had initiated legal proceedings against a kindergarten teacher on suspicion of beating a four-year-old boy. -- The military command in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh said on Monday they had handled a 150-kilogram wartime bomb that was previously found by local residents. -- Officers in north-central Nghe An Province have arrested a truck driver after his vehicle crashed into a motorbike and killed a woman and her two children on Monday morning. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday inspected the headquarters and multiple branches of pawnshop chain F88, which specializes in lending money in the form of mortgages of cars, motorbikes, phones, and laptops. -- The Peoples Court in Hanoi on Monday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for causing a house fire that killed his girlfriend in late 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City launched an investigation into Tran Uyen Phuong, deputy CEO of local drink producer Tan Hiep Phat Group, for allegedly evading taxes and assisting others in dodging them. Phuong and some other individuals were found to have incorrectly declared the sale price of multiple land lots, indicating tax evasion. As a result, the local tax authority incorrectly calculated the taxes they had to pay for the transfer of the use rights of land lots in Hiep Binh Chanh, Long Truong, and Binh Khanh Wards in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, causing losses of over VND5.48 billion (US$233,057) to the state budget. Municipal investigators asked the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department to verify the land values, taxes imposed on the land lots at the transfer time, and any taxes evaded. Phuong, who is a daughter of Tran Qui Thanh, founder and CEO of Tan Hiep Phat Group, is in charge of "marketing, public relations, and CSR programs nationally and across Vietnams 63 provinces," according to the company's website. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization and was an honorary consul of Sudan in Ho Chi Minh City for the tenure between August 2018 and July 2019. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City launched an investigation into Tran Uyen Phuong, deputy CEO of local drink producer Tan Hiep Phat Group, for allegedly evading taxes and assisting others in dodging them. Phuong and some other individuals were found to have incorrectly declared the sale price of multiple land lots, indicating tax evasion. As a result, the local tax authority incorrectly calculated the taxes they had to pay for the transfer of the use rights of land lots in Hiep Binh Chanh, Long Truong, and Binh Khanh Wards in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, causing losses of over VND5.48 billion (US$233,057) to the state budget. Municipal investigators asked the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department to verify the land values, taxes imposed on the land lots at the transfer time, and any taxes evaded. Phuong, who is a daughter of Tran Qui Thanh, founder and CEO of Tan Hiep Phat Group, is in charge of "marketing, public relations, and CSR programs nationally and across Vietnams 63 provinces," according to the company's website. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization and was an honorary consul of Sudan in Ho Chi Minh City for the tenure between August 2018 and July 2019. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City raided the headquarters of pawnshop chain F88 on Nguyen Oanh Street in Go Vap District and its branches across the city on Monday. The area surrounding the headquarters was put under strict surveillance. Residents were prevented from taking photos and recording videos. Besides the headquarters in Go Vap District, F88s branches on Tran Quang Khai Street in District 1, Do Xuan Hop and Kha Van Can Streets in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Van Qua Street in District 12, and Le Trong Tan Street in Tan Phu District faced the same fate. Swarms of policemen searched the headquarters and offices, which was supposedly the result of the companys alleged extortion of debtors. F88 was suspected of appropriating assets through lending. The search of the companys headquarters and offices is aimed at serving an investigation into the firm. Ho Chi Minh City police officers search an F88 office on Tran Quang Khai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre F88, established in 2013, offers loans with customers autos, motorcycles, mobile phones, and laptops used as collateral. F88 has reported fast growth in Vietnam. It currently has 830 offices nationwide. The company successfully mobilized a series C investment totaling US$50 million last Thursday from the Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund and the Mekong Enterprise Fund IV. The fresh capital was to be invested in technology, data science, brand building, new customer attraction, and human resource development, it said. F88 chairman and general director Phung Anh Tuan said the company provides personal financial services to unbanked and underbanked customers and micro, small, and medium enterprises failing to meet banks requirements. Police officers raid an F88 office on Do Xuan Hop Street in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre In 2017-18, F88 successfully mobilized a series A investment from the Mekong Enterprise Fund III and a series B investment from Granite Oak, a UK-based investment holding company. Last year, it raised $70 million from Hong Kongs CLSA Capital Partners Limited and the UKs Lendable. The Ministry of Public Security and police in many localities have recently busted many debt collection rings that appropriated assets of debtors. Hundreds of thousands of people have been threatened and terrorized for their late debt payments. The Ho Chi Minh City police department has also initiated legal proceedings against 26 suspects who are employees of Mirae Asset Finance Company (Vietnam) Limited and Power Law Company Limited on charges of calumny. In addition, 13 others who are employees of P&L International Trading Services Co. Ltd. and TVX Group Co. Ltd. were prosecuted for allegedly using the Internet, telecom networks, and electronic devices to appropriate assets. Police search an F88 office on Kha Van Can Street in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City raided the headquarters of pawnshop chain F88 on Nguyen Oanh Street in Go Vap District and its branches across the city on Monday. The area surrounding the headquarters was put under strict surveillance. Residents were prevented from taking photos and recording videos. Besides the headquarters in Go Vap District, F88s branches on Tran Quang Khai Street in District 1, Do Xuan Hop and Kha Van Can Streets in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Van Qua Street in District 12, and Le Trong Tan Street in Tan Phu District faced the same fate. Swarms of policemen searched the headquarters and offices, which was supposedly the result of the companys alleged extortion of debtors. F88 was suspected of appropriating assets through lending. The search of the companys headquarters and offices is aimed at serving an investigation into the firm. Ho Chi Minh City police officers search an F88 office on Tran Quang Khai Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre F88, established in 2013, offers loans with customers autos, motorcycles, mobile phones, and laptops used as collateral. F88 has reported fast growth in Vietnam. It currently has 830 offices nationwide. The company successfully mobilized a series C investment totaling US$50 million last Thursday from the Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund and the Mekong Enterprise Fund IV. The fresh capital was to be invested in technology, data science, brand building, new customer attraction, and human resource development, it said. F88 chairman and general director Phung Anh Tuan said the company provides personal financial services to unbanked and underbanked customers and micro, small, and medium enterprises failing to meet banks requirements. Police officers raid an F88 office on Do Xuan Hop Street in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre In 2017-18, F88 successfully mobilized a series A investment from the Mekong Enterprise Fund III and a series B investment from Granite Oak, a UK-based investment holding company. Last year, it raised $70 million from Hong Kongs CLSA Capital Partners Limited and the UKs Lendable. The Ministry of Public Security and police in many localities have recently busted many debt collection rings that appropriated assets of debtors. Hundreds of thousands of people have been threatened and terrorized for their late debt payments. The Ho Chi Minh City police department has also initiated legal proceedings against 26 suspects who are employees of Mirae Asset Finance Company (Vietnam) Limited and Power Law Company Limited on charges of calumny. In addition, 13 others who are employees of P&L International Trading Services Co. Ltd. and TVX Group Co. Ltd. were prosecuted for allegedly using the Internet, telecom networks, and electronic devices to appropriate assets. Police search an F88 office on Kha Van Can Street in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has filed multiple murder complaints against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves in relation to killings of at least four individuals in 2019. The complaint lodged before the Department of Justice on Tuesday also named five other respondents. Lawyer Levi Baligod, who represents the family of one of the victims, said the witnesses were part of the "assassination team" and they executed an affidavit. "But ito, apat pa lang ang nai-file namin (We have only filed four as of now) but I think there will be more because in my record based on the complainants, there were 12 murders committed between the period 2018 and 2019," Baligod told reporters after the filing. As to Teves' participation, Baligod alleged that the congressman summoned the witnesses and gave them instructions to assassinate the victims. "So nung tinanong ko nga kung ano 'yung ginamit na baril, anong oras, ano ang damit nung victim, nasasagot nila," Baligod added. "So I was convinced of the credibility of these witnesses. That's why I helped the families file the complaint with the CIDG." [Translation: So when I asked what kind of gun they used, what time, what the victims wore - they were able to answer them. So I was convinced of the credibility of these witnesses. That's why I helped the families file the complaint with the CIDG.] Baligod also claimed that politics was the motive. "Especially si dating board member Miguel Dumog. Sinasabi nila na nagkaroon kasi ng survey doon kung sino yung pwedeng lumaban kay Mr. Teves at lumabas ang pangalan ni Miguel Dumog na popular siya doon. 'Yun ang kwento ng mga ito." [Translation: Especially former board member Miguel Dumog. They said there was a survey on who can go up against Mr. Teves, and Miguel Dumog's name popped up. That's what they've been saying.] Teves has yet to release a statement in response to the complaints. RELATED: Negros Oriental solon denies involvement in Degamo murder A woman and two of her children were killed while her other son was injured after they were hit by a truck in the north-central Vietnamese province of Nghe An on Monday. According to the Peoples Committee of Hung Trung Commune in Hung Nguyen District, Nghe An Province, the woman, N.T.H., a 26-year-old resident of Hung Trung Commune, was riding a motorbike to take her children to school at about 6:45 am. The motorcycle then collided with the truck and the mother and her three children fell off the vehicle. The mother and two of her children died on the spot. Her youngest son, a preschool student, was injured and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. Local residents are stunned by the serious accident. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre After the accident, police officers rushed to the scene to investigate its cause. Trucker Nguyen Duy Quan, a 37-year-old resident of Nghe An Province, was taken into custody for further investigation, investigators from the Nghe An Police said on Monday. Quan tested zero for blood alcohol concentration and negative for drugs. According to investigators, Quan was driving the truck carrying stones from Nghi Loc District to Vinh City in Nghe An. He declared that when reaching Hung Trung Commune, he saw another truck traveling in the opposite direction and a motorcycle in the same direction. As he focused on avoiding the truck, he slammed his vehicle into the motorcycle. A delegation of the National Traffic Safety Committee visits and offers condolences to the family of the victims. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre On Monday afternoon, a delegation of the National Traffic Safety Committee visited and offered condolences to the family of the victims. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A woman and two of her children were killed while her other son was injured after they were hit by a truck in the north-central Vietnamese province of Nghe An on Monday. According to the Peoples Committee of Hung Trung Commune in Hung Nguyen District, Nghe An Province, the woman, N.T.H., a 26-year-old resident of Hung Trung Commune, was riding a motorbike to take her children to school at about 6:45 am. The motorcycle then collided with the truck and the mother and her three children fell off the vehicle. The mother and two of her children died on the spot. Her youngest son, a preschool student, was injured and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. Local residents are stunned by the serious accident. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre After the accident, police officers rushed to the scene to investigate its cause. Trucker Nguyen Duy Quan, a 37-year-old resident of Nghe An Province, was taken into custody for further investigation, investigators from the Nghe An Police said on Monday. Quan tested zero for blood alcohol concentration and negative for drugs. According to investigators, Quan was driving the truck carrying stones from Nghi Loc District to Vinh City in Nghe An. He declared that when reaching Hung Trung Commune, he saw another truck traveling in the opposite direction and a motorcycle in the same direction. As he focused on avoiding the truck, he slammed his vehicle into the motorcycle. A delegation of the National Traffic Safety Committee visits and offers condolences to the family of the victims. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre On Monday afternoon, a delegation of the National Traffic Safety Committee visited and offered condolences to the family of the victims. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ABC has issued a statement following media queries in which they were asked to comment on social media bullying of presenter Lisa Millar. According to ABC, both news.com.au and Daily Mail sought comment on abusive comments around the News Breakfast presenter, in relation to her wardrobe on Monday. The ABC regularly receives queries concerning abusive comments being made on social media about presenters and journalists, particularly female ones, ABC said in a statement. Under the guise of concern, these stories are republishing abuse. Queries asked how Lisa was doing following online criticism. The ABC is not going to dignify any vile comments being made about a presenters clothes by responding to them, said the broadcaster. If Daily Mail Australia and news.com.au were genuine in their concern about such behaviour they wouldnt amplify it by republishing the comments they describe as vile and sickening, accompanied by a screenshot. Giving anonymous social media bullies publicity on a national platform is participating in perpetuating antisocial behaviour and the very serious issue of online abuse of women. Especially on the eve of International Womens Day, we ask for a more responsible approach to reporting on these issues. Director, News Justin Stevens added: The relentless and vile bullying Lisa Millar is subjected to on social media, particularly Twitter, is unacceptable. She is an outstanding broadcaster and journalist and does an incredible job. Media outlets that amplify this disgusting anonymous trolling need to take a good hard look at themselves and their standards. Lisa Millar quit Twitter in late 2021 citing a level of animosity directed at her which went well beyond criticism of her work. SBS has set an April premiere for its upcoming consent documentary Asking for It, presented by Jess Hill (See What You Made Me Do). The 3 part series hopes to prompt a national conversation about sexual violence in Australian society and asks how can we shift a rape culture into a consent culture? Presenter and Consultant Producer Jess Hill said: The last sexual revolution liberated us from abstinence culture thankfully but it turns out that true sexual freedom is still only for some. As #MeToo has shown, sexual freedom can be expressed at great cost to those whove had sex they didnt want. The consent revolution is the next evolutionary step towards a truly liberated sexuality where everyone involved can expect to feel pleasure. I hope this series really gets people thinking about their own life experiences, and pumps new energy into the national movement to end rape culture. SBS Head of Unscripted Joseph Maxwell said: See What You Made Me Do was one of SBSs most successful factual programs in 2021 and were proud to partner again with Jess Hill and the team at Northern Pictures. The series exemplifies SBSs role in supporting ground-breaking documentaries that tackle the big issues of our time. Director Tosca Looby said: Theres nothing simple about consent but weve worked hard to take the audience on a carefully crafted journey through the wilds of this issue thats so fundamental and so misunderstood. We travel with survivors, all the way through our justice system and out the other side deeply disturbed by what we find. We meet the best educators in the consent game the people determined to get it right. And the audience, from teenage boys to the elderly, who want to speak openly and frankly about sex, in the pursuit of healthy, consent rich relationships! Over three episodes, Jess joins advocates who are forcefully driving change in Australia and learns why they are insisting on quality consent education, embedded across our national curriculum, from kindergarten onwards. Jess meets the prominent victim survivors spearheading Australias consent revolution including Saxon Mullins, Grace Tame, Noelle Martin and Adele (delsi) Moleta who shed light on their experiences navigating the legal system, fighting for law reform and dealing with trauma. Throughout the series Jess interviews a range of experts, community groups and consent educators from across Australia and beyond our shores: from the incredible work being done to educate male youth by sex and consent educator Richie Hardcore, to Reset Australia, leading the charge in tackling emerging digital threats. Jess experiences the joy of a consent friendly LGBTQIA+ dance party and reveals the pioneering work in South Africa thats testing bespoke care centres and courts to create a cocoon of care and justice for victim survivors. SBS current affairs program Insight, hosted by Kumi Taguchi, will air an episode exploring the topic of consent at 8:30pm AEDT on 25 April as an accompaniment to Asking For It. SBS Learn will deliver teaching resources based on selected clips from Asking For It, exploring respect, consent and power through age-appropriate materials for school students. Developed in partnership with the eSafety Commissioner and Body Safety Australia, these resources aim to equip students with the skills to navigate the complexity of healthy and respectful relationships. Asking For It will be subtitled in five languages, streaming on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. The series will also be available with audio description for blind or vision-impaired audiences. A Northern Pictures Production. Principal production funding from Screen Australia. Developed and produced in association with SBS Australia. Post-produced in Sydney, NSW with the assistance of the NSW Government. 8:30pm Thursday 20 April on SBS and continues weekly. 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732 Adult themes. MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. Chicago, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive is projected to reach USD 22.2 billion by 2030 from an estimated USD 2.9 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 25.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Browse and in-depth TOC on "Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive" 184 Tables 59 Figures 246 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id= 260287840 Report Attributes Details Market size value in 2021: USD 2.9 billion Projected to reach 2030: USD 22.2 billion CAGR: 25.4% Base Year Considered: 2020 Forecast Period: 2021-2030 Largest Market: Asia Pacific Region Covered: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and RoW Segments Covered: By technology, data fusion type, data fusion level, vehicle type, EV type, autonomous vehicle, sensor type, application, sensor fusion environment, and region Companies Covered: Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Infineon Technologies (Germany), Denso Corporation (Japan), Aptiv (Ireland), ST Microelectronics (Japan), and Allergo Microsystems (US), Elmos Semiconductor SE (Germany). A total of 27 major players covered The growth of the Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive is influenced by a major factor such as the stringency in safety standards in countries such as China, India, Brazil, European Union, US, Canada, etc. In addition, the anticipated increase in demand for premium and luxury cars is expected to boost the demand for sensor fusion technology. Also, the growing adoption of advanced ADAS features in automobiles due to enhanced safety and comfort is expected to drive adoption of sensors such as cameras, radars and LiDARs. Therefore, the Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. Story continues LiDAR is expected to be the fastest market during the forecast period LiDAR offers precise and accurate 3D measurement data from short to long ranges in challenging weather and lighting conditions. This technology can be combined with any other sensory data to provide a reliable representation of both, still as well as moving objects in the vehicles environment. Thus, LiDAR technology has become a suitable accessible solution to avoid collisions and enable obstacle detection and safe navigation in various environments in different vehicle types. LiDAR is used in critical automotive and mobility applications such as ADAS and autonomous driving. Europe and North America are likely to witness early adoption of LiDAR in their vehicle models. It is expected to be used in passenger cars post 2023 and in heavy commercial vehicles post 2024. Increased production and developments are expected to drive the adoption of LiDAR in automobiles. For instance, according to AUTOCAR PROFESSIONAL (Indias premier B2B automotive magazine), in July 2021, US-based Lidar solutions provider Cepton Technologies Inc secured an ADAS LiDAR Series Production Award at a leading, Detroit-based global automotive OEM. This marked the industry-first mass-market adoption of LiDAR for automotive ADAS. Heavy Commercial Vehicle is expected to be the largest growing market Currently, heavy commercial vehicles witness no penetration of sensor fusion. They do, however, require more cameras and radar for sensor fusion mainly because of the vehicle height, longer range, and distance. Trucks are expected to adopt sensor fusion before buses due to increasing requests by fleet managers to migrate to advanced safety technology. According to Aptiv, the European Union has mandated automotive manufacturers to fit ADAS, such as lane departure warning systems (LDWS) and autonomous emergency braking systems (AEB) in all heavy commercial vehicles weighing more than 7,000 kilograms. According to MarketsandMarkets analysis, penetration of ADAS features in trucks and buses in countries such as Germany and the US is around ~16% and 8%, respectively. Penetration in countries such as China, India, and Brazil is very low; the adoption of safety features in heavy commercial vehicles is likely to pick up only after 2025. The actual growth in HCVs is expected to gain momentum post 2024, mainly in developed countries. This growth is likely to be relatively slower than PCs and LCVs, but with more stringent safety standards. Request Free Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id= 260287840 Asia Pacific is expected to lead the market during the forecast period In Asia Pacific, China and Japan account for the largest share of Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive. The growth of the market in this region can be attributed to the high vehicle production and increased use of advanced electronics in Japan, South Korea, and China. The governments of these countries have recognized the growth potential of the automotive industry and have consequently taken various initiatives to encourage major OEMs to enter their domestic markets. Several European and American automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen (Germany), Mercedes Benz (Germany), and General Motors (US) have shifted their production plants to developing countries in the region. Major ADAS solution providers such as Robert Bosch (Germany), Continental (Germany), and Denso (Japan) have production facilities across Asia Pacific, which has accelerated development in sensor fusion technologies. Implementation of safety standards is also expected to be one of the major drivers of the Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive in the region. For instance, in Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) announced plans to mandate AEB for all new passenger cars by November 2021. Existing models will have this feature by December 2025, while all imported vehicles will have AEB by June 2024. This change in regulation will be the key driving factor for the growth of the Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive during the forecast period. Key Market Players The Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive is dominated by globally established players such as Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Infineon Technologies (Germany), and Denso Corporation (Japan), Aptiv (Ireland), ST Microelectronics (Japan). Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id= 260287840 Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Related Reports: Air Suspension Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Automotive Camera Market - Global Forecast to 2026 ADAS Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Automotive Software Market - Global Forecast to 2027 CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com The UK government said on Tuesday it was ready for legal challenges against a new law intended to stop migrants from reaching the country in small boats across the English Channel. Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed the government had pushed the boundaries of international law with its bill barring asylum claims by anyone who reaches the UK by unauthorised means. But the UN refugee agency is profoundly concerned by UKs illegal migration bill, saying it amounts to an asylum ban. The controversial plans could mean the government detained asylum seekers entering the country across illegal routes and then deporting them to their home country or a safe third country. Critics have blasted the plans as unworkable, inhumane, and not legally feasible, pointing out they could only succeed if the UK withdrew from several international treaties. They also claimed there is a lack of safe and legal routes, which forces asylum seekers to cross the channel in this way. If you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed," Braverman told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday, as she introduced the government's "Illegal Migration Bill." The UK government says the new law, once approved by Parliament, will deter migrants and hamstring smuggling gangs who send desperate people on hazardous journeys across the busy waterway. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the law will take back control of UK borders a central pledge of the successful but divisive campaign to take Britain out of the European Union. Braverman said those arriving by boat would be detained for up to 28 days and then deported, with exceptions only for children. Those medically unfit to fly and people at risk of serious harm will have limited grounds for appeal. She said there is a chance the robust and novel legislation breaches UK human rights laws, though added she was confident it is compatible with Britain's "international obligations" under refugee and human rights conventions. Story continues Critics say the plan cannot work since people fleeing war and persecution cant be sent home, claiming it is likely to be the latest in a series of unfulfilled immigration pledges by successive UK governments. The bill will not stop small boats crossing the Channel. It will only add to the trauma of the people in these boats, while further damaging Britains global reputation for fairness and compassion, said Laura Kyrke-Smith, executive director of the humanitarian group the International Rescue Committee. Labour Party immigration spokeswoman Yvette Cooper accused the government of ramping up the rhetoric on refugees without solving the deeply damaging chaos in Britain's asylum system. This bill isnt a solution, she said. It is a con that risks making the chaos even worse. The UK government says that once its new law is in place it will establish more legal paths to asylum, adding to those set up for people from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. But it hasn't said how many people will be accepted, or when the programme will start. Cooperation with France on stopping the boats stalled amid Britains acrimonious split from the European Union, though relations have improved since Sunak took office in October. The UK and France signed an agreement in November to increase police patrols on beaches in northern France, and Sunak hopes to cement further cooperation when he meets French President Emmanuel Macron at a UK-France summit on Friday. (Reuters) -Belarus detained on Tuesday what it said was a "terrorist" and more than 20 accomplices working with Ukrainian and U.S. intelligence services over attempted sabotage at a Belarusian air field, President Alexander Lukashenko was cited as saying. Belarusian anti-government activists said last month they had blown up a sophisticated Russian military surveillance aircraft in a drone attack at an airfield near the Belarusian capital Minsk, a claim disputed by Moscow and Minsk. "The Security Service of Ukraine, the leadership of the CIA, behind closed doors, are carrying out an operation against the Republic of Belarus. A terrorist was trained," the Belta news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying. Lukashenko said the aircraft had suffered only superficial damage in the attack, which was carried out using a "small drone", Belta reported. The suspect detained over the attack against the Beriev A-50 surveillance plane is a dual Russian-Ukrainian national, Belta also quoted Lukashenko as saying. More than 20 people involved in the incident have been arrested so far, while other suspects are still hiding abroad, he added. He said he had ordered a nationwide "sweep" to round up other saboteurs involved in attacks inside the country. Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and allowed Putin to use Belarus as a launchpad to invade Ukraine last February, repeated his position that Belarus would not be "dragged into" the conflict. "If you think that by throwing down this challenge, you will drag us into a war tomorrow, which is already raging across over Europe today, you are mistaken," Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying in comments directed at Kyiv and Washington. He has previously said Belarus would only enter the war directly if its territory came under attack from Ukraine. Kyiv has long been concerned about a new invasion from Belarusian territory, a risk that forces it to keep protecting its northern border at a time when its troops are at full stretch fighting Russia in its south and east. (Reporting by Reuters. Writing by Felix Light and Jake Cordell; Editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Trevelyan) Theres uproar in the cheese community after a ruling that gruyere can legally be used to describe the popular fromage, regardless of where its made. The beloved cheese is traditionally from the Gruyere region of Switzerland and France where it originated, but a US appeals court has said the name gruyere can be used for any delicacy of its type. In a victory for American dairy groups, the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), rejecting bids from cheese producers from Switzerland and France for a mark that would restrict the use of gruyere to cheese from Gruyere itself. The Swiss and French groups released a statement, saying they were disappointed by the courts choice but would continue to "pursue vigorously" their efforts to protect the gruyere name. The US dairy community is celebrating though, with the US Dairy Export Council president Krysta Harden saying the decision was an "outstanding result for manufacturers and farmers here in the United States. Gruyere is widely considered to be one of the most popular cheeses worldwide and is extremely well-established, having been first made in the Swiss district of La Gruyere in 1115. While the US Food and Drug Administration does have standards in place to certify gruyere cheese, they are said to be far less stringent than in France and Switzerland and, crucially, dont include geographic restrictions. The battle over gruyere has been raging for several years now and, in 2015, Switzerland's Interprofession du Gruyere and France's Syndicat Interprofessionnel du Gruyere asked the USPTO to certify that gruyere cheese only comes from the Gruyere region. The organisation refused, saying gruyere is a generic, unprotectable word for a type of cheese. The Swiss and French groups appealed after a Virginia federal court upheld that ruling in 2021. The courts decision has added to what has been an exceptionally bad week for gruyere makers from Gruyere. Last Friday (3 March), a fire broke out inside a Swiss cheese depot in the Swiss canton of Freiburg - destroying the 12,000 wheels of the divisive cheese. Chinese martial arts training program launched in Myanmar's Yangon Xinhua) 09:32, March 07, 2023 A martial artist performs during the launching ceremony of a Chinese martial arts, or Wushu, training program at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, March 6, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) YANGON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese martial arts or Wushu training program was launched here on Monday in efforts to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Myanmar. China Cultural Center in Yangon and FSSL (Myanmar) Services Limited jointly organized the three-month summer program to deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries and broaden the cultural knowledge of Myanmar students. A total of 33 students aged 10-50 will attend the courses from March 7 to May 30 at the China Cultural Center. Speaking at the launching of the training program, Xu Ling, who is in charge of the China Cultural Center in Yangon, said that it is the first training program of Wushu and Tai Chi since the opening of the center. Xu said that she hopes the training courses will help the participating students develop a healthy and disciplined lifestyle after they come to understand the traditional Chinese culture. Participants pose for a group photo during the launching ceremony of a Chinese martial arts, or Wushu, training program at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, March 6, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) Cleaning up the oil spill from the motor tanker that sank in the waters off Oriental Mindoro would likely take more than a month, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday. PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu cited the lack of manpower and equipment as the main challenges in cleanup operations. Let us be honest and candid about it. One month time? Hindi ganun kadali yan [Its not that easy], Abu told reporters. This is the reason why we are promoting everybodys involvementmost especially the LGUs (local government units) and the community. We are not sure or certain yet when oil from the vessel will be completely released," he added. The PCG official said the embassies of Japan and the United States in Manila expressed their intent to assist the country in responding to the oil spill. Asked how other nations could help, Abu said they can send people to help in the cleanup. Authorities are rushing to contain the oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress, as they warn of its impact on the environment and on the health of residents in Oriental Mindoro and nearby areas. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said toxic chemicals from the spill can cause skin and lung complications, aside from nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach. In a briefing also on Tuesday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency received reports of some residents along the shoreline experiencing headache and nausea. She noted these are short-term symptoms, which disappear a few hours after the patients receive medical help. Isa lang ang na-admit, yun ngang nagkaroon ng aggravation ng kanyang hika. Other than that, wala pa naman tayong naitatala na na-admit sa ospital, Vergeire said. [Translation: Only one has been admitted to the hospital a resident whose asthma worsened. Other than that, we have so far not recorded any more hospital admissions.] MT Princess Empress was transporting 800,000 liters of industrial oil when it capsized and sank last Feb. 28 near Naujan town. On Monday, authorities said they detected the possible site of the vessel northeast of Pola town. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the tanker is believed to have moved southeast from its last known position where it completely submerged. The DENR said officials will still have to verify the exact location of the vessel through the deployment of a remotely operated vehicle. RELATED: Oriental Mindoro oil spill reaches tourist spots DOT An H3 rocket carrying a land observation satellite rises into the air after blasting off from Tanegashima Space Centre on the island of Tanegashima in southwestern Japan, on March 7 (via REUTERS) Japans space agency was forced to destroy a new H3 rocket moments after it launched on Tuesday, after the ignition for its second stage failed. The H3 rocket - carrying a satellite and experimental sensor designed to monitor military activity - blasted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan, soaring into the sky as fans and local residents cheered. The H3 rocket carrying a land observation satellite lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima (via REUTERS) The projectile followed its planned trajectory and the second stage separated as planned before the ignition failed, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. JAXA said it sent a command to destroy the rocket, as the ignition failure meant there was no hope of the mission being completed. Debris from the rocket was expected to land in waters east of the Philippines. The rocket had been carrying an Advanced Land Observation Satellite, tasked primarily with Earth observation and data collection for disaster response and map making, and an experimental infrared sensor developed by the Defence Ministry that can monitor military activity including missile launches. The H3 rockets failure - which came three weeks after an aborted launch due to a separate glitch - marked a fresh setback for Japans space programme, and sparked disappointment for space fans who were rooting for Tuesdays retrial. Officials are investigating the cause of Tuesdays incident, and expected to give early findings at a news conference later on Tuesday. Spectators watch the launch of Japan's next generation rocket (AFP via Getty Images) The failure is the second in six months since a smaller Epsilon-series solid-fuelled rocket designed to launch scientific satellites failed in October. The H3 launch had also been delayed for more than two years because of an engine development delay. During a launch attempt last month, an electrical glitch after the main engine ignition aborted the launch just before lift-off and narrowly saved the rocket. The H3 rocket - Japans first new series in more than 22 years - was developed at a cost of 200 billion yen (1.23bn) by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a successor to Japans H-2A rocket, which is due to retire after its upcoming 50th launch. Story continues The H3, which is about 60m long, can carry larger payloads than the 53m H-2A. But its launch cost has been slashed approximately in half to about 50 million yen (306m) by simplifying its design, manufacturing and operation in an effort to win more commercial launch customers. The hydrogen-fuelled main engine is newly developed and uses fewer parts by altering the combustion method. The space launch business has become increasing competitive, with major players including Elon Musks SpaceX, and French firm Arianespace. (Reuters) - Slovak caretaker Prime Minister Eduard Heger launched a new pro-Western, liberal centrist party named the Democrats on Tuesday to run in a September election called after his coalition fell from power last year. Heger, 46, is splitting from the OLANO movement set up by his predecessor Igor Matovic, whose rifts with coalition partners led to the fall of the centre-right administration. The election outcome is highly uncertain in Slovakia's fragmented political scene, with the main dividing line running between pro-Western forces including the current government and a more pro-Russian stance by extreme right and the Smer party of former prime mister Robert Fico who wants to end support for Ukraine. Heger said pro-Western democratic values and aid to neighbouring Ukraine were the cornerstones of his agenda. "We want Slovakia to be a clear and reliable part of the democratic and free world, self-confident and responsible ally," Heger told a news conference. "We want to help Ukraine on the path to its desired victory and peace," he said. "We do not want Putin's army on our borders." Setting himself apart from conservative rivals, Heger said he wanted a country where "every citizen feels safe regardless of race, gender, faith, nationality or sexual orientation." Heger said he would not cooperate with far-right nationalists, like Fico's Smer (Direction) nor the Hlas (Voice) party, which itself split from Smer on a more pro-Western platform and now leads opinion polls. Smer has been second in recent polls, raising the possibility it could in some form return to power which it held in 2006-2010 and 2012-2020. Fico was forced to resign in favour of Pellegrini after the murder of an investigative journalist in 2018 sparked mass protests against public graft and clientelism. The refusal to work with Hlas, which Heger said had too much legacy of Smer, indicates it may be very difficult to form a western-leaning government after the September polls. Story continues Four ministers from the current government, including Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad, have joined Heger's new outfit. Under Heger's leadership, Slovakia shipped military equipment to Ukraine including the S-300 air defence system, and allowed hundreds of thousands refugees across the border after Russia's invasion of Ukraine started in February 2024. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague, Editing by Angus MacSwan) Driving womens rights is harder and stronger for positive changes in gender equality and inclusiveness. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become core values that businesses and organisations are pursuing. According to a Euromonitor International survey, womens rights are among the top 10 global consumer trends in 2023. Looking healthy, hygiene/cleanliness, inner confidence, good oral health/care, etc. are the top female perceptions of beauty globally in this survey. Therefore, female empowerment has become impossible to ignore and is opening opportunities for businesses both as employers and market players. This requires businesses to build a gender-equal and inclusive culture and working environment while developing, innovating and delivering products especially beauty, hygiene and health products to fulfil the needs of consumers. In Viet Nam, Unilever Vietnam's brands cannot stand outside and have conducted a range of programmes for women. Sunsilk has also cooperated with Song An Career to organise an online event Reaching career dreams to guide young girls to find out their real interests and abilities to become more confident. The program Women do business from Sunlight aims to accompany Vietnamese women to pursue their dream of business start-ups by providing courses to equip them with business knowledge and initial capital support. Unilever has strived to promote a culture of diversity, equity and inclusiveness for all employees through equal opportunities of learning, working, promotion, and policies on welfare and equality rights. The business has achieved a gender balance at the management and director levels. For upscaling and influence expansion, besides building a gender-equity workplace and driving brands purposeful programmes, Unilever Vietnam has closely partnered with the Vietnam Womens Union for the past 17 years. This partnership will continue to make efforts and commit to facilitating one million Vietnamese women to develop and improve their quality of life through education and training in health, hygiene, nutrition, livelihood development, and access to business capital from 2022-2027. Recently, Unilever Vietnam, Sunlight, and the Womens Union have completed a direct training programme for more than 2,000 women in 10 provinces across the country, including Bac Lieu, Ninh Thuan, Lang Son, Kon Tum, Tay Ninh, Nam Dinh, Ca Mau, Quang Binh, Bac Kan and Phu Yen. Women participating in the programme can propose business ideas directly to the organisers and have the opportunity to receive prizes and initial financial support to confidently start a business at the Wrap-up and awarding ceremony of Women do business programme, which is going to take place this June. In addition, on March 30, to celebrate International Women's month, Unilever Vietnam coordinates with the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD Vietnam) to organise a campaign and seminar bearing the theme Positive beauty, positive you with the participation of social organisations, experts and activists. The programme aims to inspire and encourage womens confidence in their positive and diverse beauty, as well as their own unique values without being influenced by social stereotypes or prejudices. This aims to contribute to removing gender prejudice barriers, support building womens capacity, help them confidently unlock their full potential, pursue good values and make positive contributions to society. With all those efforts, Unilever Vietnam has been honoured at the prestigious UN Womens WEPs Awards for three consecutive years. In 2022, the business won the category Community engagement and partnership in Viet Nam and the Asia Pacific region. Previously, the enterprise also won in the category Gender-inclusive marketplace in 2021; and two categories Leadership commitment and "Gender-inclusive workplace" in 2020. HA NOI Total import-export revenue is estimated at US$96.06 billion in the first two months of this year, down 13.2 per cent year on year, with a trade surplus of $2.82 billion, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO). According to the office, the country has exported $49.44 billion worth of goods so far this year, down 10.4 per cent over the same period last year, with $37.92 billion coming from the foreign-invested sector, accounting for 76.7 per cent. In February alone, total export revenue is estimated at $25.88 billion, up 9 per cent over January and 11 per cent year on year. In the first two months of this year, eight kinds of products recorded exports of over $1 billion, accounting for more than 69.9 per cent of the total. Particularly, three enjoyed revenue of over $5 billion. The manufacturing-processing sector contributed $44.38 billion to the countrys total two-month export revenue, accounting for 89.8 per cent, while agro-forestry sector made up 6.9 per cent, fisheries 2 per cent and fuel and minerals 1.3 per cent. In January and February, the country spent $46.62 billion on importing goods, down 16 per cent year on year, mostly on production materials. In February, the figure dropped 6.7 per cent over the same period last year to $23.58 billion. In the first two months of this year, imports of 13 groups of goods exceeded $1 billion, with two recording imports worth more than $5 billion. So far this year, the US has remained the largest import market of Viet Nam with a revenue of $13.1 billion, while China has been the country's biggest exporter with a value of about $14.6 billion. In the January-February period, Viet Nams trade surplus with the EU is estimated at $4.8 billion, up 1.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the country has suffered a trade deficit of $6.4 billion with China, $4.7 billion with the Republic of Korea, $1.5 billion with ASEAN countries, and $237.2 million with Japan. To meet the target of about 6 per cent growth in export revenue this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked businesses to actively improve the competitiveness of their products, while expanding their export markets. The ministry will strengthen the exploitation of potential markets, while switching to official export channels in association with the building of trademarks. The ministry will also renovate its trade promotion activities and develop digital infrastructure to increase distribution though e-commerce platforms. Besides, the ministry will organise training courses for businesses and support them to make full use of free trade agreements. Agro-forestry-aquatic exports up 5.7 per cent in February Viet Nam earned over $3.4 billion from agro-forestry-aquatic product exports last month, a year-on-year increase of 5.7 per cent, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said. The sectors import-export value in the first two months of this year was estimated at $11.99 billion, down 16.8 per cent from the same period last year. Its exports accounted for around $6.28 billion, a drop of 22.5 per cent. After falling to second position among Viet Nams agro-forestry-aquatic importers, China returned to the top spot in the first two months of the year with $1.27 billion or 20.2 per cent of the market share. It was followed by the US with some $1.19 billion; Japan, $563 million; and the Republic of Korea, $302 million. Items that saw hikes in export revenues included tea, up 5.1 per cent; fruits and vegetables, 17.8 per cent; cassava and cassava products, 32.7 per cent; milk and dairy products, 10.2 per cent; and meat and by-products, 14.2 per cent. Meanwhile, staples such as coffee, rubber, rice, cashew nuts, pepper, tra fish (pangasius), shrimp, wood and wooden products, and rattan and bamboo products experienced decreases. To promote the consumption of farm produce, the ministry said it will step up market development, remove barriers and facilitate domestic sales and exports, while utilising free trade agreements (FTAs), especially the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The sector will also continue its coordination to support the protection of trademarks and geographical indications for Viet Nams potential export items abroad. It proposed the Government build a decree on the management of Viet Nam's national agricultural product brands. Representatives from the ministry will hold working sessions with Chinas Nanning and Yunnan customs forces to seek ways to promote trade and remove obstacles to agro-forestry-aquatic exports. VNS Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) The United States and Malaysia are now helping the Philippines search for the medical evacuation helicopter that went missing while on its way to a hospital in Palawan, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Monday. According to the CAAP-Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC), the operations were conducted in cooperation with the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services (PAMAS). The agencies handled aerial searches over Kota Kinabalu with two Cessna 192 planes and a US Department of Defense CL60 aircraft. The CAAP earlier reported that a helicopter with registry number N45VX and operated by PAMAS went missing while on its way to the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital. On board were the pilot, a nurse, the patient, and two companions. A day after the chopper went missing, the Philippine Coast Guard reported retrieving a pillow owned by the patient on board the missing air ambulance. The PARCC also said the agency has coordinated with the Philippine Navy, informing them of search and rescue (SAR) operations over Malaysian territory on Tuesday. Kota Kinabalu ARCC also informed the PARCC that their Coast Guard vessel conducted SAR operations south of Pulau Banggi, Sabah Malaysia around 4:00 PM today (Monday), the agency said. They also advised that the Malaysian Police Airwing Department and Malaysian Air Force will conduct SAR operations tomorrow (Tuesday) at the boundary of Pulau Banggi and Balabac, it added. The Philippine Air Force also deployed another rescue helicopter to transport the communications team of Task Force iCare from Puerto Princesa City to the PAMAS headquarters. HA NOI The export prices of Vietnamese rice in the first two months of 2023 rose by 9.8 per cent year-on-year to US$528.5 per tonne, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Viet Nam exported 789,000 tonnes of the grain in the reviewed period, earning $417 million, down 18.8 per cent in volume and 10.8 per cent in value compared to the same period last year. The Philippines is the largest importer in January with over 129,000 tonnes worth $64.55 million, accounting for 34.6 per cent of Viet Nams total export. Viet Nam recorded the highest increase in price for rice exported to Taiwan (China) in January, with a surge of 54.6 per cent year-on-year. Favourable conditions are forecast for rice exports in 2023 as many countries such as the US and China, and those in Europe, are being affected by climate change and drought, which cause a shortage of rice supply. Moreover, India one of the largest rice exporters in the world imposes a ban on broken rice exports and a 20-per cent tax rate on white rice varieties. Viet Nam aims to export between 6.5-7 million tonnes of rice in 2023. Its exports are predicted to increase again as the demand in traditional markets such as Indonesia and Bangladesh has risen, and China one of the largest importers of Vietnamese farm produce, has opened its market after the COVID-19 pandemic. VNS HA NOI Chairman of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup Pham Nhat Vuong on March 6 announced the establishment of GSM (Green - Smart - Mobility) Joint Stock Company, offering VinFast electric car and motorbike rental and taxi services. GSM is the world's first multi-platform green transport rental and taxi service aiming to promote electrified mobility while advocating a green lifestyle. The company is expected to provide the market with 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes made by the VinFast Trading Service Limited Liability Company, a subsidiary automaker of Vingroup. With charter capital of VN3 trillion (US$126.77 million), GSM, founded by Vuong, who owns a 95 per cent stake, is expected to begin operation in Ha Noi next month and then nationwide this year. The company will offer rental services to transport companies, while operating its own electric taxi service. Specifically, GSM will offer electric car rental services for traditional and online taxi service providers and their employees. At the same time, GSM will operate its own electric car taxi service. Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM JSC, said: "GSM was established to further the development of the green and smart mobility ecosystem in Viet Nam, providing people with more options to use electric vehicles at reasonable prices. "Whether it is just a few dozen minutes in a taxi or a few weeks or months of renting, customers will have the opportunity to experience the smart features and convenience of electric vehicles. In this way, we can accelerate the smart electric vehicle revolution in Viet Nam." GSM aims to promote the usage of electric vehicles by raising awareness about the convenience, intelligence, and sustainability of electric vehicles. By offering direct driving experiences (with test drive customers) and opportunities to enjoy smart technology features and amenities in vehicles (rental customers, electric taxi passengers), GSM will introduce VinFast electric cars to the broader public and gradually establish the habit of using smart and environmentally friendly transport in the daily lives of Vietnamese people. -- VNS QUANG NINH Malta-flagged cruise ship Mein Schiff 5 docked in Quang Ninh Province on Monday, carrying nearly 2,000 European visitors to the famous tourist destination in the north of Viet Nam. The visitors explored a number of tourist attractions in the locality, including the UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, as well as the local culture and cuisine in Ha Long City before leaving the province for Hong Kong (China) in the evening of the same day. This is the second and the biggest cruise ship having arrived in Quang Ninh since the beginning of this year. Earlier on January 22, or the first day of the Year of the Cat, the Silver Spirit cruise ship also carried 500 tourists to Ha Long. The city is about to welcome at least four other foreign ships with thousands of visitors in March. In the first two months of 2023, Quang Ninh received 3.35 million visitors, doubling the number recorded in the same time last year, including 157,000 foreigners. The province earned over VN6.5 trillion (US$274.66 million) from tourism in the period. This year, the province aims for 15 million visitors, including 2 million foreigners, and a tourism revenue of VN32.4 trillion ($1.36 billion). VNS HA NOI National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue met with female officers of the public security force in Ha Noi on Monday on the occasion of the 113th anniversary of International Womens Day and the 40th founding anniversary of the Ministry of Public Securitys Women Union (March 8). Speaking at the event, Hue hailed the female officers for maintaining the heroic tradition of Vietnamese heroic women, affirming the comprehensive position and role of women in the sector, making important contributions to the overall achievements of the public security force while promoting the development of women's movements nationwide, meeting the requirements of the industrialisation and modernisation cause of the country. The NA and NA Standing Committee will continue reviewing and issuing legal documents to facilitate both women and mens contributions to every aspect of the society, thus fostering the rapid and sustainable development of the nation, he said. The Central Public Security Party Committee, leaders of the Ministry of Public Security and the Viet Nam Womens Union must play a crucial role in advising the Party and State on policies and strategies for the advancement of the Vietnamese women, including those in the armed forces for the cause of national construction and defence at present and in the future, Hue said. The leader expressed his belief that the Ministry of Public Securitys Women Union and its members will continue fulfilling their assigned tasks and reaping new achievements. VNS HA NOI Experts discussed the implementation of policies and laws on energy development in the 2016-21 period at a conference co-organised by the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment (CSTE) in Ha Noi on Monday. Chairman of the NA committee Le Quang Huy said that in the 2016-21 period, the energy industry had developed rapidly in all sectors and fields, achieving many remarkable results. The energy industrys achievements are an important premise to conducting the Politburos Resolution 55, issued on February 11, 2020, on Viet Nams energy orientations and development strategies to 2030. However, Huy warned the energy industry still has some shortcomings, such as domestic energy supplies not meeting demand, the sector still lacking infrastructure, and technology levels in some areas needing improvement. Huy suggested experts focus on discussing the current situation, completing policies and laws on energy development, and proposing specific solutions. From there, the proposals can be submitted to the NA Standing Committee to solve the present difficulties and problems, and improve policies on energy development towards ensuring a fair energy transition and national energy security. Chairman of the VUSTA Phan Xuan Dung said that to achieve green, sustainable economic development and climate change adaptation, Viet Nam was promoting energy transformation with cooperation and support from partners. The country has gradually reduced fossil fuels, prioritising renewable, new and clean energy. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that Viet Nam would achieve the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Assessing the actual implementation of policies and laws in energy planning in Viet Nam, associate professor Truong Duy Nghia, chairman of the Viet Nam Thermal Science and Technology Association said that the inter-sector relationship was not clear enough. He said it is not clear that the development planning of one sector is influenced or affected by the others and vice versa. Nghia suggested that it was necessary to confirm the works starting and completion time in the planning. In the vision stage, it is also necessary to have specific plans and avoid too much change. With the same point of view, professor Tran inh Long from the Viet Nam Electricity Association suggested that the power plan No 8 should be approved soon. Otherwise, it would affect the technology and financial supply chain. The power plan No 8 should take into account clean and green energy transition. VNS American actress Corrin Carlson enjoys Vietnamese street food. (Photo: What about Viet Nam) Hanoi A passion for street food has inspired American actress Corrin Carlson to become a food blogger giving reviews about food, restaurants, travel, and daily life during her three-year stay in Vietnam. In a recent interview with BBC, Carlson recalled that she first arrived in Hanoi in 2019 at the invitation of some of her new friends who teach English in Vietnam. At that time, she was traveling around Asia and just intended to spend a few months exploring and experiencing the life and culture of the S-shaped country. However, her love for Vietnamese food and visits to places across the country made her decide to stay in Vietnam instead of returning to the US, particularly during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through her blog on TikTok and Instagram named Plates of Hanoi (now changed to The Fat Passport), Carlson creates content in English to show foreigners and tourists her food-relating experiences in Vietnam. When spending three years in Vietnam, Carlson and her friend traveled to the corners of Hanoi to find the best food in town. One of Corrin's first videos that went viral on social media during Hanois social distancing was about pho. In the video, Carlson wears a facial mask like a local and talks about how vendors put pho in bags to take home, bringing a new perspective on pho that is already familiar to foreigners when served on the street in beautiful bowls and plates. Thanks to her charming and humorous way of talking, the American actress received 5 million views and a lot of comments from all over the world. She said the video not only gives a new perspective on pho but also gives viewers a look at COVID-19 in Vietnam and how people are living. She said that besides famous Vietnamese dishes such as banh mi, bun cha, and coffee, many other dishes should be known more and her choice is banh cuon (a steamed rolled pancake). Now, when she is no longer in Hanoi, Carlson still misses Hanoi and banh cuon, she told BBC. She said that street food in Vietnam offers a lot of choices. It is fresh, takes no time to prepare, and is healthy. Street food is a great thing about Vietnam that people don't find in many parts of the world, she said, adding that she ate street food at least twice, even three times a day while in Vietnam. Vietnam brings her great experiences with its cuisine, thus the food blogger would like to spread her love for food to everyone and encourage them to try Vietnamese dishes. The American actress also shared her plan to return to Vietnam in the future, and make more content about Vietnam. She said she will eat her favorite dishes again and try some new dishes. Vietnam among top five in the world for street food (infographics) Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam ranks fourth among the world's 50 best cities for street food, according to a new survey by US business magazine CEOWorld. French newspaper introduces Hanois must-eat street food French daily Le Figaro recently ran an article introducing Hanois most renowned street food. Street food vendors required to wear face masks Street food vendors will have to wear face masks from now on while preparing food and drinks for customers and maintain a distance of at least one metre from customers, Ha Nois Department of Health has said. The scene of the landslide. (Photo: cnnindonesia) Hanoi At least 10 people have been killed and several others went missing in a landslide that occurred in Indonesias western province of Riau Islands on March 6, the National Disaster Management Agency said. Abdul Muhari, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency, blamed heavy downpours and unstable soil conditions for the disaster. The agency said survivors were being evacuated from the Searasan region and the number of casualties may rise. Responding to the disaster, the search and rescue office in Natuna has deployed a joint rescue team to the scene but poor weather conditions and telecommunication access have hampered the rescue operation. The affected area was on a remote island that was a five-hour boat ride from the capital of Natuna, the agency said. Indonesia readies roadmap for Timor Leste's full ASEAN membership Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN this year, is preparing a roadmap to support the full membership of Timor Leste in the regional association. UK supports Indonesia to improve investment ecosystem Indonesias Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs has set a target of attracting 1,250 -1,400 trillion rupiah (82-92 billion USD) in investment in 2023 through passing policies to promote business licensing reform. Workers assemble electronic parts at a FDI company in Bac Giang province. Experts are concerned that the enactment of GMTR would neutralise the tax incentives offered by developing countries. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - As many countries plan to adopt the Global Minimum Tax Rate (GMTR) in 2024, experts are concerned that the entry into force of the rate would discourage foreign companies from locating their operations in low-tax countries. Under GMTR rules, corporations with more than 750 million EUR in annual revenue would be subject to an effective tax rate of at least 15 per cent, not including deductions for depreciation and certain tax credits. The introduction of GMTR is aimed to increase compliance costs and create a level playing field between developed and developing countries. The European Union has unanimously agreed to implement the rate on January 1, 2024. Japan followed suit with the enactment date being April 1, 2024. Other countries are preparing their legislation for the adoption of GMTR in the short term, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea (RoK). Experts worried that the introduction of GMTR in other countries would cancel out the tax incentives that Vietnam has laid down for years and result in tax revenues being effectively exported to those countries. They took RoK companies operating in Vietnam for example. These companies are subject to a preferential tax rate of 7 per cent. Once GMTR comes into force in the RoK, the companies would have to pay an additional rate of 8% to RoK tax authorities, which is the difference between the Vietnamese rate and GMTR. Dang Ngoc Minh, Deputy Director of the General Department of Taxation, estimated that 1,015 FDI companies operating in Vietnam would be unfavourably affected by the broad-based tax rules. He said global corporate heavyweights in the country are enjoying tax rates of between 2.75 per cent to 5.95 per cent, far lower than the GMTR of 15 per cent. As such, the implementation of GMTR abroad would cost Vietnam a couple of billions of dollars in tax loss every year. Thomas McClelland, country tax leader at the Deloitte Vietnam Company Ltd, urged Vietnam to act quickly and decisively to adopt GMTR. Otherwise, the country would lose out to others on the differential tax revenues. Some other experts shared this view, saying that Vietnam must be quick to bring GMTR into force to boost its tax revenues from FDI companies. But they also warned that the bandwagon would pose some new challenges for policymakers, who would have to find non-tax ways to attract FDI. Can Van Luc, chief economist at BIDV, believed that the implementation of GMRT would put developing countries at a competitive disadvantage, especially those using fiscal incentives as a magnet for FDI. He urged Vietnam to improve its business environment and investment climate to make up for the tax incentives that would diminish in the next few years. "A sound business environment and investment climate are more beneficial to investors than the financial incentives offered in the form of tax cuts," said Luc. It is also worth noting that GMRT can only be officially put in place next year under the circumstance that the Government proposes amendments to Corporate Law, Investment Law, and Tax Law to the National Assembly before October 2023. Global fuel concerns force tax action The government is expected to apply a scheme to pare down taxes and fees for fuel products, as well as provide sufficient fuel for the economy, in a bid to offer support and ensure desired growth. Preparing MNCs for a global tax rate The introduction of a global minimum corporate tax on the foreign profits of multinational corporations will affect Vietnams own tax plans. Annett Perschmann-Taubert, tax partner at PwC Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Luu Huong the current tax landscape and how policies should be reformed in order to maintain momentum. Effective cost and treasury management is one of the key concerns these days and has received great attention from corporates. This is especially true at this time when corporations are severely impacted by disruptions and constant volatility in the market, resulting in several challenges for CFOs. During the workshops, KPMG experts shared their knowledge on how to manage cost and treasury efficiently, tailoring their input to businesses needs, objectives, and situations. Senior-level guests from FIS Global also provided the guests with useful automated solutions for treasury management that follow global best practices. Luu Bao Lien, partner and head of Financial Management Consulting, providing helpful approaches for businesses to manage cost and treasury effectively Lien said, In the current context, cash flow and cost management have drawn attention from many businesses. Given that, KPMG has captured and designed methodologies and supporting tools to improve effective cash and cost management. Planning and budgeting, monitoring tools, and cost controlling processes with cost optimisation initiatives are three integral components that need to be implemented consistently across the business, bringing an average of 5-15 per cent in quick-win savings. Tim Kramer, director and head of the Special Situations Group at KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia, pointing out important points when managing cost and treasury in Vietnam "Vietnamese businesses have a significant untapped opportunity to release 10-20 per cent cash from working capital whilst enhancing operational processes and business partner relationships. This is the most efficient source of funding to deploy in a challenging economic context where both the need for cash and the cost of cash are increasing," Kramer noted. Vu Quyen, director at FIS Global, presenting useful automated solutions for treasury management with global best practices Once they have the know-how on how to do this, businesses can then reduce unnecessary steps in treasury management, thus making it easier to fulfil the ultimate goal of maximising profits. Global sustainability reporting by KPMG shows improvement in Asia-Pacific Despite positive signals in the region, the findings of the KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting show that there is still more to be done to balance addressing climate change and social equality with business performance. KPMG expands legal services in Asia Pacific More than 275 lawyers across Southeast Asia are set to join KPMG legal firms, giving the global organisation an extensive legal footprint in Asia Pacific, bringing coverage globally to 84 jurisdictions. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong At the Vietnam-Japan High-Level Economic Conference on March 7 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong affirmed that the Vietnam-Japan relationship was one of the most successful bilateral development cooperation relationships in recent years. To promote the development cooperation relationship between the two countries, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) proposed the two sides further promote official development assistance (ODA) cooperation. Secondly, the two sides will continue to closely coordinate to handle obstacles on a number of projects using Japanese ODA in Vietnam. Thirdly, the deputy minister suggested the Japanese side provide large loans with high incentives, and simple and flexible procedures for Vietnam's large-scale projects of inter-regional nature, focusing on areas such as transport infrastructure, climate change response, digital transformation, and health. According to the MPI, since 1992, with over 2.7 trillion yen in ODA loans, nearly 100 billion yen in non-refundable aid and approximately 180 billion yen in support for technical cooperation, Japan's ODA accounts for over 30 per cent of bilateral development aid to Vietnam. "Japan's ODA plays an important role in Vietnam's socioeconomic development, including implementing large-scale infrastructure development projects, a driving force to promote sustainable socioeconomic development," Phuong said. A number of outstanding large-scale infrastructure construction projects that have been built with Japanese assistance include international airports (Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat), seaports (Cai Lan, Lach Huyen, Danang, and Cai Mep-Thi Vai), bridges (Thanh Tri, Nhat Tan, Can Tho), and national highways. Japanese ODA also contributes to advanced technology transferring like satellite assembly, bridge and road construction techniques, and human resource training for Vietnam. The ODA indirectly or directly creates favourable conditions to attract foreign investment, especially from Japan, by developing large-scale infrastructure construction projects in important fields such as electricity generation, water supply and drainage, and transportation. Such ODA also contributes to poverty reduction. Infrastructural and FDI projects of Japan have created numerous jobs in rural areas. Vietnam-Japan High-Level Economic Conference on March 7 To successfully implement the country's socioeconomic development strategy, especially the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs, ODA and foreign concessional loans continue to be necessary and important resources in the new development of Vietnam. However, Phuong said that in addition to the achieved results, there were still difficulties and obstacles in some programmes and projects, which require more efforts on both sides. "Based on the deep strategic partnership, and the common perceptions of the two countries' senior leaders, Vietnam-Japan development cooperative relationship will continue developing, contributing to enhancing relationship of the two countries," he said. Vietnam supports Japans initiatives towards net zero emissions: diplomat Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Has participation in the coming Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo will affirm Vietnams resolve to realise its committements on greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change response, as well as support for the Japanese Governments initiatives towards net zero emissions. Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative plays role in raising Vietnams FDI attractiveness: meeting The Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative (VJJI) has significantly contributed to improving the domestic business environment and raising Vietnams competitiveness in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, an official from the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has said. Dong Nai province attracts 281 million USD in FDI, with eight new projects being licensed and 14 projects receiving additional capital in the first two months of this year. (Photo: VNA) Dong Nai The southern province of Dong Nai has seen positive changes in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first two months of this year as its newly-licensed projects use advanced technology, are less labour intensive and more environmentally friendly. According to the Dong Nai Industrial Zone Authority (DIZA), the province attracted 281 million USD in FDI, with eight new projects being licensed and 14 projects receiving additional capital, in the time under review. Head of DIZA Pham Manh Cuong said that new FDI projects in the province do not have too much capital but all use advanced technologies in the logistics industry, which meets the provinces requirements and orientations which will limit labour intensive projects using outdated technologies. The province has been speeding up projects on new industrial zones and infrastructure works including Long Thanh International airport, Bien Hoa Vung Tau express, and Ho Chi Minh Citys Ring Road 3 and Ring Road 4. Such improved infrastructure is expected to make the province more attractive to investors, Cuong said. For the last two years, FDI to Dong Nai reduced and for the first time in the last 30 years, Dong Nai was out of the top five leading FDI recipients in Vietnam, Cuong said, adding that a lack of land funds is one of its difficulties in attracting investors. Enterprises from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), and Europe are eyeing to implement projects in the province but there is no land available to meet their demand, Cuong said, noting that the provinces industrial zones projects are just at land clearance phase. Once the bottleneck in infrastructure is removed, FDI flows into Dong Nai will be much stronger, which helps the province regain its position, Cuong said. Dong Nai authorities hold dialogue with FDI firms Authorities of Dong Nai on September 18 held a dialogue with associations and foreign direct investment (FDI) businesses in the southern province to grasp and remove their difficulties amidst complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dong Nai attracts over $1 billion in FDI capital despite the latest Delta wave In spite of the prolonged pandemic, Dong Nai has lured nearly $1.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in the first 11 months of 2021. Shinhan Bank Vietnam opens new locations in Bac Ninh and Dong Nai Shinhan Bank Vietnam has opened the Que Vo branch in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province, and the Thong Nhat transaction office in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai province in early 2022. Investors seek husbandry opportunities in Dong Nai Vice Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Dong Nai province Vo Van Phi received executives from the Netherlands De Heus Group and Vietnams Hung Nhon Group on May 9 to discuss opportunities in agriculture in the southern province. Dong Nai powering up transmission grid development Concerted efforts are gearing towards clearing the hurdles facing power transmission projects in the southern province of Dong Nai. Westlake Compounds Vietnam broke ground on new compounds plant in Dong Nai On August 17, Westlake Compounds Vietnam celebrated the groundbreaking of a new compounds plant at the company site in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai Province. By participating in Lazadas Super Brand Day for four continuous years since the campaign was introduced, skincare brand Kiehls has achieved outstanding results with its e-commerce business strategy. According to a representative from Kiehl's, it has managed to optimise brand recognition, increase sales, and attract new customers. Kiehls case is not unique, according to Lazada, the average sales of other brands on Super Brand Days is 164 times higher than on regular days. They also saw a 90 per cent increase in the number of new customers. This success did not come overnight. It was the result of continuous testing, operating, and optimising the initiatives on the Lazada e-commerce platform with built-in solutions. Brands have worked closely with Lazada to achieve their shared goal of improving the consumer experience. To seize the 24-hour growth opportunity that Super Brand Day provides, brands must meet rigorous criteria. While there are thousands of authentic brands on LazMall, not every one will secure the opportunity to advertise and showcase their products during this special event. The selection criteria make Super Brand Day unique from other campaigns. Speaking about the touchpoint of Super Brand Day, Pham Bao Khanh Quynh, brand representative of Kiehls said, "Only reputable brands can participate in Lazada's Super Brand Day. Kiehl's has positioned itself as a luxury cosmetics brand, and Super Brand Day helps it maintain this position." In 2022, Colgate chose Lazada as its exclusive partner to introduce a set of teeth whitening devices in Vietnam through a Super Brand Day campaign named Level Up Whitening Experience. "Colgate recorded the biggest sales and the highest number of buyers in a single day thanks to Super Brand Day. It helped us reach new customers," said Arisa Ruchirawat, Colgate's representative. Samsung, one of the first brands that participated in the Super Brand Day campaign, considers it as a golden chance to promote and introduce its new flagship products to consumers. Samsung's representative Nguyen Ha Long said the campaign is full of added value. "Through the event, brands can offer 24-hour super deals such as exclusive discounts, vouchers, and gifts, which help drive customer behaviour and retention," explained Long. The flexibility when working and approaching the market has enabled Samsung and Lazada to continue working together to reach new milestones in terms of revenue and customer visits. Having served as a great boost for brands in previous years, Super Brand Day is still considered a key business activity for many in 2023. "Super Brand Day has helped us to not only increase sales, it also represents an opportunity to promote our name, approach new customers, and introduce new products to the market," said Bui Ngoc Khanh, sales manager at Philips Domestics Appliances Vietnam. Like Philips, Colgate will continue to promote its main product line on the platform in the future as it looks to launch new products such as electric toothbrushes and teeth whitening toothpastes. According to Long from Samsung, the Super Brand Day campaign on Lazada will continue to be an essential business strategy over the first six months of 2023. "With a win-win spirit of collaborating with the e-commerce platform, Super Brand Day serves as a rehearsal for us to measure and fix shortcomings and ultimately provide customers with a better experience," he said. In addition to promoting and supporting domestic and international retail businesses, Super Brand Day on Lazada also represents a commitment to sustainable cooperation and mutual support between the platform and its partners. Close relationships will create an increasingly holistic e-commerce ecosystem, allowing both the platform and its brands to bring consumers many exciting experiences in 2023. Lazada consumer study shows overwhelming majority of Southeast Asia consumers now shop online Southeast Asias leading e-commerce platform, Lazada, on March 25 announced the results of a regional consumer study in collaboration with Milieu Insight. Lazada officially announced the launch of Lazada One Lazada, Southeast Asias leading e-commerce platform, today announced the official launch of Lazada One, the groups regional headquarters and Singapore office. With a strong Southeast Asian presence, Lazada is looking to further grow the regions digital commerce ecosystem, bolstering livelihoods that are already thriving in the booming sector. Representatives of countries at the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 6. (Photo: baoquocte.vn) Jakarta Ambassador Vu Ho has affirmed Vietnams support for and readiness to realise the cooperation priorities for 2023 set by Chair Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ho, who is acting head of the ASEAN Senior Official Meetings (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, made the remarks while attending the SOM and the 15th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG) on Timor-Lestes application for ASEAN membership (ACCWG-TL) held in Jakarta on March 6. The events, held by ASEAN Chair in 2023 Indonesia, aimed to prepare for the 42nd ASEAN Summit and the foreign ministers meetings in May. At the SOM, participants discussed and basically agreed on orientations for implementing the blocs priorities this year, including promoting growth and recovery; improving institutional capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN; and responding to non-traditional security challenges, especially those related to food security, energy security, cyber security, transnational crimes, healthcare system resilience, and financial and economic stability. Talking about ASEANs external relations, they reviewed and discussed measures for enhancing result-oriented and mutually beneficial cooperation between ASEAN and dialogue partners on the basis of upholding the bocs centrality and the ASEAN-led mechanisms values, particularly promoting the culture of consultation and dialogue and the evolution of an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture. They also considered approaches to some partners and regional organisations new proposals for cooperation with ASEAN. Regarding international and regional issues, the member countries underlined the need to maintain the blocs solidarity and unity and promote its role and responsible voice, especially amid fast, complex, and unpredictable developments in the region and the world. They agreed to continue bringing into play ASEANs role in assisting Myanmar to seek a feasible and durable solution to the current crisis through stepping up the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus; uphold the blocs principled stance on the East Sea issue, and show the determination to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation, and development. Also on March 6, the 15th ACCWG-TL meeting took place with the attendance of senior officials in charge of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. The participating countries concurred in continuing to help Timor-Leste improve its capacity to gradually meet the ASEAN membership criteria, and encouraging Timor-Leste to actively engage in the blocs existing capacity building programmes and activities. Addressing the meetings, Ambassador Ho proposed ASEAN maintain an objective and balanced approach as well as strategic self-reliance to harmoniously and effectively deal with issues in its relations with partners, along with complex international and regional issues that may affect the blocs cooperation process and common development as well as regional peace, security, and stability. He also called on ASEAN to build a practical and appropriate roadmap to assist Timor-Leste to thoroughly prepare for its admission into the bloc, adding that Vietnam is ready to work with other countries to help Timor-Leste improve the capacity of fulfilling the duties of an ASEAN member. In terms of the East Sea issue, he reaffirmed ASEANs principled stance and particularly stressed the importance of complying with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He highlighted Vietnams support of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and for the promotion of negotiations to build an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) that matches international law and the 1982 UNCLOS. The diplomat also pointed out the need for countries to devise a new approach suitable for the current situation during the COC drafting process. On March 7 and 8, ASEAN senior officials will attend meetings with partners, including the ASEAN+3 SOM, the East Asia Summit SOM, the 35th ASEAN - US Dialogue, and the 25th ASEAN - India SOM. ASEAN, RoK to discuss measures to enhance partnership The 15th annual council meeting of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) will take place in Seoul on February 16-17, marking the first in-person gathering after three years between the two sides high-level officials to discuss measures to boost bilateral partnership. Solar electricity panels in Truong Sa (Spratly) (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Experts discussed the implementation of policies and laws on energy development in the 2016-2021 period at a conference co-organised by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment (CSTE) in Hanoi on March 5. Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy said that in the 2016-2021 period, the energy industry had developed rapidly in all sectors and fields, achieving many remarkable results. The energy industrys achievements are an important premise to conducting the Politburos Resolution 55, issued on February 11, 2020, on Vietnams energy orientations and development strategies to 2030. However, Huy warned the energy industry still has some shortcomings, such as domestic energy supplies not meeting demand, the sector still lacking infrastructure, and technology levels in some areas needing improvement. Huy suggested experts focus on discussing the current situation, completing policies and laws on energy development, and proposing specific solutions. From there, the proposals can be submitted to the NA Standing Committee to solve the present difficulties and problems, and improve policies on energy development towards ensuring a fair energy transition and national energy security. VUSTA Chairman Phan Xuan Dung said that to achieve green, sustainable economic development and climate change adaptation, Vietnam was promoting energy transformation with cooperation and support from partners. The country has gradually reduced fossil fuels, prioritising renewable, new and clean energy. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that Vietnam would achieve the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Assessing the actual implementation of policies and laws in energy planning in Vietnam, Associate Professor Truong Duy Nghia, Chairman of the Vietnam Thermal Science and Technology Association, said that the inter-sector relationship was not clear enough. He said it is not clear that the development planning of one sector is influenced or affected by the others and vice versa. Nghia suggested that it was necessary to confirm the works starting and completion time in the planning. In the vision stage, it is also necessary to have specific plans and avoid too much change. With the same point of view, professor Tran Dinh Long from the Vietnam Electricity Association suggested that the power plan No 8 should be approved soon. Otherwise, it would affect the technology and financial supply chain. The power plan No 8 should take into account clean and green energy transition. Just energy transition: a green pathway for sustainable development Vietnam is striving to realise the countrys strong commitment to decarbonisation through a just and sustainable energy transition. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi The Vietnamese real estate market has remained attractive to foreign investors and investment funds despite difficulties countering domestic firms, according to insiders. The 2023 Asia-Pacific Investor Intentions Survey released recently by CBRE Vietnam showed that Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are among top 10 most attractive destinations for trans-border investment. Particularly, for the first time, Ho Chi Minh City ranked third in the list, even above Australia. Vietnam drew greatest attention from investors from Asian countries and territories, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China, the Republic of Korea and Japan. With a forecast urbanisation rate of 42 per cent in 2025, Vietnam has high potential in real estate market development. With more people rising to the middle class, the country has become a magnet for real estate investment. At the beginning of 2023, Singaporean firms conducted a number of large-scale deals in Vietnam. Keppel Land, a real estate developer that is running more than 20 projects worth 3.5 billion USD in Vietnam, signed a memorandum of understanding with Khang Dien Group of Vietnam to cooperate in residential area building and sustainable urban development projects in Ho Chi Minh City in February. Keppel Land CEO Louis Lim said that the firm is keen on strengthening its presence in Vietnam, one of its major markets with great long-term potential. Meanwhile, Sembcorp Development has also reached a deal with Becamex IDC on partnership in developing five green, smart and sustainable industrial parks in Vietnam in the next three years with total investment of about 1 billion USD. These industrial parks will be built to meet green, smart and sustainable criteria, using high technologies in management. The report Vietnam Real Estate: Perspectives from China and Southeast Asian Countries by PropertyGuru Group said Vietnams open economic policy and integration into global supply chains have made growth possible. Therefore, a resilient supply chain is key to Vietnams economic strength and increasing the attractiveness of real estate to foreign investors. If Vietnams transport infrastructure of seaports, highways, high-speed railways and airports is expanded and completed, real estate in Vietnam will be a more attractive destination for foreign capital, both direct and indirect investment, the report said. According to the Foreign Investment Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the real estate sector drew the second largest amount of foreign direct investment among all sectors in 2022, attracting more than 4.45 billion USD, accounting for 16.1 per cent of the countrys total. Hunting for real estate investment opportunities after Tet Although the market faced a standstill at the end of 2022, wealthy investors are still hunting for potential business opportunities after the Lunar New Year holiday. Following the success of the 2022 incarnation, and with the cooperation of hundreds of local and foreign businesses, VIFA EXPO is in its 14th year and will feature many practical activities to help exhibitors expand export markets and connect with new partners at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. The SECC will feature almost 2,500 booths over a total area of 40,000 square metres, and will play host to major enterprises such as Kettle Interiors Asia, Woodnet, Livax Vietnam, Eurofar International B.V, Eurowood Vietnam, Casarredo, Santana Furniture, MFC Group, and hundreds of other Vietnamese and foreign enterprises. Exhibitors from Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the UK, the US, and many more, have registered to take part. New products in a variety of designs will be showcased, from wooden and outdoor furniture to interior decor and handicrafts, gifts, and accessories, among others, in a grand and well-organised display space that will appeal to international buyers. Lien Minh has received registrations from more than 4,000 potential international buyers and has been actively promoting VIFA EXPO worldwide since October, focusing on potential new markets. Activities at the exhibition aim to not only bring practical benefits to participating businesses, but also create opportunities for international buyers to quickly and easily find potential partners. Lien Minh has received registrations from more than 4,000 potential international buyers and has been actively promoting VIFA EXPO worldwide since October, focusing on potential new markets. High on the agenda will be seminars touching on global shifts such as import-export trends in the world market, e-commerce, and sustainability. There will also be opportunities to help firms approach other exhibitors and international buyers directly to organise factory visits. Lien Minh has recently launched the official VIFA EXPO Online Platform, with a host of integrated utilities. The platform enables users to quickly search for information about exhibitors, their products, the schedule of events, and will feature photos and videos from the seminars. The platform aims to offer an exciting and unique experience to exhibitors and customers alike. By hosting the exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams economic hub, VIFA EXPO 2023 aims to be a gathering point for producers of wooden furniture, handicrafts, interior decor, and support services that meet the needs of buyers from all over the world. As a measure of the success of VIFA EXPO over the past 14 years, and the trust secured from Vietnamese and foreign businesses, Lien Minh will also host VIFA ASEAN 2023 in August. This will be a new fair held exclusively for businesses in Southeast Asia and will bring together furniture and handicrafts typical of the region. LIEN MINH COMPANY LIMITED Address: 2/13 Bau Cat 2, Ward 14, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: 028 7306 7887; Hotline: 079 999 7657 Email: info@hawacorp.com.vn; Website: www.vifafair.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corp.hawa Linkedin: https://vn.linkedin.com/in/hawacorp Five trends driving small business success in 2023 As digitalisation has become a new norm for business development, Jeni Mundy, global head of Merchant Sales & Acquiring at Visa, has pointed out five trends driving small business success in 2023. Hanoi connects commercial banks with local businesses More than 100 businesses and 43 investors of industrial clusters and nearly 20 commercial banks participated in a conference on August 15 to connect local firms of Hanoi with commercial banks and the Hanoi Development Investment Fund (HANIF). Since the end of the Cold War, while art historians around the world have been reassessing the legacy of Socialist Realism in Eastern Bloc countries, the contributions of Vietnamese artists who spent time in the Soviet Union from the 1960s to the 1980s have been somewhat overlooked. Within Vietnam, historical texts recognise the great influence that the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de lIndochine has had on the first generation of Vietnamese modern painters, but there is little discussion of the impact of a Soviet education on a group of Vietnamese painters during the period following independence and reunification. This tribute to Vu Duy Nghia is an eye-opener for anyone who might think that the so-called Soviet era did not produce great art. Beginning with his paper cuts, through to his lacquer paintings and works on paper, Nghia was a prolific artist whose work cannot be reduced to one style or movement. Traces of Soviet and European realism can be found in his prints of factory workers and farmers, but mostly his oeuvre is poetic, expressive, beautiful, and complex. His work is also deeply patriotic and direct. Professor Nora A. Taylor from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago said, "It is rare to find artists with his skills in paper cutting. This art form requires the ability to envision in both an abstract and a realistic manner, to see both light and dark simultaneously, and outline and content together." "Through this medium, he created some dramatic landscapes with large black shapes that accentuate the darkness of the sky, for example, the sharp thorns of a cactus, or the wrinkles of an elders face. He translated some of these same images into colourful prints, gouaches, and lacquers, but with colour, the theatricality turned to poetry. The same boats became light floating vessels, and the cactus turned into a flower," he added. His talent for line emerges, especially in the prints that he made during the war. The bodies of soldiers and labourers appear strong and tenacious. In the post-Doi Moi era, art historians have been understandably focused on the future of Vietnamese contemporary art and the new generation of artists. But, it is important to recognise the talent and contributions of Nghias generation to the development of modern and contemporary art history. Nghia, and others who studied in Socialist bloc countries, did so out of necessity, patriotism, and a desire to learn. During the Cold War, there were few opportunities for artists in Vietnam to travel outside the Soviet Bloc. These stays infused Vietnamese art with a cosmopolitan flavour that strengthened the artists' ongoing commitment to modernism. "Nghia is an example of how looking outward towards international art movements enhanced Vietnamese art rather than diminished it. The vivid, expressive faces on the figures in Nghias portraits might remind one of Soviet portraits, but under Nghias touch, they are undeniably Vietnamese," Taylor noted. Painting by Vietnamese hearing-impaired artist on display in Italy Mother and child painting by hearing-impaired artist Duong Phuong Linh is being displayed at the RealEYES art gallery at Vinicio hotel, Ansedonia town, Italys Tuscany region from July 26 and August 5. Exhibition of works from contemporary Vietnamese artists opens in Hanoi An exhibition displaying artworks from leading contemporary Vietnamese artists opened at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi on August 6. Some local property owners are crying foul, claiming they paid their taxes by the Jan. 31 deadline but still face interest and penalties. Frigid weather prompted closings throughout McLennan County during the days leading up to the deadline. County offices, including the tax office, went dark from the afternoon of Jan. 30 to the morning of Feb. 2. But online tax paying remained available, as did a drop-box located just outside the tax office at Fifth Street and Washington Avenue. So the blame may rest with the U.S. Postal Service, the tax office, icy conditions or taxpayers themselves. McLennan County Commissioner Jim Smith said Monday hes received multiple calls about the situation, surmising that the tax office is referring customers with complaints to their commissioners. Several people tell us they dropped their taxes off at the post office a day or two before the deadline, as they always had, but they werent postmarked until Feb. 2, said Smith. We recognized that a situation was developing, and we started looking into the statute with our attorney. What could we do legally? A long list of taxpayers are on our (commissioners court) agenda tomorrow, asking that penalties and interest be waived. Speaking for himself, Smith said he will vote to cancel the debt. They dont need to be penalized, he said. People have been understanding. No one has been overly upset, no more than you or I would be. Penalties and interest begin surging once the Jan. 31 deadline passes. Literally the next day, on Feb. 1, a 6% penalty and 1% in interest attaches to the unpaid balance. The levy for each goes up another 1% monthly, said Kathy Hollomon, chief deputy at the county tax office. Martin Lower, 69, who lives on Glenwood Circle in Waco, said he faced penalties and interest totaling $206, in addition to the tax payment he thought he mailed on time. He said he already has paid the extra charges, but feels disillusioned about the process and his treatment. I went to the post office on Wooded Acres Drive about 5 oclock on Jan. 30. I thought, If I miss the pickup today, they will get it tomorrow. A couple of weeks later, I received a delinquent tax notice. My mail was postmarked Feb. 2. I called the tax office, and a gentleman there told me he was sorry, but they had to go by the postmarked date. Thats how the law is written. Lower was told he could take up the matter with county commissioners. He added he believes the problem lies with the U.S. Postal Service, considering his payment carried a postmark three days later than when he mailed it. Carol Hunt, a Dallas-based spokesperson for the USPS, said records show no weather-related disruptions in mail service during the period in question. County Commissioner Pat Miller applauded the work of Tax Assessor-Collector Randy Riggs and his staff. She expressed confidence that anyone receiving a delinquent tax notice after meeting the Jan. 31 deadline would see the matter resolved if they submitted satisfactory proof to the tax office. She said commissioners are mindful of weather conditions in late January, and the ongoing waiver process should help individuals and companies who were unable to access the tax office during the closure. But securing waivers from every taxing entity could prove complicated and time-consuming. Smith said commissioners may approve waivers, but their action applies only to county taxes. He said a taxpayer would have to pursue similar relief from other taxing entities: a city council, school board or the McLennan Community College board. The McLennan County Tax Office mails out tax notices for these entities, but each entertains waiver requests. MCC board chairman K. Paul Holt, responding to a question about requests for waivers, said the board only became aware of this virtually unknown item in the law this year after the county shut down the tax office, probably without recognizing all the unintended ramifications. He said the U.S. Postal Service appears to have abandoned its unofficial creed, one that guarantees swift completion of their appointed rounds in all kinds of weather. There was a time that dropping a letter in the post office box earned a postmark for that day, he said. The latest in town today is 6 p.m. on Highway 6. Many of the others are only guaranteed a same-day postmark at 5 p.m. Most of us pay our taxes in January, rather than when we first get our tax statement, but if one pushes the edge of the envelope too often, they are bound to get a paper cut. This is what this seems to be. Jud Griffis, a local real estate investor, said he owns rental property countywide, and faces asking 16 taxing entities for waivers. What Im frustrated about is the lack of coordination, said Griffis. Did someone see this coming? When the tax assessor opened the first 25 pieces of mail, did he notice a problem, maybe get on the phone with all the taxing entities and come up with a plan of action? This is a logistical nightmare, and we need to come up with a plan of action. I called someone on the WISD board, not naming names, but they were not made aware. Nobody knew this was coming, which is frustrating. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to jail for attacking a man who used his wifes casino loyalty card to play slot machines in 2021. Prosecutors had sought a year in jail for Damond Jahmar Williams Sr., 46. The defense asked for time served 68 days. But judge Melissa Anderson-Seeber on Monday handed down a year in jail suspended to 120 days behind bars to be followed by two years of probation. Williams was also given credit for the 68 days he served. I find the facts of that assault are very egregious, she said. Authorities said Williams attacked Montana Gunhus after staff at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo determined Gunhus had been using a player card belonging to Williams wife that had been left in a slot machine. Williams knocked Gunhus to the floor and continued to punch and kick him for 25 seconds before breaking off the attack, said Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz. Gunhus suffered broken facial bones and he lost sight in one eye following the assault. During Mondays hearing, Williams said he was sorry. I truly do apologize. This was an isolated incident. Im not a violent individual, said Williams, who had worked with people with disabilities before the incident. That was outside my character. He said he was frustrated because he thought casino staff werent listening to him when he reported the loyalty club card had disappeared. Anderson-Seeber suggested Williams use his time in jail and on probation to determine why he lost it that night. Williams had been charged with willful injury causing serious injury, a felony. During a January criminal trial, a jury found him guilty on the lesser charge of assault causing bodily injury, essentially finding the state didnt prove the blindness was a result of the beating. Gunhus appeared for Mondays sentencing hearing but had to leave for an appointment after it was delayed. He won a $1.7 million judgment against the casino during a civil trial in 2022. Photos: Casino Assault, Jan. 3, 2021 010321ho-casino-still-1 010321ho-casino-still-2 010321ho-casino-still-3 010321ho-casino-still-4 WATERLOO Kirkwood Community College will soon be sending its Class A commercial drivers license students to Hawkeye Community Colleges Regional Transportation Training Center. While there, theyll receive behind-the-wheel instruction as part of a decision to phase out the training on the Kirkwood campus in Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood students will still attend the colleges lectures online. But part of its cost-cutting measures led to a decision to end the behind-the-wheel portion of the training at the conclusion of classes in May. While these changes will provide a necessary reduction in costs for Kirkwood, they will also have other major benefits for both colleges, Jasmine Almoayyed, vice president of continuing education and training at Kirkwood, said in a news release. First, the move will allow us to devote more resources to our CDL-B program, which is an area of great need in our region. At the same time, we will be sending our CDL-A students to Hawkeye to take advantage of their top-notch facilities and equipment, rather than both colleges competing for a shrinking pool of students. Its a great example of two public institutions working together to be more efficient, while ensuring the future solvency of a program that provides a crucial service to our communities. Its good for Kirkwood, Hawkeye, and perhaps most of all, Iowa taxpayers. Class A and B commericial drivers licenses differ based on the weight and type of vehicle driven. Class A licenses are always needed for trucks like semis towing trailers with gross vehicle weight ratings of 26,001 pounds or more, including trailers weighing more than 10,000 pounds. Class B licenses are for single vehicles and those towing a trailer of less than 10,000 pounds. These could include school buses, dump tricks and straight trucks. Hawkeyes CDL-A program is competency-based, allowing students to progress through training as they master the content. Students will be taught on Hawkeyes virtual driving simulators, allowing them to learn controls, gauges, and vehicle systems in a way that takes the pressure off making a mistake in a real truck. Once students are ready to get behind the wheel, they utilize new state-of-the-art, full-size, automatic and 10-speed manual transmission semis on the driving range. Its the second time Hawkeye has reached an agreement with another college relative to sharing its CDL training facility. The first was with Northeast Iowa Community College. We have the infrastructure and ability to serve additional students from Kirkwood, said Srdjan Golub, director of community education and workforce solutions at Hawkeye. Our current operations at RTTC allows us the economies of scale to serve additional students at no extra cost. We look forward to this new partnership and serving the students across Northeast Iowa. WAVERLY Darrel Wenzel, the longtime chief executive officer of Waverly Utilities, is set to retire this summer, the municipal utility announced Monday. His last day will be Aug. 3. He moved to the Cedar Valley in 1992 and has been in charge of Waverly Utilities since 2014. The board will use the coming months to determine its next steps related to finding his replacement, but Wenzel does not expect an interim CEO being named. The Waverly resident declined to provide his exact age, but said hes old enough to retire per Iowa Public Employees Retirement System standards, and noted that there was no driving factor for his reason to step away this year. I take a lot of pride in our team environment, said Wenzel in a telephone interview. We have a lot of the same responsibilities as the large utilities, and we pull it all off with our small staff. He feels if comparing Waverly Utilities to Century Link, Mediacom or any investor-owned utility company, hes looks back on his tenure and feels his team was able to provide the same superior service to its customers. Darrel has helped Waverly Utilities in many ways including establishing a highly successful communications utility, said Bob Buckingham, board chair, in a statement. Waverly can be proud of its state-of-the-art fiber network that provides highly reliable, high-speed internet. Wenzel estimates Waverly Utilities manages an approximately $25 million budget, between the electric and telecommunications utilities, and that it has a customer base made up of 5,000 electric meters. He was paid $185,797 and $25,719 to lead the electric and telecommunications utilities, respectively, in 2022, according to Jen Bloker, director of marketing and public information. Wenzel led the agencys transition from Waverly Light and Power to Waverly Utilities when the utility added the telecommunication services of internet, cable TV and phone, according to a news release. He also served as a board member with Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, from whom Waverly purchases its power, and was its secretary/treasurer. Darrel has also led the utility to a tremendous safety record without a single lost hour due to work related injury over the last 1,500 workdays, said Buckingham. He made sure the utility and its employees were one of the safest in Iowa. Prior to taking the reins at Waverly Utilities, Wenzel was the CEO at Harlan Municipal Utilities and the general manager of Independence Light & Power, Telecommunications. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Water Works closes early on Tuesday WATERLOO The Water Works office will close at 2:30 p.m. today due to staff training. They will open regularly scheduled business hours Wednesday. For those who need to make a payment, the afterhours depository box will be available as well as drop-off payment locations at the Crossroads and Logan Avenue Hy-Vee. Payments can also be made by phone or online. Call (855) 282-7625 to pay by phone or visit waterloowater.org to pay through the website. Fish Fry is Friday at CF AMVETS CEDAR FALLS AMVETS Riders Chapter 49 will host a fish fry Friday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until gone at AMVETS Post 49, 1934 Irving St. Cost is $13 per person. The all-you-can-eat menu includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and dessert. Dine-in and carry-out is offered. Fish fries also are planned at at 5:30 p.m. March 24 and April 7. Volunteers sought at Fontana center HAZLETON Buchanan County Conservation Board will host a volunteer workshop at 9 a.m. March 18 at the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center. The one-hour workshop is for anyone interested in serving as a conservation volunteer. Volunteers can be animal ambassadors, campground hosts, nature center hosts and track native bluebird nesting boxes. The workshop is for newcomers and seasoned volunteers who want a refresher. To register, call the nature center at (319) 636-2617, email bccbscheduling@gmail.com, or visit Buchanancountyparks.com. Community meal set for March 21 WATERLOO Impact Church of Hope, 710 Broadway St., will host its monthly Community Meal on March 21. Serving is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. It is free to the public. For more information, call (319) 233-7664. Dementia Friends session planned WATERLOO A free Dementia Friends session will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. March 23 at the Waterloo Public Library, 415 Commercial St. The session will increase knowledge about dementia, learn what its like to live with the disease and teach helpful tips for communicating with someone with dementia. Dementia Friends is a global movement changing how people think, act and talk about dementia. Developed and proven successful by the Alzheimers Society in the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is now underway in Iowa and across the United States. No registration is required. For more information, email Nora Klemesrud at nklemesrud@nei3a.org or call (319) 239-2902. Beef and Noodle dinner Saturday WATERLOO A beef and noodle dinner is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 207 W. Louise St. Cost is $11 for adults; $5 for children under 12. The meal includes beef and noodles, potatoes, coleslaw, beverages and choice of dessert. The church is located one block south of UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital. K of C fish fry in Waverly Friday WAVERLY Knights of Columbus will host a fish fry from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Marys Church, 2700 Horton Road, in Waverly. Carry-outs will be available from 5 to 5:30 p.m. using the north church entrance. Cost is $12 for adults; $6 for children 6-12; and free for 5 and under. The menu includes fish (fried and baked), mac and cheese, and sides. Please order meals ahead of time on the church website or on Facebook, or call (319)-352-2493. Funds raised will help Knights of Columbus activities and the annual scholarship fund. DES MOINES Nominations are now open for the 2023 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year. This prestigious annual honor is given to an Iowa farmer who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership. The statewide award and nine regional awards are co-sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The grand prize winner will receive the use of a new John Deere 6E utility tractor for one year. One nominee will be selected by each of Iowas 100 Soil and Water Conservation District offices. These individuals will be considered for regional conservation awards. Nine regional award winners will compete for the title of Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year. Iowans can nominate a deserving farmer by writing a 100-word letter describing the individuals long-term commitment to soil conservation and water quality. Nominations are due to the local SWCD by May 12. The state winner will be announced at the Iowa State Fair. The winner will receive the keys to their tractor during the Conservation Districts of Iowas annual meeting scheduled for Aug. 28 and 29 in Ames at the Gateway Hotel. The 2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year winner will receive the use of a John Deere 6E utility tractor for up to 12 months or 200 hours of use. The prize is donated by the Van Wall Equipment of Perry and John Deere. Dave Lubben, of Monticello, was named the 2022 Conservation Farmer of the Year. CEDAR FALLS UNI students won a prestigious Gold ADDY award at the AAF-Cedar Valley American Advertising Awards dinner Feb. 24, adding an additional accolade earned by their Quest With Me creative campaign, developed last spring for Meta as part of the National Student Advertising Competition. The award was in the student category of Cross Platform Integrated Consumer Campaigns and included samples of the video ads, TikTok ads, programmatic display ads, experiential activations and campus brand ambassador swag that the students produced. The campaigns creative strategy was based on primary research findings on purchase behaviors and attitudes toward virtual reality (VR) and the Meta Quest 2 VR headset. Students also developed a media plan and schedule, strategically allocating Metas campaign budget to appropriate channels to reach and engage with their target audience. The cohesion of the campaign and all the intricate ideas played a big part in winning the ADDY, said marketing major Madison TenHulzen, who served as director of accounts and strategy for the team. Everything in the campaign had meaning and purpose that was all backed up by in-depth research. Winning again with this campaign was very validating in how well the campaign was actually executed. The award brought together UNI alumni who graduated last spring with current students still involved with AAF at UNI to celebrate the hard work they put into their award-winning NSAC campaign which placed 14th in the nation after winning the district competition last April. Members of the UNI NSAC team responsible for developing this campaign include TenHulzen, Cayla Fulcher, Tara Linden, Allyson Davis, Owen Gach, Madison Naeve, Emma Hergenreter, Olivia Johnson, Brady Bock, Jimmie Steffens, CJ Pedelty, Yanghuan Tan, Tate Hookham, Lynn Schweer, Brook Vry, Will Polansky, Claire Schettler, Lauren McClatchey, Megan Rausch, Mitchell Neuzil, Sadie Hilton, Kaleb Haner, Madi Anderson, Katelyn DeKoster, Yijing Chen, Beini Jin, Leah Little, Megan Kramer and Rayanna Schaefer. Also winning awards, University of Northern Iowa student Megan Duvick won a Silver ADDY for her website The Living Room. In addition to these students, professionals at the University of Northern Iowa also took home the following awards: The College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences won Silver ADDYs for a direct mail piece and special event material as well as a Bronze ADDY for a direct mail piece. The College of Business won the Silver ADDY for an internet commercial. The Alumni Magazine won bronze for publication design. The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industrys largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year in local AAF Ad Club competitions. Photos: UNI women's basketball closes regular season with win against Missouri State WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 1 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 2 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 3 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 4 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 5 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 6 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 7 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 8 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 9 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 10 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 11 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 12 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 13 CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowa is now accepting candidates for a new individualized alternative for graduate study: One of three new program additions at UNI recently approved by the Iowa Board of Regents, the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) offers a flexible and personalized plan of study to a selective and multidisciplinary group of graduate students. The MAIS is planned as a standalone 30-hour masters degree program that allows students to choose between two to three concentration areas. Unlike most MA programs, the MAIS gives students the freedom to take graduate courses from all departments and professional schools at UNI. This degree has flexibility that no other degree allows for, said Wendy Marie Hoofnagle, MAIS coordinator in UNIs Graduate College. The MAIS allows students to create a unique, individualized course of study that can be tailored to their specific career and personal goals. Best of all, we provide close academic mentorship and support to chart your path from the time you first arrive on campus through the completion of your final MA project. The program is also positioned to serve as a degree completion program for non-traditional students who have graduate credit and are looking for an opportunity to finish a graduate credential. There is a clear need for more interdisciplinary programs and alternative credentialing options to address the changing expectations of students, and to be nimble and responsive to the varying demands of the workforce, said Gabriela Olivares, interim dean of the Graduate College. This program will equip students with the knowledge to expand leadership, communication, critical thinking and research skills in more than one discipline. University of Northern Iowas Graduate College is now accepting MAIS applications for Fall 2023. More information about admission requirements can be found on UNIs website. The University of Northern Iowa supports graduate learners with rigorous, individualized opportunities in a student-centered environment with engaged faculty who excel in teaching and scholarship. Over 40 graduate programs are available through on-campus and online learning. Photos: UNI women's basketball closes regular season with win against Missouri State WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 1 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 2 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 3 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 4 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 5 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 6 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 7 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 8 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 9 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 10 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 11 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 12 WBBall UNI vs. Missouri 13 Ukraine asked the US for cluster bombs Reuters. According to the agency, we are talking about the MK-20 bomb. The request is in addition to the request for 155 mm artillery cluster munitions. Recall that cluster bombs have been banned since 2008. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-seeks-us-cluster-bombs-adapt-drone-use-lawmakers-2023-03-06/ https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/clustermunitions/ The USA refuses to stop with cluster bombs https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2022-09/cluster-bombs-kill-indiscriminately-us-must-end-their-use When is enough is enough? ~~ The USA will most likely gladly supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, all in the name of clean up the USA supply. ~~ Dont look at me, Reuters is the one talking about it! WtR Weather Alert .Warming temperatures this weekend will bring renewed snowmelt and streamflow rises, especially for snow covered terrain below about 7000 feet. Creeks that brought impacts this past week are likely to be problematic again and potentially reach higher levels, especially by late Sunday. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties and Surprise Valley California. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...Through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams will be running high and fast. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Minor mainstem flooding along the Susan River, Forks of the Carson River, and the East Walker River below Bridgeport Reservoir cannot be ruled out. Anyone participating in outdoor recreation this weekend should use caution as water will be running high, fast, and potentially out of banks for some creeks and streams. The water will be extremely cold as well, quickly causing shock. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - 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. && First Lithium Concentrate Produced at NAL Brisbane, Mar 8, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DML:FRA ) ( SYAXF:OTCMKTS ) has successfully produced the first spodumene (lithium) concentrate at its flagship North American Lithium (NAL) operation in Quebec, Canada, marking another milestone in NAL's restart. Approximately 70 tonnes of lithium concentrate was produced. Commissioning is proceeding as per plan, with the first saleable concentrate to be produced shortly. NAL's restart is proceeding on schedule and within budget, amid intensifying demand for the key battery metal from North America's fast-growing EV and battery industry. The NAL operation will represent the most significant source of hard rock lithium production in North America, boosting Quebec's plans for the development of a local battery sector, from mining to manufacturing. Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch congratulated the NAL team on its latest milestone. "This is another great achievement for the team at NAL. I extend my thanks to everyone concerned for progressing the NAL restart on time and on budget - something few others have achieved in recent times amid escalating cost and supply chain pressures," Mr Lynch said. "These are exciting times with the first saleable lithium concentrate to be produced soon, marking the next step in Sayona's evolution towards becoming a leading hard rock lithium producer." Sayona expects the first shipment of spodumene (lithium) concentrate from NAL will occur in July 2023, with four shipments targeted for the first half of fiscal 2024. The Company is targeting total production between 85,000 tonnes and 115,000t during this period (refer ASX release 17 February 2023). This announcement continues Sayona's regular, twice monthly updates on the NAL restart. Extensive drilling program for NAL, Jourdan's Vallee Lithium Project NAL and Jourdan Resources Inc. have agreed to embark on an aggressive exploration and development program with the aim of expanding and defining sufficient mineral resources to supply increased tonnages to the NAL concentrator. More than 50,000 metres of drilling are planned in 2023 - likely one of Quebec's largest drilling programs this year - at NAL and Jourdan's adjacent Vallee Lithium Project, comprising the 28 claims subject to the earn-in and joint venture agreement entered into between NAL and Jourdan in November 2022 (refer ASX release 14 November 2022). More than 24,000m of drilling is planned at the Vallee project (earn-in claims), with the program expected to commence in May 2023. Jourdan CEO and President, Rene Bharti commented: "This is an historic moment which truly showcases the strong partnership between Jourdan, NAL and Sayona. With Jourdan having over 13,000 hectares of land surrounding Sayona's NAL project, the opportunity to partner with NAL and Sayona to accelerate Jourdan towards production is clear. "Given that the Sayona NAL concentrator has commenced operations, Jourdan is in a very rare position to benefit from having access to what we expect will become Canada's leading lithium producing mine and concentrator. We are truly proud and honoured at what we see as significant upside potential for both companies, in such a strong lithium environment." Sayona's Mr Lynch added: "Sayona is excited to be partnering with Jourdan Resources as we undertake a large scale and extensive drill program at NAL and the earn-in claims at the Vallee Project. The combined drilling program will be undertaken in consultation with our local community stakeholders, to pursue a bigger mineral resource base and better grades in the Abitibi Hub capable of delivering increased ore tonnages to the NAL concentrator and a longer mine life." The Vallee project comprises 48 claims covering around 1,997 ha, closely neighbouring the NAL mine tenure, with 20 leases located within 500m of the mine boundary. In comparison, NAL's leases cover some 582 ha. In November 2022, Sayona announced a strategic acquisition and earn-in by NAL at the project, with NAL acquiring 20 claims outright and with the right to earn up to a 51% stake in the remaining 28 claims (refer ASX release 14 November 2022). *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/47R5Q02R About Sayona Mining Limited Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au Tommy Wilson wants justice but hed settle for $50,000. Even better, $542,000, which is the amount of money the 74-year-old man from Las Cruces says he won on a slot machine at San Felipe Pueblos Black Mesa Casino on Feb. 25. The casino, he said, maintained there was a problem with the machine and refused to pay the winnings. The gaming machine, which Wilson recalled was adorned with images of buffaloes, indicated he had won the large payout. Bells sounded and then the machine shut down and went silent even as a half dozen other casino gamblers gathered around him to extend congratulations on the win, he said. It was a windfall for Wilson, and it couldnt have come at a better time for the unemployed craftsman who specializes in making dental prosthetics and who had undergone recent triple bypass heart surgery, he said. He never got a chance to count his money. A person from the casinos management informed him that a glitch in the machine had nullified his winnings. They did their diagnostics, whatever that is, and said this is not a legitimate win, that there was some kind of digital or electronic glitch, so they didnt pay anything. Zero! said Wilson. Repeated phone messages seeking comment from Black Mesa management and the San Felipe Gaming Commission were not returned. The former Air Force veteran had been driving from Las Cruces, where he was staying with friends, to Denver, where he planned to visit relatives and go on a job interview. At about 5:30 p.m. he pulled over for a brief rest detour at Black Mesa Casino, located off Interstate 25 north of Albuquerque. He had been playing the machine for only five or six minutes and had fed more than $100 into it when he hit upon the winning payout, he said. He was subsequently informed by Black Mesa management that he could file a complaint with an on-site representative of the casinos gaming commission, which Wilson said he mistakenly believed was attached to the state agency that oversees gambling the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. I didnt file anything at that time because I was so perturbed, Wilson said. Neither did he take photos of the winning machine nor get names and phone numbers of the others who witnessed it. Instead, he left and continued on his journey to Denver. The circumstances of the event continued to bother him, so several days later during the return drive from Denver to Las Cruces, he once again stopped at the Black Mesa Casino to file a complaint with the gaming officials. They told me theyll be in touch and they got my phone number and my email address, Wilson said. While there, he decided to try his hand at another slot-type machine. I think it was called Kings of Africa and had pictures of lions on it, he said. I won two payouts one was for $1,226 and the other was for $1,446 and that was with a 30- or 35-minute interval between, Wilson said. This time, there was no interaction with casino management and he claimed his winnings without incident. While he was happy about the two rapid-succession payouts, being shut out of that initial and far larger jackpot remains a sore spot. You know, if they said, Mr. Wilson, were sorry that this happened and we would like to offer you $50,000 as an apology, that would have been fine. Instead, they offered me nothing, and thats not fine, thats not OK, he said. What I want is justice, and justice will come in the form of karma. Im a believer in that. SANTA FE A plan backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration to ease New Mexicos back-to-work law by allowing retired public sector workers to be rehired while still collecting pension benefits but only for a maximum of three years is headed to the Senate floor. Despite opposition from labor unions, the Senate Finance Committee voted 9-2 on Monday to approve the measure, which is aimed at bolstering depleted staffing levels for many New Mexico state agencies, cities and counties. Backers said the bill, Senate Bill 124, would impose strict guardrails on individuals who go back to work, including a requirement they retire for at least 12 months, work for no more than three years and do not accrue additional pension benefits after being rehired. The program would also expire in July 2029, giving it a six-year lifespan if not extended. John Ramon Vigil, the mayor of Espanola, said his northern New Mexico community has struggled to find enough employees to fully staff city departments. I could possibly have a fully-staffed police department to secure my community if the bill is approved, Vigil told senators during Mondays hearing. But critics argued there are better and more creative ways to bolster depleted staffing levels. Albuquerque Police Officers Association President Shaun Willoughby said issues like low law enforcement officer morale would not be improved by allowing retired police chiefs to come back on board while still collecting retirement benefits. This is failed public policy, Willoughby said. The public does not like double-dipping. This years proposal marks the latest chapter in a longstanding Roundhouse debate over return to work laws. In 2010, lawmakers banned return-to-work for state employees, law enforcement officers and local government workers after the practice which is also known as double dipping came under fire from labor unions and other critics for straining a state retirement fund and stifling internal promotions. Previously, such employees had been allowed to retire and then return-to-work while still collecting both a pension and a salary. While attempts in recent years to ease the ban on double dipping have been rebuffed at the Roundhouse, this years bill is sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, and drew support Monday from several Lujan Grisham administration officials including Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie. But two Democratic senators cast the lone dissenting votes against the measure committee chairman George Munoz of Gallup and Siah Correa Hemphill of Silver City. Eleven more days. Thats how long lawmakers have to salvage an important piece of legislation that would help retain much-needed doctors in New Mexico: medical malpractice reform. A 2021 legislative overhaul of the states malpractice law, signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, will have disastrous effects come Jan. 1. Independent physicians and doctors at independently owned outpatient clinics say they will be forced to close their practices and leave because the cap on all medical malpractice claims will increase substantially, prompting costs for malpractice insurance to soar or the coverage to be unavailable. New Mexico was already below national provider-to-population benchmarks, having lost 700 primary care physicians between 2017 and 2021. Were experiencing shortages in all fields and especially in rural areas. Senate Bill 296 is an attempt to stop the bleeding. It would pause for two more years a change in the Medical Malpractice Act that lumped low-risk outpatient clinics in with hospitals, raising the clinics cap on legal damages from $750,000 to $5 million beginning next year. The bipartisan bill sponsored by Albuquerque-based Sens. Mark Moores, a Republican, and retired Dr. Martin Hickey, a Democrat, would also create a task force to craft a durable solution. But SB 296 was tabled by the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee last week on a party-line vote. Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth and Sens. Carrie Hamblen, Leo Jaramillo, Bill Tallman and Benny Shendo Jr. voted against keeping doctors in our state. SB 296 wont heal the states health care woes, but its an essential stopgap measure that needs to be revived and put on the governors desk. Another bill meriting swift resuscitation and approval is Senate Bill 24, which would provide transparency in spending $1 billion of remaining federal education stimulus funds intended to address the impacts of COVID-19. SB 24 would ensure Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds are monitored and spent to improve student outcomes. The bill was passed by the Senate on Feb. 27 on a strong 36-2 bipartisan vote but ran aground Friday in the House Education Committee, which tabled it on a 7-6 vote after the Superintendents Association, School Boards Association and the Public Education Department essentially said accountability to taxpayers is too hard. Lawmakers need to assert their oversight authority over the remaining $1 billion-plus or relinquish any credibility when weighing in on New Mexicos last-in-the-nation education standing. A measure meriting defeat is Tallmans perennial anti-transparency measure. Senate Bill 63 would shield the names of all but a few finalists for appointive executive positions from public view. It passed the Senate by a 31-9 vote last month. The House must stop SB 63 to ensure women and people of color are being seriously considered for top public-sector jobs. Senate Joint Resolution 1 also needs to die. It would ask New Mexico voters to establish a statewide school board and remove the Public Education Department from the governors control. PED needs leadership stability, not unaccountable politics from a 15-member board. Tweaking the Cannabis Regulation Act of 2021 isnt turning out to be as easy as supporters had promised. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee last week blocked HB 157 on a tie vote. The Cannabis Product Safety Bill is common-sense clarification on packaging requirements to protect children. It was drafted in response to reports of children accidentally consuming cannabis gummies that mimic candy. HB 157 is an easy fix to a problem created by hurried lawmakers and lax enforcement from the Cannabis Control Division. Banning bestiality is long overdue. New Mexico is one of two states where sexual abuse of animals is not a crime. An amended version of SB 215 passed the Senate 40-0 Monday. Enough said. House members need to do the right thing and get the bill to the governor. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Prosecutors said Victor Kearney hired a tax attorney with a history of tax evasion, drug use and soliciting prostitutes as part of a scheme to help Kearney avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars of income from trust accounts he inherited. Kearneys attorney said his client naively put his faith in his lawyer and got duped. Albuquerque might be the home of a real Saul Goodman, Paul Linnenburger, Kearneys attorney, said during his opening statement a reference to the unscrupulous lawyer in the Albuquerque-based television shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Kearney is accused of making and subscribing false tax returns and a conspiracy charge for allegedly not reporting income from a trust account he inherited after the unexpected death of his wife. The trial against Kearney got underway in federal court in Albuquerque on Monday. A jury was seated and attorneys made opening statements in the trial, which is expected to run throughout the week before U.S. District Judge James Browning. The criminal case is the latest courtroom saga for Kearney, who spent years in court unsuccessfully suing his Abruzzo family in-laws, including Benjamin and Louis Abruzzo, and Alvarado Realty Co., or ARCO, the Abruzzo family company that developed Sandia Peak Tramway and the ski areas in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Kearney was married to Mary Pat Abruzzo Kearney, who died unexpectedly in 1997 at age 31. Kearney was the beneficiary of two trusts set up by his wife, which paid Kearney about $16 million from 1998 to 2018, according to court records. As the relationship between Kearney and the Abruzzos soured, Kearney accused the Abruzzo family in court of breaching their fiduciary duties, which reduced Kearneys trust account income. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Brawley said after the ARCO company restructured in 2006, it created an opportunity for Kearney not to report the trust income. This presented an opportunity for the defendant, an opportunity he could not resist, she said. Brawley said in the years that followed, Kearney collaborated with attorney Robert Fiser in a simple and straightforward plot to hide his hefty income to avoid taxes. He even received a $30,000 tax refund one year, she said. She said Kearney is a self-proclaimed gambler and investor, and judges in other cases involving him have said that he lost most of the money he inherited from the trust accounts. Fiser previously pleaded guilty in the case and is listed as a witness for the prosecution, according to court filings. Browning earlier this year sentenced Fiser to 15 months in prison. Kearney was indicted in August 2019. Brawley said in court that prosecutors will show Kearney didnt pay taxes for years beginning in 2007. As part of a civil case between Kearney and the Abruzzo family, District Judge Alan Malott in July 2017 notified the IRS and the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department that evidence arose during a trial showing Kearney has not properly reported income he has received, did not file required tax returns in multiple years, and unilaterally altered income tax reporting forms issued to him by third parties. A New Mexico 10-year-olds push to raise funds for the state Department of Game & Fishs youth programs is picking up steam as it moves through the Roundhouse. Braden McIntosh proposed his idea during a Santa Fe event hosted last month by TeenPact New Mexico, an organization that introduces students to their local governments through hands-on activities. My homework for TeenPact New Mexico was to write a bill, serious or fun, that I would be willing to discuss at the event, McIntosh said in a news release. I had no clue I would have a chance to share my idea with our state leaders. After meeting with McIntosh, Sens. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, and Joshua Sanchez, R-Veguita, filed Senate Bill 392, which allows individuals who make a purchase from the Department of Game and Fish to donate money to the youth programs, either by rounding up their purchase amount or customizing a donation. The bill passed two Senate committees last month and was approved on a 35-0 vote by the full Senate last week. With less than two weeks left in this years 60-day session, the bill still must clear the House of Representatives in order to make it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams desk for final approval. BEIJING (AP) Chinas foreign minister has warned Washington of conflict and confrontation if it fails to change course in relations with Beijing, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russias invasion of Ukraine. Qin Gangs language appeared to defy hopes Chinas might abandon confrontational wolf warrior rhetoric. It followed an accusation by Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the United States were trying to encircle and suppress China. Washingtons China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track, Qin said at a news conference Tuesday during annual meeting of Chinas ceremonial legislature. Chinas relations with Washington and Japan, India and other Asian neighbors have soured as Xis government has pursued assertive policies abroad. If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation, Qin said in his first news conference since taking up his post last year. Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity. On Monday, Xi accused Washington of hurting Chinas development. Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented grave challenges to our nations development, Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. In the face of that, China must remain calm, maintain concentration, strive for progress while maintaining stability, take active actions, unite as one and dare to fight, he said. A State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said Washington wants to coexist responsibly in a global trade and political system and denied the U.S. government wants to suppress China. This is not about containing China. This is not about suppressing China. This is not about holding China back, Price said in Washington. We want to have that constructive competition that is fair and doesnt veer into that conflict. U.S. officials are increasingly worried about Chinas goals and the possibility of war over Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. Many in Washington have called for the U.S. government to make a bigger effort to counter Chinese influence abroad. Concerns about Chinese spying on the U.S. and Beijings influence campaigns there have drawn particular concern. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned visit to Beijing after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon suspected of being used for spying on U.S. territory. Its electronics and optical equipment are being analyzed by the FBI. Then last week, Beijing reacted with indignation when U.S. officials raised the issue again of whether the COVID-19 outbreak that first was detected in southern China in late 2019 began with a leak from a Chinese laboratory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the U.S. of politicizing the issue in an attempt to discredit China. The two countries have traded angry words over Taiwan as Xis government tried to intimidate the island by firing missiles into the sea and flying fighter planes nearby. Qin was ambassador to Washington until last year and in a previous stint as Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman was known for cutting condemnation of foreign critics. On Tuesday, he criticized Washington for shooting down the balloon. He repeated claims that its appearance in U.S. skies was an accident. In this case the United States perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge, Qin said. This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong and the result is that the U.S.-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track. Qin called Taiwan the first red line that must not be crossed. China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war. The mainlands Communist Party says the island is obliged to unite with China, by force if necessary. Washington doesnt public support either unification or formal independence for Taiwan but is obligated by federal law to see that the island has the means to defend itself. The U.S. has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question, Qin said. He accused the U.S. government of disrespecting Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, by offering the island political backing and furnishing it with weapons in response to Beijings threat to use force to bring it under Chinese control. Why does the U.S. ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan? Qin asked. In Taipei, Taiwans defense minister said the armed forces werent seeking outright conflict with Chinas military, but nor would they back away in the event of Chinese aircraft or ships entering Taiwanese coastal seas or airspace. It is the nations armed forces duty to mount an appropriate response, Chiu Kuo-cheng told legislators. Beijing has also accused the West of fanning the flames by providing Ukraine with weaponry to fend off the Russian invasion. China says it is neutral but said before the invasion that it had a )no-limits friendship with Russia. It has refused to criticize Moscows attack or to call it an invasion. A Chinese call for a cease-fire in Ukraine that has drawn praise from Russia but dismissals from the West has done nothing to lessen tensions. U.S. officials accuse China of considering providing weapons to Moscow for use in the war. Efforts for peace talks have been repeatedly undermined. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve a certain geopolitical agenda, Qin said. The annual meeting of the National Peoples Congress is due to endorse the appointment of a new premier and government chosen by the Communist Party in a once-a-decade change. The meeting also is expected to name Xi to a third term in the ceremonial post of Chinese president after he broke with tradition and awarded himself a third five-year term as ruling party leader in October, possibly preparing to make himself leader for life. ___ Associated Press Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington. ___ Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific SANTA FE Legislation requiring more instructional time for New Mexico students sailed through the state House without opposition Tuesday as lawmakers zero in on strategies intended to boost academic achievement. The proposal would require 1,140 hours of instructional time a year a 15% increase in the minimum now mandated for elementary schools. It would be a 60-hour bump in the high school minimum, though the bill also allows for up to 60 hours of teacher training, collaboration or parent-teacher conferences to count toward the requirement. State Rep. Joy Garratt, an Albuquerque Democrat and retired teacher who co-sponsored the legislation, said the measure was thoroughly vetted before the session and backed by groups representing superintendents, teachers and school boards. Its received support from around the state, she said. The proposal, House Bill 130, won approval 62-0 and now heads to the Senate. For some districts, the measure wont necessarily mean a dramatic change. But 66 of the states 89 school districts will have to increase their base instructional hours for elementary or high schools, according to analysis by the Legislative Education Study Committee. Albuquerque Public Schools now averages about 1,006 hours for elementary schools and 1,132 for high schools a bit below the new requirements, though the potential impact isnt clear given the bills flexibility for what counts as instructional hours. The proposal also allows districts and charter schools to determine whether to add hours with extra school days or by restructuring existing school days. Districts really can customize this to fit the needs of their students, said Rep. Tanya Mirabal Moya, a Los Lunas Republican and high school teacher. Action on the bill comes as New Mexico lawmakers evaluate how to respond to a drop in math and reading scores during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state also faces litigation connected to a 2018 court decision that found New Mexico was violating the constitutional rights of at-risk students by failing to provide a sufficient education. Math and reading scores in New Mexico fell significantly in the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the state ranked last in the country. Nonpartisan analysts working the Legislature say increased instructional time can make a difference. Analysis of 2022 test results by the Legislative Education Study Committee, for example, suggested increased hours had a modest but significant impact on student achievement, even when controlling for students economic disadvantages. A 2016 report by analysts for the Legislative Finance Committee found that the number of hours matters but that the quality of those hours tends to matter more. Rep. Brian Baca, a Los Lunas Republican and deputy superintendent, said the legislation adopted Tuesday acknowledges the importance of teacher collaboration by allowing 60 hours to count toward the instructional time requirement. A broad group of stakeholders, he said, shaped the bill. I think it really provides us a good framework, Baca said. A budget proposal under consideration in the Senate includes about $370 million to carry out the instructional-hour legislation. The cost, however, will depend on how schools add the extra time. Instagram Celebrity Amid 'nepo baby' controversy, the 'America's Got Talent' judge is proud of her oldest child Leni Klum as the teenage girl is juggling her career and college. Mar 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - Heidi Klum praises her daughter for balancing her career and her studies. The 49-year-old supermodel is mother to Leni, 18, with ex-partner Flavio Briatore as well as Henry, 17 Johan, 16, and 13-year-old Lou with former husband Seal and is amazed that her eldest - who is currently studying interior design whilst also following in her mother's footsteps - is managing to carve out a career and study at the same time. "I'm very proud of my daughter and her modelling. And she's studying at the same time, she's juggling already!" she told PEOPLE. Before allowing her to pursue a modelling career at the age of 16, Heidi previously explained that Leni - who has now starred in campaigns for brands such as Dolce and Gabanna and graced the cover of Vogue - had been approached for fashion work since childhood but held off until she felt comfortable putting her in the public eye. She said, "She's old enough now. I always thought she was too young. We always also decided to keep the children out of the public eye. But she's driving a car now, she's 16, so I figured if you can do that, you can also model now if this is what you wish to do." "Obviously, as a mother, [I want my] child to do what she wants to do. The industry is great and I love it and I've been in it for over 20 years but it's also, it's a lot of traveling, it's different. You have to be a strong person, especially as a woman you have to be very strong." You can share this post! Cover Images/ROGER WONG Celebrity The former 'Good Morning America' co-anchors look like a 'hot couple,' but there's nothing 'inappropriate' as they attend a memorial service for late PR guru Howard Bragman in Los Angeles. Mar 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes are not hiding their romance these days. The duo has reportedly attended the first event together as a couple in Los Angeles following their romantic getaway to Mexico. On Sunday, March 5, Amy and T.J. stepped out for the late PR guru Howard Bragman's memorial service at a private park in North Hollywood, California. Fellow attendees were reportedly left astonished by the pair's appearance. "I couldn't believe it was them! I didn't even know they were in L.A.," one source who attended the service tells Page Six. Still, the eyewitness has nothing but good things to say about the couple, who looked "in love" at the event. "They looked like... they weren't inappropriate, but she was in this wrap dress that was very short, and they just looked like this hot couple. There was no shame in their game," the source dishes on the lovebirds. The dress code for Howard's star-studded send off was "fabulous, business casual." T.J. wore a navy suit as he and Amy both donned sunglasses during the outdoor ceremony. They reportedly "arrived maybe 10 to 15 minutes" before the service started. Further sharing about the couple's interaction with other guests, the source says, "They seemed extremely happy and greeted everyone with warm smiles. They were extremely friendly with everyone." "There were a lot of people whispering. There was something electric," the source adds. "They seemed like a couple, who're obviously in love. They were definitely attentive and aware of each other." Amy and T.J. recently enjoyed a romantic vacation in Mexico, during which they were spotted packing on the PDA. At one point during the getaway, T.J. was spotted playfully squeezing his girlfriend's behind as they strolled along the sand at Puerto Vallarta. They also enjoyed a romantic dinner at a kitschy local joint where they drank and kissed under the wide-eyed stare of a plastic pink flamingo. You can share this post! Instagram Music The 'Tomorrow 2' performer previously tweeted, 'praying everybody is ok,' after learning that her concert in Rochester, New York on Sunday left one person dead and nine others injured. Mar 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - Another person died following a crowd stampede at GloRilla's recent concert. Authorities have confirmed that the death toll rose to two on Monday, March 6 following a crowd surge that may have been triggered by unfounded fears of gunfire at the raptress' show over the weekend in New York. During a news briefing on Monday, Police Chief David M. Smith said that GloRilla and Finesse2tymes had finished performing Sunday night at Rochester's Main Street Armory when people exiting the venue just after 11 P.M. began to surge dangerously. "We do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired or of anyone being shot or stabbed at the scene," Smith told the press, as quoted by AP. Concertgoer Ikea Hayes, who returned to the venue on Monday to retrieve belongings she left behind, told Rochester television station WHEC, "I was watching my life flash before my eyes, and I still didn't even know what was going on." She recalled being "on the ground, just scared, praying, like, you got to get up, you got to move. If you stay here, they're going to keep running you over. So, you got to get up. You got to move." Police found three badly injured women in the auditorium. One of them was Rhondesia Belton of Buffalo, who died at a hospital. Belton, 33, worked for Buffalo's Traffic Violations Agency. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown tweeted Monday evening, "Her family, friends, and colleagues are devastated and left to mourn this tragic loss. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers." The name of the second victim, a 35-year-old woman, has not been released by police. Another woman remains in critical condition in the hospital, while seven others were treated at area hospitals for injuries that were not life-threatening. GloRilla has spoken up following earlier reports that her Sunday concert left one person dead and nine others injured. "I'm just now hearing about what happened wtf," she tweeted on Monday morning, "praying everybody is ok." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The Microsoft co-founder has become a first-time grandfather after his daughter and her husband, Egyptian equestrian Nayel Nassar, welcomed their little one. Mar 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - Bill Gates has become a grandfather after his daughter gave birth to her first child. Jennifer Gates, 26, took to Instagram to reveal she and her husband, Egyptian equestrian Nayel Nassar, had welcomed a little one into the world. She wrote, "sending love from our healthy little family." Bill, 67, wrote, "Congratulations Jenn and Nayel. I'm so proud." Melinda Gates, whom the Microsoft billionaire was married to for 27 years, before they finalized their divorce in August 2021, commented, "Welcome to the world. My heart overflows." Bill and Melinda's 20-year-old daughter Phoebe shared three heart emojis. Jennifer wrote, "Thank you everyone for your well wishes they mean the world to us!!!!" In December, Bill admitted hearing he was to be a grandfather gave him a "new dimension" to his work. He wrote in a blog post at the time, "I started looking at the world through a new lens recently - when my older daughter gave me the incredible news that I'll become a grandfather next year. Simply typing that phrase, 'I'll become a grandfather next year,' makes me emotional. And the thought gives a new dimension to my work. When I think about the world my grandchild will be born into, I'm more inspired than ever to help everyone's children and grandchildren have a chance to survive and thrive." Bill was recently romantically linked to Paula Hurd, the widow of late tech company CEO Mark Hurd. A friend of the rumored couple said in February, "They've been together over a year, and she's always described as a 'mystery woman,' but it's no mystery to their inner circle that theyre in a romantic relationship." Bill and Melinda were granted a divorce in August 2021 after she filed for the separation in May that year after 27 years of marriage. Reflecting on their breakup, Bill said last year, "Everyone in the world has experienced loss during this time - of loved ones, financial security, or a way of life. Because of my position, I'm insulated from many of these hardships. But I too have hit some personal low points over the past few years, including the death of my father and the end of my marriage. As I reflect on the past and look ahead to next year, I'm feeling grateful for the people in my life who support me in difficult moments. They remind me of what's important, and they inspire me to be a better father and friend. Being wealthy makes my life much more comfortable, but not more fulfilling. For that, I need family, friends, and a job where I work on things that matter. I'm grateful to have all three." You can share this post! Avinash Pandey, President, News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), has addressed a letter dated March 06, 2023 to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take immediate action against the individuals and officials who attacked and/or searched the premises of the office of Malayalam news channel Asianet in Kochi and Kozhikode, Kerala. In his letter, Pandey referred to the attack by Student Federation of India (SFI) activists at the premises of Asianet News Network (a member of the NBDA) in Kochi and the subsequent police search conducted at its office in Kozhikode, Kerala. Pandey wrote, NBDA maintains that while no individual or institution is above the law, however, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and thereby cause any interference with the free functioning of news operations. Such attacks and searches are not only unacceptable, but they also undermine the basic tenets of freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution of India. We sincerely urge you and the State administration to take immediate action against the individuals and officials who attacked and/or searched the office premises of Asianet and ensure that journalists and media persons are allowed to perform their duties in a free and fearless manner, he added. Earlier, NBDA had issued an official statement wherein it slammed the attack as well as the subsequent police action on Asianets offices. Also read: NBDA condemns attack by SFI activists & police search of offices of Asianet https://www.adgully.com/nbda-condemns-attack-by-sfi-activists-police-search-of-offices-of-asianet-129258.html Continuing further, Pandey wrote, As an Association, we believe in promoting excellence in broadcasting standards and all Members are governed by the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards. As a result, we have constituted an independent Self-Regulatory Adjudicatory Body, namely the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), which is headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge Justice AK Sikri. NBDSA considers and adjudicates upon complaints with respect to broadcasts/ publications, including all content which violates the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and the Guidelines issued by it. All such complaints can be made to News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority. He emphasised that it would be in the larger interest of freedom of speech and expression of the media, if in future any complaint with regard to any broadcaster/ digital news media entity is decided by NBDSA. Taking ahead its Badlaav Humse Hai commitment, AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), Indias largest small finance bank, today announced its association with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub to extend digital lending to women street vendors across India under the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. The initiative was launched today by Mr. Rajesh Bansal, CEO, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and Mr. Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director, AU Small Finance Bank at a special Womens Day program organized at Bengaluru. PM SVANidhi scheme was launched by Government of India during the pandemic to empower Street Vendors by not only extending collateral free working capital loans to them, but also for their holistic development and economic upliftment. Since the introduction of the PM SVANidhi scheme in June20, AU Small Finance Bank has been working towards extending it by providing small working capital loans to street vendors. Over the years, it was realized that the manual application verification and assessment, multiple physical bank visits of customers and time-taking loan disbursement, made the process very tedious for the beneficiaries. Therefore, with technical partnership of Reserve Bank Innovation Hubs incubated start-up- MAKSPAY, AU SFB will now be able to fast track the loans disbursement from days to hours. Reserve Bank Innovation Hub helped the bank enable a more efficient customer onboarding and loan disbursement gateway. Besides, the Bank is offering to deploy free of cost UPI QR codes at each street vendors cart which will make its vendor-customers digitally available to accept convenient online payments. Speaking on the launch event, Mr. Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director, AU Small Finance Bank, commented, "Our partnership with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and MAKSPAY for digitizing loan disbursements for women street vendors is another humble effort to empower entrepreneurs and promote holistic financial inclusion. I am immensely grateful to RBI Innovation Hub and MAKSPAY for extending their technical expertise to make the PM SVANidhi scheme more accessible through the end-to-end digital process. We are also delighted to provide these customers our savings product and various value-added services like UPI QR codes that can help them achieve their financial goals faster. At AU Small Finance Bank, we are committed to promoting financial inclusion and bridging the digital payments divide, particularly among the under-banked segments of society. Through these efforts, we hope to create a more inclusive and equitable financial system for all." Mr. Rajesh Bansal, CEO, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, said, "We are happy to have AU Small Finance Bank as a partner in for the pilot on digitisation of loan disbursements under the PM SVANidhi Scheme. This is a great example of how we can achieve the objective of financial inclusion through digital solutions. With this initiative, the benefits of PM SVANidhi loans meant to empower street vendors will further reach to more women borrowers. We are delighted at the prospects of the positive impact of this partnership in promoting financial inclusion and supporting the growth of small businesses. We look forward to more such collaborations that will drive financial inclusion through innovation on the ground level." Over the last 27+ years, AU has focused its resources on empowering the unbanked and underbanked population in the rural and semi-urban India. AU SFB targets promising borrowers and meticulously studies their backgrounds through intensive field investigation before initiating loans. Additionally, it lends based on a comprehensive gap analysis of the industry and business of the customer and their future potential. AU Bank's commitment to promoting financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities is a testament to its vision of building a society where every individual is financially included in a way that enhances their livelihoods and drives sustainable development. Keeping in line with the theme of IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity, DCM Shriram Ltd, a leading business conglomerate, celebrated the women in office with a oneofitskind initiative #TheChairSwap. With a firm belief that true inclusion and belonging require equitable action, the company has planned a series of programs for women at work. The day will begin with Mr. Sandeep Girotra, CHRO, DCM Shriram Ltd. inviting Ms. Neha Sharma, a Management Trainee (Batch of 2021) to become the CHRO for the day and take his responsibilities on this special day. This initiative aims to encourage young women in the organization to aspire to become the leaders of the future. The true objective of the campaign is to showcase the continuous effort in empowering women. DCM Shriram Ltd. is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative and hopes to inspire other companies to take similar steps toward promoting gender equality and empowering women at workplace. Neha Sharma, a bright and ambitious management trainee who has been with the company since 2021, is a part of the HR team and works in the capacity of Asst. Manager- HR Corporate. Sandeep Girotra, CHRO, DCM Shriram, believes that this initiative will help break down the stereotypes associated with gender roles in the workplace and pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse corporate culture. British communication regulator Ofcom has found the Mark Steyn programme, which aired on GB News on 21 April 2022, in breach of its broadcasting rules. The regulator has been consistently clear that, under its rules, broadcasters are free to transmit programmes which may be considered controversial and challenging, or which question statistics or other evidence produced by governments or other official sources. It can clearly be in the public interest to do so. However, with this editorial freedom comes an obligation to ensure that, when portraying factual matters, audiences are not materially misled. In this case, Ofcom investigation found that an episode of the Mark Steyn programme fell short of these standards not because it exercised its editorial freedom to challenge mainstream narratives around Covid-19 vaccination but because, in doing so, it presented a materially misleading interpretation of official data without sufficient challenge or counterweight, risking harm to viewers, said the regulator. Specifically, the programme incorrectly claimed that official UKHSA data provided definitive evidence of a causal link between receiving a third Covid-19 vaccine and higher infection, hospitalisation and death rates. This was materially misleading because the way the data was presented to viewers during the programme did not take account of the significant differences in age or health of people in the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups studied. We also took into account the definitive way in which the misleading interpretation of the data was presented, and the absence of adequate counterweight or genuine challenge. The programme also failed to reflect that the UKHSA reports made clear that the raw data contained within them should not be used to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the vaccine. Given these misleading claims were broadcast as part of a factual programme on a news and current affairs service and may have resulted in viewers making important decisions about their own health, Ofcom concluded that the programme was potentially harmful and materially misleading, in breach of Rule 2.2 of the Broadcasting Code. Since March 2020, Ofcom has received over 26,000 complaints about TV and radio coverage relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reflecting the weight it places on the right to freedom of expression, the vast majority of these complaints did not raise issues under its rules. The regulator has opened 11 formal investigations where the content raised serious concerns. Of these cases, it has found eight programmes in breach of its rules, one was found not in breach, while two investigations remain ongoing. This is the first breach of our broadcasting rules recorded against GB News since it launched in June 2021. Complaints received about the channel to date total 3,432, representing 3% of all broadcast complaints made to us during this period. Of these 1,665 related to the Covid-19 pandemic. After careful assessment, the vast majority of complaints made against GB News have not been pursued. Aside from todays decision, our earlier investigation into Talking Pints with Nigel Farage (23 August 2021) relating to offensive language concluded that the programme was not in breach of our rules. An additional investigation into an episode of Mark Steyn, which aired on 4 October 2022, remains ongoing, said the regulator. Under the MOU, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) will leverage ITCs Agro & Rural Networks viz. Choupal Saagar and e-Choupal to enhance brand recall for Hyundai products. HMIL, by engaging farmer communities aims to promote its products through various means such as Car Display, Canopy, Leaflet, AV Display & Test Drive Activities. This association will also leverage HMILs flagship Sambandh Scheme with an emphasis on customers in rural markets. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has announced a unique corporate partnership with ITC Agro Business Division (ABD) to strengthen Hyundais brand presence in rural markets. In line with Hyundais global vision of Progress for Humanity, HMIL will promote their model line-up on ITCs extensive and vibrant Agro and rural platforms to enhance brand recall in rural pockets. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a step towards highlighting HMILs vision of progress and will collaborate with Choupal Saagar and the e-Choupal platforms in rural hinterlands. The collaboration will progressively be extended for ITCMAARS Rural services for wider reach. Commenting on the association, Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said, India is a diverse market and our customers are spread across regions with different cultures, practices and buying behaviour. When we look at the Indian market, our SUVs have won the hearts and minds of customers across major metros. The trend is similar in rural markets as well; Rural India demonstrates an inclination towards the SUV segment with a contribution of over 47% to HMILs overall sales with the Hyundai VENUE topping the charts with a contribution of 24% and the Hyundai CRETAs contribution standing at a healthy 23%. We recently achieved a milestone of 1 lakh rural sales in CY 2022. By undertaking an MoU with ITC, we have partnered with their Agro Business Division, leveraging the Companys transformative initiatives like Choupal Saagar, e-Choupal and ITCMAARS, thereby fortifying our commitment to support the dreams of over 4 million farmers across 35 000 villages who are an integral part of the e-Choupal eco-system. This association is aimed at strengthening HMILs brand resonance and association with potential customers across the hinterland of India. Under this agreement, Hyundai Motor India will drive various event and activities at Choupal Saagar ITCs integrated rural services hubin the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The e-Choupal facilities available across 10 states will be leveragedto strengthen brand association and engagement focusingon rural customers. HMIL will establish an accessible link with ITCs rural communities and farmer network through innovative campaigns. This association between ITC ABD and HMIL will progressively embark on a digital connect with customers by leveraging the ITCMAARS Platform. Rajnikant Rai, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business Division, ITC Ltd, added here, We are indeed happy to embark on a partnership with Hyundai Motor India Limited to support the aspirations of our farmers by leveraging the ITC e-Choupal and ITCMAARS eco-system. This initiative is anchored on the holistic engagement that the ITC e-Choupal initiative drives in partnership with other institutions aimed at empowering farmers and rural communities. Further, the ITCMAARS platform, a full stack Agro Tech application for farmers, will facilitate in expanding reach to last mile consumers, leveraging its phygital connect. As a part of HMILs Customer First philosophy, HMIL has established a strong network of 600+ touchpoints in rural markets, out of which more than 97% are available with service facilities, covering 420 districts. These touchpoints are a One-Stop-Shop solution for our esteemed customers and delivering highest level of customer satisfaction, strengthening customer confidence in brand Hyundai. Going forward, HMIL will further tap the potential of niche markets through BTL activations and digital campaigns. Some initiatives are already being undertaken in areas that cover tea estates, farming fields and refineries to enhance brand promotion and increase customer base. Fashion business leaders, who led the sessions at the 22nd edition of India Fashion Forum, forecast that AI and Augmented Reality will usher in a tech-driven consumer experience. India Fashion Forum (IFF), touted as Indias biggest fashion intelligence event, witnessed leaders, key stakeholders, experts and delegates from across the fashion ecosystem gathered to discuss emerging trends like AI, metaverse, Augmented Reality and AI, seamless shopping experiences and the prospects of as many as 100 Indian cities in generating new business opportunities in the post-pandemic fashion landscape. This years theme is Decoding the DNA of Profitability: Growth defined by Value Creation. Shailesh Chaturvedi, 22nd IFF Chairman, Industry Thought Leader, MD & CEO, Arvind Fashions welcomed the attendees along with outgoing IFF Chairman Akhilesh Prasad, President and CEO, Fashion & Lifestyle Business, Reliance Retail. Akhilesh Prasad remarked about the formidable position of India in the global market given her 5000-years of uninterrupted civilization. Over the next five to seven years, the Indian market will be dominated by innovative Indian wear unlike China whose civilization got interrupted after their cultural revolution. While the delegates deliberated on the importance of profitability in comparison with growth, the concept of tech-driven consumer experiences got everyones attention. Top representatives from brands like Tasva, Bhima Jewels, Bestseller India, Lifestyle International, Celio, Ayesha Fashion, Kompanero and Being Human Clothing discussed various aspects of marketing and innovation with profitability at its core. Speaking about what would work in the future, Saloni Nangia, President, Technopak, said, Smart trial rooms, grab and go self checkouts, ChatGPT, Augmented Reality driven consumer/ employee experience and 5G driving digitisation will be key factors in redefining customer experiences. Six years ago at IFF, we spoke about omnichannel format, a trend that was still in its nascent stage. We said that it had to be a part of our life. Today, I think Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Metaverse will be a part of our daily lives. Though a Metaverse store may not have a Return on Investment now, we have to invest. This is without dismissing the relevance of brick and mortar stores, said Sanjeev Rao, CEO, Being Human Clothing. Earlier in the day, in his inaugural speech, Shailesh Chaturvedi underscored the need for brands to shift their focus on building their capabilities so as to be prepared to tackle short or medium term headwinds. He further added, When we move from the known to unknown markets there is always a lot of value to create. In the other sessions, panelists also discussed about the huge opportunity in smaller markets, digital marketing, micro influencers and globally relevant topics such as waste reduction by brands, retailers and manufacturers as well as personalisation and innovation vs consumer experience. In the inaugural session where brand custodians presented their profitability strategy in 60 seconds, Rajesh Jain, MD & CEO, Lacoste India, revealed five pillars behind the success of his brand. Top line, bottom line, expansion/growth, talent development and customer delight are key. Everything else is coincidental. Preeti Gupta, Business Head, Nykd, Nykaa and Gloot, gave a synopsis of how the market is entrenched in consumer truth. Jaydeep Shetty, Consulting Partner, Greenhonchos, spoke about Customer and Brand Love. Advising his counterparts that they see online stores as a separate channel and not as a subset, he added, In retail and fashion, we began adjusting our minds to allot certain percentages to online and physical store presences. People shop whether they are happy, sad or are celebrating something special. Brands are no longer holding customers captive. They are in the customers home/ mobile phones. On the whole, technology and consumer data stood out as the most important factors driving business growth among the speakers in these sessions. With over 50+ conferences and 200+ speakers sharing their insights over the two days, IFF 2023 also welcomed UK delegates on their first-of-its-kind fashion and beauty trade mission to India. Brands like Lush, Benny Hancock, Jennifer Young and Lilly and Sid to name a few will showcase their offerings and innovation to potential distributors here. Some of the sessions over the two days include unified commerce as the future of retail, omnichannel in fashion, social media, personalization, sustainability, profitability, mall strategy, global green initiatives in fashion and artificial intelligence. The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has strongly condemned the attack by Student Federation of India (SFI) activists into the office of Malayalam news channel and an NBDA member Asianet in Kochi and the subsequent police search of its office in Kozhikode, Kerala. The attack by SFI activists and the subsequent police search of the broadcasters office comes in the backdrop of the reporting by Asianet news channel on the issue of drug and sexual abuse of a young girl in Kerala. These actions are not only unacceptable, but are also a direct impingement on the medias freedom of speech and expression as enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, maintained NBDA in a statement issued. The news broadcasters body unequivocally stated that there can be no possible justification for attacking and/or searching the broadcasters premises as such attacks and searches are an obvious attempt to muzzle the media. Media is widely regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy and its function of disseminating news of public interest to the people is indispensable to the functioning of a democracy. Therefore, it is reiterated that any action which prevents the media from performing their duties is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. NBDA urged the Chief Minister of Kerala to take immediate action against the individuals and officials who attacked and/or searched the broadcasters office premises, clearly sending a message that no individuals or officials are beyond the purview of the law. Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (LKS), a premier full-service Indian law firm specializing in taxation, has in a comprehensive white paper analyzed the proposed TDS changes announced for the Online Gaming Industry in the Union Budget 2023. The white paper welcomes the Governments initiative to provide clarity on direct taxation of online gaming and highlights the potential challenges, their impact on users and industry and proposes solutions to address the same. The online gaming industry till now was deducting TDS on winnings under section 194B, which had a threshold of Rs 10,000 per game post which the tax was deducted at the rate of 30%. In the Union Budget 2023, the Finance Minister announced a separate new section 194BA for TDS on online gaming. Under the new section, the Online gaming platforms are expected to deduct 30% TDS on net winnings. The computation of net winnings shall be prescribed separately. While this has been a welcome move for the industry, it has posed a conundrum as well. This is because the current section 194B is being amended and while the amendments in the section 194B come into effect starting April 01, 2023 the new section 194BA comes into effect only on July 01, 2023. This essentially means that for a period of 3 months between April 01 and June 30, 2023, the online gaming industry will have to comply with the amended 194B and undergo two different compliance framework changes within three months. This can cause a lot of confusion for the users and pose a huge compliance challenge for the industry. REGIME TIMELINE Current - Has a threshold of Rs 10,000 on per game basis for tax deduction on winnings Ends March 31, 2023 New - The threshold is removed and TDS calculations to be done on net winnings in the financial year Effective from July 1, 2023 Interim - Has the threshold of Rs 10,000 on financial year basis for tax deduction on winnings Effective from April 1, 2023-June 30, 2023 Commenting on the report, L Badri Narayanan, Executive Partner, LKS, said, "While the new proposed TDS changes bring in the much needed recognition for online gaming, the compliance complexities do pose a challenge. The application of two different tax deduction changes within the same financial year may result in massive confusion for players who may inadvertently not be able to comply or end up losing money. It may also lead to a mismatch between the winnings reported by OGIs and actual taxable net winnings of the users. Additionally, it would require significant education of the 20+ crore online gaming players, which would be an arduous task. He added, Historically, when such changes are carried out, only one regime change is prescribed to allow for sufficient time to implement. The Government should ideally conduct industry consultations to understand their concerns and notify the rules accordingly. According to the whitepaper, the proposed solution to these probable issues would be that threshold amendments to Section 194B should be brought into effect from July 01, 2023 for a smooth transition as has been the practice for earlier amendments. It is also crucial that the tax return filing process for users at the end of the financial year remains seamless. The report also proposes certain principles that may be adopted for calculation of net winnings, reflecting upon the intent of bringing these amendments. The government and the industry can reap the benefits of this sunrise sector, provided all the concerns are addressed in a holistic manner. India has emerged as a pioneer in the online gaming industry, contributing over Rs 22,000 crore in revenue to the exchequer. With a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 38%, the industry has the potential to empower the Make in India and Brand India vision. In 2002, John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira published a book entitled The Emerging Democratic Majority. Judis and Teixeira posited that historic voting patterns, urbanization, and growing minority populations could lead to Democrat party electoral dominance. However, the Democrats misinterpreted could to mean would and missed the point of the book. It wasnt telling them what would happen. It was suggesting what could happen, if they played big tent politics. Due to that misinterpretation, their book became the holy grail of the Left -- and a big justification for keeping our borders open. All the Democrats had to do was flood the country with enough people of the preferred demographic, and theyd never lose another election -- so they thought. And since electoral dominance was destiny, the Dems decided to charge ahead and indulge all of their leftist fantasies. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Judis and Teixeira promised them that they had it in the bag. It turns out plenty could go wrong. Teixeira has been sounding the alarm for some time now. In 2021 when he wrote Will Census Trends Save the Democrats? he noted that voting patterns, especially among Hispanics, were shifting towards Republicans. He explained, and Im paraphrasing: When he and his pal John said the Dems were on the right path in 2002, it wasnt meant as advice to make a hard Left turn onto another path leading to something America is not. He argued that the Democrat partys embrace of radicalism isnt a winning argument with the emerging demographics who wanted things like health, freedom, and prosperity. Those are the things that make America great -- but are anathema to the left. Teixeira recently wrote a three-part series of articles in which he recommends a political strategy to the Dems (here, here, and here). He gets into several specifics, but the thumbnail version is to distance themselves from the radicals and cozy up to the normies. The normies are what Teixeira calls common working-class Americans -- i.e., mainstream Americans. Isnt it interesting that what the Democrats call right-wing extremists (or even semi-fascist) is what Teixeira considers the normal people? Theres a message for the party in that. Teixeira offers up three points of strategic advance: Move to the center on cultural issues Promote an abundance agenda Embrace patriotism and liberal nationalism Culture On point 1, Teixeira argues that the no compromise radicalism of the Left is losing the cultural debate. He says: Culture matters and the issues to which they are connected matter. They are a hugely important part of how voters assess who is on their side and who is not; whose philosophy they can identify with and whose they cant. Teixeira notes that supporting violent criminals, rioters, illegal aliens, DEI initiatives, and gender-affirming care is not aligned with normie values. He argues that the Democrats have embraced radical positions, because leftists have oversized influence on the party. That influence is driving the Democrat party to lose touch with the normies, who are still the vast majority of American voters. Teixeira recommends that the Democrats remake themselves into the normie party -- the party that represents mainstream American values. He puts the issue succinctly: Democrats need to convince them (the normies) that they are not looked down on, that their concerns are taken seriously and that their views on culturally freighted issues will not be summarily dismissed as unenlightened. In other words: listen to them, dont cancel them. Abundance On point two Teixeira says that the Democrats have an abundance problem. He explains: Abundance means just what you think it means: more stuff, more growth, more opportunity, being able to easily afford lifes necessities with a lot left over. In short, nicer, genuinely comfortable lives for all. Hes getting really close to what should be an epiphany for Democrats. Voters want to be prosperous -- surprise! However, his research shows that voters are not happy about their current state. They are increasingly concerned about their ability to buy a home, start a business, or care for their family. Teixeira notes that the Democrat agenda seems at odds with promoting business growth -- which is required for economic prosperity. As an example, he points out Senator Joe Manchins permitting reform legislation. It would have streamlined permitting for many new business ventures, but it was killed by Manchins fellow Democrats. To the normies, when the Democrats take such positions, they dont appear to care about economic prosperity. Relative to the issue of economic prosperity, Teixeira gives the Democrats credit for messaging. Theyre talking about the right things. But he notes that conditions on the ground dont match the messaging -- and the voters know it. He doesnt say it, but I will: The gaslighting isnt working. Patriotism On the third point of his strategy, Teixeira claims that the Democrats have lost their patriotism bona fides. He says: Its kind of hard to strike up the band on patriotism when youve been endorsing the view that America was born in slavery, marinated in racism and remains a white supremacist society, shot through with multiple, intersecting levels of injustice that make everybody either oppressed or oppressor on a daily basis. He recognizes that America is not perfect, but suggests that inspiring patriotism is a sounder electoral strategy than condemning the country that most voters still love. Teixeira claims that the Democrat party should promote: nonsectarian, quasi-religious faith based around national symbols, founding documents and ideals, holidays, heroes, epic events, rituals and stories that has bound -- and can bind -- Americans together across social and regional divisions. Imagine that. A winning American electoral strategy should include: A return to founding principles rather than pursuing socialism Honoring those who created our country rather than tearing their statues down Celebrating our past accomplishments rather than dwelling on our mistakes Working to make America better Ruy Teixeira is a really smart guy and hes done a great deal of research to support his recommendations. He is recommending a right turn for the party of the left -- to return to a path of electoral viability. The Democrats would be well advised to pay close attention to him -- as would the Republicans too. The short version of his advice is to: Moderate culturally Embrace that which creates prosperity Celebrate America unabashedly That sounds a bit like MAGA, no? John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker, and American Free News Network. He can be followed on Facebook or reached at greenjeg@gmail.com. Image: Center for Americna Progress No, not crazy at all. Let me explain. A year ago, I wrote about taking the road less traveled and joining my adventure traveling son on a trip to Iraq. This year the destination was next door in Iran. For my son, it is his 154th country and for me a chance for some father-son time off the beaten track. The author in front of the Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran There is nothing wrong with a ski or beach vacation, but what an opportunity it is to visit a country that has been prominent in American news since the revolution and hostage crisis in 1979 during the reign of the hapless President Jimmy Carter. Similar to Iraq, the US State Department issues this warning, Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions. Canada says the same, Avoid all travel to Iran due to the volatile security situation, the regional threat of terrorism and the possibility of arbitrary detention. You should consider leaving by commercial means if you can do so safely. Also like for last years trip, friends and family thought I was crazy and would possibly die. I was advised to have my affairs in order. At the time of this writing, I am back home, very much alive and well. We flew to Istanbul, as we did last year, for some sightseeing and time for my son to work remotely using reliable internet access. The internet is trickier in Iran due to sanctions and many websites are not reachable without a VPN. We flew to Iran in the wee hours of the morning. After clearing immigration, we were met by an official man in a suit escorting us to his office. Oh, oh, the warnings were coming true. But rather than being arrested or interrogated, he offered us chocolates and wanted the name of our guide, who was waiting for us at the airport. For Americans visiting Iran, a guide is required, one certified by the government. Americans cannot visit and galivant on their own, instead only with a guide, which is something we would have done anyway. Our guide was my sons age and a walking textbook about Iranian history, culture, and anything else we wanted to know. After a short sleep our adventure began. A visa is also required, and an e-visa takes about 5-6 months to obtain, so plan early. We had no trouble here and our guiding company assisted with the process. Our first stop in Iran was Shiraz. Then to Persepolis, the palace home to Kings Darius and Xerxes in around 500 BC. Xerxes is the Persian villain in the movie 300. The palace was mostly burned to the ground by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Talk about history! Walking the same ground as Xerxes and Alexander once did. American history is 2-3 hundred years old, and in many places far shorter. In the Middle East, history is 2-3 thousand years old. Next was to Yazd, the city of wind catchers, an ancient means of air conditioning. This is well needed in the hot dessert climate of Iran. Then on to Isfahan, home to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the second largest plaza in the world, surrounded by beautiful mosques (see photo) and palaces. Finally, to Tehran, a bustling city of 9 million, the second largest city in the Middle East behind Cairo. Anyone that complains about traffic in American cities should spend a day in Tehran to see what traffic is really like. The food was delicious - kebabs, saffron rice, and a variety of stews and soups. Shopping included a Persian rug, turquoise and other Iranian jewelry, saffron, and delicious baklava. Just as in Iraq, I needed and got a local haircut, a fun and interesting experience. Visiting a local barbershop is a unique way to experience local culture. Lastly was a visit to the former US embassy in Tehran, seized and abandoned during the 1979 revolution, now a museum with a variety of colorful anti-American murals adorning the walls of the embassy grounds. The death to America chants are political talk, we were told, a standard ending to political speeches, similar to how our politicians end their speeches with God bless America. Separating people from politics, the people dont take such rhetoric seriously and love America and its people but are not enamored with their or our political leaders. Neither am I. President Obama is no favorite of Iranians, his sanctions throwing cold water on a prosperous economy, made worse by COVID lockdowns which closed Iran to visitors for close to two years. Regarding nuclear weapons, the sense I got was that Iranians realize they are living in a dangerous neighborhood including some countries that have their own nuclear weapons. They also observe US interventionalist policies and what that could mean in the future given what the US did to Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Ukraine with either direct military intervention or proxy wars. Perhaps not unreasonably, Iran wants the deterrent self-protection of having their own nukes in case a present or future US president decides democracy or regime change is necessary for a country 10 times older than America. I can appreciate their perspective and concern. If I lived in a dangerous neighborhood, self-defense would be a priority. We felt completely safe during our entire time in Iran. Politics and governments aside, the Iranian people we met love Americans and were both surprised and appreciative of our visit. They asked that we tell our fellow countrymen to visit Iran. The womens protests are long over and while most women still wear a hijab of some sort, many do not and dress as westerners. The morality or religious police have been shut down as a concession after last Septembers protests. But there is no doubt who is in charge, with ubiquitous posters around town of the two Supreme Leaders, Ayatollahs Khomeini, and Khamenei. We walked past the madras where Khomeini was educated. Unlike America where we have separation of church and state, in Iran, the church is the state. All in all, it was a great trip, experiencing the culture, history, food, and most of all the welcoming Iranian people. Safety was never an issue and I felt far safer in Iran than I would in downtown Denver. For any adventure travelers looking for a unique trip off the beaten path, skip the beach and venture to Iran. Carpe diem! Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer. Photos and videos of my travels are on Instagram bjoons_adventures Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor Truth Social @BrianJoondeph LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph Most of the world is focused on the war in Ukraine, which has created political unrest in most western countries. Although it feels as though Russia is under a microscope, there is a lot of Russian politics that the media has not discussed. One of these things is that there are rivals to Putin, one of whom is Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The Munich Security Conference took place two weeks ago. Although Russian officials are usually invited, this year that changed. Due to Russias invasion of Ukraine, organizers decided to invite Russian politicians pushing to replace Putin. Those guests included multiple Russian exiles, including the ex-world chess champion Garry Kasparov; Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of the slain Russian politician Boris Nemtsov; and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the lapsed oligarch who towers over the rest, primarily due to his being singled out as one of the potential new leaders of Russia should Putin fall. Once Russias richest man and the head of the now-defunct oil giant Yukos, Khodorkovsky has become one of Russias biggest political whistleblowers. In 2003, he was arrested for alleged financial fraud after funding opposition leaders and independent media in Russia and spent a decade in prison before Putin finally pardoned him. (He was also formally accused of murdering the mayor of the city where Yuko, was headquartered, although that charge went nowhere.) After Putins pardon saw him released from prison, Khodorkovsky initially vowed to stay out of politics. However, he has since publicly criticized Putin. Image: Mikhail Khodorkovsky. YouTube screen grab. A couple of years before the 2018 elections, when Vladimir Putin was once again voted in as the President of Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky launched the online project Instead of Putin, which received significant media coverage. However, he failed to attract a significant audience within Russia and, in the end, offered no real alternative to the ubiquitous image of a topless Russian president riding a horse. When the site put up a list of potential candidatesa list that did not include KhodorkovskyAlexei Navalny won. Putin then quickly barred him from running as a candidate. Navalny later ended up in prison after being found guilty of large-scale fraud (do you see the pattern here yet?). Some believe that Navalnys challenge to Putins political power cost him his freedom. Currently, the Instead of Putin site provides free and anonymous legal advice. Unfortunately, its not a very popular service, considering that, over the last nine years, lawyers have won only around ten million rubles, or $130,000, for their clients. Former Yukos partner Leonid Nevzlin calls Khodorkovsky his friend but, on his personal Russian-language Telegram channel, out of 740 messages, only 14 mention Khodorkovsky. Such meager support for a friend with political ambitions indicates that even Nevzlin is distancing himself from Khodorkovskys activities. Russian Telegram groups distribute independent media, and Russian authorities have tried to block them. However, these efforts have mostly failed. Despite losing most of his $15 billion fortune while in prison, Khodorkovsky, working with his ex-partners and managers, has managed to make many profitable investments to finance his activities against Putin. Because he uses his wealth to fight against Putin, the West sees his activities as a form of atonement for the former business oligarch. Unlike his former Yukos associates, Khodorkovsky is the only one who uses his wealth to undermine Putins power in Russia. Indeed, he funds most free-speech media and investigative projects in Russia today. Its dangerous for those working on these projects. A trio of Russian journalists was assassinated in the Central African Republic while investigating Wagner, a Russian paramilitary organization. Khodorkovsky is said to be a tough businessman, willing to push to get those media projects a good audience and to ensure that they are well funded. This is why these are so effective in Russia. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Khodorkovsky has been unwavering in his support for Ukraine, urging the West to supply Ukraine with more weapons in its fight against Russia. If and when Ukraine prevails in the war against Russia, observers expect a power struggle in Moscow. Many consider Khodorkovsky to be a likely successor to Putin. Khodorkovsky continues to promise stability and democracy for Russia. It helps that he has support from many other exiled politicians who work with him to support Ukraine. The people within Russia are very aware of him. Although they might not openly support his efforts to become president, he has already positioned himself as a frontrunner. He is already building a network within Russia, ready to strike when the iron is hot for the seat of power. What helps is that Khodorkovsky has something that no other Russian oppositionist has: the ability to attract the best people and manage large structures. He has a proven talent for business leadership. He continues to show that he is a good strategist and tactician as he navigates these political waters. Still, despite his abilities, he must enlist the support of a significant part of the national elite if he is to win. So far, though, it seems that the charismatic Khodorkovsky has more supporters in Washington, London, and Brussels than in Moscow. Putin has effectively cut off most of Khodorkovskys contacts within Russia. Some of whats standing in Khodorkovskys way is that his close circle, made up of former Yukos founders, has almost no political capital in Moscow. Leonid Nevzlin, who lives in Israel, manages litigation and watches the investments. Alexey Golubovich, who lives between Italy and Great Britain, has earned an indulgence in Russia thanks to his controversial testimony against Yukos. He only occasionally visits Russia to ensure a direct connection between Khodorkovsky and current officials, a silent network that even includes some generals. The only people around Khodorkovsky who have political capital are human rights defenders in Russia, and the politicians the former oligarch once funded. However, new Russian laws are censoring these people, which once again puts Khodorkovskys effective support outside Russian borders. Its hard to build a political team under these circumstances. However, even with the odds stacked against him, Khodorkovsky has proven his ability to navigate politics. His business skills and network make him a person of value in reintegrating the Russian economy into the greater world economy. Putin cannot last forever. Once his rule ends, Khodorkovsky will undoubtedly occupy one of the political positions, whether president or prime minister. A few weeks back I went online to RSBN to tune into the solemn and yet very enlightening funeral for Lynette Diamond Hardaway of Diamond and Silk fame. The funeral expenses were paid for entirely by Donald J. Trump, and the former President also attended the funeral, sitting alongside the Hardaway family. I discovered that Silk possessed a very commanding presence of her own. While being somewhat eclipsed by the presence of her more animated Irish-twin, Diamond, it was evident that she could handily proceed with the Diamond and Silk brand in Diamonds absence. I also learned a great deal more about the rich history of the Hardaway clan. The closing speaker was of course, Donald J. Trump. He spoke about getting to know the Hardaway family, the Silk that he realized he didnt know, and his commitment to addressing Black concerns. What was deemed most interesting in the Presidents speech was when he humbly revealed that he didnt know how to address us. Black people. At around the 3 hour and 50 minute mark the President reveals to the attendees that he always felt ignorant with regard to how to address the Black community. I always used to ask -- what do you like better -- African American?... Black? You know there are many different terms. They said We like Black -- because I was always saying African American. Upon hearing this revelation, I could not help but admire his willingness to admit that he didnt know, as well as having the humility to ask. Id never heard a politician ask before. This is what sets Donald Trump apart from politicians. He is not a politician. He has offered himself to Americans as a man of the people, and in keeping with that persona, he admitted that he just didnt know. And how could he know? After all, in over a rather condensed period of time, wed gone from Colored to Negro to Black to African American. Id be confused too if I werent Black. The truth of the matter is that as a Black woman in her sixties, I have never in my life -- not once -- heard a Black person refer to another Black person as African American. It simply isnt a part of our common, day-to-day vernacular. If a Black person is telling a story about the guy at the outdoor produce stand, the Black person on the listening end might ask Which one... the Black guy? He is not going to ask, Which one, the African American guy? Moreover, when engaging Black people, Ive never heard any other ethnic group refer to us as anything other than Black. Its quite acceptable, and Ive never heard anyone protest being referred to as such, as it relates to ethnicity. So again, the White friend on the listening end is likely to respond in kind Which one the Black guy? The question now becomes, where did this come from? Who ushered in the misnomer that African American was what the masses of Blacks preferred to be addressed as? The answer to that question would be the Reverend Jesse Jackson. I remember this quite clearly in the 1980s, but to validate my memory Ill cite a 1989 article from the New York Times. This article reports on Jesse Jacksons movement to refer to Blacks as African Americans. The article effectually reports that: Some say they do not identify with Africa and resent prominent Blacks telling them what to be called. Therein lies a truth that has become evident in the age of the 2023. I am personally not averse to identifying with the continent of Africa, however, I found myself vexed by Jacksons misguided, if not high-minded and authoritative, attempt to speak for us. I dont even recall Jackson ever asking us what we wanted. In his highness, he simply ran with and projected his own desires. What ultimately ensued was a journalistic colloquialism that was never in sync with grassroot Blacks. This vernacular ushered in by Jackson, has become the standard by which to refer to us on television, in print media, and in academia. It was not something that we asked for, and subsequently, we never adopted it. To be quite frank, I think its high time that it went away. As easily as the term Negro, and Colored vanished from our reading materials, the same can be accomplished with the dated and ultimately rejected byword, African American. Most of us prefer to be called Black. I personally adore the word. I consider it abbreviatedly powerful. In the end, the people have already proven that Jesse Jackson was incorrect in his assertions. I applaud President Trump for admitting that he needed to ask because he wasnt sure. It was refreshing. He also admitted to pondering if he should shed tears at the funeral if he felt it welling up in his spirit. But he concluded that the media would have a field day with it. What this tells me was that crying may have indeed been in his spirit after the death of Diamond, and perhaps he may have done so in private. The more I see of President Trump, the more evident it becomes that he is not a manufactured automaton telling the people what they want to hear, and doing otherwise. He has profound moments of humility. He is listening to us. He seeks to execute change. He seeks to understand, and not render himself foolish or self-absorbed. Thank you for asking, Mr. President. We prefer Black. Image: White House Self-deprecating humor can be charming when the person making the joke is being modest dimming the brightness of his own shining light for the purpose of being humble. But in a person whose stature is already questionable, self-deprecating humor only serves to emphasize the speaker's limitations. And when the humor is clumsily delivered, it actually makes the audience uncomfortable, feeding a mixture of pity and disgust. While speaking to, and buttering up, an audience of firefighters yesterday, the president of the United States came close to making a Kinsley gaffe accidentally telling the truth about his damaged mental state. Making it worse, he got lost in midsentence, paused awkwardly, and went on to deliver the joke that doctors wanted to see if he had a brain. And I had these terrible headaches, was diagnosed with having a anyway they had to take the top of my head off a couple of times to see if I had a brain. See for yourself: So damaging to Biden was this close brush with the awful truth of his mental decline that Twitter users questioned whether or not it was a deep fake: A website called Misbar, which claims that it has debunked several deep fakes of Biden videos, checked it out and determined that the segment was genuine Misbars Analysis Misbar investigated the viral video and found the claim to be true. Every intelligence service of every government in the world now knows what the American mass media still deny to the public here: that a sitting president is in severe mental decline, cannot speak a string of coherent sentences on his own, and is likely not in charge of his presidency. After the Supreme Court correctly held that the question of abortion belongs to the states, rather than being a constitutional right, thirteen states made abortion illegal. In addition to the total ban states, there are states in which abortion becomes illegal at a set number of weeks or upon viability. Therefore, Walgreens announced that it would not ship the abortion drug to 20 states that ban or severely limit abortion. An outraged Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that California would never do business with Walgreens again. If only hed spoken with his staff first because he now looks like a fool. Walgreens, which was founded in Chicago in 1901, became very popular during Prohibition when it sold prescribed medicinal whisky, which was a legal thing to do at the time. By the 1930s, it had expanded to 30 of Americas 48 states. It is a fixture across the American landscape, even though its now a subsidiary of the Walgreens Boots Alliance, a British, American, and Swiss holding company. Image: Early Walgreens sign in San Antonio, Texas, by Theopolisme. CC BY-SA 3.0. Last week, Walgreens lost its street cred on the woke side of things when it was reported that Walgreens will not violate the law in those 20 states in which there are total bans or stringent limitations on abortion: Walgreens on Friday said it will not distribute abortion medication in 20 states, bowing to pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers and lawsuits targeting the legality of medication abortion. The company said it will not dispense mifepristone, the first of two drugs in the medication abortion process, in 20 states following a February 1 letter from GOP attorneys general in those states. That makes perfect sense. Walgreens does not intend to violate the law as to a matter that the Supreme Court has declared belongs solely to the discretion of the individual states. However, for Californias boy governor, Gavin Newsom, Walgreens decision to abide by the law was a body blow, and he struck back. No more Walgreens for California, he announced via a tweet: California won't be doing business with @walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk. We're done.https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 6, 2023 What Newsom is announcing is coming perilously close to violating the Commerce Clause, because he's financially penalizing a private corporation for following the law. But theres a more immediate problem for Newsom than that: he forgot to talk to his staff before making his bold, woke point on behalf of the unlimited abortion his party so loves. It turns out that his staff has absolutely no idea how the bosss ban is supposed to work: When asked what tangible actions would result from Newsom's online proclamation, a spokesperson for the governor's office told SFGATE: "California is reviewing all relationships between Walgreens and the state. We will not pursue business with companies that cave to right wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls." When pressed for more details about what relationships currently exist between California and Walgreens, Newsom's office did not reply. The same is true for other media outlets that contacted Newsom's office about his tweet. Newsoms unforced error is amusing, of course, but it is a useful reflection of the homogeneity Democrats demand for America. The concept of the states as laboratories of democracy is anathema to the left, and its easy to see why. Leftists cannot take the risk that people will do well in those states that reject leftism. It is unacceptable to them that Florida, Texas, South Carolina, and other states that (mostly) refuse to embrace leftist ideology are thriving, even as the hard-left states (California, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, etc.) are becoming basket cases of poverty, drugs, crime, and despair. People like Newsom are terrified that the truth might set free those Americans trapped in Democrats micromanaged hellholesso Walgreens, which is complying with its obligations in a federal system, must go. When the Washington, D.C. City Council overrode the veto of Mayor Muriel Bowser and made into law a "criminal justice reform" bill that would have reduced mandatory minimum sentences, made serious felonies into misdemeanors, and overwhelmed the courts by allowing jury trials for many misdemeanors, they unconsciously laid a no-win trap for President Biden and the Senate Democrats. Because Congress and the president have the ability to override D.C. laws, and because House Republicans quickly "pounced"(as the prog cliche inevitably has it) and passed a bill to override it, Biden and Senate Dems would either have to concur and override it thereby enraging the pro-criminal SJW bullies or be seen as endorsing a lunatic bill that would quickly escalate the already intolerable level of crime in the nation's capital. So toxic was the bill that 31 House Democrats voted with the GOP, flouting party discipline and dealing a blow to House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, who lives in the long shadow of iron-willed Nancy Pelosi. Characteristically, Biden dithered. At first, Biden told Senate Democrats last Thursday that he wouldn't veto the bill. That put Senate Dems, who control the majority, in the hot seat. Senators Manchin, Casey, and Fetterman had all announced support, but if it came down to an override vote following Biden's veto, every Dem up for re-election in 2024 all 20 of them would be caught having to take responsibility for the bill if they voted no. That would label them "soft on crime." And if they voted yes, that would alienate the noisiest and most aggressive portion of their base. Politico: Biden's lack of a veto threat might open the floodgates on the D.C. crime vote. Several Democrats predicted an overwhelming margin of support to roll back some of D.C.'s recent progressive crime measures. "I think that's where most of the caucus is. Most of the caucus sees the mayor in a reasonable position as saying: 95 percent of this is really good, some of this is problematic. And we need to keep working on it," Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said after the meeting. Somebody among the puppeteers running the Biden presidency must have told him that if he really is running for re-election, he would lose a lot of undecided and even some Democrat voters over his soft-on-crime position at a time when people are worried about their personal safety, so he abruptly reversed himself. The New York Times: President Biden said on Thursday that he would not stand in the way of a Republican-led proposal to block a new criminal code for the District of Columbia, steering clear of a veto fight over a measure he had opposed in a move that underscored the rising political potency of public alarm about violent crime. So now Biden risks alienating the Squad, the felon vote, and the pro-crime SJWs. And Senate Dems still have to take a position on the D.C. crime bill that will alienate voters no matter which way they vote. Having created this problem, the dimwits on the D.C. City Council are attempting to undo the damage they have inflicted on their party. DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on Monday wrote a letter to the Senate attempting to withdraw the district's criminal reform legislation from congressional review after it became clear the Senate intended to nix the legislation. "This morning, I delivered a letter to the Senate withdrawing the criminal code reform commission legislation," Mendelson said during a news conference on Monday. "It's clear that Congress is intending to override that legislation and so my letter, just as I transmit bills for their review, withdraws from consideration the review." But there is a big problem. The federal law granting limited home rule to D.C. does not allow for the D.C. government to withdraw a bill already up for review by Congress and already disapproved by one house of Congress: A senior Republican aide said the GOP still expects a Senate vote this week to halt the local legislation. Another leadership aide added: "Not only does the statute not allow for a withdrawal of a transmission, but at this point the Senate Republican privileged motion will be acting on the House disapproval resolution, rather than the DC Council's transmission to the Senate. We still expect the vote to occur." The ridiculous bill was so toxic that D.C.'s progressive mayor saw the problems and vetoed it. But the City Council was so in thrall to the pro-crime faction of its party that it blew its chance to self-correct. Now all that's left is a protracted futile struggle to undo the damage, which can only add more publicity to the issue. China's limited defense spending aims to safeguard sovereignty, security and devt interests: spokesperson 09:45, March 07, 2023 By Liu Xuanzun ( Global Times An anti-submarine patrol aircraft attached to a naval aviation regiment under the PLA Southern Theater Command takes off for a recent training exercise, which aims to hone the skills and combat capabilities of the troops. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Qin Qianjiang) China's limited national defense spending is completely set to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, a military delegation spokesperson said at the ongoing two sessions on Monday, after the country announced its plan to raise the defense budget by 7.2 percent in 2023. Foreign media should look at their own countries' military expansions before hyping the "China threat" theory, analysts said. Tan Kefei, a spokesperson of the People's Liberation Army and People's Armed Police delegation to the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, made the remarks when asked by a journalist about this year's defense budget arrangement amid a changing world, in which instability and uncertainty are significantly increasing and countries including the US have greatly hiked their military budgets. The Chinese government adheres to the policy of coordinated development of national defense development and economic development, and it reasonably sets the scale of defense expenditure based on the needs of national defense and the development level of the national economy, Tan said. In recent years, China has maintained moderate increases of its defense spending as its economy kept a healthy development, promoting the simultaneous improvement of national defense and economic strength, the spokesperson said. The increased defense spending will be used to comprehensively enhance military training and combat preparedness, consolidate the integrated national strategic system and capabilities, Tan said. It will also be allocated to speed up the development of modern logistics, carry out major projects in national defense technology and weaponry, as well as accelerate the conversion of technology toward combat capability, he said. In addition to consolidating and expanding the results of national defense and military reform, the defense expenditure will also improve the work, training and living conditions of the troops, adapting to the level of the country's economic and social development, Tan said. China adheres to a path of peaceful development, pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and participates in the UN's military expenditure transparency system by submitting annual reports for the previous fiscal year since 2008, the spokesperson said. Foreign media like the Financial Times on Sunday claimed that China's military budget outpaces other spending in shift to security. Compared with major military powers like the US, China's defense expenditure is relatively low in terms of the proportion of GDP, proportion of national fiscal expenditure, per capita and per military personnel, Tan said. Observers said that China's defense budget has been kept less than 1.5 percent in recent years despite the world's average being 2 percent, not to mention the US' figure that nears 4 percent. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that China kept a low defense spending and focused on economic development before the start of the 21st Century. To ensure China has a national defense that can safeguard the fruits of its economic development, it is reasonable to increase military budget now and make up for what was lost, Fu said. China still has a lot of room to increase its military expenditure, but it chose not to because it is a responsible major country, analysts said. Foreign media should not hype the "China threat" theory with the excuse of the country's defense budget, instead they should look at their own countries' growing military expenditures as well as aggressive military expansions, observers said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu) Last month, one of many Super Bowl ads called on Americans to say "Thank You" to Canada for all it has contributed to our world. Unfortunately, one of those contributions is a disturbing devotion to euthanasia. Euthanasia is defined as the intentional killing of a patient suffering from an "incurable and painful disease" or in an irreversible coma. The practice is still illegal in most countries; Canada is an exception. Once termed "physician assisted suicide," our northern neighbors legalized this procedure in 2016 for informed and consenting adults who have a "grievous and irremediable condition." There were safeguards that required that the request be made in writing before two witnesses, the ability to withdraw the request, and a ten-day reflection period before the procedure could take place. According to the government's recent report, 31,666 people have been put to death since legalized physician-assisted suicide was passed. It now makes up 3.3% of all the deaths in the country. Of note in the report is that physician-assisted deaths in 2021 represented a "growth rate of 32.4% over 2020." Everyone knows what happened in 2021: the COVID-19 lockdowns and shutdowns, the uncertainty, the loss of friends, of social activity, of daily routines, and ultimate control over one's own life. No doubt the fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and disruption, combined with social isolation, have affected the mental health of millions. And not just for the elderly. A just released report from the Centers for Disease Control indicates, according to The New York Times, that "[n]early three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021, double the rate of boys, and one in three girls seriously considered attempting suicide." In fact, more than one in five of these students reported attempting suicide. Depression, sadness, suicidal thoughts, and so many other troubling psychological problems seem to be affecting more of society. In Canada, young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group according to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital. Their research indicates in any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness. By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have or have had a mental illness. Amid this disturbing increase in mental illness, especially among young people, Canada expanded its physician-assisted suicide, now termed Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). In 2021, the height of the COVID social upheaval, the Legislature expanded the eligibility of MAID to the following ailments: have a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability (excluding a mental illness until March 17, 2023) be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability have enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated under conditions the person considers acceptable Physical or psychological suffering? What is the difference between psychological suffering and mental illness? This could describe millions, especially since COVID. One of the most disturbing of all aspects of the MAID report is that in 2021, 2.2% of the total number receiving assistance in dying were individuals "whose natural deaths were not reasonably foreseeable." In other words, their deaths were not imminent. The expansion to the mentally ill was to go into effect on March 17, 2023, but thankfully, Canadians received a reprieve from the government until next year. The one-year extension, according to the government, would "provide additional time to prepare for the safe and consistent assessment and provision of MAID where the person's sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness." Mental illness is not a comorbidity and should not be a death warrant. In fact, the opposite should be true. These are the most vulnerable in our society, the most susceptible to coercion. And, according to these reports, the people suffering from these issues can be helped in any number of ways. Ten states in the U.S., including Vermont, have implemented physician-assisted suicide, and some are considering the expansion of their programs to follow the way of our northern neighbors. California governor Gavin Newsom revised his state's law in 2021 to limit the previous 15-day waiting period to just two days. No doubt, he and others look to Canada to see how far they can push the envelope. Who will speak for these vulnerable individuals who, in a state of depression, indecision, or desperation, will ask the state to help them end the pain? Euthanasia is not the answer. The chilling words of German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller who criticized and shamed his fellow countryman for not speaking out against Adolf Hitler when he was murdering millions, should be remembered. In addition to the plan to rid the world of Jews, the Nazis had a euthanasia program that began much earlier and included killing people with mental and physical disabilities considered to be genetically defective and a financial burden on society. How could we possibly consider allowing these policies to go unopposed? No, thank you, Canada we cherish the lives of all human beings and must preserve their dignity and right to life at all stages. Lenore Broughton is the vice president of the Vermont Institute for Human Flourishing. Image: Hernan Fednan via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Hours ago, Tucker Carlson aired perhaps one of the most important shows in his broadcasting career. The episode was based on 40,000 hours of security camera footage from Capitol Building from January 6, 2021, provided to Carlson by Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy deserves to be commended for this; his tenure as speaker is looking promising so far. So what was the key takeaway? We see Trump-supporters peaceably touring the building like "sightseers," as Carlson called them. We see these people amble around, take photos and selfies, and even pick up pamphlets as you would do in a museum. They were not armed. A vast majority of them did not engage in any kind of property destruction. Most importantly the police are seen guiding and escorting them around as if they were tourists visiting the location. Virtually no one in Washington, Republican or Democrat, wanted to see this tape released tonight. pic.twitter.com/YfpvaIZTbn Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 7, 2023 We see Capitol Police officers escorting and giving a guided tour to Jacob Chansley, a Navy veteran who has been consistently portrayed by the mainstream media as the "QAnon Shaman" and the ringleader of the armed insurrection. We see around nine police officers in close proximity to Chansley and officers opening locked doors for Chansley. There were no attempts to restrain him, rightly causing him to have the impression that he wasn't breaking any laws. Most citizens look to law enforcement officers as reliable guides in matters of law. At one point, Chansley even led a prayer of gratitude toward the Capitol Police. Yet Chansley was eventually arrested and federally charged for "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds" and was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. We also see footage of Officer Brian Sicknick, who the media claimed was bludgeoned by violent Trump-supporters with a fire extinguisher that caused his death. The death of Sicknick was used by the Democrats and the media to push the "violent insurrection" claim. Democrats allowed Sicknick's coffin to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, claiming that it was to honor his memory as a victim. But in reality, Sicknick's corpse was disgracefully used as a platform to amplify their hoax. It was eventually revealed that Sicknick had died of a medical condition and not an injury. In the footage, we see Sicknick guiding Trump-supporters out of the building. He was walking normally, and he wore a helmet, which contradicts the media narrative that he died of a head injury. Carlson noted that the footage of Sicknick had an electronic bookmark in the Capitol archives, which he said proves that the Jan. 6 House Select Committee had reviewed that section of the footage. Yet they purposefully excluded the exculpatory footage during their widely publicized Stalinist hearings and the final report. The Democrats also claimed that Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) was leading a "reconnaissance mission" through the Capitol building on January 5, 2021, and even showed footage of it. Carlson revealed that Loudermilk was actually giving his constituents a tour of a congressional building. The media and the Democrats also pushed the hoax of Sen. Josh Hawley fleeing the building in fear of the mob. The clip was shown by the House Select Committee and circulated by the media to make Hawley look like a cowardly weasel. Carlson revealed that Hawley was among several lawmakers who were escorted out of the Capitol by police and that he was the last among the group. Not all mysteries were solved. Next, Carlson referred to Ray Epps, the man who was seen inciting Trump-supporters to go into the Capitol the night before the Jan. 6 protests. Last year, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, the FBI's national security branch head, Jill Sanborn, refused to answer a question from Senator Ted Cruz as to whether Epps was Fed. Sanborn also refused to answer if any FBI agents or confidential informants actively participated in or incited riots or committed crimes. This was very suspicious. Had the FBI been innocent, Sanborn would have forcefully rejected Cruz's accusations. Instead, she applied the standard ploy of concealment without perjuring herself. Dodging such grave allegations reasonably can be regarded as an implicit admission of guilt. Ray Epps sent a text to his nephew claiming he "orchestrated it." When he was interviewed by the House Select Committee regarding the text, Epps claimed he was already heading back to his hotel when he sent it. But footage that Tucker screened shows that Epps remained at the Capitol for at least a half an hour after dispatching the text. As Carlson noted, lying to congressional investigators is a crime. Yet unlike the others, Epps wasn't criminally charged or subjected to solitary confinement and other serious punishments. Also unresolved were the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Ashli Babbitt by a Capitol Police officer called Michael Byrd, which continue to remain unclear because there were no security cameras near the speaker's lobby, where the murder occurred. Babbitt wasn't armed or physically imposing enough to be perceived as a threat, yet she was murdered. The media demonized Babbitt as a violent insurrectionist to provide justification for her murder. Tucker has promised to reveal much more in subsequent days. Clearly, the "insurrection" was another hoax peddled by the Democrats' D.C. Establishment to give them an excuse to criminalize, intimidate, and eventually destroy their political opposition. So how will the media react to these revelations? They will brand Carlson as a conspiracy theorist and will continue to feed their audiences with lies provided by their Democrat masters. The "insurrection" was one of the many sequels to the Russian Collusion hoax, where the Democrats tried to delegitimize the democratically elected President Trump. The hoax caused the appointment of a special counsel that hung like a sword over the Trump presidency for 674 days and cost taxpayers nearly $32 million. It caused instability and retarded the speed of implementation of the MAGA agenda. It probably contributed to the Democrats taking back the House in 2018, which led to myriad other hoaxes such as Trump's first baseless impeachment over a call with Ukrainian president Zelensky, where there was no proof of any violations, and the second for "incitement of insurrection." This January 6 insurrection hoax probably contributed to the Republicans' underwhelming performance during the 2022 midterms. The "insurrection" being compared to 9-11 and the Pearl Harbor attacks is not merely insensitive to the victims and a vile trivialization. It gives conspiracy theorists reason to claim that the U.S. government orchestrated false flag operations. None of the propagators of these hoaxes is likely to be punished; they will not even offer a perfunctory apology. In fact, they are thriving. The persecution of political opponents using hoaxes commonly occurs in third-world totalitarian countries; it is not how one of the world's largest democracies should function. It has been six years since Donald Trump was sworn in as president, and since then, the nation has been subjected to myriad hoaxes. Facts are no longer indisputable and shared by everyone. The Democrats have developed echo chambers where their followers are fed with relentless hoaxes, causing them to despise and fear their opponents. A nation simply cannot survive for long with so many deep divisions. Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab. As COVID-19 fades as a public health emergency into a more manageable nuisance like seasonal flu, lingering questions about the disease's origin and our health officials' response have come into play. Questions about the role of the Wuhan Lab, effectiveness of vaccines, lockdowns and masks, and the role of politics in our COVID response need to be explored. The recent revelation that both the FBI and the Department of Energy have now publicly stated that the theory that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan is the most likely explanation for the disease's origin provides a good background for the beginning of House hearings on the origin of the pandemic. Here are some questions that deserve exploration. The role of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Did the virus result from a leak in the lab? Did the virus arise in nature, or was it engineered by scientists working in the lab? What is the role of the Chinese military in the work in the lab? Were they using the lab to conduct bio-weapons development? Why was the U.S. government funding research at the Wuhan Lab? What was the role of the U.S. Intelligence Community, if any, in the decision to fund the research? Were we trying to keep track of a Chinese bio-weapons program? Why did the Chinese allow the American scientists access to the lab? What did the Chinese get from this decision? IT CLEARLY WASN'T FOR THE MONEY. China is a wealthy country, and the amounts the Chinese got from the Eco Alliance grants was a pittance for them. The Chinese have been notorious for stealing American intellectual property. Was the real reason they allowed Eco Alliance into the lab that they felt that they needed American expertise to conduct gain of function research? Public Health Policies: What we have learned. After three years, what percentage of the U.S. population was exposed to COVID? This figure should include both those who were infected and those who were exposed but never got sick. This asks the most basic question of the mitigation strategies. In the end, did they actually prevent exposure to the disease? What were the risks for differing groups of people categorized by age and co-morbidities? Were healthy people under the age of fifty more at risk from COVID than any other flu-like illnesses, for which we impose no mitigation rules? Why did we shut down in-person learning in schools? Did the costs of this policy outweigh the benefits? Would we have closed the schools if Deborah Birx's grandmother had not contracted the Spanish flu at school when she was eleven years old and transmitted it to her mother, who died from the disease? Dr. Birx said on several occasions that her concern for the nation's children was that some would similarly catch COVID and bring it home to an older relative and live with the guilt for the rest of their lives. She said her mother never got over her guilt, and Dr. Birx, who was the architect of much of the public policy, suggested that keeping children out of schools was not to prevent them from getting sick, but to prevent them from transmitting the disease to the adults in their home and potentially subjecting them to a lifetime of guilt. What has been the impact of natural immunity? What percentage of people were essentially immune to Covid because of previous exposure to corona viruses such as the common cold. Were people with previous infection from covid largely protected against serious illness from future exposures to Covid? Is public health policy simply a matter of science, or is it the process of decision making, balancing costs vs. benefits and risks vs. rewards? What were the medical costs of the mitigation strategies in terms of putting off concern for other medical problems such as cancer screening and other important preventative measures? What were the psychological costs from the lockdowns, including increases in drug abuse, depression, impeded social development of children, and domestic violence? How important is joy in ensuring people's psychological health? What were the costs to children of confining them to their homes with little contact with their friends? How were people affected by preventing them from communal religious activities such as weekly church services? What was the cost of eliminating youth sports? How do you measure the cost of denying people traditional family gatherings such as at Christmas and Thanksgiving? And what of eliminating the simple pleasure of sitting down for a meal at the local diner or having a beer with friends at a local bar? Vaccines How effective have the vaccines been? Have they limited the spread of the disease? If so, how much? Have they mitigated the severity of the disease for those who have been vaccinated? Boosted? What have been the side-effects? How are risk/reward calculations affected by age and other conditions of health such as obesity and diabetes? Should healthy children be getting vaccinated considering the potential risk of myocarditis? Should vaccines be mandated? What do we know about the long-term effects of the vaccine? There is a reason that vaccines take years of testing before they are approved. COVID was an emergency situation. It was an economic and social emergency as well as a health crisis. While we know that myocarditis is a short-term effect for a small percentage of vaccination recipients, are there less dramatic effects for other recipients? Will we see higher rates for coronary disease fifteen years from now among those who have been vaccinated? This is far from a comprehensive list, but it seems like a good place to start. It will be interesting to follow the hearings on COVID, scheduled to start on Wednesday. Harvard University recently co-hosted a Department of Education event with over 100 of the nation's law school administrators in attendance, to discuss how law schools must be more open and equal, not only in admissions criteria, but in the nature of how law is perceived and applied. There are over 200 ABA (American Bar Association) law schools in the nation, so about half of the schools were in attendance. They all tended to be the law schools that are especially left of center politically (and eager to follow Yale and Harvard), and otherwise fully aligned with the federal government's agenda concerning new law school ranking criteria and admissions: it promotes a more liberal interpretation of applicant qualifications and encourages students to go into government careers. This is a subject that has generated much debate and opinion (including mine), as it raises a number of issues in higher education. But the key theme and take-away from this particular event that Harvard and Yale hosted made it clear where all the sudden posturing over equity is coming from concerning law schools: the U.S. Government. And the law schools are quickly and eagerly complying with the current administration's ideology out of self-interest and, to some extent, institutional survival. What was especially fascinating about this get-together by federal government and law school deans was the Department of Education's mission to make law schools "share data" on all student applicants, in an effort to create an even, homogenous applicant pool that is not segmented by test scores, grades, essay strength or experience but is filtered by race, ethnicity, wealth, and legacy status. To some extent, I share the sentiment that law schools are not attracting a wide pool of applicants, and they have a limited set of criteria to determine applicant quality, and to predict their success. Many fine lawyers have skills and productive behaviors that are not always captured by test scores and class grades. What is missing on this overall new government initiative, however, is structural, institutional changes that can be made, in order to actually improve the economics of law school graduates namely, time, cost, and debt. (As Ronald Reagan said, government doesn't solve problems; it merely rearranges them.) Out of all the grandstanding and idealism that poured forth from the Harvard and Yale event, not one word was mentioned about the law schools themselves as direct causes of student economic burdens. Not one dean stood up and brought to everyone's attention the fact that the rest of the world efficiently trains its lawyers as undergraduates, and often in three years. Britain, Europe, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, and most of Asia and the Middle East all operate an undergraduate (LL.B) law degree program. Israel for example, hosts an outstanding 3.5-year dual-language law degree (English and Hebrew) that also qualifies students to take the N.Y. Bar exam, while also qualifying them to enter practice in many foreign jurisdictions. It cuts time and cost in half, while doubling one's legal qualification in two or more geographic domains and languages. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., it takes twice the time and twice the cost to get through law school (four years of undergrad plus three years of a graduate school). Do Yale, Harvard, and all the other 200 law schools care? Not only do they not care, but they are fighting to maintain the status quo: rather than make law school more efficient, and saving underprivileged students years of time and six figures of additional debt, they are instead simply relaxing entry standards, and creating a public sector legal mill in order to keep all the law schools busy and professors employed; maintain tuition prices, and feed the federal and state governments with thousands of eager, ideologically indoctrinated young adults fed into a runaway government administrative bureaucracy, guided directly by government standards, government rules, government priorities, and government loyalty. It's truly Uncle Sam, Esq. Our nation's elite law schools otherwise want to stay elite, and equity is the new elitism. Government administrative bureaucracy is the new symbol of law school prestige, because government will accommodate the redefinition of law in personalized terms, and by personal, rather than objective values. When that happens, there is no law, and when there is no law, the current political left can realize its fantasy of replacing law with absolute control. Matthew G. Andersson is the author of the upcoming book Legally Blind, concerning ideological effects on law, and is the author of What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Law School. He has testified to the U.S. Senate, and the Connecticut General Assembly concerning higher education. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago. Image via Pixnio. On Monday, Tucker Carlson began to release his teams findings about what was in the January 6 footage, challenging the Democrats talking points. He exposed several lies, which may explain why Democrats are panicking and doing everything they can to say that Tucker is the liar. Of course, they dont want the public to see any footage to expose these alleged lies. Instead, they want a return to the status quo of Democrat politicians and media figures controlling the narrative. Rajan Laad has summarized the many leftist lies Tucker exposed on Monday (with more revelations to come). Chief among them were lies about Jacob Chansley (the so-called QAnon Shaman), who wasnt rampaging madly but had a compliant Capitol police escort through the building; Sen. Josh Hawley, who wasnt a lone figure fleeing the mob but was the last in a line of running congresscritters hustled along by the Capitol Police; Brian Sicknick, who was vigorously walking around, helmet on head, long after Democrats claimed Trump supporters beat him to death; and Ray Epps, whose testimony to the Pelosi J6 Committee does not align with video footage. Image: Chuck Schumer. C-SPAN screen grab. Tucker promises more revelations of information that the Democrats and RINOs have kept secret for over two years. With luck, the still-untried J6 detainees, the currently named defendants, and those already convicted for J6 activities will have the chance to review the footage and (if they're shown merely to have walked around in the Peoples house after others -- including the police -- opened the doors for them) be cleared of all charges. (Thats what Trump is demanding.) Remember when America was young, it was understood that government buildings belong to the people, not the politicians. Democrats and RINOs are terrified of a counternarrative. Although the New York Times disdained even to report on Tucker Carlson, other leftist media outlets and politicians were not above the fray. Chief among them was the Washington Post, which published four articles attacking Tuckers report, three of which I havent read because theyre behind a paywall. CNN also went into overdrive to counter its having lost control of the narrative: Tucker Carlson, with help from Kevin McCarthy, tries to sanitize the very real violence of the January 6 attackThe reliable establishment flunky, Oliver Darcy, took umbrage that Tucker exposed the lies about Jacob Chansley, Brian Sicknick, Josh Hawley, and Ray Epps, contending that exposing the lies was itself a lie. From there, he just bashes McCarthy for ceasing to be a good GOP foot soldier. What to know about the Tucker Carlson January 6 footageHeres the short version of the article: (a) Tucker Carlson didnt run everything by the Capitol Police; (b) Jacob Chansley ignored a request to leave the building; (c) just because Brian Sicknick looked vigorous didnt mean that it wasnt unpleasant earlier to be sprayed with pepper spray; and (d) Democrats and RINOs on the hill are mad at Tucker. US Capitol Police chief rips into Tucker Carlson over offensive use of January 6 footageas the headline says, US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger claims that Tucker, who had 30 minutes in which to present a distillation of over 41,000 hours of video, cherry-picked. Heres what I can say: Whether its Democrats or Tucker Carlson cherry-picking that video, both the video and Capitol Police testimony revealed a sorry bunch of sniveling, useless peoplealthough, in their defense, as Tucker points out, Pelosi and McConnell made sure the police were understaffed on January 6, which seemed to have driven many either to ineffectiveness or panicked brutality. The shrillest and most dangerous attack on Tucker, though, comes from Sen. Chuck Schumer, who was absolutely beside himself that the American people got the chance to see something other than the official Democrat narrative about January 6: Schumers hysteria boils down to this: How dare Tucker respond to the official Democrat cherry-picking with a counternarrative? Schumer wrapped up by insisting that Fox News silence Tuckerin other words, hes trying to get around the First Amendment prohibition on government censorship by insisting that a third party do so on his behalf. As for me, I remain committed to the idea that all the January 6 footage should be put online for crowdsourcing. Only in that way can we be assured that we know the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Its telling that the American public (almost 80% of it) likes that idea, while everyone in the establishmentmedia, Democrats, GOP Republicansfinds the idea abhorrent. The ability to delete Google Chrome autofill data will soon be rolling out to users globally. This information was made available in a recent post from 9To5Google. Also, a screen recording of this coming ability in action has been made available to the public. These facts prove that Google is certainly working on a delete feature for autofill data. But it is already possible to delete autofill data from your Chrome browser. So which other delete feature do these recent updates say Google is working on? This coming feature will give users the ability to delete autofill data at its point of entry. It will be more convenient to use than the already existing Google Chrome autofill data delete feature. Lets take a look at what to expect with this coming autofill data delete feature. The Google Chrome autofill data delete feature will roll out in the coming weeks Googles autofill feature is popular among Chrome users globally. This feature helps users quickly fill up passwords or forms online with a simple tap. To make this possible, Google requires the data to be entered once and then saved by the user for future purposes. Advertisement Whenever the user needs to fill out the password or details online, Google pulls up his saved data. The user then selects the saved data applicable to the action being carried out. This is a very convenient way for users to input their data while using the Google Chrome platform. But, there is a need to delete these saved data whenever they are no longer needed. Currently, users need to head over to the Autofill section on the Google Chrome settings page. Here they will find all saved autofill data and then select the ones they wish to delete. This process is long and hectic, but Google is working on an easier way to delete your Google Chrome autofill data. From available reports, it is clear that a delete button will be provided beside every saved autofill data. When users want to autofill information into a website, all saved data pulled up by Google will come with a delete button. Certainly, this is a more convenient way of deleting any unnecessary saved autofill data. Some users already have access to test out this coming autofill data delete feature. Over the coming months, this feature will roll out to users around the world via an update. Samsung ended official support for the Galaxy Note 9 in September last year. That wasnt surprising since the device completed four years in the market in August. Whats surprising or unexpected is that the company is pushing a new software update to the 2018 Note model. Yes, the discontinued Galaxy smartphone is picking up an update six months after Samsung ended official support for it. Spotted by SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 9 is currently receiving its latest update in the UK and Ireland. Rolling out with the firmware build number N960FXXSAFWB3, the new release brings a fairly recent security patch. The device is getting the February 2023 SMR (Security Maintenance Release). As of this writing, Samsung hasnt released the March SMR for Galaxy devices, though it is already available. So the Galaxy Note 9 is technically receiving the latest security patch. The February SMR contains more than 50 vulnerability fixes. Seven of those are Galaxy-specific patches that come directly from Samsung. The rest of the patches come from Google and other Android OS partners. Advertisement At least five of those were labeled critical vulnerabilities by the Android maker. They could potentially lead to remote code execution if a threat actor exploited them in the wild. The almost obsolete Galaxy Note 9 is protected against all of those vulnerabilities with the latest update. Samsung is pushing a surprise update to the Galaxy Note 9 in some markets This update for the Galaxy Note 9 started rolling out in the UK and Ireland about a week ago but hasnt expanded to any other market yet. Considering that Samsung isnt bound to provide official support to the phone, it may not push the latest update in all markets. The company has pushed updates to discontinued phones globally in the past, but in most of those cases, the update fixed some critical bugs. That doesnt appear to be the case this time around. Rest assured, we will let you know if Samsung brings this release to the US. As usual, your Galaxy Note 9 will notify you when a new update is available. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app. Since this device isnt guaranteed updates in the future, you should upgrade to a newer model. Advertisement If the S Pen is a necessity for you, Samsungs new Galaxy S23 Ultra has it as well. It will get official support at least until February 2028 four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates. No other Android smartphone tops that at the moment. Samsung has started seeding the March 2023 Android security patch to its Galaxy devices. The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S22 series are receiving the latest security update first. This months SMR (Security Maintenance Release) patches more than 60 vulnerabilities. The February SMR for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S22 phones is currently rolling out in Europe. According to the Dutch publication GalaxyClub, the update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with the firmware build number S91*BXXS1AWBM. That, for the Galaxy S22 trio, is S90*BXXU3CWBE. The rollout should reach other markets, including the US, in the coming days. As usual, the firmware versions may vary according to the market and carrier. The content will remain unchanged, though. Samsungs official changelogs for these updates only mention the latest security patch. However, the firmware versions as well as the size of the OTA (over-the-air) package suggest theres more. The update for the Galaxy S23 Ultra weighs over 350MB while that for the Galaxy S22+ weighs just shy of 340MB. Other models should also be getting updates of similar sizes. The publication speculates that Samsung is pushing fixes for some bugs that may have snuck onto the devices with the One UI 5.1 update. Galaxy S22 users complained about unnatural battery drain following the update last month. March security update for Galaxy devices patches more than 60 vulnerabilities While its unclear if Samsung is pushing any bug fixes with the latest update for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23 series, we know the content of the March SMR. The companys official security bulletin reveals that this months security release patches five critical Android OS vulnerabilities, some of which could lead to remote code execution. On top of that, the new SMR also contains fixes for more than 30 high-severity Android OS vulnerabilities. Advertisement Lastly, Samsung has patched 23 Galaxy-specific vulnerabilities this month. Called Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE), these are privacy and security flaws only affecting Galaxy devices. These issues dont exist in Android products from other brands. The Korean firm has patched issues of varying severity across various system apps, services, and components. These include a high-severity flaw in Galaxy Themes Service that allowed an attacker to access arbitrary files. Another high-severity flaw in SoftSim TA allowed local attackers access to protected data. Other SVEs patches this month affected Settings, Bluetooth, Exynos baseband, Samsung Keyboard, Call application, and more. Samsung will push these fixes to more Galaxy devices in the coming days. We will keep you posted with those updates. The Huawei P60 series and Mate X3 foldable could launch on March 23. Huawei still didnt officially confirm the launch date, but several sources point that way. The Huawei P60 series & Mate X3 could launch on March 23 The allegedly-official Huawei P60 promo image surfaced, confirming that date. In addition to that, the Huawei Mate X3 promo image appeared, teasing the March launch. Both of these got shared by a Chinese tipster on Weibo, and are shown below. Another tipster also said that the event will happen on March 23. He also added that the company will launch new phones, watches, headphones, and so on. So, it will be a big event for Huawei. Just to be clear, this wont be a global event, though. Huawei will drop these products in China first, and then we may see them launch globally later on. Thats how things have been working for quite some time now. Advertisement So, what else, except the Huawei P60 series and Mate X3 could we see? Well, if I had to guess, Id say that the Huawei Watch 4 will arrive, along with possibly the Huawei FreeBuds 5 truly wireless earbuds. Who knows, we may even see the Huawei Band 7. The Huawei P60 Pro specs appeared a while back The Huawei P60 Pro specs did surface a while back, though it remains to be seen how accurate that info is. The tip suggested that the phone will use a 6.6-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. A 5,000mAh battery was also mentioned, and so was 100W wired charging. The phone will allegedly also offer 50W wireless charging. Now, in regards to the SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was mentioned. It remains to be seen how true that info is. Do note, though, that even if the phone ends up utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it wont support 5G connectivity. Another thing to note is that Google services wont be supported, of course. On either the P60 or Mate X3. Huawei will include its own services, though. Getting a job is never easy, thats just a fact. If youre having difficulties, you may try finding a job using one of the online services available. Thats why weve hand-picked the very best job finding apps for you. Do note that the apps on this list are only our favorites, your opinion may differ, of course. Having said that, there are nine applications listed down below. Youll also find descriptions for those apps, along with various additional details. There are quite a few useful apps for job finding that are available, and basically all of them are free to use. Finding a job, or the right job, may be difficult, but these apps can surely help you reach your goal. You may be prevented from doing in-person interviews, at least in some cases, so this may be the perfect way to proceed. Best Job Finding Android apps 2023 Below is a quick overview of the best job finding Android apps for 2023, including any download and in-app purchase costs. Download Cost In-app cost (per item) ZipRecruiter Glassdoor Snagajob LinkedIn $29.99-$323.88 JobStreet CareerBuilder Indeed JOB TODAY $0.99-$399.99 SEEK Jobandtalent Best Job Finding Android apps 2023 Downloads Below is a little more information on each app, and a direct link for easy downloading. Advertisement All download links go to the apps Google Play Store listing. Users are always recommended to download apps from Google Play or an authorized app store. ZipRecruiter Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars ZipRecruiter is easily one of the best, and most popular job finding applications. Applying for a specific job with this app is incredibly easy, but something worth noting is that this app is region-locked. So, if its not available in your region, youre out of luck, if it is, you have a great way of finding a new job. You can apply in several easy steps. The first thing you need to do is, upload your resume, of course. Once you do that, you will be able to search for jobs. ZipRecruiter even offers an option to notify you of whats on offer in terms of jobs, on a daily basis. It will also keep you updated on various jobs youve decided to track. The app holds an extremely high rating in the Play Store because its really good at what it does. It will help you find a new job in no time, and the app UI also looks nice, and its highly-functional. Advertisement Download ZipRecruiter Glassdoor Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Glassdoor is, much like ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn, very popular in the world of job finding apps. Its a bit different than both of those services, though. How? Well, for one thing, it provides a ton of information on potential employees and jobs, and the best part, you can actually read company reviews before you apply. Those reviews are issued by former and current employees. That way, you can avoid potentially toxic work environments. This app acts as a powerful search tool as well. You can search for the newest job listings, and also learn more about the salary and benefits for a job youre interested in. Youll also find expert interview tips and guidance inside this application, just to help you get the job you want. These are only some features that Glassdoor offers, youll find much more on the inside. The design of this is also quite modern, which is worth noting. Advertisement Download Glassdoor Snagajob Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars If, for some reason, you dont need a full-time job, this is the app for you. Snagajob is an excellent app for tracking down part-time jobs. If you already have a main job, and have time for a second one, this is a great option. That is just an example, though. This app will give you access to a jobs database, listing the newest jobs first. It will also do its best to automatically match you with jobs that fit your expertise. Before you get started, youll need to share some information about you, of course, that is a given. Snagajob also offers a one-click apply feature. There is also a personality quiz included in the equation here, so that you can present yourself in the best light possible. Resumes say a lot, but do not give out the full story. In fact, if you think your personality will come through in a video format, you can even apply that way. On top of that, you can get daily job matches to your inbox. Download Snagajob Advertisement LinkedIn Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $29.99-$323.88 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars LinkedIn is a great tool for both finding a job, and finding employees. This is essentially a social media network for business, and its great at what it does. According to TopResume, 77-percent of recruiters rely on LinkedIn when theyre trying to find prospective job candidates. Thats a really high percentage, considering how many other ways of doing the same thing there are. Recruiters really seem to put their trust in LinkedIn, for a good reason. Before you can properly look for a job, youll need to set up your profile on LinkedIn. That process is a bit longer than it is on ZipRecruiter, though, as LinkedIn asks for quite a bit of information in the process. From that point on, you can start looking for jobs, and also adding connections to your list. The more connections you have, the better, as it will make things easier, of course. This app also got redesigned recently, and it looks really good now, though the dark mode is still not available. Download LinkedIn Advertisement JobStreet Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars For all those of you who live in Asia, JobStreet is probably the best option. This app / service focuses on the Asian market, and the company has been around for over 20 years. Theyre quite reliable, which is exactly what you need when looking for a job. JobStreet actually claims to work with most companies in the region. It also says that it doesnt really matter if youre a fresh graduate, or an experienced professional, it can help anyone. This app is great for finding various job types and opportunities. It can help you find an internship, a part time job, or some sort of a management position youre aiming for. The application process is also really. All you need to do is complete a simple profile, and from there, you simply track down and apply. The UI of the app is also really nice, while several menus are laid out at the bottom, so theyre easily reachable. Download JobStreet Advertisement CareerBuilder Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars CareerBuilder website has been quite popular over the years, and the companys app is a great option for mobile phones. CareerBuilder offers excellent filtering options, so that you can pinpoint just the right job for you. There are millions of job postings included here, and you can easily apply to any of them using the companys app. You can filter those jobs by salary, education, qualifications, and experience. CareerBuilder will also notify you once an employer checks out your application. 1-tap apply is available via the app, while the app itself has a really nice UI. Its very functional, and its pleasing to the eye as well. Do note that this app is region-locked, though, so you may not be able to use it, depending on where you live. If its available in your region, you may want to try it out. Download CareerBuilder Indeed Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Indeed is yet another great tool for finding a job. This app allows you to personalize your searches quite a bit, and gives you access to millions of job postings. You can search for a job in various different ways via this app. You can search it based on the desired job titles even, if thats what you want. If the right salary is what gets you going, and is your priority, search based on that. You can also select a specific company, and see whats on offer. If youre not willing to relocate, and want a job thats local to you, you can select that as an option as well. Indeed also offers you a chance to follow specific companies, and get updates regarding them that way. You can also create custom alerts for specific jobs, and so on. The app is packed with features, so try it out if youre interested. Download Indeed JOB TODAY Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$399.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars JOB TODAY is another great option on offer. This app is not only good for possible employees, but also for employers. It gives employers a chance to interview possible employees. The same applies to the reverted scenario, as employees can find out a lot about their employers as well. The apps main feature, though, are job alerts. You can set up job alerts for specific jobs, and you have quite a few options in that regard. You can look for a retail job, part-time work, or whatever else comes to mind. A short profile is needed, though, but the app does not require you to submit your CV. This app is all about the communication between possible employees and employers, to find the best possible fit. The apps UI is more than decent, its modern, looks nice, and its actually functional as well. That seems to be the case with all the apps on this list, basically. Download JOB TODAY SEEK Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars SEEK is another great app to find a job, though this one is specific to Australia and New Zealand. This app can send you notifications daily, with jobs tailored for you. Do note that youll need to share more information about yourself and your expertise, of course. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs available on the platform, and all you need to do is find the right one. The app will ask you for the role youd like to have in a company, the industry youre looking to get into, and the location youd like to work in (so, Sydney, for example). Based on that, it will share with you jobs that are on offer. You can further refine your results by work time or salary, of course. The process of applying is really simple, and the fact this app is really good-looking only helps things. Download SEEK Jobandtalent Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Jobandtalent is a great-looking app. Its really simple to navigate, thanks to the menu at the bottom. Jobandtalent wants to focus on providing long-term job security to its clients. Even if you get fired from a job, or quit, the app will keep you updated on other available jobs, that are in the same domain. Jobandtalent also says that theyre responsible for your employment contract. The app will also provide you with the support, if needed. You can really simply find a job via this app, and apply for it. The app also allows you to sign a contract digitally, without much fuss. You can book job interviews via the app, and so much more. This app doesnt only help you find a job, but your relationship with the employer goes through it, in a way, which is why youre getting all the extra support. Download Jobandtalent SMS may not be nearly as popular as it used to be, but many people still use it. Its still quite essential in a number of ways, and theres a reason why it survived for so long. In some regions, its used more than in others, but many people still use it. If youre using SMS often, chances are you want a really good app to provide you with everything you need. Well, thats why were here. Down below, youll find a list of 10 apps, 10 best SMS apps, to be exact. Do note that these are only our pics, as there are tons of great SMS apps available in the Play Store (do note that theyre not all replacement for your SMS app, though). If youre one to use SMS more than an instant messaging app, then youre in the right place. Well, Google Messages serves as both, thanks to RCS, but thats a whole different story. In any case, youll find quite a bit of information about each of the apps weve listed, so read on if youre interested. Best SMS Android apps 2023 Below is a quick overview of the best SMS Android apps for 2023, including any download and in-app purchase costs. Download Cost In-app cost (per item) Google Messages Textra SMS $6.49 chomp SMS $6.49 Pulse SMS $0.99-$99.99 Handcent Next SMS $5.99-$39.99 GO SMS Pro $0.99-$200 Mood Messenger $0.99-$14.99 YAATA $1-$100 Do It Later $1.99-$41.99 Super Backup & Restore $1.99 Best SMS Android apps 2023 downloads Below is a little more information on each app, and a direct link for easy downloading. Advertisement All download links go to the apps Google Play Store listing. Users are always recommended to download apps from Google Play or an authorized app store. Messages by Google Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars As many of you know, Google has its own SMS app, and its called Messages by Google. This is probably the best choice for all users for one simple reason, its quite straightforward and easy to use. Its not packed with unnecessary features or anything of the sort. On top of that, it looks really nice as well, in line with other Google-made products. That being said, Messages by Google is much more than a simple SMS app. This application also serves as your RCS tool. RCS is expected to completely replace SMS at some point, and you can get a taste of it thanks to this app. It enables this app to functions similarly to iMessage, in a way. Once you enable RCS, the app will let you know if its sending a message in form of an SMS message, or an instant message via the web. Thats basically what RCS enables. If the contact youre sending a message to has RCS enabled as well, hes going to be able to receive images, videos, GIFs, etc, all via the Internet. Advertisement Download Messages by Google Textra SMS Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $6.49 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Textra is one of the best-looking SMS apps for Android, and one of the most feature-rich ones. This app also performs really well, and it offers tons of customization options for you. You can choose from various different themes, and fine-tune them as well. You can, for example, choose different bubble styles and colors, which is not something many SMS applications enable you to do. If you want, you can also stop SMS messages as the app is sending them, while the slide-to-delete option is also included, and the same goes for the slide-to-call option. The quick reply SMS popup is also an option here, while there are 21 text sizes you can choose from. Various font options are at your disposal, and the same goes for the message blocker. You can pin your conversations to the top of the list, and much more. Advertisement Download Textra SMS chomp SMS Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $6.49 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars chomp SMS has been an extremely popular app for Android for quite some time now. The best of all, the app did not deteriorate with time, it only got better. Its now one of the best-looking SMS apps for Android, mainly due to its simplicity. The apps design is quite simple, and yet it seems refined. Delicious, the developer behind the app, did not complicate things unnecessarily here. It does look quite simple, and yet it offers you a lot of customizability options. You can customize the screen color, font style, text size, and even the background wallpaper. The app allows you to pin your favorite conversations to the top, while you can also backup your SMS messages from within the app. The SMS blocker option is included, and the app even allows you to use signatures. Weve only scratched the surface here. Advertisement Download chomp SMS Pulse SMS Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$99.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars If you send a lot of SMS messages while youre sitting at your desk, working, why not do it from your desktop computer? Well, Pulse SMS is not the only app that enables this, but it does offer a great experience while you do it. Thats not the only feature this app offers, not even close. Theres quite a long list of them, and well mention some. First and foremost, this is one of the best-looking SMS apps out there. The animations are extremely fluid, and its just an enjoyable experience overall. There are some customization options here, while you can password-protect private conversations. Automatic message backup and restore is possible with a Pulse account, while you can blacklist spammers with ease. The app does come with dual SIM support, while it also supports delayed sending. Advertisement Download Pulse SMS Handcent Next SMS Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $5.99-$39.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Handcent has been around for a long, long time. The apps latest big iteration brought some much-needed design changes, and it actually looks really sleek now. This app is excellent for theming, as it offers tons of options. You can change the colors, bubble styles, fonts, and much more. Its possible to can change the look of this app to the extreme, and thats not an exaggeration at all. You can set ringtones for specific notifications, while the app allows you to change LED colors, and vibration patterns as well. There are tons of stickers and emojis at your disposal, while the app comes with full Wear OS support. Handcent also allows you to text from your desktop computer, if thats a feature that you need Free cloud backup is included, and much much more. Advertisement Download Handcent Next SMS GO SMS Pro Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$200 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Go SMS Pro is yet another app which allows for extreme customization options. This is also one of the most popular third-party SMS apps. In fact, GO SMS Pro can be a bit overwhelming if youre not interested in fine-tuning your experience, thats how many features it has. You can alter the look of your conversations to the max, as shown in an image above. The app does support dual SIM devices as well. You can sticky conversations, which essentially means you can pin them. Theres a private box for encrypting messages, while delayed sending is also supported SMS blocker feature is supported for pesky spammers, and the app also has a pop up menu for new messages, and you can customize it. These are only some features this app offers. The app is free to use, but there are tons of in-app purchases you can access. Download GO SMS Pro Mood Messenger Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$14.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars If you love using emojis, Mood Messenger is an app you should try. There are tons of animated emojis available here, iOS, Android or Emoji One style emojis. That is not this apps main feature, though, of course. This app also offers that simple, clean design that people seem to love. It does come with a dark mode as well, as does pretty much every app on this list well, the vast majority of them. Mood Messenger does offer you an option of changing fonts and text size, while you can choose between 100 different themes. Changing backgrounds is also an option here, while you can alter bubble shapes and colors too. If you love having full control over notification options, youre in luck. Mood Messenger allows for customizing LED colors, sounds, vibration, and much more. Download Mood Messenger YAATA Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $1-$100 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars If youre looking for a really simple, and yet reliable app, that wont bother with tons of features you wont use well, YAATA is a good option. This app may not be as popular as other options on the list, but it sure is good. Also, it does offer quite a few features, but it doesnt go overboard. You can choose between three quick reply styles here, and set custom vibrations as well. Notification-related customization options are also available, such as ringtones, LED notification light controls, and so on. You can also change swipe actions in the notification shade, if the default ones dont work for you. The apps layout is really nice as well, and you can choose between light and dark variants. A Premium subscription does bring quite a few additional features to the table, if thats something you need. Download YAATA Auto Text Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $1.99-$41.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Auto Text is not exactly a replacement for your default SMS app. This is an app that enriches your SMS experience, though, an app that you can use in addition to your general SMS application. So, what does this app do, exactly? Well, it allows you to schedule your SMS messages. You can schedule it to go at a specific time, so that you dont have to do it manually. This is a very useful feature for some, and very few apps offer it. In addition to that, the app can auto-reply to a call, SMS, WhatsApp message, and more. You can even set recurring SMS options, if you want. One message can even be scheduled to go out to multiple recipients. All in all, it has proven to be a very useful app to me, at times, and if you need features such as these, the app works really well. The design is also really simple, by the way, which is a good thing. Download Auto Text Super Backup & Restore Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $1.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars Many of us have tons of SMS messages on our phones, and dont want to lose them. Well, theres a way to avoid that, as the Super Backup & Restore app will make sure of it. This is a very powerful app for backing up and restoring your SMS messages, but not only that. It can backup and restore your contacts, apps, call logs, calendars, and pictures. It can be especially useful when youre switching phones. This app has been available in the Play Store for quite some time. It has been quite reliable for me personally, I never had any issues with it. I only use it when Im switching phones, which is quite often, granted, but it never failed, not once. The apps design is also really simple, which is something many of you will appreciate. Download Super Backup & Restore Angus Robertson has given Humza Yousaf his backing in the race to be next SNP leader and first minister after turning down the role himself. After Nicola Sturgeons resignation, Mr Robertson who is the constitution, external affairs and culture secretary was widely tipped as her successor. He said he was flattered by the suggestion but the time was not right for him to take on the job of first minister as he has two young children. STATEMENT: SNP Leadership Election pic.twitter.com/IpRpnw5Nyq Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) February 20, 2023 Mr Yousaf has so far come out top in terms of SNP parliamentary endorsements, with Mr Robertson joining Education Secretary Shirley Anne-Somerville and public health minister Maree Todd. Fellow candidate Kate Forbes has received the backing of business secretary Ivan McKee. No current Scottish Government ministers have backed Ash Regans bid to become the next SNP leader. Mr Robertson will join Mr Yousaf and Glasgow Kelvin MSP Kaukab Stewart at Glasgow University on Tuesday to meet students and local activists. He said: Having taken the time to listen to all the candidates in the race to become the next SNP leader and first minister of Scotland, I am in no doubt that it has to be Humza. The ballot in the contest will open on Monday March 13 and the result will be announced on March 27. Arnold Schwarzenegger says that hate is the path of the weak and urged people to choose strength to overcome their prejudices. The former body-builder and actor said those who succumbed to hateful ideology were losers but that no matter how far you have gone there was still opportunity to change. In a 12-minute video posted online Schwarzenegger, known for films including the Terminator franchise, recalled his fathers experience of World War II and a recent visit to the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. I want to talk to the people out there who might have already stumbled in the wrong direction into the wrong path, he said. I want to talk to you if youve heard some conspiracies about Jewish people, or people of any race or gender orientation, and thought that makes sense to me. I want to talk to you if youve found yourself thinking about anyone that is inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the colour of their skin or their gender. I dont know the road that has brought you here but Ive seen enough people throw away the futures for hateful beliefs. So I want to speak to you before you find your regrets in the end of the path. The former body-builder and actor urged people to choose strength to overcome their prejudices (PA) The former California governor noted there had never been a successful movement based on hate, branding the Nazi, Confederate and Apartheid movements as losers. I dont want you to be a loser. I dont want you to be weak. Ive spent most of my life helping people find their strength, he said. I care about you. He continued: Your mind and your character are no different than your body and your muscles. If you want to grow as a person, you really have to make friends with pain. Embrace the discomfort. Enjoy the struggle. No matter how far youve gone, you still have a chance to choose a life of strength you have to fight the war against yourselfThe other path is easier. I dont care how many hateful things you may have written online. I dont care how often you have marched carrying that hateful flag, or what hateful things you may have said in anger. Theres still hope. Theres still time for you. Choose strength. Choose life. Conquer your mind. You can do it. Author Joanne Harris has urged the Government to invest more money in libraries and the arts, declaring: We have a literacy problem in this country. Ms Harris, author of Chocolat, spoke out after receiving an OBE for services to literature from the Prince of Wales at a Windsor Castle investiture on Tuesday. After the ceremony, she praised William and the Queen Consort for championing causes that promote literacy in the UK, but called on the Government to do more. Reflecting on her investiture, Ms Harris told the PA news agency: Its great. Its so nice to see the arts honoured because the arts need all the attention they can get at the moment. Its really good to see a focus on literacy and the world of literature. On meeting William, she added: Hes very engaged, hes very engaging. Hes interested in literacy and child literacy particularly. He was speaking to me about the Queens Reading Room, for which I did an episode. Joanne Harris receives her OBE from the Prince of Wales (Jonathan Brady/PA) Literature lover Camilla set up her own Reading Room online book club and is a passionate advocate of encouraging children to read. Ms Harris added: But it is very good to see a focus on literacy from people with influence because we have a literacy problem in this country. One in 10 people are functionally illiterate and theres less and less funding going to the arts and to libraries and to education and childrens librarians are disappearing from schools. Its nice to see the royal family taking an interest in this, an active interest, and trying to effect change. Its very good to see that enthusiasm. In a plea to the Government, she said: It would be good to see money put into libraries, libraries reinstated, school libraries given the kind of attention that they need. It would be nice to see a general investment in culture and the arts. It would be good to see engagement there from the Government, unfortunately we dont have a great deal of it at the moment, but the arts are a tremendous force for good in all kinds of ways, not just personally in terms of personal enrichment but also actually they make millions of pounds for the country. Ms Harris also called for a democratisation of things such as theatre and opera, adding: This drift away from culture, this belief that culture is for the elite, is completely nonsensical but its a narrative which has been driven by the current Government. It would be nice to see some people speaking out against that. It comes after novelist Anthony Horowitz, who has written more than 40 books including the Alex Rider teenage spy series, called for a library in every school after he picked up a CBE in November. A Department for Education spokesperson said: We want all children to have the opportunity to read widely both in and out of school. The curriculum places a great focus on reading and requires pupils to study a range of books, poems and plays, helping to improve literacy standards and encourage children to read for pleasure. We are investing an extra 2 billion into our schools next year and the year after. This funding can be used by schools on resources such as library provision and means that school funding will be the highest real-terms spending on schools in history, totalling 58.8 billion by 2024/25. A nine-year-old boy has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak telling him his parents feel failed and forgotten as he pleaded for better support for disabled children and their families. Nate Courtney, who is autistic, told the countrys leader he feels sad due to his parents having to fight for everything for him and his disabled sister. The letter comes as a survey suggested just one in five parents of disabled children felt their family received the support needed to enable their child to fulfil their potential. The results, based on 2,200 responses from parent carers, showed that only one in seven said their disabled child had the correct level of support from social care, one fifth from health services and a third from their education setting. The Disabled Childrens Partnership (DCP), which ran the survey between October and November last year, said parents are being left to fill gaps left by underfunding of official provision and families are facing relentless stress. The organisation a coalition of more than 100 organisations campaigning for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families has previously reported that parents of disabled children have had to give up employment or have lost their careers entirely. It has also already warned that the Governments plan, announced last week, aimed at ensuring children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) can get the help that they need earlier falls short of the urgent reforms needed to address the crisis in support for children and their families. Nate, from south-west London, has written to the Prime Minister to tell him of his own familys struggle for support, as his parents care for him and his sister, who is also autistic and has a muscle disease which means she needs a wheelchair. He wrote: I feel sad. My Mummy and Daddy are tired because they always have to fight for me and my sister. Nate said his parents are always going to lots of meetings, talking on the phone and write letters on the computer, adding: They have to fight for everything, even a wheelchair for my sister. Asking for help, the child added: My parents feel failed and forgotten. Let our parents just be our parents so we can enjoy ourselves. In its report, published on Tuesday, the DCP said: Once again, as we reported during the pandemic, it is disabled children and their families that will be disproportionately affected by the current social climate. Disabled children are not immune from the record-breaking waiting times, backlogs and workforce issues across health and social care. NHS data shows that the proportion of disabled children waiting for treatment is equivalent to adults, and disabled children waiting for equipment, such as wheelchairs, are likely to wait longer than adults. The organisation said as many as a quarter of parents have been told that their disabled child does not meet the threshold in order for a social care assessment, and those who do get an assessment still face delays in receiving the support they were assessed to be needing. Stephen Kingdom, campaign manager for the Disabled Childrens Partnership, said: Nates story brings to life the shocking statistics in our Failed and Forgotten Report. Both show that parents are filling the gaps left by underfunding of official provision. The stress on families is relentless. We welcome some elements of the Department for Educations Improvement Plan but it doesnt go far enough to ensure children receive the support to which they are legally entitled. A British scientist has been honoured with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in her likeness in celebration of both International Womens Day and British Science Week. Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, best known for presenting BBC Ones The Sky At Night, has been made a Barbie Role Model in recognition of her achievements in making space and science accessible to girls. Her doll, created by toy company Mattel, wears a starry dress and has a telescope accessory a nod to Dr Aderin-Pococks work with the James Webb Space Telescope. The black 54-year-old said: Since falling in love with the idea of space travel as a young girl, I have spent my career trying to show girls how fascinating space science can be. I want to inspire the next generation of scientists, and especially girls, and let them know that Stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is for them. These subjects are just too important to be left to the guys because, through science, you can literally change the world. Dr Maggie Aderin-Pococks Barbie doll has its own telescope, a nod to her work with the James Webb Space Telescope (Mattel/PA) I hope my doll will remind girls that, when you reach for the stars, anything is possible. Barbie is also donating Dr Aderin-Pococks book Am I Made Of Stardust? to schools across the UK through partner charity Inspiring Girls. Mattel will expand its Barbie Career range with a marine biologist doll this spring, joining Stem figures including a doctor, a vet, a scientist, and an astronaut. The Barbie doll wears a starry dress (Mattel/PA) Dr Aderin-Pocock added: As a black woman, Ive found that I dont always fit some peoples perception of a scientist. We do often have these stereotypical images of what people do, and I like to smash those stereotypes whenever I get the opportunity. As a child growing up I played with Barbies, and I still do now with my daughter. When I was little, Barbie didnt look like me, so to have one created in my likeness is mind-boggling. Its such an honour to receive this doll that is celebrating my achievements My daughter and I danced around the living room when we heard! Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock said she and her daughter danced around the living room when they heard she was being honoured with a Barbie doll (Mattel/PA) Marketing director at Mattel UK Kelly Philp said: We know that, globally, Stem is a field widely recognised as under-representing women, so, as a brand, Barbie is committed to showing girls more Stem careers. In celebration of the occasions, Barbie has also recognised seven other women who are trailblazers in their field, including Susan Wojcicki, long-time chief executive of YouTube, and Professor Dr Antje Boetius, a German marine researcher and microbiologist. Dr Aderin-Pococks doll will not be on sale to the public, but is a one-off that has been given to her by Mattel. A brother of Irish teacher Enoch Burke has appeared before a judge charged with threatening and abusive behaviour following disturbances at a Court of Appeal hearing. Simeon Burke was arrested after chaotic scenes broke out at the Four Courts in Dublin, as a judgment was delivered dismissing Enoch Burkes appeal against injunctions barring him from attending a Co Westmeath school. Simeon Burke, 24, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, appeared before the District Court of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday charged under Section 6 of the Public Order Act. It comes after several members of the Burke family were forcibly removed from a courtroom by gardai after repeatedly interrupting a judgment being read out at the Court of Appeal. Enoch Burke was suspended from work on full pay last year pending the outcome of a disciplinary process with Wilsons Hospital School, which arose from incidents concerning a row over a request to address a student by a new name and the pronoun they. German and history teacher Enoch Burke, who has represented himself during the Court of Appeal hearings, was accompanied in court by his parents Martina and Sean Burke, his sister Ammi, and his brothers Isaac and Simeon. He had previously argued that he could not accept transgenderism due to his Christian beliefs, and that the orders issued by the High Court were manifestly unconstitutional and unlawful. Although the Court of Appeal agreed to hear his case, the President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, said it would have great difficulty with someone who may pick and choose what orders of the court he abides by. Despite the court orders, Enoch Burke has been seen on the grounds of the secondary school several times. As Mr Justice Birmingham delivered his judgment on Tuesday, Enoch Burkes sister Ammi Burke, and mother Martina Burke, interrupted, prompting a Garda member to approach them as the three judges left the courtroom. Enoch Burke (right) accompanied by his brother Isaac arriving at the Court of Appeal in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Martina Burke accused the court of bowing before the altar of transgenderism. Both women accused the court of not addressing Enoch Burkes constitutional rights, and Enoch Burke spoke to the empty courtroom while the judges were absent. The judges returned minutes later and warned that if there were any further interruptions by members of the public, they would rise and the judgment would be delivered electronically. Mr Justice Birmingham said that the judgment was being delivered physically as justice should be seen to be administered in public. When Mr Justice Birmingham continued to read the judgment, and commented that it was not certain this is not an exercise in creating soundbites, further interruptions from several members of the Burke family took place. The three judges left the courtroom again. Several gardai entered the courtroom and forcibly removed Ammi Burke. Ammi Burke is removed by gardai (Niall Carson/PA) Scuffles between up to 10 Garda officers and a number of members of the Burke family ensued as they were removed from the court. Enoch Burke was seen clinging to a bench in the courtroom before being removed by four members of An Garda Siochana. Isaac Burke was the last to be removed; two gardai were seen lifting him out of the courtroom dragging his legs behind him. Simeon Burke was subsequently arrested and brought before the court charged with a public order offence. He has been remanded in prison, with consent to bail, until March 14. In the three judgments from each of the Court of Appeal judges issued after the court had adjourned, they unanimously ruled to dismiss Enoch Burkes appeal against the High Courts orders. Mr Justice Birmingham said if it was not possible to meet simultaneously the desires of the child and the parents on the one hand, and the appellants concerns on the other, then the child must be prioritised. If that is the choice, and I am afraid that by reason of the appellants actions it may well have in fact come to that, I would be of the view that the wishes of the child and parents must prevail. He added: In all of the circumstances, I would dismiss the appeal. Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Maire Whelan concurred with Mr Justice Birmingham in dismissing the appeal. A campaign to reverse a ban on disabled drivers parking in the historic centre of York has been boosted by an intervention from Dame Judi Dench. The Oscar-winning York-born star said her experience with sight loss means she knows only too well about access problems. Dame Judi sent her support to the Reverse The Ban campaign, which is fighting to get York Council to reconsider a 2021 measure which stopped the exception for blue badge holders to park in the pedestrianised parts of the citys famous, ancient centre. She said: York city centre is a rare jewel that should be free for all to enjoy, including those with a disability and for whom accessible parking is essential. As someone living with sight loss, I know only too well how gaining access to places can be exceptionally difficult. York city centre should be fully accessible through these types of schemes. I should like to offer my wholehearted support to people in the city of York who are asking the local council to reconsider any ban to the blue badge scheme in the city centre. Dame Judi, 88, who has talked publicly about her age-related macular degeneration, is the patron of The Wilberforce Trust, which supports people with visual and hearing impairments. She was born in York in 1934 and lived in the city until she went to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. York Council removed the right of blue badge holders to park in the pedestrianised areas of the city centre in November 2021, citing the need to install anti-terrorism measures. Dr Marilyn Crawshaw, of campaign group Reverse the Ban, said: Its a great boost to get the support of Dame Judi Dench, someone who was born and raised in York and who understands all too well what banning disabled people from using their Blue Badge to access the city centre means. We hope this encourages the Lib Dem-Green coalition that brought this in to stop and think again. A spokeswoman from City of York Council said: We want our historic city to be accessible and inclusive for all. Yorks cobbles and narrow, medieval streets present challenges to those with mobility issues, whilst large visitor numbers create security risks, which we are working to address to protect all residents and visitors. In working to meet our ambitions to deliver a more accessible city for all, we recognise that listening to feedback and the lived experience of disabled residents is very important. We will continue to listen and learn, with an ongoing commitment to keep operation of security measures under review. Thousands of UK travellers were hit by disruption caused by the start of a general strike in France on Tuesday. Dozens of flights and trains were cancelled and ferries were delayed due to French workers taking industrial action in protest at President Emmanuel Macrons plan to raise the pension age from 62 to 64. Air traffic controllers and rail staff were among those who walked out. EasyJet cancelled at least 18 flights between the UK and France on Tuesday (Gareth Fuller/PA) EasyJet and British Airways cancelled at least 18 and 13 flights respectively between the UK and France, affecting passengers flying to and from Bristol, Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton Airports. Air France axed four flights between Heathrow and Paris. Under consumer law, affected passengers were entitled to be re-booked on to alternative flights or offered a refund, but will not be eligible for compensation because the cause of the disruption is outside the airlines control. A easyJet spokeswoman said: Impacted customers are being notified in advance and offered the option to change their flight for free or receive a refund. While this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience they may experience as a result of the strike action. Eurostar cancelled 16 of the 26 trains scheduled between London St Pancras and Paris. There are no cross-Channel trains from St Pancras after a 2.31pm departure to the French capital. A further six trains due to run between St Pancras and Brussels were also cancelled. Eurostar warned passengers that the general strike in France could extend beyond Tuesday. It will involve disruption across multiple sectors, including national rail services and it will have an impact on the availability of some of our crew, the company added. Our next departures from #PODOVER are as follows: 09:15 ETD 10:2011:15 ETD 12:0012:35 ETD 12:4514:00 ETD 15:00Boarding commences approx. 30mins prior to departure, please return to your vehicle in due course. P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) March 7, 2023 Ferry passengers travelling between Dover and Calais were told to expect disruption on Tuesday. P&O Ferries sailings were delayed by up to 65 minutes. A spokeswoman for the company said: Due to national action in France today we are experiencing disruption to our services. We are recommending that customers reschedule all non-essential travel. P&O customers due to travel today have been notified and can contact our help centre to amend their booking. A new general practice contract will lead to more GPs leaving the profession and more patients waiting longer for care, the acting chairman of the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) England has said. NHS England sent a letter to GPs on Monday imposing a new contract. GPC England, a British Medical Association (BMA) committee, rejected in February what it called insulting proposed changes to the GP contract. The committee met Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Thursday to negotiate changes, but the BMA said Mr Barclay flatly refused to supply additional help to practices in the tick-box exercise meeting. Dr Kieran Sharrock, acting chairman of GPC England, said in a statement on Monday that ministers have focused on eking out more from practices without providing the necessary resources. Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He said: Without investment to do more, practices have to free up resources from elsewhere. This hasnt been properly considered, ramping up GP workload, and without the support needed, will lead to more GPs leaving the profession. Ultimately, its our patients who suffer most, and this means more of them will be left waiting longer for the care they desperately need. He also said: Its extremely frustrating to see a second GP contract imposition forced on the profession, especially one that does absolutely nothing to improve what is fast-becoming an irreparable situation for practices and their patients up and down the country. Dr Sharrock continued: This contract is the result of a failure to listen to what GPs actually need, and totally ignores the calls for any extra support to help practices meet the rising costs of keeping their doors open. Despite warnings from GPC England, it also introduces more bureaucracy and arbitrary targets that only set practices up to fail and take GPs away from direct patient care. He added that staff will be incredibly worried about how their practices can survive. The Government must surely understand the link between ignoring the profession and the fact that weve now lost the equivalent of more than 2,000 full-time, fully qualified GPs in England, the doctor said. General practice can no longer be expected to take whatever is thrown at it, and the Committees recent rejection of the contract offer still stands. We will now look to enter serious discussions with our membership and the wider profession on what action we take next. Dr David Wrigley, deputy chairman of the GPC, called the contract shockingly bad in a post on Twitter and said that it has led to huge anger. According to the letter from NHS England, the updated GP contract says that patients should be offered an assessment of need, or signposted to an appropriate service, during their first contact with the practice. This means practices will no longer be able to request that patients contact the practice at a later time. New personal health information is also to be made available online to all patients by the end of October this year. Goodness me @NHSEngland @DHSCgovuk your action on imposing this shockingly bad contract has led to huge anger & my inbox is overflowing asking how GPs can now fight back against this injustice we are drowning & you throw bricks at us https://t.co/YVk6CAV8YR Dr David Wrigley (@DavidGWrigley) March 6, 2023 The majority of the Investment and Impact Fund an NHS scheme to support primary care networks 246 million, will now concentrate on improving patient experience of contacting their practice and receiving a response or being seen within the appropriate period depending on urgency. There will also be changes to payments for childhood vaccinations. According to the BMA, practices in England delivered 329 million appointments last year, 17 million more than in 2019, and 85% took place within two weeks of booking. The association also said England has lost more than 400 practices since 2019. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: Were committed to supporting GPs and are incredibly grateful for the work they do. The updated terms of the contract first agreed with the BMA in 2019 will ensure patients receive better care and get to see their GP quicker allowing practices to employ more highly skilled and experienced nurses and mental health practitioners. There are 400 more doctors in general practice compared to a year ago, we are delivering almost 120,000 extra appointments every day and will shortly be setting out our plans to help primary care recover further and faster with more support for staff and for patients. NHS England did not provide any comment regarding the imposed contract. The granddaughter of a German businessman who was killed by the IRA has spoken of the impact of generational trauma on her family almost 50 years on from his death. Tanya Williams-Powells grandfather Thomas Niedermayer, the manager of the Grundig factory in Belfast and the West German honorary consul for Northern Ireland, was kidnapped by the provisional IRA on December 27 1973. His body was not found until seven years later in 1980, when he was discovered in a shallow grave in Colin Glen, Belfast. The shockwaves of grief continued to affect the family for generations following Mr Niedermayers murder. Ms William-Powell said her grandmother Inge Niedermayer was the first of four family members to take their own life in the years following her husbands death. After that unfortunately his wife Inge took her own life, Ms Williams-Powell explained. Subsequent to that their two daughters Renate and my mother Gabrielle both also took their lives, as did my father. Intergenerational trauma is the term used for the observation that trauma experienced directly by one generation can have an impact on the mental health of their children. A study from Queens University on inter-generational trauma flagged that those affected by atrocities during the Troubles have not received sufficient support leading to very poor psychological health, frequent nightmares, anxiety, fear, flashbacks, high suicide rates, and a reluctance to talk about traumatic events for fear of causing distress. Tanya Williams-Powell, granddaughter of Thomas Niedermayer, who was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1973 (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms Williams-Powell said of her grandfather: But his murder obviously affected Inge and their daughters so profoundly that they never got over it. And I recall seeing Inge when I was young, and all I saw of her was a very small, sad person who hadnt got over what had happened, and it seemed to just weigh her down all the time. Renate and Gabrielle (Gabi) were teenagers at the time of their fathers kidnapping and witnessed him being taken into a car by two men. Renate and Gabi seemed quite estranged as well, possibly, because they were teenagers at the time of his death, Ms Williams-Powell said. The guilt that they felt and they couldnt really talk to each other. That seemed, particularly with my mum, to overshadow her entire life. I think mental health issues particularly back then was even more taboo than it still is now. It was all swept under the carpet. This is to highlight the legacy of victims of the Troubles that it doesnt only affect that one person but it can have a long-lasting detrimental effect to the families who were left behind. The impact of Thomas Niedermayers murder was shattering for the family of Tanya Williams-Powell (Liam McBurney/PA) The Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy and Reconciliation Bill is currently being discussed in the House of Lords. The Bill seeks to introduce an independent commission that will publish a historical record of all Troubles-related deaths. To achieve this, individuals who agree to co-operate with the new truth recovery body will secure immunity from prosecution. This aspect of the Bill has been condemned by Amnesty International UK for protecting perpetrators if they give an honest account of crimes they committed during the Troubles. Tanya Williams-Powell, who spoke at Stormont on Tuesday about the impact the Troubles has had on three generations of her family (Liam McBurney/PA) In 1981, two men were charged in connection with Mr Niedermayers murder. One man pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming he had killed Mr Niedermayer unintentionally when he tried to escape, and was later sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. In a way were lucky that we did have those criminal trials and people were found guilty, Ms William-Powell said about her familys case. I can understand where theyre coming from with an amnesty in order to get the truth and honest accounts of what has happened. My feelings would be for that of the victims. That truth is all well and good. But where are the consequences? I would say that truth and justice should actually go hand in hand and there must be a better way of getting both of those for the victims and for everyone to be able to move on. But I do think that the perpetrators of violent acts should receive some sort of punishment. Im not sure if the people who will say violence was our only option really understand the effects it has on the family and the friends and the wider community that it involves. Saturday March 11 is European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, with a victims event being held in Stormont on Tuesday to advocate for more support for victims and survivors. Tanya Williams-Powell speaking in the Senate Chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly during a Victims Day event (Liam McBurney/PA) European victims day aims to show solidarity with victims of terrorism across the world. Ms Williams-Powell spoke at Stormont on Tuesday about the importance of opening up to alleviate the trauma and grief that can engulf victims of terrorism. I just hope that me attending this European victims event will help other people to realise that youre not alone, that everybodys experiences are different. As someone who has vast experience with familial grief, Ms Williams-Powell offered her advice for those who may be struggling with events of the past. It doesnt have to be everything that you are, and you can actually move on from that and break the cycle of grief and guilt and depression. Learn from it. Educate our youngsters that violence isnt always the right way to go about things. And the way that we teach children now about communication and empathy and understanding is a much better way to get your point of view across, as far as Im concerned. There are people out there who can help. And if me speaking about our situation helps anyone, that makes this trip so worthwhile. The aim of the day is to pay tribute to all European victims and survivors of terrorism, regardless of the extremist ideology that inspired the attack, as well as a show of unity and resilience against terror and violent extremism. Matt Hancock discussed withholding funding for a learning disability centre to pressure an MP not to rebel against coronavirus restrictions, leaked messages suggest. The former health secretary and an aide spoke about warning Bury North MP James Daly that a new centre for disabled children and adults would be off the table if he voted against the Government, according to the Telegraphs investigation. Senior Conservative Jake Berry described the disclosure as an absolute disgrace and called for Mr Hancock to be hauled before the Commons for questioning. But Mr Hancocks team said whats being accused here never happened as they disputed the entirely partial account based on a trove of leaked WhatsApp messages. The Telegraph said the discussion between Mr Hancock and political aide Allan Nixon came ahead of a vote on December 1 2020 on the introduction of new Covid restrictions in England. Mr Nixon said they need to dangle our top asks over some of the newest MPs who entered Parliament in 2019 through Boris Johnsons general election victory. Mr Nixon suggested, for example, James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury whips call him up and say Health team want to work with him to deliver this but thatll be off the table if he rebels. These guys re-election hinges on us in a lot of instances, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider using it IMO, he wrote. Mr Hancocks response was yes 100%. Mr Daly, a Conservative MP, told the paper he was appalled and disgusted that the disability hub was discussed as a way to coerce him into voting with ministers. But he said the threat was never made to him. Mr Hancocks spokesman said: As weve repeatedly seen this last week, it is completely wrong to take this entirely partial account and write it up as fact. Whats being accused here never happened, demonstrating the story is wrong, and showing why such a biased, partial approach to the evidence is a bad mistake, driven by those with a vested interest and an axe to grind. The right place to consider everything about the pandemic objectively is in the public inquiry. But Mr Berry, a former Tory party chairman, said: This is an absolute disgrace. Hancock should be dragged to the bar of the House of Commons first thing tomorrow morning to be questioned on this. The Irish weather agency has warned of icy stretches and some lying snow in parts of the country. An ice warning had been in place for the entire island overnight but that expired at 10am on Tuesday. Irish forecaster Met Eireann had issued a Status Yellow ice warning while the UK Met Office had issued a yellow snow and ice warning for Northern Ireland. The warning was due to the risk of hazardous conditions during freezing temperatures including icy stretches on roads and paths. Snow blankets the townland of Ardateggle in County Laois in the Republic of Ireland, as a cold front passes over the UK and Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Falls of sleet and snow in the south and south-west of Ireland are expected to clear away for a cold, mostly sunny and dry day, according to Met Eireann. Temperatures are not expected to exceed 6C before a very cold and frosty night. Overnight, there will be lowest temperatures of -4C to 0C, falling as low as -5C or -6C degrees in Ulster and the north west. A Met Eireann meteorologist attributed the cold weather to northerly airflow moving over the country, introducing sharp frosts at night. A cold bright day on Tuesday will be followed by a very cold night on Tuesday night with widespread frost and some icy stretches. Outbreaks of sleet or snow may develop late in the night in Cork and Kerry, forecaster Gerry Murphy said. The King and Queen Consort will celebrate Colchesters recently awarded city status before having afternoon tea in the library with people from Age UK. Camilla will be joined in the library by broadcaster and childrens author Dermot OLeary, and author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who are both local to the area. Colchester officially became a city in November 2022, having been awarded the status during the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Broadcaster Dermot OLeary (Ian West/PA) Charles and Camilla will visit Colchester Castle to celebrate with local organisations which represent the citys heritage and communities. They will meet those who took part in Colchesters city status procession last year, including charities, volunteers and refugees who have settled in Colchester. The couple will also meet the animal care team from Colchester Zoo to hear about their conservation work before revealing the chosen name for the Zoos newest addition, a baby white rhino. Later at Colchester Library, Charles and Camilla will join Age UK for an afternoon tea with local volunteers, service users and The Silver Line staff to hear about the support provided by the charity across the region. Frank Cottrell-Boyce (Ian West/PA) Charles become patron of Age UK in in 2010 when he was Prince of Wales, while Camilla became patron of The Silver Line in 2017 when she was Duchess of Cornwall. At the library, Camilla will join a gathering of local authors, children, supporters and volunteers to celebrate the Essex Year of Reading. The countywide campaign was established to help children and young people discover a lifelong love of reading, and help to ensure every Essex child is able to read at their age level or above. Camilla will be welcomed by characters Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter, played by actors from the local Mercury Theatre. She will also be joined by OLeary, who is a keen supporter of the Essex Year of Reading, as well as Cottrell-Boyce. King and Queen Consort greeted by protesters on visit to Colchester The King and Queen Consort were met by shouts and boos from protesters with a yellow not my King banner as they visited Colchester to celebrate its city status. As Charles and Camilla got out of a car, a protester said through a megaphone: Answer your critics Charles. Come over and talk to your critics. The protester also said why are you wasting our money?, and dont you believe in democracy Charles?. The King waved to gathered crowds before going through a gate into Colchester Castles grounds, but did not appear to acknowledge the protesters who were stood on the far side of the road behind a police presence. Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was part of the protests and later held a banner objecting to what he claimed was Charless support of the World Economic Forum. King Charles and the Queen Consort during a visit to Colchester Castle (Chris Radburn/PA) Colchester was awarded city status during the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year, and officially became a city in November. Charles and Camilla travelled there on Tuesday and, after entering the castles grounds, were met by a guard of honour and schoolchildren waving Union flags. One schoolgirl handed the King a drawing of him, with the words best King written above the image. Inside the castle Charles met local organisations which represent the citys heritage and communities, was shown a historic vase, and an artefact trolley by youngsters. Charles and Camilla speak to schoolchildren at Colchester Castle (Aaron Chown/PA) The mayor of Colchester, Tim Young, told the King during a reception: Words cannot describe how much it means to us that you are here. He said that he was pleased that the Letters Patent which officially recognise Colchester as a city have been placed in the chapel of the castle, especially as this is the very room where the mayoress and I had our wedding just 10 days ago in this very room, in this very suit. This will always certainly be a very special place for us, said Mr Young. Outside the castle, Charles revealed the name of Colchester Zoos newest addition, baby white rhino Dara, by pulling a cord to draw back material which had covered the name on an easel. Charles unveils the name of the new rhino at Colchester Zoo (Chris Radburn/PA) A town crier then rang a bell and boomed, as Charles chuckled: Oyez, oyez, oyez! I officially proclaim Colchester Zoos newest addition as baby Dara. The King told zoo staff: I do hope it grows into a substantial animal. He then departed by car as a band played God Save The King. Andy Moore, conservation education manager at Colchester Zoo, said the name Dara means beautiful one in Swahili. Charles and Camilla speak to people during their visit to Colchester (Chris Radburn/PA) It was all a secret and a surprise so his majesty revealed it for us, he said. And then the town crier obviously then probably people in Wivenhoe and further away could hear. It was really great. Later, Camilla was presented with a membership card for Essex libraries during a tour of the Colchester branch with the King, as she celebrated the Essex Year of Reading with broadcaster and childrens author Dermot OLeary and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Charles takes afternoon tea with Age UK volunteers and service users (Ben Stansall/PA) The Queen Consort, who supports a number of literacy charities, joked: I shall have to come back and see what I can find, following the presentation. She enjoyed a reading from Alice In Wonderland by actors from the local Mercury Theatre in costume as Alice, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Meanwhile, Charles went upstairs, ahead of his wife, to chat to volunteers and clients of Age UK enjoying afternoon tea but he left the debate about whether it was jam or cream first on scones to others. Volunteer Atique Akhtar, who has weekly chats with an elderly person as part of Age UKs Silver Line project, said: He was very diplomatic and didnt take sides, he just chaired the debate. As the couple left the protesters, who numbered around 20, booed but they were equalled by spectators chanting God save the King. What we know about Bravermans new stop the boats Bill Rishi Sunak made stopping the boats one of his five priorities for a reason: he believes tackling the problem to be crucial to the Conservatives electoral chances. The Prime Minister hopes Home Secretary Suella Bravermans new Illegal Migration Bill will go some way to address the issue that governments have struggled to tackle for years. Here is a look at what is known of the plan so far: What has been announced? Anyone arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in a small boat or any other unauthorised means would no longer be able to claim asylum in the UK. This toughening of existing rules means instead they would only be eligible for asylum in a safe third country, such as Rwanda. Furthermore, they would receive a lifetime ban on citizenship or re-entry to the UK. Powers would be granted to detain migrants for 28 days without recourse for bail or judicial review, and then indefinitely for as long as there is a reasonable prospect of removal. Enough is enough. We must stop the boats.@SuellaBraverman, The Home Secretary. pic.twitter.com/Ni4nhuh44b Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 7, 2023 Challenges based on modern slavery laws would be barred, and any other legal attempt to stay would be heard overseas after they are removed. An annual quota on the number of refugees that can be settled through the limited number of safe and legal routes to asylum would be set. How do the proposals differ from the Nationality and Borders Act? The Illegal Migration Bill is being introduced less than a year after laws which the Government said would be the most comprehensive reform in decades to fix the broken asylum system came into force. Mr Sunak speaks with staff as he views a rubber dinghy and life vests during a visit to the Home Office joint control centre in Dover, Kent (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) The Nationality and Borders Acts three objectives were to support those in genuine need for asylum, to deter illegal entry into the UK, and to remove more easily those with no right to be in the country. The laws made it a criminal offence for knowingly arriving in the UK without permission and meant that, for the first time, how someone entered the UK legally or illegally affected how their asylum claim progresses and their status in the UK if the claim was successful. Critics have questioned why the latest legal intervention is needed so soon after the recent overhaul of the system and suggests those measures have failed to deter crossings as intended. But Mr Sunaks administration argues the new Bill is a vital further step to stopping the crossings altogether by essentially banning migrants from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive by unauthorised means and toughening up rules on detentions and removals. Suella Braverman arrives at Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Will the plans be gummed up in the courts? Ms Braverman is fully prepared for her legislation to face similar snags to the stalled Rwanda policy. She even wrote to MPs to admit her robust and novel approach has a more than 50% chance of being incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. In the letter seen by the PA news agency, she said she is confident the Bill is compatible with international law and said she expects the courts to take into consideration any endorsement by Parliament. Right to a family life, freedom from torture and the right to a fair trial were all issues being considered as potential challenges to the legislation. So too was the right to liberty, with concerns over the powers for indefinite detention. What about leaving the convention? Like many Brexiteers on the Tory right, Ms Braverman deep down wants the UK to withdraw from the convention itself. Rishi Sunak was not taking that drastic step right now. Conservative hardliners including former minister Mark Francois warned the Home Secretary the UK will remain tied up in legal knots unless they take on judges that interpret the convention in Strasbourg. Some in Westminster saw it as a long-game move to pick a fight with European judges and then use withdrawal as a battleground at the next general election. Thats the whole point of this, isnt it? SNP MP Joanna Cherry asked Ms Braverman. (PA Graphics) Hows the Rwanda scheme going? Despite at least 140 million of taxpayers money being paid to Rwanda, not a single flight forcibly removing asylum seekers has taken off for the capital of Kigali. The entire policy has been stalled as the Court of Appeal prepares to hear challenges to the Governments plan next month. Success here is crucial for Ms Bravermans latest plans, with a central point being that anyone who arrives through unauthorised means would be removed to Rwanda. Migrants could be deported to other third countries deemed safe if their home nation is not, but the UK has so far not convinced anywhere else to partner up on such a scheme. How will the Government speed up removals? Ms Braverman told MPs the Bill will see migrants arriving in Britain illegally detained and swiftly removed. But how this will be achieved remains unclear. The UK may seek to establish more returns agreements with other countries, although how effective any such deals will be is uncertain. Before Brexit, the UK was part of an EU returns deal known as the Dublin agreement. Former immigration minister Tom Pursglove previously admitted there had been difficulties securing returns as there was not a subsequent returns agreement with the European Union in place. According to Home Office figures in the year to September 2022, there were 3,531 enforced returns. This is 51% fewer than in 2019 prior to the coronavirus pandemic (7,198). The vast majority of removals were for foreign criminals and around half (49%) were EU nationals. What next? The legislation is likely to get a rough ride in the Lords, as the upper chamber considers whether to amend the legislation. If the Government does not accept the changes, then a lengthy back and forth could delay the implementation. Mr Sunak will visit France on Friday for a summit with president Emmanuel Macron. He will hope he can strengthen cross-Channel efforts to reduce the wave of boats without a legal battle. Isabella Turner says she battled selective mutism between the ages of two and 16. (SWNS) A teenager who spent years battling selective mutism, a disorder which meant she could only talk to members of her own family, has revealed how she managed to overcome her fear of speaking to strangers. Isabella Turner from West Thurrock, Essex, battled the condition between the ages of two and 16. The condition, which is recognised by the NHS, sees people struggling to speak in certain scenarios. Turner, a part-time model, who is now 18, says she used to only talk to her parents and siblings, but the isolation of lockdown shifted her mindset, showing her how important social interactions are. She says her selective mutism is now a thing of her past and she wants to help others in learning to live with or overcome the disorder. "Lockdown made me realise that talking to people was a luxury that I'd previously been taking for granted," she explains. "It showed me anything can happen, and by succumbing to my social anxiety, I was wasting my life." Read more: How to spot anxiety in your child and how to help them Isabella Turner as a child. She says lockdown helped her overcome the condition. (SWNS) Turner believes her condition started when she accidentally held a stranger's hand when she was just a toddler. She says the experience knocked her confidence at a crucial stage in her early life. "I was on holiday at Butlins and instead of reaching out and holding my parent's hand, I grabbed a stranger's," she explains. "When I realised, I freaked out, and the disorder came about shortly after that." Growing up Turner, who's one of nine children, recalls only ever speaking to her mum and dad and occasionally her siblings. Originally, people labelled her shy, but in primary school, after refusing to speak with her teachers or classmates, she was officially diagnosed. "I began constantly freezing up when I went to say something, and despite teachers' best efforts to get me talking when I started school, I was still more or less mute," she explains. "In secondary school I came out of my shell a bit more. But I was very quiet so I didn't make any friends." Turner says that when she was in year 10, just before the COVID pandemic, the disorder really started to affect her studies. So when news broke that the country was going into lockdown, it came as a relief to her. Read more: What to do if your child has a panic attack, as Rod Stewart discusses sons health scare Selective mutism - recognised by the NHS - sees people struggling to speak in certain scenarios. Turner pictured as a child. (SWNS) However, she actually found that the reality of the lockdown at the start of the pandemic, left her feeling isolated. As the youngest child in her family by a decade and with most of her brothers and sisters having moved out, apart from contact with her parents, Turner says she spoke to no one. With the pressures of school and socialising taken away for a period she was left alone with her thoughts, and, after a while, to her surprise, she started missing contact with people on the outside world. "The difference between choosing not to socialise with people because of anxiety and being told you can't by a higher authority was what really resonated with me," she explains. "Lockdown allowed me time to think, reflect on my life and get a grip of my social anxiety. It was a chance to reset." Watch: Could mindfulness be as effective as medication for anxiety? When she changed schools in year 11, for a fresh start, Turner says she tried to hang onto those feelings and this finally helped her overcome her disorder. "Since then, I've never looked back," she adds. Read more: The most common mental health conditions - and where to get help Turner, now 18 and a part-time model, says she used to only talk to her parents and siblings. (SWNS) What is selective mutism? The NHS says selective mutism is an anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. While it usually starts during childhood, if left untreated the disorder can persist into adulthood. A child or adult with selective mutism does not refuse or choose not to speak at certain times - they're literally unable to speak. The expectation to talk to certain people triggers a freeze response with feelings of anxiety and panic, and talking is impossible. Selective mutism affects about 1 in 140 young children. It's more common in girls and children who have recently migrated from their country of birth, according to the NHS. Though selective mutism can start at any age, it typically starts in early childhood, between the age of two and four. The main sign is an obvious contrast in the child's ability to engage with different people, characterised by a sudden stillness and frozen facial expression when they're expected to talk to someone who's outside their comfort zone. They may avoid eye contact and appear: - nervous, uneasy or socially awkward - rude, disinterested or sulky and clingy - being shy and withdrawn - stiff, tense or poorly co-ordinated - stubborn or aggressive, having temper tantrums when they get home from school, or getting angry when questioned by parents. Read more: Eating disorder manifesto and toolkit for schools launched to tackle surge in cases Experts regard selective mutism as a fear or phobia of talking to certain people. The cause is not always clear, but it's known to be associated with anxiety. If left untreated, selective mutism can lead to isolation, low self-esteem and social anxiety disorder. It can continue into adolescence and adulthood if not managed. With appropriate handling and treatment, the NHS says most children are able to overcome selective mutism. But the older they are when the condition is diagnosed, the longer it will take. There are many factors which might impact the effectiveness of treatment including how long the person has had selective mutism and whether or not they have additional communication or learning difficulties or anxieties. Treatment focuses on reducing the anxiety associated with speaking, including trying to remove the pressure on the person to speak. Further help and support Teenagers and adults with selective mutism can find information and support at iSpeak and the Facebook group SM SpaceCafe. The Selective Mutism Information and Research Association (SMiRA) is another good resource for people affected by selective mutism. There's also a SMiRA Facebook page. Additional reporting SWNS. A father and son who have built a watch collection worth 46,000 were among collectors who queued overnight for a limited edition release in central London. Seb Easton, 51, hailed his son Taz, 19, as a real businessman as they waited to get their hands on Swatch and Omegas new Mission to Moonshine Gold timepiece on Tuesday. The watch, part of the two companies Moonswatch range and priced at 245, went on sale at 6pm on Tuesday at the Royal Exchange in London and also in Tokyo, Japan, Zurich, Switzerland and Milan, Italy. The Eastons told the PA news agency they had been sitting outside on camping chairs since 9pm on Monday and had not slept. Customers wait in line for the launch of the MoonSwatch at the Swatch store in the Royal Exchange, central London, where the queue began to form at 6pm on Monday evening (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Taz, a stylist who started collecting watches when he was 13, said his and his fathers joint collection was worth 46k but that his interest in the new Moonswatch release was more about its exclusivity than its value. He said: This one is not going to add any value on top. Its cheap plastic rubbish, its made out of plastic. But its just because its exclusive, you feel me? Father Seb, an airbrush artist, said they were both opportunists whose main interest was making money. Ive had a trainer collection since way back, from New York, but I never wore them and just kept them in the wardrobe, he said. I used to pull them out to show him and I think over the years he has taken it on in his own way hes a real businessman. He came down and started doing this and started getting me involved. Its not as much of a passion for me but I dont want to hear someone has done well and I havent, so I thought Id come down. Im an opportunist. If theres money involved, Im in it. The Moonswatch range proved massively popular in 2022 after 11 different high-colour watches made from plastic-esque bioceramic material were released at 207 each. The watches currently retail on resale websites for as much as 1,400. The queue was patrolled by security guards in high-visibility clothing who took photographs of everyone waiting in line to make sure no one jumped in. A 19-year-old sneaker reseller who gave his name as Connor said money, literally money as he explained why he had chosen to queue since 10.30pm on Monday. He said: Its just chance really. You never know how many people are going to be here so you just have to come as early as possible. The whole thing is really just a chance. I slept a little bit but it is quite difficult when there are so many security guys around. Its not as bad as people think. Its a lot different to what you probably think it has been like. The deputy leader of Australias Liberal Party turned heads and raised money in parliament by attending dressed as musical icon Tina Turner. Donning a striking wig and a black dress, Sussan Ley, MP for the New South Wales seat of Farrer, was welcomed to the House of Representatives with some nervousness by the Speaker on Tuesday. I know at least one of the questions youre asking, Mr Speaker, and yes this is for a dare, a dare for a very worthwhile cause, Ms Ley began. First, let me introduce my alter ego, Tina Leyna Turner. This is worth a fair bit of cash. At a cancer support fundraiser held in Griffith last Friday my song partner, Glenn Starr, from the local Triple M Breakfast, challenged the 700-strong crowd to reach a 100,000 dollar target, but only if I took Tina to Parliament House. Ms Ley continued to speak on the difficulty of a cancer diagnosis in remote locations, and said that the 100,000 Australian dollars (55,582) raised had been doubled by the chair of the Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Tony Noun, and his family. The deputy leader of Australias Liberal Party turned heads in parliament by attending dressed as Tina Turner (Parlview/PA) She also thanked the communities who raised the money, as well as the Speaker. I want to thank the incredible generosity of the Griffith and Leeton communities who made this night such an awesome success, she said. When things need doing out in the Riverina we just get it done. A special thanks also to you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to use parliament to support this worthwhile cause and for your generosity in also supporting the cause. I thank the House. MPs have rejected attempts to allow silent prayer outside abortion clinics in England and Wales, amid warnings new buffer zone measures risk making thoughtcrime a reality. The Public Order Bill contains powers to make it an offence to interfere with, intimidate or harass women accessing, or people providing, abortion services. Protesters found guilty of breaching the safe access zone, which would extend 150 metres from clinics, could be fined. But a group of Tory and DUP MPs tabled an amendment aimed at ensuring no offence is committed if a person is engaged in consensual communication or in silent prayer outside the clinics or hospitals offering abortion services. Buffer zones protected from the sabotage amendment 299 to 116 thats despite the Home Secretary, the minister and the attorney general all voting to try to stop women being able able to access an abortion in peace on amendment that their department negotiated pic.twitter.com/4fONMWnHce stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) March 7, 2023 In a free vote, the proposal was rejected by 116 votes to 299, majority 183. The division list showed Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Attorney General Victoria Prentis were among the 109 Conservative MPs, two of whom were tellers, who supported the amendment while 109 Tory MPs voted against. Labour MP Stella Creasy (Walthamstow), writing on Twitter, said buffer zones had been protected from the sabotage amendment and it would enable women to access an abortion in peace. Clare Murphy, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), added on Twitter: Anti-choice activists who stand outside our clinics talk about a lifetime of abortion regret. Women generally dont regret abortions, but what stays with them even decades on is the invasion of their privacy by these people when they sought our help. Alithea William, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Childrens (SPUC) public policy manager, said in a statement: It is very disappointing that MPs have rejected even this modest amendment, which was trying to ensure that thoughtcrime was not enshrined in UK law. Conservative MP Andrew Lewer (Northampton South), moving the amendment, earlier told the Commons: This section of the Public Order Bill is leading us into the territory of thoughtcrimes and creates unprecedented interference with the rights to freedom of speech and thought in the UK. Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes added: We now have people arrested for praying, interrogated by the police, asked what theyre praying about, what theyre thinking. This is dystopian. Its like a mix of Huxley, Philip Dick and all that. It is unthinkable that we should be living in a society where what people think has become a matter of police interest. But Labour MP Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton), who has long campaigned for safe access zones at abortion clinics, criticised the attempts to amend the Bill further. She said: Any person using medical services should be able to do so without navigating an obstacle course of people trying to impose their view of what is right into the process to dissuade and deter. Even in the reviled regime of Iran they got rid of their morality police. Why do we allow them here? Ms Huq added that people can have their say but move them away from the clinic door. For Labour, shadow Home Office minister Sarah Jones also said: I am a person of faith. Ive also walked into an abortion clinic. I pray, but I also know how intimidating it is to walk past people silently standing there with signs trying to communicate, trying to pray, trying to persuade women to change their mind. The Bill as a whole aims to curb the guerrilla protest tactics used by groups such as Just Stop Oil, Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion. A music manager was stabbed to death for a designer watch worth up to 300,000 after celebrating his birthday, a court has heard. Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, was set upon by three robbers after leaving Haz restaurant near St Pauls Cathedral in the City of London on May 1 last year, the Old Bailey heard. They had allegedly been tipped off by security operator Kavindu Hettiarachchi that Mr Odunlami was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch which, if real, was worth between 90,000 and 300,000. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said Hettiarachchi was an integral member of the security team who had been hired by the events organiser Playhxuse for the private ticketed brunch and afterparty with DJ. He told jurors: It was part of his role to protect the safety of those, like Mr Odunlami, who were attending the event. In fact he did the opposite. Jurors were told the victim, known to friends as Jay, worked in the music industry managing a number of performing artists. On the day of his death, he had driven to the City in his grey hatchback Mercedes to celebrate his birthday with friends, having organised tickets for a 1,400 table. Mr Atkinson told jurors: Sadly, as it was to turn out, he liked expensive brand watches. At the time when he was fatally attacked, he was wearing an Patek Philippe Nautilus watch. If real, such a watch could be worth anything in a range from 90,000 to 300,000. It is believed the deceaseds watch may not have been genuine, but was treated as genuine by those who sought to take it. Mr Odunlami was attacked after leaving a restaurant near St Pauls Cathedral, the court was told (Ian West/PA) As the event drew to a close at around 11pm, Hettiarachchi was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Louis Vandrose, the court was told. Vandrose and Jordell Menzies were then driven by Quincy Ffrench in a white Mercedes with altered number plates from north-west London, the court heard. Mr Atkinson said: The evidence shows that Ffrench, Vandrose and Menzies were setting off in car with a disguised registration in order to carry out a robbery, and that their target for that robbery was at the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working, and to which by phone he had summoned them. Jurors were told the security operator had filmed the victim and his high-value watch and then appeared to type something into his phone. Mr Atkinson said: The prosecution case is that he was making those other defendants aware of Mr Odunlami and his watch, in order that they could rob him of that apparently very valuable item. In common sense, those planning the robbery of Mr Odunlami of what appeared to be a very valuable watch would not have expected him just to surrender. Rather, he needed to be compelled to do so, and to that end one of those travelling in Mr Ffenchs Mercedes was armed with a knife. Mr Odunlami was attacked by the group after he left the restaurant with a friend, the court heard. Mr Atkinson said: When they were ready, the defendants Ffrench, Vandrose and Menzies got out of the car and ran towards Mr Odunlami. On seeing the robbers closing in on him, Mr Odunlami tried to run, but he was caught by Menzies and then taken to the ground by the combination of Menzies and by Vandrose. Once Mr Odunlami was on the ground, all three defendants attacked him, shod feet were used as weapons to kick the defenceless man on the ground. During the course of that attack, one of the robbers, identifiable as Ffrench, bent down and took the object of this exercise, Mr Odunlamis Patek Phillippe Nautilus watch. As he did so he was heard to say got it. The defendants then ran off, leaving the victim on the ground with a fatal stab wound to the chest. Mr Atkinson said: It appears from the CCTV that he was stabbed before any demand was made of him, or any other form of attempt to take his watch from him. A flick knife was recovered nearby and linked by scientific analysis to the victim and Menzies, who had used it to kill him, jurors heard. Afterwards, the three robbers travelled to Bloomsbury where they changed their clothes before parting company, the court was told. The court heard that Ffrench, 27, from Tottenham, Vandrose, 27, of Thornton Heath, and Menzies, 26, from Kilburn, admitted robbery and Menzies had also pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Mr Atkinson said: The prosecution case is that Menzies was physically responsible for the use of that knife to stab an unarmed man. It was a blow delivered with at least a moderate level of force, in the estimation of the pathologist, that penetrated 8cm through Mr Odunlamis chest into the right ventricle of his heart. The trial was being heard at the Old Bailey (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA) Menzies is charged with murder along with Ffrench and Vandrose who allegedly acted together to encourage and facilitate the fatal stabbing. Hettiarachchi, of Harrow, who was employed as security operator for Supreme Security, is charged with being involved in the robbery and manslaughter. Jurors were told Hettiarachchi had fake versions of high-value watches at his home, suggesting an interest in and knowledge of expensive timepieces. He allegedly called on the help of his friend and colleague Antonios Kfoury, 21, from Ealing, who is charged with perverting the course of justice. It is alleged Kfoury tried to obscure the role of Hettiarachchi in the security arrangement for the event at Haz and made a false statement to the police. The defendants have denied the charges against them and the Old Bailey trial continues. A senior Nigerian politician accused of plotting to arrange an illegal kidney transplant for his sick daughter in the UK has told jurors he thought he was being scammed. Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, daughter Sonia, 25, and medical middleman Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, are accused of conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of a young man to Britain to exploit him for his body part. It is alleged the 21-year-old street trader from Lagos was to be paid up to 7,000 with the promise of opportunities in the UK in exchange for donating a kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu. Sonia Ekweremadu with her alleged prospective donor, who cannot be identified for legal reasons (Met Police/PA) He was falsely presented as Sonias cousin in a failed bid to persuade medics at the Royal Free Hospital in London to carry out the 80,000 private procedure, the Old Bailey has heard. Giving evidence on Tuesday, Ike Ekweremadu was asked about an invoice for 8,000 he received via his brother Diwe on February 8 2022. In his message, Diwe wrote that he had received a huge invoice from a consultant doctor for his service, saying: It looks like theyre all out to exploit peoples unfortunate situation. The defendant told jurors that his view was that he was being scammed. Defence barrister Martin Hicks KC asked: Why not at this stage say we are being scammed Dr Obeta, end of, stop. Ike Ekweremadu replied: My daughters life was on the line so if we stop we will be putting my daughters life in danger. So we just keep moving. Everybody was obviously taking advantage of my daughters ill health. The defendant was also asked about an unsigned affidavit dated January 19 2022 recovered from Obetas home which falsely stated that the proposed donor was Sonias cousin. He told jurors: I felt embarrassed because thats not true and I told my daughter to ignore the document. Mr Hicks said: Was it your impression she was being asked to sign it? Ike Ekweremadus wife Beatrice, pictured, is also accused of conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of a man to exploit him for his body part (Jonathan Brady/PA) Ike Ekweremadu replied: Yes, I told her not to sign it because it was bad enough she had been made to create the impression she was related to (the donor). It was more complicated to do an affidavit. If you sign an affidavit you have to tell the truth. Asked who created the document, the defendant said: I have no idea. He added: When they were exchanging papers in the trial, my family and I wrote to the court in Abuja (the capital of Nigeria) to find the origin but no such document exists in the records. Mr Hicks asserted: Its a forgery. Ike Ekweremadu replied: Of course it is. The Ekweremadus, who have an address in Willesden Green, north-west London, and Obeta, from Southwark, south London, deny the charge against them and the Old Bailey trial continues. People in the north of England and Scotland have woken up to snow as a cold snap begins to hit the UK. More than 10cm of snow fell in parts of northern Scotland on Monday and 20cm of snow could fall later in the week as a cold snap brings snow, ice, wind and rain. Temperatures dipped to minus 7.6C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands on Monday night and the small hamlet was covered in 12cm of snow, more than anywhere else in the UK. Snow has also settled across Northumberland and North Yorkshire with some spots experiencing 2-3cm of cover. (PA Graphics) Tuesday could be the coldest night of the year so far with the mercury plunging to minus 15C in some isolated Scottish glens. People in southern England and South Wales can expect to wake up to snow on Wednesday but it is unclear whether it will settle, the Met Office has said. Snow is more likely to settle when it moves across much of northern England, Northern Ireland and much of Scotland on Thursday. Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said people should expect to wake up to snow on Wednesday if they live in the South. He said: I think over higher grounds such as Exmoor, the Chilterns and the Cotswolds there will be a fair amount of snow. Elsewhere it is going to be quite difficult, especially after todays wet weather, to say how much snow will settle. He added snow which is expected to fall in the north of England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday is likely to be much more impactful. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place in much of northern and eastern Scotland and north-east England until 10am on Wednesday. People walk their dogs through the snow beside the beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) London, the south of England and South Wales will be covered by a yellow warning for snow all day on Wednesday and until 9am on Thursday and a few centimetres could fall in those areas. Northern England, North Wales, most of Scotland and Northern Ireland will be covered by a yellow warning for snow between 3am on Thursday and 6pm on Friday. Mr Burkill warned people to travel in snowy conditions only if essential and to bring a blanket in case they get stuck overnight. He said: Through the worst of the weather, keep up to date with warnings, be prepared your journey may take longer than normal and you may end up stranded in your car. If there is significant snow take water and maybe a blanket just in case, thats if you absolutely need to travel. Treat the weather sensibly and be aware it could be dangerous. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a level-three cold weather alert for the whole of England which is likely to be reviewed in the coming days. The agencys head of extreme events and health protection Dr Agostinho Sousa said people should check on vulnerable relatives and told pensioners and anyone with an underlying health condition to heat their home to at least 18C. Rishi Sunak has declined to express confidence in Sue Grays partygate report, amid the former senior civil servants plans to join Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers office. The Prime Minister on Tuesday dodged a question on whether her investigation into lockdown breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall retained its integrity. He told a press conference: As you know, the Cabinet Office is reviewing the circumstances of her departure. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to express confidence in Sue Grays partygate report (Leon Neal/PA) Im not going to pre-empt their findings so Im not going to comment further on that situation. When Ms Gray published her report detailing alcohol-fuelled partying during the pandemic in No 10 in May last year, Mr Sunak said he was grateful to her. The Cabinet Office is looking into the circumstances surrounding her resignation as second permanent secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Labour has insisted no conversations about the chief of staff position took place with Ms Gray before she had completed her investigation. The discussions didnt start until we were looking for a chief of staff, which was after Sue Gray did her report into what happened at Downing Street during the pandemic with the parties, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said. Meanwhile, a former top civil servant said Ms Gray faced a cooling-off period of up to six months before she could take up her new post. Her decision to quit to accept a job in the office of the Leader of the Opposition has sparked a political row about civil service impartiality, amid outrage among Tories in Westminster. But former permanent secretary to the Treasury Lord Macpherson of Earls Court told peers there was nothing wrong with the appointment, as long as Ms Gray follows rules set by the anti-corruption watchdog, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), such as the cooling-off period. The independent crossbench peer told the House of Lords: I remember a number of examples of people moving from the civil service to a political position, in particular my old friend Lord Sassoon, who was a very successful director general at the Treasury, moved to be Gordon Browns ambassador to the City, then resigned and turned up the next day as advisor to George Osborne. But the issue, surely, is the Acoba rules, all too often not observed by members of the Government. So long as Ms Gray follows the recommendations, which I would assume would be somewhere between three and six months for an adequate cooling-off period, surely she is pursuing the right and honourable course. Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said: Ms Gray does indeed need to apply to Acoba, which she has not yet done. And this is a very senior post of a political kind and Im sure they will look extremely carefully at the move and lay down appropriate rules and guidance for her departure from the civil service. Lady Neville-Rolfe urged Sir Keir to be more forthcoming about the details of the discussions between his team and Ms Gray over her appointment. Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, said she was appalled that some now impugn (Ms Grays) integrity for the time she served successive governments. The Labour frontbencher then suggested that those kicking up a fuss just fear the appointment. The Santa Fe District Attorney has pushed back on efforts by Alec Baldwin to have the special prosecutor in his US court case dismissed. Mary Carmack-Altwies said the motion, filed last month by Baldwins lawyers, was based on a novel theory that has no support in New Mexico statutes or case law. Representatives for the Hollywood actor previously said that special prosecutor Andrea Reebs involvement in the case was unconstitutional, due to her elected position in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Santa Fe DA pushes back on Baldwins motion to have special prosecutor dismissed (PA) Lawyers argued that Ms Reebs position was a violation of the New Mexico constitutions separation of powers provision and that she could make prosecutorial decisions that serve her legislative interests. In a response to the motion to have Ms Reeb dismissed, the DA said the state constitution provided a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases. Any attempt by Ms Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective, the filing stated. Disqualification of a special prosecutor on constitutional grounds is a severe remedy and cannot be supported by the imaginative but unsupported theories set out by the Defendants motion. It comes ahead of a status hearing in the case, which is due to take place on Thursday March 9. Baldwin faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, to which he has pleaded not guilty. An independent Scotland could be better off within a decade of leaving the UK, Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has said. Ms Forbes was speaking as hustings continued in the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon with fellow leadership hopeful Humza Yousaf saying he would be not just Scotlands first minister but first activist for independence. Meanwhile Ash Regan, the former community safety minister who is the third candidate standing to be SNP leader, said if she is voted into the job she would seek to heal the rifts within the party. She also pledged to relight the fires of the cross-party Yes campaign that operated in the run up to the 2014 referendum and would reach out to the wider movement. Ms Regan told the hustings event in Dumfries that she had felt a sense of grief after Scots had voted to stay in the UK in 2014. The SNP backbencher said: I dont want us to be thinking about that past referendum and thinking weve missed the boat, and that we have got to keep waiting. I want to get us there as fast as possible. But to achieve that she said the party needs to change direction and to act differently. Ms Regan said: I dont think we can keep going the way we have been over the last few years, we need a different plan and we need to put that into action. She said under her leadership the first line on any SNP manifesto would state that a vote for the party would mean Scotland would be voting for Edinburgh and Westminster in a room to begin independence negotiations. She told party members: The referendum is not the gold standard here, the ballot box is the gold standard, and that is what we need to progress towards. Ms Regan said other nations would recognise this, saying: International law is pragmatic and there is no question of the UK not recognising this and coming to the table. Her comments came as Ms Forbes, who returned from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter last summer to run to be Scotlands next first minister, stressed the need to use each and every opportunity to make the case for independence. She told the hustings: We need to set out in the first 10 years of an independent Scotland how we will be wealthier, greener, fairer. People need to see it. Independence is not an abstract constitutional term we use in arguments, its about real people, real lives and how we ensure Scotland is just as wealthy, just as green just as fair as our comparator countries. She said: We have got all that it takes in Scotland to be incredibly successful. We would be one of the richest countries ever to be independent, we have got all that it takes. SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, (left) Ash Regan (centre) and Humza Yousaf (right) spoke to party members at a hustings in Dumfries (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) She told the hustings: Scotland cant afford not to be independent. We will get there with the right leader, the right competent focus on track record of delivery and ultimately ensuring we are persuading people. As part of that, in what could be seen a swipe at Mr Yousaf, the Scottish Health Secretary, she stressed the need to make sure the NHS is on a stable footing for the next decade. Mr Yousaf, meanwhile, said that independence is inevitable, adding that the days of the unequal union between Scotland and the rest of the UK are numbered. He said the leadership contest was about who is going to deliver independence, saying: I believe I have what it takes. I believe I have the experience, I believe I am able to unite our movement, I believe I am able to inspire people to the vision of independence. Our success in recent decades is down to the hard work of our activists. Independence will be won on the doorsteps. I'll give activists the tools they need: 1 Kickstart a new Yes campaign.2 Create Instant Rebuttal Unit.3 Campaign workshops across #HumzaForScotland pic.twitter.com/FUFgps73aw Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) March 5, 2023 While he said the SNP had governed well in its nearly 16 years in power in Scotland, he said: We must build on that progressive agenda that has won us so much support so far. He told the hustings if he was to become the next SNP leader every single election we fight, including the next general election will be based on a demand for Holyrood to have the powers to hold a second independence ballot. I am not just looking to be the leader of the party of first minister of the country, I want to be our first activist. I want to come with community to community, town to town, village to village, doorstep to doorstep, persuading the people of this country that our best future is as an independent nation. A seriously ill pensioner at the centre of litigation in a specialist court has been granted a wish to spend his remaining time at home with a pet bird. The man, who has a number of significant physical health difficulties and learning disabilities, had been in hospital for several months, a judge heard. He had objected to further treatment and did not want to go into a care home, Mr Justice Peel was told. The judge on Tuesday approved a care package which would allow the pensioner to return home and be reunited with his pet. Mr Justice Peel praised medics, council care staff and lawyers for putting together the care package. He considered the case at an online hearing in the Court of Protection, where judges deal with issues relating to people who may lack the mental capacity to make decisions. A barrister representing NHS hospital bosses responsible for the pensioners treatment told Mr Justice Peel that he may only live for a few more months and said he wanted to go home. Nicola Kohn added: The plan is that he will be discharged home with a suitable package of care in order that he will be able to spend his remaining time in the company of his pet bird. The NHS has been responsible for the pensioners treatment (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Mr Justice Peel, who is based in London and also oversees hearings in the Family Division of the High Court, praised medics, care staff and lawyers involved in the case. The judge said everyone involved had treated the pensioner with great sensitivity, kindness and respect so that he could enjoy himself watching television in the company of his pet bird. He said the pensioner could not be identified in media reports of the case. The judge barred reporting of the names of the authorities involved, the mans address and exact age, and the type and name of the bird, in case the revelation of such information led to creation of an identity jigsaw. People who arrive in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats accounted for nearly half of the total number claiming asylum last year, figures show. There were 74,751 asylum applications in the UK in 2022, relating to 89,398 people. This is the highest total for a calendar year since 2002. It is also up 49% compared with the number of applications in 2021 (50,042) and is more than double the total for the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (35,737). (PA Graphics) The jump in applications mirrors a substantial increase in small boat arrivals to the UK, according to the Home Office. Arrivals rose from 28,526 in 2021 to 45,755 in 2022 an increase of 60%. People who arrived in the UK on small boats accounted for 45% of the total number of people claiming asylum last year. Some 90% of arrivals on small boats in 2022 claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. The increase in small boat arrivals has had an impact on the most common nationality of people claiming asylum. (PA Graphics) From 2016 to 2021, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK. But in 2022 Albania was the most common nationality, driven partly by a sharp rise in small boat arrivals by Albanian nationals during the summer and early autumn. In July to September, Albanians accounted for nearly half (45%) of all detected crossings of the English Channel, though in October to December this proportion fell to just 9%. A total of 14,223 asylum applications from Albanian nationals were made in the UK last year, around two-thirds of which (9,573) originated from small boat arrivals, Government figures show. Overall, Albanians accounted for 19% of all asylum applications in the UK in 2022, followed by Afghans (13%), Iranians (10%), Iraqis (5%) and Syrians (5%). By contrast, in 2021 the figure for Albania was 10%, behind both Iran (20%) and Iraq (12%), while Afghanistan was just 5%. There were 388 asylum applications from Ukrainian nationals in 2022, accounting for 1% of the total. However, most Ukrainians coming to the UK since the Russian invasion will not have applied for asylum, arriving instead under one of the new visa routes. Although the total number of asylum applications in the UK is at a 20-year high, the figure is still 11% below the previous peak of 84,132 in 2002, which was partly caused by conflict and political unrest in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Somalia. Sir Keir Starmer and Belaruss exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya have discussed the need for western allies to confront the Kremlin-backed Belarusian regime. The Labour leader expressed his admiration for her bravery in the face of violence and oppression and stressed his partys strong commitment to a free and democratic Belarus, according to a readout of the meeting in London. Ms Tsikhanouskaya ran against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belaruss 2020 disputed election before being pressured to leave the country. Great to meet Ministers @JamesCleverly & @LeoDochertyUK. We discussed the recent sentencing of Ales Bialiatski & my own fake trial. I suggested expanding individual sanctions against Lukashenkas judges, prosecutors & propagandists, as well as synchronizing sanctions with . pic.twitter.com/sCFCTV2gG8 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) March 7, 2023 A court in Belarus on Monday sentenced her to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government. Ms Tsikhanouskaya asked the UK during her visit not to forget about Belarus as the Government focuses on Ukraine. The fate of Ukraine and fate of Belarus are interconnected, she told BBC Newsnight. Belarus was used as a launch point for the invasion of its southern neighbour by Mr Putins forces. Labours readout of the meeting said: The two leaders discussed the need for our allies to remain united in confronting the Putin-backed Belarusian regime and the need to increase support for the pro-democracy movements in Belarus and elsewhere. They agreed there can be no lasting peace in Europe without a free Belarus, and that defeating Putin must also mean bringing democracy to the Belarusian people. They will also work to keep up the global pressure on Belarus and Russia through a co-ordinated, robust and effective sanctions regime. In an article in the Guardian, Ms Tsikhanouskaya said sanctions must go further to target Putins war machine. She wrote that most Belarusians want Russian troops to be withdrawn from Ukraine and from Belarus immediately. The Belarus politician also met Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Europe minister Leo Docherty, as well as Boris Johnson. The former prime minister tweeted that it was a real honour to reaffirm my support for a free and independent Belarus, and also to recognise the heroic contribution of Belarusian volunteers to the fight for freedom in Ukraine. Ms Tsikhanouskaya told Newsnight that Mr Johnsons brave decisions on Ukraine showed he can advocate for Belarus as well. Former MP Mike Gapes has rejoined Labour after quitting under Jeremy Corbyn to form a rival party. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was delighted to welcome Mr Gapes back. Mr Gapes quit the party in 2019 and unsuccessfully stood against it in Ilford South at the election that year for the Independent Group for Change, which he founded alongside breakaway MPs from Labour and the Tories. Writing in the Times, Mr Gapes said Sir Keir had tackled antisemitism in Labour and relentlessly focused on making it once again a patriotic, serious party of mainstream Britain. That Mike has rejoined our party shows how much we've changed our party to face the public, root out antisemitism, support business, be proud of our NATO membership. I know there is more to do so we can change our country and deliver our missions for a better Britain. https://t.co/ymZeCamE4h Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 7, 2023 Sir Keir said: Like many others, Mike turned away from the party in recent years because it no longer represented traditional Labour values. But weve changed and theres no going back. That Mike has chosen to rejoin is a tribute to the hard work already done to change our party: to face the electorate, to root out antisemitism, support business, to celebrate patriotism and our Nato membership, not chastise it. I know there is more to do, and Im really pleased that Mike will be with us in this ongoing work to change our party so that we can change our country and deliver our missions for a better Britain. The return of Mr Gapes to the Labour fold follows Luciana Bergers decision to rejoin last month. Suella Braverman said it would betray British voters not to tackle the waves of illegal migrants breaching our border as she unveiled plans for new laws to curb Channel crossings. The Home Secretary said legislation would be introduced which means asylum seekers will be detained and swiftly removed if they arrive in the UK through unauthorised means. People crossing the Channel will not be able to claim asylum in the UK and will face a lifetime ban on returning after they are removed and they will never be allowed to settle in the country or gain citizenship. She told MPs on Tuesday: For a Government not to respond to waves of illegal migrants breaching our borders would be to betray the will of the people we were elected to serve. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Braverman added: They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally you will be detained and swiftly removed. Removed back to your country if it is safe, or to a safe third country like Rwanda. And that is precisely what this Bill will do. That is how we will stop the boats. Meanwhile Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is visiting Dover and will set out the plans during a press conference later. Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the Bill a con and described the plans as Groundhog Day less than a year after reforms were brought into force under the Nationality and Borders Act. Home Secretary Suella Braverman spoke in the Commons (House of Commons/PA) The comments came in the wake of criticism from campaigners who said the proposed policy would be unworkable. But Ms Braverman said the need for reform is obvious and urgent as the asylum system now costs the British taxpayer more than 3 billion a year and amid a record number of cases awaiting a decision. She insisted the Government has not sat on its hands but added: Were procuring accommodation, including on military land, to end the farce of accommodating migrants in hotels. Lets be honest, its still not enough. In the face of todays global migration crisis, yesterdays laws are simply not fit for purpose. (PA Graphics) The Bill allows the detention of illegal arrivals without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, until they can be removed, Ms Braverman said. It also places a duty on the Home Secretary to remove illegal entrants and it will radically narrow the number of challenges and appeals that can suspend removal. Only children under the age of 18, and those who are unfit to fly or at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm an exceedingly high bar in the country we are removing them to will be able to delay their removal, she said. Any other claims will be heard remotely after removal. The Bill will also introduce an annual cap, to be decided by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will offer sanctuary to through safe and legal routes, Ms Braverman said. In a letter seen by the PA news agency, Ms Braverman told MPs the Government was testing the limits and remain confident that this Bill is compatible with international law but there is a more (than) 50% chance it may not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. (PA Graphics) Mr Sunak vowed to stop the boats and grip illegal migration as one of his five priorities for his premiership while facing pressure to tackle the issue amid dire polling figures for the Tories. Changing the law was the most important part of the plan, he argued, as he promised it would see the UK take back control of our borders, once and for all. In 2022 a record 45,755 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel. More than 3,000 have already made the journey so far this year. Home Office figures show 197 made the crossing on Monday the first arrivals since February 24 taking the total to date to 3,150. Sunak up for the fight against legal challenges to his small boats plan Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is up for the fight against any legal challenges to his plans to tackle small boat crossings, as ministers admitted they may fall foul of human rights laws. Mr Sunak said on Tuesday there was absolutely nothing improper about his new legislation and said he is confident the Government would win any court action. But Home Secretary Suella Braverman conceded it is likely the Illegal Migration Bill may be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Mr Sunak did not rule out withdrawing the UK from the convention if legal challenges stall his latest plan to stop the boats, as with the Rwanda policy. The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference they were prepared to challenge any legal action. Of course were up for the fight, I wouldnt be standing here if we werent, he said, standing in front of a stop the boats branded podium. But were confident that well win. On the front page of the Bill, Ms Braverman acknowledges she cannot assure Parliament that the legislation is compatible with the convention but adds that the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill. (PA Graphics) Mr Sunak said there is absolutely nothing improper or unprecedented about the warning. We believe we are acting in compliance with international law, in compliance with the ECHR, and if challenged, as you may well be right, weve seen in these matters we do get challenged, we will fight that hard because we believe were doing the right thing and it is compliant with our obligations, he added. Ministers were facing pressure from the Conservative right to pull the UK out of the ECHR if legal challenges block the plans. Mr Sunak said we dont believe it is necessary to leave the ECHR but did not rule out the move when asked at his press conference. In a letter to MPs and peers seen by the PA news agency, Ms Braverman conceded it was more than likely the Bill does not meet ECHR obligations. This does not mean that the provisions in the Bill are incompatible with the convention rights, only that there is a more (than) 50% chance that they may not be, she wrote. Enough is enough. We must stop the boats.@SuellaBraverman, The Home Secretary. pic.twitter.com/Ni4nhuh44b Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 7, 2023 Both Houses will have an opportunity to thoroughly scrutinise the Bill and, once approved, the measures in the Bill will have been expressly endorsed by Parliament and we would expect the courts to take that into account. The right to a family life, freedom from torture and the right to a fair trial were all issues being considered as potential challenges to the legislation. So too was the right to liberty, with concerns over the powers for indefinite detention. The UN Refugee Agency said it was profoundly concerned by the Bill which it said would amount to an asylum ban and clearly breach the refugee convention. We urge the Government, and all MPs and peers, to reconsider the Bill and instead pursue more humane and practical policy solutions, the UNHCR said. The Law Society of England and Wales, which represents solicitors, said it would carefully analyse whether the plans impinge on access to justice as it issued a warning. President Lubna Shuja said: The rule of law is undermined if the UK Government takes the view that laws, international or domestic, can be broken. (PA Graphics) If a government breaks laws, it breaks trust with its own citizens and with international partners. We will be carefully combing the detail of this Bill to determine whether it will lead to the Home Office delivering a fair and workable process, and seeking clarity from the Government on whether it is compatible with the UKs international obligations. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: Its an admission by the Government that its in effect behaving like those countries that show disregard to international human rights conventions, the likes of Myanmar, Russia, Belarus. Ms Braverman alluded to the Bills legal complexities while announcing the plans in the House of Commons. Some of the nations finest legal minds have been, and continue to be involved in, its development, she said. Attorney General Victoria Prentis outlined some of the legal measures relating to the Bill to ministers during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. Ms Braverman has previously called for the UK to leave the ECHR. Rishi Sunak has pushed the boundaries of international law with legislation to tackle small boat crossings of the Channel, the Home Secretary has said. Suella Braverman and the Prime Minister will on Tuesday unveil their plans to remove and ban asylum seekers from re-entry if they arrive in the UK through unauthorised means. Mr Sunak argued that his new Bill, which is key to one of his five priorities for his premiership, will take back control of our borders, once and for all. But critics have warned the proposals are unworkable and will leave thousands of migrants in limbo by banning them from ever claiming British citizenship again. (PA Graphics) Despite plans such as forcibly removing asylum seekers to Rwanda being mired in legal challenges, ministers were expected to approach the limits of the European Convention on Human Rights with the new legislation. Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Braverman said: We must stop the boats and thats what our bill will do. No more sticking plasters or shying away from the difficult decisions. Myself and the Prime Minister have been working tirelessly to ensure we have a bill that works weve pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis. If you come here illegally it must be that you cannot stay. A duty will be placed on the Home Secretary to remove as soon as reasonably practicable anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a safe third country. And arrivals will be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK, with plans also to ban them from returning once removed. Mr Sunak spoke to Rwandas president Paul Kagame before unveiling his plans, and pledged to continue working with him to ensure their stalled project works. (PA Graphics) The Government has paid more than 140 million to Rwanda but no flights forcibly carrying migrants to the capital of Kigali have taken off because of legal challenges. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully. The Prime Minister will meet Frances President Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss further cooperation that will be required to reduce boat crossings. Mr Sunak admitted voters have heard promises before without seeing results, but insisted his legislation will mean that those who come here on small boats cant claim asylum here. He wrote in the Sun: This new law will send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed. The PM said it was a plan to do whats fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all. The Immigration Services Union representing border staff said the plans are quite confusing and do not seem possible without the Rwanda policy functioning. Lucy Moreton, the unions professional officer, also suggested on BBC Radio 4s Today programme that smuggling gangs will tell people quick, cross now before anything changes, risking an increase in the number of crossings. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer raised doubts about the legality and feasibility of the plans after the last plan failed to get us very far. Now weve got the next bit of legislation with almost the same billing, I dont think that putting forward unworkable proposals is going to get us very far, he told LBC radio. Asked if the plan was legally feasible, the Labour leader said: I dont know that it is and I think weve got to be very careful with international law here. The Prime Minister has made stopping the boats one of his five priorities and has been under pressure to tackle the issue amid dire polling figures for the Tories. Almost 3,000 migrants have made unauthorised crossings of the English Channel already this year. Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon said the plans shatter the UKs long-standing commitment under the UN Convention to give people a fair hearing regardless of the path they have taken to reach our shores. The Governments flawed legislation will not stop the boats but result in tens of thousands locked up in detention at huge cost, permanently in limbo and being treated as criminals simply for seeking refuge, he added. Its unworkable, costly and wont stop the boats. Rishi Sunak said migrants arriving in the UK illegally will be removed within weeks as the Government unveiled plans for fresh laws to curb Channel crossings. The Prime Minister also confirmed the Illegal Migration Bill to stop people claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means will apply retrospectively if passed. Unveiling the plans in the Commons earlier, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said asylum seekers arriving illegally will be detained and face a lifetime ban on returning after they are removed. They will never be allowed to settle in the country or gain citizenship. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Sunak said: People must know that if they come here illegally, it will result in their detention and swift removal. Once this happens, and they know it will happen, they will not come and the boats will stop. Mr Sunak, who visited Dover in Kent earlier in the day to mark the announcement, said the laws will make it clear that if you come here illegally, you cant claim asylum, adding: You cant benefit from our modern slavery protection, you cant make serious human rights claims and you cant stay. We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so or to a safe third country like Rwanda. And once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our country. (PA Graphics) Describing the move as tough but necessary and fair, he said: And this legislation will be retrospective. If you come on a small boat today, the measures in this Bill will apply to you. But he conceded the UK will be constrained in its ability to take in genuine refugees in the future if it fails in its efforts to stop the boats. Full control of our borders will allow us to decide who to help and to provide safe and legal routes to those most in need, he said. I understand there will be debate about the toughness of these measures. All I can say is weve tried it every other way and it has not worked. Asked if he will have failed if he has not stopped the boats by the next general election, Mr Sunak said: I wouldnt be standing here if I didnt think that I could deliver on this promise. Ms Braverman told MPs it would betray British voters not to tackle the waves of illegal migrants breaching our border. But Labours shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, branded the Bill a con and described the plans as Groundhog Day less than a year after reforms were brought into force under the Nationality and Borders Act. The comments came in the wake of criticism from campaigners who said the proposed policy would be unworkable. The UNs refugee agency, the UNHCR, said it is profoundly concerned by the Bill and that, if passed, it will amount to an asylum ban, making it a clear breach of the Refugee Convention. Ms Braverman said the need for reform is obvious and urgent the asylum system now costs the British taxpayer more than 3 billion a year and there are a record number of cases awaiting a decision. In an email to Tory members, the Home Secretary blamed an activist blob of left-wing lawyers, civil servants and the Labour Party for blocking previous attempts to halt small boat crossings. The Bill allows migrants to be detained without bail or judicial review for 28 days, with the intention that they will be removed within that time. It places a duty on the Home Secretary to remove illegal entrants and will radically narrow the number of challenges and appeals that can suspend removal. Only children and those unfit to fly or at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm in the country they are due to be sent to will be able to delay their removal. Any other claims will be heard remotely once they have been deported. (PA Graphics) The Bill will also introduce an annual cap, to be decided by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will offer sanctuary to through safe and legal routes. Officials indicated hopes of the Bill being passed by the end of the year, which could see it in force ahead of any anticipated 2024 election. In a letter seen by the PA news agency, Ms Braverman told MPs the Government is testing the limits and remains confident that this Bill is compatible with international law but there is a more (than) 50% chance it may not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Mr Sunak said were up for the fight against any legal challenges to the plans, adding: But were confident that well win. He said there is absolutely nothing improper or unprecedented about pursuing Bills with a warning they may not be compatible with the ECHR. Mr Sunak has staked his premiership on curbing Channel crossings, among four other priorities, in the face of pressure to tackle the issue amid dire polling figures for the Tories and has insisted changing the law is crucial. In 2022, a record 45,755 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel. More than 3,000 have made the journey so far this year. Home Office figures show 197 made the crossing on Monday the first arrivals since February 24 taking the total to date to 3,150. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has called on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to review the eligibility of Top Gun: Maverick for this years Oscars, due to the films alleged ties with a Russian oligarch. In an open letter published online on Tuesday, the UWC urged the organisation to be vigilant against any attempts to influence Hollywood and American society. It comes less than a week before the 95th Academy Awards, which are due to take place on March 12. Among this years nominees is Tom Cruises blockbuster sequel, which has earned six Oscar nods, including one for best picture. A recent report by the Los Angeles Times detailed the films alleged funding ties to Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian oligarch who has been sanctioned by Ukraine. According to the UWC, Mr Rybolovlevs involvement with the film was not publicly disclosed. There is good reason to believe that his involvement may have led to censorship on behalf of the Kremlin, the organisation said, noting that unlike the first Top Gun film, no direct or indirect reference to Russia is made. In a letter addressed to Academy president Janet Yang and members of the board of governors, the UWC called for appropriate action against films with Russian involvement. Tom Cruises blockbuster sequel is up for six Academy Awards (Ian West/PA) Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine around the world are grateful to the Academy for its long-standing support of Ukraine, the letter said. We were moved by the moment of silence showing solidarity with Ukraine at last years Academy Awards and by the various tributes made by Academy members. As they enter the second year of defending the families against Russias full-scale invasion, Ukrainians are grateful to receive this important support from such a high-profile and influential institution. The letter went on to detail the UWCs serious concerns over Russian influence in Hollywood. Rybolovlevs funding of Top Gun: Maverick was not publicly disclosed and there is good reason to believe that his involvement may have led to censorship on behalf of the Kremlin, the letter said. UWC published an open letter to @TheAcademy raising concern over 6 Oscar nominations for #TopGunMaverick, a funded by @AS_Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, a oligarch sanctioned by UA.Contrary to the original film, Top Gun: Maverick makes no direct or indirect reference to RU pic.twitter.com/VCJ9JseeeG Ukrainian World Congress (@UWCongress) March 7, 2023 Contrary to the original film, Top Gun: Maverick makes no direct or indirect reference to Russia. This is hardly a coincidence. Hollywood must be vigilant and transparent of Russian money being used to further pro-Kremlin censorship. The UWC called for the Academy to explicitly reject films with any direct or indirect investments by Russian oligarchs or other enablers of Russias genocidal war on Ukraine. It also said the eligibility of Top Gun: Maverick should be reviewed and a strong statement should be issued by the Academy at the ceremony condemning the war. Together we can make a difference to stop Russias war crimes against the Ukrainian people, said the letter, signed by UWC president Paul Grod. The Academy has been contacted for comment. The 95th Academy Awards are due to take place on March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The United Nations refugee agency has urged MPs and peers to block Rishi Sunaks profoundly concerning plan to tackle small boat crossings. The UNHCR said the Illegal Migration Bill amounted to an asylum ban which would prevent people fleeing war and persecution from seeking refuge in the UK. We urge the Government, and all MPs and peers, to reconsider the Bill and instead pursue more humane and practical policy solutions, the agency said. The legislation would be a clear breach of the Refugee Convention and would undermine a longstanding, humanitarian tradition of which the British people are rightly proud, the UN agency said. The Governments approach, outlined by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in Parliament on Tuesday, has been widely condemned by charities and human rights organisations. The equalities watchdog questioned the approach being adopted, saying it risks undermining the core principle of the universality of human rights. The Equality and Human Rights Commission added: We welcome the Governments intention to remain within the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). We are nonetheless concerned that the legislation risks breaching the UKs legal obligations under the Refugee Convention and ECHR. The plan is simply not the British way of doing things, the Refugee Council said. Its chief executive Enver Solomon suggested the plans were more akin to authoritarian nations such as Russia and insisted the proposals would not stop desperate people crossing in small boats but would instead leave traumatised people locked up in a state of misery being treated as criminals and suspected terrorists without a fair hearing on our soil. He said the new legislation ignores the fundamental point that most of the people in small boats are men, women and children escaping terror and bloodshed from countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. He added: It is an approach more akin to authoritarian nations that walk away from international human rights treaties, such as Russia and Belarus, and is no way to treat those who have lost everything through no fault of their own. We need an approach that replaces the chaos and cost of what we have now and focuses on compassion and competence, creating safe and orderly routes for refugees to reach the UK, such as refugee visas, and always give people a fair hearing so their rights are respected. Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans for new laws to curb Channel crossings on Tuesday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Amnesty International UK decried the plan which it described as an attempt to disqualify peoples asylum claims en masse regardless of the strength of their case as containing nothing fair, humane or even practical and described it as a shocking new low. Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UKs refugee and migrant rights director, said: Its frankly chilling to see ministers trying to remove human rights protections for groups of people whom theyve chosen to scapegoat for their own failures. People fleeing persecution and conflict will be irreparably harmed by these proposals, while the UK is setting an utterly terrible example to other countries around the world. Comparing it to the Governments efforts to send migrants to Rwanda, it branded the plan a cynical attempt to dodge basic moral and legal responsibilities and accused the Government of callously using vulnerable people for its own political ends. Controversial new measures aimed at stopping illegal migration could also undermine attempts to curb human trafficking, in an unintended consequence, CARE has said.https://t.co/2ycNEgUaIs Christian Action Research and Education (@careorguk) March 7, 2023 Amnesty echoed the Refugee Council in a call for accessible schemes so people seeking asylum do not have to rely on people smugglers and dangerous journeys. Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) warned that it had serious concerns the proposals will do nothing to help victims of human trafficking being brought to our shores, or those already here who are currently being exploited. The organisations trafficking policy expert Rebecca Stevenson said: In fact, the approach signalled by the Government could undermine efforts to identify victims and ensure that justice is served. This legislation could create a closed loop that fuels human trafficking. People being exploited already face huge barriers to coming forward. They will find it even more difficult to do so when seeking help could see them immediately deported. Many will conclude its better not to speak out at all. It seems the government now agrees with us. pic.twitter.com/CnXZj47eEf Migration Watch (@MigrationWatch) March 7, 2023 But the think tank Migration Watch UK, which has long argued the UKs level of immigration is neither sustainable nor well managed, welcomed the Bill and urged MPs and peers not to neuter the legislation as it came before Parliament. Alp Mehmet, chairman of the campaign group, said: As it stands, the small boats Bill has many of the right ingredients to solve the Channel crisis. However, it is vital that it is not neutered as it makes its way through Parliament. Enshrining in statute a requirement to detain and remove illegal arrivals is a vital first step. Furthermore, establishing the precedent that illegal entrants will be unable to claim asylum or other forms of refuge will serve as a powerful deterrent. It is equally important, of course, to plug the huge gaps created by the Human Rights and Modern Slavery Acts. These are all essential elements if the tide of illegal boat arrivals is to be stemmed. Hollywood actresses Zendaya, Sophie Turner, Kerry Condon and Alicia Vikander joined music star Pharrell Williams on the front row of the latest Louis Vuitton fashion show at Paris Fashion Week. Euphoria star Zendaya, 26, wore an abstract print short suit with matching knee-high boots, and carried a mini bag with the trademark LV print. Zendaya (Christophe Ena/AP) Turner, 27, who is married to pop star Joe Jonas and has previously modelled for the French fashion label, wore a co-ordinating outfit printed with musical score and carried a cream handbag. Sophie Turner (Christophe Ena/AP) Irish actress Condon, 40, who is nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Banshees Of Inisherin, kept things chic and simple in patterned trousers, a red sweater and a navy overcoat. Kerry Condon (Scott Garfitt/AP) Swedish-born Vikander, 34, has previously starred in Louis Vuitton campaigns. She wore a printed blouse and white A-line mini skirt with brown knee-high boots and peach bag with the LV logo. Alicia Vikander (Vianney Le Caer/AP) Chloe Grace Moretz, 26, chose a monochrome look for the Paris Fashion Week event. She teamed a black and white leather blazer with black knee-length shorts and boots. Chloe Grace Moretz (Vianney Le Caer/AP) Rapper and producer Williams, 49, who was recently announced as the new creative director for Louis Vuittons menswear line, opted for a more colourful outfit. He teamed a green velvet jacket, embroidered with little gold LV logos, with jeans, lime green trainers, a flat cap and jewelled sunglasses. Pharrell Williams (Christophe Ena/AP) Emma Stone, who has fronted fashion and beauty campaigns for Vuitton, also chose a brightly coloured outfit. The La La Land actress wore a blue and red pinstripe trouser suit. Emma Stone (Scott Garfitt/AP) The brands autumn/winter collection was unveiled at the Musee dOrsay in Paris. The set was designed by French artist Philippe Parreno to create an immersive sensory experience. Models walked the runway to the sound of a thunderstorm, echoing footsteps and the roar of engine jets. Creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere played with shapes and proportions for his autumn/winter offering. He unveiled a range of new handbags in padded leather with gold detailing. The clothing focused mainly on outerwear and tailoring with oversized, round-shouldered coats, boxy blazers and pantaloon-style shorts. A handful of models wore futuristic-looking lit-up face masks with eye slits. FILE - GloRilla performs at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. A crowd pushed toward the exits of a concert in Rochester, N.Y., amid apparent fears that shots had been fired, killing one person and injuring eight others, police said. Police found no evidence to support a shooting having occurred" inside the concert late Sunday, March 5, featuring rappers GloRilla and Finesse2tymes at the Main Street Armory, Rochester police Lt. Nicholas Adams said in a statement to ABC News. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) The death toll rose to two on Monday following a stampede at a rap concert in Rochester, New York, that authorities said may have been triggered by unfounded fears of gunfire. The Memphis rap stars GloRilla and Finesse2tymes had finished performing Sunday night at Rochester's Main Street Armory when people exiting just after 11 p.m. began to surge dangerously, Police Chief David M. Smith said at a news briefing Monday. We do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired or of anyone being shot or stabbed at the scene, Smith said. Concertgoer Ikea Hayes returned to the venue Monday to retrieve belongings she left behind. I was watching my life flash before my eyes, and I still didn't even know what was going on, she told Rochester television station WHEC. She described being on the ground, just scared, praying, like, you got to get up, you got to move. Police found three badly injured women in the auditorium. One, identified as Rhondesia Belton, 33, of Buffalo, died at a hospital. Police announced the death of a 35-year-old woman late Monday. Her name was not released. Another woman remained in critical condition, police said. Seven additional people were treated at area hospitals for injuries that were not life-threatening. What began last night as a night of live music and fun for the performer GloRilla ended in tragedy with one person dead and two more fighting for their lives, the chief said. While there is no evidence of gunfire, Smith said, police are investigating several possible causes of the fatal surge, including possibly crowd size, shots fired, pepper spray and other contributing factors. Mayor Malik Evans called the fatal stampede totally unacceptable" and promised a through investigation into whether venue operators had the necessary safety measures in place for a large crowd. We are going to hold people accountable for what happened last night, period, Evans said, though he cautioned that it was too early in the investigation to assign blame. I intend to get to the bottom of this. There was no immediate response to emails requesting comment sent Monday to the Main Street Armory. GloRilla, whose 2022 song F.N.F. (Lets Go) with Hitkidd was nominated for a Grammy for best rap performance, tweeted that she was praying everybody is ok. Fatal crowd surges have been a recurring disaster at concerts and other large events in the U.S. and around the world, including one at a 2021 concert by rapper Travis Scott in which 10 people died. Built from 1905 to 1907 and initially used by the U.S. Army, the armory hosted sporting events throughout the 20th century before being shut down for several years starting in the late 1990s, partly because it lacked a fire suppression system at the time. It reopened after extensive renovations and began hosting concerts and other events in 2005. Smith said its main arena is meant to have a capacity of about 5,000 people, and the city fire marshal will work with police to determine whether that capacity was exceeded Sunday. City officials said the facility underwent a physical fire safety inspection in December and was compliant with fire codes. The venue's next scheduled show, a Saturday performance by the rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, has been canceled. If you go to a concert, you do not expect to be trampled," Evans said. Your loved ones expect you to be able to come home and talk about the experience that you had at that great concert. Ben Savage, former star of Boy Meets World, is running for Congress. Savage, 42, confirmed on Instagram that he is running to represent District 30 in the Los Angeles area, which is currently held by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff is running for the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, who last month announced plans to retire. I am a proud Californian, union member and longtime resident of District 30 who comes from a family of unwavering service to our country and community, Savage wrote in an Instagram post announcing his candidacy on March 6. I firmly believe in standing up for what is right, ensuring equality and expanding opportunities for all, his post also read. Im running for Congress because its time to restore faith in government by offering reasonable, innovative and compassionate solutions to our countrys most pressing issues. District 30 includes areas such as Hollywood, Burbank and Glendale. Ben Savage and Betsy Randle in Savages Instagram announcement came after he filed paperwork for his campaign with the Federal Election Commission in January. On his campaign website, the actor referenced his past as a child actor, though without referring to Boy Meets World, in which he starred from 1993 to 2000. He also reprised his role as Cory Matthews in the Girl Meets World reboot from 2014 to 2017. Savage noted on his campaign website that thanks to his acting past, he learned the value of a hard days work by age 5 and the importance of union membership. Fans couldnt resist references to Savages Boy Meets World legacy in comments about his campaign announcement on Instagram, with one person chiming in, Boy meets congress! Mr. Feeny would be soo proud, another fan wrote. Ben savage. Honest. Loyal. Decent, another person commented, referring to Corys campaign slogan when he runs for eighth grade president in Boy Meets World. According to his campaign website, Savage graduated from Stanford University with a degree in political science and currently lives in West Hollywood. Outlining his priorities on his campaign website, Savage said he was focused on issues including reforms and improvements to police-citizen interactions, homelessness, affordable housing, protecting unions and affordable health care, among other areas. Savage was unsuccessful in a bid for a West Hollywood City Council seat last year. This article was originally published on TODAY.com FILE - In this image from video released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, Alec Baldwin stands in costume and speaks with investigators following a fatal shooting on a movie set in Santa Fe, N.M. In a motion filed Tuesday, Feb. 07, 2023, in Santa Fe-based district court, defense attorneys for Baldwin are seeking to disqualify the special prosecutor in the case against him stemming from the shooting of a cinematographer on the film set. (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A district attorney in Santa Fe fought back Monday against efforts to disqualify the special prosecutor pursuing manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set. Baldwin's legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state Rep. Andrea Reeb of Clovis based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government. Defense attorneys argued that Reeb's role as a state lawmaker and prosecutor are incompatible and could distort legislative and judicial actions, including state spending on the prosecution of Baldwin over the 2021 shooting on the set of the Western movie Rust. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies on Monday called the objection a novel theory that has no support in new Mexico statutes or case law. She said the state constitution provides a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases. Any attempt by Ms. Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective, Carmack-Altwies said in a court filing. Since joining the legislature in January, Reeb has steered clear of voting on public spending to prosecute Baldwin and film-set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She was excused from a House floor vote in February on a proposed state budget that includes $360,000 for special prosecution expenses in the fatal film-set shooting. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 18-months in prison and fines. Hutchins died shortly after being wounded Oct. 21, 2021, during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza. A likely preliminary hearing is still months away to decide whether evidence is sufficient to proceed to trial. Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon. A judge is scheduled to consider approval of the plea agreement later this month. Prosecution in the death of Hutchins is currently underwritten by an emergency state grant, approved in September 2022 by the State Board of Finance that is led by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Reeb is listed as a sponsor or cosponsor on several criminal justice initiatives, including enhanced punishments for firearms violations, as legislators explore ways to rein in surging violent crime. She previously served as district attorney for a judicial district on the eastern plains of New Mexico. Dilbert creator and cartoonist Scott Adams, pictured in 2001, says he won't apologize for racially incendiary comments. (Photo: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) In his first network TV interview since being kicked off the pages of hundreds of newspapers for comments widely perceived as racist, the creator and writer of the Dilbert comic strip declined to apologize. "No, because I did it intentionally," Scott Adams told Chris Cuomo on Monday night's edition of NewsNation's Cuomo, after Cuomo asked whether he felt he owed people who were offended an apology. "I offended people so that they'd be drawn to the solution." Adams repeated again and again that he'd meant to rile people up when he said on the Feb. 22 edition of the YouTube show Real Coffee With Scott Adams, while discussing a Rasmussen poll, that white people should "get the hell away from Black people" and called Black people a "hate group." Within days, Adams's cartoon, which riffed on office culture before The Office or even the movie Office Space, was pulled. Dilbert had, at its peak, run in an estimated 2,000 newspapers worldwide, and the comic was spun off into books and other merch, a video game and even a TV series followed. Adams told the Washington Post in a story published Monday that he'd lost 80 percent of his income as a result. He insisted then that he's against racism. The latter is the same message that he brought to Cuomo's show. Adams said only white people, specifically white liberals, are mad at him, and that Black people have been inviting him over for barbecues. They told him, he claimed, that they understood what he was doing. During the time when viewers could call in, a woman who identified herself as a Black teacher and a longtime fan of Adams's comic strip called in to say that she had been hurt by his comments. She asked how she should explain this kind of rhetoric to her students. "So here's the quick summary: I was concerned that there was a lot of anti-whiteness. I used some hyperbole, but my purpose was to teach them and anybody else who wants to listen the tools for success," advised Adams, whose books include Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter and Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America. He wanted her to urge her students to stop looking backwards and look forward. "Tell your students that they have a perfect path to success as long as they get good grades," he said. "I'm assuming you're a good teacher and you have a good enough school that they can get a good education, and if they employ a strategy, and don't look backwards as a strategy, they'll do great. Now they'll still be way too much systemic racism, but you'll be able to just slice through it like it didn't exist." Later, the interviewee asked that, if a Black man or woman had said what he said exactly or in reverse, did people think that person would be canceled. "Everybody knows the answer is rhetorical," Adams said, laughing. "There's not a chance in the world they'd have been canceled. So I wanted as much free speech as Black America. I'm the only one who has it. I'm the only one in the whole I wanna swear, but I won't in the whole country who can say what I mean and have a productive conversation." At the end of the interview, Cuomo asked Adams if he would do it again. "Would I do it again to get to this place?" he answered. "I have to tell you I feel like I'm supposed to be here. It's a weird feeling. Like I never felt bad about being canceled, and I can't explain that, except that I feel like I was supposed to be here. I feel like the race relations in the country are so broken that you just have to stir up some crap to get anybody's attention and maybe convince them to look forward and maybe work together with people who have exactly the same goals." He's announced that his most famous character's adventures will continue in Dilbert Reborn, on his subscription website beginning March 13. Netflix Netflix's latest true crime docuseries is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, the story of the Murdaughs, a wealthy South Carolina family. Murdaugh Murders explores the multiple incidents that the family of litigators have been linked to, including a boating accident in which somebody died, and the events that preceded the deaths of matriarch Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh and her son Paul in the summer of 2021. The series also partially covers the ongoing trial of Alex Murdaugh, Maggie's husband and Paul's father, who was charged with their murders but has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty. A fourth member of the Murdaugh family, Maggie and Alex's other son Buster, is also included in the documentary. Richard Alex Murdaugh, nicknamed Buster, was previously working at his father's legal practice and attending law school at the University of South Carolinasomething of a family traditionbefore the murder of his mother and brother. However, he was eventually kicked out over an incident involving plagiarism. According to local paper The Post and Courier, Buster's family paid $60,000 in order to ensure that he would be readmitted to the college in order to complete his law degree. However, he has yet to recommence his studies. "He has put his desire to go to law school on hold for now," the Murdaugh's lawyer, Butch Bowers, said. "There is no plan for him to start school in the fall or in the spring." Where is Buster Murdaugh now? Buster currently lives with his girlfriend, lawyer Brooklynn White, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It is not clear what he does for a living. In February of this year, he testified in his father's trial as a first witness for the defensein other words, he testified on his father's behalf, and said that Alex was "heartbroken" by the deaths of Maggie and Paul. Buster has attended the entirety of his father's trial, and according to Law & Crime, Buster has been shaken and put his head in his hands throughout the trial as the attorneys go through the grisly details of the double murder. On March 2nd, Buster's father was found guilty for both murders, and on March 3rd, the judge sentenced his father to two consecutive life terms in prison. Where was Buster during the murders? On June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh claims that he arrived home to find Maggie and Paul had both been shot dead near the dog kennels on their property. He called 911, and also called Buster. "He sounded odd, and then he told me that my mom and my brother had been shot," Buster said during the trial. According to his testimony, Buster was over 200 miles away when the murders took place, at his girlfriend's house in Rock Hill, South Carolina. After hearing what had happened, he immediately made the journey to the Murdaugh home. What was Buster's reaction to the verdict? On Friday March 3, 2023, a judge sentenced Alex Murdaugh to two consecutive life terms for the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. A source who was present at the Colleton County Courthouse during the sentencing told the New York Post: "Buster held up pretty well until the cameras were off him, but then he collapsed... He was crying uncontrollably. The uncles finally got him into a car." Buster has been linked to two other deaths One of the incidents documented in Murdaugh Murders was the boating accident that resulted in the death of Mallory Beach. The Beach family have claimed that Paul Murdaugh was drunk at the time, but have since agreed to a settlement that removes Buster's name from the case, along with that of his mother. The documentary also includes mention of the hit-and-run death of Stephen Smith, a former friend and classmate of Buster's, which remains unsolved. You Might Also Like A woman describes her experience with a 20-pound ovarian cyst. (Photo: Getty Images) Kenya Smith thought her postpartum recovery was "normal" until it wasn't. "The first symptom was that it was hard to lay on my stomach," the Utah-based content creator and mom of three recalls, of the moment she knew something wasn't right with her body. "I wasn't having a lot of other symptoms. And then, after a couple of months, I was having trouble using the restroom. My stomach was always bloated it felt constantly bloated, and it never shrank back down." Smith, 27, wasn't just bloated. Months after giving birth to her third child in March 2022, she looked pregnant. But it wasn't a baby: It was a 20-pound ovarian cyst. At the time, however, Smith had no idea what was going on with her health, and she struggled to find doctors who could give her a straight answer. No real answers Smith, who chronicled her scary experience on TikTok, tells Yahoo Life that she initially went to her ob-gyn to get answers. Doctors told her she was "inflamed" following her pregnancy, and she was sent home with laxatives. Yet while the laxatives helped relieve some of the "pressure" she felt, her body had not returned to anywhere close to its shape before she gave birth. Smith looked for answers elsewhere, and found a clue as to what might be going on with her after seeing a post on social media about a woman with fibroids. The woman, Smith says, had a stomach that looked a lot like hers and so, Smith called her ob-gyn to ask if something of the kind could be causing her issues. Yet despite only having a baby a few months earlier with the doctor, Smith was told she was no longer a priority she would have to wait two and a half months for a visit. Rather than waiting, Smith took her health care into her own hands. She went to an allergist to see if food allergies could be causing the problem. She saw a naturalist for a hair test. She even took a pregnancy test to make sure she wasn't pregnant again. No test provided tangible results, and with a stomach that kept expanding, Smith knew time was of the essence. At this point, she wasn't sleeping from the intense pressure and pain, and eating was a challenge, she said, because she "didn't have room for food." After much back-and-forth with insurance and doctors' offices, Smith was able to persuade a different physician to do a stomach ultrasound. "That's not a baby," a distressed Smith remembers telling the ultrasound technician. "What do you think that is, if not a baby?" Scary possibilities When the ultrasound technician did take a look at Smith's stomach, Smith says "her face dropped." There was a huge mass in her ovary. The technician (who, Smith believes, was trying to help) told Smith that "things that grow this fast are [often] cancer." As someone with a history of cancer in her family, that potential news led Smith to call her husband, "sobbing." Kenya Smith in November 2022, before her cyst was removed. (Photo: Kenya Smith) The next step was to get a CT scan to provide further details about the mass. Following a scan which included plenty of discussion with doctors about referrals and insurance company questions Smith was connected to Dr. Jessica Hunn, a board-certified ob-gyn and gynecologic oncologist. That's when she finally received some useful answers. A solution Hunn came highly recommended, not just for her skills as a doctor, but also for her passion for advocating for women's health. Smith knew she had found the right doctor after she was able to schedule an appointment quickly, finally making her situation feel as urgent as Smith knew it was. Hunn tells Yahoo Life she was "so impressed" that Smith actively pursued her own care, especially after so many professionals had dismissed her pain. "I think there is a shortage of physicians taking care of nonpregnant women patients," Hunn explains. "Ob-gyns are quite busy with pregnant women who have acute needs, and there are a lot of pregnant women in Utah and in the U.S. Gynecologists who only take care of women's nonpregnant needs are much harder to get in to see. Some women have to wait six months to see a gynecologist for a biopsy or an ultrasound, for a basic work-up." She continues: "Getting in for surgery with a skilled and trained gynecologist can be equally as difficult. I don't think that is acceptable, and women need to have better access to care. This is a problem in Utah, but I see it across the country as well." Smith's CT scan, revealing an ovarian cyst. (Photo: Kenya Smith) Hunn recommended surgery. So she first drained the cyst almost 10 liters of liquid and then removed it, along with Smith's ovary and Fallopian tube. No cancer was found in the mass "not even pre-cancer, which was a miracle," says Smith, who was left with just a few "small scars." Hunn told Smith that her fertility would probably not be affected by the surgery, because her other working ovary was healthy. "Going from a pregnancy into that, I didn't even know my body. A lot of people are like, 'How did you let it go that long?' But being postpartum, your body is so hard to predict anyway. I just didn't know what was going on," Smith explains. "I shared it on TikTok because I wanted to spread awareness. I saw the fibroid thing, with a girl sharing her experience, and I'm so glad she shared that, because I needed an ultrasound I wanted to repay that experience." How common is Smith's story? Dr. Jennifer Wider, an expert on women's health, explains that ovarian cysts are "fluid-filled sacs, found inside the ovary or on its surface." "Each egg that forms inside the ovary is contained inside a follicle," she tells Yahoo Life. "The follicle is filled with fluid, as a way to protect the egg as it grows. During ovulation, the follicle releases the egg, the fluid gets discharged, and the follicle shrinks. If the follicle does not release an egg or dispel the fluid, it can become swollen, forming a cyst. This is known as a functional cyst and is related to the menstrual cycle. Another type of cyst that is not related to menstruation is called a pathologic cyst and is formed by abnormal cell growth most pathologic cysts are benign, but in rare cases, they can be cancerous." Exactly why Smith's cyst grew so large is not known. Wider says that there are "no real predictor factors" to explain why a cyst may become massive. One possibility is PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), as it can lead to multiple ovarian cysts, with some increasing in size. Another potential risk factor is endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside your uterus. In general, Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a Yale Medicine ob-gyn and the founder of a women's health website, Madame Ovary, says that ovarian cysts are "very common." Small cysts often resolve on their own and do not need removal. Larger ones, like Smiths cyst, are much more rare. "Most of the time women will feel some discomfort; a sense of fullness in the abdomen, or some pain, which would prompt a visit to her health care provider," Minkin explains. "Some women really don't feel a lot of pressure or discomfort. The best way to evaluate for an ovarian cyst is usually an ultrasound of the pelvis." Dr. Staci Tanouye, a board-certified ob-gyn, agrees, saying that most ovarian cysts don't cause symptoms. Cysts that grow abnormally large, as Smith's did, can cause "pressure or pain" and can lead to other complications, because they can bleed or rupture, exacerbating the pain. "These cysts can also increase the risk of the ovary twisting on itself and cutting off its blood supply, called an ovarian torsion," she explains. "Ovarian torsion can cause severe pain and require emergency surgery." If you feel this kind of pain and suspect a cyst, Tanouye says, "It's always a good idea to talk with your doctor. If someone ever has acute or severe pain, a visit to the ER may be necessary." Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. BEIJING (AP) In his first news conference since taking office, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang lashed out Tuesday at the United States over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washingtons support for Taiwan. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit. Washington's China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track, Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, in his only formal scheduled news conference for the year, although he is also prone to taking questions during foreign visits. Washington means to contain and suppress China in all respects and get the two countries locked in a zero-sum game, he said. It's so-called establishing guardrails and not seeking conflict simply means that China should not respond in words or action when slandered or attacked," Qin said. "That is just impossible. If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation.Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation, he said. Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity. Qin's harsh and borderline apocalyptic language appeared to defy predictions that China was abandoning its aggressive wolf warrior diplomacy in favor of a more moderate presentation as bilateral relations have hit a historical low over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China last week responded with indignation to U.S. suggestions that COVID-19, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, originated from a leak of the virus from a Chinese lab. The Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of politicizing the issue" in an attempt to discredit China. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang looks on during a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) After serving briefly as ambassador to Washington, Qin was appointed foreign minister at the end of December, in which role he is junior to the Communist Partys senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi. Earlier in his career, he served as Foreign Ministry spokesperson, gaining a reputation for his tartly worded condemnations of China's critics. On Tuesday, Qin repeated criticisms of Washingtons recent shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. east coast, saying that was entirely an unexpected accident caused by force majuere. However, in violation of the spirit of international law, international customary practices, the United States acted with the presumption of guilt, Qin said. It overreacted, abused force and dramatized the accident, creating a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided." In this case the United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge," Qin said. This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong and the result is that the U.S.-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned visit to Beijing in the wake of the balloon incident, frustrating hopes for improved ties after meetings between top leaders at multilateral gatherings in late 2022. The massive balloon and its payload, including electronics and optics, have been recovered from the ocean floor and are being analyzed by the FBI. Turning to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy China claims as its own territory, Qin called the issue the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question, he said, accusing the U.S. of disrespecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, by offering the island political backing and furnishing it with defensive weapons in response to Beijing's threat to use force to bring it under Chinese control. Why does the U.S. ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan. Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-U.S. relations.Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang "Why does the U.S. ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan?" Qin said. Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-U.S. relations. China has stepped up its diplomatic isolation and military harassment of Taiwan, prompting a string of visits from U.S. and European politicians to show their support, along with new arms sales and a push by Taiwanese authorities to boost domestic defense capabilities. Beijing has also accused the West of fanning the flames by providing Ukraine with weaponry to fend off the Russian invasion. China says it has a neutral stance in the war that began one year ago, but has also said it has a no-limits friendship with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscows invasion of Ukraine, or even refer to it as an invasion. A Chinese peace proposal for Ukraine that has drawn praise from Russia but dismissals from the West has done nothing to lessen tensions as U.S. officials have repeatedly accused China of considering the provision of weapons to Russia for use in the war. Efforts for peace talks have been repeatedly undermined. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve a certain geopolitical agenda, Qin said. Conflicts, sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. What is needed is calmness, reason and dialogue, he said. Conflicts, sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. What is needed is calmness, reason and dialogue.Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang The minister also attacked U.S. actions in the Indo-Pacific, where Washington and its allies have been alarmed over China's moves to woo a number island nations. That includes signing a pact with the Solomon Islands that would allow port visits by Chinese warships for logistical replenishment and for China to send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomons to assist in maintaining social order. The U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, while purportedly aimed at upholding freedom and openness, maintaining security and promoting prosperity in the region is, in fact, an attempt to gang up to form exclusive blocs to provoke confrontation by plotting an Asian-Pacific version of NATO, Qin said. Qin's news conference came two days after the opening of the yearly meeting of the National People's Congress, a mostly ceremonial body assembled to approve government reports and, this year, a new slate of top-level appointments. That is expected to include a norm-breaking third five-year term as president for Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, who has eliminated all term limits to allow him to rule indefinitely. At Sunday's opening session, outgoing Premier Li Keqiang announced plans for a consumer-led revival of the struggling economy, setting this years growth target at around 5%. Separately, the Ministry of Finance announced a 7.2% budget increase for the ruling partys military wing, the Peoples Liberation Army, to 1.55 trillion yuan ($224 billion), marking a slight increase over 2022. Chinas military spending is the worlds second highest after the United States. A spokesperson for the congress said such spending was needed to meet complex security challenges. Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez, Eunisses Hernandez and Nithya Raman outside City Hall on Tuesday announcing a measure aimed at designating Los Angeles a "sanctuary city." (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Soon after President Trump took office, Los Angeles immigration groups demanded that City Hall label L.A. a haven for immigrants in the face of his promised crackdown. The Los Angeles City Council ultimately passed a resolution that declared L.A. a "city of sanctuary" a symbolic gesture that offered no legal protections. Now, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Nithya Raman want to strengthen L.A.'s laws around immigration. They announced Tuesday they would seek passage of an ordinance declaring L.A. a "sanctuary city" and barring city personnel or resources from being used in federal immigration enforcement. If adopted, the law would be largely similar to one in San Francisco. It prohibits city employees from using city funds or resources to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the enforcement of federal immigration laws unless such assistance is required by federal or state law. Raman said her office worked with immigration advocates and others on the proposed law. Some of the leaders of those groups told The Times they are looking to next year's presidential election. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a presumed Republican candidate, has made cracking down on people in the country without authorization a focus. "We want to make sure that L.A. is ready for a worst-case scenario," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, deputy director of programs and campaigns at the California Immigrant Policy Center. The law sought by the three council members would codify existing policies, including a 2017 executive directive issued by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti that prohibits all city employees from using public facilities or resources to assist or cooperate with federal civil immigration enforcement. The proposed law would also bar federal immigration authorities or other entities connected to immigration enforcement from accessing city databases or anyone's personal data. The proposal follows moves by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, which in 2020 voted to ban the transfer of inmates to ICE custody unless the authorities have a judicial warrant. The council members' motion asks the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance within 60 days that would prohibit, to the extent permissible by law, the use of city resources, property or personnel for any federal immigration enforcement. Nearly 10% of the nations 11.1 million immigrants who are in the country without legal authorization reside in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center report. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Hernandez said it's time that L.A. lives "up to its promise to our immigrant communities." "Symbolic gestures are not enough," Hernandez said. "Internal policies that can be changed from one day to the next are not enough." Hernandez's office said in a news release that the "city and internal LAPD policies still allow for ICE officers to access city jails to interrogate people in LAPD custody, and, under certain circumstances, LAPD officers are permitted to transfer individuals to ICE custody, even when judicial warrants are not issued." The proposed ordinance seeks to limit those interactions. The Los Angeles Police Department declined to answer questions about its policies. The Times also sent multiple questions to ICE about its practices. In response, the agency said its operations are "focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws." Following Trump's election and promise to deport migrants, mayors in Boston, Chicago and elsewhere reaffirmed their cities as sanctuaries, and the California Legislature passed a law that aims to protect immigrants. L.A.'s efforts around establishing itself as a sanctuary have come in fits and starts. The city in 2017 set aside $2 million for a legal defense fund to pay for attorneys for individuals and families who are detained or at risk for deportation. City leaders also introduced a resolution that year to declare L.A. a city of sanctuary, calling it a direct response to Trumps efforts to unwind a program that protects immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. However, it took the city two years to vote on the resolution, and by then, immigrant advocates said, its declaration had lost significance. President Biden has reversed some immigration policies but also faced criticism for proposals that immigration groups say would mirror Trump's tough crackdown. At the same time, ICE's surveillance capabilities have expanded. The agency has worked with third-party vendors to collect data from utility companies and private databases, according to findings from a two-year investigation published last year by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology. For example, the report found that ICE has drivers license data for 3 in 4 adults living in the U.S. and can track the movement of vehicles in cities that are home to nearly 75% of adults. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said declarations of sanctuary city labels are empty rhetoric unless cities and counties also ensure that ICE cant access troves of data collected by those municipalities. The group has filed a lawsuit against a third-party vendor in a federal case in California. We encourage cities to analyze city data and how its being stored and whether its susceptible to warrants, Cahn said. In Los Angeles, mobility data are collected by the city, for example, Cahn said. Los Angeles Department of Transportation spokesperson Colin Sweeney said the city receives route or drop-off and pickup information from companies that offer scooters, bicycles and some taxis in L.A. to ensure operators are following city rules. The city doesnt gather information about riders, Sweeney said. The department is prohibited from sharing its mobility data with law enforcement unless required by a subpoena or warrant, Sweeney said. No federal agency has ever accessed or sought access to this data, he added. Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, predicted that the proposal, if passed, would strain L.A.s education and healthcare system. People tend to flock to areas where they know that there isnt cooperation with federal immigration authorities, said Mehlman, calling the proposal "costly" for taxpayers. The phrase "sanctuary city" dates to the 1980s, when U.S. immigration policies allowed some Central American immigrants entry but not others. In response, Berkeley and a few other municipalities declared themselves sanctuary cities to accept those migrants. A divided L.A. City Council adopted a resolution in 1985 declaring Los Angeles a city of sanctuary for immigrants fleeing political persecution and violence, particularly refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala. After one council member threatened a ballot measure to overturn the resolution, the council watered it down and dropped the phrase city of sanctuary." Instead, the council voted to reaffirm a policy that banned city employees from considering a persons "refugee or residence status" before providing city services. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Five women are suing the state of Texas over its strict abortion laws, saying they were denied the procedure even though their lives were in danger. The lawsuit filed in state court Monday by the Center for Reproductive Rights marks the first time that women, rather than doctors on behalf of their patients or advocacy groups, have taken legal action since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. According to the lawsuit, the women were "denied necessary and potentially life-saving obstetrical care because medical professionals throughout the state fear liability under Texas's abortion bans." MORE: How some providers are working around abortion bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned "It is now dangerous to be pregnant in Texas," Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said during a press conference outside the Texas Capitol. "Doctors and hospitals are turning patients away, even those in medical emergencies. Patients are being denied life-saving obstetrical care." Texas does not allow abortions after six weeks of pregnancy except for "medical emergencies," which is not defined. The suit asks that physicians be allowed to determine what qualifies under the exception. The five women Ashley Brandt, Lauren Hall, Lauren Miller, Anna Zargarian and Amanda Zurawski said they were all excited about their pregnancies but were denied care when their lives were in danger, the lawsuit states. PHOTO: Lauren Miller, who had to travel to Colorado to have an abortion for one of her twins, at home in Dallas, March 5, 2023. (Nitashia Johnson/The New York Times via Redux) Zurawski, 35, from Austin, was diagnosed with an "incomplete cervix" which occurs when cervical tissue weakens and prematurely dilates the cervix at 17 weeks and was told her baby would not survive, according to the lawsuit. Under Texas's abortion law, doctors said there wasn't much they could do for Zurawski because cardiac activity still could be detected. After she developed sepsis, Zurawski said she was induced so she could deliver the fetus. She developed sepsis again and had so much scar tissue from the infections that one of her fallopian tubes is permanently closed, the lawsuit states. Hall, 28, from outside Dallas, was told her baby would not survive after a scan revealed the fetus had anencephaly, a condition in which a baby does not develop a skull and had a severely underdeveloped brain. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist told her continuing the pregnancy could result in hemorrhage or pre-term birth but that she couldn't have an abortion due to Texas' laws. Hall was forced to travel to Seattle for the procedure. MORE: Why doctors say the 'save the mother's life' exception of abortion bans is medically risky Miller, 35, from Dallas, learned she was carrying twins but a scan at 12 weeks showed one of them had trisomy 18, which is a chromosomal condition that results in severe abnormalities and developmental delays. According to the lawsuit, she traveled to Colorado to receive a selective fetal reduction, which aborted the fetus with the chromosomal condition. Miller continued her pregnancy with the other twin, who has shown no signs of abnormalities, and she is due the end of the month. "It shouldn't be controversial for an individual to make health care decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctor, but you cant get that in Texas anymore," she said during the press conference. Brandt, 31, from Dallas, Texas, also learned she was pregnant in May 2022 with twins. A scan, however, revealed that one had a condition known as acrania, which is when the fetus does not develop a skull, the lawsuit states. The condition progressed to exencephaly, in which brain tissue is freely floating in amniotic fluid. Continuing the pregnancy could have increased her risk of miscarriage or premature labor. She, too, traveled to Colorado after being unable to obtain an abortion, according to the lawsuit. The final plaintiff, Zargarian, 33, from Austin, was 19 weeks pregnant when she said she was diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes, which occurs when the membranes break before a woman goes into labor. PHOTO: Elizabeth Hernandez, a medical assistant at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa, N.M., prepares mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion for a patient, Jan. 13, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) She was at high risk of sepsis or hemorrhaging if she continued the pregnancy but could not obtain an abortion. Zargarian also went to Colorado to obtain an abortion, legal filings show. "You never know when you or someone you know will need [an abortion]," Zargarian said during the press conference. In September 2021, the state passed the so-called Texas Heartbeat Act better known as SB 8 which bans abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which typically occurs around six weeks, before most women know they're pregnant. The law does not include exceptions for rape or incest or if the fetus has a fatal or untreatable condition. The only exception is for "medical emergencies," but it is undefined, making it unclear what qualifies. SB 8 also allows private citizens to sue anyone who "aids or abets" an abortion. MORE: If an abortion drug is banned, could misoprostol be used as a safe alternative? Additionally, after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, Texas passed a trigger law making abortion a second-degree felony "for a person who knowingly performs, induces, or attempts an abortion." If the pregnancy is successfully aborted, the offense becomes a first-degree felony, according to the law. According to the Texas Penal Code, the punishment for a first-degree penalty could be up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The penalty for a second-degree felony is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support fro the lawsuit. "The lawsuit includes devastating, first-hand accounts of women's lives almost lost after they were denied the health care they needed, because of extreme efforts by Republican officials to control women's bodies," she said. The statement continued, "Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, the President and I believe women in consultation with their doctors should be in charge of their reproductive health care, not politicians." ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report. 5 women sue Texas over abortion bans, saying their lives were put at risk originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Tomas Ovalle) Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a powerful, 12-minute address urging antisemites to abandon their hateful ideologies and choose strength. On Monday, the former action movie star and former governor of California shared the impassioned speech via Facebook in a video produced by ATTN, a Los Angeles-based "issues-driven" media company. I dont care how many hateful things you may have written online. I dont care how often youve marched carrying that hateful flag or what hateful things you may have said in anger. There is still hope for you," he said in the video. Schwarzenegger, who was Californias most recent Republican governor, began his address by describing the horrors he encountered when touring the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He also referenced his father, who was a member of the Nazi party, and his upbringing in Austria post-World War II. When you walk through a place like Auschwitz, you feel a tremendous weight, he said. There are reminders everywhere of the horrors that happened there: The suitcases never claimed by the prisoners . . . The logbooks with thousands of names crossed out, as if a cruel accountant only measured death. The gas chambers with scratches in the walls from the fingernails of people who tried to hold onto life. The crematorium where the Nazis tried to erase all of their atrocities. Schwarzenegger said his remarks weren't aimed at people who have been the target of antisemitism, but rather, he wanted to address people who are fueled by hate, the ones perpetrating the antisemitism. I want to talk to you if youve heard some conspiracy theories about Jewish people, or people of any race or gender or orientation, and thought, That makes sense to me. I want to talk to you if youve found yourself thinking about anyone as inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the color of their skin, or their gender, he added. I dont know the road that has brought you here, but Ive seen enough people throw away their futures for hateful beliefs, so I want to speak to you before you find your regrets at the end of that path. The Terminator star discussed growing up surrounded by the men who lost the Second World War. He described the way their bodies were riddled with injuries and shrapnel . . . and that their hearts and their minds were equally riddled with guilt. He said he witnessed the men drinking to numb their pain and the way they felt like losers who not only lost the war, but had fallen for a horrible, loser ideology. Teddy Von Nukem, left, and Peter Cvjetanovic attend a far-right rally in 2017. (Anadolu Agency / Getty Images) At one point in Schwarzeneggers address, the infamous photo of Charlottesville, Va., protesters Teddy Von Nukem and Peter Cvjetanovic was shown. The men became two of the most prominent faces of the 2017 far-right rally. Earlier this year, on the day he was due in court for a drug-trafficking charge, Von Nukem died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Missouri. Throughout history, hate has always been the easy path, the path of least resistance. . . Its easier to find a scapegoat for a problem than to try to make things better ourselves...," Schwarzenegger said. "You will not find success on the end of that road... there has never been a successful movement based on hate. I can understand how people can fall into the trap of prejudice and hate. Whether you grew up surrounded by hate or get sucked in by some of Big Techs algorithms that push you to the extreme. When you spend your life looking for scapegoats, you take away your own responsibility, you remove your own power, you steal your own strength. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2021 there was a 34% increase in antisemitic incidents than the year before. That was the highest number on record since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. There has also been a staggering increase in antisemitism on Twitter according to combatantisemitism.org, which said that Kanye Ye Wests antisemitic comments triggered an increase of 136% in toxic comments, threats and identity attacks toward Jewish people on the social platform. Late last year, related to Wests tirade against Jewish people, a well-known hate group flocked to a busy 405 freeway overpass in Los Angeles. Demonstrators gave Nazi salutes and displayed a banner that read Kanye is right about the Jews. In the following weeks, L.A. residents found fliers at their homes and on their cars, advertising conspiracy theories about Jewish people. And last month, Jaime Tran, 28, was charged with federal hate crimes after he shot two Jewish men as they left religious services in Los Angeles. After his arrest, Tran admitted to police that he had searched for a kosher market on Yelp prior to the attacks and knew the men were Jewish because of their head gear. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Adults aboard a migrant sailboat threatened to harm several young Haitian children as the vessel was approached by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in Bahamian waters Sunday morning, according to the agency. Crew members from the Cutter Tampa backed off and then shadowed the sailboat for several hours and employed a variety of techniques to deescalate the situation before finally being able to get all the people on board to cooperate, the Coast Guard said in a statement released on Twitter Tuesday. All 145 people from Haiti on board were transferred to Bahamian authorities and will eventually undergo Bahamian immigration processing, the statement continued. A Coast Guard spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked if anyone on the boat will be arrested because of the threats made to the children. In the Florida Keys While the influx in maritime migration from Cuba and Haiti to South Florida has slowed since both U.S. and Florida officials have reinforced the Keys with more personnel, aircraft and boats, people are still trying to get through, some successfully. A red homemade migrant boat sits on the shore of Long Key in the Florida Keys Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The U.S. Border Patrol says 17 men from Cuba arrived on the vessel. On Tuesday morning, 17 men from Cuba arrived in a red rustic boat on Long Key in the Upper Florida Keys, according to the U.S. Border Patrol. Another arrival over the weekend showed its not just people from Haiti and Cuba trying to get to the United States by sea. A single-engine center console boat is parked on a trailer near Haulover Beach on Sunday, March 5, 2023. The U.S. Border Patrol said three people from the Republic of Georgia were on the vessel. In Miami-Dade Federal agents stopped a small center console boat Sunday night near Haulover Beach in Northeast Miami-Dade with three people from the Republic of Georgia on board. The vessel will be seized, Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent for the Border Patrols Miami operations, said in a statement on Twitter. Investigation is ongoing. "Just one of the many apartment homes that are coming in for plenty of fresh air," someone wrote on the back of this vintage postcard from Patt Morrison's collection. A whole lot more than a big piece of Southern California landscape got shaken up in the space of 10 seconds on that March evening 90 years ago. One month to the day after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, Californias Legislature and governor, acting with a speed born of panic and voters fury, put into law the Field Act, which ordered rigid construction codes as well as inspections for public schools. Why the rush? Some 120 people died from the March 10 quake the deadliest ever in Southern California, its fatalities second only to 1906 San Francisco quake. Yet this quake has been called a lucky one. Luckily, it struck at 5.54 p.m. on a Friday, when most people were home for dinner, or heading there. Three hours earlier, and thousands of students would have been killed or injured within the walls of the 230 schools that collapsed, were damaged or rendered too dangerous to enter. Thousands more public buildings city halls, hospitals, theaters, libraries and 20,000 houses from Newport Beach and Santa Ana to most of south Los Angeles County were leveled or seriously banged around. In short order, Caltechs president, Robert A. Millikan, was tapped to head up a technical committee to look into construction failures. He wrote in its summary three months later that in cities where the earthquake was most intense, damage to schools was severe and widespread: Auditoriums collapsed, walls were thrown down, and the very exits to safety were piled high with debris which, a few moments before, had been heavy parts of towers and ornamental entrances. It is sufficient to suggest the terrible consequences, had the same earthquake occurred a few hours earlier. The Field Act was a striking new kind of law in a laissez-faire state. In time it was joined by more laws such as the Garrison and Greene acts the first extending rigid codes to existing schools, not just new ones, and the other saying we really, really mean it and by local regulations to keep public and private buildings from becoming deathtraps. Compliance was still lackadaisical into the 1960s, but in the 1971 Sylmar quake, schools that were built strictly to the Field Act codes had virtually no damage apart from banged-up light fixtures and knocked-over furniture. Far and away, most of the buildings that tumbled down in 1933 were of brick. The piles of tumbledown bricks on Long Beach streets took laborious weeks to clear away. Into the 1980s, many California cities were still having to require that their existing brick buildings be seismically retrofitted and in some cases not following their own rules. In 1933, most of the 120 dead, including a Long Beach fireman, were killed by these falling bricks and by unreinforced masonry. A vintage postcard from Patt Morrison's collection shows film crews capturing the destruction from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. All over Long Beach, walls fell away and left the buildings as open and exposed as dollhouses. At one Long Beach hospital, patients were carted onto the lawn after the hospitals front wall collapsed. Five firemen were trapped when their main buildings front facade caved in. The U.S. Navy, with a formidable presence off Long Beach, sent 2,000 uniformed men ashore to patrol the streets and stop looters. The Pope sent his condolences. The Times-Universal Newsreel shot thousands of feet of film of the destruction. Tens of thousands of people abandoned their homes. They slept on their own lawns or in parks, and in the cold March air, some wound up as pneumonia cases in the already overfull hospitals. Scores of Long Beach families drove into the hills south of Monterey Park to sleep in the open. A circus tent was set up to shelter them, and the American Legion began cooking meals for them. Rumors of a tidal wave sent people scrambling to higher ground. March Field, the military base in Riverside County, sent a rolling field kitchen with six cooks. The Los Angeles Milk Arbitration Board donated 11,200 quarts of milk to families left homeless in Compton, Long Beach, and Huntington Park. Seconds before the ground began heaving, a 15-year-old Long Beach girl named Bea Criswell was getting dressed in her upstairs bedroom, sulking at having to go out to dinner with her parents, and saying to herself, Please, Lord, do something so that I dont have to go out to dinner! For years thereafter, she felt that the quake was somehow her fault. The magnitude is now calculated at 6.4, but the Richter scale had yet to be created. Instead, seismologists relied on a Roman-numeral-based Mercalli scale that depended on subjective assessments like how much objects were damaged and how people reacted. About a year before the Long Beach quake, the Carnegie seismological lab in Pasadena had gotten money for a first-ever catalogue of Southern California quakes. In the hours and days after the quake, the labs head seismologist, Harry O. Wood, and an up-and-comer named Charles Richter headed out to Long Beach to check the seismic data. I packed my portable instruments and gathered a team to monitor the shocks. Some of them went on for quite a while, Richter told The Times on the quakes 50th anniversary. Rubble from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, seen on a vintage postcard from Patt Morrison's collection. The 1925 Santa Barbara quake got people to start talking about building codes, said seismologist Lucy Jones, founder and chief scientist for the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, but it was the 1933 quake that got us there. The 1933 quake engendered the first rules requiring that buildings be bolted to foundations something not adopted by every jurisdiction until 1960, she said. Then, what emerged after the Long Beach quake was the whole philosophy that theres a role for government to keep you from building a building that will kill people that really came out of that quake. The first map of the San Andreas fault came after the 1906 San Francisco quake. The Long Beach quake made people realize earthquakes arent one-offs, she explained. Theyre a feature of California. The 1933 quake, centered offshore from Huntington Beach, brought to light the existence of the Newport-Inglewood strike-slip fault, and a new awareness that theres more than one fault here, that there wasnt just a San Andreas fault but a seismic system that expanded our image of what we had to worry about, Jones said. In 2016, a pair of U.S. Geological Survey seismologists who had studied old oil-drilling records suggested in a publication that four earthquakes in Southern Californias coastal oil region in the first third of the 20th century including Long Beachs might have been triggered by incessant oil extraction. I asked Jones about that. Its not general consensus at this point yet. Its almost impossible to sit here in the 21st century and look back and see what impact the drilling had, Jones said. It was really clear that the oil extraction all around Long Beach was doing a lot of damage. Long Beach was sinking by meters, she pointed out. And some time in the 1940s, in Signal Hill, there was the collapse of the roof of an oil reservoir [where] theyd pulled so much out. Thereafter, she pointed out, California required that if you took fluid out you had to put fluid back in a net-zero fluid extraction process. Moreover, theres ample proof of the Newport-Inglewood fault before people were here. A building and an automobile on Beacon Street in San Pedro were damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. (Los Angeles Times) Two years after the Long Beach earthquake, Richter published his and colleague and mentor Beno Gutenbergs research and the idea of a numerical scale to assess earthquake magnitude. The scales objective, base-10 logarithmic system caught on, and although its been superseded, people still attach his name to the scale. In years past, people sometimes showed up at Caltech asking to see this famous scale of his. Richter was quite the character. His family moved here when he was 7 years old, and he felt his first quake tremor at age 10. He kept a seismograph in the living room of his Altadena house and answered reporters calls at any hour of the night. He did not drive, and was a devoted backpacker and a vegetarian. He was also a nudist the genteel synonym back then was naturist. His scientific files he left to Caltech, but his personal journals, books, home movies, notes, stamp collection, and letters filled floor-to-ceiling bookcases bolted in place in his nephews house in Granada Hills. In 1994, eight years after Richter died, the whole collection became nothing more than ashes and mud after a fire at the house next door jumped to the nephews house. The fire was triggered by the Northridge earthquake. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell on Fox News. (Photo illustration: Kelli R. Grant/Yahoo News; photos: Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx via AP, Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images, Ben Margot/AP) A jury is to hear Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in April. But in the court of public opinion, Dominion has already presented a damning case that has damaged the cable networks reputation, according to experts. Yahoo News spoke to professors who specialize in journalism ethics, as well as to experts in First Amendment law, who said that the case against Fox News is unusual in that it appears to show how those in charge at the network made a deliberate decision to broadcast information that they knew at the time was false. Whether or not Fox will be found legally liable for defaming Dominion, experts said, its conduct seems to have clearly violated the core principles of journalistic ethics. In a pair of sensational court filings made public over the last few weeks, Dominion has laid out a trove of evidence obtained during the discovery process including deposition transcripts, email and text records revealing that, in the days and weeks after the 2020 election, high-ranking Fox executives and on-air stars did not believe the allegations of voter fraud being made by then-President Donald Trump and his allies. Fox News nevertheless proceeded to promote those unfounded claims to its primetime audience the largest of any cable news network repeatedly giving airtime to Trump's attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, who, according to the filings, were privately believed by many Fox staffers to be unreliable. Giuliani, with Powell behind him, speaks to the press about lawsuits related to the 2020 election, at Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Dominion alleges that Fox's decision to promote these false claims was part of a cynical strategy to recover viewers loyal to Trump, who had abandoned the network for other conservative outlets like Newsmax after Fox reported, accurately, that Joe Biden had taken Arizona. That effectively meant the election was over and Trump had lost. Dominion points to a variety of evidence, including internal communications at the time, indicating concern within the network over the backlash after the Arizona call and its impact on the companys stock price. It also notes depositions given by Fox News reporters who later said they were reprimanded for fact-checking false claims made by Trump surrogates on air. Fox, in its own filings, has accused Dominion of cherry-picking soundbites, omitting key context, and mischaracterizing the record. Dominions lawsuit has always been more about what will generate headlines than what can withstand legal and factual scrutiny, Fox said in a statement last week. Their summary judgment motion took an extreme, unsupported view of defamation law that would prevent journalists from basic reporting and their efforts to publicly smear FOX for covering and commenting on allegations by a sitting President of the United States should be recognized for what it is: a blatant violation of the First Amendment. President Donald Trump at an election night event at the White House early in the morning of Nov. 4, 2020. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Legal experts told Yahoo News that the breadth of evidence presented by Dominion is unusual for libel cases brought against media organizations, which require public figures to prove that defamatory statements were made with actual malice, meaning that the defendant knew they were false at the time or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. It's just so rare to have such contemporaneous evidence of a defamation defendants state of mind when the statements are being made, Enrique Armijo, a First Amendment scholar and professor at Elon University School of Law, told Yahoo News. It's pretty bad when you have someone in the news department saying, 'This person is crazy,' and then interviewing that person on the air. The evidence against Fox is also singular in another respect. It's really rare, to my knowledge, to have a major news organization, or what claims to be a news organization, willingly broadcast what it knew to be lies, said Samuel Freedman, a professor at Columbia Journalism School. It's an egregious violation of journalism ethics. Freedman told Yahoo News that if news organizations publish or broadcast factually inaccurate material, it is typically the result of an honest mistake, not a deliberate decision. Maybe there was sloppy reporting, maybe the verification wasn't done carefully enough. Maybe even some self-interested actor successfully planted information with a news organization, he said. But none of those apply here. A truck displays a message during a protest at News Corp headquarters in New York City on Feb. 21. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Christopher Hanson, an associate professor at the University of Marylands Merrill College of Journalism, pointed to the Society of Professional Journalists four key principles of ethical journalism, which it encourages all people in all media to practice. Fox appears to have violated every one of these, big time, he said. A spokesperson for Fox News declined to provide an on-the-record response to the accusations of unethical conduct, directing Yahoo News to the statement included above. 'Seek truth and report it' The first of these principles is Seek truth and report it, under which the SPJ offers a number of guidelines, including Verify information before releasing it and Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story. Fox News, said Hanson, obviously [was] doing the opposite in the days and weeks after the 2020 election. He cited text and email records in the Dominion filings. In one from the host Tucker Carlson to fellow host Laura Ingraham on Nov. 18, 2020, Carlson wrote: Sidney Powell is lying. I caught her. Its insane. Sidney is a complete nut, Ingraham responded. No one will work with her. Ditto with Rudy. Likewise, a Nov. 19 email from News Corp's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, described claims that Giuliani was making at a press conference aired live on Fox News as Really crazy stuff. And damaging. Giuliani at the RNC news conference on Nov. 19, 2020. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Dominion has accused Fox News of broadcasting approximately 115 defamatory statements about Dominions voting machines, many of which, it says, were made after Dominion began sending at least a dozen separate and widely-circulated fact check emails each pointing to verifiable third-party information debunking the claims. According to the SPJ, part of seeking truth and reporting it is to provide context, and to Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing. In its court filings, Fox notes that on Nov. 22, 2020, anchor Eric Shawn conducted an interview with Dominion spokesperson Michael Steel. But it contends that Dominion declined other invitations from Fox to tell its side of the story. 'Minimize harm' According to the SPJ, Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect, and journalists should balance the publics need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Ethics experts who spoke to Yahoo News said the decision by Fox to air false claims of voter fraud was exacerbated by the potential that they could erode viewers faith in the legitimacy of the 2020 election and in democracy more broadly. As Carlson put it during his show on Nov. 19, 2020, what Powell and Giuliani were alleging would amount to the single greatest crime in American history. According to one of the Dominion filings, on Jan. 5, 2021 the day before a mob of Trump supporters, fueled by false claims of a stolen election, violently stormed the U.S. Capitol Murdoch emailed Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, writing: It's been suggested our prime time three should independently or together say something like the election is over and Joe Biden won, and that such a statement would go along [sic] way to stop the Trump myth that the election [was] stolen. No such statement was ever made by the primetime hosts on air. Because there's so much going on, you cannot prove that this coverage directly caused Jan. 6, but it looks very, very likely that it contributed to it, Hanson said. Trump supporters take over the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress meets to certify the Electoral College votes. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Freedman argued that there is a straight line between Foxs decision to give credibility to the fraud claims and the events of Jan. 6. And that, just as we've seen, has so done much lasting damage to our democracy, he said. 'Act independently' The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public, says the Society of Professional Journalists. Journalists are encouraged to resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage. Internal communications obtained by Dominion reveal that executives and anchors at Fox News were concerned about the financial impact of the backlash over their decision to call Arizona for Biden and that they set out to lure back viewers whod defected to outlets like Newsmax. "Viewers going through the 5 stages of grief, Scott wrote to Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO and executive chairman of Fox Corporation, on Nov. 9, 2020. It's a question of trust the AZ [call] was damaging but we will highlight our stars and plant flags letting the viewers know we hear them and respect them. After that, according to Dominion, Fox executives also began to criticize Fox hosts for truthful reporting. Examples of this included in the filings include a Nov. 12 text chain between hosts Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, in which Carlson complained that one Fox reporter, Jacqui Heinrich, should be fired for fact-checking a tweet from Trump, which referred to Fox's coverage of supposedly rigged voting machines. A protester holds a sign at Fox headquarters on June 14, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Please get her fired, Carlson wrote to his fellow hosts. It needs to stop immediately, like tonight. Its measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke. A few days later, according to Dominion, Rupert Murdoch sent an email with the subject line Watching Giuliani! This apparently referred to a press conference being broadcast live on Fox News at which Giuliani and Powell rattled off a series of unsubstantiated charges about Dominion voting machines. In the body of the email read: Really crazy stuff. And damaging. Fox aired the press conference in its entirety. According to the filing, then-White House correspondent Kristen Fisher said in a deposition that she had been reprimanded for attempting to fact-check some of the outlandish claims made by Giuliani during the press conference that Murdoch called really crazy stuff. If you have your eye on the bottom line, and [are] losing money because your audience is going away, so you put out stuff that you know is false in order to appease your audience, then you're not independent of your audience, you're a slave to your audience, said Hanson. Freedman emphasized that there is nothing untoward about being a for-profit news organization, noting that there are plenty of responsible, ethical news organizations that worry about their stock price. If you're in a capitalist economy, that's a reasonable worry. However, he said, the idea that you would promulgate known falsehoods, conspiracy theories, not just kind of innocent errors, but an attack on the integrity of the election system, purely to keep your audience numbers high so your stock price holds its value, that's a total dereliction of journalistic duty. 'Be accountable and transparent' The SPJs final principle of ethical journalism includes acknowledging and correcting mistakes, and exposing unethical conduct in journalism, including within [ones] own organization. Fox News' Manhattan headquarters on Jan. 20, 2021. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Again, Fox appears to have done the opposite, according to Dominion, which notes in its filing that Despite the internal recognition that the election was over, Fox did not retract its claims about Dominion. Instead, it kept defaming Dominion. To this day, Fox has never retracted the false statements it broadcast about Dominion. Foxs primary argument is that allegations of voter fraud by a sitting president are newsworthy, and that the First Amendment should protect the right of the press to report on newsworthy allegations without fear of being sued for defamation. Under Dominions approach, if the President falsely accused the Vice President of plotting to assassinate him, the press would be liable for reporting the newsworthy allegation so long as someone in the newsroom thought it was ludicrous, Fox writes in its own motion for a summary judgment. Such a rule would stop the media in its tracks. Fox's position is ... news outlets have to be able to talk about what the president and his representatives are saying, even if that turns out to be false, said Armijo, the First Amendment scholar from Elon University. He said that courts in some states have accepted this argument as a limited defense against libel suits, under whats known as the neutral reportage privilege. Neutral reportage privilege says if youre reporting neutrally on something, you're privileged. You're not going to be held liable for your reporting if it turns out to be defamatory, Armijo explained. The operative word in this defense, though, is neutrally, as it almost always requires the reporting in question to be unbiased and in the public interest. Armijo said the best evidence Dominion has that Foxs reporting was not, in fact, neutral was the fact that Fox had Dominion's responses to these allegations, and it was not giving them the same level of attention, [or] endorsement in its reporting, that it was giving the false claims by Powell, Giuliani, [MyPillow CEO Mike] Lindell and others about Dominion. BOSTON (AP) A Florida woman who authorities say chartered a private jet to fly her cross-country with some of the more than $1 million in federal coronavirus relief funds that she fraudulently obtained by using stolen identities pleaded guilty Monday, federal prosecutors said. Danielle Miller, 32, of Miami, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Boston. Miller used the identities of more than 10 people and used fake business names to apply for and receive more than $1 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds as well as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and related unemployment benefits from July 2020 to May 2021, prosecutors said. Miller possessed counterfeit drivers licenses in the victims names but bearing her photograph. In one case, she accessed a victims online Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles records and used the personal identifying information to open a bank account in that persons name, prosecutors said. Miller used a counterfeit drivers license in August 2020 to arrange a Gulfstream private jet charter flight from Florida to California, where she stayed at a luxury hotel under the same victims name, prosecutors said. In another case, prosecutors said she used someone else's identity to rent a luxury apartment in Florida. Miller boasted about her extravagant lifestyle on her Instagram account, where she had more than 34,000 followers, authorities said, posting about her purchases of luxury items and her stays at opulent hotels in California, which she paid for using the bank account of one of her victims. Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27. She was arrested in May 2021. Fort Worth police found a bag of drugs in a department locker room, prompting an investigation that the Police Officers Association said violated an officers due process rights. In August, a bag filled with a crystal-like substance was found in the locker room at the Fort Worth Police Departments South Division facility, according to a search warrant. Fort Worth police started to investigate where the bag of drugs might have come from. Police first brought a dog to the locker room, which alerted police to possible drugs near two lockers and a backpack that belonged to a specific police officer. The Star-Telegram is not naming the officer because he was not charged with a crime. The police department obtained a search warrant to search both the backpack and lockers. The Police Officers Association protested the use of a search warrant, saying that the police department did not need to obtain a warrant to search its own property. Because search warrants become public record, the officers name would become public regardless of whether the officer was found to be connected to the drugs, the association argued. No drugs were found in the officers locker or backpack, and the officer did not face any criminal or administrative actions. The officer is still employed with the Fort Worth Police Department, said Sgt. Amelia Heise, chief of staff for the police department. According to a statement from the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, the association filed a personnel complaint on behalf of the involved officer to internally investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the search warrant. Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez, who was the Fort Worth Police Officers Association president at the time the search warrant was issued, said the association was concerned about the officers due process rights. The only thing that Ill say is that the police officers in Fort Worth work incredibly hard, he said. They deserve to be treated with respect and deserve to have their due process followed. In the statement, the Fort Worth Police Officers Association said it has serious concerns about why and more importantly how the search warrant was conducted by the FWPD Professional Standards Unit and the FWPD Special Investigations Unit. When asked about whether the police department needed a search warrant to search the locker room, Heise said investigators believed that a search warrant was the appropriate step to take due to the concern for possible criminal misconduct. In violation of Texas code, the search warrant was issued on Aug. 31, but was not returned until six months later on Feb. 22. When a search warrant is returned, it becomes public record. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a search warrant should be returned no later than three days after the search warrant is executed. The reason for the delayed warrant return is currently under investigation, Heise said. Current Police Officers Association President Lloyd Cook declined to comment directly on the unusual timeline of the search warrants return. In regards to the drugs, investigators did not find any link between the substance and any Fort Worth Police Department employee, Heise said. The locker room is accessed by officers, other employees and people who are part of investigations that are escorted through the building, she said. FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivers a speech during a national meeting against the coronavirus, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Aug. 10, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The influential sister of North Koreas leader warned Tuesday that her country is ready to take quick, overwhelming action against the United States and South Korea, a day after the U.S. flew a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber in a demonstration of strength against the North. The U.S.-South Korean training on Monday involving the B-52 bomber over the Korean Peninsula was the latest in a series of drills between the allies in recent months. Their militaries are also preparing to revive their largest field exercises later this month. Kim Yo Jong didnt describe any planned actions in her statement, but North Korea has often test-launched missiles in response to U.S.-South Korean military drills because it views them as an invasion rehearsal. We keep our eye on the restless military moves by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment, Kim Yo Jong said in the statement carried by state media. The demonstrative military moves and all sorts of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so extremely frantic as not to be overlooked, undoubtedly provide (North Korea) with conditions for being forced to do something to cope with them, she said. Hours after Kims statement, the General Staff of North Koreas Korean Peoples Army said it put its front-line artillery units on alert and heightened surveillance activities after it detected a live-fire artillery drill by the enemy in the South Korean border town of Paju on Tuesday morning. The General Staff said about 30 rounds were fired during the South Korean exercise, which it described as a very grave military provocation that aggravated tensions, and urged its rival to immediately stop such activities near the border. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff described the North Korean claim as absurd and denied that the South's military had fired any artillery at the shooting range the North was referring to. The South Korean Defense Ministry said after Mondays training that the B-52s deployment demonstrated the allies capability to deter North Korean aggression. The U.S. deployed B-1B bombers to the peninsula a few times earlier this year. Last month, the U.S. and South Korea also held a simulation in Washington aimed at sharpening their response to North Korean nuclear threats. Last Friday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would conduct a computer-simulated command post training from March 13-23 and restore their largest springtime field exercises that were last held in 2018. The allies had canceled or scaled back some of their regular drills since 2018 to support now-dormant diplomacy with North Korea and guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. But they have been restoring their exercises after North Korea last year conducted a record number of missile tests and openly threatened to use its nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with its rivals. In a separate statement Tuesday, North Koreas Foreign Ministry called the flyover of the U.S. B-52 bomber a reckless provocation that pushed the situation on the peninsula deeper into the bottomless quagmire. The statement said there is no guarantee that there will be no violent physical conflict if U.S.-South Korean military provocations continue. North Korea often uses fiery rhetoric in times of heightened animosity with the United States and South Korea. Possible steps North Korea could take include a nuclear test or the launch of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile capable of targeting the mainland U.S., observers say. Last month, Kim Yo Jong threatened to turn the Pacific into the Norths firing range. In her statement Tuesday, she said North Korea would consider a possible U.S. attempt to intercept a North Korean ICBM a declaration of war. She cited a South Korean media report saying the U.S. military plans to shoot down a North Korean ICBM if it is test-launched toward the Pacific. All known North Korean ICBM tests have been made at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries, and the weapons landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. South Korea on Monday took a step meant to ease a thorny history dispute with Japan in what was seen as an effort to boost Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation. The step involves a plan to use local funds to compensate Koreans who performed forced labor during Tokyos colonial rule, but without requiring Japanese companies to contribute to the reparations. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Monday praised the leaders of South Korea and Japan, saying the two came to understand that the potential of collaboration into the future is more important. ___ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) A road trip to Mexico for cosmetic surgery ended with two Americans dead and two others found alive in a rural area near the Gulf coast after a violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video, officials said Tuesday. The surviving Americans were back on U.S. soil after being sped to the border near Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas, in a convoy of ambulances and SUVs escorted by Mexican military Humvees and National Guard trucks with mounted machine guns. A relative of one of the victims said Monday that the four had traveled together from the Carolinas so one of them could get a tummy tuck surgery from a doctor in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, where Fridays abduction took place. Tamaulipas Gov. Americo Villarreal said the four were found in a wooden shack, where they were being guarded by a man who was arrested. Villarreal said the captive Americans had been moved around by their captors, and at one point were taken to a medical clinic to create confusion and avoid efforts to rescue them. The two dead will be turned over to U.S. authorities following forensic work at the Matamoros morgue in the coming hours, the governor said. Villareal said the wounded American, Eric Williams, had been shot in the left leg and the wound was not life threatening. The survivors were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, the Brownsville Herald reported. A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI. Its quite a relief," said Robert Williams, Eric's brother, reached by phone in North Carolina. "I look forward to seeing him again and actually being able to talk to him. The U.S. citizens were found in a shack in rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Tecolote on the way to the Gulf coast known as Bagdad Beach, according to Tamaulipas state chief prosecutor Irving Barrios. Shortly after entering Mexico Friday, the four were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. Barrios said the hypothesis is that it was confusion, not a direct attack. Video and photographs taken during and immediately after the abduction show the Americans white minivan sitting beside another vehicle, with at least one bullet hole in the driver's side window. A witness said the two vehicles had collided. Almost immediately, several men in tactical vests and toting assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene. The gunmen walked one of the Americans into the bed of a white pickup, then dragged and loaded the three others. Terrified civilian motorists sat silently in their cars, hoping not to draw their attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless. Officials said a Mexican woman a block and a half away from the scene also died in Fridays crossfire. The shootings illustrate the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the people responsible would be punished. He referenced arrests made in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border. He complained about the U.S. medias coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. Its not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they (the media) go quiet like mummies. Its very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) have the right to protest like they have, Lopez Obrador said. We really regret that this happens in our country. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, said The cartels are responsible for the deaths of Americans. The DEA and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. is working with Mexican officials to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the killings. The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims return and the arrest of the abductors. Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that he and his brother, 38-year-old Eric Williams, are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina. Williams described his brother as easygoing and fun-spirited. He didnt know his brother was traveling to Mexico until after the abduction hit the news. But from looking at his brothers Facebook posts, he thinks his brother did not consider the trip dangerous. He thought it would be fun, Williams said. He hadnt heard anything about his brothers whereabouts, he said. Told that his brother was among the survivors Tuesday, Robert Williams said that when they meet, Ill just tell him how happy I am to see him, and how glad I am that he made it through, and that I love him. ___ AP writers Lindsay Whitehurst and Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington and Travis Loller in Nashville contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans issued another series of subpoenas Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into what they contend is the mistreatment of parents who protested woke school board policies. Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, demanded documents and testimony from three individuals, including the former heads of the National School Boards Association, for requesting federal law enforcement assistance to target parents voicing concerns at local school board meetings. The Ohio Republican is flexing his newly appointed subpoena power to probe a September 2021 letter that the nonprofit representing U.S. school boards sent to the Biden administration. The letter warned of rising threats against school board members over coronavirus restrictions and teaching around race. The letter to the Justice Department, signed by Chip Slaven, then the interim executive director of the NSBA, and Viola Garcia, then the president of the NSBA, outlined more than 20 instances of threats, harassment, disruption and acts of intimidation in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio and other states. Jordan, who also chairs a new subcommittee dedicated to what Republicans assert is the weaponization" of government, has said that as a result of the letter, the Justice Department designated a specific threat tag for school board-related threats and opened investigations into parents simply for speaking out on behalf of their children. Those allegation are outlined in a GOP report released in November. The NSBA has repeatedly stated that the letter's focus was on the issue of violence and threats, not protests from parents. Last month, Jordan issued his first subpoenas as chairman to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, accusing them of withholding information about whether the government overreached in scrutinizing parents. The Justice Department has denied targeting parents and has already begun to turn over documents to the committee. The subpoenas come days after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy helped introduce legislation that would give parents more of a say in school curriculum. It is all part of the Republican Party's larger effort to turn the issue of parents rights into a rallying cry, harnessing the frustration with schools that reached a boiling point during the pandemic when educators grappled with masking requirements, closures and remote learning for children. Also subpoenaed Monday was Nina Jankowicz, the former director of the Department of Homeland Security's now-defunct Disinformation Governance Board. Jankowicz stepped down from the role in May after being caught in a political firestorm over the creation of the board, which was meant to coordinate the U.S. governments efforts to treat disinformation as a national security threat. But the board, which disbanded shortly after she stepped down, was hampered from the start by questions about its purpose, funding and work that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas struggled to answer even as he appeared in front of lawmakers last spring. In the subpoena letter, Jordan said the committee is seeking testimony from Jankowicz regarding how the board planned to approach countering misinformation and how it proposed to protect First Amendment rights. In response, Jankowicz said that she will happily testify about her time on the board but criticized the subpoena, saying Jordan's abuse of congressional oversight powers is about to get wildly out of control. His weaponization committee is the entity that is actually weaponizing our government, and the American people deserve better, Jankowicz said in a statement to The Associated Press. I am ready to continue to stand up for the truth, as I have done my entire career, and I will not be cowed by conspiracy theories or intimidation. ___ Associated Press writer Amanda Seitz contributed to this report. People kneel as servicemen carry the coffins of four Ukrainian soldiers, who were part of a reconnaissance group and were killed on Dec. 25 in Russia as they performed a special task, during a commemoration ceremony in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The servicemen names are Bohdan Legov, 19, Maksym Mykhailov, 32, Yuri Horobets, 34, Taras Karpiuk, 36. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A man who appeared to be shot dead by Russian-speakers in a short video was tentatively identified Tuesday as a missing Ukrainian soldier while the footage circulated widely on Ukrainian social media and caused an uproar. The country's chief prosecutor announced a criminal investigation into the killing, and human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets argued that it was a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Senior Ukrainian officials alleged, without providing further evidence, that the man was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers. In the video, the man did not appear to be armed. The 30th Mechanized Brigade on its Facebook page named the man as Tymofii Shadura. The identification is based on preliminary information and is not final, it said. Shadura has been missing for just over a month, since disappearing during bitter fighting in the Bakhmut area of eastern Ukraine, the post said. The city has been a combat hot spot as the war extends into its second year. His identity is to be confirmed once the body is returned from a Russian-occupied area, the post added, though it did not say when that might happen. The Ukrainian military's general staff gave the same name for the dead soldier, saying it was according to preliminary information." In the 12-second video, the man in combat fatigues is seen in a wooded area smoking a cigarette. Someone off-camera is heard speaking in Russian. The man then says Glory to Ukraine and is hit by a volley of gunshots, falling into a hole in the ground, with an off-camera voice saying Die, followed by an expletive. The Associated Press could not verify the videos authenticity, any details about when it was recorded or anything about the people involved. Questions sent by the AP to the Russian military about the clip did not immediately receive a reply. The video circulated widely on social media in Ukraine and unleashed an outcry. In his nightly video address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: I want us all together, in unity, to respond to (the soldiers) words: Glory to the hero! Glory to heroes! Glory to Ukraine! And we will find the killers. Moscow also has expressed suspicion about the treatment of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces. Last November, Ukraine said it would open an investigation into video footage that circulated on Russian social media, which Moscow alleged shows Ukrainian soldiers killing Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender after one of the men seemingly refused to lay down his weapon and opened fire. In other developments: Ukraine and Russia completed another exchange of captives. Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak reported that 130 Ukrainian soldiers returned from Russian captivity, most of them with severe injuries. Russia's Defense Ministry said 90 Russian servicemen were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv. Since the beginning of the war, 1,993 people have been returned from captivity, according to Lubinets. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was on his way to Ukraine for a meeting Wednesday in Kyiv with Zelenskyy. The two are due to discuss the extension of an agreement that allows Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports and permits Russia to export food and fertilizers. Ukraines presidential office reported Tuesday that at least one civilian was killed and 11 more were wounded in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours. Fierce battles continued in the region for the key city of Bakhmut, where fewer than 4,000 civilians remain from a prewar population of 70,000, according to Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. A parliamentary delegation from Hungary said Tuesday during a visit to Denmark that it supports Swedens NATO membership. Some Hungarian lawmakers had balked at supporting the NATO membership applications by Sweden and Finland, due to what they called blatant lies from Stockholm and Helsinki on the state of Hungarys democracy. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine A global Ukrainian group is protesting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' nomination of Top Gun: Maverick for multiple Oscars, including best picture, citing its concerns over the films alleged ties to a Russian oligarch sanctioned by Ukraine. While acknowledging the academys longstanding support of Ukraine, the Ukrainian World Congress, a nongovernmental organization, sent a letter to academy President Janet Yang and AMPAS' board of governors on Monday, asking them to explicitly reject films funded by Russian oligarchs or other enablers of Russias genocidal war on Ukraine and to "review eligibility" of Top Gun:Maverick,starring Tom Cruise, for participation in this years Academy Awards. The Toronto-based group, established in 1967 and representing Ukrainian communities around the world, also asked the academy to condemn Russias war against Ukraine and any attempts to influence Hollywood and American society during the Oscars ceremony to be held on Sunday. Representatives for the academy were not immediately available for comment. The letter comes two months after The Times reported on a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Bradley Fischer, former president of New Republic Pictures. That lawsuit alleged that Monaco-based Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev played a major role in funding Top Gun: Maverick, the Mission: Impossible sequels and a slate of other major Paramount films through his role as a silent partner in New Republic. In 2020, Los Angeles-based New Republic signed a $200-million-plus deal with Paramount Pictures to fund up to a quarter of the budgets on 10 movies in exchange for a share in any profits or losses from the movies. Rybolovlev and his representatives were not immediately available for comment. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) expresses its serious concerns over Russias influence on the Hollywood film industry. Specifically, as it relates to the nomination of Top Gun: Maverick for six prizes at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the letter signed by Paul Grod, the organization's president, said. Rybolovlevs funding of Top Gun: Maverickwas not publicly disclosed and there is good reason to believe that his involvement may have led to censorship on behalf of the Kremlin, the letter goes on to say. Unlike the original film, Top Gun: Maverickmakes no direct or indirect reference to Russia. This is hardly a coincidence." In an interview with The Times, Grod called on the academy to investigate Russian influence in Hollywood. Think about how the Russians have attempted to influence public policy and elections," Grod said. "I think it is quite logical to see they will try to do the same thing in Hollywood. That is why we are upset by this revelation." William Browder, a financier and fierce critic of Russian corruption who once ran one of the largest hedge funds in that country, also questioned the Oscar nominations for "Top Gun: Maverick." The U.S. government is doing everything possible to limit Russian influence in the political process, the banking system and elsewhere," Browder said in an interview. "Hollywood is one of the places that has more influence than anything and to allow and promote a Russian-funded film for an Academy Award seems counter to everything else in the political sphere. Fischers lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last December, alleges that Rybolovlevs money has been pivotal to New Republics activities. According to the suit, Rybolovlev, who is not a defendant in the suit, moved his assets out of the venture after Russia invaded Ukraine and Western governments began imposing sanctions on wealthy Russians. Last October, Rybolovlev was included on a list of sanctioned Russian businessmen and their families and allies issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rybolovlev, however, is not among more than a dozen Russian oligarchs and their families who've been sanctioned by the United States. The businessman, whose net worth Bloomberg has estimated at $10.1 billion, is based in Monaco. He built his fortune in the Uralkali company, Russias major producer of potassium fertilizers, during the 1990s privatization era of the former Soviet Union. In 2010 and 2011, he sold his stake in Uralkali and another fertilizer company for $7 billion. The billionaire mining magnate owns a vast portfolio of real estate and yachts and a stake in the Bank of Cyprus. He is the majority owner of the professional football club AS Monaco. One of the worlds top art collectors, Rybolovlev owns a number of great works including pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Mark Rothko. For years, Rybolovlev was involved in a protracted legal battle with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier. Rybolovlev accused Bouvier, who over a dozen years purchased some 38 artworks for $2 billion on the oligarch's behalf, of defrauding him. In 2020, the charges against Bouvier were dismissed when a Monaco court upheld a lower courts ruling that the investigations had been conducted in a biased and unfair manner under conditions which seriously and lastingly compromised the balance between the parties, according to the New York Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 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. YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. On Wednesday, Feminist Mobilisations will hold a procession for womens rights mottoed "Not One More" in Sofia. The event, which will mark March 8 as International Women's Day, will take place for a seventh year running. It will start at the National Palace of Culture at 7 p.m. Feminist Mobilisations describe themselves as an all-volunteer feminist collective struggling for social, economic and political gender equality by organizing protest actions and awareness campaigns about womens rights and gender-based violence. The organizers noted in a Facebook post that since the beginning of 2023, one woman has been losing her life every week in this country due to domestic and gender-based violence by her close one or partner. They resent politicians' "ugly and cheap propaganda against women and LGBTI+ people in Bulgaria" and Parliament's failure to pass effective legislation addressing the issue. Feminist Mobilisations see a "disproportionately adverse impact" of the current crises on women, and especially on women with an ethnic and minority background, migrants and refugees, socially disadvantaged and disabled women, and LGBTI+. The street action will insist on political empowerment of women and more opportunities to achieve equal representation and participation in governance and decision-making at local, national and international level. In 2023, the procession will voice "intransigence with inequalities" and will protest against "war, tyranny and violence ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people", the organizers said on Facebook. The participants will demand adequate and free care of pregnant women, attention to maternal health, and a national programme for sex and reproductive health. They want to see measures ending all forms of violence against women who have recently given birth and female patients. Other grievances include free and safe access to reproductive health institutions and services and contraceptives, a guaranteed right and access to abortion on demand, and a focus on identifying and rejecting social gender stereotypes curtailing childrens potential and opportunities. The protesters will also demonstrate their solidarity with women in Iran and Kurdistan under the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom". World Bank brokered the IWT between India and Pak after many years of intense negotiations to allocate the waters of the Indus river basin The Narendra Modi government has decided to start talks with Pakistan on the Indus Waters Treaty, and rightly so. After the Uri incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that blood and water cannot flow together. The reality, however, is that while flow of blood can be stopped, the water will continue to flow. The geography makes it next to impossible for the waters from the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. Yet there is reason to revisit this treaty, because of Pakistans persistent misuse of the provisions of the IWT that enable it to adopt a dog in the manger attitude to prevent or delay any development of hydel projects on the three rivers that is permitted by the treaty. This must stop. The Indus rivers system has a total drainage area exceeding 11,165,000 sq. km. Its estimated annual flow stands at around 207 km3, making it the twenty-first largest river in the world in terms of annual flow. It is also Pakistans sole means of sustenance. The British had constructed a complex canal system to irrigate the Punjab region of Pakistan. Partition had left a large part of this infrastructure within Pakistan. The World Bank brokered the IWT between India and Pakistan after many years of intense negotiations to allocate the waters of the Indus river basin. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan signed the treaty in Karachi on September 19, 1960. According to the IWT, control over the three eastern rivers -- the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej -- was given to India, while control over the three western rivers -- the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum -- to Pakistan. On the face of it, the pact is seen as generous to Pakistan as it gives the lower riparian state 80 per cent of the waters of the western rivers. But the reality is that IWT makes a virtue of a necessity, as it is the geography of the region that decides this, rather than any altruism. The main Kashmir Valley is just 100 km wide at its maximum and 15,520.30 km2 in area. While the Himalayas divide the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh, the Pir Panjal range, which encloses the valley from the west and the south, separates it from the great plains of northern India. This picturesque and densely settled valley has an average height of 1,850 meters above sea level, but the surrounding Pir Panjal range has an average elevation of 5,000 meters. Thus, the Pir Panjal range stands between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country and is an insurmountable barrier that precludes the transfer of water anywhere else. And neither do the contours of the Kashmir Valley allow for more waters to be stored in any part of it. Since the waters cannot be stored or used by diversion elsewhere, it has to keep flowing into Pakistan. Of the three western rivers given to Pakistan, the Indus, that originates from Indian territory near Kargil, then flows entirely in Pakistan- controlled territory. The Jhelum originates near Verinag near Anantnag and meanders for over 200 km in the Kashmir Valley before it enters Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After flowing through Srinagar, it fills up the Wullar Lake and then traverses past Baramulla and Uri into PoK. The run of the river hydel projects constructed on it supplies most of the electricity to the Valley. The Chenab, also known as the Chandrabhaga, originates in Lahaul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and flows through the Jammu region into the plains of Pakistans Punjab. The Chenabs catchment area is elongated and narrow. The catchment area of the Chenab is mostly in India. But the Chenab runs through deep valleys and the river drops by as much as 24 metres per km, imposing physical constraints and huge economic costs over harnessing it. The three eastern rivers allocated to India under the IWT are the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. These waters sustain agriculture in Punjab and to some extent Haryana, and are substantially used. What enters Pakistan is usually just enough to keep the stream flushed. Despite that, Pakistan has from time to time blamed India for its floods, claiming it is due to the sudden and deliberate release of storage gates. The question that still remains is about the Jhelum waters. Dr Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, head of earth sciences at the geology and geophysics department of the University of Kashmir, recently said: Let us assume we stop the water supply for the sake of argument. Where would the water go? We do not have infrastructure to store this water. We have not built dams in J&K where we can store the water. Being a mountainous state, unlike Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, you cant move water to another state. So, you cannot stop the water technically. But even if it can be done, climate change is upon us with severe implicit consequences for both nations, but mostly for Pakistan. The Indus river basin is fed mostly by glacier melt, unlike the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins, which are fed mostly by the monsoons. Since climate change is now affecting Himalayan glaciers, the water patterns in the Indus river basin are already showing changes. Hence Pakistan constantly keeps up a drumbeat of false charges about non-adherence to the IWT by India. But will there be enough water for very long? Widely referenced estimates indicate a troubling long-term trend for the flow of the Indus river basin. The river water provides 80 per cent of all irrigation water for Pakistans critical agriculture sector. These water sources are already near their limits, with most of the water diverted to northern Pakistans agricultural regions at the expense of the south. In fact, so much water is diverted from the Indus before it reaches the ocean that seawater has invaded the river channel miles inland. Based on current projections, the Indus river system is expected to fall below the 2000 flow levels between 2030 and 2050. The drop-off is estimated to be most serious between 2030 and 2040, with a new equilibrium flow of 20 per cent below that of 2000 reached after 2060. Not only is Pakistan running out of water, it seems to be soon running out of time. by Sumon Corraya Incident at an oxygen production plant, devastated an area within a kilometre radius. Just nine months ago, another fire at a warehouse not far away. Poor safety measures are blamed. Sr. Zita Rema: 'Factory owners should be concerned first and foremost for the lives of the workers.' Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Seven people died and 30 others were injured in an explosion that once again devastated a factory in Bangladesh. The incident occurred on Saturday, 4 March at an oxygen production plant in Sitakunda, Chattogram district, Bangladesh. There were two Catholics among the dead, Salem Richel and Raton Nokrek; other plant workers, Ripon Banory and Paulinis Rema, are seriously injured; they all come from the Mymensingh diocese. All the injured are in the Chattogram Hospital, some in critical condition. The explosion involved an area of about one square kilometre around the plant, causing pieces of metal to scatter, which also affected buildings in the vicinity. Three factories caught fire in the area of the plant. One injured person said about 40 workers were working at the site at the time of the explosion. Nine fire brigade units from Agrabad, Kumira and Sitakunda had to be deployed, and they doused the flames within two hours; the police and army were also involved. The causes of the explosion are still uncertain, but Chittagong district investigators speak of negligence with regard to the safety of the plant. The mayor of the city, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, also said that accidents happen repeatedly due to neglect on the part of company owners: another incident had occurred only nine months ago with a fire in a container depot that caused around 50 deaths; another tragedy occurred just half a kilometre away from the Sitakunda site where the new explosion took place. The mayor explains that such accidents cannot be prevented if the working environment is not made safe. The Ministry of Labour and Employment will pay 25 thousand taka (about 220 euro) for the burial of the deceased and 200 thousand taka (about 1800 euro) will be given to the families. Each injured person will get 50 thousand taka (about 440 euro) compensation. The Chittagong District Commissioner said that drugs and medicines have also been purchased to treat the injured. Sr. Zita Rema, an ethnic Garo religious of the Salesian Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate, in the diocese of Chattogram carries out her ministry among workers, many of whom are internal migrants. She has visited the injured in hospitals and tells AsiaNews: "Every year this kind of accident happens. The safety of the lives of our workers is not guaranteed; factory owners should worry about this first of all." At two o'clock in the morning, an air strike from the Mediterranean, west of Latakia, hit Syria's second airport. A key centre for the delivery of basic necessities to the populations hit by the earthquake on 6 February, which caused 6,000 deaths and over 500,000 homeless. Damascus speaks of "enemy missiles", no comment from Israel. Aleppo (AsiaNews) - An Israeli air attack in the early hours of today has hit and knocked out the international airport of Aleppo, one of the centres devastated by the earthquake on February 6 in Turkey and Syria, further hampering aid and relief operations for the population. According to the official Sana news agency, which reports a military source in Damascus, the airport's runway is damaged "by enemy missiles" and is currently unusable. No comment, however, comes from the Israeli army that carried out the attack. The Syrian air defence system reportedly intercepted some missiles coming from the Mediterranean, which left west of the coastal city of Latakia at 2am local time. Since last year, Israel has intensified its attacks on Syrian airports to prevent Tehran, an ally of Damascus, from supplying Syria and the pro-Iranian Lebanese movement Hezbollah with weapons and vehicles. However, today's air raid comes against a very different backdrop than in the past, with Syria committed - like neighbouring Turkey - to bringing aid to a population battered by the earthquake and still struggling with war, Covid-19, poverty and health emergencies. The Syrian Ministry of Defence says that 'it is no longer possible to receive planes with aid, at least until the damage [especially to the runway] is repaired'; the only positive note, the official statement concludes, is that there are no further casualties or injuries. Aleppo airport has been used in the weeks following the earthquake as a reference point for the delivery of humanitarian aid, along with the reopening of border crossings with Turkey, including in the rebel- and jihadist-controlled northwestern province of Idlib. Souleiman Khalil, an official at the Syrian Ministry of Transport, points out that the earthquake has killed almost 6,000 people in the country and that more than 80 aircraft loaded with aid have landed at Aleppo International Airport this month. "The main damage," he concludes, "is to the runway, which must be repaired" before the airport can be reopened to arrivals and departures. Aleppo airport, the second largest in the country, was targeted by an Israeli attack last September, following which it was closed for three days. In recent years, Israel has conducted hundreds of air strikes in Syria, targeting positions and targets of the Damascus government, its Iranian ally, and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement present in the territory. While not commenting on today's operation, the Jewish State has in the past claimed the legitimacy of these operations, stressing that they are aimed at preventing the establishment of Iranian installations - enemy number one in the region - near the border. In the meantime, the estimation of the damage, also on a human level, caused by the earthquake continues: Unicef estimates state that more than 500,000 people have had to abandon their homes, many families are homeless and children are afraid to return for fear of new tremors. The earthquake adds to an endless series of crises, so much so that Syria already had the largest number of internally displaced people in the world before 6 February (6.8 million people) and, among them, almost three million children. In total, 3.7 million children are affected by the earthquake in various ways. Today's headlines: for the UN, the Taliban's treatment of Afghan women is tantamount to 'crimes against humanity'; the Philippine Catholic Educators Association condemns the practice of 'hazing' after a suspicious death at a university. Tehran confirms its hard line on transgressions of the Islamic 'dress code'; in 2022, new births in Japan fell below 800,000 for the first time. TURKEY The leader of the Chp, Turkey's main opposition party, 74-year-old Kemal Kilicdaroglu will challenge Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections on 14 May. After a weekend of tensions, the 'Table of Six' reached a consensus around the 'Turkish Gandhi'. The coalition accepted the IYI Party's proposal to appoint the mayors of Istanbul and Ankara as vice-presidents in case of victory. AFGHANISTAN The treatment of women and girls by the Taliban in Afghanistan is tantamount to 'crimes against humanity'. This is what emerges from a UN report presented yesterday in Geneva, which accuses the Koranic students in power since August 2021 of also carrying out 'gender persecution'. A "deliberate policy" of repudiation of rights and "erasure" of women "from public life". PHILIPPINES The Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (Ceap) condemns 'hazing' and 'bullying' in institutions, stressing that 'these acts have no place' and 'do not represent the values of the Gospel'. The note follows the death of 24-year-old John Matthew Salilig, a student at Adamson University in Manila, the victim of probable acts of bullying that led to his death. IRAN Tehran confirmed the hard line on the Muslim 'dress code', including the compulsory veil (hijab) symbolising the protest after the death of Mahsa Amini. Head of the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said violations will be punished according to sharia, Islamic law. The security forces will be allowed "all means" to repress those who disturb public order. JAPAN In 2022, the number of new births in Japan fell below 800,000 for the first time, a substantial drop from the 1.5 million in the early 1980s. The figure includes children born to non-Japanese parents living in the Rising Sun and those born to Japanese parents living abroad. This represents a drop of 44,000 births from the previous year, or 5.3%. RUSSIA The Russian censorship agency Roskomnadzor has blocked the 'Mediazona Belarus' site, which will no longer be accessible in Russia, as will the 'Central Asia' section. According to calculations by Setevye Svobody ('Freedom on the Net'), in 2022 there were 637 thousand cases of blocking Internet pages in Russia, an absolute record for the last 15 years, due to censorship for war. KAZAKHSTAN - UZBEKISTAN The presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Tokaev and Mirziyoyev, met "in the east" in the Kazakh city of Symkent for informal talks in which they discussed the recent visit of US Secretary Blinken and the position to be taken with Russia. The two leaders also discussed cooperation projects in industry, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. by Dario Salvi The United Nations has made another appeal to donor countries for US$ 4.3 billion in aid. Last year, a similar appeal raised only half of what was requested. Meanwhile, fighting continues and last years truce, a distant memory. As the economy gets worse, child soldiers, a halved GDP and shortages remain. Milan (AsiaNews) The United Nations is seeking US$ 4.3 billion from donor countries to fund its aid plan for Yemen, a country plunged into extreme poverty by years of war. Amid the indifference of the international community, UN efforts to find an agreement to end Yemens crisis have failed so far. Largely forgotten, civilians continue to die while children are still recruited despite campaigns to raise awareness about child soldiers. The Houthis, an armed movement backed by Iran, are still pitted against the forces of the internationally recognised government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, accused in the past of targeting schools and hospitals and killing civilians, including children. Mediation efforts, which produced a short-lived truce last year, continue; but even if they should bear fruit, the population will still suffer for years to come from the consequences of the conflict and humanitarian disaster. Crisis without a solution Some hope was raised in April 2022 when the UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, appointed in September 2021, was able to get the parties to agree to a renewable two-month truce and engage in negotiations for a long-term agreement. That same month, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) were able to get President Abdu Rabbu Mansur Hadi to cede power after ten years in office to an eight-member Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). Nevertheless, the truce finally expired on 2 October and has not been renewed since, while the parties have continued to fight, blaming each other for the failure of negotiations. The war, which broke out in 2014, has killed nearly 400,000 people, including 11,000 children, causing what the UN describes as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had "devastating" effects. Children will suffer the consequences of these multiple crises for decades. But in the meantime, most of the more than three million internally displaced live in abject poverty, on the brink of starvation and vulnerable to disease, not the least cholera. Over the past eight years, the military situation has been a stalemate. The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), control one third of the countrys territory but that is home to two thirds of the population. Currently, the Governorate of Marib is the main battleground where government forces are putting up stiff resistance to the Iranian-backed rebels after the latter went on the offensive. To stay in power, the Houthis have used harsh measures, violated human rights, and cracked down on any form of dissent through show trials, imprisonment, and executions, including children. They also continue to recruit child soldiers, a practice also used by their adversaries. In Houthi-held areas, there is no freedom of expression, journalists are arrested and punished, women have few rights and freedoms, and require a male guardian and must submit to a compulsory dress code. Divergent interests in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates On the government side, the situation is not much better. The Saudi-led Arab coalition fractured in recent years as the interests of its two main partners, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, began to diverge, especially over the separatist movement in southern Yemen. This has had serious consequences on the ground, especially after the United States, first under Republican Donald Trump, then his successor Democrat Joe Biden, began to progressively disengage from the conflict. This shift is best exemplified by the Houthi attack against Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, in January 2022, a blow that pushed the Saudis and the Emiratis to realise that they could no longer count on Washington's protection. Multiple missile and drone attacks by the pro-Iranian rebels against Saudi Arabia, including strategically important oil installations, brought this further home. Meanwhile, the creation of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), which was designed to better coordinate Saudi and Emirati action against the Houthis, proved unequal to its task as the new body became mired in factional in-fighting, a situation that has not helped the process of dialogue and mediation. The consequences of war Years of violence and tensions have inflicted unspeakable suffering on a country that is now socially and economically crushed with its population pushed to the brink of what can be humanly tolerated. Making matters worse, its main ports Hodeida for example are unusable from heavy fighting, making trade, imports, and aid distribution nearly impossible. China seems to be one of the few players to have benefitted, boosting its presence and promoted its interests, especially in Aden and its surroundings as part of its new Silk Road project. Since the war started, Yemens GDP has been halved, leaving its people with a per capita income of about US$ 600 less than half of what it was before the war. Amid this disaster, some 1.2 million public servants have not been paid or received only half a months salary every few months. Last but least, the countrys environment has suffered as much as its economy with a series of natural disasters that have had a serious impact, in particular large-scale floods that swamped entire regions. Experts warn that this trend is likely to get worse. Most Yemenis are at the end of their tether, desperate and gloomy. Even if a peace deal were struck in the near future, they would still be caught between socio-economic devastation and a hostile environment. In recent months, UN special envoy Hans Grundberg has multiplied his efforts to bring the parties closer together with regular trips to Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, and even Russia. Direct talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia could be a first step, marking the recognition and legitimacy the pro-Iranian movement has been seeking after past secret contacts. Yet none of this can be done bypassing the PLC, which represents Yemens internationally recognised government, The United Nations' call for more than US$ 4 billion in aid is a sign that the humanitarian crisis is getting worse at a time when resources are getting scarcer, especially following other global crises such as the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. An appeal for a similar amount in 2022 reached only 52 per cent of its target. Meanwhile, Yemenis continue to suffer while their leaders seem increasingly remote, less interested in reaching a compromise. GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The city of Aspen with Aspen Mountain looming above, as viewed from Red Mountain. Former Aspen journalist Paul Andersen has launched an effort to bolster community at a time when divisiveness is rampant. Cambodia urges companies, enterprises to join Hainan Expo 2023 next month Xinhua) 10:09, March 07, 2023 PHNOM PENH, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has urged local companies and enterprises to take part in the third China International Consumer Products Expo (Hainan Expo), to be held next month in south China's Hainan Province, according to a statement from the country's Ministry of Commerce on Monday. The expo, to be held on April 11-15 in Haikou City, provincial capital of Hainan, will be a good opportunity "to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economic, trade and investment between China and Cambodia as well as with international participants", the statement said. Conferences and forums will supplement the annual trade show, creating space for dialogue and information sharing, it said, adding that trade and cultural exchanges will be organized to boost new business opportunities and market expansion. The statement said those included in the program are the Global Consumption Forum, the Business and Investment Forum and the Promotional Conference, which will add diversity and knowledge to the expo. The Hainan Expo was one of the biggest trade events in China, which gathered high-quality consumer products from more than 2,800 companies and enterprises, the statement said, adding that exhibitors from over 60 countries and regions from around the world had participated in the expo during previous years. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Lamborghini was eventually sold to the Volkswagen Group in 1998. The German automaker decided on producing a ten-cylinder replacement for the V8-engined Jalpa, introduced in 2003 in the form of the Gallardo.Soon joined by a technically similar model from Audi, the Gallardo would be upgraded from 5.0 to 5.2 liters. The odd-firing V10 would carry over to the Huracan, which is due to be replaced in late 2024 for MY2025.Chief executive officer Stefan Winkelmann confirmed the successor during a recent presentation. The big kahuna didnt share any in-depth information on the yet-to-be-named successor, which is likely to enter production after the Huracan Sterrato finishes its run.The all-road supercar will number 1,499 units. Lamborghini Ad Personam offers a whopping 350 exterior colors and more than 60 colors for the interior upholstery. The starting price of the jacked-up Huracan is 263,000 in Europe, which converts to $277,570.In regard to whats going to replace the highly successful Huracan, the peeps at Road & Track cite a Motor Trend report on a hybridized twin-turbo V8 powertrain. We first heard that hybridization is a given back in 2017, when Stefano Domenicali was running Lamborghini Last year, Stephan Winkelmann refused to confirm the number of cylinders hiding under the hood. On the upside, Winkelmann did mention that its a brand-new engine that has nothing in common with the twin-turbo V8 in the Urus and naturally-aspirated V12 in the Aventador The Urus will soon receive a plug-in hybrid V8 option, whereas the now-discontinued Aventador will pass the torch to a 1,001-horsepower flagship later this month. The newcomer combines a V12 of the naturally aspirated variety with no fewer than three electric drive units, with one of them integrated into the new dual-clutch tranny.Chief technical officer Rouven Mohr confirmed plug-in hybrid assistance for the Huracans replacement as well, aligning the baby Lambo with the Aventadors replacement. He also let it slip that its packing between six and twelve cylinders, leaving the door open for the naturally-aspirated V10 introduced so many years ago.The V10 isnt likely to survive past 2024, though. Audi will soon pull the plug on the R8, with its heir apparent reportedly going electric. The naturally-aspirated V10 is expected to be replaced by a twin-turbo V8 whose turbochargers reportedly kick in at 7,000 revolutions per minute. Its also rumored to redline at 10,000 revolutions per minute, which is astounding for a twin-turbo lump.In combination with plug-in hybrid assistance, the Huracans long-awaited successor will be more than capable of showing the Ferrari 296 series a thing or two in a straight line. As a brief refresher, the V6-powered 296 produces a simply insane 819 ponies on full song. The 84-foot (26 meters) Aurora was built in the Netherlands in 2004, but traveled to Australia ten years later. Since then, Australia has been its home, where it became one of the most popular luxury charter yachts under 100 feet (30.4 meters). It also changed ownership a few times during this time. Most recently, it was sold once again this week, through an in-house deal at Alexander Marine Australia.Auroras new owner will be the lucky one to enjoy the fresh look and updated amenities of this Dutch yacht. The 2021/2022 refit was a complex project, carried out by a property veteran (Michael Grant from the Cornerstone Property Group) and an interior designer who is famous in both Australia and the U.S. (Iain Halliday).Unsurprisingly, Grant was inspired by travel and some of the most unusual hospitality destinations in the world. This vision was reflected in the yachts new furniture, rich color palette, and personalized upholstery. Aurora got a new bar on the aft deck, a day bed on the flybridge, fresh timber flooring, a new hydraulic swim platform, and stainless steel biminis.Most importantly, all of the modern additions did not take away from the original style. Designed by one of the Netherlands' award-winning naval architects, Rene van der Velden, Aurora proudly displays its Dutch pedigree, and the recent refurbishment only enhances it.Able to accommodate up to eight guests, Aurora is entirely modern in terms of amenities. The air-conditioned main salon combines bespoke, glossy cherrywood furniture with a premium satellite TV and a surround-sound system. The fresh swim platform is perfect for launching water toys during the day, but can become the best spot for a romantic dinner in the evening.A similar blend of classic style with modern comfort is noticeable in the master suite. Large enough to include a king-size bed, an en-suite bathroom, a walk-in wardrobe, and a lounge, the suite also features beautiful artwork by John Olsen, on the walls, and precious Jane Churchill upholstery for the headboards. At the same time, LCD TV screens and high-speed Wi-Fi are available in all cabins.Most likely, Auroras new owner will continue to share it with charter guests after all, the vessel has established a solid reputation for more than a decade, operating in Australia. And perhaps this ownership will last longer than the previous one (two years, after having been sold in 2021). The most recent version of the application comes with a huge changelog, as the dev team introduced new features aimed at both iPhone and CarPlay.MAPS.ME is getting several new navigation enhancements. The application is now capable of moving along the lanes, therefore providing users with more accuracy while navigating. Lane information is already available in most navigation apps, but MAPS.ME wants to make the information it shows on the map more accurate.As such, you should now see precisely what lane you use while driving, therefore approaching an intersection properly according to the next turn.The latest update also includes a refined alternative route engine. These come in handy, particularly when you dont want to use the main suggested route or when you come across accidents or traffic jams that increase the trip time.MAPS.ME now offers sharing of a recorded route as well. The application lets users record the route right within its interface, with the latest update also adding options to share the content with a contact.CarPlay users are getting a new feature that makes it easier to give up on Google Maps or Waze . Beginning with this update, MAPS.ME can be selected as the primary app for CarPlay, so itll handle all navigation needs in the car.The new update also adds several more welcome features. MAPS.ME now displays the weather in your current location right on the map. Its not hard to figure out where the parent company is aiming with this update. Google Maps and Apple Maps already offer such capabilities, so MAPS.ME is slowly evolving to become a more solid alternative to these navigation solutions.The dev team has also tried to make using MAPS.ME a bit more convenient, so now it comes with bigger pins on the map and a new elevation layer. Changing the language is also possible from settings, and so is customizing the appearance of maps. You can choose between a classic theme and a regular visual style. The first one is specifically focused on map details, while the latter is centered around surfaces and buildings.The search experience received an overhaul with the integration of bookmarks. Searching for a destination is therefore more straightforward because the app now displays your favorite as well.If you needed an incentive to create an account, this update brings one. MAPS.ME now allows users with multiple accounts to merge them all, so all the data, including the bookmarks, are brought under the same roof.Some of these improvements started rolling out in late February, but they are all available for iPhone and CarPlay users in version 14.4.0. Photo: Google How Android Auto starts in cars Photo: Google The best settings Photo: Google How to configure Android Auto startup settings Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution According to the existing settings, Android Auto can also load the navigation app , most often Google Maps, without any user input.This means that whenever you get behind the wheel and the connection between the mobile device and the head unit is established, Google Maps on Android Auto should load on the screen.Users have been asking for a way to disable the navigation from loading automatically for a long time. Google itself revealed this is the intended behavior, as the whole idea is to make the experience more straightforward for the driver.Googles design makes sense for some users, but it does not when it comes to drivers who dont need navigation. Many Android Auto users rely on the app for listening to music or podcasts or handling their phone calls and messages with voice commands while driving.As such, Google would have to provide settings to disable the navigation from automatically loading in vehicles when Android Auto fires up.Android Auto instructs Google Maps to start when the app launches . But on the other hand, the way the app runs depends on the car configuration.Carmakers themselves can configure how they want the Android Auto and CarPlay implementation in their vehicles to work. In my car, for instance, Android Auto does not launch automatically when I connect the phone to the head unit. Neither does CarPlay, as the parent companys default settings force the media receiver to stay on the default home screen even when Android Auto is detected.Other carmakers chose a different approach. If the mobile device is plugged in, Android Auto and CarPlay fire up automatically regardless of what you do on the screen.This model makes more sense in the case of vehicles where built-in navigation and embedded music services do not exist. As such, carmakers rely heavily on Android Auto and CarPlay for such capabilities, therefore this automatic behavior is the preferred configuration.Choosing the best settings comes down to how you want to run the app. By default, Android Auto aligns with the vehicle settings If the media receiver does not allow it to load automatically, then Android Auto just displays its icon on the home screen. Users then need to manually launch the app.If you dont want to use Android Auto every time you drive, especially if youd rather stick with the pre-loaded navigation, this configuration is the right way to go.Needless to say, if youd rather use Waze or Google Maps on the screen in the cabin, having Android Auto load automatically is the preferred behavior.Android Auto now comes with dedicated settings to let you decide the startup mode when you connect an Android smartphone to the cars head unit.The default setting is the one that makes perfect sense. Android Auto uses the startup instructions provided by the car. If the vehicle doesnt allow it to launch automatically, Android Auto aligns with these settings.On the other hand, it can also overwrite the default profile and start automatically regardless of the vehicle configuration. This is possible with two different options.The first option you get is to enable Android Auto to always start automatically. This means the application fires up as soon as you plug in the Android device, no matter if you used it before or not. This is the right setting for users who want Android Auto on the cars screen every time they drive. If Google Maps and Waze are a must-have for you, this is the right way to go. The same thing for people who want to listen to Spotify through Android Auto and those interested in handling voice calls and messages with Google Assistant.Second of all, Google implemented an option that allows Android Auto to launch only if it was used on the previous drive. This provides users with more control over the app starts, as Android Auto loads only if the app was running when you previously turned off the engine.In theory, this is another way of disabling its automatic startup behavior. Googles intention is to provide a little bit more consistency, as Android Auto can run or not based on your previous configuration. You should use this option especially if you dont want to use Android Auto on every drive. More often than not, however, youll have to start the app manually by tapping its icon on the home screen.All these settings are available in the Android Auto settings screen right on the head unit. You can find them in the Start Android Auto automatically section if youre running an up-to-date version of the app. The most recent build at the time of writing is Android Auto 9.0 Photo: Nine Hills But having more defunct models than ones on sale is only natural for old companies, and Harley this year is celebrating its 120th anniversary. As a company, it is also positioned in such a way that the bikes that are no longer in production (some for decades) are still around, thanks to the custom industry and passionate Harley owners.Take the Harley-Davidson Dyna , for instance. You cant find a new one for purchase over at Harley, but there are plenty to be had on the used market. So you can easily take one from there and have it transformed to look and behave like a brand new American two-wheeler in an instant, and even with a touch of uniqueness.This is what we have here, in the form of a custom ride called Puncher. The bike is originally a 2016 Dyna of the unassuming variety we all know, only its been converted into something that's likely to knock you off your feet by Polish garage Nine Hills The stated goal of the transformation was to give the bike a bit more character, and at first glance, thats exactly what the end result looks like. With different dimensions from stock, a clearly more vivid color choice, and enough upgrades to keep it relevant for years to come, the Puncher can come as a bit of a visual shock to Dyna lovers.The longer line of the two-wheeler is owed to the more generous angle of the front fork, and the wheel at its end. Its no longer the stock 19-inch piece, but a 21-inch one, also in wire design as before, and wrapped in slimmer rubber.The thing also sits closer to the ground, especially at the rear, and thats because of the shortening of the rear shock absorbers. Pairing that with the medium-height handlebar at the opposite end creates the raised-front look a good custom ride requires.The frame of the Dyna has been left alone to cradle the stock 103ci engine in its embrace, but the powerplant does come with a few tweaks. They are mostly there to help the engine breathe in and out better: a Roland Sands Design filter and a 2-in-1 Bassani exhaust system at the other.When all the custom parts were fitted in their right place, the bike was given a paint job in various shapes of blue and black, with what to me look like Minecraft 3D patterns displayed on the fuel tank.The current whereabouts of the Harley-Davidson Puncher are not known, and theres no info on the cost of the build either. Enrolment of students in government schools has come down to one lakh.(DC Representational image) HYDERABAD: Even as the government claims that students are switching over to state-run schools from private institutions, the stark reality is that 1,366 government schools had zero enrolment for 2022-23. This figure includes many high schools, according to the latest data with the state education department. Contrary to the projected figures, enrolment of students in government schools, which was at three lakh in the 2021-22 academic year, has come down to one lakh. An official from the department blamed this trend to the "ineptness" of teachers in handling English medium classes. The personal involvement of teachers and interaction with students hardly exists, said an official requesting anonymity. "I am not saying that the quality of education is better in private schools. But there are a significant number of teachers in private schools and they are assured of basic facilities, proper infrastructure and teachers, who converse in English and encourage children as well. In government schools, teachers do not talk nor explain lessons in English," said the official. However, if teaching in English was mandated in primary classes, students would learn how to speak, read and write in English at least by the time they enter high school, added the official. Dearth of teachers, poor safety standards, lack of sympathy from teachers and the government were other major reasons. Education Secretary V. Karuna said the zero enrolment depended on the size of the school and added that private schools were mushrooming, all over. Taking exception to the data, Karuna said that the overall enrolment in government schools had increased by 1.5 lakh. "We have been moving staff from zero enrolment schools to those with high student strength. If a small school in a village is shut down, it does not impact students because there are bigger government schools in the vicinity. From the upcoming academic year, we will track the attendance of students across government schools. This will help us keep an eye on each school and we will then be able to decide about zero enrolment schools," she said. She exuded confidence that students will return to government schools. C.H. Ravi, general secretary of Telangana State United Teachers Federation (TSUTF) said that shortage of teachers was leading to zero enrolment. Secondly, schools that were earlier built in slum areas were likely to have zero enrolment as people in the surroundings were earning better and wanting to shift their wards to private schools, he said. Photo: YouTube/Drag Times Photo: YouTube/Drag Times Photo: YouTube/Drag Times Photo: YouTube/Drag Times Recently, we've witnessed an Artura smacking the living drag strip out of a Z06 hillbilly. Brooks Weisblat from Drag Times YouTube channel accepted the honor of launching the Michigander and lost three out of three sprints against the imperturbable Brit.Another post from the same speed-avid YouTuber demonstrates that the McLaren is not bowing its air-carving front spoiler to anyone, be they riding a prancing horse of the V12 European lineage. A Ferrari F12 is a stronger opponent than the C8 Corvette from two weeks ago, but is it up to the challenge?This time, the YouTubing vlogger with a heavy right foot took the wheel of the McLaren. The paper says the hybrid supercar is somewhat on the downside compared to the pretentious clockwork mechanical magic of the Berlinetta. On the other hand, McLaren has always left scandalmongers speechless with piston witchcraft (remember the F1 from three decades ago).On the other hand, Ferrari made its name on the track not necessarily winning every time (thank you, Mr. Shelby ) and it came to represent the absolute unit of measurement for the supercar universe.Over the years, an ardent rivalry flamed the race circuits when the two names clashed in a perpetual quest for supremacy. However, in the era of instantaneity and sunk patience of 2023, complicated jousts over many laps and tracks are only a tiny part of the guerilla war between the two makes.Practicality and simplicity are the preferred means for piston-preaching apostles to convert gearheads to one of the many wheel-spinning gods of horsepower and torque. Americans, in particular, excel at solving complicated equations involving camshaft variables and clutch logarithms with first-grade arithmetic.For residents from the Land of the V and the Home of the 8, anything above or below the V8-gold-standard rule of combustion is a waste of cylinders. They devised a straightforward tool to prove a car's worth."Straight" and "forward" are the keywords here because the simplistic separator has quickly gained worldwide acceptance. It's the drag race , the preferred scale to measure the exact differences between all things automobiles.Right a McLaren Artura parrs with a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Half as many pistons, less than 50% in displacement, but 287 lb (130 kg) lighter thanks to the carbon fiber extravaganza the British supercar is a wolf in wolf's clothing. After all, a twin-turbocharged hybrid powertrain putting down 680 hp (689 PS) to the rear has zero chances of being mistaken for a lost sheep.The Ferrari being born a decade before the rival of this event is a venerable naturally-aspirated V12. 6.3 liters spinning the wheels at a rate of 740 hp (750 PS) per full-throttle session. This particular machine received an engine tune and an exhaust upgrade, thus explaining the ten extra hp over its factory rating. A regular Ferrari F12 "only" produces 730 hp (740 PS).The list could go on for countless megabytes of internet traffic, but cars are made to be driven in the real world (or so we like them most). Hence, the 1,320-foot-long leg-stretching session. The tune for this showdown is played by Ferrari, but conducted by McLaren.The least expensive of the two rockets (that would be the Artura) follows the lead of the F12 on the start line, but it takes over mid-way and pushes ahead for the win. While it may look like the Z06 scenario is reinterpreted in this event, with the McLaren slower to get going, keep in mind that the two racers agree to have the F12 launch first, with the other car hot on its tail.Hot indeed, as the McLaren Artura blasts over the trap at 135.47 mph (217.99 kph) in 10.487 seconds, just under six-tenths of a second quicker than the F12 (11.087, at 128.86 mph / 207.36 kph). The Italian Stallion settles for the Best Score Academy Award that V12 is nothing short of mythological.If Vulcan and Apollo were to play a duet, this is what it would sound like. An Italian masterpiece in "Prestissimo" tempo, played by hell-forge hammers and Olympian lyres. (Prestissimo is the fastest rhythm in music, indicating a playing speed of three beats per second or more). South Korea is about to roll out the first phase of a large-scale program called the K-UAM Grand Challenge. It was announced at the beginning of last year, as an initiative for setting up a domestic UAM (Urban Air Mobility) industry, and the first phase is planned to unfold during the second half of this year.No less than 124 companies are participating in the Challenge (including Hyundai) as well as the prestigious Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and various foreign players, such as the eVTOL maker Joby Aviation and the infrastructure expert Skyport.One of the aircraft manufacturers thats ready to contribute to this major project is Plana Aero. Planas proposal is not the typical eVTOL, but a HeVTOL, meaning that its powered by a hybrid propulsion system. Whats interesting is that the aircraft is also meant to run on SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) which will help reduce its carbon footprint even more.Like most VTOLs built with hybrid-electric powertrains, the main goal is an extended range. This air taxi would be able to carry between four to six passengers over 500 km (310 miles) while cruising at 300 kph (186 mph). At the same time, it will be able to cut carbon emissions drastically, compared to conventional helicopters, through the use of SAF.Last month, Plana displayed a scaled-down prototype of its HeVTOL at the 2023 Drone Show Korea, the largest event in Asia thats specifically designed for drones. And it looks like that was just the beginning of a very important year. Thats because the first demonstration flight of the battery-electric version is scheduled to take place towards the end of 2023.After having secured a hefty sum at the end of a pre-series A funding round in 2022, the South Korean startup has now joined forces with an important partner, air carrier Jeju Air. The result of their collaboration will be part of the upcoming K-UAM Challenge.But thats not all for Plana. It also plans to open a branch office in the U.S. by the end of this year. Thats because its looking to get its future air taxi certified by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as well, which means that the two need to work closely together.Not as ambitious as other manufacturers when it comes to deadlines, Plana hopes to start selling its SAF-powered hybrid eVTOL in the U.S. by 2028. Scream Photo: Miramax Scream 2 Photo: Miramax Scream 3 Photo: Miramax Patrick Dempsey SUV Scream 4 Photo: The Weinstein Company Scream (2022) aka Scream 5 Photo: Paramount Pictures When Wes Craven's Scream hit theaters for the first time in 1996, no one could've guessed that an entire franchise would follow, becoming one of the most popular series of movies from our times.So much so, after the original trilogy created between 1996 and 2000, a new Scream followed 11 years later, in 2011, also under Craven's helm. Another 11 years later, Scream (marking the fifth movie of the franchise) was back in theaters, with new directors, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin. Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox would return, as well.A year later, a new movie is set to premiere, minus Neve Campbell and David Arquette. That gives us an opportunity to dive in and check the cars of the Scream franchise so far.The first movie in the series premiered in late 1996, introducing Sidney Prescott (Campbell), Dewey (Arquette), Gale Weathers (Cox), and, of course, Ghostface. It also increased the use of caller ID threefold after its release.Moving on to the cars of the first movie, there are a few of them, with two taking the spotlight, and the first is the 1989 Ford Econoline The van is used as the news van and it's a key vehicle in several scenes and killings. Sure, it's not exactly a Hollywood-looking vehicle. But it wasn't supposed to be. Its main job was a functional one and it also allowed Gale to escape Ghostface in it.Even more iconic than the Ford Econoline is Dewey Riley's 1980s Jeep Cherokee XJ , which serves as a law enforcement vehicle. Painted beige with a police light bar on the roof and additional warning lights on the radiator grille, the two-door model gets a lot of screen time in the first movie.There are more vehicles in the background, including a Buick Century Wagon, a 1994 Ford Mustang, a Ford Thunderbird, or a Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1).One year after the first movie, a second installment hit theaters. Craven returned at the helm, with Kevin Williamson as a screenwriter. The motion picture included several actors from the main cast and several additions. Sidney Prescott remained the main character.If we look at the cars in the second movie, they are less interesting, since most of the action takes place on a college campus instead of all over the city.But we still get a few cars to talk about. There is a red 1987 Chevrolet Caprice 9CI in a scene when Sidney and her friend Hallie go into protective custody. The same Caprice is also involved in a car chase, resulting in a crash.Another Mustang makes a brief appearance, a 1987 Ford Mustang GT, which Ghostface hits while the detective was hanging onto the Chevy's hood.Another Ford Econoline appears as well, also used as a news van. This time, it seems to be part of the model's fourth generation, introduced in 1992.In the background, we also note another Chevrolet Caprice and Ford Econoline, plus a Mercury Grand Marquis.The third installment of the Scream franchise, which was initially thought as a trilogy, arrived a couple of years later, in 2000. That means we got to see a change in cars, as well.The most important car of the third movie is a 1991 Ford Explorer XLT , which Dewey drives, moving on from the first Jeep Cherokee he drove in the first film.A 1999 Ford Crown Victoria appears as a detective car, with a silver paint job andMark Kincaid behind the wheel.At the beginning of the movie, we see Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) stuck in traffic behind the wheel of a 1999 GMC Suburban . The car also gets quite a lot of screentime, as Weary drives thehome after receiving a call from Ghostface threatening to kill his girlfriend, testing its every limit.Set in Hollywood in 2000, the movie changes its tone and includes a BMW z3 and a Mercedes-Benz SL 500. In the background, we also note a Ford Econoline, another 1980s Ford Mustang, a Lincoln Navigator, a Honda Civic, and more.Scream 4 arrived in theaters 11 years after the third installment, taking place ten years after the previous film. Some of the original cast return, including Sidney Prescott, again as lead character.Scream has always been a movie that tried to give a realistic feel, and you can note that in the cars it uses, too. We get a glimpse of the Ford Econoline van again, which seems to be a staple of the entire franchise.But it also switches to a couple of Dodge cars, including a 2006 Charger and a Durango, both used as law enforcement cars.A few Toyotas are featured as well, including a Camry and a RAV4, and the list of less important cars include a Cadillac CTS, a Chevrolet Express, a Ford E-350, a Mini Cooper, and a Volvo XC60.In 2022, 11 years after the fourth movie, Scream was back in theaters. It did include the main trio, with new writers, directors, and newcomers.Police cars were still the most important vehicles we see in the movie, with the most important one being a Ford Police Interceptor Utility. Moving on to a different time, a 2004 Toyota Prius broke into the scene, as well as a 1971 Dodge Charger and a Ford F-Series.As you might have expected, we also get a glimpse of a Ford Econoline as a news van again, used for different outlets, but also as an ambulance.Vans are a staple of the franchise, following some of the most popular American cars at the moment of their release and that remains true throughout the series. The trailer for the upcoming Scream VI, set to premiere on March 10, doesnt show many cars, but, if we were to guess, a Ford Econoline is almost guaranteed to make a comeback. Unlike Neve Campbell. EV Photo: Nickolas Catherine National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Photo: Dana Brems/edited by autoevolution SUV If you are not familiar with Catherines story, he took delivery of a brand-new Tesla Model 3 RWD on February 27. The car stopped working on March 1 after running only 126 miles. The Tesla customer had to wait two hours for histo be towed back to a service center. When he learned that his Model 3 had faced a failed rear motor inverter, he searched for it and discovered my articles about the problem. After that, he found me on LinkedIn and allowed me to write his story.Far from being just another case emerging from the same issue, it marked how difficult it seems to be for Tesla to repair something that it certainly know is wrong for more than a year. On April 7, Tesla started a recall in China due to the very problem that turned Catherines Model 3 into an expensive paperweight on a New Jersey avenue. The company told the Chinese government that the issue involved 127,785 units of the electric sedan produced from January 11, 2019, until January 25, 2022.Those trying to argue that the Chinese Model 3 is different from the American one certainly missed the recall notice. Of the 127,785 EVs , 34,207 units were made in the U.S. Curiously, Tesla did not propose to fix any Model 3 on American soil due to the inverter defect. It just informed the) about it. I still wonder how Tesla managed to convince the American safety regulator that the rear motor inverter flaw had nothing to do with American cars when some of these vehicles needed repairs in China. The fact is that NHTSA never demanded Tesla do the same in the U.S.Another strong evidence that this should have been the case was an article from ConsumerAffairs published on April 5, two days before the Chinese recall. It reported chronic problems with the Tesla Model Y, a vehicle that shares its underpinnings with the Model 3 . Guess which the issue was? Exactly: the rear drive unit. The story mentioned TMC forum threads, and the oldest complaint I found happened on November 19, 2020. Remember: Tesla itself told the Chinese authorities cars made since January 2019 could have the issue.When ConsumerAffairs published its story, there was no information on what was causing the failure. Ironically, Tesla provided the answer, even if not for the press: there is no way to talk to the company, which should be the first and most representative red flag involving the EV maker. Anyone refusing to speak to the media is not dodging reporters: it is avoiding you. Even Tesla advocates have urged the company to be more transparent to no avail.New cases did not take long to emerge. In June 2022, Tesla halted deliveries of the Model Y Performance made in Germany because of rear motor failures. Some owners experienced them right after delivery, like Catherine. In October 2022, Dana Brems was driving from Los Angeles to San Diego when her Model 3 got stuck in the left lane of the I-5 freeway after a blind corner. Luckily, nothing more serious happened to her or her car. It was only the third time she drove her EV. She also wanted to get her money back but eventually kept the vehicle. Catherine said he would not back down on getting his money back: he does not trust the Model 3 anymore. Tesla has now threatened to charge him storage fees if he does not pick it up. Why would he if he just wants his money back?On the other side of the pond, Thomas George Exton was driving his Model Y on December 8 in freezing-cold conditions when his car stopped. His experience was a true nightmare. Tesla eventually told him the Power Conversion System (PCS) in his electrichad failed. Thats another name for an inverter. And now we have Catherines case. You can bet there are several more people affected that just did not go public.Lets recap: there have been rear motor inverters failure events since November 2020. Tesla recalled vehicles made even earlier than that: starting in January 2019. Despite that, I have written about many more cases, the latest one involving a 2023 Model 3 with 126 miles on the clock. How come? Shouldnt the Chinese recall have indicated that Tesla would make sure no other vehicles would present this issue ever again? Why do they still fail?It is pretty tricky to figure out what may be going on at the company with these faulty inverters. Are they part of a massive production batch that Tesla is still putting in new vehicles regardless of whether they have a known defect? Is it something the EV maker cannot change for whatever reason, so it keeps on making inverters that break down? Is it something Tesla has no idea how to fix, which means even the recalled Chinese vehicles may present the problem again? Only the EV maker can answer those questions. However, at this point, who would honestly believe it? Ignore shareholders and fans: they have financial and emotional investments to protect.The undeniable reality that Nickolas Catherines Model 3 and several other EVs before it showcased is that the defect persists. NHTSA may feel relieved it did not demand Tesla to perform the Chinese recall in the U.S.: all evidence suggests it would make no difference. Joking aside, that leaves Model Y and Model 3 owners with an excruciating question: when and why may they be in Catherines shoes? Many were before him, and there is no sign that he will be the last to complain about that. Ill let you know who the next one will be. You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. A car passes Facebook's new Meta logo on a sign at the company headquarters. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File) Meta Platforms Inc., the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is planning a fresh round of layoffs and will cut thousands of employees as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The worlds largest social networking company is eliminating more jobs, on top of a 13% reduction in November, in a bid to become a more efficient organization. In its earlier round of cuts, Meta slashed 11,000 workers in what was its first-ever major layoff. The company has also been working to flatten its organization, giving buyout packages to managers and cutting whole teams it deems nonessential, Bloomberg News reported in February, a move that is still being finalized and could affect thousands of staffers. The imminent round of cuts is being driven by financial targets and is separate from the "flattening," said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. Meta, which has seen a slowdown in advertising revenue and has shifted focus to a virtual-reality platform called the metaverse, has been asking directors and vice presidents to make lists of employees that can be let go, the people said. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the plans on Monday. This phase of layoffs could be finalized in the next week, according to the people. Those working on the plan are hoping to have it ready before Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg goes on parental leave for his third child, which may be imminent, one person said. The November cuts were a surprise, but another round of firings has been widely anticipated by the Meta workforce. Zuckerberg has dubbed 2023 Metas "year of efficiency," and the company has been communicating that theme to employees during performance reviews, which were completed last week, the people said. Workers at the Menlo Park, California-based company described heightened anxiety and low morale among colleagues lately. Some employees expressed worry about whether theyd receive their bonuses, which are set to be distributed this month, if they lose their jobs beforehand, the people said. The Sirpurkar Report faulted the police and concluded that the acts committed by the policemen were done in furtherance of a common intention to kill the suspects. (File Photo: PTI) HYDERABAD: Senior counsel Desai Prakash Reddy, who is the amicus curiae in the case of wrongful encounter of suspects in the Disha rape and murder case, on Monday suggested the Telangana High Court register an FIR of murder against the 10 police officers who took part in the encounter. Following the encounter on December 6, 2019, in which Mohammed Arif, Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Chintakunta Chennakesavul were killed, the High Court was flooded with petitions seeking a probe into the killings and levy of the murder charge on the cops. When the issue went to the Supreme Court, it constituted the Justice V.S. Sirpurkar Commission for an inquiry, which submitted a report, following which the top court remanded the case back to the Telangana High Court on May 20, 2022, for further action. The Sirpurkar Report faulted the police and concluded that the acts committed by the policemen were done in furtherance of a common intention to kill the suspects. Prakash Reddy submitted to the court that the report posed suspicions over the polices contention that they opened fire to save themselves from a sudden attack by the accused. He submitted as per the Supreme Court guidelines, registration of an FIR on charges of murder, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was a must in the encounter killing cases. Hence, the case has to be filed against the police officers, he said, suggesting a probe by an independent agency, such as the CBI. M. Venkanna, the counsel for one of the petitioners, argued that Section 176(1)(a) of the CrPC necessitates a judicial inquiry in an encounter or rape case, besides a police inquiry. But, the Telangana Police failed to follow the rule, he said. Senior counsels S. Niranjan Reddy, appearing for the police officers association, and Kondam Vivek Reddy, representing Dishas father, requested the court to allow them to hear their submissions also. The court said it will consider their implead petitions, stating that the law does not prescribe eye for eye concepts. The matter was adjourned to March 29, on the request of the state government, which submitted that senior counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul from Delhi will appear on behalf of it. The British Business Bank is launch a 70m investment fund in Northern Ireland later this year, aimed at pushing the growth of smaller businesses. The Investment Fund, part of a 1.6bn series for nations and regions, will offer loans from 25,000 to 2m and equity investment up to 5m. It said the funds would increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for small businesses here. Ken Cooper, managing director venture solutions at the British Business Bank, said: The new Investment Fund for Northern Ireland builds on the success of the banks existing regional funds and is designed to increase the supply and diversity of finance available to smaller businesses in Northern Ireland. The overall levels of equity investment and also private debt lending remain much lower than Northern Irelands share of the UKs small business population. Hence well be working closely with the local small business finance ecosystem to ensure the fund provides support to innovative, ambitious business owners across the country. Given the geographical spread of Northern Irelands smaller business population, connecting with entrepreneurs in some of the more rural and hard-to-reach areas will be an important focus of the fund. The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland will operate across two tiers, debt, with loans of 25,000 to 2m and equity of up to 5m. The British Business Bank is now inviting proposals via its website from potential fund managers to operate the new Investment Fund for Northern Ireland. Derry Girls has received two nominations at the Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for its special hour-long final episode. Titled The Agreement it charted the girls journey leading up to the signing of the peace accord and shone a spotlight on the complex emotions for people in Northern Ireland at that time. It has been nominated for best drama at the IFTAs, while the shows creator Lisa McGee was nominated for best script in drama. In typical Derry Girls style, the episode was equally funny and emotive. It was viewed by many as the perfect way to close McGees love letter to her home city. The gang bows out in the extended episode which returns to Derry one year on, as the friends are preparing for their final year of school. It's the week of the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement but the timing could not be any worse as the highlight of the year, Erin and Orla's joint 18th birthday, threatens to be overshadowed. While the family try to get their heads around the possible outcome of the vote, the friends realise they may not be ready for what the future holds. The series has already received awards recognition. Most recently, Saoirse-Monica Jackson scooped the Best Actress accolade at Channel 4s National Comedy Awards. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content An Irish Goodbye, a dark comedy set on a farm in Northern Ireland, is also nominated for best Live Action Short Film. The short film tells a story of two estranged brothers one with Downs syndrome, played by James Martin who come together after their mothers death to try to fulfil their mothers bucket list with her ashes before they sell off the family farm. An Irish Goodbye has already won Best British Short Film at the Baftas, and could scoop the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film this weekend. Meanwhile, Ballymena man Liam Neeson is nominated for the lead actor award for his performance in Marlowe. Marlowe is a neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Neil Jordan and written by William Monahan. Based on the 2014 novel, The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville, writing under the pen name Benjamin Black, the film stars Neeson as brooding private detective Philip Marlowe. The upcoming 20th anniversary IFTAs ceremony, hosted by Deirdre OKane, will take place on Sunday, May 7, at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Sir David Attenborough's landmark series Wild Isles will feature Co Antrims Giants Causeway when it debuts next Sunday, the BBC has confirmed. Filmed over the course of three years, the five-part series aims to shine a light on the challenges affecting the British Isles and celebrate nature that exists on our doorsteps. Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David (96) will appear on Old Harry Rocks in Dorset to introduce the first episode titled Our Precious Isles and will explain why Britain and Ireland are critical for the survival of species across the globe. The episode will feature new behaviour from killer whales hunting seals, golden eagles scavenging in mountains, puffins chased by greedy gulls and sinister plants holding unsuspecting insects hostage. It will also show the biggest colony of northern gannets in the world migrating to the east coast of Scotland, and barnacle geese travelling to the west coast attempting to avoid the white-tailed eagle. Capturing the first ever complete sequence of hunting white-tailed eagles, formerly extinct in the British Isles, took more than 70 days and saw wildlife cameraman and 2022 Strictly Come Dancing champion Hamza Yassin on the job. The introductory episode will also highlight Britain and Ireland's diverse geology from the chalk formations of southern England to the limestone pavements of Yorkshire, as well as the rugged granite of Northumberland and the volcanic basalt of the Giant's Causeway, the World Heritage Site near Bushmills. Wild Isles trailer: David Attenborough explores Ireland and UK in latest BBC show Despite Britain and Ireland's rich and varied habitats, Sir David will highlight that it is among the most-depleted in the world and asks how we can restore our wild isles for future generations. Series producer and bafta award-winning filmmaker Hilary Jeffkins said: "I hope that after watching this series our audience will be wowed by the wildlife and spectacular places in Britain and Ireland but also that they get a strong sense of how fragmented and fragile they are. "I want the audience to come away with a sense of pride and hope for the future too. I think that people will be surprised by the wildlife on their own doorsteps and amazed by the behaviour. "It is quite shocking to think that we have pods of killer whales, top predators, hunting seals in our seas and a large blue butterfly that tricks ants into caring for its caterpillars, by using deceptive sounds and smells. "The wildlife that we think we know well still has some extraordinary hidden stories." The remaining four hour-long episodes of Wild Isles will celebrate the isles' four key habitats - woodlands, grasslands, freshwater and marine. Sir David will appear in Richmond Park to introduce the Woodland episode; a hay meadow in Dorset for Grassland; a chalk stream in Wiltshire for Freshwater and a green bridge on the Pembrokeshire Coast to introduce Ocean. He will sign off from Skomer Island at the end of the Ocean episode. Across the five episodes, the Wild Isles crew filmed in 145 locations and 96 species which took 1,631 days to film. Series producer Alastair Fothergill said: "Ever since I worked on the original Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet series, I have always wanted to cover the British Isles and our natural history with a similarly ambitious and epic approach. "I knew that nobody had ever had the opportunity before to really do justice to the spectacular scenery and rich and varied wildlife found at home. I also have a personal passion for our natural history. "I hope the audience will be genuinely surprised by the richness of our natural history. At the same time, I hope they will recognise how fragile and precious it is." Episode One: Our Precious Isles will air on BBC One and iPlayer on March 12 at 7pm Arnold Schwarzenegger says hate and prejudice is the path of the weak (Ian West/PA) Ian West Arnold Schwarzenegger says that hate is the path of the weak and urged people to choose strength to overcome their prejudices. The former body-builder and actor said those who succumbed to hateful ideology were losers but that no matter how far you have gone there was still opportunity to change. In a 12-minute video posted online Schwarzenegger, known for films including the Terminator franchise, recalled his fathers experience of World War II and a recent visit to the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. I want to talk to the people out there who might have already stumbled in the wrong direction into the wrong path, he said. I want to talk to you if youve heard some conspiracies about Jewish people, or people of any race or gender orientation, and thought that makes sense to me. I want to talk to you if youve found yourself thinking about anyone that is inferior and out to get you because of their religion or the colour of their skin or their gender. I dont know the road that has brought you here but Ive seen enough people throw away the futures for hateful beliefs. So I want to speak to you before you find your regrets in the end of the path. The former body-builder and actor urged people to choose strength to overcome their prejudices (PA) Isabel Infantes The former California governor noted there had never been a successful movement based on hate, branding the Nazi, Confederate and Apartheid movements as losers. I dont want you to be a loser. I dont want you to be weak. Ive spent most of my life helping people find their strength, he said. I care about you. He continued: Your mind and your character are no different than your body and your muscles. If you want to grow as a person, you really have to make friends with pain. Embrace the discomfort. Enjoy the struggle. No matter how far youve gone, you still have a chance to choose a life of strength you have to fight the war against yourselfThe other path is easier. I dont care how many hateful things you may have written online. I dont care how often you have marched carrying that hateful flag, or what hateful things you may have said in anger. Theres still hope. Theres still time for you. Choose strength. Choose life. Conquer your mind. You can do it. Peter Irvine hopes to build skills on popular BBC styling show A Belfast man is among the contestants hoping to impress on Interior Design Masters which returns to our TV screens this week. Peter Irvine (34) is hoping to build on the skills he learned revamping his semi-detached property into a perfectly imperfect home using the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi. I applied for the last season, but didnt make the cut, he explained. Getting so close gave me even more determination. I was in the middle of renovating my own home at the time and made my audition video sitting in amongst the rubble. It was good to be able to go back and say remember, this is what I said I was going to do and I did it that was a nice portfolio for me and I think it helped me finally get on the show. The visual stylist for Marks & Spencer spent five years transforming the home he shares with electrician partner Damian Curran (38) on a shoe-string budget. The couple shared every step of the journey on their popular social media blog, The White Home, which documented the removal of walls, installation of their bathroom, knocking through a fireplace to make it double-sided, pouring concrete floors and the construction of their impressive kitchen. However, Peter has had to up his game to maximise his time on the popular BBC show presented by Alan Carr as he vies for a chance to land a contract to transform a top cocktail bar. Interior Design Masters contestant Peter Irvine from Belfast BBC/Darlow Smithson Productions/Ben Cross Head judge Michelle Ogundehin wastes no time making it clear what she expects to see from those hoping to win the career defining contract which she sums up as ideas, invention, energy and excitement in the first episode of the new series. The first task sees minimalist Peter team up with foster mum Joanne Hardcastle who has racked up tens of thousands of followers online as result of her maximalist design skills. The pair have to transform one of five new showroom apartments which make up a regeneration project in London with sustainability at the core of their design. Peter gets off to a flying start after telling the presenter he is looking beautiful prompting Carr to declare: Flattery will get you everywhere youve won! However the aspiring designer soon finds himself in hot water after failing to impress the judges with his attempt to create a Spanish oasis soaked in his trademark chill vibe. Theres a time and a place for signature style, Ms Ogundehin tells him. This wasnt it. The former editor-in-chief of Elle Decoration is critical of Peter and Joannes lack of cohesiveness and remarks on the absence of any evidence of collaboration. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph Peter admitted it has been hard to hear the constructive feedback, but insists he has taken it all on board. My partner and I know how to respect our house, but these are commercial spaces on the show so it really encourages you to bring your creativity, Peter explained. Its also about logistics, time keeping and being able to step outside my comfort zone. I quickly learned I dont know everything at all. Peter Irvine Peter, who believes his preferred simplistic and minimalist style is good for mental health, said he was forced to confront his inner demons on the show. I kept having these arguments in my head guessing what the judges were going to criticise, he explained. What I thought would be negative, was positive and what I thought was positive would be negative. I learned not to put my thoughts into other peoples heads. So I pushed myself, but without compromising my individuality. Each week the contestants will visit different destinations around the UK to demonstrate their creative flair through the perfect mix of crafting, DIY and interior design. Theyll be asked to revamp venues from shops to luxury holiday cottages to test the limits of their imagination and also their communication skills. Peters rivals include assistant interior designer Ry, architect and interior designer Buse, architectural designer Karl and furniture artist Monika. However, not everyone has industry experience which means the amateur isnt feeling too much out of his depth. Criminal defence lawyer Temi, lawyer Charlotte, furniture shop manager Jack and waiter Tom are also competing for the prestigious prize. Comedian and TV presenter Carr kicks off the fourth series of the hit show on Brighton Beach where he offers some valuable advice to all ten contestants. If you really want to stand out from the crowd, youve got to think bigger and better than the rest, he says while licking an ice cream. Despite a bumpy start, Peter remains confident that he has what it takes. Interior Design Masters starts on BBC One at 9pm tonight and will be available on iPlayer. Bindi Irwin has shared her experience of suffering endometriosis for the past decade to help tackle the stigma around the condition. The TV star, 24, the daughter of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, said she has undergone surgery, which found 37 lesions and a cyst, after suffering from insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea for 10 years. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, according to the NHS website. Posting a photo of herself in a hospital bed, she said she was not sure if she wanted to discuss her health publicly, but ultimately felt a responsibility to share her story for other women who needed help. She wrote: For 10yrs Ive struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea. Trying to remain a positive person and hide the pain has been a very long road. These last 10yrs have included many tests, doctors visits, scans, etc. A doctor told me it was simply something you deal with as a woman and I gave up entirely, trying to function through the pain. I didnt find answers until a friend @lesliemosier helped set me on a path of regaining my life. I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis. She continued: Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldnt live like I was. Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain. To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep and difficult to remove, and a chocolate cyst. @seckinmds first words to me when I was in recovery were How did you live with this much pain? Validation for years of pain is indescribable. The mother-of-one thanked her family and friends for encouraging her to find answers as well as praising the doctors and nurses who believed in her pain. She said she is now on the road to recovery for which she is grateful. Irwin, who has a daughter with her husband Chandler Powell, also told those who had questioned why she had cancelled plans or been absent that she had been pouring every ounce of the energy she had into her child and family. Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someones life, however, that is not always the case, she said. Please be gentle and pause before asking me (or any woman) when well be having more children. After all that my body has gone through, I feel tremendously grateful that we have our gorgeous daughter. She feels like our familys miracle. Im aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story. Theres stigma around this awful disease. Im sharing my story for anyone who reads this and is quietly dealing with pain and no answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers. www.endofound.org. Irwin tied the knot with Powell, a former professional wakeboarder, at her familys Australia Zoo in Queensland on March 25 2020, hours before the country banned weddings attended by more than five people due to the coronavirus pandemic. Their daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, was born on their first wedding anniversary. They also said the names Warrior Irwin were in tribute to Irwins late conservationist father, known as the Crocodile Hunter, who died aged 44 in 2006 after being attacked by a stingray while filming for a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland. Emily Maitlis found herself in the hot seat as she was grilled by Sir Keir Starmer as part of a charity event on Monday. The 52-year-old journalist and former BBC newsreader was interviewed by the leader of the Labour Party for Cancer Research UKs annual Turn The Tables event. Maitlis and Sir Keir were joined by journalist and Sir Tony Blairs former director of communications Alastair Campbell, who also took part in the role-reversal event as he was questioned by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan. Gillian Keegan and Alastair Campbell at Cancer Research UKs Turn The Tables (Simon Way/PA) Speaking about the experience of being on the other end of tough questioning, Maitlis said: Well, Ive had the chance to grill many politicians over the years, and I have to admit that finding myself in the hot seat for once was an interesting experience. It was a lot of fun though, Cancer Research UKs life-saving work is hugely important and it was brilliant to be able to raise so much money towards the cause. However, I think Ill stick to asking the questions from now on! Sir Keir said: What a nice change it has been to take on the role of interviewer today. Ive really enjoyed taking part and most importantly, weve been able to raise money for a brilliant cause. Gillian Anderson will portray Emily Maitlis in a new film exploring the Newsnight interview with the Duke of York (Simon Way/PA) One in two of us will get cancer within our lifetime and Cancer Research UKs pioneering work is helping more people live longer, and thats why fundraising events like Turn The Tables are so crucial. Thank you to the organisers for inviting me to take part- Im pleased to have been able to support such a fantastic event. The event, which took place in front of a live audience at Bafta Piccadilly, was hosted by broadcaster Tania Bryer. Guests included actresses Gillian Anderson and Donna Air, broadcaster Eamonn Holmes, and TV personalities Robert Rinder and Georgia Toffolo. Tania Bryer, Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster at Cancer Research UKs Turn The Tables event (Simon Way/PA) The X-Files actress Anderson, 54, is set to portray Maitlis in an upcoming film exploring the now-notorious Newsnight interview Maitlis conducted with the Duke of York in 2019. During the evening, journalist Jeremy Bowen also took to the stage to speak about his personal experience with bowel cancer and a silent auction was held to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Louise Minchin has said the longlist for the 2023 Womens Prize for Fiction deals with hard truths and difficult subjects (Ian West/PA) Ian West Louise Minchin has said the longlist for the 2023 Womens Prize for Fiction deals with hard truths and difficult subjects. The TV presenter is the chair of the judges for the prize which celebrates original fiction written in English by women from anywhere in the world as it was announced on Tuesday who was being spotlighted this year. The 2023 longlist features two former winners, Northern Ireland novelist Maggie OFarrell and American author Barbara Kingsolver, and three other writers Natalie Haynes, Laline Paull and Elizabeth McKenzie who appeared on previous shortlists. Maggie OFarrell, who won the Womens Prize for Fiction award in 2020 (Ian West/PA) Ian West While talking about the longlist, Minchin, 54, told the PA news agency: I think what books give you is a bit of respite from the world. Some of these books deal with hard truths and difficult subjects but they deal with them in a different way and they just give you a little bit of timeout. Away from the constant news information or social media, whatever it is, I just think they give you the space to yourself, to be in a world thats not your own. On the list is Trespasses by Irish author Louise Kennedy, about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and Parini Shroffs first novel, The Bandit Queens, which tells the story of a woman accused of murdering her husband in India. The former BBC Breakfast presenter said she feels there is still a huge appetite for reading and she is encouraged that her daughter is doing so despite the bombardment of social media. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Minchin added: TikTok is a massive encourager of reading. So I just think there is a huge appetite out there, and I am really excited about it. Youve only got to travel on the bus or the Tube and, a lot of people are on their phones, but often you do see people reading and I think the thing about reading is it gives you a fresh perspective on things. Its not being sold to you by an algorithm, its your choice. Minchin also described the list as ambitious and brilliantly original after nine of the 2023 longlist was announced as coming from debut authors. She added: Theyre all outstanding, in different ways. And I think different is kind of the key to the list. Theres just an enormous variety of voices, of stories, of places where theyre set, a wild and brilliant imagination. And I think theres something for everyone, but also, for me, certainly it opened doors to perspectives that I had not read before. Barbara Kingsolver is another author who has previously won the Womens Prize for Fiction (Yui Mok/PA) Yui Mok Three books are retellings of popular tales Demon Copperhead by Kingsolver is inspired by Dickens David Copperfield, Stone Blind by Haynes explores the Greek myth of Medusa, and The Marriage Portrait by OFarrell is a historical depiction of Lucrezia Medici, of the wealthy Italian banking family in the 1560s. Two novels are told from the perspective of animals, with a spinner dolphin in Pod by Paull and a chorus of animals in Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo. Out of the 16 authors, there are seven Britons, five Americans, one Irish, one Canadian, one Zimbabwean/American and one French. Also on the judging panel this year is novelist Rachel Joyce, writer Bella Mackie who wrote the bestseller How To Kill Your Family novelist and short story writer Irenosen Okojie, and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq. The shortlist for the Womens Prize for Fiction will be announced on April 26 and the winner will be revealed on June 14 at an evening ceremony in central London. The winner will receive a cheque for 30,000 and a limited-edition bronze figurine known as a Bessie. Last year, American-Canadian author Ruth Ozeki took home the prize for The Book Of Form And Emptiness. A former Belfast City councillor has launched legal action against a watchdog body that banned her from standing for election for three years . Jolene Bunting is seeking to judicially review the Local Government Commissioner for Standards over a tribunal process which resulted in her disqualification. A High Court judge confirmed today the challenge will be heard before Northern Irelands next council polls are held in May. Last month Ms Bunting, a former independent unionist councillor, was found to have breached the code of conduct by doctoring a payslip in a bid to obtain cash from a far-right group. The adjudication followed a complaint from Britain First leader Paul Golding. He claimed the party sent her money to cover an alleged fine from Belfast City Council for a publicity stunt in 2018 involving its deputy leader at the time, Jayda Fransen. Ms Fransen had been filmed making a statement while wearing robes and sitting in the lord mayors chair at City Hall. But the tribunal was told that a 545 deduction in Ms Buntings council pay was actually because she had exceeded the data allowance on her mobile phone. The local government watchdog ruled that she had improperly used her position to secure financial advantage. She had amended her payslip in order to gain from Mr Golding and Britain First, the tribunal found, and brought her position as a councillor into disrepute. Ms Bunting denied the allegations throughout the adjudication and also made a last-ditch attempt to halt the proceedings. She has now applied for leave to seek a judicial review of the watchdogs alleged refusal to grant her an adjournment because of issues with legal representation. Her lawyers want the three-year disqualification order quashed and the case remitted for a fresh adjudication process. At a preliminary hearing today, Mr Justice Scoffield said: I know the applicant claims there is a degree of urgency because of the forthcoming elections. With the next local government polls due to be held on May 18, Ms Buntings barrister told the court that candidates must submit nomination papers by April 24. A decision in advance of that date is obviously required on behalf of the applicant, he stressed. Her main goal is to be clear to apply for nomination. Counsel for the Local Government Commissioner indicated there is legislative scope for an appeal against its determination. But the judge responded that any alternative legal options available to Ms Bunting would probably involve hearing the same arguments. Provisionally listing the challenge for a hearing after the Easter recess, Mr Justice Scoffield advised the parties: We should try and find a date to work towards. (Representational image) Hyderabad: The citys water authority decided to draw an additional 50 million gallons a day (MGD) of water from the Godavari to meet the rising demand, over repeated complaints of water shortage across the city. The state government instructed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) to ensure sufficient water supply, including for consumption, during the summer. Sources said that the government wants to ensure there is no water crisis, because of the Assembly elections set to be held this year-end. "Since this is the election year, the government wants to ensure the uninterrupted water supply to citizens in the city. Government has asked to draw an additional 50 MGD to the city and conduct a study on water deficient areas in this regard. Additional 50 MGD water would be drawn from the Manjira and Singur water sources," a senior water board official said. Asked why HMWSSB was drawing only 387 MGD, when normal demand was 516 MGD, and where the additional water meant for the city was supplied, the official refused to comment. While water board officials claim they have been drawing water from Sripada Yellampally (86 MGD), Singur (75 MGD) and Manjira (45 MGD), the HMWSSB website states that 30 MGD is drawn from Manjira, 56 MGD from Sripada Yellampally and 75 MGD from the Singur reservoir. Highly placed sources in the water board said that the remaining water, over the years, was diverted through Mission Bhagiratha pipelines to other areas, especially where by-polls were held, resulting in the acute water crisis in various parts of the city even before peak summer. With numerous complaints pouring in, the state government recently asked the HMWSSB to study and shortlist areas facing a drinking water crisis. Areas of Karkhana, Trimulgherry, Bolarum, Vasavi Nagar and West Marredpally under the Secunderabad Cantonment and Hafeezpet, Madinaguda, Deeptisrinagar and Manikonda under the IT corridors have been among the worst hit. Residents said they have been hiring tankers since November 2022 to meet their water demands. A few pockets in Nallagandla, Chandannagar and other municipalities in the city outskirts, especially Jalpally, are also facing water shortages. A forensic psychiatrist has been questioned on five recognised triggers for women killing their child or children. A Co Antrim drug dealer caught at a police checkpoint with a stash of cocaine has been jailed. Ross Wilkinson, who is currently serving a 14-month sentence for other drug dealing offences, appeared via video link from Magilligan prison in Co Derry today (Tuesday). The 25-year-old, formerly of Forthill Park, Newtownabbey, had earlier pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and possessing cannabis and Class C drugs. Prosecutor Kate McKay said that at 11.30pm on August 15, 2018 police stopped Wilkinson driving his Vauxhall Corsa car at a vehicle checkpoint on Church Road, Newtownabbey. "Police detected a smell of cannabis from inside the car and decided to search it. They found 30 packets of cocaine, a bag of herbal cannabis and five blue tablets under the leather cover of the gear stick. Three deal bags were found at his home,'' said Ms McKay. A forensic report said there was 46.46 grams of cocaine with a purity level of around nine per cent. There was 22.09 grams of herbal cannabis. "An examination of his phone showed a small amount of drug messages and a deal list.'' During police interviews, Wilkinson accepted the cocaine belonged to him and he intended to sell it on to support his drug habit. He said the other drugs were for his own personal use. Ms McKay added that Wilkinson has a "propensity'' towards drug dealing and of his 24 previous convictions, 11 were for drug offences. A defence barrister said Wilkinson was "performing well'' in prison and had passed a drug test last December. "There are no concerns about any drug taking on his behalf within the prison setting''. The lawyer told the court that Wilkinson's drug addiction peaked in 2018 and "his drug debt got worse and worse and he became more involved in drug dealing''. The court heard the father-of-one had a "traumatic childhood'' and at the age of seven witnessed his father being dragged from his home and shot. Jailing Wilkinson, Judge Philip Gilpin said: "Our courts have made it clear for many years that any involvement in unlawful drug offending is heinous criminal activity. "All drugs, of whatever class, have the capacity to cause great harm. Class A drugs have the capacity to cause the most harm.'' An employee who swindled a north Belfast filling station out of thousands of pounds in a prepaid card scam has avoided immediate imprisonment. Josh Keys received a four-month suspended sentence for the racket, which involved a series of bogus customer refunds. The 20-year-old, of Melrose Street in the city, was also ordered to repay the full value of the vouchers he took. Belfast Magistrates Court heard Keys launched the fraud after he obtained a job at the Fortwilliam Service Station last year. The scam centred on the garages sale of Paysafecards, a prepaid method for making online purchases. Refunds for several hundred pounds at a time were spotted in a series of unusual transactions attributed to Keys between April 11-19. He initially claimed customers had bought Paysafecard vouchers which did not print out properly. However, when CCTV footage was examined no customers were present for any of the transactions. Keys was instead putting the vouchers in his own pocket, the court heard. A prosecution lawyer disclosed: In total, 2,424 was taken. Keys pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position. Michael Boyd, defending, described him as a complete stranger to the criminal justice system. Hes learnt a harsh lesson, realises that hes staring down the barrel of custody, and hes ashamed of himself, the barrister said. This is hopefully going to be his first and last foray into a criminal court. District Judge Steven Keown was told Keys had gathered more than 1,000 to help cover his ex-employers losses. But imposing four months custody, suspended for two years, Mr Keown directed: There will be 2,424 compensation, with 26 weeks to pay. A spring Covid-19 booster jab is being offered to almost 200,000 people in Northern Ireland who are most at risk of developing severe symptoms of the infection. High risk groups include those aged 75 and over and residents in care homes. Anyone over the age of five who is immunosuppressed are also vulnerable and will be among the cohort to be offered a further booster in line with advice by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The Department of Health confirmed the roll out of the latest booster campaign will commence in the middle of April and will run until the end of June. Chief medical officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said its intended to cover a population of almost 190,000 individuals. The programme will include those who turn 75 years old by 30th June 2023 who will be eligible for a vaccination at any point during the spring campaign, he said. "Those who are admitted to an older adult care home or become immunosuppressed by 30 June 2023 will be considered eligible as well. All care homes will be paired with a community pharmacy to ensue all residents are immunised. GPs will be asked to invite eligible patients aged 75 plus and those who are immunocompromised to attend vaccination appointments. However patients will be given the option to receive the vaccine via a participating community pharmacy. Health trusts will play a reduced role in the spring programme and will focus on vaccinating eligible housebound patients from lists supplied by GPs. Trusts will also administer jabs to immunocompromised children between the ages of five and 18-years-old on the advice of doctors. Almost 4.5 million vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland since the programme was rolled out in December 2020. Meanwhile the Public Health Agency and health trust vaccination teams have launched a student immunisation catch-up programme in colleges and universities across NI. Its aimed at giving students who missed out on vaccines in school during the pandemic the opportunity to receive them now. Teenage immunisations include the three in one booster which protects against tetanus,diphtheria and polio. Young people will also have a chance to get a MenACWY jab which offers protection against four strains of meningococcal bacteria that causes meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia) and the HPV vaccine (human papilloma virus) which protects against cervical, head and neck cancers. Deidre Ward, Nurse Consultant at the PHA said: The teenage immunisation vaccines are normally offered as part of the school-based vaccination programme, however due to the disruption caused during the COVID-19 pandemic some children may have missed getting the vaccines. Getting immunisations as a teenager is every bit as important as the vaccinations that you receive as a baby or toddler. "The three in one booster vaccine offered helps protect against three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and polio. "There is a tendency to think of these as diseases of the past, but we must remember that before vaccines existed, these diseases killed thousands of children in the UK every year. However, thankfully they are now preventable, but only through vaccination. Five doses of the tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccines are required throughout childhood to build up and maintain the bodys own immunity against those infections and help protect against the preventable diseases. Y Three of doses are administered to most people when they are still babies with the fourth dose offered three-year-olds as a pre-school booster. The fifth and final dose is received in teenage years. The MenACWY vaccine will help protect against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia meningococcal A,C,W and Y diseases, Ms Ward said. "Older teenagers are at higher risk of getting Meningococcal W disease (MenW), due to them mixing with larger groups of people, making them more exposed to various infections and diseases, so you need to get vaccinated to help protect yourself. "It will also reduce the risk of you carrying the bacteria, therefore offering better protection to those around you. MenW was generally rare in the UK, but there has been an increase in cases in recent years. The HPV vaccine will help protect you against HPV infection and associated cancers, including over 70% of cervical cancers in women, and cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and genitals in men and women. "For the vaccine to work fully, two injections will be needed within a 12 month period. It is important to have both vaccinations to get maximum protection. HPV is very common and is easily spread through sexual activity. Experts estimate that the level of protection offered by the vaccine will last for at least 10 years. Trust vaccination teams will be visiting colleges and universities across the region in the week commencing March 13. Students are urged to check details of clinics happening in or near their place of study and to check their vaccination status. Vaccination teams will be able to check records and answer any questions. A fire engine was sent out three times to an east Belfast street to extinguish burning bonfire materials on Tuesday. Calls were made about burning materials on Lismore street at 4.44pm, 5.45pm and 8.09pm. Firefighters used two hoses and one jet to quell the blaze from the final incident, but only a hose was needed for the two previous fires. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has said it believed the fires were deliberate. The PSNI has confirmed calls from the NIFRS regarding rubbish set alight at waste-ground at Lismore Street in east Belfast at 16.57 and 18.24 on Monday. A number of people were spoken to at the scene. Christopher Morelli was charged with the murder of Hollie Thomson A man charged with the murder of a Belfast mother-of-one has died suddenly while out on bail. Hollie Thomson's body was discovered at her home in the Greenan area of Shaw's Road in the city last September. Ms Thomson's partner, Christopher Morelli (31), appeared in court charged with the killing later the same month and was released on bail in November. Mr Morelli - who had tried to take his own life in the aftermath of Ms Thomson's death - died suddenly while out on bail at an address in Hillsborough, the Irish News reported. Christopher Morelli At his bail hearing in November, the High Court heard a prosecution claim that Mr Morelli inflicted fatal injuries on his 28-year-old partner after taking cocaine, before he drove to visit a transvestite escort for an arranged meeting for sexual services. Preliminary medical examinations identified suffocation and fractured neck as a possible cause of Ms Thomson's death, but defence lawyers challenged a claim that the evidence would sustain a murder charge, instead predicting that toxicology reports will instead support their case that it had been a drug overdose. The court was told that Ms Thomson had been out at a social club with Mr Morelli on the night before her death. The victim's sister went to Mr Morelli's home the following morning to ask what had happened and he was covered in blood from self-inflicted wounds, according to the prosecution's case, and he initially refused to answer questions. Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton claimed the defendant then said the couple argued and had consensual sex before he left her house. Christopher Morelli appears in court accused of murdering 28-year-old Hollie Thomson in west Belfast Mr Morelli allegedly said Ms Thomson was shaking when he left, likening it to a fit, adding that he didn't know what to do. Bail was subsequently granted under strict conditions, including a ban on alcohol and non-prescription drugs. Mr Justice Fowler also imposed an exclusion zone order, adding: There is to be no contact with any members of the deceaseds family. The funeral for Ms Thomson, who worked as a classroom assistant, was held at St Michael the Archangels Church on Finaghy Road. Fr Brendan Mulhall told mourners that while the funeral was to mark an "immensely sad and painful" passing, they were also celebrating Ms Thomson's short life that had touched so many people. "She had a beautiful and unforgettable smile that radiated so much kindness and warmth," he said. "She was respectful and kind - always there (for) advice and support or a shoulder to cry on." Fr Mulhall said that "above all" Ms Thomson loved her family. "Her mum and dad meant the absolute world to her as did Katie, her wee sister and best friend," he said. Regarding her daughter Ayla, Fr Mulhall said: "Hollie was an absolutely devoted mother and she and Hollie shared an unbreakable and very special bond. "There was an enormous amount of joy and happiness in the relationship." Following her death, friends of the Belfast woman set up an online fundraiser to support her daughter which raised more than 10,000. Stock Image: Police at the scene of an incident in Belfast (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man who was attacked in south Belfast on January 29. The victim, who was aged in his 40s, was assaulted in the early hours of the morning while waiting for a lift. Detectives are awaiting the results of his post mortem and will consider the findings as part of their investigation. Three men who were arrested in connection with the incident remain on police bail. Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin said: Sadly the victim of the assault has now passed away in hospital. I am appealing for witnesses to come forward. The assault occurred between 3.00am and 3.30am on Sunday, January 29th when the victim was waiting for a lift in the car park beside licensed premises. It has been reported that three men approached the victim and his friend before an altercation occurred which spilled out onto the Malone Road, at the junction of Eglantine Avenue. We know that this area would have been relatively busy with vehicles at the time, particularly taxi drivers, and would appeal to anyone who may have been in the vicinity to check their dash cam for relevant footage. The assault was only reported to police on February 16, more than a fortnight after it happened. It is not clear why at this stage. In their initial appeal, the PSNI had said the victim had been helping a friend to load a van parked in the car park outside licensed premises before he was approached by three men. Botanic SDLP councillor Gary McKeown sent his condolences to the dead mans family. "I am very sorry to learn that the man who was assaulted on the Malone Road has died. My thoughts are with those close to him, he said. "An incident like this will cause great concern for people living nearby, as this is an area heavily populated with students and long-term residents, and would be very busy at weekends. "Police investigations are ongoing, so I would urge anyone with any information to please come forward." Police have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill (left), party leader Mary Lou McDonald (right) and former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams (back right) carry the coffin of former general secretary Rita O'Hare at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Pic Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Sinn Fein leaders have carried the coffin of republican Rita O'Hare at a cemetery in Dublin where her funeral has taken place. A cremation service for the former party strategist, who died at the age of 80 following a long illness, was held at Glasnevin Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill and party leader Mary Lou McDonald appeared visibly upset as they carried the remains of the Belfast-born activist who was a key player in the early civil rights movement in Northern Ireland. Former party leader Gerry Adams also carried the coffin of one of the most high-profile on-the-run republicans during the Troubles. Ms McDonald pledged to move heaven and earth to achieve a united Ireland in a tribute to the memory of the veteran republican who she described as an unstoppable force for Irish freedom. Sinn Fein leaders carry coffin of former fugitive Rita OHare as funeral takes place in Dublin The Sinn Fein president delivered the main address at the funeral service and hailed the former editor of republican newspaper An Phoblacht as arguably the leading female republican of her generation. You knew that your place was to never know your place, she told mourners. An inheritor of that great tradition of unmanageable revolutionaries, an exemplar of that stubborn, relentless courage, who would in turn pass the torch to the next generation. Ms McDonald said she will not let down the woman who had a central role in building Sinn Fein. "Rita OHare and her generation have made it possible for us to achieve the Republic in our time. That is her gift. Their gift to us, she said. And she would give anything to be here on the day that we get our referendum on Irish unity, she would give anything to see the day that we end partition and now she relies on us to carry on, to grasp the moment, to seize the purpose of our generation and to make it happen. Well, we will move heaven, we will move earth to finish that noble journey. So, I want you to know that weve got this Rita, we will not let you down and, until we meet again, sleep well our leader, our comrade, our dearest, dearest friend. Former party president Gerry Adams delivered an oration in memory of the former fugitive who was wanted in Northern Ireland for her alleged involvement in the 1971 attempted murder of an Army warrant officer. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams attends the funeral of former Sinn Fein general secretary Rita O'Hare at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The suspect fled to the Republic of Ireland where she later served a three-year jail sentence for trying to smuggle explosives into Limerick prison while on a visit. An attempt to extradite her to Northern Ireland failed after the High Court in Dublin in 1978 ruled that her alleged offences were political. Ms OHare spent two decades in the United States as Sinn Feins senior representative across the Atlantic. In later years, the Andersonstown native lived in Dublin. A death notice states the deceased will be sadly missed by her husband Brendan, daughters Terry and Frances, sons Rory and Ciara as well as her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends and neighbours. Dog fouling in Belfast carries a penalty of 80, reduced to 45 if paid within 14 days A total of 3,843 dog control offences have been recorded in Belfast in almost five years, it has emerged. Figures show that, since the beginning of the 2017/18 financial year, a total of 276 fines have been issued for dog fouling, although the most prevalent offence is straying, with 1,352 fines handed out over the same period. Local councils are required to provide Stormont's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to provide information on dog control offences each quarter. Figures compiled by Belfast City Council officials for its People and Communities committee detail the scale of the problem in the city. In addition to the fines for strays and dog fouling, since 2017/18, 38 court summons have been issued for fouling and 357 for straying. Looking at dog licences, BCC's dog warden service has handed out 1,286 fines to dog owners who had no licence for their pet since 2017/18, in addition to 534 court summons for this reason. Current fines for not having a dog licence and for dog fouling are set at 80, reduced to 50 if paid within 14 days. If fines are not paid the council can take the offender to court. In an attempt to tackle these problems, BCC has undertaken an extensive advertising campaign on responsible dog ownership, erecting more signage in areas where there has been an increase in dog fouling, while also carrying out patrols. BCC's dog warden service operates seven days a week except for bank holidays from 8am to 8pm. The service has 12 dog wardens who operate in four teams, as well as two supervisors and a dog warden and animal welfare manager. Over the course of the 2021/22 financial year there were 2,821 requests from ratepayers for dog wardens. Between April 1 and December 31 this figure was 2,239, working out at an average of 249 per month. "Dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership go hand in hand and can impact the quality and amenity of our neighbourhoods," council officers said. "Clearly, whilst the majority of dog owners exercise responsible dog management, there are a small number of owners who have less regard for this and this can have an impact on areas in the city. "This requires ongoing re-direction of our resources to address in terms of its removal from the streets, as well as providing a wide range of education and awareness programmes together with the use of fines where infringements are detected. "The dog warden service as part of their role deploy routine monitoring patrols, to detect dog fouling incidents. However, it is widely recognised that the problem of dog fouling cannot be addressed solely by enforcement intervention. "To encourage a change in behaviour, a wider programme supporting responsible dog ownership is an essential element of the Councils approach to reducing levels of dog fouling throughout the city." Earlier this month, Ards and North Down Borough took advantage of new powers to increase fines for dog control offences. Fines were increased from 80 to 200, with the reduced rate if paid within 14 days rising from 45 to 150. And dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets in Antrim and Newtownabbeys streets will face a fine of 200 from next month. Councillors agreed at a meeting of the borough councils Operations Committee on Monday evening to more than than double the fine for dog fouling and littering. EXCLUSIVE | Scappaticci couldnt drive a Ferrari in west Belfast: Stakeknife paid equivalent of 250,000 a year by his handlers in 1980s, according to nemesis who outed him Sources said the CID, as part of the investigation, wrote to Siemens which sent its representatives to convey that it was never associated with the project. Photo by Arrangement Vijayawada: In a major embarrassment to the principal opposition Telugu Desam, multinational industrial giant Siemens informed the state government that it was never associated with the controversial skill development project launched with great fanfare by then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh who was the IT minister in the previous regime. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) which has already been probing into the financial irregularities in implementing the project is said to have traced the hawala route through which at least 240 crore was allegedly siphoned off. According to official sources, Arja Srikanth, a senior railway official who was handling the project on deputation to the state, is likely to face serious action in the next few days along with other key people who the CID found to have been involved in the hawala transactions. The TD government announced that Siemens had agreed to provide 90 per cent of the 3,300-crore project as grant-in-aid and released 370 crore (including taxes) towards the 10 per cent contribution from the state. However, while issuing the GO for release of the states contribution, the Naidu government, it is alleged, deliberately avoided mentioning the grant-in-aid of Siemens. Sources said the CID, as part of the investigation, wrote to Siemens which sent its representatives to convey that it was never associated with the project. It also informed the state that one of its top employees in the Indian subsidiary Suman Bose indulged in activities that were taken up without the knowledge of the parent company. The CID found that Bose and Vikas Kanvikar of Digital Tech, another private company involved in the project, diverted the funds released by the state government to shell companies like Elite Computers, Skiller India Pvt Ltd, Knowledge Podium, ETA Greens and Kedans Partner. "Interestingly, the ACB received a detailed complaint from a whistleblower in 2016 about the project but officials responsible for the irregularities erased all traces including files," sources pointed out. Another interesting factor is that it was the Goods and Services Tax (GST) intelligence wing that first detected irregularities before the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government took up investigation. "The shell companies received funds along with GST but did not remit the same to the taxmen," sources said adding that the funds were routed out through hawala channels. The use of the phrase legitimate targets to describe officers families has been branded obscene Police and ATO deal with a suspect car carrying a device outside Waterside Police Station in Derry on November 21, 2022 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Sunday Life) A dissident republican threat to families of PSNI officers in Northern Ireland demonises and dehumanises both officers and their families, a former senior officer has said. In a code-worded statement given to The Irish News, Arm na Poblachta (ANP) said they are looking at the families of PSNI officers as legitimate targets. It is believed to be the first time an armed republican group has directly threatened civilian families of serving police officers. Former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White said the obscene threat revealed dissident republicans viewed officers families as less than human. Former Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White OBE Terrorism is the same all over the world; young men in particular are radicalised or recruited into organisations who then try to dehumanise and demonise police officers, he told the Belfast Telegraph. That, to me, is where this whole thing comes about. In their ideology, it is somehow acceptable to kill police officers because they are seen as less than human. Thats the way extremists work. This is taking it a step further by somehow dehumanising the families of police officers using that obscene description of legitimate target. There is nothing legitimate about murder, about terrorising people, but I suspect that most law-abiding folk will continue to support the PSNI and their families at this time. Read more Sickening threat against PSNI families condemned by Stormont parties Mr White said the police were correct to take the threat seriously, despite the relatively small stature of the dissident republican group. There is still a substantial threat, and its now brought more severely into light, he said. My hope is that it will not dissuade any police officer or member of a police officers family from continuing to do their duty. Sadly, this is what terrorism is all about; cowardly acts of creating fear and terror in the most soft of targets. As we know, it only takes one fanatical, radicalised terrorist to commit atrocities, so all threats should be paid attention to. One can only hope people will be sensible and proportionate in terms of their personal security, but that they will continue to do their duty with courage and professionalism. Alan McQuillan said the PSNI's resources had been eroded in recent years Alan McQuillan, also a former Assistant Chief Constable, condemned the ANP threat as totally deplorable. There are no legitimate targets anywhere and these people have no legitimacy themselves, he said. They dont have any electoral base, they dont represent anybody, they have virtually no support in the community, let alone the republican community. Arm na Poblachta is a nom de guerre that they are using. It sprang out of people who tended to be on the Continuity IRA side of things. They havent been involved in very much, they are a splinter of a splinter of a splinter and tend to be more personality-driven. That doesnt mean they are not dangerous, but the extent to which they are a threat is debatable and they are probably vying for position in the run-up to Easter. Mr McQuillan said dissident republican groupings may have been emboldened as the PSNI is hit with cut after cut. The PSNI now stands 2,000 officers below where Patten said they should be for a population the size we have, he said. We are not just hundreds of officers short, its about 25% short from where Patten thought it should be. That is having a really bad effect on its ability to deliver a service. People arent stupid, they see this and know the chances of getting caught are getting ever smaller. Police Federation NI (PFNI) chairman Liam Kelly said threatening police officers and their families was despicable. Officers families make big sacrifices so that officers can continue to safeguard communities and counter the reckless and profit-inspired gangsters who deliver misery, he said. We must work together to rid Northern Ireland of the scourge of paramilitarism and gangsterism, and I would appeal for an all-out community effort to do just that. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the threat highlighted the resourcing need within the PSNI. It underscores the need to support the PSNI, both vocally and by pressing the Government to tackle the budget shortfall within policing, he added. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly branded the threat absolutely despicable and said the group should disband. They should pack up and go. There is no place for these groups in our communities, he said. Alliances Nuala McAllister said the despicable threat should be removed immediately, while the SDLPs Mark H Durkan condemned the statement as absolutely reprehensible. The Policing Board condemned the threat as sinister. No one should have to live under a threat because of a career choice, and neither should any member of their family, said a spokesperson. This is a sinister threat, designed to cause fear. It is condemned by the Board and must be condemned right across the community. The threat, which was accompanied by claims of responsibility for recent attempted attacks in the Corrody Road and Lettershandoney areas of Derry, is being taken seriously by the PSNI. We have reminded all officers and staff of their personal safety and security both on and off duty, said the Assistant Chief Constable for the PSNIs Crime Department, Mark McEwan. This is a sickening attempt to terrorise our officers and staff. The Police Service of Northern Ireland will not be deterred from delivering a visible and impartial policing service to all communities. Party have called on former leaders Dame Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson as it weighs up whether to accept the Framework The Government says it will give the DUP time to examine Rishi Sunaks new deal with the EU after Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announced a consultative panel to review the Windsor Framework. He said the panel would report to him by the end of March. Downing Street would not be drawn on when it will stage a Commons vote on the Prime Minister new deal with the EU on arrangements for Northern Ireland. The DUP is setting up the the panel including former party leaders Dame Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson before deciding whether or not to re-enter power-sharing at Stormont. However, unionist critics have criticised the make-up of the panel. The group will also include Carla Lockhart MP, Ross Reed OBE, Brian Kingston MLA, John McBurney and Deborah Erskine MLA. He said their findings will inform the partys decision-making process and denied the move is intended as a delay tactic. The DUP is now engaged in a detailed study of what has been published as well as examining the detail of the legal texts published to date, Sir Jeffrey said in a statement. Clearly further legal text remains to be published to give effect to some of the changes already secured. We have already commenced discussions with the UK Government on a range of issues where we require further clarity and where we believe more work will be needed. During our Assembly election campaign we indicated that the protocol must be replaced with new arrangements that are able to command broad support in Northern Ireland and which respect Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom. Today I have established a group to commence and undertake a wide consultation process within Northern Ireland, listening and taking views on the Framework document. This work will be undertaken in parallel with our on-going engagement with the UK Government. The group of party members and independent thinkers has been tasked with engaging with a broad section of the unionist and loyalist community, the business sector, civic society and others who want to see Northern Ireland prosper within the Union. History teaches us that it is always better to get the right outcome for Northern Ireland rather than a rushed one, Sir Jeffrey added. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said later: We do want to give individual groups, including the DUP, the time to look at this. We are not simply waiting just for one group to report back. We need to strike the right balance between giving people the time and ensuring we give the people of Northern Ireland the certainty that they require. We do want to keep talking to the DUP and other groups and stand ready to answer any questions they have. It comes after a former DUP MLA and Stormont minister claimed Sir Jeffrey is keen to do a deal and accept the deal despite opposition from within the party. Jim Wells, who quit the DUP after being deselected ahead of the 2022 Assembly election, said he has been speaking to folk in the party who are extremely underwhelmed by the nature of the panel. Mr Wells, who was a DUP MLA for 24 years, said it was right for Sir Jeffrey to form a panel but questioned the balance. Knowing the people on it as well as I do, I mean, theyre hardly going to be critical, to the extent I would like, of the (Windsor) Framework. I think it needs balance. Indeed, there are plenty as they would call them, the doves, on the panel. What there isnt are those who have deep concerns about the Framework. It could be somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy in the sense that I dont believe that many people will be surprised if that panel has a reasonably favourable approach to the Framework. He said obvious names had been left out such as Lord Morrow, Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley. Not only are the panel like-minded individuals but theyre extremely loyal to Jeffrey. Theres nothing wrong with that. But there has to be the view that, if Jeffrey skews the panel in a certain way, there wont be much resistance to it, Mr Wells said. The public and private pronouncements of those on the panel, he said, have not been critical to date. The former DUP MLA also believes that former special adviser Richard Bullick should have been included in the group because he is an incredibly able legal adviser. TUV leader Jim Allister said: The public might be surprised at the absence of people who have expressed a sceptical view, in that this may be a group to give a soft landing to a departure from a previous anti-Protocol stance. Ammi Burke, a relative of Enoch Burke is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal by gardai after repeatedly interrupting a judgment being read out in the courtroom in Dublin. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire) PA Ammi Burke is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal by gardai after repeatedly interrupting a judgment being read out in the courtroom in Dublin. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire) PA Simeon Burke is accused of causing a breach of the peace at the Four Courts in Dublin.(Irish Independent). A younger brother of Enoch Burke has been charged with threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour following chaotic scenes at a Court of Appeal hearing today. Simeon Burke (24) was arrested and brought before Dublin District Court this evening accused of causing a breach of the peace at the Four Courts earlier today. The disturbance is alleged to have happened as appeal judges rejected Enoch Burke's appeal against High Court injunctions directing him not to trespass at a Co Westmeath school. Simeon Burke had been among family members at that hearing to support his brother. The accused, of Cloonsoona, Castlebar, Co Mayo, is charged with using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour at the Four Courts today. The charge is under Section 6 of the Public Order Act. Judge Paula Murphy granted him bail and adjourned the case to Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday. Mr Burke told the court he would not sign the bail bond and was remanded in custody with consent to bail. The accused told the court he had been assaulted by gardai and treated in a brutal fashion by them because his family objected to having transgenderism forced down the throats of the people of this country". Ammi Burke is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal by gardai after repeatedly interrupting a judgment being read out in the courtroom in Dublin. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire) PA He told Judge Murphy to stop this process now and said Im not signing anything, Im not a criminal here and I wont be treated as such. Garda Conor Dwyer told Judge Murphy he was called to the Four Courts at 3.23pm where a man was allegedly shouting and provoking a breach of the peace, with several members of the public around. They escorted the accused outside and he was shouting in an aggressive manner, he said. I tried to reason with him and he did not comply, he said. He was later charged, made no reply after caution and refused garda station bail. The judge asked Simeon Burke if he had a solicitor. I can speak for myself, he replied. This process needs to be stopped, I was unlawfully arrested and I have been treated shamefully and disgracefully by the gardai. I am shocked and shaken to the core by what happened. Its nothing short of disgraceful. He said he had gone to the Court of Appeal today, as every citizen had a right to do, and during his time there the president of the court made statements, they were horrific statements, about transgenderism, justifying why it should be shoved down the throats of people in this country. This was not only in schools but universities and was contrary to the Constitution, he said. He said citizens had religious rights and rights to express themselves freely. Judge Murphy said that was a matter for the hearing of the case. The family raised objections to what the judge said, Mr Burke continued. A mob of gardai invaded the courtroom and assaulted my sister Ammi Burke, a solicitor, he claimed. He said the gardai also assaulted his brother Enoch who had spent 108 days in prison because he "would not be forced to accept transgenderism in the school where he works. He was assaulted by a mob of gardai and left bleeding by a mob of gardai, Mr Burke continued. What happened next is the gardai were making their way towards my mother after assaulting my sister and my brother, and I was in the pathway of the gardai as they moved to continue their violence against my mother. He was then targeted and attacked by gardai who manhandled him and pushed him out of the courtroom", he claimed. He alleged the gardai swore at him and one said eff him out of the courtroom, with another swearing at him as he was driven to court. When he raised this with the gardai, he claimed, the reply was yes, I am swearing at you. I am shocked, I am shaken to my core, Mr Burke told the court. I am not a criminal. Transgenderism shouldnt be forced down the throats of people. For the judge to have made that comment was wrong. My shirt was ripped open, I have been left bleeding, my clothes have been taken from me, I have been brought in like a criminal. You have a responsibility to stop this process right now. He told the judge she had a duty before God and she had sworn before God to uphold the Constitution and the law. Its shameful how I have been treated, I have been treated in a brutal fashion as have been my family, he said, and this was because they raised objections to having transgenderism forced down the throats of the people of this country. The court heard there was no garda objection to bail subject to conditions and the judge set bail in his own bond of 200, with no cash lodgement required. Under conditions, he is to stay away from the Four Courts and sign on three times weekly at his local garda station. Im not signing anything, Im not a criminal here and I wont be treated as such, Mr Burke said. The judge asked if he would not be taking up bail. I will not be treated like a criminal, judge, he said. Several Burke family members in the public gallery were heard to say shameful while the accuseds mother Martina asked: Where are his shoes? and Why were his clothes ripped off him? Shame on all of you, Enoch Burke said as his brother was led away by prison guards. Absolutely disgraceful. At the earlier Court of Appeal hearing, Enoch Burke lost an appeal aimed at overturning court orders preventing him from teaching or attending Wilsons Hospital School in Multyfarnham in Co Westmeath. The three-judge court, in three separate judgments, dismissed the appeal. The delivery of the judgments was interrupted several times with gardai eventually intervening to remove members of the family. Officers moved in and requested that the Burkes leave the courtroom after the three-judge court abandoned the delivery of its judgment because of repeated interruptions. There were tense scenes as at least 10 gardai arrived in the court to escort the Burkes out, only for members of the family to angrily refuse to comply with requests to leave. The first to be physically removed was Mr Burkes sister Ammi, a solicitor, following by his Simeon, who is studying to be a barrister at Kings Inns. One by one the family members were removed despite strongly resisting, holding onto benches and each other as gardai sought to get them out. Enoch Burke appeared to cut his hand while grabbing hold of a table as a garda tried to pull him away. Throughout the incident, which went on for around ten minutes, angry comments were directed at gardai by the Burkes. The confrontation broke out after the Burkes got to their feet and loudly objected to comments by the president of the court, Mr Justice George Birmingham. The judge said offensive terms used by Enoch Burke during his appeal caused him to wonder whether this is not an exercise in creating soundbites. At this point, all hell broke loose in the courtroom. Enoch Burke got to his feet, shouting: Thats a disgrace judge. Amid a cacophony from the benches where his family stood, he could be heard shouting: How dare you strip me of my constitutional rights. His mother Martina repeatedly shouted: You are bowed prostrate at the altar of transgenderism. Gardai moved in and Ammi Burke was the first to be physically removed. Ammi Burke, a relative of Enoch Burke is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal by gardai after repeatedly interrupting a judgment being read out in the courtroom in Dublin. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire) PA As she was being forcibly taken from the court, her father Sean shouted: You have no right to take her out. Shame on you. It is a cover up. Sean and Martina Burke were also bundled out of the court after a stand-off. Then four gardai were required to drag Enoch Burke out a back door. As a garda wrestled with him, Mr Burke repeatedly shouted: Dont you dare touch me. He accused the gardai of being a disgrace. The last of the family to be removed was Isaac Burke, who was dragged out with his feet trailing on the ground. Members of the family insisted gardai had no right to remove them from the court. They were taken from the courtroom after judges had to twice rise from the bench due to interruptions. Mr Burke was appealing against High Court orders restraining him from turning up at Wilsons Hospital School. Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Maire Whelan, had only managed to read out one part of the courts decision before the hearing descended into chaos. The judge said the court had no hesitation in dismissing an appeal Mr Burke had against a temporary injunction granted by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack last August restraining him from attending for work at the Co Westmeath school At this point, Ammi Burke, stood up and interrupted the judge, making comments about her brothers constitutional rights. She refused to stop talking or sit down when Mr Justice Birmingham instructed her to do so. Several other members of the Burke family stood and began shouting up at the bench. The loudest was Mr Burkes mother Martina, who shouted: You are bowing before the altar of transgenderism, every single one of you. She went on to make loud comments about judicial salaries. The judges left the bench and remained in their chambers for around five minutes. When they came back into the courtroom, Mr Justice Birmingham said he would continue reading out the judgement, but that if there were any further interruptions the court would rise again and the judgment would be issued electronically. He was in the middle of dealing with a second part of the appeal, in relation to an order granted by Mr Justice Max Barrett last September, when he was interrupted by members of the family again. The judges rose from the bench again and this time they did not come back. Several gardai were in the court at the time and more flooded in after the Burkes refused to comply with a request to leave. Mr Burke had claimed the orders he was appealing were invalid, unconstitutional, had no legal effect and should be set aside. However, the three-judge court disagreed and dismissed his grounds of appeal. Despite the orders, Mr Burke continued to go to its premises in Multyfarnham each school day despite first being suspended and later dismissed from his job there as a teacher of history and German. He spent 108 days in prison last year for contempt of court orders and is currently being fined 700 for each day he remains in contempt. His suspension last August came after Mr Burke, an evangelical Christian, refused to comply with a request from the then principal to call a transgender pupil by a new name and by their preferred pronouns. A number of incidents, in which Mr Burke expressed opposition on religious grounds to the request, prompted the schools board of management to put him on paid administrative leave. He was sacked by the board of management in January, a decision he is appealing to a tribunal. During the appeal hearing, the teacher claimed the request, was an unlawful demand that he participate in transgenderism, and was in breach of his constitutional rights to the freedom of religious expression. Transgenderism, he said, was contrary to all major religions, and his own Christian beliefs. He told the court that scriptures state that there is only the male and the female. But Mr Justice Birmingham said the communication from the principal fell well short of a demand. The judge said he had no hesitation in dismissing the appeal against the order of Ms Justice Stack, as on the evidence presented to her there was a case for an interim injunction. He did not get to read out the part of the ruling dismissing the appeal against Mr Justice Barretts order, but an electronic version of the judgment issued later confirmed this too had been dismissed. The Court of Appeal decided not to hear appeals against two other High Court decisions, made by Mr Justice Conor Dignam and Ms Justice Eileen Roberts. These included the dismissal of an application brought by Mr Burke aimed at setting aside his suspension. Before delivering the courts ruling, Mr Justice Birmingham said a letter was received by the courts registrar from a firm of solicitors in the midlands. Although not stated by the judge, it appears the firm that sent the letter is representing the transgender child or their family. The judge said the letter indicated the desire of the law firm that nothing be said in the course of the judgment that would identify the child. There is also a stated concern the judgement should not contain anything that is inaccurate, said Mr Justice Birmingham. The judge said the correspondence seemed to be designed to influence the contents of the judgment and, on one view, was an attempt to put evidence before the court through correspondence, which he said could not be done. Mr Justice Birmingham said the court had been careful at all stages not to identify the child. The hearing of the full cases between the school and Mr Burke remains pending before the High Court, and is expected to be heard later this year. MP Wilson demands transparency in partygate investigator row Ms Gray a former Stormont permanent secretary who previously owned a pub near Newry may have breached civil service rules, ministers have said. Paymaster General Jeremy Quin raised in the Commons four areas where the senior civil servant may have fallen foul during the exceptional situation. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accused Conservative MPs of pursuing conspiracy theories spread by former prime minister Boris Johnson and his allies. Labour confirmed last week that Ms Gray plans to become Sir Keirs chief of staff, after the move was first reported by Sky News. Mr Johnson and his allies have since seized on it to allege the investigation into the law-breaking parties in Downing Street under his leadership was an attempt to smear him. Speaking in the Commons, the DUPs Sammy Wilson also raised questions about Ms Grays involvement in Brexit decisions after Conservative MP Marcus Fysh suggested she had participated in discussions promoting the Northern Ireland Protocol, which unionists say created a trade border in the Irish Sea. East Antrim MP Mr Wilson said: I suppose the question for this House is what sensitive political issues was she involved in during those negotiations, and will the minister agree with me that no amount of bluster from the (Labour) front bench will ever hide the double standards of lecturing about accountability and transparency, while at the same time not being prepared to answer a straightforward question as to when they started talking to Sue Gray. Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin replied: I think (he) puts it rather well. It would be very simple just to help put minds at rest by publishing the data, just setting out when the meetings took place, who met who, when and where and that will help reassure the House. Mr Fysh had said just previously: The House and the country should know that on September 7 2019 I witnessed Sue Gray, who was then permanent secretary for the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, discuss with the special adviser to the UK Cabinet Office how to exclude solutions other than high alignment with EU law and regulation from consideration by the Government in respect of Northern Ireland as under the Withdrawal Agreement. A month later the Government proposed the Northern Ireland Protocol, which subjected Northern Ireland to EU law and regulation. Since then Sue Gray has been the civil servant specifically responsible for advising on the Union considerations in Government. It was reported this week that Sue Gray was present in the briefing of Cabinet ministers on the PMs Windsor Framework which, among other things, appears to confirm and embed the application of EU law and regulation in Northern Ireland. Mr Fysh was ordered to sit down by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle who advised him to ask a question rather than go on and on. Would-be first minister Kate Forbes wants to see an increase in the number of Scots studying medicine at universities north of the border. (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Would-be first minister Kate Forbes has pledged to increase the number of university places north of the border for Scots to study medicine, if she is chosen to succeed Nicola Sturgeon. The current Scottish Finance Secretary said she would seek to have a conversation with the countrys five medical schools with the aim of increasing the number of spaces for Scottish-based medical students at our universities. The SNP leadership candidate insisted: Bluntly we will have an ongoing crisis in the NHS if we dont recruit many more doctors. Ms Forbes faces Scottish Health Secretary Huzma Yousaf and former Scottish Government minister Ash Regan in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon. Kate Forbes is running against Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf to be the next SNP leader and Scottish first minister (Jane Barlow/Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Speaking about the plan, Ms Forbes said: Theres clear evidence that Scottish medical students who qualify from a Scottish university are much more likely to stay in Scotland when they graduate. From my initial conversations with frontline medics, there is a strong rationale for growing more of our own talent here. Noting the competition for places to study medicine at university is already very high, Ms Forbes said that this demonstrated there are plenty of well-qualified Scottish pupils keen to pursue a career in medicine. She continued: If I am elected first minister I would like to have significant discussions with medical schools and their universities regarding actual numbers and the speed at which things can be scaled up. This would form part of a wider conversation other health professionals from nurses to psychologists to speech therapists are all part of the picture, and we mustnt forget about them either. Attendees of a Victims Day event in the Senate Chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly watch a pre-recorded message from Paul Wilson, son of Irish nationalist politician and member of the Senate of Northern Ireland Paddy Wilson, who was killed by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1973 (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney Respect for the survivors and victims of the Troubles has been washed away, according to the son of a victim of a loyalist attack. Paul Wilson is the son of SDLP senator Paddy Wilson, who was murdered by the loyalist group the Ulster Freedom Fighters 50 years ago. Mr Wilson was speaking at an event in Stormont to mark the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. Speaking of his father, he said: Years later I was asked to contribute to a commemoration plaque in Stormont. I came up with three words I thought he stood for. Equality, tolerance and respect. Paul Wilson, son of Irish nationalist politician and member of the Senate of Northern Ireland Paddy Wilson, who was killed by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney Mr Wilson then built on his understanding of respect in Northern Ireland today. Sadly, the respect for survivors and victims of the Troubles has been washed away, he said. We see paintings and murals depicting cold-blooded murderers. Where is the respect for each other? For your neighbour? Where is the respect for those who died and the families who are left? At the event, family members were able to share how the death of their loved ones as a result of terrorist attacks had affected them and their families. Mary Hornsey is the mother of Paul Maxwell, who was 15 when he was killed alongside Lord Mountbatten in an IRA attack in Sligo. Ms Hornsey spoke of Pauls love of sailing and read a selection of poems that she had written to help express her grief surrounding her sons death. I was devastated and overcome by grief. I miss him so much, she said. Mary Hornsey, the mother of Troubles victim Paul Maxwell, speaks in the Senate Chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly during a Victims Day event (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney Ms Hornseys final poem concluded: I hope my child youll find grace to forgive, this torment with which I must always live. Also contributing was Tanya Williams-Powell, the granddaughter of Thomas Niedermayer, who was kidnapped and later killed by the IRA in 1973. In the years following his death Miss Williams-Powells grandmother, aunt, mother and father would all go on to take their own lives. That is the legacy, the multi-generational trauma thats been caused by the decision to kidnap Thomas, Miss Williams-Powell said. Tanya Williams-Powell, granddaughter of Thomas Niedermayer, who was killed by the IRA in 1973 (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney For me that is absolutely atrocious. Those who say that violence and terrorism is the only way they can deal with things. They need to explain that to the family and victims who are left. So many of my family died by their own hand, mental health is so much more open now but it is still stigmatised. TUV leader Jim Allister, who also spoke at the event, alluded to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill which is currently being debated in the House of Lords and would provide protection from prosecution for those who co-operated with an independent truth commission. When you have a government that says we want to give amnesty to murderers, then respect for the victims of terrorism has well and truly been washed away, he said. Mr Allister added: The victims do matter. The scars that have been left cannot be ignored. Victims do deserve to be front and centre of any arrangements dealing with the past. TUV leader Jim Allister speaking in the Senate Chamber of the Northern Ireland Assembly during a Victims Day event (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney To mark European Victims Day, civic council buildings will light up red in acknowledgement of victims and survivors of the Troubles. South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) made the request of all 11 councils as well as Dail Eireann, Dublin, and the Palace of Westminster, London. SEFFs director of services Kenny Donaldson spoke on the importance of victims perspective as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches. It is important particularly at this time that victims/survivors are acknowledged, almost 25 years on since the signing of the Belfast Agreement, victims/survivors remain a constituency whose needs have not been delivered upon, he said. Mr Donaldson added at Stormont on Tuesday: Today is about the recognition of a constituency of people that we would argue have borne the price of compromise, for others to enjoy the level of peace we have here today, imperfect as it is. Today is very much about the unity of values. Its about the opposition of violence wherever that violence comes from. Were very clear that whether it was carried out by republicans or loyalists or members of the forces that committed a criminal act, it was all wrong. Today we have representation from victims of both loyalist and republican violence and its very important to hear those individuals joining together. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is up for the fight against any legal challenges to his plans to tackle small boat crossings, as ministers admitted they may fall foul of human rights laws. Mr Sunak said on Tuesday there was absolutely nothing improper about his new legislation and said he is confident the Government would win any court action. But Home Secretary Suella Braverman conceded it is likely the Illegal Migration Bill may be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Mr Sunak did not rule out withdrawing the UK from the convention if legal challenges stall his latest plan to stop the boats, as with the Rwanda policy. The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference they were prepared to challenge any legal action. Of course were up for the fight, I wouldnt be standing here if we werent, he said, standing in front of a stop the boats branded podium. But were confident that well win. On the front page of the Bill, Ms Braverman acknowledges she cannot assure Parliament that the legislation is compatible with the convention but adds that the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill. (PA Graphics) PA Graphics Mr Sunak said there is absolutely nothing improper or unprecedented about the warning. We believe we are acting in compliance with international law, in compliance with the ECHR, and if challenged, as you may well be right, weve seen in these matters we do get challenged, we will fight that hard because we believe were doing the right thing and it is compliant with our obligations, he added. Ministers were facing pressure from the Conservative right to pull the UK out of the ECHR if legal challenges block the plans. Mr Sunak said we dont believe it is necessary to leave the ECHR but did not rule out the move when asked at his press conference. In a letter to MPs and peers seen by the PA news agency, Ms Braverman conceded it was more than likely the Bill does not meet ECHR obligations. This does not mean that the provisions in the Bill are incompatible with the convention rights, only that there is a more (than) 50% chance that they may not be, she wrote. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Both Houses will have an opportunity to thoroughly scrutinise the Bill and, once approved, the measures in the Bill will have been expressly endorsed by Parliament and we would expect the courts to take that into account. The right to a family life, freedom from torture and the right to a fair trial were all issues being considered as potential challenges to the legislation. So too was the right to liberty, with concerns over the powers for indefinite detention. The UN Refugee Agency said it was profoundly concerned by the Bill which it said would amount to an asylum ban and clearly breach the refugee convention. We urge the Government, and all MPs and peers, to reconsider the Bill and instead pursue more humane and practical policy solutions, the UNHCR said. The Law Society of England and Wales, which represents solicitors, said it would carefully analyse whether the plans impinge on access to justice as it issued a warning. President Lubna Shuja said: The rule of law is undermined if the UK Government takes the view that laws, international or domestic, can be broken. (PA Graphics) If a government breaks laws, it breaks trust with its own citizens and with international partners. We will be carefully combing the detail of this Bill to determine whether it will lead to the Home Office delivering a fair and workable process, and seeking clarity from the Government on whether it is compatible with the UKs international obligations. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: Its an admission by the Government that its in effect behaving like those countries that show disregard to international human rights conventions, the likes of Myanmar, Russia, Belarus. Ms Braverman alluded to the Bills legal complexities while announcing the plans in the House of Commons. Some of the nations finest legal minds have been, and continue to be involved in, its development, she said. Attorney General Victoria Prentis outlined some of the legal measures relating to the Bill to ministers during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. Ms Braverman has previously called for the UK to leave the ECHR. The marble head of a young man, a tiny fragment from the 2,500-year-old decoration of the Parthenon Temple on the ancient Acropolis, is displayed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens,(Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Thanassis Stavrakis The Vatican and Greece have finalised a deal for the return of three sculpture fragments from the Parthenon that have been in the collection of the Vatican Museums for two centuries. The Vatican has termed the return an ecumenical donation to the Orthodox Christian archbishop of Athens and all Greece, not necessarily a state-to-state transfer. But it nevertheless puts pressure on the British Museum to conclude a deal with Greece over the fate of its much bigger collection of Parthenon sculptures. The Parthenon temple stands on a hill above Athens (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Thanassis Stavrakis The head of the Vatican city-state, Cardinal Fernando Vergez, signed an agreement to implement the donation during a private Vatican Museums ceremony with Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni and a representative of the Orthodox Christian archbishop of Athens and all Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos II. The envoy, Father Emmanuel Papamikroulis, told The Associated Press that the Greek Orthodox Church and archbishop were grateful to Pope Francis for the deal. It has taken place at a difficult time for our country, and it will hopefully provide some sense of pride and happiness. I hope this initiative is followed by others, he said in a phone interview from the Vatican, where he was touring the gardens after the signing ceremony. This initiative does help heal wounds of the past and it demonstrates that when Christian leaders work together, they can resolve issues in a practical way, Mr Papamikroulis added. The fragments are expected to arrive in Athens later this month, with a March 24 ceremony planned to receive them. The British Museums has refused decades of appeals from Greece to return its much larger collection of Parthenon sculptures, which have been a centrepiece of the museum since 1816. Earlier this month, however, the chair of the British Museum said the UK and Greece were working on a deal that would see his institutions Parthenon Marbles displayed in both London and Athens. The 5th century BC sculptures are mostly remnants of a 160m frieze that ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom. Much of the frieze and the temples other sculptural decoration were lost in a 17th-century bombardment, and about half the remaining works were removed in the early 19th century by a British diplomat, Lord Elgin. Mourners gather for the funeral of 29 year old Yana Rikhlitska, a Ukrainian army medic killed in the Bakhmut area of Ukraine (Thibault Camus/AP) Thibault Camus A volunteer medic has been buried in Ukraine after being killed by Russian shelling. Yana Rikhlitska, 29, died alongside another medic as they shuttled between a field hospital and the frontline. She was really friendly and kind, said Viktor Fateyev, 39, a colleague from the IT company where she worked in the HR department. She was like a mother to everyone. She was the focus point everyone gathered around. Ms Rikhlitska was filmed by journalists just over a week ago as she helped treat wounded soldiers in the field hospital outside Bakhmut, which Russia forces have pulverised during a three-sided assault to seize the city in eastern Ukraine. Mourners hug each other during the funeral of Yana Rikhlitska, a Ukrainian army medic killed in the Bakhmut area of Ukraine (Thibault Camus/AP) Thibault Camus At her funeral on Tuesday, her mothers cries of anguish pierced the cold morning air as mourners who had fought back tears held them no longer. Oh, Yana. Oh, my daughter, Olena Rikhlitska cried. My baby. My little one. Those gathered for the service, in Ms Rikhlitskas home city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, remembered a person full of vitality and spurred on by a lifelong drive to help others. Ms Rikhlitska was in Brazil just before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 2022. She spent a few months in the South American country practicing capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, Mr Fateyev said, clutching a bunch of yellow tulips as he waited to pay his respects at the funeral. She flew home after the invasion, he said, and straight away began fundraising and working as a volunteer for troops to help the Ukrainian defence effort. Mourners gather next to the body of Ms Rikhlitska (Thibault Camus/AP) Thibault Camus It was not long before she decided to become a frontline medic. Mr Fateyev saw Ms Rikhlitska featured in the Associated Presss video report when it aired and posted it in a group chat of her co-workers. Everyone was so excited, he said. And then, the next day Tetiana Obraztsova, 30, a member of a volunteer combat medic group who met Ms Rikhlitska in September, said Ms Rikhlitska ferried humanitarian aid to Bakhmut even before she became a medic. Russia has been trying to capture the city for six months. She did all that she could, right from the start of the full-scale war, Ms Obraztsova said. Fellow volunteer Anastasia Muzyka, 29, recalled Ms Rikhlitska as bright, kind and indefatigable. She was fiery, in a good way. She was so dedicated. It was like she was never tired, Ms Muzyka said. In combat, eventually even soldiers need to rest, she added. But not Yara. She was always there, helping everyone. Olena Rikhlitska, second right, mother of Yana Rikhlitska cries during the funeral (Thibault Camus/AP) Thibault Camus It was during her volunteer work in August that she met her future husband, Oleksandr, who was in the Ukrainian army. Amid the noise of war, their love blossomed and the couple married on December 31. She was fire, the fire that cannot be extinguished. said Oleksandr, who would only give his first name. Childhood friend Snizhana Zaliubivska, 28, remembered Ms Rikhlitska showing a desire to help even as a little girl. The two had lost touch in recent years, but Ms Zaliubivska was devastated to hear of her friends death. It wasnt a surprise that she was volunteering. She was a true patriot of the country, she said. She would never refuse anyone. She was always helping everyone who would ask. Draped with the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, Ms Rikhlitskas coffin was taken to the military section of the local cemetery and opened. Ashen-faced, her mother gently stroked her daughters cheek and kissed her one last time. No, no, she cried as the coffin was carried to the grave and lowered to the sound of a gun salute. Only the support of her husband, Mykola, and another relative prevented her from falling to the ground. Behind them, row upon row of Ukrainian flags fluttered above the graves of the war dead, snapping in the breeze. A woman accused of assisting a suspect in the gruesome killing and dismemberment of model Abby Choi in Hong Kong has been arrested in mainland China. The arrest of the 29-year-old woman brought the total number of people allegedly involved in the case to seven. Police said they suspect she assisted another suspect and then fled to mainland China. She was handed over to Hong Kong authorities at Shenzhen Bay Port and charged on Tuesday, they said. Model Abby Choi was murdered (Pao Jo-yee via AP) Pao Jo-yee The grisly killing of Ms Choi, 28, has gripped many in Hong Kong and in mainland China because the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has a very low level of violent crime. Last week, her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, his father, Kwong Kau, and his brother, Anthony Kwong, were charged with murder after police found body remains in a house rented by Kwong Kau in a suburban area of Hong Kong near the border with mainland China. Alex Kwongs mother, Jenny Li, faces one count of perverting the course of justice. All four were detained without bail. Police also arrested two others accused of assisting other suspects in the case. Ms Choi, who had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, disappeared on February 21, according to a report filed later with police. She had financial disputes involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars with her ex-husband and his family, police said earlier, adding that some people were unhappy with how Ms Choi handled her finances. The Belum Caves are the second largest in the Indian sub-continent after the Meghalaya caves.(DC File Photo) VISHAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh will make waves if the unique and innovative projects proposed at the recently held Global Investors Summit 2023 have become a reality. One such project that drew the attention of many at the summit was cave stay. An entrepreneur, Ranjesh Krishna Murthy from Bengaluru, proposed the project at Belum Caves located in Nandyal district, about 300 km from Bengaluru, which would cost around Rs 300 crore. The project will have a swimming pool, 40 room resorts and a restaurant all of them set inside the caves. "We are exploring all the technicalities to make the project unique. Holiday-makers will be living in a cave though they may be treated to high-class food, swimming in blue waters and stay in luxury rooms, Krishna Murthy told Deccan Chronicle on Monday. The Belum Caves are the second largest in the Indian sub-continent after the Meghalaya caves. Another entrepreneur proposed a space observatory cum planetarium to educate the school-going children about Space and related technology. Once inside, the children will be able to see through deep Space through a giant telescope. "This can be part of educational tourism, which will instill a scientific temperament among the young children, said the entrepreneur linked to the Gautam Business Group. He is also proposing tree houses, hot-air balloon tours and acquatic corridor where people can eat in a restaurant set under fresh water. This will be the one-of- its-kind in India and the second in Asia. Japan has one such, under sea water, he said. Another unique project is caravan tours promoted by the Tours and Travelers Association of Andhra Pradesh represented by K. Vijay Mohan of Visakhapatnam. Raising funds from travel operators, Vijay Kumar proposes caravan tours for tourists ready to travel anywhere by a caravan, which is well-equipped with bedrooms, kitchen and sitting place. Paying Rs 6,000 per day, four members can travel anywhere, driving a maximum of 300 km per day as is restricted by RTA. The other part of the project is that people can hop in and hop out of open-top buses that will ply in different directions in the city, taking people to various tourist destinations. People can join it anywhere and get off anywhere. The other projects are ocean swimming pools to be located all along the AP coast, divine destination for spiritual tourism, hi-tech devotional theme park, sky restaurant and jungle houses. Twenty20 A value or ethic is a principle or standard about what is important in ones life. Therefore, Christian values are the principles that a follower of Jesus Christ holds as necessary, the principles of life that Jesus taught. Christian values dont change over time. They are consistent from generation to generation since their foundation is found in Gods Word, the Bible. Worldly values include wealth, power, pleasure, revenge, fame, vanity, and status. These are the most important things to people who perceive no power or purpose beyond themselves Worldly values promote jealousies, resentments, and conflicts among people following the objectives of Satan. The Christian values taught in the Bible are often the opposite of worldly values: kindness and respect for all people instead of power; humility instead of status; honesty and generosity instead of wealth; self-control instead of self-indulgence; forgiveness instead of revenge. Christian values promote peace and goodwill among people following the purposes of God. We will never achieve perfection in this life, but those who strive to obey God often find a sense of joy and peace that no worldly rewards can match. Heres a list of Christian values emphasized in the Bible. Worship God. One day, a religious leader asked Jesus which commandments were most important. Jesus replied in Mark 12:28-30 by saying, The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The Hebrews of Old Testament times tended to lapse into worship of pagan deities and statues of animals or other objects. Still, anything that takes the place of our devotion to God becomes an idol or false god. That idolatry is forbidden by the first of the Ten Commandments. Jesus particularly singled out the love of wealth as a false god, and other Bible passages mention greed, covetousness, arrogance, gluttony, and pride as equivalent to idolatry. In todays world, many things compete against God for our devotion. These are some things that are not necessarily bad in moderation but can become modern-day idolatry if we let them become too important to us, like attention to material possessions, the pursuit of wealth, and excessive devotion to self. If you need ideas on how to worship God, here are 18 ways to worship God. Be kind to everyone. After saying Love the Lord your God is the most important of the commandments, Jesus continued, The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these, as seen in Mark 12:31. The English word love has many different meanings, but the Greek word agape, used in the New Testament, is commonly known as Christian love. It means respect, affection, benevolence, goodwill, and concern for the welfare of the one loved. Jesus Golden Rule is, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We should not say or do anything unless we can answer Yes to the question, Would I want that said or done to me? Neither should we fail to do the good things we would expect of others. Be humble. Humility or being humble is a quality of being courteously respectful of others. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness, and vanity. Acting with humility does not in any way deny our self-worth. Instead, it affirms the inherent worth of all persons. Humility is needed to live in peace and harmony with all persons. It dissipates anger and heals old wounds, and allows us to see the dignity and worth of all Gods people. Humility distinguishes the wise leader from the arrogant power-seeker. Be honest. Honesty and integrity are held as fundamental values throughout the Bible. Any deception to gain an advantage or harm someone else is prohibited by the Ten Commandments and other Bible passages. Deception may be by lies, cheating, innuendo, or failing to tell the whole truth. It is all too common in advertising, business, politics, and everyday life. We must strongly resist the temptation to engage in any form of theft, cheating, deception, innuendo, slander, or gossip. Rationalization is a form of self-deception. We convince ourselves that sinful actions are justified to achieve a good result, but this is another form of dishonesty. Holiness is living by the commandments, not reaching an outcome. In Biblical teaching, the ends do not justify the means. Live a moral life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. Jesus gave a list of actions that constitute immoral uses of the body: evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, arrogance, and foolishness. The apostle Paul gave similar lists. We often think of morality in terms of sexual sins, but according to Jesus, slander, greed, covetousness, deceit, and arrogance are equally immoral. Be generous with time and money. The Bible tells us to share generously with those in need, and good things will come to us in turn. Each of us has something to offer to someone in need. We can give our money and our time to charity, be a friend to someone sick or lonely, do volunteer work or choose a service-oriented occupation. We may give unselfishly of our time to our spouse, children, or parents. This idea doesnt mean we are obligated to share our time or money with people who are not in need but want to use or abuse us, as described in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. Dont be a hypocrite. If there was any group of people that Jesus couldnt stand, it was hypocrites. The Pharisees of Jesus time were a religious and political party that insisted on the rigorous observance of Biblical laws on tithing, ritual purity, and other matters. At the same time, many of the Pharisees forgot the true spirit and intent of the law and became self-indulgent, self-righteous, snobbish, and greedy. That led Jesus to tell the Pharisees that they appeared righteous on the outside, but they were full of hypocrisy. It is not the things we say that truly matter. It is the things that we do. If we claim to be Christians but do not let Jesus teachings guide our lives, we are nothing but hypocrites. Dont be self-righteous. No one is perfect; we are all sinners in one way. Living a moral life means taking responsibility for controlling our behavior. If we say or even think we are better than people we consider to be sinners, we are guilty of the sin of self-righteousness. It is not our right to look down on, criticize, judge, condemn, or try to control other people. Judgment is to be left to God. In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus said, Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. This value does not deny the right of governments to maintain law and order and collect taxes. Jesus and other New Testament leaders supported the authority of civil governments. Dont retaliate. Jesus said there is no place for hatred, holding a grudge, revenge, retaliation, or getting even in the life of a Christian, described in Matthew 5:38-40 and Matthew 5:43-45. Holding grudges and seeking revenge are never appropriate responses to a perceived wrong. Resentment destroys the grudge-holder with bitterness, and revenge only escalates hostilities. Jesus told us we must reconcile with our adversaries, forgive their transgressions, and let go of the anger that may tempt us to commit an act of revenge. Forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15 tells us, If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. God is merciful and forgives our sins and failings. In the same way, we must be compassionate and forgive other people who sin against us or do us harm. Romans 12:9-10 tells us, Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. God is evident in His Word how to apply each of the Christian values He holds dear. Christians can tell if they hold to the values God holds dear by how they treat others. As we read Gods Word, we know God better and understand His purpose for us in the world. We learn the values He holds dear, and we also grow to love those values. The Holy Spirit works through us to spread Gods love through good works, leading others to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Shutterstock.com It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of everything going on in todays world. Headlines swirl, nations rage, marriages strain, children stray, storm clouds loom. We buckle under the weight of it all and try to prop each other up with the words of Psalm 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God. Its one of the most famous verses in the Bible. We put it on posters, write it in encouragement cards, and say it during times of turmoil. We long to feel this deep and lasting harmony, to rest in Gods peace and power. Yet if were honest with ourselves, we have trouble living it. We are rarely still, tossing and turning in our sleep, and we hardly ever live like God is God, and we are not. So, what are we to do? How can we cease striving as some translate be still? How are we to accomplish such peace and trust? The clues are back in verses eight and nine of Psalm 46. Verse eight tells us to Behold the works of the Lord, and it is intriguing to think about what those works might have been. Psalm 46 was likely written after defeating one of Judahs enemies, when God did the defeating. For example, in 2 Chronicles 32:20-21, an angel of God destroyed the Assyrians in their camp. So verse eight is a personal invitation to the people of Jerusalem to come and look at the destruction of their enemies and witness Gods complete deliverance: He saved His people once again. It isnt until verse 10 that God Himself tells us to Be still, and know that I am God. 5 Ways to Live Psalm 46:10 So how are we to be still or cease striving? We are to behold the works of the Lord. When we behold the works of the Lord, we notice Gods deliverance, and this assures us that we can be still and know that He is God and rest in His power and security. Turn off the news. This psalm shows us that people have been concerned about world events throughout time. Although the world situation as it comes to us through 24-hour news seems negative and out of control, this psalm reminds us that God is in charge of it all. In the midst of all of the turmoil, God is with us and will deliver His people. Yes, conflicts still erupt, and injustice requires voice and action. Still, when we get anxious, it is helpful to remind ourselves what God has doneto behold the works of the Lord. As part of this strategy, you should unfollow the caustic friend on Facebook and turn off the news for one day or one week. Do you remember what was happening in the news broadcast one year ago today? Probably not. Why? That news has passed. Whatever was breaking that day didnt turn the world upside down. So when you find yourself feeling anxious while watching the news, take a step back and recognize that God is always in control. Rest in the power and security of God, and know that He will make things right. Look outdoors. One of the best ways to behold the works of the Lord, which, in turn, help you to be still and know that He is God, is to look around while exploring the outdoors. You can notice the colors of the sky in the early morning, midday, and sunset. Try to count the shades of green in a maple tree. Ponder the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly and all that the process involves. Take in the fresh air, supplied in perfect amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water. Taking some time outdoors can also help keep you grounded in Gods power and peace because it enables you to realize that He created everything around you. Look at the people around you. When we behold the works of the Lord and notice the deliverance He has accomplished, it helps us to be still, to cease striving, to rest in knowing that God is God. Another way to live Psalm 46:10 is to look at the people around you. Consider how God has worked in the lives of your friends and family. Has He healed a broken heart, turned a wayward soul, or changed an expression? These are wondrous works of the Lord. Behold them, and be still: Let yourself be in awe of what God has done. While youre looking at the people around you, thank God for all that He has done. Remaining grateful can help you rest in Gods peace and power. Stop fighting. Psalm 46:10 essentially says, Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth. Stop your fighting is somewhat unique among translations of this verse. Many Bible translations render the imperative as Be still. Then, most people interpret the scripture as we need to come aside from the hustle and bustle of daily life and get alone with God. Indeed, that is true, but theres more going on in this verse. Notice how verses eight, nine, and 11 references some aspect of war and fighting. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we may not only be fighting the Lords battles, but we may be fighting against the Lord Himself. There comes a time when we need to lay down our arms and know that He is God. He will do as He wills. Look inside yourself. Now, it gets personal: What works has God done inside you? How has He delivered you? What peace has He brought to you? Take some quiet time to consider the works of God in your own life, how He has redeemed you and called you by name. Has He changed your heart or an attitude? Has He lifted your chin to see His face more clearly? Has He helped you to forgive yourself or others? These are some of Gods most phenomenal works, works to behold, works that enable us to be still and know that He is God. It can be easy to get caught in the whirlwind of modern times. However, we must take time to be still and allow God to have His way. He has the ultimate control and knows what Hes doing. The power and security of God can get us through anything, so we must rest in Gods peace and power. Indian children smile while waiting for their bus at a Tamil language primary school in Batang Berjuntai, west of Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 18, 2008. Updated at 4:58 p.m. ET on 2023-03-06 The chief of a Malay-centric party has sparked debate in Malaysia by criticizing schools that teach children in Tamil and Mandarin, saying they fuel divisions in society. The comments by Mukhriz Mahathir opened an unusually frank public discussion of inter-ethnic tensions in Malaysia, where Malays enjoy a range of public benefits not available to minorities. Mukhriz president of Pejuang, a party founded by veteran politician and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was responding to a blog post last week by a senior ethnic-Chinese politician who lamented that non-Malay citizens were unlikely to become prime minister for generations, even though the constitution does not bar it. Mukhriz said the country had first to eliminate factors that divide people, before that could happen. The existence of vernacular schools, in particular, creates a separate stream of teaching that can cause divisions between our children, he said in a Facebook post on Monday. We need to allow our children to learn, play and mingle with each other until the differences between them become celebrated and not divisive. Only then can we hope to see a non-Malay as nothing other than a Malaysian, not colored by their ethnic background. Mukhriz said it did not matter that non-Malays identified as Malaysian first and their ethnic background second. Its also about how others perceive him based on his words, actions, way of life and demeanor, he said. Unlike Thai Chinese, who seamlessly blend in with other ethnic Thais, Chinese Malaysians often insist on maintaining their language, culture and way of thinking separate from the majority Malays. This only reinforces the emphasis on ethnicity and creates further divisions in society. Mukhriz was responding to a blog post Friday by veteran politician Lim Kit Siang, a co-founder of the Democratic Action Party, or DAP, which is a member of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition. Lim referred to a news story in the Daily Express that quoted former PM Mahathir as saying Malays were being left behind in the country, so he would work for his race. In this context, Lim wrote that after more than six decades of independence, leaders should be talking about the problems in Malaysia and not Malay problems or non-Malay problems. Lim went on to say: I do not expect to see a non-Malay become a Prime Minister in my lifetime or even my childrens lifetime. Eliminate race-based political parties Mukhrizs comments did not go down well with many on social media. Ethnic Malays comprise close to 70 percent of Malaysias population, with ethnic Chinese making up 22.8 percent, and ethnic Indians 6.6 percent. There are other factors that contribute to the division of the people, such as race and religion-based political parties that keep instigating religious and racial rhetorical sentiments. Can we get rid of those first too? said Twitter user @rakyat_Malaysia. Eliminate your fathers way of thinking first, then eliminate race-based political parties. Vernacular schools dont discriminate [by] race, political parties do! said @Eddie LFC 19X on Twitter. Analysts, too, said what the Pejuang president was suggesting could inflame tensions in the multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. Jeniri Amir, adjunct professor at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said it would be impossible and inadvisable to change something that has been integrated into the system for so many decades. To expect the Chinese approving the abolishment of vernacular schools is equivalent to hoping for Malays to surrender the prime ministers post to the Chinese or Indians. There will be racial tension, he told BenarNews. Realistically, it is good idealism to see the country under one mainstream for the sake of unity. However, this is a country based on a social contract with its own history. Another analyst, Siti Norayu Mohd Basir, senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, said having Chinese and Tamil schools was an issue of identity. The vernacular school issues are interconnected to unity, self-identity and enforcement of Malay language as national language. For non-Malays such as Indian and Chinese, they are protecting their racial identity through their mother tongues preservation at vernacular schools, she said. With no doubt, the issue of abolishing these schools would cause dissatisfaction among many, thus it is crucial to focus on finding solutions so that the vernacular schools could instill the spirit of unity while celebrating the diversity. For academic Awang Azman bin Awang Pawi of the University of Malaya, Mukhrizs comment was attention-seeking and intended to please the opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, which Pejuang wants to join. Mukhriz has applied to join Perikatan Nasional, which means that he has to adjust himself in terms of statements, point of views and attitude in accordance with Perikatan Nasionals stance, he told BenarNews. In this context, PN is more conservative and traditional, hence Mukhriz has no choice but to assimilate himself in order to be accepted by Perikatan Nasional. As such, this [statement by Mukhriz] is a political move to gain attention, besides showing that he is very suitable. Analysts noted after the November general election that Perikatan fought a race-based campaign, which featured allegedly divisive campaign speeches, to win over a large swathe of ethnic Malay votes amid a proliferation of anonymous hate videos. Awang said no ruling party in Malaysia would ever abolish the Chinese and Tamil schools. If Perikatan Nasional wanted to do it, they could have done so when they were in power, he said, referring to the blocs leader and former PM Muhyiddin Yassins tenure from March 2020 to August 2021. It [such schools] has been agreed upon since Malaysia gained independence and it could disrupt the unity among the multiracial nation if the schools were abolished. Chinas special envoy for Pacific Island countries affairs, Qian Bo (right), speaks to students at the Chinese-built Butuka Academy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, March 7, 2023. Updated at 3:25 p.m. ET on March 9, 2023 Beijings newly appointed special envoy to the Pacific has underlined Chinas investment in infrastructure during his first official trip to the region, as Australia and the United States step up efforts to keep island nations in their orbit. Qian Bo, the envoy, met with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko on Tuesday after visiting the Federated States of Micronesia last week. Studying and learning the Chinese language is very important because China represents the future of the world, Qian said in a speech to students at the Beijing-built Butuka Academy in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. As part of his visit, reporters from local news organizations were given a tour of the school, including observing a Mandarin lesson. The school, which opened in 2018, has about 2,700 students from kindergarten to high school age. Chinas statement following Qians visit to Micronesia said he had cordial conversations with President David Panuelo and talks with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Kandhi Elieisar. Micronesias statement did not mention a meeting between Panuelo and Qian. A spokesman for Panuelo told BenarNews that the president didnt meet with Qian. During the past two decades China has become a source of infrastructure, loans and aid for economically-lagging island nations in the Pacific as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and gain allies in international organizations such as the United Nations. Beijing also hopes to establish a military presence in the Pacific in a challenge to American dominance, some analysts say. Last year, the Asian superpower signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, alarming the United States and Australia, which have stepped up their efforts to remain dominant powers in the region. Qian and Tkatchenko had a private 50-minute meeting at the school. Their scheduled press conference, which was part of Papua New Guineas official program for the visit, did not take place. Qian met with Marape later in the day and invited him to address a government event in China later this month, according to a statement from Marapes office. Chinas Foreign Ministry hasnt said if Qian is visiting other Pacific island countries after Papua New Guinea. This is the best school in the Pacific in terms of quality infrastructure and lots of smiling faces, Qian told the students. A teacher of Mandarin gestures while instructing students during a class at the Butuka Academy in Port Moresby, March 7, 2023. [Harlyne Joku/BenarNews] Chinas government had announced plans for the special envoy role in mid-2022, when then-Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the region in a failed effort to get 10 island nations to sign up to a trade and security deal. Beijing revealed the appointment of Qian, who was Chinas ambassador to Fiji, in mid-February in response to a question from Chinese state media during a regular press conference at the foreign ministry. Marapes statement said he had yet to officially accept the speaking invitation delivered by Qian. He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and welcomed the recent endorsement of a third term for Xi under Chinas one-party authoritarian system. Chinese stability ensures [the] global world economy has a stable outlook. That is the contribution his re-election has given to the world, Marape said. No new Chinese initiatives were announced during Qians visit to Papua New Guinea or from his visit to the Federated States of Micronesia, which has close relations with the United States. Chinas statement said Micronesia had reiterated commitment to the One China principle. Micronesias statement didnt mention the One China policy. Four of the 14 states that recognize Taiwan instead of Beijing are in the Pacific. The Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched their diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taiwan in 2109. Joseph Cella, the American ambassador to Fiji from 2019 to 2021, said Qians appointment as special envoy was an odd decision because his abrasive style had alienated officials in Fiji when he served as ambassador there. Rather than the patient work of building relationships and rapport, Mr. Qian specialized in splashy giveaways, from rugby balls to fancy buses, Cella said in a March 1 opinion piece for the Washington Times. Mr. Qian was also known for his aggressive stunts, which angered and embarrassed his hosts, Cella said. This story has been updated to reflect that China and Micronesia gave different accounts of what happened during Qian Bos visit. An earlier version also incorrectly attributed statements about the One China policy to the Federated States of Micronesia. A cluster of Chinese ships and boats can be seen on the left side of this satellite photo of waters around Pag-asa (Thitu) island in the South China Sea, March 5, 2023. Scores of Chinese boats have ignored repeated radio challenges to leave waters near a Manila-occupied island in the South China Sea after being spotted there in recent days, the Philippine Coast Guard said Tuesday. The Chinese fleet, which includes a Peoples Liberation Army Navy ship, a China Coast Guard ship with bow number 5203, and 42 maritime militia boats, have been repeatedly asked to move away from Pag-asa (Thitu) island since first being seen there on March 4, said the Filipino coast guards adviser for maritime security. The PLA navy vessel, the China Coast Guard vessel and the Chinese maritime militia are still currently there, Commodore Jay Tarriela told a press briefing. Our coast guard station in Pag-asa is continuing to challenge them over the radio and are telling them they are within the Philippines 12-nautical mile territorial sea. But they have ignored the calls of our coast guard personnel. Tarriela said the Chinese action was a clear violation of the Philippines sovereignty and inconsistent with the right of innocent passage. In short, they do not respect the territorial integrity of this area, he said. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a BenarNews request for comment. Pag-asa is the largest island in the Philippine-claimed Kalayaan Island Group, a chain in the contested Spratly Islands. There are an estimated 400 residents on Pag-asa, 70 of them children mostly of coast guard and navy personnel stationed there. It lies just around 300 miles (483 kms) from Puerto Princesa in Palawan, a province in the western Philippines. In recent years, more and more Chinese vessels have frequented the waters around Pag-asa. On Tuesday, Tarriela promised that the coast guard would stay true to its responsibility in carrying out patrols and challenging illegal Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines term for its area in the South China Sea. At least we are exposing their bullying activities and we let the public know about their bullying activities, he said. At the same time, through this exposure, we can get international support wherein these activities [by the Chinese] are condemned by the United States, Japan, Australia and other like-minded states. This image shows the past track of Chinese coast guard ship No. 5203 as it moved at different speeds in waters between Subi Reef and Pag-asa (Thitu) island in the South China Sea from Feb. 19 through March 7, 2023. [Marine Traffic] In 2020, more than 100 Chinese vessels, which appeared to be fishing boats, were seen near the island. And last year, a civilian boat manned by Philippine Navy personnel sailed near a sandbar off Pag-Asa in a bid to retrieve debris from a Chinese rocket. A Chinese coast guard ship blocked their path and used a rubber boat to collect the debris. The Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam each have territorial claims in the South China Sea. A 2016 ruling by a tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague affirmed Manilas sovereign rights to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and an extended continental shelf, and declared Beijings sweeping claim to virtually the entire sea invalid under international law. Beijing continues to ignore the ruling, however, and has regularly been sending flotillas of supposed fishing vessels backed by its maritime militia in defiance of international calls to respect the ruling. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently summoned Chinas envoy to Manila to protest their continued occupation of Philippine areas, although his action came shortly after a visit to Beijing where was promised a raft of investments and economic help. He has not made any comment about this new report. Police deployed to avoid untoward incident at Chaitanya Junior Kalasala, Narsingi (DC) HYDERABAD: Cyberabad police, probing the death by suicide of a 16-year-old Intermediate student on the Narsingi campus of Sri Chaitanya Residential Junior College, on Monday confirmed that a suicide note found on the victims body was written by him. However, they are awaiting an authentication from the Forensic Science Laboratory. On the note being circulated on social media platforms, the police said that the victims friends had found it in one of his pockets and that it was not immediately handed over to the police. The police compared the handwriting in the note with the handwriting in the victims books to conclude that he had written it. The note detailed the harassment he had been facing. "Once the FSL also confirms its authenticity, that would become a strong evidence in the case to fix the accused, who are already arrested and in judicial remand," an investigator said. On Monday, reports, quoting the remand report of the arrested accused, claimed that the victim was beaten not only a day before the death, but also in the intervening hours of his meeting with his father around 8 pm and end of study hour at 10 pm. Investigators, however, said that the reports were not true and the case was still under investigation. A highly anticipated but also highly sensitive meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will reportedly take place in California instead of Taiwan after Tsai convinced the American side of Chinas possible angry response. Britains Financial Times was first to report on the relocation of the meeting, which was initially expected to take place during a planned visit by McCarthy to the democratic island. The Pentagon was preparing for the House Speaker to visit Taipei later this year, Punchbowl News, a Washington-based political portal, reported in January. The news outlet added that the preparation was at an early stage and it would be a herculean effort for the Pentagon and another diplomatic showdown between the U.S. and China. Beijing considers Taiwan a Chinese province and repeatedly protests against involvement by external forces in cross-Strait politics. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei, Aug. 3, 2022. [Taiwan Presidential Office] McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, made a historic visit to Taiwan last August, the first by a speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 25 years. China responded by staging a week-long multi-branch military exercise around the island. According to latest media reports, President Tsai is to make a visit to the Americas in early April. The tour will include stopovers in Guatemala, Belize and the United States, in both New York and California. Republican Kevin McCarthy represents Californias 20th district. The Taiwanese president also reportedly accepted an invitation to speak at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, southern California. Reducing tension Some analysts see the change of venue as a tension-reducing measure. If the arrangements have been coordinated as we saw it, then all three sides can declare victory and lower the tension in the Taiwan Strait, said Alexander Huang, a professor at Tamkang University in Taipei and former deputy minister at Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council. The key remains what Tsai will say during the meetings and speech, he said. Huang, who in the dual capacity of head of the Kuomintang Partys Department of International Affairs made a visit to the U.S. in February, earlier said that from talks with McCarthys aides, and aides to other Republicans on Capitol Hill, he had the impression that McCarthy would definitely visit Taiwan at some point. Beijing has already shown discontent, with new Foreign Minister Qin Gang telling reporters at the National Peoples Congress (NPC) meeting in Beijing that Taiwan is inseparable from the motherland China and if the Taiwan issue is not handled well, China-U.S. relations will be shaken. Whether the U.S. House Speaker visits Taiwan or not, China will show displeasure either way, said Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist from the Taiwan Studies Program at the Australian National University. To prevent the impression of weakness, Taiwan and the U.S. may frame this meeting in California not as a replacement of an actual Kevin McCarthy visit to Taiwan, but an addition to it, Sung suggested. That is, its an appetizer. A Taiwan visit will be the main course, he said, Presence of an appetizer now does not exclude presence of the main course down the road. No information Replying to questions about the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Monday said its up to members of Congress to decide the nature of the meetings they are going to make. Price however denied that he was aware of any confirmed travel on the part of President Tsai to the United States. On Tuesday, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also declined to comment, saying he was not in the position to make any announcement but if required, his ministry would arrange the best possible visit. Meanwhile the Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng denied that any visit by the U.S. House Speaker to Taiwan would be canceled in the face of threats from China. Chiu told the Legislative Yuan (Taiwans legislature) on Tuesday that Taipei wishes to have more friends who care about the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and if international friends want to show their support we can only welcome it. The minister said that China had been looking for reasons to attack Taiwan, such as military purchases, visits to Taiwan by senior officials of other countries, or military exchanges between Taiwan and other countries. Last August, when Pelosi visited Taipei, Chinese warships approached the islands contiguous waters, the area that extends 24 nautical miles (44.4 kilometers) from the shores. This year, they are likely to make closer incursions, even into Taiwans 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, Chiu said. Taiwan will not allow repeated provocations, the minister said but insisted that his forces will exercise restraint and wont launch the first strike. Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report. "At that time that the BJP was following in the footsteps of the Congress by using the Central agencies to threaten political adversaries." said SP supreme Akhilesh Yadav(File Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Congress appears to be watching from the fence as other Opposition parties are closing ranks due to increasing raids by Central investigative agencies on several of these parties. While the Congress selectively issues statements over such raids, it is yet to come out in support of the other Opposition parties, who are slowly firming up an alliance without the Grand Old Party. On Sunday, nine leaders from eight Opposition parties had issued a joint statement alleging "political witch-hunting" by the BJP-led government at Centre. All these eight parties Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Trinamul Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Jammu Kashmir National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party -- have many of their leaders facing the heat due to raids by the ED, CBI and the income-tax department. The Congress has been reacting selectively on such raids which the Opposition parties term as "tools for political harassment" before the 2024 general election. For instance, it did react to the crackdown on RJD leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, but was silent when AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain were picked up and packed off to jail or when there were I-T raids on SP leaders just before the UP Assembly polls. SP supreme Akhilesh Yadav had said at that time that the BJP was following in the footsteps of the Congress by using the Central agencies to threaten political adversaries. AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj was quick to point out recently that the Congress never stands by the rest of the Opposition and engages in a war of words with the BJP merely to "fool" the country. The Congress, at its recent plenary in Raipur, had made it clear it wants to lead an Opposition alliance to counter the BJP juggernaut. But state differences in Telangana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh forced the party to take a step backwards and not go in for an all-out united Oppositon movement to target the Central government. Interestingly, the Congress also feels it and its leaders have been "unfairly targeted by the agencies at the behest of the BJP". Former Congress chiefly Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were extensively questioned by the ED last year. Besides some allies of the NDA, no significant regional outfit came to their support. The 2024 Lok Sabha election is about a year away but there is no sign of Opposition unity as of now. Though every Opposition party is speaking about it, they are yet to find a leader who can stitch the alliance together. The Congress believes there can be no alliance without its leadership. Incidentally, several Opposition parties have backed former Congress leader Kapil Sibals "Insaaf ka Sipahi" platform for social, economical and political justice. Whether this platform can help the Opposition parties reach a common ground remains to be seen. Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning then becoming windy with rain developing this afternoon. High 69F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph, becoming WNW and increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tomorrow Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tonight's rundown: Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant The trial of Fox News gets underway 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car This Day in History: FDR dies in office Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe" Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com! Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Pharmacy Council of India inks MoU to reduce gap of industry and academia Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the statutory body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, recently organised Pharma Anveshan 2023 to promote research & innovation, enhancing industry & academia. It is the need of the hour to change our gears and adopt a focused approach to impart the best pharmacy education keeping our curriculum in line with the latest developments in the field and also provide extensive education of specialised drugs so as to benefit the reach of pharmacists in the country. This was stated by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar as she inaugurated Pharma Anveshan 2023 on the occasion of National Pharmacy Education Day on 6th March. She also launched a 'One Stop-Non Stop' digital job portal of Pharmacy Council of India, which will be useful for pharma professionals as well as recruiters from the industry. This will prove to be a game changer for the students coming from small towns and villages. At the event, PCI also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (KDPMA), Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (LSSSDC), Indian Pharma Alliance (IPA) and Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) to reduce the gap of industry and academia, strengthen faculty and student training and promote entrepreneurship and infrastructure development. Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India elaborated on the need to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation through industry-academia strengthening. He said that the core of pharma business is quality and India has grown leaps and bounds in last 25 years in this area. He elaborated on the need to create fear free environment and risk-taking environment in order to promote innovation. To treat all neurological conditions such as stroke/paralysis, Parkinsons etc. People Tree Hospitals, Yeshwantapur in Bengaluru has launched its state of art facility People Tree Institute of Neurosciences (PTINS). The new facility was inaugurated by renowned philanthropist, co-founder of Infosys, Kris Gopalakrishnan, along with guests of honour, Dr Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) & Dr M. K. Ramesh, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). PTINS aims to deliver holistic treatment for neurological conditions and disorders that impact the nervous system of all age groups. The state of art facility treats all neurological conditions such as stroke/paralysis, Parkinsons etc., and is equipped with high tech Neuro OT and Neuro ICU to carry out Brain & Spine Surgeries, Interventional Procedures, Functional Neurosurgeries and Neuro Oncology including but not limited to tumour surgeries, craniotomies; the Paediatric neurologists attend to developmental disorders in early stages, epilepsies and other rare conditions in younger patients. The Centre of Excellence focuses on clinical excellence, academics and research which become key in delivering comprehensive care. A team of 14 neurosurgeons, neurologists, paediatric neurologists, neuro anaesthetists and neuro rehab physiotherapists are now part of People Tree Institute of Neurosciences to offer a spectrum of services in neuro and trauma care and recovery. At a meeting with the officials at the state secretariat on Tuesday, the deputy chief minister Peedika Rajanna Dora reviewed several issues and directives issued to the officials. (File Photo: Facebook) Vijayawada: Deputy chief minister and tribal welfare minister Peedika Rajanna Dora has warned that strict action will be taken against officials who neglect the health of children studying in tribal educational institutions. He said 590 ANMs would be appointed in the 378 tribal ashram schools and 162 post matric hostels in the state, based on student ratio and needs. The tribal students should be mapped first with the ANMs in the secretariats of these schools and regular health check-up should be done on the students in coordination with the PHCs near the schools. At a meeting with the officials at the state secretariat on Tuesday, the deputy chief minister reviewed several issues and directives issued to the officials. The deputy CM said steps must be taken to restore the services of ANMs in tribal ashram schools to protect the health of the students. He issued orders for appointment of 590 ANMs in the tribal ashram schools as also for further mapping of the tribal students with the ANMs in the secretariats of the respective schools. The tribal welfare minister ordered that in emergency situations, the authorities at all levels should respond immediately and take the affected students to hospitals for treatment. Dora made it clear that negligence by any officials in these respects would not be tolerated and strict action against such persons would follow. As part of increasing security in tribal educational institutions, the deputy CM asked officials to repair the existing CCTV cameras and install new ones wherever necessary. He asked DTWOs, DDs and other officials to strengthen the supervision of schools to ensure that tribal students achieve good results in the Class X examinations. Rajanna Dora asked the officials to provide the necessary facilities to the ST Degree College in Chintapalli and take steps to construct buildings for the GMR Polytechnic College in Seethampeta. Steps should also be taken to pay the honorarium of Mathrubhasha (mother tongue) volunteers. He asked the officials to speed up the process of promotions and compassionate appointments of junior assistants and senior assistants, which have been pending for a long time in GCC. GGC officials must take steps to pay the dues of the coffee farmers expeditiously and provide them reasonable prices. "Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will take up the issue of salary hike for 1,633 teachers and junior lecturers working in the tribal welfare department under the outsourcing system," he said. The deputy CM said that the matter of CRT teachers demanding 12 months salary has also been brought to the attention of the CM. Reviewing the utilisation of the ST sub-plan funds, Rajanna Dora asked the engineering department to construct more roads in the tribal areas with the sub-plan funds. Ensure that tribal welfare schemes are available to all the targeted people and speed up development works, he said. Tribal welfare secretary Kantilal Dande, additional director Ravindra Babu, GCC MD Suresh Kumar, ENC Srinivasulu, Trip-Co MD Prabhakar and others participated in the meeting. The financial assistance will improve access to critical care services in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh The SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Financing Facility has committed Rs 3.2 crore to Critical Care Hope to help expand its tech-enabled hub-and-spoke Tele-ICU platform that enables healthcare providers in tier 2 and 3 cities to deliver critical care services. SAMRIDH is a multi-stakeholder innovation and financing platform supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IPE Global. The Tele-ICU platform is an innovative model, which allows an intensivist (a certified critical care physician) to actively manage the needs of 60-80 ICU patients across multiple locations, monitoring from a remote command centre. In a normal hospital scenario, an intensivist is required at the patients bedside, and thus can only manage 10-12 patients. With this collaboration, Critical Care Hope aims to onboard 12 partner hospitals in tier-2 and 3 towns in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to deliver critical care services. Critical Care Hope - Guardian Angels of ICU, is taking tertiary-level medical expertise to remote locations by making a network of partner hospitals to provide the Right Care to the Right Patient at the Right Time. The proposed hub and spoke model will create dedicated command centres called HOPES (Health Outcomes Focused Preventions and Evaluation System) each of which will act as a centralised management (hub) for patients in need of critical care in remote sites (spokes). The HOPES hubs will bring together ICU specialists, advanced medical technologies, expertise and local hospitals on one platform, and offer 24x7 of monitoring patients, collecting and analysing data, and offering protocolled care and treatment interventions. The clinical tools and automated alerts provide real-time patient data and actionable insights that help in quick decision-making. Warc Creative 100 has released a list of the most awarded campaigns and companies in the world with Ogilvy being the most awarded network in the world. Screenshot from Lost Class. Compiled by Warc, the international marketing insights company, the annual Creative 100 Ranking is produced by combining the results of the industrys most important global and regional creative award shows of 2022. The awards tracked are determined by a global industry panel survey and consultation with the Warc Rankings Advisory Board. Amy Rodgers, head of Warc Creative, said: In an industry that sometimes struggles to defend its place in the C-suite, the rankings offer an opportunity for marketers to reflect on the best campaigns in the business and to review the impact their own work has on their brands. The benchmarks and insights garnered from the Warc Rankings are at the core of our brand promise: to bring confidence to marketing decisions through evidence-based insight and inspiration. Campaign for creativity: The Lost Class for Change The Ref by Leo Burnett Chicago The most creatively celebrated campaign of 2022 is The Lost Class for Change The Ref created by Leo Burnett Chicago to raise awareness about mass shootings. A ceremony was held for the 3,044 high school students in the US who didn't graduate in 2021 due to tragically losing their lives to gun violence. Britt Nolan, president and chief creative officer, Leo Burnett Chicago, said: The Lost Class was an incredibly brave idea and Im very proud of Leo Burnett for having the courage to produce it. But we have a long way to go to change the way America thinks about gun laws. I can only hope this recognition inspires someone else to do something even better and even more effective. In second place is The Unfiltered History Tour for Vice World News by Dentsu Creative Bangalore, featuring a secret tour of the British Museums stolen artefacts via augmented reality. In third, Pinatex for Dole Sunshine Company/Ananas Anam by L&C New York, to promote a vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable alternative leather made from pineapple leaves. Agency for creativity: Publicis Milan Publicis Milan tops the table for the second year in a row with four campaigns for Heineken and one for Bottega Veneta placed in the top 100 campaigns. Bruno Bertelli, global chief creative officer, Publicis Worldwide, said: What makes me, and all of us, most proud and deeply honoured to be ranked #1 most creative agency in the world for the second year in a row is one great team delivering work for multiple clients across many forms and platforms, striving to put brands at the centre of culturally relevant conversations and leave a mark. Topping the Warc Creative 100 represents a recognition speaking to the borderless creativity that testifies how Publicis Milans commitment and constant endeavour expand in terms of relevance, and what's possible when creative thinking extends across resources, geographies, and cultures to become a shared mission. Area 23, New York, jumped from 32nd last year to claim second place with four campaigns in the top 100 for a variety of brands covering different product categories. BETC Paris is in third place with three campaigns in the top 50. Network for creativity: Ogilvy Ogilvy was the most awarded network for the third year in a row, with 40 different agencies contributing to its total including five agencies in the top 50. Furthermore, it was responsible for ten of the top 100 campaigns. Liz Taylor, global chief creative officer, Ogilvy, said: It fills us with immense pride to see Ogilvy named the most creative network in the world by Warc for the third consecutive year. Our teams earned this recognition by doing work that had an impact on our clients brands and businesses, but also for impacting policies that have helped create a more equitable and just world. Our sincerest thanks to every person who works at Ogilvy for their passion and ingenuity, and to our brave clients for their partnership, trust, and shared belief that creativity is the ultimate differentiator. DDB Worldwide moves up one place to claim second position with four agencies in the top 50 and seven campaigns in the top 100. FCB, is in third, up from sixth also with four agencies and nine campaigns ranked. Holding Company for creativity: WPP Up from second position last year, WPP returned to the top of the holding company table with seven networks in the top 50 and two networks in the top 10: Ogilvy and VMLY&R. Rob Reilly, chief creative officer, WPP, said: I believe that creativity is the worlds most valuable asset and when we apply it to a massive problem or opportunity, it can drive business and change culture. This ranking reflects the brilliant work our agencies have produced this year with our brave clients and talented production partners. Brand for creativity: Burger King For the fifth year in a row, Burger King tops the brand table. It has four campaigns ranked in the top 100 by three different agencies; the joint highest of any brand alongside Heineken, in second place, which also had four campaigns ranked. Google climbs up from 31st last year to claim third place. Advertiser for creativity: AB InBev After topping the advertiser table for the first-time last year, Anheuser-Busch InBev remains in first position. The brewing giant has three brands in the top 50: Corona, Michelob Ultra and Budweiser and four campaigns in the top 100. Marcel Marcondes, global chief marketing officer, AB InBev, said: We are very excited to see ABI ranked number one for the second year in a row. We use creativity and innovation to solve consumer problems that drive organic growth for our company. Unilever and Restaurant Brands International swap places this year with the multinational consumer goods company moving up to second place and the fast food company moving down to third place. Country for creativity: US The top five ranking countries remain the same as last year, with the US and UK maintaining their positions for the past nine years. India is the most improved country, climbing from 23rd to seventh. The top ten most highly ranked campaigns and companies in the 2022 Warc Creative 100 are: Top ten world's most awarded campaigns for creativity Rank Campaign Title Brand Agencies Points #1 The Lost Class Change The Ref Leo Burnett Chicago 491.6 #2 The Unfiltered History Tour VICE Dentsu Creative Bangalore 431.8 #3 Pinatex Dole Sunshine Company / Ananas Anam L&C New York 343.4 #4 The Elections Edition An-Nahar Impact BBDO Dubai / Impact BBDO Beirut 331.2 #5 Vienna Strips on OnlyFans Vienna Tourist Board Jung von Matt Donau Vienna 275.1 #6 Better with Pepsi Pepsi Alma Miami 255.8 #7 Beyond the Surface - Liquid Billboard adidas Havas Dubai 237 #8 Data Tienda WeCapital DDB Mexico City 224.1 #9 Reverse Selfie Dove Ogilvy London 207.1 #10 The Bread Exam Spinneys/ Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation/ American University of Beirut Medical Center McCann Paris / McCann Health London / McCann Dusseldorf / FP7 McCann Dubai / McCann Frankfurt 202.9 Top ten world's most awarded agencies for creativity Rank Agency Points #1 Publicis Milan 792.8 #2 Area 23 New York 682.1 #3 BETC Paris 587.7 #4 Le Pub Amsterdam 474.3 #5 GUT Miami 471.3 #6 Ogilvy London 451.6 #7 FCB Chicago 422.1 #8 We Believers New York 419.5 #9 Impact BBDO Dubai 395.1 #10 DAVID Madrid 383.8 Top ten world's most awarded networks for creativity Rank Network Points #1 Ogilvy 2895 #2 DDB Worldwide 2001.5 #3 FCB 1949.8 #4 BBDO Worldwide 1802.1 #5 Publicis Worldwide 1758.6 #6 Havas Creative Group 1349.8 #7 VMLY&R 1217 #8 McCann Worldgroup 992 #9 TBWA Worldwide 973.4 #10 Leo Burnett 935.3 Top ten world's most awarded holding companies for creativity Rank Holding Company Points #1 WPP 5844 #2 Omnicom Group 4948.7 #3 Interpublic Group 4012.2 #4 Publicis Groupe 3392.4 #5 Havas Group 1385.1 #6 Dentsu 623.8 #7 Accenture 440.1 #8 Stagwell 275.4 #9 Hakuhodo DY Group 190.3 #10 Deloitte 126.7 Top ten world's most awarded brands for creativity Rank Brand Points #1 Burger King 728.2 #2 Heineken 668.8 #3 Google 439.1 #4 Corona 415.7 #5 Heinz 408.1 #6 Samsung 393.2 #7 IKEA 384.3 #8 Dove 356.4 #9 Apple 338 #10 Cadbury 282.7 Top ten world's most awarded advertisers for creativity Rank Advertiser Location Points #1 Anheuser-Busch InBev Belgium 1334.6 #2 Unilever UK 788.3 #3 Restaurant Brands International Canada 748.2 #4 Heineken Netherlands 668.8 #5 Samsung South Korea 518.6 #6 Alphabet USA 497.1 #7 Mondelez International USA 450.9 #8 Kraft Heinz Company USA 417.2 #9 IKEA Sweden 384.3 #10 Procter & Gamble USA 380.6 Top ten world's most awarded countries for creativity Rank Country Points #1 USA 7968.2 #2 United Kingdom 2547.8 #3 France 1811.8 #4 Brazil 1629.5 #5 Australia 1456.2 #6 Germany 1436.4 #7 India 1169.5 #8 Canada 1071 #9 Spain 971.3 #10 Italy 863.9 Summing up, Amy Rodgers, head of Warc Creative, said: Across the top 10 campaigns there is a strong theme of promoting societal concerns through creativity. From womens issues such as Data Tienda which drew attention to women gaining access to credit and financial services, and The Bread Exam supporting womens health, while Beyond the Surface and Reverse Selfie both centred on body image. Other societal issues covered included The Lost Class on US gun violence, Pinatex on environmentalism and The Elections Edition on political corruption. African creatives make up only 1.1% of regional GDP*, lagging severely behind the rest of the world when viewed in monetary and jobs terms. Source Bowie15 123rf A panel at the recent inaugural AWAfrica examined the need for Africans to claim their share of the global creative economy The global creative economy generates revenues on $2.25tn annually, sustaining close to 30 million jobs worldwide. Africa, when measured together with the Middle East, only generates $58bn in revenue, sustaining 2,4m jobs, making it clear that Africa is sitting on huge creative capital, but is struggling to unlock is monetary benefits. At the Build the Future event, held within AWAfrica, a panel of African creative thought leaders explored the intersection of the rise of the creative economy, emerging fintech stakeholders and how these technologies impact creators' lives and their creative freedom. The creative economy touches every part of the value chain: from economics, technology, society and culture to politics and environment. From aid to trade Creatives dont just make fun stuff, were part of the entire economy, says Karl Carter, founder & CEO of Snake Nation, and convenor of the Snake Nation track The Global Economy + African Diaspora Youth: Building the Future we Want to Live In Among the thought leaders invited to explore the subject were Senisha Moonsammy, head of department Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) who also heads up the United Nations Industrial Development Program that focuses on the green economy. How do we move from aid to trade and commercialise the creative economy? she asks, urging the continents creatives to begin unlocking the commercial aspects around their content. For me, its about products and services, and we need to ask ourselves how we can commercialise those. For many years resources have been sucked out of Africa to make the rest of the world better, and we have not really benefited from that. The perception of Africa today is completely different, it is our music, film, TV and art that is changing perceptions of Africa, says Colin Gayle, founder of Africa Creative Agency (ACA). If you change that perception, investment and jobs will come. It is important that we do not allow this to become another extraction of resources, but rather that we bring the world to Africa on our terms, adds Gayle. Looking beyond the traditional paradigm Stephen A. Newton, founder Illuminate Africa Group urged the continent to begin looking beyond the traditional paradigm of employment. Not everyone can be a doctor and thats okay! There is a lot of opportunity in creativity and African talent is a resource, why are we not monetising our vast resource? In exploring the opportunities around the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the free trade area encompassing most of Africa that is the largest in terms of member-states behind the World Trade Organisation (WHO) and spans 1.3 billion people across the worlds second-largest continent, Carter and the panelists explored the numerous opportunities inherent in opening up the continent to creatives where another billion new consumers located right in their own backyards on the continent. The Build the Future event was convened by snakenation.io , a technopreneurial, next-gen mobile media network for creative Multicultural Millennials that helps diverse creators build their audience, create value for their work and monetise it via crypto. *(Source: Unesco) The fifth national strategic plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023 to 2028 has received final approval by Cabinet. Source: Twitter @PaulMashatile Following this final stage of approval, the plan will be launched to the public by the new deputy president, Paul Mashatile in his capacity as the chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (Sanac), during the official commemoration of World TB Day on 24 March in Rustenburg, North West. The NSP provides a strategic framework for a multi-sectoral approach that is people-centred to eliminate HIV, TB and STIs as public health threats by 2030. The drafting of the NSP was co-ordinated by the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) which brings together government, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to build consensus and drive a well-coordinated, unified response to the three epidemics over a five-year period. It emphasises the need to break down barriers and maximise equitable and equal access to services through resilient and integrated health systems to guarantee the health and social protection of all South Africans. Lessons from Covid-19 The new plan was drafted to be pandemic-ready as a result of lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. Disruptions caused by Covid-19 severely compromised the current NSP, resulting in a strong need to ensure that the new NSP does not suffer the same fate. A game-changer is the inclusion of mental health services and social support based on the strong association between HIV, TB, and STIs with other social challenges such as gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), human-rights violations and inequalities. The new NSP also features an expanded scope for the management of STIs, including viral hepatitis and human papilloma virus which are deemed as common coinfections in people living with HIV. Dubbed the peoples NSP, the drafting of the plan followed a bottom-up approach through extensive public consultations across the nine provinces of South Africa. This was supplemented by a strong mass media campaign to solicit public inputs from ordinary South Africans from all walks of life all inputs were carefully considered and integrated into the final, revised draft that was tabled before Cabinet. They came, they shared their best email campaign and they conquered. Discovery Vitality has taken the crown in Everlytic's inaugural 'You Mailed It' Email Marketing Awards ; a first-of-its-kind initiative geared to give South African marketers the opportunity to showcase their email marketing genius and stand a chance to win great prizes. Celeste Williams, Discovery Vitalitys head of marketing says, Im so proud of our Vitality Travel team for winning the first-ever You Mailed It Awards for our first-ever Vitality Traveller newsletter! Its been an incredible learning experience for the team and Im so happy that Everlytic loved our newsletter as much as we did. Honourable mentions also go to Discovery Bank, Kudough Credit Solutions, and King James Group for their commendable email campaigns. What earned Vitality the crown Each entry was judged against criteria like creativity, innovation, design, content, relevance, functionality, and how its email engagement measured against local industry benchmarks. What the judges liked most about Discovery Vitalitys entry was its: Beginning-to-end storyline Fun, creative & easy-to-read copy Clever, integrated calls to action Calming, aspirational imagery Enjoyable pace & simple message delivery Biteable content that made it easy to consume Relevant use of personalisation Discovery Vitalitys email also achieved above-average engagement rates for their industry, which proves that it was well received by their audience. The You Mailed It panel of judges In this inaugural round of the awards, Everlytic compiled a panel of industry experts to ensure that entrants hard work was judged fairly and professionally. These judges included: Discovery Vitalitys winning prize In addition to bragging rights, Discovery Vitality has won: A voucher for the GIBS Masterclass, The Future of Communication: Behavioural Marketing A team experience voucher valued at R2500 per person Because Everlytic aims to help clients improve their email campaigns (in addition to creating and managing them), all entrants are also receiving customised feedback on how to optimise their email messaging moving forward. This initiative will elevate their email marketing performance in the months and years to come. About the You Mailed It Awards As thought leaders in email marketing, Everlytic aims to recognise and enhance the creative genius behind every campaign. So, theyve given marketers a stage on which to showcase their most epic and best-performing email campaigns, for the chance to walk away with the You Mailed It title. The competition will run annually and is open to South African companies involved in creating successful email marketing campaigns. Marketers can submit either an email message campaign or an online newsletter campaign. Watch Everlytics social media pages for updates on when the next round of entries for the next awards will begin. The IAB South Africa Bookmark Awards 2023 has announced this year's jury chairs, with MakeReign's head of product design, Genie Botha selected as the jury chair for the Builders Panel - leading the judging across the Platform, UX and UI categories. Botha is a heavyweight UX/UI designer with over 16 years of interactive design experience, adapting to the ever evolving industry, embracing new methodologies, tools, and technologies along the way. As head of product design at MakeReign, Botha plays a role in overseeing digital product design related work across platforms, e-commerce and applications that are delivered by the teams product squad. This includes work for Santam, Mweb, Finchoice, Flash Group and Cape Union Mart. Now in its 15th year, the IAB SA Bookmark Awards continues to set the benchmark for tech, digital and leading-edge innovation in South Africa. Botha will offer her insight, expert knowledge and leadership during the judging process, with the help of a diverse panel of jurors nominated by their industry peers. The full panel will be announced at the end of March. Speaking on how she feels about chairing the panel this year, Botha says, I aspire to serve as a custodian for our industry, ensuring that exceptional work is acknowledged and applauded. I consider it a great privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of judging the Bookmarks. She added on what shes looking for in the Platform and UX categories, As the cornerstone of exceptional digital projects, I anticipate a stronger emphasis on UX research in the entries. I also expect a lot of digital innovation, with technologies being utilised and manipulated in unexpected and imaginative ways. Remote judging for the Bookmarks runs from 2-13 June 2023, with onsite judging on 29-30 June 2023. The awards will be hosted on Thursday, 27 July 2023. About MakeReign MakeReign designs digital interfaces that transform companies. We empower organisations to deliver experiences that move them forward building for what is now and next. Through research, user-centered design and testing with real customers, the interfaces we design enhance users lives and drive value across the whole customer journey. A South African based agency, were operating and connected globally. Weve launched hundreds of successful features and products for our clients from around the world; ranging from newly founded startups and tomorrows category leaders to iconic brands. How long can your business operate without Eskom grid electricity? Two hours? Two days? Two weeks? More importantly, how long should it be able to operate without electricity? This is one of the most important questions businesses in South Africa should be asking right now, advises Jason Griessel, head of Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL Strategic Risk Services. Load shedding is implemented to lower the possibility of grid failure by balancing supply and demand to keep it stable. Grid failure is a sudden loss in electricity generation that happens too quickly for any manual intervention to stabilise the grid. Every time we reach a higher level of load shedding, it signals a greater imbalance. When load shedding escalates to higher levels with little to no notice from Eskom, it signifies a sudden and unexpected loss of generation. In 2023, we have seen more load shedding implemented in a way that points towards the possibility of grid failure. Many organisations have contingencies in place for load shedding. However, grid shutdown is a scenario that has not been previously contemplated to any great extent by many businesses - until now. Several recent announcements have brought this possibility to the fore. Among them, the US Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) advised its stakeholders in South Africa to have contingency plans for power outages. Also, some in the insurance industry advised clients that they will not provide support for losses in the event of a collapse of the electricity grid, whether this is municipal, provincial or national. We have been reassured that a total collapse of the power grid remains improbable. Nevertheless, it is a possibility, and businesses should prepare if they can, especially with all signs pointing to any grid failure and reinstatement ultimately being an uninsurable event, urges Griessel. At Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL, we have updated our own business continuity contingencies, having already undertaken scenario planning for this possible risk. Business continuity planning for load shedding and grid failure are very different. The first can usually be managed within the business premises, with on-site power, water and other backups for a few hours. In a large-scale outage, the same is required but for a greatly extended period in addition to backups for critical resources beyond this, from telecoms to logistics. He adds, There are significant advantages to including grid failure scenarios in business continuity planning. Ultimately for businesses, it costs less money to get prepared now. These contingencies will inevitably prove useful in other emergency situations too. Importantly, companies have a duty of care to their employees to support them during times of crisis, and it should be the policy of every company to be able to manage functionally through a crisis. The Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL Strategic Risk Services team has studied events that follow grid failures, including recent incidents in the US and India. They found that restoring an electricity grid elsewhere has taken from three to eight days. It takes more than simply flicking a switch to restore an electricity grid. Considering the time it takes emergency services to respond in overwhelming crisis, criminal sabotage during power outages, and the crumbling electricity grid that isnt designed to be repeatedly stalled and jumpstarted, there is consensus that restoring a failed Eskom grid could take longer two weeks or more, cautions Griessel. Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL Strategic Risk Services has specifically dealt with crises of this scale before and created modelling to better understand milestones during these types of events to ensure clients are informed and ready to take action. Shedding light on what South Africas businesses could face while the grid is being restored, he notes that consequences could include the disruption of telecommunications, logistics and food, water, medical and fuel supplies. From experience, when faced with an extreme scenario, we know that the most important capabilities are the ability to communicate and coordinate, which make it easier to manage a crisis calmly and constructively, advises Griessel. As a pan-African strategic risk consultancy with a diverse understanding of security, health and safety in multiple sectors, Griessel and his team have helped their clients to navigate the recent challenges of #EndSars mass protests in Nigeria in 2020 and the KwaZulu-Natal civil unrest in South Africa in 2021, among others. Looking at solutions for a communication blackout, Griessel notes its helpful to keep in mind that cellular and fibre networks require electricity, but satellite networks dont. With logistics and supply chains becoming unstable in a crisis increasing the potential for fuel shortages, generators requiring diesel could become less reliable backup solutions than solar-powered systems. Of course, regular data backups are always a must for any business but are now more important than ever. He also believes retail property owners and retailers would do well to plan for the operation of grocery, pharmacy and other essential retail and services, because shopping centres are hubs of sustenance and communication in their communities, and this role would be amplified during a prolonged period of grid restoration. You cannot implement a crisis plan if you dont have one in place, says Griessel. A little planning goes a long way. Source: Skitterphoto via Pixabay The major export crops continued to be maize, wine, grapes, citrus, berries, nuts, apples and pears, sugar, avocados, and wool. These products have been the drivers of exports over the past couple of decades. In particular, fruit and wine have increasingly become the leading export products. These have driven a rise in the value of agriculture (and agro-processing) exports, which have averaged 11% of the South Africas overall exports, up from 9% in the decade before. South Africa now exports roughly half of its agricultural produce in value terms. Citrus, table grapes, wine and a range of deciduous fruits dominate the export list. Increasingly, we are seeing the encouraging uptick in beef exports. These robust exports have enabled South Africa to retain its position as a net exporter of agricultural products over time. In 2022, South Africas agricultural exports reached US$12.8bn, up 4% from the previous year. Imports, nevertheless, remain significant, averaging US$6.6bn over the past five years. In 2022, the top imported products were rice, palm oil, wheat, poultry and whiskies. These originated primarily from Asia, the European Union, the UK and the Americas. Based on my calculations, using Trade Map 2022 data, South Africas agricultural imports amounted to US$7.3 billion, up 6% from the previous year. Considering this import value against the export value of US$12.8 billion, South Africas agriculture realised a record trade surplus of US$5.5bn. In view of this, focus should now be on expansion of South Africas agricultural exports beyond its typical markets in the African continent, EU and parts of Asia, to new growth frontiers. There is growth in domestic production, and South Africa will require new markets for the expanding harvest. The priority countries for expanding agricultural exports should be China, South Korea, Japan, the US, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Philippines and Bangladesh. All have sizeable populations and large imports of agricultural products. Who is buying South African? My calculations using Trademap data show that the African continent remains a leading market, accounting for 37% of South Africas agricultural exports in 2022. These exports are concentrated within the Southern African Development Community region. But my recent research shows that South Africas agriculture export opportunities within the African continent will be limited due to structural challenges, preventing the agricultural sector from expanding its exports into untapped markets. This is despite the hope thats been placed on the African Continental Free Trade Area. Asia was the second-largest agricultural market, accounting for 27% of exports, followed by the EU, accounting for 19%. The Americas region was the fourth largest, accounting for 7%, and the remaining 10% went to the rest of the world. Within the rest of the world category, the UK, historically South Africas major market for agricultural produce, was one of the leading markets. The products of exports to these markets were primarily the same, with the African continent and Asia importing over two-thirds of maize harvests. Meanwhile, exports to other regions were mainly fruit and wine. Asia has seen much faster growth in exports over the past six years, while the African continent and the EU have remained fairly stable. Challenges South Africas robust export earnings were achieved in the face of various challenges in ports and key export markets. For example, at the start of 2022, logistical challenges in the port of Cape Town disrupted the exports of table grapes and other deciduous fruits. Thankfully, cooperation between Transnet and organised agriculture helped minimise the constraints, and opened up channels of communication that were critical for managing the flow of exports and attending to pressing problems. The Durban port, which handles about 60% of the countrys exports and imports, faced fewer challenges than the previous year. As a result, citrus exporters faced a relatively better export season from a logistics perspective. The smoother flow of agricultural exports through Durban was also brought about by increased cooperation between organised agriculture and Transnet. Credit should go to organised agriculture groupings, the government, Transnet and various logistical groups that worked tirelessly to ensure a flow of products to export destinations. While there are still many challenges within logistics, Transnets willingness to cooperate closely with the agricultural community has helped improve product flow. South African exports also faced non-tariff barriers in some key export markets, such as China for wool and the EU for citrus. China temporarily blocked South African wool in response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa. This was a misstep on Chinas part as there is already a framework for dealing with an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease to ensure the safety of wool exports to China. Notably, the outbreak was on cattle, not sheep, which should have provided further comfort about the safety of wool exports. China lifted the ban after about four months. However, it had already had a notable financial impact on South African wool farmers and exporting businesses. China accounts for just over 70% of South Africas wool exports. For its part, the EU imposed protectionist measures on South Africas agriculture by changing its regulation on plant safety for citrus without notifying its trading partners in reasonable time. The new regulation purports to protect the EU from a quarantine organism, false codling moth, by introducing stringent new cold treatment requirements, particularly on citrus imports from Africa, mainly affecting South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. This was a contentious issue, especially as South Africa had already put rigorous measures to control the moth, which the EU used as a pretext to restrict citrus imports from Africa. Focus areas Given that South Africas agriculture is export-orientated, the focus should be on maintaining smooth relations with existing critical export markets while searching for additional new markets. This is particularly important in the context of growing tensions between the east and the west, specifically the US and China. South Africa has to maintain open and friendlier relations with both groupings as the exports of agriculture are evenly spread across these regions. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Theodore Roosevelt once said: "The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must, and we will." To do just that, 3 March 2023 was proclaimed as World Wildlife Day. This year's global event will be the 10th anniversary of this initiative, launched by the United Nations General Assembly, to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's plants and animals. Each year since 2015 World Wildlife Day has adopted a theme to focus the energies of organisations around the world working to protect the biodiversity of our planet. Among these themes over the past decade have been The future of Wildlife is in our hands, Big cats predators under threat, and Forests and Livelihoods: sustaining people and planet. This years World Wildlife Day theme is Partnerships in Wildlife Conservation and in this spirit of co-operation, the United Nations invited a number of its signatory organisations to address the importance of this day on 3 March, 2023. One of the most powerful of these messages was delivered by Monique Eloit, the director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health. In her address, Eloit imparted some shocking figures to underline the urgency of preserving plant and animal life for the benefit of all. We use bamboo in all three of our decking ranges, as well as our cladding products, and bamboo is far less impactful on the environment than timber. She states: Over the last 50 years the population size of vertebrate species has decreased by 68%. Whats more, close to 40% of amphibians, 25% of mammals and 14% of birds are in danger of extinction. The director general went on to emphasise the importance of recognising that biodiversity plays a vital role in maintaining healthy and functioning eco-systems. These eco-systems, which greatly benefit humans, provide supply services, cultural services and regulatory services which are vital to us all, explains Eloit. World Wildlife Day can trace its roots back half a century ago when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. This declaration aimed to raise awareness of destructive practises threatening our planets sustainability. Since then, CITES has undertaken to forge partnerships with organisations and communities around the world to encourage green practices. Achim Steiner, an administrator for the United Nations Development Programme, said in his World Wildlife Day 2023 message that transformational change can only be achieved through partnerships with governments, key partners like CITES, indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, young people and the private sector. He adds: At UNDP we know the major inroads that can be made to protect and restore wildlife through cooperation. For example, consider Argentina, where wild jaguars are returning to habitats where they had been absent for 70 years, in part as a result of the efforts by local communities, the Global Environment Facility, as well as UNDP. Looking to Ghana, Steiner explains: The UNDP is now working with various partners, including the government, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Share Alliance, to restore 500,000 hectares of savanna forests and share parkland. Eva-Last, a global manufacturer and supplier of bamboo-composite building materials, has a distinct environmental culture and focus in all that it does. Dedicated to helping conserve nature, Eva-Last not only sources more sustainable and recyclable materials to produce its composite products, but employs green manufacturing practices with its zero waste policy and use of solar power in the production facilities. Amongst Eva-Lasts many satisfied clients, are some of the most acclaimed game lodges on the planet. Contributing to guests enjoyment and personal enrichment, as they immerse themselves in nature, is a huge factor in the satisfaction that Eva-Last garners in its pursuit of excellence in the field of sustainable building materials. A key factor in choosing Eva-Lasts composite materials, for many clients, is that it is making a significant contribution to the global problem of de-forestation. When we formed Eva-Last back in 2006, we realised that by using bamboo for a core structure for our decking, we would be able to make a big contribution to the environment, says Nathan Chapman, co-founder of Eva-Last. We use bamboo in all three of our decking ranges, as well as our cladding products, and bamboo is far less impactful on the environment than timber. A typical tree that yields wood for construction purposes requires 20 years to reach maturation after harvesting while bamboo only takes a quarter of the time, says Chapman. He adds, The polymer that we use in our composites is also all obtained from recycled plastic, and regrind product, that would otherwise end up in waste dumps, so once again our impact on the environment with these products is extremely positive. Eva-Last can point to various projects where its products are used in game lodge locations, or in similar wilderness experience venues, where wild animals have been known to enjoy Eva-Last materials such as walkways and deck areas. We have even had cases where elephants have been recorded treading on our walkways and consider these scenarios as a sort of post-production accelerated-durability testing, notes Marc Minne, CEO and co-founder of Eva-Last. The fact that our products are tough enough to withstand the weight of an elephant is evidence of the performance quality and structural integrity of our products, which far outweighs that of timber, says Minne. One of the pleasures of producing our composite range is knowing that we are playing an important part in bringing more and more people to experience the wonders of nature. A significant portion of our decking production is used to provide views of some of the most spectacular natural environments in the world, thanks to the many projects we have undertaken at some of the most acclaimed game lodges, says Minne. He concludes: This years theme of Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation ties in perfectly with our companys sustainability ethos because we see our company as partners in the quest to appreciate nature in all its function and form, doing our part to ensure its sustainability. For many reasons, we applaud and support the initiative of World Wildlife Day on 3 March 3 2023 and hope that many others find cause in building a greener future for all. The Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) is proud to announce another achievement in its safety training and development journey, as the institute is now a member of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Christopher Morsner, head of training and consulting at Dekra IOL, says this further strengthens their offering of quality assessment options and training for adult learners. The IEBs vision is to advance quality teaching and learning in South Africa through a reputable assessment process. Additionally, the organisation aims to contribute to human resource development through its wide range of assessment services for all sectors. This includes offerings within the arena of adult education and training, as well as foundational learning at the school level. Morsner explains: The Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) supports growth and development, through learning at various occupational levels; while the IEB promotes quality education and assessment tools for every South African as a fundamental right, through which cultural diversity is also embraced. The alignment between the two organisations in support of education, training and development is therefore very clear. In line with our own passion for high-quality training and accessible service delivery and consulting, we are proud to be a new IEB member. This allows us to offer additional services, strengthening our vision of offering excellent assessment options, training and venues nationwide. As a division of Dekra Industrial South Africa, Dekra IOL provides quality solutions through training, development and consulting which speak to many of the human rights that form part of the South African Constitution. Morsner notes: Dekra IOLs offerings reflect the right to safety and education: including the provision of a safer working environment, flexible online and distance learning opportunities, accessible assessment and examination venues, learnerships and bursary opportunities, and placement services which provide its learners with the necessary experience to ensure they are workplace-ready. As part of the IEB, Dekra IOLs training options have expanded even further, he clarifies. For example, reading, writing and foundational mathematical understanding empower learners to function optimally in the workplace. The focus of this offering is the development of reading, writing and foundational mathematical components - allowing learners to engage meaningfully within the workplace - as well as enabling them to engage in further learning with confidence and dignity. Furthermore, Dekra IOL is now able to offer assessment services focused on adult learning, through our collaboration with the IEB. Morsner adds that Dekra IOL is extremely excited to leverage its membership of the IEB by offering these additional services under the Dekra IOL banner. The Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) is proud to be a new member of the IEB - our membership allows us to strengthen our training and assessment offering and make a lasting difference to learners in the workplace who require reading, writing and foundational mathematical components training nationwide, he concludes. Chinese foreign minister meets press on foreign policy, relations Xinhua) 10:25, March 07, 2023 Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held a press conference Tuesday on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress. Qin is expected to answer questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and foreign relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (2nd L, rear) attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists work at a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Journalists work at a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A journalist asks a question during a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A journalist with Xinhua News Agency asks a question during a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists raise hands to ask questions during a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ministers Gudivada Amarnath, Buggana Rajendranath and others felicitate Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the success of Global Investors Summit, at the camp office on Tuesday. (Photo by arrangement) Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the ministers and officers to speed up the processing of the MoUs signed at the Global Investors Summit-2023 in Vizag. Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated the ministers and officials of the industries department on the successful conduct of the GIS in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4. He stressed that these MoUs promised to provide employment to six lakh people in the state. Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath, along with industries minister and officials of the industries department called on the CM at his camp office here on Tuesday. The Chief Minister recalled that the meet has attracted investments of Rs 13.41 lakh crore, involving 378 proposals and promising employment to six lakh people. The government has already taken steps for execution of the MoUs by formulating a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, he said. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the committee should meet twice a week and take matters forward. The monitoring committee would clear the applications for investments in the state without giving scope for red tape. Officials must create an industry and investment friendly atmosphere. The CM also discussed with the officials the arrangements for the Assembly session from March 14 and the welfare programmes to be implemented during the rest of March and April. The schedules for these were finalised at the meet. The meeting decided to serve Ragi Malt to schoolchildren in the mid-day meal from March 10. The MLC election code doesnt apply to this, the CM noted. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the dates for some of the programmes have been finalised keeping in view the MLC election code. It has also been decided to release funds to eligible students under total fee reimbursement scheme on March 18, announce the names of Best Volunteers on March 22 on the occasion of Ugadi festival, launch the Jaganannaku Chebudam on March 23, conduct YSR Asara from March 25 to April 5, implement Jagananna Vasati Deevena on March 31, launch the Family Doctor Concept on April 6, felicitate the Best Volunteers on April 10 and launch EBC Nestham on April 18. Special chief secretary (industries) Karikal Valaven, director of industries G. Srijana and AP High Grade Steels Ltd MD S Shanmohan were also present. Curro eSports, a provider of competitive gaming opportunities for young learners, will be launching their first Curro Clash LAN on 24 and 25 March 2023. Image supplied The event will take place at Curro Krugersdorp High School in Gauteng and will give approximately 200 young gamers from schools across Gauteng the chance to develop their skills and compete against other learners to win some fantastic prizes. Over the two days, gamers can participate in teams in the following titles, Minecraft Education Capture the Flag, Dota 2, Overwatch 2 and Rocket League. Each team will play the same number of games over the two days and their scores ranked to find the winners who will be taking home prizes, sponsored by Acer for Education. Schools can either enter their school teams or individuals can register a team of friends. Ever since the launch of the first internal league for Curro schools during the pandemic, Curro eSports has been leading the way in crafting a solid school-level eSports community for its learners and developing a new level of digital learning. Through its partnership with Acer for Education, the independent school group has integrated eSports into their extra-curricular programmes and launched a secure eSports gaming platform so learners can remain safe whilst online. Curro even claimed victory at an International Minecraft friendly with a Californian school in June 2021. Curro has held several inter-Curro eSports tournaments over the last few years. We want to share our phenomenal experience with fellow schools in the community, as only then will we be able to collectively build a unified eSports in Education offering. With the partnership between Curro eSports and Acer, we aim to bring eSports to a new level for all schools in South Africa, says Magdeleen de Kock, Digital Transformation Facilitator: eSports project lead. This exciting clash is not just a great opportunity for young gamers to show off their skills, but it is also a fantastic way to showcase a schools strengthened commitment to developing future generations for a digital world. We encourage all schools in Gauteng and wider to join us for this event. This eSports tournament is for all learners from 13 to 18 years of age. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun! Interested schools are urged to sign up as soon as possible to secure a spot via the registration link here. South Africa's telecommunications industry at the moment is in a condition of change. On the one hand, 5G network rollouts are gathering pace, with the latest news that Nokia has won a major deal to expand MTN's 5G network to more than 2,800 additional sites around the country. On the other hand, there seems to be no end in sight to the country's power crisis, with storm clouds gathering around the key stakeholders following the explosive allegations levelled at Eskom and the governing ANC by ousted CEO Andre De Ruyter. While 5G promises to bring many benefits to consumers, including faster download speeds, lower latency, and better network capacity, it also comes with some challenges, one of the most significant being increased power consumption. One of the selling points of 5G is that its more eco-friendly than LTE, but even though 5G consumes less power per bit of data, because it transmits significantly more data than LTE, the net result is also significantly higher power consumption. While 5G in South Africa wont be using mmBand ranges because the spectrum has not been made available to local operators, it will still be using more power to transmit signals in the available sub 6GHz spectrum. This is why power or rather the lack of it can ultimately be a 5G killer. As with fibre and LTE, the 5G rollout started in the wealthier areas, because it entails a big upfront investment and needs measurable ROI to make it viable. So, the first stage of the 5G rollout will naturally take place in high-LSM-income, high-density urban areas. Out in rural areas, where communities are poorer and less densely populated, not too many customers even have the phones to use them, and the investment required will be exponentially more because of the power issues I mentioned above. So not only is the power crisis causing service disruptions across the board, its changing the dynamics and threatening the future plans for the vendors currently committing to the 5G rollout in the first place. After all, there are many smart people that for years have been working on the strategy of rolling out national 5G networks, and almost overnight all those calculations are invalidated because they never took into account that wed have power issues like this. The bottom line, this affects the cost of deployment, which affects ROI, and if ROI isnt right, deployment cant happen from a business perspective. I believe that the longer the power crisis continues, the more it will change the way we thought things would happen, development-wise, on expanding and improving 5G network coverage, and getting people connected. Everyone is talking about bridging the digital divide. The problem has never been the lack of internet access, but rather the lack of affordable internet access. The perfect storm of a power-crippled 5G rollout will only make things worse and widen rather than narrow that divide. The silver lining, if there is one, is the strong Wireless Internet Service Provider (Wisp) community that has already accounted for and mitigated many of the power issues were experiencing today, and as such has a head-start on any 5G deployment in South Africas rural and remote areas. Wisps have several advantages over 5G mobile networks when it comes to coverage, speed, cost, reliability, and flexibility of internet access delivery. Ultimately, the choice between WISPs and 5G mobile networks will depend on the specific needs and requirements of the customer or organisation. But with the power crisis potentially putting a spoke in the 5G wheel, the obvious choice for many South Africans may ultimately be made for them. Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is to take on the newly established position of minister of electricity, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday evening, 6 March. Ramaphosa said Ramokgopas primary goal will be to drive a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency and to expedite work to ensure the full implementation of the Energy Action Plan. To effectively oversee the electricity crisis response, the appointed minister will have political responsibility, authority and control over all critical aspects of the Energy Action Plan. This will help to deal with the challenge of fragmentation of responsibility across various departments and ministers which, while appropriate under normal circumstances, is not conducive to a crisis response. The minister will be expected to facilitate the coordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response, work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations, and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity, he said. At the time of his appointment, Ramokgopa held the position of head of the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency - a position he held since 2019. Empowered to carry out urgent actions The new minister of electricity in the Presidency will be empowered to carry out his duties through the transfer of certain powers and functions from the president in terms of the Constitution. Ramaphosa explained that the minister will also be empowered to carry out urgent actions needed to resolve the energy crisis through the recently gazetted National State of Disaster related to electricity regulations. The recently published disaster regulations empower the minister of electricity to issue directions to, among others, exclude critical facilities from load shedding where technically feasible; expedite various regulatory processes for energy projects; and enable Eskom to undertake critical maintenance more quickly and efficiently." Ramaphosa added that the new minister will stay in office for as long as it is necessary to resolve the electricity crisis. New portfolio for Ramokgopa Ramokgopa previously worked as the member of executive committee (MEC) for economic development, agriculture and environment in Gauteng. He served as the mayor of the Tshwane municipality from 2010 for five years. Ramokgopa was also the CEO of both the Metropolitan Trading Company and the Johannesburg Market and was deputy chairperson of the board of Trade and Investment in Limpopo. He holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Public Affairs, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, a Masters in Public Administration and a Masters in Business Leadership. Fire Weather Index prior to 2021 UCT fire was highest ever recorded during autumn in Cape Town. A fire above Lakeside, Cape Town, was swiftly extinguished on 16 January after the City dispatched several helicopters and numerous firefighters. The quick response ensured the fire didnt cause major damage. | GroundUp A study has found that climate change played a role in the UCT fire of 2021 and has significantly increased the chances of such devastating fires occurring in Cape Town. The Fire Weather Index prior to the 2021 UCT fire was the highest ever recorded in that area during autumn. The risk is set to keep increasing as global temperatures continues to rise. The ferocity of the fire on Devils Peak that gutted UCTs Jagger Library in April 2021, causing an estimated R1bn in damages to UCT alone, can be directly linked to climate change, state scientists from UCT and Coventry University in the UK. Although arson is believed to have been the direct cause of the fire, it was the exceptionally hot and dry conditions, unusual for April, that led to the devastation. Embers carried by the wind lit dry vegetation ahead of the advancing fire line, with the combustible nature of alien vegetation in the area also being a contributing factor. The likelihood of the 2021-type event increased by a factor of 1.9 [nearly double] between 1880 and 2021 as a result of rising global temperatures, the scientists say in their paper, The April 2021 Cape Town wildfire: has anthropogenic climate change altered the likelihood of extreme fire weather? published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society on 1 January 2023. Zhongwei Liu, Jonathan M. Eden, Bastien Dieppois, and Matthew Blackett from Coventry University, along with W. Stefaan Conradie from UCT, noted in their study the exceptional nature of the meteorological conditions that coincided with the April 2021 event. Using data for the specific area of the fire dating back to 1880, they ran it through six established models. The multi-model synthesis result suggests that the weighted average of the likelihood of the 2021-type event increased by a factor of 1.9 between 1880 and 2021 as a result of rising global temperatures. The data also showed that the Fire Weather Index, which combines temperature, wind speed, humidity, and precipitation to obtain a value, was 67.77 on 18 April 2021, the highest recorded during autumn in Cape Town. According to the study, the humidity level was below 20%, the temperature rose to 33C, and although the day started off calm, the wind speed (a dry berg wind) rose to more than 40km per hour. The Fire Weather Index was also generally above average during the 2020/21 summer period prior to the fire of 18 April. The authors state the results complement other efforts to determine the link between climate change and extreme climatic events such as droughts, floods, and fires around Cape Town, such as a study of the 201517 drought that found climate change had more than doubled the likelihood of a prolonged drought to occur. Acting head of the Stellenbosch University School for Climate Studies Professor Guy Midgley said the study was an interesting analysis and a careful attribution. Midgley said the authors of the study make the point that an increasing population, which means there are more people on and around the mountain, increases the likelihood of fires being started, but we are also seeing more big fires out of control fires. He said there was a 30/30/30 rule, which related to temperatures of 30C or higher, humidity of 30% or lower, and wind speeds of 30km per hour or higher. These factors, particularly in combination, led to runaway wildfires which were very difficult, if not impossible, to bring under control. As the study noted, all these factors were in play on 18 April, and Midgley said the study showed that climate change had almost doubled the chances of such uncontrollable fires occurring. With global temperatures continuing to rise due to human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, the likelihood of uncontrollable fires in and around Cape Town would only increase, he said. He said Mediterranean climate zones, such as Cape Town and surrounds, were the rarest in the world, and the most threatened by the climate crisis. He said the most consistently predicted outcome of a global increase in temperature was that the frontal systems that bring the winter rains that define the Capes Mediterranean climate, would shift southwards, leading to significantly lower rainfall over the Western Cape. The drier and hotter conditions increased the risk and frequency of wildfires, as well as a risk to water supply. Paradoxically, severe flooding was also a risk, as occasional cut-off low pressure systems would result in heavy rainfall over a short period at odd times of the year (as has been occuring in California). City Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said ten years ago, in 2013, 7,784 bush, grass, and rubbish fires had been recorded. The figure for 2022 was 9,879, a 27% increase. Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell said the City has a Climate Change Action Plan which identifies wildfires as a hazard. Powell did not say how the plan intends to mitigate the occurrence and effect of such fires, saying only that the plan includes actions to be taken by various City departments and directorates. On 16 January a fire broke out on Boyes Drive above Lakeside. The City swiftly dispatched several helicopters and numerous firefighters to the scene. The fire, which had the potential to burn a large swathe of the mountain range in Cape Towns south peninsula, was swiftly put out with only a small area damaged. This may be the Citys strategy for preventing the kind of fire disaster that occurred in April 2021. Published originally on GroundUp. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched the Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics). Announced at ITB Berlin, which takes place from 7 March to 9 March 2023, Basics will enable tourist accommodation providers from around the world, regardless of their size, to begin their sustainability journey. Source: davidlee770924 via Pixabay Basics, an industry-backed scheme, is a globally recognised set of criteria that all hotels should implement as a minimum to drive responsible and sustainable travel and tourism. Basics emerged as a result of a clear demand from a group of influential global hotel brands and whilst there a great number of sustainability initiatives, Basics focuses on an achievable starting point. It will encourage all accommodation providers to begin their sustainability journeys and meet the fundamental standards required of our sector. Made up of 12 key criteria, the Basics is accessible to all hotels to implement. It serves as a stepping-stone to more complex sustainability schemes and achieves greater sustainability across the industry. Basics have also been recognised by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance as the starting point for a net-positive industry, which announced the latest version of the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality. Verification scheme In order to ensure the validity of the programme, WTTC partnered with Green Key and SGS to develop a simple online verification system to allow hotels to provide evidence and ensure they are following the Basics. The verification scheme enables hotels and other tourist accommodations to be officially verified for meeting eight of the 12 criteria in the first year and demonstrate their commitment to working toward all 12 of the criteria by year three. Together, the criteria ensure the sector is eco-resilient and adaptive to the changing needs of the planet. Hotel partners Six major international hotel groups, collectively representing tens of thousands of sites from around the world have now joined Basics as inaugural partners. The first hotel groups include well-known brands such as Accor, Jin Jiang International, Louvre Hotels Group, Melia Hotels International, Meininger, and Radisson Hotel Group. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, says: "We are incredibly proud to launch our Hotel Sustainability Basics and its verification scheme. The initiative is a response to the sectors need for a baseline for hotels and other tourist lodgings to introduce the exacting sustainability standards. "Our research shows that most business owners are aware of their responsibility to the environment but need a step-by-step guide that is scientifically verifiable. "It is a testament to the need for such a scheme that already thousands of hotel properties from around the world have committed to implement Basics, and from today can begin the verification process." Inge Huijbrechts, global senior vice president of sustainability, security and corporate communications at Radisson Hotel Group says: "Hotel Sustainability Basics is filling a new and unanswered demand in the hotel industry: to provide a solid, trusted, and clear label for essential hotel sustainability. Its important we define responsible travel to preserve the planet and protect communities. "With Hotel Sustainability Basics we offer the traveller a clear sustainable stay option for all types of hotels around the world. "Radisson Hotel Group commits to implement Hotel Sustainability Basics in all its 1,100 hotels by 2025. We do this together with our shareholder Jin Jiang International, their affiliate Louvre Hotel Group and other major hotel groups and destinations around the world." Green Lodgings Trend Report WTTC carried out an extensive international benchmarking exercise through the Green Lodgings Trends Report, learning from 27,000 accommodation providers on how they are currently fairing against the 12 criteria. Crucially, this benchmark will allow WTTC to track the progress of Basics over time. Almost 100% of accommodation providers implement at least one initiative to reduce inequality and 96% have adopted linen reuse programmes. The report also showed many hoteliers are establishing sustainable practices but there is still a way to go for these to become common across the sector. Two-thirds of those surveyed have already begun to eliminate the use of certain single-use plastics such as straws and implement other waste reduction initiatives. Emerging practices were also highlighted in the report. Almost half of the respondents have replaced small plastic toiletry bottles with bulk dispensers and a third now provide vegetarian options for every course in their food and beverage provision. Sector partners In addition to the Alliance, WTTC collaborated with other key leading sector figures including representatives from Greenview, WTTCs hotel members, Expedia, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Trip.com Group, as well as the certification bodies SGS and Green Key. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance says: "We are incredibly proud to work alongside the World Travel & Tourism Council to launch the Hotel Sustainability Basics. Basics is a key part of the Alliances Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality which sets ambitious targets to create a prosperous and responsible global hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes. "Net Positive Hospitality is a tremendous objective for us to achieve. Going beyond net zero and actually being contributory to the worlds future is a bold ambition but one I believe that the sector can achieve." Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) says: "Hotels throughout the world need to march towards sustainability quickly but the first step can be the hardest. "The WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics provide an excellent way to understand and take the first steps. With 12 clear actions that map to the eight of the GTSC Industry Criteria, the Basics are indeed an essential part of the journey." Jane Sun, Group CEO of Trip.com Group says: "Sustainability is a collective goal. As demand for sustainable options increases, Trip.com Group will deepen cooperation with our partners, including WTTC, and empower hotels globally to adopt the best sustainability practices." Destination partners A number of global tourism destinations have already recognised the strength of Hotel Sustainability Basics and demonstrated their commitment to ensuring their hotels implement the Basics. Azerbaijan was the first destination partner to support the Basics, followed by other supporters such as Belize, Colombia, and Mauritius. Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board says: "The Basics are an important add-on to Azerbaijans sustainable tourism development strategy. We are committed to prioritising sustainability throughout the entire value chain and customer journey. "We take pride in being a country partner of this initiative and pledge to continue our efforts in promoting responsible tourism practices. Our mission is to care for the country's intangible and tangible resources for future generations to enjoy, and a tourism industry, that benefits both visitors and hosts alike." On Monday night, (6 March, 2023) President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his Cabinet reshuffle, a move political analysts say was pre-empted by the recent swearing in of finance minister, Enoch Godongwana as a member of parliament. The result was the appointment of Paul Mashatile as SA's new deputy president. Source: Reuters. Paul Mashatile is President Cyril Ramaphosa's second in command. The country too got long-awaited confirmation that Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is the new minister in the presidency responsible for electricity while Maropene Ramokgopa is the new minister in the presidency responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluation - two new ministries established by Ramaphosa to attend to the country's current challenges. Two new ministries "The Minister for Electricity will deal with the immediate crisis of load shedding.and the second will focus greater attention on the performance of government and the full and urgent implementation of the Energy Action Plan," Ramaphosa said. This, he said, will help to deal with the challenge of fragmentation of responsibility across various departments and ministers. Congratulations on your new responsibility as COGTA Minister cde Nkadimeng. #cabinetreshuffle pic.twitter.com/d8IviAG4M1 Goodman Pilusa (@Ke_GeeMan) March 6, 2023 The minister will be expected to facilitate the co-ordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response, work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations, and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity. To enable the minister to do this work, Ramaphosa said he will, in terms of section 97 of the Constitution, transfer to them certain powers and functions contained in relevant legislation. "In the State of the Nation Address, I announced that a national state of disaster had been declared to respond to the electricity crisis and its social and economic impact." Minister of Electricity's mandate "The recently published disaster regulations empower the Minister of Electricity to issue directions to, among others, exclude critical facilities from load shedding where technically feasible; expedite various regulatory processes for energy projects; and enable Eskom to undertake critical maintenance more quickly and efficiently. "The minister in the presidency for electricity will liaise with other relevant Ministers to ensure coherence in the issuing of other directions during the national state of disaster." Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Mining and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, all seen as key Ramaphosa allies, retained their posts, as did the Minister of Police Bheki Cele. In contrast, after 22 years and leading eight government departments, Lindiwe Sisulu's tenure as a Cabinet member came to an end along with ministers Nathi Mthethwa and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. And just like that, Fikile Mbalula gets to walk away from the mess he left in the transport ministry. #cabinetreshuffle pic.twitter.com/4pbuJg9P7u Moqhaso (@qhasi2) March 6, 2023 Eleven new ministers and nine new deputy ministers were appointed to the national executive. These included Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as the minister in the presidency; Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as the minister in the presidency responsible for women, youth and persons with disabilities; Sindisiwe Chikunga as the minister of transport and Patricia de Lille as minister of tourism - a move which some political analysts have applauded given the greater representation of women at executive level. Addressing his new Cabinet on Monday night, Ramaphosa said: "I expect them to fulfil their tasks with rigour and dedication, to adopt a zero tolerance approach to corruption wherever it exists, and to place the interests of the people of South Africa foremost in the work that they do." All in all, the cabinet changes were not a surprise, critics have said, given the elections next year and Ramaphosa's intent to run for a second term in 2024. But the downside has been the sheer size of the new Cabinet. A recipe for more conflict? "I get the feeling that the president is juggling many balls in this 27-plus-two cabinet and then additional deputy ministers. The executive arm of government is larger that it's been in the last 10 years or so. In addition, people have been shifted around but I'm not convinced that we will necessarily see a radical change," says Angelo Fick, the director of research at the Auwal Socio-economic Research Institute. "This is because the more people you have involved in government the less likely you are to get the services that the government is supposed to deliver." No matter how much Cyril Ramaphosa tries to change their positions from one department to another, but in our eyes they'll remain losers who waste taxpayers money. #cabinetreshuffle. Patricia De Lille. Pravin. Fikile. Paul Mashatile. pic.twitter.com/Yulff4JICm Africa is Black (@AfricaisBlack) March 6, 2023 "These additional people might make it look like there are more people responsible, but doesn't that just split the responsibility among more people who might have to come to some sort of agreement? One imagines there's going to be conflict between the various ministries that are responsible for Eskom as a public enterprise, and energy production distribution [facility]. "It remains part of the minerals project because mining is so central to South Africa, but presumably the trading industry will have some kind of interest in this as will the minister of health who may want to have some input on this given our hospitals are affected by load shedding." Stakeholder engagement at stake "In order to have the delivery of stable electricity Transnet has to be on board as part of this acquisition of interdepartmental co-operation because coal has to be moved. There's going to be quite a bit of negotiating with a range of stakeholders." President Cyril Ramaphosa , by keeping Bheki Cele as Minister of Police, you make it more evident that you don't give a damn about the women and children in your country. #cabinetreshuffle #EndViolenceAgainstWomen Women For Change (@womenforchange5) March 6, 2023 And while Ramaphosa said that the Minister in the Presidency for Electricity will remain in office only for as long as it is necessary to resolve the electricity crisis, Fick countered this saying: "Unless the person does really well, he might be the minister of electricity in perpetuity as would the new additional members of the expanded cabinet. "Once you have bloated the cabinet to 29 members it will more than likely stay that way." With more than 20 thought leaders converging in person at this year's hybrid Nedbank Integrated Marketing Council (IMC) conference taking place on 15 September, it's going to be personal. From walking the sometimes lonely journey of an entrepreneur to guiding a team or leading a company, the 2023 cohort of speakers will each provide their unique insight into what it means to get up close and personal in the business of marketing. Every year the Nedbank IMCs curation of thought leaders is an intentional reflection of the conference theme. This year the Up close and personal theme will be conveyed effortlessly by speakers such as Roanna Williams, chief creative officer at Net#work BBDO and chairperson of the Creative Circle; Brian Mtongana, the executive creative director: Woolworths South Africa, and Khensani Nobanda, group executive for group marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank. This trio of thought leaders play a key role in guiding three of South Africas leading brands from within the advertising, retail and banking sectors. Each of these brands have a lived experience of getting up close and personal with their clients. This has had a positive, material effect on their companies. For Net#work BBDO, its Africa-centric DNA has produced compelling and successful narratives for their clients. Woolworths has been a long-standing symbol of excellence and an intuitive listener to its clients. Nedbank, one of the big five banking institutions, undertook a fearless brand identity pivot in its recent history, based exclusively on understanding who its clients really are. Each of these speakers are thought leader heavyweights, with immense knowledge to share. Roanna Williams, named top female CD of 2018/19 as ranked by the Loeries, has been a judge of nearly every creative award out there, ranging from Cannes Lions and the Loeries, to the forthcoming One Show in Puerto Rico. Brian Mtongana, although recently appointed executive creative director: Woolworths South Africa, has been a custodian of the Woolworths brand for the past 14 years. Multi-award-winning Khensani Nobanda, will take to the stage to share her insights in a fascinating speed-share entitled, Up Close and Personal with Khensani. 10 minutes. 10 insights. Dale Hefer, CEO of the Nedbank IMC, says that the conference likes to include major brands, agency innovators, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to provide nuance as well as diverse perspectives of the business of marketing in a hard-hitting agenda. The Nedbank IMC will be held as an in-person event at Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg, and live-streamed, on 15 September 2023. Register today. In-person tickets (conference only) priced at R3,000 (excl VAT) until 31 March 2023. In-person tickets (conference and Effie Awards South Africa) priced at R4,000 (excl VAT) until 31 March 2023. Limited seats available Virtual tickets priced at R1,499. For more information visit: www.imcconference.com. BRS party sources said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has picked a few ministers, BRS MLAs, MLCs and MPs for campaigning in Karnataka Assembly polls soon after EC issues notification. However, there is no clarity if KCR will campaign in Karnataka. (By Arrangement) Hyderabad: Leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will campaign for the JDS in the Karnataka Assembly elections only after the Election Commission of India (ECI) issues the poll notification, although the three major political parties in Karnataka have already ramped up their campaign even before the EC announced the poll schedule for the April/May elections. The upcoming elections in Karnataka, a three-cornered contest between the BJP, Congress, and JDS, will provide the BRS with an opportunity to establish itself as a national party. However, the BRS, which announced its support for the JDS, has been missing in action, even as JDS leader and former Karnataka CM H.D.Kumaraswamy has been on a whirlwind campaign trail covering all Assembly constituencies by undertaking Pancharatna Rath Yatra since December last year. Soon after the EC issues the poll notification, Chandrashekar Rao is expected to deploy a team of 50 BRS leaders to Karnataka, including ministers, MLAs, MPs, and MLCs. Yet, there is no clarity regarding the CM's Karnataka campaign. Rao stated during a meeting in the BRS office in December last year that he wants to see Kumaraswamy as the "future CM of Karnataka" and that the BRS will work with the JDS to achieve this goal. According to party insiders, Rao intends to maintain his cordial relations with Kumaraswamy by campaigning for the JDS, as promised, and by contesting a few Lok Seats in Karnataka in alliance with the JDS in 2024. It may be noted that Kumaraswamy was present at all significant events during the TRS-to-BRS transition. He flew to Hyderabad to attend the party's state executive meeting on October 5, last year, at which a resolution rebranding TRS as BRS was passed and sent to the EC for approval. Kumaraswamy was present for the formal launch of the BRS on December 9 last year in Hyderabad, following the EC's approval of the name change on December 8, as well as the inauguration ceremony of the BRS national office in New Delhi on December 14. IT minister K.T.Rama Rao speaks at the annual Confederation of Indian Industry event on Tuesday. (Photo: Twitter/@MinisterKTR) HYDERABAD: IT minister K.T.Rama Rao charged the BJP-led government at the Centre with penalising Telangana, despite being a performing state, by not sanctioning funds and projects to the state. Speaking at the annual Confederation of Indian Industry event here on Tuesday, Rama Rao said political affiliations should not define support from the Centre. He said the Centre should empower and incentivise performing states like Telangana. He urged the captains of the industry to take this issue to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rama Rao urged the industry to vote the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) back to power in Telangana so that it can continue its good work done over the last eight years. "Since Im addressing the last CII annual meeting before the general elections, let me ask you to vote me (BRS) back to power so that we can come back as a government," he appealed. When the industry leaders responded with applause, Rama Rao remarked, "Im guessing by the kind of applause that I will come back. Im hopeful." He said that India would have achieved the targeted $5 trillion economy by 2022 if all states had grown at the same pace as Telangana, highlighting the 150 per cent growth in per capita income and GSDP in the last eight years. Rama Rao said the Hyderabad Pharma City would be the largest pharma manufacturing cluster in the world but did not receive support from the Centre. "The Centre also denied a bulk drugs manufacturing cluster, other manufacturing clusters, industrial corridors. Even though special industrial incentive was promised to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the AP Reorganisation Act, nothing has been given to the Telugu states. What is the sanctity of the Act passed in Parliament," he asked. He said each state was diverse and that diversity should be respected. "Who are we to tell people what to eat, what to wear," he said. Rama Rao said the Centre's initiatives like Make in India were good, but they have not progressed much beyond slogans. He asked why many still felt that importing from China works out cheaper rather than making locally despite the import costs, distance and other factors. Laura Bonner is well overdue for a night on the couch with the telly. The Irishwoman has been hard at work promoting her drinks brand Muff Liquor named after the village of Muff in County Donegal, so behave and schmoozing some of her high-profile investors, most notably our very own Oscar winner and CBD regular Russell Crowe. But it turns out that Crowe is not the only famous figure sinking their hard-earned into the brand. Ed Sheeran a co-investor in Muff Liquor Men performing at the MCG last Thursday. Credit: Rick Clifford The Hollywood heavyweight is the lead investor in an outfit called Muff Liquor Men (MLM) along with MCG-filler Ed Sheeran, Irish songster Ronan Keating, UK comedian Jimmy Carr, a regular on ABC-screened panel shows and Dublin talent agent Noel Kelly which owns 35 per cent of the company. And the Muff Liquor crew have been having quite the time these past few days. On Thursday, they were out on the lash together after catching Carrs Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show and were partying again on Friday night after Sheerans record-breaking performance in front of 106,000 fans at the MCG. Demands that National Australia Bank employees work long overtime hours without pay to meet targets or be considered for promotions will be examined in a union test case. The Finance Sector Union of Australia has filed Federal Court proceedings against NAB and subsidiary MLC on behalf of four managers allegedly required to work up to 16 hours a day to meet excessive workload demands. Some managers had to work weekends without pay and sometimes without meal breaks to avoid being fired, or complete tasks assigned to them, said FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano. FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano. Credit: These relentless long work days are affecting the health of the managers, leading to them suffering stress, anxiety, fatigue and exhaustion, she said. The excessive hours are having a profound impact on the lives of our members, affecting their health, their relationships, the time available to spend with their families and their overall quality of life. The FSU is asking for court-ordered compensation payable to the four managers plus penalties paid directly to the union. If the union wins, it will ask NAB to repay up to 10,000 staff who also worked for similarly excessive hours, Ms Angrisano says. This case is just the start. We know the culture of the big banks exploits workers, and we will be going after them as well. AAP One of the pilots of two Sea World helicopters that crashed at the Gold Coast, killing four people, might not have made a taxiing call before taking off, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says. The ATSB has handed down a preliminary report into the crash, which killed pilot Ash Jenkinson, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros at the Broadwater on January 2, after the two helicopters collided near the resort and theme park. The Sea World helicopters after one crashed to the ground and the other landed. Credit: AAP Other passengers, including Tadros son, Nicholas, 10, were rushed to hospital. Nicholas was initially in a critical condition but survived after his lungs were flooded with aviation fuel. Nine-year-old Leon de Silva and his mother Winnie, from Melbourne, were seriously injured and remained in hospital, but also slowly recovered. Loading We need a full royal commission to get to the bottom of whats been going on not only around those Austrac allegations, because that is an inquiry which is ongoing, but as we saw last night, the allegations around the gold doping is of particular concern, and the reputational risk that that exposes for Western Australias Perth Mint, he said. Four Corners claimed the mint failed to register more than 5000 international movements of money over a nine-month period. Each failure to register these could result in a fine of up to $21 million. Love said the report had uncovered serious issues in the mint that could see WA taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in fines. In the past, Austrac has not been afraid to lump enormous fines on organisations that breached anti-money laundering laws. In 2018, Commonwealth Bank was hit with a then-record fine of $700 million for repeated breaches while in 2020 Westpac copped a $1.3 billion penalty for its own breaches. The difference here is that the mints gold is backed by the WA government it is the only mint in the world to offer such a guarantee which means taxpayers will have to foot the bill for any fines. Doping bungle On top of potential fines, the gold doping may also come back to haunt taxpayers. The mint began doping its gold in 2018 to improve margins on the product while keeping its bullion at a globally accepted 99.99 per cent purity. However, in 2021 the purity of the mints bullion was noticed by one of its biggest customers and the exchange with even tougher purity standards than accepted across the rest of the world, the Shanghai Gold Exchange. Perth Mint chief executive Jason Waters. Credit: Hamish Hastie Four Corners claims when the mint received a complaint about two bullion sent to SGE it conducted an internal investigation which found about 100 tonnes of gold sent to the exchange could be below their purity standards about $8.7 billion worth at todays prices. During its investigation, the mint went back and found one of the gold bars had been red flagged by its own refinery but did not share that information with the Shanghai Gold Exchange. The mint recognised the reputational damage this could cause if it was made public. This doping practice could leave taxpayers exposed in that the mint may have to purchase the gold back and recast it to acceptable purity, which would mean transport and refinery cost on top of the purchase back. This may prove tricky, however, given the Chinese governments ban on exporting gold from the country. Shanghai Gold Exchange was contacted for comment. Financial regulation expert Nathan Lynch said in addition to that gold the mint might also be currently holding customer gold that did not meet global purity specifications. The Shanghai gold was only picked up because the bullion was shipped. How much doped gold is inside? How much of that has been altered with silver? he said. Gold Corp chief executive Jason Waters played down the purity issue, saying it did not actually affect the overall value of the gold and the issue actually lay with the silver component of the gold, which was above SGEs specifications of 50 parts per million. However, he conceded that the breach was serious and damaged the mints reputation. Needless to say people are concerned, he said. Personally, its a serious issue. It shouldnt have happened, but it did. It was fixed. My job is to ensure we have procedures in place [to ensure] this sort of stuff doesnt happen again. Waters said the gold was not actually sold to SGE directly but through an intermediary, who he declined to name, but said the mint was working with them. He said when he started at the mint in April 2022 he was made aware of the issue and revealed he had discussed it with Johnston. He deflected questions about whether the government could be forced to buy back the gold and refine it but said that was an issue that had been raised internally at the end of 2021. Loading Ritas hospital pass With the premier nowhere to be seen in Perth on Tuesday, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti faced a barrage of questions about the issues facing the mint and Gold Corp, but could not answer any. She said the gold doping questions were about operational matters for Gold Corp and the mint, and said she expected McGowan would speak on the issue later this week. Saffioti also rubbished the oppositions call for a royal commission. I think theyve asked for a royal commission every week since theyve been in opposition, she said. The most shocking case study in the Four Corners expose was the revelation that former Hells Angels sergeant-at-arms Dayne Brajkovich was able to purchase $27,000 worth of gold from the mint in the middle of last year by simply producing his drivers licence. Waters said he would not comment on individual customers but spoke generally about the mints failures in the anti-money laundering space. We accept that we have matters as there, but we need to improve our processes need to improve our systems need to improve our culture, he said. This report from Austrac will be handed down this year. Well hear the results then and, frankly, I look forward to it because thats how we want to be. We own up to it. Well be held to account for it and were going to get better. Lynch backed a call for a royal commission. Morally and ethically and legally, its no different to what the banks and casinos were doing, which is underspending on risk and compliance controls and delivering that as a quasi-profit to shareholders, he said. The 120-year-old Perth Mint is the only government-owned and guaranteed precious metals enterprise and refines more than 90 per cent of newly mined gold in the country. A former Melbourne councillor accused of stealing and forging votes in a local election has been committed to stand trial. Milad El-Halabi, 59, was elected to the north-west ward of the Moreland City Council now Merri-bek City Council in October 2020. Milad El-Halabi outside court on Monday Credit: Jason South But police allege El-Halabi, his wife Dianna, 52, and daughter Tania, 26, stole, forged and interfered with postal ballots in the lead up to the election. After a two-day committal hearing, Magistrate Stephen Ballek on Tuesday determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial. Id received such a Baz battering they had to bring in the jaws of life to pry me out of my seat. Pleasingly old-fashioned: Alinta Chidzey as Satine (left of Eiffel Tower) and Des Flanagan as Christian (right of Eiffel Tower) in Moulin Rouge! The Musical Credit: Michelle Grace Hunder The breakneck storytelling, the frenetic editing, the sensory assault, the cartoonish and in-your-face acting made it feel less like watching a movie, more like Id been in a car crash. So you can imagine my trepidation while walking into Crown Theatre for the stage version of Luhrmanns movie. Easy, big fella, said my wife as I stumbled toward my seat, the looming set so bright that I kicked myself for not slapping on sunscreen, threatening and send me back to 2001 and that traumatic moment. Everything Everywhere All At Once-style. For a few moments, it felt like Luhrmann was hiding in the wings calling the shots on Moulin Rouge! The Musical even though he promised to have nothing to do with the stage production, which has been written by leading playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator) and directed by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers. The chorus launched into Lady Marmalade, the movies signature tune, and we were back turn-of-the-century Paris and charging toward the head-spinning pop culture mashup, in which songs associated with Montmartre (Offenbachs Can-Can, Edith Piafs Milord) collide quite literally with mid-century classics (Cab Calloways Hi-Di-Ho Man, The Sound of Music, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend) and boomer favourites (Your Song, Roxanne). Thankfully, Timbers and Logan havent attempted to emulate Luhrmanns trauma-inducing visual assault (they simply couldnt), opting instead to set the story entirely inside the Moulin Rouge and shifting the emphasis to the music, boosting the number of songs to 70 and adding a whole new dimension to the term jukebox musical (I would classify this one as a Spotify musical). Former attorney-general Christian Porter will represent a Russian oligarch identified by several western governments as an ally of Vladimir Putin who has filed a legal challenge against federal government sanctions imposed on him after the invasion of Ukraine. Oleg Deripaska who was once believed to be Russias richest man was hit by targeted financial sanctions and banned from travelling to Australia under an announcement by then-foreign minister Marise Payne last year. Former attorney-general Christian Porter has returned to private legal practice after leaving politics. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The billionaires extensive portfolio of assets includes a stake in a Queensland alumina refinery. Porter, who returned to private legal practice after retiring at the last election, will represent Deripaska in hearings expected to be held in Perth. Voters show their identification cards as they wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling booth during the Tripura Assembly elections, in Rajnagar, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Representational Image/PTI) The chief ministers of three northeastern states are in the process of embarking on another five-year term after getting a fresh mandate from the people. Manik Saha enters his second term after successfully warding off fears of anti-incumbency. Mr Saha did not disappoint his party, the BJP, which replaced the dyed-in-the-wool saffron leader Biplab Deb with him, a Congressman for most of his political life. He won for his a party a second term in the state that had never before showed a leaning towards the partys ideology. National Peoples Party head Conrad K. Sangma, too, has got a second consecutive mandate to run the state though his party has no absolute majority in the 60-member state Assembly. He, however, has the support of 45 members in the House, including that of the BJP and other smaller regional parties. The case in Nagaland is slightly different. The four-time CM, Neiphiu Rio, of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, is starting his fifth, and the first consecutive stint with virtually no opposition as every party is now part of the ruling alliance. A common single thread that binds all three governments is the BJP it runs the government in Tripura and will either be part of or supporting the government in the other two. The North Eastern Democratic Alliance, the platform the party floated for the region, has now a say in all the seven states in the region. It is a fact that the northeastern states have been kept off the national mainstream for long for a litany of reasons. The region has suffered in terms of development in infrastructure and medical and educational facilities. Not one state figures in the top layer of the Human Development Index yet. The social integration with the rest of India is still a work in progress. Militancy and insurgency have gripped the region for quite a long time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasising that his government has broken the stereotypical approach the Union governments have for the region and that the Centre is working hard to make the region part of the development project that is being rolled out in the rest of the country. The government cites Mr Modis own travel history to the region he has travelled close to 50 times to the region in the last five years to buttress the argument on its new focus. With Assam chief minister Himanta Sharma as the pointman, the BJP has been pushing for settling the border disputes lingering for decades among the northeastern states. The peace process in Nagaland is also an unfinished agenda. The Union government and the militant organisations have been blowing hot and cold over it for some time now. The clamour for the formation of a greater Nagaland, one of the key demands of the major militant unit, is met with stiff resistance from other states. While each one of the seven states has its own unique features, together they offer great opportunities for themselves and for the nation. A futuristic vision and imaginative steps are needed to realise them. The question is whether the governments in the states and at the Centre can rise to the challenge. The Liberals and sections of the media are wailing in anguish about the tiny tax increases proposed for the 80,000 Australians with superannuation accounts worth more than $3 million. But their sympathy would be more appropriately directed at another similar-sized group: the 87,279 single mothers forced by the government to subsist on JobSeeker and try to raise their kids on $784.50 a fortnight. Unemployed single mothers lose the Parenting Payment ($961.30 a fortnight) and must go onto the dole (JobSeeker) when their youngest child turns eight. Credit: Greg Newington These women are victims of the policy-induced poverty initiated by John Howard in 2006 and accelerated by Julia Gillard in 2013 that requires single mothers be dumped from the Parenting Payment ($961.30 a fortnight) and onto the dole (JobSeeker) when their youngest child turns eight. They are currently paid $176.50 a fortnight less than they would receive if still on the Parenting Payment. This policy was intended to encourage single mothers off welfare and into employment, but a decade on there is no evidence this has succeeded. Instead, these women and their children have sunk deeper into poverty every six months because not only is the rate of payment lower, it is indexed differently. For instance, those on the Parenting Payment received an extra $33.90 from the March indexation increase while the more than 80,000 women on the dole got just $26.60. As a result of the policy changes, these women are no longer seen as single mothers once their youngest turns eight. Despite having as many as ten years of parenthood ahead of them, they are deemed to be unemployed economic units and are punished if they cant find employment. About a year later, Paterson murdered Devlin, shooting him with a revolver outside his home in rural Numurkah. Paterson pleaded guilty to the murder and in December last year was jailed for 26 years with a 21-year non-parole period. A Supreme Court judgment found Paterson held an unshakeable belief that Devlin had orchestrated his removal from the workplace, despite Devlin not being Patersons direct manager. Problems identified at Moira Shire Council by the commission of inquiry Council can no longer effectively carry out its responsibilities because its governance has deteriorated; Council does not manage the performance of its CEO, who the commission also found has failed to fulfil four key duties; The organisation has failed to ensure the health and safety of employees in its depots and other outdoor locations; The shire council transferred asbestos waste to stations not licensed to receive it, putting staff, contractors and residents at risk; The organisation left the town of Numurkah and its residents at serious risk of floods by delaying approved flood mitigation measures; Two major capital projects were mismanaged, and The council does not work in the best interests of the whole shire under its current model for representation. The inquiry report, tabled in the Victorian parliament on Tuesday, found the depot environment was fundamentally unsafe. It said the councils senior executive should have been aware of the risks since at least September 2017 when an external investigator reported on the high level of dysfunction and distrust amongst the workforce and the extremely toxic atmosphere. The report found the depot workplace broke some men, who went on long-term WorkCover or resigned. It added that little was done to protect the few women employed at the depot, who suffered harassment and abuse. Nathalia works depot was the epicentre of a bitterly divided workforce riven by victimisation, threats, bullying, harassment, accusation and counter-accusation, the report said. Nathalia works depot was the epicentre of a bitterly divided workforce riven by victimisation, threats, bullying, harassment, accusation and counter-accusation. Commission of inquiry report It alleged the councils human resources management team should have tried to restore health and safety at the depots but instead pursued flimsy and unfounded actions against accused employees including Mr Paterson. The commissioners took aim at council chief executive Clare Keenan, describing her as ill-equipped and displaying antipathy to one of the councillors, affecting her ability to play a conciliatory role. However, they said she could not be held responsible for the failure of previous administrations to ensure a safe working environment in council depots. While governance of the council had been steadily eroding over the past decade, the commission said the appointment of the inexperienced Keenan exacerbated the issues at Moira Shire Council that had become increasingly unstable. The commission found it difficult to comprehend that such an inexperienced CEO was first appointed to the role, and then given an increase in salary and a contract extension within the probationary period. In a statement, Keenan said the council would review the reports findings and seek advice before making further comment. We understand that the findings of the report may be confronting for our staff and their families and concerning for our community, she said. Our priority continues to be the wellbeing of staff and we have implemented measures to ensure they have support. The inquiry laid bare the dysfunction at Moira Shire Council that spanned years and crossed council operations, leading to infrastructure delays and cost blowouts. There has also been a steep decline in the communitys confidence in the council over this period of time. The councils facilities maintenance coordinator has been referred to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission after he directed more than $500,000 of work without a tender process to an Albury-based company that employed his son, and then later to a company part-owned by his son. The commission was also scathing of the councils dumping of toxic soil at waste transfer stations that were not licensed to receive asbestos and referred the matter to IBAC, describing it as a serious misconduct that put council staff, contractors and residents at potential risk. The council also allegedly mismanaged two major infrastructure projects despite receiving substantial funding from the federal and state governments, and failed to build its promised levee bank at Numurkah more than 10 years after the devastating 2012 floods. The shire now faces mounting workers compensation claims, which have grown from $130,000 in 2020-21 to $2.25 million in 2023-24. The report found the council was dominated by former mayor Libro Mustica for five terms and, while he was motivated to improve community and infrastructure, he was often conflicted in council decision-making and obliged to withdraw from discussion. Mustica, who resigned from the council last year, declined to comment. The state government has long been aware of problems at Moira Shire, appointing a monitor to advise on governance issues last April. The monitors confidential report triggered the commission of inquiry that ultimately recommended sacking the council. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT Hong Kong: A woman accused of assisting a suspect in the gruesome killing and dismemberment of model Abby Choi in Hong Kong has been arrested in mainland China and charged, Hong Kong police said. The arrest of the 29-year-old woman brought the total number of people allegedly involved in the case to seven. Police said they suspect she assisted another suspect and then fled to mainland China. She was handed over to Hong Kong authorities at Shenzhen Bay Port and charged on Tuesday (Hong Kong time), they said. Model Abby Choi, 28, was found dismembered in a Hong Kong apartment. Credit: Instagram The grisly killing of Choi, 28, has gripped many in Hong Kong and in mainland China because the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has a very low level of violent crime. Latest News New product could end 'defective' reverse mortgage market Pre-retirement property owners among the beneficiaries, says company CBA lifts variable rates again, cuts select three-year fixed rates It's the second time in two weeks that the bank has hiked its variable rates for new customers The broking industry faces challenges with diversity and womens participation, but the incredible achievements of others set it up for a more sustainable future, according to three industry leaders. MFAA CEO Anja Pannek (pictured above left), NextGen head of broker partnerships Renee Blethyn (pictured above centre) and MoneyPlace CEO Kylie Waldock have all said there is huge potential to benefit from more women in the industry. However the MFAAs Opportunities for Women survey has found the number of female brokers dropped to 25.5% in the six months to March 2022, the lowest since the research began. This is despite 65.1% of respondents in the survey agreeing businesses that support greater diversity will have a business advantage in regard to customers, employee engagements and referral partners. The MFAAs research has shown its members male and female believe that unconscious bias is the biggest barrier for women entering our industry and staying in our industry, Pannek said. Weve made tools available on our MFAA website to help people understand what unconscious bias is and how they can more aware of their own biases. We need to keep the conversation alive. The more women share their stories, the more well learn about how we can do better as an industry. Blethyn said the research conducted by the MFAA indicated there was a variety of reasons why the industry was not seeing participation increase in the way that many would hope for. However, she said that over the long-term trailblazers were changing the industry for women. Im grateful for the women who have paved the way for the industry as it is today, said Blethyn. When I first entered the industry it was definitely a different place, and you didnt see as many women in leadership roles. There is a variety of people who have paved that path. Thereve been some incredible advocates who are not always women. Im inspired by those with solid values around truth, honesty, integrity, courage and bravery and a strong work ethic, who have not been afraid to stand alone and have a voice when they want to see and inspire change. Women proving broking a great industry in which to lead March 8 is International Womens Day, a day designed to celebrate womens achievements and drive change towards a world that is more diverse, equitable and inclusive, including for women. Pannek said the mortgage and finance broking industry already contains so many examples of outstanding female leadership, with amazing women leading from the front in their businesses. What inspires me most is their customer centricity, their tenacity and entrepreneurial drive, Pannek said. Im also inspired by the community I see so many of these great women creating - how they work together to provide support to each other. Thereve been some fantastic leaders in our industry, Blethyn said. Im really excited about some of the young leaders coming through, some of whom are not just building incredible businesses helping customers navigate financial complexity but giving back to the community as well. Waldock said there was so many women in the industry who know and believe in themselves. What inspires me is when I see women staying true to themselves without feeling the need to conform or fit in, said Waldock. Being proud of being a woman. I think we should be past feeling that we must prove ourselves, it has already been done. So, lets keep going! The industry offers a range of choices for women in terms of the type of career and job roles, as well as a great amount of flexibility in the way they can structure their work, Blethyn said. For brokers, once you get past the first couple of years you can set your hours of work and structure a business so you have a team that supports you, she said. That enables women to do the array of things women tend to do like run a family and a whole range of other things. Blethyn added a unique advantage for the industry was less of an issue with a gender pay gap. A good thing about broking for women is that, depending on the business model, there is not a gender pay gap when it comes to commissions paid for lending its all the same for a lender. I really hope that as an industry we can become a business community that does attract really good people, women or any gender, because it is just a fantastic industry to work in. Pannek said there was there so much opportunity in broking for all people, including women. She said broking was an incredibly rewarding career, and that people in the industry were usually satisfied by helping their clients reach their goals. I also see the satisfaction women get being able to run their own business and lead their teams. You can do this on your own terms and what we see from great businesses across Australia do this very successfully, she said. Many of our female members also go above and beyond and are able to combine an issue they are deeply passionate about in their community if thats financial literacy, or a charity with their business value proposition as well. The future of the industry contains great opportunities for women Pannek said more Australians than ever were choosing a broker for important decisions like financing a house or funding a business, and what was important over the long-term would be sustainability. Sustainability is about attracting great diverse talent into the industry and importantly ensuring diversity is front and centre. We need a diverse industry in particular greater female participation to service and support the needs of the Australian community, she said. Women who want to forge a future for themselves in mortgage broking or finance have been advised to be themselves first, but also to reach out and connect with the industry community. In my opinion, it comes down to believing and backing yourself. Instead of looking for or seeing the obstacles, look for the opportunities it presents and where you can add value, Waldock said. Do it but be yourself. Trying to please others by being someone you're not can be both exhausting and limiting. However, its important to remember youre not in this alone. Find the people that resonate with you in terms of values, and if what they have achieved is something you are aspiring to, seek them out and ask them your burning questions, Blethyn said. The thing about this industry is everybody is so willing to share and wanting to help each other, because it only helps all of us if we all have great businesses. Dont be shy about asking for help, a lot of women want to give back and make it easier for the person who comes after them. Pannek said women should stay connected and get involved with a close and supportive community, including other brokers and business owners, and focus on getting the right team around them. After that, it was about focusing on the value proposition that only they can bring to their business. And of course make sure you take care of yourself, so you can be the best you can, said Pannek. Latest News New product could end 'defective' reverse mortgage market Pre-retirement property owners among the beneficiaries, says company CBA lifts variable rates again, cuts select three-year fixed rates It's the second time in two weeks that the bank has hiked its variable rates for new customers New research has revealed the best cities for the 195,000 permanent migrants moving to Australia this year. The survey results come as the Australian governments Permanent Migration Program is increasing its intake to 195,000 placements in the 2023 financial year, up from 160,000 in the previous financial year. The arrangement will see up to 142,400 skilled visa placements being approved to improve the productive capacity of the economy and fill skills shortages in the labour market, while up to 52,500 Partner visas are being approved to reunite people in Australia with family members from overseas. Immigration to Australia, an immigration assistance and advice platform, commissioned an independent survey, to ask Australian residents to identify the best cities for immigrants moving to Australia permanently, based on eight factors of habitability: welcoming to residents, potential for business success, family-friendly, value, lifestyle, well-paying jobs, climate, and safety. Melbourne, which according to ABS received the highest intake of immigrants from 2019-20 (56,100 immigrants), ranked first as the most welcoming city for immigrants, attracting 36% of votes. The city was also chosen as top family-friendly city, with 23% of votes. Melbourne and Sydney, which received the second-highest intake of immigrants (50,100 immigrants), tied for first place as the best cities to start a business, garnering 31% of votes. Sydney also took the honours as the top city for well-paying jobs, chosen by 40% of respondents. Hobart placed first as the safest city (37%), despite receiving the second-lowest intake of immigrants of Australian capital cities from 2019-20; while Brisbane was deemed the best both for lifestyle (24%) and for climate (37%), despite only receiving 16,191 international immigrants in the same period. Neither Darwin nor Perth ranked first for any key factor of habitability for immigrants. Click here to view the full results, including age and state breakdowns. Have a thought about the story? Include it in the comments below. Dominos 20-minute delivery is available at 170 stores across Bengaluru. However, there are some initial teething issues the firm may have to overcome. Jubilant FoodWorks, the operator of Dominos Pizza, has unveiled an ambitious plan to launch 20-minute-delivery services in metro cities across India - Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad - in the next 12 months. To begin with, Jubilant on Monday said it now guarantees fresh pizza within 20 minutes of ordering in Bengaluru. One of the delivery riders said there is pressure to deliver the orders in 20 minutes, but sometimes there are challenges that they need to rise above, such as traffic gridlock, finding the correct address, and running out of fuel. To test out the service in Bengaluru, a customer downloaded the Dominos Pizza application (app). He placed an order for a double cheese margherita. It got accepted at 2.51 pm as soon as the payment was done. The dashboard of the app showed a 20-minute delivery guarantee. However, for 28 minutes, the pizza was still in the process of getting baked. It got despatched and took another 26 minutes to be delivered to the customer. The company has now set a new benchmark of 20 minutes by enhancing in-store process improvements, upgrading technology (tech), including rider tracking and route optimisation, and expanding its store network. Dominos said it has made efforts that have resulted in a more efficient overall delivery process without compromising on the quality of food or the safety of its delivery riders. The firm said it has a proven track record of delivery prowess, having pioneered the 30-minute delivery and established itself as a market leader in the quick service restaurant sector. Also Read Domino's launches 20-minute deliveries across as many zones in India Jubilant FoodWorks net rises 10% in July-Sept quarter on high demand Domino's Pizza launches 20-min delivery in Bengaluru, will expand service Jubilant still upper crust even as near-term margins slice up stock Jubilant Foodworks plans to invest Rs 900 crore in India in 12-18 months Torrent moves SC against NCLAT order on auction of Reliance Capital assets Swiggy accused of Hinduphobia as bashing of Holi ad trends on Twitter CRISIL reaffirms ratings for Adani Group's solar, wind power units FMCG demand goes up in February, as stores stock up for summer Homebuyers call NCLT order on Jaypee Infratech case 'real Holi gift' Khetarpal said the company is also committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its delivery personnel by providing them with the necessary training and sensitisation. The firm has been working for the past three years to set a new benchmark. Every year, we shave off four/five seconds in the pizza-making process without changing the procedure, said Sameer Khetarpal, chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director, Jubilant FoodWorks, in an interview, adding, For example, if it takes five seconds to put the pizza in a box, can we do it in just four seconds. If it takes 15 seconds to cut a pizza, can we do it in 12. Jubilant holds the exclusive master franchise rights from Dominos Pizza, Inc. to develop and operate the Dominos Pizza brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. By using analytics, insights, and tech, we can give our customers hotter, fresher, and tastier pizzas than ever before, said Khetarpal. In Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the company operates through its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary, which currently has 47 and 13 restaurants, respectively. In India, it has a strong and extensive network of 1,760 Dominos restaurants across 387 cities. The company plans to invest Rs 900 crore and open 250 stores for Dominos in India in the next 12-18 months. This is part of the plan to set open 3,000 Dominos stores globally. It also operates Dunkin restaurants in India and Popeyes in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. Khetarpal said that the company also has plans to tap into tier II and III locations, based on the growth of disposable incomes. For instance, it is setting up stores in places like Raipur, Tumkur, and Coimbatore. In India, Jubilant is playing in a market which is worth $45 billion. Apps such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto and others are already competing to deliver essential groceries in 10 minutes to half an hour. Dominos is not the only firm betting big on quick commerce. Launched in August 2020, Instamart is now present in over 25 cities. It uses Swiggys tech and dedicated delivery fleet to bring groceries and other daily essentials to the doorstep of Indians within minutes. The aim is to deliver groceries in 10-15 minutes through a network of seller-owned dark stores. Swiggy recently said couples across India are using Instamart to purchase and deliver gifts to their loved ones. Instamart itself, which sold over 250,000 red roses last Valentines Day, has been boosting the procurement of red roses. It sold over 1 million roses this years Valentine week. Zepto recently said it would stick to the promise of 10-minute deliveries. Although many quick commerce businesses are shifting from shorter deliveries to handle losses, Aadit Palicha, co-founder and CEO, Zepto, recently said that although challenging, the model can be profitable. He said many of the companys dark stores are on their way to profitability and the business focus is on improving unit economics and increasing scale. He said that quick commerce is the fastest-growing consumer tech industry in India. Tech plays a key role in ensuring only the freshest produce reaches consumers. For instance, artificial intelligence-based quality measurement tools that use image recognition help check the quality and grade of the produce. The seller-run dark stores have temperature sensors to ensure that the correct ambient temperature is maintained to keep the produce fresh. We are doubling down and working hard to get more deliveries done in 10 minutes, Palicha had said in an interview, adding, Our core objective is to stick to that brand promise. GQG Partners Inc founder Rajiv Jain will meet clients and investors in Australia this week, the company said in a statement on Tuesday, and will explain its investment into embattled Indian Adani group. GQG Partners bought shares worth $1.87 billion in four Adani group companies, marking the first major investment in the Indian conglomerate since a short-seller's critical report sparked a stock rout. A January report by U.S based Hindenburg Research alleged stock manipulation and improper use of tax havens by Adani, and flagged concerns over debt levels. Adani has rejected the allegations and denied any wrongdoing. The stake purchase has raised queries from an Australian pension fund client of GQG, at a time when major investors, including Norway's sovereign wealth fund, were selling the stock. Jain is meeting some of GQG's clients in person while doing conference calls with others, sources told Reuters who could not be named discussion private information. Also Read Rupert Murdoch wants to put his media empire back together after 2013 split Index provider MSCI cuts 4 Adani group securities free-float designations Adani Ports to prepay Rs 1,000 cr on commercial papers due in March India's Enron Moment? Gautam Adani slips to No 30 among the top rich Hindenburg bet against India's Adani puzzles rival US short sellers PM asks India Inc to step up investment, take advantage of opportunities India housing market to remain resilient despite higher rates: Poll Top headlines: Foxconn eyes second plant, Son invites start-up founders Dealmakers in India should expect another strong year for M&As: JPMorgan Foxconn Technology eyes second chip plant in India, sans govt incentive "Rajiv Jain is visiting Australia this week to meet with investors. The trip was planned well in advance of the Adani purchase," the statement to Reuters said. "It's also an opportunity to respond to any questions they have about the business including the Adani investment." It is Jain's first visit to Australia since the company listed on the ASX in 2021, the statement said. GQG bought 3.4% of Adani Enterprises Ltd for about $662 million, 4.1% of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd for $640 million, 2.5% of Adani Transmission Ltd for $230 million and 3.5% of Adani Green Energy Ltd for $340 million. It purchased the stock from the Adani family trust, according to the Indian firm's filings. People carrying only their carry-on luggage may receive a special discount from airlines. People familiar with the development said that airlines are considering discounted fares for such passengers, according to a report by Mint. The new policy may benefit 2 in 5 domestic travellers. Small businessmen and corporate executives travelling for short trips may benefit the most. The report said the latest move might pivot frequent travellers from staying in hotels to flying even more. A senior executive at an online travel operator said that Indian airlines are analysing the market and trying to zero in on routes where such offers would make the most sense. He added that this service would primarily benefit those running micro, small, and medium enterprises, as published in the report. Also Read Akasa Air grounds B737 Max aircraft after noticing engine fuel leak Very tough path ahead for new entrants like Akasa, Jet 2.0: GMR official IndiGo Q3: Focus on international destinations lifts outlook, say analysts Akasa Air to fly with 15 fewer seats due to supply chain woes How did Air India beat Indigo? Free travel in roadways buses for women in Rajasthan from midnight today US Commerce secy Gina Raimondo to arrive in India today on 4-day visit NCLT clears Suraksha Realty takeover of Jaypee Infratech nearly six yrs on Silicon, gold, copper, electric fields could help fight Covid-19: Study Govt developing platform to update DigiLocker documents using Aadhaar Currently, the lowest airfares on domestic routes allow a cabin bag weighing up to 8 kg and check-in luggage weighing 1525 kg. So far, no Indian carrier offers cabin luggage-only fares. On the other hand, several foreign carriers follow this practice. The report added that Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, already offers zero baggage fares from India. Speaking on the matter, India's largest domestic airline, Indigo, said that it is considering fares along similar lines. The report quoted an Indigo spokesperson saying, "We will continue to evaluate our service offerings to offer options and flexibility to meet the evolving needs of our customers." In earlier attempts to attract more customers, airlines have tried to roll out special fares for their passengers. However, the national aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, rejected an attempt in 2017. It is important to note that hand baggage-only fares are standard practice for several European and American airlines that offer the service for short-haul flights. Indian airlines are also planning to incorporate a similar arrangement as it helps save fuel and vacate cargo space, which can be used to generate additional revenue, the report said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday stressed the need for all 37 CSIR labs in the country to work in coordination with each other, discuss their research ideas as this could lead to quality output and limit overlap of research effort making it more cost-effective. Speaking after inaugurating the week-long 'One Week One Lab' event at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology here, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, also emphasised for integration amongst labs, public and private R&D labs and Industry for effective utilisation of resources. "Here is the time when we have certain important ideas to move forward. Among our 37 CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) institutes can we supplement each other's resources, experiences as well as our inputs. Is inter-coordination with other institutes, similar kind of research work, R&D happening in both public as well as private. Could we do that? And then extended integration with industry with start-ups, with potential entrepreneurs," Singh said. He said the founders of CSIR realised the importance of industry at that point of time which is now being realised much more than before that industry has to be an important component of research and our scientific initiatives. "May be because of the different priorities of different dispensations at the helm it did not evolve in the manner it could have or in the manner it was being envisaged. But, luckily now we have Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If you look at PM Modi's nine Independence Day addresses since 2014 each of his nine Independence Day addresses carries one or the other scientific things," Singh said. PM Modi spoke about 'Cleanliness Drive' and then 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' initiative. Many people kept asking what does it mean. The results are now there for everybody to see with the number of start-ups jumping to more than 90,000 in the country and there are more than 100 unicorns, the Union Minister pointed out. Also Read RSS coordination to start in Chhattisgarh tomorrow; BJP's Nadda to attend PM Modi chairs Council of Scientific and Industrial Research meeting PM chairs Council of Scientific and Industrial Research society meeting Clinical trials of new BCG vaccine for TB to start soon: Former CSIR chief CSIR proposes disaster-resilient town for people displaced from Joshimath Matters pertaining to J&K internal affair, don't see role for OHCHR: India Traffic advisory issued on Chirag Delhi flyover closure due to repair work Noida Police warns against spreading rumours on social media ahead of Holi Bihar Police cancel leaves of personnel to beef up security ahead of Holi Global commercial aviation industry sees more accidents in 2022: IATA Industrial entrepreneurship has awakened and there is a rise of aspirational levels in the last few years, Singh said, adding the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address also referred to the Deep Sea Mission and now Green Hydrogen Mission. "The Prime Minister speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort is actually meant to be a declaration of the intent of the government which means now it is time for us. The Prime Minister is ready...are we ready. Whether it is energy or chemicalsare finding references in one way or the other in the Prime Minister's addresses...which means we have all the intention, all the patronage, all the support available from the political dispensation from the political leadership," he said. Singh further said when the government is forthcoming and the Prime Minister is holding meetings with industry leaders, it is important for us to set up an institutionalised mechanism. "This government is ready to walk the extra mile. So let's change our mindset and be ready to avail all that is in an atmosphere of mutual co-existence and mutual benefit. To move things forward, we have to integrate at different levels; we cannot be integrating in parts and bits," he said. "Unfortunately, what has happened in the last 40-50 years our minds got conditioned that nothing would happen. But, here we have a dispensation today that's what I have come to say on behalf of the government which is ready to take up measures and it has walked the talk. It is this government which moved the Department of Space...made it open for private participation. Today we have more than 130 start-ups there," Singh said. CSIR-IICT has all the potential and capacities to take the lead and it can set a model for the other labs to follow, Singh added. IICT Director D Srinivasa Reddy was among those who spoke. A Delhi court on Monday granted four days' interim bail to Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar, the main accused in the murder case of junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar, for performing the last rites of his father. Sushil Kumar, along with others, is accused of allegedly assaulting former junior national wrestling champion Dhankar, a resident of Haryana's Rohtak, and his friends in the parking lot of the city's Chhatrasal stadium, on May 4, 2021 over an alleged property dispute. He has been in judicial custody since June 2, 2021. In October last year, the court had framed charges against Sushil Kumar and 17 others, setting the stage for their trial. During the hearing, Additional Sessions Judge Shivaji Anand said: "Keeping in view the fact that the father of the accused expired yesterday and his last rites are to be carried out today itself, on humanitarian grounds, the applicant or accused be released on interim bail from March 6 to March 9 only on furnishing personal bonds of the sum of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties of the like amount." "The entire expenditure of deployment of security persons or policemen for keeping surveillance and security of the applicant shall be borne by his family members," the judge added. Also Read Delhi court grants wrestler Sushil Kumar interim bail in murder case Chhatrasal murder case: Court frames charges against wrestler Sushil Kumar VP Dhankhar meets Indian community in Doha, lauds role played by them RS Chairman Dhankar demands breach of privilege notice against 12 Oppn MPs LIVE: Wrestler Sushil Kumar gets interim bail till Nov 12 in murder case Peak power demand in Delhi likely to reach 8,000 MW in late June-July Indian Railways to run 491 trips of 196 special trains during Holi Delhi international airport among cleanest in Asia-Pacific, says ACI Migrants leaving TN for festivals in north, not due to attacks: Industry Uttar Pradesh govt looks to double millet area to 2.5 mn hectares According to prison regulations, the court stated, the money must be lodged in advance with the jail superintendent concerned. The judge directed that Kumar should surrender before the Jail Superintendent concerned on March 10, on expiry of his release. The court imposed several conditions on interim bail like not threatening the prosecution witnesses, not tampering with evidence or indulging in any crime and sharing his phone's live location as and when required by the investigating officer (IO). The judge said: "In case it is prima facie brought to the notice of the court that the applicant is violating the said conditions, the interim bail granted to him shall be liable to be cancelled." Dhankar, who was murdered, had succumbed to injuries and according to the post-mortem report, he died due to cerebral damage resulting from blunt object impact. Anand framed charges against Kumar and other accused under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Delhi Fire Services will procure modern equipment and technology to improve response times in traffic situations, officials said on Tuesday. Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot chaired a review meeting to discuss the fire services' preparedness ahead of the the summer season, according to an official statement. The majority of fire incidents occur during peak summer, it added. Instructing the officials to be ready for any untoward situation, Gahlot said, "None of us would want to face a fire situation at home or any place but we need to always be prepared for any such situation. In February 2023, our fire department worked on 29,400 minor and major incidents in the city, saving thousands of lives. "They have a very tough task on their hands and I am happy they have been able to deliver it well all these years. I would also like to urge all building owners, for all eligible constructions, to get fire safety certificates." The maximum fire incidents during peak summer occur in Delhi's congested slum areas and pose a challenge for fire services to reach the affected areas. It has been decided that, besides the establishment or construction of a new fire station at Geethanjali, modern technology, equipment or appliances will be procured to improve response times in the present traffic scenario. Rs 252.50 crore has been allotted in the current financial year for the purpose, the statement said. Also Read Delhi govt sanctions Rs 104 cr for hospitals to procure general medicines Don't throw your onions away, AAP govts in Punjab, Delhi will procure: Mann Govt not to procure fresh Covid vaccines; surrenders Rs 4k cr from budget Power Min launches schemes to procure 4,500 MW electricity supply for 5 yrs Govt gives nod to procure Pralay ballistic missiles for armed forces All 37 CSIR labs should work in coordination: Union Minister Jitendra Singh Matters pertaining to J&K internal affair, don't see role for OHCHR: India Traffic advisory issued on Chirag Delhi flyover closure due to repair work Noida Police warns against spreading rumours on social media ahead of Holi Bihar Police cancel leaves of personnel to beef up security ahead of Holi During the meeting, the Delhi Fire Services director informed Gahlot that procurement of modern safety equipment such as hydraulic platform, rapid responder, robot and turntable ladder is in process. The standing committee on energy has got time up to the Monsoon Session of the Parliament to present its report before the House. The Lok Sabha Bulletin Part 2 states, "Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, has granted extension of time to the standing committee on energy (2022-23) for presentation of report on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 up to the Monsoon Session, 2023 of the Parliament (Bulletin Part-II dated March 3, 2023)." The Parliamentary standing committee on energy had already sought stakeholders' comments on the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022. The bill had been referred to the panel, headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on November 21, 2022. The committee has been given three months to finalise a report on the bill. The bill has received a lot of opposition from farmers and political parties, which have alleged that well-off consumers would opt for private distributors at the expense of state-owned distribution companies, as per its provisions. Also Read Karnataka, Gujarat make most progress in clean energy transition: Report SC/ST Reservation Bill to be tabled in Karnataka legislature session: CM Chhattisgarh govt clear 2 amendment bills on quota; to be tabled on Dec 1-2 Sri Lanka to seek India or China's credit line for solar panel imports: Min Electricity Bill will pave the path for privatisation: AIPEF chairman Dubey Govt inks Rs 6,800-cr contract with HAL to procure 70 trainer aircraft Three women pilot global aircraft engine maker Pratt and Whitney in India Guj govt announces Rs 330 crore to transport and store potatoes, onions Red meat, refined sugar, spicy food linked with colorectal cancer: Experts Malnutrition rises in pregnant women in 12 at-risk countries: UN report The bill seeks to facilitate usage of distribution networks by any entity which gets a distribution licence. This would allow consumers to choose services of any power supplier from among several players operating in a particular region, just like customers have the choice to select mobile networks. When Power Minister R.K. Singh had introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2022, it had received a lot of protests from opposition parties led by the Congress. --IANS miz/arm The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Tuesday questioned and recorded the statement of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the excise policy matter, official sources said. The federal probe agency also made a fresh arrest in this case as it took into custody Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Monday evening, they said. The ED investigators reached the Tihar Jail to record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The CBI had arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22. He is lodged in judicial custody till March 20. The ED obtained the court's permission to question the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who till recently was the deputy CM of Delhi, in the cell number 1 of the jail for three days. Also Read Delhi excise policy case: ED makes arrest in money laundering investigation Enforcement Directorate can only probe money laundering cases: Delhi HC Excise case: ED to question Manish Sisodia in Tihar Jail, says report Manish Sisodia to be produced in court today: All you need to know Delhi Excise policy case: ED raids 25 new locations in national capital CBI arrests Pearls Group director Harchand Gill in multi-crore ponzi scam Why the Dakota DC-3 is important to aviation history in India and the world PM believes women are not just homemakers but nation-builders: Indian Envoy Moosewala's parents sit outside Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex, seek justice NPP's Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM, cabinet sworn-in The agency is expected to question him about the alleged change and destruction of cellphones that were in his possession and the policy decisions and the timeline followed by him as the excise minister of Delhi. These charges were made by it in its supplementary complaints filed before the court. The ED may invoke section 19 of the PMLA, that allows it to arrest people involved or accused in the case, if the investigation officer has "reasons to believe" that the person is "guilty" of the offence of money laundering. The CBI, during its custody of Sisodia, had confronted him with his former secretary C Arvind and then Excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in connection with alleged manipulation of the excise policy. Sisodia was not mentioned as accused in the charge sheet of the CBI filed in the case on November 25 last year. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers, who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped and the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe following which the ED booked a case against the same accused under the PMLA. The ED has informed the court through its charge sheet that its probe found that at least 36 accused, including Sisodia "destroyed, used or changed" 170 phones to conceal evidence of "kickbacks" worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam. It had also named Sisodia's boss and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the second charge sheet filed in the case early this year, claiming that C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was earlier secretary to Sisodia, recorded his statement under the PMLA saying he was given the GoM report on the excise policy in the middle of March, 2021 when he was called by his boss (Sisodia) to the residence of Kejriwal. In a linked development, Arun Pillai was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the PMLA on Monday evening following a long session of questioning. Pillai is a partner in a company called Robin Distilleries LLP whom the ED had said represented the 'south group' alleged liquor cartel linked to Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao's MLC daughter K Kavitha and others. He is also linked to arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru, his wife Geetika Mahandru and their company Indospirit Group. He will be produced before a local court where the ED will seek his further custody for interrogation, they said. The defence ministry on Tuesday sealed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of over Rs 6,800 crore for the Indian Air Force. The ministry also finalised a contract with the Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for acquisition of three cadet training ships worth over Rs 3,100 crore. Both the procurement proposals were cleared by the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on March 1. "The ministry of defence on March 7 signed contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and three cadet training ships respectively in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh," the ministry said. While the HAL will provide 70 HTT-40 aircraft over a period of six years, the delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, along with other senior civil and military officials of the ministry, and representatives of the HAL and L&T were present at the contract signing ceremony. Also Read Stock of this PSU defence company has zoomed 113% thus far in 2022 CCS approves procurement of 70 basic trainer aircraft for Rs 6,828 cr Aero India 2023: HAL's 'Next Gen Supersonic Trainer' on display HAL hands over advanced light helicopter to Mauritius ahead of schedule Cabinet okays buying 70 HTT-40 trainer aircraft from HAL for Rs 6,800 crore Three women pilot global aircraft engine maker Pratt and Whitney in India Guj govt announces Rs 330 crore to transport and store potatoes, onions Red meat, refined sugar, spicy food linked with colorectal cancer: Experts Malnutrition rises in pregnant women in 12 at-risk countries: UN report Over 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened; health a priority: Bhupender Yadav The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft possessing good low speed handling qualities and provides better training effectiveness, according to the ministry. The HTT-40 contains approximately 56 per cent indigenous content which will progressively increase to over 60 per cent through indigenisation of major components and subsystems, officials said. "The aircraft will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of Indian Air Force for training of newly-inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators," the ministry said in a statement. "Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft is configurable for upgrades to incorporate the futuristic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six years," it said. It said the HAL would engage the domestic private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain. "The procurement has the potential to provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people spread over more than 100 MSMEs," the ministry said. On the cadet training ships, the ministry said they will cater to the training of officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training to meet the future requirements of the Indian Navy. "The ships would also provide training to cadets from friendly countries with the aim to strengthen diplomatic relations," it said. "The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people from distress areas, Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026," the ministry said. The ships will be indigenously designed, developed and constructed at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai. "The project will generate an employment of 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-half years. This will encourage active participation of Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs," the ministry said. US President Joe Biden nominated Eric Garcetti for the post of ambassador to India in July 2021. But sexual harassment allegations levelled against Garcetti's former municipal aide Rick Jacobsand suggestions that they were brought to his notice and he ignored themhave held up the Senate hearing and confirmation. He packed his bags and was ready to go more than 600 days ago. But at last, he might actually be leaving on a jet plane. On 8 March, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is slated to vote to advance the nomination of former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as US Ambassador to India. Garcetti's nomination is expected to garner enough Democratic support to advance through the Committee. Some Senators who had reservations about him have indicated they might have changed their minds. On 3 January this year, Biden announced that he was resubmitting Garcetti's name to the Senate, which now has one more Democrat since the US midterm elections. A US Senate report published in May 2022 suggested that it was "extremely unlikely" that Garcetti was unaware of sexual harassment and racist behaviour by Jacobs. A separate report by an outside law firm commissioned by the City of Los Angeles, published before the Senate report, cleared Garcetti and Jacobs of wrongdoing. He was not the only one who was anxious to start work. "I am committed to making the US-India partnership among the closest we have," President Biden declared during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2022. Just before India assumed the presidency of the G20, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken termed the US relationship with India as "one of the most consequential in the world." Obstructions to Garcetti's appointment were bipartisan. He conceded as much when he told CNN in December 2022: "I've stopped doing the guessing game of the when, but I feel quite optimisticI have good support from Republicans and Democrats who recognise this is a critical position. I can't wait to get to work." Also Read Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov 'US looking forward to support India's G20 presidency': Janet Yellen G20: India asks IMF, FSB to draft new technical paper on crypto assets Excise case: ED questions Sisodia in Tihar Jail; another bizman arrested CBI arrests Pearls Group director Harchand Gill in multi-crore ponzi scam Why the Dakota DC-3 is important to aviation history in India and the world PM believes women are not just homemakers but nation-builders: Indian Envoy Moosewala's parents sit outside Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex, seek justice Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says: "While White House officials shrug and privately blame the Senate confirmation process for the absence of a permanent ambassador, the question remains: If India matters as much as the US says it does, why has the administration not acted more forcefully to get its nominee confirmed?" New Delhi has had no US Ambassador since 2021, when Ken Juster stepped down at the end of the Trump administration. But some have had a rethink. "I'm ready to move on," Mazie Hirono (Democrat Senator from Hawaii, who will back Garcetti, told local media last month. Tammy Duckworth (Democrat Senator from Illinois) has also indicated she will support Garcetti. Not all hurdles have been crossed. "One of these nominees has ignored credible sexual assault accusations in his prior office", said Senator Marco Rubio, Republican Senator from Florida, in a statement last month announcing his intention to oppose six ambassadorial nominations proposed by the Biden administration, including Garcetti's. "I will not turn a blind eye to these absurd nominations, which will hasten America's decline." Apart from everything else, Washington is running out of time. The G20 summit, due in September, will see a New Delhi visit by President Biden. Without an ambassador in place before that, it could be embarrassing. "In India, where we have no ambassador, we are struggling to gain New Delhi's support for pressure on Russia to end its aggression in Ukraine and working to develop greater ties to the second-most populous country on earth (on track to become the most populous soon)" says Eric Rubin, President of the American Foreign Service Association whose members include serving and retired members of the foreign service. During an event organised by Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party member of Parliament Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons, Gandhi also shared experiences from the "Bharat Jodo Yatra", which he described as a "deeply political exercise in mass mobilisation". The Opposition in India is being stifled, and the Parliament is no longer a place for debates on important issues, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians in the Houses of Parliament complex in London on Monday. He added that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced. "Demonetisation, which was a disastrous financial decision, we were not allowed to discuss. The GST we were not allowed to discuss. Chinese troops entering Indian territory we were not allowed to discuss. I remember a Parliament where there were vibrant discussions, heated debates, arguments, disagreements but we had a conversation. And, that's frankly what we miss in Parliament. We have to use debates to fit in other debates. There is a stifling that is going on," he added. "Our mikes are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can't switch them on. That's happened to me a number of times while I am speaking," Gandhi said in response to a question about sharing his experience of being a politician in India with his counterparts in Britain. "Democracy in India is a global public good. India is big enough, where if democracy is weakened in India, it is weakened on the planet. India's democracy is three times the size of the US and Europe and if this democracy crumbles, it will be a huge setback for democracy on the planet," he said. Gandhi took questions from the group of MPs and peers from the House of Lords to also highlight the importance of India-UK relations to create greater employment opportunities and also to protect Indian democracy. Also Read SC issues notice to Centre over blocking of BBC documentary on PM Modi LIVE: Terrorists attack Karachi police chief's office, TTP responsible 'Misconceived, no merit': SC dismisses Hindu Sena plea to ban BBC BJP wants to better its past record ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha election From BBC documentary to Hindenburg, the political fallout remains unclear TMS Ep383: G20, FDI in India, mutual funds, Hindu rate of growth British rule ruined India's education system: RSS chief Bhagwat Flushing of pipeline from seaside smooth: CPCL on Nagapattinam oil leak Twitter did not appear before Review Committee over takedown orders: Centre India, US to hold commercial dialogue on March 10 after gap of 3 years 'Media under attack' At another event organised by the Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) on Monday, Gandhi said that important structures of democracy are under "brutal attack" in India. He also said that the action against the news agency BBC was an example of "suppression of voice across the country". "The BBC has found out about it now, but it has been going on in India for the last nine years non-stop. Everybody knows that journalists are intimidated, they are attacked and threatened. The journalists who toe the line of the government are rewarded. So, it's part of a pattern and I wouldn't expect anything different. If the BBC stops writing against the government, everything will go back to normal. All the cases will disappear," he added. "The media, the institutional frameworks, judiciary, Parliament is all under attack and we were finding it very difficult to put the voice of the people through the normal channels," Gandhi said. 'Denial mode' on Chinese incursions At the IJA event, Gandhi added that the Prime Minister (PM) is in "denial mode" over Chinese incursions into Indian territory. Claiming that 2,000 sq km of Indian territory is being controlled by China's PLA, Gandhi said the PM himself has stated that not a single inch of Indian land has been taken and "this has destroyed our position to negotiate with Beijing". "We do not accept anybody entering our territory and bullying us. The Chinese have entered our territory and killed our soldiers but the PM is in denial. That's the problem," he said. BJP's counter-attack The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil while praising China. "Don't betray India, Rahul Gandhi ji. The objections to India's foreign policy is an evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil," Thakur told reporters in New Delhi. Union minister Anurag Thakur on Monday hit out at Gandhi for his remarks and asked the Congress leader not to betray the nation. "Rahul Gandhi has become a storm of controversies. Be it foreign agencies, foreign channels or be it foreign soil. He does not lose a single opportunity to malign India," Thakur said. Thakur said Gandhi had resorted to "maligning India" from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures. (With agency inputs) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said his government is implementing a slew of welfare schemes and development programmes aiming to uplift women, empower them and enhance their dignity. The Chief Minister, who extended greetings to all women for 'International Women's Day,' said Telangana is emerging as the women welfare state through the implementation of welfare and development programmes aiming for the advancement and empowerment of women during the nine-year regime, according to a release from the CMO. The women community is honoured suitably by announcing a special holiday for women employees in the government on women's day, he said. Rao, also known as KCR, said the state government is safeguarding the girl child from the stage of growing in the mother's womb by implementing significant schemes from their birth, health, protection, welfare, education, marriage, development and empowerment of the child. The Chief Minister said the effective action plan which has been implemented by the Telangana government for the all-round development of women has set an example for the country. Under the "KCR Kit" scheme for the welfare of pregnant women and infants, the beneficiaries receive a sum of Rs 12,000. As an incentive for giving birth to a girl child, the state government is providing Rs 13,000 to the mother. So far, 13,90,639 beneficiaries received the scheme benefit and the expenditure incurred on the scheme is Rs 1,261.67 crore, the release said. Also Read KCR's daughter, K. Kavitha claims BJP approached her with 'Shinde model' KCR eyes electoral pie beyond Telangana, to launch national party TRS supremo KCR may announce name of his national party on Oct 5: Report JD(S)' Kumaraswamy airdashes to Telangana to join forces with KCR Divisions in TRS? Kavitha's absence from KCR's BRS launch raises questions Power Min mandates 40% renewable purchase obligation for thermal plants Untimely rains ahead of harvest worry farmers in central, western India Around 350 modern health infrastructure projects coming up in J&K: LG CBI questions Lalu Prasad in land for jobs scam case for nearly 5 hours Paragliding turns nightmare as glider gets entangled in high-mast pole Under the "KCR Nutrition Kit" scheme, which has been launched with the aim of providing nutrition and prevention of anemia in pregnant women, nutritional kits are provided to pregnant women in installments. The state government is implementing Arogya Lakshmi Scheme through 35,700 Anganwadi centres with the aim of providing complete nutrition to pregnant women, infants and children under six years of age. Till date, the government has paid Rs 1,430 crore as pension to 1,52,050 single women in the state through Aasara Pension Scheme. For women and children, who lost hope in their life and were facing problems, the state government is providing assistance and rehabilitation through police, health department, government legal services, counselling, through Bharosa centers, the release said and also referred on the establishment of the "She Team." He also mentioned the Kalyanalakshmi/Shadi Mubarak scheme, and further said the government is distributing "Bathukamma" sarees to women from below poverty line families every year for Bathukamma festival. Aspiring women entrepreneurs are being mentored through "We Hub" for financial capital assistance, strategy and development, the release said, adding houses are being allotted in the name of poor women in the double bedroom house (2BHK) project. On the occasion of Women's Day, the government is providing interest-free loans of more than Rs 750 crore to women self-help groups in villages and urban areas, the release added. Pollution in Kochi on Tuesday was worse than in New Delhi, as the authorities struggled to control fumes from the municipal corporations plant in Brahmapuram. The Kerala High Court said "the city is trapped in a gas chamber" and helicopters of the Indian Air Force were deployed for spraying water over areas near the plant on Tuesday. Business leaders in the city expressed concern about the air quality, but said that it has not affected their work. Authorities said that the fire is under control. Kochi, the coastal Kerala city known for its air quality, has had a thick haze for the last six days after a solid waste treatment plant caught fire Thursday. We are not yet impacted by the pollution. There is no dip in footfall too at our amusement park . However, I am staying in the Palarivattom area, where we are experiencing foul smell and other issues related to pollution, said Kochouseph Chittilappilly, founder of V-Guard Industries and a chain of amusement parks called Wonderla. According to Kochis air quality index dashboard, the concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particulate matter was 2.7 times above the WHOs recommended limit. PM2.5 and PM10 are minute particles present in the air, the exposure to which is harmful to health. Kochi had a PM2.5 of 41 and PM10 of 91 on Tuesday: much higher than 31 and 81 respectively in New Delhi, often ranked the world's most polluted capital. Some of the shops and business units were closed only on Sunday. We will have to leave with this and cannot afford another shutdown as the industry is slowly coming back to normalcy after being hit badly by the pandemic, said Raja Sethunath, chairman of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Indias (Assocham) Kerala state development council. Sethunath said the government should come out with a fresh tender to award waste treatment to a known corporate. The High Court remarks came after it filed a suo motu case based on a letter by Justice Devan Ramachandran. The court demanded strict action against the people responsible for the fire. The government had announced a holiday for schools in the city for the last two days. Also Read How did India waste over 100 million Covid vaccines? TGBL joins hands with PMC to extract clean, green hydrogen from waste TMS Ep277: Ambani's family office, Vaccine waste, IT's Q2 earnings, GRAP Dumping ground TMS Ep344: Foreign universities, foreign waste, gold, cloud computing Few women in India hold CFA charter, held back by financial pressures In Eric Garcetti, the Biden admin may finally get an ambassador to India Excise case: ED questions Sisodia in Tihar Jail; another bizman arrested CBI arrests Pearls Group director Harchand Gill in multi-crore ponzi scam Why the Dakota DC-3 is important to aviation history in India and the world Texas mom stabs her five children, killing three, while Child Protective Services (CPS) were conducting a visit. The CPS called in the cops, where they discovered their mother had assaulted the children. Texas Mom Stabs 5 Kids, Kills 3 The Ellis County Sheriff's Office stated on Facebook last Friday regarding a visit by state CPS in Italy, Texas, to take the children from the mother's custody. A call by a social worker on the case to the Italy PD coming from the county 911 dispatch was received. They found that 25-year-old Shamaiya Deyonshana Hall had killed her three children. Texas CPS told ABC 8 WFAA that all five were the suspect's children. Those killed are a boy, 6, and a twin boy and girl, 5, seen lifeless by authorities on the scene. But hope came with the survival of a boy, 4, and a 13-month-old girl sent to the hospital for treatment. Hall was immediately taken into custody by the police and was charged with triple counts of capital murders and a bond of $2 million set for her. Initially, the Ellis County Sheriff's office had not mentioned any connection to the suspect and her victims. An aggrieved relative of the victims, Shamelia Anderson, commented they are angels now. An outlet covering the case stated the five children were taken from the mother by the CPS and placed in a relative's care prior to the knife attack. A statement from Texas CPS to the media says the tragedy is shocking and unthinkable how it happened. Indicated that it would cooperate with police to investigate the crime. Read Also: Oklahoma Couple Starves Daughter; Missing Son Might Be Dead Texas Child Protective Services Was Too Late to Save Victims An ongoing investigation of the murders is underway, said authorities asking for Italy's local community and first responders' prayers after the shocking murder. Deputy Jerry Cozby remarked last Friday to Fox 4 KDFW that the sheriff's office was sad to report the tragic deaths. He told the press after giving specifics related to the case for the first time in public. Made it clear nothing is dangerous to the local community and asked to pray for all those involved. Ellis County Judge Todd Little supports everyone in Italy, reported People. The murders done by Shamaiya D. Hall were far-reaching, and even Rachel L. Kistner of the Italy Independent School District (ISD) posted two statements on the FB of the school. She wrote that the Italy ISD was affected by the tragedy that happened in the local community. Added that grief at the deaths of the children is felt by everyone, not believing it such a regretful incident. This incident involving the Texas CPS has been felt in Italy all over the community that is in grief. The deaths of the three children at the hands of their mother took everyone aback. Texas Mom stabbed her five children, killed three, and injured two when child protective services were about to take them away during the visit. Related Article: Lindsay Clancy's Friend Claims Drugs Influenced Her To Kill Own Children @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday signalled closer ties with Russia, including dropping the US dollar and Euro in bilateral trade while asserting that America's attempts to "contain" China's rejuvenation will not succeed. Addressing his first annual press conference here on the sidelines of China's Parliament session, he said China will defend its core interests and oppose hegemony, bloc politics and unilateral sanctions. Qin said China and Russia are setting a good example for international relations and it was incorrect to see their close bilateral ties through a Cold War perspective. He defined China's relationship with Moscow as no alliance, no confrontation and not targeted at any third party. Asked about dropping the use of the US dollar and the Euro in China-Russia trade, Qin said China will use whatever currency is efficient, safe and credible. Currency should not be used as a trump card for unilateral sanctions, he said. Russian media reports said the Chinese yuan overtook the US dollar as the most traded currency in the Russian market for the first time last month. Also Read China appoints US envoy Qin Gang as new foreign minister to succeed Wang Yi US must stop suppressing China or risk 'conflict': Chinese FM Qin Gang Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart Qin Gang Put issues related to border in proper place: China's FM Qin to Jaishankar 3 sharpshooters of Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang nabbed in northwest Delhi Will remain in 2024 presidential race even if criminally indicted: Trump Ridiculous: Jill on Haley's mental competency test proposal for politicians US must stop suppressing China or risk 'conflict': Chinese FM Qin Gang Ex-Pak Prez Zardari rules out possibility of contesting elections with PDM India playing significant leadership role with G20 Presidency: Argentina The yuan's share in trading volume is around 40 per cent, while the US dollar's share is just over 38 per cent. On the Ukraine war, Qin said that the Ukraine crisis is in essence an eruption of problems in European security governance. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the traction and escalation of the crisis, he said. The Ukraine crisis is at a critical juncture, and calmness, reason and dialogue are needed, Qin said. The peace talks process should be opened immediately and the concerns of all parties should be respected," he said. Qin who in December succeeded the long-standing Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said China will safeguard its security and development interests. He also says China will maintain and strengthen ties with old friends. As China's domestic COVID-19 situation turns for the better, China has steadily resumed exchanges with foreign countries, and China's diplomacy has pressed the "acceleration button. He sharply criticised the US saying that Washington's attempts to contain China's progress will not succeed. Referring to the recent incident in which a US fighter plane shot down an unmanned Chinese balloon flying over American airspace, he accused the US of violating international law, overreacting and abusing force in shooting it down. The US perception and views toward China are seriously distorted. Containing and suppressing China won't make the US great, and it will not stop the rejuvenation of China. On Taiwan, he said resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people, and no other country should interfere. The US speaks of the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, why not honour China's sovereignty, he said asserting that Taiwan is an integral part of China. Addressing the question of Taiwan he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one family which is called China. The people on both sides are brothers and sisters," he added. On China's diplomacy, he said China stands firmly against any form of hegemonism and power politics, against the Cold War mentality and camp-based confrontation, and against containment and suppression. On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping too weighed in to say that western countries led by the US have carried out all-around containment and suppression, which brought unprecedented and severe challenges to China's development. Noting that the last five years have been "extremely unusual and extraordinary", he told the delegates of the NPC that China's external environment for development is changing rapidly, and there is an increase in uncertain and unpredictable factors and asked them to view China's development in the last two years in that background, the official media reported. Attacking the US, Qin said "the US claims that it seeks to out-compete China but does not seek conflict. Yet in reality, its so-called 'competition' means to contain and suppress China in all respects, and get the two countries locked in a zero-sum game." Comparing China and the US to two athletes competing in an Olympic race, Qin said if one of the athletes, instead of focusing on giving one's best, always tries to trip or even injure the other, that is not a fair competition but malicious confrontation and a foul. "If the US does not hit the brake but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there will surely be conflict and confrontation," Qin said. China is firmly opposed to such competition, which is a reckless gamble with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity, he said. He also defended China's wolf warrior diplomacy, saying that there is no shortage of kindness and goodwill in China's diplomacy, but in face of "jackals or wolves," Chinese diplomats would have no choice but to confront them head-on to protect the motherland. The US had been engaging in suppression and containment of China rather than engaging in fair, rule-based competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told a news conference on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing. The United States (US) should change its distorted attitude towards China or conflict and confrontation will follow, China's foreign minister said on Tuesday, while defending its stance on the war in Ukraine and defending its close ties with Russia. "If the United States does not hit the brakes, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation, and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?" US officials often speak of establishing guardrails in the bilateral relationship to prevent tensions from escalating into crises. "The United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted," said Qin, a trusted aide to President Xi Jinping and until recently China's ambassador in Washington. Germany to ban Huawei, ZTE for 5G network parts He also attacked the US' Indo-Pacific strategy, saying that it aims to encircle China with a regional version of Nato by forming exclusive blocs and is bound to fail. The country granted a key ministry new powers and created a bureau to oversee increasingly valuable data, shaking up oversight of its vast technology arena as Xi Jinpings administration battles the US in areas from AI to semiconductors. Also, the government plans to cut five per cent of its staff. China also plans to strengthen oversight of its $60 trillion financial system by setting up an enlarged national regulator while taking some duties away from the central bank. Also Read Beijing under Covid-19 alert after a school, university report fresh cases Multiple factors behind rise of severe Covid cases in Beijing: Experts Beijing parks see 56% rise in visitors to 3.18 mn during festival holiday Indian embassy in China celebrates Gandhi Jayanti at Beijing's art museum China values relationship with UN despite human rights criticism UN rights chief cites 'communication' about human rights issues in China Writ petition against Nepal PM for 5,000 killings in Maoist insurgency Chinese FM hints closer ties with Russia; says US attempts won't succeed Will remain in 2024 presidential race even if criminally indicted: Trump Ridiculous: Jill on Haley's mental competency test proposal for politicians The German ban could include components already built into the networks, requiring operators to remove and replace them, German media had reported on Monday, citing sources. Germany plans to ban telecoms operators from using certain components made by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in 5G networks, a government source said, in a potentially significant move to address security concerns. A parliamentary delegation from Hungary said Tuesday that it supports Sweden's NATO membership bid after meeting the speaker of the Swedish parliament to iron out what Hungary's governing party has called political disputes. Some Hungarian lawmakers have raised doubts about whether to support the NATO membership applications by Sweden and Finland, citing what they call blatant lies from Stockholm and Helsinki on the state of Hungary's democracy. But the Hungarian delegation indicated Tuesday that the parliament in Budapest would ultimately ratify Sweden's NATO bid. We support Sweden's NATO membership, Hungary's deputy parliamentary speaker, Csaba Hende, told Swedish news agency TT. We made it clear that the Hungarian government, the Hungarian president, the prime minister and most of the Hungarian parliamentarians clearly support Swedish NATO membership, Hende said, according to TT. He added that it was necessary to improve bilateral relations between Budapest and Stockholm. Hungarian officials have been saying that Swedish and Finnish politicians have been telling blatant lies about Hungary. Also Read Hungarian govt announces extension of fuel, food price caps until year-end Western sanctions turned Ukraine conflict into global war: Hungarian PM Finland's defence minister says his country could join NATO ahead of Sweden Sweden braces for anti-Turkey demonstrations amid NATO accession bid Turkey rejects links between Sweden, Finland NATO accession and F-16 deal China's trade contracts again in Jan, Feb as Western demand weakens NASA's Curiosity rover spots first-ever 'Sun rays' on Mars on Feb 2 In Eric Garcetti, the Biden admin may finally get an ambassador to India US to start premium processing of work permits for certain intl students Operations to defend Bakhmut will continue: Ukraine's President Zelenskyy It would be appropriate that Swedish politicians, government representatives and members of the EU Parliament, based on completely untrue facts, do not indicate or imply that there is a lack of rule of law in a country, Hende told TT. Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that it's not right for them to ask us to take them on board while they're spreading blatant lies about Hungary, about the rule of law in Hungary, about our democracy and about life here. The delegation, which met with Sweden's assembly speaker, Andreas Norlen, in Stockholm, will also visit Finland to seek to clarify their positions. The trip to the two Nordic countries delayed plans to ratify the applications, pushing a vote back by two weeks. Hungary's parliament is now set to vote on the measure during a session beginning on March 20. Hungary is the only NATO member country besides Turkey that hasn't yet approved the bids by Sweden and Finland. The northern European neighbours dropped their long-standing military neutrality and sought NATO membership in May in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. The visit takes place while an informal two-day meeting of EU defence ministers takes place in Stockholm, and as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the capital. Sweden currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. Hugo Javier Gobbi, Argentina's Ambassador to India, has said that India with its G20 Presidency has been playing a significant leadership role in putting forward the Global South agenda. He made the remarks as he took part in the Holi Mahotsav 2023 hosted by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi in Delhi on Monday. Diplomats from Greece and Argentina took part in the Holi Mahotsav 2023 hosted by Lekhi in Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Hugo Javier Gobbi, Argentina's Ambassador to India, called it a beautiful event and expressed happiness to celebrate the festival. He further said that Argentina supports India's G20 Presidency. "It is a beautiful event and we are very happy to celebrate it with you. On the G20, India is playing a very significant leadership role, putting forward the Global South agenda. Argentina supports Indian presidency very much," Hugo Javier Gobbi said. Dimitrios Ioannou, Ambassador of Greece to India, said that it was his first experience of celebrating Holi and called it a wonderful celebration. Also Read What does the G-20 presidency mean for India? France captain Hugo Lloris ends int'l career, to focus on Tottenham club 'US looking forward to support India's G20 presidency': Janet Yellen Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance Six-party alliance picks main opposition leader to run against Erdogan Estonia's pro-Ukraine prime minister Kaja Kallas scores win in re-election Joe Biden's reelection bid now faces resistance from some Democrats Toshakhana case: What's behind the arrest drama at Imran Khan's residence UN should demand end to South Korea-US military drills: North Korea Speaking to ANI, Dimitrios Ioannou said, "This is my first year in India and this is my first experience for the celebration of Holi. I find to be it a wonderful celebration. I wish Indian people to have joy in their lives." Responding to a question regarding India's G20 Presidency, he said, "It's a very ambitious presidency. I am sure that they will achieve their goals." The video of foreign delegates playing Holi has gone viral on social media. Delegates from many countries took part in Holi Mahotsav 2023 organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. Foreign diplomats were seen dancing to Bollywood songs in the programme. At the event, Meenakashi Lekhi said that the G20 is on and everybody is looking upto India for solutions to some tough problems. She further said, "Holi is the victory of good over evil and that is the message for today as well." Notably, India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1. Lekhi took to her Twitter handle to share pictures of the celebration. "Happy to celebrate the festival of colours with the Diplomatic Corps today at Holi Mahotsav 2023 in New Delhi. The cultural programme showcased the festivities and cultural heritage of India & gave an insight into the diverse holi celebrations from around the country," she wrote in the tweet. Brendan Ward, Ireland's Ambassador to India said, " Holi is one of the most famous of many festivals of India. It is celebrated around the world. It is a popular festival now in Ireland, especially among the Indian students at the university. In the context of India's G20 Presidency, it is an opportunity for India to showcase its culture in the wider world." Diana Mickeviceine, Lithuania's Ambassador to India said, "I think it is going to be a very loud celebration and this year with G20 Presidency it becomes even louder because the whole world is following India. We certainly wish for it to be a successful Presidency." "The times are difficult we are affected by the developments in Europe and by Russia's war. So, we look forward to India's wisdom and India's traditional way of saying truth and addressing the issue at its core. We stand with India, we support India," she added. Freddy Svane, Denmark's Ambassador to India said, "It is the most colourful and joyful of all festivals in India. It's about colour, and joy, it's about overcoming evil." Svane further stated, "The Indian G20 Presidency is the first of its kind for India and India is taking the G20 Presidency, some steps ahead because it is also about showing what India culturally and as a nation can offer to this world. So, it's not just about Make in India but about Make India and G20 is a fantastic opportunity for India. India is a game-changer and a pacesetter for other nations." Adam Burakowski, Poland's Ambassador to India said, "We always celebrate with our family. It is a festival of colours, joy and all the positive things. We follow the works of India's G20 Presidency. We see India is growing all over the world and G20 is one of the signs about India's growth." Eliska Zigova, Czech Ambassador to India said that it was her first Holi and that it is a very colourful and joyful festival. Zigova added, "It is important to keep culture and tradition alive. Regarding G20 Presidency I congratulate India and for the events that happened. The reason? For four years beginning in 2014, Tiffany Palliser worked at Panera Bread in South Florida, making salads and operating the register for shifts that began at 5 am. Palliser estimates that she worked at least 50 hours a week on average. But she says she did not receive overtime pay. Federal law requires employers to pay time-and-a-half overtime to hourly workers after 40 hours, and to most salaried workers whose salary is below a certain amount, currently about $35,500 a year. Companies need not pay overtime to salaried employees who make above that amount if they are bona fide managers. Panera officially considered her a manager and paid her an annual salary rather than on an hourly basis. Palliser said she was often told that this is what you signed up for by becoming an assistant manager. But according to a recent paper, many companies provide salaries just above the federal cut-off to frontline workers and mislabel them as managers to deny them overtime. Many employers say managers who earn relatively modest salaries have genuine responsibility and opportunities to advance. The National Retail Federation has written that such management positions are key steps on the ladder of professional success, especially for many individuals who do not have college degrees. Also Read Over 7 in 10 employers keen to hire in services sector in India: Report US jobs top forecasts, wages pick up in labor market despite Fed aggression COP27 climate deal hurtle towards overtime, countries mull EU offer of fund UN climate summit: Parties scramble for consensus on key issues in overtime Won't cooperate if issues are not resolved, say Air India pilots S&P Global Ratings cuts Nissan's credit rating by a notch to junk status Meta Platforms planning to lay off thousands more as early as this week Ex-Twitter Blue project head breaks silence, days after Musk fired her 'We can't pay you more', small tech firms tell laid-off Big tech employees Foxconn committed to set up plant in Telangana, CEO Liu tells CM KCR The paper found that from 2010 to 2018, manager titles in a large database of job postings were nearly 5x as common among workers who were at the federal salary cut-off for mandatory overtime or just above it as they were among workers just below the cut-off. Because the legal definition of a manager is vague and little known the employees primary job must be management, and the employee must have real authority the mislabelled managers find it hard to push back, even if they mostly do grunt work. Federal data appear to underscore the trend, showing that the number of managers in the labour force increased more than 25 per cent from 2010 to 2019, while the overall number of workers grew roughly half that percentage. The practice of mislabelling workers as managers to deny them overtime, which often relies on dubious-sounding titles like lead reservationist and food cart manager, cost the workers about $4 billion per year, or more than $3,000 per mislabelled employee. Experts say the denial of overtime pay is part of a broader strategy to drive down labour costs in recent decades by staffing stores with as few workers as possible. If a worker calls in sick, or more customers turn up than expected, the misclassified manager is often asked to perform the duties of a rank-and-file worker without additional cost to the employer. From 2019 to 2021, the workforce shrank by millions while the number of managers did not budge. Lawyers representing workers said they suspected that businesses mislabelled employees as managers even more often during the pandemic to save on overtime while they were short-handed. Companies that are financially strapped are more likely to misclassify regular workers as managers, and this tactic is especially common in low-wage industries like retail, dining, and janitorial services. Workers and their lawyers said employers exploited their desire to move up the ranks in order to hold down labour costs. Thats why companies fought it so hard under Obama, said Aaron, a partner at Winebrake & Santillo, alluding to a 2016 Labor Department rule raising the overtime limit to about $47,500 from about $23,500. The practice appears to have become more difficult to root out in recent years, as more employers have required workers to sign contracts with mandatory arbitration clauses that preclude lawsuits. The Trump administration later adopted the current cut-off of about $35,500, and the Biden administration has indicated that it will propose raising the cut-off substantially this year. Business groups say such a change will not help many workers because employers are likely to lower base wages to offset overtime pay. A federal judge suspended the rule, arguing that the Obama administration lacked the authority to raise the salary limit by such a large amount. WHEN COMPANIES ARE ESCAPE ARTISTS Employers exploited workers desire to move up the ranks in order to hold down labour costs Under federal law, employers are required to pay time-and-a-half overtime to salaried workers after 40 hours if they make about $35,500 or less The practice of mislabelling workers as managers to deny them overtime cost the workers about $4 billion per year, or more than $3,000 per mislabelled employee When companies are financially strapped or in low-wage industries like retail and fast food, they are more likely to misclassify regular workers as managers Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the operations to defend Bakhmut will continue, and the army have been instrusted to find forces to bolster the defence of the embattled city. "I told the Chief of Staff to find the appropriate forces to help the guys in Bakhmut. There is no part of Ukraine about which one can say that it can be abandoned," Zelenskyy said on Monday during his evening address to the nation. Moscow has been trying to take Bakhmut for months, as both sides suffer heavy losses in a grinding war of attrition, the BBC reported. However, Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Marchenko has said that Russia had not yet gained control of the city. Meanwhile Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private army involved in the Russian campaign, has complained of a lack of ammunition amid apparent friction between his fighters and regular Russian forces, the British news broadcaster reported. He also said that his representative had been barred from a Russian military headquarters. Analysts say Bakhmut has little strategic value but has become a focal point for Russian commanders who have struggled to deliver any positive news to the Kremlin, the media outlet reported. Capture of the city would bring Russia slightly closer to its goal of controlling the whole of Donetsk region, one of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine it annexed last September after referendums widely condemned outside Russia as a sham, it added. By Uditha Jayasinghe and Devjyot Ghoshal COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is negotiating with India to extend a $1 billon credit line by a few months, two sources told Reuters, as the island nation tries to line up funds for the rest of the year while the IMF looks set to approve a $2.9 billion loan for it soon. The credit line is to due to expire on March 17 with Sri Lanka having used only about two-thirds of it, mainly for medicines and food, said the sources and another person familiar with the matter. The extension talks come as the economy improves and forex reserves rise for Sri Lanka, where huge protests took place last year amid widespread shortages of essentials after the COVID-19 pandemic hurt tourism and remittances while exposing low tax revenues. A source at the Sri Lankan Finance Ministry said the government wanted to extend the credit line by 6-12 months because there was about $300 million of it left unused. No agreement had been reached, said the source. All the sources declined to be named ahead of an announcement. Also Read Sri Lanka concludes debt restructuring talks with Japan: Wickremesinghe Lankan govt designates high-security zones for ensuring stability: Official EAM likely to visit Lanka on Jan 19; talks on debt restructuring expected Sri Lanka's GDP likely plunged amid debt crisis, political turmoil India plans no more funding for Sri Lanka as IMF talks progress: Report Powell sees higher peak for rates, says Fed prepared to speed up if needed Sri Lanka secures China assurances to clear way for $2.9 bn IMF bailout Higher defence spending is purely to safeguard nation's sovereignty: China Will take forceful measures to ensure high-end manufacturing: Xi Jinping Asia's very complicated interest-rate pause and sticky inflation Sri Lanka's finance ministry and India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sri Lanka's central bank said on Tuesday the country's official reserves had risen 4.5% to $2.22 billion in February from a month earlier. President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament there were signs the economy was improving but there was still insufficient foreign currency for all imports, making the IMF deal crucial so other creditors could also start releasing funds. He said China, Sri Lanka's biggest lender, extended support for the IMF programme on Monday, clearing the way for the loan. The IMF said its board would meet on March 20 to review a preliminary staff-level agreement first signed with Sri Lanka in September. It said Sri Lanka had secured financing assurances from all major bilateral creditors. China and India are Sri Lanka's biggest lenders and both seek influence on the island located on a busy shipping route on the Indian Ocean. (Writing by Krishna N. Das, editing by Ed Osmond) China has given assurances that it will support Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, clearing the biggest hurdle for the debt-ridden country to secure a much-needed USD 2.9-billion bailout package from the IMF, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday. In January, India strongly backed the island nation's efforts to secure a loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. Last night we received a new letter from the EXIM Bank of China. I and the governor of the Central Bank signed our letter of intent and sent it to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last night itself," Wickremesinghe, who is also the minister of finance, told Parliament. Wickremesinghe said, our part of obligations are now complete and we hope the IMF will do their duty by the third or fourth week of this month, this will enable us to receive funding from the world bank and the ADB, he added. The IMF bailout process made slow progress due to the need to restructure Sri Lanka's nearly 50 billion dollar external debt. A previous Chinese letter giving a two-year moratorium on debt repayment had been deemed inadequate by the IMF. Also Read Sri Lanka concludes debt restructuring talks with Japan: Wickremesinghe Wickremesinghe hopeful of resolving problems faced by ethnic Tamils Lankan govt designates high-security zones for ensuring stability: Official EAM discuss cooperation in infra, connectivity with Lankan counterpart Ahead of Jaishankar's visit, Sri Lanka Prez assures to fully implement 13A Higher defence spending is purely to safeguard nation's sovereignty: China Will take forceful measures to ensure high-end manufacturing: Xi Jinping Asia's very complicated interest-rate pause and sticky inflation Thailand targets 2 million Indian tourists in 2023, same as pre-Covid Biden administration prepares new rules for US investment in China: Report Wickremesinghe said the IMF programme which will be there for over the next four years would be different from all of the previous 16 programmes with the Washington-based global lender. He said the government has to take many hard economic decisions in order to stabilise the economy and work towards growth. The government measures to order tax hikes, raise utility tariffs and end fuel subsidies had triggered political protests. I would like to apologise to the people for the hardships, he said. The IMF in September last year approved Sri Lanka a 2.9 billion dollar bailout package over 4 years pending Sri Lanka's ability to restructure its debt with creditors -- both bilateral and sovereign bondholders. By the end of June 2022, Sri Lanka owed nearly USD 40 billion to bilateral, multilateral and commercial loans, according to the figures released by the Treasury. Chinese loans amounted to 20 per cent of the total debt owed and 43 per cent of the bilateral loans. Sri Lanka in April declared its first-ever debt default in its history as the economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948 triggered by forex shortages sparked public protests. Months-long street protests led to the ouster of the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in mid-July. Rajapaksa had started the IMF negotiations after refusing to tap the global lender for support. Sri Lanka has introduced painful economic measures such as tax hikes and utility rate hikes. Trade unions and opposition groups have organised protests against such measures. Even as the Republican Party predicts its a 'Ron vs Don' for nomination for 2024, former US President Donald Trump feels he has not been done yet and has vowed to remain in the 2024 presidential race even if he ends up being criminally indicted by various congress committees and the courts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is no longer the dark horse for 2024 as a vast majority of the party backs him against Trump. Trump in his characteristic flamboyant style said: "Oh, absolutely, I won't even think about leaving. Probably, it'll enhance my numbers, but it's a very bad thing for America. It's very bad for the country." Trump made the remakrs while being asked at a gaggle before his conservative political action conference address, media reports said. Trump is up against a barrage of investigations or legal challenges, including a civil lawsuit over alleged business fraud from the New York Attorney General Letitia James; a sprawling criminal inquiry from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office; an investigation from Fulton County; and special counsel Jack Smith's two-pronged Justice Department investigation into the Georgia poll interferences by him and his supporters in 2020. Trump drew an enthusiastic crowd at the CPAC where he decried the litany of investigations against him, contending "they've weaponised justice in our country", the Washington Examiner reported. He declined to commit to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel's call for 2024 candidates to make a pledge to back the eventual nominee. This was evidence he saw no one but himself being in the race for 2024. Also Read Donald Trump seeks $475 million in defamation lawsuit against CNN Ahead of midterm elections, Trump coins India-US friendship slogan in Hindi Trump lawsuit claims Woodward audiobook violates copyright, seeks $50 mn Trump announces 2024 presidential run, promises to defeat radical Democrats Donald Trump again hints at running for office in 2024 presidential polls Ridiculous: Jill on Haley's mental competency test proposal for politicians US must stop suppressing China or risk 'conflict': Chinese FM Qin Gang Ex-Pak Prez Zardari rules out possibility of contesting elections with PDM India playing significant leadership role with G20 Presidency: Argentina Six-party alliance picks main opposition leader to run against Erdogan "There are probably people that I wouldn't be very happy about endorsing that are running, so we'll see. I think some of them, I won't use names, I don't want to insult anybody, but some of them, I would not be very happy about," Trump told reporters. McDaniel had sought to corner all Republican 2024 contestants to back the eventual nominee in exchange for access to the debating platform. However, not just Trump, candidates or potential 2024 hopefuls, such as former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, have been noncommittal, reports said. Trump presented himself as "retribution" for his loyal followers. He had won the CPAC straw poll at the confab, which appeared to have lower attendance levels than in the past. "In 2016, I declared: I am your voice," Trump said. "Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution." Scientific investigation using cosmic rays on Egypt's Great Pyramid finds a hidden corridor about 30 feet long hidden until now. A device called an endoscope revealed the secret passage on the North Side of the Giza Pyramid just about its known entrance. Study on Egypt's Great Pyramid The Great Pyramid was erected during Pharoah Khufu on the Giza plateau, which rises to 456 feet. Called a wonder of the ancient world as the tallest structure until 1311, England's Lincoln Cathedral's 525 feet height made it second, reported by Live Science. Evidence that it lies over the ancient entrance reveals a horizontal chamber that is 30 feet long and 6.6 feet by 6.6 feet in height and width. Found at the back of the chevron shape seen on the exterior of the pyramid post in March, noted Nature Communications. Researchers investigated the void via an endoscope slipped in the corridor to take a peek on February 24. No artifacts were seen in the space. The study's chief author Sebastien Procureur, a physicist linked to the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, verified the find, as mentioned in Research Gate. Rumors that they would find the burial chamber of Khufu anytime soon were discounted. Hidden Corridor Discovered Using Cosmic Rays A device scanning with muons which are elementary particles that are negatively charged, is preset if X-rays bump into atmosphere atoms. Such energy particle is absorbed by the pyramid's stone so that the muon detector sees only a few centimeters. Another is using ground radar to get more input about the secret passage. Read Also: Archaeologists Discover Pyramid of Unknown Egyptian Queen In 2016, a void on the north side was announced, and scholars have verified the passageway. In 2017, a larger space of about 98 feet was detected over the grand gallery. Zahi Hawass stated on March 2 that a 30-foot passage lessens the stress from the weight of stones. The purpose of the chevron structure is to spread out weight, cited Ahram Online. Procureur agrees with the chevron's function in the pyramid structure by saying it's the initial test of the chevron part of the construction. It was applied in the portion of the pyramid, he said. Swansea University Egyptologist Reg Clark, who is not part of the study, said the small gabled roofed corridor prevented stress over the pyramid's original descending entrance passage. Additionally, it might not hold any relics. He stated that passage is part of the way pyramids were built, deemed practical innovations. Any fanciful dreams there will be mysteries is unfounded and speculative only. These pyramids have been subject to wistful thinking by many, and the discovery adds to that. Use of powerful muon detectors to there are artifacts in the secret corridor and the void over the grand gallery. Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza has a 30-foot hidden corridor discovered using cosmic rays absorbed by the stone. A large void in the grand gallery found earlier could also hold something inside. Related Article: Ancient Egyptians Build Mysterious Pyramids, Taking Advantage of the River Nile @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Now, all eyes are now on Li Qiang, who is the favourite to replace Keqiang as Premier. Li is a crony of Xis from his days in provincial government, having served as Xi's de facto chief of staff in Zhejiang province. Xi Jinping has consolidated his power since the resignation of Premier Li Keqiang, who had served the maximum two terms allowed. Li had been sidelined in recent years by Xi, who elevated military and security services in support of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) likes to believe it will be in power in India eternally but that is not the case, and to say the Congress is "gone" is a ridiculous idea, Opposition MP Rahul Gandhi said in London on Monday. Addressing an in-conversation session at the Chatham House think tank on Monday evening to round off his week-long UK tour, Gandhi also pinpointed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's lack of focus on a shifting nature of the political discourse in India as the key factor behind its failure. "To put it in perspective, if you look at the time from independence to now, the Congress party has been in power for the majority of the time," he said. "Before the BJP was in power for 10 years, we were in power for 10 years. The BJP likes to believe that they have come to power in India and they are going to be in power eternally, that is not the case," the Congress leader added. The BJP-led government came to power in India in 2014. Gandhi, the MP from Kerala's Wayanad, pointed to a set of changes taking place in India that had caught the Congress and the UPA government off guard, such as a shift from rural to urban. Also Read BJP came to power by defaming UPA, polarising people, says Raj CM Gehlot J'khand: UPA to stage protest on Nov 5 against attempts to destablise govt Manmohan Singh extraordinary but Indian economy stalled under UPA: Murthy Gandhi family, its NGOs not above law: BJP on cancellation of FCRA licences Union Budget a silent strike on poor by Modi govt, says Sonia Gandhi PM defamed country abroad: Congress defends Rahul Gandhi's speeches in UK Congress has lost opportunity by not supporting Oppn over Adani issue: AAP Cannot give DA on par with Centre even if protestors behead me: Mamata Manik Saha gets second term as Tripura CM, swearing-in on March 8 No person involved in looting public money will be spared: Punjab CM "We were focusing a lot on the rural space and we missed the ball in the beginning on the urban space, that is a fact. Those things are there. But to say that the BJP is in power and the Congress gone, that is actually a ridiculous idea," he said. The BJP has accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil while praising China. Union minister Anurag Thakur hit out at the Congress leader on Monday for his remarks and asked him not to betray the nation. "Don't betray India, Rahul Gandhiji. The objections to India's foreign policy are evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil," Thakur told reporters in New Delhi. He alleged that Gandhi has resorted to "maligning India" from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures. Senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti on Tuesday alleged that Delhi University has not yet approved the nomination of candidates recommended by the city dispensation for governing bodies in government-funded colleges. No immediate reaction on the matter was available from the Delhi University administration. Bharti alleged that the varsity administration did not abide by the laws and the Delhi government's recommendation has been "ignored on purpose to enable saffronisation" of the campus. "The Delhi University administration has not approved the nominations of candidates our government recommended for forming governing bodies in 28 government-funded colleges. "Our recommendations were ignored on purpose to enable saffronisation of the university campus," he alleged. On February 21, then-deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh over the delay in formation of governing bodies in 28 government-funded colleges. Also Read PM Modi to visit Somnath temple in Gujarat today ahead of assembly polls Bihar by-polls 2022: Eighteen candidates file nomination papers Ex-Guj min Solanki, Rivaba Jadeja among candidates in 1st phase of polls AAP protests outside BJP office over Dhaula Kuan slum-demolition order AAP ends BJP's 15 year-rule in MCD, wins civic body poll with majority Delhi mayor meets A&C dept officials, reviews property tax schemes BJP says Rahul Gandhi insulted India abroad; twisting statement: Congress Excise case: ED questions Sisodia for 5 hrs; another businessman arrested Dispel perception that Sisodia was arrested for political reasons: Vijayan Worried about country's sorry state of affairs, not Sisodia: Kejriwal He had requested Singh to expedite the formation of fully-functional governing bodies at all the colleges. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Tuesday chaired a meeting with officials of the assessment and collection (A&C) department of the municipal corporation, and reviewed schemes related to property tax, her office said. During the meeting, senior officials apprised her about the status of revenue collection, tax policies and challenges faced by the department over the years, they said. The mayor discussed and reviewed various initiatives of the A&C department to optimise revenue generation through property tax and ongoing schemes like amnesty scheme and Samriddhi scheme of the department, the statement said. The meeting was attended by MCD's Assessor and Collector Kunal Kashyap and other senior officials of the department. She was also briefed about the citizen-centric measures undertaken by the department to facilitate smooth property tax collection through its online portal. The mayor emphasised on the need to give wide publicity to the people friendly property tax schemes like Samriddhi scheme, amnesty scheme, it said. Also Read After much delay, stage set to elect new MCD mayor following SC order BJP fields Shalimar Bagh councillor Rekha Gupta for Delhi Mayor polls Municipal House to elect national capital's mayor, deputy mayor today Why have fake reviews on e-commerce sites become rampant? Heavy security deployment at MCD headquarters for Delhi mayoral poll BJP says Rahul Gandhi insulted India abroad; twisting statement: Congress Excise case: ED questions Sisodia for 5 hrs; another businessman arrested Dispel perception that Sisodia was arrested for political reasons: Vijayan Worried about country's sorry state of affairs, not Sisodia: Kejriwal Bulk of over Rs 12,000 cr electoral bonds sold donated to BJP: Chidambaram On Tuesday, the mayor also inspected Mata Gujri Hospital, Tilak Nagar, in MCD's West Zone. The mayor took stock of medical facilities and services being provided at the hospital, her office said in a statement. Along with MLA Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh, zonal DC Sandeep Kumar, DC (Health) Pradeep Kumar, local councillor Ashok Maanu, senior officials of the hospital administration were also present on the occasion. Protesting against the alleged excise scam, the Delhi BJP burnt effigies of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in all 70 Assembly constituencies. Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri along with Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva burnt the effigies outside the ancient Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place. Sachdeva said, "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal takes blessings from the Hanuman temple whenever elections are announced, so it is a clear message to Kejriwal from here that we will end his politics from where he started." "We will not wait for 2025, Kejriwal will have to resign in this liquor scam. This is also the demand of the people of Delhi," he added. The Delhi BJP chief further said, "Today, 'Holika Dahan' is happening because it is a symbol of victory of good over evil, so today we have gathered to burn the effigies of AAP leaders who are symbols of liquor scam and corruption." Former Delhi BJP President Harsh Vardhan, while participating in the programme at Shastri Nagar, said that the BJP has always been saying that Kejriwal and his ministers are "running a government mired in corruption." Also Read AAP burns Ravana effigies across Delhi to protest MCD's failure under BJP AAP used excise scam to generate illegal funds, caused Rs 2,873 cr loss: ED Sisodia, other accused destroyed excise-scam evidence, alleges BJP Delhi excise policy scam: CBI issues notice to KCR's daughter K Kavitha CBI files first charge sheet in Delhi excise scam case; Sisodia not named Leader or the ideology: What should Congress party members abandon? BJP likes to believe it will be in power eternally: Rahul Gandhi in London PM defamed country abroad: Congress defends Rahul Gandhi's speeches in UK Congress has lost opportunity by not supporting Oppn over Adani issue: AAP Cannot give DA on par with Centre even if protestors behead me: Mamata "Today, the two ministers whom he (Kejriwal) praised the most, both of them turned out to be the biggest corrupt and the result is in front of everyone that both of them are inside the jail," Harsh Vardhan asserted. Caretaker Chief Minister Manik Saha, who on Monday evening was elected the BJP's legislature party leader by the newly elected saffron party MLAs, met Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya in the Raj Bhavan late Monday evening and staked claim to form a BJP-led government for its second term in Tripura. "After being elected as the Leader of the Legislature Party, called on Governor to stake claim to form the government in the state. My sincere gratitude to all for electing me as the leader of the legislature party. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we shall work together to build 'Unnata Tripura, Shrestha Tripura' and ensure the welfare of all sections of people," Saha wrote on Twitter. Many central BJP leaders and Chief Ministers have congratulated Saha, who was the party's Chief Ministerial face in the February 16 assembly elections. Earlier on Monday evening, Assam's Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, who was the BJP's central observer in the legislature party meeting, announced Saha's name as the legislature party leader. Saha's name was proposed by Union Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik, who for the first time was elected to the state assembly from Dhanpur assembly constituency. The swearing-in-ceremony of the Chief Minister and the new council of ministers would be held here at Vivekananda stadium here on Wednesday. Also Read Exit of 5 MLAs jolt for Tripura BJP ahead of assembly polls: Manik Sarkar Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath to address election rallies in Tripura today Tripura govt plans setting up medical college, hospital in tribal area BJP's bid to loot votes in 2023 polls will be resisted: Manik Sarkar Tripura polls 2023: BJP to talk about good governance, says CM Manik Saha PM to attend swearing-in ceremony of MDA 2.0 govt in Meghalaya on Tuesday Nagaland heading for oppositionless govt as parties support NDPP-BJP Ask PM Modi why 60% voters did not vote for BJP: Ex-Tripura CM Manik Sarkar Meghalaya: Conrad K Sangma submits letter of support of 32 MLAs PM congratulates Sangma on his party's impressive performance in Meghalaya Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, several central leaders and Chief Ministers would attend the event. In the February 16 Assembly polls, the BJP won 32 seats, one more than the magic figure of 31 in the 60-member Assembly, while its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura got one. Saha was re-elected from the Town Bordowali seat for the second time after defeating his nearest Congress opponent Ashish Kumar Saha by a margin of 1,257 votes. Manik Saha was first elected to the state Assembly in the by-poll held in June last year by defeating Ashish Kumar Saha by a margin of 6,104 votes. The 70-year-old BJP leader, who was also the state unit chief of the BJP and Rajya Sabha member for a brief period, took oath as the chief minister last year on May 15, a day after former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb resigned from the top post. The BJP retained power in Tripura for the second straight term. The tribal-based Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which for the first time contested 42 seats on its own, emerged as the second largest party by securing 13 seats. The CPI-M won 11 seats while the Congress bagged three. The CPI-M-led Left Front, which contested the elections in a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress, had fielded 47 candidates while 13 seats were allotted to the Congress. BJP ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) won the Jolaibari seat in southern Tripura. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 36 seats, its ally IPTF bagged eight seats while the CPI-M had secured 16 seats. --IANS sc/pgh In wake of the BJP attacking Rahul Gandhi on his speech in London, the Congress on Monday mounted a strong defence of its leader, alleging that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been saying things abroad about the country and the opposition. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said: "When the Prime Minister said that nothing has been done in past 70 years, he is demeaning the country and its people." She also slammed Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur for his comments on Gandhi. Gandhi, in London, said that Indian political leaders can give a talk in Cambridge or Harvard Universities but he can't give a talk in an Indian university. "The reason is that our government simply does not allow any idea of the Opposition, any concept of the Opposition to be discussed. Same happens in the Parliament house. When there are important things that we need to speak about demonetisation, GST, the fact that the Chinese are sitting inside our territory... when we try to raise these questions, we are not allowed to raise them in the House. It is a fact. It is shameful but it is true, and this is not the India that all of us are used to." The BJP has attacked this and said he is undermining the Parliamentary democracy Also Read Campsites have 'basic' facilities, BJP trying to 'defame' Yatra: Congress Rahul means Bharat, Bharat means Rahul, says UP Congress chief Khabri Indian embassy in China celebrates Gandhi Jayanti at Beijing's art museum PM rattled, involving in defame to inflame politics: Congress hits back Some people conspiring against Bengal, trying to defame us: Mamata Banerjee Congress has lost opportunity by not supporting Oppn over Adani issue: AAP Cannot give DA on par with Centre even if protestors behead me: Mamata Manik Saha gets second term as Tripura CM, swearing-in on March 8 No person involved in looting public money will be spared: Punjab CM Don't betray India, says Anurag Thakur to Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders Gandhi, addressing the Indian diaspora, said that the biggest issues in India today are unemployment, price rise and the violence that Indian women face. "We have an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas, and you must have noticed one thing and this is in the nature of the BJP and the RSS," he said. He slammed Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, noting that he had said that China is stronger than us, so we can't fight with them, adding that at the heart of the ideology is cowardice. "The British were stronger than us, so then we should have not fought with them. How would we ever get Independence? If we had followed the BJP's principle and the RSS' principle that if they are stronger than us, we don't fight with them, then we would still be ruled by the British," he contended. Microsoft has introduced its new "Canary Channel" for Windows Insiders to support preview builds of platform changes. "The new Canary Channel is going to be the place to preview platform changes that require longer-lead time before getting released to customers," the tech giant said in a blogpost on Monday. Similar to the Dev Channel, some of the changes the company will try out in the Canary Channel might never ship, and others could roll out to future Windows releases "when they're ready". "The builds released to the Canary Channel will have higher build numbers than the Dev, Beta, and Release Preview Channels -- starting with 25000 series builds," it added. Insiders previously in the Dev Channel were already receiving these builds and to make sure that they continue to receive new updates, the company is moving these Insiders to the Canary Channel. Insiders moved to the Canary Channel will receive notifications of the migration in the operating system (OS) and via email. Also Read Apple releases Music, TV, Devices apps for Windows 11 on Microsoft Store Microsoft ends support for WebView2, Edge web browser on Windows 7, 8.1 Asus ROG Phone 6 series phones arrive in India, available at Vijay Sales Microsoft releases new Windows 11 preview build for Insiders in Dev Channel Joe Belfiore, face of Windows phone, to leave Microsoft after 32 years WhatsApp may soon let users set expiration date for groups on iOS beta WhatsApp to clearly outline how its privacy updates will affect EU users Tech giant Microsoft introduces AI-powered 'Dynamics 365 Copilot' Twitter breaks for millions as only one engineer left handling crucial APIs Microsoft's latest AI assistant takes on Oracle, Salesforce in applications "The builds that will be flighted to the Canary Channel will be 'hot off the presses', flighting very soon after they are built, which means very little validation and documentation will be done before they are offered to Insiders," the company said. Meanwhile, Microsoft is holding an event on March 16, where it will demonstrate "how artificial intelligence (AI) will power a whole new way of working for every person and organisation." Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered reinforcements to be deployed to Bakhmut amid rumors that Kyiv's forces were withdrawing from the region amid Russian aggression. Zelensky vowed to defend the city against Moscow's troops and added that they would find the people responsible for the death of an unarmed Ukrainian soldier in Russian captivity. The incident was caught on video, prompting Ukrainian officials to call it a war crime. Ukrainian Withdrawal from Bakhmut? Furthermore, the Ukrainian military said that it successfully destroyed a surveillance tower located in the Russian border region of Bryansk with the help of a drone. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral cooperation, which includes "joint infrastructure projects" alongside Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Zelensky noted that the reinforcements were sent to Bakhmut because they would not abandon any part of Ukraine alone to defend against Russia's forces. As per CNN, he added that the decision was finalized after he consulted with the military staff. The Ukrainian president also seemed to address rumors that Ukrainian troops were withdrawing from the city, which he called "disinformation messages." He said that they came from those who did not have access to the confidential decision-making briefings where such decisions would be made and discussed. The official noted that they were defending and will continue to defend every part of the country and, in time, will liberate every city and village from Russian control. Zelensky also warned that they would make Russia answer for every shot taken against Ukraine and for every evil act against the Ukrainian people. On the other hand, the unarmed Ukrainian soldier killed on video was wearing combat fatigues and smoking a cigarette near what appeared to be a fighting position. The man could be seen pulling the cigarette from his mouth and said, "Slava Ukraini," which means "Glory to Ukraine," before shots came from outside of the camera's view and hit him. Read Also: Violent Greece Protests Update Russia's Continued Aggression Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War think tank on Sunday said that Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut seemed to have been conducting what they called a "limited tactical withdrawal." However, they noted that it was still too early to determine the intention of Kyiv's troops in the region, according to CNBC. Furthermore, the ISW said that Ukrainian forces were not expected to withdraw from Bakhmut all at once, adding that they could pursue a gradual fighting withdrawal to exhaust Russian forces by continuing urban warfare. Based on released data, the United Nations noted that there had been a confirmed 8,173 civilian death toll while 13,620 others were injured amid the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights argued that the number is higher because of the delay in fatality reports. On the other hand, the head of Russia's Wagner private army said that they could not get the required ammunition from Moscow to take control of Bakhmut. The region has been under constant fighting for several months, said BBC. Related Article: Wagner's Claims on Russia's Ammunition Supply @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. IQM is a member of the consortium led by Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech and GMV IQM will deliver a first quantum processing unit by the second quarter of 2023 The quantum computer will be installed at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and integrated into the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer IQM Quantum Computers (IQM), the European leader in quantum computers, announced today it has been selected to deliver quantum processing units for the first Spanish quantum computer to be installed at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and integrated into the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, the most powerful in Spain. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005345/en/ IQM Quantum Computer opened (Photo: Business Wire) IQM is a member of the consortium led by Spanish companies Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech and GMV that was selected by Quantum Spain, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation through the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA) in December 2022, to build the first quantum computer for public use in Southern Europe. Dr. Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder of IQM Quantum Computers, said, This is a significant announcement for IQM. We have the right background and experience in developing quantum processors, computers, and national quantum ecosystems. We are looking forward to working with Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech and are delighted to be part of such a strong consortium and play an important role by providing quantum processing units for this notable project. The integration of the quantum computer into MareNostrum 5 will have the potential to significantly increase the impact of research and innovation by enabling solutions that complement the capabilities of existing supercomputers, which will be available to the research community, companies, and public organisations, and by strengthening technological and industrial development in Spain and the creation of highly qualified jobs. We are delighted to include the expertise of a great player such as IQM to support us developing this innovative system, that will be purely based on Spanish and European technology. We are sure that this will be a very fruitful collaboration and we are looking forward to be partnering with IQM, said Victor Canivell, Co-founder and CEO of Qilimanjaro. Jani Heikkinen, Head of Business Development and Country Manager for Spain, said, This is another example of our European leadership, demonstrating our commitment to advancing the Spanish quantum ecosystem in collaboration with both public and private institutions. Through our office in Madrid, we are also able to provide the necessary support for this project. About IQM Quantum Computers IQM is the pan-European leader in building quantum computers. IQM provides on-premises quantum computers for supercomputing centres and research labs and offers full access to its hardware. For industrial customers, IQM delivers a quantum advantage through a unique application-specific, co-design approach. IQM is building Finlands first commercial 54-qubit quantum computer with VTT, and an IQM-led consortium (Q-Exa) is also building a quantum computer in Germany. This computer will be integrated into an HPC supercomputer to create a quantum accelerator for future scientific research. IQM has over 240 employees with offices in Singapore, Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Espoo. About Qilimanjaro Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech is a deep-tech startup that brings practical applications of quantum computing to the market in a shorter timeframe than digital quantum computers, by using a different but complementary model of quantum computation: the analog model. Qilimanjaro creates a coherent quantum annealer accessible via our cloud to run real-world applications such as optimisation tasks in the logistics, finance, and energy sector, among others, and quantum simulation of chemical and physical processes, very present in the materials and pharmaceutical research industries. Qilimanjaro aims at providing its clients with a faster, more accurate and sustainable solution to their computing problems. It has closed significant customer contracts since its first year of operation and has become a key contributor to the European Commissions AVaQus H2020 project on coherent quantum annealing. Qilimanjaro is a spin-off from the Barcelona Supercomputer Center (BSC), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Institute of High-Energy Physics (IFAE). About GMV GMVis a privately owned technology business group founded in 1984 and trading on a worldwide scale in the following sectors: Space, Aeronautics, Defense and Security, Cybersecurity, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Automotive, Healthcare, Telecommunications and IT for government authorities and major corporations. In 2021, it had revenues of nearly 260 million euros. Working with a staff of over 3,000, the company now runs subsidiaries in Spain, USA, Germany, France, Poland, Portugal, Romania, UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, and Colombia. Seventy five percent of its turnover comes from international projects on all five continents. The company's growth strategy is based on continuous innovation, and it plows back 5% of its turnover into inhouse R&D. GMV has reached CMMI level 5, the world's most prestigious model in terms of enhancing an organizations process capability, and it has numerous international patents. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005345/en/ LambdaTest, the leading digital experience testing cloud platform, has partnered with LinkedIn to offer the LambdaTest Test Automation Professional Certificate exclusively available on LinkedIn Learning, as part of its mission to support the testing and QA community. Through this Professional Certificate course, learners will acquire fundamental knowledge of test automation, including various tools and best practices, in a highly engaging manner from Meaghan Lewis, Technical Program Manager at Microsoft. More importantly, learners will be able to implement and optimize test automation in their jobs after this course. To earn their LambdaTest Test Automation Professional Certificate, learners will have to complete all courses and content in the learning path and pass the final exam. Learners can access their certificates immediately after they pass the final exam and seamlessly showcase their certificate on LinkedIn. "We are excited to partner with LambdaTest to provide our customers and learners additional, credible paths to upskilling as well as broaden the audience for the LambdaTest Test Automation Professional Certificate to the worlds largest talent marketplace," said Dan Brodnitz, Sr. Director of Global Content Strategy at LinkedIn Learning. As LinkedIn Learning students for the LambdaTest Test Automation Professional Certificate, learners can get free trial access to the LambdaTest platform. This enables learners to get hands-on experience and implement the concepts. Enterprises, all over the world, are automating their testing to ensure a better digital experience for their users. Learning test automation will open up various career avenues for learners. We are also happy to offer free access to the LambdaTest platform to enable students to get hands-on experience. We are excited to play our role in enabling thousands of learners to achieve their career goals, said Maneesh Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, LambdaTest. LambdaTest recently announced the launch of digital experience testing cloud for enterprises. The offering will enable enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation by providing a best-in-class, 360-degree test execution and orchestration platform coupled with insightful test analytics and customizable deployment options. Also, Satya Nadella, Chairman & CEO of Microsoft, delivered the keynote address at the Microsoft Future Ready Technology Summit 2023, Bengaluru, where he said that LambdaTest is doing for test automation what Kubernetes did for container orchestration - creating that next level of efficiency around test automation so that people can actually focus on testing versus test orchestration. To know more, visit: https://www.lambdatest.com/certifications/linkedin-learning Notes to the editor For further information please contact the LambdaTest press office: [email protected]. About LambdaTest LambdaTest is a leading digital experience testing cloud that helps developers and testers ship code faster. Over 10,000+ enterprise customers and 2+ million users across 130+ countries rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs. LambdaTest platform provides secure, scalable, and insightful test orchestration for customers at different points in their DevOps (CI/CD) lifecycle: LambdaTest test execution platform allows users to run both manual and automated tests across 3000+ different browsers, real devices, and operating system environments. It enables developers to test their websites, web applications, and native apps without requiring to install or maintain an internal lab of virtual machines, real devices, emulators, or simulators. With LambdaTests Real Devices Testing Cloud, you can now test unhandled errors, UI/UX, performance, and functionality of your native, web, and hybrid apps before they get released into production. Test on the widest range of mobile and OTT devices (iOS, Android, iPad, Amazon Fire TV, Roku TV & Apple TV). With seamless cross-functional team collaboration across the mobile app development lifecycle, you can release quality mobile apps in shorter development cycles which enables you to innovate and scale rapidly. An IP-led next-gen cloud test execution and orchestration platform that helps enterprises run end-to-end automation tests at the fastest speed possible, thereby enabling them to achieve quicker time-to-market, and deliver a quality digital experience. Achieve 70% faster test execution times and zero flakiness with HyperExecute. Perform Regression Testing in just one click using LambdaTest. Compare the screenshots of your applications webpages taken from two different browsers to view/detect any visual deviations. Increase browser coverage by running automation scripts on a cloud of 3000+ different desktop and mobile environments. Test execution insights are critical for digital transformation as they provide enterprises with more profound insight into the quality of releases and trends. By analyzing the test execution data, LambdaTest's Integrated Test Intelligence delivers enterprises with insights into patterns and trends that can lead to informed decisions about future development and improve application quality. For more information, please visit: https://lambdatest.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005067/en/ Partner with us for Press release distribution and get best in class service, guaranteed postings on tier 1 media and maximum reach This year will see the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the 10th anniversary of the launch of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). As one of the key enterprises participating in the construction of the CPEC, POWERCHINA has been active in various fields such as energy, electricity, water management, and infrastructure investment in Pakistan since it entered the Pakistani market as early as 1987. Over the past 36 years, POWERCHINA has completed the 103 projects in Pakistan, including the first roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam in Pakistan the Gomal Zam Dam multipurpose project, and the first mainstream hydropower station on the Indus River the Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project, the largest installed hydropower station the Tarbela 4th & 5th Extension Hydropower Project, and the largest wind farm the Tricon Boston 150 MW Wind Power Project. In the past ten years, among the first 20 energy and infrastructure projects of the CPEC, POWERCHINA has participated in the investment and construction of 11 projects. POWERCHINA has consolidated the traditional power business, and continued to contribute to the development of new energy and other fields. Pakistan's largest hydropower hub project currently being constructed by POWERCHINA, the Diamer Basha Dam Project, will become the tallest and largest RCC dam in the world, and is expected to provide Pakistan with 18.1 billion KWh of clean electricity every year. As the project progresses, it is expected to provide more than 20,000 job opportunities, which is considered as one of the many positive effects of the project by Nadeem Ilyas, a Pakistani engineer of the project. As one of the leading enterprises in China, POWERCHINA has carried out high-quality clean energy project construction and operation in accordance with international standards, and is committed to improving Pakistan's infrastructure conditions and alleviating local power shortages. It has not only made important contributions to the sustainable development of Pakistan, but also played a key role in the development of CPEC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005420/en/ In implementation of the directives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, KSA Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Board of Directors, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb, signed an agreement with the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Sahap Kavcoglu, to make a significant $5 billion deposit into the Central Bank of Turkey. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005482/en/ H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb, KSA Minister of Tourism and SFD Chairman, signs a $5 billion deposit agreement with the Central Bank of Turkey, alongside Governor Sahap Kavcoglu, further enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations (Photo: AETOSWire) This deposit is not only a testament to the close cooperation and historical ties that exist between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey and their peoples, but it is also a demonstration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting Turkey's efforts to strengthen its economy and to promote social growth and sustainable development. The deposit will contribute to bolstering the Turkish economy by addressing economic aspects across various sectors. By making this deposit, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expressing its strong support for the Turkish people and its confidence in the future of the Turkish economy. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005482/en/ Sintavia, LLC, a designer and additive manufacturer of complex mechanical systems and components for the Aerospace & Defense industry, announced today that it had been awarded a contract from Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to develop a dedicated additive manufacturing facility in support of the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The new, vertically integrated facility will develop and additively manufacture advanced nuclear propulsion systems for both in-production and in-development submarine programs of the United States Navy, including the next generation nuclear-powered attack submarine. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005046/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Additive technologyboth with respect to design and manufacturingis well-known to be a superior method for supplying complex systems across the Aerospace & Defense industry, said Brian Neff, Sintavia's Founder and CEO. But a full adoption of the technology is not possible without investments in the materials, processes, and quality systems needed to additively produce these difficult systems successfully and repeatedlyinvestments that Sintavia has been making over the past seven years. As the U.S. Navy looks to develop advanced submarine platforms, it is imperative that additive technology plays a central role in that development. We are committed to the success of these Navy programs, and look forward to continuing to build our relationship with BPMI and the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in the coming years. The new facility, located in Hollywood, Florida, is expected to come online in the second quarter of 2023. About Sintavia Sintavia designs and additively manufactures a new generation of propulsion and thermodynamic systems for the Aerospace & Defense industry. A founding member of the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association, Sintavia is committed to the highest quality standards in the industry and holds multiple Nadcap and other aerospace accreditations. For more information visit http://www.sintavia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005046/en/ Atlanta Police detained at least 35 protesters after a violent clash in what authorities said was a "coordinated attack" on a training center. The incident came as hundreds of people attended a concert at the site, and police officials said that a group then began throwing rocks and firebombs at officers. Images of the demonstrations were uploaded to social media platforms and showed several fires at the scenes. Atlanta Police Clash With Protesters The training center is the planned Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, also known as "Cop City," and is under construction on land owned by the city in South River Forest. After officers clashed with protesters, they locked the area down and were supported by a Swat team nearby. Police officials noted that the group of demonstrators used the peaceful demonstrations as a disguise to "conduct a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers." An official statement said that several pieces of construction equipment were destroyed due to the clash, as per BBC. The statement added that the illegal actions of the violent protesters could have easily resulted in bodily harm to law enforcement personnel and civilians. It noted that officers exercised restraint and used non-lethal enforcement to conduct the arrests of the perpetrators. Opponents argued that the site is a vital green space for the city and described it as the "lungs of Atlanta." The Defend The Atlanta Forest website called on all people of good conscience to support the movement to stop the construction of Cop City and defend the Weelaunee Forest. The latest incident comes as more protests are set in the following days to oppose the structure of the training center. Atlanta police noted that they have already prepared a "multi-layered strategy that would include reaction and arrest of perpetrators. There was a protest in January at the site after police officers killed a 26-year-old activist during a raid to clear people from the site. Read Also: Alex Murdaugh's Latest Financial Scams Violent Demonstrations During a midnight news conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said several pieces of construction equipment at the site were set on fire on Sunday. Police also showed surveillance video where a piece of heavy equipment is seen burning at the facility, according to CBS News. Among the arrests, police have charged 23 people with domestic terrorism in connection with the violent protests, the Atlanta Police Department said. The individuals charged, whose identities were revealed by police through their online website, came from various states across the country, as well as from Canada and France. The ages of the people charged by police ranged from 18 years to almost 50 years. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was the one that filed all of the charges against the demonstrators. Authorities said that the group of violent attackers changed into black clothing after leaving a nearby music festival before they marched towards the construction site. In a Monday statement, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said that what happened was simple violence and not a peaceful protest, said Fox News. Related Article: Texas Mom Stabs 5 Children During Protective Service Visit @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "Facelift" project in E China mirrors whole-process people's democracy 11:18, March 07, 2023 By You Yi ( People's Daily After three months of work, the renovation of Shucheng Road in Xiaoyaojin sub-district, Luyang district, Hefei, east China's Anhui province, was completed. The renovation unified the appearance of the facades of dozens of stores along the road. However, the sign of a storefront there was nearly 1/3 smaller than its neighboring ones. Though the sign is smaller, the shop that owns it still sees booming business, which has placed shop owner Wang Xingqi on a busy schedule. Photo shows Shucheng road after renovation. (Photo from the official WeChat account of Xiaoyaojin sub-district) Why is Wang's storefront sign different? The story starts with a phone call received by Zhang Xugui, a member of a supervision committee for resident affairs of the Sipailou neighborhood that administers Shucheng Road. Shucheng Road is an old road that stretches less than 500 meters, where the sands of time have left deep marks on storefronts and walls, and communication cables were hanging messily above the road. This not only looked bad, but also created potential safety hazards. Therefore, at the requests of residents, the Xiaoyaojin sub-district included Shucheng Road in an urban renovation program and decided to give it a "facelift." After soliciting opinions from residents, social workers of the sub-district finalized renovation plans, and soon the renovation commenced. Zhang, a resident representative of the supervision committee for resident affairs, is a warmhearted woman. During the renovation, she often visited the job site for supervision and better communication between residents and constructors. One day, when Zhang just arrived home from the job site, she received a phone call from resident Li Changbi, a septuagenarian who lives on the floor just above Wang's store. Li told Zhang that Wang's storefront sign was close to his window and it would be noisy once raindrops fell on it. Besides, he and his wife also considered it dangerous, as thieves could probably climb upstairs from the sign. Opening Li's window, Zhang found what he said was true. Therefore, she told Li's opinions to the neighborhood committee, and on the second day, she went to Li's home again with Qu Yantao, who works for the urban management office of the Xiaoyaojin sub-district and was in charge at the job site. Photo shows Shucheng road after renovation. (Photo from the official WeChat account of Xiaoyaojin sub-district) After a close look, Zhang found that Wang's storefront sign covered nearly half of Li's window, though it was lined up with its neighboring ones. She suggested that Wang change the sign, explaining that the noise that might be generated on rainy days would bother Li and his wife. Besides, it was indeed unsafe as thieves could probably climb upstairs from it, Zhang added. Qu assured Wang that it would only take a couple of days to make a new sign, which would only vary in size, but not in color, material, or style. Finally, Wang accepted the suggestion and decided to have the sign changed. Today, all storefronts along Shucheng road have gained a new look. Though Wang's sign is smaller, his store is still busy. The supervision committee for resident affairs of the Sipailou neighborhood was established in December 2021. It consists of the secretary of the discipline inspection committee of the neighborhood and two resident representatives. "As a member of the supervision committee, I am the liaison between the neighborhood committee and residents. I must inform the neighborhood committee of residents' opinions, well handle their demands and help them solve problems," Zhang told People's Daily. According to her, a dozen benches and some fitness equipment were recently installed in the residential complex where she lives under the joint efforts of residents and the supervision committee, so that senior residents don't have to take a stool with them when taking a walk outside. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) A Mexican cartel allegedly kidnapped innocent Americans by mistake after the victims traveled to the border city of Matamoros for medical purposes. The incident was brought to light by an unidentified United States official who said on Monday that the Americans were not the cartel's intended targets. Photographs showed that the group's white minivan collided with another vehicle before they were spirited away from the scene at gunpoint by armed individuals. Americans Mistakenly Kidnapped The images also showed a female seated next to three bodies outside the van. Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have requested help from the public in searching for the whereabouts of the victims, offering a $50,000 reward for their return and the arrest of the people responsible for their kidnapping. Currently, Tamaulipas, where Matamoros is found, is under a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory from the US State Department. Authorities said that there had been an uptick in crime in the region since the Mexican government started its war on the nation's powerful drug cartels in 2006, as per the Daily Beast. Investigators said the Mexican cartel may have mistaken the four Americans for Haitian drug smugglers crossing the border. The victims were found to have no concerning criminal history on their records. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered a similar explanation to the public in a statement. He noted that the information they currently have is that the Americans were trying to buy medicines in Mexico but were confronted and detained by unknown groups. The kidnapping underscores the violence seen in some Mexican cities, which have suffered from organized crime since the Mexican Drug War began. Furthermore, the growing business of what is known as "medical tourism" is partly to blame. The victims, who were not identified, traveled to Matamoros on Friday using their white minivan with North Carolina plates, said the FBI. Upon arriving in the city, they were fired upon and were swiftly taken away by the suspects, according to CNN. Read Also: Massive Hong Kong Blaze Engulfs High-Rise Construction Building Locating the Missing Victims In a statement, US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said an innocent Mexican citizen was fatally shot during the encounter. He noted that their highest priority right now is the safety of their citizens, which is the most fundamental role of the American government. Salazar noted that various US law enforcement agencies were working with Mexican officials at all levels of government in an attempt to bring back the victims safely. Mexican officials in Tamaulipas said federal and local resources were activated to help locate the missing Americans. During a news conference, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica said they quickly established communication between state and federal authorities following the kidnapping. Authorities added that an investigation was conducted immediately, and officials were processing vehicles, obtaining ballistics and fingerprint data, taking biological samples, and gathering surveillance camera footage. Obrador said on Monday that he had already contacted the Matamoros governor and expressed optimism about locating and returning the four Americans to their families, according to Fox News. Related Article: Violent Greece Protests Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Republican presidential hopefuls gathered at the latest CPAC over the weekend to speak about their campaigns moving forward. Former United States President Donald Trump said that change only happens if we "plow fearlessly ahead" against an era of wokeness and weaponized government that he said is plaguing the country. Republican Primary Candidates The Republican businessman's remarks were made in front of an audience that attended the CPAC at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland. It came three months after he officially announced his bid for the 2024 presidential elections. Trump spoke for over an hour and a half, talking about a list of pledges for his potential second term in office. He also discussed various points he repeatedly made since leaving the White House, including his debunked claims of a fraudulent 2020 election. The Republican also took a shot at some of Joe Biden's administration policies, where he vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and cut down on US foreign aid, as per NPR. Trump then criticized Republicans that led the GOP in the early and mid-2010s, calling them out for the change in party ideals since he became a prominent political figure. The former president claimed that before, the US had a Republican Party ruled by what he called "freaks, neocons, globalists, open borders zealots, and fools." The former president's speech marked the CPAC's third and final candidate address for this year. He followed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who spoke on Friday. The Republican conference has long been seen as one of, if not the most, significant annual event for GOP leaders. It allows them to lay their preliminary groundwork for potential presidential campaigns. Read Also: Eric Adam's Take on Lori Lightfoot's Election Loss Challenging Trump's Influence The event comes as five GOP lawmakers are included in polls that check their popularity for a potential 2024 presidency. These include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, all of whom have not officially confirmed a run for the elections, according to the Washington Post. Some polls included Sens. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Tim Scott. Others considered are New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The situation comes as a two-day confab was conducted at the luxury Conrad Hotel, known as the Principles First Summit. It was seen as a lower-profile gathering of the remnants of a former GOP era who attempted to make a name for themselves by battling Trump's influence within the party. Former congressional candidate Clinth Smith, who became an Independent, described his state's GOP as a forest of trees destroyed by an invasive species of beetles. On the other hand, former Rep. Barbara Comstock said that Trump is cancer that has now metastasized, remarks she made after wrapping the "Can the GOP survive?" panel, according to Politico. Related Article: Jill Biden's Take on Mental Competency Test Proposal @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Donald Trump stated over the weekend that he will continue to run for president in 2024 if he is charged. That is a plausible but hypothetical scenario that would be completely legal. The Constitution specifies three prerequisites for presidential candidates, none of which pertain to criminal convictions. Donald Trump Presidential Bid Article II, Section 1 states: No Person other than a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible for the Office of President; nor shall any person be eligible for that office who shall not have attained the age of 35 and been a resident of the United States for fourteen years. Even historical precedent exists for a more serious criminal offense than indictment. In 1920, Eugene Debs unsuccessfully ran for president while accused, convicted, and incarcerated. Debs was indicted under the Espionage Act and sentenced to time in Georgia. This may have been too close to home for Trump. Unprecedented complications might occur if and when Trump is prosecuted while seeking to retake government control, he attempted to subvert by claiming the 2020 election was stolen. And Trump's actions leading up to and during January 6, 2021, insurrection raise questions about whether he could take office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. And a potential conviction in the Mar-a-Lago documents investigation could prompt arguments about disqualification from office under federal law. However, these three constitutional requirements - natural-born citizenship, residency, and age - may continue to be the only requirements for running for president. As ludicrous as it seems, the answer to whether criminal charges alone would bar Trump or anybody else from running for president is now no, as per MSNBC. During his remarks, Trump pledged revenge on his opponents, including Democrats, the media, and other Republicans. Trump declared his presidential campaign late last year, following the midterm elections in which some of his preferred congressional candidates were defeated. Donors to the Republican Party hope to move on from the former president and his style of conservatism, but no viable candidate has yet declared their candidacy. Surveys indicate that Trump is the top in the 2024 Republican race, followed closely by the rising Florida governor and erstwhile ally Ron DeSantis. A Georgia investigation into the Trump campaign's efforts to affect election tallies during the 2020 presidential fight, including a notorious phone discussion between Trump and the Georgia secretary of state in early 2021, is anticipated to produce indictments at any time. On this call, Trump infamously challenged Republican Brad Raffensperger to "find" the approximately 12,000 votes he needed to capture the state from Joe Biden. In January, a grand jury investigating suspected election irregularities in the state completed its investigation. The jury forewoman Emily Kohrs has intimated that the former president may be on the chopping block. The Department of Justice also investigates Trump's team's plans to reverse the 2020 election, particularly January 6, 2021, attack on Congress. Per The Independent, the House select committee investigating the attack proposed that Trump be prosecuted, among other things, for supporting an uprising. Trump has long argued that any judicial investigation of him by any judicial entity is a "witch hunt" orchestrated by his Democratic opponents to prevent him from gaining the presidency. Last year, the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate as part of a third, entirely separate investigation into his handling of presidential records, including classified documents. Since then, President Joe Biden and former vice president Mike Pence have been implicated in similarly embarrassing discoveries of classified materials at their residences. Read Also: Xi Jinping To Secure Third Term Donald Trump vs. Ron DeSantis This weekend, Trump and his most formidable prospective opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, revealed with unprecedented clarity how their drastically divergent personalities and methods would define the 2024 GOP primary fight. Trump served up his usual mixture of rage, falsehoods, and dishonest bravado, billing himself as the only man capable of preventing World War III, rallying his adoring supporters for their "final battle" against communists, globalists, and the "Deep State," and declaring, "I am your vengeance." DeSantis, who has not officially declared his candidacy, used a Sunday visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California to tap into the current Republican Party's driving ideological drive. Yet, he provided a far more detailed plan than Trump for a disruption of government as Americans know it, clearly hinting that after adopting extreme conservatism in Florida, he would be able to achieve the policy objectives that frequently evaded Trump throughout his turbulent presidency. The remarks, which featured two Republicans who would be the early frontrunners if DeSantis entered the GOP nomination campaign, included an ironic twist. The split screen depicted their party's unresolved ideological divide, which Trump caused in 2016 by defeating establishment candidates. CPAC, where Trump spoke, has for decades kept alive the torch of two-term president Reagan, who reshaped the conservative movement and left a legacy that dominated the Republican Party until the arrival of Trump. CPAC, once a rite of passage for possible Republican presidential contenders, has become a forum for Trump's personality cult. According to CBS News, DeSantis did not speak there, instead speaking the week prior at a competing donor gathering for the Club for Growth to which Trump was not invited. Related Article: Jill Biden Blasts 'Ridiculous' Idea of Testing Joe's Mental Capacity @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. News at 4Cs Cape Cod Community College to host WaterWORKS 2023. We are thrilled to host WaterWORKS 2023 at Cape Cod Community College! This hands-on career showcase connects high school students to Blue Economy and STEM career opportunities in our region. At WaterWORKS, students will experience first-hand the many jobs and career paths available to them through interactive displays, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. We are proud to invest in our future workforce by connecting high school students in Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket, and Southeastern Plymouth Counties with the water-reliant economy that surrounds them. Over 50 regional businesses and organizations will be participating in this exciting event. WaterWORKS 2023 will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 (Snow April 11, 2023) from 9:30am-1:00pm, and lunch will be provided. Kremlin leaders have ordered the rewriting Russian textbooks to indoctrinate students into idolizing President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The textbooks are being revised to offer a positive perspective on the full-scale invasion, portraying many soldiers as patriotic heroes. Russia Modifies Textbooks, Builds Beach Barricades They are being modified by Russian presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky, who has devised a new history curriculum for schools. The publications will focus on the fight in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, to avoid mentioning the disastrous mistakes made by the Russian military during that war. War crime investigators are investigating thousands of atrocities perpetrated by Russian forces, including rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder. Now in its second year, the conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of nearly 150,000 Russian soldiers, and 3,423 of Moscow's tanks have been destroyed. In addition, British military intelligence officials have also disclosed that Putin's army relied on T-62 tanks and BTR-50 armored personnel carriers from the 1950s. Massive barriers have been erected on tourist beaches due to rising Russian apprehensions that Ukraine may invade occupied Crimea. Before, the peninsula would be filled with sunbathers throughout the summer, but trenches have been constructed to dissuade attacks. The action clearly indicates that Vladimir Putin's commanders fear they may have to battle to maintain their 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. On a beach in Yevpatoria, a local citizen noticed the defense structures on the shore, as per Mirror. The likelihood of a "vacation season in Crimea" this year was derided by him. A year ago, the locals ridiculed Putin's plan to take Kyiv in three days. A report cautioned that youngsters and tourists might be enlisted to construct seawalls. At the beaches east of Yevpatoria, trenches have been built using aerial reconnaissance. Moreover, the footage depicts beach defenses at another resort, Chernomorskoye, located further west. At the peninsula's western shore, reports indicate a defensive line consisting of trenches, anti-tank pyramids, and minefields is being constructed. Read Also: Xi Jinping To Secure Third Term Russia-Ukraine War Update Under Vladimir Putin's Russian soldiers, a Ukrainian city has been transformed into a dystopian wasteland, as evidenced by shocking photographs. The overhead footage displays the remains of Donetsk's Maryinka, where the front line cuts through the remnants of the city. Per Daily Mail, Grey ruins surrounded by rubble mountains create the image of a dystopian scene in which all life has been eradicated. Maryinka was a battleground even before the war began last year; the town was already under Russian bombardment when Russia invaded Ukraine for the first time in 2014. The heavy combat since the assault on February 24 of last year has destroyed every structure in the town, which formerly housed 10,000 people. Several are scarcely recognizable as structures. Shellfire has also reduced the town's trees to matchsticks, with many torn apart at the trunk. The town, located around 600 kilometers south-southeast of Kyiv, has been a primary focus of Moscow's grinding eastern assault in the war for months, with Russian soldiers and the mercenary Wagner Group encircling Ukrainian battalions. Top Ukrainian commander Volodymyr Nazarenko described the situation as "hell" because Russian soldiers now hold the city's east, north, and south sides, leaving just one path out. Putin's soldiers have been aggressively bombarding the little mining town to secure their first significant win in over six months. The Sunday Times adds that both sides have sustained heavy losses throughout the combat. Kyiv officials report that seven Russian soldiers have been killed for every Ukrainian soldier killed in the area. As a result of continuous bombardment, a large portion of the town has been reduced to rubble, with an estimated 4,000 inhabitants still residing in the region. Oleksandr Marchenko, the deputy mayor of Bakhmut, has accused Russian forces of transforming the city into a new Mariupol. Mariupol is now entirely under the control of Russian soldiers, having been shut off from the rest of Ukraine early in the conflict and subjected to a horrific siege. The civil population was left without heat, food, or water for weeks, and they melted snow for water before drinking from radiators when the snow ran out. Up to 600 people were killed when a Russian airplane attacked a theater with the word "children" scribbled on the pavement outside, making it the site of maybe the bloodiest single strike of the war. Hundreds are said to have perished during the siege, with their remains being buried in mass graves beside highways. Alexander Rodnyansky, an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, observed that Russia was attempting to encircle the city with the finest forces of the Wagner Group. At the same time, Zelensky accused Moscow of sending waves of men into Bakhmut without concern for their lives. The demolition of the bridges prevents Soviet forces from capturing them and therefore gaining access to a crucial supply route. Several sources even mentioned preparations for reinforcements, despite President Zelensky's statement last week that the situation in the city was becoming "increasingly challenging." On Wednesday, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, a shady tycoon with decades-long ties to Putin, stated that he had seen no indications of a Ukrainian departure from the city. He asserted that Kyiv had been strengthening its positions there. Related Article: Volodymyr Zelensky Reacts To Video of Soldier's Brutal Killing @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Well, it took Geely Philippines long enough. About two years after we said they needed a sub-compact crossover to penetrate the local market... The Japanese space agency announced on Tuesday that the first launch of the country's new flagship space rocket had failed after 15 minutes of flight. According to a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA announcement, "a destruct command has been transmitted to H3 about 10:52 a.m. (Japan Standard Time)," indicating that the Japan H3 rocket was destroyed at that time since the mission could not be completed, CNN reported. Japanese broadcasting company NHK reported that the Japan H3 rocket second stage failed to ignite. The Japan H3 rocket , which launched from southern Japan's Tanegashima Space Center, carried the Advance Land Observation Satellite-3 (ALOS-3), a ground-mapping and imaging satellite that the space agency stated will improve disaster management. WATCH: "Destruct command has been transmitted to H3 because there was no possibility of achieving the mission." Japan aborts its next-generation rocket launch in a blow to hopes of rivaling SpaceX https://t.co/lwLdPQaEx0 pic.twitter.com/4DZESCkfy7 Bloomberg (@business) March 7, 2023 According to the report, "all land regions of not just Japan but throughout the entire planet" will be surveyed by ALOS-3. Since 2015, Elon Musk's SpaceX has been successfully launching and landing its Falcon orbital rockets from afar. On the other hand, the Japan H3 rocket from JAXA is cheaper and makes use of huge, recyclable components. The rocket, however, is not capable of being recovered and reused. Read Also: VIZIO Launches First DIY/Crafting Channel An Investigation Will Be Launched After the failed launch, Mitsubishi Heavy stock dropped as much as 3.2%, its worst intraday drop in a month. The launch on Tuesday followed an unsuccessful attempt in February when the rocket's boosters malfunctioned and prevented it from leaving the launch pad, per Mint. Hirotaka Watanabe, professor of space policy at Osaka University, remarked that the latest Japan Rocket launch "was a complete failure," in contrast to prior cancellations and delays. The future of Japan's space policy, space business, and technical competitiveness would be negatively affected, he said. Keiko Nagaoka, Japan's Minister of Education and Science, has said that an investigation would be conducted to determine what caused the engine to malfunction, per BBC. She issued an apology for "failing to meet the expectations of the public and related parties" and defined the Japan Rocket Launch Failure as "extremely regrettable." Related Article: Iran Threatens Israeli Military @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Heracles Group set to acquire Larsinos SA 07 March 2023 Heracles Group (Holcim group), announces the agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Larsinos SA. This acquisition is part of Heracles Groups growth strategy. The agreement is subject to the approval by the Greek Competition Commission. Larsinos SA is a fast-growing ready-mix concrete company with assets that include commercial plants, on-site/jobsite ready-mix concrete, aggregates and quarrying. With this acquisition, in the ready-mix concrete sector, Heracles Group expands its commercial network mainly in the Peloponnese and strengthens its ability to serve any construction project all over Greece with mobile/jobsite ready-mix plants. In the aggregates business, the agreement is expanding the company's geographical footprint in the prefectures of Corinthia, Messinia and Fthiotida. Dimitris Chanis, CEO of Heacles Group, stated: We proceed today to another very important investment for Heracles Group, which is part of our strategy for diverse growth, both organic and through partnerships and acquisitions. It also reaffirms Holcim's long-term commitment to the Greek market and confidence in its growth prospects. Published under Argentina's cement consumption down 5% in February ICR Newsroom By 07 March 2023 The cement market in Argentina contracted by 4.5 per cent YoY and 6.5 per cent MoM to 895,938t in February 2023, according to the countrys cement association, AFCP. In February 2022 demand reached 938,072t while in January 2023 it stood at 958,230t. All domestic demand was supplied by local cement producers, who produced 900,150t, down 5.1 per cent YoY from 948,858t and -6.8 per cent MoM from 965,633t. Of total output, 4212t was exported, representing a 60.9 per cent YoY drop from 10,786t and a MoM 43.1 per cent decline from 7404t. January-February 2023 In the first two months of 2023 cement demand picked up by 2.1 per cent YoY to 1,854,168t from 1,815,437t in the 2M22. Cement production from Argentine plants increased by 1.7 per cent YoY to 1,865,784t in the 2M23 from 1,835,015t in the corresponding period of the previous year. In terms of external trade in the 2M23, there were no imports, but the countrys cement producers exported 11,616t of cement, down 40.7 per cent from 19,579t in the year-ago period. Published under Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Tuesday that China and the US are headed for "conflict and confrontation" if Washington doesn't alter its direction. Qin's tough words at his first press conference since entering office late last year seemed to contradict forecasts that China may forsake its muscular "wolf warrior" approach in favor of more mild rhetoric as the two countries clash over trade, technology, Taiwan, human rights, and the Russia Ukraine war. On the sidelines of Beijing's rubber-stamp legislature's annual conference, Qin told journalists that Washington's China policy had "entirely deviated" from a reasonable and "sound" path, AP News reported. Qin, whose new role is junior to the leading foreign policy official of the Chinese Communist Party, Wang Yi, warned that "If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation," He also underscored that the US-China conflict is a "reckless gamble" that puts the basic interests of the two nations and potentially the "future of humanity" on the line. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Reacts To Brutal Video Tensions Keep Rising Recently, the US-China conflict has risen to new heights. China's autocratic leader Xi Jinping has also encouraged a more aggressive foreign policy as the country seeks to expand its influence and compete with the West. Washington has strongly responded.The Biden administration has strengthened connections with allies and partners to counter Beijing's growing influence, especially in its backyard, CNN reported. The US has also worked to break China's stranglehold on innovation by restricting the export of high-tech semiconductors, which has enraged Beijing. Qin criticized the United States for its Indo-Pacific policy, saying that the United States is trying to build exclusive blocks in order to trigger conflict, that it supports decoupling, and that it is planning an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO." Beijing, though, has strongly denied Washington's claims that it is contemplating supplying Russia with weaponry and artillery to assist in its war against Ukraine, as per a report from NBC News. The Chinese official also renewed his calls for a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Beijing's 12-point peace plan last month was rejected by Western diplomats as too advantageous to Moscow. Related Article: China Sets Historically Lowest Growth Target @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have reportedly gone back to the drawing board in their search for their dream home after reportedly pulling out of plans to buy a $34.5 million home in California's Pacific Palisades This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions There's more to the story behind business leaders Tevfik Arif and Donald Trump. This article explains the truth behind their relationship and how the Trump SoHo venture in New York City proved successful for the partners. While they conversed about other projects beyond the luxury hotel, no other developments occurred between the two businessmen. Arif's company Bayrock Group succeeded in Turkey and the United States. After several accomplishments in real estate ventures, including Loehmann's Seaport Plaza shopping center in Brooklyn, Bayrock moved its offices into the Trump Tower of Midtown Manhattan. Due to the physical office space closeness of Bayrock Group and The Trump Organization, the companies decided to move forward with an expansive business opportunity in the center of the bustling SoHo neighborhood. Early life in Kazakhstan - how it started Tevfik Arif was raised in a Turkish family based in Soviet Kazakhstan. Later in life, he took on prestigious roles in government, an honorable career path among peers in his community. As the Soviet Union disbanded, Arif decided to use his knowledge from his studies in International Relations and his role as deputy head at the Soviet Ministry of Commerce and Trade to jumpstart his career internationally through the Ministry's Hotel Management Department. Arif was always passionate about business, real estate, and economics. So when the Soviet Union dissolved, the perfect starting point arose for Arif to venture into the private business sector. He quit his role in government after 17 years of diligent work and opened several businesses in the automobile industry, imports and exports, and high-end real estate around the world. One of the most notable qualities of Arif's positioning as a business owner was to incorporate the highest standards into all his projects. In the Trump SoHo project, for example, he decided to partner with The Sapir Organization, Handel Architects, the Rockwell Group, and The Trump Organization to initiate a holistic, luxurious effect on the building. No matter the structure or business pursuit, Arif believes in the importance of diversification and a robust construction strategy for the best company and customer results. New York City real estate project connects Arif and Trump After moving to Turkey from Kazakhstan, Arif established the all-inclusive hotel called the Labada Hotel in Antalya, which made way for his future success in international real estate. Once the hotel was running, he moved to the American city of dreams to develop further projects. In 2001, Arif started focusing on larger deals, moving the Bayrock headquarters into the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. This physical distance resulted in partnering with The Trump Organization to build the luxury hotel Trump SoHo, along with The Sapir Organization. The Bayrock Group and The Sapir Organization were already developing the real estate project together and strategically planned for a more prominent hotel brand recognition by utilizing the Trump name. In turn, The Trump Organization received 18% equity from the building while the two other organizations completed the construction and hands-on development. Arif and Trump were business partners in that both their teams collaborated to build an entity that stimulated the economy of SoHo and benefitted all three groups and customers involved in the project. Although stories run among news sources and chatter, Arif and Trump had clear and innocent intentions of partnering - it was for the sake of mutual agreements and formally moving forward with successful endeavors. Considering the Trump name was used to highlight the hotel's brand, it is apparent that the relationship between Arif and Trump was strictly business in exchange for equity. While the teams worked well together and had high compatibility, there was no collaboration or talk outside the hotel's development. Projects continued after Trump SoHo Though the high-end hotel development was the only project built between Arif's group and Trump's organization, the success of the Trump SoHo flourished over the years. Because of this, Bayrock Group and The Trump Organization explored more joint business ventures. The discussions included ideas for buildings in Florida and Arizona. Because of the financial crisis in 2008, the work between the companies ceased as the American real estate market took a hit. Due to the stark change in the market, Arif left the United States and continued his work in Europe and Central Asia. Tevfik Arif has since retired from his business, though he remains a highly regarded advisor to the Bayrock Group. The Trump SoHo changed its name to The Dominick and is now owned by the CIM Group since 2014. @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga and Project Access are recognizing local physicians by inviting community members to nominate outstanding physicians for Doctors Day Recognition in March. All nominated physicians will be honored at a special Doctors Day reception on Thursday, March 30, at Mac Avenue Event Space. Local residents can nominate physicians by sharing what makes them special. Submissions can be submitted at wdef.com/doctorsday or emailed to kevin@chattmd.org. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 17. Nominations should include the physicians name and the reasons you feel he or she should be recognized. Reasons may include a commitment to his profession, dedication to his patients, staff and family and/or involvement in the community. Be sure to include what makes this individual worthy of this recognition, and please feel free to share brief personal stories about the doctor you are nominating," officials said. National Doctors Day provides a time for people to show appreciation to the doctors who care for them or their loved ones. The first Doctors Day observance was March 30, 1933, in Winder, Ga., on the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetic in surgery. The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors Day on March 30, 1958. In 1990, Congress established May 30 each year as the National Doctors Day. This years observance also salutes the over 1,150 physicians who have volunteered to care for low-income uninsured residents of our community through Southeast Tennessee Project Access. Doctors Day is sponsored by WDEF News 12. Southern Adventist Universitys School of Education and Psychology recently hosted two distinguished delegates from Ukraine. The campus welcomed Valeriia Palii, PhD, president of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine, and Olena Vladovska, chief operating officer of Angelia Medical Center, a Ukrainian Seventh-day Adventist clinic dedicated to providing support for youth and families affected by the devastation in their country. The two women spoke with students about serving their nation on the frontlines of war.Dr.Palii and Ms. Vladovska were invited to the area by the City of Chattanooga and visited several local institutions. Southern alum Angelika Riano, 00, helped coordinate their visit and translated during Ms. Vladovskas presentation at the university.Ms. Vladovska explained how the Angelia Medical Center uses a holistic, person-oriented approach to medical treatment that helps individuals physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. She explained that Russian forces have destroyed more than 1,100 clinics and hospitals, but Angelia has remained operational. The center provides humanitarian aid by sending mobile field clinics to refugee camps.What helps us to do this work? Ms. Vladovska asked. Its understanding, its faith in God and its our unity. United, we can help others.Dr. Palii shared about her organizations mental health work, including developing a psychological support hotline already available in 19 different European countries, including Ukraine.I enjoyed hearing the speakers share their personal experiences of how life and the practice of medicine have changed since the invasion of Ukraine, said Maddie Chant, senior psychology major. I was moved by their passion for using their careers to make a positive impact on their people, even amid war.Ms. Vladovska praised Southern for the strong Adventist roots she witnessed on campus.Observing the students, you can tell what is taught at Southern, Ms. Vladovska said. I do what I do in Ukraine because of my Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, and here at Southern, it feels as if one can almost touch the history of Adventist ministry. A man who shot two women in Ooltewah, including his pregnant former girlfriend, has been returned to Hamilton County. After the Jan. 30 shooting, 28-year-old Brian Alex Stone and another man carjacked a DCS van that had been transporting a convicted juvenile to a facility in West Tennessee. Stone was later captured in Marion County. The Sheriff's Office said the two women were at a residence at 6405 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road when Stone walked in past one of the men and headed back to where the women were in a bedroom. Detectives were told that Stone was angry about the fact that the women had gotten police involved in an earlier incident. He began firing, hitting one woman in the leg and the other woman in the hip. The injury to the hip was a "through and through" shot. The woman who was shot in the leg was carrying Stone's child. Both women were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The men at the scene said when the shooting started, they went out a garage door and jumped a fence. They said Stone fired multiple shots at them as they ran. Stone jumped another part of the fence and fled. One of the men said he knew Stone only as "G-Way." Stone was on probation on an aggravated assault charge. He faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder. Lee Universitys Department of Language and Literature will host the Interdisciplinary Conference on Latin American and Iberian Studies on Saturday, March 18, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. In Lees Science & Math Complex. The conference will highlight presentations on the languages, literatures, and cultures of Latin America and Spain, along with other related topics such as service learning, cross-cultural experiences, foreign language methodology, and education. For 10 years, our foreign language and interdisciplinary conference has been successful, said Dr. Alexander Steffanell, professor of Spanish and director of the Latin American Studies Program at Lee. We host college students and faculty from the United States and overseas to share their projects, research, and cross-cultural experiences. The conference will feature The Conversatorio, a talk-show-style guest panel with Ana George, King University; Kelly Jackson, Sara Ortega-Higgs, and Tiffany Robayna of Samford University; and Oleski Miranda, Emory and Henry College. The Conversatorio will take place at 10:40 a.m. in the SMC Lecture Hall. There will also be a Culture and Literature Showcase held during the conference. This showcase will be a smaller, walk-through poster session, featuring presentations by students from multiple universities and local high schools. Our main goal is to give the undergraduate students a chance to explore research and their passion for other cultures. Every year, I receive emails from faculty from other colleges asking about the conference and thanking us for organizing such a unique event in the south, said Dr. Steffanell. Everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is $45 per person, $25 for students. The fee covers the event and two meals. For more information or to pre-register, please contact Dr. Steffanell at asteffanell@leeuniversity.edu or 614-8216. Walk-ins are welcome and can register on site the day of the event. or by showing up the day of the event. For more information about Lees Department of Language and Literature, call 614-8210. Previous Next The hardest part of planning dinner for friends is being sure we dont run head long into mucho allergies. Currently the allergy du jour is gluten intolerance. I am always amazed when I hear from friends they have been diagnosed with this unfortunate but lifelong disease. Consequently that means no flour and a gazillion other things. However there are so many substitutes and products now available, as well as little asterisks or stars by items on the menu at restaurants that lets you know this dish is gluten less. That is what we call no worries cooking/planning. Regarding our invited dinner guests, I should point out that the last time we had dinner at their home the food was swoonable, i.e. to die for. No, not the one from the 1900s where a fainting couch was provided. Nope, this was going to be, as they say, a hard act to follow. But we did after several consultations with the chef that, of course, would be me! We wanted to have seafood, so we chose grilled fresh salmon garnished with shrimp scampi. But wait, theres more like they say on those early morning ads on television. We also had sliced tenderloin with a cranberry-honey mustard sauce. So there, you had two entrees that while opposite were compatible which is not always the case in certain relationships. My wife was in charge of all table decor. I, of course, handled the food. I am always impressed by my wifes very thoughtful way she wants her table to look. Well, not exactly as she has this blow up turkey balloon that mysteriously appears each Thanksgiving. It amazes me how this giant bird can hide out all year and then pop up like the bird the president always pardons every Thanksgiving. Frankly I wish hed let this sucker get wacked. Nevertheless I am reminded that my domain is the kitchen. Prior to knowing we would be having guests, I did pick up a package of green split peas. Nothing is better on a chilled winter night than a hearty cream of split pea soup. However this particular February night the temp was 65 degrees. We do live in Florida, you know! So what started out as a simple weeknight supper turned into a 5-course feast beginning with some hors doeuvres first before we sat down to eat. Next, once seated, my wife ladled out bowls of creamy split pea soup from our hand painted tureen we brought from Portugal 40 + years ago. Please be aware that I had never to my recollection known the tureen to have been used. Lets pause and have a shout out for a tureen that had been gathering dust forever. Next came the entrees. There was the salmon and shrimp and also sliced tenderloin, along with English cucumbers and carrots marinated in honey, brown sugar and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Also I should add that the guests brought several loaves of fresh baked bread so good it made you cancel you calorie count for the occasion. Finally, my wifes soon to be famous Flan with fresh berries and whipped cream. All the while we polished off several bottles of white and red wine which the guests so graciously brought to wash down this simple little meal. Funny how food and wine brings on non-stop conversation. In this case it was the two of us catching up on friends and family back in Chattanooga or as my wifes T-shirt says, back in Nooga. As our guest departed we promised the next time we meet up will be in Nooga. * * * Marinated Carrots 1 package (16 oz) Baby Carrots split cup packed brown sugar (less if you dont want too sweet) 2 tablespoons honey cup fresh lemon juice or substitute red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon cinnamon or several cinnamon sticks Place carrots in pot of bowling water and cook until carrots are soften but still firm enough to split in halves or quarters Drain carrots and split Place brown sugar, honey and lemon juice in sauce pan and bring to a boil then reduce to simmer Add carrots and continue to cook tossing carrots in until well coated. Turn off heat and let carrots cool in marinade Use carrots as a side dish warm or cold in a salad or sometimes I add to cole slaw or pasta salad. The Wally's Restaurant in East Ridge is closing after 34 years. Owners Glen and Sharon Meadows said the property near the I-75 Exit 1 is under contract. The Wally's on McCallie Avenue will remain open. The couple said: To our loyal customers - this is a message from Glen and Sharon Meadows. After 34 years in the day to day operation as Wallys Restaurant in East Ridge Saturday March 18th will be our last day of operation. We are retiring from the restaurant business. Words cannot express our appreciation for many many years of support from the East Ridge and North Georgia communities. We also want to thank our hundreds of employees throughout the 34 years who worked side by side with us serving our community. Thank you to the ones that remained with us in coming back after the pandemic. A very special thanks to those who will walk out the door with me on our last day. Thank you to my adult children that literally grew up in the restaurant. David was 2 when we started in 1989. He put in many hours in all areas of the business. He has since made a career in the logistics business. Allison was born in 1997, 8 years after opening in East Ridge. She worked several years with us and now lives in another state supporting her husband in his pursuit of becoming a physician. Special thanks to my wife of 40 years that has listened to all of my restaurant stories. She retired from Southern Champion Tray almost 23 years ago to help with office administration. Several years back I began learning residential development and home building. As a result, I worked to achieve a residential and commercial construction licenses in both Tennessee and Georgia. I will now focus full time on my building and development projects. What will happen on my corner is to be determined, the property is under contact. Several development options are being considered. Rumors have been going around since 2019 about what is happening with the property. It has been a great place to raise a family and run a business. But it is time for something new, bright and shiny at corner of I-75 and Ringgold Road. My original partner in the business was the late Tony Kennedy. He bought Wallys on McCallie Avenue in 1975. He was close friends with my mom and dad. He taught me so much and gave me the opportunity to grow in both the restaurant and the real estate business. I started my restaurant career at age 12 working at Wallys on McCallie Avenue. I worked there until age 25 working through college to earn my BS degree in finance. I thought briefly about going into the banking world and was offered a job at American National Bank but through some twist and turns, I ended up becoming a partner with Mr. Kennedy at our East Ridge location. My youngest brother Gary owns and operates Wallys on McCallie Avenue. It will continue to operate as normal. After working 45 plus years in the restaurant business, I am ready to retire from that and move onto my next venture. I am blessed and it has been a pleasure working alongside many great people and serving our community. Thank you all, Glen and Sharon Meadows Mr. Meadows said when Wally's East Ridge first started in 1989 it had about 60-65 employees. It stayed around 60 until dropping to around 50-55 at the time of the 2008 recession. Wally's East Ridge in 2013 went from seven days a week to six days dropping to 45-50 workers. The restaurant in March of 2020 at the time of the pandemic shut down until June when it reopened with l imited hours and no more buffet. Employment then was about 25. With labor shortage issues last Nov 22 the restaurant adjusted hours again to lunch only . It is currently at about 15 employees. Mr. Meadows said several will continue their careers at Wallys on McCallie Avenue. Several are ready for retirement. He said he is working with several in helping place them. Students between the ages of 12 and 20 seeking opportunities to learn, teach and make a lifelong difference in the lives of youth are encouraged to register for the Christian Youth in Action Summer Missions Program. This four-week program hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship will train students so that they can teach Bible Lessons to children enrolled in Good News Five-Day Clubs in communities in six counties throughout the summer. Five-Day Clubs begin in early June. Summer missionaries are encouraged to raise at least enough support to cover their training costs of $250. Students are required to attend pre-training sessions, a two-hour service project held at Christian Music Festival, J-Fest and a week-long training camp held on May 28 June 2 at Camp Rain in Deckard, Tn.For more information about Christian Youth in Action Summer Missions Program or to complete an application, visit www.cefchattanooga.org or call 423-803-4559. The Sip TN Chattanooga wine festival, presented by Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance and the Chattanooga Market, will be held on Saturday, April 1, from 12-4 p.m. at First Horizon Pavilion. Wineries and vineyards will be traveling from across the state of Tennessee to showcase their best wines, as well as other products. Festival-goers will be able to taste various wines, meads and ciders as well as enjoy local eats, artisans and live music. General admission tickets are $45 and designated driver tickets are $10. Sip TN is a 21 and over only event, and a valid photo I.D. and ticket will be required for entry. This event is rain or shine, and parking will be available. As vendors will be onsite selling food and beverages, no outside food or drink is allowed. Find more information and buy tickets at siptn.com/chattanooga. The event address is 1801 Reggie White Blvd. At the start of May, Netflix premiered the chilling crime docuseries In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal. The series dives heavily into four self-proclaimed prophets and their cults in an eight-episode season. The first messiah is Jeong Myeong-seok, the leader of Providence Church, also known as JMS. The still active JMS church filed a suit against Netflixs In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal to stop its premiere. JMS leader Jeong Myeong-seok and victim for In the Name of God A Holy Betrayal | via Netflix In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal uses upsetting evidence about JMSs misuse of power and assault As planned, Netflix premiered the docuseries on March 3. Within three episodes, audiences learned the brutal and vile truth of JMS cult leader Jeong. He rose to prominence in the 80s and roped in the interest of college students throughout South Korea, posing as a worthwhile club. His use of vulgar language, his perception of the Bible, and his supposed healing abilities had everyone believe he was a messiah. JMS grew exponentially and had churches throughout the country and devoted followers. But In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal tells the truth behind the holy figure and his sadistic ways. The docuseries explores how Jeongs grand control of his followers allowed him to brainwash young women into becoming his brides. JMS representatives would bring him young women who fit his standards in a one-on-one meeting. Already seeing Jeong as a messiah, the women were eager to meet with him. But they never expected to be assaulted under the ruse that it was part of a greater plan and that Jeong was ensuring their health and prosperity. Despite knowing it was wrong, the representatives encouraged the victims that it was a great honor. Over several years, Jeong assaulted hundreds of young women. In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal uses hard-to-watch real evidence of his female followers nude in videos and photos to appease him. The docuseries explores how Jeong fled to Taiwan after the first few cases of assault came to light, his crimes in Taiwan and Hong Kong. To the audiences surprise, Jeong served his time and now faces new assault charges with new victims. JMS church failed to stop the docuseries premiere to Netflixs surmounting evidence According to Koreaboo, JMS filed a suit to Seouls Western Circuit Court to stop Netflix from premiering In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal. Audiences can only imagine why after watching the docuseries for themselves. The three episodes look into every nook and cranny and detail about Jeong and JMSs crime against its female members. But JMS is still active and has devoted followers who do not believe the victims testimonies about their leader. JMS filed the suit accusing the docuseries of defamation. But their efforts were futile when, on March 2, Seouls Western Circuit Court dismissed their request. They commented that JMSs evidence did not disprove the events in the docuseries. Netflix and its affiliates seem to have collected a considerable amount of objective data and created a program around this. It is difficult to disprove the data as false solely based on the evidence submitted by JMS, said Seouls Western Circuit Court judge. In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal went above and beyond to catalog the truth behind JMS and the other cult leaders. Audiences also see first-hand testimony from Maple, one of the churchs former higher-up members, and a bride. In recent years, she had spoken out publically to prove JMSs mistreatment. One of the harrowing pieces of evidence is Maples first-hand voice recording of the last assault she endured by Jeong. But according to the creator, there is even more evidence. In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal only shows part of how horrible JMS really is It is hard to imagine that what audiences saw in In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal is only part of the truth. According to Koreaboo, director Cho Sung-hyun revealed there is a lot more evidence to prove JMSs inhuman acts. What audiences saw was only roughly 10%. I am aware there is controversy regarding the sexual content, but the important thing is that everything said is true. It was tough for us to listen to the content while gathering testimonies because the stories were so traumatizing. Nevertheless, we had to tell the truth, and we only told what needed to be told which lowered the level to one-tenth of reality, explained Cho. While knowing the first 10 minutes of the docuseries is hard to stomach, Cho knew JMS would end up watching the docuseries. He wanted to put the truth of their leader and JMSs crimes at the forefront. How to get help: In the U.S., call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line. A high-speed line from Las Vegas to Los Angeles will be completed by the end of 2027, according to a $10-billion deal Brightline made with train unions. The system will run on electric energy at a speed of 200 mph, covering an estimated 218 miles (350 kilometers) in total, as per Business Insider. The High-Speed Train Will Reduce Travel Time Between The Two Cities Significantly The $10-billion project will move on, according to an agreement between a group of different rail worker unions and Brightline, the rail company in charge of it. The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition, a group of 13 unions, and Brighline signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU). It is notable that more than 160,000 freight, regional, commuter, and passenger railroad workers in the US are represented by the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition. Aside from the fact that it reduces the travel time between two cities, the investment in the project is anticipated to give the economy a much-needed boost. It is expected to lead to the creation of close to 35,000 jobs during the building phase and close to 10,000 permanent jobs, which will be good news to the residents of the surrounding area. According to Brightline, the entirely electric, zero-emission system will be one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel in the United States, displacing 3 million cars and 400,000 tons of CO2 annually. The project could potentially draw 12 million of the 50 million one-way trips made between Las Vegas and Los Angeles each year, 85% of which are made by bus or automobile, according to the company's projections. Additionally, the project will be the first high-speed rail system that is run and maintained by employees of several train unions, Interesting Engineering claims. "As the most shovel-ready high-speed rail project in the United States, we are one step closer to leveling the playing field against transit and infrastructure projects around the world," says Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline Holdings. Read More: Auto, Delivery, and Transport Jobs with a Future Operations Are Expected To Start By 2027 The business anticipates starting construction on the project this year and completing all required work within the following four years. According to a Brightline CEO, the company anticipates breaking ground this year and wants to complete construction in 2027, and start operating by then. It is also notable that the bullet train will also stop at Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville in addition to its final stop on the Las Vegas Strip. In America, the company is the sole privately owned supplier of an advanced, environmentally friendly intercity passenger rail service. Currently, Brightline runs a train service with a number of stations around Florida, and this year, it also plans to open an extension linking Disney World in Orlando with its current stations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, among other places. It currently provides service to West Palm Beach, Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton in Florida, Interesting Engineering details. Related Article: Republic Airways Tops the List of Airlines With Most Canceled Flights in the First Half of 2022 Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal: The Heartbreaking Audio Taken Moments Before and After the Boat Crash That Killed Mallory Beach Netflixs three-part documentary, The Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, investigates Alex Murdaughs problematic behaviors and alleged charges, most notably the deaths of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, Alexs son and wife. Alexs trial of the disgraced lawyer was long and difficult, with several twists and turns. It has also brought to light several alleged crimes committed by the family over the years, which have been conveniently overlooked by authorities due to the high-profile status of the wealthy family. Lets look at one particular incident involving the Murdaughs and how the family used their influence to cover it up. The deaths of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh during his trial | Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool/Tribune News Service via Getty Images On June 7, 2021, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents responded to a late-night 911 call reporting two people dead at the Murdaugh hunting estate in Islandton, S.C. Margaret Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, were discovered dead on the 1,770-acre property, which also houses the familys hunting kennels. Mother and son are survived by Maggies husband, Alex Murdaugh, then 53, and son Richard, aka Buster. The Murdaugh family comprises generation after generation of district attorneys who handled criminal cases in the states 14th circuit district, dubbed Murdaugh Country. The family has held these positions for more than 86 years. In July 2022, Alex was charged with two counts of the first-degree murders of his son and wife and two counts of possessing a weapon while committing a violent crime. He pleaded not guilty. After the six-week trial, the jury found Alex guilty of killing his son and wife. He was also found guilty of two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, as The New York Times reports. Paul Murdaughs problematic past The Murdaughs abused their wealth and privilege. Alex and Maggies youngest son, Paul, learned early on that he could get away with extreme behavior. Morgan Doughty, Alexs ex-girlfriend, recalled Alex buying alcohol for Paul and his underage friends. When Paul was severely intoxicated, he would often put himself, as well as others, in danger. Paul once drove his pickup truck, full of beer cans and guns, into a ditch while under the influence on his way home from a Christmas party. Family members arrived on the scene to gather the incriminating evidence, allowing Paul to escape the incidents repercussions. Doughty spoke out for the first time in the Netflix documentary about her turbulent relationship with Alex Murdaughs younger son, Paul. She described him as an abusive partner who frequently drank, claiming that one night he began kicking her and then grabbed her by the throat and punched her. Paul Murdaughs boating incident and the death of Mallory Beach The Netflix documentary focuses on several major cases, including a tragic boat accident. Using the family speedboat, Paul, Doughty, and their friends attended a party in February 2019. The boat collided with a nearby bridge, causing everyone to fall into the water. Audio and video from moments before and after the crash are deeply upsetting, as you can hear screams and tearful outbursts from these teenagers, shocked at what theyve just experienced. While the others were rescued, one partygoer named Mallory Beach was not. A missing persons case was opened, but she was discovered dead seven days later. Doughty claims in the documentary that Paul was driving and thus responsible. He denied this, claiming their friend, Connor, was driving. However, forensic evidence presented in the documentary by a boating engineer demonstrated Connor could not have been in the drivers seat due to injuries sustained by both he and Paul during the crash. The Murdaugh family took advantage of their power and influence, underscoring that absolute power corrupts absolutely. You can check out The Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal for the full story. Prince Harry sat down for a conversation with trauma expert Gabor Mate. A royal expert gave his opinion on Harrys discussion. According to him, Prince Harry likely wont return to the UK. He says the Duke of Sussex seems at peace now that he has a new life with Meghan Markle in California. Prince Harry has a fresh start with Meghan Markle Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson Pool/Getty Images Royal expert Darren Stanton analyzed Prince Harrys discussion with Mate. Stanton says Harry revealed his vulnerable side. He became emotional when talking about the love of his life, Meghan. Prince Harrys interview with Dr. Gabor Mate was very revealing and added a whole new level of vulnerability for him, says Stanton on behalf of Betfair Casino. Its clear he sees Meghan as a fresh start and his savior from being a full-time member of the royal family, entrenched in protocol, tradition, and orders. Stanton says Prince Harry appears happy whenever he discusses Meghan. According to him, its clear the duchess is a positive force in his life. While speaking about his wife during the interview, his emotions changed from sadness to elation, says Stanton. He is obviously incredibly proud of Meghans achievements, which almost made him well up with tears. Will Prince Harry ever come back to the UK? Not anytime soon, says expert One question some people have is whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will return to the United Kingdom. Stanton doesnt believe the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will come back. I think Prince Harry was incredibly honest in this interview, says Stanton. He has most definitely embraced the culture while living in America. Having the session televised demonstrates that Harry has no shame in being open about his emotions. Stanton continues, Based on his body language and general demeanor since moving to America, I do not think we will see Harry returning to the UK on a full-time basis or in the foreseeable future. He has obviously found his feet in America, where he feels genuinely happy and content to express himself. His confidence levels have definitely grown since breaking away from the royal family. Prince Harry seems at ease in the United States Stanton says the Duke of Sussex appears to be relaxed and happy when he is in the United States. That makes it less likely that Prince Harry will return to the UK. The royals expert points out that Harry tends to put his guard up when attending royal engagements in the United Kingdom. However, he seems at ease when attending events in the United States. He also seems to be a very different person while attending events in America, says Stanton. He is a lot more light-hearted and open, whereas he tended to be guarded and displayed distrust in the UK. I guess the way things have gone with his family has left Harry with a tinge of sadness. However, he is clearly very happy with Meghan and the family unit they have in America. Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly face a coronation dilemma, says a royal commentator. After receiving an official invite from King Charles III, the couple must choose whether to attend the storied event. However, the commentator claims the former senior royals are faced with two choices: duty versus an obsession with controlling the narrative. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Andrew Milligan WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not yet responded to King Charles IIIs coronation invite Per CNN, Prince Harrys spokesperson confirmed he and Meghan Markle had received a coronation invite from King Charles III. However, they have yet to respond. I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majestys office regarding the coronation, the spokesperson said. An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time. Harry has previously declined to answer whether his family would return to the United Kingdom for his fathers coronation. The event, where Charles will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, takes place May 6, 2023. The door is always open, he said in a January interview with Britains ITV to publicize his book, Spare. The ball is in their court. Theres a lot to be discussed, and I really hope that theyre willing to sit down and talk about it. However, a royal commentator claims that due to Spares publication and interviews where Prince Harry continued to spill royal family secrets, there is more at stake than just a sit-down with senior royals. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face a choice of duty versus obsession with controlling the narrative says a Royal Commentator Why Harry and Meghan may avoid King Charles IIIs coronation https://t.co/eot9c649d2 via @MailOnline will they, wont they? do we greatly care? The idea of them overshadowing it is a farce but whether to go or not presents them with problems. Richard Fitzwilliams (@RFitzwilliams) March 5, 2023 The Daily Mail Online asked royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams his opinion regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markles participation in King Charles IIIs coronation. Fitzwilliams said the couple is facing a twofold dilemma. Fitzwilliams explained his take on the couples potential situation. The courtiers are aware of their obsession with controlling the narrative and getting publicity. They will be strictly controlled as they were during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Discussions with other royals will focus on the weather. The royal commentator continued, So the dilemma is theirs. They wont be missed if they dont come by much of the British public. However, if they dont, they risk appearing irrelevant, and polls in America have shown a seismic drop in their support. There are also emotional and generational ties to the event for Harry. Whether or not he is at odds with his family, his father is being crowned king of the United Kingdom, an event that is too important to miss. On the other hand, Charles appears to have bitten back at the couples continued discussions about the royal family. He evicted them from their Frogmore Cottage home. Therefore, Meghan and Harry face another personal dilemma if they attend the coronation: a secure place to stay. A basic need could keep Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from attending King Charles IIIs coronation Frogmore Cottage | Steve Parsons/Getty Images When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their jobs as senior royals in 2020, they also left behind the official security detail that follows the family. This lack of security is a problem for the couple if they dont have a secure space to stay when visiting the U.K. The couples former Frogmore Cottage home is on the grounds of the Windsor estate, watched over by police. Yahoo! Royal Executive Editor Omid Scobie explained why not having a properly secured space could stop the couple from attending the coronation. Scobie revealed that before being evicted, Harry and Meghans British home offered protection to the couple and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. He says the Mets Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit covers theirs and the residence of other senior royals. I think the King [Charles III] is just fed up with the entire situation, said a royal source to Scobie. A Buckingham Palace spokesman refused to comment, reported Yahoo! Currently, Harry and Meghan reside in the United States. They live in the state of California, in the town of Montecito. During The Bachelor Season 27 Week 7, Charity Lawson brought up experiencing infidelity in her past relationships. The 27-year-old child and family therapist has had quite a rocky road on her journey to find love. Heres everything Charity has said about her experiences. [Spoiler alert: The Bachelor Season 27 spoilers ahead regarding Charity Lawson.] Charity Lawson and Zach Shallcross | ABC/Craig Sjodin Charity discussed her past relationships during a 1-on-1 with Zach Charity Lawson was supposed to go on a 1-on-1 date with Zach Shallcross in London. However, their date was postponed when Zach got coronavirus (Covid-19). The pair made up for lost time by exploring Tallinn, Estonia, together. Later they sat down for a more serious talk. The relationship prior to being here it was an emotionally abusive relationship for me. I never honestly felt what it feels like to be seen as a partner, Charity told Zach during their date. It was just a relationship that had several occurrences of infidelity. Way more than probably anyone could imagine. It was with someone that I knew and also the person that I loved at the time who did this awful thing to me. It just became this really vicious cycle of manipulation, Charity continued, adding that she hid these details of her relationship with those closest to her. Infidelity came up during The Bachelor Season 27, Week 7 During The Bachelor Season 27 Week 7, Charity and the other women on the group date visited a mentalist with Zach. He told Charity to think of the one reason why her previous relationship didnt work. Charity answered, infidelity, and the mentalist wrote the same word on the board. Infidelity is the act of cheating on a spouse or partner, and experiencing this has clearly affected Charity. While appearing on an episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, she talked more about her past relationships. Charity shared that she dated someone for around six years on and off. She said that they were high school sweethearts, and the pair later went off to college, where they had some turmoil there on and off but then kind of came back together a little bit right before Charity started grad school. Charity explained, It obviously didnt work out. It was just a really unhealthy relationship, and I think in that moment, I was the one that kind of had to pull the plug on it and decide for myself, which was something that was really hard for me to do because Im typically the type of person that likes to see the good in everyone. Charity continues on to hometowns Despite the difficult conversations about infidelity Charity had to have with Zach, the Bachelor gave her a rose during week 7. Charity will continue on to hometowns with Zach, and he will meet her family in Columbus, GA. The teaser shows Charitys dad and brother meeting Zach and asking some tough questions. Tune in next week to see how it all goes down. The Bachelor Season 27 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. ABCs The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 brings Zach Shallcrosss final seven contestants to Budapest, Hungary. While in Estonia, Kat Izzo caused a scene after kissing Zach before Charity Lawsons one-on-one date. Brooklyn Willie called out Kat for her behavior. And Kaity Biggar said the whole ordeal was uncomfortable for everyone. [Spoiler alert: The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 spoilers ahead.] Kat Izzo and Zach Shallcross in The Bachelor Season 27 | ABC/Craig Sjodin Brooklyn Willie and Kat Izzo got into a verbal altercation after Kat kissed Zach Shallcross The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 will show the aftermath of Brooklyn Willie and Kat Izzos altercation. While in Estonia, Zach came to pick Charity Lawson up for her one-on-one date, and Kat quickly pulled Zach aside. During their brief alone time, Kat kissed Zach, which rubbed the other women the wrong way. Brooklyn was particularly outspoken regarding Kats behavior, as she felt Kat took Charitys moment away from her. With Brooklyn, the aggression has continued, Kat tells the camera in episode 6. Now its like, youre just being aggressive for no reason. Youre being aggressive to be mean. I have been nothing but supportive and pleasant to everyone throughout this. So, to be treated that way. Its like, no. Im not going to apologize for that. Kat and Brooklyn received roses in episode 6 despite the drama potentially impacting their relationships with Zach. Kaity Biggar said Brooklyn Willie and Kat Izzos fighting was uncomfortable Kaity Biggar spoke to the Click Bait With Bachelor Nation podcast about Brooklyn Willie and Kat Izzos fight that started in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 6. She explained that the whole situation felt tense and uncomfortable. For me, that was Charitys day, that was Charitys moment, and I respect all the girls, and Im not saying Kat doesnt, but I think there was a better time to do that, more appropriate, Kaity said of Kats big move on Zach. I understand that were all vying for his time, we all need to take that initiative, but that wasnt the time for it, in my perspective. I think the kiss, too, it was not a good feeling to be there. And then when Brooklyn said her piece on it, it was a very uncomfortable situation, it was a very hostile environment, and I wanted to leave so bad, Kaity continues. Any time theres negativity in the room, I wanna hit the ground running. It was just a very awkward moment. Who goes home in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7? Hometowns are right around the corner and for some, that could change everything. Don't miss a new #TheBachelor Monday on ABC. pic.twitter.com/4ioo9acv3T The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) March 3, 2023 Kat Izzo and Brooklyn Willies feud will likely continue in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7. But viewers wont hear of it after that, as both women head home, according to The Bachelor spoilers from Reality Steve. The spoilers note Brooklyn is given a one-on-one date with Zach, but Zach eliminates her during the date. A preview for the date shows Zach uncertain about how he fits in with Brooklyns family. It seems he allows these doubts to get the best of him, and he sends her home during the dinner portion of their evening. As for Kat, Zach likely doesnt give her a rose during the rose ceremony. He also eliminates Greer Blitzer in episode 7. The Bachelor Season 27 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. ABCs The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 brings the final seven women to Budapest, Hungary. Zach Shallcross got coronavirus (COVID-19) in London but bounced back quickly for his two one-on-one dates and group date in Estonia. So, whos headed home in Budapest? Here are The Bachelor spoilers. [Spoiler alert: The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 spoilers ahead.] The Bachelor Season 27 | ABC/Craig Sjodin Previews for The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7 show Zach Shallcross giving a difficult goodbye Zach Shallcross told fans that he wouldnt tolerate unnecessary drama during his season, but that doesnt mean he doesnt have difficult goodbyes ahead of him. The Bachelor spoilers indicated that Zach and some of his contestants would shed tears. And it looks like tears will come in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7. A preview for the episode shows Zach kissing several women, but relationships may take a turn on the group date. The women on the group date Gabi Elnicki, Ariel Frenkel, Greer Blitzer, Charity Lawson, and Kat Izzo go to a mind reader. Do you think you are the right person for Zach? the mind reader asks one of the women in the preview. The clip then shows Zach on a one-on-one date breaking up with one of his contestants. You deserve love I cant give you, Zach tells her. The clip then shows the women huddling together and crying, and Zach hugs Jesse. This is not the last goodbye, Zach continues. I know its gonna get worse. The Bachelor Season 27 spoilers: Whos eliminated on night 7? Hometowns are right around the corner and for some, that could change everything. Don't miss a new #TheBachelor Monday on ABC. pic.twitter.com/4ioo9acv3T The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) March 3, 2023 Whos eliminated in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7? According to The Bachelor spoilers from Reality Steve, three women head home. Those three women are Greer Blitzer, Kat Izzo, and Brooklyn Willie. Greer Blitzer had coronavirus the week prior and she had to miss the group date in Estonia. Many fans dont expect to see her return, but she comes back into the mix for the group date in Budapest. Sadly, her journey ends in episode 7. While she received the First Impression Rose, she failed to connect with Zach Shallcross further. Kat Izzo also reportedly heads home. Kat and Zach had a strong connection, but her pulling Zach aside before Charity Lawsons one-on-one may have put a target on her back. Zach sends her home in episode 7. Finally, Brookly Willie heads home. Zach gives Brooklyn another one-on-one date in Budapest, but he sends her home during the dinner portion of the date. A clip from their date shows Zach having doubts about where he fits in her family. Hometown visits happen next week The truth always comes out. Watch #TheBachelor Monday at 8/7c on ABC and Stream on Hulu! pic.twitter.com/Usa8Xmh8JF The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) March 2, 2023 With three women eliminated in The Bachelor Season 27 Episode 7, just four remain. Gabi Elnicki, Ariel Frenkel, Charity Lawson, and Kaity Biggar move on to hometown dates. Zach Shallcross will meet the families next week. According to The Bachelor spoilers, Zach heads to Vermont to meet Gabis family, New York City for Ariels, Georgia for Charitys, and Texas for Kaitys. He sends one woman home during hometowns, leaving his final three for the finale. The Bachelor Season 27 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. Auguste Willems (64), member of the Executive Board of Wacker Chemie AG, will leave the company on April 30, 2023, at his own request. The Supervisory Board appointed Dr. Christian Kirsten (51) as his successor. Kirsten will join the Executive Board on May 1 on a three year contract. A graduate in business administration with a doctorate in chemistry, he will join the Munich-based chemicals group from consumer goods and adhesives manufacturer Henkel. At Henkel, Kirsten was most recently Corporate Senior Vice President with global responsibility for the companys adhesives business with the automotive and metal industries, as well as for all adhesives operations in Europe. Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, thanked Willems for his many years of service to the company: In his more than 17 years on the Executive Board, Auguste Willems has helped shape the development of the WACKER Group across a variety of areas of responsibility. With his strong customer and market orientation, he has made a key contribution to the companys operational growth and significantly strengthened its customer focus. It is an achievement that deserves our utmost respect. Auguste Willems August Willems studied bioscience at the University of Leuven (Belgium). After graduating, he joined Henkel, holding various sales and marketing positions. He then spent several years in Indonesia and the USA, with overall operations responsibility. After Henkel split off its specialty-chemicals business, he transferred to Cognis as Group Vice President of Functional Products and member of the Corporate Executive Committee in 2002. In January 2006, Willems was appointed to the Executive Board of Wacker Chemie AG. Dr. Christian Kirsten Dr. Christian Kirsten studied in Dusseldorf, where he received his doctorate in chemistry in 1997. He began his career in Central Research at Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. After holding positions in management consulting and in the automotive industry between 2000 and 2006, he returned to Henkel as Head of Global Raw Materials Procurement. Starting in 2013, he was responsible for Henkels global adhesives business for the automotive and metal industries, which he managed from Shanghai, China, between 2015 and 2017. In 2018, he assumed additional responsibility for the entire European adhesives business and became president for Henkel in Europe. IFF announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its Flavor Specialty Ingredients (FSI) business to Exponent, a leading UK-based private equity firm, for $220 million in cash proceeds. FSI reports through IFFs Scent division and is a leading manufacturer of synthetic and natural base aroma chemicals used in the flavor market. Cash proceeds from the transaction, net of taxes and expenses, will be used to reduce outstanding debt. Aligned with our strategy, were continuously evaluating our portfolio to identify opportunities to strengthen our financial profile, said IFF CEO Frank Clyburn. The sale of FSI will improve our capital structure while allowing us to focus on our core businesses to enhance growth and returns. We appreciate the contributions of our FSI colleagues, who have shared our commitment to quality and customer service. We will work closely with Exponent to have a successful transition and look forward to FSIs bright future. IFFs FSI is a leading manufacturer of specialty base aromas with a broad range of more than 1,000 aroma chemicals and natural extracts, which provide inputs primarily to the flavor market. FSI includes four dedicated manufacturing and distribution facilities at Teesside and Hartlepool, United Kingdom; Cincinnati, United States; and Pucheng, China, with additional points of distribution in Mexico, Brazil and Hong Kong. With approximately 340 employees, IFFs FSI business serves more than 970 customers and generated more than $100 million in revenue over the last 12 months. IFF and Exponent expect to close the transaction by the end of Q3 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. Centerview Partners LLC acted as financial advisor to IFF, and Cravath, Swain & Moore LLP provided legal support. Cherokee Nation citizen Joseph Tali Byrd attends an Election Commission hearing on Feb. 27 with his legal adviser, Raquel Anakalea. Byrds eligibility to run for the District 3 Tribal Council seat was questioned by fellow candidate Brandon Girty, but the EC sided with Byrd. Girty has appealed to the CN Supreme Court. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close An official with the National Labor Relations Board recently ruled that Google parent Alphabet should be recognized as the "joint employer" of a group of YouTube Music contract workers. According to a regional director of the NLRB, Alphabet has authority over the contract workers' pay, benefits, and working conditions, converting them into actual employees. The Ruling Also Constitutes That YouTube Music Contractors Be Allowed To Join Unions Over 60 workers in Austin, Texas are currently vying to join the Alphabet Worker Union (AWU), according to Gizmodo. If successful, they will be able to bargain with Google's parent corporation for the same benefits and salary as full-time workers. Additionally, it could mark a turning point for the countless other low-wage contract workers who keep other major internet corporations operating. Google, which plans to appeal the decision, contends that the worker's only employer should be Cognizant, a subcontractor. Director of the NLRB's regional office in Fort Worth Timothy Watson stated in his 15-page decision that Google has immediate and direct control over the compensation, working conditions, supervision, and direction of the YouTube contractors. The director claimed that Google, to a lesser extent, exerts influence over the workers' pay by "setting minimum standards." "We are proud to win a precedent-setting victory not just for ourselves, but also for workers across the country, where technology companies in particular have innovated new ways to deny responsibility for their workers' livelihoods," YouTube Music contract worker Sam Regan says. This is done through the process of subcontracting, gig work, and other poor employment practices, Regan adds. The YouTube Music employees are a potential bargaining unit and should be given the chance to vote to formally join the union, according to NLRB regional director Timothy Watson as well. The employees reportedly already paid AWU dues, but they did not have formal negotiating rights. One of the first of its sort for a major global tech business like Alphabet, the union claims to have over 1,300 members, including full-time Google engineers as well as contract workers and vendors. Read More: YouTube Music Officially Welcomes Podcasts On The Platform The Contractors At YouTube Music Fight Back The decision was made about six months after a supermajority of Austin-based YouTube contract workers signed union cards and applied for union recognition with the board, Gizmodo says. Almost 40 employees went on strike last month in protest of the company's return-to-office policy, which they allege jeopardizes their ability to support themselves. Even though supposedly about a quarter of them were working remotely from outside the state on February 6, Cognizant, the YouTube subcontractor, insisted that employees report to work that day. "Workers are paid around $19 an hour and thus, cannot afford the relocation, travel or childcare costs associated with in person work," the YouTube music workers claim. The NLRB's decision regarding Alphabet's employment status, if upheld, would be the tech giant's army of independent contractors' second important triumph in less than a week. Following protests, some 5,000 Google contract workers who evaluated the effectiveness of the company's search and advertising technologies had their compensation increased to $15 per hour. Furthermore, the AWU filed a petition asking Google to ensure that its salary and benefit standards apply to all of its employees. Related Article: YouTube Music Now Comes With Custom Radio Stations - How Can You Make One? Researchers from University College London and the University of Ghana were able to successfully predict if children have anemia using just a set of images captured by a smartphone. This finding came as the result of a study recently published in PLOS ONE, in which the team experimented with a novel non-invasive diagnostic approach using smartphone pictures of the face and eye. This technique may make screening for anemia much more accessible for children in low and middle-income countries such as Ghana where iron deficiency causes high rates of anemia. This would be possible since the screening tool is significantly cheaper than existing diagnostic options, and it also allows results to be delivered in the same sitting. According to the Mayo Clinic, anemia is a condition that causes a lack of healthy red blood cells. Also referred to as low hemoglobin, anemia results in a reduced concentration of hemoglobin levels in the blood meaning that oxygen is not efficiently transported throughout the body. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 2 billion people worldwide are anemic. And the condition can have drastic impacts on child development by impairing cognitive development and increasing infectious disease susceptibility. Around the world, the most common cause is iron deficiency. However, other conditions can also contribute to the development of anemia including malaria, sickle-cell disease, and blood loss. Diagnosing anemia traditionally required blood samples to be drawn which is expensive for both patients and healthcare providers. Traveling to the hospital can also create cost-related inequalities since families are often required to make two trips. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Last week, my students and I were looking at ways to interpret difficult texts in Paul in class when a storm broke out online around the theology of the marriage metaphor. In Twitter threads and Substack posts, Christian voices offered their discerning views around pastor Joshua Ryan Butlers metaphorical reading of Ephesians 5 published on The Gospel Coalition website. Butlers piece, an excerpt from an upcoming book on sex, generated enough critical feedback that the article was removed. The recent discussion, though, underscores a perpetual question for us as Christians: How can we discern the Bible and Christian tradition faithfully? What should be our key? As Christians, we point to the triune God as the fount of all love, and one way that Scripture invites us to consider God and love is through the metaphorical language of marriage. In Ephesians 5, Paul describes marriage, a union both social and physical, as a great mystery (v. 32), and he draws out practical lessons of self-sacrifice for wives (vv. 2124, 33) and husbands (vv. 21, 25, 2829, 33). Woven throughout these teachings on marriage are beautiful statements about Christ and the church. Our interpretation of these statements must be anchored in the biblical text itself. Before describing him as a husband, Paul uses imagery in Ephesians 5 to reveal the Lords sovereignty. Although he has just given his incarnate name, Jesus, Paul refers to the Son of God as Christ and Lord. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the one who reigns over Gods kingdom, and the Lord, the sovereign over the universe. He is also the Savior of the body (v. 23). Christ exercises his sovereign lordship through acts of self-giving service and love, as in John 13 and Philippians 2. Christ the Sovereign loved the church and gave himself for her, in order that he might sanctify the church. Christ dealt with the problem of sin by washing, which was the job of a servant (Eph. 5:2627). All the members of the body, individually and collectively as the church (v. 30), needed the salvation only Christ the Lord could bring. Paul compares husbands to Christ in this passage, but this does not mean that husbands are like Christ in every respect. It is freeing for men to know the ways they should not (because they cannot) be Lord to their wives. They can neither save nor sanctify their wives, for they too are in need of a Savior and contaminated by sin. Not like other males Paul does provide the relationship of wives to their husbands as an example of all Christians submitting to one another and all the members of the church submitting to Christ, but he never tells husbands to lead their wives, only to lovea directive he repeats in Ephesians 5:25, twice in verse 28, and again in verse 33. Article continues below We see husbands are not Jesus, and Jesus is not in all ways like a husband. While Paul teaches husbands to love self-sacrificially by following the example of Jesus self-sacrificial death for the church, he goes beyond the bounds of the marriage metaphor when he speaks of Christs love for the church. Paul makes it clear that Christs self-sacrificial love is not only a one-time atoning event. Christ engages in long-term, ongoing care for the church. In Ephesians 5:29, he nourishes the church, a term used for fathers care of children (Eph. 6:4) and related to the term for mothers nursing (Luke 23:29). Christ also cares for the church, a term used for keeping warm (Deut. 22:6) or nursing (1 Thess. 2:7). Paul is not limiting the metaphor to husband and wife but is introducing into the marriage metaphor parental imagery for Christeven parental imagery associated with female bodies. The church is feminized in Pauls metaphor, but the church is made up of male and female members who are all called to love Christ as a bride. Christ is primarily cast as the husband in this metaphorand he is certainly embodied as malebut Christ is not like other males, not only because he is God, but also because his male body came from the flesh of a female body (Mary) and not also a male body (Joseph). This reality is simply the statement of the doctrine of the virginal conception of Jesus. In short, Pauls depiction of Christs singular sovereignty and saving work, in addition to the mixed parental and marriage metaphors, preserves the boundary upheld by all Christian teaching: the boundary between Creator and creation. And this means that this text also preserves the boundary between Christ and males, freeing husbands from a standard they could never achieve. The only way they are called to be like Jesus is to love their wives self-sacrificially, the precise call Paul issues to all believers (Eph. 5:12). It is the biblical text itself that closes the door to privilege of proximity between men and Jesus/God, a concept that has been used to justify abuse of women by men, dressed up in spiritual garb. Article continues below A deeply inclusive mystery As is apparent from Ephesians 5, marriage is not the only metaphor for Gods relation to the church in Scripture. Another prominent arena of biblical language is that of the family. God is sometimes the husband, but more often, God is named as the Father. Even Ephesians 5, known for the marriage metaphor, starts this way: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (ESV, emphasis added). One of the dangers of overemphasizing the marriage metaphor is that it can contribute to an idolization of marriage and privilege the experience of those who can righteously engage in sexual intercourse. On the other hand, the family metaphor is more universal. Whether or not the experience is a good one, everyone knows what it is to be a son or daughter, but not everyone knows what it is to be married. The pervasiveness of familial language for God takes the marriage metaphor off any inappropriate pedestal. Moreover, familial terminology does not lend itself to unsuitable comparisons between sex and relationship with God as the marriage metaphor has. Granted, a man does not become a biological father save through sex, but the same doesnt apply to God the Father. God is Creator. God is Spirit. God is eternally three persons in dynamic loving relationship as unbegotten, begotten, and proceeding. When the triune God was revealed preeminently in the incarnation of the divine Son, that revelation took place through a nonsexual act. Gods Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary but did not have intercourse with her (Luke 1:35). When rightly understood, both metaphors in ScriptureGod as our husband and God as our Fatherwork against a fundamental problem that must be avoided: a crude male sexualization of God and its corollary, a divinization of male sexuality. This is the mistake that Butler made in his interpretation, which parallels how Christ penetrates his church with the generative seed of his Word with the sexual intimacy of a bride waiting in the honeymoon suite. In the Incarnation, the eternal God chose to reveal Gods own self as the Father who is not an embodied male and an eternal Son who became one. And in Gods eternal wisdom, this revelation took place through and with the active agency and body of a woman. There is a profound and deeply inclusive mystery in the body of our Lord, a male virginally conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit when Mary said yes. His body evokes the image of God (Col. 1:15; 2 Cor. 4:4) as proclaimed in Genesis 1:2627, the image of God in male and female. Article continues below It is this revelation of God in Jesus Christ that should control our interpretation of the marriage metaphor in Ephesians 5. Jesus is the key to our discernment. If the Father of Jesus Christ is revealed preeminently in the Incarnation, which does not happen through sex; and the Son who is male from the body of a female also never engaged in sex; and if that God is metaphorically the husband of the church, then the creaturely category of male sexual activity cannot be projected onto our God. When understood through the Incarnation, our metaphorical relationship with the triune God as husband offers something beautiful and good for all people, married and single, men and women, without privilege for some but lack for others. If anything, this controversy shows that different schools of interpretation need to be in communication with one another and not ensconced in self-contained silos. It is unity, even and especially, unity across difference, that Jesus said would communicate Gods love to a world so desperately in need of it (John 13:35). We are not all married to one another, but we are all a part of the same family. Amy Peeler is associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and associate rector at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Geneva, Illinois. She is the author of a book on Mary titled Women and the Gender of God. [ This article is also available in Portugues, , and . ] Jews should leave Russia if they can. The stark warning was issued by Pinchas Goldschmidt, the former chief rabbi of Moscow, as 2022 came to a close. After 30 years in office, he left two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine and later revealed the Kremlin pressured him to support the waror else. A student of history, he fears Jews will again become scapegoats as the government tries to redirect the anger and discontent of the masses. The resulting question: Where does God want them to go? Goldschmidt, currently in Israel, has been joined by 41,813 Russian Jewish immigrants since the war began a year ago, according to recent data released by the Knesset. [Editors note: On March 15, Goldschmidt updated this figure to 50,000 during a webinar hosted by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. An additional 30,000 Russian Jews have fled to other nations in Europe or the Middle East.] Another 90,000 arrived in Israel without immigrant status. Israels immigration minister stated 600,000 Russians are currently eligible. But according to its 2010 census, Russia has only 156,000 Jews. The discrepancy comes from the concept of aliyahthe Hebrew word for ascentin which Israel grants automatic citizenship to anyone who has at least one Jewish grandparent and has not converted to another religion. A controversial coalition deal in the new government includes revising the Law of Return to ensure these olim (immigrants) qualify under religious lawand thus reduce intermarriage. Over 70 percent of last years war-induced immigrants are not considered Jewish per Orthodox law, stated the Aliyah and Integration minister. In many cases, Messianic Jews have been disqualified, and their status is disputed. But last September, the seventh World Conference of Russian-Speaking Messianic Leaders overwhelmingly declared the return to Zion to be a blessing. The only dispute was whether it is also a commandment. Russian Jews are not the only aspirants. The Knesset stated 13,490 Ukrainian Jews have also immigrated to Israel, as Operation Homecoming opened 18 aid centers in Ukraine and neighboring countries. An additional 1,990 Jews immigrated from Belarus. A 2020 study identified 43,000 Jews in Ukrainemaking it one of Europes largest Jewish communitiesthough those eligible to make aliyah could be as high as 200,000. An estimated 5,000 worship Jesus as Messiah. Of these, about 1,000 have gone to Germany, where they doubled the local community. Aliyah is a certain type of coming hometo the land that belongs to us, said Vladimir Pikman, executive director of Beit Sar Shalom. But I dont see a direct commandment to go to Israel. Centered in Berlin, his is the largest Messianic Jewish organization in Europe. Its Hebrew name translates to House of the Prince of Peace, and has been a refuge to Ukrainian Jew and Gentile alike, providing translation, logistical help, and trauma care counseling. They prioritized the special needs of displaced Jews, believers in Jesus included. He and other Messianic Jewish leaders caution about numbers, as many members are non-Jews who resonate with their worship style and theology. But Kyiv had been a regional center, boasting Europes largest congregation with up to 2,000 believers. These and most other Jews in Ukraine traditionally spoke Russian, with half citing it as their native language. Today only 20 percent say so as, like Ukraines Jewish president Volodymyr Zelensky, they are switching in protest to Ukrainian. Russian-speaking Messianic Jewish congregations are prevalent around the world, however. Chosen People Ministries (CPM) counts at least 75 in the nations of the former Soviet Union, 100 in the rest of the diaspora, and at least 60 in Israel. The war has split the community, Pikman said. Many fellowships have agreed not to discuss it, and the conference resolved not to let the conflict back home cause conflict abroad. Many delegates were from Ukraine, while most Russians were unable to obtain visas. But the majority of congregations in Russia are not opposed to the war, he said, and the rift with Ukrainians is severe. German Messianic Jews, though divided themselves, have welcomed all, he said. Being deliberately provocative at the conference, Pikman cited his country as a counterweight to the idea of Israel being the necessary refuge for suffering Jewry. The modern nation-state is certainly a sign, and he is optimistic the end times are near. But there is no guarantee that the state of Israel will survive or that the children of Abraham will not be scattered once again. Pikman traveled to Israel 14 years ago to explore the idea of making aliyah. He says God quickly answered no. He sees it as a personal decision and rejoices with those who do emigrate. But just as Paul was not called to stay in Jerusalem, Jews in generaland Messianic Jews in particularhave a mission to the nations. Israel needs their geopolitical support, he said. And everyone needs the gospel. It is always a blessing to be where God wants you to be, Pikman said. But doing aliyah, apart from Gods will, is wrong. Yet the burden of proof, said one leader, falls on those outside Israel. Leon Mazin, founder and director of Shavei Zion Ministry in Haifa, said he would very timidly tell Jews in the US, Canada, or Europe to think and direct your eyes and paths to Zion. But he is absolutely not shy about giving such advice to Ukrainians. Those already expelled from one diaspora should go to the Promised Land, he said. There is no need to go to another diaspora. Sixty percent of his congregationincluding Mazin himselfcame to Israel from the former Soviet Union. Others said the same ratio applies to the entire Messianic Jewish community in Israel, which has received 1 million Russian-speaking Jews since 1990. The legacy of Soviet atheism, he has found, has stunted the biblical knowledge of many Jews, especially secular ones. His organizations nameReturn to Zion, in Englishexpresses its belief in the importance of aliyah, based on the biblical dynamic making clear it is Gods intention for his people to go to Israel. Mazin cites the original command of Genesis 12: The words that God said to AbrahamLech lecha, go to the land of your forefathershave not been canceled. He understands that some individuals have a certain vocation to stay in the diaspora. But the majority should come home. In the days of the apostles, up to 30 percent of Israel followed the teachings of the man from Nazareth, he said. But today, less than 0.2 percent do. We do not so much have to evangelize as rehabilitate the name of Yeshua, Mazin said, using the Hebrew name for Jesus. He is grateful that the persecution of Messianic Jews in Israel has decreased, and it is much easier to be a Messianic believer in Israel now than in prior decades. In the days of the Babylonian captivity, only 42,000 people went home, he noted. This indicates that for many it is easier and better in the diaspora. But Gods Word says, Come out of Egypt. Boris Goldin is trying, in obedience to what he views as a divine commandment. Sooner or later, we should all go back, whether we want to or not, said the president of the US-based Association of Russian-Speaking Messianic Jewish Congregations. But I want to do it truthfully. Born in Kyiv to a communist father, the then-secular Jew immigrated to the US in 1989, finding faith two years later. But as a youth he was beaten and cursed for his ethnicityan antisemitism Ukraine has not yet fully excised, he said, as the 71-year-old continues to see it firsthand. Today Goldin leads a fellowship in Florida but also spends four to six months every year in Ukraine as country director for CPM. The organization helped a handful of Messianic Jewish women make aliyah since the war, providing financial aid and connections in eastern Europe. But the processing is done individually with Israel, and to avoid complications, one said she was a secular Jew. Goldin said it is too early to know how the new coalition government will treat aliyah applications by Messianic Jews, and much depends on the local officials. But he has studied the process for the last six years, keen not to deny Yeshua. He agrees that those leaving Russia and Ukraine should go to Israel, if possible. But those in the diaspora are not necessarily in sin. There is a long tradition of rabbis who knew well the commandment of God to return to the Promised Land yet served faithfully their spiritually displaced people. Messianic Jews must do the same today, wherever they are, Goldin said. Another leader, born in Tel Aviv, immigrated to the United States. He disagrees strongly that Jews must return home. Israel is the Jewish homeland, a place where all Jewish people should feel welcome and free, said Dan Sered, chief operating officer of Jews for Jesus (JFJ). But the answer to this question depends on the individual, deciding how to follow Gods leading. Leaving Israel as a teenager, he found Jesus in America and returned in 2000 as a JFJ missionary, later heading the organizations office in Tel Aviv. Now supervising the global ministry, he resides in New Jersey. But he agrees that in welcoming Russians and Ukrainians, Zion fulfills its purpose as a safe haven for diaspora Jews. For some, it will be increasingly necessary. They wont have a choice, said Ariel Rudolph, director of operations for Jerusalem Seminary. Worldwide persecution, either as believers or as Jews, will force them to go. Emigrating from South Africa in 1993, he considers making aliyah to be a blessingthough it is not for everyone, and some cannot make it work. But for the nation, it is the fulfillment of Ezekiels valley of dry bones brought back to life. Michael Zinn, a descendent of Holocaust survivors from Ukraine, referred to the weeping prophet. This is the hunter stage of Jewish emigration, said the CPM national director, drawing on Jeremiah 16:16. There is no doubt that God ultimately wants his people back in the land. The disputed interpretation sees a contrast between the fishermen who will win Jews to their Messiah and the hunters who will force them home. Some say both groups are malign actors. But while the preceding verse speaks of God returning Jews to the land, the following verses put it in the context of punishment for their disobedience. The leaders interviewed by CT hold varying views on eschatology, but all anticipate the final ingathering of Gods chosen people. It will happen, they say; the question is when. Residing in the diaspora, said Pikman, is akin to life abroad. Restoration is attached to our national repentance as Jewish people at the return of Jesus, he said. It is nice to be on a business trip, but it is nicer to come home. Additional reporting by Jeremy Weber [ This article is also available in and . ] When conservative Anglicans from around the world gather next month in Rwanda, they could begin to explore a new framework of leadership in response to the Church of Englands recent move to let its clergy bless same-sex marriages. The decision around the blessings, a compromise made at the Church of Englands General Synod in February, provoked bishops representing a majority of the worlds Anglicans to threaten a break with the mother church of their communion. The Church of England has departed from the historic faith passed down from the Apostles and disqualified herself from leading the [worldwide Anglican] Communion as the historic Mother Church, according to a statement endorsed by 12 archbishops aligned with the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA). The bishops represent Anglicans in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. One member of the group, archbishop Foley Beach, represents conservative Anglicans in North America who have broken with the more liberal Episcopal Church. As much as the GSFA Primates also want to keep the unity of the visible Church and the fabric of the Anglican Communion, our calling to be a holy remnant does not allow us [to] be in communion with those provinces that have departed from the historic faith and taken the path of false teaching, the GSFA stated, a reference to endorsement of same-sex marriage, among other issues. The Church of England still wont perform same-sex ceremonies and maintains that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman, but it has now opted to allow clergy to offer prayers and liturgies at civil marriages. At last months synod, the Church of England also said it repents of its failure to welcome LGBTQI+ people and for the harm that LGBTQI+ people have experiencedand continue to experiencein churches. The move could widen the already significant rift among the Anglican Communion, which includes about 85 million adherents across 165 countries. The GSFA was not alone in denouncing the Church of Englands action. Also opposing the move were Anglican primates in Nigeria and Asia, along with conservatives in North America and England. Though battles over theology and ethics in the Anglican Communion extend back to the 1970s, Anglican observers say the present controversy could represent a decisive shift south in the communions center of gravitywhere Anglicans are more numerous and more conservative. A hundred years ago, more than three quarters of the worlds Anglicans resided in Britain, according to the Pew Research Center, but today most Anglicans are in Africa. The Anglican Communion includes more than 40 self-governing provinces and churches across the world, each with its own ruling bishop. Being in communion with one another includes mutual agreement on key doctrines and welcoming Anglicans from other churches and provinces to participate in the sacraments. The Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Justin Welby, is regarded as the first among equals amid Anglican bishops. The GSFA says that could change. The Global South bishops are no longer able to recognise Welby as first among equals, they said, because he led his churchs General Synod to make decisions that run contrary to the faith and order of the orthodox provinces in the Communion whose people constitute the majority in the global flock. GAFCON, a movement of worldwide conservative Anglicans, agreed with the sentiment. Its time for the Primate of All England to step down from his role as first among equals in leading the Anglican Communion, GAFCON said in a February 9 statement written by Beach, chair of the GAFCON Primates Council. It is now time for the Primates of the Anglican Communion to choose for themselves their first among equals. For its April 1721 meeting in Rwanda, GAFCON has adopted the theme To Whom Shall We Go? The movement was already at odds with other Anglican churches to recognize civil marriages of same-sex couples, including the Episcopal Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Scottish Episcopal Church. The worlds largest Anglican Church, the Church of Nigeria, appears to welcome any leadership change afoot in the communion. The Anglican Church is at the threshold of yet another reformation, Nigerian archbishop Henry Ndukuba said in a February 12 statement, which must sweep out the ungodly leadership currently endorsing sin, misleading the lives of faithful Anglicans worldwide and endangering their prospects for eternity. Some Anglican congregations in England are among those disenchanted with the Church of England. In late February, Church of England bishops met with between 150 and 200 clergy members, many of whom were concerned about the General Synods approval of blessing same-sex marriages, the Church Times reported. The Anglican Church in South East Asia also objected to the Church of Englands latest move on gay marriages but will remain in communion with the historic mother church for now. Despite our grave reservations regarding the Church of Englands decision, we believe that the unity of the Anglican communion should not be lightly abandoned, said the bishops of Singapore, West Malaysia, Sabah, and Kuching in a February 18 pastoral letter. Hence, we will remain in communion with the Church of England while praying fervently for her and speaking boldly for Gods truth. For Welbys part, he seemed open to a change in the Anglican power structure at a February 12 address in Ghana. I will not cling to place or position as an Instrument of Communion, he said, a reference to the leadership structures that hold together the worldwide Anglican Communion. The role of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the See of Canterbury, is an historic one. The Instruments must change with the times. David Roach is a freelance reporter for CT and pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Saraland, Alabama. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] 41 more Texas churches leave United Methodist Church amid schism over homosexuality Another 41 congregations in Texas have officially left The United Methodist Church in response to the mainline Protestant denomination's ongoing debate over its stance on homosexuality. The UMC North Texas Annual Conference held a special called session on Saturday in which clergy and lay members voted to approve the disaffiliation votes of 41 congregations that formerly belonged to the regional body. According to a statement emailed to The Christian Post by a conference spokesperson, the regional body "releases these churches with its full blessing," adding that no churches seeking to leave the UMC were denied dismissal. "Following the day's vote, more than 230 churches in the North Texas Conference remain committed to the mission and values of The United Methodist Church and will continue to help people grow in their love for God; proclaim new life in Christ; serve others especially the poor; and pursue mercy and justice so people can live whole lives," the statement reads. According to the UMC Book of Discipline, the denomination considers homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy. Over the past several years, the UMC has been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to change this official stance, with many progressive leaders in the church outright refusing to enforce the rules. In January 2020, a theologically diverse group of United Methodists came together to propose a compromise in which the UMC would allocate funds to create a new denomination that congregations who supported the current standards could join while the remaining member congregations would be free to change the Book of Discipline. A proposal to implement this compromise was originally slated to take place at the UMC General Conference in May 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the event to be postponed. After the UMC announced the postponement of the General Conference to 2024 in response to ongoing pandemic concerns in March 2022, conservatives within the UMC launched the Global Methodist Church in May. "It is anticipated that some theologically conservative local churches will find annual conferences willing to negotiate fair and just exit provisions, while others will, unfortunately, face obstacles placed in their paths," the GMC said in a statement at the time. "The Transitional Leadership Council decided it was time to launch the Global Methodist Church, so those who can leave early will have a place to land, to begin building and growing, and making room for others to join later." More than 1,800 churches successfully disaffiliated from the UMC last year, according to a report by UM News, with hundreds of those departing congregations being located in the Lone State State. For example, the Texas Conference lost 294 congregations via special session vote, while the Northwest Texas Conference lost 145 congregations and the Central Texas Conference lost 81. Some congregations have faced hurdles. Last November, the UMC Arkansas Conference rejected the disaffiliation votes of three churches while approving the disaffiliation of 35 others. Several churches, including dozens in North Carolina and Florida, filed lawsuits against their regional bodies. Thirty-eight churches have accused the United Methodist Church's Western North Carolina Conference of "holding their church buildings and property hostage" by enforcing a trust on their properties that they consider "a financial ransom." Bishop Ken Carter issued a letter contending that the litigation was unnecessary, saying 41 other churches have followed the disaffiliation process. Last June, over 100 congregations filed a lawsuit against the UMC Florida Annual Conference for requiring them to pay a "sum of money" to retain control of their properties. The total, the lawsuit claims, "is determined in the discretion of the aforementioned parties, and is always substantial and often prohibitive, yet nonnegotiable and unappealable." Bishop Carter, who also served as bishop of the Florida Conference from 2012-2022, wrote in an open letter that he was grieved by the lawsuit and claimed that the conference tried to "engage those churches in that process but they have refused to follow that process choosing to file this lawsuit instead." He warned that abrupt separation could "damage benefits and pensions for retired pastors and their spouses who devoted their lives to service." Mother stabs her 5 children killing 3 less than 2 years after twin sister kills own daughter Less than two years after her mentally troubled twin sister stabbed her 7-year-old daughter to death, a 25-year-old mother from Italy, Texas, allegedly stabbed her five young children, killing three of them last Friday. The mother, Shamaiya Deyonshana Hall, has since been arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder and is in custody with bail set at a collective $6 million. A press release from the Ellis County Sheriffs Office said an investigator with Texas Child Protective Services visited Halls home last Friday and decided to remove the children. The Ellis County Sheriffs office was contacted at approximately 4 p.m. but five minutes later, at 4:05 p.m., officers with the Italy Police Department were shocked by what they found when they arrived on the scene. They discovered a 6-year-old boy and his 5-year-old twin siblings a boy and a girl dead. Two other children, a 4-year-old boy and his 13-month-old sister, are still alive and were transported to Childrens Hospital Dallas in critical condition. We ask for you to keep the family, the community of Italy, and first responders in your thoughts and prayers during this tragic time, the Ellis County Sheriffs Office said. The Italy Police Department also offered prayers for the family and friends of the victims in a statement on Facebook Saturday night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, family, and friends of those who were touched by the tragic events that unfolded yesterday afternoon, as well as all the first responders, and investigators who worked the scene, the department said. In June 2021, Halls twin sister, Troyshaye Hall, confessed to stabbing a 16-year-old family friend and killing her 7-year-old daughter, who she claimed was being sexually molested, Fox 4 reported. She was later found incompetent to stand trial and is in custody at the North Texas State Hospital. Authorities say her daughter, Madison Petry, was stabbed more than 30 times. An off-duty officer who lived next door to the family tried saving Petrys life by driving her to a nearby fire station but she succumbed to her wounds. "Hes the one who took it upon himself to cover her up and put her in the car because he had to get her to somewhere," eyewitness Frank Turner told Fox 4. "He was trying to save her life." Neighbors said at the time of Troyshaye Halls stabbing attack that she had just returned home from a psychiatric facility. She told officers after her arrest that her daughter was being sexually abused but it was unclear if those claims were eventually verified. "Its just shocking because I know they say the devil is alive," Turner noted at the time. "I think he is." Police have not yet publicly identified Shamaiya Halls children but Rachel L. Kistner, superintendent of the Italy Independent School District in which her oldest child was a student, said the school community was deeply affected by the murders. Italy ISD is deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred off-campus this evening. Words cannot express the overwhelming grief felt by the district and the community hearing of such a tragedy, she said in a statement Friday. We are a tight-knit, small community and as such many students will be impacted by this incident. Kistner further noted that as they worked to support students and staff through the tragedy they would provide additional school counselors as well as support at the main campus of Central Baptist Church. Pro-life activist arrested again for silently praying near abortion clinic after legal victory A pro-life activist was arrested again for silently praying outside an abortion clinic just weeks after a court cleared her of all wrongdoing related to a previous arrest for engaging in silent prayer outside the facility. ADF UK announced in a statement Tuesday that March for Life UK Director Isabel Vaughn-Spruce was arrested for violating a Public Space Protection Order by silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham, England. Video footage of the arrest, shared on the law firm's Twitter account Monday, shows police officers asking Vaughn-Spruce to "step away from here and step outside the exclusion zone," referring to the area covered by the Public Space Protection Order. ????BREAKING: Isabel has been arrested, AGAIN, for THINKING. MPs vote TOMORROW on banning silent prayer near all abortion facilities in????????????????????????????&???????????????????????????? "You've said you're engaging in prayer, which is the offense." "Silent prayer." "You were still engaging in prayer, which is the offense." pic.twitter.com/AId3OguiXz ADF UK (@ADF_UK) March 6, 2023 The Public Space Protection Order prohibits people from "protesting, namely engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services, by any means" within a certain radius of the abortion clinic. As documented in the video footage, the pro-life activist assured the officers that "I'm not protesting, I'm not engaging in any of the activities prohibited." "You've said you're engaging in prayer, which is the offense," one of the officers responded. When she clarified that she was merely engaging in "silent prayer," the officer indicated that it did not matter: "You're still engaging in prayer. It is an offense." The officer cited Vaughn-Spruce's disagreement with his analysis as evidence that she would "rather be arrested and taken away than stand outside the exclusion zone." The video concluded with Vaughn-Spruce contending that she was "not intimidating or harassing" anyone and "not protesting." In a second video clip, Vaughn-Spruce reiterated her assertion to law enforcement officials that she was not violating the Public Space Protection Order because she was not "protesting." They maintained that it did not matter that she was not verbally protesting because "people know who you are and they know why you're here" and that according to "people's perception," she was protesting. They informed Vaughn-Spruce of their intention to issue her a ticket and told her, "if you don't leave the area, you will then be arrested." Vaughn-Spruce's latest arrest comes less than three weeks after the Birmingham Magistrates' Court sided with the pro-life activist in her bid to determine whether or not "it's still lawful to pray silently in our own heads." The court ruling followed the dropping of all charges related to her previous arrest for engaging in silent prayer outside the abortion clinic and came in response to her efforts to seek binding precedent on the matter. "Only three weeks ago, it was made clear by the court that my silent prayers were not a crime," Vaughn-Spruce said of her latest arrest. She lamented that she had once again been "arrested and treated as a criminal for having the exact same thoughts in my head, in the same location." "The ambiguity of laws that limit free expression and thought even in peaceful, consensual conversation or in silent, internal prayer leads to abject confusion, to the detriment of important fundamental rights," she added. "Nobody should be criminalized for their thoughts." Shortly after Vaughn-Spruce's latest arrest, lawmakers in the United Kingdom rejected an amendment to Clause 10 of the Public Order Bill in a 116-299 vote Tuesday. Clause 10 prohibits people from "influencing any person's decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services" within about 400 feet of abortion clinics. In other words, it would extend buffer zones, like the one imposed by the local government in Birmingham, to apply to all abortion clinics nationwide. The amendment, as described by ADF UK, "would exempt silent prayer and consensual conversations from the ban." ADF UK Legal Counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole reacted to Tuesday's vote in the House of Commons in a statement. "Today's vote marks a watershed moment for fundamental rights and freedoms in our country. Parliament had an opportunity to reject the criminalization of free thought, which is an absolute right, and embrace individual liberty for all. Instead, Parliament chose to endorse censorship and criminalize peaceful activities such as silent prayer and consensual conversation," he said. As Igunnubole expressed disappointment with the rejection of the amendment, he saw a small silver lining with the developments in the House of Commons Tuesday. "Thankfully, where the clause initially called for a prison sentence for those convicted of engaging in these peaceful activities near abortion facilities, the penalty now has been reduced to a fine," he said. "Today it's abortion. Tomorrow it could be another contested matter of political debate. The principle remains that the government should never be able to punish anyone for prayer, let alone silent prayer, and peaceful and consensual conversation," Igunnubole warned. "It is extremely regrettable that Parliament, which exists to protect and champion the rights of the electorate, has taken a clear stance against fundamental freedoms, opening the door for nationwide thought-crime prosecution." Activist Shane Claiborne challenges Christians to expand view of what constitutes 'pro-life' issues Shane Claiborne thinks its time for a fresh conversation about the value of life. In an interview with The Christian Post, the activist and author lamented what he sees as a glaring issue in many Christian circles: Concern for life seems to often begin and end with the issue of abortion. But he wants Christians to expand their view of what constitutes a pro-life issue, namely, gun violence, poverty, the death penalty, Christian anti-Semitism and more all topics he addresses in his new book, Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person. Jesus talks a lot about not just going up when we die, but bringing the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven and engaging with the injustices and the pain of this world, he said. I saw on some of these issues, Christians not only were silent but were actually a part of the problem, were obstacles when it came to things that I think can save lives, gun violence or the death penalty and militarism and war, some of these other issues. I think particularly at the time that we're living in where we've had one mass shooting after another, the murder of Tyre Nichols and escalating war in Ukraine, executions in three different states last month it's a really right time for a fresh conversation about the value of life. Below is a lightly edited transcript of CPs interview with Claiborne, where he addresses his views on the current state of being pro-life, his positions on hot-button issues like gun control and the death penalty and why he believes Christianity should transcend partisan politics. CP: In your book, you talk about your own journey of getting to where you are now and how you are mutt, theologically. Share your journey of how you came to the conclusions that you share in this book. Claiborne: I've found God in lots of different spaces, especially within the Church world. I grew up Methodist, got Pentecostal and got rebaptized, and leaned into the Catholic tradition, worked with Mother Teresa. All of that really shaped and formed me. Everywhere I went, there were also a few bones I felt like I needed to spit out, but there was so much that was shaping me. You can see that in me and in my writing; even in our life here in Philly, there's still a charismatic side of that, there's a liturgical side of that, there's a little bit of all of that in there. But when it comes to some of these bigger social issues, a lot of my spiritual life was really divorced from that, because it was much more concerned about going to Heaven when we die. And while I think that's important, I also think that Jesus talks a lot about not just going up when we die, but bringing the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven, and engaging the injustices and the pain of this world. Thats the holy work of God, too, is challenging the things that are crushing people's lives. I wrote Executing Grace several years ago to address the issue of the death penalty and gun violence, and I found the language of a consistent ethic of life or a comprehensive ethic of life to be really helpful for me, and to think outside of the silos or the isolated issues of, "this is the most important issue," and just to build a broader framework of, "every person is made in the image God." CP: What is your observation about the current state of being pro-life? Claiborne: The Church has been impacted by the culture wars between the Left and the Right, and some of these conversations get framed where the minority voices on the far Left or far Right really hold progress hostage from seeing some real changes. I think that's true on almost every issue. I do talk about abortion in the book and the fact that a lot of us would like to see a reduction in the number of abortions that happen. One of the biggest things that are listed as a reason for having an abortion is financial stability and the ability of families able to raise a new child. What would help with that? Things like having access to childcare and affordable healthcare. Some of those that would say they are for life have blocked some of those policies. There are a lot of folks that talk about common-sense gun laws. Even though I'm not a gun owner, I believe other folks have the right to own guns, but I think that there should, even as the writers of the Second Amendment said, be some reasonable restrictions and regulations around that; the limit that a gun can shoot without reloading, the number of handguns one person can purchase in a year. And I think we can have a better conversation on abortion too. Because a lot of times people act like there are just people randomly in the last trimester of their pregnancy that decided to abort a kid for no reason. And I've yet to find that person. I know people that have had abortions late in their pregnancy, and for everyone that I've talked to, it's because either their child, or the mother's life was at stake, and it was a wrenching decision. So there's not always compassion and even reality. CP: Some pastors have courted controversy by saying that there are biblical reasons to vote Democrat and biblical reasons to vote Republican. Do you think either party upholds a more biblical worldview than the other in the policies that they present? Claiborne: I believe that Christians should transcend partisan politics. Our fidelity is not to the donkey of the Democrats or the elephant to the GOP, but to the Lamb of God. The irony is that I think that some of the teachings of Jesus are much more radical than what I hear on the Left or the Right: The idea of loving our enemies. What does that mean? Our military spending is unprecedented, but that's not a partisan thing. Obama raised Bush's budget, Trump raised Obama's budget, Biden raised Trump's budget, so we just keep spending. We have weapons that have the capacity of 50,000 Hiroshima bombs. And we're the only country that's ever dropped those kinds of nuclear weapons on civilians, and we did it twice in one week. So, what does it mean to champion life on all fronts? On the issue of immigration, I think it's so clear in Scripture and from Jesus' teaching, Matthew 25, when you welcome to the stranger, you welcome me. As the New Testament says, we welcome the foreigner, we might be entertaining angels unawares. The Old Testament says we are to welcome the foreigner as if they were our own flesh and blood. So this is a constant thread in Scripture, and yet we've got some really terrible policies on immigration. This is not partisan. A lot of this is not about Left or Right, but it's about right and wrong. What does it look like to be a Christian? It looks like welcoming the stranger. That's not a Republican or Democrat thing, that's a Jesus thing. CP: You write that being close to some of these issues changed your perspective. Talk about your time spent with some of these intentional communities and what you learned from them. Claiborne: We're very good at having opinions about people we don't know. Were very good at having sound bites and bumper stickers and T-shirts. And yet, those really don't come with much responsibility. But what does love require of us when it comes to abortion? What does love require of us when it comes to gun violence when that's the number one cause of death of American children? What does love look like on the death penalty? How do we love the victims of horrific, evil, violent crimes, without mirroring that violence through capital punishment and calling it justice? Proximity is where all of this started, I grew up with guns and hunting, and yet, living in North Philadelphia, and now seeing gun violence all over our country, the toll that it's taking on human life, that became personal. It became personal when a 19-year-old was killed on my front steps. It also became personal as I got to know heroes of mine like Sharon Risher, whose family was killed in Emanuel AME church during their Wednesday night prayer meeting. She's convinced that killing is the problem, not the solution. It's why she's concerned about gun violence, but it's also why she's concerned about the death penalty, and police brutality and violence. All of these issues intersect, and they're very connected, especially for those of us that operate under the understanding that every person is equally created in the image of God, and their life is equally sacred. CP: You're very critical of the death penalty in your book. What do you think is a good alternative to the death penalty that would effectively reduce crime? I argued for the death penalty for a lot of my life and very passionately in high school; I had all the verses I thought defended it. And a couple of things happened. I got to know folks on death row, and I also got to know murder victims and family members that really feel like the violence is the problem, not the solution. It's not going to heal the wounds to kill the person who may have killed their loved one. So what do the alternatives look like? I think most of the world has figured this out. When I was born, most of the world was using the death penalty. Forty-seven years later, most of the world has abolished the death penalty or is not actively executing people. And there's only a handful of countries that are, the United States is always in the top 10 executing countries in the world. It's not a list that we should be proud of. I think that we can keep society safe from people that are eminently dangerous, but the death penalty takes away that chance. I think that someone can change, and I've seen it from people that I've visited on death row, sometimes over a course of 10 or 20 years. They're a different person. Some of them it's because of what Jesus has done in their life. I believe that's why Jesus interrupted an execution in the Gospels, and said, Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone. And my goodness, if that doesn't make it clear, that none of us are above reproach, that none of us are beyond redemption, either. I think that are really two powerful truths at the heart of the Gospel. We can do better than mirroring the harm, and that's exactly what the death penalty does. We don't rape people who rape to show them that rape is wrong. And yet in the most extreme case of murder, we still do hold to that logic, that we are going to kill to try to show that killing is wrong. And I actually think it does something to us as a society, when we continue to hold on to that logic that is such a contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus. CP: What do you make of the push for medically assisted suicide in countries like Canada, where some people are choosing to end their lives because of issues like depression or anxiety? Claiborne: The question I would always be asking is, What does love require of us? And what is God's most perfect will? If those are the framing questions, we might not all make the exact same decisions in the same context, but we've got some guiding principles. I tend to believe on every single issue, we should try to advocate for their life and for their dignity, and to extend that life, to make that life viable, which is why I write about Down syndrome and some of the other issues where we've seen life a little bit more expendable. I have a lot of friends who do hospice care. And in one sense, that's what work that I did in India was in the home for the destitute and dying, and I held people's hands as they died. That was Mother Teresa's passion; no one should die without someone holding their hand. And when you go into the morgue, it says, I'm on my way to Heaven. And when you leave it, it says, Thanks for helping me get here. We're helping people transition from this world to the next and we get to whisper God's love to them, massage their muscles, and make that the least scary, and the holiest experience that it can be. I think thats the work that I think is before us. The love that were talking about is not just a sentimental, anemic love, but it's a daring, costly kind of love that can keep us up at night. That's the love I see in Jesus. Its a love thats willing to die, but not willing to kill. This April 24, 2018 file photo shows Yoo Ah-in at the press conference of a film Burning in Seoul. Yonhap Police on Tuesday raided the home of actor Yoo Ah-in as part of their investigation into allegations of illegal drug use. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) sent investigators to Yoo's home and another location. The 37-year-old actor, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, has been under investigation after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that his prescription purchases for propofol for nonmedical purposes, have been too frequent since 2021. It is a powerful sleep-inducing drug commonly used in surgeries. Police sent his hair and urine samples to the National Forensic Service for tests, and Yoo additionally tested positive for marijuana, cocaine and ketamine. Yoo, who has been banned from leaving the country, is expected to be summoned for questioning sometime soon, the SMPA said. (Yonhap) Austin ISD promotes LGBT pride week events with intersex rainbow flag, 'pronoun buttons' Why are grown adults encouraging kids to celebrate sexuality with them? Thats the question one Texas pro-family group is asking after school officials in Austin, Texas, announced an LGBT pride week to be held later this month. Scheduled for March 20-25, Austin ISD is planning to hand out pronoun buttons, rainbow flags, LGBT stickers and other trinkets to students and staff for the event, according to the districts website. The website page for the event which is timed to coincide with National LGBT Health Awareness Week features a massive, multicolored flag known as the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, which advocates for trans and intersex inclusion. The flag is also featured on one of the stickers for the event. While the annual pride parade will occur in August, the weeklong celebration in March will include five LGBT-themed days, culminating with a Pride Yall! Connect and Celebrate event at the AISD Performing Arts Center on March 25. There are approximately 75,000 students enrolled in the district's 13 high schools, 18 middle schools and 79 elementary schools. The school district began hosting pride events in 2014. While the so-called pride curriculum is not mandatory, students as young as elementary school age are invited to participate. On Feb. 23, Texas Family Project issued a Pride Alert notifying parents of the districts plans and asked three questions: Why are grown adults encouraging kids to celebrate sexuality with them? When did schools become more about gender ideology than learning ABCs and 123s? Why are taxpayers being forced to fund the indoctrination of our most impressionable and vulnerable Texans? The groups statement added: Parents: It is up to us to protect our children from the Anti-Family Left, the evil forces that align with it, and the indoctrination school administrators are pushing on our kids. Austin ISD chief of staff Toni Cordova and interim chief equity officer Stephanie did not respond to requests for comment from The Christian Post. Last year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Austin ISD officials notifying them that, in his view, such events can be categorized as human sexuality instruction and said parents must have a say in such events. The Texas Legislature has made it clear that when it comes to sex education, parents not school districts are in charge, Paxton wrote. With its progressive education policies, Austin has long stood in contrast to the states culturally conservative roots. In 2019, the school board voted in favor of a new sex curriculum that teaches students about LGBT and gender identities, among other topics, a vote which one conservative group said sends a clear message that people of faith and traditional moral values are not welcome in Austin ISD. On its website, AISD defines LGBT terms for its district staff and students and references various aspects of sexuality, including LGBT-affirming language such as "cisgender" and "queer," which, according to the page, was "originally used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires but, beginning in the late-1980s, queer scholars and activists began to reclaim the word." The page also includes links to the CDC, GLAAD, and the Trevor Project, which features research briefs such as this one that correlates religious beliefs with higher rates of suicide among LGBT-identified people, a claim that has frequently been disputed. Dr. Jennifer Bauwens, director of the Center for Family Studies for the Family Research Council, a nonprofit research and educational group which looks at social issues from a biblical worldview, told CP that researchers of the study cited by the Trevor Project neglected to cover a number of factors that are omitted from this particular study. From 2011 on, weve seen a rise in mental health issues amongst this population in this study, how is that accounted for? she said. If these things are already rising in this cohort, then how have you accounted for that rise in this study? We dont know. Bauwens also said its difficult to measure a highly complex idea such as correlating religion with suicide rate with the kinds of questions seen in this study, which was released in April 2020. If this is the primary focus of your study, to understand the effect that religion has on suicide, and you ask those ideas in research we call them constructs with one question, thats very problematic," she explained. To make just a simple correlation between these two ideas that we dont even know if theyre really connected, thats fine if youre just doing a research study to initially understand whats going on, but to take that and use that to make policy or practice decisions is very irresponsible. Christian charity sues Washington state for right to hire only people who follow biblical beliefs A Christian homeless shelter filed a federal lawsuit against Washington state officials alleging that its First Amendment rights to hire "likeminded" individuals who share their biblical mission about only hiring those who practice sexual purity in marriage has been violated. From serving meals to providing shelter to those in need and medical and recovery resources, Yakima Union Gospel Mission aims to serve anyone with its Christian-based services. However, the organization only hires people who share and live out its religious beliefs. Specifically, the organization hires only those who support its biblical mission of "spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through its homeless shelter, addiction-recovery programs, outreach efforts, meal services, and health clinics for the Yakima community." Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the YUGM filed a civil rights lawsuit last Thursday against Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson, Washington State Human Rights Commission Executive Director Andreta Armstrong and two commissioners of the Human Rights Commission. The lawsuit objects to the Washington Law Against Discrimination, which prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment and argues that the defendants "view the Mission's Christian behavior requirement on marriage and sexuality as unlawful sexual orientation discrimination under the WLAD." The organization only hires employees who "abstain from any sexual conduct outside of biblical marriage between one man and one woman in order to properly live out and represent a Christian lifestyle and to not undermine the Mission's religious message." ADF, which has won several U.S. Supreme Court cases in recent years, argues that the Washington Supreme Court "reinterpreted state law to prohibit religious organizations, like the mission, from only hiring individuals who share its religious beliefs." "The WLAD used to protect the Mission by exempting religious nonprofit organizations from its provisions, but the Washington Supreme Court recently gutted the religious employer exemption, reducing it to the 'ministerial exception,'" the filing reads. "Although the United States Supreme Court did not review the case [of a Seattle-based Christian charity] because of its interlocutory posture, Justices Alito and Thomas noted that the 'Washington Supreme Court's decision may warrant [the U.S. Supreme Court's] review in the future' because the 'Washington Supreme Court's decision to narrowly construe [Washington's] religious exemption' may 'have created a conflict with the Federal Constitution.'" State officials have allegedly "[threatened] the mission with significant penalties for using its religiously based hiring practices." "Courts have consistently recognized that the government will undermine a religious organization's purpose if it forces the organization to hire those who do not subscribe to the group's beliefs," ADF Legal Counsel Jake Reed said in a statement. "The Yakima Union Gospel Mission is doing important ministry outreach in Washington state and we urge the court to uphold its freedom to carry out its calling through its staff of likeminded people of faith." ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker, the director of the ADF Center for Christian Ministries, said that "the First Amendment allows religious organizations the freedom to hire those who share and live out their beliefs without being punished by the government." "Yakima Union Gospel Mission now faces substantial penalties under Washington state law for simply engaging in its constitutionally protected freedom to hire fellow believers who share the mission's calling to spread the gospel and care for vulnerable people in the Yakima community," he added in a statement. "YUGM provided a total of 30,167 nights of shelter to 881 different adults and 3,592 nights of shelter to children from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022," according to the lawsuit. The charity's Good News Cafe, which provides three free meals daily to the public and shelter guests, served 141,629 free meals in that same timeframe. YUGM's New Life Program also helps those recovering from drug and alcohol addictions and homelessness through its faith-based residential community. In 2021, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case after the Washington Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling in its favor in regard to its refusal to hire a man in a same-sex relationship. The court voted last May not to hear the case. Last November, ADF helped secure a legal settlement in favor of a Wyoming Christian shelter so that it can continue to hire only Christians who share its religious beliefs. Eastview Christian Church hires law firm to conduct investigation after pastor resigns Eastview Christian Church in Illinois announced Sunday that they have hired an attorney from the law firm Wagenmaker & Oberly to conduct an investigation after Mike Baker, the churchs longtime senior pastor, recently resigned over allegations that he covered up sexual misconduct by his son, Caleb Baker, while he was an employee at the church. We as a church have retained Kelly Fabian Story with Wagenmaker & Oberly as the lead of a trauma-informed third-party investigative team, Jim Karch, an elder at Eastview Christian Church announced at the end of a service at the church on Sunday morning. In addition to the investigation, though, she also helps develop restorative justice and reconciliation plans for churches that have experienced trauma to aid in rebuilding trust, and caring for victims, he said. She expects the process, this investigation process, to take three months. That's important for you to hear as well. The allegations that Mike Baker covered up his sons sexual misconduct erupted last month after Central Christian Church announced that they fired Caleb Baker after he was caught in an extramarital affair with another church staffer. While Mike Baker disputes allegations that he covered up his sons sexual misconduct while he was a pastor at Eastview Christian Church, Brook Yarbrough, a former colleague of Caleb Baker at Eastview Christian Church, alleged in a Feb. 22 statement on Facebook that Caleb Baker was let go as an employee of the church in 2016 after it was disclosed that he was involved sexually with multiple women at the church. Eastview Christian Church elders said in an earlier statement, they only became aware of allegations of abuse against Caleb Baker after he left the church in 2016. In 2016, after Caleb Baker left ECC, the Elders first became aware of specific allegations of possible abuse through letters that purported to be written by victims of abuse. The Elders at the time acted. However, the purported authors of those letters denied that they wrote the letters and stated they had not been victims of abuse, the statement said. It was not until July 2022 that they got a complaint from a former employee alleging an abusive culture in 2016. Since receiving that letter, the elders said they started an independent investigation that will continue in light of the revelations about Caleb Bakers affair at Central Christian Church. When the Eastview Christian Church attempted to have Mike Baker questioned as part of the investigation, elders alleged that he chose to resign instead and independently insisted he was not involved in a coverup of his sons indiscretions. When people say Mike Baker is covering things up, I didn't know. What I do know is that at Christmas time, we resolved one of the most trusted members of our staff ever resolved that there's no conclusion here. Can't prove or disprove these allegations and I thought it was done, Mike Baker said about an attempt to investigate initial rumors of the allegations against his son while he was working at Eastview in 2015. And then early in January (2016), there was another allegation that came and I went down immediately to my son, and I said, you need to resign. I can't deal with this anymore. This is breaking my heart, and we just can't let it destroy me, he recalled. The former megachurch pastor said after he told his son he needed to resign, he had a job offer from Central Christian Church within two or three days in a crazy turn of events. I'm just gonna be straight up true, whatever allegations were in this second time. I said I don't want to know. I will tell you the honest truth, [I] was completely in the dark. I didn't mislead anyone because I didn't know anything, he continued. Should I have dug a little deeper? Maybe. But anyway, so Caleb goes off and he starts a new career, and he does really, really, well until two weeks ago when he confesses to having an affair. Devastation. Blows my socks off. Karch said Eastview Christian Church wants to provide a clear and safe path for victims, we wanted to communicate that we want them to be able to communicate directly and without the involvement, Eastviews, leadership or elders. He added that anyone who wants to report an instance of abuse or concerns related to abuse to the investigative team can send that report to info@wagenmakerlaw.com. Now that we have a third-party investigator in place, we plan to secure a victim advocate and solidify a pathway for outside counseling services for victims related to the investigation. And I just also want to establish a rhythm with you, Karch said. To ensure that the church remained transparent, Karch said different members of the elder team will provide weekly updates on the investigation over the course of the next few weeks. While we have consistently tried to take this posture of humility, we want to ask, I want to ask today for you to join us. God has something to teach each of us in this moment to speak individually, with each of us. And in that posture of humility, may we sit and listen and not rush past this time, Karch said. This is going to feel like a long process. This is going to feel like a longer process, and we are praying that on the other side of this, we, as a church, will be deeper, more mature, more authentic in our walk with Jesus than ever before, and that is where I'm putting my hope, Karch said. We have that to look forward to as a church. Praise God for where He will take us, and that's what matters. Federal court recognizes pro-life pregnancy care network's right not to hire abortion supporters A federal court determined that a network of New York-based pregnancy centers can proceed with challenging a law that the organization said forces pro-life or religious groups to hire employees who have had abortions or hold views contrary to their mission. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City reversed a lower court's decision to dismiss a January 2020 civil suit brought by the Evergreen Association. Evergreen operates a network of pregnancy centers called the Expectant Mother Care (EMC Frontline). Circuit Judge Steven Menashi stated in the ruling that the group's beliefs about the "morality of abortion are its defining values" and that "forcing it to accept as members those who engage in or approve of that conduct would cause the group as it currently identifies itself to cease to exist." "Accordingly, the balancing of interests favors the expressive association that opposes the conduct the state would protect against discrimination," Menashi, a Trump appointee, wrote. Timothy Belz, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, who represented the organization, wrote in a statement that they hope the ruling will "discourage any state legislature from enacting legislation that would violate an organization's First Amendment rights, including the right to work with those who share their values." The founder and CEO of the pregnancy center network, Christopher Slattery, had argued that New York's Boss Bill of 2019 impeded the organization's First Amendment rights by creating a "protected class based on reproductive health decision making." The lawsuit further outlined how the law forbids employers from making decisions about employees based on their "reproductive health choices," including their participation in abortion, advocacy for abortion or premarital sex. As part of his employment policy, one that the lawsuit notes is shared by numerous pro-life organizations, Slattery requires his employees to maintain a consistent pro-life view and abstain from sex before marriage. The plaintiff contends that expecting employees to uphold certain lifestyle standards is necessary to its overall mission of encouraging women to continue their pregnancies. The district court initially dismissed the case, determining that the law imposed only "incidental limitations" on Evergreen's associational rights but did not impact the group's ability to advocate against abortion or contraception. While the latest decision affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff's free speech and religious freedom claims, the appeals court reversed the judgment on the association claim. "We are thrilled that a Federal Court in New York affirmed what we knew from the beginning, the need to shield pregnancy resource centers from unconstitutional laws that try to thwart their mission. We are grateful to the Thomas More Society for defending our free speech rights," Slattery said of the decision. In an interview with CP, Belz said the Boss Bill "chilled" its client's right to ask prospective employees whether they opposed abortion. He also noted that the law contained no exemptions for churches or religious organizations. Belz told CP that the case is significant for groups promoting a message that encourages women to carry their pregnancies to term. "That is, the state cannot come in and require you to do something that is contrary to that message," the attorney said. "And that applies to churches, religious institutions of all sorts; it applies to anybody who is promoting a message, even in a secular context." For example, Belz said a weight loss clinic, a company whose message is to encourage people to lose unhealthy body weight, should not be compelled by the state to hire obese people that don't support the clinic's mission. Nor should a group that advocates for smoking cessation be forced to hire a counselor whose supposed to counsel people not to smoke but smells like smoke. The attorney clarified that Thomas More Society and the client it represents are not opposed to pro-life organizations hiring post-abortive women, noting that women who have had abortions are some of the strongest advocates against the practice. "We're not saying that we would never hire someone who had an abortion," Belz said. "It's just that our client needs to be the judge of who it hires or who it doesn't hire." "Our client may hire a woman who has had an abortion because she may be the most powerful witness in favor of pro-life ideas, so that's not the issue," he said. "The issue is who gets to make this decision, and we're saying, obviously, that the pregnancy resource center gets to make its own hiring decisions when it comes to who it chooses to promote its message." As CP reported, a study published in January 2023 in the journal Contraception found that pro-life pregnancy centers typically serve clients faster than abortion facilities and are less likely to charge them for pregnancy tests or ultrasound services. The study surveyed 445 pregnancy centers and 445 geographically paired abortion facilities. According to the research, 68.5% of pregnancy centers participating in the study offered clients same-day appointments, compared to 37.2% of abortion facilities. The median cost for a pregnancy test at an abortion facility was $24, and the median cost for an ultrasound at an abortion facility was $162.50. In contrast, pro-life pregnancy centers rarely charge for either service. Man arrested for throwing smoke bombs at New Jersey church's anti-racism event A man was arrested for allegedly throwing smoke bombs into a crowd and attempting to pepper spray church attendees during an anti-racism event. Trinity Episcopal Parish of Asbury Park hosted an anti-racism concert in January that was disrupted when an individual attacked attendees and vandalized the church's property. Nicholas G. Mucci, a 28-year-old resident of Toms River, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated assault, arson, causing or risking widespread injury or damage, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, terroristic threats and possession of a destructive device. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a press statement Monday that his state is, and always will be, a state that values the rich diversity of all cultures, religions, and ideals. This attack targeted people exercising their freedom of expression as they left a house of worship, stated Platkin. Our perseverance in investigating and bringing to justice the person responsible for this attack demonstrates our commitment to protecting the rights of all New Jerseyans to live free from the threat of violence and fear. Laurie Doran, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, was quoted in the press release as saying that the investigation was a great example of outstanding teamwork and collaboration among all levels of government. I am proud of the men and women of NJOHSP and all of our partner agencies who protected the residents of New Jersey by successfully mitigating this serious threat, Doran stated. On Jan. 27, Trinity Episcopal held a concert organized by a social justice advocacy group known as the One Peoples Project and was centered on anti-racist activism. As the concert was ending, an individual wearing a mask threw smoke bombs at the crowd, shouted White lives matter too, and drove off before returning later on and trying to pepper spray some concert attendees who were still at the church. Additionally, according to a statement released by the church and the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey on Jan. 30, an unknown party damaged an LGBT pride flag next to the church's sign. The flag had been vandalized a couple of times before. The Rev. Chase Danford, rector at Trinity Episcopal, was quoted in the church statement as saying that he was thankful that no one was harmed in the concert attacks. We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from the Asbury Park Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, state Senator Vin Gopal, and Governor Phil Murphy, Danford said at the time. Pastor shares how Pauls teaching on sex, intimacy is relevant in modern culture Pastor Ben Stuart of Passion City Church in Washington, D.C., reflected on the agency a Christian has when it comes to controlling their sexuality and why Paul's New Testament teachings on sex are still relevant today. In his Feb. 12 sermon as part of a series on "Rise The New Sexual Revolution," Stuart referenced 1 Thessalonians 4 as a guide for understanding God's design for sexuality and its implications for modern culture. In this passage, the Apostle Paul instructs members of the Church in Thessalonica, both male and female, to treat their bodies and the bodies of others with respect and maintain intimacy with the Lord. By following these commands, individuals will become more like Jesus Christ through sanctification. Stuart, who has been married for 19 years, emphasized that Paul's instructions are relevant today and should guide the lives of single and married followers of Jesus. To remain sexually pure in marriage, he advised keeping the marriage bed undefiled, abstaining from sex in singleness and controlling one's sexuality. Stuart noted that this is possible by developing an intimate relationship with the Lord to guide sexual decisions. A relationship with God is free, by grace through faith. Once you're in it, now we begin to move in a different way. We're a family with a trajectory. Whats the goal? You ought to walk to please God, Stuart said in his sermon. Stuart contended that single or married Christians who obediently surrender their bodies to the Lord in matters of sexuality will become more like Christ. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of any spiritual journey with Jesus is to please God. Husbands and wives, he said, should prioritize pleasing each other sexually, while singles should show respect for their own bodies and the bodies of others by refraining from sexual activity outside of marriage as defined by the Bible. It's not just conformity to a standard. It's my goal to please God. And that's not oppressive. If you came to me as a husband and said, Hey, Ben, your goal as a husband is to please your wife. I'm not like, Darn. That's not oppression. That's freedom. It's a progressive act. What does God want? Your sanctification, Stuart said. Stuart cited 1 Thessalonians 4:4, which reads: Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable. The key points made in the verse, Stuart said, can be found in the words holy and honor, which stand as two reasons why humans can control their own sexuality while possessing their own vessels. "The first one ... is honor. The way I handle my sexuality has implications in the way I relate to other people. And if I say that, I honor you. What does honor mean? Stuart said. It means I respect your well-being. It means I want to communicate to you that I value you. I think you matter. I think your thoughts matter. I think how you feel matters, and I think your body matters. That's what it means to honor somebody. Individuals in society often prioritize their own desires in romantic relationships which might lead to sexual activity outside of a marriage covenant. Stuart said that this behavior is due to a lack of respect for their own bodies and the bodies of their partners. It's so popular in our culture now to say, I feel seen. What does that mean? You're not talking about being physically viewed. You're talking about how someone has seen or acknowledged and valued what you think and how you feel. We instinctively want that. And here, [Paul] says we need to possess our sexuality in a way that communicates honor, value, respect to those around us, Stuart said. [Oftentimes, people say], I don't care what you think. I don't care how you feel. I just want to use you; whether you're on a screen or whether you're just in my room for the night. To say that to somebody is to not honor them. It's to dishonor them. Stuart said that just as Jesus exercised self-control and demonstrated holiness through His actions, Christians have the power to control their sexuality and become more like Jesus. We control our sexuality because it reflects in holiness, like those who know God. Paul [told] the Ephesians that marriage is a picture of Jesus' love for the Church. How did Jesus love us? Full commitment before intimacy, Stuart said. Jesus had to commit Himself to His ultimate sacrifice before fully reconciling with humanity. Stuart further emphasized that this level of commitment is what God intends for marriage, which includes the enjoyment of intimacy between males and females. That's how Jesus loves us. He says, I'm coming for you. And what did He do? I want you in a relationship with me. So what am I going to do? I'm going to bring all of [myself]. I will give every drop of my blood to purchase you. I will bring all the commitment first. And then, when you covenant with Me, I promise to love you and never let you go, Stuart said. Southern Poverty Law Center defends attorney charged with domestic terrorism, claims he was legal observer The Southern Poverty Law Center has come to the defense of an employee arrested for allegedly committing domestic terrorism alongside a group of violent protesters who threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks and bricks at police outside a police training facility in Atlanta, Georgia. On Sunday, violent elements joined a peaceful demonstration outside the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, throwing Molotov cocktails, fireworks, bricks and rocks at police. One of the individuals arrested and charged with domestic terrorism over the attack was Tom Jurgens, a staff attorney with SPLC, a far-left advocacy group based in Montgomery, Alabama, known for placing individuals and organizations it disagrees with on its "hate map" or "extremists" list, like women's rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The SPLC and the National Lawyers Guild issued statements on Monday in response to the arrest of Jurgens, with the SPLC arguing that Jurgens was a legal observer acting on behalf of the NLG, and denied that he engaged in any wrongdoing. The employee is an experienced legal observer, and their arrest is not evidence of any crime, but of heavy-handed law enforcement intervention against protesters, stated SPLC. This is part of a months-long escalation of policing tactics against protesters and observers who oppose the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest to build a police training facility. The SPLC said it will continue to urge de-escalation of violence and police use of force against black, brown and indigenous communities working in partnership with these communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. Ariel View - Atlanta Public Safety Training Centerhttps://t.co/69v7LnaGP2pic.twitter.com/dcocG0mybH Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) March 6, 2023 The Atlanta Police Department said in a statement that the Sunday incident involved a group of violent agitators who used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to conduct a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers. They changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers, stated Atlanta authorities. The agitators destroyed multiple pieces of construction equipment by fire and vandalism. Multiple law enforcement agencies deployed to the area and detained several people committing illegal activity. Thirty-five agitators have been detained so far. Atlanta authorities explained that the illegal actions of the agitators could have resulted in bodily harm and that police exercised restraint and used non-lethal enforcement to conduct arrests. In recent years, the SPLC has garnered controversy for its decision to label several conservative Christian organizations as hate groups over their opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBT ideology. One of the organizations that the SPLC deemed a hate group was the Family Research Council. The organization was violently attacked in 2012 when a man attempted to shoot up their headquarters because he was inspired by the SPLC's Hate Map. This is not the first time the Southern Poverty Law Center has been connected to domestic terrorism, tweeted FRC President Tony Perkins on Monday. SPLC was connected to a 2012 domestic terrorist shooting at @FRCdc, but this one will be hard for them to dodge. An SPLC attorney was among the 23 Antifa terrorists arrested. What Nigeria's presidential election means for beleaguered Christians For years, Nigeria has earned the dubious honor of being the most deadly country on planet earth for Christians. While they comprise 49% of the population, Nigerian Christians are at great risk of violence, discrimination, and social ostracization by the countrys many extremist Muslims. In 2022, more than 4,000 Christians were killed by terrorists in Nigeria. In the lead-up to the countrys presidential election, held on Feb. 25, many hoped new leadership would open the door for Nigerias transformation into a place marked by religious freedom and protection. When the ballots were finally tallied, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim candidate from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner. While some religious freedom advocates worried that a Tinubu victory would serve to perpetuate the status quo, there are many reasons to maintain hope that he can usher in a freer Nigeria. While he admittedly has his work cut out for him, Tinubu can turn the tide of Islamist extremism and make Nigeria safe for Christians again. After eight years, outgoing President Buhari and his administration have left parts of Nigeria on the verge of collapse. Under his watch, the northern part of the country has become a frontier for Islamic extremist groups, warlords, and violence. What began as a crisis of human rights and religious freedom, has now tipped the country into a position where many experts believe Nigeria is already a failed state. More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in all other countries combined. The tragedy at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo State is just one example of the senseless attacks that have recently taken place in the country. In June 2022, terrorists armed with explosives stormed into the church during a service, shooting those who tried to escape and killing dozens. Global Christian Relief, the organization I lead, is helping the Christian community in Nigeria with trauma care and other aid. I have heard firsthand the shock and fear that the community is experiencing, and trust me, its harrowing. Leading up to this election, many religious freedom advocates hoped that third-party candidate Peter Obi, a self-avowed Christian, would be swept into office. In the end, Obi only earned about 25% of the vote. While President Tinubu is a Muslim himself, his faith tradition does not necessarily compromise his ability to lead the country toward a more just future. He made assurances along the campaign trail that he will not run his administration on the basis of religion. Its also notable that Tinubus wife is a Christian and an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Civil society must protect churches, synagogues, and mosques. Tinubu needs to focus like a laser on the key issue: dealing with extremists head-on to protect religious freedom and faith communities in Nigeria while restoring order and stopping the literal bleeding. In many ways, the situation in Nigeria represents what is taking place across the greater African continent. Nigerias northern states are largely Muslim, while southern states are predominantly Christian. The rising violence in the country began more than a decade ago when extremist groups, funded largely by ISIS sources, began attacking Christian minorities in the northern states. Twelve states in northern Nigeria now impose Sharia law and the violence has caused over two million people to flee to the south. Sadly, more than 10 Christians have been killed on average every day for the last several years. The Buhari administration proved to be incompetent, perhaps willfully so, when it came to dealing with extremism. He claimed Boko Haram had been defeated while continuing attacks by the group proved that was not the case. Well-equipped and technologically advanced, terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province follow sophisticated patterns. They cut off a communitys communications by sending jamming signals and then move in to burn and attack known Christian homes, businesses, and churches. When people try to escape, the terrorists have already set up roadblocks to trap and inflict further injury. The Biden administration has been tip-toeing around the issues concerning Nigeria, failing to do everything it can to help strengthen the country. Despite evidence of egregious human rights violations against Christians and religious minorities, the U.S. State Department inexplicably removed Nigeria from its Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list in 2021 and refused to add it back in 2022 despite much public confusion and outcry. Nigeria immediately needs to be added back to the CPC list. Not having that designation in place prevents the U.S. from publicly recognizing the full scope of the problem and imposing targeted sanctions on bad actors there. The State Department and Biden can play an important role in helping Tinubu create Nigeria so many hope for. The U.S. also needs to appoint a special envoy. In 2001, President Bush appointed John Danforth as a special envoy to Sudan when that area spun into chaos. A special envoy can coordinate responses across borders and bring together regional governments to coordinate more effectively to stop terrorism. Our embassy in Nigeria has fought this, and thus far the State Department has followed their lead, but the current crisis now demands a wider lens. Neighboring countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cameroon are all facing escalating violence from Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and others. As Africas largest nation with 220 million people, and abundant natural resources including oil, natural gas, and minerals, Nigeria is primed to be the continents economic leader. It could also become Africas religious rights leader. For this to happen, President Tinubu must work to regain the peoples trust and President Biden must leverage every tool available to make sure that Nigeria and the Sahel region do not become the next caliphate of murder. Only time will tell if both leaders are up for the challenge. Why Alex Murdaughs courtroom sentencing should alarm you Have you seen the video of Alex Murdaugh being sentenced for murdering his wife and son? The jury convicted the South Carolina lawyer in less than 3 hours. And if you are not yet prepared for your appointment in Gods courtroom, then Alex Murdaughs sentencing should definitely alarm you. Just as the heavens declare the glory of God, (Psalm 19:1) the courtrooms of this world remind us that everyone will ultimately appear before the Judge of the living and the dead. It is essential to enter God's courtroom having already been acquitted of all the charges against you. Otherwise, the Judge will have no other option than to throw the book at you so to speak. Alex Murdaugh assumed he was above the law. That is, until the jury handed down the guilty verdict and the judge handed down the sentence of life in prison. And if a South Carolina judge and jury will hold a man accountable for murdering his wife and son, how much more certain is it that God will hold you accountable for your misdeeds? When you enter God's courtroom on Judgment Day, you will be entering it either completely forgiven, or already under condemnation. You see, It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). So when Gods Word declares that God will bring every deed into judgment, (Ecclesiastes 12:14) you can be certain that it will happen! It is appointed for man once to die, and after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). God commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). The Lord comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth (Psalm 96:13). Do you seriously think you will be the only person on the planet to avoid being judged according to Gods righteousness and truth? Everyone will face their Creator and be held accountable to God, just like Alex Murdaugh was held accountable for murder. When was the last time you were alarmed over your sins? Perhaps you say, To be honest with you Dan, I cant say I have ever really been alarmed over my sins. It is critical that you experience godly sorrow. Without it, you will never repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). The Apostle Paul wrote: Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Worldly sorrow is simply being sorry that you got caught. Alex Murdaugh expressed sorrow over getting caught. Godly sorrow, on the other hand, is sorrow that you have sinned against God and broken His commandments. Paul defined godly sorrow this way: See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done (2 Corinthians 7:11). Godly sorrow is something the Holy Spirit produces in your heart as you become aware that your sins have greatly offended the Lord. In his natural state, man never becomes alarmed over his sins against God. The only time man becomes sorry is when he gets caught, as evidenced by the life of Alex Murdaugh. And you see where that got him. The tragic reality is that multitudes of people will enter Gods courtroom having lived on Earth without godly sorrow, faith in Christ, and the free gift of everlasting life in Heaven. The fact of the matter is that Jesus endured the punishment you and I deserve to pay for our sins. And the good news of the Gospel informs us that we are forgiven when we turn to God in repentance and receive a free pardon for our sins on account of Christ. (Luke 23:39-43) By placing our faith in Jesus' death for our sins, we are washed clean and we escape the eternal penalty that each one of us deserves to pay. God covers us with the righteousness of Christ when we trust Jesus to forgive us (Romans 3:21-26). God then sees us as holy in his sight on account of Christ. We are justified before God and instantly declared, Not guilty. But this acquittal must take place during your life on Earth. Otherwise, it will be too late for you to trust Christ to grant you a pardon. And Alex Murdaugh is a classic example of someone who chose not to do anything about his duplicitous conduct. He will now pay for the crimes he willingly chose to commit. You can run from the law, but it eventually catches up with you. And you can run from God, but you will eventually be brought into the Lords courtroom. Paul wrote, This will take place when God will judge mens secrets through Jesus Christ, as my Gospel declares (Romans 2:16). The Apostle John had a spectacular vision of future events. He wrote: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on itAnd I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the booksIf anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Perhaps you assume that you will never be held accountable for your sins. If so, I implore you to reconsider your misguided notion. Humble yourself before the Lord. Repent and turn to God while you still have time to do so. And then rely on Christs sacrifice on the cross as the payment for your sins. Your name will be written in the book of life as the Holy Spirit brings you to faith in Christ. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart (Hebrews 4:7). China, Russia working together to ensure global strategic balance, stability: FM Xinhua) 11:28, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- With China and Russia working together, the world will have the driving force toward multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, and global strategic balance and stability will be better ensured, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Actors Son Suk-ku, left, and Kim Sung-cheol / Courtesy of Acemaker Movieworks By Kwak Yeon-soo Actors Son Suk-ku and Kim Sung-cheol have been confirmed to star in "The Comments Army" (working title), a film based on a popular novel of the same name by Chang Kang-myoung. The crime drama film is loosely based on the National Intelligence Service's reputed involvement in the 2012 presidential election by publishing thousands of pro-Park Geun-hye posts and comments online. The election saw Park defeat Moon Jae-in. In the film, Son will play the role of a journalist named Sang-jin, an investigative journalist who was suspended after exposing wrongdoings by a conglomerate. With the aim of returning to the newsroom, he investigates the "army of internet trolls" accused of meddling in the election. Son's career took off when he played the enigmatic Mr. Gu with a troubled past in the JTBC series, "My Liberation Notes," in 2022. He played a vicious killer in crime action film, "The Roundup," which became one of the 2022's top-grossing films in Korea. He is currently starring in Disney+ drama, "Big Bet." "I'm really happy to be working with the people I'm working with right now," Son said. "The Comments Army" is directed by Ahn Gooc-jin, who is best known for his black comedy film, "Alice in Earnestland" (2015). Kim will star as the head of a troll farm that makes money from online activities. Following his critically acclaimed role in "The Night Owl" (2022), the actor has been performing in the play, "Shakespeare in Love." Starting in April, he will be appearing in "Death Note: The Musical." He was also cast for the cult leader role in the second season of Netflix's "Hellbound," which will begin filming in June. "When I read the script, I knew it was special. It was just a really fun and fast-paced script," Kim said. Rising Kim Dong-hwi, who rose to fame through the film, "In Our Prime" (2022) and tvN series "Stranger 2," will play the role of the whistleblower, while actor Hong Kyung, known for his role in Wavve series, "Weak Hero Class 1" (2022), will star as the character who engages in online trolling activities. The shooting of the film began on March 6, according to production company Acemaker Movieworks. Chang, the novelist, received the Jeju 4.3 Peace Prize and Today's Writer Award for "The Comments Army" in 2015 and 2016, respectively. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form This undated file photo shows cans of Japanese beer on display at a NH Nonghyup Hanaro Mart in Seoul. Korea Times file Korea's imports of Japanese beer hit the highest level in more than three years in January amid a waning anti-Japan campaign here, data showed Tuesday. The country brought in slightly over $2 million worth of Japanese beer in January, up a whopping 315 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service and the liquor industry. It marks the largest monthly figure since July 2019, a month before Koreans launched a boycott of Japanese goods in protest of Tokyo's export restrictions of some materials for chips and displays to Seoul. Japan made the move as Korea's top court ordered two Japanese companies to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor in 2018. Japan colonized the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45. Imports of Japanese beer were just above $4 million in July 2019, but tumbled to $223,000 a month later before bottoming out at $6,000 in September that year. But imports of Japanese beer have been growing amid a weakening anti-Japan sentiment in Asia's fourth-largest economy. Japanese beer imports reached $1.5 million in March 2022, topping the $1 million mark for the first time since July 2019. Imports of Japanese beer hovered above the $1 million mark for eight months running since May last year. Japanese beer imports more than doubled to over $14 million last year from $6.9 million a year earlier. Yet, Japanese beer accounted for a mere 7.4 percent of Korea's total beer imports last year, which paled to the 25.3 percent in 2018, a year before Japan's export curbs. (Yonhap) Since the onset of the pandemic, IT has risen in prominence as an engine for business sustainability and growth across all industries. The subsequent demand for enterprise IT talent has led to a sharp spike in salaries CIOs must pay to staff their teams. Demand for tech talent was up by 50% to 60% in the last two years, mainly attributable to industry-spanning hyper digitalization. Companies across verticals were ramping up digital functions with the increasing demand for innovation in products and service offerings, especially since the onset of the pandemic, says Sachin Alug, CEO of talent solutions company NLB Services. As companies strive to transform their business models specifically in manufacturing, supply chain, project management, and sales, the uptick in hiring IT talent was seen as a natural progression. While the rise in salaries for technology roles has bode well for IT professionals, it has posed challenges for CIOs in effectively managing their budgets with the increased demand on their IT departments. In response to the demands from business, the strength of our IT department has gone up from 20 to 50 in the last two years, says Ranganathan Iyer, CIO at auto components manufacturer JBM Group. The new resources have come at a 30% to 40% additional cost but there has only been an incremental y-o-y increase of 10% to 12% in our budgets. Iyer was expecting the massive layoffs taking place in the US to reflect in India too, which could have eased salaries. But while Big Tech in the US has retrenched thousands of workers since the pandemic as recession looms large over its economy, that hasnt happened in India. Describing India as a bright spot in the global economy, Kristalina Georgieva, MD of International Monetary Fund, has said the country will contribute 15% of the global growth in 2023. According to recruitment and staffing services company Randstad, Indian technology firms are expected to buck the global trend and start hiring in 2023. It is this Indian growth story that is causing high salaries to hold up, at least for the time being. Australian investment firm Subco is offering an alternative route for internet connectivity between Australia, Middle East and Europe through the Oman Australia Cable (OAC) by avoiding the earthquake prone route that currently goes through Malacca Strait. Subco OAC is already 9,800 km long, with landing points in Perth, West Island, and Cocos Islands in Australia, and Muscat. The company is now extending the undersea cable by 1,200 km to set up a new branch at Salalah in Oman. With a number of other major subsea cable systems interconnecting, or planning to interconnect, at Salalah, we hope to provide our customers with an express gateway for onward capacity from Australia to EMEA, and enable enhanced network performance, connectivity and resiliency for all of Australia, Bevan Slattery, founder and CEO of Subco said in a statement. The extension to the OAC will offer an alternative secure option through OAC for moving traffic from Australia to the Middle East and Europe, the company said. OAC will be secure and resilient, as it will traverse the deep waters of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, will be geographically diverse from all systems west of Australia, and will avoid shallow, congested and earthquake-prone passages, the company said. High volumes of network traffic in Asia are concentrated through the Java Sea and Malacca Strait (marred by) shallow, earthquake-prone waters that are frequented by local fishers and used as heavy shipping passages, Subco noted on its website. Subco avoids these congested pathways and leverages true geographical diversity by positioning OAC in the deep and largely untapped waters of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in this undated photo/ Korea Times file Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Tuesday the North is ready to take "overwhelming" actions against military activities by the United States and South Korea, as its rivals are staging joint military drills involving American strategic assets. Kim also said the North will regard any U.S. attempt to intercept a missile that it will fire as a "clear declaration of war" against the reclusive nation, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "We are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment," Kim said in an English-language statement carried by the state-run media, adding that the North is keeping close tabs on "restless military moves" by Seoul and Washington. South Korea and the U.S. conducted combined air drills Monday, involving at least one U.S. nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber, in the wake of Friday's similar drills mobilizing a U.S. B-1B bomber. Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Carlos Dada cant go home to El Salvador. The editor of the groundbreaking digital website El Faro, which he cofounded in 1998, has been living in exile for years because of the threat of violence and legal persecution. But his news organization is confronting another existential challenge: competing for visibility and relevance with El Salvadors charismatic and increasingly authoritarian president, Nayib Bukele. Its a battle that Dada says he is losing. El Faro was the first Salvadoran media outlet born in democracy, Dada noted in a speech last September at Columbia University, where he accepted an award from the International Press Institute. Now democracy is almost completely gone, and yet, thanks to an innovative, modern, and greased propaganda machine, Mr. Bukele is the Latin American president with the highest popular support, which raises a paradox: the communities we serve dont support us. Around the worldincluding in the United Statesmedia organizations are facing threats that go far beyond the usual press freedom concerns. The threats come from national political leaders like Bukele who are using social media to outcompete outlets in the information space and simultaneously undermine trust and credibility. The threats come from government influence operations that combine traditional propaganda with orchestrated harassment campaigns. They come from the tech platforms whose content moderation policies, engineered for engagement, reward outrage, not news. They come from lawfare, systematic legal harassment perpetrated by governments and private actors, often working together. They come from new business models that even when successful are difficult to scale. During my quarter century at the Committee to Protect Journalists, I struggled to find ways to address these threats within the existing human rights model, grounded in international law and based on the defense of individual rights. As I argued in a recent white paper published by the Tow Center on Digital Journalism, the best way to meet the array of challenges independent media face in the US and around the world is to combine press freedom and public interest, developing new arguments and strategies linked to the social value of independent journalism. Journalism protection represents an overarching new framework for defending both journalists and journalism as an institution. Censorship, repression, and legal persecution of media outlets are all violations of international law, and traditional name-and-shame strategies often remain the best response. But when political leaders like Bukele use social media support to rally the public against a publication and undermine trust, the calculus is more complex. After all, presidents have expressive rights, even when they lie. Supporting independent media against malicious spin may require investments in public education and media literacy campaigns, support for fact-checking organizations, and engagement with the platforms on content moderation policies. I saw the need for new thinking and new approaches as I traveled to conferences and met with journalists in my first few weeks in my new role, as the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Newmark Journalism School. On February 15, I attended the Black Twitter Summit at the Newmark School, in which a group of scholars, activists, and journalists explored the ways in which Black social media users were facing not only trolling and harassment but a kind of racial bias baked into the algorithms. Sign up for CJR 's daily email I saw it again when I attended the Knight Media Forum in Miami, where editors from the nonprofit media outlets that have led the national revitalization of local news described the challenge of gaining access to local city officials who had gone a generation without having to answer a tough question from a journalist. They do not like suddenly being held accountable, and are often hostile and unavailable, several editors told me. I saw this a third time when I attended a conference on the journalist-fixer relationship at the University of British Columbia. Journalists and editors flew in from around the world to discuss a huge challenge at the heart of global newsgatheringthe local journalists and producers who support international correspondents in the field say they are often marginalized, underpaid, and at risk, according to a study carried out by the Global Reporting Centre. None of these issuesso central to the future of journalismcan be resolved through rights-based advocacy alone. Instead, they must be addressed through changes in policy, within the industry, from the tech platforms, via education, and through reforms to laws and regulations. The arguments in favor of such changes should be grounded in the social value and contribution of journalism, particularly public interest journalism, as well as individual rights. This is the essence of journalism protection. Journalism protection also encompasses the challenges that individual journalists face in covering the news in an increasingly hostile environmentsuch as combating online harassment and confronting trauma. The scale and complexity of these problems makes clear that there are no easy solutions. But journalism protection represents a different way of talking and thinking about the challenges, building coalitions, and identifying the strategies that will improve the environment for both individual journalists and journalism as an institution in the United States and around the world. As for Carlos Dada and El Faro, when I met with him recently during a visit to New York he told me he and his team are digging in for a long fight. He is fortunate to have the support of the Knight First Amendment Institute, which is suing the NSO group, the makers of Pegasus, for allegedly implanting spyware on the phones of El Faro journalists. But even if they prevail in the courts, Dada acknowledges the ultimate battle that he and El Faro must win is for the hearts and minds of the Salvadoran public. El Faros struggle is the struggle of every media organization, for both safety and relevance. It requires combining traditional press freedom defense strategies with new approaches grounded in journalisms public interest role. Journalism protection is the banner that unites these aims. Joel Simon is the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. MUMMYS LOST. WHERE THE HELL IS OUR NICOLA? NICOLA: RIDDLE OF LOST DOG BALL. NICOLA: RIDDLE OF TWO MEN. NICOLA COPS SEARCH SEA. Someone local knows something. NICOLA: STAINED GLOVE FOUND. DONT BE AFRAID NIKKI COME HOME. NICOLA: ITS HEARTBREAK. These were all recent front-page headlines in one British tabloid, The Sun, about Nicola Bulley, a forty-five-year-old woman who went missing while walking her dog by a river near her home in the north of England in late January. Within a few days, police had said publicly that they didnt have any evidence of foul play in the case, but by that point, the story was already on its way to becoming a national obsession. In the weeks that followed, the coverage grew even louder. It reached a fever pitchthough by no means culminatedlate last month, when Bulleys body was recovered from the river. The massive interest in the case was the result of a perfect storm of factors, Karen Shalev Greene, the director of the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons at the University of Portsmouth, saidincluding the terrifying relatability of Bulleys story, and broader recent fears in the UK about womens safety in public places. Two London police officers have recently been jailed for rape and murder, respectively. The latter conversation is vitally important, but in many ways, the coverage of Bulleys disappearance offered a guided tour through the most ghoulish instincts of Britains media industry, with its powerful tabloids and even more widespread tabloid sensibility: at least one journalist paid at least one source for an interview; TV anchors traced Bulleys last steps live on air; pundits offered commentary on the clothes of a female police officer. (Skin tight navy dress, stilettos, poker straightened hairwhatever happened to a cop uniform! a Daily Mail columnist tweeted. Show some respect for a missing mother!) The story also shined a light on dynamicsnot least the dark side of our collective obsession with true crime and with whose disappearances get covered, and whythat will sound very familiar to followers of missing-persons coverage in the US. And it pointed, once again, to the blurred lines between journalists and influencers in our increasingly messy global information environment. The Bulley case blew up among amateur sleuths, some of whom, including people from the US, showed up at the scene of the disappearancescouting for supposed clues, poking around in adjacent buildings, and in one case crashing a sensitive press conference to record content for TikTok. At one point, local police issued dispersal orders so that they could forcibly move on people who were filming for social media. Meanwhile, on the internet, conspiracy theories about Bulleys disappearancethat her friends were crisis actors, that her husband was complicit in her disappearance, and so onabounded. There, too, police urged people to stop and threatened to take tougher action. Ive covered a few missing-persons cases before, Robyn Vinter, a journalist who was sent wild tips by a psychic and other readers as she covered the case for The Guardian, said recently, and Ive never had anything like this. Newsquest, a large British newspaper chain owned by Gannett, emailed editorial staff urging them to use a televised press conference in the Bulley case to steer eyeballs to the chains true-crime YouTube channel, according to a leaked email first reported by Conquest of the Useless, a Substack devoted to media criticism. The problem is, these cases of real pain and suffering, grief and damage get trivialized, said Jean Murley, the author of The Rise of True Crime: 20th Century Murder and American Popular Culture. They become just another story that generates fascination, interest, followers, and almost, in a way, fans. The Bulley case, Murley added, was perfectly poised to generate a high level of interest because it took place in a picturesque English village (one appeal of true crime is how it trades off the dichotomy between safety and fear) and featured a middle-class white mother as its central subject. In the US, the true-crime boom has often been linked to that of Missing White Woman Syndrome, a phrase coined by the late TV anchor Gwen Ifill, in 2004, to refer to the idea that attractive young white women are more likely to attract significant media attention than, for example, people of color and trans people who go missing. We wrote about the phenomenon in the context of the Gabby Petito case in the US in 2021, which itself attracted an army of social media sleuths; last year, CJR debuted a tool allowing users to see how much news coverage they are worth based on their demographic characteristics. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Missing White Woman Syndrome has sometimes been characterized as an outgrowth of the US historical imaginary: a legacy of racist mythmaking and news coverage of the abuse of white women at the frontier and in the postCivil War South, among other settings. But this phenomenon, too, also has more widespread underpinningsnot least a lack of diversity in newsroom staff and readershipand is thus, unsurprisingly, international in scope. Shalev Greene has seen evidence of it in coverage of missing persons in Australia and Canada as well as in the UK, where the Bulley story added to a number of other recent examples. Loved ones of disappeared people of color in the UK have spoken out repeatedly about a lack of media attention to their cases compared with those of high-profile white victims. Why wasnt my Black Rastafarian face on the TV doing a press conference sitting with police officers on either side? Carol Morgan, the mother of Joy Morgan, a student who went missing in 2018 and was later found murdered, said. Its because I was Black and I wasnt newsworthy. The families of missing persons often want to keep a media spotlight on their loved one, to help with the search. According to Vinter, of The Guardian, this seemed initially to be the case with Bulleys family, who gave interviews and had been open to answering the queries of various journalists. In the end, though, the sheer volume of coverage in the case proved difficult for the family to handle. On the day that Bulleys death was confirmed, the family put out a statement excoriating the media for, among other things, having misquoted and vilified her friends and family, running stories about us to sell papers and increase their own profits, and failing to respect the familys explicit request for privacy after a body was found. On the latter charge, the family called out two TV networks, ITV and Sky, by name for directly contacting grieving family members. (Sky had interviewed the family previously.) Following the statement, Ofcom, the body that regulates Britains broadcast media, said that it was extremely concerned, and asked ITV and Sky to explain themselves. Both networks have said that they are working to answer Ofcoms questions. Ofcom did not respond to our request for comment; nor did the Independent Press Standards Organisation, or ipso, which regulates Britains print media. Its not clear if either body has received a formal complaint from Bulleys family. But Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, has said that she was planning to file complaints with both regulatorsand to write to the British governmentabout the distasteful coverage not only of Bulley, but in recent stories about the killings of Brianna Ghey, a trans teenager who was misgendered in some coverage of her death, and Emma Pattison, a British teacher who was recently shot, alongside her seven-year-old daughter. The Mail asked in a headline whether living in the shadow of this high-achieving wife had driven Pattisons husband to murder her. In the wake of Bulleys killing, Shalev Greene says that she would like to see British lawmakers debate ways to strengthen the privacy rights of missing people and their families. Britain has had similar debates before. ipso grew out of the inquiry that followed the closure of Rupert Murdochs News of the World newspaper, in 2011, in the wake of a massive phone-hacking scandal. The US has privacy laws, but, with its strong First Amendment, does not have a UK-style national press regulator that can respond, at least rhetorically, to violations of privacy. Press-watchers can debate whether or not this is a good thing, and how effective regulation has been even in the British context. And other thorny questions raised by the coverage of Bulleys disappearanceand similar stories in the USwould seem to defy easy outside regulation, on both sides of the Atlantic. Ultimately, the press must itself take primary responsibility for a difficult balance here. Social media sleuths also defy easy regulation. They are not, after all, members of a single profession or engaged in a precisely defined activity, and they doand shouldenjoy broad free-speech rights. Ultimately, journalists cant control the ways in which obsessive news consumers spin our coverage. But the line between their behavior and that of certain members of the media can also be hard to draw; how different, after all, is a TikTok influencer tramping through a field searching for incriminating clues in the Bulley case from a TV anchor doing roughly the same thing with a bigger camera? Theres little you can accuse these citizen journalists of which doesnt hold true for many of their counterparts in traditional media, James Greig wrote recently for Dazed, of the coverage of the Bulley case. Indeed, when Bulleys family slammed the behavior of the media, it mentioned members of the public in the same breath. Other notable stories: Last night, on his Fox News show, Tucker Carlson started broadcasting surveillance footage from the January 6 insurrection that Kevin McCarthy, the Republican US House Speaker, recently handed to him, using it to spin a false narrative of exoneration. After continuing to sow doubt about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential electionCarlson used the footage to portray those who broke into the US Capitol as mostly peaceful patriots who simply felt wronged by the system, CNNs Oliver Darcy writes. McCarthy, of course, knew precisely what he was doing when he handed over the footage to Carlson while denying it to actual news organizations. Carlson has been one of the loudest, most obnoxious media figures denying the reality of January 6. In 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, the journalist Moira Donegan created a Google spreadsheet, called Shitty Media Men, that subsequently was used to crowdsource anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct against men working within the media industry. Donegan quickly took down the original spreadsheet, but its content had already spread online, and a year later, Stephen Elliott, an author, sued Donegan and the spreadsheets unnamed cocreators for defamation. A financial settlement has now been reached in the case; Jessica Testa has more details for the New York Times. The New Yorkers Masha Gessen spoke with journalists from TV Rain, an independent outlet that was ousted from Russia following that countrys invasion of Ukraine and set up shop in exile in Latvia, only to have its license revoked in the latter country after a host used language that sounded pro-Russian. Independent Russian journalists in Latvia have had to grapple with public distrust and strict regulations, Gessen reports. Last year, police in the UK detained four journalists who were covering a climate protest. Now, following pressure from the countrys House of Lords, the government has pledged to amend a public-order bill to protect journalists against arrest while covering protests in the future. Officials initially said that an amendment was unnecessary because the police officers in the climate-protest case had admitted that their actions were unlawful. And The Intercepts Nick Turse recounts how US diplomats in Niger gave him the runaround after he showed up at the US embassy for a scheduled briefing that officials tried to cancel at the last minute. A State Department security official stationed at the embassy denied Turse entry, then threatened to call local law enforcement on himeven though Niger, as Turse notes, has a bad record on press freedom. ICYMI: 2024 coverage is shaping up to be the same as always Jon Allsop and Jem Bartholomew are the authors of this article. Jon Allsop writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Jem Bartholomew is a Reporting Fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaks to journalists after the IAEA's Board of Governors' meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, March 6. Reuters-Yonhap The chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Tuesday "deeply troubling" signs of activity are continuously being detected at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made the remarks amid speculation that the North appears to be preparing for what would be its first nuclear test since 2017. "The Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri remains prepared to support a nuclear test, and we continue to see indications of activity near Adit 3 of the Test Site," he said in a statement to the board of governors. "The reopening of the nuclear test site is deeply troubling." He noted that the road to the former Adit 4 entrance has been rebuilt, though the agency has not observed any indications of excavation. The secretive North also appears to be operating the 5-megawatt reactor and the reported centrifuge enrichment facility at the Yongbyon nuclear site, Grossi said. "There were indications of possible tests of the light water reactor (LWR) cooling system in late September and early October, and changes to the LWR's cooling water outlet channel in October," he added. (Yonhap) This photo, taken from an observatory in the South Korean border city of Paju, Tuesday, shows a village in the North Korean town of Kaepung. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The North Korean leader's powerful sister warned, Tuesday, that the country is prepared to overwhelmingly respond to military activities by South Korea and the United States. "The demonstrative military moves and all sorts of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so extremely frantic as not to be overlooked, undoubtedly provide the DPRK with conditions for being forced to do something to cope with them," Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "As already clarified, we keep our eye on the restless military moves by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment." She also added that the U.S. and South Korea should refrain from any further behaviors that aggravate the situation. Her remarks came after Seoul and Washington carried out a combined air drill, Monday, involving a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber. The U.S. also sent a B-1B strategic bomber for another drill, Friday. Less than a week from now, the allies plan to hold the Freedom Shield exercise from March 13 to 23, during which they will also stage several combined field training exercises around the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has responded strongly to the annual military exercise, denouncing it as a rehearsal for invasion. Also referring to U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. John Aquilino, who was quoted in media recently saying that if North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the Pacific, the U.S. will intercept it immediately, she describes the possible response as a "clear declaration of war" against her country. "I don't know if he really made such improper words to speak for the stand of the U.S. military or if it was nothing but the puppet media's trite wordplay, but I clearly warn in advance irrespective of any reason whether it is true or not," she said, adding that the Pacific Ocean is not under the dominion of the U.S. or Japan. North Korea recently threatened that it could use the Pacific as its "firing range" in response to joint military drills by the U.S. and the South. She also delivered a message to the U.S. "It will be regarded as a clear declaration of war against the DPRK, in case such military response as interception takes place against our tests of strategic weapons that are conducted without being detrimental to the security of neighboring countries in the open waters and air which do not belong to the U.S. jurisdiction," she said. The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said at a regular board meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday (local time), that North Korea's nuclear test site in Punggye-ri shows "deeply troubling" signs of activity. As of May last year, North Korea is believed to have made full preparations for a possible seventh nuclear test, according to South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. A self-propelled artillery K-55A1 of the 17th Army Division is firing shells at the Mugun-ri Training Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on March 3. Yonhap The South Korean military on Tuesday denied as "groundless" North Korea's claims that it fired more than 30 artillery shells at a shooting range near the inter-Korean border. A spokesperson for the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army (KPA) claimed the firing took place at the range in Paju, northwest of Seoul, earlier in the day, calling it a "very grave military provocation." "There was no artillery firing by our military in the region where the North claims (the firing occurred)," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. "The announcement by the North Korean military's General Staff is not true and a groundless claim." The KPA General Staff's spokesperson said that after the alleged firing, it ordered artillery units under the Second Army Corps to "get on the firepower alert posture for attack," and took a "step to intensify the overall front guard and the anti-aircraft combat duty." (Yonhap) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for a photo prior to their talks in New York, in this file photo taken Sept. 21, 2022, as they meet on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol could visit Japan this month for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following Seoul's decision to compensate wartime forced labor victims without Japanese firms' involvement, the presidential office said Tuesday. The visit is under strong consideration, the office said, making it the first time in four years detailed discussions are taking place over a South Korean president's visit to Japan. Kyodo News and other Japanese media outlets have reported Yoon could visit the neighboring country on March 16-17. The trip would come on the heels of Seoul's decision to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through a foundation supported by donations from South Korean businesses, not the Japanese firms accused of forced labor. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Gorge Social 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 From front, South Korea's destroyer ROKS Sejong the Great, U.S. destroyer USS Barry and Japan's destroyer JS Atago participate in a joint missile defense drill in the East Sea, Feb. 22. Courtesy of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff By Nam Hyun-woo South Korea's resolution on compensating victims of Japan's wartime forced labor is raising hopes of a rosy outlook on trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. Experts say the diplomatic fray between South Korea and Japan has been the "weak link" in trilateral security cooperation and the resolution will play a pivotal role in improving Seoul-Tokyo relations. This, at the same time, is also expected to help South Korea send a signal to the world that it is siding with the United States, without ruffling China's feathers. "The diplomatic friction between South Korea and Japan has been the weak link in the trilateral security cooperation scheme," Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told The Korea Times. "After Seoul-Tokyo relations turned sour, China and Russia began to conduct joint military exercises. This clearly shows the strategic meaning of the resolution that it is seeking to stabilize geopolitical issues in the East Sea by improving ties with Japan," Go added. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled a plan, Monday, to compensate 15 wartime victims through a public foundation which will be primarily funded by Korean companies, instead of responsible Japanese firms. In response, the Japanese government welcomed the settlement, expressing hopes to "restore healthy ties." During a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said the resolution is an outcome of the government's efforts to find a measure "that serves the two countries' mutual benefits and future progress." "Japan has transformed from a militaristic aggressor of the past into a partner that shares the same universal values with us and cooperate in global agendas including security, economy and science technology," Yoon said. "The future-oriented cooperation between South Korea and Japan will protect the freedom, peace and prosperity of not only the two countries but also the entire world." As Yoon said, the resolution is aimed at helping Seoul and Tokyo to improve their relations and strengthen the trilateral security cooperation involving the U.S., in order to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. At the same time, this signals that Seoul is taking a clear stance of leaning toward Washington in the U.S.-China rivalry. In September last year, the Chinese Navy participated in the Russia-led Vostok-2022 multinational military drill in the East Sea, immediately after South Korea and the U.S. jointly conducted the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. In this regard, the improved relations between Seoul and Tokyo are in line with the interests of the U.S., which aims to use the trilateral bloc to contain assertions from China and Russia. Hours after Seoul announced the resolution, U.S. President Joe Biden released a statement and hailed it as "a groundbreaking new chapter" and a step in advancing "our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific." President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for photo during their trilateral summit in Madrid, Spain, June 29, 2022. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon Apple-focused device management and security vendor Jamf today published its Security 360: Annual Trends report, which reveals the five security tends impacting organizations running hybrid work environments. As it is every year, the report is interesting, so I spoke to Michael Covington, vice president of portfolio strategy, for more details about what the company found this year. First, here's a brief rundown of some of the salient points in the report: In 2022, 21% of employees were using devices that were misconfigured, exposing the device and the employee to risk. 31% of organizations had at least one user fall victim to a phishing attack. 7% of Android devices accessed third-party app stores, which often provide versions of legitimate apps that have been tampered with to include malicious code that infects user devices, compared to 0.002% of iOS devices. New malware infections dropped from just over 150 million to about 100 million, with malicious network traffic continuing to be more prevalent. The report confirms that some of the most well-known bad security habits continue. For example, 16% of users are regularly exposing confidential or sensitive data by sharing it via unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots. Security 360 also gives a good set of insights into how important privacy is to overall enterprise security. The report points to a range of ways in which privacy, once broken, creates security instability, including nation states that subvert device security to watch, photograph, and record what people do in order to blackmail or otherwise exploit victims. Another threat is poor data lifecycle management, when companies that do gather private information dont protect that data well enough. The company continues to invest in approaches to challenge all of these. Theres a host of additional information available in the report, which you can explore here. An interview with Michael Covington Covington has extensive experience in tech. A published computer science researcher and IT pro, he has held leadership roles at Intel, Cisco Security, and Juniper Networks. Jamf Michael Covington, vice president of portfolio strategy. At Jamf, he oversees the blending of the companys security and management solutions into a cohesive platform and has a self-described passion for working on products that sit at the intersection of security, privacy and usability. Heres what he had to say: Why typically do business employees have misconfigured devices? What can a business do to manage these, particularly when using employee-owned devices? "Misconfigurations occur when organizations choose not to manage, or under-manage, the devices their employees use for work. This could be a result of limited IT staffing, poorly defined standards, or a desire to operate an unrestricted IT program. Regardless of the reasons, these misconfigurations significantly increase the risk organizations face. "Many organizations look at security in the context of an incident;' they want to stop bad things from happening, so they focus on threat events like malware detection and phishing blocks. What they fail to realize, however, is that the best risk management begins by practicing good security hygiene. Organizations need to do more to ensure that every device meets the companys baseline standards regardless of whether it is company-owned, contractor-operated, or a personal device used under a BYOD program before it is allowed to access sensitive business data. "Beyond basic management controls, organizations must also look to their users to maintain proper device configurations over time. Users should be part of the security solution, and that includes actioning updates to the operating system or applications in a timely fashion, when prompted." What is the consequence of a phishing attack? Do they typically lead to further breaches? What is the average consequence to a user? "Successful phishing attacks inevitably lead to consequences down the road. A worst-case scenario occurs when work credentials are stolen by an attacker who uses them to subsequently steal valuable business data, to blackmail the organization, or pivot to the next system or social engineering exploit. Other side effects can include misinformation campaigns launched against the business or its partners, personal data loss, and financial exploitation." How can you tell a legitimate software store from an illegitimate one? What can be done to protect users? "The best software stores have well-documented processes in place to vet incoming applications and monitor for abuses over time. The iOS AppStore and the Google Play store are great examples of where a defined process helps eliminate a lot of the risk up-front, before users download the apps. "But there are plenty of examples of where this isnt always possible or desirable. As organizations adopt more applications that are distributed by third parties outside of the app stores a scenario that is quite common with macOS, for example they also need to have processes in place to manage the lifecycle around those applications. "Best practices include assessing the permissions each app requests to ensure the developers respect end user privacy, maintaining regular checks to ensure the most stable and secure version is distributed to devices, and monitoring known vulnerabilities for each application to understand the organizations risk exposure." What is the difference between malicious network traffic and malware? Are they seeking different things? "All malware is built with an intended purpose. Some malware was designed to deliver advertisements. Some malware encrypts data so the attacker can demand a ransom. And some malware steals intellectual property. Most modern malware is connected to infrastructure that is used to facilitate distribution, implement command & control, and receive exfiltrated content. "Malicious network traffic refers to the network-based infrastructure that supports malware campaigns and data theft. Network-based indicators of compromise can serve as a strong indicator of malicious activity on a device, even when a specific malware has not yet been identified on the device. "Jamf Threat Labs recently discovered a malicious cryptomining campaign that was targeting macOS devices through compromised pirated software; the software used network communication to send mined cryptocurrency to the attacker." Isn't using a virus checker enough? (No is the answer, but why?) "No, a virus checker is not enough. Organizations should be thinking holistically about their endpoint security solutions. Good security on the device begins with secure baselines that are established and maintained over time. Best practices include regular checks on OS patch levels and application versions. "And when it comes to malware detection, organizations must be using solutions that go beyond signature detection. Data-driven heuristics and machine learning have reached a level of maturity that result in more accurate detections and far fewer false positives. Its time to embrace these technologies. "Finally, device security should include tools to help prevent user-introduced risk. This includes protections against sophisticated phishing attacks and social engineering exploits that trick users into installing malicious code on the device. "Organizations should avoid thinking in security silos. Malware detection, for example, is only minimally useful in isolation. IT and security teams should start looking for an overall assessment of endpoint health that can be communicated to other tools and infrastructure so that intelligence can help provide better protections for the organizations most sensitive applications. How can employers/employees better protect themselves against social engineering-based attacks? "Organizations invest in tools and employee training that protect corporate data. To take this a step further, organizations can and should help employees improve security and privacy in their personal life, as when workers are educated on personal security risks, they are more likely to help improve their habits when dealing with those same risks at work. "Employers should have a multi-pronged approach. First, start with education. Some ways organizations can help employees is by implementing a regular data privacy hygiene day, offering workshops and training on improving their personal data privacy and providing bite-sized tutorials and warnings on a regular cadence through already-utilized tools. Second, invest in tools that prevent users from making mistakes. Organizations need to do more to ensure that every device meets the companys baseline standards regardless of whether it is company-owned, contractor-operated, or a personal device used under a BYOD program before it is allowed to access sensitive business data. Beyond basic management controls, organizations must also look to their users to maintain proper device configurations over time. Users should be part of the security solution, and that includes actioning updates to the operating system or applications in a timely fashion, when prompted. Third, go back again to educate! Dont shame mistakes, instead share learnings to encourage best practice and sharing of phishing attempts so users know what to look for. Employee training must go beyond the annual classroom requirements and include a cultural element that places security at the top of every employees job responsibility list." What should employers look for when sourcing employee security training? "Most critically, employers should ensure that their employee security training has been modernized. Content should cover on-premises use cases, remote/anywhere work scenarios, a combination of desktop, laptop, and mobile form-factors, plus include references to cloud applications. Users should feel like they are the first line of defense and not be ashamed to report incidents they have observed." What can an enterprise do to protect against the weak links in their security chain (human or otherwise)? "Implement a comprehensive security program with transparency. Do not blame/shame users who fall victim to social engineering. Share details (within reason) on where mistakes have been made. Encourage sharing. Talk about the wins and the attacks that were successfully thwarted so users feel bought into the solutions. Dont compromise personal privacy. Dont implement draconian policies. Focus on productivity, not blocking users." Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. U.S. President Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol look at each other during their joint press conference at South Korea's presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, May 21, 2022. Yonhap Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will visit the United States next month for a summit with President Joe Biden, the White House said Tuesday. "President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee of the Republic of Korea (ROK) for a State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on April 26, 2023," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a released statement, referring to South Korea by its official name. She noted Yoon's upcoming trip will mark the second state visit by a foreign leader to the U.S. since Biden took office in January 2021. "The upcoming visit celebrates the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world," the released statement said. "President Biden and President Yoon will highlight the importance and enduring strength of the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance as well as the United States' unwavering commitment to the ROK," it added. Korea and the U.S. signed their Mutual Defense Treaty 70 years ago in October 1953. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, center, meets troops participating in the Exercise Teak Knife on Feb. 27, in this photo released by his office. Yonhap Korean and U.S. military authorities are in consultations on a possible visit to Seoul by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark A. Milley later this month, an informed source said Tuesday. If agreed, he is likely to visit the country after the allies conclude their combined Freedom Shield exercise set to take place from next Monday through March 23, according to the source. The general previously visited Seoul in December 2021. Security leaders are embracing zero trust, with the vast majority of organizations either implementing or planning to adopt the strategy. The 2022 State of Zero-Trust Security report found that 97% of those surveyed either have or plan to have a zero-trust initiative in place within 18 months. In fact, the percentage of organizations with zero trust already in place more than doubled in just one year, jumping from 24% in 2021 to 55% in the 2022 survey issued by identity and access management technology provider Okta. And that 55% is more than three times the figure it was four years ago; when Okta first asked security leaders whether they had a zero-trust initiative in place or were planning one within the following 18 months for its 2018 report, only 16% answered yes. The growing use of zero trust mirrors the increasing security challenges faced by enterprise leaders. Organizations have seen their attack surfaces grow, especially as they have enabled widescale remote work policies and extended the number of endpoint devices residing outside corporate walls. At the same time, the volume and velocity of cyberattacks have skyrocketed. The technology landscape is evolving, and as organizations adopted cloud and with more mobile devices and more bring-your-own devices, remote and hybrid work, and adversaries becoming more sophisticated, it all led to changes in the threat landscape. As a result, the old security model is no longer scalable, says Imran Umar, who as a senior cyber solution architect at Booz Allen Hamilton spearheads zero-trust initiatives in support of the US Department of Defense, federal civilian agencies, and the intelligence community. The old perimeter security model is dead That old security model focused on perimeter defenses, an approach that earned comparisons to creating a moat around the castle, working to keep out dangers while allowing everyone and everything within the castle walls to move around with few, if any, impediments. That model, though, falsely assumed users and devices within the corporate environment could be trusted. It discounted insider threats and the potential for bad actors to successfully penetrate the perimeter and disguise themselves as trusted entities that belonged within the environment. Moreover, that model became incompatible with a 21st-centuryst century IT architecture that, with cloud computing and an explosion of endpoint devices requiring access to enterprise systems from outside the corporate IT environment, obliterated the perimeter. Security leaders started shifting their security strategies in response to those changes. They moved away from relying mostly or solely on perimeter defenses and instead began implementing controls such as data-level authentication and encryption to secure enterprise assets at a more granular level. In 2010, John Kindervag, then a Forrester Research analyst (and now senior vice president of cybersecurity strategy and group fellow at ON2IT Cybersecurity), promoted the idea that an organization should not extend trust to anything inside or outside its perimeters. In that process, he created the concept of zero trust. Interest in and adoption of zero trust principles have grown steadily since. The White House gave zero trust an additional boost in May 2021, when in an executive order it declared that the federal government must adopt security best practices and advance toward zero-trust architecture. What is zero trust? At its core, zero trust is a way to think about and structure a security strategy based on the idea of trust no one and nothing, verify everything. Zero trust is saying: dont assume anything. Allow agents and users the least privilege and the least access they need to get their jobs done. And dont assume any privilege without verifying, says Steve Wilson, principal analyst at Constellation Research. Often called the zero-trust security model or the zero-trust framework, it is an approach to designing and implementing a security program based on the notion that no user or device or agent should have implicit trust. Instead, anyone or anything a device or system that seeks access to corporate assets must prove it should be trusted. Its a philosophy. Its a mindset. Its an evolution of defense-in-depth, says Ismael Valenzuela, senior instructor at the SANS Institute, which provides security training, certifications, and research. He notes that this approach when properly implemented, not only helps prevent bad actors from gaining access to networks, systems, and data but also shortens detection and reaction times if anything nefarious gets through. This security model calls for implementing controls that remove implicit trust and instead require verification across multiple pillars. The number of pillars varies among the different frameworks, with most identifying either five or seven. The pillars of zero trust The five-pillar framework typically lists the individual pillars as: Identity, Device, Network, Application workload and Data. The US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, better known as CISA, uses five pillars in its maturity model. Others list seven pillars. Forrester, for one, introduced its Zero Trust eXtended Ecosystem concept in 2018, identifying the seven core pillars of zero trust as: Workforce security, Device security, Workload security, Network security, Data security, Visibility and analytics, and Automation and orchestration. Others, including security technology vendors, offer additional variations on these pillars, some listing six and others giving alternative names such as monitor and remediate and endpoint protection. Some also describe various areas as specifically zero trust, as in zero-trust architecture (ZTA) and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) terms that indicate that zero-trust principles have been applied to those parts of the IT infrastructure. Regardless of such differences, experts stress that the objective remains the same: to remove implicit trust throughout the environment and instead use processes, policies, and technologies to continuously authenticate and authorize entities as trustworthy before actually granting access. The zero-trust journey Removing that implicit trust takes time, according to experts, and most organizations are far from accomplishing that objective. Its a journey of change, says Chalan Aras, a member of the Cyber & Strategic Risk practice at Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory. Zero trust is also a collection of policies, procedures, and technologies. Organizations that want to implement an effective zero-trust strategy must have an accurate inventory of assets, including data. They must have an accurate inventory of users and devices as well as a robust data classification program with privileged access management in place, Valenzuela says. Other components include comprehensive identity management, application-level access control, and micro-segmentation (which helps control access and limit movement within the IT environment). Another important element is user and entity behavior analytics, which uses automation and intelligence to learn normal (and therefore accepted and trusted) user and entity behaviors from anomalous behaviors that shouldnt be trusted and therefore denied access. Other technologies for zero trust include network detection and response (NDR) tools, endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, and multifactor authentication capabilities. Challenges to implementing zero trust This plethora of policies, procedures and technologies required to enable a zero-trust strategy can be an obstacle for many organizations, Valenzuela says. Another challenge to success: legacy technology, as older systems often cant work with or support the elements of a zero-trust security model. Financial constraints and resistance to change are additional barriers. Organizations generally cant afford to replace existing security technologies and modernize legacy tech all at once, nor can they successfully manage to move workers to new policies and procedures in one fell swoop. There are a lot of investments that have been made over the years that you cannot just throw away, Valenzuela says. Yet another challenge is the user pushback that zero trust will inevitably bring into the environment, Wilson says, adding that zero trust raises friction, and friction is the enemy of the user experience. Wilson cites one more challenge to overcome: the additional complexity that zero trust brings. Most organizations are in the earlier stages of implementing the controls required to enable this approach and few have reached full maturity. The 2022 Okta report, for example, indicates that only 2% of all companies worldwide have implemented passwordless access indicating that their zero-trust maturity is evolved, or the highest maturity level of the five levels listed by Okta. Implement zero trust in stages Given the scope of work that zero trust involves, and the challenges that come with it, experts advise moving forward in steps. The goal should be: What can I do today, this week, this month to implement less implicit trust? Valenzuela says. Similarly, Aras says he advises enterprise leaders to break down their zero-trust journeys into three buckets: do now, do next, and do later. He puts, for example, identity initiatives into the do now category as well as ZTNA, where depending on how old the tech stack is, it could be a minor change or it could be a major change. He says network segmentation and application segmentation could be do now or do next activities, depending on an organizations existing security and tech maturity. Its important to start with where am I now? The better that [analysis] is performed, the more likely the do now, do next and do later recommendations will be accurate. Chinese FM urges Japan not to choose beggar-thy-neighbor approach Xinhua) 12:19, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Should some people from the Japanese side choose the beggar-thy-neighbor approach rather than pursue a friendly partnership, and take part in a new Cold War to contain China, the bilateral relations would only suffer new wounds when the old ones are yet to be healed, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Tuesday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The defense chiefs of South Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed Tuesday to install a regular ministerial-level dialogue on arms industry cooperation during their talks in Seoul, the defense ministry here said. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his Saudi counterpart, Khalid bin Salman, held the talks as a follow-up to the two countries' summit in November last year, where their leaders voiced hope for stronger cooperation in defense, energy and other sectors. Lee and Khalid agreed to institute the dialogue, and hold it annually to conduct "systematic and practical" discussions on bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, according to the ministry. "The two ministers agreed to work together to develop defense and arms industry cooperation between the two nations in a future-oriented manner based on the two countries' solid trust and cooperative relationship," it said in a press release. Lee expressed expectations that ongoing negotiations on South Korea's defense exports to Saudi Arabia will be concluded successfully, while explaining progress that the country's arms industry has made. The ministry did not elaborate on the negotiations. Saudi Arabia is known to be considering the introduction of the South Korean-made Cheongung II midrange surface-to-air missile system. Khalid reiterated his country's intent to cooperate closely with South Korea, according to the ministry. It marks the first visit by a Saudi defense minister to Seoul's defense ministry. (Yonhap) By Microsoft Security Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks represent a significant threat for enterprise businesses. They start when an individual device (bot) or network of devices (botnet) is infected with malware. From there, the bot or botnet will flood websites or services with high volumes of traffic in an attack that can last anywhere from hours to days. In recent years, weve even seen politically motivated attackers, also known as hacktivists, use DDoS attacks to extort site owners for financial, competitive advantage, or political reasons. We saw this in February 2022 when anti-Ukraine hacktivist attackers launched what has been described as the largest DDoS attack in history against Ukrainian banking and government websites as a prelude to Russias invasion. And while its impossible to avoid being a target of a DDoS attack entirely, proactive planning and preparation can help you more effectively defend against an attack. You just need to understand how they work. What are DDoS attacks? A DDoS attack starts by flooding a site or server with errant traffic to disrupt service or knock it offline. Thanks to the cybercrime as a service business model, these attacks can be ordered from a DDoS subscription service for as little as $500. There are new DDoS attack vectors emerging every day as cybercriminals leverage more advanced techniques, such as AI-based attacks, to disrupt everyday operations. In general, DDoS attacks fall under three primary categories, with various cyberattacks within each. The categories are as follows: Volumetric attacks: Primarily focused on bandwidth, volumetric attacks are designed to overwhelm the network layer with traffic. One common example is domain name server (DNS) amplification attack, which uses open DNS servers to flood a target with DNS response traffic. Protocol attacks: This attack targets resources by exploiting weaknesses in the layer 3 and layer 4 protocol stack. One example of a protocol attack is synchronization packet flood (SYN), which consumes all available server resourcesthus making a server unavailable. Resource layer attacks: As the final category of DDoS, resource layer attacks are designed to disrupt data transmission between hosts by targeting web application packets. This can be seen in SQL injection attacks, which insert malicious code into strings that are later passed to an instance of SQL Server for parsing and execution. Its important to realize that threat actors can use multiple attack types, including ones from different categories, against a network. Luckily, there are strategies that you can implement to strengthen your protection. How to help protect against and respond to DDoS attacks Any website or server downtime can result in lost sales and customers, high recovery costs, or damage to your reputation. The impact is even more significant for smaller organizations as it can be harder for them to recover after an attack. Here are six tips when it comes to dealing with DDoS attacks: Evaluate your risks and vulnerabilities: Start by identifying the applications within your organization that are exposed to the public internet. Also, be sure to note the normal behavior of your application so you can respond quickly if it begins behaving differently than expected. Make sure youre protected: DDoS attacks tend to spike during peak business seasons, such as the holidays. Thats why we recommend choosing a DDoS protection service with advanced mitigation capabilities that can handle attacks at any scale. Look for service features such as traffic monitoring; adaptive real-time tuning; DDoS protection telemetry, monitoring, and alerting; and access to a rapid response team. Create a DDoS response strategy: Having a response strategy is critical to help you identify, mitigate, and quickly recover from DDoS attacks. Your DDoS rapid response team should understand how to identify, mitigate, and monitor an attack and be able to coordinate with internal stakeholders and customers. Identify potential weaknesses: We recommend running attack simulations to test how your services will respond to an attack. During testing, validate that your services or applications continue to function as expected and there's no disruption to the user experience. Identify gaps from both a technology and process standpoint and incorporate them in the DDoS response strategy. We recommend that you perform such tests in staging environments or during non-peak hours to minimize the impact on the production environment. Reach out for help during an attack: If you think you are experiencing an attack, reach out to the appropriate technical professionals, such as an established DDoS response team, for help with attack investigation during an attack, as well as post-attack analysis. Learn and adapt after an attack: While youll likely want to move on as quickly as possible if youve experienced an attack, its important to continue to monitor your resources and conduct a retrospective analysis. Make sure you consider whether there was any disruption to the service or user experience due to a lack of scalable architecture. We also recommend evaluating which applications or services suffered the most and how effective your DDoS response strategy was. Finally, identify where there is room for improvement. Of course, DDoS attacks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to emerging cyber threats. For more information on ongoing cybersecurity developments and best practices, check out Microsoft Security Insider. President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hand with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul on Tuesday. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, and discussed ways to strengthen arms industry and defense cooperation between the two countries, his office said Tuesday. During the meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Yoon called on the two countries to boost cooperation for peace as economic and security partners, presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a written briefing. "As very important partners in economy and security, let's strengthen cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East and the world," Yoon said. He mentioned Saudi Arabia's push for defense reform and said the two countries could create bigger "synergy" if they share their experience and visions for the mission. Promising to actively push for cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the arms industry, Yoon asked Khalid to deliver his greetings to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In response, Khalid said cooperation between the two countries has become more elaborate since the crown prince's visit to Seoul in November last year. He said the two countries have built an unprecedented tie in areas like the economy and defense based on deep mutual understanding. (Yonhap) The British people have had enough. I have had enough. Tens of thousands of illegal migrants pouring across the Channel every year, and in ever greater numbers. We cannot sustain it. Moreover, it makes us less safe. We all know that strong border security underpins our national security. It is not racist to say we have too many illegal migrants abusing our asylum system. Nor is it bigoted to say that the financial and social costs of uncontrolled migration are unsustainable. These are hard truths. Hard truths that Keir Starmer, his Labour Party and the wider establishment dismiss as nationalist intolerance. Thats why stopping the boats is my top priority. Its why the Prime Minister made stopping the boats one of his five pledges to the British people. Its why yesterday we introduced the Illegal Migration Bill to solve this problem once and for all. The United Kingdom must always support the worlds most vulnerable. And this Government has gone further than any previous one to do so. Weve given sanctuary to 150,000 Hong Kongers, provided refuge to 160,000 Ukrainians fleeing Putins illegal war, and provided a home for more than 20,000 Afghans escaping the Taliban. The small boats problem is part of a larger global migration crisis. In the coming years, countries similar to ours will face unprecedented pressures from ever greater numbers of people leaving the developing world, trying to come to places like the UK. Unless we act today, the problem will be even worse tomorrow. The British people have had enough. I have had enough ens of thousands of illegal migrants pouring across the Channel every year, and in ever greater numbers. We cannot sustain it The volume of people illegally entering this country has overwhelmed our system. The asylum backlog has ballooned to over 160,000 people. It is costing taxpayers 3billion a year and rising. Some 85,000 people have arrived illegally by small boat since 2018, 45,000 of them last year alone. Many came from safe countries, like Albania. All travelled through safe countries where they could and should have claimed asylum. The vast majority 74 per cent in 2021 were adult males under the age of 40, rich enough to pay criminal gangs thousands to break into the UK. Upon arrival, some simply disappear we dont know where they go or what they do. But most are accommodated in hotels, costing the taxpayer around 6million a day. And when we try to remove them, they weaponise our generous asylum laws against us. The completely unacceptable scenes starting to play out on our streets grimly foreshadow the sorts of community tensions we will see if we dont get a grip. In the face of todays global migration crisis, yesterdays laws are simply not fit for purpose. There are 100 million people displaced around the world, and likely billions more eager to come here if possible. They are already coming here in their tens of thousands. And they will not stop until weve made it crystal clear: Arrive illegally and you will be liable for detention and swiftly removed to your home country or to a safe third country like Rwanda. That is precisely what the Illegal Migration Bill will do. That is how we will stop the boats. Among a range of tough measures the Bill will, for the first time, give a much-needed legal duty for me to arrange the removal of illegal migrants. It will give us the power to detain illegal arrivals without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, until they are removed. It is not racist to say we have too many illegal migrants abusing our asylum system. Nor is it bigoted to say that the financial and social costs of uncontrolled migration are unsustainable. These are hard truths It will end the abuse of our modern slavery regime, stopping illegal arrivals from using these laws to avoid their removal. Only those medically unfit to fly, unaccompanied children and those at real risk of serious and irreversible harm in the safe third country may have their removal delayed. Any other human rights claims or challenges will be accessible only after theyve been removed. Our ability to control our borders cannot be a hostage to secretive hearings in foreign courts where we have no opportunity to make our case or even appeal those decisions. Thats why weve initiated discussions with the Strasbourg court, to ensure the sorts of blocking orders that prevented our flights to Rwanda last year are reformed. And its why the Bill will set out the conditions for the UKs future compliance with any similar orders. The Bill will also introduce an annual quota, to be determined by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will accept through safe and legal routes. This will allow us to plan with local authorities for an orderly system that takes into consideration local capacity. The British people are fair and generous. But their patience has run out. Time after time, theyve been promised a fix for this problem. But the establishment forces allied against these solutions have been powerful. Meanwhile, Labour has opposed every measure to halt illegal migration, and doesnt even see it as one of its top priorities to solve. This is a betrayal of hard-working British people. Until now, the most difficult decisions have not been taken. But the time for half measures is over. We must stop the boats. Our Illegal Migration Bill will do exactly that. Unless we act today, the problem will be even worse tomorrow All those Tory pledges to embrace the freedoms given to us by Brexit and transform Britain into the next Silicon Valley appear to be crashing to Earth with a deafening thud. Even though the City is the second largest financial centre in the world, we are in grave danger of losing the battle to keep the best and the brightest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Last week, the Exchange received a body blow when Japans huge investment fund SoftBank announced it was planning to float its 33 billion Cambridge-based microchip company Arm not in London, but New York. No matter that Arm is the jewel of Britains high-tech sector, or that ministers including Rishi Sunak had spent a huge amount of time wooing SoftBanks multi-billionaire boss Masayoshi Son in an effort to persuade him to give London a share of the action. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt should surely be focusing above all on getting the City, the lifeblood of our economy, firing on all cylinders Arm was proof that we are world beaters at developing high-tech. It was sold to SoftBank in 2016, and the Japanese firm now thinks it will command a higher valuation in New York. It cites regulatory obstacles in the London market as one reason it is heading overseas. The decision is devastating to Britains high-tech ambitions and a snub to the Prime Minister. Worse, it raises concerns that a flood of quoted firms based here could follow suit. Lifeblood Indeed, both tech companies and more traditional firms which earn large slices of their income in the United States are threatening to take their stock market quotations and much of their headquarters staff across the Atlantic. Those of us who supported Brexit, hoping for freedom from the kind of sclerotic red tape we associate with Brussels and yearning for a low-tax Britain, are bitterly disappointed. Far from the high-productivity, fast-growing economy we envisaged, the Square Mile seems bound up in pettifogging regulation, concerns about high taxes and a lack of economic ambition. Perversely, output and entrepreneurship are actually being hindered by the Treasury and the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt who should surely be focusing above all on getting the City, the lifeblood of our economy, firing on all cylinders. Instead of building on Britain's excellence, the finger of the state is hovering over the self-destruct button. For fear of upsetting the market for government bonds following last years failed experiment in Trussonomics, Hunt & Co are taking a deeply cautious approach, and fiscal orthodoxy which means high taxes rules the day. So far, the Chancellor is refusing to rescind next months rise in corporation tax from a competitive 19 per cent to a whopping 26 per cent. This is in spite of the fact that leading think-tanks, including the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Left-leaning Resolution Foundation, estimate that the Chancellor has up to 30 billion of headroom for extra spending and tax changes in next Wednesdays Budget. It is economic vandalism, pure and simple. At the weekend, the head of tax policy at the consultancy KPMG blamed high taxes for the fact at least a dozen . . . probably dozens of its U.S. clients have decided not to invest in the UK. What we cant get away from is that the UK is now no longer trying to be a low-tax location, he said. It is now just somewhere in the middle of the pack. Billionaire entrepreneur James Dyson, who is among Britains greatest inventors and employers, is even more blunt, describing Tory tax policies as stupid and short-sighted. The evidence of this destruction is all too apparent. AstraZeneca, the nations 168 billion life sciences champion, decided to locate its next major manufacturing plant in Ireland, taking advantage of a corporation tax rate of 12.5 per cent, rather than Macclesfield where it could have been a levelling-up triumph. Shell, another of the biggest beasts on the London Stock Exchange, recently considered (but thankfully decided against) shifting its headquarters out of Britain because of high taxation rates. Hammered The UKs largest investor in offshore North Sea oil and gas exploration, Harbour Energy, cut jobs and expansion plans when the Chancellor hammered the energy sector with a windfall tax which raised the rate on its earnings to 75 per cent. There is no escaping the fact all this could put the UK in the slow lane in spite of its glorious technological, science and aerospace innovation. The need for Britain to lift its vision and attract new investment has become all the more critical following recent initiatives in the U.S. President Joe Biden has unsheathed a huge programme of investment designed to lure companies to America. Applications are open for up to $39 billion (32.5 billion) of funding to companies such as Arm which are prepared to invest in advanced semi-conductor research and production in the U.S. Last week, a delegation of British microchip makers travelled to Washington where they met White House and congressional staff intent on persuading them to move to the U.S., to reduce Americas dependence on semi-conductor makers in Taiwan. As Scott White, chief executive of Cambridge-based Pragmatic Semiconductor said: If we can go anywhere else in the world and get support for the capital investment of installing manufacturing facilities, then its relatively speaking far less attractive to do it in the UK. To be fair, Sunak yesterday launched a 360 million plan to turn Britain into a science superpower by the end of the decade, promising to use post-Brexit freedoms to develop a pro-innovation culture. But how does that square with the policies business leaders say are making Britain a less attractive place? Equally alarming is the $370 billion (308 billion) offered by the U.S. for firms wishing to invest in carbon reduction. Dangers Shell has already indicated it may move some green projects to the US. Brussels is so rattled by the prospect of America acting as a vacuum cleaner for green projects that it is considering lifting strict rules on industrial subsidies in an effort to remain competitive. Instead of London becoming a magnet for tech, green industries or for flotations of companies, it is in danger of losing out on an enormous scale. The Irish-based building materials group CRH, at the heart of which sits the heritage firm Tarmac, is also off to New York. It follows UK plumbing giant Ferguson, which headed in the same direction last year. Reversing the tide of great UK companies heading for the exit is a gargantuan task. It is made infinitely harder by City bureaucracy, a government seemingly impervious to the dangers of overseas takeovers and one determined to raise business taxes in the eye of a global slowdown. Britains economy is far from moribund and has world-leading positions in finance, technology, the creative industries and much else. Instead of building on this excellence, the finger of the state is hovering over the self-destruct button. The Chancellor has the chance to set a new course in the Budget by cutting taxes without undermining longer term plans to lower government borrowing and debt. It is a golden opportunity for Sunaks Tories to offer a radically different approach to Keir Starmers statism and reap the rich harvest of a low tax, deregulated economy. Harry's eviction from Frogmore Cottage copperfastens his demotion as a Counsellor of State. While King Charles's tinkering with the list of Counsellors promoting Anne and Edward and downgrading Harry and Andrew was sufficient, the absence of a UK abode confirms Harry's relegation. His US residency is no bar to his place in the succession. Perhaps the King and William should stick to the rule of monarch and heir travelling separately. Should anything befall them both before George is 18, Harry would become Prince Regent. And if he declined, the honour falls to Andrew. EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Harry's eviction from Frogmore Cottage copperfastens his demotion as a Counsellor of State What is Sarah Fergsuon playing at? Asked for her opinion of the Duchess of Sussex, Fergie replies: 'I don't really know Meghan. I haven't really met her.' According to Harry, when he and Meghan visited Fergie en route to Meghan's first meeting with the Queen she asked: 'Do you know how to curtsy?' Harry writes: 'Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her... As we walked towards the door Fergie and I both leaned into Meg, whispering quick reminders.' Curious how recollections vary. EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: What are the chances of Jessica Fellowes (pictured left), niece of Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, scattering herbs in front of the King at his coronation? What are the chances of Jessica Fellowes, niece of Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, scattering herbs in front of the King at his coronation? Charles was apparently impressed with the nosegay of flowers, herbs and spices he carried when he distributed the Royal Maundy last year. And last month he enjoyed rose petals being cast before him on a Brick Lane walkabout. But don't place any bets with Paddy Power just yet. Writer Jessica, pictured, who has applied to revive the role of royal herb strewer, may hit the herbal buffers with the Westminster Abbey ban on confetti and rice. It clogs every nook and cranny, causing havoc for the vergers. Former Daily Mail cartoonist Trog, aka Wally Fawkes, who has died aged 98 recently sought a flu jab, explaining: 'I was in the doctor's waiting room with a lot of slightly apprehensive, elderly people in various stages of decay when over the speakers came a sound of music. It was Frank Sinatra singing, "And now the end is near..." We all looked at each other and exploded with mirth.' Gyles Brandreth, 75 tomorrow, recalls his presidency of the Oxford Union when visiting speaker Jeremy Thorpe had the hots for him. 'He bounded across the debating chamber, literally jumping over the benches, in his apparent eagerness to greet me,' Gyles tells the Oldie. You had a narrow escape Gyles. Amorous Jeremy might have had your dog shot. EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Gyles Brandreth, 75 tomorrow, recalls his presidency of the Oxford Union when visiting speaker Jeremy Thorpe had the hots for him Four Weddings and a Funeral writer Richard Curtis, confirming his 'spectacularly unsuccessful' early attempts at romance, tells Radio Times: 'I remember being at a wedding. There was a girl. We had a dance. I thought, "This is heaven." She said, "Where are you staying tonight?" And instead of saying, "Wherever you're staying" I said, "I'm going back with my friend John and we're going to play Boggle." I never saw her again.' The Home Secretary put it best herself. Britain has been 'taken for a ride' by illegal migration. For too long, our woeful asylum system has been cynically exploited and the public has had enough. As Suella Braverman presented the Government's new Illegal Immigration Bill to the Commons yesterday, and as Rishi Sunak briefed its details to the press last night, I finally sensed a turning point. Braverman rightly told MPs our asylum system is not 'fit for purpose'. Thousands of migrants are committing 'flagrant' breaches of the law as they land on our shores in small boats. For years, politicians have promised to sort this out but the problem has only worsened. The new Bill, however, contains many of the ingredients that, as head of the think-tank Migration Watch UK, I believe are essential to solving the Channel crisis. The Home Secretary (pictured) put it best herself. Britain has been 'taken for a ride' by illegal migration As Suella Braverman presented the Government's new Illegal Immigration Bill to the Commons yesterday, and as Rishi Sunak (pictured) briefed its details to the press last night, I finally sensed a turning point I have long argued that enshrining in law a duty on the Home Secretary to detain illegal arrivals until they can be removed to their home country, or to another country from which they can claim asylum, is vital. Why? Because it places a statutory requirement on the minister to deal with the problem, rather than relying on the migrants not to break the rules. New longer time-limits for detention, with cases fast-tracked so that illegal immigrants can be processed for removal while they are being detained, is also vital. Many illegal migrants simply vanish into the black economy and are seldom heard from again. And since some 98 per cent of those arriving in boats have no passport, authorities often have no way of knowing who they are. British families and children must be protected from the potential criminals who arrive on our shores and who cannot be vetted. I also applaud the proposal to bar those arriving in small boats or by any other illegal means from claiming asylum intended to cut off the boat-traffickers' business model. And the Government's aim of restricting the use of appeals and judicial review by those attempting to avoid removal is also entirely sensible. Incredibly, those rejected for asylum have at least five different avenues to challenge the result and if that fails, they can simply lodge a fresh application. The reality is the system is far too complex, with people often bringing multiple claims and subsequent appeals or judicially reviewing decisions at the last minute. It is a lawyers' paradise and an insult to the taxpayer. Alp Mehmet is the Chairman of Migration Watch UK This Bill, then, is a genuine chance for the Government at last to begin to put an end to the illegal-migration crisis an issue that has been stoked for so long by the Left, the luvvies, the liberals and the 'open borders' fanatics. The number of people climbing into illegal dinghies has skyrocketed from fewer than 300 in 2018 to nearly 50,000 last year and the boats have turned into an armada. In 2018 the average number of occupants per craft was seven; it has risen six-fold to 41 people per dinghy. Asylum applications for main applicants and their dependants hit 90,000 in the past year higher than at any point in the past two decades. This unholy mess is costing taxpayers 3billion per year. And the demographic of mostly young men 70 per cent of illegal Channel-crossers are between the ages of 18 and 39 is stoking resentment and tensions in towns in which they are placed. And remember: many of those who enter the UK by boat are coming not from a place of persecution but from safe countries like Belgium or Albania via France. By the time they reach the pebbled shores of Calais, they are not refugees fleeing persecution they are economic migrants who see the UK as their Eldorado. We are seen as being ripe for exploitation because our asylum system and enforcement regime have been so appallingly lax. So I welcome the new Bill but only as a starting point. There are several further measures that must be enacted to make sure it works to its full potential. First, ministers must ensure that the new Bill closes loopholes in the Human Rights Act and the Modern Slavery Act that traffickers and activist lawyers have long exploited. I am particularly dubious about the intention to accept anyone under 18, even if they are to be removed when they reach maturity. Asylum-age fraud is already rife with nearly half of resolved age disputes revealing that those claiming to be children are actually adults, including a number of people who were in their thirties. Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai murdered Tom Roberts in Bournemouth last year. He told the Home Office that he was 14 but was later found to be at least 19 years old when he arrived in 2019. Second, the practicalities of mass detention of illegal migrants remain unclear. How can we commit to this new policy when we don't yet have the capacity? There are just 2,500 beds in Britain's immigration detention centres yet tens of thousands of arrivals land on the south coast each year. Prisons cannot be used. The Government has already announced plans to create an additional 1,000 places by reopening disused centres Campsfield House, near Oxford, and Haslar, at Gosport, Hampshire but contracts are costly to the taxpayer at 450million each. So a comprehensive returns agreement with the French and other countries is essential. I have long argued that enshrining in law a duty on the Home Secretary to detain illegal arrivals until they can be removed to their home country, or to another country from which they can claim asylum, is vital. Pictured: A group of migrants is brought ashore in Dungeness last year And these measures must be supported by strict policing within the UK, especially for drugs gangs. Of the over 45,000 migrants who made the cross-Channel journey in 2022, 27 per cent came from Albania while the National Crime Agency warned that organised crime groups from the country are smuggling workers into Britain to work in the drugs trade, such as cannabis farms. If we can stamp out these industries, these criminals may be less inclined to use Britain as a base. So yes, the new Bill has shortcomings. But for the most part, this is a tough and unambiguous proposal that, for the first time, will stand a chance of succeeding in dissuading people from risking their lives by jumping into flimsy boats and heading for Britain in the blithe expectation that once here they will be able to stay and enjoy all the benefits of life on these islands. Of course, the danger now is that as this Bill wends its way through Parliament, it will be watered down (especially by the House of Lords) so that what eventually makes it on to the statute book bears almost no resemblance to what Sunak and Braverman laid out yesterday. The shackles of the European Court of Human Rights loom large, too which could prove fatal. If Strasbourg intervenes, the Prime Minister may feel he has to make compromises to appease Euro judges. But in that case, I predict a public outcry. The ECHR cannot remain an obstacle to our post-Brexit Government enforcing our laws and what is in our best interests. If the Government fails yet again to keep its promise to solve this crisis, more migrants will descend on our shores, more lives will be lost, the cost to the taxpayer will only increase and the country will make its views known at the ballot box. Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman must hold their nerve. On the evidence I saw yesterday, I believe they will. School bullying in Korea has never disappeared. Although there are local school violence prevention committees run by education offices, victims and bullies do not trust the organizations and often take their decisions to court. While legal disputes rage on for months, the bullying continues. Gettyimagesbank Bullying prevention committees need major overhaul to root out violence By Ko Dong-hwan In the Korean Netflix series, "The Glory," an elementary school teacher seeks vengeance against her former bullies who had targeted her when she was young. The thriller, which achieved phenomenal ratings thanks to its vengeful heroine played by hallyu star Song Hye-kyo, is expected to release its second season in March. Part of its popularity is derived from the catharsis Song brings by getting revenge for what she had to endure, such as having her bare skin seared by a hair straightener and being scratched in the chest with a safety pin. The sadistic torture portrayed in the series is based on a true story from a girls' middle school in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in 2006. Bullies in the third grade at the school had also messed up the victim's hair and scratched her hands so badly they later became swollen. The school put the bullies on a watch list to prevent future offenses and took no further action. The victim, even after 17 years, still remains traumatized. The Special Act on School Violence Prevention was introduced in Korea in 2004, which led to the launch of committees in grade schools across the country to monitor bullying. Since then, such acts of violence have been managed, at least nominally, by school authorities. But the problem remains rampant. Some victims continue to take their own lives and assailants keep getting away, without receiving punishment that matches their cruelty. Victims say school violence prevention committees, responsible for assessing the degree of seriousness in each case and meting out punishment to perpetrators, cannot be trusted. The apparent ineptitude of the prevention committees has recently stirred the public once again. Chung Sun-sin, a prosecutor-turned-lawyer who was recommended as the new chief of the National Office of Investigation in charge of commanding police investigation teams nationwide, stepped down only a day after being appointed on Feb. 24 following news reports that his son used to bully his dormitory roommate in 2017 while attending a private high school. The bigger problem was that after his son had been charged by the school's bullying prevention committee and ordered to be transferred to a different school, Chung, 57, refused to admit the boy's misconduct and appealed to a Gangwon provincial school mitigation commission. He then dragged the case all the way up to the Supreme Court, where he lost the following year. Song Hye-kyo, right, as Moon Dong-eun in Netflix series "The Glory," recounts her past when she was bullied in school and seeks vengeance on her former assailants. Courtesy of Netflix Chung's repeated appeals, challenging the school committee's decision that took into account his son's consistent verbal abuse, reflect his intention to undermine the committee's decision. National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun, who had recommended him to the Ministry of Justice, and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, said they were unaware of Chung's controversial past. After Chung stepped down, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the education ministry to resolve school violence immediately. "School bullying should be rooted out from all schools," he said. The education ministry said it will come up with a plan to do so within this month. But the order came only after the prosecutor general-turned-president was lambasted for his administration's failure to vet key figures appointed across the central government which is dominated by former prosecutors. Failing system One of the biggest problems making the school violence prevention committees in Korea ineffective is that most of the constituting members of the groups have no legal expertise. Almost half of the committees' members are students' parents. Teachers and government officials from local offices of education are also on the committees. In each committee usually with around 10 members, only two or three are legal experts like lawyers. "Many of the legal professionals don't even attend the committee meetings often because it is an unpaid position," Park Keun-byeong, president of Seoul School Teachers' Union, told The Korea Times. "They are usually busy with their day jobs. Not to mention there are so few of them in each committee." Then-prosecutor Chung Sun-sin speaks during a press conference at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office to say he is joining the investigation into the Sewol ferry disaster, in this April 2014 photo. Chung, who was appointed on Feb. 24 to lead the National Office of Investigation in charge of commanding police investigation forces, resigned after just one day. It has been found he had helped his son avoid punishment for bullying his dorm-mate in high school. Yonhap All Seoul schools used to have bullying prevention committees. But there were growing concerns that the committees were too unprofessional due to a lack of legal experts. The committees also took many teachers away from their teaching duties by involving them in resolving reported cases of school bullying. In 2021, the Ministry of Education moved all the committees to different local branches of education offices in each metropolitan city. In the capital, there are 11 committees under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Throughout the country, there are 176 committees. As of 2021, the total members of those committees stood at 5,800. Since the committees' relocation, victims of school bullying are supposed to report such acts to their school, which handles the matter internally. If the case proves too big to handle, the school reports it to one of the prevention committees. Another problem with the committees is that their decisions lack legal authority, a weakness that bullies and their guardians often take advantage of by objecting to the decisions and taking the matter to court. Their strategy: prolong the dispute long enough to prevent their history of bullying from being added in their school records, so it will not interfere with their college entrance process. It is not even difficult nowadays to find online ads for lawyers supporting bullies in legal disputes and helping them receive the minimum level of punishment or get away with it. "Bullies are extremely sensitive over their bullying showing up in their school records," Park said. "They drag the case out until it's time for them to graduate and go to a post-secondary school, which means kissing their wrongdoings goodbye. I have seen an increasing number of bullies abusing the judicial system like that recently." SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. Pizza lovers can now get home-cooked authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, whatever the weather, thanks to the latest launch from Ooni. The brand new Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven can be used both indoors and outdoors, meaning you won't have to wait until summer to reap the rewards of homecooked pizza. Able to reach an impressive 450C in just 20 minutes, you can enjoy stone-baked pizza in under 90 seconds. Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven The new Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven allows you to cook authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas either indoors or outdoors. Reaching an impressive 450C in just 20 minutes thats twice the temperature most domestic ovens can reach you can enjoy a stone-baked, crispy crust pizza from the comfort of your kitchen or garden in just 90 seconds. Shop The new Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven fits on your countertop, so you can use it both in the kitchen and outside, so you don't have to wait for the warmer weather to enjoy the results With spring just a stones-throw away, many of us will already be thinking about dusting off our outdoor pizza ovens. Ooni's award-winning and incredibly popular pizza ovens already have a cult following thanks to their incredibly fast cooking time and authentic results, but their latest product launch is set to be the best yet. Enter the Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven. The new pizza oven can now be used both indoors and outdoors, so you can have authentic pizza whatever the weather. And thanks to its built-in time, temperature, and balance controls, it's never been easier. While it can be all too tempting to order pizza, there's nothing like the satisfaction and taste of cooking authentic Neapolitan-style pizza yourself from home. And that's exactly what you can do all year round, thanks to the new Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven. Measuring 61.5 x 53 x 28cm it fits neatly on your countertop, so you don't have to wait for warmer weather to enjoy it. Reaching a whopping 450C (thats twice the temperature most domestic ovens can reach) in just 20 minutes, the oven allows you to bake pizza in as little as 90 seconds. The award-winning outdoor pizza ovens from Ooni, which cook pizza in 90 seconds, have gained a cult following from shoppers looking to make authentic pizzas from home with minimal fuss Other standout features include built-in time, temperature and balance controls that help to take the guesswork out of the cooking; theres even a boost function to reheat the cooking stone in just 45 seconds. The countertop pizza oven has also cleverly been designed with a clear glass window and an internal light, so it's easy to keep an eye on your pizzas progress without having to open the insulated door to sneak a peek. The Ooni Volt 12 Pizza Oven is 799, available from Lakeland. The man who was branded a 'sicko' for dating a 23-year-old woman who is trapped in the body of an eight-year-old has given an update on their relationship, explaining that the pair are 'still good friends' and are continuing 'to get to know each other.' Dan Swygart, 26, came under fire back in December, after he went on a series of dates with Shauna Rae Lesick, whose growth was stunted as a side effect of brain cancer treatment that she received as an infant. Shauna - who measures three-feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds, the average size of a third grader - first started talking to Dan, from Wales, on social media, and after chatting for awhile, he decided to jet off to her hometown in Long Island, New York, so that they could meet in person. Their meet-up was documented in an episode of her TLC reality series, I Am Shauna Rae, but after Dan appeared in the show, he was bombarded by a slew of backlash from people who questioned his motives and called the pairing 'weird' and 'disturbing' due to her 'childlike appearance.' The man who was branded a 'sicko' for dating a 23-year-old woman who is trapped in the body of an eight-year-old has given an update on their relationship Dan Swygart, 26, came under fire back in December , after he went on a series of dates with Shauna Rae Lesick, whose growth was stunted as a side effect of brain cancer treatment Dan explained on his Instagram Stories that the pair are 'still good friends' and are continuing 'to get to know each other' Soon after, Dan announced that the two had decided they were better off as pals rather than romantic partners. Now, he has revealed where he and Shauna stand - three months after the episode premiered. Shauna (seen with a friend) measures three-feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds, the average size of a third grader While sharing a news article about himself to his Instagram Stories, Dan wrote, 'Literally every single time I go on Facebook or YouTube all I see are videos of me and Shauna.' He added: 'Me and Shauna are still good friends, getting to know each other.' Dan previously explained that he reached out to Shauna after watching the first season of her show and becoming 'inspired by her emotional strength.' He sent her some flowers and a card saying: 'Go live your best life. Wishing you all the happiness you deserve.' They then started messaging online, before he flew to New York to see her, where they went on a series of dates - all of which, were showcased in the show. During the episode, Shauna gushed about how 'similar' she and Dan - who has a knack for traveling and is often jetting off on various vacations - were, explaining that it was his adventures that 'piqued her interest.' The pair spent their first day together at an aquarium and escape room, and were joined by her 18-year-old half-sister, Rylee. Shauna first started talking to Dan, from Wales, on social media, and after chatting for awhile, he decided to jet off to her hometown in New York, so that they could meet in person Their meet-up was documented in an episode of her TLC reality series , I Am Shauna Rae, but after Dan appeared in the show, he was bombarded by a slew of backlash In another part of the show, Dan came over to her house to make sushi rolls. 'I haven't actually really thought about if Dan and I were in a relationship and how that would look,' Shauna said in her confessional during the show. 'I assume that we would probably try long distance, but I've been in a long-distance relationship and it's not my cup of tea.' Dan's visit to the States ended with him hanging out with her while she bartended a charity event. They shared an awkward slow dance before he left. 'I'm sure that I'll see Dan again,' she told the camera. 'He's coming back.' Shauna was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. She had surgery and underwent three years of chemotherapy - and while the treatment was successful, it made her pituitary gland - which monitors and regulates many bodily functions by producing hormones - almost dormant, stunting her growth. She was able to grow another eight inches with the help of synthetic hormone injections, but when she was 16, her doctor told her that her bones had fused and she wasn't going to grow anymore. After the episode came out, many people flooded the comment section on YouTube with their thoughts about Dan and Shauna's relationship, with some people calling it 'concerning,' 'uncomfortable,' 'creepy,' and 'not right.' 'Sorry but the fact that he spotted her online and contacted her on purpose makes me feel uncomfortable since looks are usually the first and most important impression you get online,' one person wrote. Many people questioned his motives and called the pairing 'weird' and 'disturbing' due to her 'childlike appearance' Shauna was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. She is seen as a baby 'It would be totally different if they got to know each other by coincidence in real life and he got to love her for her character and was sort of seeing past her childlike appearance. 'Dan almost seems especially attracted to her BECAUSE she is tiny which is concerning. I am sorry.' 'I'm sorry, but any man that wants to date her - there is definitely something not right with him,' another added. 'Yes, she is 23, but she looks and talks like an eight-year-old. She also does not act like a mature woman. She is childlike. 'If any man or woman can honestly say that they can see her as a "sexual woman," they are either lying or sick. PERIOD.' 'Yeah this is super strange and the parents should watch out ... Why would he go out of his way to be with someone who still at the most looks 11 years old?' asked someone else. 'Im a guy and Shauna seems very naive about the world and there are men who are very charismatic or good looking that can use people. 'I hope hes legit and if he is she is very very lucky since predatory men are more likely to be into her.' 'Guy 100 per cent has a fetish. Despite how nice of a young woman she may be, she STILL looks like a child,' a different user said. She had surgery and underwent three years of chemotherapy - and while the treatment was successful, it made her pituitary gland almost dormant, stunting her growth She was able to grow a little with the help of synthetic hormone injections, but when she was 16, her doctor told her that her bones had fused and she wasn't going to grow anymore Following the negative response, Dan shared a video to Instagram clapping back at the haters, and he called their accusations 'absolutely disgusting' 'I dont know about this guy I still think its creepy,' agreed another viewer, while a sixth message said, 'He looks at her a bit weird. I think he's got a weird kink. Idk.' 'Oh yeah, hes a creep who just wanted to be on TV,' someone else wrote. 'Yes, she is an adult, but she looks like a kid. Her body looks like a kid. It's sad that this is probably what most guys that want to date her are like, but it's the truth,' another person said. 'How dare you take away her right to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else?' Dan scathed. 'Who are you to say that she can't have that? I am absolutely disgusted by some people's attitudes towards her and my friendship with her' Following the negative response, Dan shared a video to Instagram clapping back at the haters, and he called their accusations 'absolutely disgusting.' 'Me and Shauna are just good friends, we're getting to know each other,' he said at the time. 'She survived cancer as a child, she's always felt different and was treated different by society. 'How dare you take away her right to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else? 'Who are you to say that she can't have that? I am absolutely disgusted by some people's attitudes towards her and my friendship with her.' He also admitted that 'despite all the hate,' some 'amazing things' have come out of his appearance in the series. He added that he hoped others who may be suffering from a disability could watch it and feel hopeful that they too could form a 'connection with someone.' 'I'm so proud to have had that positive impact on the world,' Dan continued. 'So many people who have disabilities or they have friends and family who have disabilities have reached out and said, "Thank you for showcasing that." 'It's OK to build a connection of friendship with someone who's different by society standards. 'It's given so many people hope that despite them being different, they too can find an amazing friendship and connection with someone.' The fashionista said her ruse soon shuts up those rowdy flyers next to herREAD MORE: Pilot reveals his ultimate list of do's and don'ts for airplane travel Sam Dean, from New York, advised her followers to 'scam' loud passengers A frequent traveler has revealed how you can get the loud passenger next to you to quiet down with a 'deadly' phrase. Sam Dean, from New York, has revealed she lies to those sitting to next to her on planes and tells them she is going to 'a funeral' to get them to shut up. The fashionista brought airplane etiquette back to the forefront of the conversation with her advice that comes just one day after a pilot revealed the ultimate list of do's and don'ts while flying. In a viral video, which has amassed over 1.9 million views, Sam advised her followers to let those rowdy travelers know that you were mourning the death of a loved one in an effort to get them to hold their tongue. Frequent traveler Sam Dean, from New York, revealed she lies to those sitting next to her on planes and tells them she is going to 'a funeral' to get them to shut up In a viral video, which has amassed over 1.9 million views, Sam advised her followers to let those rowdy travelers know that you were mourning the death of a loved one Sam brought the conversation of airplane etiquette to the forefront of the conversation with her advice just one day after a pilot revealed the ultimate list of do's and don'ts while flying Captioning the clip, 'Here's a scam for the girls and guys,' the TikToker offered up her savage advice. She also revealed you could even use her tip while at a hotel. 'If youre ever at a hotel, or Ive used this on planes as well, where people are next to you and being really loud and rude, and you want to ask them to be quiet, but dont want to be a d*** about it. 'If you say to them, "Hey, Im sorry, could you please quiet down? I have to wake up early for a funeral tomorrow,"' every time they immediately feel so bad. 'They will quiet down instantly,' Sam revealed. Her 30-second clip surely caught the attention of other flyers, who turned the video into a viral success. And although her advice may seem slightly morbid, many social media users branded her a 'genius.' They were quick to express their gratitude for the traveler, noting they were going to use it next time they took a trip. And although her advice may seem slightly morbid, many social media users branded her a 'genius' 'Immediate vibe killer, I love you for this,' one user said. One person wrote: 'This is so smart.' 'Lol I love this,' added another person. 'You're a genius.' commented one user. Many social media users even chimed in to give their own examples of they do when dealing with loud passengers. One user said: 'Or make sure they know theyre too loud by joining the conversation. "Sorry why couldnt Barbara make it to the wedding?".' 'My mom did this once and then she proceeded to sob her eyes out for the rest of the flight like her lie was too good,' one person commented. Another person said: 'I just do a pretend call and say "sorry this person is being super loud I cant hear you".' Many social media users even chimed in to give their own examples of they do when dealing with loud passengers However, others warned her about joking about such serious matters. One user wrote: 'Okay but tell me thats not bad juju.' 'I'm superstitious. I could never lie about a funeral,' said one person. Another person added: 'I dont believe in lying about death because Im afraid of karma and this feels like playing with fire.' 'I'm way too superstitious to utter those words on an airplane,' commented another user. However, others warned her about joking about such serious matters because it could come back to haunt her Her 30-second clip has garnered viral success and comes just one day after a pilot told DailyMail.com all there is to know about airplane etiquette - including how to distract any toddlers on board and how to store your bags. It also comes a week after an influencer reignited the debate about airplane etiquette as she revealed she refused to switch sweats for a family. Audrey Peters, 25, took to TikTok to share her dismay at being asked to move to a middle seat in order for a family to sit together. The social media star, who is from Miami but currently lives in New York City, laughed the request off and said that they should have booked their flight earlier. Her reaction sent the web spinning as seat switching continues to divide the internet. In the past, DailyMail.com's Jaci Stephen even offered up her view, and confessed that she 'absolutely refuses' to swap seats, no matter how angry the passenger requesting to switch may get. The Duchess of York has been on a publicity blitz to promote her new novel, A Most Intriguing Lady and the latest stop is an appearance at the 92nd Street Y Sarah Ferguson made a bold style statement in New York City this evening as she prepared to make the latest in a lengthy line of public appearances to promote her new novel. The 63-year-old Duchess of York was pictured arriving at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side on Monday just moments before she was due to sit down for a 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry to discuss her upcoming romance book, A Most Intriguing Lady. Fergie opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves. She paired the statement piece with a black knee-length skirt and over-the-knee black boots, and she was seen carrying a pair of green reading glasses in her hands as she made her way inside the famed venue. Sarah Ferguson made a bold style statement in New York City this evening as she prepared to make the latest in a lengthy line of public appearances to promote her new novel Fergie, 63, opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves Sarah was chauffeured to the venue at about 6pm and gave a cheery wave as she stepped out of a black SUV, while flanked by several security guards. . Royal megafan John Hoatson, 49, was first in line outside 92NY after taking a four-hour bus journey from Baltimore to New York for the talk. Hoatson, who has a 13,000-piece collection of Royal memorabilia, told DailyMail.com that he fell in love with the royals aged eight and described Fergie as an 'unsung hero' of the monarchy and 'similar to Diana'. 'I'm excited to see what she has to say, her perspective since the Queen passed away,' he said. 'I'm here to support her. She's a wonderful person, very caring, she gives so much to so many.' He said recent scandals and controversies in the Royal family hadn't dampened his support, adding that he was looking forward to hearing Fergie' s thoughts on 'the future with her and with Prince Andrew'. About 250 people, mostly women, were seated in the auditorium - which was half-full - for the talk. Pre-signed copies of the Duchess's book, A Most Intriguing Lady, were also on sale for $30. Fergie's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel, which 'draws upon historical characters and biographical elements from the Duchess life and family lineage'. Thus far the mother-of-two has done a number of wide-ranging interviews during which she has addressed her ongoing role within the royal family - as well as her relationship with her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, whom she split from in 1996. The mother-of-two's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel She paired her statement jacket with a black knee-length skirt and over-the-knee black boots, and she was seen carrying a pair of green reading glasses in her hands Fergie's latest public interview comes just hours after she revealed that she is financially supporting her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew In an interview published earlier today, Fergie revealed to Hello magazine that she is financially supporting Prince Andrew, who she says has not accepted any taxpayer money since he was removed as a working senior royal. 'Since he stepped back [from royal duties] he doesn't actually take taxpayers' money,' she told the publication. 'And I'm in a position where I can support him and the rest of the family through my work. And Im really pleased and proud to do that.' She added: 'All I will say is that for many years now it started with Budgie the Little Helicopter I've really pushed to look after my girls and to contribute to the York family life.' Speaking to The Telegraph last week, the Duchess of York vowed that she will 'always be there' for her former spouse - because of her ongoing devotion to her late mother-in-law the Queen. 'During the last three years, her poor son has been going through such a tumultuous time,' she revealed. 'And I think HM was very relieved I could help her with him, so we became even closer, then.' The royal vouched that Her Majesty 'knew' Sarah wouldn't abandon her youngest son, who fell from grace due to his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and paid a multi-million-pound settlement to his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. She was 'sad' to see what the dishonored royal has been through, revealing that it was tough to see him hurting. The Duchess spoke with great fondness of the Queen, who entrusted Sarah with her beloved corgis after she passed away. The mother of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice went so far as to say she was 'more of a mother' to her than her own family. Last week, the Duchess of York attended a glitzy film festival event in Los Angeles Sarah admitted she now feels the need to be stronger for others 'at the moment' because of the monarch's passing. 'When Andrew went through a hard time, I used to be able to throw it to The Boss,' she wistfully told the outlet. The Duchess was also full of praise for her ex-husband, admiring him as a grandfather and taking a slice of his favorite cake back home. In the same interview, she opened up about her past struggles with body issues, being compared to Princess Diana, and feeling a sense of 'duty' to the Royal Family. While speaking to People, Fergie opened up about the Sussexes' controversial departure from the Monarchy, insisting that she has 'no judgement' on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the Royal Family - despite the couple's scathing attacks on 'The Firm'. 'I don't believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I'm not in a position myself to make any judgments,' she said. The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, launched scathing attacks on the Royal Family in their Netflix documentary series and Harry's memoir Spare - including publicly criticizing Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'. However, Sarah said: 'I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.' The Duchess of York has also opened up about what it has been like to care for the late Queen's beloved corgis in the wake of her passing. Her Majesty received the two dogs, Muick and Sandy, as gifts from Andrew and they have now been taken on by her son and his ex-wife. She told Hello magazine: 'The corgis are very nice and very polite and well trained. 'I am their favorite but everybody always says it's just because I feed them gravy bones. I love everything about them and I spoil them the most.' She played very coy when asked about her ex-husband, simply saying that: 'In 1986 I married a very good man' Sarah Ferguson has once again jumped to the support of her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, describing him as a 'good man' while opening up about her close bond with her late mother-in-law the Queen. The 63-year-old - who has been candid in her support of Andrew over the past few years - was unusually coy about their relationship when grilled about it during an event to promote her new romance novel, A Most Intriguing Lady. During a 60-mintue 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry, Fergie covered all manner of topics - but shied away from sharing any in-depth details about her former spouse, whom she divorced in 1996. 'I feel that he's... I did... in 1986 I married a very good man. Zip,' she said when asked about her close connection with Andrew, 63, who has - as Samantha noted - 'had a difficult few years', having fallen from grace as a result of his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a multi-million-pound settlement he paid to his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. Sarah Ferguson has once again jumped to the support of her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, describing him as a 'good man' while taking part in an event to promote her new book The 63-year-old was unusually coy about her relationship with Andrew, 63, when grilled about it during a conversation with Glamour editor Samantha Barry at the 92nd Street Y Fergie's latest public interview comes just hours after she revealed that she is financially supporting Andrew after he was cut out as a working senior royal Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was much more verbose when it came to praising her late mother-in-law, the Queen, describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother'. 'The Queen was like a hand of support behind your back without being there,' she said. 'For the whole nation, for the world. Steadfast, consistent, iconic. [She had an] extraordinary ability to put someone at ease. I still now think it was such an honor [to have known her].' The Duchess of York's close relationship with the Queen was cemented when it was revealed that Her Majesty had left her beloved corgis to Sarah after her death. 'They're very good boys, they're very gentle,' Fergie said of the pups. 'I think they knew that they weren't to jump up and be naughty. They used to sit and watch the racing with her. And when you give them a biscuit, they don't snatch. They're very special, they're national treasures.' However, taking on the care of two 'national treasures' has - the Duchess joked - been somewhat 'terrifying' because she admits she constantly panics that they're going to get injured on her watch. Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was much more verbose when it came to praising her late mother-in-law, the Queen, describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother' The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to the coronation - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance The royal sat down for a 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry to discuss her upcoming romance book, A Most Intriguing Lady But Fergie's close bond with the Queen and her ongoing role within the peripheries of the Monarchy have not managed to secure her an invitation to what will likely be the biggest royal event of the year: King Charles' coronation. The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to the event - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance. 'The invitations haven't gone out yet. Have they?' she asked when questioned whether she plans to go. She insisted that a lack of invitation does not bother her however, adding: 'Well I've decided the best thing about being British around a coronation - although I've never been to one - I think we should, I should set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes.' Fergie was also asked about another hot-button topic during the on-stage talk: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit from the royal family, another issue that she attempted to dodge. The Duchess of York donned a white jacket with a black pleated midi dress and knee high boots for the occasion Fergie opted for a glamorous evening look for the evening, sweeping a touch of bronze eyeshadow across her lids and a touch of blush The royal mother-of-two posed for snaps alongside her interviewer Samantha Barry at The 92nd Street in New York She did however note that Harry's late mother Princess Diana would be 'so proud' of her children and grandchildren - adding that she believes King Charles feels the same way - and noting that 'forgiveness is key' when it comes to preserving 'family unity'. 'Diana and I, we played a lot and had a great time and I feel really strongly - and so would the King - [that she would] be so proud of the grandchildren. And of the family. And I do believe in family unity,' she said, adding: 'I think forgiveness is key.' Fergie was also very open in her praise of her two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, describing them both as 'exceptional' while discussing the very close bond that the three of them share - particularly now that they have become mothers themselves. 'I'm a brilliant mother. The best mother. I love my girlies, I'm so proud of them. They are exceptional children,' she said. 'I love seeing my girls, who are exceptional. And then on top of that these two little baby Eugenies, baby Beatrices. They look like my girls.' She admitted that there was a time when her daughters were particularly worried about her, specifically when she was receiving a great deal of negative coverage in the press, because they knew that it was causing her 'extraordinary pain'. Fergie explained that the girls would be incredibly excited to see their mother on stage at the venue because it means that 'mum's back and mum's OK', adding: 'If mum's OK then they're OK.' Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was quick to praise the late Queen (seen together in 1986), describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother' The Queen left Fergie her beloved corgis after she died and the Duchess of York said of the two dogs (pictured): 'They're very good boys, they're very gentle' The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to King Charles' coronation (seen together in 1986) - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance Sarah was full of praise of her two daughters, Princess Beatrice (right) and Princess Eugenie (left) (seen together in 2016), describing them both as 'exceptional' The Duchess of York made a bold style statement as she arrived at the venue this evening ahead of her talk, which marks the latest in a lengthy line of public appearances to promote her new novel. She was pictured arriving at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side on Monday just moments before she was due to sit down for a 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry to discuss her upcoming romance book, A Most Intriguing Lady. Fergie opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves. She paired the statement piece with a black knee-length skirt and over-the-knee black boots, and she was seen carrying a pair of green reading glasses in her hands as she made her way inside the famed venue. Fergie's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel, which 'draws upon historical characters and biographical elements from the Duchess life and family lineage'. Thus far the mother-of-two has done a number of wide-ranging interviews during which she has addressed her ongoing role within the royal family - as well as her relationship with her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, whom she split from in 1996. In an interview published earlier today, Fergie revealed to Hello magazine that she is financially supporting Prince Andrew, who she says has not accepted any taxpayer money since he was removed as a working senior royal. 'Since he stepped back [from royal duties] he doesn't actually take taxpayers' money,' she told the publication. 'And I'm in a position where I can support him and the rest of the family through my work. And Im really pleased and proud to do that.' She added: 'All I will say is that for many years now it started with Budgie the Little Helicopter I've really pushed to look after my girls and to contribute to the York family life.' Speaking to The Telegraph last week, the Duchess of York vowed that she will 'always be there' for her former spouse - because of her ongoing devotion to her late mother-in-law the Queen. 'During the last three years, her poor son has been going through such a tumultuous time,' she revealed. 'And I think HM was very relieved I could help her with him, so we became even closer, then.' Sarah made a bold style statement in New York this evening as she arrived at the 92nd Street Y Fergie, 63, opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves The mother-of-two's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel The royal vouched that Her Majesty 'knew' Sarah wouldn't abandon her youngest son. She was 'sad' to see what the dishonored royal has been through, revealing that it was tough to see him hurting. Sarah admitted she now feels the need to be stronger for others 'at the moment' because of the monarch's passing. 'When Andrew went through a hard time, I used to be able to throw it to The Boss,' she wistfully told the outlet. The Duchess was also full of praise for her ex-husband, admiring him as a grandfather and taking a slice of his favorite cake back home. In the same interview, she opened up about her past struggles with body issues, being compared to Princess Diana, and feeling a sense of 'duty' to the Royal Family. While speaking to People, Fergie opened up about the Sussexes' controversial departure from the Monarchy, insisting that she has 'no judgement' on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the Royal Family - despite the couple's scathing attacks on 'The Firm'. 'I don't believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I'm not in a position myself to make any judgments,' she said. The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, launched scathing attacks on the Royal Family in their Netflix documentary series and Harry's memoir Spare - including publicly criticizing Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'. However, Sarah said: 'I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.' Sarah Ferguson appeared to distance herself from Meghan Markle in a recent interview, saying she 'hasn't really met' her - after the Sussexes claimed it was Fergie who 'taught her to curtsey' to the Queen. The Duchess of York, 63, the mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, told The Telegraph she 'doesn't know' Meghan, who is currently living in her $14 million California mansion having stepped back from royal duty. The mother-of-two said: 'I dont really know Meghan. I havent really met her.' However the claim comes in direct contradiction of the Sussexes, who have both claimed Fergie has been one of the friendlier members of the royal family - even recalling having drinks with Sarah at her home in The Royal Lodge. In both the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry's book Spare, the Sussexes said it was Sarah who taught Meghan how to curtsey ahead of her first meeting with the late Queen. Sarah Ferguson appeared to distance herself from Meghan Markle in a recent interview, saying she 'hasn't really met' her - after the Sussexes claimed it was Fergie who 'taught her to curtsey' to the Queen The Sussexes have both claimed Fergie has been one of the friendlier members of the royal family - even recalling having drinks with Sarah at her home in The Royal Lodge Elsewhere, Fergie said she did speak to Meghan at the Queen's funeral in September, adding: 'She looked absolutely beautiful. I think she is beautiful. In the Oprah interview, which was broadcast in early 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said Fergie was the person who taught her to curtsey. She claimed when she went to meet the Queen for the first time at The Royal Lodge in Windsor, she 'didn't even know how to curtsey' and was shocked when Harry explained it was expected of her. Meghan said: 'I went into it naively because I didn't grow up knowing much about the royal family. I didn't fully understand what the job was.' The mother-to-be said that was the moment 'the penny dropped' that her perception about the Firm was 'very different' to the reality, and she had to learn how to perform the royal custom 'very quickly'. She said: 'I didn't know I was going to meet her until moments before. We were in the car and we were going to the Royal Lodge for lunch, and he [Harry] was like, "Oh, my grandmother is here, she's gonna be there after church.". 'Right in front of the house we practiced and ran in. Fergie ran out and said, "Do you know how to curtsy?",' she recalled. 'Apparently I did a very deep curtsy, I don't remember it, and then we sat there and we chatted. Meanwhile Harry also recounted a similar story in his book Spare, writing that he had actually hoped Fergie would be the first member of the family Meghan would meet as his girlfriend. Elsewhere, Fergie said she did speak to Meghan at the Queen's funeral in September, adding she felt she 'looked beautiful' (pictured far left, Meghan, and far right, Sarah) While it is not known how often the two may have crossed paths over the years, Sarah was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding He wrote it was October 2016, explaining: 'First stop, Royal Lodge. To meet Fergie, because Meg already knew Fergies daughter Euge, and Jack, so this seemed a logical baby step.' He added: 'Fergie came outside, somewhat aflutter, and said: "Do you know how to curtsy?" Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her. 'As we walked towards the door Fergie and I both leaned into Meg, whispering quick reminders. When you first meet the Queen its Your Majesty. Thereafter its just Maam. Rhymes with ham. Just, whatever you do, dont talk over her, we both said, talking over each other.' After Meghan met the Queen, Harry writes that they stayed at Royal Lodge for drinks. It is unknown on what other occasions the two women might have crossed paths - with Meghan only serving as a working member of the royal family for a few years before moving to the US. Fergie was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, while it's likely the Duchess' also crossed paths at Eugenie's wedding that October. Sarah's daughter Eugenie is a close friend of the Sussexes, and has visited them a number of times in the US The two also both attended the Queen's funeral in September, and Fergie called speaking to Meghan at the event. Despite the two appearing to disagree on how much they have come into contact, Sarah has been complimentary of Meghan on multiple occasions. In the same Telegraph interview, she praised the Duchess for 'making Harry happy', saying: 'She has made Harry very happy, and that is so nice. Honestly, hes so happy with her. She really loves him. And I think thats beautiful.' Sarah's daughter Eugenie is a close friend of the Sussexes, and has visited them a number of times in the US. However Harry has also been highly critical of Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, with whom Fergie still enjoys a close relationship. He became the first royal to publicly criticise Prince Andrew, 63, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair a shameful scandal. No one in The Firm had spoken about claims the Duke of York twice sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein. Andrew settled her lawsuit last year, accepting no liability, and has always denied any wrongdoing. But Harry brings up the affair in his book Spare. A range of Easter-themed marshmallows on sale in Aldi have left social media users tittering - because they look like something very different. Twitter user @missviaborsi, who lives in Manchester, shared a photo from her shopping trolley while she was in the budget supermarket last week, showing the 1.19 yellow packet of treats - which appeared to look nothing like the bunnies and chicks they were supposed to. She tweeted: 'Sorry Aldi, but that aint a bunny', sharing a snap of the yellow and pink sweets looking much more like a part of the male anatomy. @missviaborsi's post has now been viewed more than 42,000 times. A flurry of other tweets followed, until eventually Aldi waded it with a response too, admitting that the candy did look rather rude. Twitter user @missviaborsi, who lives in Manchester, shared a photo of Aldi's marshmallow chicks and bunnies, currently on sale in the store for 1.19, suggesting the candy looked like something else An employee wrote on the German supermarket brand's Twitter account 'We can't even defend this one'. Jokes galore were also unleashed; @techsnap82 wrote: 'Does rhyme with "chick" though'. @LHayneTweets added: 'I'd love to think that everyone noticed this apart from the person in charge, and they all mutually agreed not to say anything.' Another user, @tired1967, didn't see the funny side, suggesting that the packet, which is clearly targeting a younger audience with its colour scheme, was 'obscene'. It's not the first time Easter-themed snacks have caused a stir this week. On Sunday, it was revealed that Greggs wouldn't be bringing back its hot cross buns this year. The popular bakery chain has axed Easter confection from its menu, meaning you won't be able to get your Good Friday treat with your steak bake or sausage roll this year. The treats, part of the Dominion range, come in 150 gram packets and are supposed to be marshmallows shaped like bunnies and chicks Although, Greggs has said that there will be other seasonal products available, outrage and debate has still ensued on Twitter. A Greggs spokesperson said: 'While Hot Cross Buns won't be returning to our menu this Easter, keep an eye out for other Easter favourites that will be arriving in our shops soon.' However, they didn't reveal the specific products that would be available this Easter, previous ranges have included spring-time chocolate cornflake nests and iced bunny biscuits. Popular bakery chain Greggs has announced that it won't be selling hot cross buns this year for Easter This is the second year that Greggs has decided to axe hot cross buns from its Easter menu. However, it promises that there will still be seasonal treats available The decision to abandon the humble hot cross bun marks the second year of its absence on Greggs' shelves, where you could previously get a pack of four for as little as 1. Customers have taken to Twitter to share their upset about the decision from the bakery chain. Last year one user posted: '@GreggsOfficial no Hot Cross Buns this year! Are you crazy?! Not happy! Please change your minds! #Greggs #hotcrossbuns' This year one annoyed customer said: 'No Hot Cross Buns? No Greggs. Simples' While another suggested: 'Waitrose has plenty of hot cross buns. Who owns Greggs? Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland have recorded an emotional final You, Me and the Big C podcast for the BBC - five years to the day after it first began, they've revealed on Instagram. Paying tribute to her original co-hosts Rachael Bland, who died two years after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2018, and Dame Deborah James, who died in June 2022 from bowel cancer, Mahon is seen in the social media clip wiping away tears as she presents the final installment of the hit Radio 5 Live podcast, which began five years ago. Presenting alongside Steve Bland, who was married to Welsh journalist Rachael, Mahon, 37, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 30, told listeners 'Always, always have rebellious hope'. The pair, who've just finished a live touring show of the podcast, told ITV's Lorraine recently that it was time 'for a new chapter' in their lives. Scroll down for video 'Always, always have rebellious hope': Lauren Mahon pictured wiping away a tear as she presented the final You, Me and the Big C podcast for BBC Radio 5 this week - the show will air on Wednesday In the Instagram clip, Mahon also urges listeners to share the podcast's archive with anyone else who it might help. She added to the caption: 'Youll be able to hear the full episode on Wednesday 8th march. Until then, its a wholehearted full-bodied thank you, thank you all.' In an Instagram reel, Bland said he felt like 'we've given everything' to the show, saying 'it's been emotional, gang.' The hosts told Lorraine Kelly they're looking forward to a 'new chapter', as they prepared to say goodbye to the award-winning cancer podcast. Steve Bland said while it was 'tough' to leave the BBC podcast behind, they no longer felt their lives were relevant to sufferers of the disease. He explained that life has changed for him and co-host Mahon since the podcast started five years ago, with Lauren now clear of cancer and Steve remarried and set to welcome twins with his new wife. Mahon presented alongside Steve Bland, who was married to original co-host Rachael Bland, who died in 2018 after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2016 The duo recorded the episode five years to the day after it first began, they've revealed on Instagram Signing off: Both of the co-hosts shared reels of their final episode recording. Right: Mahon pictured at the microphone recording the last installment of the award-winning podcast The dad-of-one married nurse Amy, and last month the couple announced they are expecting twins. 'It feels like it might be time,' he said. 'The girls were all going through active treatment at the time and when I joined I was going through the grief of losing Rachel. 'We were very much in the trenches with the people that were listening.' He appeared on Lorraine this morning alongside his co-host to discuss recording the penultimate episode in front of a live audience, including Deborah's family, last night. 'When you're with them you feel that closeness to Debs. I almost want to move into Debs' parents house because I can just be close to them and her!' said Lauren. The podcast discussed what it's like to live with cancer, with the original co-hosts Lauren Mahon (centre), Dame Deborah James (left) and Rachael Bland (right) often injecting humour into the programmes New beginnings: Steve got married to nurse Amy in August 2022 and announced this year that they are expecting twins Reflecting on Deborah's funeral in July last year, Lauren said it was the last time before last night's recording that the podcasters were together with Deborah's family. Lorraine, who also attended the service, reflected that despite the tragic cirumstances, it had been a poignant and joyful event. Line of Duty star Vicky Mclure has been tipped to star as Lauren in the show, with Lorraine pointing out how similar the two brunettes look 'People obviously were crying but they were laughing, it was such a celebration of an amazing woman.' Breast cancer survivor Lauren, who has been clear of the disease for five years, opened up about her grief for her friend Deborah but told ITV's Lorraine that she feels it is time to move on with her career. 'I feel good, I feel like this is a new chapter for me now. Deb dying last year was so painful and we're so proud of everything she did. But I do feel like now it's time to close that chapter and figure out who Lozza is. I'm not "cancer face" you know, I've got more to me!' Lauren went on to hint at building her career in media after the BBC podcast comes to an end, and told Lorraine Kelly she was grateful for the start the show gave her in broadcasting. Dame Deborah James regularly shared posts showing her enduring gruelling treatment for bowel cancer, she died of the disease in June 2022 BBC newsreader Rachael Bland died aged 40 in 2018 from terminal breast cancer, pictured with her son Freddie Late journalist Bland, pictured with her husband Steve and son Freddie, built up a collection of handwritten notebooks and perfume so Freddie 'would remember me in some way' 'I'm really lucky that this whole process has allowed me to get into broadcast and things like that so I just want to explore that more and have some fun, you know talk about other things I don't just need to talk about cancer!' The cancer campaigner is also set to have a dramatised documentary-style series brought out about her journey after it was commissioned before Covid. She said the programme will focus on her experience with cancer and how she went on to found her charity, GIRLvsCancer. Line of Duty star Vicky Mclure has been tipped to star as Lauren in the show, with Lorraine pointing out how similar the two brunettes look. The presenter expressed her excitement at what is to come for Lauren, who seemed equally excited for the future. 'They haven't seen anything yet Lorraine, I've only just started!' she teased. The Queen Consort looked elegant in cream today as she arrived in Colchester with King Charles to celebrate it becoming a city. Camilla, 75, walked alongside the King at Colchester castle where she will celebrate with local communities and organisations which represent the city's heritage. Colchester became a city officially in November last year, and was awarded the status during the Queen Platinum Jubilee. Camilla looked radiant as she wore a collared cream longline coat, which she paired with a brown wide-brimmed fluffy hat and a beige animal print scarf, which was tucked into her coat. She contrasted her ivory look with black leather gloves and a classic black clutch bag. She donned pearl stud earrings and also wore a pair of onyx timeless suede heeled boots. Camilla, 75, walked alongside the King at Colchester castle where she will celebrate with local communities and organisations which represent the city's heritage The royal couple also met those who care for the animals at Colchester Zoo to unveil which name they have chosen for their newest addition, a baby white rhino. Outside the castle, Charles revealed the name of the rhino which is Dara, by pulling a cord to draw back material which had covered the name on an easel. A town crier then rang a bell and boomed, as Charles chuckled: 'Oyez, oyez, oyez! I officially proclaim Colchester Zoo's newest addition as baby Dara.' The King told zoo staff: 'I do hope it grows into a substantial animal.' Camilla looked radiant as she wore a collared cream longline coat, which she paired with a brown wide-brimmed fluffy hat and a beige animal print scarf, which was tucked into her coat Charles and Camilla greeted children who were awaiting their arrival as they waved their Union Jack flags Charles and Camilla revealed the name of the new white baby rhino at Colchester zoo, Dara The Queen Consort smiles as she greets people in Colchester in her elegant pearl earrings and fur hat The Queen Consort received flowers as she arrived at Colchester to celebrate its city status One schoolgirl handed the King a drawing of him, with the words 'best King' written above the image. Andy Moore, conservation education manager at Colchester Zoo, said the name Dara means beautiful one in Swahili. 'It was all a secret and a surprise so his majesty revealed it for us,' he said. 'And then the town crier obviously then - probably people in Wivenhoe and further away could hear. 'It was really great.' Rebecca Moore, zoo director, said the team at the zoo chose the name which was revealed by the King. 'It's a fitting birthday present for the zoo - it's the 60th anniversary this year,' she said. Camilla recieved a lovely bouquet of flowers from a wellwisher One of the placard-waving protesters was climate change denier and anti-vaccines activist Piers Corbyn (pictured), brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Not everyone gave the royal couple a warm welcome. Upon arrival, protesters shouted and held a yellow banner that said 'not my King' Inside the castle, Charles met local organisations which represent the city's heritage and communities, was shown a historic vase, and an artefact trolley by youngsters. The mayor of Colchester, Tim Young, told the King during a reception: 'Words cannot describe how much it means to us that you are here.' He said that he was pleased that the Letters Patent which officially recognise Colchester as a city have been placed in the chapel of the castle, 'especially as this is the very room where the mayoress and I had our wedding just 10 days ago - in this very room, in this very suit'. 'This will always certainly be a very special place for us,' said Mr Young. Anti-monarchy campaigners staged a protest outside Colchester Castle for the arrival of the King and Queen Consort A protester holds a sign which says 'Charles must serve the UK not WEF (World Economic Forum) tyranny' But despite the royal couple receiving flowers and gifts, not everyone gave them a warm welcome. Upon arrival, protesters shouted and held a yellow banner that said 'not my King'. One of the protesters, speaking through a megaphone, said as Charles and Camilla got out of a car: 'Answer your critics Charles, come and talk to your critics.' The protester added: 'Why are you wasting our money?' The King waved to the gathered crowds before going through a gate into Colchester Castle's grounds, but did not appear to acknowledge the protesters who were stood on the far side of the road behind a police presence. One of the placard-waving protesters was climate change denier and anti-vaccines activist Piers Corbyn, brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy. He said he wanted to protest against the 'Terra Carta' - a 'charter' of green initiatives devised by Charles when he was Prince of Wales. Camilla smiled as she greeted people outside Colchester Castle, shaking their hands Charles and Camilla are accompanied as they walk through the historic castle Charles and Camilla will also meet those who care for the animals at Colchester Zoo to hear which name they have chosen for their newest addition, a baby white rhino Linda Cameron, 45, from Colchester said: 'There were only a few of them but they had a megaphone and were trying to make as much noise as possible. 'They came to try and make a point but people were doing everything they could to drown them out. It was lovely to catch a glimpse of the royals.' Asked whether she thought the King was doing a good job, she said: 'It's early days but I think so and he has a very good role model in the late Queen.' Wendy Connelly, 70, added: 'I think he has done a wonderful job of going out and meeting so many people. It was fantastic that they made the effort to come here. We were very pleased to see them and just tried to ignore those guys over there.' Charles grins as he greets smiley wellwishers who waited for him to arrive in Colchester Camilla became patron of The Silver Line in 2017 when she was Duchess of Cornwall Charles and Camilla are pictured viewing a Roman vase during their visit to the castle Camilla receives another bouquet of yellow and orange flowers as she greets people Charles and Camilla sign a visitors' book during a visit to Colchester Castle The King and Queen Consort at Colchester castle after it was recently awarded their city status Charles and Camilla look happy as they speak to the crowd Later at Colchester Library, Charles and Camilla joined Age UK for an afternoon tea with local volunteers, service users and The Silver Line staff to hear about the support provided by the charity across the region. Charles become patron of Age UK in in 2010 when he was Prince of Wales, while Camilla became patron of The Silver Line in 2017 when she was Duchess of Cornwall. As His Majesty went upstairs to chat to charity staff, Camilla, wearing a cream silk Fiona Clare dress and matching coat, was greeted by television presenter and author Dermot O'Leary, along with fellow children's writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce. 'Very nice to see you,' she said as she shook their hands. The Queen Consort signed the visitor book at Colchester Castle during her visit Camilla looked stylish as she donned black heeled boots, leather gloves and a clutch bag The Queen Consort posed with members of 'Next Chapter' a domestic abuse charity Camilla looks at exhibits inside the castle as they are shown around Camilla and Charles get shown around the inside of Colchester castle She was also introduced to three local actors dresses as characters from Alice in Wonderland, who treated local schoolchildren from Braiswick Primary School to a reading, helped by schoolgirl Fatima Jallow. Maddie Earl, the schoolgirl winner of the Esssex Year of reading writing competition, also read out her winning entry and was congratulated by the royal. She told the children that 'reading was the greatest gift you can give'. Before joining her husband upstairs she was given her own library card. 'Oh thank you very much indeed. I shall have to come back and see what I can find. Next time!' A woman explains the exhibit to Camilla and Charles as they get shown around the castle The Queen Consort smiles as she greets children who are waving Union Jack flags Charles and Camilla had afternoon tea with with local volunteers and service users The pair cut smiled at each other lovingly as they cut into a cake together at the afternoon tea In a room upstairs her husband, King Charles, was moving from table to table to chatting to clients helped by Age UK and The Silver Line, a 24-hour helpline especially for older people. He described the work of the volunteers as being 'inspirational'. 'What you do is so marvellous,' he said. 'Thank you so much for everything you do. It is fantastic.' At one table he asked a group of volunteers: 'Are you all involved in this befriending initiative [where volunteers offer to call an elderly person each week to check in and chat]. 'It can get quite busy then? Can you fit this in with everything else you do? Do you have to pass a test to be qualified? And get refresher courses?' He added: 'Are they grateful? ' When he was an enthusiastic yes, he chucked and declared: 'I'm so glad!' The King beamed as he was given a gift during the afternoon tea Charles sits with volunteers and service users at the gather at Colchester library Charles greets people at the library. He become patron of Age UK in in 2010 when he was Prince of Wales Camilla was also introduced to three local actors dresses as characters from Alice in Wonderland, who treated local schoolchildren from Braiswick Primary School to a reading The King spoke to people to learn about the library's impact in the community through the Essex Year of Reading Camilla is pictured proudly with her library card as she poses with children at the library Camilla smiles as she holds up her library card and poses for a picture with children at the library He then eagerly eyed-up their scones, jam and cream and teased them about the right way to eat them - tactfully refusing to say whether he thought it should be jam or cream first. 'These things are fatal!' he said. He was then joined by his wife who asked another volunteer: 'How did they get you involved then? What you do is absolutely so important. You become their friend. That's what you do. ' The royal visitors then cut a cake to mark their visit holding the knife together and giggling. The King said to volunteers: 'Thank you so much for everything you do. It is fantastic' The King held up the knife after cutting the cake at the Age UK afternoon tea at the library Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for an afternoon tea with volunteers and service users of the charity organisation Age UK at the Colchester Library The King described the work of the volunteers as being 'inspirational'. 'What you do is so marvellous' The Queen Consort was given a library card to which she said: 'Oh thank you very much indeed. I shall have to come back and see what I can find. Next time!' Children are pictured listening at the library as the Queen Consort sits behind them Sarah Ferguson has said she believes 'forgiveness is key' when it comes to 'family unity' with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a new interview. During a 60-mintue 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry, the 63-year-old was asked about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are currently living in their $14 million mansion in California. She noted that Harry's late mother Princess Diana would be 'so proud' of her children and grandchildren - adding that she believes King Charles feels the same way. She said: 'Diana and I, we played a lot and had a great time and I feel really strongly - and so would the King - [that she would] be so proud of the grandchildren. And of the family. 'And I do believe in family unity. I think forgiveness is key.' Sarah Ferguson has said she believes 'forgiveness is key' when it comes to 'family unity' with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a new interview During a 60-mintue 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry, the 63-year-old was asked about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are currently living in their $14 million mansion in California (pictured, with Charles and Camilla) The relationship between the Duke of Sussex and other members of the royal family has been fraught with tension after Megxit, when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle quit as working royals, made a number of sometimes spurious claims about the Firm and moved to a $14million mansion in California. Since then, they have released a number of explosive interviews, as well as a bombshell Netflix series and Harry's memoir, Spare. In January, Prince Harry demanded the Royal Family apologise to Meghan after he claimed his family were treating him as if he were 'delusional and paranoid'. The prince said: 'You know what you did, and I now know why you did it. And you've been caught out, so just come clean.' In an interview with The Telegraph before the official launch of his book earlier this week, Harry appeared to blame his family for the feud. He said: 'It was all so avoidable. But they just couldn't help themselves.' But while Fergie might suggest forgiveness is key to family unity, royal experts have previously suggested others feel Harry should apologise to them. Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl has said the 40-year-old heir to the throne Prince William 'can't forgive Harry' because Megxit 'moved Kate Middleton and their young family onto world stage earlier than expected'. During the interview, she noted that Harry's late mother Princess Diana would be 'so proud' of her children and grandchildren - adding that she believes King Charles feels the same way Royal expert Nicholl told US Weekly: 'It had a huge impact on him, on Catherine, on their young family. 'It put them in that prime sort of centre. It moved them centre-stage far sooner than they would otherwise have been.' She added: 'A lot of it was how he chose to do that and what William saw as great disrespect to the institution and to his, to his family, to his grandmother.' Elsewhere, Fergie - who has been candid in her support of Andrew over the past few years - was unusually coy about their relationship when grilled about it during an event to promote her new romance novel, A Most Intriguing Lady. Fergie covered all manner of topics - but shied away from sharing any in-depth details about her former spouse, whom she divorced in 1996. 'I feel that he's... I did... in 1986 I married a very good man. Zip,' she said when asked about her close connection with Andrew, 63, who has - as Samantha noted - 'had a difficult few years', having fallen from grace as a result of his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a multi-million-pound settlement he paid to his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. Sarah has once again jumped to the support of her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, describing him as a 'good man' while taking part in an event to promote her new book The 63-year-old was unusually coy about her relationship with Andrew, 63, when grilled about it during a conversation with Glamour editor Samantha Barry at the 92nd Street Y Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was much more verbose when it came to praising her late mother-in-law, the Queen, describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother'. 'The Queen was like a hand of support behind your back without being there,' she said. 'For the whole nation, for the world. Steadfast, consistent, iconic. [She had an] extraordinary ability to put someone at ease. I still now think it was such an honor [to have known her].' The Duchess of York's close relationship with the Queen was cemented when it was revealed that Her Majesty had left her beloved corgis to Sarah after her death. 'They're very good boys, they're very gentle,' Fergie said of the pups. 'I think they knew that they weren't to jump up and be naughty. They used to sit and watch the racing with her. And when you give them a biscuit, they don't snatch. They're very special, they're national treasures.' However, taking on the care of two 'national treasures' has - the Duchess joked - been somewhat 'terrifying' because she admits she constantly panics that they're going to get injured on her watch. Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was much more verbose when it came to praising her late mother-in-law, the Queen, describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother' The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to the coronation - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance The royal sat down for a 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry to discuss her upcoming romance book, A Most Intriguing Lady But Fergie's close bond with the Queen and her ongoing role within the peripheries of the Monarchy have not managed to secure her an invitation to what will likely be the biggest royal event of the year: King Charles' coronation. The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to the event - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance. 'The invitations haven't gone out yet. Have they?' she asked when questioned whether she plans to go. She insisted that a lack of invitation does not bother her however, adding: 'Well I've decided the best thing about being British around a coronation - although I've never been to one - I think we should, I should set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes.' The Duchess of York donned a white jacket with a black pleated midi dress and knee high boots for the occasion Fergie opted for a glamorous evening look for the evening, sweeping a touch of bronze eyeshadow across her lids and a touch of blush The royal mother-of-two posed for snaps alongside her interviewer Samantha Barry at The 92nd Street in New York Fergie was also very open in her praise of her two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, describing them both as 'exceptional' while discussing the very close bond that the three of them share - particularly now that they have become mothers themselves. 'I'm a brilliant mother. The best mother. I love my girlies, I'm so proud of them. They are exceptional children,' she said. 'I love seeing my girls, who are exceptional. And then on top of that these two little baby Eugenies, baby Beatrices. They look like my girls.' She admitted that there was a time when her daughters were particularly worried about her, specifically when she was receiving a great deal of negative coverage in the press, because they knew that it was causing her 'extraordinary pain'. Fergie explained that the girls would be incredibly excited to see their mother on stage at the venue because it means that 'mum's back and mum's OK', adding: 'If mum's OK then they're OK.' Although Fergie was reluctant to discuss Andrew, she was quick to praise the late Queen (seen together in 1986), describing her as being 'more my mother than my mother' The Queen left Fergie her beloved corgis after she died and the Duchess of York said of the two dogs (pictured): 'They're very good boys, they're very gentle' The Duchess revealed that she hasn't yet received an invitation to King Charles' coronation (seen together in 1986) - joking that it's 'TBD' whether she will end up being in attendance Sarah was full of praise of her two daughters, Princess Beatrice (right) and Princess Eugenie (left) (seen together in 2016), describing them both as 'exceptional' The Duchess of York made a bold style statement as she arrived at the venue this evening ahead of her talk, which marks the latest in a lengthy line of public appearances to promote her new novel. She was pictured arriving at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side on Monday just moments before she was due to sit down for a 'conversation' with Glamour editor Samantha Barry to discuss her upcoming romance book, A Most Intriguing Lady. Fergie opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves. She paired the statement piece with a black knee-length skirt and over-the-knee black boots, and she was seen carrying a pair of green reading glasses in her hands as she made her way inside the famed venue. Fergie's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel, which 'draws upon historical characters and biographical elements from the Duchess life and family lineage'. Thus far the mother-of-two has done a number of wide-ranging interviews during which she has addressed her ongoing role within the royal family - as well as her relationship with her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew, whom she split from in 1996. In an interview published earlier today, Fergie revealed to Hello magazine that she is financially supporting Prince Andrew, who she says has not accepted any taxpayer money since he was removed as a working senior royal. 'Since he stepped back [from royal duties] he doesn't actually take taxpayers' money,' she told the publication. 'And I'm in a position where I can support him and the rest of the family through my work. And Im really pleased and proud to do that.' She added: 'All I will say is that for many years now it started with Budgie the Little Helicopter I've really pushed to look after my girls and to contribute to the York family life.' Speaking to The Telegraph last week, the Duchess of York vowed that she will 'always be there' for her former spouse - because of her ongoing devotion to her late mother-in-law the Queen. 'During the last three years, her poor son has been going through such a tumultuous time,' she revealed. 'And I think HM was very relieved I could help her with him, so we became even closer, then.' Sarah made a bold style statement in New York this evening as she arrived at the 92nd Street Y Fergie, 63, opted for a funky ensemble for the evening's event, donning a white studded jacket, which featured lace-up detailing along both sleeves The mother-of-two's appearance at the 9nd Street Y comes as part of a lengthy publicity blitz to promote her new novel The royal vouched that Her Majesty 'knew' Sarah wouldn't abandon her youngest son. She was 'sad' to see what the dishonored royal has been through, revealing that it was tough to see him hurting. Sarah admitted she now feels the need to be stronger for others 'at the moment' because of the monarch's passing. 'When Andrew went through a hard time, I used to be able to throw it to The Boss,' she wistfully told the outlet. The Duchess was also full of praise for her ex-husband, admiring him as a grandfather and taking a slice of his favorite cake back home. In the same interview, she opened up about her past struggles with body issues, being compared to Princess Diana, and feeling a sense of 'duty' to the Royal Family. While speaking to People, Fergie opened up about the Sussexes' controversial departure from the Monarchy, insisting that she has 'no judgement' on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the Royal Family - despite the couple's scathing attacks on 'The Firm'. 'I don't believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I'm not in a position myself to make any judgments,' she said. The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, launched scathing attacks on the Royal Family in their Netflix documentary series and Harry's memoir Spare - including publicly criticizing Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'. However, Sarah said: 'I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.' The Korean government has eased travel advisories for six countries, including Spain and Tunisia, to the lowest level in line with its latest COVID-19 guidelines, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. The level 2 alert, which also affected Mauritius, Andorra, Jordan and Namibia, was lowered one notch to level 1, according to the ministry. It also eased travel advisories for Peru, Papua New Guinea and four other countries down a notch to level 2. The ministry said it decided to keep in place the current special travel advisories for 11 other nations, including Russia, South Africa and Mexico. (Yonhap) Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was elegant in a navy ensemble as she began a three-day royal visit to Slovakia today. The Dutch royal, 51, was beaming as she arrived at M. R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava alongside King Willem-Alexander this morning. The mother-of-three opted for a chic vibrant blue coat with a matching midi dress and fascinator, ensuring all her accessories were the perfect tone. After their red carpet arrival in the country, Maxima and her husband King Willem travelled to a Welcome Ceremony at the Presidential Palace. There, they were greeted by President Zuzana Caputova and her partner Juraj Rizman, before the foursome posed for a number of snaps. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was elegant in a navy ensemble as she began a three-day royal visit to Slovakia alongside her husband King Willem-Alexander today They were greeted by President Zuzana Caputova and her partner Juraj Rizman, before the foursome posed for a number of snaps The queen accessorised her look with a pair of dazzling blue earrings and a matching brooch. Her blonde hair was swept into an up-do and she completed her look with navy heeled shoes, a clutch bag and touch of pink lipstick and eye liner. Maxima and Willem-Alexander also signed the guest book during the meeting at the palace. It comes amid a busy period for the couple. Last month, Queen Maxima visited a customer contact center helping those struggling with energy bills. She seemed in high spirits but also eager to learn as she met with staff at the Temporary Emergency Energy Fund, in The Hague. The mother of three was attentive throughout her visit, where she learnt about the help being given to families struggling with bills. The fund supports vulnerable households that run into financial difficulties due to high energy prices. Meanwhile she also attended the NUL ZES workspace in Eindhoven, which houses designers of all backgrounds. After chatting with the President in the palace, Maxima and King Willem-Alexander both signed the guestbook The couple appeared in high spirits as they chatted with President Zuzana Caputova and her partner Juraj Rizman at the palace The mother-of-three opted for a blue coat with a matching midi dress and fascinator, ensuring even her accessories were the perfect tone The royal mother-of-three subtly coordinated with her husband for the visit, who opted for a baby blue tie The royal couple were beaming as they were greeted by the President and her partner in Slovak Republic While there, she met illustrators and architects and also sculptors and artists from Home of Design. It's the second royal tour for Maxima and Willem-Alexander in recent weeks, after their trip to the Caribbean. The Queen has seen relaxed since her recent family tour of the Caribbean, which she went on with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 54, and their daughter Amalia. While there Maxima was seen cutting leaves of an Aloe plant with her daughter Amalia. The three also visited Bonaire, Curacao and St Maarten before travelling to St Eustatius and Saba. As the royals undertook their tour, they were frequently greeted by onlookers who waved Dutch flags and applauded as they passed by. The royal mother-of-three donned a perfectly coordinated outfit as she arrived in Slovakia earlier this morning The most impressive, well-groomed and obedient dogs are ready to strut their stuff as they prepare to compete in the 2023 Crufts competition. As the pampered pooches arrived in Birmingham ahead of this year's canine contest, they showed off their skills and checked out the competition. And the introductions may have seen the birth of a few unlikely friendships, with breeds of all shapes and sizes cosying up to each other. One particular unlikely pairing was a Harlequin Great Dane called H who took an interest in a chihuahua named Boo - although it's not clear if Boo was quite so impressed. This year's competition, organised by The Kennel Club, begins on Thursday, 9 March and will run until Sunday, 12 March. Dog owners are preparing their canines for glory as they arrive at the Birmingham NEC ahead of the 2023 Crufts competition. Unlikely friendships already appear to be forming, although little Boo the chihuahua seems a little unsure about H the harlequin great dane From beagles to Bavarian mountain hounds, the pooches ran around the pen outside the NEC and jumped over hurdles to get in some important practise before the big events. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the best photos from the pre-contest event. Boo looks somewhat bewildered as H approaches him for a sniff and a little greeting, looking at the much larger canine with wide eyes and an open mouth Best of friends! After an uncertain start, Boo seems taken by H and the pair are captured frolicking together Trainer Lucy Creek arrives at the NEC in Birmingham for the photo-call with her several pooches in tow What a fur-bulous bunch! These canines look picture-perfect as they pose for a photo by the paw stand, with one pooch putting his arm around his beagle friend A Bavarian mountain hound looks up lovingly at its owner while on the lead as it arrives at the NEC for the photo-call Diligent dogs including a beagle and a corgi arrive with their owners, who are carrying their leads, at the event A Bergamesco shepherd named Alfie shows off his skills as he jumps over the fence while his owner struggles to keep up with him Lightning fast! The pooch zooms around the field after jumping over the fence as he prepares to showcase his skills in the real thing Irish wolfhound Ragnar jumps over the fence as he practises for the Crufts competition as his owner looks on Queen Rania of Jordan has shared a stunning new photograph of her daughter Princess Iman wearing her tiara ahead of her wedding next week. Princess Iman, 25, is the second-born child of Queen Rania, 51, and King Abdullah II, 60, and is due to marry her partner Jameel Alexander Thermiotis on March 12. It was announced last July that Princess Iman was engaged to Venezuela-born Jameel, who is around two years older than the princess and works as a Managing Partner for a Venture Capital fund based in New York. Queen Rania shared a video on Instagram yesterday in tribute to her daughter, with a number of pictures appearing in the montage - including a photograph of the 25-year-old in her glittering diamond tiara. The 51-year-old wrote: 'After a week, God willing, I will see you as a bride... I put you in the name of God, Iman, the basil of the house... May God help you and enlighten your path.' Queen Rania of Jordan has shared a stunning new photograph of her daughter Princess Iman wearing her tiara ahead of her wedding next week 'The first time I held my baby girl, I knew my life would never be the same. In a week, she will be a bride.' Queen Rania continued: 'My precious Iman, I am so happy for you and so proud of everything that you are.' Meanwhile she added: 'Thanks to the creative artist Elissa for the dedication and to the great artist Marwan Khoury for lyrics and melodies... Heart touching voice and expressive words. 'Thank you to the very talented @elissazkh and to the brilliant @imarwankhoury for this wonderful gift and for your amazing ability to capture sentiments so beautifully.' Queen Rania first wore her Diamond Tiara for a spectacular State Banquet hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor Castle in 2001. She wore it again for a portrait that same year. It is possible the snap was a hint at the tiara which Iman will wear on her wedding day. The engagement announcement last year was a delightful surprise for royal fans, since the couple have kept their relationship under wraps , and it was not clear how long they have been dating. In personal statement shared on her Instagram account, Queen Rania said: 'Congratulations my dearest Iman; your smile has always been a gift of love that Ive cherished since the day you were born. I wish you and Jameel a life filled with love and laughter!' It was announced last July that Princess Iman was engaged to Venezuela-born Jameel, who is around two years older than the princess and works as a Managing Partner for a Venture Capital fund based in New York Queen Rania first wore her Diamond Tiara for a spectacular State Banquet hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor Castle in 2001. She wore it again for a portrait that same year She also shared an official engagement photo of the couple, which showed the couple embracing. Princess Iman wore a high-necked white dress matched with polished make up and sleek hair in a down 'do. She has her hand placed on her fiance's chest, showing her square cut engagement ring. Meanwhile beaming Jameel looks dapper in a navy, two-piece suit, and crisp white shirt. And the whole family shared their well wishes in a statement shared by the Royal Hashemite Court announcing the betrothal. Queen Rania (pictured, left) took to Instagram to share a heartwarming message to her daughter Princess Iman (pictured, right) It read: 'The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce the engagement of Her Royal Highness Princess Iman bint Abdullah II to Mr. Jameel Alexander Thermiotis, on Tuesday, 5 July 2022, in the presence of Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, as well as Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, and Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, in addition to members of Mr. Thermiotis family. 'The Royal Hashemite Court extends its sincere congratulations to Her Royal Highness Princess Iman and Mr. Thermiotis on this occasion and wishes them a lifetime of happiness.' Sporty Iman royal graduated from International Academy Amman in 2014 and was awarded top female athlete in her class. She went on to study at Georgetown University in Washington where her older brother Crown Prince Hussein is majored in international history. Former mummy blogger Clemmie Hooper has been handed a caution order for a period of one-year following a midwifery misconduct hearing - four years after she engaged in trolling other influencers on a gossip forum. The mother-of-four, 38, from Kent, once boasted 700,000 followers on Instagram and had partnered with brands such as Mothercare and Boden on sponsored posts. But in 2019, Clemmie - who worked part-time as a midwife - came off social media after her account on Tattle Life, a website devoted to discussing influencers, was exposed. Among the posts made under the Alice in Wanderlust psuedonym, was one accusing Black mummy blogger Candice Brathwaite of social climbing, being 'aggressive' and using her 'race as a weapon'. Just two months before, Clemmie had invited Candice onto her podcast to discuss her traumatic birth experience and how she developed life-threatening sepsis following an emergency C-section. Clemmie (centre) pictured with her daughters Anya Rose (right), Marnie (left), Ottilie and Delilah (middle) Following the Fitness To Practise Committee Substantive Hearing with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which started on February 28, the panel's decision was announced today (March 7). Earlier in the hearing, Clemmie had admitted to three of the charges facing her - that she made the comments in question, and that they had been intended to 'undermine or humiliate' their target. She also accepted that elements of the posts were 'racially offensive and/or discriminatory', but maintains that she was unaware of this offence at the time. The panel took into account some mitigating factors, including Clemmie's health at the time of making the posts, which was said to have clouded her objectivity. It also considered positive testimonials with regards to her midwifery practice, her public apology, her reflection and insight into her conduct, and her 'evident remorse', as well as how she had been affected by reading a very large volume of negative comments about herself online. Her self-removal from social media, and what the panel considered to be her negligible risk of repetition, were also considered mitigating factors. In addition, the panel said it accepts that Clemmie was unaware that describing a Black woman as aggressive was a racial trope when writing the posts, and that she has since engaged in self-directed training and reading around equality and diversity. Speaking to Grazia in 2021, Candice Brathwaite, said it had been 'painful' reading the posts on Tattle. Mummy blogger and author Candice Braithwaite, who was described as 'aggressive' in one post, has described the posts as 'painful' Describing how it was a 'knock to her confidence', the mother-of-two explained: 'I step into this arena as a minority, you know. I wasnt called chubby, I wasnt called ugly, I was spoken about based on something I cannot change. That was a bitter pill to swallow.' In November 2019, Clemmie wrote on her Instagram Stories that she had made an account on the forum in an attempt to defend herself from criticism. She wrote: 'Earlier this year, I became aware of a website that had thousands of comments about my family and I. 'Reading them made me feel extremely paranoid and affected me much more than I knew at the time. 'I decided without telling anyone else that I would make an anonymous account so that this group of people would believe I was one of them, so that I could maybe change their opinions from the inside to defend my family and I.' Clemmie continued: It became all consuming and it grew bigger than I knew how to handle. 'When the users started to suspect it was me, I made the mistake of commenting about others. I regret it all and am deeply sorry - I know this has caused a lot of pain.' Clemmie Hooper, 38, from Kent, once boasted 700,000 followers on Instagram and appeared on This Morning to dish out pregnancy and labour advice at the height of her fame Clemmie quit social media following the backlash over her Tattle life account but occasionally appears on her husband's Instagram account. Pictured with Simon in September 2022 A post by the user Alice in Wanderlust shows her claiming that she is not 'MOD' (mother of daughters/ Clemmie) where she also causes Clemmie's husband a 'class A tw**t' Though Clemmie never publicly confirmed her username, other members of the gossip site Tattle became suspicious when the profile 'Alice in Wanderlust' began posting from the same location as Clemmie, including Mauritius, and defending Clemmie. Meanwhile, another post written by Alice in Wanderlust questioned the state of mummy blogger Bethie Hungerford's marriage - prompting the social media star to demand an apology from her former friend. What's more, another post branded Clemmie's husband Simon - who has remained on Instagram and now boasts 850,000 followers - a 't**t', before denying the profile was set up by Clemmie. Posting a statement online, Clemmie revealed the trolling she had experienced led her to set up the account, initially to defend herself, but in an effort to cover up her identity when other users began suspecting who she really was, she began posting negative comments about others 'Undoubtedly I got lost in this online world and the more I became engrossed in the negative commentary, the more situation escalated. Engaging in this was a huge mistake, she added. I take full responsibility for whats happened and I am just so sorry for the hurt I have caused to everyone involved including my friends and family. Following Clemmie's confession, her influencer husband said he was 'angry and sad' to learn about his wife's anonymous profile and said he had 'no idea' that she had secretly been writing about her peers online. Describing himself as in a 'cr** position', Simon said he wished she had spoken to him first, and while he made it clear that he was not defending her, but that he has 'seen what three years of being attacked online can do to someone'. Former blogger Clemmie sky-rocketed to fame when she began documenting her life as a midwife and mother to daughters Anya Rose, Marnie, Ottilie and Delilah on blog Gas & Air, before releasing two books. During the height of her fame, Clemmie also appeared on This Morning where she shared her pregnancy and labour advice with viewers. MailOnline has contacted Clemmie for comment. A woman has sparked furious debate online after revealing where she believes the North-South divide truly falls on a map. Michelle Bayly, from Northumberland, posted a Tweet with a screengrab of a map divided into three sections, indicating her perception of the North, the Midlands and the South. She posted: 'Can we all agree that North is Leeds and above..? Its really annoying seeing The North such and such company or something artsy North and for it to be in Birmingham etc. 'Theres also a middlethe midlands. Be the midlands. North of London doesnt mean North.' However many other Twitter users disagreed with her, with one writing: 'Liverpool and Sheffield will definitely have words on that one.' Michelle Bayly, from Northumberland, sparked furious debate online after revealing where she believes the North-South divide truly falls on a map Sharing the image of the grab online, she said it was 'annoying' to see Birmingham classified as the North Meanwhile another wrote: 'Is this a joke? How do you not think Sheffield and Manchester are in the north?' A third added: 'Yorkshire, Lancashire and Liverpool are definitely North. It's really called North West.' A fourth commented: 'No, you are SO wrong. South Yorkshire IS the north of England.' Another said: 'I'd say Nottingham and above is north, but I'd agree to this compromise.' 'Birmingham is the start of the north,' one person commented. One person wrote: 'I think the idea that Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Hull aren't in the North is slightly mad.' Another wrote: 'Anything further than Bristol is 'The North' to me.' 'The North starts at Watford,' another person weighed in. The Tweet quickly went viral online, with many people confessing they were outraged by her division of the country After the Tweet went viral on Twitter, with 1,257 likes, Michelle was forced to concede on her beliefs about the divide. She commented: 'After deep thought and consultation, I have decided to scrap my map of North, Middle and South and instead go with popular opinion that if you have gravy on chips or scraps and mushy peas with fish and chips then you are Northern and if not, then not (no matter the geography.' There is no official definition of a North-South border in the UK. The idea is generally conceived as economic, cultural and political differences between areas in the North or South of the country. And it's not the first time the debate about the divisions in the country has been sparked. In 2018, a BBC Radio 4 show provoked bemused and angry responses on Twitter by suggesting cities Manchester and Sheffield are part of the UK's South. Michelle later shared a second Tweet, conceding that 'if you have gravy on chips' than you are Northern They shared a controversial map as part of a discussion between writers and academics over where the North-South border lies. The unusual suggestion was put forward by Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones of Newcastle University. BBC Radio 4's Today current affairs show opened up the question of where a North-South boundary would exist as part of the Great Exhibition of the North in Gateshead. In anticipation of a broadcast from the summer-long event, they tweeted out Tewdwr-Jones' lopsided proposal of where the 'North' divides the 'South'. The marker started at the lowest tip of Wales in the Vale of Glamorgan stretching up and around the Midlands up as far as York before looping back down, encompassing Lincolnshire and ending near Norfolk and East Anglia. Princess Madeleine will move back to Sweden 'indefinitely' with her husband Christopher O'Neill and their three children this year, it has been announced. The Swedish royal, who has been living in Florida with her husband, financier Chris, after they married in 2013, will return to the capital city of Stockholm in her native country in August. The couple share three children, Leonore, nine, Nicolas, seven and Adrienne, four. The children lost their Royal Highness titles after King Carl XVI Gustaf removed the title and membership in the Royal House in 2019, to allow the grandchildren more freedom as they grow up. After the family's announcement today, they will be enjoying such freedoms in their mother's home country, with the move taking place just in time for little Adrienne to start school. While for many years she has lived a much quieter royal life, Princess Madeleine, 40, is still patron of many charities in her home country. Princess Madeleine of Sweden, her husband Christopher O'Neill and their children Leonore, Adrienne and Nicolas will be moving from Miami, Florida to Stockholm, Sweden as of August 2023, it has been announced. Pictured: The family at Adrienne's christening in 2018 Just a couple of weeks ago the mother-of-three shared a snap of eldest daughter Leonore as she celebrated her ninth birthday. She posted a photo of the young royal on Instagram with her blonde hair pulled back, showing off a dainty pair of stud earrings. She wore lilac shorts paired with a white shirt, with ruffle collar and pink and green floral print. Underneath the photo, Princess Madeleine wrote: '9 years old today! A very happy birthday to our sweet Leonore who shines everyday!' Royal fans went wild for the snap, which quickly rounded up over 13k likes and over 300 comments. The Swedish royal and her family have been living in Florida since the mother-of-three, 40, married US financier Chris in 2013 Despite the family currently living in Miami, Florida, until August, Leonore was born in New York and holds dual American and Swedish citizenship. Princess Madeleine, Christopher O'Neill and the children also adopted a rescue dog Oreo into the family last year, who will likely be making the move to Stockholm too. Sharing photos of Oreo on Instagram last year, the Princess said Oreo 'was not treated well and was tied up outside, under the Florida elements, for most of the day and night'. She added: 'But today, he gets to make us laugh and show us what a tender and loving soul he has.' Made the controversial comments on We Need To Talk About Bill Cosby on BBC2 Sonalee Rashatwar said there was a 'consensual way' to 'get their kink out' A BBC documentary has sparked outrage after a sex therapist suggested men who have a fetish about sex with unconscious partners should be able to pay women to be drugged. The offensive remarks were made by American therapist Sonalee Rashatwar during a four-part documentary series about disgraced US star Bill Cosby. Ms Rashatwar, appearing on the programme We Need To Talk About Bill Cosby, claimed there was a consensual way for these men to get their kink out. One viewer branded the comments beyond atrocious while another said the remarks amounted to rape apologism. US sitcom star Cosby, 85, has been the subject of numerous sexual assault allegations, which became public in 2014. BBC2 showed the opening episode of the documentary series, first aired in America, on Sunday. The remarks by the sex therapist are in the fourth episode which is available on iPlayer. Ms Rashatwar told the programme: If we actually grappled with the fact that sex negativity is what causes this type of behaviour, then we could create a world, where in an idyllically sex positive world, someone is able to pay conscious women to come and be drugged so that I can get my kink out, my fetish on having sex with unconscious people. Theres a consensual way to do that. But the remarks from Ms Rashatwar, who brands herself the Fat Sex Therapist, sparked huge anger from viewers. Sex therapist Sonalee Rashatwar has sparked outrage after claiming men who fantasise about having sex with unconscious women should be able to 'get out their kink' by paying them to be drugged in an appearance on BBC documentary We Need To Talk About Bill Cosby Bill Cosby, 85, was convicted of the aggravated indecent assault of Andrea Constand in 2018. The judgment was overturned in 2021 Co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists, James Esses, posted the clip on social media, saying: I feel sick. This is beyond atrocious. Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies wrote on Twitter: How is the BBC (or any credible tv station) giving airtime to this. Director of Big Brother Watch UK, Silkie Carlo, added: Sex negativity causes this behaviour?!?. This is rape apologism quickly followed by rape advocacy. How the hell did it end up on the BBC?! Bill Cosby shot to international fame playing the part of Cliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show, which launched in 1984. In 2018 he was convicted of the aggravated indecent assault of Andrea Constand. But this judgement was subsequently overturned in 2021. Last year the star was found liable for sexual assault in 1975 in a civil case. The four-part documentary series first aired in the US last year on Showtime. On her website, Ms Rashatwar describes herself as a clinical social worker, sex therapist, public speaker, community organiser and donut lover. Hoda Kotb has opened up about the touching moment her three-year-old daughter, Hope, gave her confetti star after spending several days in the intensive care unit battling a health issue. The Today co-anchor missed two weeks of the morning show while caring for her youngest child, who was hospitalized for over a week. When she returned to work on Monday, she reflected on her daughter's health scare and how it has given her a newfound perspective. 'I feel like, life is one way on a Monday and we all have our Mondays and we complain about them. We're like, "Oh, what a crummy Monday," and then Tuesday rolls around and something really hits hard, and you realize that Monday was actually pretty awesome,' Kotb, 58, told her fourth-hour co-host Jenna Bush Hager. 'So for us, it was little Hope had to go to the hospital, and she was in the ICU for a few days and then the hospital for another week and it was really scary. And she's vibrant and brilliant.' Hoda Kotb, 58, opened up about a touching moment she had with her three-year-old daughter, Hope, after she returned home from the hospital Kotb (pictured with her daughters Hope and Haley) said her youngest child 'wasn't feeling great' the other day when she gave her a confetti star she had found 'I thought to myself, "This child, even when she's not feeling good, she still giving everything away,"' Kotb said Kotb shared how she was blown away that her youngest daughter has remained selfless and generous during her illness. 'The other day, she just got up from bed, and she was so sweet and cute, and she wasn't feeling great,' the mom explained. 'She had in her hand two little confetti stars. 'And I looked at her, 'cause I had just gotten out of the shower, and I turned, and she was sitting there. And she said, "I got two, Mom." 'And I said, "Oh my gosh." She goes, "One for me and one for you." And I thought to myself, "This child, even when she's not feeling good, she [is] still giving everything away."' Kotb, who also has a six-year-old daughter, Haley, told Bush Hager that she is 'over the moon' to have Hope back home while reflecting on her gratitude for all of the support they have received during this difficult time. 'I can't believe how amazing people are. That's the thing I learned through all this,' she said. 'The nurses who stood by her all the way. The nurses who checked on her constantly, the doctors who came in, the people who took care of us. I felt like we were held. 'I always talk about gratitude, gratitude, but I found myself not living in that lane because I was scared,' she admitted. 'Then I decided, you know what? Let me think about this for a minute. Kotb told her co-host Jenna Bush Hager that she is 'over the moon' to have Hope back home while reflecting on her gratitude for all of the support they have received The mother of two pulled out a gold necklace that says, 'God's got this,' explaining that her friend sent it to her when Hope was in the hospital Kotb, who had not appeared on air since February 17, first opened up about Hope's hospital stay with her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie earlier on in Monday's show 'I'm grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing and the nurses and I'm grateful to my family and I'm grateful to friends like you who were there every single day,' she told Guthrie 'I have a family who loves me. I have a little girl who's home. I have a wonderful support system. I have doctors who would have done anything to make everything better and they did. So sometimes you talk about gratitude, and then when you're pushed to the limit, you're like, "Do I feel it?"' The mother of two then pulled out a gold necklace that was given to her during Hope's hospital stay. 'I'm wearing this little thing that a friend of mine sent to me, and she said, "I'm going to take it off my neck and I'm going to send it to you. It's worn down because I rub it all the time, and it says, 'God's got this.'" So she said, "If I ever see you not wearing it, I'm coming to get you,'" Kotb told Bush Hager with a laugh. 'I feel blessed and grateful, really, really, really grateful,' she added. 'And also anyone who's ever gone through an illness with a child, boy I thought I understood you. But I didn't. You don't until you're sitting in that position. So for every single person going through some stuff, I get it.' Kotb, who had not appeared on air since February 17, first opened up about Hope's hospital stay with her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie earlier on in Monday's show. 'My youngest Hope was in the ICU for a few days and then the hospital for a little more than a week,' she explained. 'I'm so grateful she is home, she is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I'm just so happy. 'And you know what I realized too, Savannah? When your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you can have for people who have helped you out,' she continued. It was revealed on Tuesday that Kotb is covering the new issue of Southern Living. The shoot took place in New Orleans, where she used to live while working at WWL-TV in the '90s Kotb's close friend Karen Swensen (pictured), penned the accompanying story, which touched upon how they lived in the lower French Quarter together 'It's the closest to a hometown Ive ever felt,' Kotb said of New Orleans 'I'm grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing and the nurses and I'm grateful to my family and I'm grateful to friends like you who were there every single day. 'I want to say thank you for that. I love you.' Following Kotb's return to the Today show, it was revealed on Tuesday that she is covering the new issue of Southern Living. The cover shoot took place in New Orleans, where she used to live after being hired as the main anchor for WWL-TV in 1992. Kotb's close friend Karen Swensen, whom she met at WWL-TV, penned the accompanying story, which touched upon how they lived in the lower French Quarter together in the '90s. 'It's the closest to a hometown Ive ever felt,' the broadcast journalist said. The Today star loves New Orleans and has made a point to make the city an important part of her daughters' lives as well. The Today star has made a point to make New Orleans an important part of her daughters' lives as well. Whenever they visit, she takes them to the parks and treats them to the local cuisine Kotb recalled how they were in The Big Easy on St. Patrick's Day last year and someone threw a pair of green satin underwear at her oldest daughter, Haley, who asked what they were 'New Orleans celebrates the individual. Its full of characters, and I want my kids to meet them,' the mother of two said 'I want them to know New Orleansto love the city and for this to be part of their lives because its such an important part of mine,' she explained. 'I want them to see what its like to be front and center at the parade.' Kotb took Haley and Hope to visit The Big Easy last March on St. Patrick's Day, and Swensen recalled how they watched a parade go down St. Charles Avenue. 'Throw me somethin', mister!' the girls yelled as the floats went by. Someone tossed Hope a string of beads, but Haley was confused by the large pair of green satin underwear that was flung her way. 'Mom! Look at this! What is it?' Haley asked. 'My children caught underwear. Underwear!' Kotb said with a laugh. Whenever they visit the city, the mom takes her daughters to the parks to play on the oak trees with Spanish moss and treats them to the local cuisine, including gumbo, barbecue shrimp, beignets, and frozen sno-balls. 'Everything is light in New Orleans. "Normal" is being free, and dressing the way you want, dancing in the street even if youre the only one,' Kotb said. 'New Orleans celebrates the individual. Its full of characters, and I want my kids to meet them.' The April issue of Southern Living is on newsstands Friday, March 17, and the 2023 South's Best Awards are out now on SouthernLiving.com A sweet letter written by a six-year-old King Charles to his 'ill Granny' has been found in a loft - has sold for 7,000 at auction. The note, urging the Queen Mother to 'be better soon' was penned in 1955, and signs off with 'lots of love' from the royal. The incredible discovery, which had been 'gathering dust' for decades, was made during a Christmas break clear-out by a couple who live near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire - who had no idea the royal letter existed. The 1955 letter to the Queen Mother was found alongside a copy of Queen Elizabeth II's 1956 Christmas speech, Royal menus, an invitation to a Balmoral Castle dance and gift tags signed by Elizabeth and Prince Philip. A sweet letter written by a six-year-old King Charles to his 'ill Granny' has been found in a loft has been sold at auction for 7,000 (pictured) The collection of letters were expected to fetch between 2,000 and 3,000 when they were sold at Hansons Auctioneers in London. But a bidding war sent the price soaring until they were finally sold for 7,000. 'We finally had the time to look through a big box file that my mother had given to us,' the unnamed seller, a 49-year-old farm manager, said. Another surprising discovery in the collection, which will go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on March 7, is a booklet titled 'The Words of Her Majesty The Queen, Christmas Day Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Six'. The letter from a young King Charles features a selection of colourful doodles and kisses. The letter on Buckingham Palace notepaper, dated March 15, also shows off the young King's neat and large handwriting. The letter had originally belonged to their late grandfather, Roland Stockdale, who is understood to have been 'involved in helping to protect the Queen Mother. The seller believes his grandfather 'probably worked with several royals over time.' Roland was also highly regarded by William Tallon - or 'Backstairs Billy' - the Queen Mother's devoted servant - because there is correspondence in the collection from him. It includes a postcard sent to Roland in January, 1983 from Sandringham which begins 'Dear Sarg, Queen Elizabeth told me this morning that you are not well*'. A few weeks later on February 7, Tallon offered his condolences to Mrs Stockdale following Roland's death. A letter to her on Clarence House headed paper said: 'I am so dreadfully sorry to hear* of your very sad loss and the family have all my deepest sympathy at this awful moment in time. 'I always thought most highly of Ron (the best and kindest Sgt we ever had). I only hope that all was peaceful at the end and that he didn't have to suffer.' The letter on Buckingham Palace notepaper, dated March 15, also shows off the young King's neat and large handwriting The seller has 'absolutely no idea' how the letter from King Charles (pictured with the Queen Mother) came into his grandfather's possession Roland - who passed away in his seventies - was originally a farm worker from Carlisle. He had moved to London to find work, and got a job with the Metropolitan Police. This would lead to him being entrusted to work for the Queen's personal protection force during the 1950s. The file includes pictures of him in the Information Room in Scotland Yard in 1952. The seller explained that Roland's box - which was passed down to his son, and later, daughter-in-law, contained 'lots of royal memorabilia'. 'My wife said "wow, look at that!",' they added. 'We were pretty gobsmacked but we weren't sure whether anyone would be interested in it. 'My grandad was a man of few words and never really spoke about his time working with the royal family but he was clearly well thought of.' The seller has 'absolutely no idea' how the letter from King Charles came into his grandfather's possession. Charles Hanson, pictured, said that the sweet surprise note from the then-Prince was a touching find 'It's one of many things he kept,' they said. 'The file includes royal menus, an invitation to a dance at Balmoral Castle for his wife Audrey Stockdale, a note signed by the Queen Mother and a George VI Memorial Westminster booklet from October 21, 1955.' Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said the sweet note from the then-Prince was a touching find. 'The childhood letter from King Charles, written with painstaking care on lined paper, is heart-warming,' he said. 'Amid recent royal family rifts it is lovely to see a simple demonstration of affection sent from a boy to his granny.' The Queen Mother died in 2002. It is a copy of the Queen's 1956 Christmas broadcast which she delivered from her study in Sandringham, Norfolk. 'These rare royal finds are remarkable, even more so when you consider the family had no idea they had them in their care for around 40 years,' the auctioneers owner added. 'We all hang on to items throughout our life, such as cards and letters. Roland did the same and, like the vast majority of us, never thought to mention them to his family. 'He was clearly a devoted royal servant who treasured any snippet of royal memorabilia offered to him. It is clear from the tone of the correspondence that the royal family held Roland in high regard for his kindness. 'It has long been normal practice for members of the royal family to give away small keepsakes and personal mementos to valued servants. The Queen Mother died in 2002. In a recent documentary, royal experts claimed that the King was 'closer to the Queen Mother ' as a young boy. Charles pictured between the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret The letter from Prince Charles has an estimated price of 2,000-3,000. Pictured,, the King as a baby in 1949 'Such was the warmth felt for Roland, it appears the Queen Mother allowed him to keep one or two special items.' The letter from Prince Charles was at an estimated price of 2,000-3,000 while the Queen's Christmas Day Speech, privately printed and scarce, is guided at 100-200. Other items include three small gift tags signed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, circa 1960, 300-500; a note card inscribed and signed by the Queen Mother, 100-150, and two letters by Backstairs Billy, 50-80. In total, the collection was expected to make in the region of 4,000 at auction, but has sold for 7,000. WHILE most of Britain had wedding fever ahead of Prince Charless marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, one close relation refused to be caught up in the excitement. Dianas aunt, Mary Roche, who died last Friday aged 88, had a dreadful sense of foreboding. She caught her niece looking unhappy at a pre-wedding reception in 1981 at Buckingham Palace, where others had reported the bride-to-be in good form. Having shared a close bond with Diana while she was growing up, Mary knew her to be very natural and prone to giggles, a lot of fun. She could tell when Diana was being herself. I just remember her being unhappy at that reception, she later revealed. Princess Diana's aunt Mary Roche passed away last Friday at the age of 88. Pictured: Diana in 1991 with Mary Roche (centre) and her mother Ruth Lady Fermoy (right) Mary, daughter of the 4th Lord Fermoy, was the elder sister of Dianas mother, Frances Shand Kydd. Their father was a friend of George VI and the elder son of American heiress Frances Ellen Work. Their mother, Ruth, was a confidante and lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother. Mary later admitted that she had thought her 20-year-old niece ill-matched with the future King Charles, then 33. They were at very different stages of development, she explained. Diana was young and had limited life experience, and Prince Charles was already a great thinker. He read a great deal. They were, perhaps, different people. Could Mary Roche's death be the thing that finally unites Princes William and Harry as the rift between the brothers grows ever deeper? Dianas death wasnt the only tragedy Mary suffered. Her first ex-husband, the Tory MP Sir Anthony Berry, was murdered by the IRA in the Brighton hotel bombing in 1984. He was the son of The Daily Telegraphs former co-owner, Gomer Berry, the 1st Viscount Kemsley. Mary went on to marry, and divorce, twice more. Her sister, Frances, died in 2004 aged 68. Could the warring Princes William and Harry be reunited for the funeral of their mothers aunt? Royal fans are speculating over whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will travel to the UK to be reunited with the family for King Charles's coronation in May. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed they had received an invitation to the coronation but have not elaborated on whether they will attend. The coronation, which is set to be seen by millions of people in the UK and potentially billions around the world, will take place on May 6 - the same day as the fourth birthday of Archie, Harry's son. The news comes days after Charles kicked his son and daughter-in-law out of their British home, Frogmore Cottage, a move that is thought to complicate any future visits to the UK from the California-based couple. Choi Kyung-sun, left, the APAC product engineering leader at 3M Innovation Center's personal safety division and Ewha Womans University student Lee Ye-reen, who met each other through 3M's mentoring program, speak during an interview with The Korea Times at 3M Korea's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 23. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Lee Hae-rin Choi Kyung-sun, 46, the APAC product engineering leader at 3M Innovation Center's personal safety division, said that she believed she was lucky for never experiencing serious gender discrimination during her life so far, from studying chemistry at Chung-Ang University to developing her career at the U.S.-based multinational company. However, upon looking back on the male-dominated field, she is now questioning her assessment. In those days, her class had only one woman professor and one-third of the students were women. Most of the decision-makers and those in top positions she worked with were men, but she didn't find it strange at the time. "Maybe I was well-accustomed to gender discrimination, which may have made me blind to it," Choi said. "However, being unable to recognize a problem as a problem is a bigger problem." On the other hand, Lee Ye-reen, a 24-year-old student majoring in environmental science and engineering at Ewha Womans University, comprises the new generation of women in the field of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) who is used to seeing women among her peers, where men used to be a dominant force. She is also more conscious of gender discrimination. "All my peers, seniors and professors are women, so I was able to become more aware of the male dominance in the field," Lee said. She said she chose the women's university in search of a stronger female career network and often discusses gender discrimination within and outside the field with her friends. Choi and Lee first met each other last July at the second edition of the annual global mentoring program organized by 3M Korea and the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET), a public institution under the Ministry of Science and ICT. The program aims to support and celebrate women's presence and engagement in STEM and build a network of women scientists and university students. Throughout the program, Choi and a couple of 3M's senior female engineers shared insights from their professional journey and education as female scientists and engineers with Lee and 14 other university student mentees. The mentor's 5-month guidance broadened Lee's perspective and helped her better understand her aptitude, encouraging her to dig into the fields of environment, health and safety management. Choi said she thought it was her turn in the virtuous cycle of mutual support in STEM's female community and would give back what she had received from her seniors to the next generation of women scientists. From over a decade of experience in the area of STEM, Choi said she has witnessed how women scientists especially Korean ones can contribute to academic and industrial advancement and help solve the world's problems with their expertise, resilience, communication and social skills. However, statistics show that the entry barrier for women into the field of science and technology still remains high. According to the latest WISET annual report on the representation of women and men in STEM published in October 2022, women accounted for only 21.17 percent of total students majoring in science and engineering in higher education. The figure has grown from 2011's 16.9 percent, but only about six out of 10 of them find jobs in STEM fields. Also, Korea ranked lower in gender equality 102 among 156 countries worldwide and 36th among 38 OECD nations according to the World Economic Forum's global gender gap report in 2021. The country's ratio of female STEM researchers was also not impressive compared to the top developed nations. Korea ranked 10th among 20 countries with the highest GDP in 2018, with only 20.4 percent of women researchers. France had 44 percent, Spain 40 percent and Norway 38 percent. The mentor and mentee both expressed hopes and possibilities to see more women peers in their field. The latest corporate trend to hire more women in the STEM field is not only a humanitarian initiative, but a reflection of the companies' recognition of the "economic values that women scientists offer," because their distinct qualities are no longer perceived as obstacles to expertise and contribute to the companies' profits, the senior researcher said. "It's a shame that few women think that they can make it in the field of STEM. I wish more women in Korea and around the world will sees it (STEM) as their playground and realize their potential (as scientists and engineers)," Choi said. Prince Edward looked particularly smart when attending a fundraising gala in London on Tuesday - as reports emerge he may be meeting one of the world's biggest popstars this week. The Earl of Wessex, who turns 59 this Friday, joined guests at the National Youth Theatre's annual fundraising gala at The Londoner Hotel, which raises funds for the the charity to continue its work. Dressed in a dapper black suit with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son appeared to be in high spirits. And his chipper disposition may be explained by rumours he is set to visit the set of the film adaptation of the musical Wicked next week, which stars pop sensation Ariana Grande. The Sun reported the father-of-two is due to visit the set in his capacity as patron of many arts charities and organisations. Prince Edward, 58, (pictured) looked dapper in a black suit and bow tie as he attended the National Youth Theatre Annual Fundraiser Gala The Sun has reported Prince Edward is due to meet international pop sensation Ariana Grande (pictured) on set of the film adaptation of the musical Wicked later this week The royal (middle) was joined by Dawn Airey, NYT board member (left) and artistic director Paul Roseby OBE (right) A film insider told the paper that Edward has been invited on set to meet some of the stars including Ariana. They said: 'Edwards visit has been kept under wraps. 'Hed been invited as a guest of honour, and now he is going to actually meet some of the stars, including Ariana.' The reports come amid rumours Buckingham Palace is struggling to find performers to play at the coronation in May. Dawn Airey, HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Paul Roseby and Krishnan Guru-Murthy attend the National Youth Theatre Annual Fundraising Gala at The Londoner Hotel This evening Edward, who is patron of the National Youth Theatre, was joined by guests from the showbiz industry including NYT board member Dawn Airey and artistic director Paul Roseby OBE. The National Youth Theatre is a youth arts charity that has been dedicated to inspiring the lives of young people and audiences for over 60 years. It's charitable remit gives accesible opportunities both onstage and backstage to young people aged between 14 and 25 from all corners of the UK and diverse backgrounds. It hopes to give young people unique, life-changing experiences working with some of the UK's leading professional directors, writers, producers and stage managers. Tuesday's event 'Make A Splash' held a silent auction of over 120 items, ranging from luxury holidays to once-in-a-lifetime VIP experiences. The Earl of Wessex has been quiet so far throughout March but in February was seen attending the Radio Times' annual covers party. The Earl of Wessex, 58, was the guest of honour at the party, held at Claridge's Ballroom in London, which celebrates those who have featured on the magazine's front cover in the previous 12 months. Dressed in a smart grey suit, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son appeared in great spirits. The Earl of Wessex, 58, joined guests for the National Youth Theatre's annual fundraising gala at The Londoner Hotel, which raises funds for the the charity to continue its work The royal donned a bright green polka dot tie and a matching pocket square with a white shirt for the star-studded event. Inside the venue he was joined by famous faces including Sir Lenny Henry, Sir Michael Palin, and Sue Barker. This September marks the Radio Times' 100th anniversary, with the event also welcoming cover stars from across the decades including Sir Tony Robinson, and newsreader Angela Rippon. At the event Edward received two commemorative Radio Times covers featuring the the Queen; the first ever to feature the then Princess Elizabeth in October 1940 and Radio Times' Platinum Jubilee cover from May 2022. Queen Letizia looked elegant as ever as she stepped out in a respectful, modest black dress alongside her husband King Felipe this evening as they attended a memorial concert. The Spanish Queen, 50, showed off her enviable silhouette in a long-sleeved black dress with a metallic look, which was clinched at the waist with tie detail. Mother-of-two Letizia accessorised with a black leather clutch bag and black pumps as she attended a memorial concert to commemorate terror victims in Madrid. She wore her dark brunette locks in a sleep black ponytail and wore delicate teardrop earrings with pink stones. In keeping with her sophisticated evening look, Letizia opted for a smokey eye and defined eyebrows, with a touch of blush on her cheeks and nude lip gloss. Queen Letizia, 50, looked chic in a black dress with tie detail on the waist to clinch her tight figure as she arrived at the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid to attend the XXI Concert in memory of terror victims with King Felipe The Queen stepped out with her husband King Felipe, 55, who was dressed in a smart black pinstripe suit and a blue tie. The royal couple were pictured shaking hands with other attendees at the venue on arrival. Letizia's more conservative outfit to attend the memorial event comes a week after she stepped out in bright fuchsia to visit an awards ceremony in Alicante, on the Costa Blanca. She and King Felipe attended the Investigation National Awards at the Casa Mediterraneo. Letizia, 50, attended the concert with King Felipe VI, 55, who was dressed in a black pinstripe suit The Spanish royal kept her look elegant, respectful and modest as she attended the somber event Letizia paired her black dress, which was clinched at the waist, and paired it with black patent pumps King Felipe leads the way as the royal couple walk through the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid The King and Queen stopped to shake hands with attendees at the concert The Queen looked elegant as she arrived at the National Auditorium in Madrid this evening ahead of the concert The Spanish royals presented the prizes, which are worth 30,000 euros, to researchers in Spain who have performed outstanding professional work of international relevance in the fields of research and science. A few days after attending the awards ceremony, Letizia made another public appearance in a bright scarlet outfit as she attended a UNICEF meeting. As Honorary President of UNICEF Spain, the wife of King Felipe VI has been informed of all the details of work that the organisation is taking. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the leading international organisation working to promote children's rights and achieve real change in the lives of millions of children. Its work is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most ratified human rights treaty in the world, and currently develops its work in 190 countries. UNICEF Spain is one of the 36 National Committees that contribute to the work of the United Nations Children's Fund. Its aim is to ensure that children's rights to health, education and protection are fulfilled throughout the world, something which the Spanish Queen is deeply invested in. Fashionistas can't seem to get enough of the budget-friendly option The Big W shorts retail for $15 while the Shona Joy shorts retail for $240 Big W is selling a 'dupe' of a pair of Shona Joy shorts Fashionistas are racing to Big W to purchase $15 shorts deemed to be a 'dupe' of a similar Shona Joy buy worth sixteen times the price. Stylist Genevieve spotted the Big W '&me Women's Tailored Short' in stores and couldn't pass up buying a pair in two different colours. She paired the shorts with the $12 '&me Boxy Tee' and black sandals with a matching bag for the perfect weekend look. To compare, the popular shorts look striking similar to the Shona Joy Sara tailored wide leg shorts in melon - which cost $240. Scroll down for video Stylist Genevieve (pictured) spotted the Big W '&me Women's Tailored Short' in stores and needed to buy a pair The Big W shorts look striking similar to the Shona Joy Sara tailored wide leg shorts in melon - which retail for $240 (pictured) The Big W shorts feature a tailored cut, two pockets, and a belt loops for accessorising, and are available from size XS to XL. The shorts are perfect for styling up or down to be worn to brunch on weekends or in the office on weekdays. And the Shona Joy wide leg shorts are also designed with coin pockets, wide leg design, wide belt loops and high waistband. There seems to be few differences between the two product descriptions on the Big W and Shona Joy website, besides the material in which the product is made from. It comes after Sydney TikToker Chelsea boasted about an $8 pair of slides from the retail giant. 'If you love a high-ticket item you bet I'll track down a dupe version of it and today Big W has the Yeezy slides for $8 in four colour ways!' she wrote on Instagram. 'Better run for these ones before they sell out!' Sydney TikToker Chelsea spotted a pair of shoes from Big W (pictured) that look near-identical to Kanye West's 'Yeezy' slides While the Yeezy slides, which were originally designed by Kanye West, aren't available in Australia, Adidas sell a near-identical version for $350. But the affordable Big W 'Wave Zone' women's slides are perfect for those on a budget. The 'no fuss' moulded design is ideal for summer and features textures soles to make it easy to slip the shoes on and off. The product is available in store and online in brown, black, khaki and grey. The new Victoria Bitter Xtra, or VX, contains 6 per cent alcohol strength Victoria Bitter will release a new beer this week One of the most popular beers in Australia is set to launch a new product later this week. Victoria Bitter will release a 'bolder and more intense' beverage with a staggering high strength of six per cent alcohol. Victoria Bitter Xtra, or VX, will hit the shelves in four-packs of 250mL cans each containing 1.2 standard drinks, while the original VB 375mL stubbie is worth 1.4 standard drinks. Customers can expect the same taste of a VB as the same ingredients are used, but with an extra punch in each can. The VX features a brand new red, white and black logo as well as the new slogan 'For a Hard Earned Night'. Victoria Bitter will launch a new beer this week with a 'bolder and more intense' flavour The latest product can be found at all major bottle shops for $16 per four-pack and $60 for a slab of stubbies. The company revealed the latest offering came about after Australians started turning to trusted brands during the pandemic. Shoppers now have more options than ever when shopping for VB, as VX is designed to compliment the original rather than replace it. Victoria Bitter Xtra, or VX, will hit the shelves in four-packs of 250mL cans each containing 1.2 standard drinks, while the original VB 375mL stubbie is worth 1.4 standard drinks Victoria Bitter brand director, Sarah Wilcox, said: 'We've launched VX to give beer lovers a slightly bolder and more intense version of the great VB taste they've enjoyed for generations. 'It is brewed to be enjoyed with mates and to offer more choices of great-tasting beer for various occasions.' 'We think there's a market among traditional beer lovers who also want bolder and more intense flavours. It's all about choice.' It follows after the Melbourne-based lager producer teamed up with alcohol-delivery service Jimmy Brings to launch a button drinkers can install in their home that will deliver a case of beer as soon as it's pressed. Dubbed 'The Big Green Button' the device can be magnetically attached to any fridge door. It follows after VB launched a button that will add a six pack of beers to Jimmy Brings cart To ensure against any accidental ordering, the device needs to be tapped twice. The first tap will play an 'iconic VB tune' while the second will and a case of 375ml stubbies to a customer's Jimmy Brings cart. Luke Calavassy, Head of Jimmy Brings says the device will make ordering your favourite drinks easier than eve 'Just when you thought ordering via Jimmy Brings couldn't get any easier, we have proudly teamed up with VB to bring the Big Green Button to life' he said in a statement. The first tap will play an 'iconic VB tune' while the second will and a case of 375ml stubbies to a customer's Jimmy Brings cart 'Now VB lovers can get a case of stubbies delivered to their door in minutes, with the tap of a button.' Sarah Wilcox, Head of Classic Brands at CUB, the parent company of VB, said the new device reflects VB's comment to innovation. 'As one of Australia's favourite beers, we are always looking for new ways to deliver to our loyal customers in easy and exciting ways,' Wilcox comments. 'We're so excited to partner with Jimmy Brings to deliver Victoria Bitters thanks to the Big Green Button.' Jimmy Brings currently delivers to Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong ,Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast , Perth, Wollongong and Tasmania A pack of six is currently listed on Jimmy Brings website of $24, plus a delivery fee of $6.95. Jimmy Brings currently delivers to Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast , Perth, Wollongong and Tasmania. Customers order via its website or app, with alcohol delivered in around 30 minutes depending on the exact delivery location. The button comes for free with every case of VB ordered on Jimmy Brings - or is for sale for $10. Her husband refused to go halves as she got an epidural The couple were left with an $8,000 hospital birth bill A new mum was left outraged after her husband of seven years refused to pay for half of the hospital bills for the birth of their baby. The dad, Carl*, said he would not pay any of the $8,000 bill because Rachel*, 'jacked it up' by getting an epidural and other 'extras'. The 32-year-old mum says she is considering 'ending her marriage' over the reaction - which hundreds agree she should do. Rachel said the couple had been living in a 'newborn bubble of bliss' until the hospital bill came and interrupted it. She explained that her and Carl both work and have always 'split everything 50/50', so she did not expect his reaction. A new mum was left outraged after her husband of seven years refused to pay for half of the hospital bills for the birth of their baby (stock image) Poll Should Carl have paid for half of the hospital bill? Definitely! No way! Should Carl have paid for half of the hospital bill? Definitely! 371 votes No way! 22 votes Now share your opinion 'Throughout my pregnancy, I planned to go for an unmedicated natural birth with as little intervention as possible,' she explained. However, after 24 hours of labour she 'caved' and got the epidural, something Carl encouraged at the time. When the bill arrived, Carl hit the roof and demanded Rachel pay for it using her personal savings, as he shouldn't be expected to pay for her 'extra requests'. 'You're the one that couldn't hold out for a few more hours and jacked up the bill with all your meds and an extra nights stay,' he said. The 'luxuries' that were on the bill included an epidural, lactation consultant, the nursery fee, extra stay overnight, post-partum supplies, hospital food and blood tests. Carl said he would not pay any of the $8,000 bill because Rachel, 'jacked up the bill' by getting an epidural and other 'extras' (stock image) Rachel 'flipped out' at him, but he refused to budge and called her a 'princess' for demanding so many 'extra add-ons' in the hospital. Rachel gave in and paid the bill but says she now feels 'disrespected' and didn't expect this treatment so soon after her 36-hour labour and the birth of their child. 'This is by far the biggest issue so far in our 14-year relationship and I'm so lost on where to go from here,' she said. She can't decide if she 'has the right' to feel how she does, or if the hormones are impacting her emotions. Hundreds of people advised her that she has done nothing wrong, and said Carl owes her 'far more' than $8000. Several pointed out that Rachel will have a loss of earnings due to maternity leave for the foreseeable future, and just spent the last nine months carrying Carl's child, something he should pay for if wants to be 'equal'. 'Even at minimum wage 24 hour a day, 40 weeks.. he's looking at just shy of $50,000, $25,000 if they split it. $4,000 would have been a bargain!' one woman said. 'I'd be absolutely DONE if my husband pulled this shit. His kid too, his cost too,' another said. 'Holy sh*t. Throw the whole man out,' another advised. * Names have been changed Experts today said the appointment of Dr Jeremy Farrar, a top infectious diseases doctor who was knighted in 2019, was a 'major unforced error' Experts have called for the World Health Organization's incoming chief scientist to be axed after more evidence showed he censored the Covid lab leak theory. Dr Jeremy Farrar will take up his new six-figure role at the global health agency in the second quarter of this year after stepping down as director of the Wellcome Trust nonprofit in London. But new emails uncovered by House Republicans put the British infectious diseases doctor at the center of the lab leak cover-up, fueling fresh criticism about the WHO's appointment. They show he made direct edits to a scientific paper written in February 2020 specifically to squash the theory that Covid may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). On the day that paper, titled 'Proximal Origin', was first published, emails also show Dr Farrar pushed through a crucial change that poured even more doubt over the theory - despite privately expressing concerns the virus was man-made. 'Sorry to micromanage/micro edit! But would you be willing to change one sentence?', Dr Farrar asked in the email chain. He asked for the word 'unlikely' to be swapped with 'improbable' in a statement talking about the lab leak. The tweaked sentence then read: 'It is improbable that SARS-CoV-2 emerged through laboratory manipulation of an existing SARS-related coronavirus.' Experts have today warned against Jeremy Farrar being appointed as chief scientist to the World Health Organization. He has dismissed the lab leak hypothesis on Covid origins as a 'conspiracy theory' previously. (Pictured: The Wuhan Institute of Virology where Covid may have escaped from) The above email extract shows Dr Farrar made at least one direct edit to the paper in Nature Medicine that he was not credited for. It was revealed yesterday by House Republicans Several experts have called for Dr Farrar's appointment at the WHO to be axed in light of the new revelations. Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told DailyMail.com: 'In this context, the appointment of Dr Farrar as a chief scientist at the WHO is a major unforced error. 'The WHO would do well to review and revoke the appointment.' The US has long been one of the largest funding sources for the World Health Organization, providing between $200 million and $600 million annually over the past 10 years. In 2020 to 2021, it was the third largest funder behind Germany and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, having invested approximately $693 million. Dr David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia in the UK, also said the agency might want to rethink the move. He told this website: 'There has to be concern about Dr Farrar's appointment. 'He first privately speculated on a lab leak origin for Covid. Yet, he then added his signature to a notorious Lancet letter seeking to debunk the lab leak theory. 'If he is to lead the WHO, it would be wise for Dr Farrar to commission investigations of Covid's origins entirely independent of the Organization's hierarchy, himself included.' Robert Moffit, an expert on Covid origins who has written on the subject for the right-wing Heritage Foundation thinktank, said that in light of the new emails, Dr Farrar should not take up the role at the WHO. 'I don't think he should take the job,' he told DailyMail.com. 'He should refrain from taking any position like that until these matters are cleared up and published. 'We don't want someone to take over the WHO who may... refrain from taking a position until all these issues [on Covid origins] are cleared up.' Rand Paul, a physician and Republican senator for Kentucky, told DailyMail.com that he also opposed Dr Farrar's appointment. He said: 'Jeremy Farrar, the guy who then publicly disdained the lab leak theory despite privately admitting he was still 50:50 on the lab leak should not be in charge of the WHO or any investigations into the origins of Covid.' Emails leaked last year show that Dr Farrar privately expressed concern that Covid could have leaked from a lab in February 2020. He famously told Dr Anthony Fauci and colleagues that he was 50:50 between a lab leak and natural origin. But in the following weeks, Dr Farrar seemed to have a dramatic change of heart and put his name to a letter in the Lancet denouncing the lab leak hypothesis as a 'conspiracy theory'. The statement, signed along with 26 other scientists, said: 'We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that Covid does not have a natural origin. 'Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus.' Dr Livermore also raised concerns about Dr Farrar's links to Dr Peter Daszak, the zoologist who has been criticized for directing millions in US taxpayer money to the Wuhan lab to fund controversial bat coronavirus research. Dr Daszak was then accused of leaning on colleagues to direct blame away from the facility when Covid started to spread. He also spearheaded the letter in the Lancet. Dr Richard Ebright (left) and Dr David Livermore, both microbiologists, have raised concerns over Dr Farrar's appointment to the World Health Organization Farrar's lab leak meddling and flip-flopping: February 4, 2020: After setting up a conference call about the origin of Covid, Dr Farrar famously told colleagues that he was 50:50 between the virus having a natural origin and being released from a lab. On the same day, while sending emails discussing the origin of Covid he also described the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) as a 'wild west', in an apparent reference to its lack of infection control and oversight. February 8, 2020: Dr Kristian Andersen, a scientist on the call, sends an email saying they are working to disprove the lab leak hypothesis. He said: 'Our main work over the last couple of weeks has been focused on trying to disprove any type of lab theory.' This was surprising, given that in January he told Dr Fauci in an email that some aspects of the virus made him wonder whether it had been engineered. February 12, 2020: Scientists on the call request the publication of the Proximal Origins paper in Nature Medicine, which dismisses the lab leak theory. An email sent by its lead author Dr Kristian Andersen, suggests it was prompted by Dr Anthony Fauci and Dr Farrar. He wrote: 'Prompted by Jeremy Farrah [sic], Tony Fauci, and Francis Collins... [we] have been working through much of the (primarily) genetic data to provide agnostic and scientifically informed hypothesis around the origins of the virus.' February 17, 2020: After oversight of the Proximal Origins paper, Dr Farrar requests an edit to the text. He was not credited on the paper despite making this request. Asking for language to be changed, he said: 'Sorry to micro-manage/microedit! But would you be willing to change one sentence? 'From: It is unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 emerged through laboratory manipulation of an existing SARS-related coronavirus. 'To: It is improbable that SARS-CoV-2 emerged through laboratory manipulation of an existing SARS-related coronavirus.' February 19, 2020: Farrar signs a letter in the Lancet with 26 other scientists that dismisses the lab leak theory as a conspiracy. It reads: 'We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that Covid does not have a natural origin. 'Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors and prejudice that jeopardize our global collaboration in the fight against this virus.' The letter was spearheaded by Dr Peter Daszak, who was accused of bullying colleagues into directing blame away from the WIV. March 17, 2020: The Proximal Origins of Covid paper appears in Nature Medicine, which also aims to dismiss the lab leak theory. Dr Farrar was not credited on the paper. June 9, 2020: Farrar promotes an article written by Dr Daszak in the Guardian, with the title: 'Ignore the conspiracy theories: Scientists know Covid wasn't created in a lab - as always worth reading @peterdaszak' June 21, 2021: The Lancet is forced to publish an addendum to its paper dismissing the lab leak hypothesis as a conspiracy theory. It had previously stated that its authors had no conflicting interests. But, in the addendum, it admits Dr Daszak's relationship with the WIV. July 17, 2021: Farrar is credited on another paper in the Lancet dismissing the lab leak theory. A passage reads: 'We believe the strongest clue from new, credible, and peer-reviewed evidence in the scientific literature is that the virus evolved in nature, while suggestions of a laboratory-leak source of the pandemic remain without scientifically validated evidence that directly supports it in peer-reviewed scientific journals.' July 22, 2021: Dr Farrar's book 'Spike' is published. He wrestles with the lab leak hypothesis in the book and concludes that it will never be possible to rule it out completely. He adds, however: 'But the simplest explanation remains the likeliest: Nature plus bad luck.' Advertisement The journal had to admit a conflict of interest on the paper in June, 2021, almost a year after it was published, disclosing Dr Daszak's relationship with the WIV. Beforehand, it had stated that there were 'no competing interests'. In June 2020, Dr Farrar also shared an article Daszak wrote for the Guardian saying: 'Ignore the conspiracy theories: Scientists know Covid-19 wasn't created in a lab - as always worth reading @peterdaszak.' He also quietly assisted scientists writing the Proximal Origin commentary in Nature Medicine, published in March 2020, in which the authors stated they did 'not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible'. Dr Farrar was never credited on the paper, but this week's report by House Republicans found that he made direct edits to the paper. In one email sent by Dr Ian Lipkin, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, he thanked Dr Farrar for his involvement. 'Thanks for shepherding this paper,' he wrote. 'Rumors of bioweaponeering are now circulating in China.' Dr Farrar replied: 'Yes I know and in US why so keen to get out ASAP. I will push Nature.' At the WHO, Dr Farrar will be the chief scientist with responsibility over the entire Science Division and as a spokesman for science at the agency. Created in 2019, the Science Division compiles evidence to improve health for people in all 194 WHO member countries. During the Covid pandemic, it worked to bring together information on the virus, its treatment and prevention. The Science Division says online that it is also involved in 'countering the infodemic of misinformation'. Two major US agencies the FBI and the US Energy Department now say Covid escaped from a lab in Wuhan, although they do so with 'low confidence'. The director of the FBI also said last week that the theory was credible, saying that the 'origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab accident in Wuhan'. And a bombshell Senate report concluded in October that Covid 'most likely' leaked from a lab in Wuhan. There is no direct evidence yet that Covid leaked from the Wuhan lab. But the research facility - world-famous for its work on bat coronaviruses - is less than 10 miles from an animal slaughter market where the first human case series was clustered. Some experts also claim that Covid's unique spike protein, which it uses to infect people, shows hallmarks of human engineering. China has deleted databases and records from the lab and repeatedly refused access to scientists investigating the origin of the Covid pandemic. The US was funneling millions into the Wuhan lab through the EcoHealth Alliance organization, a New York-based group that funds global research into viruses. It is headed by Dr Daszak. A report by the US Office of Inspector General in January found that the National Institutes of Health - which awarded these funds to EcoHealth - did not properly monitor how they were used. One particular worry is that the WIV could have been performing 'gain-of-function' research without receiving proper approval. The highly controversial and potentially dangerous research is heavily regulated in the US, only allowed to be performed in labs with top security protocols in place. The WIV had previously suffered issues with following proper protocols when doing this type of research. A US Senate report in October pointed out multiple instances of biosafety and Nonetheless, many scientists do still back the zoonotic origin argument as being the most likely emergence of Covid. Dr Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia in the UK, said he felt the evidence still pointed much more strongly to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. 'Most of my career I have been involved in investigating the causes of outbreaks of infectious diseases and the nature of such investigations rarely gives absolute proof of cause,' he said. 'Most of the time it is the balance of probabilities.' 'As regards the Covid outbreak the balance of probabilities is very much against this being a lab leak and in favor of this being linked to the Huanan seafood market.' The World Health Organization and the Wellcome Trust have been contacted for comment. Shining a red light on to the genitals for just 60 seconds could boost a mans libido. The treatment involves beaming the light from a special torch through the skin of the penis after a compound is injected into the area. The compound, known as NORD-1, reacts to the light by releasing nitric oxide, a gas that helps blood vessels to dilate boosting blood flow to the penis and improving erections. A new study shows the technique is effective in animals and the Japanese scientists behind it believe it could work just as well in men who fail to respond to drug treatments. They hope to begin human trials in the next couple of years. An estimated one in ten men experiences erectile dysfunction at some point. Causes range from diabetes and hormonal problems to stress and depression. Shining a red light on to the genitals for just 60 seconds could boost a mans libido An estimated one in ten men experiences erectile dysfunction at some point. Causes range from diabetes and hormonal problems to stress and depression Medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra help some men by dilating the tiny blood vessels in the pelvic area, allowing more blood to reach the penis. But around a third of men who take these pills experience no improvement. In these cases, the only other options are to inject drugs straight into the penis which can be painful and difficult to self-administer or use a pump that manually increases blood supply to the organ. DID YOU KNOW? Just two hours of exposure to traffic fumes can hinder brain function, according to a recent study in the journal Environmental Health. Researchers in Canada exposed 25 adults to diesel exhaust and filtered air and measured brain activity before and after. Scans revealed decreased functional connectivity in brain regions that play important roles in memory and other processes after diesel exhaust exposure. Advertisement Red light therapy could potentially be another option, according to the results of a study published recently in the World Journal of Mens Health. In tests it involved injecting the compound NORD-1, a synthetic chemical that only releases nitric oxide (through a chemical reaction) when it is exposed to red light, into the genitals of rats with erectile dysfunction. Simply injecting nitric oxide itself into the body to dilate blood vessels is not a solution as it can cause unwanted side-effects, such as low blood pressure. But this way, nitric oxide is released only when the light is shone on to genitals, making it safer. (And unlike other injection treatments for erectile dysfunction, this would be given now and then, rather than every time a man had sex.) Researchers at Nagoya City University in Japan monitored changes in rodents after injecting NORD-1 into the penis and flashing red light for just 60 seconds. After four weeks, the results showed a significant improvement in the frequency and duration of erections after red light therapy. Tests also showed erections improved even after nerve damage similar to that seen in men who undergo surgical removal of the prostate due to cancer. Researchers said this raises hopes that men whose sex lives have been affected by prostate cancer surgery could, in future, revive their libidos using red light therapy. Professor Paul Chazot, a scientist at Durham University, who is researching the red light therapy in dementia (to improve blood flow to the brain), said: Nitric oxide release can be beneficial in several clinical situations including erectile dysfunction. So this could potentially be useful. But these findings are in rats and may not extrapolate well to humans. A controversial 'miracle cream' used to treat vitiligo could soon be offered on the NHS. Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition caused by a lack of melanin and results in white patches on areas such as the face and fingers. Ruxolitinib has been hailed as a wonder drug by some patients because it can return the skin to its natural colour. Drug regulators at the MHRA are now weighing up whether it should be approved or not in Britain. One sufferer said the drug could be 'the light at the end of the tunnel'. But ruxolitinib, branded as Opzelura, is controversial due to its serious potential side effects, such as cancer and blood clots. A clinical trial of the drug yielded strong results in some people, pictured here is one woman at day one (left), week 24 (middle) and week 52 of treatment (right) Ruxolitinib has been hailed a miracle cream by some as it can return the skin to its natural colour and could be 'the light at the end of the tunnel' for sufferers Opzelura, which costs $2,000 (1,600) for a single tube, was approved in the US last year. The drug has an FDA black box warning on its packaging, saying that it can also cause serious infections, immune system problems, low blood cell counts, and increases in cholesterol. Opzelura must be prescribed by doctors, rather than sold over the counter, as the treatment requires monitoring by medics. The National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) is planning assess the risks and benefits of the drug to determine whether the cost of it being provided to patients on the NHS can be justified. European regulators could also be set to recommend it to people aged 12 and over. Teacher Joti Gata-Aura, who is Indian, has lived with the condition for 20 years. She told the BBC that due to her vitiligo, her 'identity was stripped' and that she was constantly searching for treatments. 'People are going through what I went through 20 years ago,' she said. 'This could be light at the end of the tunnel for many people.' The cream is to be applied to un-pigmented spots of the skin twice a day. It is not to be used on more than ten percent of the bodies surface area. It may take around 24 weeks for the drug to show its effectiveness in many patients. For some it could take up to a year to reach its maximum potential. The drug showed promise in recently completed Phase 3 clinical trials, which included 600 participants. Those that used the cream showed visible improvement in the colour of their skin, with half reaching the threshold of successful re-pigmentation after a year. Vitiligo is caused by the person's own body attacking melanin-producing cells in the skin, mistaking them for foreign invaders. The condition affects around one in 100 people in the UK and roughly one in 200 in the US. About 50 per cent develop their first symptoms before the age of 20, though it's not clear why. Model Winnie Harlow, who started developing vitiligo when she was around four years old, told Cosmopolitan last year that it was 'incredibly isolating as a child' However, 'stressful' events, such as childbirth, exposure to certain chemicals or even cuts to the skin, may trigger it, according to the NHS - there is also a genetic risk. There is no cure, but some treatments can reverse pigment loss if used early enough. Model Winnie Harlow, who started developing vitiligo when she was around four years old, told Cosmopolitan last year that it was 'incredibly isolating as a child.' 'I vividly recall being in third grade and trying to befriend two girls who would run away from me because their mothers didn't want them to 'catch' what I had, as if I were contagious,' she said. However she said she credits her loving family for her confidence and feels her skin has been one of her 'greatest gifts'. The NHS won't meet a key cancer target for another year, bosses expect. Government plans set out that the number of cancer patients starting treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral should return to pre-Covid levels by March 2023. Knock-on effects of Covid saw the backlog of patients waiting beyond 62 days spiral to a record high of 34,000 last summer more than double levels seen before the pandemic struck. Health bosses today admitted that despite orders to bring the figure back down to pre-pandemic levels by this month, they won't meet the target for another year. Leading oncologists told MailOnline that the move is 'absolutely unacceptable' and 'deeply concerning' for cancer patients. NHS cancer data for December shows that just six in 10 started treatment within two months from an urgent GP cancer referral (red line), leaving 5,381 (blue line) patients waiting more than 62 days for cancer care Dame Cally Palmer, NHS England's national cancer director, was quizzed by MPs on when the 62-day target would come down Dame Cally Palmer, NHS England's national cancer director, was quizzed by MPs on when the 62-day backlog would come down. She said the health service is discussing a target of March 2024 with Health Secretary Steve Barclay. This is 12 months later than the March 2023 target set out by former Health Secretary Sajid Javid in the Elective Recovery Plan in February 2022, when he also declared a national 'war on cancer'. Dame Cally said the NHS has made 'very significant progress', bringing the backlog down from a record high of 34,000 last summer to 31,000 in November and 23,500 last week. She said: 'We have dropped by around 10,000 but there is still further to go.' The cancer boss blamed the record levels of urgent cancer referrals since March 2021 for the spike in the number of people on the cancer backlog. Between 200,000 and 250,000 people which is record levels are now referred for suspected cancer every month, MPs were told. Less than 3% of NHS England trusts hit cancer waiting-time targets - as campaigners warning of 'shocking gap in care' Of 125 hospital trusts in England analysed, only three (2.4%) hit the target of treating 85 per cent of patients within 62 days of an urgent referral Advertisement The increase has been linked to patients who put off seeking care during the pandemic now coming forward, growth in cancer rates and public awareness campaigns or high profile cases. MPs were told there was a 'big surge' in suspected bowel cancer cases after the death of Dame Deborah James. While only around six per cent of those in the backlog will actually have cancer, Dame Cally admitted it's an 'obviously very anxious' time and medics are working through the queue 'as quickly as possible'. Latest NHS data for December shows that just six in 10 patients (61.8 per cent) start treatment within two months following a urgent GP referral. It means 5,381 patents were forced to wait longer than 62 days to receive vital surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Professor Pat Price, a leading oncologist and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, told MailOnline that the missed deadline proves 'cancer has slipped down the agenda'. She said: 'It is absolutely unacceptable that, once again, there is no plan for bringing the cancer backlog down. 'As we know, this cancer crisis is the deadliest and most time-pressing of all health backlogs. 'Even more heartbreakingly, the targets to reduce these numbers have been pushed back yet again proving that cancer has slipped down the agenda. 'This is deeply concerning for cancer patients. 'We urge the NHS and the Government to release a specific cancer plan, which prioritises cost-effective and immediate solutions, such as radiotherapy. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, told MPs: 'I don't think anybody is comfortable with the fact that we have a large number of people who are waiting too long to get their diagnosis and start their treatment' This is 12 months later than the March 2023 target set out by former Health Secretary Sajid Javid in the Elective Recovery Plan in February 2022, when he also declared a national 'war on cancer' 'But we are worried that, as today's committee session proves, cancer care in this country will continue to decline.' Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist, told MailOnline: 'This is utterly disgraceful and shows the poor quality and bureaucratic style of NHS managers 'A similar approach to that used for Covid vaccination could easily applied to clear the backlog within month.' He suggested paying staff overtime to keep scanners open around-the-clock and getting volunteers in. 'It's time for action,' Professor Sikora added. Cancer remains the biggest cause of death from disease in the UK, with survival rates lagging behind those of many other developed nations. Every four-week delay to cancer treatment increases the risk of death by 10 per cent, experts say. The Covid pandemic had a devastating impact on cancer care, with treatment disrupted and tens of thousands fewer people coming forward for checks. Dame Cally also told MPs that another target won't be met until March 2024 despite the NHS itself saying it should be met from winter 2021. End of the hated 8am scramble for a GP appointment: Patients must now get a slot or be referred elsewhere the FIRST time they call While the number of fully qualified GPs in England has overall fallen, the patient population has risen to 62million, meaning more Brits are competing for fewer doctors Advertisement This target, introduced in 2021, sets out that three-quarters of patients should be told they have cancer, or have cancer ruled out, within 28 days of an urgent referral. However, the NHS has fallen short of this since it was introduced. Latest NHS data from December shows 70.7 per cent received a cancer diagnosis within the four-week timeframe. The figure peaked at 74.3 per cent in May 2021. Dame Cally said: 'We are confident with all the measures we're putting in place that we will meet that [by March 2024]. 'We hope to do it much earlier than March 2024 but that's backstop. And that's really important for survival.' Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, told MPs: 'I don't think anybody is comfortable with the fact that we have a large number of people who are waiting too long to get their diagnosis and start their treatment. 'What we need to do is contend with a very large number of referrals.' He added: 'About a quarter of all GP referrals into secondary care are for suspected cancer. 'We have driven down the numbers waiting longer, and the numbers are falling really quite rapidly at the moment as a result of all the work that's gone in.' Dame Cally also warned that she is 'concerned' about the disruption to cancer appointments due to the 72-hour junior doctors' strikes which starts on March 13. She said: 'In the initial industrial action, people worked incredibly hard in the NHS to reschedule patients quickly, and we had a national derogation for chemotherapy and the most urgent cancer surgery. 'I'm concerned about the junior doctors industrial action, and think that will create even further impact for patients. 'Sometimes it's quite hard to reschedule cancer care because it's multiple teams. 'I hugely value the work that NHS staff do to deliver the very best for patients, so I hope it's resolved as quickly as possible.' The White House is contemplating a mass bird flu vaccine rollout for America's chickens amid a record outbreak, according to reports. Around 60million birds in the US and 200million globally have been culled to prevent the spread of the H5N1 strain in the past year, driving up the prices of chickens and eggs since early 2022. There are fears the virus could jump to humans if it acquires dangerous mutations while infection rates are sky-high, with the virus already detected in other mammals such as minks, sea lions and foxes. White House officials told the New York Times that President Joe Biden is open to the idea of an avian flu vaccine rollout for the nation's birds. It's unclear how many birds would be targeted - with around 10billion chickens alone produced in America each year solely for meat. The White House is considering a vaccine rollout for the nation's chicken population, hoping to jab the billions of birds produced in the US every year in order to curb the spread of the H5N1 bird flu Last month, a young girl in Prey Veng, Cambodia, died of the bird flu. Her infection was not from the same strain circulating around much of the world but it did raise alarms for many global health officials+ Fears about the bird flu outbreak reached an apex last month, when an 11-year-old girl in Cambodia died from the avian flu and her father also tested positive. Both were found to have an older clade of H5N1 which was not responsible for the current global outbreak and they were both believed to have been infected by a bird. But the cases highlight the danger of a zoonotic spillover. Vaccinating the tens of millions of domesticated poultry in the US could take years, though, and opens other concerns. The rollout could impact trade and even make it harder to determine which birds have been infected, experts fear. The USDA did not disclose details about the shots it would use in testing, though there are a few in development. At the Pirbright Institute in the UK, scientists are developing an improved shot that involves tagging flu virus proteins with a marker that makes them easier for antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to capture. This generates faster and stronger immune responses to the bird flu strain compared to the inactivated virus vaccine that is the current standard. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine are working on an avian flu vaccine that uses tiny particles even smaller than the width of a human hair to deliver immunity by sending pathogen-like signals to cells. If an updated shot proves effective, that would open the door to USDA approval followed by a thorough vaccination campaign that seeks to reach the affected commercial poultry industry. While shots for the purpose of fending off avian flu have been used in the past, the USDA has not approved one for what is considered highly pathogenic avian influenza. The avian flu of the low pathogenicity category is not uncommon in wild birds and typically causes few or no signs of infection. There is already an existing shot for fowlpox, a viral infection that leads to lesions on the skin of birds, that many domesticated fowl already receive. Influenza vaccines are also already given to birds in China, Egypt, Mongolia and Vietnam - areas where strains of the virus are endemic in the poultry population. But, it is unclear whether those shots would be effective against the circulation H5N1 strain. Even if it is, vaccinating domesticated birds in the US is an endeavor that could take years. Nearly 10billion chickens are produced in America each year just for meat. This figure does not include turkeys and other domesticate birds and chickens produced for other purposes. Dr Carol Cardona, an expert on avian health at the University of Minnesota, told the Times that single facilities with upwards of 5million birds would need over two years to get the job done. Some industry leaders also oppose a vaccine rollout for the birds. While it may save the lives of some animals, it opens the door to potential problems too. If the vaccine only prevents birds from experiencing infection symptoms but not transmission of the virus itself, it could become even harder for farmers to identify affected flocks. This allows the virus to spread even more, now undetected by humans, and cause more harm to both the poultry population but also increase the likelihood the virus jumps to humans. The vaccine rollout also opens to door to restrictions on the import and export of birds based on their jab status. 'Although initially appealing as a simple solution to a widespread and troublesome problem, vaccination is neither a solution nor simple,' said Tom Super, a spokesperson for the National Chicken Council, told the Times. While controlling chicken and egg prices is important to officials, their main concern is the fear the virus will jump to humans. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency still deems the risk of bird flu to humans as low. 'But we cannot assume that will remain the case, and we must prepare for any change in the status quo,' he said earlier this month. Less than 900 cases have ever been recorded of the H5N1 virus in humans and almost all have been a result of animal-to-human transmission. This occurs when the virus, usually from bird droppings, saliva or another fluid, gets into a person's mouth, nose, eyes or an open wound. Experts warn that zoonotic transmission of viruses from animals to humans is only becoming more common because of a variety of factors, including deforestation, urbanization, illegal wildlife trade, animal farming and the continued use of wet food markets In rare cases, like during a small Hong Kong outbreak in 1997, the virus has spread from person-to-person. While the virus is believed to be constantly circulating among wild birds, the massive swell of cases among domesticated birds has alarmed experts. Because domesticated birds often interact with humans, the risks of a spillover event are greatly increased. Experts warn that the virus is adapting in ways that allow it to cause outbreaks in other mammals - increasing the risk it could spread among people. In October, an outbreak of the bird flu ravaged a population of 52,000 mink at a farm in Spain. Some of the critters were initially infected by eating meat from birds that died while infected. There were also signs of mink-to-mink spread of the flu, which is unusual for a mammal population and signals a change to the virus. In Peru, 716 sea lions were found to have died from the bird flu in recent weeks. Local officials worry that the virus has also spread between the animals - which are also mammals. There are no treatments designed specifically for humans infected with bird flu, let alone H5N1. Those who fall ill are treated with regular antiviral drugs such as Zanamivir and Peramivir. In case of an outbreak, the US does have a stockpile of vaccines designed to prevent infection from H5N1. It is sold under the name Audenz and was approved in 2021 by the Food and Drug Administration for people six months and older. It is a two-dose vaccine. Yang Geum-deok, 94, left, and Kim Sung-joo, 93, surviving victims of Japan's forced labor during World War II, attend a press conference denouncing the government's proposal to settle the compensation issue, at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin Surviving victims of wartime forced labor by Japanese firms strongly condemned on Tuesday the Korean government's proposal to settle the compensation issue without the direct involvement of the Japanese companies. Yang Geum-deok, 94, one of the victims, said she will not accept the money if it is not coming directly from the responsible firm, even if she "starves to death." On the previous day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed a plan to compensate the victims through a public foundation that will be funded primarily by Korean companies that benefited from reparations Japan provided under a 1965 treaty, instead of the responsible Japanese firms. The arrangement, which aims to resolve a years-long diplomatic tussle between Seoul and Tokyo, immediately drew criticisms from victims and liberal lawmakers for completely ignoring the victims' calls for a fresh apology and direct payment from Japan. "I will not accept the money even if I starve to death," Yang said during a press conference held at the National Assembly, denouncing the absence of the Japanese firms in the proposed compensation process. She also called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down, saying that his administration's arrangement with Japan is unacceptable. The 94-year-old was forced to work at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries factory in Nagoya in 1944. She returned home to Naju, South Jeolla Province, in August 1945 after Korea's liberation that year. Kim Sung-joo, 93, another surviving victim, said, "It was Japan that took us (for forced labor), so who should we demand an apology from?" Civic groups advocating for victims of forced labor hold a rally at the National Assembly, Tuesday, criticizing the government's proposal to settle the compensation issue without the direct involvement of the responsible Japanese firms. Yonhap A Canadian brother and sister born at just 22 weeks have been named the world's most premature twins. Adiah and Adrial Nadarajah were born 126 days or 18 weeks prematurely at Mount Sinai hospital in Toronto, Ontario. They had a combined weight of 1.6lbs (750grams). Doctors said that if they had been born just an hour earlier then they would not have attempted to save the infants. The children, who are now a year old and back at home in Ontario, were named the world's most premature twins by Guinness World Records. The parents said that Adrial tends to be thoughtful, while Adiah is babbly and loves to be carried when she is taken on walks. They overtake the previous record holders, twins born in Iowa back in 2015 who were 125 days early. A full-term pregnancy is usually 40 weeks. A Canadian brother and sister born at just 22 weeks have been named the world's most premature twins. Pictured above is Adrial (left), sitting on his father Kevin's lap, and Adriah (right), sitting on mother Shakina's lap. The two were born in Toronto, Canada Pictured above is one of the babies shortly after being born in hospital. Doctors said that if they were born just a few hours earlier life-saving measures would not have been attempted Happy birthday to twins Adiah and Adrial, new record holders for being the most premature twins pic.twitter.com/X2h5G5EQrZ Guinness World Records (@GWR) March 4, 2023 Mother Shakina Rajendram said that she went into labor at just 21 weeks and five days experiencing contractions, bleeding and extreme pain. She was rushed to hospital where doctors saw her in minutes but said the babies 'were not viable' and had a 'zero percent chance of survival'. But after an ultrasound revealed the twins were still 'very much alive', had strong heartbeats and were not distressed, the parents pleaded with doctors for help. They were transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, which could handle babies born at just 22 weeks. Doctors told Mrs Rajendram to 'hold them in' until they reached the 22-week threshold even as she had contractions every few minutes saying they could not help if they were born earlier. Shortly after midnight on March 4, 2022, Mrs Rajendram said she felt like her waters had broken. Adiah was born at 1.22am that day, and weighed 0.72lbs (330grams). Her brother Adrial followed at 1.45am with a weight of 0.93lbs (420grams). Babies born at 22 weeks old have an about 28 percent chance of survival, studies show. Among those born just a week later, this rises to 55 percent. The youngest baby ever to survive was Curtis Means from Alabama, who was born at 21 weeks and one day. Immediately after birth, the two were diagnosed with brain bleeds. Adrial's was more severe at a grade three. Adrial also suffered lung problems, kidney problems and sepsis. They then spent the next six months in hospital under the watchful eye of doctors before being discharged. Speaking about the births, Mrs Rajendram said: 'Amidst all that scenario of being told that the chance of survival is pretty much zero percent, the chance of disability and that to significant disability is really high, we were just clinging to our hope and faith, trusting in God.' She added: 'We watched the babies almost die before our eyes many times. It was also her second pregnancy, after she lost her first child a few months earlier. Immediately after birth, the two infants were diagnosed with brain bleeds. Adrial (left) also suffered from lung problems, kidney problems and sepsis The two infants are pictured above at home. They were allowed home after spending about six months in hospital But now the siblings are 'doing great'. Describing their babies, they said Adiah is a cheerful, fun girl, who likes to laugh and babble and be held while on walks. Adrial is more thoughtful, they said, and likes to look at things and stare intently at people as though he is trying to learn who they are. A new study has found that 77,406 learner drivers have already got points on their provisional licences. Amongst those holding the top spots for the UK's most dangerous learner drivers is a 43-year-old man who has a staggering 63 points, and a 20-year-old who already has 30. Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the DVLA from Select Car Leasing, 81 per cent of the motorists with tainted licences are male, with just 19 per cent being female. The independent car and van leasing specialists also found that 449 drivers over the age of 70 have penalty points on their provisional licence. A hapless 20-year-old with thirty points already on his provisional has been identified as the youngest driver in the UK to rack-up such a tally. He's not the worst offender overall, however, with another 43-year-old male having a staggering 63 points on his provisional licence. A new study has found that 77,406 learner drivers have already got points on their provisional licences. Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the DVLA from Select Car Leasing, 81 per cent of the motorists with tainted licences are male, and just 19 per cent female Learner drivers aged between 20 and 29 years old were the most likely to have fallen foul of the law, with almost 30,000 provisional licence holders falling into this category. Meanwhile, London and the Home Counties were the regions most blighted by learner drivers with points on their provisional - with Northampton and Perth, Scotland, also appearing in a list of top ten hotspots. A provisional driving licence gives you the permission to drive on UK roads while under the supervision of your driving instructor or another driver over the age of 21 who has held a full driving licence for a minimum of three years. People can apply for a provisional driving licence when you're 15 years and 9 months old, and can start driving a car on one when reaching the age of 17. Penalty points can be received on a provisional licence before passing a driving test for all the usual road offences, such as speeding, careless driving or using a mobile phone while at the wheel. It can take three years for penalty points to expire from a provisional licence, however, any penalty points on your provisional that have not expired will be carried over to your full licence when you pass your test. If you receive any more penalty points that take you up to a total of six or more, within two years of passing your practical test, you will have your licence taken away until you've passed both your theory and practical tests again. In general, penalty points, or endorsements must stay on a driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence. Drivers can be disqualified from driving if they build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years, and the ban can last between 6 months and 2 years, depending whether or not they get a subsequent second, or third disqualification. It is for this reason why some motorists can amass huge numbers of points on their licences. There are also exemptions and discretions when it comes to people losing their licences, and a court can show leniency if someone can prove 'exceptional hardship' if they have their licence taken away. Penalty points can be received on a provisional licence before passing a driving test for all the usual road offences, such as speeding, careless driving or using a mobile phone while at the wheel - and it can take three years for penalty points to expire from a provisional licence Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, said: 'It's shocking to see so many learner drivers with penalty points on their provisional licences - the stage before someone has even passed their full practical test. 'To see one 20-year-old, at such an early point in his driving journey, having already amassed 30 points on his provisional licence is particularly unsettling. 'We'd urge all motorists, whether they're carrying L plates or not, to keep road safety at the forefront of minds.' Some of those who feature in the FOI data will be motorists who've been forced to become 'learner drivers' again having had their licences cancelled. Provisional driving licences held by those identifying as males and aged between 20-29 accounted for almost a third of the total provisional driving licences with penalty points - collecting a total of 170,044 points between them. This may shed some light on the fact that it's younger drivers who typically pay the highest insurance premiums, with 20-year-olds paying on average 851 per year - around 400 more than the UK average of 436. While it's illegal for insurance providers to discriminate based on gender, on average women find cheaper premiums than men, with male drivers paying around 17 percent more than their female counterparts. When it comes to motorists who identify as female, there were two individuals on provisional licences with 23 points - who were aged 46 and 63 years old. Female motorists aged between 30-39 have the highest number of penalty points on provisionals, with 4,353 motorists in total. The oldest learner drivers with points on their licences are a 92-year-old female with three points and a 91-year-old male motorist with nine points. Graham Conway added: 'This study serves as a reminder that all drivers, regardless of age or gender, and whether they're provisional or full licence holders, must follow traffic rules and regulations in order to keep all road users safe.' Select also recognises that there's currently a backlog for driving tests - where students can face waiting times of up to six months. He added: 'Long lead times for tests could result in learner drivers relying on family and friends to guide them, rather than regularly paying for expensive driving lessons. 'But this could in turn lead to them picking-up poor habits from 'instructors' who don't have the professional skills to be able to point-out errors.' The London Metal Exchange (LME) is being sued by a group of hedge funds for 80million after cancelling billions of dollars worth of nickel trades. LME, the worlds biggest metal exchange, suspended nickel trading after a dramatic price spike last March, outraging investors. AQR Capital Management, DRW Commodities, Flow Traders, Capstone Investment Advisors and Winton Capital Management are seeking damages for their alleged losses. Legal fight: LME, the world's biggest metal exchange, suspended nickel trading after a dramatic price spike last March, outraging investors Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, which owns the LME, insisted the claim is without merit. The LME is also facing a lawsuit from New York hedge fund Elliott Associates, which is seeking damages worth 379million, while Jane Street Global Trading is pressing for 12.7million. Nickel trading was suspended after prices doubled to more than $100,000 a tonne in just a few hours a surge that industry insiders have blamed on short-covering by a producer. The UKs financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, has launched a probe into the LME for possible misconduct. A leading software company has become the latest London-listed firm to set its sights on a move to New York. In a fresh blow to the City, Wandisco is exploring an additional listing in the US. The 875million cloud computing specialist, whose technology helps businesses move and analyse data, said it will hold on to its listing on Londons junior Alternative Investment Market (AIM). In a fresh blow to the City, cloud computing specialist, Wandisco is exploring an additional listing in the US But the move by Wandisco, which was set up in Silicon Valley in 2005 and has headquarters in Sheffield and California, has raised further questions about the attractiveness of being listed in London. Its plans to explore a US listing despite its shares rising more than sixfold on AIM in less than a year follow high-profile snubs for the Square Mile. British microchip designer Arm last week said it will float its shares solely on Wall Street, dashing hopes of a dual listing. Its Japanese owner SoftBank was said to have been put off by City rules around disclosing third-party transitions. Meanwhile, the 30billion building materials giant CRH plans to move its shares to the US. Its a move that seems to make sense for a company that does so much business State-side, but it hints at further dissatisfaction with Londons ability to cut it as a global financial superpower, said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell. London-listed Paddy Power owner Flutter and education group Pearson are also considering an additional listing in America, and oil giant Shell explored moving to the US before eventually deciding against. Analysts said companies are tempted across the Atlantic by better access to capital and higher valuations, raising fears the London Stock Exchange (LSE) is losing its appeal. Iain McDonald, founder of investment advisory firm Belerion Capital, said: There is zero surprise that Arm has chosen New York, and many other businesses, particularly where the majority of their operations are in the US, will follow. He said if firms like Arm do not list in the US they will simply be acquired by better capitalised, higher-rated US competitors. Tweaks to UK stock market rules and proposed reforms aimed at unleashing vast sums of cash held by the pension industry have failed to stem the flow of British firms going abroad. LSE chief executive David Schwimmer last week said: Theres no one silver bullet in terms of dramatically changing the market environment. And Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter said that Wandiscos planned New York listing showed how much allure Wall Street holds. She added: The sentiment remains strong that investors in the States have more appetite for high growth firms which helps push up valuations, despite the resilience of the London market over recent months. The City has been pedalling hard to attract new IPOs with help from the Governments listing rules shake-up, but its an uphill struggle. Streeter added that as worries mount about the global economy, firms are more likely to take a chance in New York for their public futures. Wandisco said it has long stated its plans to consider an additional listing in America. The company adding that it remains committed to keeping its London listing. One of Credit Suisses biggest shareholders has sold its entire stake in the scandal-hit bank. US investment manager Harris Associates at one stage owned 10 per cent of Credit Suisse but deputy chairman David Herro said it started to cut its exposure in October after Credit Suisse raised 3.6billion from investors and when Saudi National Bank supplanted it as the top investor. There is a question about the future of the franchise. There have been large outflows from wealth management, Herro told the Financial Times. Selling up: US investment manager Harris Associates at one stage owned 10% of Credit Suisse but deputy chairman David Herro said it started to cut its exposure in October We have lots of other options to invest, he added. Why go for something that is burning capital when the rest of the sector is now generating it? Credit Suisse said: We are ahead of our plan and have clear strategic objectives. The bank, Switzerlands second biggest, has also begun a major overhaul of its business, cutting costs and jobs to revive its fortunes, including creating a separate business for its investment bank under the CS First Boston brand. Credit Suisse last month reported its biggest annual loss since the 2008 global financial crisis after rattled clients pulled billions from the bank. It has warned of a further substantial loss this year. The boss of Swiss banking giant UBS enjoyed an 11 per cent boost in his total pay package to nearly 11million last year, despite reducing its bonus pool to share among staff. Ralph Hamers, the chief executive, took home 12.2m Swiss francs (10.9million) as net profit rose 2 per cent year-on-year, it revealed in its annual report. That was 11 per cent higher than the 9.8million he pocketed in 2021. The bank, which operates globally, raked in a net profit of 6.8billion in 2022, up 2 per cent on 2021, after finishing the year with a record volume of loans and deposits across its customers. Pay rise: UBS boss Ralph Hamers (pictured), took home 12.2m Swiss francs (10.9m) as net profit rose 2% year-on-year However, colleagues bonus pot hit 2.9billion, down 10 per cent from the 3.25billion awarded over 2021. Bonuses generally reflect the groups financial performance, as well as the performance of certain divisions, teams and individuals, the bank said. It came despite the bonus pool for UBSs group executive board increasing by 2 per cent in Swiss franc terms. UBS said it was making progress towards goals of increasing female and ethnic minority representation. Women had 28 per cent of director and above roles globally, and ethnic minority staff held 23 per cent of director and above roles in the UK. Geopolitical events look likely to remain a concern for investors, it cautioned, given Russias war in Ukraine and tensions between China and the US. Estate agency Foxtons has said falling mortgage rates could result in a more robust housing sales market during the latter half of this year. UK property demand began to fall back from recent highs last September following then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-Budget, which sent mortgage rates spiralling and damaged consumer confidence. This led to a decline in Foxton's under-offer sales pipeline, with a typical home sale taking over four months to finalise. Optimistic forecast: Estate agency Foxtons has said falling mortgage rates could result in a more robust housing sales market during the latter half of this year The group's sales revenue rose by just 1 per cent to 43.2million last year even as its average selling price increased by 13,000 to 590,000. But Foxtons said on Tuesday that falling mortgage rates in recent weeks have led to a rise in buyer enquiries and may produce a more advantageous sales market towards the end of 2023. The London-focused group also expects the UK rental sector to be kept buoyed by high prices resulting from demand outstripping supply levels over the short term. Most of Foxtons' turnover growth last year derived from its lettings business, thanks mostly to a 25 per cent jump in revenue per rental transaction offsetting a drop in volume sales. Private rental prices grew by about a fifth in 2022, according to Foxtons, as rising borrowing costs put many Britons off buying houses and loosening Covid-19 restrictions brought a return of workers and students to the capital. Rents have also been pushed up by a housebuilding shortage, soaring energy bills, and landlords exiting the rental market. Foxtons' revenues were further lifted by the acquisitions of the Douglas & Gordon lettings portfolio, bought in mid-2021, and the Gordon & Co and Stones Residential estate agencies acquired last May. Combined with the disposal of its loss-making D&G sales division, this helped the company return to a 9.6million profit, having made a 1.3million loss in the previous 12 months. Investors are set to collect a 0.7p per share final dividend, representing a doubling of the group's full-year dividend payments on the previous year. Chief executive Guy Gittins said the firm had made 'good financial progress,' adding that it had 'strong' underlying foundations from which to achieve additional growth. After taking over at Foxtons six months ago from rival Chestertons, Gittins launched a now-completed review that he said had already led to enhancements in its front-end operations. He added: 'Core operational failings have throttled historical performance and prevented significant unfilled potential from being realised. 'Operational improvements are being made at pace to rebuild our competitive advantages, including embedding a more confident articulation of our brand, investing in revenue-generating headcount and improving our data platform to fully harness the power of our industry-leading database.' Foxtons shares were 4.4 per cent up at 43p on Tuesday lunchtime, meaning their value has grown by approximately 42 per cent so far this year. Premier Foods shares jumped on Tuesday after the Mr Kipling owner raised its earnings guidance, thanks to continued strong trading since the start of the year. The group, which also owns Angel Delight and Bisto gravy, forecasts fourth-quarter turnover to grow by at least 10 per cent due to strong grocery demand, as well as high overseas sales and improving confectionery revenues. This follows a bumper trading performance in the previous three months when price hikes offset rising costs whilst failing to dent consumer spending over Christmas. Angel Delight and Bisto gravy owner Premier Foods forecasts fourth-quarter turnover to grow by at least 10 per cent due to another strong result from its grocery business As a result, the company now anticipates a trading profit of around 155million for the financial year running to the start of April, equivalent to a 10 per cent rise on the 141.2million made last year. Premier Foods shares had risen by 11.65 per cent to 128.4p just before close on Tuesday, making them the second-best performer on the FTSE 350 Index behind Scottish engineering specialist Wood Group. Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the St. Albans-based firm's shares have more than tripled in value as the temporary closure of hospitality venues for much of 2020 and 2021 encouraged more people to cook meals at home. Products like Sharwood's cooking sauces, instant noodle brand Nissin, and Mr Kipling cakes have become particularly popular with customers during that time. Chief executive Alex Whitehouse also claimed in November that Premier Foods's affordable ranges have seen their sales boosted by cost-of-living pressures spurring more consumers to forego pubs and restaurants. Though loosened trading restrictions have slowed the company's growth, its profits and revenues remain significantly above pre-coronavirus levels. Higher revenues have enabled the business to continue slashing its once-high net debt pile, which stood at 337.7million as of early October, having been about 470million four years ago and 1.2billion at the start of the last decade. On Tuesday, Premier Foods forecasted its net debts to be 'broadly in line' with the board's expectations and prior year levels of 285million. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, observed that the business was experiencing 'an exceedingly good time with trading.' He added: 'The company has shown recent success wasn't simply down to people being stuck indoors during the pandemic and feasting on sweet treats. 'Instead, the company is enjoying the benefits of sorting out its debt problems and being able to reinvest spare cash back into the business to make it more competitive and innovative.' Founded as Hillsdown Holdings in 1975, Premier Foods's portfolio also includes Loyd Grossman sauces, dried soups producer Batchelors, instant mash potato brand Smash and custard maker Ambrosia. Giant online money firm Revolut is at the centre of a huge spike in fraud cases. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting customers and using its accounts to carry out sophisticated scams, industry insiders say. Revolut provides current account-style banking, where users can make payments online and in shops using a debit card. It now has six million customers, many of whom have been lured by the offer of fee-free spending on its card overseas. Services: Revolut provides current account-style banking where users can make payments online and in shops using a debit card The British-based tech firm is believed to be on the cusp of receiving a full banking licence, which will enable it to offer financial products such as loans, mortgages and credit cards. But a Money Mail probe found that the firm lauded as one of the UKs biggest fintech successes is being swamped by scams. The number of crime reports made to scam reporting body Action Fraud ballooned to 7,198 last year, up 81 per cent from 3,975 in 2021. That was the fourth highest figure for any firm offering current account-style services, trailing only Barclays, Lloyds and Santander. This year, the trend has sped up, with 573 crime reports in January alone making Revolut the most complained-about banking firm other than Barclays, even though it has far fewer customers than mainstream banks. The Action Fraud data also covers those who have had stolen money funnelled through a crooks Revolut account or had a bogus one set up in their name. Industry insiders told Money Mail they have seen Revolut customers targeted by convincing phishing links in text messages, which ask them to verify details or face having their accounts frozen. When victims click on the link and input details on a fake sign-in page, scammers access their account. In other cases, scam victims have received phone calls from fraudsters posing as banks or telecoms firms, warning them that their account has been hacked. The crooks ask for personal details such as debit card numbers and a copy of an ID, and set up a Revolut account fraudulently in that name. Other cases involve victims being lured in by fake cryptocurrency brokers online. The criminals advise that they open a Revolut account, as cryptocurrency trading is allowed in its app. Victims are asked to pay an upfront deposit before they can begin investing, but fraudsters then steal this fee. Leading the way in digital banking: Nikolay Storonsky, a British businessman who grew up in Russia, set up Revolut By contrast, TSB and challenger bank Starling have banned cryptocurrencies entirely because of fraud risks. Santander has restricted the amount that customers can pay to cryptocurrency exchanges. Fraud investigators say that criminals are taking advantage of the simplicity of moving money in and out of Revolut and the speed of setting up an account. Its website boasts how you can set up an account within minutes on your phone. You do not have to visit a branch or fill out extensive paperwork. Founded by Nikolay Storonsky, 38, a British businessman who grew up in Russia, Revolut offers current account-style banking without Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection or overdraft facilities. The FSCS protects users up to 85,000 if an authorised bank goes bust. The company has also faced a surge in cases sent to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the last port of call if a complaint is rejected by a financial firm. In the first two months of this year, the FOS received 486 new complaints about fraud and scams at Revolut second only to Barclays and ahead of major banks such as HSBC, Lloyds and Santander. In the same period last year, it received 132 complaints. Phishy business: Revolut customers are reportedly being targeted by convincing phishing links in text messages, which ask them to verify details or face having their accounts frozen Revolut had 56 per cent of complaints upheld in favour of customers last year, the joint highest of the ten banking firms in the list. Just over half of the complaints this year were authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where a victim is tricked into sending money to a fraudster. In 2018, many major banks pledged to reimburse victims of APP fraud under a voluntary code designed by the Payment Systems Regulator. Revolut has not signed up to the code as it is not currently a licensed bank. Revolut customers have also complained about difficulties in contacting its customer services team, who can only be reached through the smartphone app. Last week, auditor BDO highlighted problems with Revoluts accounts. BDO said 477 million of revenue streams three quarters of its 636 million turnover could not be verified. Revolut says its customer numbers have increased significantly since 2019 and complaints have grown proportionately. It says the rate at which customers approach the FOS is comparable to existing banks. It says it has made investments in its systems, processes and people to ensure it protects customers as it grows and has several controls in place to prevent scams. Revolut says it would never call a customer without first contacting them via its in-app chat service. A spokesman adds: While we are not signed up [to the banks reimbursement scheme], we apply similar standards when deciding to reimburse customers. t.armstrong@dailymail.co.uk We have all seen the Aboriginal man whose face has featured on Australia's $2 coin for almost three decades. But very few of us would know his name or tragic story, despite once being hailed as the 'most publicised Aborigine in Australia'. An image inspired by Gwoya Jungarai has been on the $2 coin since they replaced banknotes and came into circulation in 1988. According to the Royal Australian Mint, the design brief for the $2 coin called for 'a representation of the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal, a representation of the Southern Cross and a representation of Australian flora.' Although the design was not intended to depict any particular person, the face on the coin was designed by Horst Hahne based on a drawing of Jungarai by artist Ainslie Roberts. Other features were derived from Roberts' imagination and visual memory developed after drawing thousands of images of Indigenous people. Jungarai was one of the only survivors of one of the last recognised massacres of Aboriginal people, the 1928 Coniston Massacre in Central Australia. The massacre was led by Northern Territory Police constable William George Murray and held between August and November, in response to the murder of hunter Frederick Brooks, killed by Aboriginal people earlier that year. An image inspired by Gwoya Jungarai has been on the $2 coin since they replaced banknotes and came into circulation in 1988 Jungarai was one of the only survivors of one of the last recognised massacres of Aboriginal people, the 1928 Coniston Massacre in Central Australia Gwoya Jungarai caught the world's attention after Roy Dunstan's photograph featured on the cover of Walkabout Magazine in 1936 and again 1950 (pictured) While official records show 31 people were killed, historians believe the number of men, women and children slaughtered could be up to 200. Accounts of Jungarai's survival differ. One described him 'worm[ing] his way out from among the demad and dying' at Yurrkuru to 'narrowly escape death from a hail of rifle fire poured at him by men'. Another claimed his father was taken prisoner by Constable Murray, escaped and fled with his family to the Arltunga region east of Alice Springs. However his stepson's oral account of his stepfather's capture and evasion records that a mounted policeman arrested and chained him up before 'carry him 'round to show'm every soakage. 'They leave him... tied up on a tree, big chain... they put leg chain too... Then everybody go out and shoot all the people... They come back and see him nothing! This chain he broke'm with a big rock and he take off... to mine ...' Also known as Gwoya Tjungurrayi and Gwoya Djungaraim, the married father-of-three trapped dingoes and made and sold boomerangs. It has been claimed that when asked how much he charged for handcrafts or odd jobs, Jungarai would answer, 'One pound, boss'. A Warlpiri-Anmatyerre elder, he became best known outside his people as 'One Pound Jimmy'. In 1935, photographer Roy Dunstan captured Jungarai in an extraordinary image that millions worldwide would soon see. Melbourne tourism executive Charles H Holmes described his and Dunstan's encounter with Jungarai: 'During a visit to the Spotted Tiger mica mine out east of Alice Springs, I once met as fine a specimen of aboriginal manhood as you would wish to see,' Holmes wrote. 'Tall and lithe, with a particularly well-developed torso, broad forehead, strong features and the superb carriage of the unspoiled primitive native, he rejoiced under the name of 'One Pound Jimmy'. The following year, the striking image appeared on the cover of Walkabout, an Australian magazine featuring stories about travel, culture and geography, attracting attention worldwide. Tourists flocked to Central Australia seeking Jungarai's autograph. Newspaper reports claim the publicity-shy Jungarai once shaved off his beard to be less recognisable. His photo graced the cover of Walkabout for the second time in 1950, the same year Jungarai became the first Aboriginal person to be featured on an Australian postage stamp. In March 1952, the Centralian Advocate stated 'One Pound Jimmy' was possibly the 'most publicised Aborigine in Australia'. An estimated 99 million stamps with Jungarai's portrait were sold between 1950 and 1966. Jungarai died in 1965 aged 70. Aussies were stunned to learn about the role Jungarai played in Australia's history after his story was shared on Facebook. 'Almost every Australian has seen his face. Next time you hold a $2 dollar coin in your hand, take a minute to reflect on Gwoya Jungarai,' the post read. Gwoya Jungarai was the first Aboriginal to feature on an Australian postage stamp (pictured) Many admitted they previously had no idea about Jungarai. 'How many would know the history on the $2 dollar coin thanks for the history/meaning behind this indigenous gentleman,' one wrote. Another added: 'Makes me ashamed of my culture and history. It's sometimes embarrassing learning Australia's history that was very quickly rewritten, covered up and concreted over.' A third wrote: 'Should be recognised on all Australian coins, rather than members of a royal dynasty that banished their own citizens to a foreign land.' Others called for Jungarai's story to be taught in schools so his legacy is passed onto future generations. 'These stories should be taught at school this is our history,' one wrote. 'The truth hurts,' another said. Rep. Sim Sang-jeung of Justice Party speaks during a rally hosted by a civic group in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, June 16, 2021, against the central government's plan to introduce a second airport on Jeju Island. The placard below Rep. Sim reads "Cancel the plan for a new airport on Jeju!!" Korea Times file With environment ministry's approval, local division intensifies By Ko Dong-hwan Despite the environment ministry's conditional approval of a plan to build a second airport on Jeju Island, the already long-delayed project still seems to have a long way to go before construction begins due to unceasing protests from those accusing the ministry of giving up on its primary role of preserving the country's natural environment. Ever since the plan was first proposed in 1990, opening another international airport for the global tourism hotspot has been a hot-button issue. One of the conditions set by the ministry is that local residents' complaints and requests should be taken fully into account in planning the project. Other conditions included resolving the issues of preserving natural habitats for birds and narrow-mouth frogs on the island and conducting thorough studies on the possibility of noise pollution and damaging the island's unique groundwater with high mineral concentrations. Environment Minister Han Wha-jin talks to officials at the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment "We cannot agree on the environment ministry's decision that lacks scientific explanations and was politically motivated," a group of Jeju residents said in a statement issued Monday. "Nothing on the island has changed since 2021 when the environment ministry rejected the airport proposal by the land ministry. The reason for the rejection was simple: environmental damage from the new airport will not be restored by human efforts no matter how advanced the technologies are. We haven't seen any efforts by the government to prevent that expected degradation." The group said the project's fate should be decided by the island's residents. They demanded that Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon hold a local poll and let the result speak for itself. Another civic group protesting the project said the new airport will push ahead a series of excessive urban development projects across the island, causing land prices to spike and deplete groundwater resources. "Since the new airport will put many local islanders' lives at stake, they should be the ones deciding whether to OK the project or not," the group said. "And that right should be demanded and protected by the island's governor and lawmakers." Rep. Lee Eun-joo of the minor progressive Justice Party said Tuesday the strategic environmental impact assessment report by the land ministry, according to the National Institute of Ecology, proved the project should be modified to preserve the natural habitat for narrow-mouth frogs, while the environment ministry ignored that finding. The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements demanded Tuesday that Han step down from her seat. Proponents of the project, meanwhile, said the environment ministry's latest decision should be the turning point for the island to stop fighting and start working together. Jeju International Airport is bustling with passengers waiting for their flights, Jan. 27, after heavy snowfall canceled many of the scheduled flights. Newsis A tiny bronze Buddha statue found in Western Australia will be auctioned for $100,000 after experts confirm the Chinese relic dates back some 600 years. Asian art expert Lee Young, owner and managing director of Dore and Reese auctioneers in the UK, examined the infant Buddha during a recent episode of the UK's Antiques Roadshow TV program. Mr Young determined the small figurine hailed from China's 15th-century Ming Dynasty, making it a rare 'world treasure'. Its finders, film makers Shayne Thompson and Leon Deschamps from Shark Bay on Australia's north-west coast, will auction the relic with a reserve price of $100,000. 'Occasionally, an item comes our way that has an amazing story that makes it almost a world treasure,' Mr Young told co-finder Deschamps. Experts have confirmed a infant Buddha statue found in Western Australia is from China's 15th-century Ming Dynasty (pictured) 'Let's clear this up straight away. Yes, it is Ming... and yes, it is the infant Buddha.' 'There is an example of one of the infant Buddhas in the Imperial collection, the palace collection... this would have [belonged to] somebody of some standing.' Mr Young explained that without historical significance, the piece would fetch a pre-sale price of up to $9,000. However, its value drastically jumps to $175,00 if linked to the 15-century Chinese dynasty. 'All of us collectors are history hunters. And I can see people getting sort of scooped up in this,' Mr Young said. 'Even if it made 100,000 [$175,000] I don't think I'd be that surprised. Because there is only one of these with that story. 'I mean... I'm actually honoured to have been as close to this as I am... it's history-making.' Deschamps and Thompson discovered the statue in 2018 in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia while filming a documentary retracing the steps of early 1800s' French explorers. The pair, who together run Finn Films, were looking for objects left behind during a Napoleonic-era voyage when their metal detector pinged. They gradually unearthed the Buddha's bronzed buttocks and gently removed the relic - which weighs 1kg despite its small size - from the red sand. Asian art expert Lee Young examined the relic - which weighs 1kg despite its small size - in an episode of UK's Antiques Roadshow and labelled it 'a world treasure' (pictured) Deschamps and Thompson believe the statue is evidence suggesting Chinese fleets arrived in Australia earlier than previously thought. It's argued the Buddha was left behind by the 1421 Ming treasure voyage, in the fleet of admiral Zheng He - a Chinese explorer who made several epic voyages during the 15th century. If confirmed, the Buddha's origin suggests the Chinese visited the region almost 200 years before European traveller Dutchman Dirk Hartog landed in 1616. Deschamps and Thompson told The Age more than $50,000 was spent on determining the statue's origins, with the pair conducting laboratory research and traveling to interview scientists and academics. 'In the last four years, it has cost us significant personal capital and time to be able to investigate and protect the Buddha appropriately,' they said. 'The Buddha is currently offshore in an expensive high security private commercial location. We want it to find a home with a culturally appropriate owner who will hopefully publicly display the Buddha in either Australia or China. 'If we had not continued with our self-funded research then this discovery would never have been confirmed as a priceless antiquity and an incredible and proud part of Australia and China's shared regional history.' Retired WA Museum fellow and corrosion expert Dr Ian McLeod said he believed the statue had been buried for more than 100 years. Western Australian film makers Shayne Thompson and Leon Deschamps discovered the Buddha using a metal detector and gently unearthed it from the red sand (pictured) Thompson and Deschamps (pictured), who together run FINN Films, will auction the relic with a reserve price of $100,000. The pair believe the statue has historic importance and suggests Chinese fleets arrived in Australia almost 200 years before European travellers After testing the corrosion found on the statue, Mr McLeod said the figurine had remained in the exact location for decades and was not 'planted'. 'It can be reasonably estimated that the object has been in that environment for very many decades,' Mr McLeod said. 'That is, it has not been planted on the site in an attempt to lure metal detector operators into the belief that they have found some ancient object.' Since the discovery, the site where the Buddha was unearthed has not been further disturbed and is under surveillance. The pair hope to find the Buddha's missing index fingers and would like to be involved in providing replicas, research catalogues and funding for future museum exhibits and archaeological digs. The four Americans who were kidnapped at gunpoint during a trip to Mexico have been identified, as authorities in both countries work to locate them and bring them home safely. Latavia 'Tay' McGee had traveled down to Mexico on Wednesday for a tummy tuck procedure, friends and family say. She was joined by her cousin Shaeed Woodard, and friends Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams. McGee and Woodard are the only two kidnapping victims who've so-far been pictured. The missing friends apparently thought they could split up the driving responsibilities as they traveled from their homes in South Carolina to the country for McGee's surgery. But when they crossed into the border city of Matamoros from Brownsville, Texas on Friday the day of the operation they were attacked by a group of gunmen who apparently confused the tourists with Haitian smugglers. The cartel then kidnapped the Americans, with video showing the heavily armed Mexican cartel throwing them in the back of a pickup truck. The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for the victims' return and the arrest of the kidnappers. Latavia 'Tay' McGee had traveled down to Mexico on Wednesday for a tummy tuck procedure before she was kidnapped at gunpoint by a drug cartel on Friday McGee was joined by her cousin, Shaeed Woodard, as well as two friends for the trip Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, said on Monday she has been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Zindell, is one of the four victims. 'This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from,' she said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. 'To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable.' Zalandria said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied McGee who was going to Mexico for a tummy tuck surgery. She said the group was extremely close and that they all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, Zalandria noted, and her brother had even expressed some misgivings before the trip. 'Zindell kept saying, "We shouldn't go down,"' she said. It is unclear why he changed his mind. Her sister, Zalayna, had earlier posted on Facebook: 'I haven't hard from my brother since Thursday March 2, 2023!! 'Last I heard he was riding to Mexico with Tay, Shaeed and Wise!! Now when I talked to him they were in Mississippi, but last anyone has that I know talked to them, they were in Armstrong, TX!! Which is about an hour and twenty minutes from Mexico border!! NOTHING since!!' Zalayna and her mother, Christina Hickson, also spoke to ABC 15 WPDE about the kidnapping and Hickson said she 'knew immediately' it was Zindell in the shocking video clip. 'I knew that he was a third one that was placed on the truck, at that point, my heart was low.. Because of how they were treating him,' she said. 'They were just slamming them on the truck like they were dead dogs and that was the most heartfelt moment so far.' McGee's mother said she warned her daughter not to go, to which McGee simply replied, 'Ma, I'll be OK' Zalayna Grant posted about her fear for her brother's safety on Sunday after not hearing from Zindell Brown for several days Zindell Brown's mom, Christina Hickson (left) and sister, Zalayna Grant (right) spoke to ABC 15 WPDE about the kidnapping Meanwhile, Barbara Burgess, McGee's mother, told ABC News that she warned her daughter not to go to which McGee simply replied, 'Ma, I'll be OK.' Burgess said that on Friday, the day of the scheduled appointment, McGee called her to say she was just 15 minutes away from the doctor. But when Burgess called McGee later that day, she never heard back. 'Her phone just started going to voicemail,' Burgess recounted. Now, McGee's Facebook profile listed as Southerndiva Tay is filled with messages expressing concern for her safety. Rachel Evans wrote, 'I pray you come home. This brought me to tears. 'I love you Southerndiva Tay. I have faith you will make it home to see your children again.' Angel Lay also wrote that when he heard the news, he immediately recognized the victims. 'Southerndiva Tay I'm praying! Guys, I'm praying.' he wrote. And Quay Gaudrum posted: '[My] brain [is] in many places. I'm going dumb right now worried about you Tay. 'We just talked, man no way, bring my sister and my boys home.' McGee is seen sitting on the ground after the vehicle she and three other U.S. citizens were traveling on was shot at by kidnappers moments after they drove into the Mexican border city of Matamoros A gunman acted as a lookout for his cohorts moments after they attacked a mini van with four American occupants and kidnapped them in the northeastern Mexican border city of Matamoros on Friday A video posted to social media on Friday showed men with assault rifles and tan body armor loading the four people into the bed of a white pickup truck in broad daylight. A woman, now believed to be McGee, could be seen getting led into the pickup truck at gunpoint as another cartel member dragged a man across the pavement. Two other male victims were then dumped inside the vehicle. It was unclear from the video whether they were dead or wounded, but at least one person appeared to lift his head from the pavement before being dragged to the truck. A woman driving in Matamoros who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal told the Associated Press she witnessed what appeared to be the shooting and abduction. She said the white minivan the four Americans were traveling in with North Carolina plates was hit by another vehicle near an intersection, before gunfire rang out, the woman said. At that point, another SUV rolled up, and several armed men hopped out. 'All of a sudden they [the gunmen] were in front of us,' she said. 'I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, "If we move they will see us, or they might shoot us." She said the gunmen forced a woman, who was able to walk, into the back of a pickup. Another person was carried to the truck but could still move his head. 'The other two they dragged across the pavement, we don't know if they were alive or dead,' she said. Mexican authorities arrived on the scene just minutes later. Updating the public about the situation on Monday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said 'there was a confrontation between groups, and they were detained,' without offering details. He originally said the four Americans came to Mexico to buy medications. Tamaulipas' chief prosecutor, Irving Barrios, also told reporters that a Mexican woman died in Friday's shootings but did not specify whether she was killed in the same gunfight where the kidnapping took place. Zindell Brown's family is now asking people to share any relevant information with local authorities. O'dell William Brown, his father, said the family is still searching for answers. 'I don't know which way to go right now,' he said. 'We don't know what's what.' Mexican authorities are seen here investigating the white SUV McGee and her friends drove to the country in A map highlighting the six of 32 Mexican states that the US State Department currently has listed under its most severe 'do not travel' category, due to local cartels that may rob and/or kidnap American tourists The scene illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone. Shootouts in the city became so bad on Friday that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert about the danger and local authorities warned people to shelter in place. It was not immediately clear how the abductions may have been connected to that violence. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and an 'innocent' Mexican citizen died in the attack. He said various U.S. justice agencies were working with their Mexican counterparts to recover the missing persons. Authorities have provided no other details about the victims. Mexican National Guard prepared for a search mission for four U.S. citizens kidnapped by gunmen at Matamoros on Monday Mexican army soldiers drove through the streets of Matamoros to search for the victims President Joe Biden had been informed of the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She declined to answer other questions, citing privacy concerns. Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted because the cartels have a history taking bodies of their own with them. Local media often avoid reporting on such episodes out of safety concerns, creating an information vacuum. The US State Department has warned citizens not to travel to Tamaulipas. But U.S. citizens who live in the border city of Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross to visit family, attend medical appointments or shop. It's also a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico. Putin has sent in wave upon wave of expendable troops resulting in fighting reminiscent of the First World War Advertisement Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in sodden trenches to repel Vladimir Putin's endless waves of expendable troops in the 'hellish' Battle of Bakhmut in scenes reminiscent of the First World War. For months, Kyiv's armed forces have been bravely holding back an onslaught from Russia's military and Wagner mercenaries. Moscow has sent thousands into the maw of Ukrainian machine guns, with troops charging across a muddy hell-scape strewn with the corpses of their own comrades and into Kyiv's trenches. But the pressure is starting to take its toll, with reports on the ground saying Bakhmut is now encircled from the north, east and south, leaving just one escape route a treacherous quagmire to the west. As analysts warn that is it only a matter of time until the city falls, the British Ministry of Defence said today that Ukrainian forces are 'likely to have stabilised' their defensive perimeter as they prepare to make a final stand, with trenches dug and bunkers built. The fighting is hauntingly reminiscent of the First World War's most brutal battles, when the Allies and German Empire sent wave after wave of soldiers against each other's trenches and machine guns, losing thousands of troops for each marginal gain. Both sides were forced to fight in mud sometimes chest deep and slog across open fields under withering fire for months. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in sodden trenches to repel First World War-style human waves of Vladimir Putin's expendable troops in the 'hellish' Battle of Bakhmut, in scenes recalling of the horrors of the First World War. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier wades through knee-high water in a trench close to Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Sunday 1916: A French soldier wades through the thick mud at the bottom of a trench during the Verdun campaign 2023: Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Bakhmut on Sunday 1916: A German artillery gun fires towards French positions at Verdun, France. As was the case then, artillery has played a huge part in Vladimir Putin's on-going invasion of Ukraine and the fight for Bakhmut. Bakhmut has been all-but destroyed in the months-long battle, which has seen Russia pound the city into the ground Pictured: A map showing rough troop position around the besieged city of Bakhmut. Russian forces are closing in from the north, east and south leaving Ukraine's defenders with just one route (west) to escape across a muddy quagmire. As Russian forces move in, the window to retreat is closing, but Ukraine is determined to continue its defence of the symbolic city As was the case then, pictures from Bakhmut and the surrounding region in recent days show Ukraine's soldiers crouching down as they engage in trench warfare, sometimes running through knee-high water. Snipers and heavy gunners peer down their scopes through barren forests, aiming in the direction of Russia's advancing positions, looking for any signs of movement. Meanwhile, the noise of thumping artillery permeates the region, with images showing Ukrainian troops covering their ears as they fire off round after round. The injured are carried off the battlefield on stretchers to army ambulances, which then must be driven west over treacherously muddy fields. Such scenes recall the brutal fighting in the First World War, which in its early years saw waves of German soldiers crashed against the defences of the Allies. These roles were later reversed, as the German Empire defended against the Allied advance, desperately clinging on to the territory its armies had captured. The fighting for Bakhmut recalls the Battle of Verdun in particular. A vast German army moved against a smaller French force to seize the city in what would become the longest campaign of the war, lasting for 302 days. Each side suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties and territory changed hands several times. Like Bakhmut, the value of Verdun from a tactical point of view was not viewed as being high enough to justify the vast losses suffered by the attacking Germans. Estimates say both sides suffered as many as 400,000 casualties, as each side fought to wear the enemy's resources down so they could not mount assaults elsewhere. Both sides eventually redirected forces from the region to fight in the Battle of the Somme, and ultimately the French were victorious in defending the city. It remains to be seen if Ukraine can hold on to Bakhmut. Pictures from around the besieged city also recall the Battle of Passchendaele, or the Third Battle of Ypres. As momentum shifted in the war the Allied forces went on the attack, mounting the campaign in July 1917. As is the case around Bakhmut, the conditions were brutal, and the battle symbolised the mud, chaos and senseless slaughter on a mass scale on the Western Front. Britain, France and Belgium won the battle, but at the cost of an estimated 300,000 casualties, only to cede back the territory the following year without firing a shot. 2022: A destroyed Russian tank is seen in February near the town of Maryinka, south of Bakhmut, as Ukraine continues to inflict heavy losses on Putin's invading forces and their military vehicles 1917: A destroyed British Mark IV tank is seen stuck in the mud amidst the on-going battle of Passchendaele 2022: Military medics carry a soldier wounded in a battle to an evacuation vehicle near Bakhmut on February 22 1917: Medics wade through the mud deep carrying a wounded soldier on a stretcher in the battle of Passchendaele in Flanders 2023: Ukrainian servicemen rest after leaving Bakhmut, in Chasiv Yar, on March 3. Chasiv Yar is the next town directly West of Bakhmut, and currently offers Ukraine's forces their best route of escape from the besieged city 1917: Three British soldiers take a rest on the battlefield at Passchendaele, in the middle of a mud-soaked plain 2023: Soldiers of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) pose for a photo in a trench near the city of Bakhmut on February 11 1917: British troops at the Menin Road, near Ypres, are seen on October 30 taking a breather in a trench. The British trenches in the area were subjected to particularly heavy German artillery bombardment during the Third Battle of Ypres 2023: An apartment building destroyed by Russian forces is seen in Bakhmut on February 23 1900s: Several destroyed buildings in Verdun on the bank of the Maas river are seen during the First World War In what has been likened to a First World War 'meat grinder', Russia's generals and Wagner PMC have sent wave after wave of soldiers crashing against Ukrainian defences, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. After ten months of fighting for the city during which the frontlines barely shifted, Moscow has finally started to make gains in recent weeks. Analysts say it is only a matter of time before Putin takes control of Bakhmut, which may say would offers a more symbolic victory than a tactical one. While Ukraine has said it is determined to defend 'fortress Bakhmut,' reports and some videos suggest Kyiv's forces there are making a steady retreat from the city, as the cost of their own forces becomes too great. With Russian now controlling the flanks, analysts fear Ukraine's losses have started to rise, with their losses already high for a city deemed tactically insignificant. Some suggest that Kyiv is fighting to wear Russia's numbers down as in the Battle of Verdun so that they cannot continue their assault, but there are fears Ukraine may also hinder its own future counterattacks. This has coincided with the winter thaw across the country, where frozen ground gives way to mud, making already treacherous ground covered in mines, shell holes, wrecks and corpses increasingly difficult to traverse. With the city surrounded on three sides, reports on the ground suggest Russian forces have control of almost all paved roads leading West away from the besieged city. Bridges have been destroyed at key crossing points by Ukraine on other routes west to slow Russian advances and protect their retreat. The last remaining escape route west open to Ukraine's forces will take them down a bombed-out road littered with debris and vehicle wrecks, and through mud-caked fields and dirt tracks that risk turning any retreating vehicle into a sitting duck for Moscow's relentless artillery. Ukraine's soldiers are now forced to drive tanks, armoured vehicles and medic trucks through these conditions as Putin closes in on his first victory in months. Footage on the ground has shown the challenging conditions. In one video (pictured), a military truck filled with soldiers is tipped half on its side in a muddy crevice Pictured: Two armoured personal vehicles are seen somewhere West of Bakhmut trying to traverse a muddy field, as some of Ukraine's forces in the city make a steady retreat Another clip shows an army ambulance that has also become stuck. The medics are seen transferring a wounded soldier into a different vehicle so that he can be driven away from the brutal battleground. The ambulance is left abandoned in the field Pictured: A Ukrainian military truck is seen half in a muddy ditch somewhere near Bakhmut Kyiv insisted on Monday that its troops were still holding out in a 'hellish' fight for Bakhmut, and pledge to bolster its defences in Bakhmut, after reports of withdrawals from the city. Ukrainian forces fighting to retain control of the salt-mining town told AFP news agency its capture by Russia was inevitable and that some units had already begun to pull back. Kyiv says the fighting is becoming increasingly difficult and analysts say its forces may have initiated a strategic retreat. But President Volodymyr Zelensky met with top commanders Monday and his office said they favoured 'continuing the defensive operation and further strengthening our positions in Bakhmut.' Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut in apparent preparation for a possible retreat. However, thanks to the muddy conditions, there is only one viable route out of the city for Ukraine's heavy machinery, which will lead its troops to safety. This route involves limited paved roads, and will require Ukraine's troops to take diversions through muddy fields and along dirt roads to find alternative points to cross rivers. The bridges that would normally be used have been destroyed either by Ukraine to cover their retreat, or the Russian invaders to trap Kyiv's forces. Those that get stuck along on the way leave themselves exposed to aerial attacks from Russian forces who are closing in a matter of miles away to the north, east and south. In order to reach relative safety in the town of Chasiv Yar - seven miles West of Bakhmut - Kyiv's troops must cross fields dissected by rivers and streams, minefields, open ground and territory reported to have a Russian presence. Upon reaching Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian forces would be able to regroup for another defence, or make a safer retreat further west. Reports have said one of Ukraine's key supply and escape routes to and from Bakhmut through the nearby town of Ivanivske has come under serious threat by Russian presence. Some reports say it has been lost. Footage on the ground has shown the challenging conditions. In one video, a military truck filled with soldiers is tipped half on its side in a muddy crevice. An armoured personal vehicle can be seen bringing up the rear, sliding about in the mud, as several soldiers cling to the top. Another clip shows an army ambulance that has also become stuck. The medics are seen transferring a wounded soldier into a different vehicle so that he can be driven away from the brutal battleground. The ambulance is left abandoned in the field. Russia was caught out by the muddy conditions this time last year when a 40-mile column of tanks and armoured vehicles failed in its objective to reach Ukraine's capital of Kyiv and, as Putin had hoped, overthrow the government. Many factors were attributed to the Russian disaster that resulted in its forces in northern Ukraine from pulling back entirely, but the weather was key. 2022: Ukrainian soldiers hold the frontline in a partially-flooded trench near the town of Bakhmut, in the east of the country, amid splintered pieces of tree that have been destroyed by Russian artillery fire 1917: British soldiers bearing a wounded man on a stretcher make their way through sucking mud during the Battle of Passchendaele, more than 100 years before similar scenes would return to Europe 2022: A Ukrainian solider wounded by shell fire is treated in a hospital near the frontlines in Bakhmut. Some of the heaviest losses on both sides are being sustained around Bakhmut, many of them from artillery guns as both sides bombard the other heavily an an attritional battle for control of the area 1915: A wounded German soldier is seen during the First World War, which pioneered the use of massed artillery barrages as a means to weaken and break enemy defensive lines before an attack - and left soldiers living with the horrifying wounds that pieces of shrapnel can cause 2022: Bakhmut has seen heavy fighting since the summer, when it became the frontline of defence against Russian forces that had recently captured the nearby cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk - now soil churned up by months of artillery fire, tank tracks and soldiers' boots has turned to a slurry 1917: The Battle of Passchendaele was the third major battle fought near the Belgian city of Ypres, with the preceding years of warfare having churned up soil which then turned to a quagmire with the arrival of late summer and early autumn rains 2022: What was once a forest in Bakhmut is pictured as little more than a collection of sticks after months of heavy bombardment shredded the trees - leaving attacking and defending soldiers with precious little natural cover - and making movement outside of trenches and shell-holes particularly deadly 1917: As Passchendaele began, Allied forces used some 3,000 guns to hurl 4.5million shells at German defences - aiming to learn the lessons of the Somme when the preliminary barrage proved too soft to break the enemy lines. The result was scenes like this, which are now being echoed in Ukraine more than a century later 2022: Ukrainian soldiers load a wounded comrade on to a stretcher near Bakhmut. While exact losses in the battle are not being disclosed by either side, both acknowledge they have been 'heavy' 1917: Passchendaele was not the First World War's bloodiest battle - that distinction goes to The Somme but it still involved a huge amount of casualties: Roughly 270,000 for the Allies and 225,000 for the Germans, which ultimately proved in vain when all ground gained during the offensive was given up the following year without a shot being fired 2022: Troops from the so-called Donetsk People's Republic a Russian proxy in Ukraine's east - load a self-propelled howitzer somewhere near the frontlines in Bakhmut, the main focus of the fighting. America estimates that Russia is firing some 20,000 artillery shells per day at the moment faster than it can produce its standard 152mm rounds 1917: Howitzer gun stuck in the mud near Passchendaele: Passchendaele saw heavy use of artillery by both sides, with British success eventually coming when generals changed tactics to have troops advance entirely under cover of the guns in much the same way that Russia advanced across Donbas in the summer to reach Bakhmut 2022: New graves are seen at a cemetery near Bakhmut: Experts and analysts believe the battle for this city has become totemic for Russia - the propaganda value of capturing it far outweighs the already-considerable human cost the Kremlin's commanders have expended in the effort 1917: Graves on Passchendaele ridge, Belgium: The battle came to epitomise the futility of the First World War. It took four months of arduous fighting and almost half a million lives to take the ridge, but the following year it was ceded back to Germany without a fight to shorten the defensive line 2022: Volodymyr Zelensky visits Ukrainian troops fighting close to the frontlines in Bakhmut to award medals for bravery, and has said the battle for the city is among the most-intense fighting of the war 1917: King George V awards a Victoria Cross - the Empire's highest award for bravery - to Private Wilfred Edwards for his actions during the Battle of Passchendaele. More Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele than for actions on any other single day of combat in World War I Passchendaele was ruined in the Allied assault, as British and French troops aimed to capture the ridge on which it sat and paid scant attention to the village itself (left). Meanwhile Bakhmut - which had a pre-war population of about 70,000 - is today down to around 7,000 and has been left largely a ruin (right) A US-based think tank yesterday said defending the city remained 'strategically sound' for Ukraine so long as its on-going defence was consuming Russian manpower and equipment without suffering high casualties of its own. 'Ukrainian forces are unlikely to withdraw from Bakhmut all at once and may pursue a gradual fighting withdrawal to exhaust Russian forces through continued urban warfare,' the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its daily update on the war. 'Russian forces are unlikely to quickly secure significant territorial gains when conducting urban warfare, which usually favours the defender and can allow Ukrainian forces to inflict high casualties on advancing Russian unitseven as Ukrainian forces are actively withdrawing,' the update added. It noted that the city centre is located on the western bank of the Bakhmutka River, also giving Ukraine an advantage in its defence of the city that has been all-but levelled by artillery during the months-long battle. The update added: 'Such urban conditions and river features may benefit Ukrainian forces if Ukrainian forces are able to hold the line from Khromove (a settlement on Bakhmut's northwestern outskirts) south to the Bakhmut-Kostyantynivka highway.' Meanwhile, Washington said that even if the eastern Ukrainian city should fall to a Russian offensive, it would not necessarily give Moscow momentum in the war. Speaking to reporters in the Middle East, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would not predict when or if Ukrainian troops might leave the city, but that its fall 'won't necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the tide of this fight'. 'I think it is more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value,' Austin said. Moscow says capturing the city would be a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region. Kyiv says Russia's losses in trying to seize a city reduced to rubble could determine the future course of the war by destroying combat power ahead of decisive battles later this year. Volodymyr Nazarenko, a Ukrainian commander in Bakhmut, said there had been no order to retreat and 'the defence is holding', albeit in grim conditions. 'The situation in Bakhmut and around it is utter hell, as it is on the entire eastern front,' Mr Nazarenko said in a video posted on Telegram. President Volodymyr Zelensky's office said he had yesterday discussed the operation with his chief of the general staff and commander of ground forces, who both 'spoke in favour of continuing the defensive operation and further strengthening positions in Bakhmut'. In the latest sign of a feud between Russia's military and the Wagner private army leading its Bakhmut assault, Wagner's boss demanded more ammunition and said his aide had been barred from the military's operational headquarters. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who sent tens of thousands of convicts recruited from Russian prisons into battle around Bakhmut, issued the latest in a barrage of statements that have deepened his rift with Russia's top brass. Prigozhin said he had written a letter on Sunday to the commander of the Ukraine campaign 'about the urgent need to allocate ammunition'. Yesterday morning he said his representative at operational headquarters had had his pass cancelled and been denied access. There was no immediate response from the Russian Ministry of Defence. Since the start of this year, the Ukraine campaign has been commanded personally by Russia's top general, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov. Prigozhin claimed last week that his men had practically surrounded Bakhmut. But on Saturday he appeared in a video with a gloomier assessment, warning that the front would collapse should Wagner be forced to retreat although it was not clear when the video was recorded. He has accused ministry officials of 'treason' for failing to supply adequate ammunition to his forces, something the ministry has denied. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, who has kept a low profile for most of the war, has been on a rare visit to his forces in Ukraine in recent days, awarding medals and meeting commanders. Yesterday he visited the eastern city of Mariupol, largely destroyed by Russian forces last year after a months-long siege. After losing ground throughout the second half of 2022, Russia launched a winter offensive of intense trench warfare, making use of hundreds of thousands of reservists called up late last year. Ukraine's forces in the city of Bakhmut continued to repel Russia's human wave attacks today knowing they have a difficult escape route from the battleground. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers ride an infantry fighting vehicle along a road not far from Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on March 5 Pictured: A view of the road in Minkivka, Ukraine amid Russia-Ukraine war on March 5 2023. North of Bakhmut. Muddy conditions have set in making moving around the region difficult Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters fly over a field outside the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 5 A Ukrainian APC drives towards frontline positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on March 4 Ukrainian servicemen drive a tank in the village of Chasiv Yar, near the city of Bakhmut in the region of Donbas on March 5 A Ukrainian sniper with the 28th Brigade looks towards a Russian position from a frontline trench on March 5 A Ukrainian infantryman with the 28th Brigade takes cover in a partially dug trench along the frontline facing Russian troops that were 250 meters away on March 5 A Ukrainian serviceman flies a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut, in the region of Donbas, on March 5 Ukrainian medic 'Doc' with the 28th Brigade runs through a partially dug trench along the frontline on March 5 Ukrainian servicemen light a fire with gun powder to get warm near the city of Bakhmut in the region of Donbas on March 5 Apart from Bakhmut, Russia's offensive has produced no notable gains, failing to seize ground in Luhansk province further north and taking heavy losses in particular around Vuhledar to the south. Kyiv, for its part, has focused mainly on defence for the last three months, trying to inflict high casualties while preparing for a counter-offensive when new weapons arrive and the muddy ground dries out. The ISW said it was still not clear whether Ukraine would pull out of Bakhmut or stay on to continue wearing down the Russian force. Either way, Moscow's offensive appeared to be reaching its high-water mark. 'The likely imminent culmination of the Russian offensive around Bakhmut before or after its fall, the already culminated Russian offensive around Vuhledar, and the stalling Russian offensive in Luhansk Oblast are likely setting robust conditions for a future Ukrainian counteroffensive,' its researchers wrote. Anthony Albanese has been accused of breaking yet another election promise as his government pushes new franking credit tax laws that will affect Australian shareholders. The Prime Minister has already copped political heat over his contentious new superannuation tax policy and now he's facing a new political battle over franking credits - a policy that arguably cost Labor the 2019 election. The government introduced a bill last month that seeks to restrict the ability of companies to distribute franking credits to shareholders as part of a share buyback or capital raising. Debate on the bill is resuming on Tuesday, with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor accusing Labor of breaking yet another election promise. Franking credits are tax credits that prevent shareholders from being taxed twice. The scheme gives tax credits to shareholders on their dividends, taking into account how a corporation they have invested in has already paid the 30 per cent company tax. Mr Albanese had previously ruled out major changes to both superannuation and franking credits. But Labor's proposals would affected those aged over 75 and superannuation funds. Anthony Albanese's (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) government has been accused of breaking another election promise with major changes to franking credits set to be announced WHAT ARE FRANKING CREDITS? Franking credits are tax credits that stop 'double taxation'. Companies have already paid tax on their profits when they hand them out to shareholders as dividends. Dividends, which are typically funded by profits, are then distributed to shareholders 'fully franked', with a 'franking credit' applying. At tax time, shareholders get the value of the franking credit as a tax refund. That means they don't pay tax on profits, because a company has already paid tax. This stops double taxation. Advertisement One major change the government is making would stop dividends from capital raisings being eligible for franking credits. They would also give off-market share buy-backs the same treatment as on-market buy-backs. On-market buybacks are when a company buys its shares through an exchange, such as the ASX, whereas off-market buybacks are when a company will offer to buy shares back directly from the shareholder. The changes set to be announced on Tuesday would result in almost $600million in budget savings over the next five years. Australians aged over 75, Australian super funds and companies, and charities have been found to benefit the most from franking credits, according to data released by the government last week. Mr Taylor criticised the changes, arguing they would hurt those who lived off their dividends during a cost of living crisis. 'The Prime Minister and the Treasurer went to the election promising Australians that they 'wouldn't touch' franking credits and yet in 10 months they've added two tax grabs on Australian shareholders,' he said. 'This is just another tax on super. Another tax on Australians' retirement savings. And another broken promise on tax. 'Whether it is franking credits or superannuation, Labor can't control its spending and so it's going after the hard-earned dollars of Australians to pay for its pet projects. 'You can't trust Labor to keep promises and you can't trust Labor to run the economy.' Bill Shorten brought a policy changing franking credit laws to the 2019 federal election, and later admitted that the plan contributed to his loss. The Prime Minister promised weeks before the May 2022 election there would no changes to superannuation. But late last month, he announced his Labor government would stop Australians with more than $3million in super from being able to make contributions and pay a concessional rate of just 15 per cent, from July 1, 2025. Police denied the claims on Tuesday saying the case was closed The child had reportedly witnessed the rape of a teen girl Claims six-old-year child in Alice Springs 'tried to kill himself' Police have addressed a horrifying claim made by a well-respected Alice Springs businessman after he suggested a young boy tried to take his own life because he'd witnessed the rape of his older sister. Businessman Darren Clarke, who often calls for greater action on crime in the outback town and has seen his bakery robbed dozens of times, made the claim on Monday in a call to Ben Fordham's 2GB morning radio show. 'A 15-year-old girl was raped in her house. It was witnessed by her six-year-old brother - a pretty traumatic experience for both,' he claimed. Mr Clarke claimed the six-year-old boy, reportedly so traumatised by what he had just witnessed, then tried to take his own life. However Northern Territory Police were quick to dismiss Mr Clarke's claim in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday and said the businessman had 'unnecessarily increased' the family's trauma. A horrifying claim emerged from the town of Alice Springs (stock image pictured), where a teenage girl was reportedly raped in front of her six-year-old brother 'The Northern Territory Police Force are aware of the comments regarding an alleged sexual assault and self-harm incident,' NT Police Assistant Commissioner Michael White said. 'In November, 2022, police investigated a complex case involving numerous allegations. After speaking with the family members, the allegations were denied and police finalised this matter in February, 2023.' In making the allegation on Monday, Mr Clarke said he had a 'source' who told him what occurred and the person who informed him was 'so solid, it's not funny'. 'These kids are being left behind Ben and they're just being left behind all the time,' Mr Clarke claimed. Fordham referred to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pledge to provide $250million in extra funding for communities throughout the Northern Territory after visiting Alice Springs. The radio host explained to Mr Clarke that there was 'nothing' in the support package for 'law and order'. 'Obviously when you've got someone being attacked in their own home then there is a lack of law and order. Where did the $250million go exactly?' he asked the businessman. 'We're still looking for it Ben. We don't know mate,' Mr Clarke responded. 'I'm putting a lot of pressure on them now and saw a lot of Indigenous people in the bush. They're putting out, "Where is this money? Where's it going to?" No one knows.' Businessman Darren Clarke (pictured) made the claim in an interview with Ben Fordham on his 2GB radio show and said the town was yet to receive support from the commonwealth Mr Clarke said Northern Territory's Chief Minister Natasha Fyles would not disclose where the money would be going. 'The people in the bush, in the remote communities of central Australia, are going to be left behind again,' he said. Alcohol bans were reinstated in Alice Springs and a number of remote communities across the Northern Territory in early February in an attempt to curb a devastating crime wave gripping the region. The bakery businessman took a final swipe at the government's proposal to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, saying First Nations people needed urgent help now. 'How long do these young kids in remote communities have to wait for help?' he said. 'You're carrying on about a voice for Indigenous people but you're not listening to them now. You're not helping them now. 'How long do they have to wait? How many more young girls need to be raped?' If you or anyone you know needs help, please contact LifeLine on 13 11 14 Australia is still waiting to meet its mystery millionaire, with the Perth-based winner of the $40m Powerball yet to collect their earnings. Four days on from the winning ticket's reveal, all that is known is that the sole division one-winning entry for draw 1398 was purchased in Perth. The ticket was sold to a single ticket holder rather than a syndicate who is yet to make contact with officials. Gaming officials are hoping the West Australian long weekend is behind the delay, with the latest uncollected jackpot bringing the total number of unclaimed Perth Lottery HQ tickets worth more than $1m to five. The winning numbers were 18, 14, 13, 16, 21, 19 and 29 - the Powerball was 18. Four days on from the winning ticket's reveal the sole winner of the $40m Powerball is still unknown The winning numbers were 18, 14, 13, 16, 21, 19 and 29 - the Powerball was 18 The ticket is not registered on the Lotterywest player's registration service and was purchased in Perth's metropolitan area on Thursday. 'Lotterywest is waiting to hear from WA's $40m Powerball winner,' the organisation said in a statement on Friday. 'Over the past four weeks of Powerball's jackpot roll, more than $6.4 million has been raised for the WA community thanks to local players buying tickets.' Lotterywest is the only state government owned and operated lottery in Australia where all profits are given back to the community. The newly minted multimillionaire has 12 months to collect their winnings before the cash is forfeited and put into a grants program run by Lotterywest. Australia is still waiting to meet its mystery millionaire, with the Perth-based winner of the $40m Powerball yet to collect their earnings A social media influencer and self-proclaimed con artist pleaded guilty on Monday to fraudulently obtaining $1.5mn in Covid-related government loans which she used to fund a lavish lifestyle flaunted over Instagram and TikTok. Danielle Miller stole the identities of more than ten people to set up bank accounts and obtain loans, which she used to travel and for lavish purchases including a Rolex, a Louis Vuitton bag and Dior shoes. Danielle, the daughter of lawyer and former New York State Bar Association president Michael Miller, appeared before a federal judge in Boston by video from a jail cell to plead guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identify theft charges. The 33-year-old, who has more than 34,000 followers on Instagram, agreed to give up $1.3mn and serve six years in prison, 16 months of which may overlap with an already ongoing five-year sentence received last year. The sentencing has been set for 27 June. Danielle Miller, whose father is a lawyer and former president of the New York bar association Miller documented her lavish lifestyle on social media before police caught up with her Miller documented her luxury lifestyle on Instagram through Covid, sharing tours of luxury hotels in California where she used a bank account in the name of one of her victims. 'Honestly, I more so consider myself a con artist than anything,' Miller was quoted as saying in a 2022 New York Magazine article. The US Attorney's Office said in a news release: 'Miller posted her extravagant use of the fraud proceeds and stolen identities, publicizing her purchasing of luxury goods and renting of luxury accommodations.' Prosecutors said the stolen money was part of a government scheme to offer loans intended for small businesses. Originally from New York, Miller is the daughter of a former New York State Bar Association president and a graduate of the prestigious Horace Mann School. Attorney Michael Miller was also the former president of the New York County Lawyers Association. He chaired both the New York State Bar Association House of Delegates and the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders. His daughter was already facing charges in the separate Florida state court fraud case when she was arrested in May 2021 at a luxury apartment in Miami. During the pandemic, she had allegedly accessed somebody else's online Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) account and used the information obtained to set up a bank account. She then applied for an Economic Injury Disaster loan, collecting more than $102,000 in August 2020. This reportedly helped her to pay for $2,390 private flight from Florida to California using a fake passport. She was eventually arrested again after trying to withdraw $8,000 with a fake passport. Police reported finding three different driver's licenses with different names using Miller's photo, plus credit cards, six cell phones, and $25,000 in cash. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case is an example of fraud that became rampant as the federal government rushed to distribute more than $5 trillion in relief funds to help people, businesses and local governments affected by the pandemic. More than 1,000 people have been convicted of defrauding COVID-19 relief programs, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said last month. The White House last week said President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress to provide $1.6 billion in new funding to crack down on fraud tied to the programs. Miller was previously arrested after trying to withdraw $8,000 with a fake passport Access to government money set aside during the pandemic encouraged a number of criminal opportunists to try to exploit the system. In the three years since the pandemic started, 1,000 people have been convicted of defrauding Covid relief programs, according to the US Government Accountability Office. Last week, the White House said Biden will ask Congress for $1.6bn in funding to clamp down on such cases. In December, Florida pastor Evan Edwards was arrested, accused of fraudulently obtaining $8.4mn in Covid loans. Edwards allegedly took advantage of the pandemic CARES ACT to apply for the loans through the Paycheck Protection Program in 2020. His family planned to use the money to purchase a $3.7 million Disney World Resort home. He was later accused of faking an illness to avoid prison time. California's governor pledged not to do business with Walgreens after the nations second-largest retail pharmacy barred selling abortion pills in 20 states that prohibit the procedure and the necessary medication for it. Gavin Newson announced the decision on Monday in a tweet that read, 'We're done,' following the company's decision last week. The move comes after Walgreens received pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers not to carry the drug, Mifepristone, which makes up half of the combination used to induce an abortion. 'California won't be doing business with @walgreens - or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk,' Newsom tweeted. Gavin Newson announced the decision on Monday in a tweet that read, 'We're done,' following the company's decision last week The move comes after Walgreens received pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers not to carry the drug Mifepristone, which makes up half of the combination used to induce an abortion A spokesperson for Newsom added that the state is re-evaluating its relationship with the retail pharmacy. 'We will not pursue business with companies that cave to right wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls,' Brandon Richards told CNBC. Newsom didn't offer further details of what his punishment for Walgreens would be. In some areas of the Golden State - including San Francisco - the drug store has already shut many of its branches and blamed soaring shoplifting as the cause. The move comes just a couple of months after the Biden Administration updated a regulation to allow Mifepristone, part of a two-drug cocktail to induce miscarriage, to be stocked and dispensed at pharmacies to pregnant women with a prescription. GOP attorneys from these states sent letters to CVS, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Costco, Kroger and Walmart. In a response, Danielle Gray on Walgreens legal team said: As you know, to become certified by the FDA, participating pharmacies must satisfy a range of safety and risk mitigation requirements to dispense this drug. At this time, we are working through the certification process, which includes the evaluation of our pharmacy network to determine where we will dispense Mifepristone and training protocols and updates for our pharmacists. Mifepristones future is tenuous at best. A February lawsuit filed by anti-abortion activists in Texas is challenging the Food and Drug Administration's two-decade-old approval of the drug. The appointed judge for the case, Matthew Kacsmaryk, is a devout conservative and Donald Trump appointee. He is expected to side with the pro-life activists. Siding with the plaintiffs would significantly disrupt abortion access nationwide. It would affect access to an abortion even in states with no restrictions on the procedure. It is likely that pro-choice advocates would appeal Kacsmaryk's ruling. The FDA has loosened restrictions on abortion-inducing medication in recent years. Medication-induced abortion has been a lifeline for women in blue states and even red states since the Supreme Court eliminated the federal guarantee to an abortion The combination of drugs, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, became available at local pharmacies at the start of 2023. Women can also be prescribed the pills via telemedicine and have it mailed to them by an out-of-state provider. Per the Justice Department, the U.S. Postal Service can legally deliver abortion pills to people in states where the procedure is banned or restricted, saying that federal law allows the mailing of the pills because there is no way for the sender to know for certain whether the recipient would use them illegally. Medication abortion has become the most commonly used method for terminating a pregnancy. In 2020, the two-drug method accounted for 54 percent of all abortions in the US, up from roughly 44 percent in 2019. This is in part due to the rise of telemedicine and a general preference to stay away from doctors offices during the pandemic. The legal landscape for abortion has been in near-constant flux since the Supreme Court issued a fatal blow to legal access to abortion in the June 2022 decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization. Abortion-rights advocates in blue states as well as states with restrictions of abortion have been able to take solace in the fact that Mifepristone, a medication that has been proven safer than carrying a pregnancy to term, will always be available with the input of a doctor. But the lawsuit in Texas, in addition to growing pressure from GOP attorneys - as displayed in this case - severely imperils access to the drug. For many women, the medication is their only option to terminate a pregnancy. The former chief on-air medical correspondent for NBC was sentenced to two years probation Monday on charges that he asked a nine-year-old for 'sexually suggestive' photos. Dr. Bruce Hensel, 71, was arrested in 2019 after accusations surfaced that he texted the daughter of a friend and asked her for nude pictures. On Monday, the doctor pleaded no contest to the charges which included solicitation of nude photos from a minor. Transcripts of the text messages included in the filing submitted to the state Medical Board in 2022 found that Hensel asked for pictures that were 'sexy and private.' 'Dr. Bruce, you crossed the line and violated the vow of your profession, which is to cause no harm,' the father of the victim said in court on Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The former chief on-air medical correspondent for NBC was sentenced to two years probation Monday on charges that he asked a nine-year-old for 'sexually suggestive' photos Dr. Bruce Hensel, 71, was arrested in 2019 after accusations surfaced that he texted the daughter of a friend and asked her for nude pictures The doctor pleaded no contest to charges including solicitation of nude photos from a minor Hensel apologized and spoke about his faith in court while asking for forgiveness. 'I'm terribly sorry for what happened. I've done everything I can to understand this isolated thing,' Hensel said. The doctor has repeated his claims that the incident was a one-time thing. The victim's father at one point said Hensel had betrayed his calling in the medical profession but that the family overall forgives him. The dad acknowledged the work Hensel has done to improve and recover and expressed his hope the doctor will one day be able to help people again the way he did 'as a physician.' Hensel ultimately hugged the father after giving his apology. In their presentation to the Medical Board, officials said Hensel had texted the child repeatedly between March and August 2019. The doctor knew the young girl through her mother and was discussing financing a movie that would star the nine-year-old. 'I have always been good special friends and you feel safe with me so I will protect you and get you something,' Hensel wrote in 2019. 'They could maybe make you a star if you are willing to take some risks.' The doctor has repeated his claims that the incident was a one-time thing 'I'm terribly sorry for what happened. I've done everything I can to understand this isolated thing,' Hensel said Monday in court 'I have always been good special friends and you feel safe with me so I will protect you and get you something,' Hensel wrote in 2019, according to records The judge ultimately sentenced Hensel to two years of probation In 2022, an NBC spokesperson referred to Hensel as a 'former employee' but declined to say whether he had been fired or if he had resigned. Hensel worked with the network for more than 30 years and won several Emmys. Last year, the Los Angeles Times reported that former Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley had been brought on as a consultant on the case for the doctor. Cooley told The Times he was retained simply as an expert on policy. At the time, the ex-District Attorney was leading an effort to recall Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon for being 'soft on crime.' Australia must be ready for war with China within the next three years as concerned experts warn the Communist superpower is gearing up to invade Taiwan. A panel of five leading national security analysts warned fear China is setting its sights on invading Taiwan sooner rather than later and Australia will be dragged into a conflict for which it is woefully unready, the experts told Nine newspapers. 'The need to dramatically strengthen our military and national security capabilities is urgent, but Australia is unprepared,' the panel said in a joint statement. 'Most important of all is a psychological shift. Urgency must replace complacency. The recent decades of tranquility were not the norm in human affairs, but an aberration. 'Australia's holiday from history is over.' Australia must be ready to fight China within three years, a panel of security experts has warned (pictured Chinese special forces conduct training in February) The statement's signatories are former senior Defence official Peter Jennings, Macquarie University Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies Lavina Lee, former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, National Institute of Strategic Resilience chair Lesley Seebeck and retired Army major general Mick Ryan. Australia's apparent complacency in the face of the looming threat of a war between China and the US over Taiwan, which all five agreed would involve Australia as America's ally, could cost the nation dearly. Professor Finkel warned Chinese military technology should not be underestimated, which he said the US had done at times. 'You might think if the Chinese were going to attack this region, you'd see the troop build-up, the missile build-up,' he said. 'But what if it was a bio-attack, a virus? You'd see nothing. 'We have to invest in our biosecurity, our cybersecurity, our military hardware as if it might happen tomorrow.' The five panelists agreed China was serious about its threats to 're-unify' with Taiwan, which the mainland's ruling Communist party regards as a renegade province. China's President Xi Jinping (pictured) could be prompted to carry out his threat of 're-unifying' with Taiwan sooner rather than later, the experts say They based this on Chinese President Xi Jinping's 'aggressive stance and rapid military build-up', which has given China a 'growing capability and sense of entitlement'. Ominously, the panel also warned the balance of power was moving rapidly in China's favour compared with the US and its allies. Russia's invasion of the Ukraine demonstrated that all-out war is a very real threat to international order, the panelists agreed. 'We've just seen [what happens] in Ukraine where authoritarian leaders want to establish their legacy,' Professor Seebeck said. 'This is the tipping point that we're looking at. And this is what really concerns me about the urgency over the next three to five years.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) is set to receive a major defence review and his government have already announced a number of significant Defence weapons purchases Although the stalled invasion of Ukraine might give China second thoughts about invading a neighbour, the experts paradoxically reasoned it might encourage an earlier move by China, who might see the debacle as providing valuable lessons. Another reason it could prompt China to move sooner is because the Ukraine conflict is draining potential foes of ammunition and weapons that are being sent to Ukrainian forces. The panelists also agreed China, which was crippled by its Covid shutdowns and is experiencing economic turmoil, being in a weakened state could also make the Asian giant more immediately dangerous. 'My view is that a weak China is much more dangerous from a national security perspective than a strong China,' Mr Jennings said. 'A weak China thinks, "I might have one shot at this."' The panel thought that the Defence department had been too timid in alerting Australians to the urgent danger of regional conflict. If China were to attack Taiwan, Australia would almost automatically go to war in alliance with the US, the panel agreed. Australia would be an important regional base of operations and could see 200,000 American troops pouring in. This raises the threat of Chinese missile attacks on Australia's military and other infrastructure, a dire scenario which was highlighted by the late Senator Jim Molan in February. Senator Molan said Australia could be rendered near defenceless by a sneak Chinese missile attack on the US ahead of an invasion of Taiwan. Senator Jim Molan (pictured) warned Australia was at risk of an attack Molan, who was an army major general before entering politics, told Sky News Australia must be ready for such an attack or end up under China's thumb as he gave his last interview before dying from cancer in January. Federal Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten told Channel Nine on Tuesday national security was the government's top priority but they sought good relations with China. 'We have to work with China, we've always had to maintain our own national security and our own defence interests,' he said. 'People want to hear this morning is the government is doing everything we can in defence and national security. 'Are we also trying to maintain constructive bilateral relations with China? Yes. We'll engage where we can, but disagree where we must.' The Albanese government is set to release a major defence review and in the lead-up has announced major upgrades in land and sea-based missiles and naval mines. Although the Albanese government has thawed relations with China the 2021 AUKUS agreement, which commits Australia to a defence pact with the US and Britain and the purchase of nuclear-powered submarines, remains a source of Beijing's criticism. Seoul plan is also setback from 2015 agreement Some things are too difficult to accept, no matter how prepared you are. One such thing is the government's plan announced Monday to resolve the issue of Korean victims of wartime forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 occupation. Its content had nothing new. Seoul will compensate the claimants first with money donated by Korean companies that benefited from Japan's grants and loans according to the 1965 Basic Agreement. That was all, however. It contained no follow-up moves from Japan, such as an expression of remorse by Tokyo or consequent participation by the two Japanese wartime employers, Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. "I hope that the Japanese government will offer a comprehensive apology and the Japanese firms will make voluntary contributions to the fund," Foreign Minister Park Jin said. However, Tokyo said it would inherit previous governments' expressions of regrets (without renewing them) and let the two firms decide on their own (instead of forcing anything). It was a one-sided diplomatic defeat for Seoul. As recently as January, Korean diplomats said they could not finish the bargaining because Tokyo would not promise corresponding steps. Monday's announcement showed they couldn't move an inch forward for two months. Still, Minister Park said, "the solution was made under our initiative," adding that "the cup has now been more than half-filled." It was little more than the Orwellian twisting of "losing is winning." The cup is undoubtedly half-empty and will likely remain so if Tokyo's attitude does not change. Park said, unlike previous governments, the incumbent administration could no longer ignore the aged victims' situation. But all three surviving plaintiffs rejected the plan, calling it a "beggarly solution." Previous governments could not do it. We can't help but wonder for whom and what does this government struggle so hard. President Yoon Suk Yeol answered, "It was a decision from a broad viewpoint for the future-oriented relationship." But Yang Geum-deok, one of the three surviving victims, responded by epitomizing the sentiment shared by most Koreans. "Is President Yoon Suk Yeol Korean or Japanese? Does he live for Japan or us Korean people?" she asked. Korea needs to cooperate with Japan and the United States for national security and the economy and the future may be more important than the past. But the ignorance of history to this extent is not good for the future relationship. Even a Japanese civic group said the plan without Tokyo's apology or wartime employers' participation could not be a solution. That shows this issue is also between the conscionable and the unconscionable. Besides, in a rare swift comment on other countries' matters, U.S. President Joe Biden said it "marked a groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States' closest allies." There seems to have been some communication, or connivance, beforehand as Washington did eight years ago (a hasty accord on wartime sex slavery) or 113 years ago (Japan's annexation of Korea). The latest plan is a setback even from the 2015 agreement on former sex slaves. At the time, the Japanese government showed some regrets and chipped in for the joint fund. Technically, the plan has also made two critical mistakes concerning future progress. First, by allowing the Japanese companies to get away without direct payment, it agreed with Tokyo's claims that the 1965 normalization treaty solved all problems. Second, Minister Park said this is the last chance to solve bilateral issues, shutting the door for future discussion even if new problems arise regarding Japan's misdeeds during its colonial occupation. Contrary to President Yoon's wish, Korea cannot escape its history. Minister Park said this is not the end but a new beginning, hoping for Japan's change of mind. However, there is nothing Korea can do to make Tokyo change. The plan will only sow the seeds for more trouble. The Yoon administration must drop it and negotiate anew. The best place for that may not be Seoul or Tokyo but Washington. A popular ocean pool was the scene of a 'Vegas-style' party after pop star Harry Styles paid a visit and heatwave conditions struck. Residents swarmed to Bronte Beach in the city's eastern suburbs on Monday night as temperatures soared to between 38 and 41 degrees. It was the first time the Harbour City had eclipsed 38 degrees since November 29, 2020, and the hottest day recorded since late-2018. Those escaping the heat were surprised by party-style scenes at the baths- with locals on their way for routine laps shocked by the wild scenes. Bronte Baths, a pool secluded from the beach, was described as a 'full blown pool Vegas style pool party' Multiple videos were uploaded to TikTok showing young people taking to the water in the black of the night - drawing comparisons to an American-style pool party. Bronte's baths usually have a couple of late-night swimmers as the town's only ocean pool with lighting but last night huge numbers descending in large groups, coming to relax after a hot day. 'I've only seen it like this on public holidays,' the original poster of the clip said. 'We went there at 9 and it was too busy to swim!' another person noted. Crowds had finally cleared off by 2am, having burnt through whatever energy was left after the sky-high temperatures of the day. Part of the popularity may be because of pop superstar Harry Styles quietly making a last-minute appearance at the beach before leaving the country for New Zealand. Pop superstar Harry Styles made a last-minute appearance at the Bronte baths before leaving the country Sydnersiders flocked to the beaches of the city's eastern suburbs on Monday Before the clock hit 12pm, Western Sydney was already facing 34 degree heat with the average temperature towards the CBD ranging in the low 30's. Above, the scene at Bondi Most of the city sweated through oven-like temperatures. By 4pm AEDT, Penrith in the outer-west hit a high of 40 and the mercury at Sydney Airport his 39. Temperatures were still uncomfortable, stuck in the high 20s, when everyone was hitting the beach last night. The heat is expected to last until at least Wednesday. NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Rob Rogers predicted that recent green-growth from the epic downpours could leave the state's countryside in a perilous state. But along with the perfect beach weather conditions, the risk of bushfires also skyrocketed to their most perilous since Black Summer, Weatherzone reported. By 4pm yesterday, numerous bushfires has broken out in central NSW, with two reaching emergency levels. One near Tambaroora, located about 50km north of Bathurst, and another near Cranbrook, roughly 20 km south of Dubbo sparked concerns. 'Before the 2019-to-20 fires, it was a drought and just dust,' he said. 'Now there is grass more than a metre tall and ready to burn and these fires move incredibly quickly.' The mother of a baby who was stranded in Bali with a bacterial infection before she was flown to Australia for specialist treatment has choked back tears as she thanked the public for helping her family during their darkest days. Baby Lucky captured the hearts of the world last month when her mother, Honey Ahimsa, launched a desperate bid to get her then-seven-week-old daughter back to Australia for lifesaving treatment that was not available in Indonesia. Lucky's mother Honey grew up Melbourne but had recently relocated to Indonesia with her young family after Lucky was born in Thailand just before Christmas. Lucky was diagnosed with sepsis, severe pneumonia, lung failure and RSV-bronchiolitis after she was rushed to a Bali hospital on February 8. She was medically evacuated to Brisbane five days later, on February 13, with a 50 per cent chance of survival, with her family racking up more than $100,000 in bills to keep her alive. The medical retrieval flight to Brisbane from Bali cost $106,000, while the family racked up between $5,000 to $8,000 a day on the baby's medical care in Bali. Lucky's story made international headlines as people from around the globe donated money and sent the family well wishes as they fought to get her home. An online fundraiser for the cause raised over $190,000 within a few days of being launched. Lucky was finally discharged from hospital Sunday and made her live television debut in the arms of her relieved mum this morning on Sunrise. Honey Ahimsa has given a heartwarming update on baby Lucky (pictured on Tuesday) 'There's really just no words, just complete gratitude and disbelief,' Ms Ahisma told Sunrise from the Gold Coast. She admitted the last month had taken on heavy toll on her and her partner Pan, not knowing whether their precious baby would survive. Ms Ahimsa got emotional while looking back on the harrowing ordeal. 'I really know how to put it into words, but I can say that I feel like I've been given a second chance at life,' she said. 'I just honestly don't think I would have been able to make it because it was that painful. 'I don't know how people do have the strength to get through something if it doesn't turn out this way.' Honey and her partner Pan have spent the last month by their baby's hospital bed, not knowing whether she'd survive Miracle baby Lucky wants to be in her mum's arms all the time following her fight for life Little Lucky is doing well following her desperate fight for life. 'She just wants to be in my arms,' Ms Ahimsa said. 'If I put down just for a moment, she really freaks out so she is feeling a little bit traumatised from the whole ordeal.' 'She just wants to know that she is loved and held and safe at the moment, more than anything. Honey Ahimsa choked back tears as she recalled how close she came to losing Lucky Ms Ahimsa said the money raised saved her baby's life and choked back tears again as she thanked Australia for their overwhelming support. 'Thank you so much from the depths of our hearts. 'You saved our daughter's life. I don't think a thank you would ever really been enough. 'You saved this beautiful little girl and she is here because of you.' It comes after Ms Ahimsa gave a heartwarming update about her daughter's condition on Sunday. 'Best news Lucky Love is home,' she posted. 'Lucky has been discharged from hospital. She is not fully recovered though doctors have said that she is well enough to continue her recovery at home. 'It's also more dangerous for her to stay in hospital as the chances of her getting another infection is high in that environment. 'We are overwhelmed by how blessed we have been to have our baby girl survive when the odds were against her. 'She is a true miracle baby and a pillar of love (and) hope for everyone to witness.' A career criminal with 14 previous arrests was once again nabbed over the weekend for allegedly raping a woman and threatening to kill her. Jamel McIver, 30, is accused of following a 21-year-old woman into her building, located near West 65th Street and West End Avenue in the Upper West Side at around 1am Saturday. Once inside, cops say, he forced the woman into a stairwell where he carried out the rape and threatened her life before fleeing on foot. He was turned in by his own family members on Sunday, the New York Post reports, and was arraigned on Monday on charges of rape, sexually motivated burglary and criminal sex act. McIver was ordered to remain in prison as the trial against him continues. Jamel McIver, 30, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly following a 21-year-old woman into her building and raping her the day before The suspect is pictured being perp walked into Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday where he was arraigned on charges of rape, sexually motivated burglary and criminal sex act Authorities allege that McIver followed the 21-year-old victim into a building at around 1.20am, and entered an elevator with her. He then allegedly 'forced her out of the elevator and into a stairwell where he raped her,' before pushing the woman back outside and fleeing the area on foot. McIver is pictured in Bronx Criminal Court in 2019 for an arraignment on charges that he snuck into a teenage girl's room and forced her to touch his genitals 'He basically made threats to her that he was going to kill her if she didn't comply,' a police spokesman told the Post. In the aftermath, the unidentified woman was brought to a local hospital in stable condition. Surveillance video captured outside the woman's residence as well as inside the stairwell itself showed the suspected attacker directly after the attack. It showed the suspect ditching his jacket at one point despite teeming rain, tossing it over a fence before walking away. Another still released by cops, snapped in the stairwell where the woman underwent her ordeal, showed the alleged attacker's face, shrouded with his hood as he presumably made his escape. McIver has previously been arrested 14 times, including one in Delaware in 2013 for allegedly beating his own 2-month-old son, and another in New York City in 2019 in which he is accused of sneaking into a sleeping teenager's bedroom and forcing her to touch his groin. In that case, authorities say, McIver pulled his vehicle to the front of the 16-year-old girl's building in the Bronx and slipped into her apartment through a fire escape. The victim, who told cops she did not know her attacker, said she woke up to find McIver standing over her bed. He then told the teen: 'I want you to touch me. Don't scream, I have a gun.' On Saturday, cops released still photos and videos of the suspect at the scene He was ultimately turned over to authorities on Sunday by his own family members At that point, McIver grabbed the teenager's hand and placed it on his pants over his genitals. The teenager was eventually able to free herself from his grasp, according to the Post, prompting her attacker to flee from her room through the fire escape window. McIver was arrested just two days later, and was held on a $250,000 bail during his initial court appearance. It remains unclear whether he was able to pay, but at a trial in March 2020, he was ordered held without bail only to be released on his own recognizance weeks later with an order of protection issued for the teenage girl. He ultimately pleaded guilty in the case in August, but was scheduled to return to court for the case on March 29. In the Delaware case, meanwhile, McIver was charged on December 8, 2013 with first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child after police were called to the Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover where his two-month-old baby was found with 'multiple contusions and swelling' to his face. McIver was arraigned and ordered held on a $51,000 bail, but the outcome of that case is unclear. A passenger narrowly missed getting struck when a large ceiling panel came crashing down onto the platform at a Boston-area subway station. Surveillance video shows the passenger stopping short as the panel came down from the roof in front of them at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Harvard Station in Cambridge. An alternative angle then shows commuter looking up at the ceiling in shock as they try to understand what happened and how lucky they came to being seriously hurt. Video sees the panel come down inches from the startled passenger who stops in their tracks. The commuter pauses, then walks around it and toward a staircase. Fellow passengers either didn't see what had happened or hear anything as they could be seen continuing to go about their business including boarding a waiting subway train. A large ceiling panel fell onto the platform at Harvard subway station near Boston, narrowly missing a passenger The panel crashed down in between a couple walking up the stairs and another commuter Footage sees the passenger stopping suddenly as the panel fell inches in front of them, leaving them shrouded in a cloud of black dust The commuter is walking along the platform when the panel suddenly came lose, right The incident occurred shortly before 4pm last Wednesday, sending up a cloud of dust. The aluminum panels normally weight about 5 pounds, but this one had become waterlogged causing it to weigh as much as 25 pounds. The panel fell about 10 feet, MBTA interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville said at a news conference. 'I am extremely thankful and relieved that there were no injuries as a result of this accident,' he said. The MBTA removed about 10 other panels at the station, which has 400 to 500 of them in total. The commuter looked up in a state of shock after what had occurred directly in front of them The MBTA quickly closed the area while engineers inspected panels and removed any that posed an immediate safety concern The aluminum panels normally weight about 5 pounds, but the one that fell had become waterlogged causing to weigh as much as 25 pounds Over time water had accumulated in the panel insulation and corroded the metal rivets holding it in place 'Our initial findings show that over time water had accumulated in the panel insulation & corroded the metal rivets holding it in place. We're removing the remaining non-structural panels as a precaution & so we can thoroughly investigate the ceiling & source of water intrusion,' the MBTA wrote in a tweet. The panels date back to 1978 and the one that fell was wet and showed signs of corrosion, Gonneville explained. The suspended panels do not affect the structural integrity of the station and are used for aesthetics and soundproofing. The agency is also inspecting other stations in the system with drop ceilings, although he noted that the design at Harvard is unique. The panels were installed in 1978. The non-structural panels are suspended from the ceiling and used for aesthetics & soundproofing The remaining non-structural panels were removed as a precaution in order for the source of the water to be determined 'We are utilizing all our resources to look into this issue, discover its cause, and implementing whatever solutions necessary to ensure that it doesn't happen again,' he said. A 2021 safety inspection by outside engineers at the station found no visible defects with the panels, the General Manager said. The incident remains under investigation. Spy plane images obtained by DailyMail.com show a UFO flying near Baghdad last year. The six images appear to show a skinny cylindrical-shaped object over North Eastern Iraq, close to Baghdad, moving across the screen from left to right. The images were taken from a video filmed by a thermal camera in a United States Air Force (USAF) Reaper drone in May 2022 and have been dubbed the 'Baghdad Phantom'. A source with knowledge of the incident said the object was flagged in an Air Force repository as an 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena', the government's preferred term for UFOs, last year, because of its strange characteristics. Fast-moving craft are powered by propulsion systems like rockets or engines that create heat, but the thermal camera that filmed the object showed it was colder than its surroundings. Six images appear to show a skinny cylindrical-shaped object over North Eastern Iraq, close to Baghdad, moving across the screen from left to right The cylindrical object can be seen to the left of the screen The images were leaked to journalist and documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell (left) and investigative journalist George Knapp (right), and released shortly after midnight on Weaponized, their new podcast The object also didn't have any visible wings or fins, likely ruling it out as a glider. A USAF source said the UFO had no visible propulsion and appeared to be under 'intelligent control'. The images were leaked to journalist and documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell and investigative journalist George Knapp, and released shortly after midnight on Weaponized, their new podcast. 'What George and I have uncovered is Reaper drone footage over an active war zone,' Corbell told DailyMail.com. 'It shows an anomalous object which has been designated as UAP by our own air force. 'Like our government, we as journalists are curious about what can be seen in these images. The object appears to have no flight control surfaces, no traditional reactionary propulsion and is cooler than its surrounding environment. 'This isn't your grandma's rocket that we're looking at.' The six intriguing images show the elongated object at the bottom of the screen moving from left to right. It appeared darker than its background on the thermal camera, indicating it was colder than its surroundings. The images appear to show some kind of trail or stream left in the 'Baghdad Phantom's wake, though it could be an artifact from the video from which they were taken. Military coordinates on the bottom right of the images give the location of the Reaper Drone video as North Eastern Iraq, near Baghdad. DailyMail.com understands the UFO was not shot at by the USAF, because it had no payload for example a potential bomb and did not get close to ground troops. The object was designated as 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena', an official term which has since been replaced with 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' (UAP). Military coordinates on the bottom right of the images give the location of the Reaper Drone video as North Eastern Iraq, near Baghdad. The cylindrical object is seen right The cylindrical object is seen above, to the left of the center The images appear to show some kind of trail or stream left in the objects wake, though it could be an artifact from the thermal camera video from which they were taken The images were taken in May 2022 It is still unclear whether the object was innocuous, a foreign military's craft, or something other-worldly. Corbell told DailyMail.com that the images were leaked by frustrated USAF members who claim that significant numbers of UFO incidents are being 'buried' by the Air Force. DailyMail.com understands that many of these incidents, including the May 2022 UFO video, were not shared with intelligence agencies or the government's UFO Office, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Normally data from an incident like this near Baghdad would be sent to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations against ISIS in Iraq. But it is unclear whether the Command received the video or any other information on the incident. US legislation requires that AARO collects information on UAP incidents from the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. But Christopher Mellon, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, recently called out the Air Force for allegedly failing to embrace reporting of strange objects. 'The Navy was notably helpful while the Air Force remained notably unhelpful, if not hostile, to inquiries on the subject,' he wrote in a February 14 blog post. 'The preliminary assessment provided to Congress [about UFOs in 2021] was almost completely devoid of information from the U.S. Air Force despite the fact that the Air Force (as a department which also oversees U.S. Space Force) has far more aircraft and sensor systems than the Navy as well as the responsibility for supporting NORAD.' Corbell warned the alleged failure to share information is putting servicemen and women at risk. 'This case represents other UAPs filmed by our Air Force, which have been kept hidden from American taxpayers and our intelligence community,' he told DailyMail.com. 'The brave men and women who serve in our nation's Air Force are directly at risk if we cannot identify, process and share this type of UAP imagery in an effective and actionable way. 'Air Force personnel have told me that they are highly concerned that this phenomenon maintains a regretful stigma that inhibits proper reporting and response within the chain of command. The air force is an exemplary branch of our armed services. We should encourage greater UAP transparency, for the good of the country and our participating services. 'As journalists, George and I feel a duty to inform the public in situations like this, where our representatives have failed to provide transparency and have in fact obstructed it.' Following the shooting of one Chinese balloon and three unidentified objects over North American airspace last month, the topic of UFOs threatening American interests and air traffic has become a hot topic within Congress. After the 'shoot downs', vice chair of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Marco Rubio, said: 'The last 72 hours revealed to the public what was happening for years, unidentified aircraft routinely operating over restricted US airspace.' An image obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com of what appears to be a metallic-looking orb flying over Mosul, Iraq in April 2016, was included in a classified briefing video on UFOs shown to multiple US government agencies An image obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com from Corbell and Knapp in January of what appears to be a metallic-looking orb flying over Mosul, Iraq in April 2016, was included in a classified briefing video on UFOs shown to multiple US government agencies. In January, AARO director Sean Kirkpatrick gave a presentation at an aviation safety conference warning of 'threats to the immediate safety of US citizens and Government facilities' posed by UAP. His presentation slides, reported in a DailyMail.com story last month, said that the military is finding unidentified anomalous phenomena 'most often in the vicinity of US military facilities and operating areas' which would include conflict zones like Iraq. The Air Force began a 'six-month pilot program' in November 2020 to collect data on UFOs, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman, but ended it the following Spring. 'Lessons learned from the pilot were used to improve support provided to the UAPTF and will be used to contribute to the efforts of AARO. If applicable, data gathered in the pilot was provided through command channels to the UAPTF,' Pentagon spokeswoman Susan Gough said in a statement. In August 2021, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Politico: 'I've given a great deal of thought to defending American airspace but not against UFOs. If asked to do that then we will do it. This is a thing that's been around for a great many years.' The leaked May 2022 images follow the release of the 'Mosul Orb' image, also obtained by Corbell and Knapp, showing a sphere-shaped UFO filmed by a US spy plane over the Northern Iraqi city of Mosul in 2016. The Pentagon has yet to confirm the authenticity of the Mosul image. Gough said: 'I'm not going to comment on whether something is or is not part of a classified briefing.' Corbell called on the public to help analyze and identify the new images he and Knapp obtained. 'It is my hope that by obtaining and releasing imagery like this, the public can help solve this collective mystery and inspire greater transparency by our Department of Defense,' he said. 'This is a solvable problem- so let's do it together. 'The Pentagon's over-classification is corrosive like an acid and has been weaponized against the American public's right and need to know about UFOs. 'It's time that they earn the people's trust back.' She was finally identified as Patricia Ann Tucker, who was 28 when she vanished The 'Granby Girl' was found decomposed with a bullet hole in the temple in 1978 A Massachusetts woman found murdered 45 years ago has been identified after investigators matched her DNA with her living son's. During a news conference Monday, First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne identified the woman long-known as the 'Granby Girl' to be Patricia Ann Tucker, who was 28 years old when she was murdered some time in 1978. Tucker's body was discovered on November 15 of that year covered in leaves on a logging trail in Granby, Massachusetts, just north of the city of Springfield. Her skeletal remains had a bullet wound to in the temple, and investigators suspected she died about three months before her death. Gagne said Tucker's husband at the time of her disappearance, Gerald Coleman, was a strong suspect in the case. He did not report her missing when she disappeared, and he died in prison in 1995 while serving time for a rape conviction. Investigators were able to find a relative of Tucker's using DNA technology, and from there found a perfect genealogical match with her son, Matthew Dale, who was five-years-old when she vanished. Patricia Ann Tucker, who was 28 years old when she was murdered some time in 1978 Gerald Coleman was named as a prime suspect in the killing. He died in prison in 1995 Tucker's body was found by a group of kids playing on the logging road in Granby. In addition to being buried beneath a pile of leaves, it was also hidden beneath a log. Though her husband never reported her missing - and had prior convictions for kidnapping, assault, and firearms - investigators were never able to identify the 'skeletonized and clothed' body. Medical examiners were only able to determine was that she would have been between 19 and 27 years old, and that she was female. Twenty years after her death, a stone was placed in a local cemetery with 'Unknown, Nov. 15, 1978. In God's care.' Gagne said investigators finally had a breakthrough in the case last March after they sent a piece Tucker's remains to a private genealogical lab in Texas called Othram. The lab was able to identify a relative in Maryland. Investigators contacted that relative who said her aunt vanished in the '70s. That aunt was later identified as Tucker. They then found their way to Dale, who confirmed his mother had gone missing in 1978. A sample of Dale's DNA proved to be a perfect match with the victim, proving her identify as Patricia. A tombstone laid for the Granby Girl and labeled 'Unknown' Gerald Coleman never reported his wife missing. He had convictions for assault and kidnapping Tucker's son, Matthew Dale (center), who was five years old when she vanished Gagne said Dale told investigators he remembered being dropped off at home by his mother and Coleman - who was not his father - and that he never saw either of them again. Department of Children and Families records showed Dale had been dropped with a woman from nearby Chicopee, who told investigators Coleman asked her to watch the boy for several hours while he and Tucker were taking care of personal business, Gagne said. When Coleman and Tucker never returned to pick up Dale, the woman reached out to authorities who brought the boy to his biological father. 'While it's satisfying to finally know who [the] 'Granby Girl' actually was, the investigation won't stop until we identify her killer and bring the family an additional measure of closure and justice,' Gagne said, according to the Boston Globe. Though Gagne did not name Coleman the killer, he said he was 'certainly, at a minimum, a person of strong interest in Patricia's disappearance and death.' Dale attended the press conference, and Gagne read a statement on his behalf. 'I would like to say thank you to everyone [for] trying to identify my mother and wrapping your arms around her, especially the community of Granby,' he said. 'Thank you for never giving up on her. At least I have some answers now after 44 years. It's a lot to process, but hopefully the closure can begin now.' The White House on Monday said there are still no plans for President Joe Biden to visit East Palestine, Ohio - even though he promised he would visit the site of the train derailment. 'I don't have anything to share on a planned visit by the president,' press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about it at her press briefing. Biden said last week he would visit the area, which suffered from a toxic chemical spill after the railway accident and is facing a long cleanup, at 'some point.' 'I have spoken with every official in Ohio, Democrat and Republican, on a continuing basis,' Biden told reporters after meeting with Senate Democrats, asked whether he would visit. 'We will be out there at some point.' But no trip has been announced. Biden's administration, particularly Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, was heavily criticized for a slow response to the accident. It has been 31 days since 5,000 people were forcded to evacuate and tens of thousands of animals died after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water around the small Ohio community. In the weeks since, authorities have undertaken a massive clean up operation. More than 700 tons of contaminated soil and nearly two million gallons of liquid have been collected from the derailment site, Ohio officials said, with much more left to clean up under the order of the Environmental Protection Agency. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, needled Biden to visit East Palestine. 'He should come, there's no doubt about it,' DeWine said in an interview with Fox News. 'The president needs to come. The people want to see the president. He should be there.' The cleanup continues in East Palestine, Ohio, after a train derailment spilled hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water 'I don't have anything to share on a planned visit by the president,' press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about it at her press briefing Buttigieg has become the scapegoat for the administration and has gone on the defensive about the response of his agency. He visited East Palestine on February 23 - 20 days after the accident. Former President Donald Trump had visited one day earlier, where he accused the Biden administration of 'indifference and betrayal' to the community. Buttigieg admitted to CNN on Monday he should have visited sooner. But he claimed that his conservative critics were feigning outrage for the 4,700-person town where median household income is $46,000. He called Trump's visit 'somewhat maddening to see someone who did a lot try to gut not just rail safety regulations, but the EPA, which is the number one thing standing between that community and a total loss of accountability for Norfolk Southern and then show up giving out bottled water and campaign swag?' The Feb. 3 derailment sent dozens of cars including some carrying a total of 1.6 million pounds of hazardous chemicals off the tracks in the town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Five tank cars held close to 900,000 pounds of vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic industrial chemical that has been linked to liver damage in cases of high levels of exposure. The derailment caused a fire that lasted for days. Firefighters used more than a million gallons of water to fight the flames, which also contributed to the soil contamination. A giant plume of smoke from the aftermath of the incident could be seen from miles away The chemicals on the board the train were vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, benzene residue, glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene Last week, Biden ordered officials to go door-to-door in East Palestine asking residents to fill out surveys amid fears of an emerging public health crisis. The EPA gave the all clear for residents to return their homes and independent testing backed those findings. But residents expressed their frustrations at state and federal officials and a Norfolk Southern representative at a townhall meeting last week. Homeowners have been complaining of many medical problems, including eye and skin irritation, nausea and headaches. The decision to do a controlled burn to help the cleanup led to fears among residents that they were exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride, a colorless gas that burns easily and is associated with an increased risk of several cancers including brain, liver and lung cancers. Irresponsible Prince Harry is not the only one who seems to think illegal drugs are an unalloyed joy. I can disclose that BBC star Evan Davis has found himself at the centre of another impartiality row after his Radio 4 show failed to 'remind listeners' about 'opposing opinions' on the issue of legalising cannabis. The Corporation has 'partially upheld' a complaint over an interview Davis conducted with a professor who was in favour of legalising cannabis, on Radio 4's PM show. This comes after Prince Harry spoke about his recreational use of illegal drugs during a intimate chat with a toxic trauma expert on Saturday. After Evan's programme aired in October, a listener complained about 'the absence of an alternative view' and a 'lack of impartiality on the part of the presenter'. BBC star Evan Davis has found himself at the centre of another impartiality row after his Radio 4 show failed to 'remind listeners' about 'opposing opinions' on the issue of legalising cannabis Prince Harry spoke about his recreational use of illegal drugs during a intimate chat with a toxic trauma expert on Saturday Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, of Toronto University, had been asked by Davis whether Canada's move to decriminalise cannabis had 'worked'. The academic had replied, 'Do it now, those are my three words', which prompted laughter from Davis, who's nicknamed Tinsel T**s on account of his piercings. The BBC's executive complaints unit looked at whether the programme met 'BBC standards for due impartiality'. Complaints bosses said while the overall piece reflected the negatives as well as positives of changing the law, it added that in the final exchange 'there was a need to remind listeners of the existence of opposing opinions'. The ECU said: 'But in posing his final question, he invited an opinion on a matter of controversy. Professor Owusu-Bempah having expressed unqualified support for immediate legislation, in the ECU's view there was a need to remind listeners of the existence of opposing opinions.' Last month, the BBC apologised after Davis was accused of making 'perfunctory efforts' to challenge a trans guest who accused JK Rowling of transphobia. During the Duke of Sussex's live streamed discussion with therapist Dr Gabor Mate on Saturday, the trauma expert spoke of the way people used drugs to deal with problems in their lives before asking Harry about his reasons for using drugs including cocaine, cannabis and psychedelics. The Duke of Sussex told how using cannabis a Class B drug 'really helped' him to deal with mental health issues following the death of his mother. Prince Harry has admitted using psychedelics - magic mushrooms, psilocybin (the active component of magic mushrooms) and ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic from the leaves of a shrub - in an attempt to help him heal from 'grief' He also talked about his 'positive' experience of psychedelic drug ayahuasca, saying it 'brought me a sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time'. The prince said alcohol was also 'more of a social thing' and complained about peer pressure around drinking. Prince Harry admitted taking cocaine as a teenager, smoking weed and trying magic mushrooms in the home of actor Courtney Cox in his explosive memoir Spare. But campaigners criticised Harry for talking about his drug use, saying he is sending a worrying message to young people. She failed on Tuesday in her first step to return to work is suing her boss in the Federal Court over her work conditions Sally Rugg has failed in her bid to return to work as the chief of staff for Kooyong MP Monique Ryan. Federal Court judge Debbie Mortimer on Tuesday dismissed Ms Rugg's application to return to work while she awaited trial. The activist claims she was sacked by Dr Ryan for raising concerns about unreasonable work. Sally Rugg had the opportunity to turn down an additional $30,205 in her position as the chief of staff for Kooyong MP Monique Ryan if she could not commit to the overtime requirement Dr Ryan said: 'Ms Rugg never said to me that would like to choose not to receive the Parliamentary Staff Allowance, and to the best of my knowledge she did in fact receive it' She had sought an interim injunction to stop the Commonwealth from terminating her employment until a trial. In handing down her ruling, Justice Mortimer told the parties to continue to work together to resolve the matter in the hope of avoiding a costly trial. Dr Ryan tuned into the brief hearing via videolink where she was seen to annoyingly fidget about before turning off her camera. I am far from persuaded Ms Rugg really wants to go back to work supporting and assisting Dr Ryan In a 30-page document outlining the reasons for her decision, Justice Mortimer said Ms Rugg's arguments at trial about contraventions of the Fair Work Act may well succeed. 'If that is the case, then on the evidence as it will be at trial, she will be able to apply for an order for reinstatement,' she stated. 'The circumstances may well be quite different then, and the court would be proceeding on the basis that she has been wholly or largely successful in her allegations.' 'I do not consider the refusal of interlocutory relief occasions any prejudice to Ms Rugg in the final relief she seeks.' Ms Rugg has foreshadowed an intention to add penalty claims against the Commonwealth, which are wider in scope and relate to allegations of a systematic tolerance for unreasonable working hours by all parliamentary staff. The salary Ms Rugg accepted was $136,607. There was an additional Parliamentary Staff Allowance of $30,205 to account for the reasonable expectation of overtime, particularly during sitting weeks Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Principal Josh Bornstein, who is acting for Ms Rugg, said his client was disappointed with the decision. 'Nevertheless, the case is at an early stage. As Justice Mortimer observed in her judgment, Ms Ruggs arguments at trial about contraventions of the FWA may well succeed,' he said via a statement. In her decision, Justice Mortimer suggested the foreshadowed trial could revolutionise the way companies deal with overtime. 'Ms Rugg has foreshadowed an intention to add penalty claims against the Commonwealth, which are wider in scope and relate to allegations of a systematic tolerance (I infer, by the Commonwealth and those acting on its behalf) for unreasonable working hours by all parliamentary staff,' she stated. 'That claim may add another five to 10 days, as counsel for Ms Rugg accepted this was a much broader claim, involving more witnesses ... It is a trial which, on counsels statements to the court, is being broadened to include systematic allegations against the Commonwealth, of which, as I understand it, what Ms Rugg alleges happened to her is but one example.' Ms Rugg had accepted $136,607 to perform the role of Dr Ryan's chief of staff, with an additional Parliamentary Staff Allowance of $30,205 to account for the reasonable expectation of overtime, particularly during sitting weeks. She' is suing her employer in the Federal Court over what she claims to be unreasonable work expectations and a 'hostile' workplace. According to the job description Dr Ryan advertised, the role would require 12-hour days during parliamentary sitting weeks and a level of flexibility and versatility. But in an affidavit filed to the court, Dr Ryan revealed there was a clause of the agreement which stated 'a personal employee may choose not to receive a Parliamentary Staff Allowance where the employee is unable to, or does not expect to work significant additional hours of work'. The clause clarifies employees that often opt out of additional hours of work due to personal or family commitments have the option to reject the sum. Dr Ryan said: 'Ms Rugg never said to me that would like to choose not to receive the Parliamentary Staff Allowance, and to the best of my knowledge she did in fact receive it.' The job description Dr Ryan advertised after her monumental win as part of the 'teal landslide' during the federal election said applicants would be responsible for the planning and execution of an annual budget, implementing a media strategy, running various social media channels and drafting speeches. Ms Rugg (pictured) was offered the role on the back of her inspiring cover letter, in which she guaranteed she could deliver all that Dr Ryan expected and more Teal MP Monique Ryan (pictured last month) acknowledged it was a significant workload but does not agree Ms Rugg was expected to do the work of four people Sally Rugg (pictured with her lawyers) launched an unfair dismissal claim against Dr Monique Ryan and the Commonwealth in January Justice Mortimer had previously expressed her frustration over Ms Rugg's application to return to work. She said she had struggled to grapple with the idea of Ms Rugg and Dr Ryan returning to work in close proximity with each other, pending any trial, after hearing evidence of their volatile relationship in a full-day hearing last week. 'I don't think I have seen a case like this,' she said. 'The material is pretty stark about a breakdown in the work relationship. How are they to be compelled to continue to work together?' Dr Ryan maintained it would be 'impractical, if not impossible' to have Ms Rugg return to work in her office. On Tuesday, Justice Mortimer questioned Ms Rugg's actual dedication to the 'teal movement'. 'She has given a lot of evidence about her own ambitions, her own desires to be in Canberra. Sally Rugg (centre) is now set to take her former boss on in a multi-million dollar trial 'On this interlocutory application, the evidence about her personal objectives is relevant because it persuades me there is no prospect whatsoever of a cooperative working relationship being restored because even for the purposes of her own application Ms Rugg cannot bring herself to express her dedication to assisting Dr Ryan,' Justice Mortimer stated. 'She instead focuses on her own career objectives. Which, as I say, are perfectly understandable and not to be criticised in themselves. On this application, they weigh against the grant of the relief Ms Rugg seeks. I am far from persuaded Ms Rugg really wants to go back to work supporting and assisting Dr Ryan.' Justice Mortimer claimed one of Ms Rugg's sworn affidavit's was done so with malice. 'It demonstrates in my opinion a conscious attempt by Ms Rugg to criticise Dr Ryan,' sher stated. 'Again, on Ms Ruggs account of what has occurred to her in 2022, such an attitude, and behaviour, might be understandable. Nevertheless, it is highly probative against the proposition that the two can continue to work together in any constructive way.' Earlier, the hearing was told how Ms Rugg was issued a formal warning after she flew home from Canberra while knowingly infected with Covid. Dr Ryan claimed she offered Ms Rugg a six-week severance pay should she choose to resign, adding she could 'spin it' and 'say that her employment ''just wasn't a good fit''.' But Ms Rugg recalls the conversation differently. She told the hearing Dr Ryan approached her while no other staff were present and said: 'Im going to terminate your employment. I have made up my mind to terminate you in January'. Ms Rugg claimed in her affidavit that Dr Ryan said this was an 'off book' option which would be 'mutually beneficial, but it has to be done off the record'. She said the alleged altercation left her 'distraught'. A Texas family is hoping for a miracle after twin 13-year-old boys vanished on Sunday in chest-deep water at the beach, where they were wading despite being unable to swim. Josue and Jefferson Perez had travelled from their Houston home for a day at the beach in Galveston. The boys were last seen around 4:30pm on Sunday playing in the water near the Pleasure Pier, around 20 yards from the shore. Rip currents around the pier can be strong, officials said, and the sea temperature was a chilly 67F. No one in the family saw them go underwater, but after they went missing the relatives raised the alarm. Twin brothers Josue and Jefferson Perez, 13, were last seen at around 4:30pm on Sunday near the Pleasure Pier in Galveston, wading in chest-deep water 20 yards from the shore Police are seen assisting the search after dark on Sunday evening. The boys are yet to be found, 24 hours after they went missing Galveston search and rescue teams scoured the area with helicopters and jet skis, but they boys are yet to be found. 'Nobody confirms seeing them go underwater,' said Lt. Austin Kirwin with Galveston Beach Patrol. 'So essentially what happened is they were out in the water, the parents briefly lost sight of them, and they looked back up into that area, and they did not see them any longer.' The Galveston County Community Emergency Response Team, Beach Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and volunteers have been out searching for the twins since 5.30pm on Sunday night. Divers are also assisting the teams. Kirwin said weather conditions are hampering the search. 'The real limiting factor for us right now is this fog rolling in,' he said at a press conference on Monday. Lt. Austin Kirwin, with Galveston Beach Patrol, said the waters were cold and rip currents were common in the area Rescuers are still hoping to find the boys alive in the waters or on the shore The Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a popular tourist site, and from March 11 there will be lifeguards on the beach 'That's going to inhibit us from being able to search as well as we want to. 'Also, the water is still relatively cold. It's about 67F this morning, so without a wetsuit, the length of time you can be in that water is diminished.' He noted that the waters swirling around objects jetting into the sea - such as jetties and the Pleasure Pier - were dangerous, because strong currents can create rips. 'In the event that you do get caught in a rip current, the key point is, do not panic,' he said. 'If you just relax and try to keep your calm, the current will eventually bring you back to shore. 'The main killer in drownings is that panic mode.' Lifeguards will be on the beach from March 11, when the main swimming season begins. By Jason Lim It's no longer big news that Korea suffers from the lowest birth rate in the world at just 0.78 children per woman in 2022 down from 0.81 the previous year. In the absence of a population inflow through immigration, a country needs an average of 2.1 children per woman to maintain the population at the existing level. This isn't an exclusively Korean problem. Other advanced countries, especially in Asia, are suffering from decreasing birth rates. However, as with many other phenomena, Korea tends to experience the macro trend in a more acute fashion. It seems to be getting worse. In a recent survey conducted by Park Jeong-min, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University, a mere 4 percent of unmarried Korean women in their 20s and 30s said that marriage and childbearing are essential in their lives. Money has been thrown at this problem but to no avail. As usual, the government is urged to enact policies to change housing, education, and inequality issues in order to reverse this trend. However, President Yoon Suk Yeol recently admitted that the government had spent over $200 billion in the past 16 years to address the issue, only to see the birthrate decrease year after year. It reads like a long list of failed policies. Subsidize housing so as to make it easier for women to have babies. Subsidize education to make it easier for women to have babies. Subsidize companies to hire more women so that they can have more babies. Nothing is working. Lacking from these policy debates is the admission that motherhood is hard. Very hard. And very unequal for women. Men don't have to carry a foreign being in their bodies for nine months, suffering all the indignities that a fetus will impose on the mother-to-be, including a grossly expanded belly and the ambulatory awkwardness that comes with an extra 40 pounds inside you, only to end with several painful hours of child labor, if you're lucky. With the average first-time Korean mother's age now at 33.5 years, you have a higher chance of a C-section or, at least, an epidural, which is a huge, long needle injected straight into your spine. Yeah. It freaked me out when I saw my wife getting one. Imagine being the person that has to suffer through it. Of course, birth is only the beginning. I didn't realize how difficult and painful breastfeeding was until my wife was going through it with my child. Every two hours in the beginning. Then the fevers. Then school. Then extracurricular lessons. Then the sullenness of growing up. Then, then, then all punctuated by the resources in money, time and effort to raise that human being. No wonder studies have found that happiness actually decreases when a couple has a child. Per the Atlantic's article titled, "What Becoming a Parent Really Does to Your Happiness." It states, "Other studies find that when a child is born, parents experience a decrease in happiness that doesn't go away for a long time, in addition to a drop in marital satisfaction that doesn't usually recover until the children leave the house." It goes on to say that those parents who say that children increased their sense of happiness are actually undergoing a memory distortion whereby "we tend to remember the peaks and forget the mundane awfulness in between." That's pretty damning. However, keep in mind that parenthood is inherently and overwhelmingly more burdensome on the mother than it is on the father. Motherhood is not only hard; it's horrible. I know that engaged fathers can help, greatly in some societies. However, parenthood is inherently unequal and unfair toward the mothers both biologically and societally. It imposes a cost on the woman's autonomy and independence in a way that's comprehensive and obstinate. When discussing the persistent gender wage gap, Pew's findings say that "A good share of the increase in the gender pay gap takes place when women are between the ages of 35 and 44. In 2022, women ages 25 to 34 earned about 92 percent as much as men of the same ages, but women ages 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 earned 83 percent as much. The ratio dropped to 79 percent among those ages 55 to 64. This general pattern has not changed in at least four decades." What's amazing about this finding is that the underlying cause of the gap is due to the fathers working more: "Fathers aged 25 to 54 not only earn more than mothers the same age, but they also earn more than men with no children at home." Being a father frees men to work harder and longer, thereby earning more, while being a mother imposes the opposite effect as a mother and wife. What all these findings say to me is that it's not the socioeconomic safety net that's at the root of Korean women not wanting to have babies. It's the inherent power dynamic that is triggered by motherhood. So, not having a baby is really the only logical choice when you're an educated and capable woman who wants to remain independent to follow your ambition and achieve autonomy: no matter how many subsidies the government promises you. In fact, mothers also need a wife. Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. he technology sector has been affected by a downturn Aussie tech giant Atlassian has announced it is cutting hundreds of jobs less than six months after one of its CEOs travelled the nation in a motorhome on a massive recruitment drive to recruit 1,000 workers. The software company announced on Tuesday that 500 full-time employees - or 5 per cent of its workforce - would be made redundant amidst an economic downtown that has significantly affected the industry. Billionaire co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar - who own more than $500million worth of property - sent an internal letter to staff to explain the 'difficult decision' by the company to lay off workers. 'We have made the difficult decision to rebalance our team to better position Atlassian for the long term,' the pair wrote. 'We came to this decision as an executive team and with our board, but ultimately the final call is on us as co-founders. To those who are leaving us: we are deeply sorry.' Tech giant Atlassian will cut 500 jobs just months after co-founder Scott Farquhar (pictured) travelled around Australia to recruit 1000 people Atlassian's HR, program management and research and insights teams will be worst impacted. 'To be clear, this decision is not a reflection of Atlassian's own financial performance, as we will be reinvesting in roles that better support our priorities,' the co-founders said. 'This is going to be hard news for every Atlassian to digest. Please take the time you need to process it. 'As we've said before, the calls we make in challenging times need to reflect a future Atlassian we are all building towards. Atlassian's future remains incredibly bright, with a huge amount of opportunity and possibility ahead of us.' Mr Cannon-Brookes and Mr Farquhar thanked the outgoing staff for their contribution to Atlassian. 'We are incredibly sorry for the impact this will have on you and your family,' they wrote. Employees who are made redundant will be offered a number of benefits including 15 weeks of severance, plus one week's pay for each year of employment. A number of major tech companies have already announced massive job cuts including including Google, Amazon and Meta. Twitter also laid off hundreds of staff following its takeover by Elon Musk. The company's co-founders, Mike Cannon-Brookes (pictured with wife Annie) and Scott Farquhar, sent an internal letter to staff to explain the 'difficult decision' The announcement by Atlassian comes six months after the company went on a nationwide recruitment drive to hire new staff, promising them they could work from 'anywhere'. Co-founder Scott Farquhar hit the road, driving an Atlassian-branded campervan in a bid to find 1,032 staff to join the company in research and development roles. 'Atlassian's work from anywhere policy (Team Anywhere) means many Aussies can realise a dream in tech without having to move,' a statement from the company said. Atlassian offers extremely competitive salaries with packages ranging from $100,000 and $150,000, depending on roles and experience. The company's recruitment drive began at Sydney's Martin Place before turning into a road trip. The so-called 'AtlassiVan' visited Canberra, Wollongong, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. The software giant came third in the 2022 Australia's Best Workplaces list for large companies, with a major perk being it offers financial support to staff to set up their ideal workspace. Staff are allowed to work from home anywhere and only have to come together to collaborate face to face four times a year. If they come into the office by bicycle, the company reimburses bike repairs, accessories, and rentals up to an agreed amount. A little girl was told to leave a San Diego area beach after she was seen throwing sand and rocks at a resting sea lion in a shocking video. The young child was caught trying to disturb the animal near La Jolla Cove last week in a TikTok clip which has now racked up more than two million views. After observing her trying to rouse the sea lion several times in front of other beach-goers - including a woman thought to be her mom - the lifeguard clearly had enough of the girl's behavior and kicked her off the site. 'Little girl in the purple, you can leave now, thanks,' the lifeguard can be heard saying over the loudspeakers. The beach was crowded with others checking out the animal, all of whom were able to keep their distance and their composure. Commenters on the video clip have applauded the lifeguard for calling the girl out. A little girl was told to leave a San Diego area beach after she was seen throwing sand and rocks at a resting sea lion Video shows the child chucking items at the animal near La Jolla Cove last week The eight-second video was posted to the app on February 27 and immediately caught the attention of animal lovers everywhere. 'The little girl had thrown rocks/sand like two more times before this announcement,' said the video's poster. Before the lifeguard uses a speaker to quite literally put the girl on blast, she appears to chuckle and jump back after the animal moves its head, clearly disturbed by her. Shockingly, the girl's guardian is spotted at the end of the video standing idly by and not attempting to stop her. 'WHY ARE THE PARENTS JUST STANDING THERE!?' wrote one frustrated commenter. 'Thank you for the person in the loud speaker,' another said. 'Lifeguard was like not today on my shift,' wrote another. Others hoped the video's poster had taken additional video of the incident so they could watch the little girl have to leave after her actions. 'Is there more footage so I can see them leaving with little girl in purple in tears?' joked one person. The video was posted to the app on February 27 and immediately caught the attention of animal lovers everywhere The little girl and her guardian look up to the lifeguard after being told to leave the beach 'Is there more footage so I can see them leaving with little girl in purple in tears?' joked one person who said they wanted to see the girl upset Tourists who visit La Jolla beach get too close to take photos with the sea lion This is La Jolla Cove in northern San Diego where the incident happened last week According to Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Sierra Club Seal Society, no one should be that close to a wild animal because they can be unpredictable Sea lions and seals are very common at the La Jolla Cove where the video was filmed According to Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Sierra Club Seal Society, no one should be that close to an animal like that because wild animals can be unpredictable. 'They don't realize they should keep a distance from them. They are wild animals. They are a little bit used to us, but they still are wild, and this time of the year, when they're talking about mating, thinking about mating, they get a little frisky; people have to get out of the way,' said Davidoff told CBS 8 San Diego. The chair also said if bothered, the animals can bite. Lifeguards told the local outlet they will not hesitate to make announcements calling people out and reminding them to back up if they need to. Women are being priced out of work by the soaring cost of childcare in a motherhood penalty, a report has warned. Mothers are losing out financially because of the price of nurseries and childminders, forcing them to work part time or quit their jobs, analysis by PwC found. UK childcare is among the most expensive in the world, with full-time fees for under-twos setting parents back an average 14,000 a year. Campaigners at the Womens Budget Group said 1.7million women were prevented from taking on more hours of paid work due to unaffordable childcare costs last year. Some figures suggest that British workers spend as much as a third of their salary on childcare. These huge costs are also a major cause of the gender pay gap, which widened from 12 per cent in 2020 to 14.4 per cent in 2021, according to PwC. This means that women on average earn 86p for every 1 a man makes. Mothers are losing out financially because of the price of nurseries and childminders, forcing them to work part time or quit their jobs, analysis by PwC found UK childcare is among the most expensive in the world, with full-time fees for under-twos setting parents back an average 14,000 a year Larice Stielow, a senior economist at PwC, said: The motherhood penalty is now the most significant driver of the gender pay gap and, in the UK, women are being hit even harder by the rising cost of living and increasing cost of childcare. The situation appears to be getting worse. In one year, the UK has dropped five places from 9th to 14th in the PwC global index for gender equality, which includes factors such as pay gaps and full-time employment levels. Slow progress is disastrous Britain sits behind the likes of Luxembourg, New Zealand and Slovenia, the top three on the index. Anna Ritchie Allan, executive director at equality charity Close the Gap, said: Covid has rolled back progress on gender equality at work, and the economic recovery has left women behind as they struggle with a devastating cost of living crisis thats hitting their pockets hardest. She said the UK needs more affordable and flexible childcare and men doing their fair share of looking after their children. Jemima Olchawski, the boss of the Fawcett Society, said the slow progress in closing the gender pay gap is nothing short of disastrous. There will be no meaningful progress to close the gender pay gap until we reckon with the fact that the extortionate cost of childcare and a lack of genuinely flexible work options lock women out of the workforce, she said. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has come under pressure to deliver more support to parents in his Budget next week. But it is understood that he is set to reject a proposal from the Department for Education to provide 30 hours a week of free childcare for parents of children aged between nine months and three years. Currently, working parents who meet certain conditions can get up to 30 hours of free childcare a week in England but only when their child is aged three to four. A report released last month showed that women effectively work without pay for the equivalent of almost two months a year because they earn so much less than men. February 23 was dubbed Womens Pay Day because it marks how many days fewer a year they get paid in real terms compared to men. The gender pay gap gets worse after a woman has children and again when she turns 50, according to the analysis by the Trades Union Congress. Dick Smith has labelled Australian billionaires as 'some of the greediest people out' - as he called on the nation's wealthy to pay more tax. The self-made millionaire took aim at the nation's wealthiest while arguing the top one per cent of earners (himself included) should be contributing more to help the country balance its budget. 'I can tell you, wealthy people like me can easily pay more tax,' he told 2GB's Ben Fordham. 'We have one hundred billionaires in this country. They are some of the greediest people out. 'Only 15 per cent are known as philanthropists, and a lot of these billionaires would do everything they can ... in fact they just complain constantly about the tax they have to pay when they can easily afford it. Mr Smith made the comments while discussing proposed superannuation changes to double the tax on superannuation accounts of more than $3 million. The entrepreneur took aims at Australia's 100 billionaires (above the top ten) who he said could easily afford to pay more tax thus helping the nation pay off its debt Millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith has made an extraordinary attack on Australia's billionaires - saying that there are a hundred of them and they are 'some of the greediest people out' 'The country needs money. It's a fantastic country, it's got incredible education, roads, military, it needs money to pay for that and we're into great debt and we should be paying the debt off and not letting our kids have to do that in the future. 'If you have a billion dollars you are really wealthy.' Mr Smith did not name any of the billionaires except the late Kerry Packer, who once famously told a federal tax inquiry back in 1991: 'I don't know anybody that doesn't minimise their tax. 'I'm not evading tax in any way shape or form,' Packer told the inquiry in 1991. 'Of course I'm minimising my tax. If anybody in this country doesn't minimise their tax they want their head read.' Mr Smith said the current Federal Government's superannuation shakeup had the approval of 64 per cent of Australians. Dick Smith said Australia's 100 billionaires, of which Gina Rinehart is the nation's richest, could 'easily' pay more tax and should do so that Australia could reduce debt for future generations Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is Australia's second richest person, among the 100 billionaires Dick Smith called on to pay more tax so that the country could pay off its national debt 'We need the money to run this fantastic country and all I'm saying is not all people are like Kerry Packer who said ... he got no enjoyment out of paying tax and he would do everything he could to minimise it. 'There are plenty of people around ... wage earners who pay their tax and they have to pay their tax and we do incredible things with it, it's a fantastic country.' He quoted businessman Mark Carnegie, saying: 'I agree with him ... the wealthy can pay more tax and pay some of our debt back and our kids and grandkids don't have to pay.' Daily Mail Australia contacted five billionaires among the list of Australia's top 100 wealthiest people and asked about their response to Mr Smith's comments and what philanthropic works they did. A spokesperson on behalf of Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar responded saying the Atlassian Foundation was the philanthropic arm of the software business had donated $US54m to education and tackling disadvantage. Atlassian founders Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes are among Australia's top ten richest people and point out the philanthropic arm of their software business contributed 1pc or $US54m to education and other causes 'We contribute 1% of our equity, profit, employee time and products to the Foundation,' Atlassian said. Andrew Forrest, chairman of Fortescue Metals, runs with his wife Nicola the Minderoo Foundation, which invests $2.6 billion into causes including child cancer research, childhood education and reducing global warming and overfishing, and plastic pollution. Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting sponsors women in sport, a girls' sponsorship program in Cambodia, funds the National Breast Cancer Foundation and programs for at-risk youth and domestic violence victims. Other billionaires have listed philanthropic programs they fund with profits, usually via a charity such as Meriton mogul Harry Triguboff's Foundation for youth and chronic illness. Last week, Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart denied she was the mystery billionaire with a superannuation balance of $544million, which the Australian Tax Office listed as its top super balance. ''That's a ridiculous amount of money,' Mr Smith said, 'You don't actually need five hundred million dollars to retire. 'It wasn't me, I have nothing like that.' But he said that 'wealthy people like me ... I've always said we can pay a bit more tax. 'I'm in the one per cent group that has the same amount of money as the 17 million Australians who are typical wage earners. 'Mark Carnegie said a few years ago "my proposal is the richest 15 per cent of the community pay 15 per cent more tax in order to set ourselves up optimistically and positively for the next generation and the generation after that'. 'I don't believe we should be targeting mums and dads, I think there's a chance for the typical wage earner to pay less tax.' The view is finally clear once and for all after the ABC daytime television show gave its audience the go-ahead to remove their face masks as the three year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches. Hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, and Sunny Hostin all acknowledged the crowd's smiling faces during Monday's episode from the desk with audience members before them no longer wearing masks. The audience had been required to wear face coverings since the show returned to the studio in 2021 with Friday's episode being the final day. 'Look at y'all sitting up here with no masks on,' exclaimed co-host Whoopi Goldberg as the audience applauded. 'Wait a minute now. So I'm talking, and in my mind, I'm going, what is different about this audience? And then it hits me. No masks. Because I saw your smile and I saw your teeth. It's like great. Well, yeah, we're getting back to where we were.' Hostin also noted it was the 'first day' without the mask mandate, while co-host Sara Haines added it was 'nice to see their faces.' The audience mandate for masks on ABC's The View has finally been lifted with the hosts acknowledging the change on Monday's show 'Look at y'all sitting up here with no masks on,' exclaimed co-host Whoopi Goldberg as the audience applauded on Monday's show On Friday's show, the audience still appeared to be wearing their facemasks It's not clear why The View chose Monday to lift their masking mandate, although this month, the state of emergency in New York, where the show is filmed, finally expires. Also on Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he wanted to ban face masks in stores completely after criminals appeared to be using the coverings to avoid being identified when they commit crimes. Back on The View, actor Brendan Fraser joined the hosts to discuss his movie, The Whale, and also noticed the masking change. 'It was a film made in the time of COVID. I'm hoping in years to come, if we look back at the movies ever made between 2019 and 2022, there's kind of a secret ingredient to them all. And I have a theory, I think it was because we cared about one other even more while we were at work. Because by rights, we should have been at home. 'We can't live like that. And it's nice to see your beautiful faces again. I've been sitting in many houses and crowds at least recently, and it's not lost on me we can get together and do this again,' Fraser said. Members of the audience, pictured during Friday's show, were all fully masked Audience members to The View had been fully masked since returning to the studio in June 2021 Show had required audience members to wear masks since returning to the studio in 2021, but on Monday, the hosts noticed the audience was maskless Audience members appeared extremely happy now that they are no longer wearing masks The View had taken an alarmist approach during the pandemic whether it be on mask-wearing or over-hyping the virus' seriousness to children. In one instance, the hosts, led by Goldberg defended Broadway performer Patti LuPone in May 2022 after she stopped a performance to yell at an audience member at one of her shows for not wearing a mask. 'You don't want to infect the people on stage who are not wearing masks,' Goldberg said, defending LuPone. 'Just do it right.' In 2021, two co-hosts, Hostin and co-host Ana Navarro, were forced to leave the set after testing positive for COVID-19 mid-show, just before an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Their results ended up being false positives. One of the younger hosts, Sara Haines, stated how she would rather see her kid in a mask than on a 'ventilator,' while co-host Sunny Hostin also massively overestimated the death toll for children when she suggested last year that '1 percent' of youngsters who got the virus died from it. At the time, the death rate for children aged under 18 was 0.008 percent. Behar was snapped dining out with her friends without a mask and reportedly left the restaurant without her mask as well The Post Millennial's editor-in-chief Libby Emmons posted the pics on Twitter on Friday and called out the liberal commentator for her hypocrisy on masks Last month, co-host Joy Behar was hit by another hypocrisy storm after being photographed unmasked inside a New York City restaurant hours after crowing of her plans to wear one indefinitely on national television. Behar, 79, declared that she would remain masked up despite constantly changing guidelines. 'Personally, I listen to the little voice in my head that doesn't really follow 100 percent what they tell me because they keep changing it,' Behar said in February. But her flakiness was exposed by The Post Millennial just hours later, after Behar was snapped chin-wagging with friends in a banquette at a New York restaurant. And a source even claimed to reporter Libby Emmons that Behar had strutted through the restaurant unmasked when her party left - despite her friends happily covering-up to do so. After seeing the photos of Behar unmasked, Emmons said: 'Joy Behar said she was going to mask in public places 'indefinitely' because it's just not safe. Except for last night out at this restaurant, apparently.' She added: 'I hear that she also walked out of the restaurant unmasked, though her companions dutifully donned theirs.' Behar didn't break any rules, with New York having recently dropped a strict mandate which required patrons to show proof of vaccination before being allowed to eat inside restaurants, or visit other indoor leisure facilities. But the comedienne had acted as if she was planning to go above-and-beyond such requirements. 'So if I go on the subway, if I go in a bus, if I go into the theater . a crowded place, I would wear a mask, and I might do that indefinitely. Why do I need the flu or a cold even? And so I'm listening to myself right now. I don't think it's 100% safe yet,' she said. Ms Hay was a Labor MP for Bass in northern Tasmania A former state politician and winner of Miss Australia is accused of punching her husband in the face and verbally abusing him for more than a decade. Kathryn Isobel Hay was a Labor MP for Bass in northern Tasmania between 2002 and 2006 and was also crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia 1999. The ex-politician and beauty pageant winner faced Launceston Magistrates Court on March 2 charged with one count of emotional abuse or intimidation and did not enter a plea. Ms Hay's alleged victim is her husband, Troy Shane Richardson, however the pair's current relationship status is unknown. The charges include 46 particulars relating to physical violence, manipulation and control against Mr Richardson between October 22, 2011 and February 13, 2022. Former Tasmanian Labor member for Bass and winner of Miss Australia in 1999 Kathryn Hay (pictured) is charged with one count of emotional abuse or intimidation against her husband Court documents include 46 particulars relating to physical violence, manipulation and control against her partner, Troy Shane Richardson, between October 22, 2011 to February 13, 2022 (pictured, Kathryn Hay rafter the Miss Australian Quest award ceremony) Ms Hay allegedly assaulted her partner on numerous occasions by throwing a bowl of cereal at him, pushing him, punching and slapping his face and punching his upper body, according to documents filed with the court by the prosecution. The prosecution alleges Ms Hay verbally abused Mr Richardson calling him 'worthless and useless', a 'c***', a 'piece of s***', 'lazy', 'pathetic', 'dumb' and 'unfit to be a husband or a father.' In 2002, Ms Hay became the first woman of Aboriginal descent to be elected in Tasmania Ms Hay allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture at her husband, accused him of cheating and even told him to kill himself because 'the world would be better off without him'. Documents also show Ms Hay allegedly told people she wanted her husband to commit suicide because she would 'get everything'. The 47-year-old is also accused of controlling her husband's actions and discouraged him from attending therapy or counselling. She allegedly prevented Mr Richardson from seeing his parents, drafted correspondence to the Director of Public Prosecutions and arranged doctor's appointments for him without his consent. Ms Hay became the first woman of Aboriginal descent to be elected to the state division of Bass in 2002 alongside Jim Cox. She did not recontest her seat in 2006 and retired from politics due to 'personal reasons'. However, in 2009 and 2012 Ms Hay made prospective runs for re-election but withdrew prior to the ballot. Ms Hay is due to face court on May 29. Critics said Weingarten, the head of America's Federation of Teachers, should not comment on everything and ridiculed her spelling and grammar errors It comes as the Florida legislature is set to vote on a half-dozen new education bills that would ban preferred pronouns in schools and eliminate gender studies Randi Weingarten, 65, tried to slam Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a misspelled tweet on Sunday Woke teachers' union boss Randi Weingarten tried to slam Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a misspelled tweet over the weekend. Just days after she had a complete meltdown on the student loan crisis in front of the Supreme Court, Weingarten the head of America's Federation of Teachers took to Twitter on Sunday to disparage the Florida governor. 'DeSantis should be fixated on the cost of living issues in Fla housing is unaffordable, home insurance even worse, but instead he is exanding [sic] gun access, defunding, [sic] public schools, & banning everything he dislikes teachers, journalists and the vulnerable,' Weingarten tweeted. It came as the Florida legislature, which has a Republican supermajority, comes back into session for two months. During that time, GOP lawmakers plan to pass a multitude of bills focusing on education that would, among other things, ban preferred pronouns in schools and eliminate gender studies at universities. But critics said Weingarten, 65, should not 'comment on everything,' with one-time Superman actor Dean Cain likening her to a Mafia boss as others ridiculed her misspellings and bad grammar. Randi Weingarten, 65, tried to attack Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a tweet over the weekend. The head of America's Federation of Teachers, the second largest teachers' union in the country, is pictured here in 2017 In her tweet on Sunday she misspelled the word 'expanding' and used errant commas In his tweet, Cain asked why Weingarten is 'always commenting on everything.' 'I thought she was the head of the Mafia I mean teacher's union,' he joked. Alexander Diaz, a student at Catholic University of America, also noted that the only reason the cost of living is increasing in Florida is due to an influx of people moving from other states, and DeSantis' Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern suggested Weingarten should be 'fixated' on why so many parents left New York for Florida. 'Maybe it's because they wanted to be as far away as possible from schools where Randi has influence.' Meanwhile, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, the first Hispanic lieutenant governor of Florida, ridiculed Weingarten, who heads the country's second largest teachers' union, for her spelling and grammar mistakes. 'My teachers always called me out for not proof reading my spelling and grammar, and they were right in doing so,' he tweeted. 'Below is from the president of the national teacher's union.' And Dr. Mark Young, an author and podcast host, noted how Weingarten does not let people reply to her tweets. 'Notice how this brave public servant disables the ability to replay [sic] to her tweets?' he asked, rhetorically. 'She knows it is all lies and doesn't want to be challenged.' Still, Weingarten doubled down on her criticism of the Florida governor Monday, tweeting: 'Rather than focusing on policies that could help families and communities thrive, DeSantis is using culture wars to target what he doesn't like and further divide us. 'This is shameful and does nothing to improve the lives of Floridians.' DeSantis, pictured in November, is expected to sign a slew of new education bills into law in the coming months Many online attacked Weingarten for her tweet, ridiculing her for her spelling and grammar mistakes and comparing her to a Mafia boss In the coming months, DeSantis is expected to sign into law a half-dozen new education laws. Among those bills are one that states that 'It shall be the policy of every K-12 educational institution that a person's sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person's sex.' Similarly. another proposed law would require that students in grades six through 12 be taught that 'sex is determined by biology and reproductive function at birth.' It also grants parents greater power to read over and object to public school instructional materials. It is now being dubbed the 'Don't Say They' bill by opponents. Others would outlaw spending on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities and eliminate college majors and minors in 'Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies or Intersectionality.' That bill says that colleges should only offer general education courses that 'promote the philosophical underpinnings of Western civilization and include studies of this nation's historical documents' like the Constitution and the Federalist Papers. And yet another proposal would expand the ban on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity to 7th and 8th graders when a previous version of the law topped out at 6th grade. Critics call the 'Parental Rights in Education' law the 'Don't Say Gay' bill. DeSantis is also expected to sign bills during this two-month legislative session that includes: ending requirements for needing a permit to carry a firearm, making it easier to impose the death penalty on criminals and mandating companies to use E-Verify, a web-based system run by the Department of Homeland Security, to confirm a worker has legal status in the U.S. before hired. Famously, the session could also see an increase in spending for a program transporting illegal migrants out of Florida to Democratic enclave states and sanctuary cities. The governor is also expected to cut taxes by $2billion in the state. All of these bills are widely expected to pass, as the Florida state legislature is controlled by a Republican supermajority in both the House and Senate side. In the State House, there are 84 Republicans and 35 Democrats; in the Senate, there are 28 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Weingarten doubled down on Monday saying 'DeSantis is using culture wars to target what he doesn't like and further divide us' Weingarten has been critical of DeSantis in the past, sharing a video just last week of DeSantis' speech defending the Florida Department of Education's decision to pull explicit LGBTQ material from school libraries. In that speech, DeSantis cited Florida's 'standards' that grant the Department of Education the authority to remove books, and suggested that '99 percent of parents' would agree with removing the books if the media weren't misleading them. He noted that many in the mainstream media characterized the removal of these books as 'book banning,' which he said was a 'book ban hoax.' DeSantis also mentioned how MSNBC claimed that the Florida Department of Education compelling a public school to drop woke aspects of its African Studies class amounted to his administration outlawing the study of slavery. Weingarten commented on that video claiming that DeSantis is lying. '[Question]: Did Fla teachers complain of book banning before DeSantis started his "anti-woke" crusade? Did we see pictures of tarps over classroom libraries? Were teachers threatened with felonies if they used the "wrong" book? '[Answer}: No. Now that has been exposed. Now it's a hoax.' And in early February, Weingarten accused DeSantis of 'race-baiting' over his decision to ban College Board's proposed AP African American Studies course from schools in the state. 'As an educator who taught AP, I'm disappointed with the omissions and changes to the AP African American Studies course,' she tweeted at the time. 'This is a college-level elective course 4 high school students, and people like #APhilipRandolph and #bellhooks should not be given shrift,' she said, referring to a labor unionist and a feminist author. Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks met Monday with Manhattan prosecutors who are investigating the hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal on former President Donald Trump's behalf. Hicks and her lawyer, Robert Trout, spent several hours inside the Manhattan district attorney's office and, afterward, were seen walking to a waiting SUV. They didn't say anything to reporters as they got into the vehicle. Trout declined comment. The district attorney's office also declined comment and would not confirm prosecutors interviewed Hicks, who served as Trump's 2016 campaign press secretary and held various roles in his White House, including communications director. Last week, prosecutors questioned Trump's long-estranged former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, and Trump's former political adviser Kellyanne Conway. Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks (right) met Monday with Manhattan prosecutors who are investigating the hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal on former President Donald Trump's (left) behalf The Manhattan district attorney's office is investigating whether any state laws were broken when hush-money payments were made on behalf of Trump to porn star Stormy Daniels (left) and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal (right) After his session last Friday, Cohen told reporters that the probe of payments to two women alleging affairs with Trump is 'really progressing' and that he expects to be called soon to testify before the grand jury that's been hearing evidence since January. 'The level of specificity to which they are attacking the various issues is extraordinary,' said Cohen, adding that he's met with prosecutors 18 times through several iterations of the probe. Monday's meeting with Manhattan prosecutors wasn't the first time that Hicks has been questioned by prosecutors investigating the president. In 2018, federal prosecutors interviewed Hicks as part of their investigation in the waning weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign to two women who claimed to have had extramarital affairs with Trump. Cohen, the only person charged in the federal probe, pleaded guilty in 2018 to various charges, including that he violated campaign finance law by arranging the payouts to Daniels and McDougal to keep them from going public. Trump has denied the affairs. Last year, Hicks was interviewed by the House Jan. 6 committee, telling the panel that Trump told her that no one would care about his legacy if he lost the 2020 election. Last week, prosecutors questioned Trump's long-estranged former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, and Trump's former political adviser Kellyanne Conway (left) Last year, Hicks was interviewed by the House Jan. 6 committee , telling the panel that Trump told her that no one would care about his legacy if he lost the 2020 election She told the committee that Trump told her, 'The only thing that matters is winning.' Hicks was also a key witness in former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, delivering important information to the special counsels office about Trumps attempts to obstruct that investigation. As for the hush-money probe, the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan decided not to prosecute Trump personally over the payments. The Manhattan district attorney's office then began investigating the payments to see if any state laws were broken. Conway's lawyer didn't respond to multiple messages about her meeting last week with prosecutors, which was first reported by The New York Times. Trump's lawyers have said that the payments to the two women broke no laws. Trump says the investigation is politically motivated. We have long had a reputation for being far less broad-minded than our European neighbours. But todays Britons are actually as liberal as Scandinavians when it comes to matters such as divorce and casual sex. And we are more permissive than the supposedly hot-blooded French, a major survey reveals. While Norwegians and Swedes are traditionally seen as less uptight, they are more likely than we are to frown upon one-night stands and are only slightly less disapproving of divorce. Britons even appear more accepting on sensitive issues such as euthanasia and prostitution. How the UK compares when considering divorce, homosexuality, casual sex and abortion acceptable Spectators wave rainbow flags at a Pride march in London The results come from the World Values Survey. Almost two-thirds of Britons 64 per cent now believe divorce is justifiable, up from 18 per cent when the survey began in 1981. For Norwegians, the figure is 66 per cent. Britain has the third most liberal views on divorce among the 24 countries surveyed, which make up almost half the worlds population. Sweden is the most liberal, as 79 per cent surveyed there agreed that people are justified in ending their marriages. In Britain, 42 per cent believe casual sex is acceptable, more than in Sweden (39 per cent) and Norway (33 per cent). All generations have changed views Among Generation Z those born from 1996 onwards around two-thirds see nothing wrong in casual sex, but only 12 per cent of the pre-war generation agree. Some 45 per cent of men believe it is justifiable, compared with 37 per cent of women. Britain is the fourth most accepting country surveyed, even coming above the passionate French, of whom only 26 per cent think casual sex is acceptable. People kiss at a Pride march in London last year Thousands gather in central London for a Pride parade in June 2022 In both Sweden and Norway, just 6 per cent said they believed prostitution was justifiable, compared with 17 per cent in Britain. The British also have more liberal views on euthanasia than people in Sweden and Norway, with 47 per cent believing it is a justifiable way to end life. Britain has seen an acceleration in its liberal views over the past decade, according to researchers at Kings College London, who compiled the analysis. In 2018, only nine per cent said prostitution was justifiable. However, just over half of us still support the death penalty in some circumstances 21 per cent of people in Britain believe it is justifiable, while a further 35 per cent think it is potentially justifiable in some cases. Professor Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at Kings, said: Its easy to lose sight of just how much more liberal the UK has become over a relatively short period of time, and how liberal we are relative to many other nations. While Norwegians and Swedes are traditionally seen as less uptight, they are more likely than we are to frown upon one-night stands and are only slightly less disapproving of divorce Britain has the third most liberal views on divorce among the 24 countries surveyed, which make up almost half the worlds population. Sweden is the most liberal, as 79 per cent surveyed there agreed that people are justified in ending their marriages What were once pressing moral concerns things like homosexuality, divorce and casual sex have become simple facts of life for much of the public. This mostly isnt just driven by younger generations replacing older generations. All generations have changed their views significantly, although the oldest pre-war cohort now often stand out as quite different, and on some issues, like casual sex, there is a clear generational hierarchy, with the youngest much more accepting. The death penalty is one issue where we rank as comparatively less liberal, even if UK attitudes have softened in recent years. Religion still matters, with only 53 per cent of believers accepting of divorce, compared with 72 per cent of non-believers. But since 1981, acceptance of abortion has risen from 14 to 48 per cent, while two-thirds now accept homosexuality up from 12 per cent. Brittany Higgins has moved into a lavish Gold Coast home after receiving a large, confidential settlement payout from the taxpayer stemming from her claims she was raped in Parliament House. The former political staffer uploaded a series of photos to Instagram on Tuesday to show off the rental property she now shares with her fiance David Sharaz and their dog, Kingston. 'Home sweet home,' she captioned the post, which features a selfie and multiple images of a nearby beach and a now-deleted photo of a shiny Jeep parked out the front. Ms Higgins also included a picture of her new living room, which is adorned with designer furniture - including a $500 white velvet mirror and a $330 decorative side table. Her mother Kelly Higgins, who is a real estate agent, commented: 'It's a exactly what you deserve my angel.' 'A beautiful home in a beautiful location. Lots of happy memories to be shared and made. Miss you already xx.' Mr Sharaz, who left his job with Southern Cross Austereo in mid-February, posted his own photo of a beach near their new home with the caption: 'No, I don't miss the 9-5.' Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz (pictured together) have moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast David Sharaz, who recently quit his job in Brisbane, posted a photo of a beach near their new home - with the caption 'No, I don't miss the 9-5' Ms Sharaz worked for Southern Cross Austereo for two years - first as a breakfast news reader, and then as part of Queensland news operations - before he suddenly left last month. He later uploaded photos with colleagues at his farewell party. One tagged him in an Instagram post, with the caption: 'Goodbye, my fav gossiper.' While his LinkedIn profile still states that he works at the company's Brisbane office, his Twitter bio has been edited to say 'AWAY'. After news of his sudden departure from the company was revealed, Ms Higgins urged her audience to 'read between the lines', adding: 'No one walks away from employment without a job to walk into. Ms Higgins announced in February that she would leave her home in Brisbane to finish her law degree at Bond University on the Gold Coast. In December, she reached a compensation settlement with the Commonwealth for an undisclosed amount, after she tried to sue for damages for sexual harassment, discrimination and negligence. The month-long trial in the ACT Supreme Court against her alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann collapsed last October. She had alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House after a night out in March 2019. He had pleaded not guilty and has continually denied the allegations. Brittany Higgins posted a photo of her new living room, which features a $500 velvet mirror (pictured) She also posted a photo of her fiance David Sharaz standing at their new home on the Gold Coast The trial was aborted due to misconduct by a jury member. In December, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC dropped the case altogether, citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. Last month, she refuted claims that her payout was worth $3million - insisting she received 'far less', and threatening legal action if the figure was repeated. Mr Lehrmann has launched a defamation case against Channel 10, Lisa Wilkinson and news.com.au in the Federal Court for publishing stories about Ms Higgins' allegations in February 2021. He was not identified in the TV interview or online article, but he claims his family and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist. Mr Lehrmann will be cross-examined in court for the first time later in March. Ms Higgins announced on Twitter that she is willing to give evidence at the trial. Ham Kee-ho, country managing director of AWS Korea, speaks during a press conference at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul By Baek Byung-yeul Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud business arm of U.S. tech giant Amazon, is offering free cloud computing education for job seekers in Korea at a time when many companies here are struggling to hire skilled cloud computing engineers, the head of its Korean unit said Tuesday. "AWS announced its initiative to provide cloud skills to 29 million people from 2021 to 2025 and so far we have trained about 13 million people. In Korea, we have been offering education programs since 2017 and trained over 200,000 people," Ham Kee-ho, the country managing director of AWS Korea, said at a press conference in Seoul. "To help the unemployed and job seekers, we are now offering a 12-week entry-level cloud education program course for free," Ham added, introducing the company's AWS re/Start cloud computing education program. AWS re/Start is a program that operates in more than 180 cities in 60 countries around the world. Participants receive free education and job training to prepare for their careers in the cloud computing business. "This is not just a program that we can solely do. There should be a delivery partner and recruitment partner," Ham said adding the company has been cooperating with Megazone Cloud, a local cloud service provider, to offer the education program, and Shinhan DS, an IT service unit of Shinhan Financial Group, to help program participants find jobs. Participants can join the education program at Megazone Cloud's education center. The local cloud service provider also connects job seekers with companies seeking cloud engineers. Shinhan DS and other companies will provide job interview opportunities and plan to hire some of them as interns. "As a partner of AWS, we provide training through professional instructors and help them get jobs at other companies," Lee Joo-wan, CEO of Megazone Cloud, said. Cho Kyoung-sun, CEO of Shinhan DS, speaks during a press conference at AWS Korea's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul Under proposal, tech giants will be required to hand over all relevant content Amendment understood to have now got backing of Secretary of State Social media bosses could face up to a year in prison if they fail to hand over data to bereaved parents under the Online Safety Bill. The amendment is understood to have now got the backing of Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State responsible for the legislation. Under the proposal, tech giants will be required to hand over all relevant content within 'a timeframe that is fair to all parties'. This would include content that the victim had viewed, the algorithms that might have driven harmful material to them, and how they engaged with it. It was put forward to prevent families suffering the same trauma as the parents of Molly Russell, who were denied access to their daughter's online accounts for nearly five years. It was put forward to prevent families suffering the same trauma as the parents of Molly Russell (pictured), who were denied access to their daughter's online accounts for nearly five years The 14-year-old schoolgirl was bombarded by depression, self-harm and suicide content online in the months leading up to taking her own life in 2017. On Sunday, the lawyer who helped the Russell family's fight for access to the material wrote to Ms Donelan and Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, backing the campaign. Merry Varney said the social media firms involved had provided only a 'tiny fraction' of the material requested despite being asked to do so by the coroner. The amendment which was drafted by Baroness Kidron, founder of charity 5Rights is also backed by four former culture secretaries. Under it, failure to provide or preserve the content 'without reasonable excuse' will be punished with fines of up to 10 per cent of the firms' global turnover or a maximum one year's jail sentence. The Online Safety Bill now comes under the responsibility of the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Anthony Albanese may have ruled out 'major' changes to the country's superannuation system before the last election, but his partner Jodie Haydon penned a dossier detailing the five changes the government should make just three years before Labor came to power. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Haydon participated in a campaign to reform the superannuation system in 2019, where she wrote an article calling on the federal Government to make a raft of changes to super rules in order to protect women and low-income earners. The 'First Lady' of Australian politics worked in the industry for 20 years and has spoken in the past about learning 'very quickly the power of superannuation' in Australians' lives. At the time the article was released, Ms Haydon was working as a strategic partnership manager for First State Super - one of the nation's biggest super funds. The dossier revelation comes as Mr Albanese faces accusations of breaking a campaign promise after announcing his Labor government would double the tax on superannuation accounts of more than $3million. Anthony Albanese may have ruled out 'major' changes to the country's superannuation system before the last election, but his partner Jodie Haydon penned a dossier explaining five key tweaks the government should make The couple began dating in late 2019 after bonding over a mutual love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs In her article - written for the Public Service Association of NSW magazine - Ms Haydon called on Scott Morrison's Coalition government to overhaul the super system. Jodie Haydon's five-point super plan 1. Additional annual $1,000 government super contribution for low income earners 2. Remove delays to super guarantee increases 3. Pay super guarantee on government paid parental leave 4. Remove $450 monthly income threshold 5. Gender impact statement for changes to retirement income policy and the aged pension Advertisement Ms Haydon - a signatory for the Women in Super campaign 'Make Super Fair' - called for an additional annual government contribution of $1,000 to be put into the super accounts of low income earners in order 'to better support those with inadequate retirement savings'. She also called for 'no further delay to scheduled superannuation guarantee increases', and a commitment to 'pay super guarantee on government paid parental leave'. Ms Haydon also urged the government to remove the $450 monthly income threshold and to also publish a gender impact statement for any changes to age pension or retirement income policy. The monthly income threshold - the minimum amount an employee must earn before an employer is required to pay super - was lifted on July 1, 2022. Now, an employer must pay superannuation on all earnings. The 'First Lady' of Australian politics worked in the industry for 20 years and has spoken freely in the past about learning 'very quickly the power of superannuation' in Australians' lives A closer look at the Make Super Fair campaign also reveals it is aligned with Mr Albanese's latest decision to double the super contribution tax rate from 15 per cent to 30 per cent for the richest 0.5 per cent of Australians A mission statement from the campaign said modelling determined the additional contributions Ms Haydon proposed would cost approximately $2.7billion each year and would specifically target low income earners. 'Most of [the targeted group] are women and need government help to achieve economic security in retirement,' the campaign stated. 'It is estimated that the Government spends $30billion on super tax concessions annually and the majority of current super tax concessions are paid to high income earners, who do not need government help to achieve a comfortable retirement.' Ms Haydon was particularly passionate in the article about the inequality women face in the workforce and through to retirement. She noted the super gap between men and women was 42 per cent at the time - more recently it has closed to approximately 28 per cent - adding that 40 per cent of retired women live in poverty or experience economic insecurity. 'The superannuation guarantee system is based on a 20th-century male worker and changes to recognise the modern workforce will improve outcomes for women, she wrote. 'First State Super acknowledges that positive discrimination is necessary to fix the system,' she said at the time. Pictured: Ms Haydon with Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron Ms Haydon left the super industry in early 2022 when she became the woman's officer for the NSW Public Service Association. But it appears her time in superannuation left a profound mark on her from the very beginning of her career in the industry. 'It was a member services role and I'll never forget it,' she said in May 2022. 'I felt very young at the time to be dealing with such serious issues from members. 'People would call me and disclose they'd just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, ''how do I access my super?'' 'People would call in financial distress, ''I've lost my job, can I access my super?'' 'People would call saying ''I've had a workplace injury, I can't work, can I access my super?'' People would call and say my ''partner's deceased, how do I claim on their super?'' 'So on any given day you were acutely aware of how traumatic some people's lives and their circumstances were, and I never expected to find that insight working in financial services.' Mr Albanese's decision to double the concessional tax rate on high net worth super customers sparked a public outcry that he'd broken an election promise. Mr Albanese has come under criticism from the Opposition for telling a Sky News reporter during the election campaign that he would not meddle with retirement savings if Labor was elected. 'We've said we have no intention of making any super changes,' he said. Mr Albanese has received some backlash over the policy amid allegations he 'broke an election promise' Mr Albanese stressed the 15 per cent concessional tax rate would continue to apply for the 99.5 per cent of Australians with less than $3million in retirement savings, and will only come into effect from July 1, 2025. The 80,000 Australians who will pay more tax on their super were particularly wealthy, Mr Albanese said. 'It's hard to argue that those levels is about actual retirement incomes, which is what superannuation is for,' he said. The Prime Minister pointed to figures showing 17 Australians had more than $100million in their retirement savings accounts - including one mystery person who had more than $400million in super. Despite the controversy, the policy has also attracted significant support, with many pointing out the small number of people actually impacted by the changes. Daily Mail Australia approached the Prime Minister's office for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed not to retreat from Bakhmut as Russian forces encroached on the devastated eastern city they have sought to capture for six months at the cost of thousands of lives. Less than a week ago, an adviser to Mr Zelensky said the defenders might retreat from Bakhmut and fall back to nearby positions. But Mr Zelensky on Monday chaired a meeting in which top military brass 'spoke in favour of continuing the defence operation and further strengthening our positions in Bakhmut', his office said. Later, in his nightly video address, the president said his advisers unanimously agreed to press on with the fight, 'not to retreat' and to bolster Ukrainian defences. Mr Zelensky's top adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said no decision has been made to retreat because of 'a consensus among the military about the need to continue defending the city' and grinding down enemy forces 'while building new lines of defence'. A Ukrainian serviceman sits in a tank at the frontline near Bakhmut A Ukrainian serviceman carries a shell for a 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer before firing towards Russian troops outside the frontline town of Bakhmut Fighting around Bakhmut for six months with both sides taking significant losses By pressing the defence, Ukraine has exhausted Russia's main combat-ready groups and trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian military personnel for a possible counteroffensive, he said. Intense Russian shelling targeted the city in the Donetsk region and nearby villages as Moscow waged a three-sided assault to try to finish off Bakhmut's resistance. The nearby towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka came under heavy shelling, damaging cars and homes and sparking a fire. No casualties were immediately reported. Police and volunteers evacuated people from Chasiv Yar and other frontline towns in an operation made difficult by the loss of bridges and constant artillery fire which has left barely a house standing. Russian forces have been unable to deliver a knockout blow that would allow them to seize Bakhmut. Analysts say it does not hold major strategic value and its capture would be unlikely to serve as a turning point in the conflict. The Russian push for Bakhmut reflects the Kremlin's broader struggle to achieve battlefield momentum. Moscow's full-scale invasion on February 24 2022 soon stalled and Ukraine launched a largely successful counteroffensive. Over the bitterly cold winter months, the fighting has largely been deadlocked. The city's importance has become mostly symbolic. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, prevailing there would finally deliver some good news from the front. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to surrender the city For Kyiv, the display of grit and defiance reinforces a message that Ukraine is holding on after a year of brutal attacks, justifying continued support from its western allies. US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin endorsed that view on Monday, saying during a visit to Jordan that Bakhmut has 'more of a symbolic value than ... strategic and operational value'. Moscow, he added, continues 'to pour in a lot of ill-trained and ill-equipped troops' into Bakhmut, while Ukraine patiently builds 'combat power' elsewhere with western military support ahead of a possible spring offensive. Even so, some analysts question the wisdom of ordering Ukrainian defenders to hold out much longer. Others suggest a tactical withdrawal may already be underway. Michael Kofman, the director of Russia studies at the Can think tank in Arlington, Virginia, said Ukraine's defence of Bakhmut has been effective because it has drained the Russian war effort, but that Kyiv should now look ahead. 'The tenacious defence of Bakhmut achieved a great deal, expending Russian manpower and ammunition,' Mr Kofman tweeted late on Sunday. 'But strategies can reach points of diminishing returns, and given Ukraine is trying to husband resources for an offensive, it could impede the success of a more important operation.' The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, said Kyiv's smartest option now may be to withdraw to positions that are easier to defend. 'Ukrainian forces are unlikely to withdraw from Bakhmut all at once and may pursue a gradual fighting withdrawal to exhaust Russian forces through continued urban warfare,' the ISW said in an assessment published late on Sunday. The Bakhmut battle has exposed Russian military shortcomings and bitter divisions. evgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, addresses to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to withdraw the remaining Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut A Ukrainian soldier sits in a trench near Russian positions near Bakhmut Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Bakhmut Yevgeny Prigozhin, the millionaire owner of the Wagner Group military company which has spearheaded the Bakhmut offensive, has been at loggerheads with the Russian defence ministry and repeatedly accused it of failing to provide his forces with ammunition. On Sunday, he again criticised top military brass for moving slowly to deliver the promised ammunition and questioned whether the delay was caused 'by red tape or treason'. On Monday, Mr Prigozhin said in a Russian social media post that the situation in Bakhmut 'will turn out to be a 'pie': The filling is the parts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrounded by us (in the case, of course, if there is a complete encirclement of Bakhmut), and the shell is, in fact, the Wagner' Group. Bakhmut has taken on almost mythic importance. It has become like Mariupol - the port city in the same province that Russia captured last year after an 82-day siege which eventually came down to a mammoth steel mill where determined Ukrainian fighters held out along with civilians. Moscow looked to cement its rule in Mariupol. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu toured some of the city's rebuilt infrastructure - a newly built hospital, a rescue centre and residential buildings - the defence ministry said. Ukraine's top military commanders have vowed to keep defending the besieged city of Bakhmut, where Russia is hoping to make its first major wartime gain in more than half a year, and will strengthen their defences, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Amidst some of the bloodiest fighting of the more than one-year long invasion, Moscow says capturing the city would be a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces late on Monday reported that the city and surrounding areas were under 'constant attacks' as 'the enemy takes no account of losses.' After Russian gains in recent weeks, at the culmination of a winter offensive, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut in apparent preparation for a possible retreat. However, late on Monday, Zelensky said that at a meeting of top military officials he had asked the commander of the regional grouping and Ukraine's commander in chief how they proposed to proceed. 'Both generals responded not to withdraw but to strengthen (our defences),' he said in his nightly address. 'I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut.' A Ukrainian sniper looks towards a Russian position from a frontline trench in Bakhmut A Ukrainian serviceman flies a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut A Ukrainian APC drives towards frontline positions near Bakhmut The intense battle has depleted both sides' artillery reserves, with thousands of shells fired daily along the eastern and southern fronts. Kyiv's European allies are working on a deal to procure more ammunition for the fight. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, which is leading the Bakhmut assault, said on Monday he needed the regular army to supply him with more ammunition, reinforcements and covering support if he was to win the battle. The appeal from Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin came amid signs of a deepening rift between him and the Russian defence ministry whom he has bitterly criticised for months and accused of deliberately starving his men of ammunition, an allegation it has rejected. 'I'm knocking on all doors and sounding the alarm about ammunition and reinforcements, as well as the need to cover our flanks,' he said in a statement released by his press service. 'If everyone is coordinated, without ambition, screw-ups and tantrums, and carries out this work, then we will block the armed forces of Ukraine. If not, then everyone will be screwed.' There was no immediate response from the Russian Ministry of Defence. U.S. Customs and Border Protection transferred 25 extra agents to the northern border on Monday as the number of migrants crossing in from Canada continues to rise. Some of those agents had previously been assigned to the southern border, NBC News reported. While illegal crossings at the southern border remain a larger overall problem, the number of crossings at the north has risen nearly 850% and is causing concern. It is a problem that works both ways - some migrants are actually sneaking into Canada from the U.S., causing a spike in immigration numbers for America's neighbor to the north. Leaders there are demanding to speak to President Joe Biden about the problem. Migrant families at the Roxham Road border crossing in Quebec A CBP spokesperson told NBC their agency began temporarily deploying Border Patrol agents from sectors 'not experiencing an influx' to the Swanton Sector of the U.S.-Canadian border 'due to migration fluctuations along the Northern Border.' 'While the apprehension numbers are small compared to other areas with irregular migration flows, Swanton Sector apprehensions constitute a large change in this area,' the spokesperson said. 'The deployed team will serve as a force multiplier in the region and assist to deter and disrupt human smuggling activities being conducted in the Swanton Sector area of responsibility.' The Swanton Sector, which includes sections of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, experienced an 846% increase in apprehensions from October 2022 through this January, compared to the year prior. Agents apprehended 367 people in January, which they say is more than they encountered since 2011 combined. The average annual number of encounters in the Swanton Sector over the last dozen years is just 28. The Swanton Sector is a a 2,200 square mile area with USCBP agents based in Swanton, Vermont. There is no fencing along the crossing. Much of the area is woods and dirt paths. There is heavy snowfall and wetlands across the region this time of year. Nearly two-thirds of the southbound migrants arrested by U.S. border agents in the Swanton Sector are from Mexico, according to CBP numbers. The border problem works both ways as Canada is also getting a flux in migrants - above migrants exit a bus in Plattsburgh, New York where taxi drivers are waiting to take them to the Canadian border Migrants are crossing the U.S./Canada border in snowy, freezing conditions Crossings on the northern border are up almost 850% Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose New York district is on the border with Canada, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month to complain about the problem. She said CBP agents reported 2,238 migrant encounters for all of fiscal year 2022 but, in the first four months of this fiscal year, migrant encounters have risen to 2,227, which is nearly surpassing last years total. Migrants who make it to Mexico and can afford the $350 one-way plane ticket from Mexico City or Cancun to Montreal or Toronto then cross into the U.S. at the northern border, where they are less likely to be turned away than at the Southern border. It's an option many migrants are taking due to crackdowns at the southern border. But hypothermia and freezing to death are risks, particularly this time of year, as families are making the journey on foot in the cold and snow. In December, U.S. border agents found themselves giving life-saving aid to migrants they found in the cold and snow. The problem works both ways as migrants also walking across the border from the United States and into Canada. More than 39,000 refugees entered Canada last year via unofficial crossings, the vast majority via Roxham Road linking Quebec and New York State. It is the highest number since 2017 - when there was a spike because of then-President Donald Trump's crackdown on migrants. Migrants from Mexico, Venezuela and other countries at the Canada border Agents apprehended 367 people in January at the Northern border, which they say is more than they encountered since 2011 combined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month he plans on discussing the border problems with Joe Biden when the president visits Ottawa in March. Trudeau wants to rewrite the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which allows for anyone trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border in either direction to be sent back to the first of the two countries they arrived in, with few exceptions. But the agreement does not cover unofficial border crossings like the Roxham Road route, a dirt path that is seeing a growth in migrant traffic. 'That will certainly be a conversation that we will continue to have with the U.S. administration, including at the visit of the president,' Trudeau said. He noted his government had been trying to 'close' Roxham Road for years by rewriting the STCA. 'The challenge is not to say 'Oh, we should close it.' The challenge is, how to close it, how to make sure that people aren't choosing to cross irregularly into Canada, to protect the integrity of our immigration system but also stay true to the values that we have.' Border agents have rescued migrants who are freezing in the cold High-profile Teal MP Monique Ryan's former chief of staff Sally Rugg claims their relationship was so fractured she felt uncomfortable dealing with basic women's hygiene in the office. Federal Court judge Debbie Mortimer on Tuesday dismissed Ms Rugg's application to return to work with Dr Ryan while she awaited trial. The activist claims she was sacked by Dr Ryan for raising concerns about unreasonable work. Sally Rugg leaves court in Melbourne last month. She claims she was too frightened of her boss to go out and purchase tampons Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has been accused by Ms Rugg of having dramatic mood swings that made her fearful to even step outside to buy a basic women's hygiene product Daily Mail Australia can now reveal Ms Rugg had told the court she was so worried about Dr Ryan's temper she felt taking personal time to purchase tampons would bring on the ire of her boss. In an affidavit provided to the Federal Court, Ms Rugg outlined the circumstances of her alleged ordeal on November 9 last year. The court heard Ms Rugg had attended a press conference in which Dr Ryan spoke about endometriosis and menstrual pain. 'During the conference, I realised that my period had started. After the press conference I walked to Aussies cafe to buy tampons, but they didnt have any,' Ms Rugg stated in her 161 page affidavit. 'I started getting cramps and an upset stomach so I went to the bathroom for 5 or 10 minutes. When I returned to the parliamentary suite about 9.15 or 9.20, Dr Ryan was visibly angry at me and did not speak to me about the plan for the day, which is what we would normally do at that time of the morning.' Ms Rugg claimed the pair would normally walk together to meetings they were both attending, but noted Dr Ryan ditched that routine following the menstrual pain press conference. 'This time, Dr Ryan walked ahead of me, instead of with me, to the 9.30am meeting (which I also attended),' she stated. 'Again, I saw this as hostile conduct in the workplace. Given her repeated hostility to me, I felt uncomfortable to tell Ms Ryan that I had my period and that I needed to go and buy tampons, or ask staff in other offices for them.' Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Principal Josh Bornstein is acting for Ms Rugg (pictured leaving court on Tuesday). He said his client is disappointed with her Federal Court loss Member for Kooyong Monique Ryan (far right) posed for photographs at Parliament House in Canberra on November 8 last year - a day after the alleged 'tampon incident' Sally Rugg during on appearance on the ABC's Q+A Dr Ryan failed to address the accusations in either of the two affidavits she submitted to the Federal Court. Ms Rugg claimed her boss told her she wanted her gone just six days later. I dont think its working out,' Dr Ryan allegedly told her during a meeting between the pair. At time, Ms Rugg has just served out her three-month probation period. Just moments earlier, Ms Rugg claimed to have discussed Dr Ryan's alleged behaviour following the endometriosis and menstrual pain press conference. 'I have to really care about you and want you to succeed, so Im really affected by your moods, and I can tell youve been really angry at me the last week, and thats difficult because in another role, if the boss is angry at you, you can manage it,' Ms Rugg claimed to have told her boss. 'But here, so much of the performance of my role is about wanting you to succeed, and I feel your anger towards me really deeply. Despite Ms Rugg's many gripes about her boss, she had sought an interim injunction in the Federal Court to stop the Commonwealth from terminating her employment with Dr Ryan until trial. It was a move that puzzled Federal Court Judge Debbie Mortimer, who had previously expressed her frustration over Ms Rugg's application to return to work. Justice Mortimer said she had struggled to grapple with the idea of Ms Rugg and Dr Ryan returning to work in close proximity with each other, pending any trial, after hearing evidence of their volatile relationship in a full-day hearing last week. 'I don't think I have seen a case like this,' she said. 'The material is pretty stark about a breakdown in the work relationship. How are they to be compelled to continue to work together?' Kooyong MP Monique Ryan (pictured) will not be forced to work with Sally Rugg while awaiting trial Sally Rugg had previously taken to Twitter to declare her love for working with Kooyong MP Monique Ryan Dr Ryan maintained it would be 'impractical, if not impossible' to have Ms Rugg return to work in her office. On Tuesday, Justice Mortimer questioned Ms Rugg's actual dedication to the 'teal movement' and took aim at her for hitting Instagram while the parties were supposed to be trying to sort out their differences in mediation. In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Mortimer agreed with Dr Ryan's assessment that Ms Rugg's social media post on February 10 had suggested she was subject to poor treatment while working for her. 'Dr Ryans characterisation of the post is in my opinion an accurate one. I do not see how this is the conduct of a person who wishes to return to work closely and professionally with Dr Ryan,' Justice Mortimer stated. Sally Rugg worked at the forefront of Australia's campaign for marriage equality and continues to work in grassroots LGTBIQ activism. 'It is the conduct of a person who accepts their employment is at an end, and accepts they are embarking on a process to establish unlawful behaviour by Dr Ryan and the Commonwealth.' In handing down her ruling, Justice Mortimer told the parties to continue to work together to resolve the matter in the hope of avoiding a costly trial. Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame watched on as the teacher who abused her when she was 15 pleaded not guilty to accusations he menaced, harassed or offended her online. Nicolaas Ockert Bester, 70, is alleged to have made public posts on social media platform Twitter in relation to and directed at Ms Tame. He appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. Grace Tame appeared at court on Tuesday accompanied by supporters It is alleged the posts were made April, July and August last year. The matter was adjourned for contest mention on April 27 and his bail was continued. Ms Tame was in the courtroom with her partner Max Heerey and several other supporters. Bester is seen outside court in Hobart. He entered a not guilty plea to menacing or harassing Ms Tame via Twitter posts Tame smiles as she speaks to supporters following the court mention Bester, who did not speak to media outside the court, was charged by police in October and first appeared in court in December. Former teacher Bester was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two years and 10 months jail for abusing Ms Tame when she was a student at his school, as well as for possessing child exploitation material. Ms Tame was the 2021 Australian of the Year and has advocated for survivors of abuse and their ability to speak out. Advertisement A pilot 'did not recall' his fellow pilot making a standard taxiing call to say he was taking off before their helicopters collided and crashed, killing four people and injuring nine others on the Gold Coast. Air crash investigators say pilot Michael James told them he saw five passengers boarding the second helicopter at a helipad near Sea World as he was coming in to land his aircraft with six passengers at another helipad nearby on January 2. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says the pilot thought the second helicopter would pass behind his aircraft and he doesn't remember the other pilot radioing him to say he was taking off. Pilot Ashley Jenkinson (pictured), 40, and his passengers including British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, were among the dead Three pilots don't recall a colleague radioing to say he was taking off before his aircraft collided with another helicopter, killing four people 'They did not recall the pilot of XKQ making a standard 'taxiing' call announcing their intention to depart,' the ATSB's preliminary report into the crash said. A third helicopter pilot in the area at the time recalled hearing Mr James' inbound call, but did not recall hearing a taxi call from the other pilot taking off. A fourth helicopter pilot could not recall hearing calls from either of the two pilots involved in the crash before their aircraft collided. However, ATSB commissioner Angus Mitchell said that evidence 'did not necessarily mean that a taxiing call was not made' by the pilot taking off and investigators would probe the radio calls in the lead-up to the crash. The report said Mr James also told the ATSB he didn't see the second helicopter take off from the helipad. 'While video footage taken by passengers in both helicopters on mobile phones contained images of the other helicopter, this does not mean that the other helicopter was visible to either pilot,' Mr Mitchell said. 'The investigation will look closely at the issues both pilots faced in seeing the other helicopter.' The finds are part of a preliminary report into the disaster led by Mr Mitchell. 'We're looking at everything that may have contributed, whether that be equipment, whether that be procedures whether that be individual actions they will all be part (of the investigation),' he said. Sea World pilot Michael James managed to land his aircraft safely following the collision The report found the operator 'was aware that there was a problem with (Mr James') aircraft's transponder'. 'The transponder (on the chopper piloted by Mr James) was not transmitting secondary surveillance radar responses that were detected by radar surveillance equipment for the accident flight or previous flights,' the report said. 'Efforts to diagnose and address the transponder problem were ongoing.' Both choppers had been fitted with a traffic collision avoidance system but it was not fully integrated into either aircraft, according to the report. It found it only provided auditory alerts, and not visual information, to pilots. Four people died and nine people were injured, including three critically, when the two aircraft collided mid-air and crashed into the sandbar. Pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, and his passengers including British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, were among the dead. Ms Tadros' son Nicholas, 10, has been undergoing procedures in hospital since the accident, and last week had his leg amputated from the knee down. Victorian mother Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon are recovering from injuries sustained in the crash. The pilot of the second chopper, Mr James, managed to land his aircraft safely, but he and two of his passengers were injured by flying glass when its windshield shattered. The injured were New Zealand women Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart, who had been on holiday with their husbands Riaan Steenberg and Edward Swart. The full ATSB report into the collision by the Air Transport Safety Bureau is not expected until at least September 2024. Former Project star David 'Hughesy' Hughes has revealed he was accosted by two large men on a busy Sydney beach over a joke told on the current affairs show that sparked widespread outrage. Hughesy told Sydney's 2DayFM listeners on Tuesday he was heading home from a dip at Bondi Beach on Monday when he heard a 'big, muscly bloke' yell out his name. The radio host said the man asked him: 'You on The Project?' 'You against Jesus? If you are, I'm gonna bash you.' Hughesy (pictured centre) has revealed he was accosted by two large men on Bondi beach over a controversial joke told on The Project Hughesy hans't worked on The Project for a decade Hughes, who left The Project a decade ago, said he told the men he was no longer part of the show. The Network Ten show hosted comedian Reuben Kaye as a guest on the program last Tuesday. 'I love Jesus, I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,' Kaye joked during his time on the panel. The controversial quip sparked widespread outrage among groups of devout Christians, who have organised rallies and protests in response. Police responding to group of men chanting the Lords Prayer in Newtown and protesting(?) Pretty creepy pic.twitter.com/veKB5Rxjby Tim Collis (@tymme95) March 3, 2023 On Friday evening, 30 furious men march up a busy street in Newtown, Sydney, all chanting the Lord's Prayer. The group, reportedly associated with the anti-LGBTQI Christian Lives Matter group were filmed and photographed walking up King Street, protesting the joke made by Kaye, who is proudly queer. Hughesy went on to tell radio listeners about the great lengths he went to to convince his 'fans' he was in fact a Christian man. 'I told him I was a Catholic,' he said. 'I said I went to a CBC, which is a Christian Brothers college. I said I've taken the Eucharist.' Hughesy said the man then proceeded to ask him for his phone number. 'I gave him my number, yeah,' Hughesy said. 'I thought I'd better give him the right number because he'll ring it straight away. 'Now he has my number, that guy.' On Friday evening, 30 angered men march up a busy street in Newtown, Sydney Reuben Kaye (pictured) said the controversial quip last Tuesday, sparking outrage Hughesy's co-host Erin Molan asked if he was 'that scared' he felt the need to hand out his private details. 'I did!' he said. 'I don't think threatening to bash anyone at any stage is ever okay, despite the loyalty,' Molan said. 'I don't think Jesus ever did.' Hughesy was heading home from a dip at Bondi beach on Monday when he heard a 'big, muscly bloke' yell out his name After watching her dad stab her mum, a brave 10-year-old Melbourne girl tried to check on her younger sister. Covered in blood, her mum had run from the back of the house toward a neighbour's home to get help. She followed but headed back toward the front to try and sneak in to check on her six-year-old sister. Before she could do anything her dad came after her, waving a knife and screaming 'I need to kill you'. He chased her down the driveway but tripped on the pavement, giving her a chance to cross the street away from him. She ran to a nearby home and called emergency services. Both her mum and sister died at the hands of her dad. A man who murdered his wife and young daughter while in a drug-induced psychosis has been jailed (stock image) 'There is nothing more she could have done to help her mother or little sister,' Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said on Tuesday, acknowledging how brave she was in the face of terrifying events. She jailed the man, now 41, for 27 years on Tuesday. He must serve at least 19 before he's eligible for parole. He was in a drug-induced psychosis, triggered by the use of ice. He later revealed he believed he had reacted in anger when his wife tried to stop him harming himself. After the older daughter fled, the father turned his attention back on his 38-year-old wife of 13 years. After watching her dad stab her mum, a brave 10-year-old Melbourne girl tried to check on her younger sister (stock image) He attacked her for a second time, returned to his own front yard, then attacked her for a third time on the porch yelling over and over 'I kill you and I love you'. Police arrived and disarmed the man. Attempts were made to save his wife but she died at the scene. Officers discovered their six-year-old daughter inside the house with three stab wounds. She was rushed to hospital and into surgery but died the following day. The man pleaded guilty to two charges of murder after admitting what he had done to police. His wife had called police earlier in the day about her husband's drug use. He was paranoid and kept talking about his family being kidnapped. Justice Hollingworth said the man was not motivated by ill will toward his family. 'On the contrary - you loved them and wanted to protect them from what you believed, in your irrational psychotic state, to be a threat of kidnapping or murder by someone else,' she said. He had a history of drug use and in April 2021 was hospitalised for increasingly erratic behaviour in the context of methamphetamine use. Justice Hollingworth said the man was clearly distressed when speaking to police and psychiatrists about what had happened and said in a letter to the court he was ready to be punished. He also apologised to his wife's parents, his parents and his surviving daughter. 'I have done wrong to you and your mum and sister. Please forgive me,' he wrote. 'Your dad is still a good man and loves you loads. Be always a good girl, the way you always were.' His lawyer said the man's greatest punishment was his own, self-inflicted loss of his cherished family. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) President Joe Biden is said to be considering a major U-turn in his immigration policy as administration officials weigh reviving a Trump-era policy detaining families who cross the southern border illegally. The president eliminated the practice when he took office, and actively campaigned against it saying 'families belong together.' But with Title 42 - a pandemic-era measure that allows authorities to promptly deport migrants - expiring in May, senior White House and Homeland Security officials are discussing the possibility of reinstating the program, the New York Times reports. It would be just the president's latest crackdown on illegal immigration as the number of migrants crossing the southern border reaches historic levels. He is now being sued for a proposed rule that would make migrants ineligible for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first attempt to claim asylum in a country they passed through. And critics say the president may lose even more favor amongst Democrats if he approves a new family detention policy ahead of the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden is said to be considering reinstating a family detention program for migrants that cross the southern border illegally. He is pictured here on Sunday in Alabama In 2020, Biden tweeted against the policy as he ran for office saying 'Families belong together' Biden campaigned against his predecessor's use of family detention, which was also used under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, for whom Biden served as vice president. He even tweeted in June 2020, when a federal judge ordered the release of migrant children from detention centers due to the global pandemic: 'Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately. 'This is pretty simple, and I can't believe I have to say it: Families belong together.' Almost immediately after taking office, he shut down all of the family detention centers in the United States as he sought a more humane approach to immigration. Instead, the Biden administration implemented a practice of releasing families into the country temporarily and using ankle bracelets, traceable cellphones and other methods to keep track of them. Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas has since considered ending family detention one of his key accomplishments. And the Biden administration touted the end of the program in its 2023 fiscal year funding request, writing: 'To ensure a more humane treatment of families, the administration is de-emphasizing family detention practices.' But the number of illegal crossings surged in the years since Biden took office. In 2021, the U.S. saw 1.7 million immigrants come into the country. In 2022, that number rose to more than 2 million. The number of migrants caught illegally crossing the southern border has now reportedly hit on million in less than four years into the fiscal year. And with the end of Title 42 in sight, federal officials fear the situation may only get worse. Now, the Times reports, the Biden administration is considering re-implementing the family detention program, with Department of Homeland Security officials already outlining what would need to be done to restart family detention by May 11, the date Title 42 expires. A migrant caravan is pictured in the city of Tapachula in Mexico on March 4 as they prepared to enter the United States Cesar Galeano, a Venezuelan migrant, is pictured walking into Mexico across the Paso del Norte international bridge after he failed to get asylum in the United States on February 3 A man kisses his family goodbye before they enter the United States on February 3 Angeldry Galeno, a Venezuelan migrant trying to apply for asylum in the United States using the CBP ONE application and whose husband travelled to another point of entry to the U.S. to attend his immigration appointment, changes her daughter's clothes at a shelter near the border between Mexico and the United States on February 3 Under the proposal, current and former officials said, the Biden administration would follow a law that sets a 20-day limit for detaining families, rather than holding them for weeks or months on end like his predecessor did. But the Biden administration would face a slew of logistical obstacles if it were to reinstate the family detention program, the Times reports. Among those issues would be finding spaces to hold families with educational programs and playgrounds, as the former detention cites are now being used for single adults. And Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees the detention centers, is already facing a budget shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars. The plan also assumes that the government would be able to screen families for asylum quickly, either admitting or deporting them within a 20-day window when the average stay in an ICE detention center is 37 days. Additionally, three of the officials who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity described concerns that family detention would encourage parents to send their children across the border alone instead of risking family detention. Under current United States policy children who arrive in the country without a parent or legal guardian are not expelled, but rather placed in government custody and eventually released to live with a family member or another sponsor. Critics say putting the families in a position of sending their children to the US without them is de facto family separation, a controversial measure used by the Trump administration under which 5,500 children were separated from their parents at the southern border. And Leecia Welch, the lead lawyer in the case that led to the 1997 Flores settlement which limited the amount of time children can spend in detention and established minimum standards for holding facilities said: 'Ending the inhumane practice of family detention has been one of the only positive immigration policy decisions of the Biden administration. 'It's heartbreaking to hear there could be a return to the Trump-era use of this practice.' But administration officials rejected any comparison to Trump, telling the Times that Biden's policies are focused on finding ways to decrease the number of illegal crossings and encourage migrants to seek legal pathways to citizenship. The Department of Homeland Security also emphasized that no decision has been made. 'The administration will continue to prioritize safe, orderly and humane processing of migrants,' it claimed. Migrants from Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala sit on the ground after they were rescued from a locked tractor trailer that was left stranded on a highway in Veracruz, Mexico, on Sunday night The proposal comes as at least 343 migrants, including 103 unaccompanied minors, bound for the United States were rescued from an abandoned tractor trailer in southeastern Mexican state of Veracruz. The group was being smuggled on a freight container that was found on the side of the Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja highway Sunday night, the National Institute of Migration said in a statement. Footage released by the agency showed the migrants being assisted from the back of the cargo truck. Each migrant was wearing a colored bracelet as a form of identification system utilized by the smugglers. The group consisted of 212 adults from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Ecuador. There were also 28 people who formed part of Guatemalan and El Salvador. The National Institute of Migration said most of the unaccompanied migrant children are Guatemalan nationals. The children were placed in the custody of the Veracruz state family services system while the rest of the migrants were expected to be processed per Mexicos immigration guidelines. More than 70 percent of Americans now say they are satisfied with the United States' immigration policy. A Gallup poll in February found that the satisfaction rate has fallen six percent in a year, going from 34 percent in 2022 to 28 percent in 2023. The data represents the lowest number for the U.S. in over a decade. Of the more than 60 percent of people who said they are dissatisfied with immigration, overall, 40 percent said they want immigration to decrease. And while the results vary greatly by party, the poll found the percentage of Democrats and Republicans who want to see immigration curbed has risen on both sides. Seventy-one percent of Republicans say immigration levels are too high, the highest number that has ever been recorded. That number is up two percent from 2022. Among Democrats, 19 percent say immigration levels are too high. The newest data shows a steep eight percent jump. Still, the Biden administration is being threatened with lawsuits from advocacy groups upset with a proposed new rule that would make migrants crossing the southern border ineligible for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first attempt to claim asylum in a country they passed through, such as Mexico. The Biden administration argues their policy is different from the one under former President Trump because it allows migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba to apply to come to the U.S. directly if they have a U.S.-based sponsor. 'This is not a Trump era-policy,' Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on MSNBC on January 31. 'This is not a transit ban. We have provided a lawful path for individuals to try to seek entry.' But the ACLU slammed the tweaks in policy proposed by Biden as 'mere window dressing.' 'It would leave many of the most vulnerable asylum seekers in the same position as Trump's bans did unfairly denied critical, permanent protection for reasons that have nothing to do with their need for refuge,' the civil rights group said in a statement. And Keren Zwick, director of litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center, told NBC News that her group and others will work together again to fight any such rule. She predicted that it would not survive their legal challenge. 'If the proposed asylum ban rule does what we expect it to do unlawfully deprive access to asylum based on manner of entry and/or transit route,' Zwick said. 'It would be invalid like the similar Trump administration rules that were found unlawful by federal courts.' Chinese diplomats must confront "jackals, wolves" head on to protect motherland: FM Xinhua) 12:33, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- There is no shortage of kindness and goodwill in China's diplomacy, but in face of "jackals or wolves," Chinese diplomats would have no choice but to confront them head on to protect the motherland, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Tuesday, when refuting the claim that the country adopted the so-called "wolf warrior" diplomacy. "The so-called 'wolf warrior' diplomacy is just a narrative trap," Qin said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of China's national legislature. Those who made up the term and set the trap either know little about China and the country's diplomacy or have a hidden agenda in disregard of facts, Qin added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A driver delivers food by scooter in Seoul in this 2022 file photo. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun A 32-year-old office worker surnamed Han orders food from online delivery platforms three times a week. Restaurant reviews used to be her first consideration when placing online food orders, but now, she checks the delivery fee first. "It's crazy how much you have to pay for delivery when ordering from certain restaurants these days. I've seen some stores charge up to 7,000 won ($5.40). I will never pay that amount, even if I want to order from my favorite restaurant," Han said. A 27-year-old barista surnamed Lee recently fixed his settings on an online food delivery platform to list restaurants with the cheapest delivery fees on top. "I am not going to order food from stores that charge a maximum delivery fee on the platform. Sometimes delivery fees are nearly half the price of the food I order. I don't understand it," Lee said. According to the "2022-2023 Domestic and Foreign Restaurant Trend" report released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on Monday, 21.1 percent of survey participants consisting of 1,267 consumers and 582 restaurant workers said food price is the biggest factor when choosing a restaurant. Delivery fee followed with 15.1 percent in second, reviews with 14.7 percent in third and menu variety with 12.4 percent in fourth place. It is a significant change considering that 23.7 percent of survey participants last year chose reviews as the most important factor. The survey showed that rising dining costs and delivery fees have changed consumer habits. Also, 57.8 percent of the survey participants said delivery fees have been too expensive lately and 34.6 percent said they are slightly too expensive. Only 6.8 percent said prices are satisfactory. In most of the cases, people paid 3,000 won per delivery last year when ordering food online. Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley has arrived in Parliament wearing an 80s style wig and dressed as her 'alter ego' Tina Ley-na Turner to raise money for charity. Ms Ley appeared in the House of Representatives on Tuesday in front of a tentative crowd in a black camisole, pearls and the frizzy blonde mullet wig. Speaker Milton Dick introduced Ms Ley 'with some nervousness' and she confirmed her costume was a 'dare' from her community, 'for a very worthwhile cause'. 'I am here today as my alter ego, Tina (Ley-na) Turner,' she said. 'At a cancer support fundraiser in Griffith last Friday, my song partner challenged the 700 strong crowd to reach a $100,000 target - but only if I took Tina to Parliament House.' She described cancer as a 'tougher curse in the country with the tyranny of distance' and revealed the total sum of $100,000 was later doubled after accepting the conditions of the dare. 'I want to thank the generosity of the community in Griffith. In the Riverina, we just get things done. 'Two years ago, I announced around five million dollars from the Coalition Government for a new Cancer Centre in Griffith. 'Now that money gets you the bricks and mortar but there is always more needed for patient care, medical costs and equipment.' Last week, Ms Ley performed at an event to raise money for the care centre, which is due to open in May. Video footage of the performance shows Ms Ley dancing and singing alongside radio DJ Starry for Triple M Riverina. Ms Ley appeared in the House of Representatives on Tuesday in front of a 'tentative' crowd in a black camisole, pearls and the frizzy blonde wig as part of a 'dare' from her community Sussan Ley described the costume as her 'alter ego' Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Ley appeared on 2GB Radio to slam Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his super announcement. 'This is a dishonest prime minister. Hes deceived the Australian people,' she said. 'Now hes breaking promises, in fact he is breaking promises he made hundreds of times before the last election, and hes ramming policies through the parliament that he didnt even mention once. 'This is a perfect example if youre 37 years old, and youre looking at investing more in your super, in 30 years time youve basically been told that what is described as $3m dollars today has shrunk to about $1m. Now, we have enough trouble convincing young people to invest in super and now they see this changing of the goalposts.' Grieving friends have performed burnouts and wheelies in a suburban street where their mate tragically lost his life. Jai Anderson, 17, was riding his dirt bike with a pillion passenger on board in the Logan suburb of Waterford West south of Brisbane on Saturday night when the pair were allegedly struck by a Toyota Hilux. Jai died at the scene while his friend, 19, was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery for serious leg injuries. The ute driver allegedly fled the scene without rendering assistance to the pair and has since been charged with manslaughter. As Tobias Alexander Fine, 21, prepares to apply for bail, Jai's friends returned to the street where the teen's life ended. There were wild scenes as cars performed burnouts and motorcyclists did wheelies as a mark of 'respect' to Jai. Tributes continue to flow for Jai Anderson following his tragic death on Saturday A makeshift memorial has been set up at the scene in honour of the teen described as loyal and 'a really good kid.' '(There's) no words to explain it,' Joaquin De La Cruz told Seven News. 'He was just one of those people who would always put a smile on your face, brighten your day anytime you'd see him.' 'We'll try to keep positive, stay together and keep our heads.' Ashley Turner added: 'He loved his dirt bikes. He had his future ahead of him. He didn't deserve this.' Jai's shattered family have also paid tribute. 'He was the nicest, kindest person,' his mum Jackie Cardwell told Nine News. 'Our lives are never going to be the same.' Jai's friends performed burnouts on Monday as a mark of 'respect' for their late mate Other friends performed wheelies on their motorcycles (pictured) in Jai's honour Jai's older brother Beau added: 'He was the most loyal and genuine person you could ask for. He was always with his family or small group of friends.' 'All his brothers will miss him.' Jai was lucky to be alive after he suffered critical injuries during a shooting six months earlier. It's understood the alleged driver in this latest alleged incident was looking for a stolen bike at the time. Polair later tracked down the ute allegedly involved in the fatal hit and run in nearby Loganholme, where Fine was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter. He was also charged with grievous bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene. Fine currently remains behind bars and in his watch house cell when his matter was mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. His lawyer told the court Fine will apply for bail at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Inquiries into the alleged hit and run continue. Queensland Police urge witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV to come forward. The former attorney-general returned to his job as a lawyer Christian Porter will represent a well-known Russian oligarch in court after he was slapped with sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. The former attorney-general is leading the legal fight brought by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who a number of Western governments have identified as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Deripaska made his fortune by owning the world's largest aluminium producer and was once believed to be the richest man in Russia. Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union imposed sanctions on him shortly after Russian soldiers marched across Ukraine's borders in February last year. He was hit with targeted financial sanctions that restricted his ability to hold or move his assets and was banned from travelling to Australia by then-foreign minister Marise Payne. Former attorney-general Christian Porter (pictured) will represent Russian industrialist Oleg Deripaska who has challenged government sanctions imposed against him Mr Deripaska currently has a stake in a Queensland alumina refinery. He has challenged the sanctions, saying he's 'not an individual who has been or is engaging in an activity or performing a function that is of economic or strategic significance to Russia', The West Australian reported. The government said in legal filings that the oligarch held a Russian diplomatic passport and had previously claimed to represent the Russian government. The filings also noted that he was 'involved in obtaining benefit from or supporting' Russia's government by 'owning or controlling businesses in the Russian extractives and energy sectors, sectors of strategic significance to the government of Russia'. Mr Deripaska has vehemently denied assertions he supported or benefited from the government of Russia. He blasted the claims as being 'not factually correct' and that the sanctions imposed against him by the former government were 'legally unreasonable', 'irrational', illogical' and 'involved an improper exercise of the power'. Pragma Lawyers principal Aaron McDonald confirmed that Mr Porter would be acting for Mr Deripaska. Mr Deripaska (pictured), who reportedly has close ties with Vladimir Putin, was slapped with sanctions by the former government after Russia stormed Ukraine's borders Mr Porter (pictured left with wife Karen Espiner) returned to his legal practice following his resignation from politics in September 2021 Mr Porter returned to the legal profession following his retirement in September. 2021. The move came nine months after he revealed in a press conference he was the anonymous man referred to in media reports about a 16-year-old girl allegedly being raped in 1988. Mr Porter denied the allegation and sued the ABC for defamation with the case eventually being dropped and no damages awarded to the former attorney-general. The former politician acted as social services minister between September 2015 to December 2017 before he was promoted to attorney-general. No date has been set for Mr Deripaska's case but it is expected to be held in Perth. Tucker Carlson unveiled new footage from the January 6 riots which he claims casts a fresh perspective on the 2021 unrest at the US Capitol. Poll Do YOU think January 6 rioters were just 'sightseers'? Yes No Do YOU think January 6 rioters were just 'sightseers'? Yes 388 votes No 153 votes Now share your opinion In footage screened on his show Monday night, so-called QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley was apparently seen being escorted into the Senate by Capitol police officers. Carlson challenged the prevailing narrative that Chansley - jailed for four years over the incident - aggressively barged into the chamber. Also broadcast was footage of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the riot. It was originally suggested Sicknick's death came as the result of being attacked with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters. But a medical examiner later ruled he'd died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack. He appeared in good health, which the Fox News host said poured cold water on liberal outlets' insistence that the Capitol rioters had Sicknick's blood on their hands. Tucker Carlson on Monday night released footage from inside the Capitol on January 6, including clips showing the 'QAnon Shaman', Jacob Chansley (above), being apparently 'escorted' through the building Chansley is seen being followed through the Capitol by a police officer Chansley, with his bullhorn, is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol, yet was never charged - giving rise to suspicion that Epps was in fact an informant. Epps has denied working for the government. On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying. 'They were orderly and meek,' said Carlson of those who stormed the Capitol. 'These were not insurrectionists; they were sightseers.' Carlson said they 'obviously revere the Capitol', noting they took selfies and 'queue up in neat little lines'. 'Deadly insurrection. Everything about that phrase is a lie,' he said. 'Very little about January 6 was organized or violent. 'Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.' Carlson pointed to footage showing the 'QAnon Shaman' - a bare-chested, Viking helmet-wearing Jacob Chansley - inside the Capitol. Chansley, a 33-year-old naval veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on January 6. He has been jailed for almost four years for 'obstructing an official proceeding.' In the footage, Chansley appears to be guided by an official as he wanders the Capitol. He passes a line of riot police, who make no move to stop him. Then they escort him to various entrances of the chamber which appear to be locked, and eventually find him an open door through which he vanishes. 'Virtually every moment of his time inside the Capitol was caught on tape,' said Carlson. 'The tapes show the Capitol police never stopped Jacob Chansley. They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.' Carlson also showed the moments after Officer Brian Sicknick was confronted by the rioters. Sicknick, 42, died on January 7 - the day after the riot. Brian Sicknick is seen shortly after the Capitol was breached. Carlson said he appeared 'healthy and vigorous' Sicknick, who died of a stroke on January 7, is seen during the riot carrying out his duties Capitol rioter Julian Khater (pictured left) was sentenced to 80 months in prison for his role in the pepper-spray assault of police officer Brian Sicknick (pictured right), who died the day after the January 6, 2021 riot In April 2021, the DC medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, who was injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. 'To this day, media accounts describe Sicknick as someone who was, quote, "slain" on January 6,' Carlson said. 'The video we reviewed proves that is a lie.' Carlson said the officer was 'healthy and vigorous,' and noted he was wearing a helmet. 'So it's hard to imagine he was killed by a head injury,' he said. 'Whatever happened to Brian Sicknick was very obviously not the result of violence he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol. 'This tape overturns the single most powerful and politically useful lie the Democrats have told us about January 6.' There have been multiple deaths linked to the riot, including four Trump supporters - one of whom, Ashli Babbitt, was shot dead by Capitol Police. Trump supporters are seen walking through the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Carlson described them as 'sightseers' Carlson further suggested alleged Capitol Rioter Ray Epps - pictured in red Trump cap - was actually an FBI agent send to stoke violence. Epps denies his claims Four officers died by suicide in the days and weeks after the riot. There have also been roughly 1,000 arrests. The footage comes as Fox News continues to contest a $1.6 billion lawsuit taken out against the broadcasting giant by Dominion, who manufactured voting machines for the 2020 election. Fox is being sued over claims the network endorsed theories the firm's voting machines were rigged to deliver a Biden win. The broadcaster's owner Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed over the lawsuit, and said he'd 'liked (Fox) to have been stronger denouncing' the stolen election claims. Fox news denies the claims made against it by Dominion. Bali officials have launched a public campaign designed to crackdown on inappropriately dressed tourists and travellers who flout local rules and customs. The Indonesian island known for its clear waters, blue skies and cheap beer, has long been a favourite destination of Australian holidaymakers, with over 91,000 travellers flocking to the island in January, 2023. But increasingly, Aussies have become notorious amongst locals for causing havoc on the island with their wild behaviour, reflected in the nickname 'Bali bogans'. Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana announced plans on Tuesday to use billboards to build awareness amongst visitors and educate tourists on how to behave in cultural settings. Mr Adnyana said the proposal is in its 'socialisation' phase, while officials awaiting public feedback and gauging support. Bali officials have announced a plan to build 10 billboards around the island to instruct tourists on how to properly dress and behave (stock image) The campaign aims to educate tourists on etiquette so that travellers respect Balinese cultural customs (stock image) 'We are assigned by the government, in this case, the Bali Tourism Office, to prepare socialisation in the form of writing and visuals,' Mr Adnyana said, as reported by The Bali Sun. 'However, we have to start with some kind of appeal at several points. 'The point is that tourists respect Balinese cultural customs by dressing well and neatly, following in an orderly manner, carrying out traffic activities and not doing things that are outside the provisions.' Authorities have confirmed a minimum of 10 large billboards will be installed where violations occur the most, including Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu. Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana (pictured) said 'guests are king' but warned them not to abuse local ways The billboards will have instructions and advice written in English, with billboards in foreign languages likely to follow. Adnyana explained the campaign will help develop Bali into a country that is not considered a destination for tourists to do whatever they want. 'Indeed, we are 'welcoming' and accept everything. Guests are king but don't abuse,' Mr Adnyana said. He also confirmed the Tourism Board will enlist social media influencers, tourism stakeholders and e-commerce businesses to help publicise the campaign. It comes just days after Bali officials launched a specialised taskforce to find foreign tourists working in the country illegally. An entire local council have lost their jobs less than two years after a senior manager was gunned down by a disgruntled employee. Events after the murder, governance concerns, flood mitigation efforts, construction of major infrastructure, the transportation of asbestos and other issues such as health and safety were also examined by a commission of inquiry into Moira Shire Council in northern Victoria. On Tuesday, the state government introduced legislation to dismiss the council and appoint an administrator as recommended by the commission. It is expected an election to replace the councillors will not take place until 2028. Local Government Minister Melissa Horne described the report as 'deeply concerning'. Local Government Minister Melissa Horne (pictured) said she was dismissing the entire Moira Shire Council based on the recommendations of an inquiry 'Councils must properly represent the communities they serve, and Moira residents deserve to have a council that puts their interests first,' Ms Horne said in a statement. 'An ongoing panel of administrators will follow this interim appointment and will be charged with addressing the serious issues identified in the report so that elections can be held at Moira Shire in 2028. 'I am confident that administrators will restore good governance to Moira Shire Council and provide a foundation for building effective leadership, project delivery, community engagement and a positive culture within Council.' The commission has referred evidence to the coroner about events related to the death of council operations manager Rick Devlin. Former council worker Andrew Robert Paterson is serving a minimum 21-year sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of Mr Devlin in August 2021. The court heard in October, 2022 Paterson shot Mr Devlin as he stood in the driveway of his rural Victoria home - once in the chest and once in the head. In August 2021, Moira Shire Council manager of operations Rick Devlin (pictured) was shot to death by his colleague in a 'revenge' attack at his home in Victoria's north He wrongly believed Mr Devlin was involved in a harassment campaign against him at work, although the men did not have day-to-day contact. Shepparton Supreme Court previously heard Devlin was not Paterson's direct supervisor but he held the manager responsible for the problems he was having at work. The commission report said there was good reason to think Mr Devlin's death may have been preventable and the environment of the Nathalia depot Mr Paterson worked at was fundamentally unsafe. 'These events and their tragic outcomes represent, at many levels, a catastrophic governance failure,' the report stated. It said the council's senior executives should have been aware of risks at the depot since 2017, when an external investigator found evidence of a dysfunctional and a toxic culture. The entire Moira Shire Council was dismissed after an inquiry found the council had 'serious issues'. The inquiry was launched following the murder of a council manager The commission has also contacted the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission about two instances of alleged corrupt conduct. The report found the governance of Moira Shire Council had deteriorated to such a level that it could no longer carry out its responsibilities under the Local Government Act. An interim administrator will be appointed for three months, before a longer-term panel of administrators is found. It is the fourth council sacked by the Andrews Government since 2019, following the dismissal of the Whittlesea, South Gippsland Shire and Casey councils. Moira Shire Council and Mayor Peter Lawless have been contacted for comment. Melbourne drug kingpin Tony Mokbel will spend less time behind bars, partly because of injuries he sustained during a prison attack. Mokbel put forward a bid for re-sentencing in Victoria's Court of Appeal after one of his previous drug convictions was quashed due to the Lawyer X scandal. Justice Karin Emerton on Tuesday varied the 30-year jail term handed to Mokbel in 2012 and he was instead sentenced to 26 years. A non-parole period of 20 years was reduced from an initial 22 years. Ongoing injuries from a serious prison assault formed part of the reason Mokbel's sentence was reduced, Justice Emerton said Melbourne drug kingpin Tony Mokbel will spend less time behind bars, partly because of injuries he sustained during a prison attack Ongoing injuries from a serious prison assault formed part of the reason Mokbel's sentence was reduced The 57-year-old was in a coma for 24 days after two 21-year-old prisoners assaulted him in Barwon in 2019. Mokbel continues to suffer the effects of a traumatic brain injury stemming from the attack, his barrister Julie Condon KC told the court last month. He also suffered two heart attacks in March and April last year and then underwent stent surgery. Mokbel was rushed to hospital last week but appeared in court via video link on Tuesday. The 57-year-old, dressed in a dark suit and tie, remained quiet as Justice Emerton delivered her judgment. Mokbel was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison in July 2012 after pleading guilty to three counts of drug trafficking. Six years earlier, he had been convicted and sentenced to 12 years jail for importing a commercial quantity of cocaine from Mexico. Mokbel did not appear in court for that sentence, instead he hid in rural Victoria for eight months before fleeing to Greece in a yacht from Western Australia. Justice Karin Emerton on Tuesday varied the original 30-year jail term handed to Mokbel in 2012 and he was instead sentenced to 26 years The drug kingpin hid in rural Victoria for eight months before fleeing to Athens, Greece (pictured) in a yacht from Western Australia He was eventually arrested in a cafe in Athens in June 2007 and was extradited back to Melbourne almost a year later. Mokbel tried to appeal his convictions, arguing it was illegal for him to be extradited to Australia before his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was finalised. Those bids were unsuccessful but his 2006 conviction was ultimately quashed by the appeal court in December 2020 after his former lawyer Nicola Gobbo was revealed to be a police informer. Mokbel was arrested in a cafe in Athens in June 2007 and was extradited back to Melbourne almost a year later An Illinois wife found the mummified corpse of her husband buried in a closet at their home - eight months after she reported him missing. Richard Maedge, 53, was first reported missing on April 27 2022 and police searched the home he shared with his wife, Jennifer, in Troy at least twice to try and find him. Both times cops reported smelling a 'sewer-like' smell inside the house, which they described as a 'hoarder home'. It wasn't until December 11, eight months after Richard's disappearance, that Jennifer stumbled upon his body while looking for Christmas decorations, hanging in a rarely-visited, concealed storage area inside a closet in the bedroom. Coroners released a report on Thursday indicating Richard had died by suicide, and that his body had passed the stage of decomposition and become mummified by the time he was discovered. The police coroner told KTVI mummified bodies don't give off odors, which may have helped Richard go undiscovered for so long. Jennifer and Richard Maedge. Richard killed himself in a closet in April and Jennifer found him in December The home where Richard Maedge was found in December after going missing in April Jennifer told Troy police Richard vanished on April 27, 2022, after he called her to say he was leaving work early. When she got home she found Richard's car parked out front, and his keys and wallet in the house, but he was nowhere to be seen. Police began searching for the father of three, initially doing a pass through the crowded house. They reported the foul smell inside, but decided Richard wasn't there. Some time later Jennifer called police to report that the odor remained, and police returned to search the home a second time but turned up nothing. Finally Jennifer contacted a plumber about the smell, who visited the house and said it smelled like sewer gas, according to KTVI. The plumber capped one of the sewer pipes at the house, and Jennifer reported the odor subsided. A missing poster for Richard Maedge. He was reported missing in April 2022 Richard was a father of three. Police said he killed himself in a closet in his him in Troy, Illinois Jennifer Maedge thanked police for their efforts in trying to locate her husband, who was in her closet Jennifer finally discovered Richard on December 11, and told police she found his body while looking for a bag of Christmas decorations. Police said the closet Richard was ultimately found in was in a concealed location in the house. 'I decided to put the Christmas tree up, and I was looking for a tote of Christmas ornaments, and that's when I discovered him,' Jennifer told the Belleville News-Democrat. Richard's sister, Marilyn Toliver, spoke out against the police department and said they could have done more to find him. In response, the Troy police released an exhaustive list of they measures they took to find Richard, which included extensive searches of the property surrounding area. Jennifer, however, thanked the police for their work. 'Even though we didn't want the outcome that we had, it's still an outcome that we can put him to rest,' she told Fox 2. She added that she felt as if her husband's 'presence' was close to her while he was missing. Police said they suspect no foul play in Richard's death. 'There were no other injuries found during the autopsy examination or evidence found that would indicate anything nefarious regarding Mr. Maedge's death,' the coroner said. Terrifying footage has been released of the moment a passenger on a United Airlines flight from LA to Boston went berserk and threatened to 'kill every man on this plane'. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, from Leominster, Massachusetts was charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon after he stabbed a flight attendant with a broken spoon. In video shot by a fellow passenger sitting only feet away, Torres can be heard threatening to commit mass murder while goading others to try and stop him. The man could be seen standing up in his seat while shouting at those seated around him. Then, he got up and made a threatening gesture with his arms while wielding the broken spoon and heading towards the front of the aircraft, where the attendant was hit three times in the neck. The video starts after Torres had allegedly already disarmed the emergency exit and tried to open it, having asked a fellow passenger where on the safety card he could find the door handle during the safety briefing. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, from Leominster, Massachusetts, could be seen ranting and raving while in his emergency exit seat during a United flight from Los Angeles to Boston Torres could be seen ranting and raving as he stood up in his seat and threatened to kill everyone A photo taken by another person on board shows six people in the galley of the plane attempting to restrain Torres as the aircraft came into land United Airlines Flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston landed safely on Sunday, and Torres was detained 'So where's Homeland Security with a gun? Because I am waiting for them to point the gun at me so I can show everybody that I will die when I take every bullet in that clip - and I will kill every man on this plane,' the suspect threatens. 'So where are they? Where's Homeland Security? Pull the gun! Pull the gun! You're not going to try and stop me? 'Where are they diverting us? Because wherever they do, there's going to be a bloodbath everywhere. You can run away if you want. I won't kill you. I'm Balthazar. Or put up your hands, because I'm Balthazar since I'm taking over this plane.' Balthazar was one of the three wise men in the Bible who visited the infant Jesus. Passengers watching him could be heard exclaiming 'oh God' as they witnessed Torres' antics which saw him dart into the aisle and announce that he was heading for the cockpit. As he made his way down the aisle he approached two flight attendants standing in his way and used the spoon to make stabbing motions. He was restrained by other passengers who rush forward from the rear of the plane along with other flight attendants. A photo taken by another person on board shows six people in the galley of the plane attempting to restrain Torres as the aircraft descended. 'Torres told investigators he went into the bathroom on the plane and broke a spoon in half to make a weapon. When he came out of the bathroom Torres went into the galley, disarmed the door, and tried to open it unsuccessfully Torres admitted to knowing that if he opened the door many people would die,' according to a criminal complaint as seen by WCVB. A United Airlines plane is seen taking off in this file photo from earlier this year While the nightmare drama was unfolding in the cabin, upfront on the flightdeck, the captain of the flight radioed air traffic control to tell them Torres had been detained by passengers but was 'not going quietly', and had six people restraining him as the plane came down to land. Conversations between the flight crew and air traffic control reveal how the pilots declared an emergency. 'United 2609 ... We are now an emergency aircraft,' the pilot said. 'United 2609, roger. Cockpit secure and did they try to breach?' air traffic control inquired. 'Cockpit is secure. No attempted breach of the cockpit,' the pilot confirmed. 'United 2609, roger. And you're declaring an emergency?' air traffic control asked. 'Affirmative,' responded the pilot. 'United 2609, what happened on board and is the person detained?' air traffic control questioned. 'Person is detained, attempted opening of external door, emergency door. That person was subdued and is being detained, however not going quietly he's just laying there with six able bodies on top of him,' the pilot said to air traffic control. Torres had boarded United Airlines Flight 2609 on Sunday in Los Angeles, bound for Boston. He had remained quiet for the majority of the flight when just 45 minutes before landing, a member of the cabin crew noticed how an emergency exit had been tampered with. The flight crew also received an alarm in the cockpit that a starboard side door located between the first class and coach sections of the aircraft had been disarmed. A flight attendant also confirmed that the door's locking handle had been moved out of the fully locked position about a quarter of the way toward the unlocked position. The emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the disarmed position, authorities said. The crew secured the door and slide. Another flight attendant had noticed that Torres was seen near the door and believed he had tampered with it. When confronted about the door, Torres asked if any cameras showed him tampering with it. Torres was also sitting in an emergency exit seat and it remains unclear if he went to open an actual aircraft door, or if he had been tampering with one of the windows that also serves as an emergency exit. Other passengers said Torres has asked another passenger where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located during the safety briefing prior to takeoff. Torres had also been seen pacing in a galley area before attacking the flight attendant, according to court documents. The crew told the captain that he was a threat and the plane should land as soon as possible. United praised the quick-thinking of the crew and passengers. 'Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, one customer was restrained after becoming a security concern on a flight from Los Angeles to Boston,' United said in a statement. 'The flight landed safely and was met by law enforcement. No serious injuries were reported.' The airline said that Torres was immediately banned from flying on their flights. 'We have zero tolerance for any type of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying on United pending an investigation. We are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation.' One passenger told investigators that Torres had asked where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located during the flight attendants' pre-takeoff safety briefing. Another said Torres was seen pacing the plane before attacking the attendant. The charge of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Said it was no wonder NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet stayed away from him Anthony Albanese has deflected questions about superannuation by mocking Peter Dutton's 'angry ranting' and telling him to campaign with Dominic Perrottet instead. The prime minister was asked in Question Time if he stood by his 'we have no intention to make any super changes' statement on May 2 last year. The opposition has relentlessly attacked Mr Albanese's plan to cut tax concessions for Australians with super funds of more than $3 million. A poll showed two-thirds of voters support the changes, which would tax super contributions at 30 per cent for about 80,000 Australians instead of 15 per cent. Mr Albanese barely began answering when Mr Dutton angrily interjected that he was not addressing the question. 'Once again, more angry ranting. What happened to the smile? You were gonna smile more, Peter! You were gonna smile more!' the PM responded. 'What happened to Happy Peter?! Where's it gone?! Where's it gone? So much anger, so much vitriol.' The House of Representatives devolved into a rowdy mess as Speaker Milton Dick tried to get the chamber under control. Mr Albanese insisted he was just responding to the interjections, complaining it was 'hard to respond when someone is just yelling nonstop from go to woe'. Once he was able to continue, the PM sarcastically challenged Mr Dutton to sink NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's reelection chances by campaigning against the superannuation changes. 'We're a government for all Australians. They are a government for one half of one per cent of Australians. And I encourage them to go to the wall for that one half of one per cent,' he said, in reference to the 80,000 richest Australians. 'I encourage the leader of the opposition to go to the Liberal Party launch on Sunday and to stand up and introduce Dominic Perrottet as the premier of NSW, and say that this is the hill they're going to die on.' Mr Albanese ended Question Time with another dig at Mr Dutton over the NSW election on March 25. 'It's no wonder that the leader of the opposition has not appeared with the NSW premier since last October,' he said. 'There's a forcefield around the NSW premier, he's very happy to appear with me, as is the Tasmania Liberal premier, about getting constructive measures done.' Anthony Albanese deflected questions about superannuation by mocking Peter Dutton's 'angry ranting' in parliament and suggesting he 'smile more' Mr Albanese ended Question Time with another dig at Mr Dutton over the NSW election on March 25 The PM took glee in pointing out that the last time Mr Dutton skipped a campaign launch was when the Victorian Liberals were easily beaten by Daniel Andrews on November 26. 'I say this to the leader of the opposition, don't miss out this Sunday. He missed out on the Victorian Liberal Party campaign and look where that got them,' he said. 'Don't make the same mistake twice, get out there and back him. I'll miss [the launch] but I encourage to attend on Sunday, introduce Premier Perrottet and I'm sure that will be a very successful thing.' Mr Dutton's earlier interjections began when Mr Albanese used the question from deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley to spruik his government's achievements. 'The member would be aware that the super changes that we have announced do not take effect until 2025. That is after - after the next election,' he said. 'But I do thank the deputy leader for the opportunity to speak about the promises that we made at the election and what we've delivered.' Aramco Chairman and Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan / Courtesy of Aramco By Park Jae-hyuk All eyes are on whether the heads of major Korean conglomerates will be able to meet Aramco Chairman and Public Investment Fund (PIF) Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan at Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for S-Oil's 9 trillion won ($6.7 billion) "Shaheen" project in southern Korea. Shaheen, which means falcon in Arabic, involves the construction of Korea's largest petrochemical plant in Ulsan by 2026. The Aramco-owned oil refiner said Tuesday that construction will start on March 9 after the project was approved by its board of directors last November, when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, one of the major shareholders of Aramco, visited Korea. The plant is Aramco's largest investment in Korea. The groundbreaking ceremony was initially planned for Monday, but was delayed for three days due to an undisclosed reason. Although S-Oil declined to confirm the list of participants in the ceremony, Aramco's chairman and board members are expected to visit Ulsan, along with Korean politicians and government officials. Aramco will also reportedly hold its board meeting in Korea for the first time since 2015. The Aramco chairman, who supervises Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is known to be a close aide of the Saudi crown prince. He visited Korea last May to attend President Yoon Suk Yeol's inauguration ceremony. In January, he also met with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who visited Saudi Arabia to boost cooperation between the Middle Eastern country and Korean builders for Neom, a $500 billion project aimed at developing eco-friendly and smart cities covering a total of 26,500 square kilometers in Saudi Arabia's northwestern Tabuk Province near the Red Sea. During his forthcoming visit to Korea, the Aramco chief is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, according to industry officials. They are expected to discuss cooperation in various infrastructure investments. From left are Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo. Courtesy of each company Scott Morrison has walked out of Question Time early as speculation mounts that he will soon quit politics for the private sector. The former prime minister was censured by the House of Representatives on November 30 over the 'minister for everything' scandal. Parliament condemned him on a vote of 86 to 50 for secretly swearing himself in to five extra ministries in 2020 and 2021. Other than a defiant speech defending himself against the censure, Mr Morrison has not spoken in parliament since losing the May 22 election. The Member for Cook left the chamber on Tuesday a little before 3pm, well before Question Time concluded at 3.21pm. Scott Morrison poses in his office after Question Time on Tuesday as speculation mounted that he would soon quit politics The Member for Cook left the chamber on Tuesday a little before 3pm, well before Question Time concluded at 3.21pm Mr Morrison is believed to have left to prepare for an interview with the Australian Associated Press, which did not begin until after Question Time was completed. He receives $217,060 a year, the basic backbencher salary, while in parliament. Sky News reported that 'informed sources' believed he would quit politics by the end of the year for a lucrative overseas consulting job. Mr Morrison in response said if he had anything to say about his political future, he would make it. For now, he insisted he was 'dutifully doing his job as a local MP and had returned home to The [Sutherland] Shire seeking to live quietly with his family', Sky reported. The Liberal Party stalwart in another interview on the weekend said he was enjoying his time as a backbencher. 'It's quite liberating,' he said when asked what it was like to be a backbencher, pointing out that holding ministries and then being PM for a decade was 'exhausting'. Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said she had been friends with Mr Morrison for 'many years' but hadn't heard anything about his retirement plans. 'He will make a decision in the best interests of himself and family and the people of Cook,' she said. Reports emerged on Tuesday that that 'informed sources' believed he would quit politics by the end of the year for a potential overseas consulting job Mr Morrison stood in the chamber to vigorously defend his actions as he became the first former prime minister to face a censure motion by the House of Representatives Speculation over Mr Morrison's job started almost immediately after his crushing defeat by Anthony Albanese, and intensified when the ministries scandal broke. He had himself secretly sworn in as treasurer and minister for home affairs; finance; health; and industry, science, energy and resources. None of the ministers for these portfolios, other than Greg Hunt for health, were aware he had secretly doubled up on their jobs. Labor claimed his actions undermined, rejected, attacked, and abused the standards expected of parliamentarians, and struck at the heart of Australia's democracy. Other than acknowledging some (but not all) of the appointments were unnecessary, Mr Morrison gave a spirited defence of his actions during the censure motion, and offered no apology. 'For those who wish to add their judgement today on my actions in supporting this censure motion, I simply suggest that they stop and consider the following - have you ever had to deal with a crisis where the outlook was completely unknown?' he said. Mr Morrison looked completely unbothered as he sat in parliament on November 30 listening to himself being censured by his colleagues 'In such circumstances, were you able to get all the decisions perfectly right? And where you may have made errors, were you fortunate enough for them to have had no material impact on the result and the result itself proved to be world-leading? 'Once you have considered your own experience, or what happens when you have had more in government, then you may wish to cast the first stone in this place.' Mr Morrison's speech had such an air of finality that Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek predicted he wouldn't even see out 2022. 'Scott Morrison says sorry not sorry. My prediction - he pulls the pin over Christmas. This is his last week,' she wrote on Twitter. However, the man once mocked as 'Squat Morrison' for taking 13 days to move out of Kirribilli House after losing the election has so far stuck around. A judge in Delaware has ordered a businessman hand over a $125,000 parcel of land to his neighbor after she kept her goats on the land for over 20 years and claimed squatter's rights. Burton Banks, an Atlanta-based financial advisor, inherited the uninhabited plot of land in Ocean View, Delaware, from his father Ralph. In 2021 Banks and his husband David Barrett decided they wanted to sell the plot of land, which sits empty and undeveloped. But he discovered that around two thirds of an acre was being used by his neighbor Melissa Schrock, who had erected a pen for her goats on the land. 'It's just always been my backyard since I was a little kid,' Schrock said. Burton Banks (left) wanted to sell the land, but discovered that his neighbor Melissa Schrock was claiming squatter's rights - thanks to a goat pen she erected on the plot The home of Schrock, who grazed her goats on her neighbor's land and won squatter's rights Schrock's home in Ocean View, Delaware Banks took her to court to try and reclaim the land, but Schrock claimed squatter's rights. Explaining her counter-claim, Schrock said: 'It's just always been my backyard since i was a kid.' Superior Court Judge Craig Karsnitz ruled in February in Schrock's favor, noting that Banks lived primarily in Atlanta and 'only occasionally' came to the Delaware site. Karsnitz felt Schrock met the threshold in proving her 20-year occupation, Delaware Online reported. If a resident can prove they've occupied a plot for 20 years, they can claim ownership, which Schrock did successfully. Another neighbor's plot also encroached on Banks' property. That unnamed resident agreed to move animal enclosures they'd set up - but because Schrock refused, Banks was ultimately unable to regain control of his family's property. Because Banks and his husband live in Atlanta and visit Delaware only occasionally, it made it harder for them to prove that Schrock hadn't been openly using their land for the last 20 years. Banks said he was speaking out in order to warn others to take action and make sure their property was not squatted on. 'I can't afford the appeal,' said Banks. 'But (I'm) hoping I can at least warn others.' Banks submitted a map of the property, showing his claim Serena Williams, a law professor at Widener University in Delaware, who specializes in housing law, said property owners needed to be vigilant. 'Inspect it regularly,' Williams said. 'If you see something you haven't permitted - a tree you haven't planted, objects you haven't placed there make sure to remove it, because that's the beginning of adverse possession.' Fox News star Sean Hannity lead Monday's show by interviewing GOP golden boy Ron DeSantis - and relegated a chat with Donald Trump to a much later slot. At the start of Sean Hannity's 9pm show on the once Trump-leaning network, Hannity looked ahead to what was coming up in his hour-long broadcast including an 'exclusive' interview with the former president. However, less than 20 minutes into the broadcast, there was no sign of Trump. But Republican golden boy DeSantis - who's currently Governor Florida - was given free reign to discuss his crackdown on wokeness to Fox's millions of conservative viewers. The incident will likely rile Trump, who's taken to openly insulting DeSantis ahead of a likely race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Fox News seemed to distance itself from former President Trump by giving Florida Governor Ron DeSantis a decent amount of airtime ahead of Trump's interview on Monday Trump declared his intention to run the day after the midterms, in which GOP candidates he backed performed badly. DeSantis is yet to declare, but appears highly-likely to do so in the coming months, with a primetime appearance on Hannity providing invaluable free publicity. During Monday's interview, the Florida Governor would not be drawn on whether he might run for president in 2024, instead insisting he is 'laser focused' on the state of Florida. But he refused to deny he has plans to do so. 'Give us a few months and we will be in a better position to make a decision about the future. 'I think it is fair to say that I have people coming up to me and asking me to do it all the time. I am very good about putting one step in front of the other and focusing on the task at hand. I don't get too down the far the field with anything. I have to execute the mission here. As we get beyond that we will take a look.' Fox, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch and boosted Trump's ascension from real estate developer and reality television star to the White House, is now regularly bypassing him in favor of showcasing other Republicans. Monday's Hannity show was a case in point with the network having effectively displaced him from his favorite spot: the center of the news cycle. Ultimately the network, while teasing an exclusive interview with Trump, only repeated a broadcast of his earlier phone call to Sean Hannity's radio show Ultimately, the 'exclusive' interview with Trump turned out to be a repeat from earlier in the day when the former president phoned in to Sean Hannity's radio show broadcast on Monday afternoon. The skepticism toward the former president extends to the highest levels of the company. The Murdochs' discomfort with Trump stems from him still refusing to accept his election loss. Fox News is currently battling a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit from Dominion, which manufactures voting machines used in the 2020 election. Dominion say Fox defamed their firm by allowing key Trump aides Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani to suggest their machines were rigged to ensure a Biden win. Fox News, once Trump-leaning, now regularly features other Republicans such as DeSantis Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend in Maryland Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed over the suit, and admitted 'with hindsight' that the network's stars should have pushed back harder against election fraud claims. But Fox says the law allows it to air such claims if they are newsworthy, and denies all claims made in the suit. It also accuses Dominion of vastly overinflating the firm's value in the amount its seeking in damages from Fox News. In depositions released last week, Murdoch argued that Fox as a network did not endorse the claims, but that some of its commentators - Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro and Sean Hannity - at times did. Murdoch was among several at Fox to say privately they didn't believe the claims made by Trump and his allies that widespread fraud cost him reelection. Fox News now appears to have displaced Trump from the center of the news cycle. He is pictured here during a Fox News Channel town hall in March 2020 in Scranton, Pennsylvania During Monday's interview, the Florida Governor would not be drawn on whether he might run for president in 2024, instead insisting he is 'laser focused' on the state of Florida By BEN TALINTYRE and DANYAL HUSSAIN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA A man attacked by a crocodile and dragged by his leg into the water before it mauled his dog to death says he's learned his lesson about messing around in croc-infested waters. Alister MacPhee, 37, was bitten on the leg by the croc, which suddenly lurched out of the water to attack him on Wednesday at a remote boat ramp in Cooktown, north Queensland. Mr MacPhee is now recovering from his injuries in Cairns Hospital and says he has learnt his lesson the hard way by losing his dog in the crocodile attack. 'I want to thank emergency services and staff at Cairns Hospital for looking after me,' he said in a statement shared by 7News. 'Especially Magic Molly (my dog) who was always by my side. It's understood Mr MacPhee was travelling around Queensland and had taken his dog to the boat ramp for a drink of water 'I have, unfortunately, learned the hard way... Everyone needs to be croc-wise in croc territory.' Footage of the incident shows MacPhee had been entering the knee-deep water with his dog close by when he was attacked by the croc without warning. Mr MacPhee's dog appeared to make a brave attempt to save him, only for the crocodile to turn its attention to the pooch and grab it in its jaws. Incredibly, Mr MacPhee then tried to rescue his dog, with footage showing him raining punches down on the massive reptile. However, the croc won the battle and went back underwater with the dog, leaving Mr MacPhee to walk up the boat ramp, clutching his leg in shock after suffering several bites. A nearby ranger rushed to Mr MacPhee's aid and he was treated at the Wujal Wujal clinic before a rescue helicopter airlifted him to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition. He is understood to have undergone surgery. Queensland Parks and Wildlife has been advised of the incident and has sent a local team to the scene to investigate. It's understood the man was travelling around Queensland and had taken his dog to the boat ramp for a drink of water. Mr MacPhee and his dog 'Magic Molly' were attacked at a boat ramp on Bloomfield River in far north Queensland Mr MacPhee is now recovering from his injuries to his leg in Cairns Hospital and says he has learnt his lesson the hard way by losing his dog in the crocodile attack The ranger who rushed to the man's aid and helped saved his life has been left shaken by the harrowing scenes. It's understood she was awarded ranger of the month in January and is likely to retain the title for a second consecutive month. 'She could see there was someone in distress at the river and it was really lucky cause we had just finished our first aid training,' Mr Paterson said. 'She is obviously pretty shook up about the whole thing. 'I hear the man was devastated at the loss of his dog and it's thought the dog came to his aid.' The terrifying incident happened just weeks after a local issued a warning by sharing footage of a large crocodile lurking in the water near the boat ramp. 'See that croc everyone,' the man who filmed the video says. 'Beware of your children ... because he is hanging around here.' The footage prompted authorities to issue a similar warning. 'Be careful near the boat ramp and surrounds. There is a crocodile there!' the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council posted at the time. Mr Paterson is unsure whether the crocodile in the footage is the same one that attacked the man on Wednesday. Local man Billy Dunn said the croc responsible for the attack was a newcomer to the area. 'There is a big new croc in the river and he is a big nasty bugger,' he said. Mr MacPhee was suddenly attacked by the crocodile, before his dog Molly tried to rescue him 'He has just been watching everybody and there has been a lot of roadworks, so there have been a lot of people around. I see him all the time because I am on the river a lot.' 'Once you come up to Far North Queensland you are in a lot of natural environments... there's a lot of natural wildlife around and you just have to be aware when you come up here there are crocs in the Bloomfield area.' The Department of Environment and Science said wildlife officers will attempt to locate the croc and remove it from the river. 'This incident is a timely reminder for people to be Crocwise in croc country and not to be complacent with their own safety or the safety of their family or pets when they are in or near the water,' a DES spokeswoman said. The devastated family of a 10-month-old boy claim he lost half of his leg after hospital staff punctured his artery while trying to treat a chest infection. Little Zayn Seguna has spent a total of 73 days in hospital after he was diagnosed with influenza bronchiolitis during a family holiday in November. The family had flown 17 hours from Melbourne to Msida, a city in Malta, to attend a relative's funeral when Zayn fell ill a few days into the trip. They claim his condition worsened after staff at the Mater Dei Hospital punctured his artery while trying to insert a catheter, causing serious tissue and muscle damage. His mother Joanne said her little boy's leg 'changed straight away' and went 'white and cold' after blood flow to the area became restricted. 'They hit an artery which they realised straight away because his leg went pale, cold, changed colour straight away,' she told 7NEWS. 'They pulled the line out and gave him Heparin which is a blood thinner...because a blood clot formed.' Little Zayn Seguna has spent a total of 73 days in hospital since last year after falling ill with influenza during a family holiday in Msida, a city in Malta Ms Seguna claims staff only told the family they would have to fly to London for treatment four days later, as his condition continued to deteriorate. The very next day, the family embarked on the three-hour journey to the UK via air ambulance to make it in time for Zayn's emergency surgery. However, on arrival at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the couple were heartbroken to find the damage to his leg was too severe. They say doctors were forced to amputate one of Zayn's leg from below the knee. On January 16, the little boy was given the green light to fly home to Australia but suffered complications during the flight. After landing in Melbourne, he was rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital where he spent 10 days battling another round of influenza in the ICU. The family had flown 17 hours from Melbourne to Msida, a city in Malta, to attend a relative's funeral and were only a few days into the rip when Zayn fell ill On February 5, after a total of 73 days in hospital, his family were finally able to take Zayn home after he went two days without requiring any oxygen. However, this is just the start of a long journey ahead. The little boy will likely need prosthetics and mobility aids for the rest of his life. As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe page has raised $90,385 of its $100,000 goal. The money will go to the Seguna family, with Joanne currently on maternity leave and her husband, Saviour, having already used up all his annual leave. Organiser Karina Ruscigno said the family was 'ecstatic' to have Zayn home. 'Although they are concerned for Zayn's leg and the lifelong complications he may have, they are so very grateful to have their little boy awake and smiling,' she said. Ms Seguna says little Zayn is already learning to crawl and that she is hopeful for his future The family is considering taking action against the Mater Dei Hospital, having already written a complaint about Zayn's treatment. They say staff failed to report the little boy needed to be taken to another hospital to receive surgery for his damaged artery. Ms Seguna said the hospital is yet to respond to the complaint. However, she says Zayn is learning to crawl and remains hopeful for his future. 'I used to take photos of his feet, and I'll treasure those photos forever. I'm just grateful he's here. I want him to grow up doing anything he wants,' she said. A 'rabbi' who gained fame on social media for adopting nine boys as a single father was arrested after one of his sons accused him of years of sexual abuse. Hayim Nissim Cohen, 38, was charged in February with sexual assault and continuous sex abuse of a child under 17, after one of his sons called into a podcast to report the alleged crimes. The 17-year old boy claimed Cohen had abused a number of his brothers and threatened to kill them if they ever revealed the assault. Six of Cohen's children have since been removed from the home and placed in protective care. It was not the first time Cohen had been accused. He was out on bond over a 2019 case in which he was accused of sexual contact by a student, now 20, who was staying with Cohen during an exchange program from Spain. Cohen has also been accused of faking his Orthodox Jewish heritage and his alleged disabilities, having claimed he was raised in the Hasidic community in New York City. But records showed Cohen, who lives in Houston, was in fact from Odessa, Texas, and that his real name was Jeffrey Lujan Vejil, according to Reduxx. He regularly posed for photos while hooked up to an oxygen tank and in a wheelchair but his adopted sons claimed even this was faked. Hayim Nissim Cohen, 38, with his adopted sons. One of them said he'd sexually abused him and multiple other siblings. Cohen is also accused of faking his Judaism and chronic illnesses Hayim Nissim Cohen, 38, was charged in February with sexual assault and continuous sex abuse of a child under 17 years old The unnamed boy called in to a podcast recording on February 1 and accused Cohen of sexual misconduct, and used the word 'rape' to describe the abuse he said he had experienced since he was adopted at 11. He said he used a burner phone to avoid detection from Cohen, and that he was planning to wait until he was 18 to report the assault to police. He said he wanted to remain anonymous until then out of his fear of Cohen. The podcasters later called police, who were able to trace the phone and then went to see the boy. Initially he denied he had made the accusations, but later 'became visibly scared, shaking, and held his head down' when police played him a recording of the call. He eventually admitted he was the one who made the call, and told police he was 'not brave enough to say anything' about the abuse, according to ABC 7. Chief prosecutor for the Harris County District Attorney's Crimes Against Children Division, Janna Oswald, detailed some of the allegations against Cohen to the Houston Chronicle, saying he would allegedly lock the boys in a room for long stretches of the day, then force them to engage in sexual acts when he released them. One 16-year-old victim said Cohen would pepper spray them if they refused to comply. Oswald alleged Cohen intentionally used the guise of religion and a facade on social media to try to hide his true nature and crimes. Hayim Nissim Cohen, 38, has also been accused of fabricating his Jewish heritage and past The Houston home where Hayim Nissim Cohen lived with his nine adopted sons Hayim Nissim Cohen with his adoptive sons. He has been accused of faking disabilities, too That social media presence included a TikTok page with over 200,000 followers, along with widely viewed YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram profiles. On those accounts, Cohen and his family would showcase their religious lifestyle, and the adoptive patriarch advocated for single men to adopt children. 'Our mission is to help provide support and understanding from a Jewish perspective. Our goal is to reach out to other homeschooling families in order to create a network,' Cohen wrote on his website. 'We are open to all levels of observance. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions!' But some accused Cohen of fabricating that religious lifestyle and background. Hayim Nissim Cohen with his nine adopted sons. His 17-year-old first accused him of abuse Hayim Nissim Cohen has been an outspoken advocate of single men adopting sons Hayim Nissim Cohen in a social media post with his adoptive sons On social media and in public, Cohen often appeared in a wheelchair and wearing an oxygen mask. His own adoptive sons said even that was a fabrication, with one boy telling KTRK 'everything [Cohen] does is fake.' 'The (teen) stated that (Cohen) only uses his wheelchair when people come over or when he is in public,' Cohen's charging document read. 'The (teen) stated that (Cohen) has six oxygen tanks and does not use them and that (Cohen) only coughs uncontrollably when he is in court.' The attorney representing the exchange student Cohen was accused of molesting in 2019 told ABC13 the charges against him were no surprise. 'There were so many red flags,' said the attorney, Sherry Chandler. 'We all suspected (Cohen) is a pedophile. You don't just start one day. We all suspected the other kids were getting abused.' In that case, the student complained to the Sharpstown High School about Cohen's behavior. The student is suing Cohen and the group that placed him at his house, according to ABC 13. The death of a newborn baby whose 'abnormal' heart rate went undetected for 26 minutes was found to be 'potentially preventable'. Bodhi Leo Searle tragically passed on August 31, 2021, just one day after he was delivered at Flinders Medical Centre in south Adelaide. An inquiry, overseen by coroner Naomi Kereru, is investigating the circumstances of Bodhi's death - including an incident where his mother Diana Searle's heart rate was mistakenly monitored instead of his. Counsel assisting the coroner Sally Giles told the inquest it will later hear evidence from an expert witness that Bodhi's death was 'potentially preventable' if his heart rate was monitored correctly, the Adelaide Advertiser reports. Bodhi's mother Mrs Searle had a normal pregnancy and went into labour on August 29, 2021 - her 30th birthday - and checked into the hospital at about 5.30pm. She was put under the care of midwife Stephanie Geyer and first-year student midwife Thea Koke after her usual midwife informed Mrs Searle she was sick. Ms Giles told the inquiry Ms Geyer first noticed something was wrong with Bodhi's heart rate at 11.26pm. Mrs Searle was taken to the medical ward and hooked up for CTG monitoring at about 11.44pm. 'However, at approximately 12.15am, it was identified that for around 30 minutes the CTG trace had been recording the maternal heart rate and not the foetal,' she said. 'Corrections were made to identify the foetal heart rate, which by that time was severely abnormal.' The registrar and only obstetrician on the ward said they were 'not feeling confident' to perform a 'complex instrumental delivery on her own'. However, Bodhi was delivered shortly before 1am without instrumental intervention. Ms Giles said Bodhi's failing health was 'immediately apparent'. He was blue, pale and scored zero points on his Apgar score - used measure a baby's colour, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone and breathing. 'There was no evidence of any respiratory effort and there was no identifiable heart rate or pulse present,' Ms Giles said. First-year student midwife Thea Koke (pictured outside the Coroner's Court) said Bodhi's appearance after birth was concerning It was a full 18 minutes before Bodhi took his first breath. He was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit where doctors found signs of abnormal brain activity. Bodhi Searle passed at 1.18pm on August 31, 2021. His autopsy found he suffered hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy - a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen. Ms Giles said witness Associate Professor Stefan Kane found Bodhi's death was 'potentially preventable'. 'It was probable that earlier application of the CTG and earlier confirmation of foetal rather than maternal heart rate tracing would have permitted earlier identification of foetal compromise which in turn would have prompted earlier efforts to expedite the birth,' Ms Giles said. Student midwife Thea Koke was the inquest's first witness. Mother Diana Searle went to Flinders Medical Centre (above) on August 29, 2021, where her heart rate was mistakenly monitored instead of Bodhi's She said she attached the CTG monitor to Mrs Searle, adding Ms Geyer later adjusted the monitor. Ms Koke said there had been 'no extreme urgency' in the delivery room and that she'd placed Bodhi on Mrs Searle's chest before resuscitation efforts began. 'I think everybody saw what Bodhi looked like and straight away was concerned,' she said. Lauren Gavranich on behalf of Southern Adelaide Local Health Network - which includes the Flinders Medical Centre - apologised for the 'tragic circumstances surrounding' Bodhi's death. The inquest continues. The last thing Melbourne mum Annie O'Brien did before she died was miscarry her second child. The 37-year-old died from multi-organ failure caused by a sepsis infection within hours of delivering her baby at 18 weeks, and less than 24 hours after falling ill in August 2017. An inquest into her death has examined potential hospital system failings which might have contributed to the death of Ms O'Brien, the mother of a 14-month-old son and a partner in a law firm. State Coroner John Cain didn't make any findings about the nursing or medical management she received at either Holmesglen Private Hospital or St Vincent's hospital. But he found there were deficiencies in the care she received and there were several issues which warranted comment. Annie O'Brien (pictured) died from multi-organ failure caused by a sepsis infection within hours of delivering her baby at 18 weeks, and less than 24 hours after falling ill in August 2017 State Coroner John Cain didn't make any findings about the nursing or medical management she received at either Holmesglen Private Hospital or St Vincent's hospital (pictured) Medical experts gave varying opinions on whether Ms O'Brien could have survived with antibiotics at any stage of her treatment. 'The expert evidence ... could only be described as unsettled,' he said. Ms O'Brien's greatest chance of survival would have been if antibiotics were administered by 8.30pm on August 14, he found. By 10.15pm there was no nursing or medical management, including the administration of intravenous antibiotics, that could have prevented her death, he said. The day she fell ill, Ms O'Brien left work early with gastroenteritis symptoms. An obstetrician prescribed rest and paracetamol. She hadn't improved by the evening so went to the nearby Holmesglen Private Hospital in Moorabbin. Hui Li Shi was the sole doctor responsible for the 10-bed emergency department that night and took more than an hour to see Ms O'Brien. At 9.30pm she was feeling much better, but 45 minutes later Ms O'Brien was writhing in pain. At that point Dr Shi should have reconsidered her initial diagnosis and looked at sepsis as a diagnosis to exclude, Judge Cain said. 'Dr Shi did not do this,' Judge Cain found, pointing to confirmation bias in symptoms supporting her initial diagnosis. When Ms O'Brien's membranes spontaneously ruptured at 11.30pm, Dr Shi believed her 40.3C temperature was causing a miscarriage. Dr Shi should have known gastro was not the likely cause and should have prescribed intravenous antibiotics, Judge Cain said. Regardless of Dr Shi not being aware of sepsis guidelines at the hospital, an emergency physician should be expected to be aware of the signs and symptoms, he said. Ms O'Brien was taken to St Vincent's Private Hospital, where her obstetrician Dr Vicki Nott was supposed to meet her. Dr Shi said she told Dr Nott about the urgency of Ms O'Brien's transfer. But Dr Nott said she didn't know it was a medical emergency and didn't arrive until an hour after Ms O'Brien. She sat in her car for 10 minutes researching antibiotics. After raising a sepsis diagnosis at 1.45am, Dr Nott then disappeared for 20 minutes and could not be contacted by midwives while searching for sepsis guidelines. While a prescription for antibiotics was written at 2am, Ms O'Brien didn't receive her first dose until 2.46am. She only received them after midwife Raechel Miller spotted the medication sitting on a bedside table. Nearly an hour after that first dose Ms Miller found a second dose in the hospital room, but Ms O'Brien had already been transferred to theatre. Dr Nott should have prescribed the antibiotics at 12.40pm and they should have been administered within 15 to 30 minutes of being prescribed, Judge Cain said. The day she fell ill, Ms O'Brien left work early with gastroenteritis symptoms. An obstetrician prescribed rest and paracetamol. She hadn't improved by the evening so went to the nearby Holmesglen Private Hospital in Moorabbin (pictured) Ms O'Brien's greatest chance of survival would have been if antibiotics were administered by 8.30pm on August 14, State Coroner Cain found (pictured, Ms O'Brien) An inquest into her death has examined potential hospital system failings which might have contributed to the death of Ms O'Brien, the mother of a 14-month-old son and a partner in a law firm She should have known which antibiotics to give, he said. Ms Miller and the midwife in charge, Gillian Codd, should be commended for their care of Ms O'Brien, Judge Cain said. Traumatised by her patient's death, Ms Miller has since changed careers. Ms O'Brien underwent surgery and received plasma and platelet transfusions but went into cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated but continued to deteriorate. At 12.30pm her family was told her condition was not survivable. Life support was switched off and she died at 1.55pm. The Met Office has extended its yellow weather warning for snow and ice to cover the South West as wintry showers will hit most of the UK today amid temperatures plummeting to -15C. Icy weather conditions have affected central and southern areas of England and Wales today and tomorrow after snowfall swept in from Scotland overnight. Tonight could be Britain's coldest night of the year thus far with temperatures expected to fall to -10C in rural areas of the North, and as low as -3C or -4C in the South. Highland areas of Scotland could also fall as low as -15C. The forecaster has also warned that up to 15in of snow could hit the UK this week as blizzards are forecast in northern areas on Thursday and Friday, with fears of red and amber weather warnings in some areas. Meanwhile, four of five coal plants that had been kept on standby overnight will be warmed 'for potential use' today. TUESDAY: A yellow warning was in place for London, the Thames Valley, East Anglia, parts of the Midlands and South Wales until 10am today. An identical alert was in place in Northern Ireland WEDNESDAY: A greater area of the South West is covered by the Met Office's snow and ice warning tomorrow, with much of the East and North of England and Scotland also expected to be hit by wintry showers again THURSDAY: A yellow weather warning for snow and ice will remain in place for the South East, South West and London, while snow is also expected across Wales and the entire North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland FRIDAY: Warnings for snow are no longer in place for the South, but wintry showers are expected to hit parts of northern Wales, England, Northern Ireland and the southern half of Scotland The National Grid said: 'The ESO has issued an additional notification that we will warm four of our five winter contingency coal units for potential use on Tuesday 7 March. 'This notification is not confirmation that the unit will be used on Tuesday, but that it will be available to the ESO, if required. 'The ESO as a prudent system operator has developed these tools for additional contingency to operate the network as normal. This does not mean electricity supplies are at risk.' National Grid made a unit at West Burton available last night, while a second in the same area and two plants at Drax, North Yorkshire, have now been made available for use if needed. The extra power will be available between 4.30pm and 8.30pm today. They are covered by 'winter contingency' contracts with the Government following fears over a shortage of power supplies this winter. It comes after temperatures dipped to -7.6C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands on last night, with the small hamlet covered in 12cm of snow more than anywhere else in the UK. A number of schools have also been closed in Aberdeenshire today due to heavy snow making roads undriveable for many. Met Office spokesman told Sky News that parts of the UK could be issued with red and amber weather warnings due to increasingly strong winds. Meteorologist Alex Burkill added that it is not 'out of the question' for the wintry conditions to escalate into a named storm. He added: 'Where we have lying snow and clear skies tonight we're going to see temperatures dropping as low as -15C tonight.' Sheep stand with lambs in a snow dusted field in Ardenteggle, County Laois, Ireland, earlier today People walk their dogs through the snow beside a row of beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland Heavy snowfall in Aberdeen today, where a number of schools have been forced to close due to the wintry conditions A dog walker on the snow covered sand dunes at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland this morning People walk their dogs through the snow beside the beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland this morning Weather warnings for snow and ice are currently in place across much of Britain due to an Arctic blast Goathland train station in North Yorkshire as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the UK TYNEMOUTH: Snow fell on Front Street just after midnight this morning. Much of Britain is waking up to snow after a heavy Arctic Blast swept across the nation overnight TYNESIDE: Arctic conditions arrived in the early hours of the morning today in Cullercoats, North Tyneside. Forecaster say icy weather is expected in central and southern areas of England and Wales today and tomorrow BEDFORDSHIRE: Snowfall in Toddington, Bedfordshire, this morning. Up to 15in of snow could hit the UK this week as blizzards and heavy snow are forecast on Thursday and Friday The Met Office said most of the UK would see sunny spells overhead this afternoon, but snow and hail showers are expected to continue in northern areas. The heaviest and most frequent of the wintry conditions are in northern Scotland, where a 'bitterly cold northerly wind' is blowing. It comes as a yellow weather warning was in place for London, the Thames Valley, East Anglia, parts of the Midlands and South Wales until 10am today. An identical warning was in place in Northern Ireland. The Met Office said 'very cold Arctic air' began to move southwards yesterday, with snow showers developing across northern Scotland. People in southern England and South Wales can expect to wake up to snow tomorrow, but it is as yet unclear whether it will settle, the Met Office has said. Snow is more likely to settle when it moves across much of northern England, Northern Ireland and much of Scotland on Thursday. The conditions follow a combination of weather phenomena which have occurred for the first time since the 'Beast from the East' brought days of freezing weather in late February and March 2018. A police car drives down the A93 in Scotland following heavy snowfall overnight, with more expected over the coming days STOKENCHURCH: A man walks his dog through a snow-covered field in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire, as temperatures dip in the South. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place for large parts of the UK NORTH YORKSHIRE: Wintery scenes in the village of Goathland this morning as snow showers and freezing temperatures hit the region overnight NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through a snow covered field near Alnwick Castle as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK LOCKTON: Snowy conditions in Locton this morning off the A169 in the North York Moors National Park. More weather warnings are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country STOKENCHURCH: Snowfall in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire this morning. Further heavy snow, accompanied by strong winds, is forecast from the early hours of Thursday until Friday evening NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through a snow covered field at Alnwick Castle. Milder and unsettled weather is due to spread across England and Wales next week Snow in the west end of Aberdeen, Scotland, as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across much of the UK this week Met Office spokesman Alex Deakin said: 'The weather early on Tuesday will mostly be rain but some places could wake up to a dusting of snow. 'On Wednesday, we could see snow across southern England and South Wales in the morning and again in the evening in the South West and South Wales.' Further heavy snow, accompanied by strong winds, is forecast in the North from the early hours of Thursday until Friday evening. The Met Office said roads could become blocked, leaving vehicles stranded, while some communities could be 'cut off for several days'. The forecaster's outlook adds: 'Mostly dry and cold in the North Thursday, but widespread snow, rain and strong winds spreading north-east. 'Clearing Friday, but further rain and snow gradually moving north on Saturday.' Milder and unsettled weather is due to spread across England and Wales next week. Weather warnings are in place across the country for ice and snow until Friday. The South is more likely to see snowfall today and tomorrow. The forecaster has warned of travel delays, with 'some vehicles and passengers stranded', along with power cuts and an increased risk of injury due to slippery footpaths and pavements. NORTHUMBERLAND: Cars travel along a snow covered A1 motorway at Alnwick this morning. Weather warnings are in place across the country for ice and snow until Friday NORTH YORKSHIRE: Binmen work in snowy conditions in Briggswath NORTHUMBERLAND: Snow-covered fields surround Alnwick Castle this morning NORTH YORKSHIRE: A car with a partially cleared windscreen drives through icy conditions in Briggswath this morning NORTHUMBERLAND: Cars travel along a snow covered A1 motorway at Alnwick this morning Up to 4 inches of snow will fall across northern England and Scotland. It will bring the threat of sleet and snow in the Midlands and southern England later in the week. A warning for snow and ice is already in place in much of northern and eastern Scotland and north-east England. The area covered by it is set to extend as far south as Hull from tomorrow before it lifts at 10am tomorrow. From Thursday into Friday, as much as 12-16in could be dumped on higher parts of the Central Belt, the Southern Uplands and southern Highlands. This could affect roads including the A1, the M74 and the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Rail journeys are also likely to be affected and airports may find it impossible to keep runways clear of snow. The Met Office warned travel disruption is likely and journey times by car, train and bus may take longer than usual. Highways England has issued a severe weather alert for the South East and South West between 12pm today and 3am tomorrow. A spokesman said: 'There is a severe weather alert for snow affecting the South East and South West of England. Road users are advised to check ahead and plan for disruption to their journeys. 'Snow is forecast to move north into the South West and the South East tonight. Snow amounts are expected to be small but could be widespread away from immediate coastal areas, with 1-2cm for many and up to 2-5cm on any modest hills (Haldon hill in particular). Dog walkers on a snow covered beach at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, with their pets earlier today An overturned delivery van off the road on the A988 near Alford, Aberdeenshire, amid dangerous driving conditions A train travels through the snow covered trees as it passed through Egton Station this morning in North Yorkshire Holy Trinity Church and its surrounding fields in Bilboa, County Carlow, in Ireland Flowers dusted with snow in Bilboa as a cold front passes over the UK and Ireland 'The snow is expected to ease during the morning but will be followed by a more significant second wave during Wednesday afternoon and through the evening. 'The snow will most likely lose ground in Devon but elsewhere it will be prolonged and occasionally heavy, particularly during the evening rush and to the east of the M5, leading to potential slow traffic and loss of traction on steep inclines (including the A417). 'Current estimations are for accumulations of 2-5cm widely with a chance of 8-10cm on any modest hills (North Wessex Downs, Surrey Hills, North Downs). Any snow will gradually ease after midnight, followed by a cold night with lying snow and icy stretches leading to residual impacts during the morning travel period.' Gatwick Express has also warned it was expecting the wintry conditions to impact services. A statement said: 'Snow and ice are expected on the Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern networks. 'Snow is expected to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, although not all areas of the network will be equally affected. Ice may cause an additional hazard, especially overnight. 'Staff are working hard to minimise any disruption, but there could be some changes to trains.' Early morning walkers make their way along the snow-covered coastline of Tynemouth in North Tyneside TYNE & WEAR: Storm clouds rolled in over St Mary's Lighthouse, just north of Whitley Bay, as the sun was setting yesterday. Forecasters say temperatures are likely to stay far below average for early spring for much of the week NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through snow near Alnwick Castle this morning as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK and more are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country Even colder overnight conditions are set to hit cities later in the week with the mercury plunging to -4C in London and -6C in Birmingham and Belfast. London mayor Sadiq Khan has activated the capital's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol opening additional emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough in the freezing conditions. He said: 'With freezing conditions expected in London through this week, Ive activated my severe weather emergency protocol which will ensure anyone seen sleeping rough across the capital is offered a place in emergency accommodation.' Forecasters say temperatures are likely to stay far below average for early spring for much of the week. Below freezing temperatures are predicted to continue until March 11 at least amid a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also placed North East England, North West England and Yorkshire under a level three cold weather alert, with the rest of England at level two, until midnight on Thursday. A level three alert means there is a 90 per cent chance of severely cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow, which could increase the health risk to vulnerable people. They are at risk of slipping and falling on icy patches of untreated roads, pavements and paths while some rural communities could become cut off from the power grid. The UKHSA has urged people to look out for those most at risk from cold weather such as those with medical conditions or aged over 65. BRAEMAR: Snow fell on the A93 yesterday as parts of Scotland were under a yellow weather warning for snow and ice. The Met Office warned that travel disruption is likely and journey times by car, train and bus may take longer than usual SHETLAND: A view of the snowfall in Shetland yesterday morning. Forecasters say high ground areas of northern Scotland can expect the most snowfall this week BALLATER: Skiers and snowboarders take advantage of the snowfall at Glenshee Ski Centre yesterday as parts of Scotland are under a yellow met warning for snow and ice CORGARFF: Cars got stuck in drifting snow along the A939 yesterday near Corgarff, Scotland Experts also advise avoiding exposure to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls. The plunging temperatures are the latest cold snap to hit the UK as it battles with soaring energy bills during the cost of living crisis. The UKHSA said for those struggling, it provides free advice on energy efficiency and national grants to help warm homes. It advised that wearing several layers of thinner clothing will keep people warmer than wearing one thick layer, and that consuming hot food and drinks is also effective. First Lady Jill Biden insisted in a rare one-on-one interview that she loves her under-fire stepson Hunter unconditionally. President Biden's wife was asked in a sit-down interview with CNN's Arlette Saenz about an ongoing probe into Hunter Biden's taxes and whether he submitted a fraudulent form when trying to purchase a gun. She suggested she does not believe the ongoing probe will have any affect on her husband's decision to run for re-election in 2024, noting: 'We deal with it, I guess by just having a different perspective. 'I mean I love Hunter,' Jill said. 'I'll support him any way I can and that's how I look at things.' But the interview came as Republican lawmakers claim that more than a dozen 'whistleblowers' have provided 'potentially criminal' information about Hunter Biden to the FBI. First Lady Jill Biden was asked in a one-on-one interview what she thought about Republican probes into Hunter Biden's taxes She replied that she loved her under-fire stepson unconditionally and will support him. They are pictured with the president and Hunter's son Beau in November On Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, told Attorney General Merrick Garland that the Justice Department must review the president's son, who was subject to a federal probe involving tax matters and a potentially false statement on a form for a gun purchase. 'Recent lawfully-protected whistleblower disclosures to my office indicate that the Justice Department and FBI had at one time over a dozen sources that provided potentially criminal information relating to Hunter Biden,' said Grassley, who has a long record of dealing with whistleblowers in the Senate. He and Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, previously suggested that the Justice Department investigate public corruption. They wrote a letter including 220 pages of bank records just days before the November 2020 elections. Garland, though, said he has 'promised to leave the matter of Hunter Biden in the hands of the US Attorney for Delaware. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz also brought up the Hunter Biden investigation, in an angry question period where he accused Garland and the Justice Department of bias in the review of Trump over January 6 and classified documents. 'I believe you very much want to indict Donald J. Trump,' he told Garland, despite his repeated statements of trying to stand back and avoid interference. He has appointed special counsels in both matters. Cruz accused the DOJ of leaking information about the Hunter Biden probe as a 'predicate' for indicting Trump, demonstrating impartiality, and proving the department is 'even-handed.' Then he asked that the Hunter probe not focus on the president's son's battles with addiction, and focus instead on 'connections to his father and potential public corruption. That is the matter of public concern.' He asked Garland to commit to examining the 'public corruption aspect' and 'not simply scapegoat Hunter Biden as an individual.' Hunter Biden has struggled with addiction and has served on the board of allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma, worked with Russian oligarchs, and had a multi-million-dollar deal with a Chinese government-linked oil company. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said at a Senate hearing on Wednesday more than a dozen 'whistleblowers' brought forward information about Hunter Biden Hunter served on the board of allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma, worked with Russian oligarchs, and had a multi-million-dollar deal with a Chinese government-linked oil company. Republicans have accused his father, the president, of knowingly profiting off of his son's business ventures, and in turn claim Hunter previously leveraged his father's influential stature as then-vice president to further his foreign deals. Such ventures include a handful of big payout deals with members of the Chinese communist party, as well as Hunter's infamous deal with Burisma holdings, which paid the then-vice president's son a whopping $1 million annually, allegedly in exchange for exposure to Biden. The accusations were spurred by emails recovered in 2020 from a laptop hard drive likely belonging to Hunter Biden, which appear to show him offering meetings with his father to foreign and domestic partners among other deal-making discussion. The gun investigation, meanwhile, relates to Hunter Biden's attestation on a 2018 handgun purchase form not to be 'an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.' Volvo C40 electric vehicle / Courtesy of Volvo Korea By Kim Hyun-bin Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan is scheduled to visit Korea next week, and the trip is drawing attention to see if the automaker intends to increase cooperation with major domestic battery companies LG Energy Solution (LGES), Samsung SDI and SK On, according to industry officials, Tuesday. Rowan is scheduled to visit Korea from March 12 through 14, on what will be his first trip here since he took office in March last year. "The purpose of the CEO's visit is to inspect major markets after taking office," a Volvo Korea official said. Rowan is one of the people leading Volvo's transition to electric vehicles (EV). During his visit to Korea, he will be able to discuss ways to cooperate with domestic battery makers. Volvo is pushing for a complete EV transition by 2030. As part of that plan, the automaker plans to release a new EV each year. Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan A Ukrainian schoolgirl who died after being found unconscious on a beach in Devon was a refugee fleeing from Putin's war, it has emerged - as tributes were paid to the 'kind and caring' 14-year-old. Police were called to reports that the teenager - who is believed to have been staying with a local family alongside her mother - had gone missing from the seaside town of Dawlish on Saturday evening. Searches by a police helicopter and coastguard tracked the teenager to a beach in the town and she was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, where she later died. Formal identification has taken place and next of kin have been informed, Devon and Cornwall Police said. Police were called to reports of the teenage girl missing from Dawlish on Saturday evening (image taken on Monday) The youngster has been described as a 'kind and caring person' by pupils at a local school that she was attending, The Sun reported. One said: 'She went to my school. It's so sad, she was a lovely girl.' Another pupil added: 'We just got the news at the school I go to because she was a student here and we all think it's horrible. She was such a kind and caring person and it is so sad to see her go.' Her death is currently being treated as unexplained, with officers appealing for anyone with CCTV or doorbell camera footage to come forward. The tragic incident has upset many local people in the area who are desperate for answers. Carol Evans, a 72-year-old who volunteers at The Children's Society shop in Dawlish, said: 'I'm absolutely horrified, I think it's dreadful. I hope it wasn't somebody else that caused it. 'I think people will be really upset about it. I 've worked here for over 10 years. You get to know everybody here - I know 99 per cent of Dawlish. 'We made friends with a lot of Ukrainian families - a lot of the ones we got on really friendly with have gone back.' Searches by a police helicopter and coastguard tracked down the teenager to a beach in the town and she was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital Bike shop owner Radyk Modrzynsk said: 'I'm in shock because my daughter is also 14. I will definitely be talking to her about the situation when she gets home from school. It makes me worried for her safety too.' The owner of a local farm shop expressed concern for the girl's family and described himself as 'in shock' when he heard the news. He added: 'I've got teenage children as well and I'm just in shock by it. Our concern is for the poor girl's family.' Meanwhile, a post office worker said: 'After everything those poor Ukrainian families have gone through back home. It's really awful to hear.' Jim Kernaghan, a 60-year-old senior kitchen assistant at the Brunswick Arms, said: 'On Saturday evening the helicopter was coming over from the beach. 'It was there hovering around and circling for a while, so we assumed something was happening. I thought somebody might have got drunk and fallen in the water. 'Nothing like this has ever happened in Dawlish.' Mark Barber, who is 38 and works as a chef at the pub, said: 'I'd just like a bit more information really because there's nothing out there. I've got my own children I'm worried about. The local community in Dawlish have said they are looking for answers about what happened 'I found out on the news. I'm concerned it's something I need to be worried about. We often see Ukrainian families come through the pub for meals. It's really sad news.' A male customer at the pub, who drove out to the Polish/Ukrainian border in a van at the beginning of the war to deliver hundreds of pounds worth of aid to Ukrainians, said: 'What I saw over there broke my heart. I remember giving out teddies to a little kid who'd lost everything. What I saw there broke my heart. 'For that young girl, she's seen a lot in Ukraine and she's come here for a better life, and that's happened to her - it's heart-breaking.' Mayor of Dawlish, Councillor Lisa Mayne said: 'Our thoughts and profound condolences go out to the family, friends, and wider Ukrainian community in Dawlish at this heart-breaking time.' Detective Inspector Becky Davies said: 'We were called on the evening of Saturday 4 March with reports of a 14-year-old girl missing from the Dawlish area. 'Localised searches took place with support from the police helicopter and coastguard and an unconscious person was found on Dawlish Beach. 'She was subsequently airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where she later sadly died.' Police are continuing to conduct their investigation along the Dawlish coastline DI Davies added: 'The deceased girl was a Ukrainian national who was living in the Dawlish area; contact has been made with the Ukrainian Embassy and the Home Office are also aware of this incident. 'This death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries continue as to the circumstances surrounding this death. 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenage girl at this tragic time.' A post-mortem is due to take place on Thursday. Anyone with any information or who may have CCTV/doorbell footage that can assist officers with the investigation is asked to contact 101@dc.police.uk quoting case reference 50230052081. MailOnline has contacted the Home Office and the Ukrainian Embassy for comment. Former prime minister Scott Morrison says Australia's push to acquire nuclear submarines has always been about one thing: preventing war in the Pacific. Mr Morrison said the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact with the US and UK would ensure any adversary preparing to attack Australia thought twice. 'AUKUS and the Quad were the two most significant checks on Chinese assertion in our region we had seen in 20 years,' he told AAP. Mr Morrison, who orchestrated the AUKUS agreement before it was publicly announced in September 2021, said AUKUS and the Quad - which includes the US, Japan and India - would be integral in counterbalancing Chinese aggression. 'I knew it would have a major impact on Australia's capability for generations,' he said. Scott Morrison poses in his office after Question Time on Tuesday as speculation mounted that he would soon quit politics 'All of these interlocking relationships and alliances and agreements... are designed to do one thing - to ensure that no one thinks going to that next level is a good idea.' As speculation mounts over what submarine option the Albanese Government will choose, the former prime minister said the original plan was to have the three nations put more nuclear submarines in the water. 'This wasn't about having one of these countries build our boats. This was about all three countries having more boats,' he said. 'So we needed to look at something that would enhance that overall capability.' Defence Minister Richard Marles has echoed the language used by his US and UK counterparts that the new submarines will be 'a genuine collaboration between all three countries'. Some reports suggest a British Astute class submarine with an American weapons system could be used. An awkward handshake between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (centre left) Mr Morrison said while that option 'doesn't make it a trilateral boat', an increase in interoperability should be welcomed. 'That may well mean that there are more US weapons on more British boats,' he said. 'So that's good for the Americans. That's good for the British. The whole point of AUKUS was to boost everybody, not to drain any one for the benefit of the others.' Signing up to the AUKUS pact included tearing up a contract with France to build conventional submarines, costing Australian taxpayers $584 million. A decision on the submarine project - the largest Australian defence purchase in history - is expected this month. Speculation mounts that Scott Morrison will finally quit politics for a cushy consulting job as the ex-PM bails on Question Time early By Nic White for Daily Mail Australia Scott Morrison has walked out of Question Time early as speculation mounts that he will soon quit politics for the private sector. The former prime minister was censured by the House of Representatives on November 30 over the 'minister for everything' scandal. Parliament condemned him on a vote of 86 to 50 for secretly swearing himself in to five extra ministries in 2020 and 2021. Other than a defiant speech defending himself against the censure, Mr Morrison has not spoken in parliament since losing the May 22 election. The Member for Cook left the chamber on Tuesday a little before 3pm, well before Question Time concluded at 3.21pm. The Member for Cook left the chamber on Tuesday a little before 3pm, well before Question Time concluded at 3.21pm Mr Morrison is believed to have left to prepare for an interview with the Australian Associated Press, which did not begin until after Question Time was completed. He receives $217,060 a year, the basic backbencher salary, while in parliament. Sky News reported that 'informed sources' believed he would quit politics by the end of the year for a lucrative overseas consulting job. Mr Morrison in response said if he had anything to say about his political future, he would make it. For now, he insisted he was 'dutifully doing his job as a local MP and had returned home to The [Sutherland] Shire seeking to live quietly with his family', Sky reported. The Liberal Party stalwart in another interview on the weekend said he was enjoying his time as a backbencher. 'It's quite liberating,' he said when asked what it was like to be a backbencher, pointing out that holding ministries and then being PM for a decade was 'exhausting'. Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said she had been friends with Mr Morrison for 'many years' but hadn't heard anything about his retirement plans. 'He will make a decision in the best interests of himself and family and the people of Cook,' she said. China and 'reckless' America are heading for a 'catastrophic' conflict if Washington 'continues to speed down the wrong path,' a Beijing foreign minister warned on Tuesday in his first new conference since taking office. Qin Gang lashed out at the US over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan, while praising Beijing's growing ties to Moscow which he said 'set an example for global foreign relations'. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit, amid reports that China is considering sending arms to Russia to help with Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion. In his wide-ranging press conference, he dismissed warnings from Western countries that China may supply Russia with arms, saying it would not accept 'blame-shifting, sanctions, suppression and threats' targeting Beijing. His comments came as President Xi Jinping condemned what he branded an American-led 'suppression of China', as he urged the country's private sector to boost innovation and become more self-reliant. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (pictured) lashed out Tuesday at the US over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit China's technology ambitions have been hit with a raft of restrictions by the United States and its Western allies, and Beijing has doubled down on the need to shift away from imports for sectors perceived as vital to national security, such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The US has tightened sanctions on Chinese chipmakers, citing national security concerns and the risk of the technology being used by China's military. In his Tuesday press conference, Qin Gang went on to say the relationship between China and the US needed to be based on mutual interests and friendship, rather than 'US domestic politics and hysterical neo-McCarthyism'. Washington's China policy has 'entirely deviated from the rational and sound track,' Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp legislature, in his only formal scheduled news conference for the year, although he is also prone to taking questions during foreign visits. READ MORE: China could invade Taiwan by 2026 sparking a war that would drag in Australia and see missile attacks on the country, experts say Advertisement Washington 'means to contain and suppress China in all respects and get the two countries locked in a zero-sum game,' he said. 'It's so-called establishing guardrails and not seeking conflict simply means that China should not respond in words or action when slandered or attacked,' Qin said. 'That is just impossible.' 'If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation,' he said. 'Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity.' Qin's harsh and borderline apocalyptic language appeared to defy predictions that China was abandoning its aggressive 'wolf warrior' diplomacy in favour of a more moderate presentation as bilateral relations have hit a historical low over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China last week responded with indignation to US suggestions that COVID-19, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, originated from a leak of the virus from a Chinese lab. The Foreign Ministry accused the US of 'politicising the issue' in an attempt to discredit China. After serving briefly as ambassador to Washington, Qin was appointed foreign minister at the end of December, in which role he is junior to the Communist Party's senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi. Earlier in his career, he served as Foreign Ministry spokesperson, gaining a reputation for his tartly worded condemnations of China's critics. On Tuesday, Qin repeated criticisms of Washington's recent shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the US east coast, saying that was entirely an unexpected accident caused by force majuere. 'However, in violation of the spirit of international law, international customary practices, the United States acted with the presumption of guilt,' Qin said. 'It overreacted, abused force and dramatized the accident, creating a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided.' 'In this case the United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge,' Qin said. 'This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong and the result is that the US-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a planned visit to Beijing in the wake of the balloon incident, frustrating hopes for improved ties after meetings between top leaders at multilateral gatherings in late 2022. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, March 7 The massive balloon and its payload, including electronics and optics, have been recovered from the ocean floor and are being analysed by the FBI. Turning to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy China claims as its own territory, Qin called the issue the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. 'The US has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question,' he said, accusing the US of 'disrespecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' by offering the island political backing and furnishing it with defensive weapons in response to Beijing's threat to use force to bring it under Chinese control. 'Why does the US ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan?' Qin said. 'Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-US relations.' China has stepped up its diplomatic isolation and military harassment of Taiwan, prompting a string of visits from US and European politicians to show their support, along with new arms sales and a push by Taiwanese authorities to boost domestic defense capabilities. Beijing has also accused the West of 'fanning the flames' by providing Ukraine with weaponry to fend off the Russian invasion. China says it has a neutral stance in the war that began one year ago, but has also said it has a 'no-limits friendship' with Russia and has refused to criticise Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, or even refer to it as an invasion. Qin defended China's close relationship with Russia, saying the ties between Beijing and Moscow 'set an example for global foreign relations'. 'With China and Russia working together, the world will have a driving force,' he said. 'The more unstable the world becomes the more imperative it is for China and Russia to steadily advance their relations.' He told the news conference that the leadership of the two countries were in 'close contact' with the 'head of state' friendship forming the key foundation of this. 'The strategic partnership will surely grow from strength to strength,' he said. A Chinese peace proposal for Ukraine that has drawn praise from Russia but dismissals from the West has done nothing to lessen tensions as US officials have repeatedly accused China of considering the provision of weapons to Russia. Russia has already turned to Iran to prop up its dwindling supply of missiles and ammunition in its war against Ukraine. China has dismissed the suggestion that it could send arms to Russia, while the US has said it has credible intelligence that it is under consideration. 'Efforts for peace talks have been repeatedly undermined. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve a certain geopolitical agenda,' Qin said. 'Conflicts, sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. What is needed is calmness, reason and dialogue,' he said. The minister also attacked US actions in the Indo-Pacific, where Washington and its allies have been alarmed over China's moves to woo a number island nations. That includes signing a pact with the Solomon Islands that would allow port visits by Chinese warships for 'logistical replenishment' and for China to send police, military personnel and other forces to the Solomons 'to assist in maintaining social order.' 'The US Indo-Pacific strategy, while purportedly aimed at upholding freedom and openness, maintaining security and promoting prosperity in the region is, in fact, an attempt to gang up to form exclusive blocs to provoke confrontation by plotting an Asian-Pacific version of NATO,' Qin said. Qin's news conference came two days after the opening of the yearly meeting of the National People's Congress, a mostly ceremonial body assembled to approve government reports and, this year, a new slate of top-level appointments. That is expected to include a norm-breaking third five-year term as president for Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, who has eliminated all term limits to allow him to rule indefinitely. At Sunday's opening session, outgoing Premier Li Keqiang announced plans for a consumer-led revival of the struggling economy, setting this year's growth target at 'around 5%.' Separately, the Ministry of Finance announced a 7.2% budget increase for the ruling party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, to 1.55 trillion yuan ($224 billion), marking a slight increase over 2022. China's military spending is the world's second highest after the United States. A spokesperson for the congress said such spending was needed to meet 'complex security challenges.' Meanwhile, in a rare direct criticism of the US, Xi told industry leaders that 'Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our country's development'. Xi, who will be granted a third consecutive presidential term in the coming days at the highly choreographed National Party Congress (NPC), said the past five years have been riddled with a new set of hurdles that threaten to weigh down China's economic rise. China says it has a neutral stance in the war that began one year ago, but has also said it has a 'no-limits friendship' with Russia and has refused to criticise Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, or even refer to it as an invasion. Pictured: President Xi Jinping meets Vladimir Putin in 2022 According to state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi said China must 'have the courage to fight as the country faces profound and complex changes in both the domestic and international landscape', in the address to delegates at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which runs alongside the NPC. The 69-year-old said private firms 'should take the initiative to pursue high-quality development', Xinhua reported late Monday. Earlier this week Xi vowed to bolster China's manufacturing capacity and said the country should be able to fend for itself. 'I've always said there are two critical areas for China: one is to safeguard our rice bowl, and the other is to build up a strong manufacturing sector,' he said. 'As a great nation of 1.4 billion people, we must rely on ourselves... We can't depend on international markets to save us.' A brave mother and her teenage daughters have confronted the man who changed the course of their lives forever after ploughing into their car while driving drunk. Leanne Tyrrell-Raddatz and her daughters Lola and Phoebe, aged 15 and 18, were left traumatised after a horror car crash on February 6, 2021. The trio had been driving in Buccan, in Logan, Queensland, when Bryce Print crossed into the wrong lane and collided with their vehicle head-on. The tradesman, 35, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.190 when he was tested by police who found empty beer bottles on the floor of his car. Print last week pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death or grievous bodily harm while affected by an intoxicating substance and one count of driving while under the influence of liquor. On Tuesday, Print received a jail sentence of five years, suspended after 18 months, while his licence was disqualified for five months. Leanne Tyrrell-Raddatz and her daughters Lola and Phoebe, aged 15 and 18, were left traumatised after a horror car crash on February 6, 2021 The trio had been driving in Buccan, in Logan, Queensland, when Bryce Print crossed into the wrong lane and collided with their vehicle head-on (pictured is Leanne's car after the crash) Ms Tyrell-Raddatz and her daughters were given the opportunity to speak directly to the pool finisher in Beenleigh District Court. The women each read an emotional victim impact statements, each saying they would carry the trauma of the crash for the rest of their lives. Lola, who had been just 13-years-old, said she was still recovering from the moment she looked at the drivers seat and thought her mother was dead, the Courier Mail reported. 'My mum was pinned under the steering wheel, completely crushed. I believed my mum was dead,' she said. 'I lost my mum that day. How do I unsee that?' The teenager said after hearing her sister cry out in pain and blood 'pour' out of her nose and mouth, she had been forced to grow up too quickly. Her older sister Phoebe, who was 15-years-old at the time, told the court she feared her injuries could see her miss out on joining the military. Phoebe, aged 18, fractured her femur and her wrist in the collision, undergoing four surgeries Ms Tyrell-Raddatz endured more than triple the amount of operations her daughters did, undergoing 15 surgeries in total and spending four months in hospital Ms Tyrrell-Raddatz (pictured) said after the moment of impact she 'started floating to the white light on four occasions' and heard the jaws of life beside her head She fractured her femur and her wrist in the collision, undergoing four surgeries. Their mother endured more than triple the amount of operations they did, undergoing 15 surgeries in total and spending four months in hospital. Ms Tyrrell-Raddatz said after the moment of impact she 'started floating to the white light on four occasions' and heard the jaws of life beside her head. 'I was slumped over the steering wheel with blood coming from my nose and mouth, I couldn't breathe,' she said in her statement. 'In that exact moment I thought I was going to die. I thought this was it for me and I thought I was leaving this world and I'd never get to see my daughters grow up. 'From that day forward my life has been hell.' The mother-of-two said because of the pandemic, she had been alone in hospital and had suffered suicidal thoughts and 'just wanted to die'. Pictured is Phoebe and her mother before they went to pick up Lola from a birthday party, with the devastating crash occurring as they drove home on February 6, 2021 The mother-of-two said because of the pandemic, she had been alone in hospital and had suffered suicidal thoughts and 'just wanted to die' Two years on, She still feels the effects of the crash both physically and emotionally. 'I can't bend my knee completely, my arms are filled with metal, I have a broken pelvis, it affects my intimate life, my personal life, my working life,' she said. Ms Tyrrell-Raddatz said despite her family's pain, she feels sorry for Price. 'He is obviously suffering depression himself and has been struggling with alcoholism for a long time.' 'But he chose to drink and drive that day and changed our lives forever.' Australia Post said it will no longer deliver to a large part of Alice Springs after a postman of 38 years was pelted with rocks and threatened with a knife. All letter and parcel services have been suspended in five Alice Springs streets after the frightening series of violent attacks which left the veteran postie traumatised. The Post sent a letter to residents in Sadadeen, in the town's east, to inform them their service has been indefinitely suspended. Their mail will instead be available for collection at the local post office. 'Australia Post delivery personnel have a reasonable expectation to work and operate in a safe environment,' the letter reads, the ABC reported on Tuesday evening. Letter and parcel delivery services have been indefinitely suspended in five Alice Springs (above) streets A veteran postie of 38 years took stress leave last year after he was threatened with a knife and pelted with rocks Country Liberal Member for Braitling, Josh Burgoyne, said the postie went on stress leave last year. But upon their return they were threatened with a knife while delivering the mail. Northern Territory Police are investigating these claims. Mr Burgoyne told the ABC's Lee Robinson that Australia Post's concerns 'need to be taken very seriously'. 'When you've been in the job for 38 years, this is not something that you expect to happen,' he said. 'I just want to give my thanks to all posties that go out there and do a good job, but especially to this specific individual because they do a bloody good job.' He also called on the NT government agency Territory Families to investigate the postie's complaints. Country Liberal Member for Braitling Josh Burgoyne (above) called on the NT government agency Territory Families to investigate the postie's claims 'If there are people that are acting and behaving extraordinarily badly and committing alleged offences towards our posties, there (must be) things put in place to ensure that this stops,' he said. In a statement, Australia Post apologised for the 'inconvenience' caused by the service suspension and said it is working with authorities 'to create a safe working environment'. The news follows several months of intense scrutiny on the NT Government due to increased violent crime in Alice Springs. The community has faced a high number of break-ins and assaults and called on authorities to find a solution, particularly regarding the high level of youth crime. New law will be 'applied retrospectively' for all channel crossings Migrants entering UK illegally from today will be banned from claiming asylum Channel migrants will be banned from claiming asylum in the UK from today, under Rishi Sunak's bold plans. Landmark legislation will bar illegal arrivals from staying and applying on refugee, modern slavery or human rights grounds. Only children and the gravely ill will be allowed to remain in Britain while cases are considered. To avoid creating a dash to reach Britain, the rules will be effective from now even though it could be months before they are on the statute book. The new Bill is also expected to give Parliament the power to set an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted into the country - with local authorities being consulted on how many they can take. The PM is set to visit the South East as he trumpets the blueprint, part of his vow to 'stop the boats' after 45,000 people made the perilous crossing last year. However, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has conceded the initiative 'pushes the boundaries' of international law and the government faces challenges in the courts and in Parliament. Critics have also warned that the proposals are 'unworkable' because the UK does not have anywhere safe it can send the numbers who cross the Channel. Cabinet was being briefed on the measures this morning before the formal announcement. More migrants were brought ashore in Kent yesterday ahead of the new laws being unveiled Tough measures to tackle small boat arrivals will be rushed through Parliament and could be in place by summer. Pictured, a group is brought ashore in Dungeness yesterday Rishi Sunak said 'enough is enough' as Home Secretary Suella Braverman vowed that ministers would tackle the Channel crisis 'no ifs, no buts' Mr Sunak admitted voters 'have heard promises before' without seeing results, but insisted his legislation 'will mean that those who come here on small boats can't claim asylum here'. He wrote in the Sun: 'This new law will send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed.' The PM said it was a plan 'to do what's fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all'. Mr Sunak spoke to Rwanda's president Paul Kagame before unveiling his plans, and pledged to continue working with him to ensure their stalled project works. The Government has paid more than 140million to Rwanda but no flights forcibly carrying migrants to the capital of Kigali have taken off because of legal challenges. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully.' The PM will meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss further cooperation that will be required to reduce boat crossings. Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Braverman - who is due to make a Commons statement at lunchtime - said: 'We must stop the boats and that's what our bill will do. No more sticking plasters or shying away from the difficult decisions. 'Myself and the Prime Minister have been working tirelessly to ensure we have a bill that works we've pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis. 'If you come here illegally it must be that you cannot stay.' A duty will be placed on the Home Secretary to remove 'as soon as reasonably practicable' anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a 'safe third country'. And arrivals will be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK, with plans also to ban them from returning once removed. In the new bill, small boat migrants will be barred from lodging asylum claims and stripped of the ability to launch human rights appeals. Nearly all those who arrive by illegal routes will be able to appeal only once they have been deported. It is understood that migrants will be kept in student accommodation, cruise ships or holiday parks - in a change from hotels - until they are either sent back to their country of origin or to a third location such as Rwanda. It has been reported that the Home Office is planning to purchase two RAF bases in Lincolnshire and Essex to house migrants waiting for deportation. Asylum and human rights claims are expected to be 'radically curtailed' under the package. New legislation will mean claims of human trafficking will need to rely on significant proof to be claimed. Sources close to Mrs Braverman said: 'The British people have had enough. This Government is determined to stop the boats and ensure we have all the powers available to remove illegal migrants from the country. 'The Prime Minister and Home Secretary are resolved to this course of action, no ifs, no buts.' Another insider said: 'This new duty to remove will ensure that the Home Secretary's power to remove migrants takes precedence in law and ensures asylum, human rights and modern slavery claims are blocked.' In a separate development, ministers have not given up on sending the first plane-load of migrants to Rwanda this year. They have been encouraged by December's court ruling that the deal with the African country is lawful. Although the policy is still facing legal challenges ministers believe it could even be possible for an asylum flight to take off by the summer. The full package of immigration measures is due to be unveiled by Mr Sunak and Mrs Braverman later today. Immigration laws brought into force under Boris Johnson set out how the Home Secretary can declare a migrant's claim inadmissible if they passed through a safe third country such as France. Today's strengthened package will see this applied almost across the board to all migrants. The move will expand powers introduced by Labour in 2003 'non-suspensive appeals' that allow asylum seekers to be removed after their initial claim is rejected. However use of the powers has slumped. There were 1,285 asylum cases earmarked for the process in 2018, but in the first six months of last year only 171 were deemed eligible. The Illegal Migration Bill will also see Channel migrants banned for life from coming back to Britain. Ministers have insisted that they can ignore last-minute interventions by Strasbourg judges. A new Bill of Rights, published last June but currently on hold, states unequivocally that 'no account is to be taken of any interim measure issued by the European Court of Human Rights'. But it is not yet known whether today's legislation will include the measures. Home Secretary Suella Braverman James Cleverly and Dominic Raab were in Downing Street for Cabinet today Rolled- up inflatable dinghies and outboard engines stored at a yard in Dover A rarely-used measure under the Human Rights Act known as a Section 19.1.B statement will be deployed to get the legislation through Parliament Ministers are braced for opposition from the Whitehall establishment dubbed the 'Blob' over their plan to tackle the Channel crisis. Critics include former Home Office mandarin Sir David Normington who said it was 'highly doubtful' the proposals would lead to a fall in crossings. Refugee charities and a trade union that represents immigration officers were also among those who questioned early details of the scheme. Sir David told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'At the heart of the policy is a gamble that if you say it's illegal to come in a small boat people will stop coming. I think that is highly doubtful.' He predicted the Government's plan would face 'very great' problems. Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union also cast doubt on the plans, describing them as 'quite confusing'. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council described the legislation as flawed, adding: 'It's unworkable, costly and won't stop the boats.' Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK condemned the proposed measures as 'disgraceful posturing and scaremongering'. Asked whether the plan was legally feasible, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer replied: 'I don't know that it is and I think we've got to be very careful with international law here.' But the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'We've seen too many lives lost attempting this dangerous and unnecessary journey, and the number of people entering the country is simply unsustainable. As we've always said, we recognise there will likely be challenges in many forms to this sort of legislation.' A No 10 spokesman said the Government would stop all small boats but declined to put a timescale on the plans. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's brother was finally tracked down on Tuesday morning after failing to show up for a corruption hearing at the state parliament. After being missing for a month while summons servers looked for him, Jean-Claude Perrottet was ambushed by a TV crew on a quiet suburban Sydney street. Mr Perrottet managed to avoid appearing at the inquiry into the Hills Shire Council in Sydney's north, which was sparked by claims made under parliamentary privilege by state Liberal MP Ray Williams of deals between party operatives and developers. Dressed in a green polo shirt, khaki shorts and brown sand shoes, he seemed shocked to be approached by a 9News reporter asking 'Where have you been?' 'I've been overseas,' Mr Perrottet replied, though he is now reported to be staying with relatives. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's brother Jean-Claude (pictured) has finally been tracked down after failing to show up for a corruption hearing at the state parliament He had a simple answer for why he didn't appear at the inquiry, saying 'As I put it in my statement, I was overseas.' He had no reply, though, when asked 'Why did you try and dodge it?' The inquiry, which ended last week without managing to summons Mr Perrottet, heard claims of attempted Liberal Party branch stacking and an alleged $50,000 bid to unseat federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke from his Mitchell electorate in 2019. Mr Williams alleged Liberal Party members had been paid to install new councillors on the council to benefit a development company called Toplace. Liberal powerbroker Christian Ellis was also called to appear but also could not be tracked down to be served with a summons. He is still missing. The committee said it was the most committed, serious and coordinated avoidance it had ever seen. Its final report recommended a new inquiry be established after the election, and that it should call on Jean-Claude Perrottet, Charles Perrottet, Christian Ellis and Toplace director Jean Nassif to give evidence. Mr Nassif is currently in Lebanon. His glamorous lawyer daughter Ashlyn Nassif, 27, faced Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court last Wednesday charged with fraud after four family properties, including her father's home and office, were raided. Ashlyn Nassif, 27, faced Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court last Wednesday charged with fraud after four family properties, including her father Jean's home and office, were raided NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (centre) is pictured with his wife Helen campaigning ahead of the March 25 election (holding baby Celeste) One of Dominic Perrottet's other brothers, Charles, was also called but sent a letter to the inquiry saying as he no longer lived in NSW he was not required to give evidence. 'I decline your invitation. I am a resident of Victoria. I have resided in Victoria since January 2021,' he wrote. After initially warning the media to 'leave my family out of it' and refusing to answer questions, Premier Perrottet eventually announced an internal Liberal Party investigation into the claims. 'The state director from the organisation is looking into those matters,' he said. 'And as I've said, if anyone has done anything wrong, appropriate action should be taken, the book should be thrown at them.' Jean-Claude Perrottet (pictured left), who was the subject of a state-wide search to serve him with a summons to appear before an inquiry, is now holed up at his in-laws' home Out campaigning on Tuesday, Mr Perrottet was asked yet again if he did not know where his brother had been. He simply replied, 'That's correct.' The Premier had previously blamed Labor and the Greens for orchestrating the inquiry to embarrass him in the lead up to the March 25 state election. On Tuesday morning, an unidentified man going into the same house Jean-Claude Perrottet had entered was asked if this was all just a 'Labor smear campaign?' He shrugged his shoulders and said 'Probably.' The sister of Kim Jong Un warned Tuesday that it would be a 'clear declaration of war' if North Korean missiles were shot down during their test launches over the Pacific Ocean. The United States and South Korea have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of growing threats from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, which has conducted a wave of weapons tests in recent months. North Korea has said its nuclear weapons and missile programmes are for self-defence, and has bristled over US-South Korea military exercises, describing them as rehearsals for an invasion. 'It will be regarded as a clear declaration of war against the DPRK, in case such military response as interception takes place against our tests of strategic weapons,' Kim Yo Jong said in a statement, using North Korea's official name. 'The Pacific Ocean does not belong to the dominium of the U.S. or Japan.' This photo provided by the North Korean government shows the test-firing of what it says a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile Image published by KCNA shows a strategic cruise missile launching drill staged at dawn in Kim Chaek City, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, 23 February 2023 Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, warned any attempts to intercept missile testing by US or South Korea will be considered an act of war North Korea is 'always on standby to take appropriate, quick and overwhelming action at any time', she added in her statement published by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). This month, the US and South Korean militaries will hold their largest joint drills in five years. Ahead of those exercises, named Freedom Shield and scheduled for at least 10 days starting March 13, the allies held air drills this week featuring a nuclear-capable US B-52 heavy bomber. In a separate statement on Tuesday, North Korea's foreign ministry accused the United States of 'intentionally' ramping up tensions. 'The recent joint air drill... clearly shows that the US scheme to use nuclear weapons against the DPRK is being carried forward at the level of an actual war,' it said in a statement published by KCNA. 'We express deep regret over the irresponsible and worrying muscle-flexing of the US and South Korea.' Last year, Pyongyang declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear power and fired a record-breaking number of missiles. Kim Jong Un recently called for an 'exponential' increase in weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 1, 2023 An RC-12X Guardrail surveillance aircraft lands at U.S. Army base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, 06 March 2023, as South Korea and the United States began a four-day crisis management exercise Colonel Isaac Taylor (L) of the United Nations Command (UNC), Combined Forces Command (CFC), and United States Forces Korea (USFK), stands alongside Colonel Lee Sung-jun of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff during a press briefing about the 2023 Freedom Shield Exercises North Korea has framed its missile tests and military drills as justified countermeasures following US-South Korea drills. Last week, it called on the United Nations to urge a halt to these exercises, and reiterated that its nuclear weapons ensured the balance of power in the region. South Korea is eager to reassure its increasingly nervous public about the US commitment to so-called extended deterrence, where US military assets, including nuclear weapons, serve to prevent attacks on allies. Last month, a tabletop US-South Korea exercise at the Pentagon focused on responses to a nuclear attack by North Korea. Pyongyang responded to that exercise by firing cruise missiles, and claimed that ramped-up US-South Korea drills 'can be regarded as a declaration of war'. 'I had no relationship with that person' Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe says she was mauled by the media and forced to admit she had a relationship with a former bikie when the pair only shared one kiss. The former Greens senator, now an independent, was referred to the Senate's privileges committee over allegations she failed to disclose a relationship with a former bikie despite sitting on a parliamentary law enforcement committee. Senator Thorpe said she actually had no relationship with the ex-president of the Rebels bikie gang in Victoria, Dean Martin but was told by Greens legal advisers to say they dated. She previously said it was a mistake to not have disclosed the relationship but changed her tune on Tuesday. 'I had no relationship with that person. I was given legal advice by the Greens lawyer to say that I had dated this person,' she told the Senate. Victorian Senator Thorpe (pictured) said she actually had no relationship with the ex-bikie but was told by Greens legal advisers to say they dated 'We kissed once at a rally on the 26th of January. I had no idea who this person was or his background' (pictured, Senator Thorpe with the ex-president of the Rebels bikie gang in Victoria, Dean Martin) 'I got a call from that person that said, 'Ah, did we date?'. 'We kissed once at a rally on the 26th of January. I had no idea who this person was or his background.' The privileges committee examined whether Senator Thorpe's alleged non-disclosure obstructed the work of the committee or if she had received confidential briefings related to bikies. It found that while Senator Thorpe should have disclosed her relationship, she didn't receive any relevant sensitive information and therefore shouldn't be held in contempt. A teary Senator Thorpe said the committee's recommendation that she not be held in contempt vindicated her. 'All you people thought that I had been running off with some biker gang,' she said. 'What kind of person do you think I am? I deserve an apology, from the leader of the Greens for one, because I lost my position.' AAP has contacted Greens leader Adam Bandt for comment. Senator Thorpe resigned from her leadership role with the party after the story broke in the media. Former Rebels bikie club president Dean Martin (pictured) kissed the Senator at an Invasion Day protest Senator Thorpe (pictured) resigned from her leadership role with the party after the story broke in the media Senator Thorpe (pictured with friends) said she referred herself to the committee because she knew she had done nothing wrong 'For what? For a kiss on invasion day with some black man at a rally who happened to be an ex-biker,' she said. 'I didn't ask for his resume.' Senator Thorpe said she referred herself to the committee because she knew she had done nothing wrong. 'But my family and my community were hurting from the racism,' she said. 'I got mauled by the media, I got mauled by all of you in (the Senate) for something I did not do.' The privileges committee has recommended declarations of any conflicts of interest should be handled consistently when committees meet to avoid any future issues. Britons have been sharing their own 'leaked' WhatsApp messages with loved ones who died during the coronavirus pandemic after thousands of Matt Hancock's texts from 2020 were published. Families have shared their heartbreaking last messages on Twitter after 100,000 of the ex-Health Secretary's WhatsApps were leaked to the Press by his memoir ghostwriter, journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Among them was a student nurse who had to comfort dying strangers in hospital - but was unable to hold the hand of her father as he died from Covid. One man shared the tragic final conversation he had with his mother before she was placed on a ventilator and later died. Families have shared their grief online by 'leaking' their own final text messages to their loved ones who died during the Covid pandemic Sharing a screenshot on Twitter of his tragic last text to his dying mother, Paul Quinn wrote: 'My "leaked" messages from 2020. My Mam worked in a care home all through the pandemic, the same day I sent her that last message she was put on a ventilator and died on 18th December #whatsapp #matthanock #leaked.' In an exchange seen almost 150,000 times, Mr Quinn's mother described the horrifying conditions her care home was going through on May 27, saying: 'Bloody hell another three residents died xxx' In a later message, she reveals how she has contracted Covid and pleaded to find out about whether or not her son's father was okay. She said: 'Is dad alright? I've got covid pneumonia. Bleach everywhere.' Also among those sharing their experience was Helene Bacca. She was a student nurse during the pandemic who was unable to comfort her father, who died on November 18, 2020. She tweeted: 'My dad died of Covid. I was on placement as a student nurse in the community. I could hold other patients' hands but not his. He died alone in a hospital bed.' Another user shared a similar story, revealing how their parent died just two hours after their uncle - and that only 15 people were able to make it to their funerals due to the lockdown restrictions in place. 'My dad was 3 months in hospital, 2 of those in a coma,' they wrote on Twitter. 'He was so poorly. I was allowed to see him then. Not his partner, not his grandchildren. He came round and we hoped. He didn't make it. He died 48 hours after my uncle.' Grieving Britons took to social media to share their messages after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock had about 100,000 private texts he sent during 2020 leaked last week The comments come as Mr Hancock was accused of 'despicable' behaviour after leaked messages suggested he discussed withholding funding for a learning disability centre to pressure an MP not to rebel against coronavirus restrictions. The ex-Health Secretary and an aide spoke about warning Bury North MP James Daly that a new centre for disabled children and adults would be 'off the table' if he voted against the Government, according to leaked WhatsApp messages. Senior Conservative Jake Berry described the disclosure as an 'absolute disgrace' and called for Mr Hancock to be hauled before the Commons for questioning. Sir Jake, whose son has disabilities, said: 'Once you get to the point that you are weaponising the provision of care to disabled children, I think you have crossed the line.' Mr Hancock's team said 'what's being accused here never happened' as they disputed the 'entirely partial account' based on a trove of his WhatsApp messages handed to the Daily Telegraph. The newspaper said the discussion between Mr Hancock and political aide Allan Nixon came ahead of a vote on December 1, 2020 on the introduction of new Covid-19 restrictions in England. It came at a time when Whitehall was scrambling to put measures in place because tens of thousands of lives were at stake over the winter, with all options being considered to ensure the vote was won. Matt Hancock has come under fire for some of his leaked texts, which included messages discussing withholding funding for a learning disability centre to pressure an MP not to rebel against coronavirus restrictions Mr Nixon said they needed to 'dangle our top asks' over some of the newest MPs who entered Parliament in 2019 through Boris Johnson's general election victory. Mr Nixon suggested, for example, 'James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury - whips call him up and say Health team want to work with him to deliver this but that'll be off the table if he rebels'. 'These guys' re-election hinges on us in a lot of instances, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider using it IMO,' he wrote. Mr Hancock's response was 'yes 100%'. Mr Nixon said they needed to 'dangle our top asks' over some of the newest MPs who entered Parliament in 2019 through Boris Johnson's general election victory MP Mr Daly told the paper he was 'appalled' and 'disgusted' that the disability hub was discussed as a way to coerce him into voting with ministers. But he said the threat was never made to him. Mr Hancock's spokesman said: 'As we've repeatedly seen this last week, it is completely wrong to take this entirely partial account and write it up as fact. 'What's being accused here never happened, demonstrating the story is wrong, and showing why such a biased, partial approach to the evidence is a bad mistake, driven by those with a vested interest and an axe to grind. 'The right place to consider everything about the pandemic objectively is in the public inquiry.' Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake, a former Conservative Party chairman, said: 'This is an absolute disgrace. 'Hancock should be dragged to the bar of the House of Commons first thing tomorrow morning to be questioned on this.' Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, back row center, poses with students at Gumi Electronics Technical High School located in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Lee observe classes and discussed industrial fields of interest with students. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Kim Hyun-bin Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Gumi Electronics Technical High School located in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province to encourage students, according to the company, Tuesday. Lee observed a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design class, followed by a meeting with students to discuss interest in the industrial fields and technical talents. Gumi Electronics Technical High School nurtures professional technical personnel in electronics and mechatronics. About 2,000 graduates of Gumi Electronics Technical High School are active as skilled technical talents in major Samsung affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Heavy Industries. "Young technical talents are the driving force of manufacturing competitiveness, and we will always support technical talent who are responsible for field innovation," Lee said. After becoming chairman, Lee has been busy visiting Samsung's local business sites, such as Samsung Electronics Green City in Gwangju, local partner companies, and Samsung Youth SW Academy (SSAFY) Gwangju Campus, aiming to nurture local industries and talent and revitalize the economy. SSAFY, which is operated in five regions nationwide Seoul, Gumi, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Busan enhances the employment competitiveness of local youth and provides software talent to local companies. C-Lab Outside for fostering startups opened its Daegu campus last month following Seoul to vitalize the local startup ecosystem. In March, the company decided to open a campus in Gwangju. The smart factory construction support project contributes to regional job creation and economic revitalization by strengthening the manufacturing competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises scattered across the country and supporting market development and personnel training. Earlier in the day, the chairman visited Samsung Electronics' Smart City in Gumi and inspected the manufacturing site of the Galaxy S23, which was launched worldwide in February. In addition, Lee also held a meeting with executives and staff in charge of smartphone manufacturing, development, and quality. A 29-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender Legs and skull did belong to Abby Choi, 28, insider reveals of DNA test results Human remains including a skull and ribs found in a cooking pot and legs found in a fridge in Hong Kong did belong to model Abby Choi, it has been confirmed. DNA tests have confirmed that the grim discovery at a house in the suburban area of Lung Mei Tsuen was of Ms Choi's body parts, an insider has told the South China Morning Post. Officials also believe that a hole in the back of her skull shows where she was struck in the fatal attack. Investigators are still urgently searching a number of locations for Ms Choi's torso and hands, as the investigation into the grisly killing continues. It comes as a seventh person has been arrested in connection with the murder, on suspicion of assisting an offender. DNA tests have confirmed that the legs and skull found in fridge and soup pot in a suburban home belong to Hong Kong model Abby Choi (pictured) The 29-year-old woman, from Hong Kong, was arrested in Shenzhen, mainland China on Tuesday, and was reportedly handed over to the police at a border control point. The suspect is accused of organising a boat to help to help murder suspect Alex Kwong, to flee the city. Kwong, 28, who is Choi's ex-husband, was charged along with his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong for Ms Choi's murder. They were charged after police found her remains in a house rented by Kwong Kau in the suburban area of Hong Kong, which is near the border with China. Alex Kwong's mother, Jenny Li, faces one count of perverting the course of justice. All four were detained without bail. They have not yet entered their pleas, and it does not appear that their lawyers have commented on the case to the media. The hearing was adjourned until May. On Thursday, police also arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of aiding and abetting an offender, according to local media. Another woman who had been arrested for allegedly assisting other suspects in the case was released on bail pending further investigation, police said. Ms Choi's ex-husband Alex Kwong, his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong were charged with murdering the model. Alex Kwong's mother Jenny Li faces one count of perverting the course of justice. Pictured: One of the suspects is seen being led by police officers to court late on Sunday A suspect in the murder of model Abby Choi was pictured today at a police station in Hong Kong after being transferred from mainland China She was believed to have been in an affair with the ex-husband's father, the force said earlier. Ms Choi, 28, who had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, disappeared on February 21, according to a report filed later with the Hong Kong Police. Her last post was on February 19, featuring a photo shoot she had done with fashion magazine L'Officiel Monaco. Ms Choi had financial disputes involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars (millions of pounds) with her ex-husband and his family, police said, adding that 'some people' were unhappy with how Ms Choi handled her finances. The socialite's mother has sought an injunction to bar her daughter's former father-in-law from selling a HK$73 million (US$9.4 million) luxury flat Ms Choi allegedly bought under his name And today it has emerged that the socialite's mother has sought an injunction to bar her daughter's former father-in-law from selling a HK$73 million (US$9.4 million) luxury flat Ms Choi allegedly bought under his name. Cheung Yin-fa filed a writ to the High Court to forbid Kwong Kau, 65, from selling the luxurious flat in the exclusive neighbourhood of Kadoorie Hill in Ho Man Tin. Ms Choi was a model and influencer who shared her glamorous life of photoshoots and fashion shows. She had just attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week when she went missing, and posted an image of herself dressed in a tulle floor-length gown. The legs of Abby Choi were found by police officers in a household fridge on Friday after she went missing. Her ex-husband and three of his relatives have been charged Ms Choi had been missing for several days when police found her dismembered body, including her legs in a refrigerator, at the house in Lung Mei Tsuen, a suburban part of Hong Kong about a 30-minute drive from the border with mainland China Ms Choi had been missing for several days when police found her dismembered body, including her legs in a refrigerator, at the house in Lung Mei Tsuen, a suburban part of Hong Kong about a 30-minute drive from the border with mainland China. Ms Choi's friend Bernard Cheng earlier said he initially thought she had been kidnapped. Mr Cheng said Ms Choi had very good relationships with her family members and would travel with the families of her current and former husbands together. Ms Choi's current father-in-law is a founder of one of the city's famous noodle chains, local newspaper The Standard reported. Ms Choi had been missing for several days when police found her dismembered body, including her legs in a refrigerator, at the house which is about a 30-minute drive from the border with mainland China. Ms Choi, 28, was a model and influencer who shared her glamorous life of photoshoots and fashion shows with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. Dressed in a tulle floor-length gown, she had just attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week (pictured) Her former partner was arrested on suspicion of murder after he was found on Tung Chung pier on Lantau Island. Superintendent Alan Chung said at the time that the dismemberment was carried out by 'cold-blooded killers'. 'Police also have found that the flat was arranged by cold-blooded killers meticulously,' he said. 'Tools that are used to dismember human bodies were found in the flat, including meat grinders, chainsaws, long raincoats, gloves, and masks.' The gruesome killing has transfixed many in Hong Kong, across the border in mainland China and around the world. Randy said his younger brother, who claims he is innocent, is a serial liar Randy Murdaugh has broken his silence for the first time since his younger brother was jailed for killing his wife and son, saying that Alex is not 'telling the truth' about their brutal murders. Randy, 56, has spent the last 20 months trying to understand what exactly happened on the night of June 7, 2021, when Alex Murdaugh's wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, were shot dead. He struggles to picture Murdaugh pulling the trigger and murdering his wife and child but he said his younger brother, who has claimed he did not carry out the killings, is a serial liar. 'He knows more than what he's saying,' Randy told The New York Times about the murders. 'He's not telling the truth, in my opinion, about everything there.' Randy, who did not testify in his brother's trial, said after Maggie and Paul were found dead, he found it strange that Murdaugh was not calling people to ask them if they knew why the mother and son might have been targeted. Randy, 56, has spent the last 20 months trying to understand what exactly happened on the night of June 7, 2021, when Alex Murdaugh's wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, were shot dead. Pictured: From left to right, Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh Randy (pictured at his brother's trial in February) struggles to picture Murdaugh pulling the trigger and murdering his wife and child but he said his younger brother, who has claimed he did not carry out the killings, is a serial liar 'I spent considerable time, day after day for weeks on end, calling people,' Randy said, adding that Murdaugh never did. Despite Murdaugh being been sentenced to life in prison for the double murder, Randy says he still doesn't know if he thinks his little brother carried out the killings. He said he still thinks about what happened that night. 'I hoped that after the trial, because there's nothing more that can be presented, that I'd stop thinking about this,' Randy, who has not spoken to his brother for a year, said. 'But so far, that has not been the case.' Randy has been forced to question whether he knows his brother - ever since Maggie and Paul were murdered and since he found out that he was stealing from their law firm. In October 2021, Randy filed a lawsuit against his disgraced brother, claiming that he owed him tens of thousands of dollars. The suit revealed that just days before Murdaugh attempted to stage his own murder in a bizarre roadside shooting so that his son Buster would get life insurance, he came to Randy and asked for a loan of $75,000. Murdaugh asked for money to be deposited into his checking account. He did not reveal his 'poor financial condition' but promised that he would repay the money within 30 days. Within days of that loan being made Murdaugh attempted to have himself shot so that his surviving son, Buster, could claim his $10million life insurance policy. The attempt was a fiasco and his story quickly imploded as it transpired that he was suspected of embezzling millions from Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick, the family law firm of which he was a partner. Murdaugh issued an apology of sorts in which he confessed to years of opioid addiction and said that he had checked himself into rehab. During his six-week trial, Murdaugh admitted stealing millions of dollars from the family firm and clients, saying he needed the money to fund his drug habit. Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about 100 other charges ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion. After sentencing, Murdaugh returned to the Colleton County jail to gather his possessions. The outdoor dog kennels where Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were brutally gunned down Murdaugh after being convicted for double murder He will spend the next few weeks at the R&E facility where he faces rigorous testing before he will be assigned to a permanent state prison. As he is a double murderer, he will be housed with the state's most brutal and violent inmates. The life he faces is a far cry from the privileged world of multi-million dollar homes from the coast to the hunting lands of the Lowcountry to which he has grown accustomed in his 54 years. Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients and Murdaughs failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme. Other scandals discussed in the trial include a 2019 boat crash involving his late son Paul which killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Paul was facing criminal charges after being accused of driving the boat while drunk before he was shot dead. The girl's family were suing Murdaugh for a reported $30m at the time of Paul and Maggie's murders. The death of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield - who the Murdaugh family claimed tripped over the dogs and fell down the stairs while working at their hunting lodge - was also raised during the case. Her son Tony called to give testimony on the stand about the $4 million wrongful death payout Murdaugh allegedly stole. Meanwhile, prosecutors didnt have the weapons used to kill Paul and Maggie or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, including the video putting Murdaugh at the scene of the killings five minutes before his wife and son stopped using their cellphones forever. The first has been named as Rhondesia Belton, 33, of Buffalo A 35-year-old woman has been announced as the second to die at the stampede 'Heartbroken' rapper GloRilla said she is praying for the families of those affected by a stampede at a rap concert in Rochester, New York, when the crowd thought they heard gunfire after she and Finesse2Tymes had finished performing. Her comments come after a 35-year-old woman, who has not yet been identified, was on Monday announced as the second to die following the incident at the Main Street Armory arena on Sunday night. Police found three badly injured women in the auditorium. One of these, a 33-year-old who died from her injuries, has been named as Rhondesia Belton, of Buffalo. Police officers arrived following a report of shots fired inside the music venue and found several injured victims on the floor. Witnesses reported they were struggling to breathe and saw others around them fall to the floor. Police have since said that there is no evidence of any gunshots being fired. The 33-year-old who it was previously announced had died following the event at the Main Street Armory arena on Sunday night has been named as Rhondesia Belton (pictured left), of Buffalo. GloRilla (pictured right) and Finesse2Tymes had just finished playing Emergency crews rushed Belton and two other victims to Strong Memorial Hospital in an ambulance. Another 35-year-old woman is being treated for life-threatening injuries at the hospital, according to police. At least seven additional people were treated at area hospitals for injuries that were not life-threatening. Today, GloRilla tweeted: 'I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sundays show. My fans mean the world to me. 'Praying for their families & for a speedy recovery of everyone affected'. GloRilla and Finesse2tymes had finished performing Sunday night when thousands of concertgoers surged towards the exits of the venue at around 11.05pm. Authorities said the stampede may have been triggered by unfounded fears of gunfire. Rochester Police said that while they had attended the scene following a report of a shooting, detectives have determined that none of the injuries that the victims sustained were consistent with a person being shot. 'We do not have any evidence of gunshots being fired or of anyone being shot or stabbed at the scene,' Police Chief David M. Smith said at a news briefing Monday. Lt Nicholas Adams of Rochester Police said: 'The injuries appear to be as a result of a large crowd pushing towards the exits following accounts of individuals hearing what they believed to be gunshots.' One female witness said: 'I could feel my breath leaving my body'. 'All I know, it was a lot of running. A lot of people got hurt. I see people on the ground, like hurt badly,' another witness told News10NBC. 'It was deathly packed. So I knew I had to get up out of there,' he added. GloRilla tweeted messages of hope to her fans after the incident A 35-year-old woman has been announced as the second to die at a stampede at a rap concert in Rochester, New York. Pictured: Police rush to the scene Pictured: Concertgoers leave the Main Street Armory venue in Rochester on Sunday night following the stampede Police officers arrived at the venue (pictured), which can accommodate up to 5,000 people, following a report of shots fired inside the music venue and found several injured victims on the floor Footage from inside the venue showed security officers and concertgoers trying to help people who had collapsed on the ground Concert Sunday at Main Street Armory ends in chaos. Police, firefighters, and ambulances respond; Unknown number taken to hospital. (Video: Al Fulton/WHEC) https://t.co/jgRKUAfUgb pic.twitter.com/vnnKE7hfOK news10nbc (@news10nbc) March 6, 2023 Belton worked for Buffalo's Traffic Violations Agency, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown tweeted Monday evening. 'Her family, friends, and colleagues are devastated and left to mourn this tragic loss,' Brown said. 'Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.' Smith said that Rochester Police (RPD) is investigating the incident to not only determine what happened but to bring accountability for those responsible. RPD is trying to ascertain whether the crowd size exceeded the capacity of the armory and whether the proper safety measures were taken. Smith said its main arena is meant to have a capacity of around 5,000 people. RPD is working with multiple agencies, including the city's Division of Code Enforcement, Law Department, and the New York State Liquor Authority. They are also interviewing people at the concert and security. 'We are hearing many reports of potential causes, including crowd size, shots fired, [and] pepper spray,' Smith said. Smith is asking anyone with pictures or videos that could help with the investigation to get in touch with the police. The female victim and eight others were crushed in the stampede after GloRilla and Finesse2Tymes (pictured) performed at the Main Street Armory theatre in Rochester on Sunday night at around 11.05pm Concertgoer Ikea Hayes returned to the venue Monday to retrieve belongings she left behind. 'I was watching my life flash before my eyes, and I still didn't even know what was going on,' she told Rochester television station WHEC. She described being 'on the ground, just scared, praying, like, you got to get up, you got to move'. She added: 'If you stay here, they're going to keep running you over. So, you got to get up. You got to move.' Security guard Anthony Rouse told WHEC he signed up to work when he learned his daughter was going to the concert. He said she was hurt in the rush to the exits and spent part of Monday in the hospital. 'The whole reason I signed on was to protect her,' he said. 'And I failed.' Rouse said he was near the stage when his daughter went down near the entrance of the crowded hall. 'What began last night as a night of live music and fun for the performer GloRilla ended in tragedy,' said Smith, the police chief. Mayor Malik Evans called the fatal stampede 'totally unacceptable' and promised a thorough investigation into whether venue operators had the necessary safety measures in place for a large crowd. 'We are going to hold people accountable for what happened last night, period,' Evans said, though he cautioned that it was too early in the investigation to assign blame. 'If you go to a concert, you do not expect to be trampled,' Evans said. 'Your loved ones expect you to be able to come home and talk about the experience that you had at that great concert.' GloRilla, whose 2022 song 'F.N.F. (Let's Go)' with Hitkidd was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance, tweeted yesterday that she was 'praying everybody is ok'. Police believe the stampede was caused by crowd members hearing what they thought were gunshots. Pictured: Police officers and medics responding to the incident Pictured: The Main Street Armory (file image). Detectives have determined that none of the injuries that the victims' sustained were consistent with a person being shot Fatal crowd surges have been a recurring disaster at concerts and other large events in the U.S. and around the world, including one at a 2021 performance by rapper Travis Scott in which 10 people died. Built from 1905 to 1907 and initially used by the U.S. Army, the armory hosted sporting events throughout the 20th century before being shut down for several years starting in the late 1990s, partly because it lacked a fire suppression system. It reopened after extensive renovations and began hosting concerts and other events in 2005. City officials said the facility underwent a physical fire safety inspection in December and was compliant with fire codes. The venue's next scheduled show, a Saturday performance by the rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, has been canceled. Britain's ambassador to Moscow today demanded Vladimir Putin end his war against Ukraine as she was heckled by onlookers amid her arrival in far east Russia. Envoy Dame Deborah Bronnert ran a gauntlet of loud-mouthed propagandists who followed her down the street as she arrived for a visit to the Kremlin's Pacific capital Vladivostok. One told her repeatedly: 'You are not welcome here,' while another loudly declared: 'Britain is a sponsor of terrorism.' The ambassador told the small stage-managed protest: 'We want peace,' and tried to continue speaking but was quickly cut off and told time and again that Britain was 'a sponsor of terrorism'. But she hit back: 'We want peace. Russia must stop the war.' British Ambassador Dame Deborah Bronnert demands Russian stops the war in Ukraine as she arrives in Vladivostok on March 7, 2023 Bronnert was met with hecklers and protestors holding placards Previous diplomatic visits also saw protestors turn out to greet Bronnert with placards labelling Britain a terrorist state British Ambassador Dame Deborah Bronnert (L) pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) Bronnert came to Vladivostok - seven time zones east of her permanent residence in Moscow - to visit the city and a war cemetery. Reports said she had no official meetings with the pro-war authorities in the city. The envoy has encountered several similar protests in recent months amid Russia's war in Ukraine condemned by the UK, particularly in Yekaterinburg and in the Russian capital. In November, she ran afoul of pro-Putin protestors in Moscow when she was summoned by Russian authorities amid claims that Britain helped plan attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines and its Black Sea Fleet. Bronnert was hauled into the foreign ministry and forced to push through what appeared to be stage-managed protesters holding placards that said 'Britain is a terrorist state' and 'Britain will answer for the Nord Stream'. Moscow said it had delivered a 'strong protest' to the envoy, adding that 'such confrontational actions of the English carry a threat of escalation and could lead to unpredictable and dangerous consequences.' Deborah Bronnert, the British ambassador to Russia, was summoned to the foreign ministry in November to see 'evidence' the UK helped attack the Nord Stream pipes and Black Sea Fleet Protesters - who appeared to be stage-managed - carried banners reading 'Britain is a terrorist state' and 'Britain will answer for the Nord Stream' Russia has ramped up the rhetoric against the UK as its invasion in Ukraine has faltered, with Western officials saying the wild claims are a distraction tactic Demonstrations in central Moscow are rare and usually quickly crushed by police - suggesting Thursday's action was carried out with tacit support from authorities Britain is likely being targeted because it is leading support for Ukraine - having given more than any other country bar the US Bronnert lives in Moscow with her husband Alf Torrents, who is the leader of a business forum designed to boost trade with Russian firms despite sanctions against Putin's regime. Torrents, 57, is executive director of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, leaving his wife facing questions over whether her role representing Britain's interests in Russia is conflicted by his job. There was an outcry last month after the Daily Mail revealed that British luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce were still trading in Russia. In peacetime, Torrents's organisation lobbied to smooth trade with the Putin regime. In 2016 two years after the Kremlin annexed Crimea it urged Parliament to 'reinstate Russia as a worldwide trade and investment priority' and 're-evaluate sanctions'. Although it scaled back its operations after the invasion of Ukraine, it remains active, and recently advertised for a new treasurer. Last week, Torrents hosted an event to 'update' members on the political, trade and consular situation. Held at the British embassy, it was addressed by Bronnert. Alf Torrents, 57, is executive director of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, leaving Bronnert facing questions over whether her role representing Britain's interests in Russia is conflicted by his job Torrents, who lives with his wife at the official British residence, a 19th-century merchant's house opposite the Kremlin, told in 2020 how his chamber of commerce held 'regular consultations' with the Foreign Office, whose diplomats had 'never been anything but supportive'. In another interview he said he worked 'closely' with the British embassy to 'represent the interests of our members'. When Bronnert, 55, was announced in 2019 as ambassador to Russia, the official notice did not mention Torrents or his job, in contrast to her previous appointment as ambassador to Zimbabwe, when he was named. Since Ukraine was invaded, the UK has tried to isolate Russia on the international stage and enforce strict sanctions. Trading there is all-but banned, and most British firms quit their Russian operations. One informed source said of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce: 'The question is whether a lobbying group especially one that has argued vociferously against sanctions should have such personal access to HM Ambassador to Moscow.' A leading SNP politician vying to become Scotland's First Minister has suggested people in the Borders vote Tory because they are forced to watch English television. Ash Regan, an outsider in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon, told a party hustings last night that the very south of Scotland receives Carlisle-based ITV Border instead of STV. She suggested that this might have had an impact on voting patterns in the area. All three Scottish constituencies bordering England - Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, and Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, return Conservative MPs to the Commons. ITV hit back, saying its reporting was 'fair and balanced'. Ms Regan's remarks came ahead of the first live televised three-way debate on STV tonight in which she will face Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf. Speaking in Dumfries Ms Regan, who is an MSP in Edinburgh, said: 'I think in the rest of Scotland they don't realise that we don't actually have STV. I think when I say that to people, they're like ''oh don't you why now?'' And actually I'm not sure how that came about. 'But I'm going to look into that because I do wonder if there's a correlation here between the media that we're getting in this part of the world and the voting pattern. Ash Regan, an outsider in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon, told a party hustings last night that the very south of Scotland receives Carlisle-based ITV Border instead of STV. Ms Forbes suggested that it could take Scotland a decade after independence to become better off than if it stayed in the UK. Mr Yousaf told the hustings he would be not just Scotland's first minister but 'first activist' for independence. 'So I'm going to look into that and see how we got to that stage. Now we have to remember the media are doing their job and I think we maybe as Scottish nationalists feel there's a malicious intent behind some of it and I think there sometimes is but not always.' But an ITV spokeswoman said: 'ITV Border Scotland broadcasts a balanced and impartial news and current affairs service which includes three weekly programmes dedicated to coverage of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish politics. ITV Border Scotland is committed to fair and balanced reporting.' The STV debate will take place in Glasgow at 9pm this evening, and marks the first time the trio of candidates has done-head-to-head on live television. Ahead of it, Ms Forbes suggested that it could take Scotland a decade after independence to become better off than if it stayed in the UK. SNP's former London leader backs Yousaf Scotland's Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson has given his backing to Humza Yousaf in the contest to become the country's next first minister. Mr Robertson, a former SNP Westminster leader and former party depute leader, is one of the most senior members of the party to publicly declare who they are backing in the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon. And he cited Mr Yousaf's willingness to 'take on the Tories and protect Holyrood from their dirty tricks' as a key reason for giving him his support. Mr Robertson had been considered by some in the SNP as a successor to Ms Sturgeon when she last month announced she is stepping down as both party leader and Scottish First Minister. But he ruled himself out of the race, saying while he was 'flattered' by the suggestion, having two young children meant the time was 'not right' for him to take on the top job. Advertisement Mr Yousaf told the hustings he would be not just Scotland's first minister but 'first activist' for independence. Ms Reagan pledged to 'relight the fires' of the cross-party Yes campaign that operated in the run up to the 2014 referendum and would 'reach out to the wider movement'. She told the hustings that she had felt a 'sense of grief' after Scots had voted to stay in the UK in 2014. 'I don't want us to be thinking about that past referendum and thinking we've missed the boat, and that we have got to keep waiting. I want to get us there as fast as possible,' she added. But to achieve that she said the party needs to 'change direction' and to 'act differently'. Ms Regan said: 'I don't think we can keep going the way we have been over the last few years, we need a different plan and we need to put that into action.' She said under her leadership the first line on any SNP manifesto would state that a vote for the party would mean 'Scotland would be voting for Edinburgh and Westminster in a room' to begin independence negotiations. She told party members: 'The referendum is not the gold standard here, the ballot box is the gold standard, and that is what we need to progress towards.' Ms Regan said other nations would recognise this, saying: 'International law is pragmatic and there is no question of the UK not recognising this and coming to the table.' Her comments came as Ms Forbes, who returned from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter last summer to run to be Scotland's next first minister, stressed the need to use 'each and every opportunity to make the case for independence'. The STV debate will take place in Glasgow at 9pm this evening, and marks the first time the trio of candidates has done-head-to-head on live television. She told the hustings: 'We need to set out in the first 10 years of an independent Scotland how we will be wealthier, greener, fairer. People need to see it. 'Independence is not an abstract constitutional term we use in arguments, its about real people, real lives and how we ensure Scotland is just as wealthy, just as green just as fair as our comparator countries.' She said: 'We have got all that it takes in Scotland to be incredibly successful. 'We would be one of the richest countries ever to be independent, we have got all that it takes.' She told the hustings: 'Scotland can't afford not to be independent. We will get there with the right leader, the right competent focus on track record of delivery and ultimately ensuring we are persuading people.' As part of that, in what could be seen a swipe at Mr Yousaf, the Scottish Health Secretary, she stressed the need to 'make sure the NHS is on a stable footing for the next decade'. Mr Yousaf, meanwhile, said that independence is 'inevitable', adding that the days of the 'unequal union' between Scotland and the rest of the UK 'are numbered'. He said the leadership contest was about 'who is going to deliver independence', saying: 'I believe I have what it takes. 'I believe I have the experience, I believe I am able to unite our movement, I believe I am able to inspire people to the vision of independence.' While he said the SNP had 'governed well' in its nearly 16 years in power in Scotland, he said: 'We must build on that progressive agenda that has won us so much support so far.' He told the hustings if he was to become the next SNP leader 'every single election we fight, including the next general election' will be based on a demand for Holyrood to have the powers to hold a second independence ballot. 'I am not just looking to be the leader of the party of first minister of the country, I want to be our first activist. 'I want to come with community to community, town to town, village to village, doorstep to doorstep, persuading the people of this country that our best future is as an independent nation.' Elon Musk has gone head-to-head with a top product designer left wondering if he still had a job after he was frozen out of his work accounts without notification. Halli Thorleifsson, 45, believed he was one of the 200 employees laid off at the end of February, having sold his company in 2021 to join Twitter, prompted by the worsening of a degenerative muscle condition. The esteemed designer claimed in a tweet last night that, nine days on, Twitter's head of human resources still had 'not been able to confirm if [he] is an employee or not' and that Musk had not answered his emails. Thorleifsson chose to engage Musk in his own forum in an exchange that saw the Twitter CEO reference memes as the designer sought clarity on his future and was asked to explain in front of 16.8mn people what he had been working on at Twitter. Musk ended the exchange with two laughing emojis and the designer confirmed he had since been told he no longer worked at Twitter. Musk later wrote: 'The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. Can't say I have a lot of respect for that. 'But was he fired?' he added. 'No, you can't be fired if you weren't working in the first place.' Elon Musk responds to the Twitter designer who he said 'wasn't working in the first place' Haraldur Thorleifsson led innovation team that among others spearheaded Communities on the platform A Twitter insider claimed Musk is escorted around Twitter HQ by two bodyguards Thorleifsson told the BBC that he had joined Twitter in 2021 after selling his company, Ueno, to the site. He said: 'I decided to sell for a few reasons but one of them is that I have muscular dystrophy and my body is slowly but surely failing me. Elon Musk has bodyguards at Twitter HQ who even escort him to the bathroom Twitter staff claimed yesterday that Elon Musk is accompanied everywhere by two bodyguards when at work. An engineer said that he thought Musk's use of 'tall' and 'bulky' bodyguards suggested a lack of trust. The anonymous lead told the BBC that 'for someone on the inside, it's like a building where all the pieces are on fire.' They said the office was underequipped to perform its responsibilities. Thousands in other roles have been laid off since October in a drive to cut costs. According to his father, Musk has a team of '100' security guards for his protection. Advertisement 'I have a few good work years left in me so this was a way to wrap up my company, and set up myself and my family for years when I won't be able to do as much.' The Iceland-based designer urged in his Twitter thread that he was most concerned about whether Musk would uphold the commitment to his contract and 'paying him what they owe him per his contract'. The back and forth started when Thorleifsson tweeted at Musk to say he had been without access to his work computer for nine days, and that Twitter's HR department had not been able to confirm whether or not he still worked for the company. He also looked for support from former CEO Jack Dorsey and two Twitter investors. Musk replied a few hours later to say: 'What work have you been doing?' Thorleifsson said he would have to break confidentiality to answer, which Musk waived. The designer explained how he had worked on saving and closing down different Twitter contracts, prioritized design products to adapt to the company's downsizing, level up design, acted as the hiring manager for design roles, and helped steer the company towards younger users. Musk replied: 'Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn't happen. We haven't hired design roles in four months. What changes did you make to help with the youths?' Thorleifsson replied that he did not have access to docs as he had been locked out of his computer. Musk also pulled the designer up on the specifics of a contract and design prioritization. When Thorleifsson gave an example, Musk sent back laughing emojis. Halli sought permission to explain what he had been working on, which Musk granted With permission, the designer gave a list of some of the things he had been working on and expressed concerns about getting paid Musk quizzed Thorleifsson about what exactly he had been working on at Twitter The designer gave examples of things he was working on before Musk ended the exchange Haraldur Thorleifsson took to Twitter to find out if he still had a job Musk ended the exchange by sharing a clip from Office Space, where Bob Slydell asks: 'What would you say you do here?' Soon after, Halli confirmed on his own Twitter page that he had been laid off. He said that after the exchange, 'Twitter's head of HR (who had previously twice been unable to tell me if I had a job or not) emailed and said I was no longer employed. 'Which is totally ok and it happens all the time. Companies let people go, that's within their rights. 'They usually tell people about it but that's seemingly the optional part at Twitter now. 'But ok, fair enough, I've been laid off and I'm ok with that. 'Next up though is finding out if Twitter will pay me what they owe me per my contract.' Thorleifsson spoke to the BBC about his experience losing his job at Twitter. He said that he suffers from muscular dystrophy and that he was concerned over whether the company would pay him the money he claims he is owed. 'This is my retirement fund, a way to take care of myself and my family as my disease progresses. Having the richest man in the world on the other end of this, potentially refusing to stand by contracts is not easy for me to accept,' he said. He confirmed after the engagement that he had been laid off by the company he joined in 2021 In a alter exchange, Musk shared his thoughts on how much work his colleague had done Musk earlier today replied to Alex Cohen, the director of a healthcare provider, who had written about the thread: 'I'm not going to lie, this is the most entertaining exit interview I've ever witnessed.' Musk said: 'The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealth) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. 'Can't say I have a lot of respect for that.' He concluded the exchange: 'But was he fired? No, you can't be fired if you weren't working in the first place!' A gang of vicious thugs who tortured a man with a flamethrower, knives and boiling salt water for six hours have been jailed. 'Dangerous' Charlie Saunter, William O'Brien, and Kai Haruna attacked their victim in a drugs-related row. Saunter, 23, along with his younger accomplices O'Brien and Haruna, both 20, also subjected the man to burns, dog bites and genital mutilation in a flat in Gravesend, Kent on July 5, 2020. Haruna repeatedly jumped on the victim's chest until he'd passed out, while O'Brien used his dog to stop the man from escaping, police said. Footage of the sickening abuse was shared online - before being uncovered by detectives days later. Now, the trio of violent thugs have been jailed for a combined total of 35 years. Charlie Saunter, 23, poses with a stack of cash. The violent thug, along with his younger accomplices William O'Brien and Kai Haruna, has now been jailed for his part in the prolonged torture of a man in a drugs-related row Kai Haruna (pictured left and then, right, holding a dog) repeatedly jumped on the victim's chest until he'd passed out. During the six-hour assault, the male victim was burnt with a home-made flamethrower, scalded with boiling water and attacked with knives and a dog Detective Constable John Carless, of Kent Police's County Line and Gangs Team said: 'These men are violent and dangerous criminals with zero regard for the law. 'Haruna, O'Brien, and Saunter planned and launched a lengthy attack on their victim, subjecting him to vicious torture techniques over a period of six hours.' A sentencing hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, heard the trio had tortured their victim in a dispute over money or the supply of drugs in July 2020. Two days after the attack, Kent Police received video evidence of the incident which had been shared on social media and arrested the trio that same day. While arresting the attackers, officers seized two knives as well as quantities of heroin and cocaine. One of the officers was also injured after being bitten by a dog during the arrests. 'Dangerous' Charlie Saunter, 23, was the oldest of the three thugs who tortured a man using boiling water, knives, a dog and a home-made flamethrower. He was jailed for 13 years and six months Kai Haruna (left), 20, of Grove Park, London, was jailed for eight years for his part in the assault while accomplice William O'Brien (right), 20, from Greenwich was jailed for 11 years All three young men were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which Saunter and Haruna both admitted. O'Brien had initially denied this charge but later also changed his plea to guilty. Saunter admitted another charge of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Their sentences additionally dealt with two separate cases, involving thefts and further acts of violence. Saunter, of Pevensey in East Sussex, was jailed for 13 years and six months, whilst O'Brien, of Greenwich, was given 11 years and Haruna, of Grove Park, London, was given eight years and three months. All three will serve at least two-thirds of their jail time before they are even able to apply for parole, and all will be subject to an extended licence period of four years upon their release. Commenting on the brutal attack, DC Carless added: 'This case is a stark reminder of the wider range of violent crimes involved in the supply of drugs.' Russia's armed forces facing severe arms shortages are resorting to welding together old armoured vehicles and naval turrets to create improvised tanks, new video footage appears to show. A clip shared on social media showed a series of crude machines waiting to be loaded for transportation in an undisclosed location, but based on the words of the narrator it is presumed to be somewhere near the Ukrainian border. 'This is the first time I've seen something like this. Even in the army I never came across anti-aircraft guns in this way,' the narrator says in disbelief. 'You can see they're being prepared, sent somewhere.' Another image shared on social media clearly shows the abomination - a Soviet-era MT-LB armoured personnel carrier sporting a pair of 25mm 2M-3 anti-aircraft guns taken from a battleship. It comes as Ukraine's armed forces claimed to have killed more than 1000 Russian troops in the past 24 hours as both sides suffer heavy losses amid bitter fighting along the frontline, particularly in Donetsk. A Soviet-era MT-LB armoured personnel carrier is seen sporting a pair of 25mm 2M-3 anti-aircraft guns taken from a battleship A clip shared on social media showed a series of the crude machines waiting to be loaded for transportation in an undisclosed location Ukrainian servicemen fire a 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops outside the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 5, 2023 A Ukrainian serviceman puts out a fire on a burning tank in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, March 6, 2023 The Land Forces of Ukraine claim more than 3400 Russian tanks have been disabled or destroyed since Russian troops launched their invasion on February 24 last year. Military databases put Russia's tank reserves somewhere around 10,000 prior to the war, but many of these were aged and out of service due to lack of maintenance and corruption. A large portion of Moscow's operational tank fleet has been put out of commission, and the armed forces have been forced to dust off Soviet-era vehicles or create such makeshift hybrid 'tanks' in a desperate attempt to compensate for the losses. A British Ministry of Defence intelligence update claimed last week that Russia is now deploying 60-year-old armoured vehicles to the frontlines. 'The Russian military has continued to respond to heavy armoured vehicle losses by deploying 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks (MBT)... In recent days, Russian BTR-50 armoured personnel carriers, first fielded in 1954, have also been identified deployed in Ukraine for the first time,' the update read. It added that despite the upgrades, the vehicles will be sorely outmatched and outgunned. 'Since summer 2022, approximately 800 T-62s have been taken from storage and some have received upgraded sighting systems which will highly likely improve their effectiveness at night. 'However, both these vintage vehicle types will present many vulnerabilities on the modern battlefield, including the absence of modern explosive reactive armour.' The armoured hybrids were seen being loaded for transport, presumably to the frontlines A destroyed tank in the village of Tsupivka, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine A resident walks past a damaged church and a destroyed Russian tank in the town of Svyatohirsk, Donetsk region, last week Picture shows destroyed Russian tank in Maryinka, Donetsk region, Ukraine in undated footage Though the conflict's frontline stretches for many hundreds of miles, the most bitter fighting continues to rage in the Donetsk region, particularly in the city of Bakhmut and nearby towns. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday the capture of Bakhmut was key to launching a further offensive in the wider region, despite many analysts doubting its wider strategic importance. 'This city is an important defensive hub for Ukrainian troops in Donbas,' Shoigu said of the industrial east of the country. 'Capturing it will allow for further offensive operations deep into the defence lines of the Ukrainian armed forces,' he told a televised meeting of military officials. The battle for Bakhmut is now the longest-running and bloodiest of Russia's year-long military intervention in Ukraine, and both sides have doubled down in the fight for its control. A Ukrainian soldier sits in a trench near Russian positions near Bakhmut, March 5, 2023 The fighting around Bakhmut has seen First world War-style trench warfare unfold as both sides batter one another with artillery while sheltering in ditches Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 5, 2023 Bakhmut, an industrial town once known for its sparkling wine production and salt mines, had an estimated pre-war population of some 80,000 people. But Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told regional media on Tuesday that fewer than 4,000 civilians now remain. 'Approximately 38 children, as far as we know, remain in Bakhmut today,' Vereshchuk said. Both Moscow and Kyiv said on Tuesday that the fight was exacting a huge cost in military personnel on the opposing side. The Ukrainian military said Moscow's forces were launching attacks on Bakhmut and its outskirts 'despite significant losses'. Shoigu meanwhile said there was a 'significant increase in losses' among Ukrainian forces during recent fighting for Bakhmut. Neither side has published official tolls from fighting in the Donetsk region, which Moscow claimed to have annexed into Russia last year. Passengers were left stranded when a Qantas flight was delayed for hours on Tuesday after it was stuck behind a broken down truck in Perth Airport. Flight QF938 to Brisbane was supposed to leave just after 1pm (WA time) but the plane couldn't move due to the catering truck blocking its path. It took until 1.20pm for the crew to realise that the truck was inoperable and not about to me moved any time soon, a Perth Airport spokesperson said. The passengers were taken off the plane for a time while arrangements were made by catering company Dnata for their truck to be towed. Passenger Nick McRae said they were allowed to board the plane again at around 3pm. Passengers were left stranded when a Qantas flight was delayed for hours on Tuesday after it was stuck behind a broken down truck in Perth Airport. Pictured is a Qantas plane in Perth 'Apparently nobody can find a tow chain or a strap,' he said. The flight finally left for Brisbane just after 3pm, more than two hours after its scheduled departure, Perth Now reported. It was scheduled to arrive at 9.16pm Queensland time. Two weeks ago Qantas posted an interim underlying pre-tax profit of $1.43billion in its first return to profitability since the coronavirus pandemic brought travel to a grinding halt in 2020. The statutory net profit for the six months to June 30 was $1billion, compared to a $456million net loss a year earlier. Flight QF938 to Brisbane was supposed to leave just after 1pm (WA time) but the place couldn't move due to the catering truck blocking its path. Perth Airport is pictured The profit turnaround was delivered despite a 65 per cent increase in fuel costs during the half. Qantas said domestic flying levels had averaged 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, while international capacity also doubled to 60 per cent. A dnata Catering & Retail spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that one of its catering trucks 'needed to undergo maintenance due to a technical issue at Perth Airport on 7 March. 'Subsequently, an airline customer's flight was delayed. We apologise to our airline customer and its passengers for any inconvenience caused. 'We will conduct an investigation in cooperation with the authorities and our customer.' Violence erupted across France today as thousands took to the streets to protest against pension reforms. Riot police fought running battles with demonstrators in Paris on a so-called Black Tuesday of industrial action across the country. The worst trouble was close to the Port Royal metro station, where hundreds of riot police used tear gas and baton charges. As projectiles rained down on them, bins were set on fire and bus stops destroyed by so-called Black Bloc anarchists. Big crowds also took to the streets in Marseille, Nice and other cities, and trouble was also reported in other major cities including Lyon, Nantes, and Rennes. A Parisian police spokesperson said 'radical agitators' had joined the crowds and accused them of 'attacking police whenever they can'. 'A protest march is being heavily policed, and everything is being done to restore law and order,' he added. Violence erupted on the streets of Paris today as thousands took to the streets across France to protest against pension reforms. Pictured: Riot police run down a road as bottles rain down on top of them in Paris amid the demonstrations A man shouts at a police water truck driver during clashes with policemen during a demonstration in Lyon A protester throws a flare at riot police during clashes on the sidelines of a demonstration in Nantes, western France, on Tuesday People stand behind makeshift barricades as they confront with police forces on the sidelines of a demonstration in Paris on March 7 over president Macron's pension reform Bus drivers of State-owned RATP, which operates the greater Paris transport system, burn flares behind a banner reading in French 'on March 7 let's block everything until withdrawal' Millions are furious at President Emmanuel Macron's attempt to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, bringing France more into line with many of its EU neighbours and the UK, where the state pension age is 66. As a result, Macron is is facing his biggest standoff with France's trade unions since coming to power in 2017, as his flagship proposal hangs in the balance. Today marks the sixth day of nationwide strikes since mid-January, and could surpass the largest protests so far, with more than 1.27 million gathering on January 31. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said some 11,000 police were mobilised across the country, including some 5000 in Paris alone. French unions promised the biggest protests yet with trains coming to a halt, fuel deliveries being disrupted and schools shut in response to government plans to raise the pension age. Strikes led to numerous public services and businesses being shut down on Tuesday, including oil refineries. Jean-Luc Melenchon, the hard-Left politician who came third in last years presidential election, was among those out on the Paris march. He called for all Left Wing parties to unite, and stand up to the reforms. Authorities were bracing themselves with at least 260 demonstrations expected across the country, with police anticipating as many as 1.4 million taking part. 'The strike has begun everywhere... with deliveries blocked from all the refineries this morning,' said Eric Sellini, branch coordinator for national trade union body CGT. The group launched a similar blockade last autumn that eventually saw petrol stations running out of fuel. Transport workers are also striking. A fifth of flights were cancelled at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and about a third of flights at Orly Airport, it was reported today. Thousands of UK travellers have been hit by the disruption, with dozens of flights and trains cancelled and ferries were delayed. The government is hoping to rush through the reforms, which it hopes could be adopted by parliament by the end of March, with the changes slated to come into force in September. The law also stiffens the requirements for a full pension and would abolish privileges enjoyed by some public-sector employees, such as those at the Paris Metro. After initially claiming it was intended to make the system fairer, Macron's government has now conceded the move is designed to increase savings. Police stand in formation as a petrol bomb explodes during clashes on the sidelines of a demonstration in Paris on March 7 Protestors throw objects at police officers and set fire to food in trolleys during a demonstration in Lyon, central France, on Tuesday Protesters march during a demonstration in Paris on Tuesday against Macron's plans to increase the retirement age Protesters use umbrellas as protection among launches of tear gas during clashes with police on the sidelines of a demonstration in Nantes, western France, on Tuesday A protestor kicks in a tear gas during a demonstration in Lyon on Tuesday Gendarmerie members hold their positions during a demonstration against French government's pension reform plan in Paris, as part of the sixth day of national strike and protests, in France, March 7 Riot police detain a protester on the sidelines of a demonstration in Nantes, western France, on Tuesday Riot police charge at protesters during clashes on the sidelines of a demonstration in Nantes, western France, on Tuesday Firefighters demonstrate during a demonstration in Lille, northern France, on Tuesday A man tries to ignite a stick during a demonstration in Lyon on Tuesday during the demonstrations Youths kick tear gas during a demonstration in Paris on Tuesday Protesters participate in a demonstration in Caen, northwestern France, on Tuesday, with some lighting flares in the middle of streets Riot police officers take position during clashes as part of a demonstration, Tuesday, March 7 Gendarmerie members hold their positions during a demonstration against French government's pension reform plan in Paris, as part of the sixth day of national strike and protests, in France, March 7 A demonstrator walks by a line of riot police officers during protests in Paris on Thursday French police of a anti-violent action force (BRAV) stand in formation during clashes with protesters on the sidelines of a demonstration in Paris on Tuesday Protesters attend a demonstration against French government's pension reform plan in Paris, as part of the sixth day of national strike and protests, in France, March 7 Trains to Germany and Spain are also expected to come to a halt, and those to and from Britain will be reduced by a third, according to the state-owned railroad system SNCF. More than 60 per cent of teachers in primary schools are expected to be on strike, as well as public sector workers elsewhere. The reform would raise the official pension age from 62 to 64 and require 43 years of work to earn a full pension, as France's population ages and life expectancy lengthens. Opinion polls suggest most French voters oppose the bill. Left-wing lawmakers say companies and the wealthy should pitch in more to finance the pension system. Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT union, said the protest movement is 'entering a new phase'. 'The goal is that the government withdraw its draft reform. Full stop,' he said. 'We are going into a higher gear,' he told weekly JDD. 'The ball is now in [the] president's court. It is up to him to withdraw this reform.' Some unions have called for open-ended strikes in sectors from refineries and oil depots to electricity and gas facilities. Workers in each sector will decide locally in the evening about whether to prolong the action, Mr Martinez said. Opinion polls suggest most French voters oppose the bill. Left-wing lawmakers say companies and the wealthy should pitch in more to finance the pension system. Meanwhile, 56 per cent of people support rolling strikes and 59 per cent back the call to bring the country to a standstill, according to a poll by French survey group Elabe. Two-thirds of people in the country support the protest movement in general, the poll also suggests. Some travellers affected by the strike said they backed it even if it made going to work tricky, with only in five high-speed trains running, almost all regular Intercity trains cancelled, and the Paris metro seriously disrupted. 'Of course it has an impact on me because I need to go to work like everyone else,' security guard Alex Cristea said at the Paris Saint-Lazare train station. 'But I support them for what they do... it's of utmost importance.' Despite pressure piling on Macron's government, it insists it is essential to ensure the pension system does not go bust. French Force Ouvriere (FO) workers' union members stand on the road to block traffic on the northern motorway entering the city on the sidelines of a demonstration Marseille on Tuesday People throw objects at police on during protests in Paris on Tuesday Protesters gather in huge crowds at a demonstration today at the Vieux Port in Marseille. At least 260 demonstrations are expected across the country, with police anticipating as many as 1.4 million taking part Protesters hold a banner representing different unions as the participate in a demonstration near the Place Royal in Reims, northeastern France Pictured: A huge crowd is seen marching down the streets of Paris in Tuesday Unionists stand by a fire during a road blockade near Le Havre, northwestern France French energy workers of French oil giant TotalEnergies attend a demonstration against French government's pension reform plan in Saint-Nazaire People hold banners blocking the highway leading to the Roland Garros Airport, in Sainte-Marie on the French Indian island of La Reunion Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT) union member protest as they burn flares at the Place d'Armes in Calais Police stand by a man hold a CGT union flag along the highway leading to the Roland Garros Airport in Sainte-Marie on the French Indian island of La Reunion Protesters holding placards that read, 'minimalist retirement - riposte feminist' participate in a demonstration in Reims, northeastern France A protester attends a demonstration against French government's pension reform plan in Saint-Nazaire Some unions have called for open-ended strikes in sectors from refineries and oil depots to electricity and gas facilities Protesters participate in a demonstration in Reims, northeastern France, with placards criticising President Macron 'I can understand that not many people want to work two more years, but it's necessary to ensure the viability of the system,' Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told France 5 TV. While Macron's camp does not have an absolute majority in parliament, it can count on the support of at least part of the conservative Les Republicains (LR). 'I'm telling Emmanuel Macron to hang in there,' LR senator Bruno Retailleau has said. 'If he gives in, he won't be able to carry out more reforms, it would be the end of his (second) term.' Still, it is unclear whether the changes will be approved by parliament by the end of the month or if the government will have to ram them through using special constitutional powers. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, speaks next to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, right, and American Institute in Taiwan Director Sandra Oudkirk during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan Aug. 3, 2022. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. in coming weeks, two sources told Reuters on Monday. Reuters-Yonhap U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. in coming weeks, two sources told Reuters on Monday, a move that could replace the Republican Speaker's anticipated but sensitive trip to the democratically governed island claimed by China. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tsai had been invited to speak at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during a transit through California on a planned visit to Central America, and that McCarthy was likely to meet her in the United States. One of the sources said should the U.S. meeting go forward likely in April it did not necessarily rule out McCarthy visiting Taiwan in the future. McCarthy's office did not respond immediately to Reuters' questions on the matter, including whether the planned meeting was an effort to avoid raising tensions with China, which was angered by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August. The Financial Times first reported the plans to meet in California. During a CNBC interview earlier on Monday, McCarthy declined to answer whether he would visit Taiwan, saying he would announce any travel plans when he had them. Four other sources including U.S. officials and people with knowledge of the U.S. and Taiwan administrations' thinking said both sides were deeply uneasy that a future visit by McCarthy would severely increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait at a time when the island is preparing for its own presidential election early next year. The Reagan Library and China's Embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington said it had "no information to share" when asked about the meeting. "In general terms, arrangements for President Tsai's visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies and transits through the United States are carried out in line with the usual practice," it told Reuters. China views engagements between U.S. and Taiwanese officials as a breach of its sovereignty, a perceived slight sharpened by the fact that the Speaker of the House is second in line to the U.S. presidency. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy wields the speaker's gavel as members of Congress gather on the House floor to attend U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., Feb. 7. Reuters-Yonhap Britain's top civil servant is reportedly considering quitting after embarrassing WhatsApp messages he sent during the Covid crisis were leaked. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is mulling stepping down from the post before the next election, expected late in 2024. It comes after messages he sent were released by the Daily Telegraph's probe into conversations involving Matt Hancock when he was health secretary. In one message, Mr Case suggested that the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson was 'nationally distrusted'. In another the former aide to Prince William mocked international travellers having to quarantine in Premier Inn 'shoe boxes' after arriving in the UK. And one revealed Mr Case said that opposition to Covid-19 restrictions was 'pure Conservative ideology', leading to calls from MPs for him to be sacked. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is mulling stepping down from the post before the next election, expected late in 2024. In one message, Mr Case suggested that the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson was 'nationally distrusted'. Mr case is said to be 'genuinely undecided' whether to depart his role early, according to the Financial Times. Downing Street said it had confidence in the Cabinet Secretary despite a string of fiascos which has raised questions about his abilities. One senior official said: 'The charge sheet is now so long against him, the only interpretation can be that the PM probably doesn't want to get rid of him.' Mr Case also warned Mr Hancock at one point that Mr Sunak was 'going bonkers' over lockdown rules imposed on business. And he appeared to take delight in the inconvenience caused by some lockdown rules, saying at one point that the prospect of first class travellers being forced to occupy small rooms in quarantine hotels was 'hilarious'. His leaked comments have triggered a backlash among some Tory MPs. Yeovil's Marcus Fysh said: 'Simon Case is clearly not fit to be Cabinet Secretary and should resign.' One minister described his interventions as 'extraordinary', adding: 'He's supposed to sit above the fray, but he seems to have embraced it with a sort of juvenile glee. It is just embarrassing.' The former cabinet minister Esther McVey singled out Mr Case's criticism of Mr Sharma and suggested it showed he had not complied with the civil service duty of impartiality. 'If Mr Case thinks Alok Sharma was pursuing such a hard-line Conservative ideology it can only mean that he is yet another senior civil servant on the left wing of British politics,' she said. A friend of Mr Case told The Times that although the messages would 'embarrass' him, they did not reflect his approach. 'I'm sure he will be embarrassed by these remarks, but they were made in the heat of the moment in the middle of a national crisis responding to a cabinet minister,' the source said. 'They do not represent the full policymaking process. We are talking about casual language being used in a casual setting here.' Mr Case's comments are among 100,000 messages involving Mr Hancock that have been leaked to the Daily Telegraph by the former health secretary's biographer Isobel Oakeshott. During an exchange on Covid isolation, mr Case wrote: 'We are losing this war because of behaviour this is the thing we have to turn around (which probably also relies on people hearing about isolation from trusted local figures, not nationally distrusted figures like the PM, sadly).' In a separate exchange, Mr Sharma and Mr Sunak, who was chancellor at the time, appear to have raised concerns about a requirement on hospitality firms to collect contact tracing details from customers. Mr Case said Mr Sharma would be 'mad' to oppose the rules and suggested he was guilty of 'pure Conservative ideology'. Jacob Rees-Mogg said the messages suggested Mr Case and Mr Hancock had teamed up to 'marginalise' those in government who opposed stricter lockdown rules. But Downing Street said the Prime Minister continued to have confidence in Mr Case. Asked about the controversial messages, the PM's spokesman said: 'These are potentially areas that the independent inquiry will look at. 'You heard the Prime Minister last week say that we won't be getting into piecemeal bits of information, we think the inquiry is the right place to have this all set out.' He added: 'What we are seeing are piecemeal bits of information being put in the public domain, we don't have the context that sits behind them or indeed significant Government work and process which the Cabinet Secretary and others would have been involved in.' A family from India who have been living in Australia for seven years have been told to pack up and leave, with the Immigration Department declaring their son with Down Syndrome is a 'burden' on the health system. Aneesh Kollikkara and Krishna Aneesh, who made a home in south Perth with their two children are devastated to be facing deportation next Wednesday after their permanent residency application was denied. Both Mrs and Mr Aneesh work in critical industries which are facing staff shortages - Mrs Aneesh in cybersecurity and Mr Aneesh in critical telecommunications. But pen-pushers at the Immigration Department ruled Aaryan, 10, could potentially pose too great of a cost to the taxpayer-funded healthcare system. The devastated family said they found the government's finding 'sickening and ableist'. Aneesh Kollikkara (left), Krishna Aneesh (right) and their children Aaryan (centre right) and Aaryasree (centre left) are facing deportation next Wednesday The immigration turned down the Aneesh family's permanent residency because of Aaryan's (above) 'high cost' disability However, the family found new hope on Tuesday after hearing their case is being assessed by Federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. An online petition for the family to stay in Australia has gained more than 26,000 signatures since it was created last week. Mrs Aneesh said her family has never accessed any of the taxpayer-funded resources available in Australia to assist Aaryan. 'We are eligible for NDIS and Medicare but we haven't accessed anything for Aaryan via NDIS,' she told ABC. '(The government) have clearly stated that it is a financial burden to the community and all the taxpayers here in Australia if we are given a permanent residency. 'We can say that we are paying more than that in our own tax and we are contributing to society.' The government estimated Aaryan's disability could cost $664,000 over a 10-year period. Mrs Aneesh added it would be very difficult for Aaryan and his eight-year-old sister Aaryasree to adjust to life in India. The immigration department turned down the Aneesh family's (above) application for permanent residency, saying their son Aaryan's disability would be a 'burden' to taxpayers The family (above) said they have never access taxpayer-funded resources for 10-year-old Aaryan's down syndrome 'The culture, society, everything here is very different from India and also it will be very hard for Aaryan to survive there because of (his disability),' she said. The family explained their situation further in their online petition. 'Even though Aaryam currently accesses no services, and is unlikely ever to do so, he's been assessed as "high cost" which seems unfair,' they said. 'By working in critical industries and paying significant amounts of tax, any taxpayer-funded services that Aaryan may require would be well and truly covered by our contributions. 'We are now facing the prospect of leaving our home country and returning to India, which would have a detrimental effect on our children's development. 'We have no family or support network in India and we fear for Aaryans future. The quality of medical care Aaryan will receive, the stigma he will face and the opportunities he will miss out on worry us.' Federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles (above) is the Aneesh family's last hope of staying in Australia The family concluded the petition with a final call for help: 'Help us provide Aaryan with the best possible future. It is not fair that our family is being punished simply because of Aaryans condition.' Thousands of Aussie taxpayers in the comments said they had 'no problem' with paying for the hardworking family to stay in Australia. Hundreds more called for the government to act with 'compassion' and said its reason for denying the family's application bordered on 'discrimination'. Minister Andrew Giles is the family's last hope before they are deported. Girl, 16, was home alone and reading a book when Davidson crashed into home Davidson lost control of Mercedes, which jumped curb and smashed into house A 16-year-old girl was home alone and reading a book when Pete Davidson spun his Mercedes off the road 'at high speed' and smashed into the teenager's family home, it has emerged. The teenager, who has not been named, thought that there was an earthquake in the area because the sound and impact of the crash was so intense, her father told TMZ. Davidson, 29, was driving his Mercedes through the Flats neighborhood of Beverley Hills at around 11pm on Saturday night at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car and smashed into the family's home - all while his girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders was in the vehicle. The homeowner said Davidson's Mercedes hit their house just outside the living room and the impact of the crash was so intense that a window was knocked from its frame. He said that his 16-year-old daughter was 'a bit' traumatized by the crash, but was not physically injured and was able to meet the celebrity afterward. The homeowner added that he would not be suing Davidson over the damage to his house. Davidson, 29, was driving his Mercedes through the Flats neighborhood of Beverley Hills at around 11pm on Saturday night at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car and smashed into the family's home. Pictured: Davidson in a blue puffer North Face jacket (centre) and Sui Wonders by his side following the crash Pete Davidson and his girlfriend, Chase Sui Wonders, were involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on Saturday night with saw their vehicle plow into the side of a home. Pictured: Davidson's smashed car A 16-year-old girl was home alone and reading a book when Pete Davidson spun his Mercedes off the road 'at high speed' and smashed into the teenager's family home, it has emerged The crash occurred hours after Davidson had presented the Kids' Choice Awards in LA on Saturday night. Earlier that day, the couple had lounged on a beach in Hawaii (pictured) before flying back to the mainland for the ceremony Davidson had been driving his Mercedes when he lost control of the car and jumped the curb and hit a fire hydrant before it crashed into house. Police say drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash. Photographs show Davidson's damaged Mercedes following the crash, with its hood, windscreen and bumper smashed in due to the force of the collision. The crash occurred hours after Davidson had presented the Kids' Choice Awards in LA on Saturday night. Earlier that day, the couple had lounged on a beach in Hawaii before flying back to the mainland for the ceremony. Video taken from the aftermath of the crash also showed firefighters dealing with the extent of the damage in the late evening hours as well as Davidson and Sui speaking with police. Videos and photos of the crash site also show that although the car did not manage to enter the property, Davidson's Mercedes managed to cause significant damage to the side of the house, narrowly missing a tree as it careened off the road. At one point, at least four Beverly Hills Fire Department firefighters were working to clear the roadway. Incredibly, no one was injured either inside or outside of the home, but the police were called to the scene and an investigation is now ongoing. So far, neither Davidson nor 26-year-old Sui Wonders have been cited or arrested. This is the area where Davidson and Sui Wonders were before they crashed late Saturday Video captured by OnScene.TV saw investigators checking out the extent of the damage. Pete Davidson is seen in a puffy jacket while girlfriend Chase Sui wonders is off to the left Davidson and Sui Wonders were seen just hours before the crash in Hawaii The video, first shared by OnScene.TV, shows the 'SNL' alum in a blue puffer North Face jacket and Sui Wonders by his side. The pair appeared calm while speaking to investigators afterwards. Photos taken the next morning show tire tracks can be seen furrowed deep into the front lawn of the home, while wooden paneling appears to have come away, with guttering also looking to have come loose. The crash occurred after a tiring day for the pair. Earlier Davidson and Sui Wonders had been photographed enjoying the beach in Hawaii on Saturday, returning to Los Angeles shortly afterwards. Following a five hour flight from Hawaii back to LA, Davidson later presented at the Kids' Choice Awards that night. Firefighters attempt to stop the spewing water at the scene late Saturday evening Police officers were spotted on the scene late Saturday evening after Davidson's car jumped the curb in the upscale neighborhood The airbags in Davidson's car are seen following the crash on Saturday night Davidson, 29, was in a Mercedes which was driving through the Flats neighborhood of Beverly Hills at high speed when the car suddenly lost control, jumped a curb, hit a fire hydrant, and crashed into the side of a nearby house, law enforcement reported. Pictured: The car's smashed windscreen The home appeared to have suffered some damage to its exterior together with the front lawn Pictured: Davidson's damaged car following the crash on Saturday night The pair are pictured in Hawaii earlier this month where they had been enjoying a winter break Pete Davidson and his girlfriend, Chase Sui Wonders, were involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on Saturday night with saw their vehicle plow into the side of a home. Pictured: Davidson's car following the crash Former Saturday Night Live cast member, Davidson, has dated several women, including supermodel Emily Ratajkowski, since breaking up with Kim Kardashian, 42, in August after nine months together. Davidson and Sui Wonders met when they worked as love interests on the horror/comedy film 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' in 2021. The well-received whodunit about a group of wealthy 20-somethings planning a hurricane party at a mansion that turns deadly, received an 85-percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score, 69-percent, was not quite as generous. The love birds may have exhibited chemistry on the big screen, but they did not start dating until December 2022. Acting may have brought them together again as the two also worked together on Pete's series 'Bupkis.' Fun in the sun: The two stars were spotted enjoying the sunshine in Hawaii The couple were seen in each other's arms as they enjoyed the morning in Hawaii before jetting back to LA Couple goals: The couple stopped for a coffee before Chase hit the beach Deep tire tracks can be seen in the lawn of this Beverly Hills home following a car accident in which Pete Davidson and Chase Sui Wonders were both traveling Deep tire tracks could be seen furrowed into the grass verge on the side walk, narrowly missing a tree Wide tire tracks could be seen marking the sidewalk as Davidson's vehicle left the road Some of the home's exterior walls appeared to come loose while a gutter also appeared loose The comedy is described on IMDB.com as a heightened, fictionalized version of Pete's real life. The actor not only stars in the Peacock series set to debut later this year, but also serves as a writer and executive producer. Chase, meanwhile, has been broadening her horizons professionally modeling for MiuMiu, and Chanel. The Detroit native can be seen next in City on Fire. She stars as a crime victim in the thriller about a series of fires in 2003 New York City. is scheduled to debut on Apple TV+ May 12. Disturbing videos have circulated online which appear to show young girls gasping for air as they desperately try to force their way out of schools in Iran, amid a shocking spate of poisonings of children in the country. In one chilling clip, shared by a BBC Persian journalist, dozens of schoolgirls are seen on the floor after running out of their classrooms, coughing and wailing in pain. The horrifying footage comes as officials in the country put the number of schoolchildren affected by poisonings at more than 5,000. The attacks have targeted mainly female pupils since they were first seen in late November, with many rushed to hospital and unverified videos showing packed emergency rooms. The mystery poisonings have gripped Iran, triggering a wave of angry protests involving distressed parents and teachers and allegations of government complicity from human rights and opposition groups. Theories around who is behind the series of horrifying attacks include that the authorities may be taking revenge on the girls for their role in the protests which have been ongoing for months. The first cases were reported soon after the start of nationwide protests sparked by the death of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly breaching Iran's strict dress code for women. There have also been suggestions that extremist religious groups are staging the attacks in an effort to get women and girls out of the classroom. In the clip shared by the BBC's Parham Ghobadi of an unknown location, girls are seen rushing out of a building before sitting on the floor, where they cling on to one another as they struggle to breathe. Another horrifying video appears to show girls fighting their way out of a school in the Western city of Hamadan. Shared by anti-government activist group 1500 Tanvir, the post says that the girls, from the Fatemieh Art School, are shouting 'We don't want to die' as they push their way past people trying to stop them leaving. They also shared a video of a little girl collapsing as she is lifted into an ambulance, claiming that 'many students fainted' and that protesting families were taken away by police. Further videos seemingly show a packed emergency room in a hospital with distressed family members desperately seeking help for their daughters. Another clip, shared by human rights activists, was filmed by a woman who alleges that security forces in the northern city of Rasht had fired tear gas at mothers protesting at the local education department there. Videos shared by anti-government activist group 1500 Tanvir appears to show girls fighting their way out of a school, which they say is in the Western city of Hamadan. Schoolgirls hold onto one another in a horrifying clip which appears to show them gasping for breath A person is lifted to an ambulance outside a girls' school after reports of poisoning in Ardabil, Iran The poisonings have sparked international condemnation, as well as calls from the West for an independent investigation. Yesterday, the White House said that investigating the poisonings could fall under the mandate of the United Nations. 'If these poisonings are related to participation in protest then it is well within the mandate of the UN independent international fact finding mission on Iran to investigate,' said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. She further called for a 'credible independent investigation' into the poisonings. March 5, 2023. Fatemieh Art School in Hamedan. Schoolgirls shout: We don't want to die!pic.twitter.com/ssF6a0YYUt 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 5, 2023 Scores of schools have been hit by the suspicious attacks, with pupils suffering symptoms ranging from shortness of breath to nausea and vertigo after reporting 'unpleasant' odours on school premises. But there has not yet been any official explanation of what could be causing these symptoms, or who could be behind them. Mohammad-Hassan Asafari, a member of the parliamentary fact-finding committee currently looking into the poisonings, told the ISNA news agency yesterday: 'Twenty-five provinces and approximately 230 schools have been affected, and more than 5,000 schoolgirls and boys poisoned. The number of schoolchildren affected by poisonings in Iran has climbed to more than 5,000, according to an investigator. Pictured: people gather around an ambulance outside a girls school after reports of poisoning in Fardis, Alborz province 'Various tests are being carried out to identify the type and cause of the poisonings. So far, no specific information has been obtained regarding the type of poison used.' Calling the poisonings an 'unforgivable crime', Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave orders Monday for the perpetrators to be tracked down 'without mercy'. # .# # #_ #__ pic.twitter.com/MlyZYop1wt (@hra_news) March 5, 2023 According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Khamenei said: 'If the poisoning of students is proven, those behind this crime should be sentenced to capital punishment and there will be no amnesty for them.' It was the first time the country's Supreme Leader, who has the final say on all matters of state, has spoken publicly about the suspected poisonings, Last week, President Ebrahim Raisi tasked the interior ministry with providing continuous updates on the investigation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) has declared that those behind the poisoning of over 1,000 schoolgirls should be sentenced to death if it is proven that attacks were deliberate A young woman lies in hospital after reports of poisoning at an unspecified location in Iran The ministry has announced no arrests so far, even as new cases continue to be reported. 'In less than five percent of the students transferred to hospital, irritant materials were found which led to their ill-health,' the ministry said in its latest update Monday. 'Fortunately, so far, no toxic or dangerous substances have been found in any of the students transferred to medical centres.' The latest case - reported by the ISNA news agency - involved 40 pupils, all of them female, in the restive southeastern city of Zahedan. March 6, 2023, Babol, Mazandaran. The Islamic Republics chemical attack on Farideh Miri School. Many students fainted. The police took away all protesting families. They brought IRIBs photographer to pretend everything is normal. pic.twitter.com/LBj9svgKky 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 6, 2023 The first cases were reported in Iran's Shiite clerical capital of Qom in late November, a month after the Amini protests that later spread to universities and schools. On Tuesday, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi warned 'those who spread lies and rumours' about the poisonings that 'they will be dealt with decisively and legally,' the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported. Officials have only acknowledged the incidents in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks, or what chemicals - if any - have been used. In a briefing yesterday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre called for a 'credible independent investigation' into the poisonings Protests were sparked across the country and the world following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September. Pictured: Protesters hold a sign depicting Amini at a rally in Brussels, Belgium People in Rome, Italy take part in the 'Freedom Rally for Iran demonstration against the Iranian regime last month Unlike neighbouring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women's education. But the suspected attacks have been seen by some commentators as part of an extremist response to the protests led by women and girls that have swept Iran in recent months. Protests were sparked across the country and the world following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died under suspicious circumstances in police custody in September. Over the weekend, fresh protests against the suspected poisonings were seen in Iran and around the world. Worried parents protested in Irans capital Tehran and other cities on Saturday, with a number gathering outside an Education Ministry building in western Tehran according to Reuters. Further protests were held in Tehran and other cities including Isfahan and Rasht, unverified videos suggest. A senior NHS scientist has won a race claim after her user name was changed to 'Paininarse' on a work spreadsheet. Ubah Jama was considered a 'troublemaker' after complaining about a fellow biochemist throwing a test tube in her direction, an employment tribunal heard. Her alleged ill-treatment culminated in the 'offensive' insertion of the phrase 'paininarse' on a shared Microsoft Excel document which could be seen by colleagues across two hospitals, the tribunal heard. And when she complained about it, her boss failed to have it removed, the panel concluded. Ms Jama, who is of Somalian origin, claimed that over a two year period she was a victim of numerous acts of racial discrimination while working for Barking Havering & Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust in East London. She is now in line for compensation after the tribunal judge ruled she had been 'increasingly marginalised and excluded because of her race and then penalised for complaining about that treatment.' The tribunal was heard at the East London Hearing Centre (stock image) The tribunal, held in East London, heard Ms Jama had been one of four senior biochemists within the Clinical Biochemistry department at Queen's Hospital, Romford, London since February 2019. In February the following year Ms Jama was left 'upset' when colleague Tatyana Zadorozny lost her temper and threw a plastic tube containing a fluid sample at the bench she and two black colleagues were sitting on. Ms Zadorozny, who is white Canadian, had become exasperated at a lack of help she received from a black junior locum and 'tossed' it towards them, the tribunal heard, prompting Ms Jama to make a health and safety complaint. She also complained that her scientist colleague Claire Beck had been put forward for a three-day admin training course and she was not and that - unlike her white counterparts - she had been told to work while off sick with suspected Covid. The tribunal heard that in January 2021, Ms Jama checked a work file to find 'paininarse' written in place of her name - something visible to colleagues at both Queen's Hospital and King George Hospital. The panel heard she complained, attaching screenshots which showed that if a cursor was run over certain cells in the spreadsheet the rude username popped up. In a meeting the following day, Ms Beck admitted she had been responsible but explained the tag had automatically transferred into the document from her home computer. She claimed it was a 'personal in-joke about the performance of the computer'. Giving evidence, Ms Beck accepted her conduct had been 'unprofessional', hence why she removed the phrase from her own documents. However, she failed to remove it from Ms Jama's. Her explanation she had 'forgotten' in an 'oversight' was ruled 'implausible' by the tribunal. Concluding that Ms Beck had victimised her colleague, Employment Judge David Massarella said: 'We are satisfied that the original insertion of the term 'paininarse' into the documents was innocent. 'However, we considered that the position was different in relation to the failure to remove it from Ms Jama's documents. 'We have concluded that this crossed the threshold into harassment: it had the effect of creating an offensive, indeed humiliating, environment for Ms Jama, given these documents were visible to colleagues. 'There was differential treatment: (Ms Beck) removed the tag from all her own documents but not from Ms Jama's. 'Her apology was half-hearted.' Regarding her justification, the judge continued: 'Ms Beck must have realised it would cause offence, given the history of tensions within the department. 'We disbelieve her explanation and conclude that she left it in deliberately.' Ms Jama's boss, Iris Valera-Larios, was also found to have racially harassed her by failing to take steps to remove the 'paininarse' tag. Many of Ms Jama's other claims of discrimination were dismissed by the tribunal. However, she won her claims of discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair treatment of whistleblowing regarding the 'sample tossing' incident, the denial of training and the Covid working complaint. She had received 'less favourable treatment' than her white counterparts, the tribunal found. The panel suggested Ms Jama's treatment was because she was considered a 'troublemaker' by bosses, given her previous health and safety disclosures. On several occasions, the tribunal said, her boss's behaviour towards had been 'materially influenced by race'. Judge Massarella said: 'The Trust, through the conduct of [Ms Jama's bosses] created an environment in which Ms Jama was increasingly marginalised and excluded because of her race and then penalised for complaining about that treatment.' Another hearing will now take place to decide how much compensation she will be paid. He waited several hours before placing call to coastguard reporting her missing Ryan Bane, 44, reported his girlfriend missing but coastguard did not tape call Bungling Coast Guard officers did not record Sarm Heslop's boyfriend's phone call reporting her missing in a 'troubling' error in the investigation, MailOnline can reveal ahead of the second anniversary of her disappearance tomorrow. It has emerged that the US Coast Guard didn't tape Ryan Bane calling 911 when she vanished as they should have done. The agency blamed a 'fault in the system' which deprived Ms Heslop's family of a vital piece of evidence. Ms Heslop, 42, was last seen with Bane on March 8th 2021 in the US Virgin Islands. Her mother Brenda Street said in a statement that the 'inconsistencies in this investigation have troubled me from the start. Something doesn't add up'. Southampton-born Ms Heslop, a former flight attendant, vanished without trace on the island of St John. She was last seen with Bane, 44, at a restaurant near to where his catamaran, the Siren Song, was docked. Sarm Heslop, from Southampton, who went missing from the Siren Song, a catamaran owned and operated by her American boyfriend, Ryan Bane Ryan Bane's luxury 47-foot catamaran, named Siren Song, sits in Frank Bay on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Bane, 44, is boyfriend of missing British woman Sarm Heslop Ryan Bane, the US boat captain boyfriend of missing British woman Sarm Heslop, is seen here in a police mugshot in 2011 after attacking his ex-wife Heslop (right) is pictured with her friend Kate Owen. The pair moved to the Caribbean together. Kate has now called for British detectives to investigate the disappearance of her friend Bane has said he was asleep on the boat when Sarm disappeared and was woken at 2am by the boat's anchor alarm, which sounds when the vessel has drifted too far. But he waited nine hours before calling the US Coast Guard, despite being told by police to do so. MailOnline requested the 911 recording by Bane made at 11.46am on March 8th last year under the US Freedom of Information law. The Coast Guard initially said that the recording had accidentally been deleted. But in a letter J.L. Suarez, a lawyer with the agency said: 'Said telephone call was never recorded due to a fault in the system. 'Therefore, the information pertaining to the erasure of the audio recording contained in my (previous) letter was incorrect'. Police in the US Virgin Islands have failed to respond to requests from MailOnline for more information about the case, including public records requests under which they are legally obliged to respond. That includes the phone call that Bane made to police on the islands in the early hours of March 8th - a critical piece of evidence Ms Heslop's family desperately want to be public. After promising an interview with one of the detectives, their media relations officer stopped responding to emails and phone calls. Ms Heslop's parents have said they are 'absolutely gutted' at the lack of progress in the investigation. In a statement to MailOnline Ms Street said: 'We have been told that the CCTV wasn't working in the local area due to a power outage on the island. 'We were shown some CCTV footage allegedly showing Sarm and Ryan walking back to their dinghy but it was turned off before I could see them step onto the boat and this footage has never been publicly released. And now we discover that the 911 call Ryan made to the coast guard was never recorded! Something doesn't add up'. Ryan Bane had been dating Ms Heslop for eight months sitting aboard Siren Song, his yacht - and was on holiday with her when she went missing in March 2021 Bane (above) is the only person of interest in the case but has not surfaced since detectives admitted losing track of him in early July 2021. Pictured: Bane on his boat in March 2021 The text message sent to Brenda Street arrived one morning around 11am was succinct and stripped of emotion. 'This is Ryan Bane, Sarm's boyfriend,' it read. 'Please ring me' She added: 'It's becoming increasingly frustrating and more upsetting to find that the VIPD 'ongoing investigation' isn't going anywhere. The lack of updates and correspondence from the VIPD leads me to believe they are not caring Police Officers or indeed human'. Bane - who is not a suspect - was allowed to sail away from St Thomas and has now reportedly renamed the Siren Song and is trying to sell the vessel for 170,000. In March last year Ms Heslop's desperate parents travelled to the US Virgin Islands to demand answers to why Bane was never even interviewed by police. They have called on British police to investigate and forensically examine her belongings. Ms Heslop's best friend Kate Owen has said that the family wanted 'more than anything else in the world' for the UK police to get involved. She has said: 'There's been no investigation this side, and the one over there hasn't given us any answers. 'We're no clearer as to what happened that night than at the start. We need them to get involved.' Adding to the familys alarm has been that Banes ex-wife Cori Stevenson, alleged he had a history of violence and controlling behaviour. Bane's whereabouts are currently unknown and a lawyer representing him did not return a request for comment. He had hired celebrity lawyer David Cattie - who represented Ghislaine Maxwell - within days of Ms Heslop's disappearance. Cattie said previously that coastguards had conducted an 'on-site inspection of the vessel' and an 'interview without limitation', and that Bane, 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' at Sarm's disappearance, had handed over her personal belongings including her phone, iPad and passport to the police. He has denied that Bane had a hand in any wrongdoing and said he was 'heartbroken' over Ms Heslop's disappearance. Explosive new documents have revealed Victorian Premier Dan Andrews used secret taxpayer-funded polling to decide on whether to stick with brutal Covid lockdowns. He did so while claiming to be following 'health advice' to guide the state's response to the coronavirus, including one of the world's longest lockdowns of 112 days in 2021. Mr Andrews' critics have previously said such research misused taxpayer funds, and that the government has form using public money for political gain. The polling was done QDOS, which is owned by Labor strategist John Armitage. It has been paid more than $2million in taxpayer money since 2016 to carry out community polling for the Andrews government. The bombshell findings were unearthed in almost 200 pages of documents released under Freedom of Information regulations after a long battle to keep them secret. Explosive new documents have revealed Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured right with his wife Catherine) used secret taxpayer-funded polling to decide on whether to stick with brutal Covid lockdowns The Andrews government kept its appeal against releasing the documents going until November's state election came and went without them being made public. The documents obtained by The Australian reveal that focus groups in regional and city areas in July and August 2020 were questioned on Mr Andrews' performance. People's responses to health messages and the 5km travel restriction were also gauged in the research done QDOS. Company owner John Armitage reportedly boasts of his company's skill in 'changing public opinion' and its ability to 'squeeze, pump and stir' public view points. A QDOS briefing from a focus group held in Colac, 150km south-west of Melbourne, on August 5, 2020 found support for Mr Andrews. A lone person is seen crossing Bourke Street Mall on October 2, 2021 in Melbourne during a lockdown 'Sentiment in these groups was similar to earlier rounds and these people were considerably more likely to jump to the defence of the government and Dan Andrews,' it found. The problems with hotel quarantine leaks, which triggered a deadly second wave of the virus in Victoria, was found to have taken some 'gloss' off the government, but only up to a point. 'People have become less likely to freely offer support for Dan Andrews but if he is criticised by one person a bigger number stridently come to his defence,' QDOS found. 'We can reasonably conclude that the government and the primary spokesperson, Dan Andrews, still have credibility and ... confidence.' Dan Andrews claimed to be following 'health advice' to guide the state's response to the coronavirus, including one of the world's longest lockdowns at 112 days. Pictured is a protestor at an anti-vaccination rally in Melbourne in November 2021 QDOS told the cabinet and the Department of Premier and Cabinet that Mr Andrews was still 'highly regarded' by the public despite the hotel quarantine disaster. 'Actions taken now reinforce the competence brand already well established, even with the knowledge of poor hotel quarantine,' it found. Despite all the money spent on the polling, the findings have mostly stayed secret until now due to strict confidentiality clauses - generally only those closest to Mr Andrews were briefed on the results. An Andrews government spokesperson told The Australian that 'This community feedback helped us understand the most effective health message carriers in our efforts to keep the community safe, support our health workers, and encourage people to get vaccinated and save lives during a one in a 100-year pandemic.' Eddie Izzard has insisted opposing Nicola Sturgeon's gender law is not transphobic - as she revealed a new name of 'Suzy'. The comedian and would-be MP said she had wanted the name since she was 10, but people could decide which to use - joking that she often gets her own pronouns muddled. In an interview on Matt Forde's Political Party podcast last night, Izzard said it is not bigoted to oppose Nicola Sturgeon's effort to loosen gender rules in Scotland. She suggested it was a 'tricky' question how long people should wait before formally transitioning. 'I don't have the perfect answer,' she said. Izzard also disclosed an ambition to be in the Cabinet, making clear she will not give up on efforts to get elected to Parliament. Finding herself: Eddie Izzard has introduced the new feminine name she has wanted to use since the age of 10 - but said people can choose which one they want to address her by Izzard has expressed a preference for female pronouns since 2020, but 'doesn't mind' if people use male pronouns. She said: 'I'm Eddie. There's another name I'm going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which I wanted to be since I was 10. I'm going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard.' Izzard added: 'I've wanted to be S, U, Z, Y since I was ten. 'That's how I'm gonna roll so people can choose what they want, they can't make a mistake, they can't go wrong.' Izzard joked that 'I make mistakes with my own pronouns'. The comedian has run for selection as a Labour candidate for London Mayor and Parliament, but so far been unsuccessful. Asked about political ambitions, Izzard vowed 'I will keep going until I get in.' Pressed by Forde on whether she would be happy to give up comedy for the backbenches, she joked: 'do I have to be backbench?' However, Izzard refused to 'do dates' on when she would reach Cabinet and insisted she 'doesn't mind' who becomes PM. 'After failing to be selected as Labour's candidate in Sheffield, Izzard said: I'd still love to be an MP for Sheffield, anywhere up North... if there is a North/South divide - I wanna fight for the North.' Izzard calls herself 'somewhat boy-ish and somewhat girl-ish'. She uses the word 'transgender' as an umbrella term. She became famous as a comedian who cross-dressed, but now identifies as a gender-fluid trans woman. Izzard announced two years ago that she would prefer female pronouns and intends to be 'based in girl mode from now on'. She said: 'I'm Eddie. There's another name I'm going to add in as well, which is Suzy, which I wanted to be since I was 10. I'm going to be Suzy Eddie Izzard' (stock image) 'Don't get het up about it': Eddie who has used she/her pronouns since 2020, but 'doesn't mind' if people use him/her pronouns to address her :: Matt Forde's fortnightly West End residency continues with upcoming guests including Krishnan Guru-Murthy on March 20 and Ruth Davidson on April 3 An Aboriginal artist has asked an Australian of British descent to donate their 'dead body' for a gruesome artwork that will 'atone' for the sins of colonialism. Nathan Maynard, a well-known artist and playwright, posted an advertisement for a dead body in the Saturday edition of The Age newspaper last week. Mr Maynard signed the bizarre request as a 'palawa' artist - one of the terms Tasmanian Aboriginal people use when referring to themselves. 'Palawa artist wanting to find an Australian of British descent who is willing to donate their future deceased body to an art installation,' the notice read. 'The work will speak to sacrifice for past sins perpetrated against the palawa. Potential applicants should see this opportunity as an honour. 'The body and memory of the successful applicant will be treated with the utmost respect at all stages of the project.' Mr Maynard told Daily Mail Australia that about half a dozen people had already applied for their body to be used in the installation in November. Nathan Maynard, an Indigenous artist and playwright, has requested the dead body of an Australian of British descent for an artwork that aims to 'atone' for the sins of colonialism The artist said white people who were upset by the request should ask themselves why they didn't have the same reaction to the mass murder of Aboriginal people. Thousands of First Nations people were killed by coloniser, with their remains sent overseas to be displayed in institutions and museums without a proper ceremony. 'So many Aboriginal people's remains are still overseas. People are trying to bring their ancestors home and they are being denied that right,' Mr Maynard said. While most wouldn't be prepared to donate their bodies, Mr Maynard wants Australians to think about how else they can physically show their support. He said white tokenism is rife across Australia and that it had become 'trendy' to pretend to support Aboriginal Australians and their causes. Part of the work, titled 'Relic Act', would involve 'very personal and intimate' conversations with the final candidate, the artist said. Potential applicants were told the opportunity to apply should be seen as an honour (pictured is the advertisement that ran in the Saturday edition of The Age last week) Unlike the artist's ancestors, who suffered immensely after the European colonisation, the applicant's remains would be treated with the utmost respect. 'Human bodies are very sacred and they should be treated with respect,' he said. 'Whitefellas obviously don't know how to handle remains with respect, so I'm going to show them how.' The artwork has already received support from the state-funded Tasmanian Museum and Gallery and the Hobart City Council, which has donated $15,000. The piece has been commissioned to appear as part of an exhibition for the popular Hobart Current biennial exhibition in November, 2023. This is the moment police told a Catholic woman that 'praying is an offence' as she was arrested a second time outside an abortion clinic just weeks after being acquitted for the same offence. Video shared online shows Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, director of anti-abortion group March for Life UK, being arrested outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham. Officers ask Ms Vaughan-Spruce to 'step outside the exclusion zone' that exists around the clinic. However, she tells officers that she is 'not protesting' and 'not engaging in any of the activities prohibited'. Police respond: 'But you've said you're engaging in prayer, which is the offence', to which she replies: 'Silent prayer.' Video shared online shows Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, director of anti-abortion group March for Life UK, being arrested outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham Officers ask Ms Vaughan-Spruce to 'step outside the exclusion zone' that exists around the clinic. However, she tells officers that she is 'not protesting' and 'not engaging in any of the activities prohibited' The officer then says, 'No, but you were still engaging in prayer. It is an offence', to which Ms Vaughan-Spruce answered: 'I disagree.' She was then arrested by six officers. In a statement through her legal representatives, ADF UK, Ms Vaughan-Spruce said: 'Only three weeks ago, it was made clear by the court that my silent prayers were not a crime. 'And yet, again, I have been arrested and treated as a criminal for having the exact same thoughts in my head, in the same location. 'The ambiguity of laws that limit free expression and thought - even in peaceful, consensual conversation or in silent, internal prayer - leads to abject confusion, to the detriment of important fundamental rights. Nobody should be criminalised for their thoughts.' Map showing the boundary of the exclusion zone (highlighted red) around the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham General view of the BPAS Robert Clinic in King Norton, Birmingham Ms Vaughan-Spruce was confronted by police when she was standing on the street outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on December 6 Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (right) pictured outside Birmingham Magistrates' Court with Father Sean Gough last month According to ADF UK, a charity committed to protecting freedom of expression that has campaigned against the buffer zones - areas around clinics cordoned off from anti-abortion campaigners - Ms Vaughan-Spruce has been subject to bail conditions prohibiting her from going near the abortion facility. What are PSPOs and how do they stop protests around abortion centres? Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are designed to allow local councils to prevent anti-social behaviour. Councils were given the power to enforce them in 2014 through section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. The authority lists the activity that is banned within a particular geographical area, with a 100 initial fine rising to 1,000 if it goes to court. MPs have also introduced buffer zones around abortion clinics following an amendment to the Public Order Bill. This makes it an offence to intimidate or harass anyone within 150 metres of the buildings. Anyone found guilty of breaching the zone to intimidate, threaten or persuade women will face a fine or six months' imprisonment, increasing to two years for repeat offences. The law change came out over concerns about councils being sued by anti-abortion campaigners challenging PSPOs. Advertisement West Midlands Police confirmed a 45-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of breaching a public space protection order (PSPO) yesterday, following complaints from members of the public. They said: 'The woman was advised to leave the area, and refused, before being issued with a fixed penalty notice. When she refused to leave again, she was arrested. 'She has now been bailed while statements are taken from residents and people working in the area.' The force added: 'This order was put in place by a court, following a joint application from West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, to protect women from harassment by any means if they are seeking a medical procedure or advice at an abortion clinic. 'It is our role to enforce the PSPO and reassure those it was designed to protect.' The arrest comes just weeks after she was found not guilty by Birmingham Magistrates Court for silently praying outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on December 6. Her arrest sparked a fierce debate, with supporters saying she was effectively arrested for 'thoughtcrime', a term which ADF UK used - but she was cleared of all charges. Following her not guilty verdict, Ms Vaughan-Spruce said in a statement outside court: 'I'm glad I've been vindicated of any wrongdoing. But I should never have been arrested for my thoughts and treated like a criminal simply for silently praying on a public street.' Buffer zones make it an offence to intimidate or harass anyone within 150 metres of an abortion clinic and were introduced as an amendment to the Public Order Bill last year. The exclusion zones are areas around clinics where abortion-specific harassment such a displaying graphic signs, following and filming women and repeatedly approaching women and doctors is not allowed. The UK's first buffer zone was introduced around an abortion clinic in Ealing, west London, in 2018. Buffer zones have been hailed by pro-choice campaigners as an important step towards de-stigmatising abortion and preventing the harassment of those who attend abortion clinics. However, critics see them as an attack on freedom of expression. MPs are set to debate today on the rollout of buffer zones across England and Wales. A Ukrainian serviceman sits in a tank at the frontline near Bakhmut, Ukraine, Monday, March 6. AP-Yonhap Ukraine's top military commanders have vowed to keep defending the besieged city of Bakhmut, where Russia is hoping to make its first major wartime gain in more than half a year, and will strengthen their defenses, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Amidst some of the bloodiest fighting of the more than one-year long invasion, Moscow says capturing the city would be a step towards its major objective of seizing the full territory of the surrounding Donbas region. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces late on Monday reported that the city and surrounding areas were under "constant attacks" as "the enemy takes no account of losses." After Russian gains in recent weeks, at the culmination of a winter offensive, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut in apparent preparation for a possible retreat. However, late on Monday, Zelenskiy said that at a meeting of top military officials he had asked the commander of the regional grouping and Ukraine's commander in chief how they proposed to proceed. "Both generals responded not to withdraw but to strengthen (our defenses)," he said in his nightly address. "I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut." The intense battle has depleted both sides' artillery reserves, with thousands of shells fired daily along the eastern and southern fronts. Kyiv's European allies are working on a deal to procure more ammunition for the fight. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, which is leading the Bakhmut assault, said on Monday he needed the regular army to supply him with more ammunition, reinforcements and covering support if he was to win the battle. The appeal from Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin came amid signs of a deepening rift between him and the Russian defense ministry whom he has bitterly criticized for months and accused of deliberately starving his men of ammunition, an allegation it has rejected. Andrii Bondarenko, 45, puts his hands on the head of his brother Vladyslav Bondarenko 26, during his funeral in Kozyntsi, near Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 6. Bondarenko, a paratrooper of airmobile brigade, died near Bakhmut on Feb 26. AP-Yonhap "I'm knocking on all doors and sounding the alarm about ammunition and reinforcements, as well as the need to cover our flanks," he said in a statement released by his press service. "If everyone is coordinated, without ambition, screw-ups and tantrums, and carries out this work, then we will block the armed forces of Ukraine. If not, then everyone will be screwed." There was no immediate response from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Separately, Reuters reported Kyiv has broadened a request for controversial cluster bombs from the United States to include a weapon that it wants to cannibalize to drop the anti-armor bomblets it contains on Russian forces from drones, according to two U.S. lawmakers. A National Security Council spokesperson said that while Ukraine and the White House "closely coordinate" on military aid, she had no "new capabilities to announce." After losing ground during the second half of 2022, Russia launched a winter offensive of intense trench warfare, making use of hundreds of thousands of reservists called up late last year. Russia's offensive has produced no notable gains, failing to seize ground in Luhansk province further north and taking heavy losses in particular around Vuhledar to the south. Ukraine has focused mainly on defense for the last three months, trying to inflict high casualties while preparing for a counter-offensive when new weapons arrive and the muddy ground dries out. Speaking to reporters in the Middle East on Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would not predict when or if Ukrainian troops might leave Bakhmut, but that should it fall that "won't necessarily mean that the Russians have changed the tide of this fight". "I think it is more of a symbolic value than it is strategic and operational value," Austin said. Kyiv says Russia's losses in trying to seize a city already reduced to rubble could determine the future course of the war by destroying combat power ahead of decisive battles later this year. Russia refers to the campaign as a "special military operation" but has increasingly reframed initial denunciation of "Nazis" in Ukraine to describe it as a fight against the "collective West" which threatens its very existence. Ukraine and the West describe Russia's actions as an unprovoked war of aggression aimed at expanding territory. On Monday, Russia's FSB security service said it had thwarted a Ukraine-backed car bomb attack against a prominent nationalist businessman who has been a cheerleader for Moscow's war. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. (Reuters) The man took a final drag of his cigarette before saying 'Glory to Ukraine' Footage purported to show a Ukrainian POW being gunned down by Russians Ukraine says it has identified a soldier filmed being shot dead in a viral video that sparking outrage and spurring officials to demand a probe, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing to find the 'murderers'. The footage - circulated widely on social media - shows what appears to be a detained Ukrainian combatant standing in a shallow trench, smoking. Moments after saying 'Glory to Ukraine,' he is gunned down and slumps to the ground. The phrase spoken by the alleged detained Ukrainian soldier was trending on social media on Monday. Officials in Kyiv blamed Russian forces and called for justice. 'According to preliminary information, the deceased is a serviceman of the 30th separate mechanized brigade, Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura,' the brigade's Facebook post said. He was a father of five, reports say. 'The command of the 30th separate mechanized brigade and the Hero's brothers express their sincere condolences to his relatives and friends. Revenge for our Hero will be inevitable. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!' it said. Ukraine says it has identified a soldier filmed being shot dead in a viral video (right) that sparking outrage and spurring officials to demand a probe. Kyiv said the man was Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura, a 41-year-old thought to be from Mala Derevychka village The footage - circulated widely on social media - shows what appears to be a detained Ukrainian combatant standing in a shallow trench, smoking. Moments after saying 'Glory to Ukraine,' he is gunned down and slumps to the ground Shadura had been missing since February 3 amid fighting near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, it said. 'The final confirmation of his identity can be established after the body is returned,' it added. The 41-year-old is thought to be from Mala Derevychka village, Zhytomyr region. Kyiv said the killed soldier's remains were located in territory currently controlled by Russian forces. Bakhmut is in Ukraine's eastern AFP could not independently verify where or when the footage was filmed or whether it showed - as Ukrainian officials and social media users suggested - a Ukrainian prisoner of war. In an address to the nation on Monday, Zelensky said the video showed Russian forces 'brutally killing' a Ukrainian serviceman. 'We will find the murderers,' he vowed. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called earlier for the International Criminal Court to probe the footage. Journalist Vasily Krutchak wrote on Facebook that the man's sister strongly believes that her brother was the man machined gunned in the genocidal execution. 'I just talked on the phone with Timofey's sister, Olga,' he said. 'She said that she was 90 per cent sure that the man who was shot is her brother.' Later the sister told the BBC Ukrainian service she was 100 per cent certain. 'This is my brother. It's his eyes, his voice and the way he smoked a cigarette,' she said, according to producer Sofia Kochmar-Tymoshenko. 'My brother would certainly be capable of standing up to the Russians like that,' she told the British broadcaster. 'He never hid the truth in his life and certainly wouldn't do so in front of the enemy.' Subsequently she posted on social media: 'Six family members are sure it's their brother and son.' No final identity can be established until Russia allows the bullet-riddled corpse to be repatriated - if it ever does. The 'Glory to Ukraine' phrase and the response 'Heroyam Slava', or 'Glory to the Heroes', has been a hallmark of post-Soviet Ukraine, but it has taken on special significance as a common greeting in public life since the start of the war. MailOnline was not immediately able to verify the authenticity, date or location of the video. Russia's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a query about it when contacted by Reuters news agency. The general staff of Ukraine's armed forces called the shooting of an unarmed prisoner 'a cynical and brazen disregard for the norms of international humanitarian law and the customs of war. This is what worthless murderers do, not warriors. 'The Russian occupiers have once again shown that their main goal in Ukraine is the brutal extermination of Ukrainians.' A lawyer who was wounded in battle last year said he was collecting money for a reward to anyone who identified those responsible. He personally pledged $1,000. Ukrainian authorities did not say where or when the shooting occurred. Within hours, #GloryToUkraine became one of the top trending hashtags on Twitter. Andriy Kostin, Ukraine's prosecutor general, said Ukraine's security service had registered the shooting as a criminal case under a part of the criminal code that covers violations of war laws and customs. In the horrifying footage, the lone man is seen on video smoking and saying 'Glory to Uklraine' before he is shot dead. He has been hailed a martyr in his homeland. A voice is heard off camera saying 'You're a b***. Die, b***' - and then he is riddled with bullets. His body slups to the ground in a blink of an eye. Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, insisted: 'There will be retribution for every such war crime. No-one can hide. We will find everyone.' Moscow and Kyiv have on several occasions accused each other of killing prisoners in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine. There is also video footage of the Russian Wagner Private Military Company killing deserters in brutal ways, and reports of them executing their own troops. Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence for thousands of war crimes committed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied that its forces have committed atrocities or attacked civilians. Speaking in November last year, a senior US official said that actions by Russian soldiers could even implicate top officials in war crimes. Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence for thousands of war crimes committed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied that its forces have committed atrocities or attacked civilians. Pictured: Volunteers lower into a grave a coffin with one of fifteen unidentified people killed by Russian troops in Bucha US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice Beth Van Schaack told reporters that there was strong evidence that Russian abuses in Ukraine were not random. There is mounting evidence that Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'has been accompanied by systemic war crimes committed in every region where Russian forces have been deployed,' she said. Evidence from liberated areas indicates 'deliberate, indiscriminate and disproportionate' attacks against civilian populations, custodial abuses of civilians and POWs, forceful removal, or filtration, of Ukrainian citizens including children to Russia, and execution-like murders and sexual violence,' she told reporters. 'When we're seeing such systemic acts, including the creation of a vast filtration network, it's very hard to imagine how these crimes could be committed without responsibility going all the way up the chain of command,' she said. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said controversial new law to 'stop the boats' Migrants entering UK illegally from today will be banned from claiming asylum Suella Braverman sounded defiance against European judges today as she unveiled a law banning Channel migrants from claiming asylum. The Home Secretary insisted the UK can no longer tolerate a situation where many arrivals come from 'safe' countries, pass through France, and are 'rich' enough to pay traffickers large sums in a bid to game the system. Dismissing 'naive' Labour jeers in the Commons, she said the need for reform was 'obvious and urgent' after 45,000 made the perilous Channel crossing last year. Ms Braverman said the asylum system is 'overwhelmed' and 'waves of illegal migrants breaching our border' will only end when they know the UK will deport them 'swiftly'. She also gave a stark figure that 100million could be entitled to asylum under current rules, adding grimly that they are 'coming here'. 'To anyone proposing de facto open borders through unlimited safe and legal routes as the alternative, let's be honest, there are 100 million people around the world who could qualify for protection under our current laws,' she said. 'Let's be clear, they are coming here. We've seen a 500 per cent increase in small boats crossing in two years. 'This is the crucial point of this Bill. They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally you will be detained and swiftly removed. 'Removed back to your country if it is safe, or to a safe third country like Rwanda. And that is precisely what this Bill will do. That is how we will stop the boats.' The landmark Bill will bar illegal arrivals from staying and applying on refugee, modern slavery or human rights grounds. They will also not be allowed to bring judicial reviews or get bail for at least 28 days. Only children and the gravely ill will be allowed to remain in Britain while cases are considered. To avoid creating a dash to reach Britain, the rules will be effective from now even though it could be months before they are on the statute book. They explicitly trump human rights laws and judges in Strasbourg. The new Bill will also give Parliament the power to set an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted into the country - with local authorities being consulted on how many they can take. The PM visited the South East this afternoon as he trumpets the blueprint, before holding a press conference in Downing Street. Ms Braverman conceded the initiative 'pushes the boundaries' of international law and the government faces challenges in the courts and in Parliament. She said she is 'confident this Bill is compatible with international obligations'. But a letter she circulated to MPs and peers says that there is a 'more than 50 per cent chance' it will breach the European Convention on Human Rights. Critics have also warned that the proposals are 'unworkable' because the UK does not have anywhere safe it can send the numbers who cross the Channel. Suella Braverman today warned that 100million people could be entitled to asylum in the UK under current rules as she unveiled a radical overhaul More migrants were brought ashore in Kent yesterday ahead of the new laws being unveiled Home Office figures lay bare how the number of illegal immigration attempts detected have risen - dominated by Channel boats arrivals The number of arrivals in small boats peaked at nearly 9,000 a month in the summer The number of asylum applications spiked last year to 74,751, relating to 89,398 individuals - the highest since 2002 Home Office figures released last week showed the number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their claim in the UK has topped 160,000, with almost 75,00 applications made in the last year alone - a 20-year high. Albanian was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the UK last year, with 14,223 applicants from the Balkan state - 9,573 of which came from people arriving in boats after crossing the Channel. A total of 160,919 asylum seekers were waiting for an initial decision on their claim at the end of December. That was up 60 per cent from 100,564 for the same period in 2021 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision was 109,641 at the end of 2022, up 77 per cent year-on-year from 61,864. The Home Office has launched a plan to fast-track some asylum claims in a bid to cut the soaring backlog. Thousands of applicants sent a questionnaire, rather than automatically facing an interview. Ms Braverman said the asylum system now costs the taxpayer 3billion a year, but was being 'overwhelmed'. She told MPs: 'The small boats problem is part of a larger global migration crisis. In the coming years, developed countries will face unprecedented levels with pressures from ever greater numbers of people leaving the developing world for places like the United Kingdom. What is in the Illegal Immigration Bill? Suella Braverman updated MPs on the proposed Illegal Immigration Bill today as she vowed the Government would get a handle on the small boats crossing the Channel. The main points from the Home Secretary's statement: New powers to detain asylum seekers for up to 28 dats after their arrival, before deporting them. Government looking at holding them on former military sites around the UK. Those caught will be 'removed back to their county of origin if it is safe, 'or to a safer third country like Rwanda'. Exception made only for children, those medically unfit to fly or 'at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm' elsewhere. Asylum seekers will be banned from re-entering Britain again if they arrive in the UK through unauthorised means. While the Home Secretary is 'confident' the bill is compatible with the UK's international obligations. she warned that she could not be certain that it was legal under human rights legislation. Asylum seekers would not be able to claim they were victims of human trafficking under under modern slavery legislation in order to avoid deportation. Ms Braverman claimed 100 million people around the world qualify for protection under current UK laws and 'they are coming here'. Advertisement 'Unless we act today, the problem will be worse tomorrow and the problem is already unsustainable. People are dying in the Channel. 'The volume of illegal arrivals has overwhelmed our asylum system. The backlog has ballooned to over 160,000. 'The asylum system now costs the British taxpayer 3billion a year. Since 2018, some 85,000 people illegally entered the United Kingdom by small boat, 45,000 of them in 2022 alone, all travelled through multiple safe countries in which they could and should have claimed asylum.' Ms Braverman said slavery laws 'are being abused to block removals'. She said: 'Last year, 17,000 referrals took on average 543 days to consider. Modern slavery laws are being abused to block removals, that's why we granted more than 50 per cent of asylum requests from citizens of a safe European country and Nato ally Albania. 'That's why this Bill disqualifies illegal entrants from using modern slavery rules to prevent removal.' She said: 'I won't address the Bill's full legal complexities today, some of the nation's finest legal minds have been and continue to be involved in its development, but I must say this. Rule 39 and the process that enabled the Strasbourg court to block at the last minute flights to Rwanda after our courts had refused injunctions was deeply flawed.' Ms Braverman suggested that the ban on bail or judicial review for illegal arrivals would only apply if they are deported within 28 days. 'This Bill enables detention of illegal arrivals without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, until they can be removed,' she said. 'It puts a duty on the Home Secretary to remove illegal entrance. And will radically narrow the number of challenges and appeals that can suspend removal. 'Only those under 18, medically unfit to fly or at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm an exceedingly high bar in the country we are removing them to will be able to delay their removal. 'Any other claims will be heard remotely after removal.' Ms Braverman said many Channel migrants came 'from safe countries like Albania', and that 'almost all passed through France', with 'the vast majority' being adult males under 40 'rich enough to pay criminal gangs thousands of pounds for passage'. She said: 'Upon arrival, most are accommodated in hotels across the country, costing the British tax payer around 6million a day. The risk remains that these individuals just disappear. And when we try to remove them, they turn our generous asylum laws against us to prevent removal. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper complained that decisions on asylum cases have 'collapsed', adding: 'This is deeply damaging chaos and there's no point in ministers trying to blame anyone else for it. They have been in power for 13 years. The asylum system is broken and they broke it.' She insisted that even if the Rwanda policy gets up and running it will only account for 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. But Ms Braverman shot back that the Left 'naively' believed everyone on a Channel boat is a genuine refugee and was in favour of 'open borders'. Tories lined up to back the government in the chamber, with Don Valley MP Nick Flechter saying the country is 'full'. Many also demanded that the government presses ahead with leaving the ECHR - which is separate to the EU - if the action is blocked by judges. Earlier, Mr Sunak admitted voters 'have heard promises before' without seeing results, but insisted his legislation 'will mean that those who come here on small boats can't claim asylum here'. He wrote in the Sun: 'This new law will send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed.' How many people are seeking asylum in the UK? People who arrive in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats accounted for nearly half of the total number claiming asylum last year, figures show. There were 74,751 asylum applications in the UK in 2022, relating to 89,398 people. This is the highest total for a calendar year since 2002. It is also up 49% compared with the number of applications in 2021 (50,042) and is more than double the total for the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (35,737). The jump in applications 'mirrors a substantial increase in small boat arrivals to the UK,' according to the Home Office. Arrivals rose from 28,526 in 2021 to 45,755 in 2022 - an increase of 60%. People who arrived in the UK on small boats accounted for 45% of the total number of people claiming asylum last year. Some 90% of arrivals on small boats in 2022 claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. The increase in small boat arrivals has had an impact on the most common nationality of people claiming asylum. From 2016 to 2021, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK. But in 2022 Albania was the most common nationality, driven partly by a sharp rise in small boat arrivals by Albanian nationals during the summer and early autumn. In July to September, Albanians accounted for nearly half (45%) of all detected crossings of the English Channel, though in October to December this proportion fell to just 9%. A total of 14,223 asylum applications from Albanian nationals were made in the UK last year, around two-thirds of which (9,573) originated from small boat arrivals, Government figures show. Overall, Albanians accounted for 19% of all asylum applications in the UK in 2022, followed by Afghans (13%), Iranians (10%), Iraqis (5%) and Syrians (5%). By contrast, in 2021 the figure for Albania was 10%, behind both Iran (20%) and Iraq (12%), while Afghanistan was just 5%. There were 388 asylum applications from Ukrainian nationals in 2022, accounting for 1% of the total. However, most Ukrainians coming to the UK since the Russian invasion will not have applied for asylum, arriving instead under one of the new visa routes. Although the total number of asylum applications in the UK is at a 20-year high, the figure is still 11% below the previous peak of 84,132 in 2002, which was partly caused by conflict and political unrest in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Somalia. Advertisement The PM said it was a plan 'to do what's fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all'. Mr Sunak told Cabinet this morning that his plans to stop small boat crossings of the Channel will fall within international law. In their meeting on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the more than 45,000 migrants who made unauthorised crossings in small boats last year cost the taxpayer around 3 billion in hotel accommodation. Giving an account of Mr Sunak's discussion at Cabinet, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'He said it (the Bill) would take tough, fair and necessary action, acting within international law, that would enable UK to have control of our borders so we can continue to be a compassionate and generous country providing refuge to the most vulnerable.' Asked about the legality of the legislation, the spokesman said: 'Certainly from the Government's perspective, we believe the legislation to be compatible with the refugee convention.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Cabinet detailed work had taken place to ensure the plans can be delivered 'as soon as possible'. Attorney General Victoria Prentis 'outlined some of the legal measures relating to the bill', No 10 said. Mr Sunak spoke to Rwanda's president Paul Kagame before unveiling his plans, and pledged to continue working with him to ensure their stalled project works. The Government has paid more than 140million to Rwanda but no flights forcibly carrying migrants to the capital of Kigali have taken off because of legal challenges. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully.' The PM will meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss further cooperation that will be required to reduce boat crossings. A duty will be placed on the Home Secretary to remove 'as soon as reasonably practicable' anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a 'safe third country'. And arrivals will be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK, with plans also to ban them from returning once removed. In the new bill, small boat migrants will be barred from lodging asylum claims and stripped of the ability to launch human rights appeals. Nearly all those who arrive by illegal routes will be able to appeal only once they have been deported. It is understood that migrants will be kept in student accommodation, cruise ships or holiday parks - in a change from hotels - until they are either sent back to their country of origin or to a third location such as Rwanda. It has been reported that the Home Office is planning to purchase two RAF bases in Lincolnshire and Essex to house migrants waiting for deportation. Asylum and human rights claims are expected to be 'radically curtailed' under the package. New legislation will mean claims of human trafficking will need to rely on significant proof to be claimed. In a separate development, ministers have not given up on sending the first plane-load of migrants to Rwanda this year. They have been encouraged by December's court ruling that the deal with the African country is lawful. Although the policy is still facing legal challenges ministers believe it could even be possible for an asylum flight to take off by the summer. The full package of immigration measures is due to be unveiled by Mr Sunak and Mrs Braverman later today. Immigration laws brought into force under Boris Johnson set out how the Home Secretary can declare a migrant's claim inadmissible if they passed through a safe third country such as France. Today's strengthened package will see this applied almost across the board to all migrants. The move will expand powers introduced by Labour in 2003 'non-suspensive appeals' that allow asylum seekers to be removed after their initial claim is rejected. However use of the powers has slumped. There were 1,285 asylum cases earmarked for the process in 2018, but in the first six months of last year only 171 were deemed eligible. The Illegal Migration Bill will also see Channel migrants banned for life from coming back to Britain. Ministers have insisted that they can ignore last-minute interventions by Strasbourg judges. A new Bill of Rights, published last June but currently on hold, states unequivocally that 'no account is to be taken of any interim measure issued by the European Court of Human Rights'. But it is not yet known whether today's legislation will include the measures. Tough measures to tackle small boat arrivals will be rushed through Parliament and could be in place by summer. Pictured, a group is brought ashore in Dungeness yesterday Rishi Sunak said 'enough is enough' as Home Secretary Suella Braverman vowed that ministers would tackle the Channel crisis 'no ifs, no buts' James Cleverly and Dominic Raab were in Downing Street for Cabinet today Rolled- up inflatable dinghies and outboard engines stored at a yard in Dover A rarely-used measure under the Human Rights Act known as a Section 19.1.B statement will be deployed to get the legislation through Parliament Ministers are braced for opposition from the Whitehall establishment dubbed the 'Blob' over their plan to tackle the Channel crisis. Critics include former Home Office mandarin Sir David Normington who said it was 'highly doubtful' the proposals would lead to a fall in crossings. Refugee charities and a trade union that represents immigration officers were also among those who questioned early details of the scheme. Sir David told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'At the heart of the policy is a gamble that if you say it's illegal to come in a small boat people will stop coming. I think that is highly doubtful.' He predicted the Government's plan would face 'very great' problems. Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union also cast doubt on the plans, describing them as 'quite confusing'. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council described the legislation as flawed, adding: 'It's unworkable, costly and won't stop the boats.' Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK condemned the proposed measures as 'disgraceful posturing and scaremongering'. Asked whether the plan was legally feasible, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer replied: 'I don't know that it is and I think we've got to be very careful with international law here.' But the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'We've seen too many lives lost attempting this dangerous and unnecessary journey, and the number of people entering the country is simply unsustainable. As we've always said, we recognise there will likely be challenges in many forms to this sort of legislation.' A No 10 spokesman said the Government would stop all small boats but declined to put a timescale on the plans. The four Americans kidnapped in Mexico after traveling over the border so that one could get a cut-price tummy tuck may have been kidnapped by members of the Gulf Cartel, a notoriously violent gang run by a feared leader known as La Kena. Mexican newspaper Milenio cites law enforcement officials who say they are actively investigating whether La Kena was involved in the capture of Latavia 'Tay' McGee, her cousin Shaeed Woodard and their friends Zindell Brown and Eric Williams. They had traveled from Lake City, South Carolina to the border town of Matamoros for McGee to undergo a discounted tummy tuck, according to a sister of one of the kidnapped, when they got caught in the crossfire of a gunfight on Friday. Video shows the group being thrown in the back of a van. Their whereabouts is now unknown. Matamoros is in the state of Tamaupilas, which is among six states that are currently under travel warnings. Latavia 'Tay' McGee had traveled down to Mexico on Wednesday for a tummy tuck procedure before she was kidnapped at gunpoint by a drug cartel on Friday McGee was joined by her cousin, Shaeed Woodard, (left), Eric Williams (right) and Zindell Brown They were taken on Friday, after becoming caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between two gangs. La Kena or Ciclon 19, the leader of the Gulf Cartel Former Attorney General Bill Barr said the US authorities ought to treat the gangs the same way they do ISIS when negotiating for Americans' release. 'They are terrorists,' he said during an appearance on Fox News last night. 'The Mexican government is being held hostage by tens of thousands of paramilitary members of terrorist organizations that effectively control Mexico. 'It's pretty close at this stage to a failed narco-state. 'They can use violence and oceans of cash to corrupt the government. The government has no will, and it doesn't have the ability to deal with the cartels,' he said. Le Kena leads the Gulf Cartel and is also known as Ciclon 19. His real name is Alberto Garcia Vilano. Mexican authorities have been hunting him for months and are offering a reward of 2.5million pesos for any information that could lead to his arrest. A map highlighting the six of 32 Mexican states that the US State Department currently has listed under its most severe 'do not travel' category, due to local cartels that may rob and/or kidnap American tourists A gunman acted as a lookout for his cohorts moments after they attacked a mini van with four American occupants and kidnapped them in the northeastern Mexican border city of Matamoros on Friday Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, said on Monday she has been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Zindell, is one of the four victims. 'This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from,' she said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. 'To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable.' Zalandria said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied McGee who was going to Mexico for a tummy tuck surgery. She said the group was extremely close and that they all made the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, Zalandria noted, and her brother had even expressed some misgivings before the trip. The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for the victims' return and the arrest of the kidnappers. A Christian street preacher was reported to counter terrorism police squad after publicly calling a trans woman a man and criticising homosexuality landed him with a criminal offence. David McConnell, 42, who is regularly abused in the street for expressing his controversial views on sexuality, will this week launch an appeal over his 2021 conviction. The Probation Service carried out a pre-sentence report on McConnell to assist the sentencing magistrates, commenting in it that his faith had turned him away from a 'troubled, aimless past' to become a 'hard-working family man.' It can now be revealed the probation officer stated that as McConnell 'is viewed to be persistently and illegally espousing an extreme point of view,' the officer 'routinely liaised with my colleagues in the Joint Counter Terrorism Team'. The probation report added: 'They [CTT] have no further information on Mr McConnell that would suggest their intervention would be likely or helpful.' Street preacher David McConnell, 42, was reported to counter-terror police for statements he made referring to a trans person Campaigners backing his case spoke of their alarm that people were being labelled potential terrorists for not agreeing with 'LGBTQ ideology.' McConnell was addressing a crowd in Leeds city centre in June 2021 when he was filmed saying that 'adulterers, drunkards and homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.' The letting agent, from Wakefield, was asked politely by a trans woman who was filming him whether he thought LGBTQ people were accepted by God. The preacher replied that homosexuality was an 'abomination in the eyes of God' and that lesbianism was 'unnatural'. Reports of the incident say McConnell loudly and repeatedly referred to the trans woman as 'this gentleman' and 'a man in woman's clothing' during his response, and that the victim found this distressing as she had been outed in front of a crowd of strangers. He continued to preach and was reportedly verbally abused by members of the public, assaulted, and at one point had possessions stolen, including an amplifier. When a police officer turned up McConnell refused to accept he was doing anything illegal, but was arrested and held in custody for 14 hours. The preacher has been criticised for comments he has made about trans and gay people, including saying that homosexuality was an 'abomination' Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said yesterday: 'What state are we in as a society when police fail to protect a street preacher who is assaulted, abused, and has his belongings stolen simply for stating biological reality? The abuse against David McConnell didn't stop there - he was arrested, convicted and reported to counter-terrorism. 'This case represents a disturbing trend in our society which is seeing members of the public and professionals being prosecuted and reported as potential terrorists for refusing to celebrate and approve LGBTQ ideology.' She added that police had acted in a 'deeply illiberal' manner by arresting McConnell and added: 'The Bible teaches clearly that we are born male and female; this belief and the freedom to express it in public without fear of being arrested or reported as a terrorist to Prevent must be protected.' McConnell said: 'George Orwell said: "Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows." By that he meant that if we cannot speak truthfully, society will fall apart. 'That is what is happening at the moment. When I was told I had been reported to counter-terrorism I just thought: "What has happened to this country?"' 'How I have been treated has been totally unreasonable and should concern anyone who cares about Christian freedoms and free speech in this country.' McConnell has been street preaching across northern England for more than 15 years to 'share the Bible's message.' He was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work after being convicted at Leeds Magistrates Court of an offence under the Public Order Act of causing harassment, alarm or distress. Commenting on the case last year, Elizabeth Wright, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: 'People have the right to hold opinions and express their views. But when words cross the line between a legitimate expression of religious views, and become distressing and threatening, the CPS will prosecute offenders if our legal test is met.' Dilbert creator Scott Adams has claimed 'black America' was 'completely fine' with his racist tirade and blamed 'white people that canceled me' after his comic was dropped by 77 newspapers. Adams last month urged viewers of his YouTube channel to 'get the hell away from black people' and said he had moved to a neighborhood with 'a very low black population.' The 65-year-old, who has made millions thanks to his internationally-syndicated comic strip, is not backing down from the comments despite being dropped by 77 papers including The Washington Post and LA Times. 'Black America is completely fine if they see the context,' Adams claimed last night as he argued his statements were hyperbolic and 'meant to get people riled up.' 'So far every black person I've talked to has said, "I get what you're saying,"' he told Chris Cuomo on News Nation. 'It's almost entirely white people that canceled me. It might be entirely because they're the ones that own the publishing companies and the newspapers.' 'So far every black person I've talked to has said, "I get what you're saying,"' Scott Adams (right) told Chris Cuomo on News Nation. 'It's almost entirely white people that canceled me' Dilbert has been in circulation since 1989 and frequently pokes fun at office culture Attempting to explain his remarks, Adams stated: 'What I want your audience to know is that when I complained about black people having a bad attitude about white people, that was me saying nothing about black people. It was saying, "I don't want to be around people who have a bad feeling about me."' As well as a host of newspapers around the world dropping Adams, he has also lost the backing of his publisher Penguin Random House. Dilbert has been in circulation since 1989 and is renowned for poking fun at office culture. Adams has amassed a $75m fortune through his work. The backlash began following last Monday's episode of his show Real Coffee. Among other topics, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports survey that had asked whether people agreed with the statement, 'It's OK to be white.' Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26 per cent of black respondents disagreed and others were not sure. The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the discussion forum 4chan but then began being used by some white supremacists. Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to people who are black as members of a 'hate group' or a 'racist hate group' and said he would no longer 'help black Americans.' The backlash began following last Monday's episode of his show Real Coffee (pictured). Among other topics, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports survey that had asked whether people agreed with the statement, 'It's OK to be white' Adams is worth an estimated $75 million from his works with the 'Dilbert' comic strip Adams, pictured in 2001, has come under fire for the 'racist' remarks posted to his YouTube channel Real Coffee with Scott Adams He urged white people to 'just get the f**k away. Wherever you have to go, just get away.' Adams added: 'There's no fixing this. This can't be fixed... You just have to escape. So that's what I did, I went to a neighborhood where I have a very low black population.' Adams has long been active on Twitter, whose CEO, Elon Musk, was among the few to publicly back him. He also blogs regularly and puts out a regular podcast on YouTube. He's attracted attention for comments he's made in the past, including saying in 2011 that women are treated differently by society for the same reason as children and the mentally disabled - 'it's just easier this way for everyone.' He also said 2016 GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina had an 'angry wife face.' Adams became a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, saying Trump had a hypnotist's skill in attracting followers. He said that stance cost him money in lost speaker's fees. He said he lost the prime-time animated 'Dilbert' series - that ran on UPN for two seasons - for 'being white' when the network decided to target a black audience, and that he lost two other corporate jobs because of his race. In announcing that 'Dilbert' would be cut from the Kansas City Star, the newspaper's community engagement editor, Derek Donovan, said Adams' 'antagonistic, childishly macho persona' has been a constant for years. 'It's not cancel culture,' editor Richard Green of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat in California said. 'It's doing the right thing.' Scott Adams, cartoonist and author and creator of 'Dilbert', poses for a portrait in his home office on January 6, 2014 in Pleasanton, California The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro, Massachusetts, left a blank space Monday where 'Dilbert' would normally run and said it would keep it that way through March 'as a reminder of the racism that pervades our society.' The San Francisco Chronicle stopped publishing 'Dilbert' last October - a move that drew only a handful of complaints. Editor-in-Chief Emilio Garcia-Ruiz said in the newspaper that he had objected to a strip that said, in an effort to diversify workplaces, straight men should pretend to be gay. In a September 2 Dilbert strip, a boss said that traditional performance reviews would be replaced by a 'wokeness' score. When an employee complained that could be subjective, the boss said: 'That'll cost you two points off your wokeness score, bigot.' In an August strip, the boss said the company was getting into the 'pandemic prevention market' and creating demand by unleashing a deadly virus. A black employee featured in an October 20 strip noted that his boss ignored his actual accomplishments to recommend him for a job for which he was not qualified. The employee backed down when told it would be a big jump in pay. Peterson said there are other examples of how Adams' attitudes had replaced the biting humor that Peterson and a legion of middle managers loved. Adams seemed to run out of jokes. 'The strip jumped the shark,' he said. A Metropolitan Police officer who shoved a woman to the ground has been jailed for 16 months. PC Thomas Andrews was arrested after patrolling officers were called by a member of the public to Forest Hill, south-east London in July last year. The woman claimed she had been assaulted by Andrews and had her phone damaged. PC Thomas Andrews was arrested after patrolling officers were called by a member of the public to Forest Hill, south-east London in July last year PC Andrews, attached to the Central South Command Unit, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm at Woolwich Crown Court. The woman reportedly suffered grazing after she was pushed to the ground. PC Andrews was sentenced to 16 months and received a restraining order. He has suspended from duty and now faces a misconduct hearing where he could be kicked out of the force. PC Andrews, attached to the Central South Command Unit, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm at Woolwich Crown Court Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, who leads the Central South Command Unit, said: 'I am saddened by this incident and grateful to members of the public who raised the alarm, resulting in PC Andrews' prompt arrest. 'Under the leadership of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, everyone in the Met is clear that we must root out those who corrupt the integrity of our organisation. 'This will take time, but we are absolutely committed to achieving high standards.' This is the horrifying moment two children were inches from being hit by a speeding car while they crossed the road to catch the school bus in Statesville, North Carolina. The video, captured by the bus' onboard camera on Old Mountain Road on March 2, shows the children cross the road before breaking into a run as a car speeds towards them before swerving around the pair with a split second to spare. North Carolina State Highway Patrol arrested Joseph Graham Padgett Jr., 35, of Statesville, at 2:10 am on Saturday morning, according to WSOC-TV. Padgett Jr.'s car passed the bus at around 6:15 am, according to the Iredell-Statesville School District. The school bus came to a halt and activated its stop sign as the two children approached the street. The video, captured by the bus' onboard camera, shows the children cross the road before breaking into a run as a car speeds towards them before swerving around the pair A light-colored Kia Soul passed the bus on the left side and came within inches of striking one of the children. The bus was stopped on a two-lane road in a no-passing zone, according to WSOC-TV. State troopers said Friday afternoon that there were five cases last year in Iredell County where people had illegally passed a stopped school bus. According to the school district, drivers must stop their cars and wait until the red lights on a school bus stop are flashing and the extended stop arm is withdrawn. Cars are permitted to start driving again when the bus starts moving. The incident occurred on Old Mountain Road, in Statesville, North Carolina, on March 2 Padgett Jr., is scheduled to appear in court on March 16. He is at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $20,000 bond, state troopers said. Iredell County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook: 'Clearly, this call could have been beyond tragic, and thankfully we are praising this child's quick thinking instead of what the alternative could have been.' The video was released by Iredell-Statesville Schools. A frenzied 150-strong mob of Antifa 'terrorists' descend on Atlanta's 'Cop City' construction site before hurling Molotov cocktails and destroying machinery in newly-released aerial footage of Sunday's riots. The group, filmed by a police chopper's heat-sensitive cameras, march through scrub and woodland around the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center before unleashing havoc and setting fire to a power line. Police officers protecting the site are forced to stand off as the mask-clad attackers overrun the site, which has been a hotbed for Antifa violence since last spring, and target machinery. The officers are then pelted with rocks and fireworks by the thugs, many of whom travelled from outside of Georgie to take part in the violence. Atlanta Police Department released the shocking footage on Monday - hours after revealing 23 people have been charged with domestic terrorism over the riots. Among those charged are an attorney for the hard-left Southern Poverty Law Center and several serial protesters, some who've been arrested previously. Astonishingly, the SPLC has now claimed the arrests which follow the outrageous violence were a 'heavy-handed' intervention after a 'months-long escalation of policing tactics'. Newly-released aerial footage of riots in Atlanta on Sunday show the shocking moment around 150 Antifa thugs marched on the site of the city's Public Safety Training Center, dubbed 'Cop City' by activists The frenzied thugs torched a power line after gaining access to the site which they've dubbed 'Cop City' Atlanta PD said: '[The activists] changed into black clothing, entered the construction area, and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers. The agitators destroyed multiple pieces of construction equipment by fire and vandalism. 'Multiple law enforcement agencies deployed to the area and detained several people committing illegal activity. 'The illegal actions of the agitators could have resulted in bodily harm, and clearly do not reflect a peaceful demonstration. Thankfully, officers exercised sound judgment and restraint while conducting non-lethal enforcement and arrests.' Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Thomas Webb Jurgens, 28, is one of 23 people who were detained after the violent clashes. Other activists from as far away as France and Canada were also charged with domestic terrorism after the riots. Jurgens joined the SPLC in September 2021 and worked on its Economic Justice Project, according to his LinkedIn page. He has also worked as an assistant public defender and a legal intern at a US attorney's office in Florida. The Florida Bar's website lists him as a current SPLC lawyer. The LinkedIn page includes a professional photo of Jurgens with neatly-styled hair and a suit and tie. The picture is a marked contrast to the mugshot released by police on Monday that shows him sullen-faced in a green sweater with long, unkempt hair and stubble. Jurgens was present as a 'legal observer on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild', the SPLC said. Despite the violence that's laid bare in the footage, the NLG made the brazen assertion that the arrests were 'part of ongoing state repression and violence against racial and environmental justice protesters'. 'Each of these instances, including the many protesters charged with domestic terrorism, make clear that law enforcement views movement activists as enemies of the state,' the NLG said. The SPLC added: 'The SPLC has and will continue to urge de-escalation of violence and police use of force against Black, Brown and Indigenous communities - working in partnership with these communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people.' Thomas Webb Jurgens, 28, an attorney for the hard-left Southern Poverty Law Center, is one of 23 people who were detained after violent clashes between police and protesters at the construction site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Left: his professional LinkedIn picture, right: Jurgens' police muhshot The 23 Antifa 'terrorists' who were arrested after violent clashes at the construction site for a police training facility in Atlanta dubbed 'Cop City' Timothy Bilodeau is a former teacher at Acera, the Massachusetts Schools Science, Creativity and Leadership. He describes himself as 'an aficionado of learning in all forms'. Bilodeau is charged with domestic terrorism Republican activists claim the SPLC is a 'radical' left-wing and 'anti-Christian' organization. Another protester who was charged, Timothy Bilodeau, is a former teacher at Acera, the Massachusetts Schools Science, Creativity and Leadership. His LinkedIn profile lists him as a teacher of engineering, although a spokesman for the school told DailyMail.com he left his position before the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. In a gushing biography of himself, Bilodeau, 25, writes: 'I'm not just a musician or an engineer. I'm an aficionado of learning in all forms.' 'Leveraging the power of humor, joy, curiosity, and collaboration, I seek to build self-confidence so students can more effectively express themselves and solve problems in any area of their lives,' he writes. Bilodeau also has a degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University. Ehret Nottingham, 22, is a serial activist who has also taken a central role in pro-abortion and fair wage rallies. In a interview in June 2020, while studying political science at Colorado State University, Nottingham said he 'became an activist' in 2018. He described himself as a climate activist who was also involved in Black Lives Matter protests. He said he has a 'whole lot of privilege and a whole lot of ability to affect the world'. 'The role in my future that I hope to achieve is to be an advocate and the platform I have to make change,' said Nottingham. He said he met 'most of my activist friends' through Instagram. James Mariscano, 29, whose surname also appears as Mariscana in police statements, is a known Antifa activist who has been arrested previously. In June 2020, Mariscano was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, for assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was also charged with disorderly conduct and resisting a public offer after initially fleeing arrest. Ehret Nottingham, 22, is a serial activist who has also taken a central role in pro-abortion and fair wage rallies. He says he 'became an activist' in 2018 James Mariscano, 29, is a known Antifa activist who has previously been arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer Emma Bogush, who also uses the name Bo, was a keen dancer who performed regularly before she turned to activism. Emma Bogush, who also uses the name Bo, was a keen dancer who performed regularly before she turned to activism. The 24-year-old's Facebook page includes many photos with her dance teams, and lists vacations to London and Stonehenge in the UK. The dramatic confrontation between police and protesters comes as individuals and activist organizations descend on the proposed site for a 'week of action' to protest its development. 'This is the first week of action since the state killed someone,' Marlon Kautz, an organizer with Atlanta Solidarity Fund told The Guardian, referring to the police-involved killing of Manuel Paez Teran in January. The dramatic confrontation between police and protesters comes as individuals and activist organizations descend on the proposed site for a 'week of action' to protest its development. 'This is the first week of action since the state killed someone,' Marlon Kautz, an organizer with Atlanta Solidarity Fund told The Guardian, referring to the police-involved killing of Manuel Paez Teran in January. Atlanta Police Foundation President and CEO Dave Wilkinson surveys the damage University of Chicago students are organizing a 'black graduation' this summer for students of color to attend - though organizers are now saying the event is not exclusionary. Billed as a ceremony 'for all University of Chicago black graduate students', the event will be held two days before the school's traditional commencement in June, and is being hosted by a group at one of the university's professional schools. A professional school is another term for a grad school that prepares students who hold bachelor's degrees for careers in particular fields - with this one prepping students for jobs involving housing, community development, and human rights. Affiliated with its private-owned parent university, the graduate school is called the Harris School of Public Policy, which, according to the school website, has more than 30 organizations designed 'specifically for students of color, women, and international students.' Among this assortment of inclusion-geared groups is the Black Action in Public Policy Studies, which is reportedly organizing the June 1 event - and is advertising it as 'an important capstone in the Black experience at the university.' The Black Action in Public Policy Studies studies student group is organizing the June 1 event, billed in a leaked email as a ceremony 'for all University of Chicago black graduate students' The University of Chicago's 'black graduation' this summer is reportedly for students of color to attend - though organizers are now saying the event is not exclusionary A leaked email obtained by University of Chicago Law School student Benjamin Ogilvie unmasked the previously under-wraps event, with Ogilvie penning a piece for The College Fix to share the email's contents. 'Black Action in Public Policy Studiesis hosting a graduation ceremony for all University of Chicago Black graduate students' on June 1, the email stated, according to Ogilvie. Leaked on Tuesday, the email reportedly touted the event as the culmination of the 'black student experience' at the Illinois school, and is already sparking heated discourse as to whether or not the event serves as segregation. When contacted by The Fix, two Harris students listed as contacts for the planned event, identified as Christian Johns and Semeredin Kundin, refused to comment on the ceremony and its potential implications. The conservative news website focused on higher education reportedly asked the grad students who is funding the ceremony and how it will coincide in with other graduation events, Johns, a graduate assistant at the school's Institute of Politics, said: 'Unfortunately, we will not be able to comment on your inquiry at this time.' Neither would respond to criticism that the graduation is exclusionary - though a school spokesperson, when contacted, insisted that is not the case, The Fix reported. Organizers Christian Johns and Semeredin Kundin refused to comment on the ceremony, but a school spokesperson said it was not exclusionary A leaked email obtained by University of Chicago Law School student Benjamin Ogilvie unmasked the previously under-wraps event, with Ogilvie penning a piece for The College Fix to share the email's contents After being asked by the Fix whether there were any other race- or identity-specific graduation ceremonies being held in addition to the 'black-only graduation ceremony at UChicago,' school spokesperson Gerald McSwiggan slammed the outlet's phrasing of the question. 'Your description of the event as 'black-only' is inaccurate and is not part of the event description,' the University of Chicago public affairs official said via email. 'The group's online materials make it clear that its events and activities are open to all who are interested.' A description on the university's website advertises the Black Action in Public Policy Studies as a school-sponsored group that 'dedicates itself to centering the experiences and needs of Black people through policy from a Black feminist lens.' It is not immediately clear from other materials provided on the site what the ceremony will actually entail and consist of. Jason Hill, a professor and commentator on racial issues at nearby DePaul University, slammed the event, saying the school is 'painting white students as persons from whom blacks need to be separated' with the planned event Despite its existence only being unmasked Tuesday, the event is already drawing criticism from academics in the Windy City, with Jason Hill, a professor and commentator on racial issues at nearby DePaul University, saying the school is 'painting white students as persons from whom blacks need to be separated.' 'The universities are creating racists out of students because, in effect, it is painting white students as persons from whom blacks need to be separated; that whites are an intimidating presence,' Hill told The Fix of the planned event. The seasoned professor proceeded to decry the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda being pushed by the school. 'The whole all-black-graduation ceremony phenomenon is predicated on the DEI axis, with an emphasis on inclusion,' Hill said, referencing similar campaigns that have become commonplace amongst American universities in recent years. 'It is a variation on the idea that blacks need to be included in a specific way into an all black black space on campus because the USA and its institutions remain systemically racist,' said Hill, who has an array published works involving racial justice and slavery. The group - which 'dedicates itself to centering the experiences and needs of Black people through policy from a Black feminist lens' according to the school's website - is being accused of pushing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda with the planned ceremony 'These attitudes and policies are totally contrary to the goals of the Civil Rights Movements, and the moral meaning of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,' the professor declared. 'The role of the university is not to cultivate balkanized racial factions on campus, nor is it to foster any experience (other than a scholastic one) such as the 'Black Experience. 'Universities ought not be sites for social engineering nor yielding to demands for identity expression rooted in feelings, desires and wishes which are forged in the crucibles of identity politics. 'The ultimate goal of the university,' he continued, 'is to equip each student to become a rational, autonomous and sovereign agent who can navigate the world as an independent entity.' After being asked by the Fix whether there were any other race- or identity-specific graduation ceremonies being held in addition to the 'black-only graduation ceremony at UChicago,' the school insisted the event is not 'black-only; and slammed the outlet's phrasing of the question Pointing to similar woke rumblings currently occurring now not only in privately owned universities, but in elementary and middle schools across the country, Hill, told The Fix the US is 'drifting apart.' 'Black people are developing more and more into a separate and distinct culture and identity with their own political destiny,' the DePaul instructor said. 'This cannot be good for our republic, especially at a time when our nation is the most hospitable to and encouraging of the interests and well-being of black people.' Moreover, it is not the first time the University of Chicago for imparting radical progressive messages to its thousands of undergrad and graduate students. Last year, the school came under fire for a pro-DEI course titled the Problem of Whiteness,' which is currently still available for undergrad students. A course description shows that the class teaches Critical Race Theory,a relatively recent intellectual and social movement which examines systemic racism in American society, and preaches that race is not a natural construct, but one invented by humans to subjugate others. A Texas inmate who stabbed his estranged wife to death and drowned her six-year-old daughter in the bathtub more than a decade ago is set to be executed tonight. Gary Green, 51, is set to receive a lethal injection for the September 2009 deaths of Lovetta Armstead, 32, and her daughter, Jazzman Montgomery, who were killed at their home in Dallas. In prior appeals, Green's attorneys had claimed he was intellectually disabled and has had a lifelong history of psychiatric disorders. As of late Monday, there had been no appeals filed seeking to stop his execution, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. Gary Green is facing execution for fatally stabbing his estranged wife and drowning her 7-year-old daughter in a bathtub in September 2009 'These impairments likely rendered (Green) unable to form the requisite intent to commit capital murder,' Green's attorneys wrote in 2018. Those appeals were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower appeals courts. The high court has prohibited the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, but not for people with serious mental illness. The girl's father, Ray Montgomery, said he is not cheering for Green's execution but sees it as the justice system at work. 'It's justice for the way my daughter was tortured. It's justice for the way that Lovetta was murdered,' Montgomery said. Authorities said Green killed the two after Armstead sought to annul their marriage. On the day of the killings, Armstead had written two letters to Green, telling him that although she loved him, she had 'to do whats best for me.' In his own letter, which was angry and rambling, Green expressed the belief that Armstead and her children were involved in a plot against him. 'You asked to see the monster so here he is the monster you made me ... They will be 5 lives taken today me being the 5th,' Green wrote. Armstead was stabbed more than two dozen times while Green drowned Jazzman in the home's bathtub. Authorities said Green also intended to kill Armstead's two other children, then 9 and 12. Green stabbed the younger boy but both survived. 'Told (Green) because we're too little to die and we won't tell anybody about it,' the 9-year-old told jurors in testimony about how he convinced Green to spare their lives. Josh Healy, one of the prosecutors with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office that convicted Green, said the boys were incredibly brave. Lovetta Armstead, 32, (left) was stabbed to death, and her daughter, Jazzman Montgomery, (right) was drowned in the bathtub at their home in Dallas in 2009 Green 'was an evil guy. It was one of the worst cases I've ever been a part of,' said Healy, who is now a defense attorney in Dallas. Montgomery said he still has a close relationship with Armstead's two sons. He said both lead productive lives and one has a daughter who looks like Jazzman. 'They still suffer a lot I think,' said Montgomery, who is a special education English teacher. Montgomery, who is a deacon at his church in Dallas, said he's continued to live his life like his daughter is still here, including throwing her a party every birthday. He also had a high school graduation party for her, including a parade at her gravesite and a backyard barbecue with family. 'That was my way of dealing with it, to make it feel like she's still here. I prayed over her grave one day and I told her I would never let her name die down,' Montgomery said. Green's execution is the first of two scheduled in Texas this week. Another inmate, Arthur Brown Jr., is set to be executed Thursday. He would be the fourth inmate in Texas and the eighth in the U.S. put to death this year. Green is one of six Texas death row inmates who are part of a lawsuit seeking to stop the state's prison system from using what they allege are expired and unsafe execution drugs. Despite a civil court judge in Austin preliminarily agreeing with the claims, three of the inmates have been executed this year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the opening of the 67th session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women at the UN headquarters in New York, March 6. Xinhua-Yonhap Global progress on women's rights is "vanishing before our eyes," U.N. boss Antonio Guterres warned Monday, saying the increasingly distant goal of gender equality will take another three centuries to achieve. "Gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, U.N. Women puts it 300 years away," the United Nations secretary-general said in a General Assembly speech ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, as he launched two weeks of discussions led by the Commission on the Status of Women. "Women's rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world," he added, as he ticked off a litany of crises: maternal mortality, girls ousted from school, caregivers denied work and children forced into early marriage. "Progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes," Guterres said. He highlighted the particularly dire conditions in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where "women and girls have been erased from public life." He did not name other specific countries, but Guterres stressed that "in many places, women's sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back (and) in some countries, girls going to school risk kidnapping and assault." Also left unmentioned was Iran, which was expelled late last year from the Commission on the Status of Women due to the country's repression of a female-led revolt since last September. The Islamic Republic was ousted from the commission on Dec. 14 by a U.S.-led vote of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, or ECOSOC. A member of Women of the Wall, left, is heckled by Jewish teens during Rosh Hodesh prayers marking the new month at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Wednesday, Feb. 22. AP-Yonhap Five women are suing the state of Texas after being denied abortions despite risks to their lives and their unborn children, as doctors claim they fear repercussions even in the rare circumstances they are legally allowed to terminate pregnancies. Texas, like most states since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allows exceptions when a physician determines there is a risk of 'substantial' harm to the mother or in cases of rape, incest or if the fetus has a fatal diagnosis Two of the women recently impacted plan to tell their stories on the steps of the Texas Capitol hoping their harrowing experiences will strengthen the 'catastrophic harms' they faced, the New York Times reported. Of the women bringing the suit, some are married, already with children, and all made the difficult choice to terminate because of risks to their lives. The suit claims that the women risked hemorrhage or life-threatening infection and some doctors refused to suggest options or forward medical records to other providers. Five women have sued the state of Texas after being denied abortions despite risks to their lives and their unborn children. Amanda Zurawski is one plaintiff (pictured) The suit does not intend to overturn the abortion laws but instead confirm that Texas law allows physicians to offer abortions when necessary and 'where the pregnancy is unlikely to result in the birth of a living child with sustained life' Amanda Zurawski was told she was not 'sick enough' to receive an abortion, became septic twice, and was left with one fallopian tube that has permanently closed when denied medical intervention. 'You don't think you're somebody who's going to need an abortion, let alone an abortion to save my life,' Zurawski, 35, said to the outlet. 'If anybody reads my story, I don't care where they are on the political spectrum, very few people would agree there is anything pro-life about this.' Zurawski became pregnant in early 2022 after 18 months of fertility treatments. In her 17th week of pregnancy a scan found that her cervical membranes had begun to prolapse, with specialists telling her that her fetus would not survive. Doctors said they could only perform an abortion if she became 'acutely ill' or the heartbeat of her unborn child stopped. Zurawski's waters broke but she did not go into labor. Without amniotic fluid, the fetus would die but it still had a heartbeat, so she was sent home. She and her husband considered driving to Mexico but were told to stay within 20-minutes of the hospital in case she went into labor, and she feared prosecution. Zurawski's health quickly deteriorated but it wasn't until she had to be rushed to emergency room with a blood infection that doctors finally induced delivery. She developed a secondary infection and was given a blood transfusion to stabilize her. 'Every ultrasound is going to be terrifying, not just scary, but traumatic,' she said. 'Last time I heard a heartbeat inside of me, I was wishing for it to stop.' Lauren Miller, 35, another plaintiff, had to sneak out of the state to Colorado for an abortion. Miller was taken to hospital with severe nausea and vomiting and discovered she'd been carrying twins at six weeks. At 12 weeks the expecting mother found out that one of her unborn children had a genetic defect called Trisomy 18 including a malformed brain and incomplete abdominal wall and heart. A specialist told her that she needed to seek an abortion out of state to save her own life and the life of the other twin. Zurawski became pregnant in early 2022 after 18 months of fertility treatments. Her health quickly deteriorated but it wasn't until she had to be rushed to emergency room with a blood infection that doctors finally induced delivery Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, is a defendant in the lawsuit along with the state medical board and its director last year they sued the Biden administration over guidance to provide abortions if necessary 'The feeling of packing was almost like we were fleeing Texas, which was such a strange feeling,' she said. 'I'm from Texas, I have generations of Texans, here we're fleeing Texas.' Laruen Hall was 18 weeks pregnant when it was revealed her fetus had no skull and an undeveloped brain. She was also urged to leave the state to seek an abortion. Hall, 28, said many of her relatives and neighbors considered themselves 'pro-life' and that if a fetus had a fatal condition, it was a 'loophole' for people seeking an abortion. 'A lot of them are in support of this ban, but they don't understand the scale of it,' she said. 'They had this very narrow idea of what somebody who seeks an abortion looks like. They think it's somebody who's loose, who doesn't want to take birth control.' Anti-abortion groups have argued that restrictions on abortions should not harm women's health and the laws prevent only what these groups call 'elective' abortions which are intended to end unwanted pregnancy. Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, is a defendant in the lawsuit along with the state medical board and its director last year they sued the Biden administration over guidance to provide abortions if necessary. 'We're not going to allow left-wing bureaucrats in Washington to transform our hospitals and emergency rooms into walk-in abortion clinics,' Paxton said at the time. A memo sent to the outlet from Paxton's office said that abortions will not be performed unless there is a 'life threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy.' 'Now that the Supreme Court has finally overturned Roe, I will do everything in my power to protect mothers, families, and unborn children, and to uphold the state laws duly enacted by the Texas Legislature.' The suit does not intend to overturn the abortion laws but instead confirm that Texas law allows physicians to offer abortions when necessary and 'where the pregnancy is unlikely to result in the birth of a living child with sustained life.' The women have not sued the medical practitioners that denied them medical intervention as they say many were doing the best they could under the circumstances. Medication-induced abortion has been a lifeline for women in blue states and even red states since the Supreme Court eliminated the federal guarantee to an abortion The Texas Medical Association has also asked for more clarity and the lawsuit claims that the five women 'represent only the tip of the iceberg' and 'millions' from across the country have been denied 'dignified treatment as equal human beings.' Most abortions are now banned in 13 states as laws restricting the procedure take effect following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Georgia also bans abortion at about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. In many states, the fight over abortion access is still taking place in courtrooms, where advocates have sued to block enforcement of laws that restrict the procedure. Other states have moved to expand access to abortion by adding legal protections. The nation's second-largest retail pharmacy just last week will not sell the abortion-inducing medication mifepristone - even in states where abortion is still legal. It comes amid growing pressure from anti-abortion policy-makers and activists not to carry the drug. Mifepristone makes up half of the combination used to induce a medication abortion. Walgreens responded to a letter sent last month by nearly two dozen Republican state attorneys general threatening legal action against the company if it stocked the medications. The chain said it would not dispense abortion pills either by mail or at brick-and-mortar stores in those states. In some of the affected states, such as Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana, using the pills for abortion is still legal. The Philippines has accused China of 'harassment' after a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels surrounded a contested Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, as territorial tensions mount in the area. The Coast Guard said 42 vessels, believed to be crewed by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen 'loitering' in the vicinity of Thitu island on Saturday, while a Chinese navy vessel and coast guard ship were observed 'slowly loitering' in the surrounding waters. Thitu in the Spratly island chain is Manila's biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, a body of water largely claimed by Beijing where several countries have conflicting territorial claims. Tensions between the Philippines and China over claims to the South China Sea have intensified in recent weeks after Washington and Manila announced plans to expand America's military presence in the Southeast Asian nation. And China has now responded by sending 42 Chinese militia vessels, including a Navy ship and a Coast Guard vessel, to Thitu island in a move that the Philippines has slammed as 'harassment'. Commodore Jay Tarriela, a coast guard spokesperson, said the vessels were still in the area on Monday, adding 'this is a form of harassment'. The Philippines has accused China of 'harassment' after a Chinese navy ship and dozens of Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) (pictured) surrounded a contested Philippine-occupied in the South China Sea, as territorial tensions mount in the area The Philippines Coast Guard said a Chinese navy vessel and a coast guard ship (pictured) were observed 'slowly loitering' in the surrounding waters The Coast Guard said 42 vessels, believed to be crewed by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen 'loitering' in the vicinity of Thitu island (pictured) China claims nearly all the oil and resource-rich waters of the South China Sea and has ignored counter-claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia Experts say China's fishing fleet and coast guard are central to its strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, maintaining a constant presence that complicates fishing and offshore energy activities by other coastal states. 'Their continuing unauthorised presence is clearly inconsistent with the right of innocent passage and a blatant violation of the Philippines' territorial integrity,' the coast guard said in a statement. Locally known as Pag-asa, Thitu lies about 300 miles west of the western Philippine province of Palawan. Home to over 400 people, including military and law enforcement personnel, the island is used by Manila to maintain its territorial claim. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said two weeks ago the Philippines 'will not lose an inch' of territory as the Southeast Asian protested China's 'aggressive activities' in the sea. Marcos last month summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about the intensity and frequency of China's actions in the South China Sea. Indeed, the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser. Manila said the laser temporarily blinded some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a 'blatant' violation of Manila's sovereign rights. The Chinese ship also manoeuvred dangerously close, about 450 feet, to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces, on Feb. 6, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. The Philippines has filed 77 complaints against China's activities in the sea, including a claim that a Chinese coast guard ship on Feb. 6 directed a "military-grade laser" at one a Philippine coast guard ship on a supply mission. China claims sovereignty over the Spratlys, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have competing claims for some or all of the islands. The Philippines has accused China of 'harassment' after a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels surrounded a contested Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea. Pictured: A file image of a Chinese navy ship A file image of a Chinese coast guard vessel in the South China sea Locally known as Pag-asa, Thitu island (pictured) lies about 300 miles west of the western Philippine province of Palawan Thitu in the Spratly island chain is Manila's biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, a body of water largely claimed by Beijing where several countries have conflicting territorial claims The Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser on February 6. Pictured: An image released by the Philippine coast guard showing a green light light coming from the Chinese vessel And much to China's fury, the US and the Philippines announced that rotating batches of American forces would be granted access to four more Philippine military camps aside from five other local bases. READ MORE: China could invade Taiwan by 2026 sparking a war that would drag in Australia and see missile attacks on the country, experts say Advertisement Manila-based political scientist Andrea Chloe Wong said the location of the Philippine camps would give the U.S. military the presence it would need to be a strong deterrent against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Tensions have also been growing in recent months and years over China's plans to launch an invasion of Taiwan - which it sees as its own - in the coming years. The US has said its forced would defend the island in the event of an invasion. China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety, putting it on a collision course with other claimants. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang today warned that China and America are heading for a 'catastrophic' conflict if Washington 'continues to speed down the wrong path'. Qin Gang lashed out at the US over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan, while praising Beijing's growing ties to Moscow which he said 'set an example for global foreign relations'. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit, amid reports that China is considering sending arms to Russia to help with Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion. In his wide-ranging press conference, he dismissed warnings from Western countries that China may supply Russia with arms, saying it would not accept 'blame-shifting, sanctions, suppression and threats' targeting Beijing. His comments came as President Xi Jinping condemned what he branded an American-led 'suppression of China', as he urged the country's private sector to boost innovation and become more self-reliant. 'Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, blockade and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented grave challenges to our nation's development,' Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. In the face of that, China must 'remain calm, maintain concentration, strive for progress while maintaining stability, take active actions, unite as one, and dare to fight,' he said. U.S. officials have grown increasingly worried about China's expansive political and economic goals and the possibility of war over Taiwan - and many officials in Washington have called for the U.S. to make a bigger effort to counter Chinese influence abroad. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (pictured) lashed out Tuesday at the US over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit In recent weeks, concerns about Chinese spying on the U.S. and Beijing's influence campaigns there have drawn particular concern, and officials from the two countries have frequently traded accusations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned visit to Beijing after Washington shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over American territory. The massive balloon and its payload, including electronics and optics, have been recovered from the ocean floor and are being analyzed by the FBI. Then last week, China responded with indignation when U.S. officials raised the issue again of whether the COVID-19 pandemic began with a lab leak. The Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of 'politicizing the issue' in an attempt to discredit China. And the two countries have traded angry words over Taiwan as China has stepped up its diplomatic isolation and military harassment of the self-governing island democracy that it claims as its own territory. Qin - who briefly served as ambassador to Washington and gained a reputation for his cutting condemnations of China's critics when he was Foreign Ministry spokesman - touched on all these topics on Tuesday. He criticized Washington for shooting down the balloon, repeating claims that its appearance in U.S. skies was an accident. 'In this case the United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge,' Qin said. 'This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong and the result is that the U.S.-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track.' Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, March 7 On Taiwan, Qin called the issue the first red line that must not be crossed. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. While the U.S. does not advocate for either unification or Taiwan's formal independence, Washington is obligated by federal law to see that the island has the means to defend itself if attacked. 'The U.S. has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question,' he said, accusing the U.S. of 'disrespecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' by offering the island political backing and furnishing it with defensive weapons in response to Beijing's threat to use force to bring it under Chinese control. 'Why does the U.S. ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan?' Qin asked. In Taipei, Taiwan's Defense Minister said the armed forces weren't seeking outright conflict with China's military, but nor would they back away in the event of Chinese aircraft or ships entering Taiwanese coastal seas or airspace. 'It is the nation's armed forces' duty to mount an appropriate response,' Chiu Kuo-cheng told legislators. Beijing has also accused the West of 'fanning the flames' by providing Ukraine with weaponry to fend off the Russian invasion. China says it has a neutral stance in the war, but has also said it has a 'no-limits friendship' with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow's invasion - or even refer to it as an invasion. A Chinese call for a cease-fire in Ukraine that has drawn praise from Russia but dismissals from the West has done nothing to lessen tensions as U.S. officials have repeatedly accused China of considering providing weapons to Moscow for use in the war. 'Efforts for peace talks have been repeatedly undermined. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve a certain geopolitical agenda,' Qin said. Qin's news conference came two days after the opening of the yearly meeting of the National People's Congress, a mostly ceremonial body assembled to approve government reports and, this year, a new slate of top-level appointments. That is expected to include a norm-breaking third five-year term as president for Xi, who has eliminated all term limits to allow him to rule indefinitely. A teacher who feared for his life after showing pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed during an RE lesson has been given a new identity but still remains in hiding almost two years later, MailOnline can reveal. The teacher, who is in his late 20s, showed the controversial image to children at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire in March 2021, sparking days of heated protests by parents and activists at the school gates. He was immediately forced to flee his housing association home in Batley with his partner and four young children and since then has been living in a secret location outside the Yorkshire area. He has also been provided with a new identity. A teacher who feared for his life after showing pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed during an RE lesson has been given a new identity but still remains in hiding almost two years later. Pictured: Protesters outside Batley Grammar School in March 2021 The teacher, who is in his late 20s, showed the controversial image to children at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire in March 2021. Protesters are pictured outside the school A family source told MailOnline: Hes living far away from the Batley area and has been given a new identity. Hes slowly trying to rebuild his life, but its not been easy. The whole family has gone through a very difficult time. He got into a lot of trouble for what happened, and it could have cost him his life. Its better that hes out of this area and the less people know, the better. The family source refused to reveal if the teacher, who was head of RE at Batley Grammar, remains in the teaching profession. Yunus Lunat, a prominent local lawyer who acted as spokesman for Muslim parents at the time of the incident, said: The teacher is leading a new life under another identity somewhere far from here. But even if he was to come back to Batley, I can assure you that his life would not be in danger. Weve all moved on, everything is calm and has been settled after the initial furore. Its a shame that the teacher concerned did not have the confidence to allow a mediated return to work. That is what the community wanted to achieve but that got drowned out by the media and political frenzy. Showing images of the Prophet Mohammed is strictly forbidden in Islam. What further incensed many Muslim parents and pupils was that the image shown in the class was taken from the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which was targeted in a 2015 deadly mass shooting after publishing a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. A former neighbour of the teacher in Batley said: He was a wonderful, caring man and they were a lovely family. We miss them a lot because they were a big part of this community. He used to send all of his Muslim neighbours Eid cards and would celebrate the festival with us. Thats what makes this so said because he was very considerate towards our culture and faith. There is no way he would have deliberately wanted to offend Muslims. The neighbour revealed that since the incident she has been unable to speak to the teacher or his partner because their mobile numbers have changed and they are no longer on social media. He was immediately forced to flee his housing association home in Batley with his partner and four young children and since then has been living in a secret location outside the Yorkshire area and provided with a new identity. Pictured: Batley Grammar School The family source refused to reveal if the teacher, who was head of RE at Batley Grammar, remains in the teaching profession. Pictured: People gather outside the gates of Batley Grammar School in March 2021 After initially showing the cartoon in class, the teacher was suspended from his job. But in May 2021 he was cleared following an independent external investigation into whether he caused deliberate offence. He was told he could have his job back. Dr Yasmin Zia, a governor at Batley Grammar School said: He didnt want to come back and is no longer at the school. We dont have any contact with him, dont know where he is but from our understanding, he is living under another name somewhere in the UK. Representatives of the Muslim community in Batley insisted that the matter had been resolved but they could understand the teachers motives for leaving the area and acquiring a new identity. Akooji Baadat, an official from Batleys Snowdon Street Mosque, said: Both sides have learnt lessons from this painful incident. The community has forgiven this teacher, weve got nothing against him, and he has nothing to worry about if he was to return to Batley. But when something like this happens theres always a danger of retaliation. Things have cooled down, weve all moved on and the teacher does not need to live in fear, but you can never tell. Memories of the Batley incident have been revived recently in the area after it emerged last week that four boys at a school in nearby Wakefield were suspended for accidentally dropping a copy of the Quran. West Yorkshire police recorded a 'hate incident' at Kettlethorpe High School after pupils caused 'slight damage' to a copy of the Quran when it fell on the floor. A boy, who is 14 and autistic, was told by friends to bring in a copy of the holy book as a forfeit for losing at the video game Call Of Duty. Officers investigating the incident found there had been only 'minor damage' to the Quran during the prank and that no crime had been committed. It was recorded as a 'non-crime hate incident', a designation the police use to record incidents that dont meet the criminal threshold. False rumours that the Quran had been burnt or destroyed prompted concern among Muslim parents and community leaders, who discussed the incident with police and the headmaster at a hastily arranged meeting at the local mosque. In a video shared widely on social media, the mother of the 14-year-old was filmed apologising to members of the local community for the damage as she revealed he has been left 'petrified' by death threats. She said: 'He didn't have any malicious intent, but he's a very, very silly 14-year-old boy.' More than half of Americans now say Covid-19 was created in a lab, making it by far the most widely accepted account of how the deadly pathogen came about in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. A Tipp Insights poll provided exclusively to DailyMail.com shows that 52 percent of US adults subscribe to the 'lab leak' theory, while only small shares of respondents said the virus came about naturally or from animals. The popularity of the lab leak theory rose from about 44 percent last year, and crossed the half-way mark in recent days after the FBI and the Energy Department released bombshell conclusions that a lab was the most likely origin. Of those who tout the lab leak theory, most of them 54 percent say Covid-19 was released into the population deliberately, while only 31 percent say the pathogen escaped by accident. The survey of 1,370 US adults this month found that respondents were split along party lines. Republican voters (68 percent) were more likely than Democrats (40 percent) to support the lab leak theory. A Tipp Insights poll provided exclusively to DailyMail.com shows that 52 percent of US adults subscribe to the 'lab leak' theory, while only small shares of the population say the virus came about naturally or from animals Growing numbers of Americans now say the pandemic leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, claims fiercely rejected by Beijing The shift shows a remarkable turnaround for an account that was once the preserve of conspiracy theorists, who raised questions about US funding flows to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Former president Donald Trump famously said he was confident that the 'Wuhan virus' originated in a Chinese lab, even though some naysayers at the time dismissed his claims as racist. The theory gained greater respectability earlier this month, when FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed the agency's conclusion that the Covid-19 pandemic was probably the result of a lab leak in Wuhan, China. Wray reiterated his agency's initial findings from 2021, that it had 'moderate confidence' that the pandemic was a result of an accidental leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. China denounced Wray's comments as having 'no credibility whatsoever.' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that the US should 'respect science and facts.' Wray's comments and the new polling come as the White House continues to struggle to reach a 'consensus' on the origin of the virus despite an Energy Department probe reaching the same conclusion as the FBI. The department, which maintains a group of national labs, late last month joined the FBI in touting the possible lab leak theory saying it reached that conclusion with 'low confidence' as other agencies disagreed. The Energy Department's report revealed it reversed its previous position and has used new research to conclude that the Covid-19 virus most likely leaked from a Chinese research lab. The new conclusion was issued in an update to a 2021 document prepared by the director of National Intelligence and was recently provided to White House lawmakers, the Wall Street Journal reported. While the Energy Department joined the FBI in saying the virus likely spread from a lab in Wuhan, four other agencies are still said to favor the 'natural spillover' theory that the virus escaped via an animal at a nearby meat market. Two agencies, one of which is the CIA, are yet to declare a definitive position. The popularity of the lab leak theory rose from about 44 percent last year, and crossed the half-way mark in recent days after the FBI and the Energy Department released bombshell conclusions that a lab was the most likely origin Of those who tout the lab leak theory, most of them 54 percent say Covid-19 was released into the population deliberately, while only 31 percent say the pathogen escaped by accident Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning blasted what she termed 'politicization' of theories on the origins of COVID-19, after an Energy Department analysis that pointed to possibility of a leak from the Wuhan lab Virologist Shi Zheng-li - nicknamed the 'Bat Lady' - is pictured in the lab. She hunted down dozens of deadly COVID-like viruses in bat caves and studied them at the WIV One of the competing narratives is that the disease spread through contact between humans and animals at a wet market, like this one in Wuhan, Hubei province, China The Energy Department's change of tune is important because the agency is known for its expertise as it oversees various US laboratories, some of which carry out biological research. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had publicly rejected the lab leak theory, following the turnaround in the Energy Department. With the mixed conclusions coming from US agencies, the White House on Monday was forced to acknowledge the lack of a consensus. 'There is not a consensus right now in the US government about exactly how it started. There's just not an intelligence community consensus,' said national security spokesman Adm. John Kirby. Kirby got hit with a series of questions about the report, which pointed to the lab leak as a likely source even as other agencies attributed the pandemic to a virus that mutated in the environment. Kirby pointed to that lack of agreement, even as the White House defended infectious disease expert Dr. Fauci 's blasts against conspiracy theories and refused to say how the US might act against China if the lab leak theory was proven. Talks between Sir Keir Starmer and top civil servant Sue Gray about becoming Labour's chief of staff took place over 'several months', shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged today. The senior Cabinet Office official, who authored the Partygate report on Covid rule-breaking in Downing Street, has caused a political storm with her plan to quit Whitehall and join Sir Keir's team. Labour has come under pressure to publish all its communications with Ms Gray ahead of her appointment to the top party role, with Sir Keir having repeatedly refused to reveal when he first approached her to work for him. But while Ms Reeves today admitted the recruitment process for a new chief of staff took place over a prolonged period, she insisted no conversations were held between Sir Keir and Ms Gray while she was completing her Partygate inquiry. Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson and his allies have seized on Ms Gray's appointment by Labour to allege the probe into pandemic rule breaches during his time in No10 was an attempt to smear him. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted the recruitment process for Labour's new chief of staff took place over 'several months' Sue Gray, who authored the Partygate report on Covid rule-breaking in Downing Street, has caused a political storm with her plan to quit Whitehall and join Sir Keir Starmer's team The Labour leader has repeatedly refused to reveal when he first approached Ms Gray to work for him Other Tory MPs have also expressed fears about Ms Gray's impartiality - and civil service independence - now that she has appeared to make her political leanings known. Ministers have suggested Ms Gray could even have breached civil service rules with her 'unprecedented' move. Taking questions after giving a speech at the Make UK conference in Westminster, Ms Reeves defended Labour's appointment of Ms Gray. 'First of all, I'm not going to make any apologies for Keir wanting to get the best possible person for the job,' the shadow chancellor said. 'Keir wanted a senior civil servant to help us as we hope to transition to government,' she said. 'There is no-one better to do that, with all of her experience, than Sue Gray. 'The crucial thing is that there were no conversations between Keir Starmer and Sue Gray while she was doing her inquiry into all the parties that happened at Downing Street during the pandemic. 'That is really important. We have been looking now for a chief of staff for several months and Keir has been having conversations with a number of people, including Sue Gray, during that time period.' Ms Reeves added there had been conversations between Labour and the Cabinet Office before Ms Gray was appointed. 'Of course there are conversations between the Opposition party and the Cabinet Office as part of our day-to-day work as an Opposition party,' she said. 'But the discussions about chief of staff didn't start until we were looking for a chief of staff, which was after Sue Gray did her report into what happened at Downing Street during the pandemic with the parties.' Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, an arch-loyalist of Mr Johnson, yesterday told the House of Commons that Ms Gray's plans to join Labour 'smash to pieces the idea of an independent civil service'. He accused the senior civil servant of 'conniving in secret meetings' with Sir Keir's party and questioned whether this would 'devalue' her years of work in Whitehall and her Partygate probe into Mr Johnson. The King and Queen Consort were met with a mix of boos and cheers as they visited Colchester today and were accosted by anti-monarch protesters including conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn. Crowds of well-wishers had gathered to greet the monarch, who had travelled to Colchester, Essex, to mark its newly awarded city status. But among them were anti-monarch protesters who waved 'Not My King' banners and shouted at the Royal to 'come over and talk to your critics'. The protest is the latest to be organised by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, who have vowed to hold a series of protests in the run up to and on the Coronation. Last month, there were similar protesters in Milton Keynes as King Charles visited, with around 20 protesters waving signs and booing. King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Colchester Castle to mark its recently awarded city status Piers Corbyn was among anti-monarchy protesters who had gathered to greet the King in Colchester, Essex Videos show enthusiastic crowds cheering the King as he arrived at the city's Church of Christ the Cornerstone, with a few boos and jeers from the activists. Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith, said that the group is 'determined to get the message across that it's ok to protest against the royals.' 'Increasingly people are either losing interest in the royals or turning against them. Instead of a pointless, expensive, coronation we need a serious public debate." 'We believe the British public should be asked, do you want Charles or a choice? The tide is starting to turn against the monarchy and we need a serious debate about its future.' Republic is planning on protesting the King's visit to York on April 6 and at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey later this month. The King and Queen Consort ignored jeers as they arrived at Colchester library to a small group of demonstrators who brandished anti-World Economic Forum placards and a megaphone, which royal fans attempted to drown out with cheers. They were at the library to take afternoon tea with Age UK volunteers and service users and to learn about the Essex Year of Reading. As His Majesty went upstairs to chat to charity staff, Camilla, wearing a cream silk Fiona Clare dress and matching coat with a fur-trimmed hat, was greeted by television presenter and author Dermot OLeary, along with fellow childrens writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Very nice to see you, she said as she shook their hands. She was also introduced to three local actors dresses as characters from Alice in Wonderland, who treated local schoolchildren from Braiswick Primary School to a reading, helped by schoolgirl Fatima Jallow. King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla greeting some schoolchildren outside Colchester Castle Anti-monarchy protesters were also part of the crowds that had gathered to greet the King in Colchester, Essex Maddie Earl, the schoolgirl winner of the Esssex Year of reading writing competition, also read out her winning entry and was congratulated by the royal. She told the children that reading was the greatest gift you can give. Before joining her husband upstairs she was given her own library card. Oh thank you very much indeed. I shall have to come back and see what I can find. Next time! In a room upstairs her husband, King Charles, was moving from table to table to chatting to clients helped by Age UK and The Silver Line, a 24-hour helpline especially for older people. The King became patron of Age UK in 2010 and his wife patron of The Silver Line in 2017. King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla cut a cake during an afternoon tea with volunteers at Age UK at Colchester Library Some anti-monarchy protesters held 'Not My King' signs as crowds gathered to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla He described the work of the volunteers as being inspirational. What you do is so marvellous, he said. Thank you so much for everything you do. It is fantastic. At one table he asked a group of volunteers: Are you all involved in this befriending initiative [where volunteers offer to call an elderly person each week to check in and chat]. It can get quite busy then? Can you fit this in with everything else you do? Do you have to pass a test to be qualified? And get refresher courses? He added: Are they grateful? When he was an enthusiastic yes, he chucked and declared: Im so glad! He then eagerly eyed-up their scones, jam and cream and teased them about the right way to eat them - tactfully refusing to say whether he thought it should be jam or cream first. These things are fatal! he said. He was then joined by his wife who asked another volunteer: How did they get you involved then? What you do is absolutely so important. You become their friend. Thats what you do. The royal visitors then cut a cake to mark their visit holding the knife together and giggling. Outside there was a vocal battle between the small but loud group of protestors and many of the well-wishers who had waited patiently for a glimpse of the monarch and his wife. Linda Cameron, 45, from Colchester said: There were only a few of them but they had a megaphone and were trying to make as much noise as possible. They came to try and make a point but people were doing everything they could to drown them out. It was lovely to catch a glimpse of the royals. Asked whether she thought the King was doing a good job, she said: Its early days but I think so and he has a very good role model in the late Queen. King Charles III speaking to members of the public in Colchester, Essex, today A group of anti-monarchy protesters were among the members of the public who had turned out to greet the royal couple in Colchester, Essex Wendy Connelly, 70, added: I think he has done a wonderful job of going out and meeting so many people. It was fantastic that they made the effort to come here. We were very pleased to see them and just tried to ignore those guys over there. One of the placard-waving protestors was climate change denier and anti-vaccines activist Piers Cobys, brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy. He said he wanted to protest against the Terra Carta - a charter of green initiatives devised by Charles when he was Prince of Wales. 'He signed this document called the Terra Carta which comes from the World Economic Forum. Its green gobbledygook. It negate the independence of every country, particularly Britain. He should be adhering to the Magna Carta Queen Consort Camilla spoke to a child as she and King Charles visited Colchester, Essex An anti-monarchy campaigner held up a yellow sign with the words 'Not my King' emblazoned on it 'I am against all the green nonsense he spouts. Im here against all the green nonsense he spouts. 'Im here about the political stance he has taken. I am not really a monarchist, no, but thats not the issue here. Its against his political stance, his connections with the World Economic Forum and the crazy green agenda coming out of it. Hes going along with the World Economic Forum policies which have brought us the injection programmes and all those other things happening now. I did meet the Queen when I was student president of Imperial College London a long time ago. She was very well informed and communicative. It was good to talk to her actually, I had to entertain her for tea. But I dont think Prince Charles is communicative. The rabbi accused of raping his adoptive sons was arrested in 2019 on suspicion of attacking another boy but was released on bond and allowed to return home where 'the abuse continued' for four years until his arrest last month. Hayim Nissim Cohen - whose real name is Jeffrey Lujan Vejil - is now in custody on suspicion of raping at least six of his nine adoptive sons. The obese 38-year-old is also accused of faking his Jewish heritage and chronic illness. Cohen was taken into custody after one of his adoptive sons, 18, called a podcast begging for help. Since then, two other boys have told police that he abused them. Six of his children who are still minors have now been taken into foster care. They are nine, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17. It remains unclear which adoption agency he used, how he was vetted, or why he was able to adopt so many boys. Cohen, 38, is now being held in custody. He is yet to formally respond to the allegations Cohen with eight of his nine sons. He is accused of sexually abusing at least eight of them Court records obtained by DailyMail.com detail what the Spanish exchange student told police about Cohen in 2019 It is not the first time he has been arrested for attacking a child; in 2019, a Spanish exchange student who was living in his home told police that he attacked him too. He was charged with sexual indecency but was granted bond and was allowed home to the nine boys who now say he abused them. Court records obtained by DailyMail.com detail what the boy told police. 'When in trouble, [Cohen] would tell the [boy] that he need to make him happy. He would touch Cohen's chest and stomach area and noticed him to get aroused while making noises. Prosecutor Jana Oswald from the Harris County District Attorney's Office admitted last week after his arrest on the new charges: 'All of us knew there was something going on, but we weren't able to prove it' 'He explained that [Cohen] wanted him to get an erection, but he would not be turned on. He would ask him for a hug so he could put his hands on him. 'He stated it happened in Cohen's bedroom and they were both in bed. 'He stated he would touch him and would ask him if he liked it. '[Cohen] grabbed his hand and placed it on his penis. 'He explained that he began to masturbate the defendant, and that it happened while everyone was asleep,' a charging document from April 2019 reads. Cohen was arrested and charged but was released from bond and allowed to return home on bond, where he then allegedly continued to abuse his sons. Prosecutor Jana Oswald from the Harris County District Attorney's Office admitted last week after his arrest on the new charges: 'All of us knew there was something going on, but we weren't able to prove it.' When questioned on why he was released, a spokesman for the DA's office told DailyMail.com: 'Theres generally a pretty high bar for a defendant to be held without bond, which is a constitutionally protected right in most circumstances. 'While prosecutors may make recommendations regarding bail, judges set it.' Child Protective Services declined to give details on how many times it had been called to Cohen's home, citing ongoing police investigations. 'Rabbi' Hayim Nissm Cohen, 38, is accused of sexually abusing six of his nine adoptive sons. He was on bond for a 2019 allegation involving another boy when he was arrested last month The boys also told police he is faking an illness that he claims requires a wheelchair and oxygen tank The family home in Houston, Texas. It's unclear why Cohen was allowed to return home in 2019 It's unclear why the children were not removed from Cohen's care after the 2019 incident was first reported. CPS in Texas also investigated him, but the boys say they were instructed by Cohen to lie. Cohen turned the family's life into a money-making, social media phenomenon. He set up a Cash App account where strangers could donate to their family, and also advertised Amazon wish lists. In disturbing videos, he talked of being misjudged and discriminated against by strangers. 'There isn't a week that goes by that our family doesn't receive some kind of discrimination. So many have a disregard or simply a misunderstanding of others' beliefs are. 'We must remember the importance of having empathy for all humanity irregardless (sic) of beliefs. 'Wishing you peace and blessings,' he said. It remains unclear how he was able to adopt the children. The case unraveled on January 30, when one of the children called into the Blind Skinned Beauty to report being abused. The podcaster called police, who in turn contacted CPS, and the boy was tracked down. The 18-year-old told police the abuse began three weeks after Cohen adopted him in 2016. It began with Cohen forcing the children to massage his feet, he said, then he claims they were forced to perform sex acts on him and on each other. He told police he was raped for the first time at aged 14. The children also claimed that he is faking an illness that requires an oxygen tank and wheelchair. In court, prosecutors said there was evidence to prove as much. Cohen is said to have fabricated his Jewish heritage too, claiming to have grown up as a Hasidic Jew in New York, when records show he was born in Odessa, Texas. Court records say he routinely used 'different names'. The pilot behind the Miracle on the Hudson has warned that six close calls on runways this year are because of a lack of flying time during the pandemic. Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, who now works as an aviation safety expert, said the close calls at US airports 'are the canaries in the coal mine.' 'We've lost a lot of our flying and the recovery from Covid has been more rapid than many expected - so we've been caught short in many important ways and in staffing,' Sullenberger told the Today Show. 'The staffing issue would benefit from secure, multi-year funding so that we could anticipate ... we could recruit, hire and train air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians and others and get them in place before we need them and not be playing catch up.' It comes after two United Airlines planes clipped wings on the runaway at Boston Logan International Airport on Monday - just one week after air traffic controllers were forced to intervene at the same airport when a JetBlue plane threatened to hit a departing private jet. Near misses are also under federal investigation at Austin, Burbank, JFK and Honolulu. Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who now works as an aviation safety expert, said the close calls at US airports 'are the canaries in the coal mine' BOSTON, MARCH 1: On Monday morning an airliner was being pushed backwards out of its bay when its right wing collided with the horizontal stabilizer at the rear of an adjacent plane. Pictured are the two aircraft in contact AUSTIN, FEBRUARY 5: A FedEx cargo plane nearly crashed into a departing Southwest flight on February 4 at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas Sullenberger said that the safety failings were a sign of complacency. 'We've become the victims of our own success, we must keep reminding ourselves on a literally daily basis that - even though air travel has become ultra safe and routine - what we're really doing is pushing a tube filled with people through the upper atmosphere seven or eight miles above the Earth at 80 percent of the speed of sound in a hostile environment with outside air temperatures to -70 and air pressure one quarter of that at the surface and we must return it safely every time,' he said. He called on Congress to provide more funding to the FAA and for America's airport infrastructure so that 'we're not doing Band-Aids.' He also said the FAA needed administrators who 'are confirmed and not a series of acting administrators.' The FAA has been under acting leadership since April as the nation's aviation system has faced not just dangerous close calls, but severe travel delays and a meltdown of a pilot-alert system in January that brought the nation's airspace to a grinding halt. Joe Biden tapped Phillip Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport, to lead the federal agency but critics say he is unqualified. Washington has not been a commercial pilot, unlike predecessors including Steve Dickson, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2019, and current FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas last week slammed Washington during a meeting of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, claiming he was treating the FAA administrator's position as a 'patronage job'. 'He does not have any experience in aviation safety,' Cruz said. 'This is quite simply a position he is not qualified for.' The committee is due to vote in the coming weeks. JFK, JANUARY 13: There was panic at JFK in New York when a Delta jet was forced to abort its takeoff after a near miss with an American Airlines plane. An air traffic controller was heard exclaiming 'S**t!' as he spotted the American jet had crossed from an adjacent taxiway, ordering the other plane: 'Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance!' It comes amid a spate of ongoing probes by the FAA into runway mishaps that are concerning passengers across the country. Air traffic controllers were forced to halt a descending JetBlue flight that was threatening to smash into a departing private jet on February 27. The two aircraft came within 188 yards of each other, according to Flightradar24 data. The week before that at Burbank airport in California a landing Mesa Airlines CRJ900 aborted landing because a SkyWest Embraer E175 was taking off from the same runway. It is not clear how close they came to a collision. A Southwest plane and FedEx cargo jet came as close as 100 feet from a collision on February 5 at Austin airport. In shocking cockpit audio the FedEx pilot was heard radioing the other crew, telling them: 'Southwest abort, FedEx is on the go.' On January 23, there was an incident at Hawaii's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport involving a United Airlines 777 jet and a smaller cargo jet. The United jet crossed the runway while the other plane was landing, separated by less than 400 yards. On January 13, there was panic at JFK in New York when a Delta jet was forced to abort its takeoff after a near miss with an American Airlines plane. An air traffic controller was heard exclaiming 'S**t!' as he spotted the American jet had crossed from an adjacent taxiway, ordering the other plane: 'Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance!' Air traffic controllers 'noticed another aircraft crossing the runway in front of the departing jetliner,' the FAA said in a statement. 'According to a preliminary analysis, Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 stopped its takeoff roll approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the point where American Airlines Flight 106, a Boeing 777, had crossed from an adjacent taxiway.' He rarely went anywhere without his camera, taking photos of the exotic scenes William Leach arrived in the Far East in 1902 and stayed there for about 24 years A remarkable collection of over 2,000 photos taken by a British traveller in early 20th century China have come to light. Engineer William Leach, who was also a lay preacher, arrived in the Far East in 1902 and stayed there for 24 years, working in Shanghai where he used the city as a base to explore the vast country and neighbouring Korea, Japan and Mongolia. William rarely went anywhere without his camera, taking photos of the exotic scenes and people going about their everyday lives. His group were treated like celebrities, possibly as the locals had not encountered Westerners before, and one of them was asked to hold a Mongolian baby. Photos of China show bustling street scenes and farmers working the land, as well as candid shots of the native population. A remarkable collection of over 2,000 photos taken by British traveller William Leach in early 20th century China have come to light The engineer and lay preacher he arrived in the Far East in 1902 and stayed there for 24 years, working in Shanghai where he used the city as a base to explore the vast country and neighbouring Korea, Japan and Mongolia Another image shows one of the group looking onwards at cattle while they make their way along the busy road, while another shows bustling street scenes and locals working the land. William returned to Britain in 1926 with a fascinating array of images, which he kept hold of until he died in 1962. The archive has remained in his family for six decades and is now being sold by a descendant with Lay's Auctioneers, of Penzance, Cornwall. They had been gathering dust in several boxes in an attic and had not been touched for decades. The archive's breadth and quality has been described as 'astonishing' and the images could sell for tens of thousands of pounds. Another image shows one of the group looking onwards at cattle while they make their way along the busy road, while another shows bustling street scenes and locals working the land. Snapshots of early 1900s architecture in China showcases the traditional roofing on top of a large building at the centre of what looks like an alleyway. An amusing sequence of photos shows his car stuck in a grassy ditch during his travels with a group of Western friends in remote Mongolia. His vehicle was pulled free by bullocks and one of his friends raises his hands in celebration. Snapshots of early 1900s architecture in China showcases the traditional roofing on top of a large building at the centre of what looks like an alleyway An amusing sequence of photos shows his car stuck in a grassy ditch during his travels with a group of Western friends in remote Mongolia William rarely went anywhere without his camera, taking photos of the exotic scenes and people going about their everyday lives Photos of China show bustling street scenes and farmers working the land, as well as candid shots of the native population The archive has remained in his family for six decades and is now being sold by a descendant with Lay's Auctioneers, of Penzance, Cornwall, taking place on March 9 Leach was born in Norwich, Norfolk, but spent his later life in Northampton, where he was a councillor and lay preacher Darren Ashley, Lay's Asian expert, said: 'The quantity and quality of the images, the breadth of content, is quite astonishing. 'I've never handled anything like it. 'Every packet of photos that I've looked at is wonderful and then you open another, and another, and they're all marvellous, fascinating images.' Leach was born in Norwich, Norfolk, but spent his later life in Northampton, where he was a councillor and lay preacher. The sale takes place on March 9. Kari Lake says she is '100 percent' dedicated to serving as governor of Arizona after her name topped a list of potential running mates former President Donald Trump was reportedly considering. 'I am 100% dedicated to serving as Arizona Governor. I will also work to make sure President Trump gets back in the White House ASAP,' she told DailyMail.com in a statement following a report Trump considered her a 'model' VP among a quartet of female contenders. 'Anything outside of those two goals is nothing but a distraction,' Lake said. Lake topped a straw poll at the CPAC gathering where Trump loyalists were out in force, drawing 20 per cent support on the question of who would be a favored vice presidential candidate. She lit up the crowd at the annual gathering of conservative activists, and even appeared to kiss a Trump portrait on stage. 'My goal is to be in the Arizona Governors office,' she continued in her statement. 'I won the election and everyone in Arizona knows it. We The People deserve to have the leaders we elect hold the office we elect them to.' Kari Lake says she is '100% dedicated to serving as Arizona Governor, following a report that former President Donald Trump considers her a 'model' vice presidential running mate in part due to her loyalty 'Our best days are ahead of us and it all starts with electing America-First candidates all across this country,' she added. An Appeals Court last month rejected her election challenge to Democrat Katie Hobbs, after she was defeated by 17,117 votes and sought to appeal an earlier Maricopa County Superior Court ruling. Lake traveled to the presidential proving ground of Iowa last month, where she told the Des Moines Register she would help Trump 'in any way I can.' She also said at that time she was 'not running for VP' and 'not running for president.' Trump is still planning his own return to Iowa, and faces a competitive contest where he will need to overcome potential rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis before he gets to vet a running mate. Lake's comments come after Axios reported Trump is already thinking about Lake as a potential vice presidential pick, and that she is among several female potential candidates. The report says Trump considers the telegenic Lake to be a 'model' vice presidential pic, and cites people who have discussed the matter with the former president. It stresses her loyalty to Trump, having taken up many of his election fraud claims. The respect is mutual. Lake, who traveled to Mar-a-Lago immediately days after the polls closed in November and she had refused to concede defeat. She said in her remarks at CPACs Ronald Reagan dinner where she kissed the Trump portrait: 'We stand with JFK, Ronald Reagan, Steve Bannon. We stand with Donald J. Trump.' Bannon is Trump's former chief White House strategist who got a presidential pardon as one of Trump's last acts in office. There have been reports for months that Trump is keen to consider a female running mate. That comes amid election analysis, like one from the Brookings Institution, that showed suburban women providing a critical lift to Joe Biden in battleground states, with Biden picking up a 613,000 vote advantage over Trump, compared to Trump's $1.2 million vote advantage over Hillary Clinton in 2016 a swing of 2 million votes. Also on his list is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who holds another political event in her home state in mid-March. Haley was well received at the conservative gathering (which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential Trump rival, skipped). She was heckled with cheers of 'Trump!' while walking the hallways of the annual gathering of conservatives. The nearest she came to poking Trump was when she told a crowd: 'Our cause is right, but we have failed to win the confidence of a majority of Americans.' Trump, who is just ramping up his presidential campaign, could benefit from a female running mate after suburban women swung to Joe Biden in 2020 Nikki Haley, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, spoke at CPAC, and again pointed to recent GOP losses in the popular vote for president Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as press secretary in the Trump White House. Trump reportedly asked for her endorsement, but she has held off South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem wrote in her memoir that Trump became 'fixated' on restoring fireworks at Mount Rushmore in her home state. She is also on the potential list Kari Lake, former candidate for Governor of Arizona, kisses a portrait of former President Donald Trump after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington, DC She added: 'That ends now. If you're tired of losing, put your trust in a new generation.' Another option is new Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a former Trump White House press secretary who delivered the GOP response to Biden's State of the Union speech, and warned against woke-ism. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung tried to knock down the early speculation which comes after Trump has held just a few events since launching his campaign for the White House, with early positioning still underway. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced days ago he would stay out, seeking to avoid a pileup that might help Trump. The New York Times reported last week that on a call last week, Trump asked his former flack to endorse him, and that she told him she was not ready to do so. The report characterized Trump as ''disappointed but not angry' about it. The quartet aren't the only women in the mix. Bannon last month publicly floated Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has become a fundraising powerhouse, and who has become a prominent backer of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 'This is no shrinking violet. She's ambitious she's not shy about that, nor should she be,' Bannon said on his 'War Room Pandemic' podcast. 'She sees herself on the short list for Trump's VP. Paraphrasing Cokie Roberts, when MTG looks in the mirror she sees a potential president smiling back,' he told NBC. Also mentioned is Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who endorsed Trump in November, and became the highest-ranked leader in Congress to back him. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang waves as he arrives for a news conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, March 7. Reuters-Yonhap In his first news conference since taking office, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang lashed out Tuesday at the United States over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit. Washington's China policy has "entirely deviated from the rational and sound track," Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp legislature, in his only formal scheduled news conference for the year, although he is also prone to taking questions during foreign visits. Washington "means to contain and suppress China in all respects and get the two countries locked in a zero-sum game," he said. "It's so-called establishing guardrails and not seeking conflict simply means that China should not respond in words or action when slandered or attacked," Qin said. "That is just impossible." "If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation," he said. "Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity." Qin's harsh and borderline apocalyptic language appeared to defy predictions that China was abandoning its aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomacy in favor of a more moderate presentation as bilateral relations have hit a historical low over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China last week responded with indignation to U.S. suggestions that COVID-19, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, originated from a leak of the virus from a Chinese lab. The Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of "politicizing the issue" in an attempt to discredit China. After serving briefly as ambassador to Washington, Qin was appointed foreign minister at the end of December, in which role he is junior to the Communist Party's senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi. Earlier in his career, he served as Foreign Ministry spokesperson, gaining a reputation for his tartly worded condemnations of China's critics. A U.S. Air Force U-2 pilot photographs a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the Central Continental United States, Feb. 3. UPI-Yonhap On Tuesday, Qin repeated criticisms of Washington's recent shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. east coast, saying that was entirely an unexpected accident caused by force majuere. "However, in violation of the spirit of international law, international customary practices, the United States acted with the presumption of guilt," Qin said. "It overreacted, abused force and dramatized the accident, creating a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided." "In this case the United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge," Qin said. "This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong and the result is that the U.S.-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned visit to Beijing in the wake of the balloon incident, frustrating hopes for improved ties after meetings between top leaders at multilateral gatherings in late 2022. The massive balloon and its payload, including electronics and optics, have been recovered from the ocean floor and are being analyzed by the FBI. Turning to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy China claims as its own territory, Qin called the issue the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. "The U.S. has unshakable responsibility for causing the Taiwan question," he said, accusing the U.S. of "disrespecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," by offering the island political backing and furnishing it with defensive weapons in response to Beijing's threat to use force to bring it under Chinese control. "Why does the U.S. ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan?" Qin said. "Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-U.S. relations." China has stepped up its diplomatic isolation and military harassment of Taiwan, prompting a string of visits from U.S. and European politicians to show their support, along with new arms sales and a push by Taiwanese authorities to boost domestic defense capabilities. Beijing has also accused the West of "fanning the flames" by providing Ukraine with weaponry to fend off the Russian invasion. China says it has a neutral stance in the war that began one year ago, but has also said it has a "no-limits friendship" with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, or even refer to it as an invasion. A Chinese peace proposal for Ukraine that has drawn praise from Russia but dismissals from the West has done nothing to lessen tensions as U.S. officials have repeatedly accused China of considering the provision of weapons to Russia for use in the war. "Efforts for peace talks have been repeatedly undermined. There seems to be an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict and using the Ukraine crisis to serve a certain geopolitical agenda," Qin said. "Conflicts, sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. What is needed is calmness, reason and dialogue," he said. Journalists prepare for a press conference by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Tuesday, March 7. AP-Yonhap Two Italian Air Force pilots were killed today in a mid-air collision with one of the planes crashing down onto the town below before exploding in a fireball. The two pilots were on board U-208 training aircraft and were participating in a training mission near Guidonia, according to an Air Force press release. The cause of the collision around 20 miles northwest of Rome was not immediately known, but investigations have been launched by Italian authorities. One of the two aircraft fell onto a street below onto a parked car infront of what appeared in footage of the aftermath of the crash to be a residential building. La Repubblica reported that the pilot was still alive after the plane crashed and started yelling for help. Bystanders were going to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but the engine exploded before they could, the newspaper reported. Two Italian Air Force planes collided in mid-air on Tuesday, killing both pilots during training exercises northwest of Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. Pictured: A flaming car and one of the plane wrecks is seen in the town of Guidonia The two pilots were on board U-208 training aircraft and were participating in a training mission near Guidonia, according to an Air Force press release. Pictured: The second of the two wrecks is seen in the middle of a field near to the town The second landed in an open field, photographs from the crash site showed. Two buildings were evacuated as a result of the crash, and the two areas were blocked off by rescue workers who checked whether there were any other passers-by on the street or field at the time of the two crashes. Photographs and video emerged from both crash sites. Footage from the first crash site on the street showed a burning car, and firefighters working to extinguish it. In a second clip, white foam - used by firefighters to extinguish flames - covered the road and pavements. The car still burned and smoke billowed into the sky. Images from the field where the second plane crashed showed a wreckage lying in the middle of a grassy space. The tail of the plane was still distinguishable, but the rest of the aircraft was a mangled wreckage on the ground. 'We are devastated to hear about the deaths of two Air Force pilots during a training accident near Guidonia,' Meloni said. The prime minister sent her condolences to the families of the pilots and to members of the Air Force. 'I express my deepest condolences and my closeness to the families, colleagues of the 60th Wing and the entire of the Air Force. Our prayers go out to them,' she said. The two pilots were named as Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Cipriano, 47, and Major Marco Meneghello, 46. Both were stationed at the Guidonia air base. Police at the scene where one of the planes crashed onto a street told local reporters that Tivoli prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the crash. The Air Force Inspectorate have also ordered an investigation. One of the two aircraft fell onto a street below onto a parked car infront of what appeared to be a residential building from footage of the aftermath (pictured). Onlookers heard him screaming for help before the plane's engine exploded, killing him Photographs and video emerged from both crash sites. Footage from the first crash site on the street showed a burning car, and firefighters working to extinguish it Images from the field where the second plane crashed showed a wreckage lying in the middle of a grassy space. The tail of the plane was still distinguishable, but the rest of the aircraft was a mangled wreckage on the ground. Pictured: Firefighters work at the scene on Tuesday Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera said four propeller-driven aircraft had taken off from the Guidonia military airport for a training flight in the nearby countryside. It remains to be clarified why they were over the town. The two pilots from the other two aircraft will be questioned later today. The U-208 is a lightweight, single-engine aircraft that can carry up to four passengers, plus the pilot, and has a top speed of 177mph. Snow is falling over a large area of southern Britain this morning, with commuters warned to brace for a rush-hour from hell. A band of rain is turning to snow as it moves north from France. One or two inches is expected to settle quite widely, forecasters said. Before the snow hit, temperatures were plummeting with the coldest night of the year potentially on the cards. As the snow pushes further north, 30cm-40cm could fall across the Central Belt of Scotland and Highlands on Thursday and Friday. Northern England, including its major cities, could see 15cm-20cm of snow cover even in lower-lying areas as the cold snap gets even chillier. A yellow weather warning is in force for much of the UK until Friday. The Met Office earlier said 'very cold Arctic air' is moving southwards, with regions south of the M4 said to be 'most at risk of disruption' this week. The majority of snow on Wednesday is expected to hit southern areas. Youngsters keep their hats dry with plastic bags during a snow shower in Stamford Hill, north London Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said snow should fall where cold Arctic air moving south towards the UK meets warmer air moving up from the South West. He added: 'As we move into the weekend as that low pressure has moved out from the East, there is a further band of rain likely to move from the South West, which could knock against cooler air and create sleet showers. 'Next week there will be a gradual warming back to something a little bit more typical for the time of year.' The forecaster has also warned that up to 15in of snow could hit the UK this week as blizzards are forecast in northern areas tomorrow and on Friday, with fears of red and amber weather warnings in some areas. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Helen Caughey added: 'The impactful weather will continue through the latter part of the week as mild air pushing in from the southwest meets colder air in situ with further snow and ice for many areas. 'Through Thursday and Friday the snow risk spreads, to central and northern areas of the UK, with the potential of some significant accumulations even to low levels, which have the potential to cause impacts. TODAY: A greater area of the South West is covered by the Met Office's snow and ice warning, with much of the East and North of England and Scotland also expected to be hit by wintry showers again THURSDAY: A yellow weather warning for snow and ice will remain in place for the South East, South West and London, while snow is also expected across Wales and the entire North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland FRIDAY: Warnings for snow are no longer in place for the South, but wintry showers are expected to hit parts of northern Wales, England, Northern Ireland and the southern half of Scotland Sheep stand with lambs in a snow dusted field in Ardenteggle, County Laois, Ireland People walk their dogs through the snow beside a row of beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland Heavy snowfall in Aberdeen, where a number of schools have been forced to close due to the wintry conditions A dog walker on the snow covered sand dunes at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland this morning People walk their dogs through the snow beside the beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland yesterday morning Weather warnings for snow and ice are currently in place across much of Britain due to an Arctic blast 'Parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England are expected to see the worst of the conditions develop from early on Thursday, with parts of Scotland and northern England then seeing snow arrive through Thursday afternoon. 'Snow across the northern half of the UK will persist through much of Friday, while further south, any snow will turn back to rain through Thursday afternoon and evening. Strong winds are also expected to develop through Thursday and Friday which may create drifting snow and blizzard conditions in places.' Further snow is expected to impact northern areas of Scotland into Friday, with temperatures remaining 'well below average'. Rain and sleet is forecast to arrive over the weekend, before further snow hits the south west. Meanwhile, two of five coal plants that had been kept on standby started supplying electricity to British homes for the first time this winter. The West Burton generation sites that are run by French energy giant EDF started producing electricity on Tuesday afternoon. It came as strikes in France reduced the amount of electricity the country could supply to Britain through undersea cables. Wind electricity production is also unusually low. The Government approached several coal-fired power stations last year that were set to close down, asking them to be on standby this winter amid an energy supply crunch. The plants have been warmed up a few times so far this winter on cold, overcast and still days. But Tuesday is the first time they have started to produce electricity. It is the job of the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) to ensure there is always more electricity generation available than it expects households to use. It tries to keep a comfortable margin between the two - and that is why the coal plants were activated on Tuesday. It is highly unlikely to lead to blackouts in any parts of the UK. The ESO had also issued a so-called electricity margin notice, but cancelled it at around 3.30pm as it realised that it had enough power on the grid to meet demand. This is designed to let generators know that the margins are tighter than normal and to ask them if they can supply extra electricity. 'An electricity margin notice (EMN) has been issued to the market,' ESO said earlier in the day 'This is a routine tool that we use most winters, and means we are asking generators to make available any additional generation capacity they may have. The EMN does not mean electricity supply is at risk.' Despite the West Burton coal plants coming online, coal was only producing around 3.2% of Britain's electricity on Tuesday afternoon. The grid had earlier said that it might trigger the demand flexibility service which pays households to reduce their energy usage for Wednesday evening. However, this was cancelled later on Tuesday. It comes after temperatures dipped to -7.6C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands on last night, with the small hamlet covered in 12cm of snow more than anywhere else in the UK. Goathland train station in North Yorkshire as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the UK TYNEMOUTH: Snow fell on Front Street in Tynemouth. Much of Britain is waking up to snow after a heavy Arctic Blast swept across the nation overnight TYNESIDE: Arctic conditions arrived in the early hours of Tuesday in Cullercoats North Tyneside. Forecaster say icy weather is expected in central and southern areas of England BEDFORDSHIRE: Snowfall in Toddington, Bedfordshire on Tuesday. Up to 15in of snow could hit the UK this week as blizzards and heavy snow are forecast on Thursday and Friday A number of schools have also been closed in Aberdeenshire today due to heavy snow making roads undriveable for many. Met Office spokesman told Sky News that parts of the UK could be issued with red and amber weather warnings due to increasingly strong winds. Meteorologist Alex Burkill added that it is not 'out of the question' for the wintry conditions to escalate into a named storm. He added: 'Where we have lying snow and clear skies tonight we're going to see temperatures dropping as low as -15C [overnight into Wednesday].' The Met Office said most of the UK would see sunny spells overhead this afternoon, but snow and hail showers are expected to continue in northern areas. The heaviest and most frequent of the wintry conditions are in northern Scotland, where a 'bitterly cold northerly wind' is blowing. The conditions follow a combination of weather phenomena which have occurred for the first time since the 'Beast from the East' brought days of freezing weather in late February and March 2018. A police car drives down the A93 in Scotland following heavy snowfall overnight, with more expected over the coming days STOKENCHURCH: A man walks his dog through a snow covered field following snowfall in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire NORTH YORKSHIRE: Wintery snowy scenes in the North Yorkshire village of Goathland as snow showers and freezing temperatures hit the region over night NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through a snow covered field near Alnwick Castle in Northumberland as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK and more are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country LOCKTON: Snowy conditions in Locton this morning off the A169 in the North York Moors National Park. Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK and more are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country STOKENCHURCH: Snowfall in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire. Further heavy snow, accompanied by strong winds, is forecast from the early hours of Thursday until Friday evening NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through a snow covered field at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Milder and unsettled weather is due to spread across England and Wales next week Snow in the west end of Aberdeen, Scotland, as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across much of the UK this week The Met Office said roads could become blocked, leaving vehicles stranded, while some communities could be 'cut off for several days'. The forecaster's outlook adds: 'Mostly dry and cold in the north Thursday, but widespread snow, rain and strong winds spreading northeast. 'Clearing Friday, but further rain and snow gradually moving north on Saturday.' Milder and unsettled weather is due to spread across England and Wales next week. The forecaster has warned of travel delays, with 'some vehicles and passengers stranded', along with power cuts and an increased risk of injury due to slippery footpaths and pavements. NORTHUMBERLAND: Cars travel along a snow covered A1 motorway at Alnwick in Northumberland this morning. Weather warnings are in place across the country for ice and snow until Friday NORTH YORKSHIRE: Refuse collectors clears the bin in snowy conditions in Briggswath, North Yorkshire NORTHUMBERLAND: Snow covered fields surround Alnwick Castle in Northumberland NORTH YORKSHIRE: A car with a partially cleared windscreen drives through snowy conditions in Briggswath NORTHUMBERLAND: Cars travel along a snow covered A1 motorway at Alnwick in Northumberland Rail journeys are also likely to be affected and airports may find it impossible to keep runways clear of snow. The Met Office warned travel disruption is likely and journey times by car, train and bus may take longer than usual. Dog walkers on a snow covered beach at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, with their pets An overturned delivery van off the road on the A988 near Alford, Aberdeenshire, amid dangerous driving conditions A train travels through the snow covered trees as it passed through Egton Station in North Yorkshire Holy Trinity Church and its surrounding fields in Bilboa, County Carlow in the Republic of Ireland Flowers dusted with snow in Bilboa, County Carlow, in the Republic of Ireland, as a cold front passes over the UK Early morning walkers make their way along the snow covered coastline of Tynemouth in North Tyneside TYNE & WEAR: Storm clouds rolled in over St Mary's Lighthouse, just north of Whitley Bay, as the sun was setting yesterday. Forecasters say temperatures are likely to stay far below average for early spring for much of the week NORTHUMBERLAND: A man walks his dog through snow near Alnwick Castle this morning as weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK and more are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country Even colder overnight conditions are set to hit cities later in the week with the mercury plunging to -4C in London and -6C in Birmingham and Belfast. Gatwick Express has also warned it was expecting the wintry conditions to impact services. A statement said: 'Snow and ice are expected on the Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern networks. 'Snow is expected to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, although not all areas of the network will be equally affected. Ice may cause an additional hazard, especially overnight. 'Staff are working hard to minimise any disruption, but there could be some changes to trains.' Henry Minh Hoang, 25, of West Covina, California, fell on Saturday while hiking in the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Oregon A hiker from who plummeted from a rocky bluff on the Oregon coastline and was swept out into the ocean has been found dead. Henry Minh Hoang, 25, of West Covina, California, was hiking Saturday beyond a safety fence in the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area when he slipped and fell 20 feet, Oregon State Police said. His body was recovered from the shoreline at the bottom of a nearby cliff on Sunday. Hoang's death marks the eighth fatal accident in the popular area known to locals as 'the punch bowl' since 2009, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. Henry Minh Hoang, 25, of West Covina, California, was hiking on Saturday in the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area on the Oregon coast when he slipped and fell 20 feet to the water's edge Hoang's death marks the eighth fatal accident in the popular area known to locals as 'the punch bowl' since 2009, the Salem Statesman Journal reported The Oregon State Police responded to the area about 5 p.m. Saturday to help search for Hoang after witnesses lost sight of him in the waves. 'The victim was reportedly knocked unconscious from the fall and was swept into the ocean by the waves,' state police said. 'Witnesses lost sight of the victim and the rescue operation later transitioned into a likely recovery operation.' Rescue teams returned Sunday morning 'when searchers could safely resume their efforts,' state police said, and it became a recovery mission. Tillamook County Sheriffs Office, Nestucca Fire and the United States Coast Guard responded to assist the Oregon State Police. Hoang's body was found about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the shoreline at the bottom of a nearby cliff, police said. He was taken to a local funeral home. Additional details about the hiker were not immediately known. The Oregon State Police responded to the area around 5 p.m. on Saturday to help search for Hoang after witnesses lost sight of him in the waves Hoang's body was found around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon on the shoreline at the bottom of a nearby cliff, police said. He was taken to a local funeral home Cape Kiwanda has been reported as being one of the deadliest spots on the Oregon Coast because the massive sandstone cliffs can crumble without warning Cape Kiwanda has been reported as being one of the deadliest spots on the Oregon Coast. The massive sandstone cliffs can crumble without warning and multiple people have died from falling after passing safety fences. Seven people died after falling or being trapped on the parks sandstone cliffs between 2009 and 2016, the Statesman Journal reported. The outlet also reported that 11 people died at the cape from 1960 to 1972, and there were countless fatalities in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. There have been attempts by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to keep people from the most dangerous areas of the popular site, including a safety fence. Both attacks occurred within a third of a mile of each other on the same beach A 15-year-old girl had her arm torn off in a shark attack at Piedade Beach in Brazil. Horror footage shows the moment her bystanders pull Kaylane Timoteo Freitas onto the beach and set her down on the ground with a bloodied rag covering what remains of her arm. The teenager had her arm amputated at a nearby hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition. The attack came only a day after a 14-year-old boy was savaged by a shark on the same beach, requiring the amputation of his leg. Both attacks took place within 1640ft (500m) of each other at Piedade Beach, Jaboatao dos Guararapes, Pernambuco State, Brazil. The 15-year-old girl is found in the water and lifted to safety by a group of men People on the beach rushed to get the girl out of the sea and further up the beach to set down According to the authorities, a medical team attended the teenage girl at around 1.20pm on Monday. She was carried off the beach by first responders and taken to hospital by helicopter. After undergoing amputation, Kaylane is said to be in a stable condition in hospital where she is awake and able to answer questions. Andrea Caribe, who lives in a building opposite the beach, said: 'When I saw her, she was already covered in blankets and being taken away. 'Even after that, some people remained in the water. They [lifeguards] were pulling people out.' Psychologist Andrea Caribe, who lives in a building overlooking the beach, said she was baffled to see people remain in the water after the attack. She told local media: "They [the lifeguards] are pulling people out." Swimming has been banned at Piedade Beach since 2021 due to the high number of shark attacks. The Greater Recife area is believed to be the most deadly shark attack spot in the world. The attack on Kaylane was the third off the coast of Pernambuco in two weeks. On Sunday 5 March, a 14-year-old boy was left with his femur exposed after a shark attacked. On 20 February, a surfer was bitten by a shark at Praia Del Chifre in Olinda. The authorities pointed out that the beach has been a restricted area for swimming since 2021 due to the frequency of shark attacks. There are 150 signs in the region warning of the risk of shark attacks and a state decree has been in effect since 1999. The City Hall said they will schedule a meeting with the State Committee for Monitoring Shark Incidents to decide if new measures should be implemented in the area. The girl is set down on the ground by helpers, before water washes away a pool of blood As a rule, most sharks are not dangerous to humans. Of more than 300 species, only about a dozen have been involved in attacks on humans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The majority of unprovoked attacks are by great white, tiger and bull sharks. The apparent increase in attacks is linked to rising human populations around the coast and the destruction of habitat. In 2022, there were 57 confirmed unprovoked cases worldwide, 41 of which were in the United States and only five of which were fatal. A Kansas City fire department medic terminated for hitting a patient over the head several times with a laptop was allowed to return to work weeks later after his union intervened. In surveillance footage captured in April 2021 and obtained by the Kansas City Star, the medical technician and unidentified patient were seen entering an emergency room when a verbal dispute escalated. The patient was struck on the head and body multiple times, floored, and eventually restrained by hospital security - it is not clear if he suffered any injuries. In September 2021 the paramedic, Peter Hansen, was terminated by the Kansas City Fire Department for his conduct but within weeks his union intervened and he was given his job back as part of a 'federal arbitration process', the fire department said. Since resuming his work for the fire department Hansen became a firefighter. Kansas City fire department medic Peter Hansen was caught on surveillance cameras hitting a patient over the head several times with a laptop The unidentified patient was struck multiple times on the head and body as he was forced backwards and to the ground by the medic The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42 argued that other KCFD employees had been involved in similar incidents and that Hansen had been singled out by the department. It also said he had been acting in self defense. It was later ruled by an arbitrator hired by the union that Hansen would be reinstated because he hadn't received de-escalation and anger management training. 'Despite our best efforts, the federal arbitration process initiated by IAFF Local 42 resulted in the reinstatement of the employee involved,' a spokesperson for the fire department told the Kansas City Star. 'While we accepted this decision to maintain a positive working relationship with our union, our commitment to accountability and fairness remains unchanged.' they added. The altercation was captured on three different surveillance cameras at the entrance to the the University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City. It showed the ambulance driving up to the entrance bay of the hospital before Hansen got out with the laptop/tablet in hand. He was wearing a dark blue KCFD t-shirt with the words 'Win Some Lose Some' on the back and was accompanied by another fire department medic who had also been in the ambulance. Moments before Hansen led the patient to the sliding doors of the emergency center the two could be seen having a conversation. A second medic was also present After the fight Hansen was seen in surveillance footage obtained by the Kansas City Star pacing around in circles and inspecting his elbow for injuries The incident happened in April 2021 after Hansen arrived with the patient and a colleague at University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City (pictured) He and the patient appeared to have a brief conversation before Hansen led him towards the sliding doors of the building. As he pressed a button to open the doors the fight broke out and the two pushed each other at least once. Hansen then swung the tablet, which he was holding via its handle in his right hand, into the patient's head. The patient raised his arms to protect his face but as he did so he was forcefully driven backwards by Hansen, causing him stumble out of view of the cameras. As he was pushed back Hanses continued swinging the tablet. The second medic watched and followed the pair out of the camera's view. Moments later three security guards charged outside and the patient was placed in handcuffs as he lay face down on the ground. As the security guards restrained the patient, Hansen paced around in circles and examined his elbow to see if he had been injured. Once armed hospital security guards responded the patient was placed in handcuffs as he lay face down on the ground The KCFD said that on September 29, 2021 after reviewing the evidence and a recommendation by the fire chief at the time, Donna Lake, Hansen was fired. It claimed he had violated the department's zero tolerance 'Act of Violence' policy because he intentionally hit the patient several times with the tablet. 'At KCFD, we are dedicated to upholding the trust and confidence of our community. When an incident arose that violated city policies, we took swift action by launching an internal investigation to determine the facts,' the KCFD spokesperson told the Kansas City Star. In its grievance, filed by Local 42 on Hansen's behalf, union leaders said that the city did not have just cause to terminate Hansen as he wasn't given due process. They also said the city violated rights owed to Hansen as a tenured KCFD employee. 'In addition, the union believes that, for reasons unknown, Hansen has been singled out and treated differently than other similarly situated employees,' it said. Donald Trump has called for releasing all January 6 prisoners after Tucker Carlson unveiled new footage, which he claims casts a fresh perspective on the 2021 unrest at the US Capitol. 'Congratulations to Tucker Carlson on one of the biggest scoops as a reporter in U.S. history,' wrote Trump on social media, 'The New Surveillance Footage of the January 6th Events sheds an entirely different light on what actually happened. The Unselect Committee was a giant SCAM, and has now unequivocally been stamped as CRIMINAL FABRICATORS OF THIS MOST IMPORTANT DAY... LET THEM GO FREE, NOW!' Former President Donald Trump demands all prisoners convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021 released based on footage made avail by Speaker McCarthy and shown by Tucker Carlson Former President Donald Trump claims then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are to blame for security lapses on January 6, 2021. In footage screened on his show Monday night, so-called QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley was apparently seen being escorted into the Senate by Capitol police officers. Carlson suggested that challenged the prevailing narrative that Chansley - jailed for four years over the incident - aggressively barged into the chamber. On Tuesday morning, the former president claimed on Truth Social that Capitol rioters behind bars were 'convicted, or are awaiting trial, based on a giant lie.' Chansley is seen being followed through the Capitol by a police officer Chansley, with his bullhorn, is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol 'A radical left con job. Thank you to Tucker Carlson and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy for what you have both done,' Trump continued. 'New video footage is irrefutable.' After Carlson's showed air, Trump also called for the 'Unselect' January 6 committee to be prosecuted for being 'criminal fabricators' and said Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell 'failed on security." Also broadcast was footage of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the riot. It was initially suggested Sicknick's death came as the result of being attacked with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters. But a medical examiner later ruled he'd died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack. He appeared in good health, which the Fox News host said poured cold water on liberal outlets' insistence that the Capitol rioters had Sicknick's blood on their hands. He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol, yet was never charged - giving rise to the suspicion that Epps was an informant. Epps has denied working for the government. On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying. 'They were orderly and meek,' said Carlson of those who stormed the Capitol. 'These were not insurrectionists; they were sightseers.' Carlson said they 'obviously revere the Capitol,' noting they took selfies and 'queued up in neat little lines.' 'Deadly insurrection. Everything about that phrase is a lie,' he said. 'Very little about January 6 was organized or violent.' 'Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.' Carlson pointed to footage showing the 'QAnon Shaman' - a bare-chested, Viking helmet-wearing Jacob Chansley - inside the Capitol. Chansley, a 33-year-old naval veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on January 6. He's been jailed almost four years for 'obstructing an official proceeding.' In the footage, Chansley appears to be guided by an official as he wanders the Capitol. He passes a line of riot police, who make no move to stop him. Then they escort him to various entrances of the chamber, which appear to be locked, and eventually find him an open door through which he vanishes. 'Virtually every moment of his time inside the Capitol was caught on tape,' said Carlson. 'The tapes show the Capitol police never stopped Jacob Chansley. They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.' Carlson also showed the moments after Officer Brian Sicknick was confronted by the rioters. Sicknick, 42, died on January 7 - the day after the riot. Brian Sicknick is seen shortly after the Capitol was breached. Carlson said he appeared 'healthy and vigorous' Sicknick, who died of a stroke on January 7, is seen during the riot carrying out his duties Capitol rioter Julian Khater (pictured left) was sentenced to 80 months in prison for his role in the pepper-spray assault of police officer Brian Sicknick (pictured right), who died the day after the January 6, 2021 riot. Tucker Carlson has now shared footage showing Sicknick looking healthy after the attack he suffered In April 2021, the DC medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, who was injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. 'To this day, media accounts describe Sicknick as someone who was, quote, 'slain' on January 6,' Carlson said. 'The video we reviewed proves that is a lie.' Carlson said the officer was 'healthy and vigorous,' and noted he was wearing a helmet. 'So it's hard to imagine he was killed by a head injury,' he said. 'Whatever happened to Brian Sicknick was very obviously not the result of violence he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol. 'This tape overturns the single most powerful and politically useful lie the Democrats have told us about January 6.' There have been multiple deaths linked to the riot, including four Trump supporters - one of whom, Ashli Babbitt, was shot dead by Capitol Police. Trump supporters are seen walking through the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Carlson described them as 'sightseers' Carlson further suggested that alleged Capitol Rioter Ray Epps - pictured in red Trump cap - was actually an FBI agent sent to stoke violence. Epps denies claims Four officers died by suicide in the days and weeks after the riot. There have also been roughly 1,000 arrests. The footage comes as Fox News continues to contest a $1.6 billion lawsuit taken out against the broadcasting giant by Dominion, who manufactured voting machines for the 2020 election. Fox is being sued over claims the network endorsed theories the firm's voting machines were rigged to deliver a Biden win. The broadcaster's owner Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed over the lawsuit, and said he'd 'liked (Fox) to have been stronger denouncing' the stolen election claims. Fox News denies the claims made against it by Dominion. Shocking video footage has captured the moment a father attacked a passenger unprovoked in front of his children during a Southwest Airlines flight. The violent confrontation saw the man put another in a headlock as others on board were forced to intervene yelling: 'Do not hit him again.' It comes after a spate of fights and disasters on board American planes, with a 33-year-old recently charged for trying to open a window mid-flight and threatening to 'kill every man' on a United Airlines journey. The latest clip documents a journey from Dallas to Phoenix on Monday and has since gone viral on social media. A father in a beige blazer is seen grabbing a heavily tattooed man and placing him in a headlock as he repeatedly shouts: 'You a p***y.' The violent confrontation saw the man put another in a headlock as others on board were forced to intervene, yelling: 'Do not hit him again' Several passengers attempted to intervene and diffuse the situation. Onlookers insist the victim did 'nothing wrong' The attacker, who was with his wife and children, accused the tattooed man of 'aggressively' confronting his family - though witnesses insist the victim did nothing wrong. Several passengers are filmed attempting to step in and dissolve the confrontation. But just as the scene starts to calm, the man in the blazer suddenly swings a punch at the tattooed man. A voice can be heard shouting: 'Do not hit him again, do not hit him again. Stay back.' Later clips show the man in the blazer attempt to defend his actions as he says: 'Tell them what happened! He approached me with my family. 'Don't play with my family. 'I will down in jail for you approach my family. I would die for my family. 'I will beat your a**.' Dallas police confirmed they responded to the incident but no arrests were made. Witnesses told Dailymail.com that the attack was unprovoked. Caitlin Johnson, who uploaded the video to her Instagram and TikTok pages, said: 'He walked up and accidentally bumped into the man's wife. 'The man started mouthing off to him and he just ignored it. 'After they both got on the plane, the man walked back with his wife and two kids and came back up and started yelling to the man with tattoos, asking, "What's your address?" and he actually gave it to him. 'Then he started punching the man probably 4-5 times before we even started recording.' She added: 'The man with tattoos literally did nothing wrong. It was nuts.' A spokesman for the airline refused to elaborate on the incident. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, from Leominster, Massachusetts, could be seen ranting while in his emergency exit seat during a United flight from Los Angeles to Boston A photo taken by another person on board shows six people in the galley of the plane attempting to restrain Torres as the aircraft came into land 'Nothing to share other than to say our Flight Crews are well trained in de-escalation and we commend them for managing the situation and ensuring the Safety and Comfort of the other Passengers in the cabin, while also allowing that Flight 117 from DAL to PHX to arrive on-time,' a statement said. Dallas Police told Dailymail.com: 'On March 6, the Dallas Police Department responded after an incident occurred on a flight from Love Field Airport. 'No arrest was made.' It is the third time the low-budget airline has garnered headlines in the last week. On Sunday passengers travelling from Havana, Cuba, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were forced to evacuate after a bird collided with the engine and nose of the plane. Clips posted to social media show plumes of smoke filling the cabin while passengers were on-board. And on Friday a 75-minute flight from Baltimore to Raleigh turned into a nine-hour nightmare after the plane began to 'shake like crazy' resulting in several passengers vomiting and one passing out. Other airlines have also experienced a spate of disasters this week. On Monday two United Airlines planes were involved in a slow-speed collision at Boston Logan International Airport on Monday. On-board footage shows panicked passengers engulfed in smoke with oxygen masks lowered and parents attempting to help their children. It was reported not all masks were properly released, and some had bloodied knuckles from banging on the roof in desperation. Meanwhile a flight from LA to Boston this week made headlines after a passenger threatened to 'kill every man on this plane.' Francisco Severo Torres, 33, from Leominster, Massachusetts was charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon after he stabbed a flight attendant with a broken spoon. In video shot by a fellow passenger sitting only feet away, Torres can be heard threatening to commit mass murder while goading others to try and stop him. Brian Laundrie's mother has claimed that the 'burn after reading' letter she wrote to her son was a 'quirky' reference to books they loved in an attempt to repair their 'strained' relationship, and that it had nothing to do with Gabby Petito's murder. Roberta Laundrie spoke out for the first time about the controversial letter in which she allegedly offered to bring a shovel to help 'bury the body' around the time of Petito's disappearance. The letter was found in Laundrie's backpack when his body was located in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida in October 2021, just weeks after he strangled Petito while on a cross-country summer road trip. The letter has not been publicly released, but the Petito family attorneys have petitioned to have it included as evidence in their civil suit against the Laundries. In support of a motion filed on Monday against the letter becoming public, Roberta Laundrie wrote a note, obtained by WFLA, to the court claiming that it was written months before Brian and Gabby even set off on their trip. Roberta Laundrie (pictured here in June 2022) spoke out for the first time about her letter to son Brian in which she allegedly offers to bring a shovel to help 'bury the body' around the time of Gabby Petito 's disappearance The letter was found in Brian Laundrie's backpack when his body was located in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in October 2021 just weeks after he strangled Petito while on a cross-country road trip A motion was filed in Sarasota County Circuit Court on Monday by Roberta Laundrie's attorneys that seeks to block the attempts by Petito's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, to make the 'burn after reading' letter admissible as evidence in court. The civil trial between the two families is set to begin in August. 'Although I do not know the exact date I wrote the letter, I do know that I wrote it and gave it to Brian before Brian and Gabby left Florida for New York which was on June 2, 2021,' Roberta said. Roberta's lengthy explanation claimed that her letter to Brian was an attempt to repair their strained relationship and that some of the language in the letter was using similar phrases from books they both loved to describe the depth of a mother's love. She added that the two books that came to her mind were The Runaway Bunny and Little Bear. Roberta then claimed that one book 'Burn After Writing,' which she said Gabby had given Brian, was often the subject a joke between her and the couple. She said that book is the reason she wrote 'burn after reading' on the envelope that contained the letter to her son. A motion was filed in Sarasota County Circuit Court on Monday by Roberta Laundrie's attorneys that seeks to block the attempts by Petito's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt (pictured), to make the 'burn after reading' letter admissible as evidence in court Gabby's parents are suing the Laundries for emotional distress as they claim they knew Brian had killed her. The civil trial between the two families is set to begin in August She goes on to explain that this particular book contains questions that the reader can respond to in writing and the back of the book instructs the reader to create a secret book and then destroy by 'burn after writing.' 'Brian, Gabby and I often joked about this book and the importance of being able to express yourself,' she said. 'If you were embarrassed or simply did not want anyone to know your thoughts or feelings then the book offered the perfect solution by telling you to burn it.' Roberta continued: 'This is where my message to Brian came from and I wrote on the cover of the letter for Brian to "Burn After Reading." In short, I was trying to connect with Brian and repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home and I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him.' In her statement to the court, Roberta does admit that her letter did contain references that some would think could be about her son and Petito, but she claims there is 'no connection' between her letter and the tragic deaths. 'While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brian's actions and his taking of Gabby's life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter. 'The words in the letter could never have been a comment on that tragic situation as they were written so many months before. 'My words to Brian were meant to convey my love and support for my son through a light-hearted and quirky reminder that my love for him was not diminished and could not be shaken by the miles of separation we would soon be faced with.' Roberta Laundrie reportedly wrote an undated letter to her son that she would 'bring a shovel and bury a body,' Patrick Reilly, the attorney representing Gabby Petito's family, said in court on Tuesday. It was marked 'burn after reading' Petito, 22, was strangled on a road trip with Laundrie in Wyoming in the summer of 2021 Police and FBI officials retrieved items belonging to Brian Laundrie, including a notebook, near where his body was found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park Patrick Reilly, the attorney representing Gabby Petito's family, claimed the letter was in the FBI's regional office and also detailed that Roberta was willing to help get Brian 'out of prison.' The defense has argued that the letter, while penned by Roberta Laundrie, was undated, and therefore not relevant to the case. Roberta says claims that the letter was found on Brian's body were false and that the FBI gathered the letter as evidence before his remains were found and investigators had questioned her and her husband, Chris Laundrie, about it before October 20, 2021. The case has captivated the nation for nearly two years now as cops scoured the country for a still-at-large Laundrie, who would commit suicide before officers were able to track him down. When officials finally found the body of Petito's killer, in a Florida swamp roughly six weeks after the search began, all that was left were 'skeletal human remains that were scattered on top of the dirt ground in plain sight.' A notebook later obtained by authorities from Laundrie's backpack revealed the 23-year-old - who along with Petito had been chronicling the cross-country excursion on social media - took his own life out of guilt. Petito's parents promptly filed a civil suit against Laundrie's parents, and late last year were awarded $3million. Tanner Horner entered a not guilty plea in Wise County, Texas on Monday morning - he is accused of killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand in November. Horner, 31, appeared in court but did not speak, having his attorney enter the plea on his behalf. Also in the courtroom was Strand's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, who faced the man accused of killing her daughter. Gandy's hair remained a bright pink color, her daughter's favorite color. Though Gandy did not speak during court or make comments following the appearance, her civil attorney Benson Varghese said the ordeal was 'Probably one of the most difficult moments of her life to see the person who killed her daughter, and its a moment shes thought about for a long time. 'I suppose its surreal in some sense, but it was of just grave importance for her to be there,' he added. Athena Strand, 7, was kidnapped and strangled on November 30, 2022 by a contracted FedEx worker delivering gifts to her family home in North Texas Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of Athena Strand. Horner is currently being held in the Wise County Jail on a $1.5 million bond Horner was arrested December 2, 2022 the same day Athena's body was found. He confessed to police that he accidentally hit Strand with his delivery van as he delivered Christmas presents to the house. He then panicked and put the little girl inside his vehicle and strangled her to death. According to an autopsy, Strand had blunt-force injuries to her head and neck and evidence of smothering and strangulation. Her death was ruled a homicide. On February 17, a jury in Wise County formally charged Horner with kidnapping and murdering the young girl. Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said prosecutors are planning to seek the death penalty against Horner. Horner has been charged with sexually assaulting a child almost a decade ago and faces three additional counts of sexually abusing a child in 2013, in Fort Worth. He is being held in jail on a $1.5 million bail. Athena's father, Jacob Strand, has launched legal action against FedEx, claiming they did not carry out sufficient background checks before hiring Horner. 'I support the death penalty. In any sentencing that may come,' Gandy told WFAA. 'Every breath he takes is one my daughter doesn't. Gandy previously said she wished he had simply driven away and let her daughter walk. 'We are very forgiving people,' she said. 'If Athena was not injured or even if she had a few bumps and scrapes, he could have just driven away. We could have forgiven him. 'Accidents do happen, but he chose to do more - and what he did was unforgivable. 'I have a hard time believing Athena couldn't have walked away. Athena could have just walked away, and I wish he would have let her.' According to the arrest affidavit, Horner said Strand was not seriously injured when he hit her with his van. The mother of seven-year-old Athena Strand, Maitlyn Gandy (right, Athena is center) has filed a wrongful death lawsuit Maitlyn Gandy posted photos of her daughter Athena's pink coffin on her Facebook page Horner has been charged with sexually assaulting a child almost a decade ago and faces three additional counts of sexually abusing a child in 2013, in Fort Worth Gandy says she is still grieving for her daughter while trying to care for her other young child, Rilyn. 'I triple-check my doors every night, and I hold my three-year-old tighter. I'm scared to let her go. Everything is just very, very scary and very, very sad,' Gandy said through tears. 'It's been rough for our family. For my other three-year-old. She doesn't understand why she can't call 'sissy' or why she hasn't come home yet. It's a long time for her to go without seeing her sister', she explains. 'We're coping. We're trying to function. It's been long. Hard but very chaotic at the same time. 'I'm sad. I'm angry. I'm confused. I am doing my best. 'I've been very scared, and I don't sleep very often or for an extended period of time. Noises at night scare me.' A career criminal who murdered a policeman and successfully sued the Ministry of Justice has failed for a second time to be released from jail. Gang boss Nicholas Walters, then 22, chased and rammed PC Malcolm Walker, 45, in 2001 after the motorcycle officer spotted him driving dangerously in a stolen car. He got life with a minimum 18 years in 2002 for the prolonged attack in Perry Barr, Birmingham, in which PC Walker was thrown from his motorcycle and impaled on a concrete post. Walters, now 42, had his second parole hearing last month (Feb), and was told in the last few days that his latest bid had been refused. The three-panel Parole Board also rejected his application to be moved to an open jail. A career criminal who murdered policeman Malcolm Walker, 45, (pictured) in 2001 after the motorcycle officer spotted him driving dangerously in a stolen car has failed for a second time to be released from jail Gang boss Nicholas Walters (pictured), then 22, now 42, chased and rammed PC Walker and got life with a minimum 18 years in 2002 for the prolonged attack in Perry Barr, Birmingham, in which Walker was thrown from his motorcycle and impaled on a concrete post The criminal - a high ranking member of Midland's violent street gang the Burger Bar Boys - can apply for parole again in 2025. A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Nicholas Walters following an oral hearing in February 2023. The panel also refused to recommend a move to open prison. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. 'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing. 'It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority. 'Under current legislation he will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.' After rejecting his first parole bid in 2020, the Board wrote: 'His behaviour had been problematic and concerns still remained. He himself recognised he was not ready for progression or release.' The gangster sparked controversy after he launched a legal bid against the Ministry of Justice demanding 40,000 under Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights the right to life and the right not to be exposed to inhumane treatment. His claim said he was 'not listened to' in a 2018 incident and did not get the right attention, treatment and support' causing 'stress, distress, pain and discomfort'. PC Walker's widow Helen, then 63, said at the time to the Mirror newspaper: 'It's an absolute joke. He took my husband's life, so what rights has he got?' 'He's supposed to have got a life sentence, I was annoyed he didn't even get the maximum 25 years. It's his problem he's staying in prison. The longer he stays in, the better.' The lawsuit even admitted that he had a history of assaulting prison officers and posed 'management challenges' for jails. He spat at staff five times in April and May 2020 in HMP Wakefield and got two-and-a-half years more in August 2020 for attacking a guard in HMP Frankland, Co Durham, in September 2019. The legal bid was settled by the Ministry of Justice without admitting liability. A financial payment was made to the prisoner. The MoJ declined to comment on Walter's legal challenge and the decision to settle out-of-court. At this trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Walters was jailed for life after being found guilty of deliberately ramming father-of-four PC Walker off the road in a stolen car. The horrifying incident happened in front of dozens of people in, Perry Barr, Birmingham, in October 2001. The court heard that Walters was later caught on a covert police recording talking about the incident and threatening to kill a love rival. In addition to being found guilty of murder, Walters admitted theft of a car, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and charges of possessing a firearm. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Hunt told Walters: 'You deliberately went after him, you were determined to get him. PC Walker's widow Helen (pictured then), then 63, said at the time to the Mirror newspaper: 'It's an absolute joke. He took my husband's life, so what rights has he got?' 'Using that stolen car as a weapon, you deliberately drove into the rear of his motorcycle and knocked him onto a bollard, where he met his death.' The court was told by prosecutor Stephen Linehan that Walters had stolen a Peugeot 406 from a petrol station in Birmingham. Mr Linehan said when Walters realised PC Walker was in pursuit, he stopped the vehicle, waited until the officer drew up alongside him and then deliberately drove straight into him. The court heard while Walters was in custody, police were granted permission to carry out covert surveillance of him and tape his conversations with visitors. In one chat with his girlfriend, Walters was heard bragging about the incident. Speaking about her affections for a rival, Walters said: 'I'm going to shoot him, I'm going to kill him like I killed that copper.' The court was also told Walters had been released on licence from prison in connection with driving matters just weeks before killing the police officer. Walters, who is also known as 'China', was a high ranking member of the Burger Bar Boys. When police arrested him, they found a 12-bore self-loading shotgun that Walters -who called it his Pump Up -had bought for 500 and was preparing to have sawn down. PC Walker's widow, Helen, said after the guilty verdict she hoped in Walters' case, life meant life. 'What makes me really angry is he is going to get fed and watered while in prison,' she added. 'He has showed absolutely no remorse at all. There were things the jury didn't see when he came out. He would stare at us and at one point he poked his tongue out at us. 'He had only been out of prison four weeks for a previous offence and within four weeks he could commit murder. He should have still been behind bars.' A Spanish court has ordered a businessman to pay his ex-wife 180,000 for 25 years of unpaid domestic labour, based on the minimum wage throughout their marriage. Ivana Moral's husband was ordered to pay her 204,624.86 euros - just over 182,000 - in a record divorce settlement which was made public today. Judge Laura Ruiz Alaminos, sitting at a court in Velez-Malaga in southern Spain, calculated the figure based on the annual minimum wage throughout the couple's marriage, the i news website reports. The separated couple share two daughters and the ruling states that Ivana had spent almost all of her time looking after their family and working as a housewife during their marriage. Ivana's husband must also pay her a pension equivalent to 444 per month as well as 356 and 533 to his two daughters, who are now aged 20 and 14. Ivana Moral's husband was ordered to pay her 204,624.86 euros - just over 182,000 - in a record divorce settlement which was made public today. The mother-of-two, who wed her ex in 1995 before asking for a divorce in 2020, has said she is happy with the payout after years of hard work. 'Clearly this was a case of abuse to be completely excluded financially (by my ex-husband) with nothing left after my marriage ended, so me and my daughters were left with nothing after all these years of putting all my time, energy and love in the family,' she told i. 'I was supporting my husband in his work and in the family as a mother and a father. I was never allowed access to his financial affairs; everything was in his name.' Since marrying, Ivana had dedicated herself 'to essentially working in the home, which meant looking after the home and the family and all that involves,' the ruling said. The couple's marriage was governed by a separation of property regime, which Ms Moral's husband had asked her to sign at the start of their marriage. It specified that whatever each party earned was theirs alone, with them only sharing possessions. The arrangement would have left Ms Moral with no access to any of the wealth acquired through years of partnership. She told i that she has now spoken out about her case as she wants women to know what they are entitled to. Ms Moral has said that she has now spoken out about her case as she wants women to know what they are entitled to Judge Laura Ruiz Alaminos, sitting at a court in Velez-Malaga in southern Spain (pictured), ordered Ivana Moral's husband to pay her 204,624.86 euros Legal papers showed a breakdown of what she would have earned annually for the years between June 1995 and December 2020. Speaking to Cadena Ser radio, Ivana said her husband did not 'want her to work' outside the home. He would only let her work at the gyms he owned, where she handled 'public relations and acted as a monitor'. Otherwise, she said, 'I have dedicated myself exclusively to housework, looking after my husband and the house,' she said. 'He made me take on the specific role' of doing domestic chores, to the extent that 'I was in a place where I couldn't really do much else,' she said. The sentence had made her 'very happy' because it was 'very well deserved', she said. Ms Moral's ex-husband, who only wanted to split their home and possessions following the divorce , is expected to appeal the decision. A boyfriend accused of torturing and murdering a 15-month-old baby pinned down and assaulted his partner as their relationship deteriorated, a court heard. Jacob Lennon is alleged to have suffered horrendous long-term abuse at his family home in Putney, southwest London, before he was taken to hospital with fatal head injuries on 27 August 2019. The boy's mother, Louise Lennon, 32, and Jake Drummond, 33, her partner, both face charges arising from Jacob's death. Drummond denies murdering Jacob and a further charge of wounding the baby with intent in relation to earlier injuries, which include one caused to the genitals with a sharp object. Lennon denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child. Jake Drummond, 33, denies murdering Jacob and a further charge of wounding the baby with intent in relation to earlier injuries Jacob Lennon is alleged to have suffered horrendous long-term abuse at his family home in Putney, southwest London, before he was taken to hospital with fatal head injuries on 27 August 2019 Louise Lennon, 32, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child Today Lennon told jurors at the Old Bailey that she met Drummond when she was 15 and he was 16. She reconnected with him via Facebook after moving to the Putney area in June 2019. Jane Bickerstaff, defending Lennon, said: 'The police, in the course of their investigation have looked to get as much information as they could from your telephone, so it rather looks as if it was beginning of June when communications between the two of you began?' Lennon replied: 'Yeah, I think I was asking him to bring me a joint.' 'Why would you be asking him about that?' said Ms Bickerstaff. 'I knew he would be dealing [drugs]' replied Lennon. 'So, you contacted him for that purpose?' continued Ms Bickerstaff. 'Yep,' said Lennon. 'What did you think about him when he came back into your life?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. Lennon replied: 'He was really nice, always talking about his girls. He told me he had worked in a nursery.' Ms Bickerstaff asked: 'How did he treat you?' 'Very nice,' replied Lennon. Father-of-two Drummond was still seeing Julie Sanders when his relationship with Lennon began in late June 2019, the court heard. 'Did you know that he was in a relationship with Julie Sanders?' asked Ms Bickerstaff Lennon replied: 'Not at all, no. 'He just told me he had split up from her in previous months and he wasn't with her [anymore]' Lennon replied. 'So, it's not just that you didn't know he was in a relationship with her, you actually thought he wasn't from what he had told you?' said Ms Bickerstaff. 'Yes,' replied Lennon The relationship between Drummond and Lennon began to change after her birthday at the beginning of August 2019, the court heard. 'In general he would ask me if I was seeing anyone else or accuse me of doing things,' she said. 'Had that not happened before this?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'No,' replied Lennon. 'Did you know why he had started asking you if you were seeing anyone else?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'After my birthday I thought it was just because I told him I had gone out..... he might have thought I was with someone else,' said Lennon 'Were you being unfaithful to your relationship with Jake Drummond by having other relationships at the same time as him?' Ms Bickerstaff asked. Lennon replied: 'No'. 'Did he ever say anything to you which indicated he thought you were?' asked Ms Bickerstaff.' 'He said he saw messages on my phone,' replied Lennon. She told the court she believed Drummond gained access to her telephone during the night and blocked numbers from her contact list, including the number of her ex-boyfriends. 'Did you ever do it on reverse and spy on his phone?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'I've never been on his phone once,' replied Lennon. 'You said he had started asking you these questions around your birthday... did his behaviour change generally in relation to you?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'Yes,' replied Lennon. 'In what way?' asked Ms Bickerstaff Lennon replied: 'He seemed more agitated and aggressive... he was taking more drugs, he wasn't sleeping.' She told jurors how Drummond began to abuse her, saying: 'It turned more physically abusive, he used to basically always have an opinion on my parenting and stuff like that. 'He hit me, he pinned me down.' Ms Bickerstaff said: 'We can see from the schedule that although it may have lessened in volume there are still, across this entire time, messages from you to Mr Drummond telling him you love him, complimenting him, calling him 'baby' and other terms of endearment, why?' Lennon said: 'That was my way of keeping him sweet, keeping him happy I didn't want him to get aggressive,' Lennon replied 'Why didn't you just end it?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'I was very intimidated by him I was just scared, I had never felt like that before... when I was with him I don't know, it was hard. I didn't know how to get away,' Lennon replied. Lennon said she awoke to find Jacob with a large bruise on his forehead on the morning of August 16, 2019. She walked into her son's bedroom to find Drummond already there, claiming Jacob had fallen out of bed. Lennon said the bruising covering his 'whole forehead'. 'Presumably you said something when you saw this?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'I said, 'what happened to his head?' She said Drummond continued to claim Jacob had fallen out of bed. 'Did you believe and accept Mr Drummond's explanation?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'I did, yes,' replied Lennon 'Were there any other surrounding circumstances that led you to be concerned?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. Lennon replied: 'No' Four days later Lennon said she again found Drummond in her son's bedroom and he claimed he had woken up to find Jacob banging his head on the floor. 'Had you ever seen Jacob banging his own head on anything?' asked Ms Bickerstaff. 'No,' replied Lennon. 'Did you accept this explanation?' said Ms Bickerstaff. 'Yes, I didn't think anyone would hurt him' replied Lennon. 'Did you think in fact Mr Drummond was lying to you and he was responsible for doing this to your son?' Ms Bickerstaff continued. 'Not at the time, no,' replied Lennon. Lennon said on the night before Jacob's death she went to bed at 1am. She claimed she had no idea why Snapchat messages were sent between her and Drummond's phone between 2.12 and 2.24am. 'I don't know why I'd be messaging him when he's just sitting at the end of my bed,' she said. Crying as she gave her evidence, Lennon said she awoke to Drummond running into the room holding Jacob. 'He brought Jacob into the room in his arms, telling me to call an ambulance because his lips were turning blue. 'He was holding him like he was serving him to me, not holding his head,' she said, holding out two flat hands to demonstrate. 'He was saying 'babe, babe, call an ambulance.' She said Jacob looked floppy and unconscious. Lennon then phoned an ambulance and Drummond gave Jacob CPR. Lennon said Jacob began to be sick as Drummond pressed down on his chest. She accepted she made untrue statements to police and ambulance following the incident by suggesting that Jacob had fallen from his bed, saying that she just repeated what Drummond said to her as she was in a state of shock. She said she felt heartbroken when she found out that Jacob was dead, an hour after he arrived at St George's Hospital in Tooting. She said she returned to the police station two days later to tell them what really happened. 'I'd been in a state of shock. But then two days later I realised what had happened, that my son had been murdered. I had to go back and tell them. I had to do it for Jacob.' She said she has since found out that Drummond had strangled his former partner Julie Sanders. 'Mr Drummond has told this jury that you killed your own child, what do you want to say about that?' Ms Bickerstaff asked. 'I wouldn't even dream of doing that,' Lennon replied. 'He said you were a bad mother,' Ms Bickerstaff said. 'It's all BS (sic). That's just not me. He's taken everything away from me, there is nothing more he can take away from me. 'I was always making sure Jacob was okay, I was always trying to keep an eye on him. She said she always believed what he told her and she never feared he would cause harm to her child. Drummond, of no fixed address, denies murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Lennon, of Ingrave Street, Wandsworth, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. The trial, at the Old Bailey, continues. Utah has filed a lawsuit against the National Association of Attorneys General over its share of around $280 million that is allegedly used to invest in 'political schemes like ESG'. The state lodged a suit on Tuesday that accuses the NAAG, the national membership group for state attorneys general, of putting taxpayers' money at risk. Utah estimates it's entitled to about $2m to $4m of NAAG assets and could try to recover the money if the lawsuit is successful. The case comes amid growing controversy around the NAAG's use of public money. Montana's attorney general alleged in February that the organization lost $37 million last year, including a chunk of money lost to 'ESG-linked investments'. ESG is short for environmental, social and governance. ESG investments are typically linked to green energy and 'woke causes'. Many Republicans are skeptical of these investments, which they claim underperform, and argue that they aren't a good use of taxpayers' money. States pay a fee for membership of the NAAG, which has an annual budget of around $5.1 million. The organization also has assets worth around $280 million, much of which is held in 'restricted accounts'. Utah has filed a lawsuit against the National Association of Attorneys General over its share of around $280 million that is allegedly used to invest in 'political schemes like ESG'. Pictured: Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes The suit claims the NAAG and its Chief Financial Officer, Theresia Heller (pictured), should each be declared a 'public treasurer or custodian of public funds', which would mean the organization must use public funds in accordance with Utah state law The NAAG also makes money by providing funds to its members to pursue lawsuits. If the suits are successful, the NAAG recoups the money, plus extra. Utah's law suit, filed by Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, says much of the NAAG's assets belong to taxpayers. It alleges that the NAAG does not comply with Utah state laws about how public money is invested. The lawsuit, which is understood to be the first step towards recouping Utah's share, demands that the NAAG and its chief financial officer, Theresia Heller, each be declared a 'public treasurer or custodian of public funds'. This would then mean the NAAG was subject to Utah law about how public funds spent - and the state could demand the money back if the law isn't followed. Will Hild, Executive Director of the Consumers' Research, said: 'I applaud Attorney General Reyes for taking legal action against NAAG who continues to put politics over consumers by investing in ESG. 'Utah is practicing good governance by standing up for consumers and not letting the ESG elites dictate American policy. Leaders like Reyes are on the front lines of the battle against the progressive's political investment charade and Consumers' Research will continue to offer our full support in the fight to end woke capitalism.' Sources said the amount Utah is entitled to could be between $2 million and $4 million. The suits says NAAG assets should be audited to determine Utah's share. Utah filed the suit weeks after Montana's Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, threatened legal action against the NAAG over ESG investments that it's claimed have lost tens of millions of dollars. The lawsuit in Utah was filed weeks after Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, pictured being sworn in, told the NAAG: 'I have come to the conclusion that NAAG can no longer be trusted to hold assets on behalf of Montana, assets that are meant to benefit the people of Montana, or any other Montana-linked money' Knudsen wrote to NAAG executive director Brian Kane and alleged it lost '$37 million or more last year on a coterie of esoteric investments in private equity and foreign stocks'. He also accuses the organization of spending cash on 'trips to Europe for member AGs and their families' and says it is 'acting like an unaccountable slush fund'. Knudsen, who pulled out of the NAAG last year, said in the letter: 'I have come to the conclusion that NAAG can no longer be trusted to hold assets on behalf of Montana, assets that are meant to benefit the people of Montana, or any other Montana-linked money. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is the president of the NAAG 'There is no doubt in my mind now that NAAG is an unreliable and improper financial steward, and that Montana's share of the money at NAAG needs to come home. 'Return the money in your accounts that belongs to Montana within 90 days or I will go to court and sue to ensure that the money is safely and legally brought back within the four corners of Montana law.' The ESG movement has recently become a rallying cry for Republicans on Capitol Hill, who are pushing for legislation to protect retirement and investment accounts from asset managers who prioritize ESG values. Kansas AG Kris Kobach has also asked the NAAG to disclose its investments to 'combat the corrosive 'ESG' practices of investment firms and other players in the financial industry'. Republicans have also attempted to curb the growing use of ESG principles by federal agencies as they spend taxpayers' money. Earlier in March, the Senate voted 50 to 46 to block a Biden administration rule allowing retirement fund managers to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions for nearly half the country. Several moderate Democrat senators sided with Republics on the resolution. Harris and other parents are now calling out the Santa Ana Unified School District for their response while Harris is pushing for the boy to be expelled Jasmine Harris says her child was whipped at by a classmate using a jump rope who told her 10-year-old to 'get back to work, you slave' A California mother held a protest outside her daughter's school after she claims her child was racially abused A Southern California mother is leading the charge to expel a student who she claims snapped a jump rope at her black daughter and referred to her as a 'slave.' Jasmine Harris' says her 10-year-old daughter recently became the target of an offensive, racially charged comment while she was at lunch with her friends. According to Harris, a young white boy at her child's school whipped a jump rope toward her daughter - Paris Barnes - and told her to 'get back to work, you slave.' The mom is now demonstrating outside of Santiago Elementary School in Santa Ana to bring awareness and attempt to have school officials take action. 'They're sweeping it underneath the rug,' said Harris, who spoke with ABC 7 Los Angeles about the disturbing incident. Jasmine Harris' says her 10-year-old daughter recently became the target of an offensive, racially charged comment while she was at lunch with her friends According to Harris, a young white boy at her child's school whipped a jump rope toward her daughter - Paris Barnes - and told her to 'get back to work, you slave' Harris told the Southern California TV station she is all but ready to pull her daughter from the district but is hoping to see repercussions for the boy involved. 'I want the little boy to get expelled. I want them to do something about this,' Harris said. She said she has yet to find out if the child has been disciplined at all for the incident, which she claims happened on March 1. The mom and a group of other parents held a protest outside Monday, demanding answers from Santiago Elementary and Santa Ana Unified School District officials. Jessica Garcia and Maria Gomez - both parents of students in the district - expressed their dissatisfaction with how the school has handled bullying of any kind. 'I don't think it's fair that so many parents are going through the same thing,' said Garcia. 'They see that it's so many kids involved and there's nothing being done about it,' she continued. Gomez agreed with Garcia and Harris, telling the TV station: 'There's clearly a [systemic] issue that no one is paying attention to.' Barnes also spoke with ABC 7 and said she is still reeling from the incident. 'It was very disrespectful and I just felt really hurt inside,' the young girl said. Harris says because of the inadequate response from the district and school administrators, she has now gone to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. She is hoping the young boy is charged with a hate crime and attempted assault on a minor, she said. DailyMail.com reached out to the Orange County District Attorney's Office for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The mom and a group of other parents held a protest outside Monday, demanding answers from Santiago Elementary and Santa Ana Unified School District officials. Jessica Garcia and Maria Gomez - both parents of students in the district - expressed their dissatisfaction with how the school has handled bullying of any kind. 'I want the little boy to get expelled. I want them to do something about this,' Harris said 'There's clearly a [systemic] issue that no one is paying attention to,' said Maria Gomez 'My heart goes out to Paris, to the young lady, and I just want to make sure that she gets the support that the student needs,' said superintendent Jerry Almendarez This is Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. Harris said she went to the district attorney's office and is hoping charges are brought against the young boy In a statement to ABC 7, Santa Ana Unified School District superintendent Jerry Almendarez said he and his staff are working on a solution and have a formal investigation underway. 'My heart goes out to Paris, to the young lady, and I just want to make sure that she gets the support that the student needs, but also making sure that we also provide the support so this doesn't happen again,' Almendarez said. DailyMail.com reached out to Almendarez for additional comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Now, Barnes says she still feels uncomfortable going back to school. 'I'm not really comfortable going back to school because I don't know if he'll do it again because no one really, like, said if he was going to be in that much trouble,' Barnes said. A pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, U.S. intelligence agencies determined, according to a bombshell report on Tuesday. U.S. officials told The New York Times there no evidence Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were involved in September 2022 bombing, or that the group was acting at the direction of the Ukrainian government. The Nord Stream natural gas pipelines link Russia to Western Europe, giving Moscow a direct route for its profitable natural gas business. The surprise attack damaged two of the pipelines - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 - in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea. In the outrage that followed, nearly every government found itself getting blamed: Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Britain, and the United States. A satellite image shows gas from the Nord Stream pipeline bubbling up in the water following the bombing in Baltic Sea Western allies blamed Russia, Moscow blamed the US and Britain. U.S. officials said no American or British nationals were involved. White House spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the report, saying Germany, Denmark and Sweden were still investigating the explosion, which he called 'sabotage.' 'There are three investigations going on right now. And they aren't done. As far as I know, not none of none of those three countries have put out publicly what they're what they're finding,' he told reporters in a briefing call on Tuesday. Last month the White House denied a report that U.S. Navy divers planted remote-controlled explosives that destroyed parts of the pipeline. Moscow had pointed the finger at the U.S. because of a comment President Biden made in early February 2022 - before Russia invaded Ukraine - that would bring Nord Stream to an end should Russian troops and tanks enter its neighboring country. Now U.S. intelligence officials say they believe the actual perpetrators were opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the officials did not say what group was behind the attack, who directed it or who paid for it. Officials also stressed their conclusions are not at 100%, leaving open the possibility that the operation might have been conducted off the books by a proxy force with connections to the Ukrainian government or its security services, The Times reported. All of the four leaks are in the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm. Two of the leaks were located in the Swedish exclusive economic zone, and the two others in the Danish one This handout picture released on September 30, 2022 by the Danish Defence Command and taken on September 29, 2022 shows one of four gas leaks at one of the damaged Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea The pipeline goes from Russia, into the ocean, and then to Germany The facility at Lumbin, Germany, where the Nord Stream pipeline makes land again Ukraine has long opposed the pipeline, which would easily bring Russian gas to European customers. Russia is one of the top three oil producers in the world. Moscow relies heavily on revenues from oil and natural gas, which in 2021 made up 45% of Russia's federal budget. At the time of the attack, the U.S. said called it sabotage. The sophisticated attack took place under water, near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, as the two pipelines are called, stretch 760 miles from the northwest coast of Russia to Lubmin in northeast Germany. The first cost more than $12 billion to build and was completed in 2011. It took 15 years to construct. U.S. Officials said they don't believe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy's government was involved Both Swedish and Danish authorities investigated the four holes punctured in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines from underwater attacks. While the leaks were in international waters, two of them were in the Danish exclusive economic zone and two of them in the Swedish. The pipelines have been at the center of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation against Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Although the pipelines were not in operation, they contained gas before falling victim to the apparent sabotage. A Labour council was accused of hypocrisy after backing Sadiq Khan's controversial expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) - then asking for an exemption for its own 400 vehicles. Hounslow council deputy leader Katherine Dunne wrote to the London mayor last summer raising concerns that it would not be able to make all its vehicles ULEZ compliant by the August 2023 deadline. The council is one of 16 outer London boroughs that have supported the mayor's plans to expand the zone, and already has 37 ULEZ cameras installed on its streets. But failing to meet the compliance rules - which include facing a daily charge of 12.50 if driving within the specified area without meeting the emissions standards - would place further pressure on the authority's budgets, Miss Dunne argued. She said in the letter, obtained by The Daily Telegraph: 'We have already invested in their replacement, yet supply chain challenges mean the earliest likely date for vehicle delivery is 2023-24. A Labour council was accused of hypocrisy after backing Sadiq Khan's controversial expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) - then asking for an exemption for its own 400 vehicles Hounslow council deputy leader Katherine Dunne wrote to the London mayor (pictured) last summer raising concerns that it would not be able to make all its vehicles ULEZ compliant by the August 2023 deadline Hounslow council (pictured) is one of 16 outer London boroughs that have supported the mayor's plans to expand the zone, and already has 37 ULEZ cameras installed on its streets 'If there are any further delays in the market and supply, there will be insufficient time to make the fleet compliant before the proposed August 2023 rollout.' Miss Dunne added: 'If no dispensation is provided, we will be subject to ULEZ penalties, putting further pressure on councils budgets.' READ MORE: No 10 slaps down Sadiq Khan after London Mayor begged PM for yet more money to prop up hated ULEZ expansion Advertisement It also called on the mayor to extend exemptions for school transport vehicles, and to give additional time to upgrade their fleets. Conservative councillor Jack Emsley, who made the letter public, said: 'It's complete hypocrisy for Hounslow Council to back the ULEZ expansion for hard working families and businesses whilst simultaneously asking for an exemption for themselves. 'It cannot be one rule for the Hounslow Labour party and another rule for the rest of us.' In a statement to the Telegraph, Miss Dunne said the council was committed to its vehicles being compliant and was currently going through procurement to refresh its vehicle fleet. She added: 'During this period of transition alternative vehicle hires are being sourced until the delivery of the new vehicles.' It follows Mr Khan facing staunch criticism recently over branding some ULEZ opponents as 'far-right' and 'Covid deniers'. During a heated People's Question Time in Ealing, west London last week, he said: 'Let's be frank, let's call a spade a spade... some of those outside are part of the far-Right, some are Covid deniers, some are vaccine deniers and some are Tories.' It also emerged that the mayor has asked Transport for London to look into using ULEZ cameras to charge car users in a 'pay-as-you-drive' scheme in the capital. Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has denounced comments by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as 'low' and 'derisive' as well as anti-woman after she appeared to mock President Biden's declared primary rival. The self-help author unloaded on Biden's spokeswoman in a Twitter post online, a day after Jean-Pierre departed from her usual standards for abstaining from politics from the White House podium apparently mocking Williamson when asked to comment on her candidacy, with a response that mentioned a crystal ball an an 'aura.' She went after Jean-Pierre by name, and defended her right to run a primary against Biden as a woman even recalling Biden's own vow to fire anyone on his team who spoke disrespectfully about others. 'I was so sad to see the commentary of the President's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about me about crystal balls which I've never spoken or written about, and auras which I've never spoken or written about and just speaking so derisively and in such marking terms about someone who is running for President of the United States,' she said. 'And as a woman, and this is the Democratic Party?' The clash came days after Williamson announced her decision to challenge Biden. Williamson, who appeared to be speaking from her home, continued: 'I have a constitutional right to run, and my candidacy is about substantive issues and policies. I have made it clear and interview after interview that the President is a nice man, and that I have no interest in taking personal potshots.' Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson hit back at White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for 'low' and 'derisive' comments about her and her campaign 'But apparently the White House, or at least as expressed by Karine, doesn't share my commitment to the high ground,' she said. 'The hypocrisy here is something that all of us can see.' Then she brought up Biden's pledge, which came on the heels of a former President Trump regularly ridiculing his opponents and attacking the media as 'fake news.' 'Because the President has said on his first day in office, that anyone in his administration who spoke disrespectfully about anyone would be fired on the spot. Now, I'm not hoping that Karine Jean-Pierre loses their job over this. But I do hope that from now on this low, derisive, this narrative about me it just obviously meant to get me out of the conversation. I hope that this path has not pursued. It's not good for any of us. It's not good for America. It's not good. For the Democratic Party,' she said. Then, she raised the possibility that the digs could be an attack on people of faith or on women who speak 'out of turn.' 'People are watching and I hope that everyone who is watching realizes this is not just about me. They're not just telling me to psh, get away like flip her off like a mosquito. It's about you. It's about anyone who, first of all, I think, what has faith and takes faith seriously, or is it just about any woman who speaks out of turn? I don't know. That's for you to decide. But whichever it is, I hope that we will stop that kind of nonsense. It's not good for any of us,' she concluded. Her pushback came about 24 hours after Jean-Pierre took a dig at President Joe Biden's first and for now only Democratic challenger Monday by saying she didn't have a 'crystal ball' to consult about the matter. It is a phrase Jean-Pierre has used before in other contexts, but it took some added heft when used regarding Williamson, a self-help author and spiritual counselor who has attracted notice for the emotive language she brings to the political scene. Then Jean-Pierre joked about being able to 'feel her aura' suggesting her comments about the primary rival were no accident. Williamson, who launched her campaign on Saturday in Washington with a call to 'disrupt the system' and battle hatred and injustice with love, has repeatedly denied ever speaking or writing about 'crystals' or crystal-worshipping, even though the idea has somehow become attached to her reputation. Jean-Pierre, a former advisor to Biden's campaign, was asked if the president was annoyed or frustrated that she jumped in before he announced his own intentions. She brushed off the matter. 'Just not tracking that. I mean if I had a what is it called, a little globe here, a crystal ball, that I can tell you. But I a magic eight-ball, whatever,' she said. 'If I can feel her aura I just don't have anything to share on that,' she said, drawing some audible cackles inside the White House briefing room. The sparring came days after Williamson launched her primary challenge to Biden Saturday White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at first dodged a question about President Biden's reaction to primary challenger Marianne Williamson then said she didn't have a 'magic eight ball' in a likely dig at the self-help author The comment came a day after Williamson vowed to take on a political system she called out of touch with ordinary Americans and an economic system she called 'sociopathic.' She took on the so-called 'adults in the room' in the national system whom she said wanted others to 'sit down and let them run things' a reference to her own non-traditional resume for high political office. Jean-Pierre frequently exhibits great caution on political questions, frequently invoking the Hatch Act as she did Monday on a question about former President Donald Trump. Not long after Jean-Pierre's comment, Williamson's campaign announced a six-day tour of New Hampshire that will take her from Portsmouth to Londonderry, Manchester, and beyond. Jean-Pierre's comment drew laughs in the press room (reporters are pictured at the White House last week) Williamson did not directly attack Biden in her remarks. A new poll by Morning Consult showed Biden getting 77 per cent support among Democrats but Williamson getting 4 per cent backing. Another 9 per cent favored 'someone else,' in a poll taken after Williamson's announcement, which drew modest press coverage. Biden has yet to announce his own campaign, but first lady Jill Biden gave the impression he was running in a recent interview, and he has said repeatedly he intends to do so. On Friday environmental activist and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a crowd in New Hampshire he was considering a run. 'I am thinking about it yes. I have passed the biggest hurdle, that my wife has green-lighted it,' said the son of the slain Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who as a presidential candidate. Biden has done much to court his party's left to avoid a potential primary challenge. But the DNC's decision to put the South Carolina primary ahead of New Hampshire provides a potential venue for opponents to get political oxygen. That could happen if New Hampshire decides to hold its primary first anyway, as required by state law, and Biden were to decline to take part. Wetherspoons has shut two pubs for good - while dozens more boozers remain in the firing line. Hove's The Cliftonville, in East Sussex, Southport's The Willow Grove, in Merseyside, were the latest sites to be axed, closing on Sunday. The closures come ahead of the shutdown of The Sir John Stirling Maxwell in Glasgow, which is pour its final pint on March 26. Meanwhile, dozens of other Wetherspoons sites remain at risked of being axed nationwide, in a fresh blow to Britain's pub trade. The sites are risk are currently on sale. But if no buyer is found, they will be permanently wrapped up. Wetherspoons pubs that are closing or being sold in 2023 Southport's The Willow Grove, in Merseyside, was one of the latest sites to be axed, closing on Sunday The Cliftonville, in Hove, East Sussex was also closed over the weekend - as the fate of dozens of other boozers remains uncertain A total of 13 are currently under offer, reports the Mirror, which means an offer has been received by no sale has been made. This is the full list of pubs set to be axed by Wetherspoons: The Butlers Bell, Stafford Worlds Inn, Romford Silkstone Inn, Barnsley Wrong Un, Bexleyheath The Percy Shaw, Halifax Jolly Sailor, Hanham The Alfred Herring, Palmers Green The Moon & Bell, Loughborough The Widow Frost, Mansfield Resolution, Middlesbrough Foxley Hatch, Purley The Rising Sun, Redditch Sennockian, Sevenoaks Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, Southampton The Colombia Press, Watford The Malthouse, Willenhall The John Masefield, New Ferry The Crosse Keys, Peebles Lord Arthur Lee, Fareham The Saltoun Inn, Fraserburgh General Sir Redvers Buller, Crediton Plough & Harrow, Hammersmith Thomas Leaper, Derby Tollgate, Turnpike Lane Asparagus, Battersea Millers Well, East Ham Hudson Bay, Forest Gate Angel, Islington The Billiard Hall, West Bromwich Capitol, Forest Hill The Bankers Draft, Eltham Moon on the Hill, Harrow The Bank House, Cheltenham Last Post, Loughton The Postal Order in Worcester is one of 10 Wetherspoons pubs which have been sold The news comes just weeks after Wetherspoons has confirmed that 10 of its pubs will be closing for good after being sold with another 35 branches up for sale. Among those purchased are the Harvest Moon in Orpington, Moon on the Square in Basildon and the Postal Order in Worcester. Chapel an Gansblydhen, in Bodmin, and Bootle's Wild Rose will also close their doors for ever. The full list of pubs that are under offer - but remain in the firing line Here is the full list of pubs currently under offer The Butlers Bell, Stafford The Percy Shaw, Halifax Foxley Hatch, Purley Tollgate, Turnpike Lane Asparagus, Battersea Millers Well, East Ham Hudson Bay, Forest Gate Angel, Islington The Billiard Hall, West Bromwich Capitol, Forest Hill The Bankers Draft, Eltham Moon on the Hill, Harrow Last Post, Loughton Advertisement In January, the pub chain said sales jumped at the end of 2022 but it is still struggling to keep up with its pre-pandemic performance. Like-for-like sales rose 18 per cent in the last quarter of 2022 at the firm's 844 pubs, but are still 2 per cent behind 2019 levels. Wetherspoons also noted that costs were far higher than three years ago, especially for labour, food, energy and maintenance. Its chairman Tim Martin said: 'The aftermath of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions have been far more difficult than anyone thought. That is the picture for the whole pub and restaurant industry. 'People thought that after lockdown there would be a boom in people suffering from cabin fever but, instead, it has almost been the opposite situation as people have got in the habit of staying in. 'That's the big thing that means sales are down on 2019. Things are improving now but it's slow.' But Wetherspoons added that it it trumped the wider pub and restaurant sector in December, with sales jumping by a fifth compared with the national average of 15 per cent in the month, according to the Coffer CGA Business Tracker. North and South Wales Bank, Wrexham, is another branch which has been confirmed as sold. Mr Martin said he feels the biggest threat to the hospitality industry is that pubs and restaurants are taxed unfairly, while supermarkets pay no VAT on food sales. North and South Wales Bank, Wrexham, is another branch which has been confirmed as sold He said: 'This issue has been exacerbated in recent years because supermarkets now trade next to pubs on every high street, and with a huge tax benefit which means they can lower the price of beer. 'By and large, I think the non-executive directors of the largest pub and restaurant companies prefer to dig their heads in the sand, and not get involved.' But the chairman says he is 'cautiously optimistic' about the company's prospects for the financial year. Wetherspoons is one of the most popular pub chains in the UK, employing about 43,000 across its 800 sites in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Ukrainian schoolgirl who died after being found unconscious on a beach in Devon had 'local friends', had started to speak English and was loving life in Britain, a family friend has revealed. Albina Yevko, 14, had been living with a host family and her mother in Dawlish after fleeing their home city of Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine following Russia's invasion a year ago. But the teenager, who attended a local school, was found on a beach on Saturday evening after she was reported missing. Albina was airlifted to hospital in Exeter but later died. Her death is being treated as unexplained. A family friend in Ukraine said: 'Albina and her mother Inna fled to the UK almost as soon as the war began. We are all so shocked about the news from the UK. 'Everything was good with them in Britain. I know Albina had started to speak English, not too confident but she understood it well after a year or so. Inna Yevko with her daughter Albina as a child in Ukraine. She spoke of her heartbreak today Albina Yevko, 14, had been living in Dawlish after fleeing Ukraine with her mother following Russia's invasion 'She was going to a local school.' Speaking from Albina's home city Kryvyi Rih, the friend said: 'I know they had both got used to their life in Britain, and loved it. 'Albina gained some local friends. I saw one girl in a picture with the family which hosted them in the UK..so I was happy for Albina.' The teenager, who attended a local school, was found on a beach on Saturday evening after she was reported missing The community have expressed their shock at her discovery. Viktoriia Zviholska, 38, a cleaner said she arrived in Dawlish from Ukraine in May last year and became close friends with the family Police were seen nearby today after the tragic death of schoolgirl Albina Yevko Albina Yevko, 14, had been living with a host family and her mother in Dawlish after fleeing their home city of Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine following Russia 's invasion a year ago. Pictured: Debris of an apartment building damaged in a Russian rocket attack in Kryvyi Rih on December 16, 2022 In Ukraine before the war, the tragic girl had done well at school. 'She attended a music school and played the piano. I cannot say if she graduated but she definitely played the piano. She was so kind and always smiling,' the friend added. Earlier her mother Inna Yevko said in a statement issued by Devon and Cornwall Police: 'Myself and my family are devastated to have lost our beautiful Albina. Nothing can ever replace her in our hearts. We ask that our privacy is respected at this incredibly painful time.' Police were called to reports of a teenage girl missing from Dawlish on Saturday evening Police close to the beach where Albina was found on Saturday Police were called when the 'kind and caring' teenager was reported missing on Saturday evening. Searches by a police helicopter and coastguard tracked Albina to a beach in the town where she was found unconscious. She later died at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Officers said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death but it was not being treated as suspicious. Sam Banks, headteacher at Dawlish College, where Albina was a year 9 student, paid tribute to the teen. He said: 'Everyone in our school community has been devastated to learn of the tragic death of Albina. 'Our thoughts are currently with Albina's family and loved ones and we have extended our deepest condolences and offers of support to them. 'Albina will be sorely missed by all who knew her, and we have set up ongoing emotional support and signposting for staff and students affected by this terrible news. 'We would like to respect and echo the family's request that their privacy be respected at this incredibly painful time.' Ms Yevko and her daughter Albina moved to Dawlish after war with Russia broke out a year ago Searches by a police helicopter and coastguard tracked down the teenager to a beach in the town and she was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital The community have expressed their shock at her discovery. Viktoriia Zviholska, 38, a cleaner said she arrived in Dawlish from Ukraine in May last year and became close friends with the family. She said: 'I want to honor the memory of my friend's daughter from Ukraine. 'She was not only young, but also very bright, smart, interesting, she loved to draw. 'She was a good person. I can't believe this could happen to her. We are all a society and we know about stereotypes. That this person is more likely to get into such a story. This is the law of regularity. But what happened to Albina is complete nonsense. 'Albina always discussed with her mother what she would do and where she would go. 'Thanks to all the services of England for responding so quickly to the search request. 'It is unfortunate that medicine did not have time to help. Please help us find out what happened so that we can warn everyone that there were no such mistakes, not only among Ukrainian children, but also among English children. 'I have known this family since May last year. We met here. They were lucky to live with their family host. 'They liked England. Inna is a specialist in the IT industry. She had a job. 'Albina rejoiced at the new school. Maybe I found new friends. We met for lunch together. We celebrated the new year together. Inna Yevko (R) mother of Albina Yevko pictured with her friend Viktoriia Zviholska (L), who revealed they had come to Dawlish last May 'I found good people in them. I have only good memories of our time together.' Other members of the local community in Dawlish have also continued to pay tribute. One local, a Red Cross worker, said: 'It breaks your heart given all that her family had been through. 'How much does one person have to go through. 'As a community, we are all incredibly sad' A local tea room worker added: 'It is desperately sad. She has come so far from Ukraine and this has happened now. 'We welcome Ukrainians in Dawlish and our hearts go out to the family. It's awful news and hard to get your head around.' A parent whose son went to Dawlish College alongside Albina said all pupils were sent a letter about the tragedy. She said: 'My son's two years younger than the girl but goes to the school. I read the top of the letter from the school and burst into tears. As a mum, you put yourself in the same position. 'Having fled Ukraine to come here, the whole story is just tragic.' A music manager was stabbed to death for a designer watch worth up to 300,000 after celebrating his birthday, a court has heard. Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, was set upon by three robbers after leaving Haz restaurant near St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London on May 1, last year, the Old Bailey heard. They had allegedly been tipped off by security operator Kavindu Hettiarachchi that Mr Odunlami was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch which, if real, was worth between 90,000 and 300,000. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said Hettiarachchi was 'an integral member of the security team' who had been hired by the events organiser Playhxuse for the private ticketed brunch and afterparty with DJ. He told jurors: 'It was part of his role to protect the safety of those, like Mr Odunlami, who were attending the event. In fact he did the opposite.' Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, (pictured) was set upon by three robbers after leaving Haz restaurant near St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London on May 1, last year, the Old Bailey heard. They had allegedly been tipped off by security operator Kavindu Hettiarachchi that Mr Odunlami was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch (pictured) which, if real, was worth between 90,000 and 300,000 (File image) Pictured: Haz restaurant near St Paul's Cathedral im London, where Mr Odunlami had been dining Jurors were told the victim, known to friends as Jay, worked in the music industry managing a number of performing artists. On the day of his death, he had driven to the City in his grey hatchback Mercedes to celebrate his birthday with friends, having organised tickets for a 1,400 table. Mr Atkinson told jurors: 'Sadly, as it was to turn out, he liked expensive brand watches. At the time when he was fatally attacked, he was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch. 'If real, such a watch could be worth anything in a range from 90,000 to 300,000. 'It is believed the deceased's watch may not have been genuine, but was treated as genuine by those who sought to take it.' As the event drew to a close at around 11pm, Hettiarachchi was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Louis Vandrose, the court was told. Vandrose and Jordell Menzies were then driven by Quincy Ffrench in a white Mercedes with altered number plates from north-west London, the court heard. Mr Atkinson said: 'The evidence shows that Ffrench, Vandrose and Menzies were setting off in car with a disguised registration in order to carry out a robbery, and that their target for that robbery was at the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working, and to which by phone he had summoned them.' Jurors were told the security operator had filmed the victim and his 'high-value' watch and then appeared to type something into his phone. Mr Atkinson said: 'The prosecution case is that he was making those other defendants aware of Mr Odunlami and his watch, in order that they could rob him of that apparently very valuable item. 'In common sense, those planning the robbery of Mr Odunlami of what appeared to be a very valuable watch would not have expected him just to surrender. 'Rather, he needed to be compelled to do so, and to that end one of those travelling in Mr Ffench's Mercedes was armed with a knife.' Mr Odunlami was attacked by the group after he left the restaurant with a friend, the court heard. As the event drew to a close at around 11pm, Hettiarachchi was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Louis Vandrose, the Old Bailey (pictured) was told Mr Atkinson said: 'When they were ready, the defendants Ffrench, Vandrose and Menzies got out of the car and ran towards Mr Odunlami. 'On seeing the robbers closing in on him, Mr Odunlami tried to run, but he was caught by Menzies and then taken to the ground by the combination of Menzies and by Vandrose. 'Once Mr Odunlami was on the ground, all three defendants attacked him, shod feet were used as weapons to kick the defenceless man on the ground. 'During the course of that attack, one of the robbers, identifiable as Ffrench, bent down and took the object of this exercise, Mr Odunlami's Patek Phillippe Nautilus watch. 'As he did so he was heard to say 'got it'.' The defendants then ran off, leaving the victim on the ground with a fatal stab wound to the chest. Mr Atkinson said: 'It appears from the CCTV that he was stabbed before any demand was made of him, or any other form of attempt to take his watch from him.' A flick knife was recovered nearby and linked by scientific analysis to the victim and Menzies, who had used it to kill him, jurors heard. Afterwards, the three robbers travelled to Bloomsbury where they changed their clothes before parting company, the court was told. The court heard that Ffrench, 27, from Tottenham, Vandrose, 27, of Thornton Heath, and Menzies, 26, from Kilburn, admitted robbery and Menzies had also pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Mr Atkinson said: 'The prosecution case is that Menzies was physically responsible for the use of that knife to stab an unarmed man. 'It was a blow delivered with at least a moderate level of force, in the estimation of the pathologist, that penetrated 8cm through Mr Odunlami's chest into the right ventricle of his heart.' Menzies is charged with murder along with Ffrench and Vandrose who allegedly acted together to encourage and facilitate the fatal stabbing. Hettiarachchi, of Harrow, who was employed as security operator for Supreme Security, is charged with being involved in the robbery and manslaughter. Jurors were told Hettiarachchi had fake versions of high-value watches at his home, suggesting an interest in and knowledge of expensive timepieces. He allegedly called on the help of his friend and colleague Antonios Kfoury, 21, from Ealing, who is charged with perverting the course of justice. It is alleged Kfoury tried to obscure the role of Hettiarachchi in the security arrangement for the event at Haz and made a false statement to the police. The defendants have denied the charges against them and the Old Bailey trial continues. One of the protesters described the mast as a 'horrific rocket launcher' Hundreds of angry homeowners waved banners and placards in protest over a 'horrific rocket launcher' just outside their homes. Fed up residents say the 50ft (15m) metal pole erected by telecoms firm IX Wireless is blighting their lives and demanded its removal. The company insists the mast will offer locals in Bolton, Greater Manchester, far better access to 'gigabit-capable broadband services' as part of a rollout of high-speed internet. But households say they have been angered that planning laws allow poles to go up without their consultation or permission. Organiser Martin Henderson, said people across the country should oppose their 'diabolical needless installation'. Hundreds of angry residents protested after the installation of a 'horrific rocket launcher' style mast in Bolton The 'residents against IX Wireless' group met after the telecoms company installed a metal mast 'without consultation' He said: 'I'm gobsmacked at how many people showed up here today, there looks to be around 150. 'The numbers show how real the concern is for residents who feel that this is not of any benefit to the community. 'It isn't even people from Bolton who have come here today, there are people here who are facing similar situations where they live and want to talk about what we can do to stop this.' Julie Eaton, 59, travelled to the protest from nearby Middleton after discovering poles are being installed in her area - and said she had disrupted their installation. She said: 'We are about two months behind the residents of Bolton in terms of installing the masts but we expect that they will be installing those rocket launchers very soon. 'One of the selling points of my street was that everything was underground, we didn't have any hanging wires at all but that is about to change. 'My neighbours and I have been parking our cars on the pavements to stop poles being put up but I wanted to come here today to see what is happening in Bolton and learn some more about what can be done.' A spokesperson for IX Wireless said their industry was 'heavily regulated' and the council had been informed of where the poles would be placed. Residents met at Morrisons Petrol Station before heading to the mast for a community meeting They said: 'The network delivers gigabit capable broadband services at a fraction of the cost of other broadband providers. 'The roll out enables us to provide cheaper broadband to communities across the region. 'The industry is heavily regulated and all structures go through stringent tests and conform to industry standards. 'This also goes for the placement of the poles and the local council is aware of any work being undertaken. 'Of course we are keen to improve our communications where we can, and in many towns and cities we have weekly meetings with council executives and elected officials to help resolve and communication issues. 'It is our intention to look at sites within the vicinity that are being highlighted and see how we can improve our service to local residents. 'Our intention is also to provide high speed internet access to communities and residents who may not be able to access it.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman said controversial new law to 'stop the boats' Migrants entering UK illegally from today will be banned from claiming asylum Rishi Sunak tonight insisted the UK would 'take back control' of its borders on his watch as he vowed to halt the flow of small boats carrying migrants across the Channel. The Prime Minister faced the cameras tonight after unveiling a new law designed to dissuade the thousands of people making the perilous journey every year. The landmark Illegal Immigration Bill will bar arrivals from staying and applying on refugee, modern slavery or human rights grounds. They will also not be allowed to bring judicial reviews or get bail for at least 28 days. Only children and the gravely ill will be allowed to remain in Britain while cases are considered. To avoid creating a dash to reach Britain, the rules will be effective from now even though it could be months before they are on the statute book. They explicitly trump human rights laws and judges in Strasbourg. Facing the press in Downing Street tonight from behind a lectern printed with the slogan 'stop the boats', Mr Sunak attacked migrants from 'safe' countries like Albania for paying thousands to people smugglers to travel illegally. 'I understand there will be debate about the toughness of these measures. All I can say is we've tried it every other way and it has not worked,' the Prime Minister said. 'It's this country and your Government who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs.' Asked about the possibility of legal challenges from human rights lawyers he said: 'I am up for the fight.' The Prime Minister faced the cameras tonight after unveiling a new law designed to dissuade the thousands of people making the perilous journey every year. The PM visited the South East this afternoon as he trumpets the blueprint, before holding the press conference. Suella Braverman today warned that 100million people could be entitled to asylum in the UK under current rules as she unveiled a radical overhaul More migrants were brought ashore in Kent yesterday ahead of the new laws being unveiled Home Office figures lay bare how the number of illegal immigration attempts detected have risen - dominated by Channel boats arrivals The number of arrivals in small boats peaked at nearly 9,000 a month in the summer The number of asylum applications spiked last year to 74,751, relating to 89,398 individuals - the highest since 2002 The new Bill will also give Parliament the power to set an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted into the country - with local authorities being consulted on how many they can take. The PM visited the South East this afternoon as he trumpets the blueprint, before holding the press conference. Earlier Suella Braverman sounded defiance against European judges today as she unveiled a law banning Channel migrants from claiming asylum. The Home Secretary insisted the UK can no longer tolerate a situation where many arrivals come from 'safe' countries, pass through France, and are 'rich' enough to pay traffickers large sums in a bid to game the system. Dismissing 'naive' Labour jeers in the Commons, she said the need for reform was 'obvious and urgent' after 45,000 made the perilous Channel crossing last year. Ms Braverman said the asylum system is 'overwhelmed' and 'waves of illegal migrants breaching our border' will only end when they know the UK will deport them 'swiftly'. She also gave a stark figure that 100million could be entitled to asylum under current rules, adding grimly that they are 'coming here'. 'To anyone proposing de facto open borders through unlimited safe and legal routes as the alternative, let's be honest, there are 100 million people around the world who could qualify for protection under our current laws,' she said. 'Let's be clear, they are coming here. We've seen a 500 per cent increase in small boats crossing in two years. 'This is the crucial point of this Bill. They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally you will be detained and swiftly removed. 'Removed back to your country if it is safe, or to a safe third country like Rwanda. And that is precisely what this Bill will do. That is how we will stop the boats.' Ms Braverman conceded the initiative 'pushes the boundaries' of international law and the government faces challenges in the courts and in Parliament. She said she is 'confident this Bill is compatible with international obligations'. But a letter she circulated to MPs and peers says that there is a 'more than 50 per cent chance' it will breach the European Convention on Human Rights. Critics have also warned that the proposals are 'unworkable' because the UK does not have anywhere safe it can send the numbers who cross the Channel. Home Office figures released last week showed the number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their claim in the UK has topped 160,000, with almost 75,00 applications made in the last year alone - a 20-year high. Albanian was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the UK last year, with 14,223 applicants from the Balkan state - 9,573 of which came from people arriving in boats after crossing the Channel. A total of 160,919 asylum seekers were waiting for an initial decision on their claim at the end of December. That was up 60 per cent from 100,564 for the same period in 2021 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision was 109,641 at the end of 2022, up 77 per cent year-on-year from 61,864. The Home Office has launched a plan to fast-track some asylum claims in a bid to cut the soaring backlog. Thousands of applicants sent a questionnaire, rather than automatically facing an interview. Ms Braverman said the asylum system now costs the taxpayer 3billion a year, but was being 'overwhelmed'. She told MPs: 'The small boats problem is part of a larger global migration crisis. In the coming years, developed countries will face unprecedented levels with pressures from ever greater numbers of people leaving the developing world for places like the United Kingdom. What is in the Illegal Immigration Bill? Suella Braverman updated MPs on the proposed Illegal Immigration Bill today as she vowed the Government would get a handle on the small boats crossing the Channel. The main points from the Home Secretary's statement: New powers to detain asylum seekers for up to 28 dats after their arrival, before deporting them. Government looking at holding them on former military sites around the UK. Those caught will be 'removed back to their county of origin if it is safe, 'or to a safer third country like Rwanda'. Exception made only for children, those medically unfit to fly or 'at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm' elsewhere. Asylum seekers will be banned from re-entering Britain again if they arrive in the UK through unauthorised means. While the Home Secretary is 'confident' the bill is compatible with the UK's international obligations. she warned that she could not be certain that it was legal under human rights legislation. Asylum seekers would not be able to claim they were victims of human trafficking under under modern slavery legislation in order to avoid deportation. Ms Braverman claimed 100 million people around the world qualify for protection under current UK laws and 'they are coming here'. Advertisement 'Unless we act today, the problem will be worse tomorrow and the problem is already unsustainable. People are dying in the Channel. 'The volume of illegal arrivals has overwhelmed our asylum system. The backlog has ballooned to over 160,000. 'The asylum system now costs the British taxpayer 3billion a year. Since 2018, some 85,000 people illegally entered the United Kingdom by small boat, 45,000 of them in 2022 alone, all travelled through multiple safe countries in which they could and should have claimed asylum.' Ms Braverman said slavery laws 'are being abused to block removals'. She said: 'Last year, 17,000 referrals took on average 543 days to consider. Modern slavery laws are being abused to block removals, that's why we granted more than 50 per cent of asylum requests from citizens of a safe European country and Nato ally Albania. 'That's why this Bill disqualifies illegal entrants from using modern slavery rules to prevent removal.' She said: 'I won't address the Bill's full legal complexities today, some of the nation's finest legal minds have been and continue to be involved in its development, but I must say this. Rule 39 and the process that enabled the Strasbourg court to block at the last minute flights to Rwanda after our courts had refused injunctions was deeply flawed.' Ms Braverman suggested that the ban on bail or judicial review for illegal arrivals would only apply if they are deported within 28 days. 'This Bill enables detention of illegal arrivals without bail or judicial review within the first 28 days of detention, until they can be removed,' she said. 'It puts a duty on the Home Secretary to remove illegal entrance. And will radically narrow the number of challenges and appeals that can suspend removal. 'Only those under 18, medically unfit to fly or at a real risk of serious and irreversible harm an exceedingly high bar in the country we are removing them to will be able to delay their removal. 'Any other claims will be heard remotely after removal.' Ms Braverman said many Channel migrants came 'from safe countries like Albania', and that 'almost all passed through France', with 'the vast majority' being adult males under 40 'rich enough to pay criminal gangs thousands of pounds for passage'. She said: 'Upon arrival, most are accommodated in hotels across the country, costing the British tax payer around 6million a day. The risk remains that these individuals just disappear. And when we try to remove them, they turn our generous asylum laws against us to prevent removal. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper complained that decisions on asylum cases have 'collapsed', adding: 'This is deeply damaging chaos and there's no point in ministers trying to blame anyone else for it. They have been in power for 13 years. The asylum system is broken and they broke it.' She insisted that even if the Rwanda policy gets up and running it will only account for 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. But Ms Braverman shot back that the Left 'naively' believed everyone on a Channel boat is a genuine refugee and was in favour of 'open borders'. Tories lined up to back the government in the chamber, with Don Valley MP Nick Flechter saying the country is 'full'. Many also demanded that the government presses ahead with leaving the ECHR - which is separate to the EU - if the action is blocked by judges. Earlier, Mr Sunak admitted voters 'have heard promises before' without seeing results, but insisted his legislation 'will mean that those who come here on small boats can't claim asylum here'. He wrote in the Sun: 'This new law will send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed.' How many people are seeking asylum in the UK? People who arrive in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats accounted for nearly half of the total number claiming asylum last year, figures show. There were 74,751 asylum applications in the UK in 2022, relating to 89,398 people. This is the highest total for a calendar year since 2002. It is also up 49% compared with the number of applications in 2021 (50,042) and is more than double the total for the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (35,737). The jump in applications 'mirrors a substantial increase in small boat arrivals to the UK,' according to the Home Office. Arrivals rose from 28,526 in 2021 to 45,755 in 2022 - an increase of 60%. People who arrived in the UK on small boats accounted for 45% of the total number of people claiming asylum last year. Some 90% of arrivals on small boats in 2022 claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. The increase in small boat arrivals has had an impact on the most common nationality of people claiming asylum. From 2016 to 2021, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK. But in 2022 Albania was the most common nationality, driven partly by a sharp rise in small boat arrivals by Albanian nationals during the summer and early autumn. In July to September, Albanians accounted for nearly half (45%) of all detected crossings of the English Channel, though in October to December this proportion fell to just 9%. A total of 14,223 asylum applications from Albanian nationals were made in the UK last year, around two-thirds of which (9,573) originated from small boat arrivals, Government figures show. Overall, Albanians accounted for 19% of all asylum applications in the UK in 2022, followed by Afghans (13%), Iranians (10%), Iraqis (5%) and Syrians (5%). By contrast, in 2021 the figure for Albania was 10%, behind both Iran (20%) and Iraq (12%), while Afghanistan was just 5%. There were 388 asylum applications from Ukrainian nationals in 2022, accounting for 1% of the total. However, most Ukrainians coming to the UK since the Russian invasion will not have applied for asylum, arriving instead under one of the new visa routes. Although the total number of asylum applications in the UK is at a 20-year high, the figure is still 11% below the previous peak of 84,132 in 2002, which was partly caused by conflict and political unrest in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Somalia. Advertisement The PM said it was a plan 'to do what's fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all'. Mr Sunak told Cabinet this morning that his plans to stop small boat crossings of the Channel will fall within international law. In their meeting on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the more than 45,000 migrants who made unauthorised crossings in small boats last year cost the taxpayer around 3 billion in hotel accommodation. Giving an account of Mr Sunak's discussion at Cabinet, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'He said it (the Bill) would take tough, fair and necessary action, acting within international law, that would enable UK to have control of our borders so we can continue to be a compassionate and generous country providing refuge to the most vulnerable.' Asked about the legality of the legislation, the spokesman said: 'Certainly from the Government's perspective, we believe the legislation to be compatible with the refugee convention.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Cabinet detailed work had taken place to ensure the plans can be delivered 'as soon as possible'. Attorney General Victoria Prentis 'outlined some of the legal measures relating to the bill', No 10 said. Mr Sunak spoke to Rwanda's president Paul Kagame before unveiling his plans, and pledged to continue working with him to ensure their stalled project works. The Government has paid more than 140million to Rwanda but no flights forcibly carrying migrants to the capital of Kigali have taken off because of legal challenges. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully.' The PM will meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss further cooperation that will be required to reduce boat crossings. A duty will be placed on the Home Secretary to remove 'as soon as reasonably practicable' anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a 'safe third country'. And arrivals will be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK, with plans also to ban them from returning once removed. In the new bill, small boat migrants will be barred from lodging asylum claims and stripped of the ability to launch human rights appeals. Nearly all those who arrive by illegal routes will be able to appeal only once they have been deported. It is understood that migrants will be kept in student accommodation, cruise ships or holiday parks - in a change from hotels - until they are either sent back to their country of origin or to a third location such as Rwanda. It has been reported that the Home Office is planning to purchase two RAF bases in Lincolnshire and Essex to house migrants waiting for deportation. Asylum and human rights claims are expected to be 'radically curtailed' under the package. New legislation will mean claims of human trafficking will need to rely on significant proof to be claimed. In a separate development, ministers have not given up on sending the first plane-load of migrants to Rwanda this year. They have been encouraged by December's court ruling that the deal with the African country is lawful. Although the policy is still facing legal challenges ministers believe it could even be possible for an asylum flight to take off by the summer. The full package of immigration measures is due to be unveiled by Mr Sunak and Mrs Braverman later today. Immigration laws brought into force under Boris Johnson set out how the Home Secretary can declare a migrant's claim inadmissible if they passed through a safe third country such as France. Today's strengthened package will see this applied almost across the board to all migrants. The move will expand powers introduced by Labour in 2003 'non-suspensive appeals' that allow asylum seekers to be removed after their initial claim is rejected. However use of the powers has slumped. There were 1,285 asylum cases earmarked for the process in 2018, but in the first six months of last year only 171 were deemed eligible. The Illegal Migration Bill will also see Channel migrants banned for life from coming back to Britain. Ministers have insisted that they can ignore last-minute interventions by Strasbourg judges. A new Bill of Rights, published last June but currently on hold, states unequivocally that 'no account is to be taken of any interim measure issued by the European Court of Human Rights'. But it is not yet known whether today's legislation will include the measures. Tough measures to tackle small boat arrivals will be rushed through Parliament and could be in place by summer. Pictured, a group is brought ashore in Dungeness yesterday Rishi Sunak said 'enough is enough' as Home Secretary Suella Braverman vowed that ministers would tackle the Channel crisis 'no ifs, no buts' James Cleverly and Dominic Raab were in Downing Street for Cabinet today Rolled- up inflatable dinghies and outboard engines stored at a yard in Dover A rarely-used measure under the Human Rights Act known as a Section 19.1.B statement will be deployed to get the legislation through Parliament Ministers are braced for opposition from the Whitehall establishment dubbed the 'Blob' over their plan to tackle the Channel crisis. Critics include former Home Office mandarin Sir David Normington who said it was 'highly doubtful' the proposals would lead to a fall in crossings. Refugee charities and a trade union that represents immigration officers were also among those who questioned early details of the scheme. Sir David told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'At the heart of the policy is a gamble that if you say it's illegal to come in a small boat people will stop coming. I think that is highly doubtful.' He predicted the Government's plan would face 'very great' problems. Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union also cast doubt on the plans, describing them as 'quite confusing'. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council described the legislation as flawed, adding: 'It's unworkable, costly and won't stop the boats.' Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK condemned the proposed measures as 'disgraceful posturing and scaremongering'. Asked whether the plan was legally feasible, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer replied: 'I don't know that it is and I think we've got to be very careful with international law here.' But the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'We've seen too many lives lost attempting this dangerous and unnecessary journey, and the number of people entering the country is simply unsustainable. As we've always said, we recognise there will likely be challenges in many forms to this sort of legislation.' A No 10 spokesman said the Government would stop all small boats but declined to put a timescale on the plans. A mother and son were found drowned seven hours after their car came off a sharp bend on a country road and plunged into a pond, an inquest heard today. Vivien Radocz, 28 and her son Milan Radocz, were recovered from the wreckage near an RAF base in Wittering, Cambridgeshire, after a fisherman discovered their car upside down in the water seven hours after the crash. The inquest heard Mrs Radocz 'failed to negotiate a sharp left-hand bend' and crashed through a chain-link fence into the pond while driving her blue Ford Focus in September last year. It was only when fisherman and RAF officer John Smith discovered the car upside down seven hours later that RAF guards and emergency services were alerted. But the pair from Stamford, Lincolnshire, were pronounced dead that day after they were recovered from the wreckage. Vivien Radocz, 28, and her young son Milan Radocz of Stamford, Lincolnshire, were found in a blue Ford Focus seven hours after crashing into the water near RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, last September Mrs Radocz died at the scene, while her son was rushed to Peterborough Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Pictured: the cordoned off pond The 2010 blue Ford Focus spun off the road at around 10.35am crashing through a chain-link fence. The car then plunged into a pond where it stayed for seven hours before being discovered by fisherman and RAF officer John Smith at 5.30pm who did not realise anyone was still in the vehicle. He spotted that the fence was pushed over and then saw a vehicle upside down in the water, the back two wheels sticking out of the surface. He called the guards of the RAF Wittering air force base which the pond belonged to who arrived 20 minutes after. The guards then called emergency services at 18.20. Mr Smith said: 'I didn't call the emergency services because I thought the car had been there for a while due to it being on military premises.' It was only after police, paramedics and the fire service arrived did officers realise Mrs Radocz and Milan were in the vehicle. A fire officer smashed through the window of the passenger side and found what they believed to be a child's foot. Paramedics rushed Milan to Peterborough Hospital, Cambridgeshire, where he was pronounced dead at 7.44pm that day. The pond is sat on a sharp bend, meaning fast moving vehicles that lost control while travelling out of Wiittering westwards may end up in the water The pair were found inside the blue Ford Focus that was recovered from a pond near to the boundary with RAF Wittering (above), Cambridgeshire, last September PC Rutter attended the scene at 6.22pm and stated: 'At the time it hadn't been identified if there were any occupants in the vehicle. 'Officers rushed into the water a few minutes later and smashed the window. They carried a child out of the water who was unresponsive. 'Paramedics scooped the child from the officer's arms and rushed off the scene in an ambulance. Shortly later the officers recovered a body of a female from the vehicle.' Mrs Radocz was found without her seatbelt on and was pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner Simon Milburn, hearing evidence at Peterborough Town Hall, recorded Milan's death as drowning after the car came off the 40mph Old Oundle Road near Wittering. He said: 'The vehicle left the single carriageway on the left side and entered a pond, becoming submerged in water. 'Milan was unable to escape from the vehicle and was not discovered until 17.30 that day.' CCTV footage documented the last sighting of the pair leaving Wittering at 10.31am in the car. The forensic collision investigation found Mrs Radocz had steered an 'incorrect course' around the sharp bend in the country road, but the reason why she did so was unclear. She had no pre-existing medical conditions and there was no evidence of speeding or any vehicle defects that would have caused the crash. A toxicology report showed there was no alcohol or drugs in her system at the time of the crash. PC Sean Redman's report stated: 'Why she steered an incorrect course is unknown. 'Her unfamiliarity with the road, a distraction or inattention or a combination appears to me to be the most likely factors in the course of this collision.' Mrs Radocz's family told a liaison officer she would avoid unknown roads and use a Sat Nav to get around but there was no evidence of her using a phone at the time of the crash. Their family have since repatriated to Hungary and have not issued a statement. Mr Milburn said: 'I would like to pass on my condolences for the family's loss. It is difficult to imagine the extent of their grief of the loss of such a young child.' A previous crash at the site in 2019 also saw a silver vehicle plunge into the pond after a traffic collision, though thankfully in that incident nobody was injured. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) denounced the FOX host's portrayal of the Capitol attack as 'dangerous and disgusting' In a scathing response to the never-before aired footage from January 6th security cameras at the Capitol - provided by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to Tucker Carlson - the U.S. Capitol Police chief denounced the FOX host in an internal memo to his team on Tuesday. 'Last night an opinion program aired commentary that was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions about the January 6 attack. The opinion program never reached out to the Department to provide accurate context,' wrote Tom Manger, chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. 'One false allegation is that our officers helped the rioters and acted as 'tour guides. This is outrageous and false,' fumed the chief in the memo. US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger denounced Tucker Carlson's show on Monday evening that aired clips of the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021 during more subdued moments. Fox host Tucker Carlson unveiled never-before-aired Jan. 6 clips, which the Capitol Police Chief slams as "cherry-picked' and not an accurate portrayal of events The Capitol Police chief denounced Carlson's assessment that law enforcement officers inside the Capitol were somehow complicit with the rioters. 'I don't have to remind you how outnumbered our officers were on January 6. Those officers did their best to use de-escalation tactics to try to talk to rioters into getting each other to leave the building,' wrote Manger. 'Finally, the most disturbing accusation from last night was that our late friend and colleague Brian Sicknick's death had nothing to do with his heroic actions on January 6. The Department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day.' 'As some people selection from 41,000 hours of video clips that seemingly support the narrative they want to push, those of you who were here on January 6, those of you who were in the fight, those of you who ensured that no Member of Congress was hurt, those of your who contributed to the effort to allow the country's Legislative process to continue firsthand what actually happened.' 'You fought like hell on January 6 and risked your lives to protect the Constitution and everything this country stands for. You, along with our law enforcement partners, saved every Member of Congress and their staff.' 'TV commentary will not record the truth for our history books. The justice system will. The truth and justice are on our side.' Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah compared Tucker Carlson to Alex Jones' false portrayal of the Sandy Hook shooting in an interview with CNN. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. The DC medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told CNN that McCarthy made a mistake in giving the footage to Carlson and the FOX host's portrayal of the Capitol attack was 'dangerous and disgusting.' Romney added: 'Any attempt to normalize what was a violent attack on the United States Capitol only makes it more intriguing for people to do such a thing in the future,' he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Donald Trump called for releasing all January 6 prisoners after Tucker Carlson's show on Monday unveiled new footage, which he claims casts a fresh perspective on the 2021 unrest at the US Capitol. 'Congratulations to Tucker Carlson on one of the biggest 'scoops' as a reporter in U.S. history,' wrote Trump on social media. Former President Donald Trump demands all prisoners convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021 released based on footage made avail by Speaker McCarthy and shown by Tucker Carlson Former President Donald Trump claims then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are to blame for security lapses on January 6, 2021. In footage screened on his show Monday night, so-called QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley was apparently seen being escorted into the Senate by Capitol police officers. Carlson suggested that challenged the prevailing narrative that Chansley - jailed for four years over the incident - aggressively barged into the chamber. On Tuesday morning, the former president claimed on Truth Social that Capitol rioters behind bars were 'convicted, or are awaiting trial, based on a giant lie.' 'A radical left con job. Thank you to Tucker Carlson and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy for what you have both done,' Trump continued. 'New video footage is irrefutable.' After Carlson's showed air, Trump also called for the 'Unselect' January 6 committee to be prosecuted for being 'criminal fabricators' and said Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell 'failed on security.' Also broadcast was footage of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the riot. It was initially suggested Sicknick's death came as the result of being attacked with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters. But a medical examiner later ruled he'd died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack. He appeared in good health, which the Fox News host said poured cold water on liberal outlets' insistence that the Capitol rioters had Sicknick's blood on their hands. 'Whatever happened to Brian Sicknick was very obviously not the result of violence he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol. 'This tape overturns the single most powerful and politically useful lie the Democrats have told us about January 6.' Chansley is seen being followed through the Capitol by a police officer Chansley, with his bullhorn, is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol Brian Sicknick is seen shortly after the Capitol was breached. Carlson said he appeared 'healthy and vigorous' Sicknick, who died of a stroke on January 7, is seen during the riot carrying out his duties He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol, yet was never charged - giving rise to the suspicion that Epps was an informant. Epps has denied working for the government. On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying. 'They were orderly and meek,' said Carlson of those who stormed the Capitol. 'These were not insurrectionists; they were sightseers.' Carlson said they 'obviously revere the Capitol,' noting they took selfies and 'queued up in neat little lines.' 'Deadly insurrection. Everything about that phrase is a lie,' he said. 'Very little about January 6 was organized or violent.' 'Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.' Carlson pointed to footage showing the 'QAnon Shaman' - a bare-chested, Viking helmet-wearing Jacob Chansley - inside the Capitol. Chansley, a 33-year-old naval veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on January 6. He's been jailed almost four years for 'obstructing an official proceeding.' 'The tapes show the Capitol police never stopped Jacob Chansley,' said Carlson. 'They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.' Trump supporters are seen walking through the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Carlson described them as 'sightseers' Carlson further suggested that alleged Capitol Rioter Ray Epps - pictured in red Trump cap - was actually an FBI agent sent to stoke violence. Epps denies claims The footage comes as Fox News continues to contest a $1.6 billion lawsuit taken out against the broadcasting giant by Dominion, who manufactured voting machines for the 2020 election. Fox is being sued over claims the network endorsed theories the firm's voting machines were rigged to deliver a Biden win. The broadcaster's owner Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed over the lawsuit, and said he'd 'liked (Fox) to have been stronger denouncing' the stolen election claims. Fox News denies the claims made against it by Dominion. As spring breakers pack their bikinis and sunglasses to hit the beach in Mexico, the US government is urging citizens to avoid cartel hotspots amid a spike in violence. Four Americans were kidnapped and two butchered Friday in the border town of Matamoros in the latest stark reminder that a bloody drug war rages behind the glamorous facade of the country's sun-drenched resorts. But despite the spiraling cartel violence, travel agents are reporting a post-pandemic boom with bookings trebling on pre-2020 numbers. US citizens headed for Cabo, Cancun and Tulum are warned to exercise 'increased caution' over crime and kidnapping, while those destined for Puerto Vallarta are urged to 'reconsider travel' as 'violent crime and gang activity are common.' Robert Almonte, a former US Marshal for the Western District of Texas and retired deputy chief with the El Paso Police Department, told DailyMail.com the State Department warnings do not go far enough because 'the cartels are everywhere and anywhere in Mexico.' A map highlighting the six of 32 Mexican states that the US State Department currently has listed under its most severe 'do not travel' category, due to local cartels that may rob and/or kidnap American tourists. Cancun and Tulum, both hugely popular with US tourists and particularly students, are located in the far eastern state of Quintana Roo where 'increased caution' is required over crime and kidnapping. Spring breakers dance at a pool party at a hotel in Cancun. In Quintana Roo, home to the tourist areas Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya, the government advice says US citizens should 'exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown areas.' Tourists stand in long lines to enter the popular Coco Bongo nightclub in Cancun at the start of Spring Break, February 2017 In Quintana Roo, home to the tourist areas Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya, the government advice says US citizens should 'exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown areas.' It warns that violence can 'occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations.' Kidnappings have occurred, the guidance states, and shootings between rival gangs have caught innocent victims in the crossfire. Despite the advice for the region, 'travel is back and better than ever,' according to the owner of Winner Circle Travel Agency, Angel Taylor. 'I feel like people are traveling more now post-pandemic than pre-pandemic,' she told CBS. Following the attack on US citizens in Matamoros, Taylor said some of her customers were concerned. However, she believes the country is largely safe. 'I did have some clients reach out to me in a panic,' Taylor said. 'I reassured them, that the tourist areas like Cancun, Riviera Maya, those areas are safe for tourists. They're staying at resorts, they're not close to the border.' Almonte told DailyMail.com that he was not not at all surprised that tourists were continuing to head to Mexico. 'It does not surprise me. I am disappointed that they're doing that in spite of all the recent incidents. I do a lot of training. I train police officers throughout the United States and a lot of them continue to go to the resorts in Mexico despite my warnings not to do so,' the security expert said. 'The bottom line is when someone makes the decision to go to Mexico for any reason, you're basically risking your life. It's just a dangerous place to be. I tell people don't go to Mexico. I am advocating a boycott of Mexico. I am telling people do not go to Mexico. Do not go to the resorts. Let's send a message to the Mexican government that they need to get a handle on this situation. 'Right now they don't care because it's business as usual. It seems like we don't care, we're ignoring the situation.' He said that the warnings from the State Department were welcome but do not go far enough because the entire country is dangerous. Woman and children at beach in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Two US students on spring break kiss each other in a contest for a bottle of rum at Cancun beach, Mexico A DJ performs during Spring Break at The Grand Oasis Cancun in 2022 A cargo vehicle in flames after clashes between federal forces and armed groups in the city of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, January 5, 2023 'The cartels are everywhere and anywhere in Mexico; they have checkpoints set up where you'll get stopped and you need to pay a tax to get through and even with that you may still be abducted and held for ransom. So, people should not go to Mexico,' he said. 'Regarding the issue of spring break, yeah, I have been saying for a long time spring breakers should not go to Mexico for spring break. They're risking their life.' The ritzier destinations of Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast, are also under strict warnings. In the case of Cabo, located in California Sur, the State Department says people should exercise increased caution because of crime. In Jalisco state, home to the popular destination, Puerto Vallarta, the government says that 'violent crime and gang activity are common.' 'In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups take place in tourist areas,' the State Department says. 'Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. US citizens have been victims of kidnapping.' There are three highways in the state which are off limits for US government employees over security fears. A total of six states are under the most severe 'do not travel' warning: Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Tamaulipas is where two US citizens were found dead on Wednesday after two others were kidnapped with the pair. Two Americans who survived being kidnapped at gunpoint at the US-Mexico border by 'Gulf Cartel' have been pictured in the back of an ambulance before being transported to Texas The woman, believed to be Latavia McGee can be seen wiping her eyes with a tissue as another survivor is treated in the back of an ambulance Latavia 'Tay' McGee had traveled down to Mexico on Wednesday for a tummy tuck procedure before she was kidnapped at gunpoint by a drug cartel on Friday McGee was joined by her cousin, Shaeed Woodard, (left) and friends Eric Williams (right) and Zindell Brown Latavia 'Tay' McGee, her cousin Shaeed Woodard and their friends Zindell Brown and Eric Williams were said to be traveling south so McGee, a mother-of-five, could get a budget tummy tuck when they got caught in gunfire between two gangs. Mexican officials confirmed they were all found in a stash house in the rural town of El Tecolote, six and half miles from Matamoros. At least one person has been arrested in connection with the incident. The surviving Americans were taken to the border near Brownsville, Texas, in a convoy of Mexican ambulances and SUVs Tuesday. The White House denounced the kidnappings as 'unacceptable' and offered condolences to families of the victims. 'We're going to work closely with the Mexican government to ensure that justice is done in this case,' White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. He told reporters that Washington was still learning about details of the incident from Mexican officials. 'Right now our focus is very squarely on these four Americans and the families that have been affected by the attack,' Kirby added. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday that the victims were believed to have entered the country to buy medicines and got caught up in a confrontation between criminal groups. 'We're very sorry that this is happening in our country,' Lopez Obrador told reporters after the confirmation of the deaths. Hunter Biden will have to face his baby mama in court if he wants to slash paternity support for his four-year-old lovechild, DailyMail.com can reveal. The First Son, 53, petitioned an Arkansas judge last year to recalculate the money he pays each month to Lunden Roberts, the mother of Navy Joan Roberts, the little girl he barely acknowledges is his. But Hunter's feisty former flame refused to re-negotiate and instead the pair will settle their differences in open court when the case goes to a two-day bench trial in July. If the recovering drug addict wants to win, he has until May 22 to produce detailed financial records to demonstrate why he's suffered a 'substantial' loss of earnings all of which will enter the public record. The President's son will also have to submit to a deposition in June in which lawyers for Roberts, 32, will have the chance to grill him over his various businesses and shady overseas ventures. Hunter Biden will have to face his baby mama Lunden Roberts in court for a two-day trial to lower his child support payments, DailyMail.com can reveal Hunter petitioned an Arkansas judge last year to lower child support payments to Lunden Roberts for their daughter Navy Joan They'll also want to know how it's possible that Hunter's finances have cratered while he's selling paintings for up to $500,000 apiece under his new guise as an abstract artist. Roberts won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019 and forcing him to take a DNA test to prove he fathered Navy Joan during their 2017 fling. The adorable, blonde-haired girl is the fourth of his five children but neither he, nor his parents Joe and Jill Biden, have ever met the child or publicly acknowledged her existence. Hunter claimed during the bitter, 10-month case that he was 'unemployed and had no monthly income' despite living in a $12,000-per-month Hollywood rental and driving a Porsche. But when an Independence County judge ordered him to produce financial records he repeatedly failed to do so and instead settled out of court, the two sides announcing a 'global, final settlement of all issues'. In September last year Hunter reopened the case, pleading poverty, writing: 'Since the entry of the existing child support order there has been a substantial material change in the Movant's financial circumstances, including but not limited to his income.' Roberts refused to buckle and raised the stakes by petitioning the court to officially rename her daughter Navy Joan Biden to 'benefit from carrying the Biden Family name.' Her attorney Clinton Lancaster also fired off a fresh discovery request running into hundreds of questions covering Hunter's assets, earnings, overseas business dealings in Ukraine and China, plus any payouts to attorneys and agents. Sources say the list also honed in on Hunter's recent income, asking him to itemize any artworks he's sold in the past couple of years, the names of the buyers and any paperwork related to the purchases. If Hunter moves forward, he has until May 22 to produce detailed financial records to demonstrate why he's suffered a 'substantial' loss of earnings So far, Hunter is yet to comply, complaining that the lengthy interrogatories are 'vague and ambitious' and asking the court to strike down some of the queries. He's also opposing the name change on the grounds that it's 'political warfare' against the Biden family and the new moniker will rob the child of her 'peaceful existence.' In a case schedule obtained by DailyMail.com, Circuit Judge Holly Meyer insists both parties must comply fully with discovery requests by May 22, a day before a pre-trial hearing. The trial is listed for July 24-25 with Meyer warning the pair against any frivolous delays, writing: 'No continuance will be granted unless for good cause shown.' Navy Joan was born in August 2018 but she remained a secret until Roberts sued Hunter for child support in her native Arkansas. Her ex-lover claimed in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, that he went on such a 'rampage' in the wake of his 2017 divorce from Kathleen Buhle that he couldn't remember the names of the women he bedded. 'It's why I would later challenge in court the woman from Arkansas who had a baby in 2018 and claimed the child was mine I had no recollection of our encounter. That's how little connection I had with anyone,' Hunter wrote. It was initially reported that Hunter met Roberts while she worked as a stripper at a DC club which Hunter frequented. But texts retrieved from his notorious abandoned laptop proved that she was in fact on the payroll at Rosemont Seneca, Hunter's investment firm. Neither Joe Biden nor Hunter have ever met Navy Joan. Joe is seen holding his grandson Beau at the White House Roberts and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie Navy Joan gets none of the perks of having a president for a grandfather, nor the round-the-clock Secret Service protection enjoyed by the rest of the Biden brood She and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie. The pair remained in communication throughout her pregnancy until he abruptly cut her off. Hunter has never seen Navy Joan and could not pick her out of a photo lineup, according to court filings. She's never met her grandpa Joe, 80, despite the President fawning over his six other grandkids and frequently bringing them along for events and speeches. Navy Joan gets none of the perks, nor the round-the-clock Secret Service protection enjoyed by the rest of the Biden brood. However, family friends say the youngster is 'adorable, loved, safe and very happy' as she grows up in rural Arkansas blissfully unaware of her proximity to the caustic world of US politics. In February 2022 Roberts gave evidence to a Delaware grand jury investigating Hunter for alleged tax crimes, joining a growing list of former business partners and associates who have been drawn into the Department of Justice's secretive three-year probe into his overseas dealings. Federal prosecutors were particularly interested in what she learned about Hunter's finances, according to her attorney. The family of police officer Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer who died the day after the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, slammed Fox News and Tucker Carlson as 'unscrupulous and outright sleazy' as the latter continues to review footage of the incident. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has handed 40,000 hours of January 6 footage to Carlson, who has been reviewing it and airing his findings for his millions-strong audience. He has repeatedly claimed that President Joe Biden and his administration are 'lying' to the American people about what happened that day. On Monday evening, Carlson showed his viewers footage that showed a much calmer version of January 6 unfolding and said: 'The footage does not show an insurrection or a riot in progress.' 'The video record does not support the claim that January 6 was an insurrection. In fact, it demolishes that claim. And that's exactly why the Democratic Party and its allies in the media prevented you from seeing it.' In response, Sicknick's family released a condemnatory statement making it clear that they are 'outraged at the ongoing attack on our family by the unscrupulous and outright sleazy so-called 'news' network of Fox News who will do the bidding of Trump or any of his sycophant followers, no matter what damage is done to the families of the fallen.' This undated image provided by the United States Capitol Police shows U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. In April 2021, the DC medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, who was injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes Brian Sicknick's parents Charles and Gladys Sicknick after President Joe Biden presented them with a posthumous medal for their son It was originally suggested Sicknick's death came as the result of being attacked with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters. But a medical examiner later ruled he'd died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack. He appeared in good health, which the Fox News host said poured cold water on liberal outlets' insistence that the Capitol rioters had Sicknick's blood on their hands. In April 2021, the DC medical examiner ruled that Sicknick, who was injured while confronting rioters, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. 'To this day, media accounts describe Sicknick as someone who was, quote, 'slain' on January 6,' Carlson said on Monday night. 'The video we reviewed proves that is a lie.' Carlson said the officer was 'healthy and vigorous,' and noted he was wearing a helmet. 'So it's hard to imagine he was killed by a head injury,' he said. 'Whatever happened to Brian Sicknick was very obviously not the result of violence he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol. 'This tape overturns the single most powerful and politically useful lie the Democrats have told us about January 6.' In response, Sicknick's family released a condemnatory statement making it clear that they are 'outraged at the ongoing attack on our family by the unscrupulous and outright sleazy so-called 'news' network of Fox News who will do the bidding of Trump or any of his sycophant followers, no matter what damage is done to the families of the fallen.' In response, the family wrote: 'Carlson's 'truth' is to pick and choose footage that supports his delusional views that the Jan 6th insurrection was peaceful and that Ashley Babbit was some kind of martyr. 'Whilst making a criminal out to be a martyr, he is also downplaying the horrid situation faced by the USCP (United States Capitol Police) and DC Metro Police who were incredibly outnumbered and were literally fighting for their very lives,' the statement continued. Ashley Babbit was a 36-year-old Air Force veteran Trump supporter who was shot dead by a police officer on January 6 inside the Capitol Hill complex. An internal Capitol Police inquiry ultimately found the shooting to be lawful. 'The Sicknick Family would love nothing more than to have Brian back with us and to resume our normal lives. Fictitious news outlets like Fox and its rabid followers will not allow that. 'Every time the pain of that day seems to have ebbed a bit, organizations like Fox rip our wounds wide open again and we are frankly sick of it,' the family concluded. Former President Donald Trump previously praised Speaker McCarthy for releasing the footage to Carlson and his producers. 'The New Surveillance Footage of the January 6th Events sheds an entirely different light on what actually happened. The Unselect Committee was a giant SCAM, and has now unequivocally been stamped as CRIMINAL FABRICATORS OF THIS MOST IMPORTANT DAY,' wrote Trump on Truth Social. On Monday night, Carlson unveiled the new footage, which also showed so-called QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley apparently being escorted into the Senate by Capitol police officers. Carlson suggestion challenged the prevailing narrative that Chansley - jailed for four years over the incident - aggressively barged into the chamber. He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol yet was never charged - giving rise to suspicion that Epps was in fact an informant. Epps has denied working for the government. On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying. 'They were orderly and meek,' said Carlson of those who stormed the Capitol. 'These were not insurrectionists; they were sightseers.' Carlson said they 'obviously revere the Capitol', noting they took selfies and 'queue up in neat little lines'. 'Deadly insurrection. Everything about that phrase is a lie,' he said. 'Very little about January 6 was organized or violent. 'Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.' Brian Sicknick is seen shortly after the Capitol was breached. Carlson said he appeared 'healthy and vigorous' Capitol rioter Julian Khater (pictured left) was sentenced to 80 months in prison for his role in the pepper-spray assault of police officer Brian Sicknick, who died the day after the January 6, 2021 riot Chansley, with his bullhorn, is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol Carlson pointed to footage showing the 'QAnon Shaman' - a bare-chested, Viking helmet-wearing Jacob Chansley - inside the Capitol. Chansley, a 33-year-old naval veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on January 6. He has been sentenced to almost four years for 'obstructing an official proceeding.' In the footage, Chansley appears to be guided by an official as he wanders the Capitol. He passes a line of riot police, who make no move to stop him. Then they escort him to various entrances of the chamber which appear to be locked, and eventually find him an open door through which he vanishes. 'Virtually every moment of his time inside the Capitol was caught on tape,' said Carlson. 'The tapes show the Capitol police never stopped Jacob Chansley. They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.' Ron DeSantis showered praises on his wife Casey, who successfully battled breast cancer, as he laid out his manifesto for Florida and offered another glimpse into his likely 2024 presidential campaign at his State of the State address. The Florida Governor promised to ensure his state remains the 'No. 1' in the U.S. and attacked President Joe Biden in his speech to the Florida legislature as its lawmakers prepare for a behemoth two-month session to pass a slew of DeSantis' agenda. He was speaking as Republicans filed a bill to ban abortion after six weeks. The Republican touted economic growth, low unemployment and a budget surplus and pushed pledges to have parents more involved in education and a clamp down on illegal immigration. Ron DeSantis laid out his manifesto for Florida and a glimpse into his likely 2024 presidential campaign at his State of the State address on Tuesday During his speech, DeSantis showered praise on wife Casey DeSantis, who is a breast cancer survivor. The Florida first lady is pictured holding the couple's middle child, Mason, 4, at the State of the State address at the Capitol building in Tallahassee on Tuesday 'Florida is No. 1, and working together, we will ensure that Florida remains the No. 1 state in these United States,' he told lawmakers on Tuesday. 'Working together, we have met big challenges, and we led the nation on many big issues. We don't make excuses. We don't complain. We just produce results.' He slammed Biden for his 'catch and release policies' at the border and vowed to 'put Floridians first'. 'We believe that borders matter, and we have fought against illegal immigration in the state of Florida from banning sanctuary cities, to suing the Biden administration over its catch and release policies, to transporting illegal aliens to sanctuary jurisdictions,' DeSantis said. This comes as the legislature plans to consider increasing the budget for a controversial program DeSantis started last year sending migrants out of the Sunshine State to Democratic enclaves. Casey DeSantis was the one who drew the biggest ovation when her husband celebrated her work in 'Florida's battle against cancer' - after she battled breast cancer and following his announcement last week that his wife is now cancer free. 'I can tell you she is cancer free and she is doing better than ever,' DeSantis repeated during his speech on Tuesday. The Florida first lady was in attendance at the speech with the couple's middle child and only son, Mason, 4. Their two daughters Madison, 6, and Mamie, who turns 3 later this month. 'Mason and I are excited to watch Gov. Ron DeSantis's state of the state address this morning,' Casey posted to her Twitter with an image of her and Mason in front of the Florida State flag and the American flag. Keeping with her Jackie O inspired look, Casey donned a pink tea-length dress with white elbow-length gloves, white point-toe heels and pearl earrings. The Florida governor announced in October 2021 that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year-and-a-half after the birth of their third child Mamie. In January 2022, DeSantis' office announced that Casey completed her chemotherapy treatment for cancer and this month they were able to say that she was declared cancer free. Casey DeSantis posted an image of her and the couple's son Mason, 4, ahead of the remarks. Their two daughters Madison, 6, and Mamie, 2, did not attend the remarks Casey DeSantis continues to pull her fashion influence from Jackie Kennedy Onassis a fashion icon by donning a pink A-line, tea-length dress with white elbow-length gloves to her husband's State of the State. Pictured: President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Kennedy at the White House in May 1962. Jackie was wearing a pink Christian Dior A-line dress with white gloves Jackie O also wore a pink A-line, tea-length dress with white gloves, white heels and pearls during a tour of Jag Mandir in India March 17, 1962 Concluding his remarks on Tuesday, DeSantis urged Florida's Republican supermajority legislature to 'ignore all the background noise' as they come into session and remember their mission. 'We will stand strong. We will hold the line. We won't back down. And I can promise you this: You ain't seen nothing yet,' DeSantis said. DeSantis continued to lay out his plans for Florida as speculation swirls that he could announce a presidential run in the near future. He visited Texas and California over the weekend and this week will make a stop in Alabama before heading to Iowa for his first trip to the first-in-the-nation primary contest state since emerging as a frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination. The Florida governor will also go to key swing states of Nevada over the weekend before going later this month to New Hampshire, another early primary contest state. DeSantis' State of the State address came just a few days after the release of his new memoir The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival, which many see as the platform in which he plans to run a presidential bid in 2024. Part of his national tour includes his book tour like his remarks to 1,300 people at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California on Sunday where he signed copies of his book. DeSantis was speaking to the Florida legislature, which has a Republican supermajority, as it begins a consequential two-month session where lawmakers plan to pass a series of laws in line with the governor's agenda He told legislatures gathered for his remarks on Tuesday to 'ignore all the background noise' as they come into session and remember their mission DeSantis spent the first part of his speech detailing why Florida is the 'No. 1' state in the country mostly listing his agenda wins that have led to economic growth in the Sunshine State. The first nearly five minutes of DeSantis' remarks saw him listing the way Florida has emerged as a front runner state in terms of quality of life, economy, jobs, crime rates and education. Florida, under the leadership of Ron DeSantis, has quickly become the standard in which other Republican leaders are using as a blueprint to shape their states. This includes education, economy, COVID rules and abortion, among many other areas important to the GOP. 'Working together, we have met big challenges and we've led the nation on many big issues. We don't make excuses, we don't complain, we just produce results,' DeSantis lauded. While speaking with reporters during a post-State of the State press conference, DeSantis vowed to sign legislation proposed by the Florida legislature that would ban abortion at six weeks, which is a timeline in which some women do not yet know they are pregnant. 'We're for pro-life,' DeSantis told reporters. 'I urged the legislature to work, produce good stuff and we will sign.' Speaking for roughly 20 minutes on Tuesday, DeSantis was caught on the microphone telling the Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo that he intentionally wanted to keep the remarks short and sweet. 'I tried to make that shorter than the others I think I did,' DeSantis was heard saying as he waved to the cheering legislature at the conclusion of his remarks. 'It was short. Yeah, I just wanted it to be short.' Democrats are fighting mad about a report the Biden administration is considering bringing back family detention of migrants - calling to mind the so-called 'kids in cages' frenzy of the Trump administration. The president eliminated the practice when he took office, and actively campaigned against it saying 'families belong together.' But with Title 42 - a pandemic-era measure that allows authorities to promptly deport migrants - expiring in May, senior White House and Homeland Security officials are discussing the possibility of reinstating the program, the New York Times reports. 'These reports are deeply concerningreinstating family detention would be a grave mistake,' Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., member of the Homeland Security Committee tweeted of the news. 'Instead of relying on costly failed policies that traumatize migrants and cruelly encourage more families to separate, we must focus on building a safe and humane immigration system.' The Trump administration had detained children with their families upon crossing the border. The Biden administration opted to release families into the U.S. temporarily before their hearings, believing the policy 'more humane.' President Joe Biden is said to be considering reinstating a family detention program for migrants that cross the southern border illegally. He is pictured here on Sunday in Alabama Angeldry Galeno, a Venezuelan migrant trying to apply for asylum in the United States using the CBP ONE application and whose husband travelled to another point of entry to the U.S. to attend his immigration appointment, changes her daughter's clothes at a shelter near the border between Mexico and the United States on February 3 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan called the report 'deeply concerning.' 'A just, safe, and humane immigration system should not place families in detention,' she added. House and Senate Democrats were caught completely off-guard by the report and felt blindsided by the White House's policy decisions for the second time in two weeks. Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas is set to address the Hispanic Caucus virtually at 4 p.m. to explain the surprise u-turn. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report. 'I'm not going to speak to rumors,' she told reporters. 'Clearly the Department of Homeland Security is working through ways on how to move forward once Title 42 is lifted.' Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in a statement he was 'alarmed' by the report' and urged the Biden administration to change course 'if true.' 'I think it may have been internally floated for discussion, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., told reporters on the policy. 'But this administration ended that form of detention, I can't understand for the life of me why they would bring it back.' While some immediately voiced their opposition, others declined to show any daylight between themselves and the Biden administration. Homeland Security chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., told DailyMail.com he had not read the report yet. Sen. Tom Carper, D-De., a member of Homeland Security who recently led a delegation to Central America, declined to comment on family separation but talked about the need to address root causes of migration. But moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he would not be opposed to bringing back the controversial policy. 'Whatever it takes to secure the border. The border is a messIt's a disaster. So, I'm supporting anything we can to get control of that border and secure it,' he told reporters. Arizona Democrat Rep. Raul Grivalja called family detention a 'failed policy' that is 'callous and inhumane.' 'Family detention serves two purposes: lining the pockets of private prison companies and acting as a useless deterrent to prevent migrants from seeking their legal right to asylum,' he said. Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas briefed angry Congressional Hispanic Caucus members over the Times report on Tuesday afternoon Cesar Galeano, a Venezuelan migrant, is pictured walking into Mexico across the Paso del Norte international bridge after he failed to get asylum in the United States on February 3 A migrant caravan is pictured in the city of Tapachula in Mexico on March 4 as they prepared to enter the United States Newly elected Texas progressive Rep. Greg Casar wrote on Twitter: 'Locking immigrant families and children into cages along the border is dangerous, ineffective, and wrong.' It would be just the president's latest crackdown on illegal immigration as the number of migrants crossing the southern border reaches historic levels. He is now being sued for a proposed rule that would make migrants ineligible for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first attempt to claim asylum in a country they passed through. And critics say the president may lose even more favor amongst Democrats if he approves a new family detention policy ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Biden campaigned against his predecessor's use of family detention, which was also used under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, for whom Biden served as vice president. He even tweeted in June 2020, when a federal judge ordered the release of migrant children from detention centers due to the global pandemic: 'Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately. 'This is pretty simple, and I can't believe I have to say it: Families belong together.' Almost immediately after taking office, he shut down all of the family detention centers in the United States as he sought a more humane approach to immigration. Instead, the Biden administration implemented a practice of releasing families into the country temporarily and using ankle bracelets, traceable cellphones and other methods to keep track of them. But now the U.S.-Mexico border is faced with all-time record border crossings since Biden took office that fail to ease with each passing month. In 2021, the U.S. saw 1.7 million immigrants come into the country. In 2022, that number rose to more than 2 million. The number of migrants caught illegally crossing the southern border has now reportedly hit one million less than four months into the fiscal year. And with the end of Title 42 in sight, federal officials fear the situation may only get worse. Department of Homeland Security officials are reportedly already outlining what would need to be done to restart family detention by May 11, the date Title 42 expires. Under the proposal, current and former officials said, the Biden administration would follow a law that sets a 20-day limit for detaining families, rather than holding them for weeks or months on end like his predecessor did. But the Biden administration would face a slew of logistical obstacles if it were to reinstate the family detention program, the Times reports. Among those issues would be finding spaces to hold families with educational programs and playgrounds, as the former detention cites are now being used for single adults. And Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees the detention centers, is already facing a budget shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars. The plan also assumes that the government would be able to screen families for asylum quickly, either admitting or deporting them within a 20-day window when the average stay in an ICE detention center is 37 days. Additionally, three of the officials who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity described concerns that family detention would encourage parents to send their children across the border alone instead of risking family detention. Under current policy children who arrive in the country without a parent or legal guardian are not expelled, but rather placed in government custody and eventually released to live with a family member or another sponsor. Critics say putting the families in a position of sending their children to the US without them is de facto family separation, a controversial measure used by the Trump administration under which 5,500 children were separated from their parents at the southern border. A man who calls himself 'Dolphin Dave' has been cited by police in Hawaii for allegedly harassing a humpback whale and dolphin pod during a snorkeling trip. David Jimenez, 65, posted video of himself on social media last week showing the moments he pursued a humpback whale in the waters of the island state. According to Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, one conservation agency received 'numerous calls reporting alleged wildlife harassment' in regards to the video. Hawaii officials said in a post Jimenez was 'actively pursuing an adolescent humpback whale and dolphins inside Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park' and has since been charged with two violations of state law. In response to the allegations, the Hawaii resident reportedly told officials he will not stop swimming with the sea animals because 'it's magical and others do much worse things.' A man who calls himself 'Dolphin Dave' has been cited by police in Hawaii for allegedly harassing a humpback whale and dolphin pod during a snorkeling trip David Jimenez. 65, posted video of himself on social media last week showing the moments he pursued a humpback whale in the waters of the island state Jimenez first posted video of himself swimming with the whales and dolphins Sunday on Facebook, calling his swim 'life changing.' 'Well my morning swims are sometimes life changing! Thats what friends can do,' he wrote in a post, still active on the social media website. In the nearly four-minute video, the man talks to the camera above water before spotting a whale and going back below the surface. 'Oh, I've got a whale friend,' the man says. 'Let's go say hi.' That's when the man puts his snorkel on and starts heading toward the whale. At one point, Jimenez comes close to the whale and even reaches out in an attempt to 'high five' the whale, whose fin looks to be within an arms reach. Another person is seen swimming nearby, as well, also with a video camera in tow. Jimenez continues recording while repeatedly getting up close and personal with the whale, which on average are 39 to 52 feet, according to Britannica. At one point, Jimenez comes within mere inches of the whale and even reaches out in an attempt to 'high five' the whale, whose fin is nearby Jimenez first posted video of himself swimming with the whales and dolphins Sunday on Facebook, calling his swim 'life changing' Jimenez continues recording while repeatedly getting up close and personal with the whale The video prompted immediate outrage and backlash on social media, with many calling in to local and state officials to report the incident. The Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were sent the video and are currently investigating. 'DOCARE officers received a video recording of a man snorkeling close enough to the adolescent humpback whale to almost touch the whale's fin,' authorities said. 'When a DOCARE officer arrived on shore early [Sunday], they recorded Jimenez actively pursuing a pod of spinner dolphins. They recorded a video, in which they say Jimenez was leading a group chasing the dolphins.' Jimenez has now been cited by officials for breaking federal and state laws that protect whales and dolphins from humans. The man is facing charges of prohibited acts in regard to endangered whale species and harassing wildlife in a state park. While the exact punishment for the citations against Jimenez, however, a violation of the Endangered Species Act can be fined up to $ 25,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months. On average, humpback whales can be 39 to 52 feet, according to Britannica Jimenez told officials he will continue to swim with dolphins and whales in violation of the law because 'it's magical and others do much worse things' Despite the citations, he insists he did nothing wrong, according to the agency Jimenez is slated to appear in the Kona District court on May 11 Despite the citations, he insists he did nothing wrong, according to the agency. In a post on Monday, officials said Jimenez told them he will continue to swim with dolphins and whales in violation of the law because 'it's magical and others do much worse things.' Jimenez will appear in the Kona District court on May 11. Officials ask that anyone suspected of abusing wildlife or animals call the Department of Land and Natural Resources tip line at 808-643-DLNR. A Czech Book on the Assyrian, Greek and Armenian Genocide (AINA) --A scholarly book on the Turkish genocide of Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians was published in the Czech language in 2017. The book is titled Catastrophe of the Christians: the Liquidation of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks in the Ottoman Empire in the years 1914--1923 (Katastrofa krestanu. Likvidace Armenu, Asyranu a Reku v Osmanske risi v letech 1914--1923). The authors have comprehensively treated the historcal events that took place during the late Ottoman Empire, in a first of its kind Czech academic publication. In 2017 the Czech Parliament passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian massacres and deportations that occured in the late Ottoman Empire as genocide. In a review of this book, Bohuslav Litera correctly argues that "this is not the whole truth," As the pages of this book "show that the Ottoman genocide of the Assyrians and the Greeks, which until recently remained in the shadow of the main attack on the Armenians." The authors successfully approached the systematic mass killings and deportations from a holistic perspective, which are widely recognized as a "Christian Genocide" today, both within and outside scholarly circles. The book is structured into four main sections, each divided in chapters. After a short introduction, section one (pp. 19-114) analyses the situation of the Christian minorities, Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks in the 19th century, up to 1914. The authors argue that "on the eve of World War I, the multi-ethnic and religiously diverse Ottoman Empire had a Christian population of 3.5 to 5 million." Within the sectarian structured Ottoman millet system, which included Armenians and Assyrians. The historical phase and its impact on the non-muslim population based on the Tanzimat reforms, the developments during the reign of Abdulhamid II, and the Young Turk's revolution of 1908, which was followed by the restoration of the Ottoman Constitution. With respect to Assyrians, the authors shed light on the denominational mosaic of the Assyrians in Anatolia and Persia. This takes account the western missions impact among Assyrians and the beginnings of an ethno-religious identity discourse. Persecution, expulsion and massacres of Assyrians, which the authors cover until 1914, illustrate the continuity of Assyrian suffering and long trail of the great catastrophe. The core of the book is focused on the systematic liquidation of the Christian population between 1914-1923. A comprehensive history of the Armenian Genocide is given, starting with the establishment of the Special Organization, which managed and organized the deportations during the genocide, followed by a chronological treatment of the key events associated with the history of the Armenian genocide --e.g., Van uprising April-May 1915, liquidation of the Armenian male population, deportations -- and the Law on the Deportation. The events are outlined with specific treatment vilayet by vilayet and regions even outside eastern Anatolia, such as Ankara and Aleppo. The authors address the suffering of women and children during the deportations and discuss the situation of orphans, orphanages, and humanitarian organizations coping with the survivors. This chapter concludes with contemporary world public opinion on the Armenian Genocide. A chapter is devoted to the Assyrian genocide. The authors describe what they call "a geography of horror", massacres conducted on the Assyrian population stretching from northern Mesopotamia (Diyarbekir, Mardin, Siirt, Tur Abdin) to the Hakkari Mountains and Persian Azerbaijan (Urmia, Salmas and surroundings). The book delves into key centers of successful resistance in Midyat, Ajn Wardo and Azak. The chapter closes with an outline of the assassination of the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Shimun Benjamin, and the situation in 1918. The authors state in their introduction that they consider the issue of the liquidation of Christians at the end of the Ottoman Empire "as a cognitive rather than a political one." They argue that the current desperate situation of Christians in the Middle East, which can be seen to some extent as a continuation of the destruction of these ancient communities in the places where they have lived for centuries, adds relevance to the issue. In his review, Bohuslav Litera states "It is a brilliant example of how informal collaboration of knowledgeable authors from several different fields can lead to positive results: religious scholar/ethnographer (Mgr. M. Rutil), ethnographer/historian (Dr. P. Kostalova, Ph.D.) and historian/political scientist ( Dr. P. Novak, Ph.D.). I believe that it would be good to propose the mentioned work for an award and to translate it into a foreign language. It would greatly deserve not to remain limited only to the Czech-Slovak language area." Bryan Kohberger was standing in the kitchen, wearing latex gloves and putting his personal trash into separate Ziploc bags on the morning police raided his parents' Pennsylvania home and arrested him in connection to the murders of four University of Idaho students. The new details about the 28-year-old's behavior on December 30 were revealed by Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso following the release of a search warrant last week with a lengthy list of items seized by the Pennsylvania police. Police seized multiple knives, a handgun with ammunition and a black mask from his parents' house, and they took a shovel, multiple Ziploc bags, hiking boots and a wrench from the accused killer's white Hyundai Elantra. The assistant DA said Kohberger's use of gloves to separate trash is possibly why investigators only recovered DNA from his family members, and not from the suspect, after taking trash from the home to be tested. Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. They were found stabbed to death at an off-campus house in Moscow on November 13. Scroll for video Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, 28, was wearing latex gloves and putting his personal trash into Ziploc bags at his parents' home on the morning of his arrest University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves (second from left, bottom) and Madison Mogen (second from left, top), Ethan Chapin (center) and Xana Kernodle (second from right) were stabbed to death on November 13 in Moscow, Idaho Police descended on Kohberger's family home at the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township of Albrightsville just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30. 'Mr. Kohberger was found awake in the kitchen area dressed in shorts and a shirt, wearing latex medical type gloves and apparently was taking his personal trash and putting it into a separate zip lock baggies,' Mancuso told BRCTV13. Mancuso said Kohberger's actions and behavior in those early morning hours could shed light on his mental state and play an important role in court. 'It could very explain some of the other aspects of the case from Idaho, some of the lengths that a person would go to to avoid having their DNA left behind when they know or should've known that there was an investigation underway,' he said. Two other key items would be his shoes and the cheek swab. 'I would be keen on the shoes, the size of the shoes, comparison to any shoe impressions that might have been recovered at the scene - that sort of thing,' he said. Mancuso added that the cheek swab would also play a crucial role. 'Something that they could compare to the DNA of, I believe, the snap button for the sheath of the knife,' he explained. Monroe County First Assistant Michael Mancuso gave new details about Kohberger's behavior on the morning he was arrested at his parents' home in connection to the Idaho murders Police descended on Kohberger's family home at the Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township of Albrightsville just before 1:30 a.m. on December 30 Police also seized a shovel from the accused murderer 's white Hyundai Elantra, along with multiple zip lock bags, hiking boots and a wrench The Monroe County District Attorney's office shared the new details after a search warrant was released that revealed a full list of items seized by Pennsylvania police from his parents' house, including multiple knives, a handgun with ammunition and a black mask. Police also seized a shovel from the accused murderer's white Hyundai Elantra, along with multiple zip lock bags, hiking boots and a wrench. They removed the car seats, a door panel and the brake and gas pedals from the vehicle for testing too. Cops tied him to the gruesome quadruple murder of four college kids after tracking his white Hyundai to the scene. They also matched his DNA to a sample that was left on a knife sheath found at the scene. The murder weapon was not recovered at the house. But the newly unsealed warrant reveals cops seized three knives from Kohberger's parents' property, including one in another sheath. Police also seized a 'black mask', which is not dissimilar to the black ski mask described by the surviving roommate who saw the murderer leave the scene on November 13. Bryan Kohberger will return to court in June. He is shown in custody in January All together 63 items were seized from Kohberger's parents' house, including multiple items of clothing, books, documents, bills and prescriptions. Police had been watching Kohberger for days before they raided the house in the early hours of December 30. The former criminal psychology student is due back in court in June. He is yet to enter a plea. The off-campus house where the killings took place is soon to be demolished. Another search warrant that was unsealed earlier this week revealed cops also took a flashlight, medical gloves and Kohberger's underwear. Over the course of two years, hundreds of witness interviews, and 10 highly choreographed public hearings, Democrats in Congress sought to create a carefully constructed story of the January 6th Capitol Hill riots. How fitting that such an extravagant outlay of government resources would be thrown on the trash heap by a single cable news segment. On Monday night, Fox News' Tucker Carlson played never-before-seen footage of the Capitol riot. The closed-circuit security tape appears to show the notorious, so-called QAnon Shaman (a.k.a. Jacob Chansley) being led through the halls of Congress by police. The video has no audio, so we can't hear what the police told Chansley. But we can see with our own eyes - Chansley didn't overpower anyone. In fact, it looks like Capitol Police willingly guided him, shirtless and adorned in horns, into the Senate chamber for his infamous photo-op. So, for all the effort and expense poured into the January 6th committee, why is America only seeing this footage now? The answer is obvious. It didn't fit the Democrats' narrative, so it was left out. Democrats, aided by two virulently anti-Trump Republicans, sought to portray January 6th as an insurrection inspired, led, and directed by Donald Trump. They recruited a former top news executive to build the drama. Democrat-allied media compelled millions of Americans to watch. And it all cost the U.S. taxpayer more than $3.3 million dollars. But it was easily undermined because it was all so obviously, blatantly disingenuous. Democrats, aided by two virulently anti-Trump Republicans, sought to portray January 6th as an insurrection inspired, led, and directed by Donald Trump. The closed-circuit security tape appears to show the notorious, so-called QAnon Shaman (a.k.a. Jacob Chansley) being lead through the halls of Congress by police. They couldn't release video of the QAnon Shaman wandering through the Capitol building, taking selfies and walking past police because it muddies the narrative. And as a result, in all their maneuvering and selective editing and faux outrage, the January 6th committee failed. Every sane, patriotic Republican looks at the January 6th riots with disgust. Those who committed violence and criminal acts should be prosecuted. And they have been. But conservatives and free-thinking Americans alike also recognize what happened here. Trump's detractors in Congress and in the media wanted to point at him, scream bogeyman, excise him from American political life and return to business as usual. That's convenient for them, but insufficient for the rest of us. Rage in the United States is not just a Trump problem it's an American problem. And it's about time the partisan media and political establishment recognizes it as such. This week 23 members of Antifa were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism for a violent attack on a police training facility in Atlanta. Predictably, the New York Times reported it like this: 'Protesters Damage Property at Site of Planned Police Center in Atlanta?' 'Protesters'? 'Damage property'? Nearly two dozen people have been charged with domestic terrorism for attacking police with rocks, bricks and Molotov cocktails. Police called the incident 'a coordinated attack.' Atlanta's mayor called it 'domestic terrorism.' And the New York Times calls them 'protesters.' This week 23 members of Antifa were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism for a violent attack on a police training facility in Atlanta. Nearly two dozen people have been charged with domestic terrorism for attacking police with rocks, bricks and Molotov cocktails. How else to explain this glaring media double-standard then to conclude that despite the left's handwringing over the January 6th riots, they accept some violence. For years Antifa, which absurdly fancies themselves 'anti-fascists,' have burned police stations, attacked journalists, and built squalid, crime-ridden autonomous encampments in our cities. But unlike the Capitol rioters, the media and political class have made excuses for them. Remember when Chris Cuomo, then of CNN, compared Antifa to the troops that stormed Normandy on D-Day? 'I argue to you tonight all punches are not equal, morally,' he said in 2018, as Americans clashed in the streets. 'When someone comes to call out bigots and it gets hot, even physical, are they equally wrong as the bigot they're fighting? I argue no.' Remember when Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler, no less than the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, dismissed Antifa violence in Portland as a 'myth' even after they firebombed federal officers and buildings in 2020? The American left has a troubling history of looking the other way when there are acts of violence that they deem righteous. Murderous members of the Weather Underground are celebrated professors today. Cop killers like Mumia Abu Jamal and criminals like Angela Davis are quasi heroes. In January, one Antifa member was revealed to be the transgender son of Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark. The younger Clark was arrested for graffitiing anti-police slogans on public property. One cop was left bleeding as an Antifa gang tried to stop the arrest. In fact, it looks like Capitol Police willingly guided him, shirtless and adorned in horns, into to the Senate chamber for his infamous photo-op. In Atlanta, one of the Antifa terrorist agitators arrested was Thomas Webb Jurgens, who is an attorney for the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center. The irony would be delicious if it wasn't so dangerous. The SPLC claims its primary mission is to fight against domestic terrorism, and here one of its own is allegedly assaulting hard-working police. The sad fact of the matter is that Antifa on the left and the Proud Boys on the right are cut from the same cloth. Both groups are disaffected, mostly white, young people, disenchanted by America, who are seeking to burn its current iteration down to the ground. No political committee can heal this gaping wound in the American soul. Democrats thought they could tie a pretty bow around the Capitol riots and blame it on their political opponents but the reality is far more difficult to confront. I thank Speaker McCarthy and Tucker Carlson for exposing the shallow, self-serving purpose of the January 6th committee. And I suggest a new starting point in the fight against extremism treat all political violence the same and address it. But please spare us the Congressional theatrics you're not fooling anyone. President Joe Biden's choice to serve on the Federal Communications Commission Gigi Sohn announced Tuesday she was pulling back from consideration from her nomination, while blasting 'unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks' by her political opponents. The move keeps in place a deadlocked status at the powerful regulatory agency, after a prolonged lobbying campaign against her. It comes weeks after it was revealed she sits on the board of a nonprofit group that advocates for free speech online and that wanted to uphold the legality of online sex work. (The group opposed Trump-era law known as SESTA that carved out an exception to Section 230 'safe harbor' protections for internet providers for content by third parties on their sites). It also follows the announcement by powerful West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin that he will vote against her nomination, likely making her nomination untenable in the narrowly divided Senate. 'It is a sad day for our country and our democracy when dominant industries, with assistance from unlimited dark money, get to choose their regulators,' Sohn complained to the Washington Post.' Gigi Sohn withdrew herself from consideration to join the Federal Communications Commission White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lamented the news Tuesday. 'We appreciate Gigi Sohn's candidacy for this important role,' Jean-Pierre said. 'She would have brought tremendous intellect and experience, which is why the president nominated her in the first place.' She said the White House 'believed she would be a great, a great candidate and would have been an excellent political official,' she added. 'It is clearly unfortunate. We are sad to see this happen,' she added. Sohn argued before her third confirmation hearing that industry shouldn't get to choose its own regulator, amid fierce opposition from industry. Leading the charge was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who called the agency a dangerous place for a 'radical who has suggested the government should censor Americans who hold views contrary to her own.' The setback for President Biden keeps a deadlocked FCC in place, and comes despite Democrats holding a 51-vote majority in the Senate Sohn pushed back in her own testimony, complaining of '15 months of false and misleading attacks on my record and my character. My industry opponents have hidden behind dark money groups and surrogates because they fear a pragmatic, pro-competition, pro-consumer policymaker who will support policies that will bring more, faster, and lower-priced broadband,' she said. Manchin said on Tuesday he will vote against confirming Sohn as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), potentially imperiling her nomination by President Joe Biden. Democrats since January 2021 have been unable to command a majority of the five-member U.S. telecom regulator, stalling the party's efforts to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules revoked under Republican President Donald Trump. The open internet laws seek to bar internet service providers from blocking or slowing traffic or offering paid fast lanes. Manchin said in a statement that the FCC needed a leader who would 'remain above the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick and tired of, and Ms. Sohn has clearly shown she is not the person to do that.' Democrats hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate. Sohn who was first nominated in October 2021, had her third hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee in February, telling lawmakers that industry opponents 'fear a pragmatic, pro-competition, pro-consumer policymaker who will support policies that will bring more, faster, and lower-priced broadband.' Republicans in February offered a sweeping denunciation of Sohn, a former senior aide to then FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, on a number of grounds and accused her of misleading Congress, which she rejected. Allies of Sohn, who is gay, argued that industry opponents were organizing a smear against her. Many Democrats said Republicans were doing the bidding of powerful telecom companies who did not want to face regulation from the FCC, which remains divided 2-2 between Democrats and Republicans. In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules. At least two Democrats were undecided including Senator Jacky Rosen (Nev.), who cited serious concerns raised by some law enforcement groups that she said gave 'her pause' about Sohn's nomination. Tesco is facing 'thousands' of furious customer queries tonight after a large number of deliveries and collections were cancelled due to a 'technical issue'. The supermarket giant revealed it had been forced to axe 'a large number of orders today' and instead offered customers an alternative slot, due to the system glitch. But shoppers have complained it could be days before they can access another delivery slot, with many elderly and vulnerable customers left hungry as Britain endures a week of freezing weather. And those seeking refunds for their failed purchases have also been told they face up to five working days to be reimbursed. Paul Coombs wrote online: 'Would Tesco like to explain why my 85-year-old vulnerable mother has just had her delivery cancelled? What backup plan do you have for customers like this?' Jason Linham posted: 'Tesco, why did you cancel our click-and-collect order two minutes before collection! #fail' Tesco is facing 'thousands' of furious customer queries tonight after a large number of deliveries and collections were cancelled due to a 'technical issue' Andrew Jordan wrote on Twitter: 'Not impressed. Order cancelled today. No call or text. Arrived home and sat around waiting for the delivery Jayne Stephenson tweeted: '... It's disgusting! I work and will now struggle to fit it in especially when all slots for collection/delivery have been taken for the next few days. I have kids to feed!!' Jules G71 stated: 'With no advance warning & refund "within 3 to 5 days", many people will be completely stuck without food & the funds to buy elsewhere.' NATIONAL GRID FIRES UP COAL STATIONS AMID ARCTIC BLAST Advertisement Andrew Jordan added: 'Not impressed. Order cancelled today. No call or text. Arrived home and sat around waiting for the delivery. No slots available until the weekend for another delivery. Off to Sainsbury's, cheers.' Benny Brown tweeted: 'Tesco, no explanation, no apology, no comp - just a not to say delivery cancelled. Awful service. Just awful.' In various response to customers, Tesco described the 'technical error' which was 'nationwide' and urged them to message for details on how to resolve their complaints. A Tesco spokesman said: 'Due to an intermittent technical issue, we've had to cancel some orders today. We're really sorry about this and are working hard to notify customers who are affected.' In January of this year, Tesco - the UKs biggest grocer - stunned shoppers with its price hikes after it was announced it charges 1.70 for a 400g tin of the nation-favourite. A week prior the cost stood at 1.40, but in a blow to consumers a tin now costs a fifth, or 30p, more. The cancelled home deliveries from Tesco have occurred on what could be the coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures set to plunge to -15C in some areas (Pictured: Snow in the west end of Aberdeen earlier today) Jules G71 posted: 'With no advance warning & refund "within 3 to 5 days", many people will be completely stuck without food & the funds to buy elsewhere.' Those seeking refunds for their failed purchases have also been told they face up to five working days to be reimbursed Paul Coombs wrote online: 'Would Tesco like to explain why my 85-year-old vulnerable mother has just had her delivery cancelled? What backup plan do you have for customers like this?' The supermarket giant revealed it had been forced to axe 'a large number of orders today' and instead offered customers an alternative slot, due to the system gitch. Shoppers complained it could be days before they can access another delivery slot, with many elderly and vulnerable customers left hungry HAS YOUR CANCELLED TESCO DELIVERY CAUSED PROBLEMS? Email: stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Cash-strapped shoppers, already grappling with soaring energy and mortgage bills, were hit with the further 21 per cent increase this week, according to industry data. Figures from Assosia, seen by the Mail, reveal the price of a tin of the American giants Cream Of Tomato Soup at Tesco has risen 79 per cent, from just 95p, since June. It comes just six months after Tesco pledged to stand by squeezed consumers and not pass on unjustifiable price increases, leading to a bitter dispute with Heinz. Tesco was praised for standing firm against the giant, with Heinz cutting off supply to the supermarket during the dispute. Responding to the price hikes, a senior industry source said: To raise prices after shouting about holding Heinz to account stinks of double standards. With money tight for so many right now what customers really value is consistency and transparency. The cost of a 400g tin of Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup has ballooned by 79 per cent at Tesco since June 2022 The news comes just six months after Tesco pledged to not pass on 'unjustifiable' cost hikes to customers The increases come as the UK faces its biggest drop in living standards on record as the surging cost of living eats into peoples wages. Official forecaster the Office for Budget Responsibility said household incomes will dive by 7 per cent by 2024. The price of a weekly shop is 14.4 per cent higher than a year ago and households are hunting for bargains, with a growing shift to own label products and discount grocers Aldi and Lidl. Meanwhile, MailOnline uncovered last week that supermarkets have been quietly increasing prices of ready meals and microwave dishes by up to 50 per cent over the last year. And in January, the Mail revealed how fresh food prices had rocketed by 15 per cent - as retailers warned there was no sign the boom was going to slow down any time soon. Tesco, which controls more than a quarter of the UKs grocery market, has now been accused of turning its back on the pledge it made in June to not pass on unjustifiable price increases to shoppers. The business promised a laser-focus on keeping the cost of the weekly shop in check and won praise for standing firm against Heinz, a 43billion US conglomerate. Brittany Higgins has teamed up with a close ally to start up a new company named 'Power Blazers Pty Ltd' - as she reveals she is planning to dedicate her life to helping Australians navigate the justice system. It was revealed on Wednesday that Ms Higgins, her close friend Emma Webster and her father Matthew registered the new business last month, with few details provided about the exact purpose of the venture. Ms Webster, a lobbyist at Hawker Britton, was by Ms Higgins' side on every day of Bruce Lehrmann's trial, which ended with the jury being disbanded due to a juror's misconduct. Ms Higgins further announced in an International Women's Day piece for Marie Claire magazine that she will dedicate her life to navigating the country's 'fraught' and 'imperfect' legal system. Brittany Higgins (right) has teamed up with lobbyist friend Emma Webster (left) to form Power Blazers Pty Ltd. Lobbyist and former government staffer Emma Webster (right) embraces friend Brittany Higgins after her powerful speech at the National Press Club Brittany Higgins' friendship with Emma Webster When the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions announced it was dropping the case amid fears a retrial would pose a 'significant and unacceptable risk' to Ms Higgins' mental health, it was Ms Webster who immediately released a statement revealing her friend had been admitted to a Queensland hospital. Ms Webster is also a longtime friend of Mr Sharaz who previously revealed the lobbyist inspired him him to pluck up the courage to ask Ms Higgins out. 'She's (Webster) been our go-to person ever since: from helping me draft an email, to hemming Brittany's pants. She's not a friend, she's basically part of our relationship,' Mr Sharaz wrote on Instagram at the time. Webster was also in attendance at the National Press Club in Canberra when Ms Higgins delivered a powerful speech with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame a year ago. She previously worked for former prime minister Julia Gillard, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Advertisement In the article, Ms Higgins described her harrowing ordeal and the emotional hole she fell in following the high profile aborted trial, which she described as six weeks of hell. She was admitted to a Queensland hospital weeks later where she spent her 28th birthday 'During this period, I couldnt go online or pick up a newspaper without seeing the most intimate details of the worst time in my life being scrutinised and questioned by strangers,' Ms Higgins wrote for the magazine. 'Ultimately, I had to reach out for professional help because it had all become too much.' By Christmas, dozens of boxes filled with letters had been delivered to her home after the Global Institute for Womens Leadership put a call out online asking women if they wished to send a message of support to Ms Higgins. 'Letters penned by women and men from across the country, all sharing their stories and sending solidarity. These letters saved me. It was a turning point and the catalyst for deciding the path I need to take next,' she wrote. The heartwarming gesture inspired Ms Higgins to finish her law degree by enrolling to study for her Juris Doctor. 'Throughout the past few years Ive been the beneficiary of the legal expertise of so many incredible people. Its my intention to spend a lifetime paying it forward,' she said. The article prompted Mr Sharaz to pay a heartfelt tribute to his fiancee for calling out inequality and injustice she faced in the workplace which came at a significant cost. 'Entering your third year since speaking publicly about your assault you remain without a job; youre attacked online, and youre written about seemingly daily,' Mr Sharaz posted on Wednesday 'I know there are days when you feel its not worth leaving the house. But, in a few years time this will all be over, and youll be left with the feeling of pride, knowing youve done more for womens equality than you ever could have in politics. 'Im so proud of you and today I celebrate you my darling.' David Sharaz paid a glowing tribute to fiancee Brittany Higgins (pictured) on International Women's Day on Wednesday It comes after Ms Higgins uploaded a series of photos to Instagram on Tuesday to show off her lavish new rental home on the Gold Coast. Ms Higgins recently moved into the beachside property with her fiance David Sharaz and their dog Kingston after receiving a large, confidential settlement payout from taxpayers stemming from her claims that she was raped at Parliament House in 2019. Lehrmann has always denied the claims. Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz recently moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast two months after he proposed to her on New Year's Eve in Byron Bay. 'Home sweet home,' Ms Higgins captioned the post, which features a selfie and multiple images of a nearby beach and a now-deleted photo of a shiny Jeep parked out the front. Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz are loving their new life on the Gold Coast Ms Higgins also included a picture of her new living room adorned with designer furniture - including a $500 white velvet mirror and a $330 decorative side table. Her mother Kelly Higgins, who is a real estate agent, commented: 'It's exactly what you deserve my angel.' 'A beautiful home in a beautiful location. Lots of happy memories to be shared and made. Miss you already xx.' Mr Sharaz, who left his job with Southern Cross Austereo in mid-February, posted his own photo of a beach near their new home with the caption: 'No, I don't miss the 9-5. Mr Sharaz worked for Southern Cross Austereo for two years - first as a breakfast news reader, and then as part of Queensland news operations - before he suddenly left last month. He later uploaded photos with colleagues at his farewell party. One tagged him in an Instagram post, with the caption: 'Goodbye, my fav gossiper.' While his LinkedIn profile still states that he works at the company's Brisbane office, his Twitter bio has been edited to say 'AWAY'. After news of his sudden departure from the company was revealed, Ms Higgins urged her audience to 'read between the lines', adding: 'No one walks away from employment without a job to walk into.' The three SNP leadership candidates clashed in a bad-tempered TV debate tonight as they took personal digs at each other in the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan traded a series of blows in what turned into an hour-long mauling of each other's positions on various issues. Amid ugly exchanges on Scottish independence and gender identity reforms, Mr Yousaf was disparagingly branded the 'continuity candidate' and the 'no change candidate'. He is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Ms Sturgeon as First Minister and has been backed by a number of SNP big hitters. But Ms Forbes tonight tore into Mr Yousaf's ministerial record from his time as a transport minister, justice secretary and now as Scotland's Health Secretary. He hit back at Ms Forbes - whose leadership campaign has faltered amid a series of carcrash TV grillings about her socially conservative views - by suggesting her election as party leader would see the SNP 'lurching to the right'. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan traded a series of blows in what turned into an hour-long mauling of each other's positions on various issues The three SNP leadership candidates clashed over their plans for Scottish independence and gender identity reforms Mr Yousaf also attacked both Ms Forbes and Ms Regan for failing to commit to challenging Westminster's block on the Scottish Government's controversial gender identity legislation. Meanwhile, Ms Regan - the only leadership candidate not currently serving in the Scottish Cabinet - claimed the SNP had 'lost its way' and admitted there had been 'no progress' on independence in recent years. Tonight's head-to-head was the first live televised debate in the SNP leadership contest and was hosted by STV at the broadcaster's headquarters in Glasgow. Ms Regan claimed that an SNP majority at each election held in future would represent a 'democratic mandate' for Scottish independence. In a swipe at Ms Sturgeon's record as First Minister, she said: 'There's been no progress on independence in the last few years, despite the worst UK governments of all time. 'We used to grow support for independence by governing wisely, and it worked. 'At every election going forward, we will make it crystal clear that a majority of votes for the SNP will be a democratic mandate for independence.' Mr Yousaf, the Scottish Health Secretary, was disparagingly branded the 'continuity candidate' and the 'no change candidate' It was suggested that Ms Forbes election as party leader would see the SNP 'lurching to the right' Ms Regan claimed the SNP had 'lost its way' and admitted there had been 'no progress' on independence in recent years Mr Yousaf pledged to grow support for Scottish independence 'to new heights'. He also boasted he was the 'only candidate' ready to challenge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's use of a Section 35 order to stop the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from becoming law. Mr Yousaf is a close ally of Ms Sturgeon and Ms Forbes, Scotland's Finance Secretary, took a dig at the pair when she insisted that 'more of the same' in the SNP 'is an acceptance of mediocrity'. 'It's time for change, continuity won't cut it tonight, I offer a new start for Scotland,' she said, as she promised to lead a 'new generation'. Who are the SNP leadership candidates? Humza Yousaf The 37-year-old is the current Scottish Health Secretary and previously held the justice brief. He has faced criticism over the NHS crisis in his current role, with rising treatment times and delayed discharges. Kate Forbes The 32-year-old is the current Scottish Finance Secretary. She returned from maternity leave early to enter the SNP leadership race. Ms Forbes impressed her party when she delivered the Scottish Government's budget just hours after taking on the job in early 2020. But her social conservative views on same-sex marriage, abortion and gender reform has led to scrutiny and criticism. She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the 'Wee Frees'. Ash Regan The 48-year-old is a former community safety minister in the Scottish Government. She is best known for resigning from that role over her opposition to Nicola Sturgeon's controversial gender identity reforms. Advertisement She also attacked Mr Yousaf over his ministerial record, telling him: 'You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we've got record high waiting times what makes you think you can do a better job as first minister?' And, when asked later whether she would keep Mr Yousaf in the Scottish Cabinet if she became first minister, Ms Forbes sniped: 'Maybe not in health.' Mr Yousaf hit back at Ms Forbes by claiming her own personal opposition to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was 'clouding her judgement' in declining to challenge Westminster's block on the legislation. He also noted how 'many people, particularly from our LGBTQ community, say they wouldn't vote for independence' if Ms Forbes was leader, after she last month set out her personal stance on issues such as same-sex marriage. But Ms Forbes suggested Mr Yousaf was 'spoiling for a fight regardless of the legal advice' on the constitutional wrangle between Edinburgh and London over Scotland's gender identity reforms. When all three candidates were asked if they would keep the monarchy in an independent Scotland, Ms Regan said in the 'new circumstances' after the Queen's death it might be time for the SNP to debate if retaining the monarchy was still the right policy. Ms Forbes said there were 'bigger issues facing Scotland', while Mr Yousaf said he would 'keep the monarchy for a period of time' but added: 'I would hope an independent Scotland would be a republic in the future'. Last month, all three of Ms Forbes, Ms Regan and Mr Yousaf were confirmed to have met the threshold to formally enter the leadership race. About 100,000 SNP members will be able to begin voting for their preferred candidate on March 13. Voting will then close at noon on March 27 and the result is expected later that day. The first contested SNP leadership election in almost 20 years was triggered when Ms Sturgeon dramatically announced her intention to resign last month. Mr Yousaf is the bookies' favourite to be chosen as Ms Sturgeon's successor as SNP leader and First Minister. The Scottish Health Secretary received a huge boost earlier when Angus Robertson, the SNP's former Westminster leader, gave him his backing. 'I am in no doubt that it has to be Humza,' said Mr Robertson, the Scottish Government's Constitution Secretary. Mr Robertson had been widely tipped to succeed Ms Sturgeon himself but later ruled out a leadership bid as he has two young children. The decision by top SNP figures to support Mr Yousaf has led to attacks by rivals about him having the SNP's 'party machine' behind him. Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry, who is backing Ms Regan, claimed her candidate was 'making progress' and warned it would be 'very wrong to write her off'. 'It's no secret that the party machine is behind Humza and not behind Kate and Ash,' she added. Ms Forbes had begun the leadership contest as the apparent frontrunner but her campaign soon ran into difficulty when she faced questions about her socially conservative views. In a series of carcrash interviews, the Finance Secretary admitted she would have voted against both gay marriage and Ms Sturgeon's gender identity reforms. The 32-year-old, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, also branded pre-marital sex 'wrong'. Early polling of SNP members had put Ms Forbes ahead of Mr Yousaf, but she now appears to have slipped behind her rival - with Ms Regan trailing in third place. The White House on Tuesday called the deaths of two Americans in Mexico 'unacceptable' and vowed to see justice given in the case. 'Attacks on US citizens are unacceptable - no matter where or under what circumstance circumstances they happen,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her daily briefing. 'We will continue to work closely with the Mexican government to ensure justice is done in this case.' She said President Joe Biden's administration was working to bring the remaining two Americans home. The survivors of an attack and kidnapping last week in the border state of Tamaulipas are now in American custody. 'Our immediate concerns are for the safety return of our citizens, the health and well being of those who who survived this attack and the support which must be rendered to the families of those who now want to move on,' Jean-Pierre said. 'Attacks on US citizens are unacceptable - no matter where or under what circumstance circumstances they happen,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said One of the four Americans died at the scene of the attack on Friday, in which gunmen shot at their car. The two survivors were pictured in the back of an ambulance before being transported to Texas. Jean-Pierre, when pressed, wouldn't say if Biden would designate the Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations but noted there was a travel advisory for that area. 'When it comes to the travel advisory for this particular area in Mexico, it that remains at number four: do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. We've been very clear about that. The State Department again, has put that out. We urge Americans to read these reports before traveling,' she said. Latavia 'Tay' McGee, her cousin Shaeed Woodard and their friends Zindell Brown and Eric Williams were said to be traveling south so McGee, a mother-of-five, could get a budget tummy tuck when they got caught in gunfire between two gangs March 3. Mexican officials confirmed they were all found in a stash house in the rural town of El Tecolote, six and half miles from Matamoros. At least one person has been arrested in connection with the incident. The surviving Americans were taken to the border near Brownsville, Texas, in a convoy of Mexican ambulances and SUVs Tuesday, according to AP officials and delivered to U.S. consulate officials. Two Americans who survived being kidnapped at gunpoint at the US-Mexico border by 'Gulf Cartel' have been pictured in the back of an ambulance before being transported to Texas The woman, believed to be Latavia McGee can be seen wiping her eyes with a tissue as another survivor is treated in the back of an ambulance Latavia 'Tay' McGee had traveled down to Mexico on Wednesday for a tummy tuck procedure before she was kidnapped at gunpoint by a drug cartel on Friday McGee was joined by her cousin, Shaeed Woodard, (left) and friends Eric Williams (right) and Zindell Brown The Governor of Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal Anaya, confirmed the condition of the four Americans over a phone call during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's press conference on Tuesday. Governor Americo Villarreal said that there has been close attention on the incident and medical support is being provided to surviving victims while the president vowed those responsible will be 'punished.' 'There is no impunity, there is someone under arrest' President Lopez Obrador said. 'Those responsible are going to be found, they are going to be punished, as was done when they murdered women and children, in Bavispe, from the LeBaron, Miller, Langford family. All involved were arrested.' The Tamaulipas State Attorney General's Office said that the four American citizens 'deprived of their liberty last Friday' were found at about 7.30 am Tuesday. 'Unfortunately two are dead. Investigation and intelligence work continues to capture those responsible. Details will be given later.' 'Following your joint work instructions, we have not stopped paying attention to this problem since Friday and approximately an hour ago today we were notified that there were indications of having seen the four American citizens and 35 minutes ago it was fully confirmed by the prosecutor. 'Of the four, two of them are deceased, one person injured and the other is alive. 'The ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are on their way to give corresponding support for [their] transfer and [any] medical support that can be [given].' Republican representatives Dan Crenshaw, of Texas, and Michael Waltz, of Florida, recently introduced a bill that would give Biden 'authority to use the U.S. military against these cartels in Mexico.' In response, Ricardo Monreal tweeted the following yesterday: 'My response to the representative from Texas @DanCrenshawTX is direct and clear: I reject all foreign interference in the internal affairs of Mexico, and also the claim to apply United States laws in our country. It's called 'Sovereignty.' Even if Crenshaw doesn't get it.' McGee is seen sitting on the ground after the vehicle she and three other U.S. citizens were traveling on was shot at by kidnappers moments after they drove into the Mexican border city of Matamoros A gunman acted as a lookout for his cohorts moments after they attacked a mini van with four American occupants and kidnapped them in the northeastern Mexican border city of Matamoros on Friday Pictures from the moment of their capture have started to circulate online showing the group at the back of a vehicle Mexican newspaper Milenio cites law enforcement officials said they were investigating whether the group was kidnapped by members of the Gulf Cartel, a notoriously violent gang run by a feared leader known as La Kena. The four had traveled from Lake City, South Carolina to the border town of Matamoros for McGee to undergo a discounted tummy tuck, according to a sister of one of the kidnapped, when they got caught in the crossfire of a gunfight on Friday. It remains unclear who out of the four were murdered - although pictures from an ambulance show McGee and a man together. Details of the murders also remain unclear at this time. Video from the kidnapping incident show the group being thrown in the back of a van. Matamoros is in the state of Tamaupilas, which is among six states that are currently under travel warnings. They were taken on Friday, after becoming caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between two gangs. Former Attorney General Bill Barr said the US authorities should treat the gangs the same way they do ISIS when negotiating for Americans' release. 'They are terrorists,' he said during an appearance on Fox News last night. 'The Mexican government is being held hostage by tens of thousands of paramilitary members of terrorist organizations that effectively control Mexico. La Kena or Ciclon 19, the leader of the Gulf Cartel 'It's pretty close at this stage to a failed narco-state. 'They can use violence and oceans of cash to corrupt the government. The government has no will, and it doesn't have the ability to deal with the cartels,' he said. Le Kena leads the Gulf Cartel and is also known as Ciclon 19. His real name is Alberto Garcia Vilano. Mexican authorities have been hunting him for months and are offering a reward of 2.5million pesos for any information that could lead to his arrest. Zalandria Brown of Florence, South Carolina, said on Monday she had been in contact with the FBI and local officials after learning that her younger brother, Zindell, was one of the four victims. 'This is like a bad dream you wish you could wake up from,' she said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. 'To see a member of your family thrown in the back of a truck and dragged, it is just unbelievable.' Zalandria said her brother, who lives in Myrtle Beach, and two friends had accompanied McGee and that the group was extremely close - making the trip in part to help split up the driving duties. They were aware of the dangers in Mexico, Zalandria noted, and her brother had even expressed some misgivings before the trip. 'Zindell kept saying, 'We shouldn't go down,' Brown said. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday during a news briefing that the Biden administration had been 'closely following the assault and kidnapping of four U.S. citizens.' 'These sorts of attacks are unacceptable,' she said, adding that U.S. law enforcement was in touch with Mexican authorities, as were the departments of State and Homeland Security. The Governor of Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal Anaya, confirmed the condition of four kidnapped Americans over a phone call during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's press conference on Tuesday. Two are dead, two alive - one wounded Mexican authorities are seen here investigating the white SUV McGee and her friends drove to the country in A map highlighting the six of 32 Mexican states that the US State Department currently has listed under its most severe 'do not travel' category, due to local cartels that may rob and/or kidnap American tourists The FBI and Mexican law enforcement are investigating, with the bureau asking the public for information leading to arrests. The State Department has a 'Do Not Travel' warning in place for Tamaulipas state due to 'crime and kidnapping.' It said organized crime activity, including gun battles, armed robberies and kidnappings, are common along the border and in Ciudad Victoria. 'Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments,' the warning states. Budget airline JetBlue is launching direct flights between New York and Paris this summer starting at $479. Roundtrips from New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) are set to start on June 29. The move comes years after the sixth-largest airline launched flights to London in August 2021 and offered 'Mint Suites' which features seats that recline similarly to a bed. 'We are excited to continue disrupting the transatlantic market and offer business and leisure customers traveling to and from Paris an opportunity to experience our highly acclaimed Mint and core products in a market that has suffered from high fares by legacy carriers for far too long,' CEO Robin Hayes wrote in a statement. The aircrafts heading to New York and Paris will feature 24 Mint Suite seats starting at $1,899 round trip, according to the airline. Budget airline JetBlue is launching direct flights between New York and Paris this summer starting at $479 The roundtrips from New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) are set to start on June 29. Pictured: JFK Daily flights will be offered from JFK to CDG at 5.09 pm with a planned arrival scheduled for the following day at 6.55 am. For those heading from Paris to the Big Apple, flights will depart 8.55am and arrive at 11.51am. Each seat on the aircraft will feature a small tv screen, free WiFi, snacks and drinks. JetBlue's announcement comes as the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block the airline company from purchasing budget competitor Spirit Airlines for $3.8 million. The Justice Department claimed the move would increase air prices and harm consumers. The aircrafts heading to New York and Paris will feature 24 Mint Suite seats starting at $1,899 round trip, according to the airline. Pictured: CDG JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes announced the launch of flights from New York to Paris starting in summer The lawsuit alleges the buyout would 'eliminate the unique competition that Spirit provides' and leave few options for inexpensive fares. 'The impact of this merger will be particularly harmful for travelers who rely on what are known as ultra-low-cost carriers in order to fly,' said Attorney General Merrick Garland at a press conference. The government's complaint said that JetBlue planned to remove 10 to 15 percent of seats from every Spirit plane and jack up ticket prices on the remaining seats. In an interview with CBS Mornings, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes argued that the merger would help consumers, by positioning the airline to better compete with the four major carriers that together control 80% of the US market for air travel. 'This is not Pepsi buying Coke, together we're going to be eight to nine percent of the market,' said Hayes. 'Every time JetBlue flies in a market, fares go down, it's actually called the JetBlue effect. A university warned a free speech advocate whose surname is Trump to take out liability insurance before giving a talk - in case woke activists tried to cancel her. Trinity University in Texas said there was potential students would think Cherise Trump, executive director of Speech First, was 'related to Donald Trump, which may attract opposing groups'. Cherise is no relation to the 45th President of the US - and only took the surname after marrying her husband in 2017. She's previously been asked whether she's related to Donald since then. But she's never been a victim of mistaken identity, or harassed or targeted at any of the talks she gives on university campuses across the last two years. Trinity University in Texas said there was potential students would think Cherise Trump, executive director of Speech First, was 'related to Donald Trump, which may attract opposing groups' Cherise was asked to speak at Trinity University by the Young Conservatives of Texas. She regularly gives talks to colleges in her role as head of an organization that works to defend the First Amendment rights of students. Despite a simple Google search revealing there is no relation, Jennifer Adamo, Trinity's director of risk management, wrote to student organizers on February 20 and said the event carried an 'elevated risk'. The email added: 'When there is a chance for disruption or disturbance, the [Event Review Committee] recommends that a [certificate of insurance] is requested. Cherise is actually no relation to the 45th President of the United States - and only took the surname after marrying her husband in 2017 'The ERC does not focus solely on topic when making recommendations. In this case, there is potential for others to mistakenly believe that Cherise Trump is related to Donald Trump which may attach opposing groups so it was recommended to request a COI from her organization, Speech First'. Cherise Trump, who paid $76 for an insurance plan, told Free Beacon: 'Trinity should be fostering a campus environment that encourages its students to hear differing ideas without turning to mob violence. 'Not only does this show that the university has little faith in its students' ability to use the internet [to Google her], it also coddles and shields students from opposing viewpoints.' Despite a simple Google search revealing there is no relation, Jennifer Adamo, Trinity's director of risk management, wrote to student organizers on February 20 and said the event carried an 'elevated risk' She added on Twitter: 'Universities continue to fear their students' reactions and then enable negative behavior by coddling them. This is in place of fostering campus environments that embrace the exchange of ideas, even ones you may disagree with.' Cherise asked whether the university would have issued a similar message if her surname was 'Biden, Clinton or Bush'. Young Conservatives of Texas president Ellis Jacoby said it was the first time one of their speakers had been asked to seek insurance. Previous talks about critical race theory and immigration - described by Jacoby as 'more controversial than free speech' - did not draw similar concerns. Bateman is currently awaiting trial on a litany of disturbing charges Samuel Bateman reportedly spoke to his underage ex-'wife' while in custody The pervert Mormon cult leader Samuel Bateman is accused of using a jailhouse phone to have explicit conversations with children while being held on child trafficking charges. Bateman allegedly called a 13-year-old girl his 'sexy darling' as he 'brazenly' used the jailhouse phone system while in custody in November, according to federal filings. The 46-year-old cult leader also asked the girl, dubbed Jane Doe 4 in the documents, about 'all the sacred times' they shared, despite being barred from contacting her as she is a named victim in the child abuse case against him. Bateman reportedly made similarly vulgar remarks to two other 16-year-olds during the same call which included his adult wives. Samuel Bateman (pictured) allegedly used a jailhouse phone to have explicit conversations with children while being held on child trafficking charges Bateman was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of Mormonism that practices polygamy The self-proclaimed prophet led the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of Mormonism that practices polygamy, until he left to start his own religion. He was arrested last year by the FBI, which said he had more than 20 wives, many of whom were younger than 15, during his reign of terror. On the same day as his alleged depraved conversations from inside the jailhouse, Bateman instructed his wives to send 'intimidating messages to a government witness from outside the community,' according to authorities. 'Tell her that she picked the wrong religion to hate. K? Bateman reportedly ordered the women. Bateman is facing numerous charges, including destroying records and obstructing justice in an investigation into whether children were being transported across state lines for sexual activity. His arrest came after authorities found three underage girls locked inside a trailer he was towing near Flagstaff, Arizona. Cops opened the squalid trailer to find underage girls inside, which was furnished with a couch and a bucket for a toilet. The trooper that pulled him over saw 'children's small fingers moving in the gap of the rear trailer door' as he pulled up behind the trailer, according to a police statement. And the religious leader was snared after a subsequent raid of his two properties found evidence of child sex trafficking, incest, and group sex with both adults and minors. The cult-fanatic claimed it was God's will for him to engage in depraved sexual acts with his 'wives', the FBI said. Following the raid of his properties, several of Bateman's underage 'wives' were taken in by the Arizona Department of Child Services, while others were saved after they were found being an AirBnB in Washington state in December. He is currently facing a litany of disturbing charges, which also includes kidnapping. He has pleaded not guilty, and is awaiting trial in March 2024. Since his arrest, shocking details have been unearthed about his behavior as the leader of the FLDS, including attempting to bribe his own 14-year-old daughter into marrying him with potato chips, $50 and airplane tickets. According to an FBI affidavit, Bateman would give his daughter 'slobbery' kisses which she referred to as 'nasty.' He then discussed in graphic detail having a child with her. Bateman later disclosed to his wife that he wanted to marry their daughter, which prompted his wife to leave with the child. Bateman is facing a litany of criminal charges related to his depraved reign of terror. Pictured: Three girls embrace before they are removed from the home of Samuel Bateman, following his arrest in Colorado City, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 Underage girls were found being driven around by Bateman inside a trailer, with just a bucket for a toilet Warren Jeffs during an extradition hearing at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August, 2006 Bateman was previously a follower of infamous FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, whose crimes were detailed in Netflix docuseries 'Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey'. He allegedly told followers that the convicted child-rapist was dead, and that he 'spoke through' Bateman as the new prophet. Former followers of the FLDS told the Salt Lake City Tribune in December that following Warren Jeffs' conviction in 2011, Bateman seized upon the power vacuum and became the group's leader. He convinced them that Jeffs was dead, 'or translated,' a Mormon phrase for God transitioning a person's body from mortal to immortal. Bateman said that Jeffs could only speak through him and that members should reward him with money and new wives. Under his control, his arrest affidavit states that he gathered 'approximately 50 followers and more than 20 wives, many of whom are minors, mostly under the age of 15.' In one example noted in the court filing, Bateman told an Arizona couple filming a documentary that the 'Heavenly Father' had instructed him in early November 2021 to 'give the most precious thing he has, his girls' virtue,' to three of his adult male followers. Bateman then allegedly watched as three men had sex with his daughters, one of whom was just 12, according to the affidavit. He allegedly commented that the girls had 'sacrificed their virtue for the Lord,' and went on to say: 'God will fix their bodies and put the membrane back in their body. I've never had more confidence in doing his will. It's all out of love.' It is claimed in the documents that Bateman introduced the couple to his wives after he drove the group to their property in a large SUV - the youngest of whom was born in 2011, making her nine at the oldest. While he hauled his 'wives' around in locked, squalid trailers, the affidavit against him also notes that he owned two Bentleys. Following his arrest, U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles ordered that Bateman remain behind bars while the case winds through the courts. Desperate Asian postmasters who called a helpline about the disastrous Horizon accounting system were labelled 'another Patel scamming', a public inquiry heard yesterday. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 3,000 postmasters lost their jobs, went bankrupt or were prosecuted after money went 'missing', when in fact it was a glitch with the Post Office's computer system. Horizon caused huge problems as soon as it was introduced in 2001. The helplines were run by IT company Fujitsu as part of a 1billion contract to manage it. Yesterday a whistleblower claimed there was a toxic culture of racism at the call centre which saw staff 'mistrust every Asian postmaster' and suggest they were either 'incompetent or fraudsters'. Amandeep Singh, who worked in the call centre during his university studies, said staff mocked postmasters while they were on mute, behaviour that was left unchallenged by bosses. In a damning three-page statement he told the inquiry: 'The floor on these days was most toxic with vocal characters unchallenged by managers who looked away as all Asians were called Patels. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 3,000 postmasters lost their jobs , went bankrupt or were prosecuted after money went 'missing' , when in fact it was a glitch with the Post Office's computer system PICTURED: Seema Misra, mother wrongly jailed for 15 months while she was pregnant claimed the racism at the helpline call centre prolonged the Post Office IT scanda The postmistress at West Byfleet in Surrey, said: They had a picture of Asian postmasters in their mind. Most of the Post Office stores are run by Asian people. It makes me angry and upset 'Shouts across the floor could be heard, saying 'I have another Patel scamming again'. They mistrusted every Asian postmaster. This makes my blood boil 'They mocked Scottish and Welsh postmasters and pretended they could not understand them. They created a picture of postmasters that suggested they were incompetent or fraudsters.' For years the postmasters have claimed the helplines repeatedly failed them. They said they were kept on hold for hours, instructed to pay in their own cash to balance the books, and told 'you're the only one' experiencing shortfalls. Mr Singh said the calls for help were 'relentless', putting staff under enormous pressure, and that Horizon caused problems as soon as it was rolled out. His statement read: 'Postmasters right from week one would be upset, crying frustrated as they struggled to reach equilibrium on the transactions.' Racism was prolonging the scandal A mother wrongly jailed for 15 months while she was pregnant claimed the racism at the helpline call centre prolonged the Post Office IT scandal. Seema Misra, 47, postmistress at West Byfleet in Surrey, said: They had a picture of Asian postmasters in their mind. Most of the Post Office stores are run by Asian people. It makes me angry and upset. She estimates she called the Horizon IT helpline at least three times a week for three years. Eventually the Post Office accused her of stealing 74,600 and she was jailed in 2010. Her theft and false accounting conviction was quashed in 2021. More than a decade on, she has not yet received full compensation. Advertisement He added in oral evidence: 'Postmasters would say, 'I've got a 2,000 or 5,000 discrepancy'. There were even wild figures like 50,000... more than their annual salary.' The testimony led to a wave of anger from postmaster victims. Bal Singh Gill, whose mother was given a criminal record for false accounting over 58,000 of 'missing' money, said: 'This makes my blood boil but I can feel there's a lot of truth in it. 'The call centre staff were quite arrogant they always assumed I was hiding something.' Postmaster Vipin Patel, who is battling for compensation. said: 'This is the ultimate insult on a grand scale, for nearly a lifetime of good, honest and dedicated public service.'The Post Office is owned by the Government, through the Business Department. It is preparing to sue Fujitsu for some of the projected 700million cost of the scandal. Two former Fujitsu staff are at the centre of a perjury investigation over claims they misled criminal trials. A spokesman said: 'Fujitsu does not tolerate racism in any form.' The Post Office said that Mr Singh's evidence was 'extremely shocking' and the behaviour described was 'unacceptable'. 'This makes my blood boil' Helpline staff mocked desperate callers, inquiry told For help and support, contact the Samaritans for free, anonymously, on 116 123 He took his own life in October 2020 after being told to 'try Sudoku' puzzle game A pensioner who killed himself after developing severe anxiety and depression had been told by NHS staff to 'try sudoku' to lift his mood, an inquest has heard. Alan Hunter, 72, was advised to try playing the puzzle as there were no psychiatrists available for people his age, his daughter claimed. His family were left feeling 'hopeless' as his mental health deteriorated before he took his own life in October 2020. Mr Hunter's daughter, Claire Parker, told the hearing in Norwich of her frustration at the treatment the retired glazier received from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. 'They offered no solutions and everything just felt hopeless. He was offered no advice or support and nothing was investigated,' she said. 'One thing that has really stuck with me is that during one particular moment of depression it was suggested that he try sudoku.' Struggle: Alan Hunter, 72, killed himself after developing severe anxiety and depression had been told by NHS staff to 'try sudoku' to lift his mood, an inquest heard In the period before his death, Mr Hunter was referred for treatment and became an in-patient at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth (pictured) and Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich Mr Hunter's wife died in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but his daughter said his mental health didn't deteriorate until 2019, when he was put on anti-depressants. The father of two made two suicide attempts before he was found dead at his home in October 2020. In the period before his death, Mr Hunter was referred for treatment and became an in-patient at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth and Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich. During one meeting, the family was told there were no psychiatric experts who could help someone his age. Ms Parker added: 'I felt like I was the one to manage my dad's mental health crisis.' Sue Jones, the former manager of the mental health team that dealt with Mr Hunter, said he had a consultation with a doctor who specialised in care for the over-70s. She said the family had expressed concern and asked for a second opinion but there was no one else with 'the skills to engage with older persons'. Senior mental health nurse Kathryn Wyer said she spoke to Ms Parker in October 2020 after her father's suicide attempt. Ms Parker revealed she and her sister were struggling to care for him. Ms Wyer told the hearing she was aware Mr Hunter was on medication and it 'possibly wasn't working', adding: 'I believed that Mr Hunter was safe with his daughter and there was no immediate risk.' The inquest continues. Republicans up to Mitch McConnell slammed Fox News and Tucker Carlson for downplaying the January 6 attack after obtaining 44,000 hours of footage from that day. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave Carlson and his team exclusive access to the security tapes, which they aired on Monday night. 'They were orderly and meek,' said Carlson of those who stormed the Capitol. 'These were not insurrectionists; they were sightseers.' McConnell opened his weekly news conference by saying he fully aligned himself with U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who called Carlson's conclusions 'offensive and misleading.' He held up a paper copy of Manger's statement, titled 'Truth & Justice.' 'It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way that's completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks,' McConnell told reporters. Republicans up to Mitch McConnell slammed Fox News and Tucker Carlson for downplaying the January 6 attack after obtaining 44,000 hours of footage from that day Sen. Thom Tillis called Carlson's portrayal of the day 'bulls***' and Sen. Mitt Romney said Carlson had gone 'off the rails' Manger said that Carlson had 'cherry-picked from the calmer moments' of the siege. But pressed repeatedly by reporters McConnell refused to criticize McCarthy for handing over the tapes to the conservative news network. 'Now, you all know I have many faults, but one of them is not answering the question in a way that I don't want to answer it,' he quipped, adding that his qualms were with Fox News' portrayal of the incident. Sen. Josh Hawley, however, pushed back on McConnell's assertion, tweeting in response: 'Sunshine is always the right answer.' The Missouri Republican famously held his fist up to January 6 protesters before they stormed the building during the certification of President Biden's election. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called Carlson's portrayal of the events 'inexcusable.' 'I think it's bulls***,' he told reporters. 'I was here. I was down there and I saw maybe a few tourists, a few people who got caught up in things,' he added. 'But when you see police barricades breached, when you see police officers assaulted, all of that ... if you were just a tourist you should've probably lined up at the visitors' center and came in on an orderly basis.' Sen. Mitt Romney directly criticized McCarthy for giving Fox exclusive access to the footage. 'If you're gonna give footage, give it to all the networks, not just one,' the Utah Republican told reporters. 'Placating the base of my party is not the right way forward for the Republican Party or for the country.' He tore into Carlson: 'It's really sad to see Tucker Carlson go off the rails...it's so absurd.' GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer, S.D., said Carlson's portrayal of the event as 'some rowdy, peaceful protest of Boy Scouts' is 'just a lie.' 'I think it doesn't do any good for the narrative,' he added. GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw, Texas, told Politico: 'I don't really have a problem with making it all public. But if your message is then to try and convince people that nothing bad happened, then it's just gonna make us look silly.' 'It's definitely stupid to keep talking about this. So what is the purpose of continuing to bring it up unless you're trying to feed Democrat narratives even further?' he added. Tucker Carlson on Monday night released footage from inside the Capitol on January 6, including clips showing the 'QAnon Shaman', Jacob Chansley (above), being apparently 'escorted' through the building In footage screened on Carlson's show Monday night, so-called QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley was apparently seen being escorted into the Senate by Capitol police officers. Carlson suggested that challenged the prevailing narrative that Chansley - jailed for four years over the incident - aggressively barged into the chamber. Also broadcast was footage of Captiol cop Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the riot. It was originally suggested Sicknick's death came as the result of being attacked with a fire extinguisher and pepper spray by rioters. But a medical examiner later ruled he'd died of natural causes. And Carlson shared footage of Sicknick walking around the Capitol after the attack. Sicknick died the following day. He also referenced Ray Epps, who was seen among the rioters urging them to storm the Capitol, yet was never charged - giving rise to suspicion that Epps was in fact an informant. Epps has denied working for the government. On Monday, Carlson suggested Epps was lying. 'Very little about January 6 was organized or violent. 'Surveillance video from inside the Capitol shows mostly peaceful chaos.' Carlson pointed to footage showing the 'QAnon Shaman' - a bare-chested, Viking helmet-wearing Jacob Chansley - inside the Capitol. Chansley, a 33-year-old naval veteran from Arizona, was one of the most high-profile figures to enter the Capitol on January 6. He has been jailed for almost four years for 'obstructing an official proceeding.' In the footage, Chansley appears to be guided by an official as he wanders the Capitol. He passes a line of riot police, who make no move to stop him. Then they escort him to various entrances of the chamber which appear to be locked, and eventually find him an open door through which he vanishes. 'Virtually every moment of his time inside the Capitol was caught on tape,' said Carlson. 'The tapes show the Capitol police never stopped Jacob Chansley. They helped him. They acted as his tour guides.' Chansley is seen being followed through the Capitol by a police officer Carlson further suggested alleged Capitol Rioter Ray Epps - pictured in red Trump cap - was actually an FBI agent send to stoke violence. Epps denies his claims Carlson also showed the moments after Officer Brian Sicknick was confronted by the rioters. Four officers died by suicide in the days and weeks after the riot. There have also been roughly 1,000 arrests. The footage comes as Fox News continues to contest a $1.6 billion lawsuit taken out against the broadcasting giant by Dominion, who manufactured voting machines for the 2020 election. Fox is being sued over claims the network endorsed theories the firm's voting machines were rigged to deliver a Biden win. The broadcaster's owner Rupert Murdoch was recently deposed over the lawsuit, and said he'd 'liked (Fox) to have been stronger denouncing' the stolen election claims. Fox news denies the claims made against it by Dominion. What does Illegal Immigration Bill set out to do? Will measures fall foul of 'Blob' Previous attempts to solve the Channel crisis have been blocked by 'Establishment forces', Home Secretary Suella Braverman says today. And her Illegal Migration Bill is likely to face similar opposition from 'the Blob'. Ministers have long blamed the Blob comprised of obstructive civil servants, trade unions and pressure groups of undermining solutions set out by the Government. So what does the new Bill set out to achieve and how likely is it to be controversial with the Blob? Previous attempts to solve the Channel crisis have been blocked by 'Establishment forces', Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) says today Disqualify asylum claims All migrants who arrive by 'irregular routes' such as by small boats will have asylum claims instantly declared inadmissible. This will allow the Home Office to rapidly remove them to their home country, Rwanda or another safe country. Pro-migrant campaigners have already condemned the move, saying it breaches international refugee treaties and risks putting genuine asylum seekers at risk. Controversy factor: 5/5 Detain all Channel migrants The Home Secretary said illegal entrants will be detained 'without bail or judicial review'. The Bill sets out that a decision to detain someone 'is final and is not liable to be questioned or set aside in any court' except in very limited circumstances. Introducing across-the-board detention is likely to be opposed by human rights groups, as will the plan to restrict opportunities for legal challenges. Controversy factor: 4/5 More migrants were brought ashore in Kent on Monday ahead of the new laws being unveiled Migrants including women and children are removed from a Border Force vessel after being picked up in the Channel on Monday Deport Channel migrants The Home Secretary will be under a new duty to remove migrants from the UK. It will apply to those who come here illegally at any point after yesterday and who have 'not come directly from a territory where their life and freedom was threatened'. Migrants' opportunities to appeal against deportation will be severely restricted. In limited cases their challenge can be heard by an immigration tribunal. Controversy factor: 5/5 Block Strasbourg judges The Home Secretary announced that the Government will square up to the European Court of Human Rights. They will ask Strasbourg to restrict the way it uses temporary injunctions known as Rule 39 orders to block UK legislation. A Rule 39 order issued by Strasbourg last June barred the first attempt to send migrants to Rwanda. Controversy factor: 5/5 Human rights compatibility MRS Braverman said yesterday's package of measures is so 'robust and novel' she was not able to make a statement of compatibility with the Human Rights Act, which is normally done. Instead, ministers ask Parliament to pass the new laws even though there's a risk it breaches human rights legislation a process known as a 'Section 19(1)(b) statement'. The move is sure to attract howls of protest from human rights groups and will be scrutinised by peers in the House of Lords. Controversy factor: 4/5 Limit modern slavery claims The Bill will disqualify irregular migrants from claiming they are victims of exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act. Currently they are able to lodge a claim with little or no evidence. Controversy factor: 2/5 Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer wants new White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients to hand over all communications about a National Archives statement that was drafted but not released the day of an explosive report about documents marked classified at a former office for President Biden. Comer put forward the demand in a new letter to Zients, which follows other attempts to try to claw potentially damaging information from the White House. This time, he is armed with information gleaned from chief counsel for the Archives Gary Stern. The push comes amid escalating tensions with the White House, who last week blasted Comer for 'despicable' claims that Biden's late son Hunter should have been indicted. Representative James Comer (R-KY) has fired off a letter to the White House, this time seeking to learn about a National Archives statement that was written but not released when the discovery of documents marked 'classified' at the Penn Biden center was first made public Comer cites the testimony, where Stern was asked in an appearance before the Oversight and Accountability committee whether he drafted a statement the day CBS News reported on January 9 that documents stored at the Penn Biden Center contained classified material. On January 9th of 2023, CBS broke the story that President Biden stored documents at Penn Biden Center that were subject to the Presidential Records Act and also contained classified material. Did you draft a statement in response to that CBS report? 'NARA did draft a statement,' he responded. 'Did it go public?' Stern was asked, responding in the negative. When asked who prevented a statement from going public, he responded, 'According to the DOJ guidance, I'm not supposed to talk about the, you know, content of our communications with other parties.' Comer addressed the letter to new White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients The letter follows the discovery of documents with classified markings at Biden's Wilmington home and other developments The slew of reports about Biden has brought a second special counsel probe into being There was another search in February at the University of Delaware, where Biden's Senate documents are housed The search for classified material continues Comer references previous letters that got no substantive response He quotes testimony by an Archives lawyer Stern was then told the Archives did publish a statement after the Washington Post reported that documents marked classified were uncovered at former President Donald Trump's home at Mar-a-Lago. 'The Committee is concerned about President Biden's lack of transparency given the serious national security implications of his conduct,' Comer wrote. White House spokesman Ian Sams pointed to a February tweet where he is quoted saying the White House did not ask Archives to withhold a statement. The Comer letter that the Republican-led panel had fired off previous letters January 10, 13, and 15, without any document production or 'substantive response.' Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, released his own letter denying the administration 'improperly suppressed information,' and calling on Comer to release the transcript in its entirety. 'Committee Republicans continue to make unfounded accusations of disparate treatment by the National Archives and the Department of Justice in their efforts to preserve presidential records and secure classified records,' said Raskin. 'Today, Committee Democrats are releasing a previously undisclosed letter received last Congress from the Justice Department demonstrating the agency's longstanding policy to not disclose information that could interfere with the integrity of ongoing investigations. Committee Republicans have failed to identify any evidence to support their irresponsible claims that the National Archives and the Department of Justice are politically biased and have been uncooperative with their investigation.' He called on Comer to release the transcript of Stern's interview 'so that the American public can evaluate the facts free from partisan spin.' The fight over White House information is the latest venue in the sprawling document saga. Last month, the FBI searched the University of Delaware, Biden's alma matter where many of his Senate records are held. That followed searches of his Penn Biden office, his Wilmington home, and his Rehoboth, Delaware Beach House in search of additional material. Separate special counsels named by Attorney General Merrick Garland are probing Biden's documents issues as well as the government's long-running effort to get back government material including documents marked 'classified' from former President Donald Trump. Comer's letter states that the matter raises 'more questions regarding the Biden Administration's involvement in suppressing information related to President Biden's mishandling of classified documents.' The White House has publicly argued the opposite: that the administration was complying voluntarily and being 'transparent' about information that comes in. It continues to face questions about why the information was not released immediately when Biden's team first discovered material marked classified days before the November elections. Biden said in January as the story was still unfolding he had 'no regrets' and has been 'following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do.' Network Ten has revealed the email one of its staff members sent to Bruce Lehrmann ahead of a bombshell interview with Brittany Higgins where she alleged she had been raped by him in Parliament House. The email, referred to as part of Ten's defence to defamation proceedings launched by Mr Lehrmann in the Federal Court, included 16 questions sent to an email address believed to be controlled by him. The email included the question 'Did you rape Brittany Higgins as alleged?' and offered him a chance to tell his side of the story on The Project, where Ms Higgins' interview was slated to air. The network discloses that the email address was supplied to Ten by Ms Higgins' boyfriend, David Sharaz. Ten has argued in its defence that staff made 'reasonable attempts' to get Mr Lehrmann's side of the story before it broadcast Lisa Wilkinson's interview with Ms Higgins, a former Liberal Party staffer. In the document, it says a producer called, texted and emailed Mr Lehrmann on five occasions from February 12 to February 15, 2021. Network Ten has revealed the email its staff sent Bruce Lehrmann ahead of airing a bombshell interview with former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins where she alleged she had been raped in Parliament House THE 16 QUESTIONS NETWORK TEN ASKED BRUCE LEHRMANN Did you attend a drinks function with Ms Higgins and colleagues on 22nd March 2019? Did you buy Ms Higgins drinks? Did you become intoxicated at the drinks? Did Ms Higgins become intoxicated at the drinks? Did you share a taxi with Ms Higgins after the drinks? Did you take Ms Higgins to Australian Parliament House after the drinks? Did you use your pass to enter Parliament House? Did you use your pass to enter the Ministerial Wing? Did you rape Brittany Higgins as alleged? Did you leave Parliament House without Ms Higgins after the alleged rape? Were you sacked or given an opportunity to resign over the alleged rape? Have you ever had contact with the AFP Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team (SACAT)? Have you ever been interviewed by the AFP or the AFP SACAT? Have you ever been interviewed by the APH police regarding events on the evening of 22nd March 2019 and the morning of 23rd March 2019? Have you seen the CCTV footage showing you and Ms Higgins in Parliament House on the evening of 22nd March 2019 and/or the morning of 23rd March 2019? Are you available for an interview with The Project? Advertisement The email to Mr Lehrmann, sent on the afternoon of Friday, February 12, from producer Angus Llewellyn said: 'I'm producing a story for Network Ten's The Project. 'The Project has been informed of an alleged rape of Brittany Higgins perpetrated by you within a minister's office in Australian Parliament House on the evening of 22 March 2019/morning of 23rd March 2019.' It asked Mr Lehrmann to respond by 10am the following Monday. After pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins, Mr Lehrmann stood trial in the ACT Supreme Court before it was aborted due to juror misconduct. The charges were subsequently dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Lehrmann has continually denied any allegation he sexually assaulted Ms Higgins, a former colleague, at Parliament House in March 2019, and filed a defamation claim shortly afterwards. Mr Lehrmann is suing Wilkinson and Network 10, as well as journalist Samantha Maiden and News Corp Australia's News Life Media over their coverage of the allegations made by Ms Higgins. Ten said it would rely on a defence of truth and qualified privilege. The broadcaster also argues that as its interview with Ms Higgins was broadcast on February 15, 2021 and is therefore more than two years old, Mr Lehrmann's lawsuit is not maintainable as it was filed beyond the one-year limitation period. Wilkinson has retained her own legal team led by high-profile defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC and has previously filed her defence. She arrived at Sydney Airport on Wednesday after returning from a trip to the UK for a week. Ten has argued in its defence that staff made 'reasonable attempts' to get Mr Lehrmann's side of the story before it broadcast Lisa Wilkinson's (pictured) interview with Ms Higgins Wilkinson is seen arriving in Sydney on Wednesday after travelling to the UK for a week Wilkinson is seen at Sydney Airport on Wednesday Mr Lehrmann has claimed the segment on The Project carried four false and defamatory meanings including that he raped Ms Higgins inside Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office and that he left her on the couch in a state of undress. He was not named in any broadcast or articles, but his statement of claim argues his identity would have been known in political circles and was further ascertainable when he was charged and publicly named in August 2021. Ten said the broadcast had an average national audience of approximately 726,728, including 129,000 viewers in Sydney and 193,000 in Melbourne. Ten said in its defence: 'Had Lehrmann responded to Ten's attempts to contact him, Ten would have included Lehrmann's side of the story, by including his response or the substance of his response, in the matters complained of. Ms Higgins' partner David Sharaz (pictured together) had provided Network 10 with Mr Lehrmann's email address 'Depending on the nature of any response from Lehrmann, Ten may have considered offering him the opportunity to participate in an on-camera interview, which could have been included in the matters complained of or considered delaying publication of the matters complained of to give him an opportunity to respond.' Ten said Wilkinson and six producers were involved in putting together the story. Ten said its production team communicated with Ms Higgins, starting with an email exchange between Wilkinson and Mr Sharaz on January 18, 2021. While Ms Wilkinson's defence, which was filed last week, does not mention Mr Sharaz, Ten's defence says that he on several occasions exchanged phone calls, texts and emails with Wilkinson over January 18-20. He was also involved in later face-to-face meetings and texts with producers, the broadcaster said. The interview was recorded in Sydney on February 2, 2021 in the presence of the network's senior legal counsel. Ten says it did not pay Ms Higgins for the interview, outside of covering the cost of her flights and accommodation in Sydney. Ten claims it conducted extensive checks on claims made by Ms Higgins, including speaking to her former flatmate. It says it did not name Mr Lehrmann in the broadcast and referred to him as a 'senior male advisor' and 'senior staffer'. It also says before airing the story, the small group working on the story did its best to maintain confidentiality by giving its story the codename 'ENVIRO' and kept all documents and scripts off the shared server. Ten argues it was careful to distinguish between claims and facts and that the story made numerous references to 'allegations' and an 'alleged rape'. On February 10, Ten also obtained a signed statement from Ms Higgins in which she said: 'To the very best of my knowledge and recollection' the interview was a truthful account of the alleged sexual assault.' Wilkinson is also relying on defences of truth and qualified privilege. While Wilkinson does not deny the central defamatory claim of rape was conveyed, she said she cannot admit that Mr Lehrmann 'was reasonably identified by any viewer' when her broadcast aired. Mr Lehrmann has not yet responded to the allegations contained in the defences filed by Ten and Wilkinson. Huge swathes of Britain's coastline are at risk of being plunged underwater by 2100 amid sea level rises fuelled by climate change, a new study has warned. Researchers say parts of the south east and north west of England, south Wales and central Scotland, are most at risk. They also warned that in these regions even densely populated cities such as London, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are not safe. In these areas, flood damage is expected to increase by more than 25 per cent if action is not taken to counter climate change and rising sea levels, according to the study led by the University of Bristol. It claims that the annual damage caused by flooding in the UK could increase by more than a fifth over the next century unless all international pledges to reduce carbon emissions are met. Warning: Huge swathes of Britain's coastline are at risk of being plunged underwater by 2100 amid sea level rises fuelled by climate change, a new study has warned. This graphic shows the areas where the current annual cost of flooding damage (left) is expected to increase over the next 80 years (right) The study is the first to assess the risk of flooding using the most recent Met Office climate projections, which factor in the likely impact of climate change. It reveals that the forecasted increase in yearly flooding damage to properties and businesses could be avoided if all countries fulfil the ambitious pledges they signed up to at COP26, although Britain would also need to achieve its Net Zero commitments on time and in full. WHICH PARTS OF THE ENGLISH COASTLINE WILL BE THE WORST HIT BY EROSION? Figures published in 2019, based on data collected by the Environmental Agency's National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping project, suggest the following areas of England's coastline will be the worst hit by erosion: COASTAL EROSION: THE AREAS MOST AT RISK BY 2040 COASTAL AREA: LAND ERODED AFTER 20 YEARS: 1. Happisburgh, Norfolk 318 feet (97m) 2. Kessingland, Suffolk 230 feet (70m) 3. Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 223 feet (68m) 4. Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 200 feet (61m) 5. Sunderland, Tyne & Wear 131 feet (40m) 6. Filey, North Yorkshire 131 feet (40m) 7. Camber, East Sussex 131 feet (40m) Advertisement If these things do not happen, the study shows that the annual cost of flooding in the UK over the next century could grow by between 13 per cent and 23 per cent, depending on different levels of climate extreme projections. The study's lead author Paul Bates, professor of hydrology, said: 'For the first time this flood model gives us a more accurate and detailed picture of the impact of climate change on the risk of flooding in the future across the UK. 'The results are a timely warning to the country's political leaders and business sector that global commitments to significantly reduce carbon emissions must be taken very seriously, and ultimately take effect, in order to mitigate increased losses due to flooding.' The data has also highlighted the places in the UK where flooding risks will increase most rapidly, even under the best-case scenario where global warming is limited to 3.24F (1.8C). These include the south east and north west of England, south Wales and central Scotland. The new model also suggests that the risk of flooding in north east and central England, as well as eastern and northern Scotland, will change very little over the next 80 years. 'Although the most optimistic climate scenarios see only modest increases in flood losses at a national level, these new data demonstrate how this conceals dramatic variations across the country, with some places seeing large changes and others very little,' said Professor Bates. 'This is a result of changing patterns of future rainfall, river flow and sea level rise, and this leads to the regional differences we predict.' The model predicted 1-in-250-year flood water depth for Carlisle, showing maximum levels of water elevation This graph shows how the cost of flooding to Britain has increased as global warming has risen He added: 'We found that flooding increases most in places where risk is already high now, so the best thing we can do to prepare for the impact of climate change is to strengthen flood management in currently at-risk areas, and this will bring immediate economic and social benefits as well.' The new model takes into account historical flood risk and future climate projections, while researchers used flood losses from the Association of British Insurers to shed new light on the financial toll of flooding. The team of experts now plan to produce analysis for other countries across the world in an attempt to further understand of how climate change is likely to affect the risk of flooding globally. Co-author Dr Oliver Wing, also of the University of Bristol, said: 'This study, which harnesses new data and the very latest modelling techniques... has given a new level of insight into the impact of climate change on flooding in future. 'The modelling provides clear evidence that flood risk needs to be a bigger international priority and that current governance doesn't go far enough. 'While the majority of the nation's future flood risk already exists today, it is strongly in the UK's interest to exercise leadership in global carbon emission reduction efforts, both by example and as part of global diplomatic initiatives.' The study has been published in the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Science. Advertisement Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are certainly impressive at their ability to perform complicated tasks once thought only capable to humans. The revolutionary ChatGPT has been used to pass exams, deliver a sermon, write software and give relationship advice to name just a handful of its functions. But, for some people, these technologies have raised a scary question could they take my job? A study from Princeton University in New Jersey, US has revealed the 20 occupations most at risk of being made redundant thanks to AI. Taking the top spot is call centre operator, but the following eight are all teachers of different disciplines, including languages, history, law and religion. A study from Princeton University in New Jersey, USA has revealed the 20 occupations most at risk of being made redundant thanks to AI The authors wrote: 'The effect of AI on work will likely be multi-faceted. In some cases, AI may substitute for work previously done by humans, and in other cases, AI may complement work done by humans. TOP 20 OCCUPATIONS MOST LIKELY TO BE REPLACED BY AI Rank Job 1 Call centre operators 2 English language and literature teachers (higher education) 3 Foreign language and literature teachers (higher education) 4 History teachers (higher education) 5 Law teachers (higher education) 6 Philosophy and religion teachers (higher education) 7 Sociology teachers (higher education) 8 Political science teachers (higher education) 9 Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers (higher education) 10 Sociologists 11 Social work teachers (higher education) 12 Psychology teachers (higher education) 13 Communications teachers (higher education) 14 Political scientists 15 Area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers (higher education) 16 Arbitrators, mediators and concilliators 17 Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates 18 Geography teachers (higher education) 19 Library science teachers (higher education) 20 Clinical, counselling and school psychologists 'A prominent example of how AI capabilities continue to advance are the recent improvements in AI language modeling. 'In particular, ChatGPT, a language modeler released by OpenAI in late 2022, has garnered a huge amount of attention and controversy.' For their study, published on arXiv, the researchers first constructed an algorithm which measures the extent a 800 occupations could be automated by AI. They did this by linking 10 AI-powered applications, like translation, language modelling and image generation, to 52 human abilities, like oral comprehension and arm-hand steadiness. The results revealed the top 20 jobs that could have the largest proportion of their workload taken over by AI technology. Many of these jobs are high-paying roles that require a significant level of education, including actuaries, budget analysts, accountants and judges. But when the study authors adjusted the algorithm to account for significant advances in language modelling we have seen over the past few months, it gave a different list of at-risk jobs. Call centre workers were ranked as the most at risk, which may not be a surprise as many companies currently use AI-powered chatbots for this position. Lyft, Spotify and Mastercard are just several in the large group that prompt users to ask questions to a chatbot to direct their queries better. The researchers wrote: 'One might imagine that human telemarketers could benefit from language modeling being used to augment their work. 'For example, customer responses can be fed into a language modeling engine in real time and relevant, customer-specific prompts quickly fed to the telemarketer. 'Or, one might imagine that human telemarketers are substituted with language modeling enabled bots.' However, 14 out of the 20 occupations were higher education teachers in different disciplines, including History, Geography, Religion, Sociology and English. The authors note 'occupations in the field of education are likely to be relatively more impacted by advances in language modeling than other occupations' (stock image) Call centre workers were ranked as the most at risk, which may not be a surprise as many companies currently use AI-powered chatbots for this position (stock image) The team notes that 'occupations in the field of education are likely to be relatively more impacted by advances in language modeling than other occupations.' The study comes shortly after researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne revealed which jobs they thought were the most and least likely to be taken by robots. Their findings suggest that meat packers, cleaners and builders face the highest risk of being replaced by machines, while teachers, lawyers and physicists are safe. 'The key challenge for society today is how to become resilient against automation,' explained Professor Rafael Lalive, who co-led the study. 'Our work provides detailed career advice for workers who face high risks of automation, which allows them to take on more secure jobs while re-using many of the skills acquired on the old job.' Based on the findings, the researchers developed a tool that revealed the automation risk of your job, and how you could reuse your abilities. Advertisement An archaeological dig has uncovered what is believed to be a Roman shrine beneath a graveyard. Excavations at the site of an old song school in the grounds of Leicester Cathedral began in October 2021 and have since produced a 'remarkable' amount of information, dig directors have said. The cellar of a Roman building and a 1,800-year-old altar stone have been discovered during the excavation, led by University of Leicester Archaeological Services, suggesting the presence of a shrine or cult room. The cellar now nearly 10ft (three metres) below the ground is believed to have had a concrete floor and stone walls, with decorative paintwork. Mathew Morris, Project Officer, said: 'It could be really significant. It's an area of Leicester that we don't get to excavate very often. It's the historic quarter of the town, so it's one of those big blank areas on the map of the city. Excavations at the site of an old song school in the grounds of Leicester Cathedral began in October 2021 and have since produced a 'remarkable' amount of information, dig directors have said The cellar of a Roman building and a 1,800-year-old altar stone (pictured) have been discovered during the excavation, led by University of Leicester Archaeological Services, suggesting the presence of a shrine or cult room As well as evidence of Roman activity, 1,100 burials dating from the 11th century to the mid-19th century have also been discovered, which will be analysed and then reinterred at a later date by the cathedral. 'But it's also quite fundamental in understanding the history of Leicester Cathedral. 'Whilst it's an iconic building in the cityscape, we don't actually know too much about its early history and most of what you see above ground today was rebuilt in the Victorian period. 'So an excavation next to it was really the only way we were going to get to grips with key questions, like when was it first founded, and what was underneath it before? 'There's always been this folk tale that there was a Roman temple underneath the cathedral. 'Until now, there's been no way of being able to say whether there was or not, but we're certainly looking at, with this excavation and the discovery of this cellar and the fragment of a Roman altar stone out of it, that there is definitely a Roman place of worship underneath the cathedral.' It is believed the cellar was built in the second century and then deliberately filled in a century or two later, with Mr Morris saying it is believed the room was used to worship God or gods. Several pieces of Roman pottery and coins were also found. The dig was part of the planning conditions of the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project, a 12.7 million restoration of the Grade II* listed building, believed to have first been built in the 11th century, which will see a new heritage learning centre built on the site. An artist's impression of Roman Leicester (Ratae Corieltavorum) from the north-west, as it may have looked during the late 3rd century AD 'Until now, there's been no way of being able to say whether there was or not, but we're certainly looking at, with this excavation and the discovery of this cellar and the fragment of a Roman altar stone out of it, that there is definitely a Roman place of worship underneath the cathedral,' Mr Morris said The dig was part of the planning conditions of the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project, a 12.7 million restoration of the Grade II* listed building, believed to have first been built in the 11th century, which will see a new heritage learning centre built on the site The area of land that was excavated, in the middle of the medieval town, was just 150 square feet (14 square metres), but Mr Morris said 'if you dig any hole in Leicester, you're going to find something'. As well as evidence of Roman activity, 1,100 burials dating from the 11th century to the mid-19th century have also been discovered, which will be analysed and then reinterred at a later date by the cathedral. Mr Morris, 42, added: 'It's going to give us a really good insight into this area of Leicester.' The dig has also uncovered rare evidence from the Anglo-Saxon period, including the first coin from the period to be found in the city in 20 years and potentially the first proof of a building from the era in that part of the city. John Thomas, deputy director at Ulas, said: 'This excavation has produced a remarkable amount of archaeological evidence from a modestly sized area. Personal adornments lost by the residents of Roman Leicester, found during the recent excavations at Leicester Cathedral. Left: A copper alloy head stud brooch dating to the late 1st or early 2nd century AD. It is intact except for the pin which has broken off. Right: Two hair pins crafted from animal bone. Their globular heads suggest that they date to the 3rd or 4th century AD Several pieces of Roman pottery and coins were also found, including a shard of Roman decorated samian ware pottery (left) and Roman coins (right) 'The project allowed us to venture into an area of Leicester that we rarely have the opportunity to investigate, and it certainly did not disappoint. 'When we began the project, we had several key research questions, but we were not sure how much of an impact the song school foundations would have had. 'Fortunately, the archaeology was very well-preserved and, whilst there is still a lot of analysis work still to do, we are confident that we'll be able to address all of our questions and more. 'We'll have a much clearer idea of what was happening on the site in the Roman period, when the parish church of St Martin's was founded, and a unique insight into the story of Leicester through its residents who were buried here for over 800 years.' The cellar now nearly 10ft (three metres) below the ground is believed to have had a concrete floor and stone walls, with decorative paintwork 'The project allowed us to venture into an area of Leicester that we rarely have the opportunity to investigate, and it certainly did not disappoint,' Mr Thomas said Advertisement Ever wondered what it would be like to watch the sun set on another planet? Well, this dazzling image below captures the stunning spectacle on Mars and is the first time sun rays have been viewed so clearly on the Red Planet. It was snapped by NASA's veteran rover Curiosity, which landed on our neighbouring planet back in 2012. Martian sunsets tend to be rather moodier than those on Earth, but this one is particularly eye-catching because it shows rays of light illuminating a bank of clouds as the sun falls over the horizon. The sun rays, which are also known as crepuscular rays from the Latin word for 'twilight', were captured on February 2 while Curiosity was carrying out its newest twilight cloud survey. Ever wondered what it would be like to watch the sun set on another planet? Well, this dazzling image captures the stunning spectacle on Mars and is the first time sun rays have been viewed so clearly on the Red Planet Eye-catching: The Martian sun rays is not the only spectacle Curiosity has captured recently. It also snapped a set of colourful clouds shaped like a feather (pictured). The image shows them take on an almost rainbow-like appearance because they have been illuminated by sunlight in a process known as iridescence The clouds in the image are special because they are at a much higher altitude than usual and where it is extremely cold, meaning they are likely made of carbon dioxide or dry ice. MARS: THE BASICS Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, with a 'near-dead' dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere. Mars is also a dynamic planet with seasons, polar ice caps, canyons, extinct volcanoes, and evidence that it was even more active in the past. It is one of the most explored planets in the solar system and the only planet humans have sent rovers to explore. One day on Mars takes a little over 24 hours and a year is 687 Earth days. Facts and Figures Orbital period: 687 days Surface area: 55.91 million mi Distance from Sun: 145 million miles Gravity: 3.721 m/s Radius: 2,106 miles Moons: Phobos, Deimos Advertisement Most clouds on Mars hover no more than 37 miles (60 kilometres) above the ground and consist of water ice. Curiosity's latest survey builds on its 2021 observations of noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds. It is doing this because, in much the same way as on Earth, clouds provide vital information for scientists hoping to understand more about the planet's weather. Experts can learn a lot about the Martian atmosphere, including wind speeds and current temperatures, based on when and where clouds form. While Curiosity's 2021 cloud survey involved the use of its black-and-white navigation cameras, this new one is relying more on the rover's colour Mast Camera, or Mastcam. The difference is that the black-and-white cameras offered scientists a chance to study a cloud's structure as it moves, whereas the colour one enables them to see how cloud particles are growing over time. This new cloud survey began in January and will end in mid-March. The Martian sun rays is not the only spectacle Curiosity has captured recently, however. It also snapped a set of colourful clouds shaped like a feather on January 27. The image shows them taking on an almost rainbow-like appearance because they have been illuminated by sunlight in a process known as iridescence. 'Where we see iridescence, it means a cloud's particle sizes are identical to their neighbours in each part of the cloud,' said Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist with the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. 'By looking at colour transitions, we're seeing particle size changing across the cloud. 'That tells us about the way the cloud is evolving and how its particles are changing size over time.' Both the sun rays and rainbow clouds were captured as panoramas by Curiosity and stitched together from 28 images that were sent back to NASA engineers on Earth. In 2015, Curiosity recorded a sequence of views of the sun setting at the close of its 956th Martian day, or sol (pictured) Milestone moment: Last August marked 10 years since NASA's Curiosity rover (pictured) touched down on the Red Planet It comes eight years after Curiosity recorded a sequence of amazing views of the sun setting at the close of its 956th Martian day, or sol. Those images, which were put together into an animation, were taken by the rover's Mastcam and can be seen above. Last August marked 10 years on the Red Planet for the rover. The one-tonne vehicle launched from Earth in November 2011 and after an arduous nine-month journey which included the 'seven minutes of terror' down to the Martian surface it set out to look for evidence that Mars may once have supported life. Since then, the rover has driven more than 18 miles (29 kilometres) and ascended over 2,000 feet (625 metres) as it explores Gale Crater and the foothills of Mount Sharp within it. The rover has analysed some 40 rock and soil samples, relying on a suite of science instruments to learn what they reveal about Earth's rocky sibling. Such has been its success, what was originally intended to be a two-year mission was later extended indefinitely, leading to a rather busy decade. Curiosity has studied the Red Planet's skies capturing images of shining clouds and drifting moons while the rover's radiation sensor has allowed scientists to measure the amount future astronauts would be exposed to on the Martian surface, helping NASA figure out how to keep them safe. But most importantly, the rover has determined that liquid water as well as the chemical building blocks and nutrients needed for supporting life were present for at least tens of millions of years in Gale Crater. Although it has been joined by a new NASA rover in Perseverance in February 2021, Curiosity continues to strut its stuff while being led by the US space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Since the evening of 28 February, Greek society has been rocked by the deadliest railway accident in the history of the country, and one of the worst in European and world history. This terrible event, resulting from the negligence of the government and private rail operators, has provoked a huge outpouring of anger and protest, as well as strike action by railway workers and other sectors. A 24-hour general public sector strike has been announced for tomorrow (8 March). The tragedy has further ratcheted up the class struggle in Greece, which was already roaring back to life. The bloody collision between a commercial and a passenger train in Tempi (near the city of Larisa in central Greece) led to 57 dead and 72 injured, as of the time of writing these lines. This bloodshed could have been avoided easily with most elementary precautions. This was not merely an accident: it was a crime. Criminal indifference Despite attempts by the government and media to cover up the truth, the masses understd the criminal nature of the tragedy from the first testimonies of the railway workers.The fatal collision of the two trains was due to the simultaneous and egregious failure of the light signalling; the remote control; and the special electronic traffic control system (ETCS) which protects against human error. If all these safety systems had been working, then the collision would have been avoided. Despite attempts by the government and media to cover up the truth, the masses understd the criminal nature of the tragedy from the first testimonies of the railway workers / Image: Hellenic Red Cross, Twitter But instead, it was revealed in front of the astonished eyes of millions of people that the coordination of railway routes is done exclusively by a few, often elderly and insufficiently trained station masters. The government; its relevant ministry; the privileged bureaucrats in the management of OSE (Greek Railways Organisation); and Hellenic Train - the profiteering company that has monopolised the country's railway network since 2017 - had all received ample and dire warnings from workers and their unions of an impending, major crash. Just four months ago, at the beginning of November, after repeated derailments and staff injuries, the Panhellenic Union of Traction Personnel (PEPE) sent legal document to OSE and the Ministry of Infrastructure, with notification to the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS), denouncing all the scandalously unresolved technical problems that eventually led to the Tempi collision. The union emphasised that understaffing and underfunding had reached extremely dangerous levels and demanded that immediate measures be taken. The same issues were raised just a few days before the crash occurred, on 7 February 2023, in an announcement by the Democratic Unionists Trade Union Movement of Railways (DESK), the trade union sector of the KKE for railway workers. It even says "we will not wait for the accident that is coming, to see them shed crocodile tears." The indifference with which all these warnings of the workers were met was the final act in carrying out the crime. The deep roots of crime The roots of 28 February are very deep. The dire state and delayed refurbishment of the Greek railways is a longstanding symptom of the underdevelopment of Greek capitalism compared to the most advanced Western capitalist states. The Greek state acquired a central national railway organisation only in 1920, under the name "Railways of the Hellenic State" (S.E.K.). This organisation, in fact, only in the mid-1960s gathered under its control all the railway lines of the country, with the exception of those of the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways and the private lines of mines and factories. The SEK later evolved into the OSE (Organisation of Railways of Greece) in 1971, combining in its DNA the underdevelopment of Greek capitalism and the extreme corruption and military administrative mentality of the ruling junta. In the mid-1990s, the OSE, at the general urging of the EU for liberation (privatisation) of the railways, began the process of privatisation by dividing the rail network up into smaller companies. This led to the establishment of ERGOSE (research) in 1996; GAIOSE in 2001 (estate and real estate management) and TRAINOSE (network operation) in 2005. From 2008, underfunding led to the independence of TRAINOSE from OSE, which officially put it on track to being sold off. It is worth noting here this model of breaking up the state organisations of the railways did not apply to all "partners" within the EU. Powerful states such as Germany and France did not proceed in this direction the policy was applied only to poorer countries in the south that already faced austerity conditions in the previous decade. In April 2013, in the midst of the great government debt crisis, the Samaras-led coalition government (ND-PASOK-DIMAR) transferred all the shares of TRAINOSE to the special fund for the sale of public property, controlled by the troika (European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund), TAIPED. In 2017, the SYRIZA-ANEL memorandum coalition, at the demand of the troika, sold TRAINOSE to the Italian state-owned railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group (FSI), and turned it into its joint-stock subsidiary, which from July 2022 is now called Hellenic Train. Of course, the debt of the OSE, amounting to 14.3 billion euros, has always remained with the state and is carried by working taxpayers. The humiliating price for the privatisation amounted to only 45 million euros, at a time when the Greek state committed to annually subsidising the company with 50 million euros for supposedly "barren" routes, which even included the main train line running from Athens to Thessaloniki. The details of the colonial style contract that accompanied the privatisation are still being kept secret. Thus, Greece is the only European country in which the citizens do not know which railway routes a private company (subsidised with state money) has committed to running. Of course, the corresponding contract for the subsidising routes that Trenitalia has signed with the Italian State, owned by the company that bought TRAINOSE, has been made public. Recently, even the Deputy Minister of Transport, in charge of infrastructure, G. Karagiannis, characterised this convention as having a "colonial character", without doing anything to make it public. The Greek state is also the only one in the EU to completely displace the state provider, i.e. OSE, from the execution of a railway project. Degeneration The privatisation of TRAINOSE not only did not develop the Greek railways, but dramatically exacerbated the state of disorganisation and systematic underfunding of OSE, and the problems of the ageing network and understaffing. According to relevant research, which involved 16 journalists from 13 countries, and was published in the Editors' Journal just 12 days before the crash, in the period following privatisation a number of routes were thinned, abolished or replaced by buses. The "Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli" route, which used to take six hours, now takes eight hours, some of which cannot be done by train! From Alexandroupoli to Ormenio, only one-eighth of the routes from 2016 are still running. Towards the west, the connection between Thessaloniki and nearby cities such as Edessa and Florina has turned into a ghost service, with trains running without station masters! In addition, the Peloponnese network has been closed, with the exception of a small section of the line from Pyrgos-Olympia-Katakolon. The new era of privatisation has brought such a catastrophe, even by capitalist standards, that in 2019 the Greek government officially requested a five-year exemption from the application of the European Regulation 1371/2007 for the protection of passenger rights. This disaster underlines the magnitude of the indifference, mismanagement and corruption of the ND government / Image: World Economic Forum, Flickr At the same time, OSE has turned into a shadow of its former self. According to the Panhellenic Federation of Railways, today only 880 employees serve in OSE, compared to the approximately 2,100 that are officially needed! So it is to be expected that, in order to be able to ensure the rudimentary operation of the railway, the workers are forced to work overtime every day. The old unified OSE at the beginning of 2000 had 12,500 employees, while now the sum of OSE and TRAINOSE personnel is only about 2,000 people. In fact, the rest of the EU states have more than twice as many personnel per kilometre of network than Greece. The safety of the routes, as was tragically proven on 28 February, after the privatisation and sharp aggravation of the withering of the OSE, turned into an unnecessary luxury in the eyes of its owners. Today, 55 percent of the network do not have signalling and remote control systems, and only a small part of the Tithorea-Lianokladi-Domokos axis has signalling. In fact, as former railway workers reported to the Naftemporiki newspaper on 3 March, exactly in the section of track where the crime took place, until 2013 the signalling was working. But from 2014, the problems started due to lack of maintenance because the company didn't want to replace the material that was repeatedly stolen. And all this is happening despite the fact that, according to statements on 3 March by Albert Zanz, press representative of the European Commission for the Environment, since 2016 the Greek state has received 700,000,000 euros from the Connecting Europe Facility programme. This was for projects to upgrade and construct lines, with 110 million allocated for the Athens-Thessaloniki line, on which the electronic control system should have been operational from 2020. If true, this underlines the magnitude of the indifference, mismanagement and corruption of the ND government, but also the previous SYRIZA-ANEL government. It also highlights the hypocrisy of the EU, which on the one hand is supposed to give money to support the railway as an ecological means of transport, while on the other, through the troika, it calls on the Greek governments to make the biggest possible cuts in staff and operating costs, condemning the railways to withering. With privatisation also came the extreme aggravation of the understaffing problem. It is indicative that the OSE now has only 30 technicians for the maintenance of signalling from Patras to the Greek-Bulgarian border, while in the past it had more than 300 technicians. And as far as the station masters are concerned, just one day before the crime, the OSE announced the recruitment of 67 station masters, for six-month period with a self-employed status! How many of us can imagine something like that happening, for example, with air traffic controllers? More generally, the OSE does not have the basic sufficient number of station masters, pointmasters, drivers, or even employees who adjust the clocks at the stations. And as if that wasn't enough, on 14 April 2022, the ND government decided to reward the Italian company with yet another mammoth state subsidy deal. The agreement provides for the maintenance of the subsidy of 50 million euros for the next 15 years, without any study to support this subsidy being made public. The shameful attempt to cover up the crime must not pass! The government, with the help of the media, is now conducting a scandalous campaign to cover up the crime as a product of human error, pointing their finger at the 60-year-old stationmaster. This was coupled with the resignation of the Minister of Transport, K. Karamanlis. In the context of this cover-up campaign, the responsibility for investigating the crash was appointed to the notorious right-wing prosecutor of the Supreme Court Dogiakos, whose son has served for four years as an employee in the office of Karamanlis! In addition to the railway workers, who are striking en masse, thousands of workers and young people mobilised in the squares of dozens of cities / Image: , Twitter In addition, in the committee for the investigation of the tragedy, they appointed Athanasios Zeliaskopoulos, the man who served as President and CEO of TRAINOSE during the period 2010-2015, where the biggest cuts were made and the remote control system stopped working (he eventually resigned a day after his appointment due to an outpouring of rage). This sordid scheme to cover up the crime must not succeed! Already, the revelations of the dismantling of the railways, but also the insolent government propaganda itself, have caused a tsunami of righteous anger and indignation. In addition to the railway workers, who are striking en masse, thousands of workers and young people mobilised in the squares of dozens of cities. There were also sit-ins at dozens of schools. On Sunday 5 March, there was a mass rally of 50,000 mostly young people, called by the trade unions of the rail workers, as well as ADEDY (the public workers union). The rally would undoubtedly have been larger if the police did not attack it brutally and break it up using teargas. Thus, we see before us further evidence of the radicalising consciousness, especially of the youth, who are reacting to the rot, decadence and criminal nature of the capitalist system, as well as the government and the state that represent it. This combative mood, however, is unfortunately undermined, first of all, by the passive attitude of the SYRIZA leadership. Feeling its co-responsibility as the pioneer of privatisation in 2017, it follows a shameless policy of "silent mourning", behind which the government tries to avoid the blows of popular anger. Moreover, for its part, the leadership of the KKE once again split the mobilisations, refusing to coordinate with the other forces in the labour movement and the youth, and thus, with the help of the sectarian organisations calling rallies of their own, do everything in their power to fragment and tire the movement out prematurely, with hasty, disorganised and fragmented calls to action. But the enormous social impact of this issue, as well as the magnitude of the effect of this crime on the consciousness of workers and youth, require the best possible coordination and the greatest possible unity of all of the forces in struggle. No to the silent protest, which is convenient for covering up the crime of Tempi! No common mourning with those responsible for the crime! For a massive and militant struggle to punish the guilty! NASA announced Tuesday that it is on track to launch the next phase of its Artemis program in November 2024, which will see a crewed mission soar around the moon. Artemis II will see four astronauts make the epic journey inside the Orion capsule, taking them around the moon and reaching a maximum altitude of 5,523 miles above the surface. The first part of the program saw an uncrewed capsule returning to Earth after a more than 25-day mission, which tested Orion's technologies to ensure astronauts' safety. Artemis III, scheduled for about 12 months after Artemis II, will see astronauts land for the first time on the moon's south pole and will be the first time humans plant boots on the lunar surface since 1972. NASA announced Tuesday it is on track to send four people around the moon and back in 2024. The crew will launch atop the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket NASA associate administrator Jim Free said in a statement: 'We're looking forward to that crew flying on Artemis II. 'Right now, there's nothing holding us up based on what we learned on Artemis I.' Artemis I launched on November 16, 2022, signaling the first stage of the US space agency's goal to return people to the lunar surface for the first time in half a century. The program, however, was plagued with numerous delays that pushed the maiden launch data back since August. The $4 billion Space Launch System endured fuel leak concerns, engine issues and escaped the clutches of not one but two hurricanes. NASA said during the November launch that if all went well, the world could see humans take the same journey in 2024 - and the hope is becoming a reality. 'Our plan has always been 12 months, but there are significant developments that have to occur,' Free said. 'We're still sticking with that 12 months, but we're always looking at the development of all the hardware that has to come together for that.' The announcement follows a successful Artemis I that launched an uncrewed Orion capsule to the moon, which splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in December (pictured) NASA said during the November launch that if all went well, the world could see humans take the same journey in 2024 - and the hope is becoming a reality. Artemis II will take a similar path as Artemis I READ MORE: NASA's Orion snaps a stunning 'blue marble' image of Earth NASA's Orion capsule captured a stunning 'blue marble' image of the Earth nine hours into its epic journey to the moon. Advertisement Among the items still in development are a lunar lander built by SpaceX and spacesuits, Free said. NASA is also still set to reveal the members of the Artemis II crew later this year. All that is known so far is that one will be a Canadian. Orion logged over 1.4 million miles during the Artemis I mission. After Orion landed, it was recovered and secured in the well deck of the USS Portland, a US Navy ship. 'The splashdown of the Orion spacecraft which occurred 50 years to the day of the Apollo 17 Moon landing is the crowning achievement of Artemis 1,' said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. 'From the launch of the world's most powerful rocket to the exceptional journey around the moon and back to Earth, this flight test is a major step forward in the Artemis generation of lunar exploration. 'Today is a huge win for NASA, the United States, our international partners, and all of humanity.' Artemis 1 was not a manned mission, meaning there were no humans aboard the Orion capsule at any time, although there were manikins on board. The main goal of this mission was to test Orion's heat shield for the day when it is humans riding inside. Advertisement Up on deck theres a flurry of activity. What the hell is that? Theres a mad scramble to discern what exactly is heading towards our ship. Grab the binoculars! someone shouts. The theories come thick and fast then, oh, is it just a rope, or perhaps seaweed? But as it drifts by on the gentle ocean swell, it becomes clear it is, in fact, a huge sea snake. Its not the first eye-popping sight weve encountered out here on the waters off Australias Kimberley coastline. Our 12-night trip, running from the old pearling town of Broome to the vibrant port city of Darwin, has already taken us through the Horizontal Waterfalls and into mirrored bays where the rocks shelter ancient Aboriginal art, and along wild gorges where ospreys look out from crags in the crimson cliffs and crocodiles bask, open-jawed, in the thick heat of the sun. The Kimberley, in the far northern reaches of Western Australia, is one of the southern hemispheres last great wilderness destinations home to vast, deserted plains, towering mountains and a remote, almost impenetrable, coastline. The region is almost twice the size of the UK, yet it has fewer people per square metre than almost any other place on Earth. Its big, bold landscapes, pummelled by monsoonal rains in the wet season and baked red under intense heat in the dry, are imbued with fascinating history, from tales of pearl diving to frontier wars and Aboriginal creation myths. Some of the largest tides in the world slough the empty beaches here, and thousands of intriguing islands are scattered like shards of broken pottery along its coastline. Its no surprise this is a place best explored by boat. Sights to behold: Lizzie Pook joins a 12-night voyage on cruise ship Le Laperouse (above) around Kimberley in the far northern reaches of Western Australia And were on a very fine vessel indeed. Le Laperouse is a 184-capacity mega-yacht perfectly engineered to explore the sort of places that few have the privilege of visiting. It boasts 92 staterooms and suites (all with private balconies), a spa, a sommelier, butlers and inclusive helicopter trips. The food is exquisite, too. We start each day of adventure with a feast of benedicts, pancakes and omelettes, while dinners of king fish fillet, lobster and wagyu beef are served with the finest Artemis Domaines wines under the moon at Le Nautilus restaurant. But the most spoiling thing is not the food, nor the fancy suites, nor the lashings of champagne at breakfast. Without a doubt, it is our skilled expedition team, who filter us smoothly into Zodiac boats and take us out into this heart-thuddingly dramatic landscape. Lizzie travels on a luxury expedition ship called Le Laperouse. Pictured is the ship's sauna The ship boasts 92 staterooms and suites, which all have private balconies Lizzie enjoys dinners of king fish fillet, lobster and wagyu beef 'served with the finest Artemis Domaines wines' while onboard As we nose our way through the eerily atmospheric mangrove channels of Porosis Creek one day, expedition leader Brad Climpson regales us with tales of crocodiles launching their whole bodies out of the water to snatch prey from low-hanging branches. While snorkelling in vivid blue-green waters off Ashmore Reef, surrounded by sea turtles, manta rays and juvenile tiger sharks, the scientist and wildlife film-maker Dr Frederique Olivier takes us to a very special island. As we approach, the whole landmass appears to shiver, fracture apart then float upwards. We suddenly realise its tens of thousands of seabirds noddies, boobies and frigatebirds billowing about, filling the sky above us. It is one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen, and I half expect to turn my head and see Sir David Attenborough bobbing about on a boat behind us, binoculars raised. Spectacle: Lizzie experiences the thrill of Kimberley's Horizontal Waterfalls Le Laperouse (pictured) is 'perfectly engineered to explore the sort of places that few have the privilege of visiting' TRAVEL FACTS Lizzie Pook was a guest of Abercrombie & Kent. Its 12-night Kimberley Cruise: Australias Last Frontier 2023 costs from 12,699 per person (based on two sharing). The price includes flights to Broome via Perth, transfers, excursions in Broome, activities on board, private balcony accommodation with butler service on a full-board basis (abercrombiekent.co.uk). Lizzie Pooks historical novel Moonlight And The Pearlers Daughter (Picador) is set in the Kimberley. Advertisement A nightly lecture series, held in the ships theatre, helps us put what we have seen on our daily excursions into context. As well as talks by geologists and naturalists, anthropologist Dr Shirley Campbell helps us interpret the remarkable Wandjina rock art we come across while on land each day. This landscape may look bare, but people have lived here for tens of thousands of years. Bart Pigram, a Yawuru guide and museum curator from Broome, also speaks passionately and engagingly about his familys history with pearl diving, revealing that these natural treasures came at great human cost, with many indigenous workers losing their lives while being made to dive for the lucrative South Sea pearl shell. Its a real honour to learn, first-hand, from those who have dedicated their lives to studying this environment and its rich human and natural history. These talks provide us with a deep, valuable understanding of the Kimberley. Each day ends in fitting style, with cocktail hour on Le Laperouses observation deck. As we chat excitedly about the incredible things weve witnessed keeping our eyes peeled for more visiting sea snakes, or watching the flying fish skim over the flat ocean the sun slowly sinks, setting the sky ablaze with lilac, amber and gold. These iconic Kimberley sunsets are one of the most unfathomably gorgeous things you could ever see. A visit to this remote, exhilarating part of the world is worth it for that beauty alone. Advertisement This photography contest sets out to highlight the wonders of our planet and based on the latest batch of extraordinary winning pictures, its mission has been accomplished. The annual World Nature Photography Awards (WNPAs) was founded on the belief that photography can influence people to see the world from a different perspective and change their own habits for the good of the planet. The 2022 edition of the contest saw thousands of entries flood in from 45 countries across six continents, but one picture proved the clear winner for the judges, earning German photographer Jens Cullmann the title of World Nature Photographer of the Year and the 834 ($1,000) grand prize. Cullmanns striking winning photograph shows a crocodile lurking in the mud in Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe, the creature's bright yellow eye peeking through its muddy camouflage. Other prize-winning photographs include a shot of an elephant attempting to hide behind a tree in South Africa, a powerful picture of a storm-cloud swirling over Iowa and a mesmerising image of the night sky taken from inside an Icelandic glacier. Adrian Dinsdale, the co-founder of the WNPAs, said: We congratulate all our winners and offer our deepest thanks for capturing such spectacular images of our precious planet. Once again, we hope it provides great motivation to us all to do everything we can to protect the Earth for future generations. Below is MailOnline Travels pick of the photos that have scooped awards scroll to the very bottom to see the astonishing crocodile portrait that takes the top prize Storm clouds loom over a field in Iowa in this transfixing photograph by Israeli photographer Miki Spitzer. It takes the bronze medal in the 'Planet Earth's Landscapes and Environments' category Snapping up the top prize in the 'Behaviour - Birds' category, this picture shows a male hooded merganser - a species of duck - in Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. U.S photographer Charles Schmidt, who was behind the lens, says that the bird was 'headed directly' for him In this cleverly-framed shot, an African savanna elephant is seen 'camouflaging itself behind a too-small bush' in the Marataba Private Reserve of South Africa's Marakele National Park. Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand recalls how the elephant stepped behind the bush to 'try to hide' when the vehicle the photographer was travelling in approached the reserve. He says that eventually, the elephant seemed to realise that 'the bush was a bit too small, and walked calmly away'. The picture ranks third in the 'Behaviour - Mammals' category Snapping up the bronze medal in the 'Black and White' category, this heartwarming shot by British photographer Jules Oldroyd reveals a trio of elephants in the Savuti Area of Botswana A lone polar bear in the Arctic is beautifully captured in this picture by Israeli photographer Eduardo Feldman, which ranks second in the 'Behaviour - Mammals' category A herd of wildebeest cross a section of the Mara River in Kenya in this powerful shot by Polish photographer Artur Stankiewicz, which takes the silver medal in the 'Black and White' category This striking image zooms in on a troop of Japanese macaques that have formed a huddle on Japan's Awaji Island. Topping the podium in the 'Behaviour - Mammals' category, the picture is the work of Japanese photographer Hidetoshi Ogata, who explains that the island's macaques 'form huddles consisting of many individual monkeys, sometimes reaching more than 30'. He says: 'Cuddling and grooming are among several possible reasons for making a huddle. It begins with the mother and baby cuddling. Other females and young males then join in, as well as other cuddling groups' In this intriguing shot, a red-billed oxpecker perches on a resting warthog in South Africa's Zimanga Private Game Reserve. Hungarian photographer Tamas Aranyossy explains: 'The picture was taken at such a relaxing moment, when both animals rested a bit. I watched the bird's behaviour in amazement... this nice intimate moment shows the close relationship between two different animal species in nature.' The picture takes the silver medal in the 'Behaviour - Birds' category In this impressive picture, a crocodile is seen perched on a branch in eastern India's Bhitarkanika National Park. It's the handiwork of Indian photographer Ashok Behera and it takes the silver medal in the 'Behaviour - Amphibians and Reptiles' category Taken in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture, this startling picture shows a praying mantis capturing and devouring a lizard. Captured by Japanese photographer Takuya Ishiguro, it ranks second in the 'Behaviour - Invertebrates' category The top prize in the 'Behaviour - Amphibians and Reptiles' category goes to this picture of Japanese stream toads mating in a river in Japan's Mie Prefecture. It was captured by Japanese photographer Norihiro Ikuma, who explains that these toads usually live 'deep in the mountains' and only come down to the river when it's time to spawn The reflective, pink-tinged waters of Bolivia's Laguna Colorada salt lake are the subject of this vibrant picture by Hong Kong photographer Beatrice Wong, which takes the silver medal in the 'Planet Earth's Landscapes and Environments' category. Flamingos flock to the lake to feed on the red algae in the water, which lends it its colour, Wong reveals. She says: 'Laguna Colorada is one of the most picturesque and surreal places I have ever visited... legend has it that the water is actually the blood of the gods. It is truly an oasis of serenity and belongs inside a dream' UK photographer Vladislav Tasev captured this compelling picture of a common kestrel perched in the 'dilapidated, old, tall and rusty street lamps' that have become its home in an abandoned parking lot in the Bulgarian province of Stara Zagora. The picture reigns supreme in the 'Urban Wildlife' category Two white-tailed eagles fly past an industrial scene in Vladivostok, a Pacific port city in Russia, in this captivating picture. Snared by UAE photographer Nitin Michael, it takes the bronze medal in the 'Urban Wildlife' category Taking the gold medal in the 'Planet Earth's Landscapes and Environments' category is this enchanting picture of the Milky Way over Grand Teton Peak in Wyoming. U.S photographer Jake Mosher explains that he hiked, snowshoed, and climbed to the 11,000ft (3,353m) summit of nearby Table Mountain to get the angle for the shot. He says: 'While these iconic mountains have been photographed tens of thousands of times, I wanted to show an entirely unique view of them. I was treated to one of the most spectacular displays of airglow [the luminosity of the atmosphere] that I've ever seen' The Australian fur seal in this poignant picture has suffered a bad injury from a boat propeller, Australian photographer Nicolas Remy reveals. He captured the image, which is number one in the 'Nature Photojournalism' category, near Australia's Port Kembla harbour This picture shows a group of caiman reptiles getting sprayed with water during a rescue operation in South America's Pantanal wetland. It was taken in 2021, a year that the region faced 'the worst drought in 50 years', leaving the caimans dehydrated and malnourished, photographer Fernando Faciole reveals. His photograph claims the silver medal in the 'Nature Photojournalism' category Third in the 'Nature Photojournalism' category is this picture by U.S photographer Loren Kreisle of a bench on the edge of Iceland's Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Claiming the top prize in the 'People and Nature' category is this picture of the night sky, captured from inside a moulin (a vertical shaft) on Iceland's Solheimajokull glacier. Norwegian photographer Virgil Reglioni says that it shows 'how it feels to be inside the glacier's guts'. He says: 'Not many people would even dare to go in there, where it is dark, deep, cold, loud, and wet. And that is the whole purpose of this photograph; pushing your limits to capture what only a few people will ever experience at night.' The photographer continues: 'Abseiling down felt incredible, as the more we penetrated into this dark monster, the more the fear rises up.' Reglioni adds that there was 'about 30m (98ft) of dark void' under his feet in the glacial shaft This picture shows a seal tangled in a net on the small German island of Dune in the North Sea. Dutch photographer Alex Pansier, who was behind the lens, says that the photograph 'touches him'. He explains: 'The animal seems to have cataracts and has also become entangled in a fishing net. Yet it is as if the creature has a smile on his face and he seemed used to the net. This contrast really appealed to me.' The shot bags a silver medal in the 'People and Nature' category This eye-catching image zooms in on a seaweed blenny at the Blue Heron Bridge dive site in Florida's Riviera Beach. Taken by U.S photographer Andre Johnson, it scoops the bronze medal in the 'Animal Portraits' category Third place in the 'Animals in their Habitat' category goes to this shot of a badger under the night sky near the village of Bakonybel in Hungary's Zirc District. It was captured by native photographer Adam Horvath Titled 'Catch Me If You Can', this incredible picture shows a leopard climbing a tree in Kenya. It was taken by Canadian photographer Thomas Vijayan and takes the silver medal in the 'Animals in their Habitat' category A snow-covered bison is seen in Yellowstone National Park, Montana, in this dynamic shot by U.S photographer Mike Darter. It ranks second in the 'Animal Portraits' category For almost half of people, special travel memories trigger more positive emotions than remembering their first kiss. And that's according to science. Research used artificial intelligence to 'measure and visualise the expression of emotions' related to a variety of memories, with 47 per cent of participants attaching more positive emotions to a unique travel memory compared to recalling their first kiss. In the study, by GetYourGuide and emotion analytics specialist Tawny, for 42 per cent of the respondents, travel experiences were one of the three most emotionally intense memories. And for 14 per cent, travel experiences even evoked more positive emotions than holding their firstborn child for the first time, though the latter was, overall, the most intensely positive memory. Participants from Germany, the U.S and the UK had their faces scanned by facial recognition software as they imagined key moments of their lives - and 47 per cent attached more positive emotions to a unique travel memory compared to recalling their first kiss For the study, 298 participants from Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom followed a guided audio meditation that prompted them to vividly imagine key moments of their lives. As they recalled those memories, their faces were scanned by facial recognition software. Using artificial intelligence, the software analysed emotional facial micro reactions to rank different memories and describe how negative or positive a reaction was. Software analysed emotional facial micro reactions to rank different memories and describe how negative or positive a reaction was 'The first kiss and special travel experience share some psychological similarities. Both are multi-sensory, provoke exhilaration and critically represent a new experience that you have not had before,' says Anja Goritz, psychologist and full professor for Behavioral Health Technology at Augsburg University. 'Putting yourself into situations for novel, emotionally rich experiences can benefit your emotional well-being. These types of experiences are also the ones that are likely to form long-term "treasured" memories.' Johannes Reck, CEO and founder of online travel booking platform GetYourGuide, says: 'People have the opportunity to be the architects of the emotionally impactful moments of their life. I strongly believe in the power of travel experiences to shape memories. 'With GetYourGuide we want to hand consumers the key to unlock those feelings of wonder and awe and turn them into lasting memories.' To ensure the travel memories keep coming, GetYourGuide has launched a collection of 'one-of-a-kind experiences' called Originals by GetYourGuide. One highlight is a guided experience through the Museum of Modern Art in New York, another is a private tour of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia. Reck added: 'For years, GetYourGuide has helped travellers create lasting memories on every trip they take, and were thrilled to now unlock even more truly unique experiences with the launch of "Originals by GetYourGuide", created in close collaboration with our brilliant local partners.' Aussie supermodel turned skincare mogul Miranda Kerr could be looking to expand her real estate portfolio back home. The Los Angeles-based, Kora Organics founder is said to be on the hunt for a 'luxury trophy home' according to real estate insiders on the Gold Coast who say Kerr's father is busy inspecting mansions on his daughter's behalf. Kerr's parents John and Therese Kerr are currently based in Brisbane. However it's understood John has been inspecting the Gold Coast luxury market in recent weeks and has taken a particular interest in a number of acreage estates located in the Gold Coast hinterland. 'We believe John has been looking at homes for Miranda and her family to potentially purchase, either as a base in Australia or as a holiday retreat,' a luxury listing agent, who specialises in high-end rural acreage, told Daily Mail Australia. The Kora Organics founder (with husband Evan Spiegel) is said to be on the hunt for a 'luxury trophy home' according to real estate insiders Aussie supermodel turned skincare mogul Miranda Kerr 'looking to expand her real estate portfolio' 'He has been shown through a number of the bigger, more spectacular homes in the past few weeks but as of yet no purchase has been made that we're aware of.' Both Miranda and her father have been contacted for comment. Kerr and her Snap Inc. billionaire husband Evan Spiegel, along with their kids Myles and Hart Spiegel and Flynn Bloom, currently reside in Los Angeles full time but also keep a vineyard estate in the Australian Hunter Valley which they bought for $7.5million in 2020. The cashed-up couple also own a $50million villa in Paris and a seaside vacation home in Malibu, and forked out one of the highest figures ever for a new Los Angeles compound in 2022 when they settled on a $145million property in swanky Holmsby Hills. Kerr and her Snap Inc. billionaire husband currently reside in Los Angeles full time A new home on the Gold Coast would cap something of a major real estate splurge for the pair who have been frequent visitors to Australia in recent months. Kerr is set to return later this month when she appears as a guest speaker at the Forbes Australia Womens Summit, 'The Power of Now', taking place on March 22 at the International Convention Centre inSydney. Should Kerr dip her toe into the Gold Coast she would be in some famous company with a number of high-profile identities buying up in recent months. Buddy and Jesinta Franklin most famously snapped up the iconic trophy home Villa Casa for $9million in late 2022. Buddy and Jesinta Franklin recently bought a $9million trophy home on the Gold Coast The Franklins' new digs which they snapped up just days after it hit the market Former radio host Alan Jones also dropped $12.25m recently on a Southport estate from automative millionaires Brett and Rebecca Frizelle while Sydney booze mogul Ross Jurisich - of Stone & Wood Brewing Company fame - paid $21.5m for a Mermaid Beach mansion. Ex-Storm star and Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith and former soapie actress Holly Brisley have also recently relocated there. Tensions are set to rise between Jay Brown and his mother-in-law Emma on next week's EastEnders, as they struggle with Lola's declining health. The pair are set to clash in upcoming episodes when Jay is accused of cheating on his wife, after Emma sees him during an innocent chat with another woman on a night out. While Jay insists he'd never cheat on Lola, his furious wife decides to undergo her next hospital appointment without him, but after being left terrified by her prognosis, turns back to him for support. In the coming scenes, Jay and Lexi are worried when Lola zones out, but she refuses to get checked out, instead pouring all her energy into a brain tumour awareness fundraiser until she zones out again. Jay insists they go to the hospital and later tries to convince Lola to get a counsellor for Lexi, who is struggling to cope, but Lola is determined to support her daughter herself. At odds: Tensions are set to rise between Jay Brown and his mother-in-law Emma on next week's EastEnders, as they struggle with Lola's declining health Drama! The pair are set to clash in upcoming episodes when Jay is accused of cheating on his wife, after Emma sees him during an innocent chat with another woman on a night out Eventually Lola (Danielle Harold) gives in and agrees to arrange counselling for Lexi, but Jay (Jamie Borthwick) is later left frustrated when Emma (Patsy Kensit) arrives and undoes all his good work. Emma reveals that she's come to see how Lola is because worried Lexi called her, and her daughter is concerned that her mother secretly gave Lexi (Isabella Brown), her number and encouraged her to lie, but soon forgives her. Jay is fuming when Lola cancels the counsellor after Emma gives her opinion, further irritated by his mother-in-law's meddling. As the week goes on, Jay and Emma continue to clash over their different approaches to Lola's situation. Emma wants him to stop being so over-protective, but Jay is adamant Lola mustn't do too much. Eventually, the pair convince Jay to go out with Ben and Callum while Emma accompanies Lola to the hospital - where the doctor delivers some worrying news. Back in Walford, Lola doesn't want Emma to fetch Jay, but she goes to find him anyway. Out with Ben and Callum, Jay has been joined by Shanti, a girl on a hen night she's not enjoying, and as they talk about how much he loves Lola, Emma walks in and sees them being too close for comfort. Worrying: In the coming scenes, Jay and Lexi are worried when Lola zones out, but she refuses to get checked out, instead pouring all her energy into a brain tumour awareness fundraiser Arguing! As the week goes on, Jay and Emma continue to clash over their different approaches to Lola's situation Jay is stunned to arrive home to a furious Lola who tells him that Emma saw him and he needs to get out fearing he has cheated. Later, a heartbroken Jay can't believe Lola thinks he's capable of cheating and is horrified to hear she's having an MRI and he didn't know. Honey convinces him to go to the hospital to support his wife, and she tags along to distract overbearing Emma. Terrified Lola finally agrees to speak to her husband, and they share a deep, painful conversation about what's happening. Meanwhile, Honey tries to dig deeper with Emma and find out why she's so controlling. Can she convince Emma to ease up on Jay and release her grip on Lola? Speaking about the episodes, actor Jamie admitted that Jay has grown increasingly protective Lola in recent weeks as her health continues to worsen. He said: 'He's really worried and really concerned. He's very protective of Lola because he can see her symptoms developing, so that makes him really, really worried.' Too many arguments: Emma wants him to stop being so over-protective, but Jay is adamant Lola mustn't do too much. What's going on? Meanwhile, Honey tries to dig deeper with Emma and find out why she's so controlling - can she convince her to ease up on Jay? As he and Emma begin to clash, she accuses him of being overprotective of Lola, and Jamie admitted he agrees. He added: 'I would but obviously there's that element of ''well I'm here every day'', ''I've been here the whole time and you haven't'' so whilst Jay understands Emma's point of view, she doesn't know their set-up and she doesn't know how they've been managing. 'Emma's arrived and she's got opinions on the situation but she doesn't actually know what's really going on. 'That gets Jay quite frustrated actually. He can also see that she's not who she says she is, he can sense some cracks, and he can sense there's something not quite right with her. He isn't totally bought by whole ''I'm really sorry'' performance.' Discussing the reaction he's had to the hard-hitting storyline, Jamie added: 'Amazing. This storyline is really touching people and people are talking about it in their day-to-day lives, it's great we're doing this story and it shows that we're raising awareness. 'Danielle and I attended the Broadcast Awards the other day, and we we're greeted with nothing but really great comments from people including Mo Farah and Olivia Coleman!' EastEnders airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One. Whitney Dean's struggles with her grief will reach an emotional new low in next week's EastEnders, as she battles with saying goodbye to her baby daughter Peach. In emotional scenes, Whitney learns that her baby girl's ashes are ready for collection, after deciding to have a termination when her daughter was diagnosed with Edwards' Syndrome. After going through with the procedure, Zack and Whitney got to hold their baby daughter in scenes that aired last week, and decided to call her Peach. Their grief has left them at breaking point with Whitney struggling to part from her daughter, and in the coming episodes, Zack accuses her of abandoning him to scatter their baby's ashes. Will they come together during such a heart-breaking time? Moving: Whitney Dean's struggles with her grief will reach an emotional new low in next week's EastEnders, as she battles with saying goodbye to her baby daughter Peach Moving: In upcoming scenes Whitney clashses with Lily following a health scare when she goes over the top about being protective, sparking a huge row In the upcoming episodes, Whitney (Shona McGarty) returns to work on the market, and it proves tough as Mother's Day is the big topic of discussion. It does her good to be busy, but when she gets the call to say Peach's ashes are ready to collect, she crumbles. Zack (James Farrar) tries to talk to her, but Whitney can't handle it and rushes off, blaming everyone for making her go back to work too soon. When Zack catches up with her at home, Whitney insists she's not ready to say goodbye to Peach. Later, Zack tries to talk to Whitney about having a memorial for Peach, but she's evasive. They agree to pick up their daughter's ashes together until Whitney sees Lily have a health scare and uses the moment to ditch Zack. Whitney and Lily return to the Slater house, where Whitney goes completely over the top about protecting Lily's unborn baby and a row ensues. Meanwhile, Zack struggles with his emotions as he sits with Peach's ashes, and later he sees distraught Whit and calls her out on her decision to let him go alone to do the tragic task. Hard times: In the upcoming episodes, Whitney returns to work on the market, and it proves tough as Mother's Day is the big topic of discussion Ordeal: It does her good to be busy, but when she gets the call to say Peach's ashes are ready to collect, she crumbles Hitting out: Zack tries to talk to her, but Whitney can't handle it and rushes off, blaming everyone for making her go back to work too soon Will they manage to find some common ground, and say goodbye to their daughter? It comes after Whitney and Zack were left further distraught when doctors revealed to them that their daughter's existence is not legally recognised as Whitney's pregnancy did not reach past 24 weeks. If a baby is born before 24 weeks, for legal reasons this is known as a miscarriage, and the registering of the baby's birth is not needed. Viewers were devastated for Whitney and Zack when the pair learned that their baby had been diagnosed with Edwards' Syndrome. One said: 'Poor Whitney, can she not have a happy ending?' Another added: 'I don't know why they can never let Whitney have much happiness in the show. 'Of course Whitney can't have a healthy baby', another viewer said. Drama! They agree to pick up their daughter's ashes together until Whitney sees Lily have a health scare and uses the moment to ditch Zack Rage: Whitney and Lily return to the Slater house, where Whitney goes completely over the top about protecting Lily's unborn baby and a row ensues Heartbreaking: Viewers were devastated for Whitney and Zack when the pair learned that their baby had been diagnosed with Edwards' Syndrome Other viewers discussed Whitney's actual decision to terminate her pregnancy, with one fan pointing out: 'It's Whitney's choice. It's her body.' EastEnders is working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK to accurately reflect and raise awareness of Edwards' Syndrome whilst sensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis. Edwards' Syndrome is a rare but serious genetic condition, and 95 per cent of babies with the disorder die before they are born, while those delivered tend to pass away within minutes. If a baby survives, symptoms can include low birth weight, cleft lip or palate, heart and kidney problems, hernias, bone abnormalities, frequent lung and urinary infections and severe learning disabilities. EastEnders airs on Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Coronation Street's serial killer Stephen Reid will plot to kill Carla Connor next week, after she lashes out in another drug-fuelled outburst. The villain has been slowly drugging his boss in a bid to take over Underworld, but after she undermines him yet again, he gets revenge by spiking her tea. When a dishevelled Carla decides she may need to go back on her antipsychotic medication, she heads up to her room to take a nap, while a sinister Stephen lets himself in. Slipping into the kitchen unnoticed, a sly Stephen turns on the grill in the hope of causing a massive explosion. Will he claim his third victim? Ending things for good? Coronation Street's serial killer Stephen Reid will plot to kill Carla Connor next week, after she lashes out in another drug-fuelled outburst Tense: The villain has been slowly drugging his boss in a bid to take over Underworld, but after she undermines him yet again, he gets revenge by spiking her tea In the upcoming episodes, Carla (Alison King) stresses about ending up back in prison as an uninsured driver, after she ran over Paul (Peter Ash) while high on LSD. Sarah (Tina O'Brien) is surprised when a preoccupied Carla agrees to a staff bonus after they've bagged the American deal, while Stephen (Todd Boyce) surreptitiously calls Rufus to set his plan in motion. As the week goes on, Carla sees Dr Gaddas, describing how each time she's suffered an episode, it feels like she's tripping on drugs, and she is prescribed with diazepam. Soon the Americans arrive, and Stephen reminds Carla how it's imperative that she's on top form. She can't believe his nerve, ordering him to get back to making the tea. Angry at being belittled, Stephen double-doses Carla's drink, and as the meeting draws to a close and the LSD kicks in, Carla's behaviour becomes erratic. With the Americans gone the girls celebrate the deal, but they're interrupted by a worse-for wear-Carla who barks at them to get out of her factory. The girls are dumbstruck while Stephen allows himself a satisfied smile. The following day, and feeling much better, Carla announces she's going to work. Shocking: After Stephen spikes Carla's drink with LSD, she lashes out at the factory and fears that her mental state is deteriorating again Tense: Having pocketed her keys from the factory, Stephen lets himself into the flat and checks Carla's asleep Shocking: He drops her keys back in her bag before heading into the kitchen and turning on the grill.... will he silence her for good? She assures Peter and Stephen that yesterday was a blip but as she goes to make a drink she smashes a mug and cuts her finger. Struggling to cope, Carla concedes that she needs another chat with Dr Gaddas who suggests she takes an extended break and goes back on her antipsychotic drugs. Having pocketed her keys from the factory, Stephen lets himself into the flat and checking Carla's asleep, drops her keys back in her bag before heading into the kitchen and turning on the grill.... Will he succeed in silencing his boss for good? Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. John Travolta shocked fans when he failed to take part in Olivia Newton-John's state memorial last Sunday. The pair had been close friends ever since starring in the 1978 musical Grease together, but John was nowhere to be seen during the celebrity tributes to the late superstar, sending neither a video tribute nor attending in person. The American actor may have stayed away due to tensions with Olivia's husband John Easterling, according to a new report. Woman's Day has claimed that Travolta and Easterling 'were rumoured to have had a tense relationship' and 'did not see eye to eye'. This could explain why Travolta steered clear of the occasion, at which Easterling took to the stage to give a long emotional tribute to his late wife. John Travolta shocked fans when he failed to take part in Olivia Newton-John's state memorial last Sunday. Pictured together The American actor may have stayed away due to tensions with Olivia's husband, John Easterling (left), according to a new report 'Travolta's close relationship with Olivia, which he talked about publicly and often, may not have sat well with her husband,' alleged an insider. Easterling was said to be uncomfortable with Travolta's loving tributes to Olivia after her death, which he shared to social media. 'Put yourself in his shoes,' the alleged source said, adding that it was, 'the straw that broke [Easterling's] back'. Travolta shared a special tribute to Newton-John on his Instagram Stories on what would have been her 74th birthday last year. The two stars first met on the set of Grease in 1978 (pictued), and retained a strong friendship for 44 years until her passing Easterling was said to be uncomfortable with Travolta's loving tributes to Olivia after her death, which he shared to social media Shortly after her sudden death, John shared a heartfelt post on his Instagram, writing that her 'impact was incredible' The Grease actor, 69, remembered his former co-star and close friend by wishing her a happy birthday. The actress passed away on August 8, 2022, after her breast cancer returned in 2017 as stage four. Her death caused a wave of tributes to pour out as individuals around the world mourned her death. The Saturday Night Fever star uploaded a photo of both Olivia and himself from their iconic roles as Danny and Sandy from the 1978 musical film, Grease. He typed out, 'Happy birthday my Olivia,' in a caption underneath the photo that he shared onto his Instagram story. Shortly after Olivia's sudden death, John had posted a tribute onto his main Instagram page as he mourned her passing. This tension could explain why Travolta steered clear of the occasion, at which Easterling took to the stage (pictured) to give a long emotional tribute to his late wife The two actors were seen together as they attended a party for Grease He had written, 'My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.' 'We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the moment I saw you and forever,' he typed, adding, 'Your Danny, your John!' The two stars first met on the set of Grease in 1978, and retained a strong friendship for 44 years until her passing. Easterling, who's the founder and president of the Amazon Herb Company, met Newton-John in the mid-90s. They married in an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru in June 2008, which was followed with a legal ceremony nine days later on Jupiter Island in Florida. Susan Lucci looked incredible in a black corset top and mini skirt with heels at the Writers Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday evening. And the soap opera vet told People she is 'doing really well' as she recovers from having heart surgery. The 76-year-old actress first had a stent implanted in a coronary artery that was 80 percent blocked in 2019 but had to have another heart procedure in January and is now just 'keeping an eye on herself' as she recovers. The red carpet favorite - who posed for a sweet selfie last month - told the site: 'I'm doing really well. I always keep an eye on myself, what's going on.' The All My Children star is now an ambassador for the American Heart Association but explained that she would often brush off the fact that heart disease is the 'number one killer' of women. In shape: Susan Lucci looked incredible in a black corset top and mini skirt with heels at the Writers Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday evening Shapely star: And the soap opera vet told People she is 'doing really well' as she recovers from having heart surgery That is until something happened to her and urged others to take care of themselves as well as loved ones. She said: 'I would hear that heart disease is the number one killer of women, but that went in one ear and out the other. 'But now I get it. It felt like an elephant was pressing down [on my chest]. 'And like most women I thought, "I have too much to do. It will go away." 'I didn't want to bother the cardiologist,' she remarked. 'We take care of our children, we are advocates for our loved ones, but we're not at the top of our own to-do list. 'I didn't realize how close I came to a fatal heart attack. I don't think I ever mentioned my dad's family history to a doctor. I couldn't believe it. 'And after telling women for three years to not be afraid to call the doctor and to put themselves on their to-do list, I reverted back to all those things. I almost wasn't going to speak about it, I was so ashamed of myself. But it's a reminder to be vigilant.' Lea nbut not mean: The 76-year-old actress first had a stent implanted in a coronary artery that was 80 per cent blocked in 2019 but had to have another heart procedure in January and is now just 'keeping an eye on herself' as she recover Health check: She told the site: 'I'm doing really well. I always keep an eye on myself, what's going on.' The All My Children star is now an ambassador for the American Heart Association but explained that she would often brush off the fact that heart disease is the 'number one killer' of women Last month Lucci got emotional when talking about her late husband Helmut Huber. The actress was asked if she is ready to date again when appearing on Good Day New York in New York City. But the red carpet favorite said not yet as her eyes welled up and she later wiped away a tear. 'No, I'm not ready. It's just 10 months,' the Emmy-winning daytime TV actress said as she wore a form-fitting scarlet red dress. Lucci and Huber wed in 1969 and were happily married. They had two children together and a grandchild. Sad: Lucci got emotional when talking about her late husband Helmut Huber last month. The actress was asked if she is ready to date again when appearing on Good Day New York in New York City Hard on her: But the star said not yet as her eyes welled up and she later wiped away a tear Huber died in March 2022 on Long Island in New York at the age of 84. 'I miss him, and he's worth missing. He was really, really the love of my life,' she said as she sat in the studio. The beauty then listed off what she liked about him, saying he was caring, funny, smart and handsome his sweet accent. Lucci also discussed American Heart Month, where she is hoping to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer of women. She has been grappling with 'tremendous loss' after revealing the death of her husband of 53 years in March. 'Helmut's passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew and loved him,' a rep for the 75-year-old actress told People. 'He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and friend. The family kindly asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.' Lucci is best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children during that show's entire network run from 1970 to 2011. Sad loss: Lucci's husband Helmut Huber died in March at the age of 84. Seen in 2017 in Long Island, New York Idris Elba has insisted he has no interest in playing James Bond as he discussed the 'extended middle finger and a wink' to the spy in Luther: The Fallen Sun. The actor, 50, stars as the titular John Luther in the first big-screen version of the TV franchise and has long been touted as Daniel Craig's replacement. One scene in the film has Luther refusing a martini, Bond's favourite drink, in a moment that creator and writer Neil Cross describes to Radio Times as an extended middle finger and a wink at Bond. Speaking to Radio Times, Idris says: 'The martini line is a bit cheeky, isnt it? I was like, "Neil, are you sure you want to put that in?.' However, he also insists that the references to Bond in the Luther film are not his attempt at an audition for the British spy. Having his say: Idris Elba has insisted he has no interest in playing James Bond as he discussed the 'extended middle finger and a wink' to the spy in Luther: The Fallen Sun Role: The actor, 50, stars as the titular John Luther in the first big-screen version of the TV franchise and has long been touted as Daniel Craig's replacement Idris said: 'My Bond audition? Oh my God, no! Ive been saying for years, no!' Giving his opinion on if he thinks Luther is better than Bond, Idris diplomatically says: 'Not "better", no. Luthers equally engaging, equally sexy and great to see visually. 'But Bond is from a universe where espionage was the way to capture. Luther is from the world where you bang on the door, "Are you in there? Im coming in." 'I think Luther fits with a bit more of a modern-day bad guy as opposed to someone from the taking-over-the-world style.' Discussing Luther, he adds: 'That character is so well written. You could have Luther opening an envelope for ten minutes and youd still go, "Oh my God, whats in the envelope?" because hes just that kind of character. 'Its still exciting to me because were not talking about season one of Luther. Its evolved and grown and weve got bigger and braver.' It comes after Idris said that he felt that DCI Luther was more 'relatable' than the world of James Bond. He told Magic Radio: 'The Bond series is an incredible staple to the UK and the world right, but Luther could take up some of that real estate. Wink wink: One scene in the film has Luther refusing a martini, Bond's favourite drink, in a moment that creator and writer Neil Cross describes to Radio Times as an extended middle finger and a wink at Bond Speaking to Radio Times, Idris says: 'The martini line is a bit cheeky, isnt it? I was like, "Neil, are you sure you want to put that in?' 'It is not about espionage, but it is about how to catch them. I think Luther tends to be a little bit more relatable, you know grounded. 'You know guys that creep from under your bed... this film has certainly taken it a little more cyber if you like with Andy Serkis's character.' Daniel bowed out of his role as the secret agent after the blockbuster hit No Time To Die and speculation has been rife about who is next in line - with Aaron Taylor Johnson and Henry Cavill leading the bookies' favourites. Bookmakers William Hill subsequently placed Henry Cavill at the forefront with 5/2, Rege Jean-Page with odds of 4/1, followed by Tom Hardy and James Norton both with 6/1 and Chiwetel Ejiofor at 7/1. Chris Rock still has not received a personal one-on-one apology from his former friend Will Smith over the infamous Oscars slapgate - and feels the actor's public mea culpa 'meant nothing'. The 58-year-old comedian sparked serious controversy this week when he reignited the scandal during a Netflix stand-up special during which he delivered a humiliating blow to Will, 54, one year on from the sensational awards show. Chris accused Will of having 'selective outrage' during the show's finale and added salt to the wound by rehashing Will's wife Jada's affair. But a source close to Chris tells DailyMail.com that it could have been avoided with a simple 'I am sorry'. 'Chris never got a one-on-one private apology from Will, only the public one which really meant nothing,' a source close to the comedian insisted. In fact, Will has only addressed the situation twice - once on Instagram the day after the Oscars and once in a video apology. Chris Rock still has not received a personal one-on-one apology from his former friend Will Smith over the infamous Oscars slapgate, a source has revealed to DailyMail.com The 58-year-old comedian sparked controversy this week when he dredged up the slapgate scandal in a new Netflix stand-up special, delivering a series of savage blows to Will, 54 But the insider insisted that Chris's decision to rehash the scandal in his Netflix show had nothing to do with seeking revenge, but was rather a way for the comedian to 'get it all out' and 'be done with it'. 'Chris wanted to get this out once and for all and be done with it. This was very cathartic to him,' the source added. The comedian certainly didn't hold back when it came to dredging up the slapgate scandal on stage. Instead, he doubled down on his attack on the A-list couple by bringing up Jada's admitted affair with her son Jaden's close friend, musician August Alsini, 30, in 2020. To a shocked audience, both live and on location, Chris said that Will had misdirected anger due to the fact that 'his wife was f***ing her son's friend.' And to add insult to injury, Chris's humiliating blowback aired exactly one week before the the 2023 Oscars are set to take place on March 12 - an event that Will has been banned from attending for the next ten years as a result of his violent outburst at last year's ceremony. However, the insider hit back at claims that Chris had any hand in the timing of the Netflix special - telling DailyMail.com: 'Netflix decided when to run this, not Chris.' Aside from the joke about Jada's affair, Chris also took aim at Meghan Markle during his special by saying that Meghan was 'acting all dumb' for not realizing that the royal family are the 'OGs of racism.' This caused social media users to lash out at Chris, accusing him of being racist for bringing up the sensitive topic. In his Netflix special, Chris brought up Jada's affair - something that she discussed openly with her husband in a 2020 episode of her talk show Red Table Talk Jada had the affair with her son Jaden's close friend, musician August Alsini, 30. They are pictured together at the BET Awards in 2017 Chris's inner circle vehemently disagrees and told DailyMail.com: 'Chris is not racist at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. 'Chris is a black man making jokes about other black people from a black person's perspective. He has nothing but love for black people - and all people.' The infamous slap occurred in March 2022 when Chris took the stage to present an Oscar for best documentary feature. Turning to Will and Jada, he said that he was 'looking forward' to seeing Jada in G.I. Jane, poking fun at her shaved head. Will immediately got up on stage and socked Chris in the side of his head. After returning to his front row seat, he yelled, 'Keep my wife's mother f***ing name out your mouth.' In the weeks that followed, Will was forced to resign from the Academy, which subsequently banned him for 10 years. During his Saturday night standup special, Chris shared his afterthoughts, telling the audience: 'Anybody that say words hurt has never been punched in the face. But I'm not a victim, baby. You'll never see me on Oprah or Gayle crying. 'Everybody called him a b**ch, and who's he hitting? Me. You all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith,' Chris joked. 'It still hurts. I got "Summertime" ringing in my ears.' Chris then addressed why he didn't hit Will back, saying: 'You know what my parents taught me? Don't fight in front of white people.' Chris also blasted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, taking aim at their interview with Oprah and their claims that a royal raised concerns over the skin color of their children Chris told the crowd on Saturday: 'Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? Seems like a nice lady just complaining. Like, didnt she hit the light-skinned lottery?' The day following the attack, Will took to Instagram to apologize to Chris, writing: 'I would like to apologize to you Chris, I was out of line and I was wrong.' The only other apology came in July 2022, when Will posted a video apology, again, to Chris, saying: 'I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk.' In a new report published by People, a source close to Will said that he's 'tried unsuccessfully to make amends in the best way he could with Chris' - although the source close to the comedian says those efforts stopped short of actually calling him in person. Chris also blasted Meghan and Harry during his routine, taking aim at their interview with Oprah and their claims that a royal had allegedly raised concerns over the skin color of their children. 'Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? Seems like a nice lady just complaining,' Chris said. 'Like, didnt she hit the light-skinned lottery?' Chris said, joking that the the royal family the 'OGs of racism.' Chris poked fun at Meghan for telling Oprah during their sit-down interview that she didn't know that the royal family was racist when she married Harry. 'Thats the royal family, you didnt Google those motherf***ers? Theyre the original racists. They invented colonialism,' Chris joked to the crowd. Married At First Sight's Tayla Winter has broken her silence on rumours of a 'sexting scandal' with groom Cam Woods. Earlier this week it was reported Cam had exposed his penis at a nightclub during a video call with Tayla after the show wrapped filming, leading to a clash with his wife Lyndall Grace at the reunion. Speaking The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Tuesday, Tayla confirmed the video chat rumours are true, describing Cam as a 'loose cannon' who 'doesn't really care too much about getting his thing out'. However, Tayla also clarified the call was a one-off incident and denied she and Cam had ever 'hooked up'. 'He was really drunk and I was drinking with all of my friends as well, and I'm pretty sure it just happened,' Tayla explained when quizzed on the explicit video call. Married At First Sight's Tayla Winter (pictured) has broken her silence on rumours of a 'sexting scandal' with groom Cam Woods, a day after Daily Mail Australia revealed Cam had exposed his penis at a nightclub during a video call 'He said, 'Do you want me to get it out?' And I said, 'Yeah, I dare you to.' And I didn't think that he actually would.' The intruder bride confirmed she didn't 'return the favour' by flashing her own intimate parts, telling hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson: 'I don't do that. It was very one sided'. She also claimed she 'wasn't the only person' who saw Cam's penis that night as 'he was in a nightclub so everyone got a bit of a show.' Speaking The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Tuesday, Tayla confirmed the video chat rumours are true, describing Cam as a 'loose cannon' who 'doesn't really care too much about getting his thing out'. (Pictured: Cam and his TV wife Lyndall Grace on the show) When asked what she thought of Cam's manhood, Tayla coyly replied: 'Cam is... all around good looking.' Later in the interview, the Tasmanian nurse took a brutal swipe at Cam's wife Lyndall Grace, claiming she was given an unfairly 'a golden edit' because she 'played into producers' hands' during filming. It comes after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed how Tayla and Cam's 'sexting scandal' will make waves later this season. Tayla (left) also claimed she 'wasn't the only person' that saw Cam's (right) penis that night, as 'he was in a nightclub so everyone got a bit of a show' The couple, who have both split from their respective TV spouses, apparently began flirting via text messages after filming wrapped last year. An insider told Daily Mail Australia on Monday things eventually became sexually explicit when Cam exposed his penis during a video call with the Tasmania-based nurse. 'Cam FaceTimed her while at a night club and showed her his d**k. She just laughed off the incident, but she was impressed,' the source claimed. An insider told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that things eventually became sexually explicit when Cam exposed his penis during a video call with the Tasmania-based nurse Cam's TV wife Lyndall reportedly got wind of the X-rated exchange, and confronted Cam and Taya during the Married At First Sight reunion. A source close to the situation said: 'Everyone on set is in shock. This is not the kind of scandal we were expecting from this season. What they did was completely inappropriate. It's going to be a wild ride when the reunion airs.' 'Tayla is worried that fans are going to turn on her because Lyndall accuses her of trying to break her and Cam apart, and ultimately is the reason her and Cam don't end up working out.' It comes after Tayla accused Lyndall of being nothing like her glowing on-screen persona in a blistering Instagram post on February 9. Cam's TV wife Lyndall Grace (pictured) reportedly got wind of the X-rated exchange, and confronted Cam and Taya during the Married At First Sight reunion At the time, she hadn't even entered the experiment yet as an intruder with her on-screen husband Hugo Armstrong. Her post, which has since been deleted, was in response to Daily Mail Australia's exclusive story about Lyndall's post-show fling with shy groom Josh White. At the time, Lyndall had received a very positive edit on MAFS, with the episodes focusing on her battle with cystic fibrosis and fairytale romance with good-natured Northern Territory carpenter Cam, from whom she has since split. But Tayla said the Lyndall she got to know during filming was nothing like her flattering TV portrayal, calling her 'the biggest bully' she had ever met. Tayla accused Lyndall of being nothing like her glowing on-screen persona in a blistering Instagram post on February 9 (pictured). At the time, she hadn't even entered the experiment yet as an intruder with her on-screen husband Hugo Armstrong 'I feel it's important to get this out before my accounts get taken,' she began. 'Lyndall, you're the biggest bully I've ever met. This [Daily Mail] article is surface level and the amount of hurt you have caused many people is damaging and dangerous. 'I'm hoping people get to tell their truth and the real story is heard sooner rather than later.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval has received a lucrative offer from an adult webcam site to stream his band's upcoming tour amid fallout over his shocking cheating scandal. CamSoda has offered Sandoval and his eponymous band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras $540,000 to stream their upcoming tour on their website rather than embark on their planned in-person tour, according to TMZ. In a letter addressed to Sandoval obtained by the outlet, Daryn Parker, the Vice President of CamSoda, argues streaming their shows on their website would be a safer alternative to performing in person amid growing backlash from enraged fans. However, Jason Bader, the manager and drummer of Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, told TMZ the group had not seen the offer and would never take part in it. It emerged over the weekend that Sandoval, 39, had been cheating on his long-time partner Ariana Madix, 37, with fellow Vanderpump Rules star Raquel Leviss, 28, for months. The revelation sent shockwaves amongst Bravo fans. Take it or leave it: Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval has received a lucrative offer from adult webcam site CamSoda to stream his band's upcoming tour amid fallout over his shocking cheating scandal Parker offered the band $45,000 per show, meaning they are poised to reap $540,000 with a total of 12 performances scheduled. In his letter, Parker claims performing in person would be 'safe place' to avoid fans chanting 'Justice for Ariana' and throwing tomatoes on stage. 'Oh, Tom what have you done? Reading about your alleged cheating scandal with Raquel Leviss this weekend was... something,' Parker's letter begins. 'I am reaching out to offer you and your band - Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras - a place to livestream your upcoming tour. I understand playing in front of a live audience may not be safe (I would imagine the "Justice for Ariana" chants would grow quite loud). That's why livestreaming your tour from a safe place would make the most sense. 'CamSoda is an adult livestreaming website that can deliver your sets to a global audience. You won't have to worry about being pelted by tomatoes. You can dress in your outfits, show some skin, and even tell your side of the story if you'd like. 'In return for livestreaming your entire tour, with a twist, - I could 12 dates total on your website - we'd be willing to compensate you up to $45,000 per show. That's $540,000 total. 'Please consider my offer and get back to me at your earliest convenience.' Madix and Sandoval's nine-year relationship imploded last week when it emerged that Sandoval had been 'hooking up' with Leviss. 'I would imagine the "Justice for Ariana" chants would grow quite loud': In a letter addressed to Sandoval obtained by TMZ, Daryn Parker, the Vice President of CamSoda, argues streaming their shows on their website would be a safer alternative to performing in person amid growing backlash from enraged fans Music makers: Tom pictured performing with his band at their single release party at Tom Tom last week Heartbreak: Fans erupted after learning Sandoval had been unfaithful in his relationship with Ariana Madix with fellow VPR star Raquel Leviss Sandoval took to Instagram on Saturday, addressing his months-long affair for the first time online and making a public apology. The restauranteur also pleaded with fans not to attack his loved ones and colleagues over his actions. 'Hey, I fully understand and deserve ur anger & disappointment towards me, but please leave [Tom] Schwartz, my friends, and family out of this situation' he wrote. Sandoval then clarified that Tom Schwartz, his longtime best friend and business partner, had only learned of his infidelity 'very recently' and 'did not condone' his actions. He said, 'This was a very personal thing. Also, Schwartz & Sandy's might have my name on it, but also there are 3 other partners and 20 employees, who especially rely on the restaurant for income for them and their families,' Sandoval said, nodding to his new bar and TomTom, which opened back in 2018. The actor went on to say he was a 'small part of a much bigger thing' and pleaded with his 961,000 followers to direct their 'anger towards' him and not his associates. 'They did nothing wrong. I'm so sorry that my partners, Greg, Brett, and Schwartz and our employees have to suffer for my actions. Scandal: Madix and Sandoval's relationship imploded last week when it emerged that Sandoval had been 'hooking up' with Leviss; pictured November 2022 Shocking: The couple had been together for nine years until the affair allegatons emerged 'I will be taking a step back & taking a hiatus out of respect for my employees and partners. I need some time to address everything else,' he concluded. 'Sorry for everything.' A source on Saturday informed Page Six that Sandoval and Leviss had been meaning to inform Madix about the affair 'for weeks.' Madix wound up discovering their secret herself Wednesday night when she saw Leviss' texts on Sandoval's phone. Sandoval's apology post comes less than 24 hours after he addressed his cheating scandal for the first time while performing with his band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras. 'Have you ever been one of the most hated people in America?' the TV personality asked the audience, according to Us Weekly, alluding to the backlash over his affair. Confession: A source on Saturday informed Page Six that Sandoval and Leviss had been meaning to inform Madix about the affair 'for weeks' but Madix wound up discovering their secret herself 'This was a very personal thing': Sandoval took to Instagram on Saturday, addressing his months-long affair for the first time online and making a public apology In a TikTok video taken at the concert, a woman in the crowd could be heard screaming: 'Ariana!' to which Sandoval said: 'We love her.' Madix, is said to have found out about Sandoval's alleged cheating with Leviss in the last couple of days, ending their nine-year romance shortly afterwards. A production source told DailyMail.com: There is more to this story that will be revealed in the coming weeks but all is not what it seems, however, it is true that Tom and Raquel have been hooking up. We should change the name of the show to Raquel Rules as she has certainly become the star of the show this season, giving it her all. The cast should be thanking Raquel and Tom as Bravo are already talking about renewing the show for an 11th season. This is the mess that viewers live for. Production has switched the cameras back on and they are catching all of the fall out as the cast react to this news. This will be the best season of Vanderpump Rules yet. Madix has since deleted her Instagram account. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Sandoval, Madix, Leviss and Bravo for comment. A source informed People the alleged affair 'has been going on for upwards of six months - all the while, Tom was sleeping next to Ariana in bed. She was completely blindsided by this; devastated doesn't even scratch the surface of how she feels.' Ex-Home and Away actress Samara Weaving stunned in a two-piece padded leather outfit as she attended the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The Adelaide native, 31, looked a long way from Summer Bay as she caught onlookers' attention in her head-to-toe designer outfit in the French capital. Samara, who is best known for her roles in horror films like The Babysitter, Ready or Not and the upcoming Scream VI, kept it classy with black patent leather boots as she showed off one of Louis Vuitton's bags: an envelope-sized yellow padded clutch with the fashion houses' logo embossed all over it. Samara kept her long blonde locks slicked back in a ponytail, and rocked a dewy makeup look including pink lipstick. The Babylon star, whose uncle is respected Australian actor Hugo Weaving, looked flawless as she sported the designer look for LV's Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear collection show at Paris' Orsay Museum. Ex-Home and Away star Samara Weaving stunned in a two-piece padded leather outfit as she attended the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday The Adelaide native, 31, looked a long way from Summer Bay as she caught onlookers' attention in her head-to-toe designer outfit in the French capital Samara kept her long blonde locks slicked back in a ponytail, and rocked a dewy makeup look including pink lipstick Set to star in the sixth Scream film, Samara showed of her tan and slender frame in the coordinating outfit. Her career has sky-rocketed since appearing as Indi Walker on Home and Away from 2009 to 2013, and she now enjoys a glamorous Hollywood lifestyle. She has appeared in films such as Mayhem, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Valet, in addition to her work in horror movies. She recently starred in Nine Perfect Strangers alongside Nicole Kidman, and has scored the role of American socialite Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte in Adam Leon's biopic Liz. She will also play former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison in a limited TV series based on Madison's memoir Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny. In May last year, Samara confirmed she'd secretly married movie producer Jimmy Warden when she referred to him as her 'husband' during an interview with the Herald Sun. The Babylon star, whose uncle is actor Hugo Weaving, looked flawless as she sported the designer look for LV's Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear collection show at the Orsay Museum Samara, who is best known for her roles in horror films like The Babysitter and Ready or Not, kept it classy with black patent leather boots as she showed off one of Louis Vuitton's bags: an envelope-sized yellow padded clutch with the fashion houses' logo embossed all over it Set to star in the sixth Scream film, Samara showed of her tan and slender frame in the coordinating outfit The notoriously private star said their nuptials 'flew under the radar'. Samara also revealed she was about to start work on a new film with Jimmy, whom she met on the set of Netflix comedy-horror The Babysitter in 2015. 'I am actually about to go and work with my husband,' she told the newspaper. 'He has written and is directing a film so I am going to go and do that, which will be really fun.' The first trailer for the Seth Rogen produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was released on Monday and it definitely seems to be bringing the nostalgic feeling which will surely please fans of all generations. The nearly two-minute clip showcased the action and humor that has become synonymous with the favorite mutant turtles since their inception as it will be the seventh film in the feature franchise based on the 1984 comic of the same name. Adding to the throwback quality of the clip was that it was set to A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 classic Can I Kick It? It begins with the turtles - named Leonardo (Nicholas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Raphael (Brady Noon) - popping out of the New York City sewer. Despite the nostalgia it certainly seems to be set in present day as they are recording themselves on a smart phone as they practice using their weapons on watermelons. The first trailer for the Seth Rogen produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was released on Monday and it definitely seems to be bringing the nostalgic feeling which will surely please fans of all generations. One of the funniest parts of the trailer came when they confront some bad guys and one says: 'What the heck are those things?' The other criminal hilariously replies: 'They look like little Shreks to me.' The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are not the only signature characters they are bringing back as they also showed baddies Bebop and Rocksteady who are voiced by Rogen and John Cena, respectively. Their mentor Master Splinter, who is voiced by Jackie Chan, was also shown very briefly. It also shows April O'Neil, who voiced by The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, who is a journalists and asks the Turtles at the very end: 'So you were baby turtles who made contact with mystery goo.' Rafael hilariously responds: 'Well we prefer the term ooze but yeah.' Then the rest of the gang hilariously repeat saying ooze before the clip ends. Not shown in the clip was the Turtle's archnemesis Shredder. It features a star-studded voice cast which also includes Paul Rudd, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Giancarlo Esposito, Ice Cube, Hannibal Buress, Post Malone, and Natasia Demetriou. They're back: The nearly two-minute clip showcased the action and humor that has become synonymous with the favorite mutant turtles since their inception as it will be the seventh film in the feature franchise based on the 1984 comic of the same name Portal: It begins with the turtles - named Leonardo (Nicholas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Raphael (Brady Noon) - popping out of the New York City sewer Heroes: Despite the nostalgia it certainly seems to be set in present day as they are recording themselves on a smart phone as they practice using their weapons on watermelons One of the funniest parts of the trailer came when they confront some bad guys and one says: 'What the heck are those things?' The other criminal hilariously replies: 'They look like little Shreks to me.' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem directed by Jeff Rowe and Kyle Spears is set for release on August 4. Rogen took to Twitter in June 2021 to announce the release date for the highly-anticipated project along with a fun image to tease the feature film. Rogen posted a snap of a page of the science notebook of Leonardo who wears the blue eye mask and is the leader of the crime-fighting turtle group. The image is full of several Easter eggs including a sketch of one of Leonardo's katanas with the words 'honor' and 'loyalty' written around it. As Leonardo and his brothers - Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael - were spawned by a lab experiment gone awry, one part of class the eldest of the group seemed to listen to was about mutation. In the notebook mutation is defined by 'changes in the genetic sequence, and they are a main cause of diversity in organisms.' Below that was a small chart detailing the types of mutation including deletion, duplication, and translocation with the note '*unintended mutations?' The studio is betting on turtle power raking in big bucks in revenue, continuing the trend of the long running Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feature film franchise which has grossed over a billion dollars in the last 30 years. Bash brothers: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are not the only signature characters they are bringing back as they also showed baddies Bebop and Rocksteady who are voiced by Rogen and John Cena, respectively Leader: Their mentor Master Splinter, who is voiced by Jackie Chan, was also shown very briefly It also shows April O'Neil, who voiced by The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, who is a journalists and asks the Turtles at the very end: 'So you were baby turtles who made contact with mystery goo' Rafael hilariously responds: 'Well we prefer the term ooze but yeah.' Then the rest of the gang hilariously repeat saying ooze before the clip ends Highly-anticipated: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem directed by Jeff Rowe and Kyle Spears is set for release on August 4 Based on the popular comic book characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the four anthropomorphic teens last graced the silver screen in 2016 a revival of the 1990s films. In 1984, Laird and Eastman published the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics as a parody of Marvel's popular comics of the era. They created the four teen turtles named after Italian Renaissance painters, who thanks to a fortunate and accidental swim in some mysterious ooze, were transformed into walking, talking, crime-fighting mutant superheros. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo live in the sewers, eating pizza and battling criminals under the guidance of their sensei Splinter - an anthropomorphic rat. Reboot: The movie will be the seventh film in the feature franchise based on the 1984 comic about four teen turtles named after Italian Renaissance painters, who thanks to an accidental swim in some mysterious ooze, were transformed into crime-fighting mutant superheroes 'Who am I?': Rogen took to Twitter in June 2021 to announce the release date for the highly-anticipated project along with a fun image to tease the feature film Heroes in a half-shell: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo live in the sewers, eating pizza and battling criminals under the guidance of their sensei Splinter - an anthropomorphic rat (Pictured: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret Of The Ooze, 1991) Splinter is a master of ninjutsu, which he teaches to the boys. Their sidekick is red-headed human reporter April O'Neil. In the comics and subsequent shows, films and games, the TMNT go up against their perpetual nemesis, Shredder, a ninjutsu and his 'foot clan.' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got their first animated series in 1987 which continued on for nearly a decade, airing its last new episode in 1996. That series popularized the characters love for using surfer lingo like 'cowabunga', 'dude' and 'bodacious.' Turtle power: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got their first animated series in 1987 and a version of the cartoon has seen several iterations from then on Party dudes: The first of the feature films, titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, premiered in 1990, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993 - the four Turtles were played by actors in costumes with moving green animatronic heads created by Jim Henson studios (Henson pictured with the TMNT in 1990) A short-lived live action series soon followed in 1997 but only lasted a year. And, starting in 2003, a second, third and fourth animated TMNT series aired. The first of the feature films, titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, premiered in 1990, followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993. In those iconic 90s flicks, the four Turtles were played by actors in costumes with moving green animatronic heads. These films got the reboot treatment several times in subsequent years. The first CGI film, TMNT, was released in 2007. A later revival, the second one titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was produced by Michael Bay in 2014, followed by a 2016 sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. The last TMNT film released in the decades-long running franchise was 2019's crossover, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. No casting details have been released yet for the upcoming CG reboot. Melissa McCarthy defended drag queens on Monday when she took to Instagram and shared a supportive message. The Bridesmaids star, 52 who will soon be seen as Ursula in The Little Mermaid live-action remake posted a collage of iconic drag characters surrounding a central statement. 'You've been entertained by drag queens your whole life,' read McCarthy's message. 'Don't pretend it's a problem now.' The collage included legendary drag stars like Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire, Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot, and Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies. Melissa's supportive post comes amid a wave of anti-drag legislation sweeping the U.S., with Tennessee passing a bill last week that restricts 'adult cabaret performance' in public or in the presence of children. Collage for a cause: The Bridesmaids star posted a collage of iconic drag characters surrounding a central statement. 'You've been entertained by drag queens your whole life,' read McCarthy's message. 'Don't pretend it's a problem now' Showing her support: Melissa McCarthy, 52, defended drag queens on Monday when she took to Instagram and shared a supportive message Across the country, conservative activists and politicians complain that drag contributes to the 'sexualization' or 'grooming' of children. Several states are considering restrictions, but none has acted as fast as Tennessee. Thousands of reactions poured into McCarthy's comments section, with many drag queens thanking the star for her support. BenDeLaCreme wrote, 'THANK YOU. It's been disheartening to see how few allies are bringing attention to what is happening.' The RuPaul's Drag Race star added, 'These drag bans are only the tip of the iceberg. A way to slowly desensitize the American public to increasingly anti-queer rhetoric. 'I hope to continue to see celebrities and public figures speak up as more and more LGBTQ+ lives are endangered.' Another star from RuPaul's Drag Race, Pandora Boxx, seconded BenDeLaCreme's message by writing: 'Thank you! Drag queens are not the problem.' Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2014, McCarthy talked about the 'confidence' she received from the drag community when she was a young stand-up comedian pretending to be a drag queen in New York City. Describing her own over-the-top drag person, Miss Y, the A-lister said, 'It was me there with my lovely gay guy friends and I was dressed like a big old drag queen. 'I went by Miss Y. I had a gold lame swing coat on, a huge wig, big eyelashes. I talked about being incredibly wealthy and beautiful and living extravagantly, and the first night worked great. It was such a happy, good feeling, and it gave me such confidence.' A drag queen reads a book to children at the publicly funded San Lorenzo library Thousands of reactions poured into McCarthy's comments section, with many drag queens thanking the star for her support. RuPaul's Drag Race star BenDeLaCreme penned a powerful statement Another star from RuPaul's Drag Race, Pandora Boxx, seconded BenDeLaCreme's message Confident queen: Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2017, McCarthy talked about the 'confidence' she received from the drag community when she was a young stand-up comedian in New York City (pictured at the 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards) McCarthy's best friend, shoe designer Brian Atwood, reminisced to Rolling Stone about how Melissa would dress up as Miss Y and attend the seminal drag festival Wigstock. 'It was the time of Lady Miss Kier, RuPaul and Lady Bunny, and Miss Y was Missy's great alter ego,' Atwood told Rolling Stone. 'When we went to Wigstock at Tompkins Square Park, Miss Y was at her prime there. Full-on. That was her time. It was hilarious.' Melissa also spoke about her affinity for the superhuman confidence that drag queens exude and how they 'just do not care.' 'I really like to watch the bolder ones who are overly confident without anything to back it up,' she said. 'It's somebody that's somehow not bought into all the we-should and we-shouldn't. They don't give a s**t. I have a real obsession with people who just do not care.' Some Republicans and conservative activists have in recent months complained that drag contributes to the 'sexualization' or 'grooming' of children. In Tennessee, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed a piece of legislation that limits where drag performances can take place by banning 'adult cabaret entertainment' that is 'harmful to minors' from public property or locations where children might see the performance. The bill does not explicitly include the words 'drag show,' but it does expand the definition of adult cabaret to include 'male or female impersonators,' as well as topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers and strippers. The legislation then bans adult cabaret from taking place on public property or in a location where minors might be present. 'We don't want to have the door open that they can go see advertent nudity and sexual acts or the depiction of sexual acts,' said Republican Sen. Becky Massey. 'Im sorry, that's not what Tennessee is about.' Meanwhile, the Arkansas House voted last month to 'adult-oriented' performances, revamping a measure that previously targeted drag shows following discrimination complaints from the LGBTQ community. Meanwhile, the Arkansas House voted last month to 'adult-oriented' performances. The bill will ultimately do away with drag storytime performances, which sees drag queens reading to students for free at public libraries. The events have become part of the heated cultures in the US over gender discussions and kids The bill approved by the majority-Republican House on a 78-15 vote no longer explicitly adds drag shows to the list of businesses considered 'adult-oriented,' easing some of the concerns of LGBTQ advocates and other opponents. The bill now heads back to the majority-Republican Senate, which approved an earlier version of the restriction. 'This bill is not about whether drag is acceptable,' Republican Rep. Mary Bentley, the bill's sponsor, told House members before the vote. 'It's about whether we should be exposing our children to sexually explicit behavior.' Arkansas is one of several states where Republican lawmakers have proposed restrictions on drag shows, which have been targeted by right-wing activists and politicians in recent months. Protesters have appeared at events like drag story hours, in which colorfully clad drag queens read books to children. Opponents of such events have claimed they're harmful to children. Under the current version of Arkansas' bill, the restricted performances would include performers who are nude or seminude, and purposely exposing a specific anatomical area, or prosthetic breasts or genitalia. To meet the definition, the performance must feature real or simulated sexual activities and be intended to appeal to 'prurient' interests, a term that's not defined in the legislation. A clip from reality show The Bachelor, featuring Locky Gilbert, has been used in a Queensland court over a workplace injury compensation claim. Jody Lee Cvilikas, the mother of Bachelor contestant Bec, appeared on the show in 2020 after she injured her left shoulder while moving a mattress at a Sunshine Coast hospital in 2017, reports The Courier Mail. Ms Cvilikas was awarded $196,248 in damages by Justice Melanie Hindman on Monday, even though the footage showed the nurse with 'fluid movement and no evidence of discomfort'. Ms Cvilikas sustained her injury while at work at the Nambour General Hospital. The Sunshine Coast Health and Hospital Service (HHS) used footage from The Bachelor in court to contest the damages claim. A clip from reality show The Bachelor featuring Locky Gilbert (left, with Bec Cvilikas) has been used in a Queensland court over a workplace injury compensation claim Jody Lee Cvilikas, the mother of Bachelor contestant Bec, appeared on the show in 2020 after she injured her left shoulder while moving a mattress at a Sunshine Coast hospital in 2017. (Pictured: Jody Lee Cvilikas with her daughter Bec and son Brad on set of The Bachelor) Ms Cvilikas was awarded $196,248 in damages by Justice Melanie Hindman on Monday, even though the footage showed the nurse with 'fluid movement and no evidence of discomfort'. (Pictured: Ms Cvilikas with her son Brad during her 2020 appearance in The Bachelor) The hospital's lawyers also argued Ms Cvilikas had not taken proper precautions, which contributed to her injury. The footage, which the court saw during the hearing in 2022, showed Ms Cvilikas meeting Gilbert after her daughter brought him home to spend time with her family. Ms Cvilikas was seen smiling and chatting with Bec and Gilbert in the video. In one dinner party scene, she could be seen flicking the fringes of her long blonde hair away from her face, using both hands. In another scene, she used her left hand in an apparently strong and fluid manner. Justice Hindman wrote in her findings that Ms Cvilikas showed no evidence of pain or discomfort in the footage, noting there appeared to be no pain or 'restricted movement relating to her left shoulder'. The judge also commented on Ms Cvilikas' appearance in court in her findings, observing she cradled 'her left arm'. Ms Cvilikas sustained her injury at work at the Nambour General Hospital. The Sunshine Coast Health and Hospital Service (HHS) used the Bachelor clip in court to contest the damages The hospital's lawyers argued Ms Cvilikas hadn't taken proper precautions, which contributed to her injury. Justice Hindman found the HHS negligent, with $196,248 awarded to Ms Cvilikas for damages and past and future economic loss. (Pictured: Ms Cvilikas and her daughter Bec) 'After the television footage was played showing fluid movement and use of her left arm (albeit in a situation that did not require any particular effort or strain on the left shoulder) and it being put to her effectively that she was "faking" her presentation in court, I observed that Ms Cvilikas' movements in the courtroom became far more fluid,' Justice Hindman wrote in her findings. Justice Hindman found the HHS negligent in her verdict, with the $196,248 awarded to Ms Cvilikas for damages and past and future economic losses. However, the verdict handed down also found Ms Cvilikas had been 25 per cent 'contributorily negligent', reducing the total damages awarded. Australian streaming giant Stan has commissioned an Original Documentary, Revealed: Renee Gracie, about the life of the V8 Supercars driver-turned-porn star. The show follows how Gracie, 28, made a name for herself in a predominantly male-dominated sport. 'It is set to shine a light on gender inequality, stigma and prejudice in sport and beyond,' said Screen Australia's Head of Documentary Alex West. 'It shares honest insights into Renee's empowering origin-turned-comeback story - making for a compelling watch on Stan.' The movie will be helmed by an all-female creative team, who previously created the gripping gender transition documentary Girl Like You in 2021. Australian streaming giant Stan has commissioned an Original Documentary, Revealed: Renee Gracie, about the life of the V8 Supercars driver-turned-porn star The show follows how Gracie, 28, made a name for herself in a predominantly male-dominated sport Gracie began her career as a go-kart driver before moving into V8 Supercars where she became the first woman to compete in the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup in 2013. She retired from the sport in 2017 and launched a successful follow-up career in the porn industry through adults subscription site OnlyFans. Gracie previously admitted she has made multiple millions of dollars on OnlyFans and has been bringing in six figures a month since 2020. She revealed she had to go through a process to become comfortable in her new career as a porn performer and was 'repulsed' by the platform at first. Gracie retired from the sport in 2017 and launched a successful follow-up career in the porn industry through adults subscription site OnlyFans 'For me it was a slow progression. I never had the intention to be making so much of what I am making,' she told Triple M Breakfast with MG, Jess and Pagey. 'I didn't have the confidence that people wanted to see it. It slightly repulsed me, watching it and thinking about watching it back,' she added. Renee said she was tempted by the money and building her confidence, which increased as she was encouraged by fans. At the time she revealed she had around 20,000 subscribers who pay her $5 each, meaning she makes $120,000 just from subscriptions. Renee said last year she'd made 'almost $10million' in total since starting her adult career at the end of 2019, and has purchased three houses. She shot to fame in fairytale gowns in hit series Bridgerton. But Phoebe Dynevor was worlds away from her onscreen look as she arrived at the star-studded Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show on Monday. The actress looked stunning in a simple black mini dress teamed with chunky boots for the show at Musee d'Orsay. The blonde showed off her long legs in her chic mini, ditching heels in favour of edgy biker boots. She added a long black coat with oversized zip detail and accessorised with a LV clutch. Leggy: Phoebe Dynevor arrived at the star-studded Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show on Monday looking stunning in a simple black mini dress teamed with chunky boots Pals: The actress took her seat alongside Sophie Turner and Chloe Grace Moretz to watch the glam runway. She has been linked to Chloe's long-time friend Cameron Fuller in recent weeks With her hair slicked back into a sleek up do and a chunky gold necklace completing her look, Phoebe was FROW ready. The actress took her seat alongside Sophie Turner and Chloe Grace Moretz to watch the glam runway. Phoebe has recently been linked to Chloe's long-time friend Cameron Fuller, with the rumoured new couple spotted for the first time together last week as they checked out of a hotel in New York City. The two haven't publicly confirmed any dating or relationship rumours, but appeared to enjoy spending time together during their first joint appearance. The alleged romance comes following Phoebe's 2021 split from US comedian Pete Davidson. Phoebe, who is daughter to Coronation Street's Sally Dynevor, dated comedian Pete for five months in 2021 , and was rumoured to be getting close to Jaden Smith following the split. Cameron previously sparked dating rumours with actress Lucy Hale last year as they were pictured out on dinner dates several times while in January 2013, Chloe received a plastic ring from her 'boo' at the time Cameron. At the time, Cameron told her that he loves her and misses her on Twitter, to which she responded: 'I'm excited to see you boo'. Cameron, who is a long-term friend of the actress, got down on one knee and gave the pretty star a plastic ring in a mock proposal during their outing in West Hollywood. Chloe's family have known the Fullers ever since Brad Fuller produced the Amityville Horror remake in which Chloe made her film debut. Wow: The blonde showed off her long legs in her chic mini, ditching heels in favour of edgy biker boots for the glam show FROW: Jurnee Smollett, Sophie Turner, Chloe Grace Moretz and Phoebe all had VIP seats Kyle and Jackie O have revealed live on air who they'll be voting for in the upcoming NSW state election. On Tuesday morning, state Labor leader Chris Minns spoke to the KIIS radio duo and impressed them with his musical skills - playing the riff from AC DC's 'Thunderstruck' was enough for the pair to confirm they'd be voting for him. Jackie even said his guitar abilities 'made him even hotter'. Minns, who played a duet cover of Lady Gaga's Shallow with Jackie O, said he was a 'pretty substandard guitarist' and revealed whether or not he smoked. 'I don't vape, no, I've never vaped,' he said in response to comments about Premier Dominic Perrottet's recent revelation he didn't mind an occasional 'mixed fruit' vape. 'I've got a friend, Steve Kamper, member for Rockdale, and he swears by it to be honest with you. He says it's the thing that he used to get off his pack-a-day habit.' Jackie O Henderson swooned over Labor leader Chris Minns while interviewing him on her radio show on Tuesday 'I know vaping is probably not that great, but there's not a lot of studies done on it, but it's got to be better than the cigarettes,' Sandilands said. Mr Minns said cost of living was a big issue as well as the rising cost of tolls. 'Particularly for western Sydney, we're seeing new public transport built closer to the coast in the eastern suburbs, but for those that have to use toll roads, I mean, you shouldn't be disadvantaged because that's the only thing that's been built in your community,' he said. Sandilands asked Mr Minns if he was worried about being the 'better looking candidate'. 'Of the things I'm worried about, no that's not one,' he said. Sandilands said Labor was in with a good chance if the state could 'give them a crack'. 'I've never heard anything negative about you and there's a bit of negative stuff with the Opposition there, the other bloke,' Sandilands said. On Tuesday morning, state Labor leader Chris Minns spoke to the KIIS radio duo and impressed them with his musical skills enough for the pair to confirm they'd be voting for him 'Chris Minns, good luck. Leader of a NSW Labor Party, not only is he a great politician, he is the hottest politician ever and he's also a guitar player. Does it get any better than that?' Sandilands said he'd be voting Labor after meeting Mr Minns the day after the show also spoke to Liberal leader Dominic Perrottet. 'I know who I'm gonna vote for - you. We've made that quite clear. I like you. I met Dom, he seems all right. I felt a bit awkward yesterday when he was on here. I didn't know if we got a lot of depth,' Sandilands said. 'You're getting my vote, Chris Minns.' The NSW election will be held on Saturday March 25. Sarah Ferguson is reportedly set to hand out a gong at the Oscars thanks to her close friendship with the Elvis family. The 63-year-old Duchess of York has been tipped to appear at the ceremony on Sunday where the Elvis biopic has eight nominations. Speaking to The Sun, a source said: 'There have been discussions about The Duchess attending and it now looks as though that will happen the plan is for her to present an award. 'She has been a very close friend of the Presley family, especially Elvis daughter Lisa Marie, and she even spoke at her funeral recently. That sparked some conversations about the possibility of her attending and after some back and forth it looks like its happening.' They added: 'Its a big deal to have her there, but its a big deal for the Duchess too. America looks likely to play a big part in her future after the problems in the UK over recent years.' New role: Sarah Ferguson is reportedly set to hand out a gong at the Oscars thanks to her close friendship with the Elvis family Rumours: The 63-year-old Duchess of York has been tipped to appear at the ceremony on Sunday where the Elvis biopic has eight nominations Fergie and Lisa Marie had been friends for more than 15 years, with Sarah revealing the depth of their bond in the hours after her friends sudden death on January 12. She wrote on Instagram: I say hello to you every day, and I love you, my Sissy, and I will continue to say hello to you every day . . . 'You have been my devoted friend for many years, and I am here for your family to support and love them. I am deeply saddened, my Sissy, you are in my heart'. At Lisa-Marie's funeral, Sarah urged fellow mourners to stoke our flames within to celebrate extraordinary Lisa Marie. Sissy, this is for you with affection, she said. My late mother-in-law used to say that nothing . . . can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments, because grief is the price we pay for love. And how right she was. In an interview published on Monday, Fergie revealed to Hello magazine that she is financially supporting her ex-husband Prince Andrew, who she says has not accepted any taxpayer money since he was removed as a working senior royal. 'Since he stepped back [from royal duties] he doesn't actually take taxpayers' money,' she told the publication. 'And I'm in a position where I can support him and the rest of the family through my work. And Im really pleased and proud to do that.' She added: 'All I will say is that for many years now it started with Budgie the Little Helicopter I've really pushed to look after my girls and to contribute to the York family life.' Speaking to The Telegraph last week, the Duchess of York vowed that she will 'always be there' for her former spouse - because of her ongoing devotion to her late mother-in-law the Queen. 'During the last three years, her poor son has been going through such a tumultuous time,' she revealed. 'And I think HM was very relieved I could help her with him, so we became even closer, then.' Close pals: Sarah gave a touching tribute to her friend Lisa Marie who died earlier this year aged 54 Touching: Speaking at the service, Fergie said it was a 'great honour' as she described Lisa Marie as 'extraordinary' Highly praised: The Elvis biopic has eight nominations at this years Oscars which are to be held on Sunday evening The royal vouched that Her Majesty 'knew' Sarah wouldn't abandon her youngest son, who fell from grace due to his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and paid a multi-million-pound settlement to his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. She was 'sad' to see what the dishonored royal has been through, revealing that it was tough to see him hurting. The Duchess spoke with great fondness of the Queen, who entrusted Sarah with her beloved corgis after she passed away. The mother of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice went so far as to say she was 'more of a mother' to her than her own family. Sarah admitted she now feels the need to be stronger for others 'at the moment' because of the monarch's passing. 'When Andrew went through a hard time, I used to be able to throw it to The Boss,' she wistfully told the outlet. The Duchess was also full of praise for her ex-husband, admiring him as a grandfather and taking a slice of his favorite cake back home. In the same interview, she opened up about her past struggles with body issues, being compared to Princess Diana, and feeling a sense of 'duty' to the Royal Family. While speaking to People, Fergie opened up about the Sussexes' controversial departure from the Monarchy, insisting that she has 'no judgement' on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the Royal Family - despite the couple's scathing attacks on 'The Firm'. 'I don't believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I'm not in a position myself to make any judgments,' she said. The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, launched scathing attacks on the Royal Family in their Netflix documentary series and Harry's memoir Spare - including publicly criticizing Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'. However, Sarah said: 'I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.' Revelation: It comes just hours after she revealed that she is financially supporting her disgraced ex-husband Prince Andrew The Duchess of York has also opened up about what it has been like to care for the late Queen's beloved corgis in the wake of her passing. Her Majesty received the two dogs, Muick and Sandy, as gifts from Andrew and they have now been taken on by her son and his ex-wife. She told Hello magazine: 'The corgis are very nice and very polite and well trained. 'I am their favorite but everybody always says it's just because I feed them gravy bones. I love everything about them and I spoil them the most.' Bindi Irwin has shared a heart-melting photo of her daughter Grace Warrior wearing her first personalised khaki Australia Zoo uniform. It is an Irwin family tradition to don the signature zoo uniform, which has the wearer's first name embossed in the right-hand corner. And 23-month-old Grace fit right in as she showed off her personalised shirt. Proud mum Bindi, who is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, shared the cute snap with her five million Instagram followers on Tuesday. In the photo, the Irwins - including Bindi's American-born husband Chandler Powell, her mother Terri and brother Robert - also pose in their matching uniforms. Bindi Irwin has shared a heart-melting photo of her daughter Grace Warrior wearing her first personalised khaki Australia Zoo uniform It is an Irwin family tradition to don the signature zoo uniform, which has the wearer's first name embossed in the right-hand corner Grace, who is the spitting image of her father, smiles as she holds a rubber duck. Bindi, 24, captioned the post: 'Khaki crew. Wildlife warriors.' Fans flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the adorable photo. 'Baby is getting so big. She's adorable and is the image of her dad. Love you guys, great show,' one person wrote. Another said: 'The world needs more wildlife warriors like y'all... Blessings to you for a wonderful week and I hope your summer has been a good one.' A third commented: 'You are a beautiful family and I will always love the Crocodile Hunter. I love having my grandsons watch him! I miss him too. God bless you all!' Robert, 19, also shared the family photo on his Instagram, captioning it: 'Family who wear khaki together, stay together Look at Grace Warrior in her little uniform!)' Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013 when the Florida native was touring Australia as part of a national wakeboarding competition. The couple married in March 2020, just before the Covid-19 lockdowns. They are raising Grace at Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where they live and work alongside the rest of the Irwin family. Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013 when the Florida native was touring Australia as part of a national wakeboarding competition. The couple married in March 2020 Bindi's father Steve Irwin, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. Bindi was just eight years old at the time. Following his death, Steve's family, including his children Bindi and Robert, widow Terri, and son-in-law Chandler, have continued his wildlife conservation work at Australia Zoo. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke out against the rise in hate crimes and anti-Semitism in a 12-minute clip he posted to social media on Monday. The action star, 75, said he sought not to preach to the choir, but speak to people who 'heard some conspiracies about Jewish people or any race or gender and thought, "That makes sense to me."' The Austria-born star, who documented his trip to Auschwitz last fall, cited his own personal experiences watching his late father and other men whose lives were in disarray in the wake of World War II. 'There has never been a successful movement based on hate,' the outspoken actor said. 'Nazis? Losers. The Confederacy? Losers. The Apartheid movement? Losers - and the list goes on and on. I don't want you to be a loser. I don't want you to be weak.' The ex-California governor said that he was speaking out to people who might be involved in hate speech or movements, urging them to analyze their life choices and the paths they lead to. The latest: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, spoke out against the rise in hate crimes and anti-Semitism in a 12-minute clip he posted to social media on Monday 'Despite all my friends who might say, "Arnold, don't talk to those people. It's not worth it," I don't care what they say,' The Terminator star said. 'I care about you. I think you're worth it. 'I know nobody is perfect I can understand how people can fall into a trap of prejudice and hate.' Schwarzenegger said that growth occurs through the more difficult paths in life, citing his own experience toward bodybuilding stardom through painful workout sessions. 'It's easier to make excuses that the Jewish people conspired to hold you back then it is to admit that you just needed to work harder,' he said. 'It's easier to hate than it is to learn nobody who has chosen the easy path of hate has gotten to the end of the road and said, "What a life." No - they die as miserably as they lived.' Schwarzenegger emphasized the grim endings of those who devote themselves to a life of hate. He said, 'If you find yourself wondering if the path of hate might make sense to you for one reason or the other, or even wrapping yourself in the flag of hate, I want you to know where that path ends. 'I've seen enough people throw away their futures for hateful beliefs. So I want to speak to you before you find your regrets at the end of that path.' Schwarzenegger said in the clip, which was distributed by ATTN, that there is still an offramp for people who have engaged in hate speech to change their ways. 'No matter how far you've gone, I want you to know you still have a chance to choose a life of strength,' he said. 'You have to fight the war against yourself.' Schwarzenegger said that while going down the path of hate and blame is easier in life - 'You don't have to change anything, everything in your life that you aren't happy about can be somebody else's fault,' he said - ultimately, 'You will end up broken.' He added, 'I don't want you to go through all that.' Schwarzenegger said that growth occurs through the more difficult paths in life, citing his own experience toward bodybuilding stardom through painful workout sessions Schwarzenegger said in the clip that there is still an offramp for people who have engaged in hate speech to change their ways In the clip, the actor said, 'It's easier to hate than it is to learn nobody who has chosen the easy path of hate has gotten to the end of the road and said, "What a life"' Jeremy Renner was pictured out in public for the first time since suffering multiple severe injuries in a New Year's Day snow plow accident near his Lake Tahoe, Nevada home. The Marvel star, 52, was the passenger in a vehicle pictured in Beverly Hills, California on a chilly winter day in Southern California. He appeared to be in good spirits as he smiled while he was driven to an office building, where he spent about 30 minutes at before departing. The actor was wearing a red shirt and glasses on the outing, which marked the first time he has been seen publicly since the devastating incident. Renner has been chronicling his recovery - which could potentially last for years - ever since surviving the horrifying January 1 accident. The latest: Jeremy Renner, 52 was pictured out in public for the first time since suffering multiple severe injuries in a New Year's Day snow plow accident near his Lake Tahoe, Nevada home, as he was spotted traveling in LA Monday Serious situation: The Hawkeye star was seriously injured in a snow plow accident that took place on New Year's Day, and his recovery could potentially last for years Renner last week said he was doing 'whatever it takes' in his recovery, in video of him improving his leg strength with the help of a Technogym bike. Renner focused on his left leg as he sat on the chair and pedaled away, using his hand to assist him in the motions. Renner also prioritized his 'mental recovery' as he curled up by the fire and cracked open The Book of Awakening, a 'spiritual daybook' written by philosopher, poet, and cancer survivor Mark Nepo. In the accident, Renner was using his snow-removal tractor to help remove his nephew's car from his driveway at his residence near Reno, Nevada, after it became stuck in snow. However, his snow plow began to slide down a street after the car was towed, which prompted the actor to jump out of its cab. After he exited the vehicle, Renner realized that it could potentially hit his nephew, who was with him at the time of the incident. The Mayor of Kingstown star then attempted to re-enter the snow plow in order to divert its path but he was pulled under its left side track and run over during the attempt. Renner was crushed underneath the vehicle and was immediately taken to the hospital while suffering from breathing difficulties and various other injuries. The Washoe County Sheriffs Office report found that the snow plow may have had various mechanical issues at the time of the incident. The performer underwent several medical procedures while recovering in the hospital and often expressed his gratitude for his medical team through his Instagram account. On the move: The Marvel star was the passenger in a vehicle pictured in Beverly Hills, California Grinning: The actor was wearing a red shirt and glasses on the outing, which marked the first time he has been seen publicly since the devastating incident Busy: He appeared to be in good spirits as he smiled while he was driven to an office building, where he spent about 30 minutes at before departing Details: Renner was using his snow-removal tractor to help remove his nephew's car from his driveway at his residence near Reno, Nevada on January 1 after it became stuck in snow Danger: After he exited the vehicle, Renner realized that it could potentially hit his nephew, who was with him Contact: He then attempted to re-enter the snow plow in order to divert its path but he was pulled under its left side track and run over during the attempt Injuries: Renner was crushed underneath the vehicle and was immediately taken to the hospital while suffering from breathing difficulties and various other injuries On the move: The actor was driven in Southern California on the chilly winter day Renner was eventually allowed to recover at home and shared a shot of himself undergoing physical therapy last month. He also penned a short message in his post's caption that partially read: 'I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I.Much love and appreciation to you all.' The actor added: 'These 30 plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens. Love and blessings to you all.' Evangeline Lilly, who costarred with Renner in The Hurt Locker, recently spoke to Access and revealed that the performer was in good spirits following the accident. 'I expected to sit at his bedside and hold his hand while he moaned and groaned in pain and wasn't able to move. He was wheeling himself around, laughing with his friends. It's a miracle,' she said. The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star commented that the actor was doing well during his recovery process. 'He's made of something really tough, that guy. You've always been able to see that in him, and he is recovering incredibly, and I'm so grateful,' she stated. Lilly remarked that, although Renner was not fully recovered yet, he had a positive outlook about his future: 'He's got a journey to go through now. That's what nightmares are made out of, and he lived through it, and he's on the other side now.' Road to recovery: Renner is doing 'whatever it takes' to recover from the snow plow accident Building his strength: Renner focused on his left leg as he sat on the chair and pedaled away, using his hand to assist him in the motions 'Mental recovery': The Hurt Locker star curled up by the fire and read The Book of Awakening On the mend: Renner was eventually allowed to recover at home and shared a shot of himself undergoing physical therapy last month Grateful: He also penned a short message in his post's caption that partially read: 'I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I.Much love and appreciation to you all' Jenna Ortega stood out in a daring black-and-white outfit while attending the world premiere of Scream VI on Monday in New York City. The 20-year-old actress suffered a wardrobe malfunction as she sported a blue ink stain on her plunging white shirt-dress. She completed the stylish look with a black jacket with wide lapels that showed her bare shoulders and open-toed black collar heels. Jenna had her dark brown hair down in soft curls around her shoulders and accentuated her natural beauty with smoky eye makeup. The Wednesday star added a pop of color with bright red lipstick and accessorized with Tiffany & Co. jewelry including a silver ring and necklace with diamonds. Scream queen: Jenna Ortega stood out in a daring black-and-white outfit while attending the world premiere of Scream VI on Monday in New York City Jenna reprises her role of Tara Carpenter in the horror sequel Scream 6. She teamed up with her co-stars Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato, Melissa Barrera and Courteney Cox for a group photo during the premiere at AMC Lincoln Square. Scream 6 also stars Samara Weaving, Hayden Panettiere, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Dermot Mulroney. Franchise star Neve Campbell, 49, declined to return as Sidney Prescott after a pay dispute making Scream VI the first film in the franchise not to feature her character. Scream VI is a direct sequel to the 2022 slasher Scream and is scheduled to be released on Friday by Paramount Pictures. Jenna for her portrayal of Tara in Scream won the award for Most Frightened Performance at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards. Her horror film credits also include the 2013 film Insidious: Chapter 2 and the 2020 film The Babysitter: Killer Queen. Jenna has received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the 2022 Netflix comedy horror series Wednesday. Black-and-white outfit: The 20-year-old actress wore a white shirt-dress with a plunging neckline along with a black jacket with wide lapels that showed her bare shoulders Hair down: Jenna had her dark brown hair down in soft curls around her shoulders She's back: Jenna reprises her role of Tara Carpenter in the horror sequel Scream 6 She received nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her work in Wednesday. Jenna over the weekend won Favorite Female TV Star at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and accepted the reward remotely. Wednesday was renewed in January for a second season after becoming one of the most successful shows ever on the streaming service. It was reported last week by Deadline that The Weeknd will make his feature acting debut alongside Jenna in a mysterious new project. Jenna will host the upcoming March 11 episode of Saturday Night Live. Group photo: Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato, Melissa Barrera, Jenna and Courteney Cox teamed up for a group photo during the premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Hunter Schafer celebrated her ongoing collaboration with Mugler on Monday with a glam Paris Fashion Week party. The Euphoria actress and model, 24, hosted a star-studded party at Paris' Pavillon des Invalides with the legendary French house. Hunter was handpicked by the brand to walk in its Spring/Summer 21 show back in 2021 while she was recently unveiled as the face of Muglers Angel Elixir perfume. The actress dressed to impress, looking sensational in a sparkly black catsuit, with a blue draped train attached. Her incredible physique was on full display in the figure-hugging ensemble, which glittered under the lights. It's my party: Hunter Schafer celebrated her ongoing collaboration with Mugler on Monday with a glam Paris Fashion Week party (pictured with Casey Cadwallader. Creative Director of Mugler) Striking: The Euphoria actress and model, 24, hosted a party at Paris' Pavillon des Invalides with the legendary French house She added a few extra inches of height to her frame with a pair of black strappy high heels. She wore her blonde tresses swept back in an elegant updo, while sporting dramatically winged blue eyeshadow. Hunter was joined by CEO of the L'Oreal group Nicolas Hieronimus and president of Mugler fashion and fragrances Daniele Lahana Aidenbaum for a photograph. Hunter first made her mark as a fashion model, working for such high-profile brands as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Teen Vogue, who listed her in its '21 Under 21' list in 2017. Schafer would strike lightning fast in her transition to acting, landing her very first role in the hit HBO series Euphoria in 2019. Along with her lead role in the series, Schafer also co-wrote an episode with the show's creator Sam Levinson, and served as co-executive producer. In the teen drama, Schafer plays transgender high school student, Jules, who fast becomes a best friend of Ruby 'Rue' Bennett, played by Zendaya. Both Zendaya and Schafer, along with many of the other cast members, have seen their stars rise in Hollywood in the wake of being on Euphoria for two seasons. HBO has renewed Euphoria for a third season, but so far a premiere date has not been announced. Hunter is in a happy relationship with her co-star Dominic Fike who plays her love interest Elliot. In a GQ profile, Dominic said that he is so smitten that he tries to see Hunter as frequently as he can in any way possible. The Florida native recalled how he once visited the Prada store in Soho eight times over four days, not just to shop for clothes but also to see his love's face on the luxury label's ads in the store windows. 'That's the best part,' he gushed over his trips to the designer boutique. Wow: The actress dressed to impress, looking sensational in a sparkly black catsuit, with a blue draped trained attached (pictured with CEO of the L'Oreal group Nicolas Hieronimus and president of Mugler fashion and fragrances Daniele Lahana Aidenbaum) Star-studded: Avril Lavigne and new beau Tyga were among the VIP guests at Hunter's exclusive party Red hot: Georgia May Jagger also made an appearance, looking stunning in a red gown with a sheer panel Eye-catching: Cara Taylor caught the eye in an optical illusion style dress with a cutout on the side to flash some extra skin Hayden Panettiere hit the red carpet on Monday, for the first time since her younger brother Jansen passed away from an enlarged heart at just 28 years of age. The 33-year-old actress attended the world premiere of her new film Scream VI, which hits theaters March 10 and has her returning as Kirby Reed from 2011's Scream 4. The blonde beauty's red carpet appearance also came just hours after she appeared on Good Morning America... where she teared up while discussing her late brother. Panettiere hit the red carpet on Monday evening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater, posing with one of her co-stars, Jasmin Savoy Brown. She arrived in a black off-shoulder minidress while staying warm with a black scarf wrapped around her neck. First: Hayden Panettiere hit the red carpet on Monday, for the first time since her younger brother Jansen passed away from an enlarged heart at just 28 years of age Co-star: Panettiere hit the red carpet on Monday evening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater, posing with one of her co-stars, Jasmin Savoy Brown Happier times: Hayden Panettiere and her brother Jansen pose together in 2019 She had her blonde locks pulled back into a bun while accessorizing with gold diamond-studded strand earrings and a number of gold rings. The actress also kept warm with a black trench coat that fell to the red carpet while opting for black pantyhose. Panettiere completed her look with a pair of black pumps as she hit the red carpet on Monday evening. The actress returns as Kirby Reed in the sixth installment of the Scream franchise, more than a decade after her debut in 2011's Scream 4. Reed was a 17-year-old high school senior in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California in that film, which was set on the anniversary of the original Ghostface killings... that spawned a new killer. While her fate was left uncertain at the end of Scream 4, she had a brief photographic cameo at the end of Scream 5, confirming her as the sole survivor and final girl of that massacre. She returns in Scream VI, which brings the action to New York City, with several different survivors of the Ghostface killings hoping for a fresh start in the Big Apple. Returning from last year's fifth installment are Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera as half-sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter, along with twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks (Jasmine Savoy Brown), along with Scream franchise mainstay Courteney Cox as Gail Weathers. Hayden's look: She had her blonde locks pulled back into a bun while accessorizing with gold diamond-studded strand earrings and a number of gold rings Red carpet ready: Panettiere completed her look with a pair of black pumps as she hit the red carpet on Monday evening Just hours before hitting the red carpet, Panettiere gave her first interview since losing her younger brother, on Monday's Good Morning America. When GMA host Michael Strahan offered his condolences, she placed a hand to her heart and said, 'Thank you. He's right here with me,' as her voice started to crack. Her family released a statement at the time of his passing, which began, 'Jansen's heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit.' 'His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered,' the statement added. 'Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen's sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications,' the statement continued. 'We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning,' the family added. 'We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever,' the statement concluded. According to a police report, Jansen's body was discovered in his home by three friends who found him 'unresponsive' in a chair and desperately tried to revive him with CPR. Interview: Just hours before hitting the red carpet, Panettiere gave her first interview since losing her younger brother, on Monday's Good Morning America Here: When GMA host Michael Strahan offered his condolences, she placed a hand to her heart and said, 'Thank you. He's right here with me,' as her voice started to crack Heading out: Hayden Panettiere is seen leaving her hotel for the Scream VI premiere All black: Hayden Panettiere rocks an all black look heading to the Scream VI premiere All smiles: Hayden Panettiere smiles to her fans while leaving for the Scream VI premiere Wave: Hayden Panettiere waves to her fans while leaving her hotel for the Scream VI premiere Ben Affleck opted for casual comfort as he stopped by a studio in Los Angeles to kick off his work week on Monday. The Gone Girl actor, 50, flaunted his sense of style as he lugged a heavy backpack that was easily slung over his right shoulder as he strolled towards the building. The Oscar-winning star, who tied the knot with Jennifer Lopez last year, is reportedly currently in escrow with his wife for a lavish $64 million mansion located in the Pacific Palisades. The two lovebirds have been spotted searching for their new dream home earlier this year, and recently pulled out of purchasing a $34.5 million house in the same neighborhood. While celebrating the next step towards acquiring a new home, Ben was seen stopping by a studio wearing a red and tan-colored button-up and rolled the cuffs midway up his arm. Keeping it casual: Ben Affleck , 50, opted for casual comfort as he stopped by a studio in Los Angeles to kick off his work week on Monday Underneath the flannel, the Golden Globe winner added a plain, gray crew neck shirt underneath for an extra layer of warmth in the cooler temperatures. The star paired the top with a off-gray pants along with red and black sneakers that coincided with the color scheme of his top. He carried a large, black backpack over his shoulder that held a few items that he needed during the busy day. Ben was seen quickly strolling across the street on the overcast day to head inside of the studio, while conversing with a female companion. Also on Monday, TMZ reported that the actor and his wife, Jennifer, are currently in escrow for a stunning $64 million mansion located in the Pacific Palisades. This latest property includes eight bedrooms, 11 baths, and a 16,000 square feet residence sitting upon a 1.13 acre compound. It also features an 800-square foot gym, professional media room, game room, massive background with a pool, spa, canyon-side views, and firepit area. Visitors will also be able to spend the night in a separate guest house which contains a Japanese-style soaking tub. Stopping by a studio: While celebrating being in escrow, Ben was seen stopping by a studio wearing a red and tan-colored button-up and rolled the cuffs midway up his arm Layering the look: Underneath the flannel, the Golden Globe winner added a plain, gray crew neck shirt underneath for an extra layer of warmth in the cooler temperatures The couple were pictured stopping by the property on February 28, and insiders told TMZ they have been making frequent visits to the home to scoop out any changes they may want to make once the sale is finalized. This is something the lovebirds often do, and gave the previous home they were recently considering the same treatment, according to TMZ. While the lovebirds are already incredibly wealthy, insiders added the A-listers are able to afford this latest property with the help of JLo's Bel-Air home. That home is currently in escrow with a possible buyer for $39 million. In addition, the Argo actor recently sold off his mansion in the Pacific Palisades area for around $30 million. The Pacific Palisades home the couple recently dropped was worth $34.5 million. The home offers seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, and is located in the prestigious Rustic Canyon. The two lovebirds notably tied the knot last year in July at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The following month, the newlyweds held a larger ceremony at Ben's Georgia estate with numerous family members and friends in attendance. Ready for the day: The star paired the top with a off-gray pants along with red and black sneakers that coincided with the color scheme of his top Steps towards their dream home: The Oscar-winning star and wife, Jennifer Lopez, are reportedly currently in escrow with his wife for a lavish $64 million mansion located in the Pacific Palisades Upon tying the knot, Jennifer became the stepmother to Ben's three children, whom he shares with ex-wife, Jennifer Garner: Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and son Samuel, 10. Ben also became the stepfather to Jennifer's twins, Max and Emme, whom she welcomed with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony. The twins recently celebrated their 15th birthday, and the On The Floor hitmaker shared a special tribute on social media to celebrate the day last month in February. Earlier in January, the Marry Me actress opened up about their 'blended family' during an interview on the Today show. 'We moved in together. The kids moved in together,' she explained. 'Its been, like, a really kind of emotional transition, but at the same time all your dreams coming true.' Jennifer further expressed that, 'its just been a phenomenal year. Like, my best year I think since my kids were born.' Large family: Upon tying the knot, Jennifer became the stepmother to Ben's three children, whom he shares with ex-wife, Jennifer Garner: Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and son Samuel, 10 and Ben became stepfather to twins Max and Emme, whom Jennifer shares with Marc Anthony; the two seen in February Recent tribute: The twins recently celebrated their 15th birthday, and the On The Floor hitmaker shared a special tribute on social media to celebrate the day last month in February Advertisement Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval was pictured late Saturday entering the apartment building of his 'mistress' Raquel Leviss in the wake of their affair being publicly exposed amid his longtime relationship with Ariana Madix. Sandoval, 39, attempted to look inconspicuous as he donned an all-black ensemble of a coat, shirt, hat and sneakers as he made his way into the Southern California residential building at around 10 p.m. local time. The reality TV personality was focused on his phone as news of his infidelity with Leviss, 28, set the Internet alight. Amid the flow of news over the weekend, Sandoval addressed the affair in an online apology in which he implored people to keep their anger over the situation focused on him, and not his friends, family and business associates. On Saturday morning, Madix, 37, was subsequently seen hastily departing the Los Angeles home she shared with Sandoval without shoes on, after he arrived back at the abode. The latest: Vanderpump Rules personality Tom Sandoval, 39, was pictured late Saturday entering the apartment building of his mistress Raquel Leviss, 28, in the wake of their affair being publicly exposed amid his longtime relationship with Ariana Madix, 37 Following the initial shock over the news that Sandoval and Leviss have been having a months-long affair behind Madix's back, Vanderpump Rules fans spent the weekend unearthing clues and evidence of their secret relationship. Despite the reality star's own partner reportedly feeling 'blindsided' by her boyfriend's infidelity with their castmate, social media sleuths have discovered obvious signs that the duo were 'hooking up' and 'communicating inappropriately for months.' Upon learning that Sandoval had been unfaithful by discovering a 'sexually explicit video' from Leviss on his phone after watching Sandoval's band's perform in West Hollywood on Wednesday night, according to Page Six, Madix ended their nine-year relationship. Madix has since deleted her Instagram account and has yet to comment on the claims. Sandoval alluded to the end of the high-profile relationship crisis during a Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras show at the City National Grove in Anaheim, California on Friday evening. He asked, the crowd, a source told US Weekly, 'Have you ever been one of the most hated people in America?' Sandoval took to Instagram on Sunday to apologize for his actions and ask fans to direct their 'anger' and 'disappointment' toward him not his business partners or loved ones. From wearing matching lighting bolt necklaces to the TomTom co-owner dressing up as Leviss for Halloween, DailyMail.com has rounded up all the proof that the costars have been romantically entangled since last summer. Low-profile: Sandoval attempted to look inconspicuous as he donned an all-black ensemble of a coat, shirt, hat and sneakers as he made his way into the Southern California residential building Attentive: The reality TV personality was focused on his phone as news of his infidelity with Leviss, 28, came as a surprise to viewers of the Bravo series Details: Upon learning that Sandoval had been unfaithful by discovering a 'sexually explicit video' from Leviss on his phone after watching Sandoval's band's perform in West Hollywood on Wednesday night, Madix, 37, ended their nine-year relationship Tense times: On Saturday morning, Madix, 37, was subsequently seen hastily departing the Los Angeles home she shared with Sandoval without shoes on, after he arrived back at the abode Throwback: Leviss was snapped with Scheana Shay on a getaway in June of 2020 at the Viejas Casino & Resort in San Diego Messy: Following the initial shock over the news that Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss have been having a months-long affair, behind Ariana Madix's back, Vanderpump Rules fans spent the weekend unearthing clues and evidence of their secret relationship The reality stars quietly wore matching lightning bolt necklaces during their affair While Sandoval and Leviss' managed to keep their fling under wraps from the public and their closest friends, they seemed to keep each other close by rocking gold lightning bolt pendants. While Sandoval wears the accessory almost daily, Leviss only began wearing a similar necklace last year, months after they are said to have begun seeing each other. According to a a Reddit user claiming to be a friend of the former pageant queen, who was previously crowned Miss Sonoma County in 2016 before appearing on Vanderpump Rules, the jewelry was used by the couple to say 'I love you' to each other. She was photographed in the necklace several times on social media and at BravoCon in October 2022. While reacting to a TikTok video pointing out Leviss wearing the lightning bolt around her neck, one commenter wrote: 'How did no one notice?! My God!' 'This literally makes my skin CRAWWWWWL,' another commented while some viciously quipped that Madix should 'be aware of her surroundings more closely.' Sign of affection? While Sandoval and Leviss' managed to keep their fling under wraps from the public and their closest friends, they seemed to keep each other close by rocking gold lightning bolt pendants Tom cheekily dressed up as Raquel for Halloween after Katie Maloney called her a 'fan girl' After Maloney accused Leviss of being a 'fan girl' for hooking up with Maloney's ex-husband, Tom Schwartz, Sandoval sent the internet into a frenzy with his bizarre Halloween costume, in which he recreated Raquel's look at BravoCon. 'Guys, look who I ran into,' Leviss mused in an Instagram Story video on October 31. 'It's Raquel from BravoCon day 3! Oh, my God. Wow, Raquel, I can't believe you would frickin' wear that sweatshirt.' He went on to share an image of himself in a TomTom sweatshirt, blond wig and black shades with the caption: 'Raquel has got to stop showing up to TomTom its embarrassing.' Flirty? After Maloney accused Leviss of being a 'fan girl' for hooking up with Maloney's ex-husband, Tom Schwartz, Sandoval sent the internet into a frenzy with his bizarre Halloween costume, in which he recreated Raquel's look at BravoCon Raquel cheered Tom at one of his shows from the front row in December Leviss did not hide her admiration for Sandoval as she stood in the front row of one of his band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras' shows in December. During his performance, the reality star recorded his every move on stage before he was captured reaching out and grabbing the phone from her as she grinned and danced with a drink in her hand. After the Instagram account, Vanderpump Rules Party, shared the recording, the comment section was full of people calling her a 'groupie' and others proclaiming the affair was 'happening right under our noses!!!!!' His biggest cheerleader: Leviss did not hide her admiration for Sandoval as she stood in the front row of one of his band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras' shows in December Raquel rode on top of Tom's shoulders at the Life is Beautiful music festival in September The pair's seemingly most public display of affection occurred during the three-day musical festival in Downtown Las Vegas, back in September 2022. In an Instagram video shared by Leviss, she can be seen on top of his shoulders at the concert while sporting a white minidress with a slit. Crossing the line: The pair's seemingly most public display of affection occurred during the three-day musical festival in Downtown Las Vegas, back in September 2022 Raquel Leviss said Tom Sandoval was 'hotter' than his best friend Tom Schwartz During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on March 1, Leviss admitted that she thought Sandoval was the 'hotter' of the two Toms. The next say she wrote in an Instagram comment that she she was a 'fan of' both Toms and their restaurant, which she said has 'best vibe, food, and drinks in WeHo.' 'I'm also a fan of Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval!! Here to support their business endeavors,' she added. More than friends? During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Leviss admitted that she thought Sandoval was the 'hotter' of the two Toms; The duo pictured 2021 She admits her last text message from another castmate was from Tom Just days before their affair was exposed, Raquel revealed in an interview, uploaded by Page Six, that she had a group text with Schwartz and Sandoval. She then said her last text from another Vanderpump Rules star was in that thread, when Schwartz asked her to join him and Sandoval for a night out. Shady: Just days before their affair was exposed, Raquel revealed in an interview, uploaded by Page Six, that she had a group text with Schwartz and Sandoval Ariana deleted her social media presence right before news of Tom's affair became official As rumors Ariana began to swirl about Tom's infidelity last week, Ariana opted to delete her Instagram and Twitter. Fans immediately noticed, with one asking: ''Did Ariana delete her Twitter?? I went to see if there were any other interesting likes or replies after grabbing those two earlier today and now the account is gone.' 'She's mentioned she gets affected majorly by everyone's opinions. ... She probably needed a break,' another theorized. Others noted it was 'sad' that the star to deleted her accounts, but understood wanting to mourn the end of her relationship offline. Hurtful: Despite spending nearly a decade together, their relationship was filled with issues, dating back to 2019, when she slammed him for outing her sexuality to his friends; seen in June 2022 Ariana said he 'betrayed' her trust after outing her as bisexual to his friends Despite spending nearly a decade together, their relationship was filled with issues, dating back to 2019, when she slammed him for outing her sexuality to his friends. After Sandoval revealed Madix had a sexual experience with Lala Kent, she said on he show that her 'sexuality is not something that is meant to sound cool to a bunch of dudes.' 'I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of what happened between Lala and I, but I do feel like Tom betrayed my trust by telling this story to his guy friends,' she said on the show during a confessional. She also confronted him directly, when saying: 'When you talk about anyones sexuality without their consent, its, like, really not okay.' She thought they were monogamous: In January, Madix denied rumors that they were in an open marriage on Twitter. In the since-deleted tweet, she wrote: 'Bisexual = polyamorous' (seen this year) Ariana and Tom both deny they are in an open marriage In January, Madix denied rumors that they were in an open marriage on Twitter. In the since-deleted tweet, she wrote: 'Bisexual = polyamorous.' Still, Sandoval was insisting just weeks ago that he and Madix are 'really good about respecting each other and having each other's backs in a reasonable way.' While sources close to Madix have insisted she had no knowledge of his cheating, she has been open over the years about not wanting to tie the knot. 'I just don't want it to be like a big thing about having a giant wedding and a bachelorette party and all that bulls**t,' she said of marriage in 2021. That same year, she revealed she had frozen her eggs to have 'agency over' her body and future. 'This does not mean that I'm jumping on the baby train,' she clarified. 'It's also kind of a nice fun f**k-you to anybody who questions my values or my choices.' Air Mauritius will resume its direct operations to and from Geneva International Airport in Switzerland, with two weekly flights using the Airbus A330-900neo aircraft in a Business and Economy configuration with a capacity of 288 seats as from the 02 October 2023 until 12 January 2024 This marks the start of seasonal operations to Geneva scheduled for part of the IATA Northern Winter period. Flight number Routing Days of operations Scheduled time of departure Scheduled time of arrival MK 048 MRU-GVA Mondays & Fridays 08H00 17H45 MK 059 GVA-MRU Mondays & Fridays 21H10 10H00* All timings in local time *Arrival in Mauritius on Wednesdays and Sunday Flight number Routing Days of operations Scheduled time of departure Scheduled time of arrival MK 048 MRU-GVA Mondays & Fridays 09H00 17H45 MK 059 GVA-MRU Mondays & Fridays 21H10 11H0 All timings in local time *Arrival in Mauritius on Wednesdays and Sundays Kresimir Kucko, CEO of Air Mauritius stated that, We are pleased to note the excellent response of the market to the resumption of operations to Geneva. We believe that it will contribute to boost tourist arrivals from Switzerland, Italy, southern Germany and France. Direct long-haul operations have traditionally been our strength to secure competitive leverage and we are currently exploring other similar opportunities to expand our network. He added that such direct operations complement our origin-destination network model which entails offering to our passengers more choice and flexibility through the gateways we serve in collaboration with airline partners. Air Mauritius main gateway in Europe is Paris from where it offers code-share flights to nearly 40 destinations in Europe, with partner Air France. Air Mauritius currently operates twice daily frequencies to Paris Charles de Gaulle in partnership with Air France and our operations to London have been increased from three to five times weekly. Kresimir Kucko declared that The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Air Mauritius operations to Paris, London and Mumbai. Last year the national carrier which was incorporated in 1967, commemorated its 50th anniversary of operations to Rodrigues. Air Mauritius products and services have been rated 4-Star by rating agency SKYTRAX. At the World Travel Awards 2021, Air Mauritius was the winner of the Indian Oceans Leading Airline Economy Class 2021 and Indian Oceans Leading Airline Brand 2021 & 2022. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Despite a new lawsuit recently filed against him, Alec Baldwin appeared to be in good spirits at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala. The 64-year-old actor hit the red carpet solo at the annual bash, held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City on Monday evening. The outing comes just days after three more Rust crew members filed a lawsuit against the actor, claiming they now suffer from anxiety and PTSD after the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie Rust. Baldwin stepped out with a classic black suit with a blue-gray dress shirt and a dark tie under a black suit coat with a purple pocket square. The actor seemed to be sporting the early makings of a new beard as he hit the red carpet on Monday night. Good spirits: Despite a new lawsuit recently filed against him, Alec Baldwin appeared to be in good spirits at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala The embattled actor completed his look with matching black pants and black dress shoes for the annual event. While Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in late February, just days later three Rust crew members filed a lawsuit against the actor. The filing alleges that the crew members have experienced anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set on the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The crew members - dolly operator Ross Addiego, set costumer Doran Curtin and key grip Reese Price - also claim they were near the gun when it was fired and have since suffered, 'blast injuries' from the gun going off unexpectedly. Hutchins fell to the ground in front of Curtin. 'She watched in shock as Hutchins grabbed at her abdomen,' the lawsuit states. 'Plaintiff Curtin put her hands on Hutchins' stomach, trying to find the source of Hutchins' pain and figure out what was going on. As the chaos continued, Plaintiff Curtin was ushered out of the church. Once outside, she collapsed from the effects of the blast and the shock of the shooting.' The lawsuit also accuses the producers of cutting corners and hiring individuals who had been the subject of previous safety complaints, including David Halls, the first assistant director, and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who 'lacked experience' because the producers allegedly wanted a 'quick and cheap production.' Gutierrez Reed, like Baldwin, is also facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison, and she also pleaded not guilty. Alec's look: The embattled actor completed his look with matching black pants and black dress shoes for the annual event New lawsuit: While Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in late February, just days later three Rust crew members filed a lawsuit against the actor Also attending the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala was Sutton Foster, who hit the red carpet in a black coat with a plunging neckline She also accessorized with diamond earrings and a stunning green necklace that fell into her plunging neckline. The actress completed her look with several rings, black pants and black heels for the annual event. Baldwin's former 30 Rock co-star Jane Krakowski also attended the event with a leggy ensemble. The blonde actress stepped out with an oversized white dress shirt slightly tucked into a black miniskirt, completing her look with black pumps. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan hit the red carpet in a white pantsuit. She rocked a white suit coat with a plunging neckline and a pair of matching white pants for the event. The actress completed her look with diamond-studded earrings and silver pumps. Sutton: Also attending the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala was Sutton Foster, who hit the red carpet in a black coat with a plunging neckline Co-star: Baldwin's former 30 Rock co-star Jane Krakowski also attended the event with a leggy ensemble Rachel: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan hit the red carpet in a white pantsuit Murray: F. Murray Abraham hit the red carpet at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala Carla's look: Carla Gugino hit the red carpet in a black and red ensemble Anna: Anna Chlumsky hits the red carpet at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala Anna's look: Anna Chlumsky steps out in an elegant yellow dress with strappy pink heels Patricia in blue: Patricia Clarkson hits the red carpet in a blue dress and black pumps at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2023 Gala Vanessa: Vanessa Williams rocks a stylish black dress at the Roundabout Theatre's 2023 Gala Former Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has returned to Instagram with some racy snaps after she opened up about her heartbreaking infertility diagnosis last month. The 35-year-old recently quit escorting to become a single mother via IVF. However, she received the devastating news last month that carrying her own child may not be possible for her, as a doctor said she is 'close to being infertile'. Hayley has been keeping her presence on social media lowkey since finding out her health diagnosis, but on Monday she came back with a bang. She posed in a racy snap that showed off her toned and tatted body. Former Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has returned to Instagram with some racy snaps after she opened up about her heartbreaking infertility diagnosis last month Hayley has been keeping her presence on social media lowkey since finding out her health diagnosis, but on Monday she came back with a bang In a black bra with a matching thong and garter the brunette beauty smiled at the camera. She matched the lingerie with knee-high sheer stockings and wore a glam makeup look with winged eyeliner and a nude lip. Fans of the former reality TV star were happy that one of their favourite creators was back online. One of Hayley's 67,000 followers wrote: 'She's back...now we want to see your "Hayley's daily chats". You make me laugh and I've been missing the unapologetic authentic Hayley'. It was in one of these daily chats that the 35-year-old told her followers about her fertility struggles. Sharing a video of herself crying in her car on TikTok, she said: 'I literally can't stop crying, I had just gone to the doctor to get my results for IVF, she said my AMH levels are a 4.8. I don't even know what that means and she said it's close to being infertile.' Hayley was referring to her anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) Test and ovarian reserve levels. According to IVF Australia, 'Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a hormone secreted by cells in developing egg sacs (follicles). The level of AMH in a woman's blood is generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve'. Sharing a video of herself crying in her car on TikTok, she said: 'I literally can't stop crying, I had just gone to the doctor to get my results for IVF, she said my AMH levels are a 4.8' The AMH test 'gives us some insight into the remaining quantity of eggs and number of fertile years you may have.' It's been reported that the best response to IVF is typically seen in women with an AMH level in the 1.0-3.5 ng/mL range. An average of ten to 20 eggs are usually retrieved for IVF. The former reality TV star then begged her fans for help and said she was unsure of her next steps. 'Has anyone conceived or had egg retrieval when it's been this low before? I feel like I'm hyperventilating. I have an appointment with Monash IVF so will so go with that... what am I gonna do?' In January, Hayley told The Wash that she was hoping to have a child later in the year. 'There are plenty of women that do what I do as well as holding the fort within their families, but for me I'm looking forward to re-inventing myself in preparation to becoming a mother so that first step is to physically stop seeing clients,' she said. In January, Hayley told The Wash that she was hoping to have a child later in the year and would quit escorting in order to do so At the time, Hayley was on a tour of Melbourne, and said it would be her last trip escorting before undergoing IVF with a donor. 'I'm at the point where I know if I don't have children in the next few years that ship will sail,' she said. 'So through the help of donor-ship and IVF this is a process that I will more than likely do this year and raise a child by myself.' Hayley will still be filming explicit content, but said she realises it will soon not be a viable option if she has a baby. She previously revealed she had signed up to Scarlet Blue, a private escort directory, where she offered in-calls and out-calls for customers. Hayley is understood to have charged clients between $750-$950 an hour. She had also recently announced she has made more than $1.3 million since joining OnlyFans in August 2020. The former reality television star has been open and candid about her work and received a lot of support from her followers. Hayley rose to fame on Married At First Sight Australia back on season seven, which aired in 2020. Andy Cohen on Monday said he suspects there could have be something going on between Vanderpump Rules costars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss as far back as last fall, during festivities at BravoCon in New York City in October. The Bravo host-producer, 54, speculated on the timeframe of the affair - in which Sandoval, 39, cheated on longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix, 37 - on his Radio Andy show Monday on SiriusXM, as details of the fallout made headlines. He noted that amid the 'reverberating' scandal, video captured at the event indicated that Madix - and Leviss - were watching Sandoval intently as he played with his band at the event in the Big Apple. Cohen noted that the answers Leviss, 28, gave earlier this month on his show Watch What Happens Live, during a quiz sketch with with Scheana Shay, 37, provided an insight into the way she viewed the restauranteur-musician. 'We played a game called the BFF test,' Cohen said. 'I read a statement and both guests answer at the same time and we see if their answers match. I said, "Who's the cuter Tom: Sandoval or Schwartz?" And they both said Sandoval.' The latest: Andy Cohen spilled on the bombshell affair between Vanderpump Rules costars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss on his radio show on Monday Cohen said that he did not expect Leviss' answer to be Sandoval, based on rumors of romance between her and Schwartz that circulated last year. 'I looked up and said to Raquel, "Oh you said Sandoval, hmm," and then we moved on,' Cohen said. The answer even caught Shay off-guard, according to Cohen, as 'Scheana's antenna was up' following the revelation from Leviss. 'I'm going through my cards and Scheana said to Raquel, "You know, I only picked Sandoval because I knew that you were gonna pick Schwartz,"' Cohen recalled. 'And Raquel said, "Well, Sandoval has abs," and kind of shrugged. 'So, you know, that was interesting. And again, I didn't think twice about it.' Cohen said that he contacted Shay about the aforementioned discussion over the weekend as the cheating story went public. 'I DM'd Scheana over the weekend and I go, "What was that conversation that you guys had about that BFF test?"' he said. 'I thought it was odd.' Cohen noted how Bravo should re-air that episode, and an episode of WWHL that featured Sandoval and Schwartz that aired last month, noting that 'there was some odd energy between' the business partners during the appearance. Cohen noted that the answers Leviss (R) gave earlier this month on his show Watch What Happens Live, during a quiz sketch with with Scheana Shay provided an insight into the way she viewed the restauranteur-musician Cohen said that answers Leviss gave to a quiz game favoring Sandoval raised his interest Sandoval was seen playing a set at BravoCon October 15 in NYC. Cohen on Monday said video from he event indicated that Madix - and Leviss - were watching Sandoval intently onstage 'Schwartz was looking to Sandoval the entire time, almost for guidance on answers,' Cohen said. 'So the big question is: When did Schwartz find out about this?' Sandoval said in an apology he released on Instagram Sunday that Schwartz was not in the know about the affair until recently, and disapproved of it once he knew the truth. 'Schwartz specifically only found out about this very recently, and most definitely did not condone my actions,' said Sandoval. Amid the heat of the scandal, Sandoval asked viewers of the show to keep their anger over the situation aimed at him instead of his family, friends and business associates. 'Hey, I fully understand an deserve ur anger & disappointment towards me, but please leave Schwartz, my friends and family out of this situation,' he said. 'Also, Schwartz & Sandy's might have my name on it, but also there are 3 other partners and 20 employees, who especially rely on the restaurant for income for them and their families.' He continued: 'Just like TomTom, I'm a small part of a much bigger thing. Please direct ur anger towards me and not them. They did nothing wrong. I will be taking a step back & taking a hiatus out of respect for my employees & partners.' In the wake of the affair going public, neither Leviss or Madix have commented on the events, and Madix has also deleted her Instagram account. Sandoval and Madix were seen earlier this year at a premiere party for the show in LA The former couple was pictured with Leviss at a Thanksgiving charity event in LA Sandoval said in an apology he released on Instagram Sunday that Schwartz was not in the know about the affair until recently, and disapproved of it once he knew the truth In another related twist to the situation, sources told People Monday that Bravo producers have been in contact with Sandoval ex Kristen Doute, 40, (pictured in 2021) about a potential return to the program In another related twist to the situation, sources told People Monday that Bravo producers have been in contact with Sandoval ex Kristen Doute, 40, about a potential return to the program. 'Vanderpump Rules producers have approached Kristen to come back on the show to talk about' the situating involving Sandoval, Leviss and Madix,' a source told the outlet. The source said that Doute has 'had her fair share of ups and downs with Sandoval over the years, but right now she's completely supporting Ariana.' Doute was fired from the series in 2020 (along with Stassi Schroeder) amid a racism controversy involving former costar Faith Stowers. 'Kristen has put the show behind her, but she's considering it,' the insider told the magazine, noting that Doute will only speak on the issue with Madix's blessing. 'It'll depend if Ariana wants her to do it and is comfortable as that's the only way she would ever go back on the show,' the source said. 'It's a conversation she and Ariana are having right now. The girls have all been spending time with Ariana.' Home and Away star Georgie Parker has announced she is leaving the show. According to a report in Yahoo on Tuesday, Georgie is taking a seven-week break from the soap and should disappear from screens in August. The star, who first joined the soap in 2010 replacing Justine Clarke as Ruth 'Roo' Stewart, will perform in the play, Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica. Georgie said she was lucky that production wrote her out of scripts as she took on other artistic ventures. 'I'm lucky that with or any other TV productions I've been involved with, I've been very fortunate that I kind of put it out there if it's going to be long term, that I need time out for plays,' she told Yahoo. Home and Away veteran Georgie Parker has shocked fans by telling Yahoo she is stepping away from the soap for seven weeks for a stage product. Right, Ray Meagher 'Channel Seven has always been very generous with letting me do that, and ask for [time off]. I just get it written into my contract,' she continued. Georgie is one of Australia's most beloved stars having appeared on All Saints and A Country Practice. The star married her husband Steve Worland in 1999 and the couple welcomed their daughter Holly in 2000. 'Channel Seven has always been very generous with letting me do that, and ask for [time off]. I just get it written into my contract,' she said. Here on Home and Away The actress told TV week in April last year, she felt the burden of juggling her career and being a new mum. 'I got married and became a mum when I won the first Gold Logie,' she said. 'I was split between a lot of things it was a very stressful time. 'The struggle I had was that I'd never chased that kind of success, so when I got it, I was doing it more because I wanted the show to succeed.' Evergreen eighties supermodel Christie Brinkley shared a rare slideshow of herself embracing substantial gray roots in her signature blonde locks while enjoying a cloudy day on the beach near her Hamptons home. It was a bold move for the 69-year-old mother-of-three, who ordinarily only shares flawless snaps of her suspiciously unlined complexion and impressively taut 5ft9in figure. 'Grey sky! Gray hair! The second you see gray hair it raises the question, just like when you cut bangs ...to keep or not to keep?' Christie - who boasts 1.7M social media followers - mused on Sunday. 'Thank goodness both are just a personal preference or a fun change of pace. My son [Jack Paris Brinkley Cook] thinks it looks cool, but I think I may want to wait till it's more like the silver whitecaps than the grey wave itself! The verdict is still out! Happy Sunday!' The same exact day Brinkley (born Hudson) posted about grey hair she was pictured at 2:30pm fully back to blonde while attending a sold-out Long Island LitFest event at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island. Silver fox! Evergreen eighties supermodel Christie Brinkley shared a rare slideshow of herself embracing substantial gray roots in her signature blonde locks while enjoying a cloudy day on the beach near her Hamptons home The Bellissima Prosecco owner - who relies on longtime hairstylist Mitch Barry - discussed aging with fellow former SI Swimsuit stunner Paulina Porizkova, who was promoting her book, No Filter: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful. Unlike Christie, the Czech-born 57-year-old has fully embraced her gray hair and wrinkles gracefully, writing: 'Aging is the privilege of living a long life. You can fight it or accept it. But there is a third choice. Embrace it.' 'Embracing it means both acceptance and battle. Accepting there are inevitable changes on the inside and the outside. And both are valuable,' Paulina explained on February 6. 'As your inner power grows, your wrinkles reflect the time you've spent getting more powerful. Fighting is better spent not on the denial of age, but rather putting it to work. Fight to keep your body healthy. Fight to stay curious and flexible. Fight the shame that's heaped on you to tell you you no longer matter. Fight to be seen and valued for the person you have become. Here's to embracing age - for both the good and the bad, because that's living!' The Way Home actress Andie MacDowell decided to grow out her gray hair during the COVID-19 quarantine when her daughters told her she looked 'bada**.' 'I like to compare myself to George Clooney because why not? I've been saying for a while now it was time for me, personally, to make that transition because I felt like it was appropriate for my personality and just who I am,' the 64-year-old Golden Globe winner told Vogue in 2021. 'During lockdown, I had a lot of downtime and became obsessed with Jack Martin, who did Jane Fonda's hair. I shared those pictures with a lot of people going, "Hey, I want to do this." I got a job and very quickly I had to make up my mind about what I was going to do. 'My managers had actually said to me, "It's not time." And I said, "I think you're wrong, and I'm going to be more powerful if I embrace where I am right now. It's time because in two years I'm going to be 65. If I don't do it now, I won't have the chance to be salt and pepper." I always wanted to be salt and pepper!' Truth: It was a bold move for the 69-year-old mother-of-three, who ordinarily only shares flawless snaps of her suspiciously unlined complexion and impressively taut 5ft9in figure Christie - who boasts 1.7M social media followers - mused on Sunday: 'Grey sky! Gray hair! The second you see gray hair it raises the question, just like when you cut bangs ...to keep or not to keep?' Brinkley continued: 'Thank goodness both are just a personal preference or a fun change of pace. My son [Jack Paris Brinkley Cook] thinks it looks cool, but I think I may want to wait till it's more like the silver whitecaps than the grey wave itself! The verdict is still out! Happy Sunday!' That was quick! The same exact day the he Bellissima Prosecco owner posted about grey hair she was pictured at 2:30pm fully back to blonde while attending a sold-out Long Island LitFest event at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island Christie - who relies on longtime hairstylist Mitch Barry - discussed aging with fellow former SI Swimsuit stunner Paulina Porizkova (R), who was promoting her book, No Filter: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful Unlike Brinkley, the Czech-born 57-year-old has fully embraced her gray hair and wrinkles gracefully, writing on February 6: 'Aging is the privilege of living a long life. You can fight it or accept it. But there is a third choice. Embrace it.' Candice Swanepoel stunned in a strapless red dress in a new video on her Instagram on Monday. The former Victoria's Secret model, 34, announced that she is the face of a new fragrance by Elie Saab while flaunting her picture-perfect physique for the promotional video. She highlighted her gorgeous frame in a skin-tight gown decorated in red sequins that featured a sweetheart neckline to show off her voluptuous chest. The dress also had a thigh-high slit up the side so the beauty could flaunt her supermodel legs. Candice kept the rest of her look simple, with her blonde locks slicked back in a tight bun and very simple makeup on her visage. New projects: Candice Swanepoel announced that she is the face of a new fragrance by Elie Saab in an Instagram video Miles of legs: The 34-year-old stunned in a strapless red dress decorated in red sequins that featured a sweetheart neckline to show off her voluptuous chest In the video, the mother-of-two seductively walked in and out of the frame and revealed the perfume bottle as she held it up to the light and took a moment to smell it. The bombshell expressed her excitement to become the face of the fragrance, which is titled Elixir, in her Instagram caption. She also called the fragrance: 'A love potion with a magnetic power of attraction.' Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer who started his business in the early 1980s and specialized in bridal couture. He was the first Lebanese designer to be admitted to the fashion industry's governing body, Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. This collaboration is not Candice's first venture into fashion. The South African native is also the founder of her own eco-lifestyle brand. Tropic of C, the model's swimwear collection, was launched in 2018 and focuses on being a sustainable, eco-friendly brand. The brand's motto is 'Influenced by nature. Inspired by the female form. An eco-lifestyle brand born from a life spent at the beach.' Enchanting: She flaunted her picture-perfect physique for the promotional video Stunning figure: The dress also had a thigh-high slit up the side so the beauty could flaunt her supermodel legs Catching the light: In the video, the mother-of-two seductively walked in and out of the frame and revealed the perfume bottle as she held it up to the light and took a moment to smell it When opening up about the motivation to launch Tropic Of C, Candice told Forbes in a past interview, 'Sustainability is a key part of my lifestyle.' 'I think coming from Africa and growing up with such a strong level of nature, its where I get inspiration,' and admitted that the company initially began as just 'a creative outlet' for her. Swanepoel first became a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2010, kickstarting her modeling career. In 2016 she was listed 8th on the Forbes top-earning models list. The model has been busy working with her brand and appearing in recent campaigns, such as Hugo Boss, which starred other celebrities, including Gigi Hadid and new mom, Paris Hilton. She also has two sons, who she shares with her former fiance Hermann Nicoli, Ariel, four, and Anaca, six. The pair were together for 13 years before they broke off their engagement in 2018. Gorgeous CEO: The South African native is the founder of her own eco-lifestyle brand called Tropic of C Kerry Washington had the chance to reunite with her former schoolmate, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the star uploaded a few memorable photos of the duo on her Instagram page on Monday. The Scandal alum, 46, flashed a cheerful smile as she caught up with the Oscar-winning actress, 50, on an episode of her popular Goop podcast. The stars previously attended the same private all-girls school called the Spence School which is located in New York City, but were in separate grade levels. In the caption of the short photo series, the Little Fires Everywhere actress excitedly penned, 'When Unprisoned press turns into a High School reunion,' and sweetly thanked Paltrow for having her as a guest on the podcast and added, 'Spence girls forever!' In the first snap, Kerry, who has been busy promoting her upcoming Hulu series, Unprisoned, showed off her classy sense of style wearing a short-sleeved, dark navy blue dress. Reunited! Kerry Washington, 46, had the chance to reunite with her former schoolmate, Gwyneth Paltrow, 50, and the star uploaded a few memorable photos of the duo on her Instagram page on Monday The upper portion of the ensemble had two large pockets at the top, while a belt made of the same fabric and material was tied into a bow around her waist. Her locks were swept up into a stylish up do, allowing her side bangs to gently fall onto the left side of her forehead. To accessorize the look for the special day, the beauty added a pair of thin, dangly earrings along with a similar gold ring on her right hand. Kerry opted for a bold makeup look, which comprised of a smoky shadow around her eyes, along with a peach-colored tint to her lips. Gwyneth pulled off business chic wearing a black velvet blazer along with matching slacks. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle, and effortlessly fell down straight past her shoulders. She accessorized the ensemble with an elegant, gold-chained necklace and was also seen sending a smile towards the camera. In the second photo added into the post, Kerry's facial expression had changed to show excitement as she pointed a finger in the direction of the Iron Man actress. Back in 2019, Washington made a guest appearance on the Goop podcast and the two stars reminisced on the past when they had attended the same school and also when they had first crossed paths. Having a blast! In the second photo added into the post, Kerry's facial expression had changed to show excitement as she pointed a finger in the direction of the Iron Man actress Throwback: Back in 2019, Washington made a guest appearance on the Goop podcast and the two stars reminisced on the past when they had attended the same school; the duo seen in 2019 Kerry had been in the eighth grade, about to become a freshman in high school, while Gwyneth was already a graduating senior when the two had first met. 'This is so surreal,' the Shakespeare In Love actress told Kerry during their 2019 interview, per E! News. 'I was in a singing group called 'Triple Trio'...We were holding auditions because a bunch of us were graduating, and in walks Kerry Washington,' she recalled. 'The most beautifulfirst of all, your face has not changed. No aging whatsoeverThis beautiful eighth grader comes in so confident. She opened her mouth and the most exquisite voice came out.' Later in the podcast episode, Kerry had gushed that Paltrow had always been 'cool. By junior, senior yearabsolutely.' During an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that same year, the Scandal alum also revealed that she had performed alongside Gwyneth for A Midsummer Night's Dream while attending NYC's Spence School. After Ellen brought up the two actresses attending the same school, Kerry explained how they were in different grades at the time. 'In high school, a few years difference makes a big deal. So, Im not trying to say that shes older than me, but shes a little bit older than me.' The beauty then added, 'She was a senior when I was in junior high school. Even back then, she was 'Gwyneth Paltrow,' she said, emphasizing the actress's name. Crossing paths: 'I was in a singing group called 'Triple Trio'...We were holding auditions because a bunch of us were graduating, and in walks Kerry Washington,' Gwyneth recalled on the podcast in 2019 On stage together: During an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that same year, the Scandal alum also revealed that she had performed alongside Gwyneth for A Midsummer Night's Dream; seen March 5 in West Hollywood 'We actually did one play together because she was the queen, of course, in Midsummer Night's Dream, and I was one of the fairies. The middle schoolers were allowed to audition for the fairies,' she explained. The Golden Globe-nominated actress concluded, 'So, we had one amazing show together.' While reuniting with Gwyneth on Monday, Kerry has also been promoting her upcoming Hulu series titled, Unprisoned, which is set to premiere later this week on March 10. Alongside Washington, other stars cast in the project include: Delroy Lindo, Marque Richardson, Jee Young Han, and Faly Rakotohavana. The premise of the eight episode series follows, 'a therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves to her house to live with her and her teenage son,' according to an IMDB synopsis. During a recent interview earlier this month with Variety, Kerry opened up about 'telling the story' of an individual who was incarcerated and then returning home. 'We tell a lot of stories about what its like to go in, what its like on the inside but really excavating the journey of being a returning citizen, of trying to reenter into society is so important,' the actress explained. 'And telling the stories of what its like to love somebody whos a formerly incarcerated person is so important.' 'I think this familys such a great example because they are really trying to love each other and be the best they can and Im so inspired by the characters on the show.' Upcoming project: Kerry has also been promoting her upcoming Hulu series titled, Unprisoned, which is set to premiere later this week on March 10; seen earlier this month in Hollywood Sophie Monk likes to get a prawn on her fork. And on Monday, the Love Island Australia host was enjoying a range of crustaceans as she lazed by the pool to celebrate National Prawn Day on March 18. The 43-year-old proudly showed off her prawn cocktail served traditionally in a glass as she posed in a sweet white outfit. Sophie paired a semi-sheer lace top with short-shorts in a similar fabric and decorated with a bow. She wore her blonde locks down in waves and chose a warm makeup look with a pale pink matte lipstick. Sophie Monk (pictured) likes to get a prawn on her fork. And on Monday, the Love Island Australia host was enjoying a range of crustaceans as she lazed by the pool to celebrate National Prawn Day In further images, Sophie changed into a bright orange shift dress and held aloft a single prawn on the edge of her cutlery The beauty completed her look with a pair of stacked wedge heels and had on her diamond engagement ring. Sophie also tested out a bowl of prawns as she sat poolside, and got busy peeling the tasty critter. In further images, Sophie changed into a bright orange shift dress and held aloft a single prawn on the edge of her cutlery. 'I'm as Aussie as a Tiger Prawn and I'm obsessed with how easy they are to whip up, even for a complete amateur in the kitchen like me,' she said. 'I bring out some in a bowl when hanging out with (husband) Josh and friends by the pool, or having a relaxing afternoon bevvy,' she went on. The 43-year-old proudly showed off her prawn cocktail served traditionally in a glass as she posed in a sweet white outfit Sophie also tested out a bowl of prawns as she sat poolside 'I'm as Aussie as a Tiger Prawn and I'm obsessed with how easy they are to whip up, even for a complete amateur in the kitchen like me,' she said 'And if I feel like something a bit more special for dinner, there are so many easy ways to add Aussie Tiger Prawns to any dish. 'Hands down one of my favourite things to eat.' The event has been initiated by Tropic Co and Sophie has been enlisted as an ambassador. 'This National Prawn Day, get your mates over for a prawn feast, head to your local fishmonger or supermarket to grab fresh Tropic Co Tiger Prawns, or try my simple yummo Prawn Cocktail recipe all for yourself,' she added. 'So go on, slip an extra Tiger Prawn on the barbie. It'd be un-Australian not to! And as I tell my non-Aussie mates, its not a bloody shrimp, its a Tropic Co Tiger Prawn.' Sophie is a married woman after she and Joshua Gross walked down the aisle. The couple eloped at their home on the NSW Central Coast in March 2022, which came as a surprise to fans as they had not announced a wedding date. The blonde stunner recently said she and robotics consultant Joshua, 41, were 'definitely trying' for children and undergoing IVF. They first met on a flight from Europe to Australia in August 2018, and shared a kiss after enjoying 'three champagnes' in business class. They grew closer when Joshua helped Sophie recover from endometriosis surgery. At about this time, she also started the process of freezing her eggs. Anna Heinrich broke down in tears during her stint on SAS Australia last year, and now she's 'worried' how her husband Tim Robards will handle the brutal competition. The Bachelor star, 36, who fell in love with her hubby on the matchmaking show, confessed to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday SAS was 'way worse' than it looked. She said her 40-year-old partner was more nervous about not doing as well as her, as she revealed she's concerned for his wellbeing on season four of the series. 'Once you are in that bubble, no one cares. You have got to give it your all. If you've hurt your finger or you've hurt your leg, they don't really care, you've got to either get out or push through,' Heinrich said. 'It is brutal. What you see on TV, it is way more brutal than what you see on there.' Anna Heinrich, 36, (right) broke down in tears during her stint on SAS Australia last year, and now she's 'worried' how husband Tim Robards, 40, (left) will handle the brutal competition Heinrich, who shares daughter Elle with Robards, competed in season three of SAS last year and found herself breaking down in tears on television. A glamorous reality star known for her model looks and picture-perfect marriage, she was forced to share a dark secret while on the Channel Seven program. She broke down under interrogation as she spoke of her battle with low self-esteem, telling the Directing Staff: 'I just don't feel like I'm ever good enough and I'm just ashamed of sometimes who I am.' The Bachelor star who fell in love with her hubby on the matchmaking show, confessed to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday SAS was 'way worse' than it looked. Pictured on the show last year 'Like, how I want to be better and not so negative and have more self-belief... and especially now that I've got a daughter,' she added. 'I want to make sure I can instill that in her.' This year's season has a star-studded line-up including Craig McLachlan, Cassie Sainsbury, Lindy Klim, Peter Bol, Matthew Mitcham, Stephanie Rice, Zima Anderson, Boyd Cordner and Anthony Mundine. Also in the 2023 intake are AFL commentator Abbey Holmes, Thai cave rescue hero Dr Craig Challen, AFL great Jason Akermanis and rugby player Mahalia Murphy. Channel 4 comedy The Windsors is returning for a coronation special ahead of of King Charles' big day May 6. The soap-opera inspired sitcom lampoons the famous family with Harry Enfield playing a power-hungry Charles and Haydn Gwynne as evil step mother Camilla. The feature length episode will see the Monarch wanting an epic accession to the throne, only for Prince William (Hugh Skinner) to scale down proceedings in a bid to reflect the cost of living crisis. The offical synopsis reads: 'Charles' whole life has been building up to this moment and he wants the U.K.'s first coronation in seventy years to be a spectacular affair with all the pomp and circumstance he deserves,' 'As does his Queen Consort Camilla, who can't wait to drape herself in diamonds and fur. Sadly, the U.K. is in the middle of a cost of living crisis and Wills thinks the coronation should reflect these more straitened times.' Back for more: Channel 4 comedy The Windsors is returning for a coronation special ahead of of King Charles' big day May 6 (Haydn Gwynne as Camilla and Harry Enfield as King Charles) Impersonating: The soap-opera inspired sitcom lampoons the famous family with Harry Enfield playing a power-hungry Charles and Haydn Gwynne as evil step mother Camilla King: The feature length episode will see the Monarch wanting an epic accession to the throne, only for Prince William (Hugh Skinner) to scale down proceedings in a bid to reflect the cost of living crisis Other returning characters include the Duchess of Cambridge Kate (Louise Ford), Princesses Beatrice (Ellie White) and Eugenie (Celeste Dring). As well as Charles' siblings Anne (Vicki Pepperdine) Edward (Matthew Cottle) and Kate's sister Pippa (Morgana Robinson). Head of Channel 4 comedy Joe Hallait said: 'Any channel worth its salt has a landmark show with the word coronation in the title' 'For the BBC it was the world's first televised Coronation in 1953. For ITV it's the world's longest running soap 'Coronation Street.' 'We at Channel 4 are delighted to announce that we now have our own record-breaking Coronation jewel at the heart of our broadcasting crown: the funniest show on telly during a momentously historic week for Britain.' The comedy spoof previously foresaw the Sussexes' move to America, a hear before the real life drama unfolded. Its a seat-of-the-pants operation, writer Bert Tyler More said, who alongside George Jeffrie honed his craft on sketch shows such as Ruddy Hell! Its Harry & Paul and The Armstrong & Miller Show, and created Channel 4s spoof celebrity series, Star Stories. Oddly, we predicted a move to America for Meghan and Harry so its almost like events are playing out exactly as we prophesied. 'We saw there was a feud brewing and that there was a bit of unhappiness there, so we thought that might be the upshot of it. Gang back together again: Other returning characters include the Duchess of Cambridge Kate (Louise Ford), Princesses Beatrice (Ellie White) and Eugenie (Celeste Dring). As well as Charles' siblings Anne (Vicki Pepperdine) Edward (Matthew Cottle) and Kate's sister Pippa (Morgana Robinson) The show began back in 2016 with the writing duo creating parodies of all the key members of the family apart from the Queen and Prince Philip. I think from the beginning everyone thought the Queens so loved and respected and doesnt do much wrong that it was best to steer clear, explains Bert. Theres not much to take the mickey out of, whereas with the others theres plenty. Series three follows on from the Harry and Meghan royal wedding special in 2018, and sees the couple adjusting to life as new parents with Harry trying to stick to Meghans clean-living ways. Harry is now played by Tom Durant-Pritchard, who starred as Billy Wallace briefly a fiance of Princess Margarets in The Crown, while Kathryn Drysdale continues as Meghan, a role shes been playing since the show began. When I first started playing her all we knew was that she was an actress from LA who had a lifestyle blog and loved her green juices, says Kathryn. But since then there have been more public appearances so there was a lot more stuff for me to research. Foreshadow:The comedy spoof previously foresaw the Sussexes' move to America, a hear before the real life drama unfolded (Kathryn Drysdale as Megan Markle and Tom Durant-Pritchard as Prince Harry pictured) Kathryn has played Meghan since 2016, when she appeared as Prince Harry's new LA girlfriend. Pictured with Richard Goulding as Harry, and Morgana Robinson as Pippa Middleton, in an earlier series of The Windsors 'I noticed that her accent has muted a bit and thats obviously part of the job. Because shes an American and Prince Harry, Princess Dianas son, found love with her after being single for so long, people are always going to find their narrative interesting whether they had stepped back as senior royals or not. Nevertheless, there are elements of being a member of the Royal Family that Meghan seems to enjoy in the new episodes of The Windsors. Shes using her position as a platform to speak out about the things she truly believes in and superfoods, especially avocados, are one of them, laughs Kathryn. Shes got Harry off the booze and theyve just been to a wellness retreat where she integrated some of her yoga lifestyle into his. 'I dont know if she has a strong hold over Harry in real life, but certainly in the world of our Windsors she does. Tom is relishing playing Harry too. Its such a fun role, he says. Harry is actually still succumbing to some of his old vices like booze, crisps and peanuts, all the things he loves, although hes trying not to. Big day: The Coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey. It will be a bank holiday weekend, allowing Britons to celebrate on Monday, May 8 as well Up in the air: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed they have been invited to the Kings Coronation but have refused to say whether they will be attending 'Its a slightly different vibe to appearing in The Crown, but The Windsors isnt done in a way thats cruel. 'Everything is taken to a ridiculous level and I think thats why its so enjoyable. I think it would be a slightly awkward conversation, though, if I met Harry and he said he watched it. Bert and George claim theyve heard the show has had a mixed reaction from the royals. William did a talk at Channel 4 and hed obviously watched it because he made reference to it, says George. But it didnt seem like he was cross. Weve heard other people are very slightly cross about it, like Charles and Fergie. But its all hearsay. Neither Bert nor George is a royalist, and they believe its vital that parodies of such institutions exist, whether you like them or not. Things like The Crown can be quite reverential to the Royal Family, so its great to be able to take the mickey, says Bert. Having said that, we try to make all our characters loveable. The trick is to win over both those who are fans of the Royal Family and those who arent. I think weve pulled that off. Lady Victoria Hervey was the picture of elegance in a shimmering sequin dress as she enjoyed a night out at the Chiltern Firehouse on Monday. The socialite, 46, stepped out in the floor-length gown embellished with an intricate gold and navy design as she hopped into a cab after hitting the town at the central London hotspot. The ensemble had a touch of class as the sheer top of the dress emphasised the exquisite details of the floral pattern. To accessorise, Victoria added a pop of colour with a bright fuchsia bag and gold heels. She kept her jewellery simple and wore her blonde hair pinned back in a half-up, half-down style. Elegant look: Lady Victoria Hervey was the picture of elegance in a shimmering sequin dress as she enjoyed a night out at the Chiltern Firehouse on Monday Bright and cheerful: The socialite, 46, stepped out in the floor-length gown with an intricate gold and navy design as she hopped into a cab after hitting the town at the London hotspot The socialite carried a navy jacket as she headed home after her night out. Lady Victoria, 46, who briefly dated the now-disgraced Prince Andrew in 1999, last month claimed he has always been a source of 'jealousy' for King Charles. In an interview with GB News she said Andrew has been very 'badly advised' in the past few years and Charles has been jealous of his 'successful military career'. She said: 'I think Charles, as the older brother, has always been a bit jealous of him [Prince Andrew]. 'He had a very successful military career for 20 years. I've heard that he's always been jealous of him. 'So as soon as the Queen has gone, the daggers are out.' Victoria recently moved back to London from Los Angeles after living in the US for over two decades - and is living her life back in the capital to the full. The model had sparked rumours of a return to the UK last year and has now decided the A-list packed city is 'not what it used to be'. Glowing: The ensemble had a touch of class as the sheer top of the dress emphasised the exquisite details of the floral pattern One could be forgiven for thinking an S Club party was kicking off as Jo O'Meara and Tina Barrett reunited for an appearance at a central London launch on Monday evening. The pair were in attendance as luxury hair extensions brand Inanch unveiled a new collaboration with GHD Duet, but they were without their remaining five S Club 7 members as they let their hair down. Pop star O'Meara. 43, and bandmate Barrett, 46, were enjoying a night out after confirming the pop group are reuniting for a special 25th anniversary tour. Opting for a striped blouse and high-slung leather skirt, Barrett ensured she caught the eye while greeting onlookers with her bandmate, who stepped out in a smart black co-ord. They were joined by former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins, with the three celebrity guests posing for obligatory photos shortly after making their way inside. Don't stop movin': One could be forgiven for thinking an S Club party was kicking off as Jo O'Meara and Tina Barrett reunited for an appearance at a central London launch on Monday Coming soon: All seven original members of S Club 7 - including Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh and Hannah Spearritt will come together for an 11-date arena tour In good company: The pair were joined by former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins as luxury hair extensions brand Inanch unveiled a new collaboration with GHD Duet All seven original members of S Club 7 - including Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh and Hannah Spearritt will come together for an 11-date arena tour across the UK and Ireland. But the group have made it clear they don't have any current plans to release new music but added 'never say never'. They appeared on BBC Radio 2 in February to discuss their upcoming plans with host Scott Mills. O'Meara told listeners: 'We are just really concentrating on the tour at the moment, but I always say 'never say never' and if the fans want it and things go really well [then] very possibly.' Confirming their return in an official statement, the band said: 'After eight years it feels amazing to announce that we're reuniting and performing together again. Exciting times: O'Meara and bandmate Barrett were enjoying a night out after confirming the pop group are reuniting for a special 25th anniversary tour Stylish: S Club 7 star O'Meara stepped out in a smart black co-ord on Monday evening, a look that appeared to be matched by fellow guest Collins Don't mind me: But former soap star Collins was hard to miss as she posed for photos Let's go: O'Meara shielded herself beneath an umbrella as she made her way home, while Collins threw on a full-length leather coat She's pleased: The pop star appeared to be in high spirits - and with good reason 'We're so excited to bring the S Club Party back to our fans across the country to celebrate 25 years of S Club 7. We can't even believe it's been so long! 'Music and friendship have always been at the core of everything that we've ever done. We hope everyone can join us for one big party!' The 25th anniversary tour is an opportunity for S Club 7 fans of every generation to come together and re-experience the timeless pop hits that soundtracked the British charts for five years. Collectively, S Club 7 amassed four UK number one singles with 'Bring It All Back', 'Never Had a Dream Come True', 'Don't Stop Movin', and 'Have You Ever', as well as the UK number one album '7'. They recorded 4 studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 UK charts, and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. Pop stars: S Club 7 have made it clear they don't have any current plans to release new music but added 'never say never' Jo told BBC Radio 2 listeners: 'We are just really concentrating on the tour at the moment, but I always say 'never say never' and if the fans want it and things go really well [then] possibly' Excited fans getting ready to attend an Ed Sheeran concert have been left shocked after a shirtless man was wrestled to the ground by police. The man was handcuffed outside the Southern Plaza at Adelaide Oval in front of a bevy of fangirls just before 7pm on Tuesday night. In dramatic footage of the altercation, the man is heard saying he did nothing wrong as up to six police officers escort him from the main gates. A police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the man was arrested for disorderly behaviour and was transported to hospital due to being intoxicated. The man was handcuffed outside the Southern Plaza at Adelaide Oval in front of a bevy of fangirls just before 7pm on Tuesday night (pictured) The man appeared to be bleeding from a cut on his elbow. Ed Sheeran will perform in front of 60,000 fans at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night, exactly five years ago to the date when he last played the venue in 2018. The British pop icon wore a yellow hoodie as he touched down in Adelaide and posed with fans who crowded for pictures at the airport. The 32-year-old visited the Women's and Children's Hospital for a surprise show for patients and his family, featuring just his voice and guitar, The Advertiser reports. He told reporters it was a powerful gift to be able to makes someone smile. The British pop icon wore a yellow hoodie as he touched down in Adelaide and posed with fans who crowded for pictures at the airport (pictured) Ed Sheeran will perform in front of 60,000 fans at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night, exactly five years ago to the date when he last played the venue in 2018 (he is pictured at his Sydney show) 'Who am I to say that I shouldn't be using that every single day,' he said. 'I was speaking to my wife about it, it's like, if you have the ability to do that, it should be utilised because you're given that for a reason. 'It's not just to benefit me, to have a lovely time doing these shows I just hope it does make people happy.' The much-loved musician has already played shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, where he wrapped himself in a pride flag. He will wrap-up his Australia tour in Perth on Sunday, March 12. Rumer Willis looked incredible as she displayed her growing baby bump while relaxing by the pool during an outing in Los Angeles on Monday. The actress, 34, made the most of the spring sunshine as she slipped into a tan bikini that highlighted her blossoming bump. The TV personality, who is the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, also wore an open white shirt as she kicked back and relaxed on a deck chair. Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Rumer added to her look with a pair of chunky white sunglasses. Looking in good spirits on the outing, the star, who is expecting her child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas, cradled her bump as she reclined by the pool. Glowing: Rumer Willis looked incredible as she displayed her growing baby bump while relaxing by the pool during an outing in Los Angeles on Monday Radiant: The actress, 34, made the most of the spring sunshine as she slipped into a tan bikini that highlighted her blossoming bump Rumer revealed her pregnancy by sharing a snap of Derek kissing her baby bump to Instagram in December. Since then, the Hostage star has kept her followers updated with bump snaps as well as how she's been taking care of herself. The couple's baby will be the first grandchild for Rumer's parents Bruce, 67, and Demi, 60. Rumer and Derek went public with their romance last spring and she recently admitted that she has 'never been so happy in my life.' On Valentine's Day she thanked the hunk for 'making me a mama, and being my partner in this wild ride into parenthood.' She said that he takes 'such good care of me and our little one already' and that they are 'so lucky to love you.' Her loving sentiment to Derek came just days before the heartbreaking news that her father Bruce's dementia had progressed. His family revealed he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mother to be: Rumer is expecting her child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas Looking good: The actress also donned an open white shirt as she relaxed by the pool Stunning: Rumer looked on cloud nine as she enjoyed some rest and relaxation by the pool The diagnosis comes less than one year after he retired from acting due to his battle with brain disorder, aphasia. The Sixth Sense star withdrew from acting last year as he began his fight with the illness that caused his language abilities to deteriorate. Now, his condition has 'progressed' according to a joint statement from his family. FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, which deal with behaviour, problem-solving, planning and emotions. Symptoms include personality changes, obsessive behaviour and difficulties with speaking. The statement was from his wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi and five daughters and posted on The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration's website. Family: Rumer is the eldest daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore Announcement: Rumer revealed her pregnancy by sharing a snap of Derek kissing her baby bump to Instagram in December Relationship: Rumer and Derek went public with their romance last spring and she recently admitted that she has 'never been so happy in my life' It read: 'Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce's original diagnosis. The statement continued: 'In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing. 'Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). 'Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis. 'FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.' Ed Sheeran took time out of his busy touring schedule to treat children at an Adelaide hospital to an intimate gig. The British superstar stopped into the Women's and Children's Hospital on Tuesday and brought his guitar. A delighted group of patients, their families and staff gathered around for an acoustic set with the 32-year-old. He also hopped into a number of selfies with his eager fans during the visit, and was gifted handmade cards and bracelets from the patients. Ed told Adelaide Now that he 'genuinely found a lot of enjoyment' from visiting the sick children. Ed Sheeran (pictured) took time out of his busy touring schedule to treat children at an Adelaide hospital to an intimate gig The British superstar stopped into the Women's and Children's Hospital on Tuesday and brought his guitar 'I've done it since the beginning of my career and I feel like it's a really powerful gift to be able to come in and make someone smile,' he said. 'Who am I to say that I shouldn't be using that every single day. I was speaking to my wife about it, it's like, if you have the ability to do that, it should be utilised because you're given that for a reason,' Ed added. 'It's not just to benefit me, to have a lovely time doing these shows. I just hope it does make people happy.' In February, Ed also stopped in to surprise sick kids at Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick. A delighted group of patients, their families and staff gathered around for an acoustic set with the 32-year-old He also hopped into a number of selfies with his eager fans during the visit, and was gifted handmade cards and bracelets from the patients The Shape Of You hitmaker was spotted outside the Sydney hospital before he brought his Mathematics tour to the city's Accor Stadium that night. His crew - who were all wearing masks - were also with him as one carried his guitar before the impromptu performance. He has made it a habit to give back to his young fans while touring Down Under, as he also surprised kids at Queensland Children's Hospital the prior weekend. During the Queensland hospital visit, a teenage girl had all her dreams come true as she got to sing alongside the popstar. Keasine Latu - who thankfully is now cancer free - was lucky enough to not only meet her idol and hear some of his biggest hits, but she shared a special moment with him as they performed a duet. Ed told Adelaide Now that he 'genuinely found a lot of enjoyment' from visiting the sick children She told the Today Show on Channel 9 that she was 'so nervous' but it was the best experience of her life. 'I was put on the spot, the cameraman told him I could sing and it was in front of everyone so I just started singing,' she told the programme. 'It was the best thing I experienced my entire life, meeting Ed Sheeran was amazing.' A hospital staff member said Ed seemed to 'really want to be there' as he chatted with patients before and after the stripped-back performance. 'He really sat down, got chatting to the kids, finding out where they were from, their stories, which was really lovely,' they said. Hollyoaks have confirmed the full details of Juliet and Peri's upcoming trip to Brighton, where they are joined by RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard. The pair, who recently rekindled their romance, head to the seaside town as Juliet is determined to distract her girlfriend as she awaits the results of Juliet's PET scan amid her ongoing cancer treatment. The character was inspired to organise the trip after Juliet showed a surprise interest in Ste and James' wedding plans before opening up about her difficult childhood and her desire to visit the seaside. Not having the money herself, she turns to James to help fund the trip, but James is initially worried about the health risks for his sister. However, Ste soon convinces him to help. As they arrive at their hotel with its deluxe suite and stunning views, Juliet (Niamh Blackshaw) is astounded by the effort Peri (Ruby O'Donnell) has put in. What a trip: Hollyoaks have confirmed the full details of Juliet and Peri's upcoming trip to Brighton , where they are joined by RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard And soon the pair are having the time of their lives as they enjoy the seaside - winning prizes at the arcade before enjoying a romantic moment on the beach. However as they later party the night away, Peri is shocked as she discovers all of their belongings have gone missing, with the pair worried about how they'll get back to Chester. With the girls needing a miracle, their fairy drag mother, Ru Pauls Drag Race winner Danny Beard, arrives to save the day. The following morning, with all three battling fierce hangovers, they all pile into Danny's drag wagon and begin the journey back to Chester. Peri and Danny vow to make the journey home as memorable as possible in a bid to keep Juliet's mind off her incoming test results. However, they suffer an unfortunate set-back as during Danny's livestream, an offensive comments leaves Juliet crushed. But some kind words of wisdom from Danny and a special makeover soon lifts her spirits. Later back in the village, Peri breaks down to Nadira at the hospital as she confides her fears. Fun: The pair, who recently rekindled their romance, head to the seaside town as Juliet is determined to distract her girlfriend as she awaits the results of Juliet's PET scan amid her ongoing cancer treatment Will Juliet get the results she's hoping for? Speaking about his part in the Channel 4 soap, Danny said: 'Its been really fun, and all the crew here are so lovely and happy. 'I cant wait to share it with you all. Its ridiculous, in the best Hollyoaks way possible.' Here she is! With the girls needing a miracle, their fairy drag mother, Ru Pauls Drag Race winner Danny Beard, arrives to save the day Meanwhile, actress Niamh Blackshaw told Digital Spy of Juliet's storyline: 'It's going to be an emotional year, and I believe it will be a central story [in 2023]. It's going to be a long road and a tough journey and that's about all I can say. 'I know the fundamental journey, I just don't know how we are getting there. It is definitely something I am being told during the process, which adds to the reality in a way.' Hollyoaks airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and first look episodes at 7pm on E4. Laura Anderson showed off her blossoming baby bump in a tight-fitted khaki bodysuit as she made her exit after recording a podcast for Love Island on Tuesday. The Love Island star, 33, is currently expecting her first child with actor Gary Lucy, 41, after first meeting on Celebs Go Dating. Making an appearance in the early hours of the morning, Laura wrapped up in a white fur coat as she hit the town. The reality TV personality appeared in good spirits, after recently recently revealing she knows the gender of her unborn baby and has chosen a name. Laura paired her look with white jeans and brown boots as she made her way to work. Blossoming! Laura Anderson showed off her blossoming baby bump in a tight-fitted khaki bodysuit as she made her exit after recording a podcast for Love Island on Tuesday She tied her blonde locks back behind a black hairband and let her straight hair cascade past her shoulders. Laura was also joined by newly dumped islanders Claudia Fogarty and Keanan Brand. The pair walked side by side as they made their way inside. Claudia put on a stylish display in a grey oversized blazer and black trousers. She added a white top underneath and trendy white trainers. The beauty accessorised with a chic black bag and left her blonde tresses wavy. Also present was Love Island super-fan Sam Thompson who cosied up to former Love Islander his his podcast co-host Indiyah Polack. Laura's appearance comes after she confirmed she knows the gender of her baby and has already chosen a name. She admitted they aren't ready to reveal the news publicly quite yet, and will share in 'due course'. Speaking to Goss.ie, Laura said: 'I know what I'm having and I have a name. 'I will share in due course I've already done a small [gender reveal party], but I've not shared it publicly yet. But I will soon.' Laura's appearance comes after she took a swipe at society's gender norms on Friday as she let out her frustration via Instagram Stories. Expecting: The Love Island star, 33, is currently expecting her first child with actor Gary Lucy , 41, after first meeting on Celebs Go Dating Cosy: Making an appearance in the early hours of the morning, Laura wrapped up in a white fur coat as she hit the town Good spirits: The reality TV personality appeared in good spirits, after recently recently revealing she knows the gender of her unborn baby and has chosen a name The beauty questioned why women are treated differently than men are when they say they'd like children. Claiming that females are branded 'desperate' and 'needy' when they want children, she compared this to the 'loving' and 'caring' label that men are given when they say the same thing. Currently expecting her first child with actor Gary, the reality star has been documenting the pregnancy by sharing updates with her 1.5M followers. She and the Hollyoaks star, who met while filming Celebs Go Dating last year, are no longer together and have been posting a string of cryptic remarks via their respective social media accounts. Sharing her thoughts over a selfie while on the train to a hair appointment, Laura wrote: 'I've just been thinking. 'Why is it in society that when a man says he wants children he's seen as brave, courageous, loving. But when women say they want children they're seen as desperate, needy, users.' Despite not revealing where the gender difference had come from, and whether it was to do with herself and ex Gary - Laura has recently hinted to fans that she and her ex are not on good terms. Last week, she shared a video talking about the signs to look out for in a covert narcissist. Seemingly throwing shade at Gary, she wrote: 'I'm really healing through educating myself on this personality disorder an reading all your dms of your experiences. 'If someone lies about you, tell the truth about them or better yet choose peace and run.' The star, who met Gary on Celebs Go Dating, announced she was pregnant with his child earlier this month, and it was later revealed the pair had split. It comes after Laura shut down any suggestion of her reconciling with Gary in an Instagram Q&A. When a curious fan asked her: 'Is there any chance that you and Gary can get back together?'. Laura simply replied: 'No' before saying she 'hopes once baby is here' that she and the Hollyoaks actor can co-parent successfully. The pair appeared to take aim at each other in cryptic Instagram posts after Gary said that part of the reason the pair split was down to location. Laura reportedly wanted him to move to Scotland, but he said he wanted to stay in Essex to be with his four children. Laura told told her 1.5 million followers: 'I had no intention to comment on the breakdown of my relationship with Gary. 'However, due to what has now been publicly shared by other parties, I have been left with no other choice. Joining the show! Laura was also joined by newly dumped islanders Claudia Fogarty and Keanan Brand Close: The pair walked side by side as they made their way out of the recording Co-hosts: Also present was Love Island super-fan Sam Thompson who cosied up to former Love Islander his his podcast co-host Indiyah Polack 'Gary and I are no longer together due to multiple reasons which will remain private. Our plan was for me to move to Essex to start our family which I was more than happy to do. 'However, since the breakdown of our relationship I have remained at home in Scotland. My priority is bringing my baby up in a calm and stable environment. The Scottish reality star added: 'I never asked or expected Gary to move to Scotland. I fully support him living in Essex to be close to his four amazing children. 'I am fully focused on having a healthy, happy pregnancy and remain excited to share this incredible journey with you all. Thank you so much for you support! Laura, Buddy & Bump.' Sisters Sofia and Nicola Richie oozed sophistication as they were spotted heading to Chanel's show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. The stylish duo were decked out head-to-toe in the luxury label and shielded their eyes behind shades as they exited their swanky hotel. Model Sofia, 24, put on a very leggy display in a blue plaid mini dress which featured a black belt at her svelte waist that boasted the brands famous logo. She slipped her feet into black patent heels and completed the look with quirky sparkly socks. The stunner opted for a natural make-up look and let her high-lighted tresses tumble past her shoulders. Chic: Sisters Sofia, 24 (left) and Nicola Richie, 41 (right) oozed sophistication as they were spotted heading to Chanel's show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday Style: The stylish duo were decked out head-to-toe in the luxury label and shielded their eyes behind shades as they exited their swanky hotel Leggy lady: Model Sofia put on a very leggy display in a blue plaid mini dress which featured a black belt at her svelte waist that boasted the brands famous logo Sensational: Meanwhile Nicole (right) opted for a tweed jumpsuit which she teamed with a matching blazer over her shoulders Meanwhile Nicole, 41, opted for a tweed jumpsuit which she teamed with a matching blazer over her shoulders. The enemble boasted large silver buttons and she carried the colour story into her accessories and toted a matching handbag. Nicole wore her blonde locks in loose curls and sported a glamorous make-up palette with classic pillar box red lip. Strutting her stuff in towering black heels she completed the look with oversized black sunglasses. It comes days Sofia and her fiance Elliot Grainge, 29, were spotted enjoying a date night at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. The now-engaged couple were friends for several years before they began their romance in 2021. Prior to that, the social media personality was in a high-profile relationship with Scott Disick that kicked off in 2017. The two maintained an on-again-off-again romance for several years before they officially went their separate ways in 2020. Richie eventually began seeing Grainge, who made his first appearance on her Instagram account in March 2021. Stunning: Sofia later took to Instagram as she showed off the look in more detail Style: She posed up a storm in her swanky hotel room with incredible vires of the city Gorgeous: The enemble boasted large silver buttons and she carried the colour story into her accessories and toted a matching handbag The future Mrs. Grainge: Sofia is engaged to music executive Elliot Grainge, who was a family friend for years before they became an item The pair was then spotted on various public outings over the next several months, and Sofia first spoke publicly on the romance that November. Grainge popped the question during a Hawaiian getaway last April. Richie's bridal shower was held earlier this month, and she documented the celebration on Instagram. A source told Us Weekly last summer that the star 'couldn't be happier that she found The One.' The insider also remarked that the social media personality was 'taking the time to enjoy being engaged and traveling the world with Elliot.' The person went on to state that Richie's loved ones all approve of Elliot: 'Her friends and family adore Elliot and think he's the perfect match for her. Everyone's just excited for her!' BRIAN VINER: It seemed to me that the last thing cinema needs now is a new franchise - which this film is intended to launch - inspired by a fantasy game. Yet it soon won me over. Gillian Anderson, who plays Emily Maitlis in a forthcoming Netflix film about her infamous interview with Prince Andrew, had a chance to grill the former Newsnight star when they bumped into each other at a charity event on Monday. And Richard Eden reported that neither was giving too much away, judging by the crossed-arms postures they adopted at the Turn The Tables lunch in aid of Cancer Research at Bafta in Piccadilly, London. The X-Files star, 54, wore black trousers, with a camel-coloured jumper over a cream blouse. Maitlis, 52, sported a pair of thigh-skimming suede boots with a smart cream mini suit. She carried a black handbag in her hand. Last month, Gillian was filmed jogging in Hyde Park as she portrayed Ms Maitlis, a keen runner, for the Netflix production Scoop. Fancy seeing you here! Gillian Anderson crossed her arms as she bumped into Emily - who she's playing - in Netflix film about THAT interview with Prince Andrew - as they attended the Turn The Tables lunch in aid of Cancer Research at Bafta in Piccadilly, London on Monday Something to say: Anderson (right) got the opportunity to quiz Maitlis, whom she will portray in an upcoming movie about Prince Andrew's disastrous interview on Newsnight Ms Anderson was dressed in navy leggings, a zip-up jacket and scarf, and even Asics trainers similar to those Ms Maitlis wears. The scenes were some of the first to be shot for the movie telling the story of how producer Sam McAlister secured the 2019 interview in which Andrew said he was at Pizza Express in Woking on the night he was alleged to have had sex with the teenage Virginia Roberts claims he vehemently denies. Rufus Sewell will play Prince Andrew, with Billie Piper co-starring as Ms McAlister. The film, which is due to be released next year, is based on Ms McAlister's book, Scoops: Behind The Scenes Of The BBC's Most Shocking Interviews, which was published last year. However, the pictures are likely to irk Ms Maitlis, who is currently working on her own rival TV series. She has reportedly signed a deal with Blueprint Pictures to produce a drama about the events leading up to the interview, as well as its aftermath. Although it was Ms McAlister who persuaded Prince Andrew to be interviewed, Ms Maitlis and former Newsnight editor Esme Wren publicly claimed that they had secured the exclusive in an interview with Radio Times magazine. Ms McAlister has now left the BBC, where some of her former colleagues are said to be angry that she revealed the truth about how the interview came about. Penelope Cruz was the epitome of chic as she arrived at Chanel's Womenswear fall / winter show at the Grand Palais Ephemere during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. The actress, 48, turned heads in a feathered mini-dress as she joined Zoe Saldana, who turned heads in a daringly plunging jumpsuit, at the star-studded event. The Spanish star teased a hint of cleavage in the plunging tweed frock that boasted colourful feathers and was also belted at her svelte waist. Flaunting her gorgeous legs she completed the look with black heels and toted her essentials in a matching bag. The Volver actress accentuated her gorgeous features with a radiant make-up palette and let her high-lighted tresses cascade to her shoulders. Style: Penelope Cruz, 48 (left) was the epitome of chic as she arrived at Chanel's show alongside Zoe Saldana, 44 (right) at the Grand Palais Ephemere during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday Leggy! Penelope put on a very leggy display in a feathered mini-dress The Volver actress accentuated her gorgeous features with a radiant make-up palette and let her high-lighted tresses cascade to her shoulders Sensational: Flaunting her gorgeous legs she completed the look with black heels and toted her essentials in a matching bag Famous friends: Penelope (right) grabed a snap with French film actress Elsa Zylberstein (left) FROW: (L-R) Charlotte Casiraghi and Penelope Cruz Wow: Meanwhile Guardian's Of the Galaxy's Zoe flaunted her figure in the perfectly tailored jumpsuit Chic: She completed the look with a red tweet coat and accessorised with a selection of gold jewellery Beauty: Sporting a radiant palette of make-up Zoe wore her long brunette locks in loose curls for the star-studded event Meanwhile Guardian's Of the Galaxy star Zoe, 43, opted for a jumpsuit which featured the brand's logo on it's silver buttons. Boasting a plunging neckline the outfit was perfectly tailored and and hugged ever inch of her sensational figure. She completed the look with a red tweet coat and accessorised with a selection of gold jewellery. Sporting a radiant palette of make-up Zoe wore her long brunette locks in loose curls for the star-studded event. British songstress FKA twigs, 35, commanded attention as she took to the red carpet in a quirky ensemble. The star flashed her toned legs in a tiny knitted mini-dress and layered the look with a colourful coat. Accessorising the ensemble with a selection of jewellery she also sported wooden beads in her hair. Elsewhere Sisters Sofia and Nicola Richie oozed sophistication as they were spotted heading to the show. Chic: Sisters Sofia, 24 (left) and Nicola Richie, 41 (right) oozed sophistication as they were spotted heading to show Leggy lady: Model Sofia put on a very leggy display in a blue plaid mini dress which featured a black belt at her svelte waist that boasted the brands famous logo Sensational: Meanwhile Nicole (right) opted for a tweed jumpsuit which she teamed with a matching blazer over her shoulders Gorgeous: The enemble boasted large silver buttons and she carried the colour story into her accessories and toted a matching handbag Quirky with a capitol Q: British songstress FKA twigs, 35, commanded attention as she took to the red carpet in a quirky ensemble Beaded: Accessorising the ensemble with a selection of jewellery she also sported wooden beads in her hair Music stars: (L-R) Fka Twigs and Patti Smith Beautiful in Blue: Former Glee actress Dianna Agron looked nothing short of sensational in a blue plunging dress and tweed coat Beaming: She wore her gorgeous blonde locks in loose curls Hello! The blonde beauty beamed as she arrived at the star-studded event Animal print: Singer Gabriella Wilson aka H.E.R looked stylish in a green animal print co-ord Radiant: She sported a radiant palette of make-up for the swanky show Cool as a cucumber: Oozing confidence she slipped on a pair of shades as she posed up a storm before taking her seat Super chic: Vogue's Anna Wintour looked chic in a dark Chanel suit Hot stuff! French Film actress Elsa Zylberstein looked incredible in a navy sequinned bomber jacket which she teamed with studded velvet trousers Perfection: She carried the look's embellishments into her accessorises and toted a bejewelled shoulder bag Etherial: Actress Ines de la Fressange was a vision in white Preppy: Actress Alma Jodorowsky looked gorgeous in a printed tank top and wide-legged trousers City of Lights: Model Charlotte Casiraghi excused Parisian chic in a black frock and long tweet coat Twins: Musical duop Amiaya sported their trademark pink bobs for the event The stylish duo were decked out head-to-toe in the luxury label and shielded their eyes behind shades as they exited their swanky hotel. Model Sofia, 24, put on a very leggy display in a blue plaid mini dress which featured a black belt at her svelte waist that boasted the brands famous logo. She slipped her feet into black patent heels and completed the look with quirky sparkly socks. Pins: Nico Parker (left) and Sophie Wilde (right) both showed off their long elegant legs in mini-dresses Statuesque: Model Iman Perez showcased her incredible physique in a red figure-hugging gown The stunner opted for a natural make-up look and let her high-lighted tresses tumble past her shoulders. Meanwhile Nicole, 41, opted for a tweed jumpsuit which she teamed with a matching blazer over her shoulders. The enemble boasted large silver buttons and she carried the colour story into her accessories and toted a matching handbag. Nicole wore her blonde locks in loose curls and sported a glamorous make-up palette with classic pillar box red lip. Strutting her stuff in towering black heels she completed the look with oversized black sunglasses. Nice in navy: Ines de la Fressange looked stylish in an all navy looked Leather: Songstress FousheA turned heads in a leather polka dot mini dress which she wore with opera gloves Pose: Lisa-Kainda Diaz (left) and Naomi Diaz (right) posed for the cameras Incredible! The show's set featured a large red rose as it's centrepiece Catwalk: The show featured a whole host of incredible looks including use of the brand's famous tweed It comes after Penelope said she had changed her approach to acting since welcoming two children - son Leonardo, 11; and daughter Luna, nine, with her husband of 12 years, Oscar winner Javier Bardem. Speaking to Spanish Vogue, the star said: 'Your life is greatly altered by becoming a mother, much more than with any type of project.' She added: 'I used to think that the more I suffered, the better the performance was going to be,' 'But once I had my kids, I decided to work more with my imagination and less by forcing anything from my real life. In my 20s or in my 30s, before I was a mother, I would force a little bit my personal traumatic experiences. 'Now, I feel like that doesn't necessarily make the result better - but it does make your life more healthy to separate fiction and reality.' Florence Pugh cut a casual figure as she returned to London from Paris Fashion Week with a 2k Valentino handbag draped over her shoulder. The Don't Worry Darling actress, 27, sported a laid-back but fashionable ensemble including a leather jacket layered over a simple white top on Tuesday. She teamed her otherwise relaxed look with a Valentino La Troisieme Toile Iconographie shopping bag worth 1,850 as she walked through King's Cross St Pancras station. Her chic monochrome attire, complete with chunky black platform heels and sunglasses, made a stark contrast to her daring display over the weekend. On Sunday Florence flashed her underwear in a shimmering display in Valentino's show at Paris Fashion Week. Casual look: Florence Pugh, 27, wore a leather jacket and trousers as she arrived back at King's Cross St Pancras on Tuesday after going to Paris for Fashion Week High fashion! The actress carried a Valentino La Troisieme Toile Iconographie shopping bag worth 1,850 draped over her shoulder The Oxford-born star had donned a long sheer white skirt with a long slit adorned with diamonds. She carried a sparkling diamond Valentino handbag - and has now proudly continued her loyalty to the brand arriving back in the UK. During the event, Florence was captured posing and chatting with Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, Guan Xiaotong, Simona Caggia as well as her mother Deborah Mackin. Also in attendance were Brooklyn Beckham, his wife Nicola Peltz, and Emma Roberts. Last month, Florence was pictured for the first time with her new beau, author and blogger Charlie Gooch as the couple enjoyed an alfresco lunch at a pub in London on Valentine's Day. The new couple put on a loved-up display during the outing as they hugged, laughed and held hands down the street. Page Six reports the couple may know each other from back when they went to school together - it has been reported that they went to school in Oxford together but this has not been confirmed. In August last year, Florence announced she and her boyfriend Zach Braff, 47, had split up after three years together. The 21-year age gap between the pair drew attention during their three-year courtship, despite their efforts to remain largely out of the public eye. Jaw-dropping: Florence dazzled as she showed off her underwear in a beautiful sheer skirt during Paris Fashion Week on Sunday Travelling: Florence continued to show her loyalty for Valentino after the show in Paris after a shopping spree at the high fashion store Sarah Harris has weighed in on Paris Hilton's 2004 sex tape. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of The Project, the host expressed disgust at the way the video was released without the heiress's consent. 'You know, what happened to Paris Hilton all those years by today's definition would be revenge porn,' she said. 'She made this tape with her partner and he released it without her consent. 'In fact, he released it despite her pleas not to have it released, that's disgusting, and I think the way we view consent these days has changed - for the better.' Sarah Harris has weighed in on Paris Hilton's 2004 sex tape. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of The Project, the host expressed disgust at the way the video was released without the heiress's consent. Paris is pictured Paris has discussed her regrets over her sex tape which was leaked in the early 2000s, made with her ex, Rick Salomon, when she was just aged 19. Talking about it in her upcoming book Paris: The Memoir, (out March 14), she said her ex, who she doesn't name, but refers to by his nickname 'Scum,' made her feel 'pressured' into doing it. In an excerpt which appears in The Times, Paris, 42, said: 'I dont remember that much about the night he wanted to make a videotape while we made love. 'He had often said it was something he did with other women, but I felt weird and uncomfortable about it. I always told him, "I cant. Its too embarrassing".' 'You know, what happened to Paris Hilton all those years by today's definition would be revenge porn,' said Sarah to Liz Ellis (right) 'In fact, he released it despite her pleas not to have it released, that's disgusting, and I think the way we view consent these days has changed - for the better' She added: 'He told me if I wouldnt do it, he could easily find someone who would, and that was the worst thing I could think of to be dumped by this grown man because I was a stupid kid who didnt know how to play grown-up games.' Paris also admitted that she drank alcohol and took Quaaludes prior to the making of the tape. But she was horrorstruck when a 37-second clip of the video began circulating online years later. Paris has said she begged 'Scum' not to release the full version of the tape but he said he had every right to sell something that belonged to him. Saying she believed her 'life was over,' Paris said she felt as though her 'self-worth' was in ruins. And while her family were devastated by the tape, Paris said that if she had chosen to sell the tape, she would have owned it but the decision was taken out of her hands. Kylie Minogue oozed sophistication as she arrived at the Miu Miu show at Palais d'Iena during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. The pop icon, 54, looked ageless in a black velvet mini-dress that boasted sweet button and bow detailing. She completed the look with a matching jacket complete with lace trim that she wore loosely over her shoulders. Kylie accentuated her gorgeous features with a light dusting of make-up and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves. The stunner strutted her stuff in towering heels as she toted her essentials in a chic cream woven bag. Stunning: Kylie Minogue, 54, oozed sophistication as she arrived at the Miu Miu show at Palais d'Iena during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday Leggy lady: The pop icon looked ageless in a black velvet mini-dress that boasted sweet button and bow detailing What a look! She completed the look with a matching jacket complete with lace trim that she wore loosely over her shoulders Actress Kylie beamed for the cameras and posed confidently before heading inside to take her seat in the front row. It comes after it was reported the Neighbours icon along with former co-star Jason Donovan are planning a small screen reunion. The Aussie stars are reuniting for a special episode of hit BBC sitcom Ghosts as part of this year's Comic Relief fundraiser. 37 years after they first starred together as Charlene and Scott on Neighbours, the two will take on new roles in the one-off special of Ghosts. The pair, who once dated in real life, have already shot the episode, according to The Sun, with the show set to air during the night of fundraising on Friday March 17. The episode of Ghosts, which portrays a group of spirits haunting a country house, will reportedly include nods to their famous pop career, including their iconic 1988 duet Especially For You. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Getting Kylie and Jason back together is a real coup and the results are hilarious. 'The episode is really tongue in cheek and they crack gags about their history and music. Natural beauty: Kylie accentuated her gorgeous features with a light dusting of make-up and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves Sensational: The stunner strutted her stuff in towering heels as she toted her essentials in a chic cream woven bag Fashion: The dress was perfectly tailored and fitted her like a glove Arrival: Actress Kylie beamed for the cameras and posed confidently before heading inside to take her seat in the front row All smiles: Kylie was seen smiling as she sat on the front row at the event, holding her white Miu Miu handbag In style: She wore a pair of white hoop earrings to match the same colour in the outfit she wore to the show Heading home: Kylie flashed a smile as she made her way out of the venue after the show in France Keeping it casual: Australian singer Kylie appeared relaxed as she casually placed her hand in her pocket 'It was all kept hush-hush on set to keep the secret that they were both reuniting for the show.' Kylie and Jason appeared on screen together last year in what was thought to be the final episode of Neighbours. The famous pair reprised their roles for a brief cameo in the last episode of the soap, which has since been renewed for a new run starting later this year. Kylie quit Neighbours in June 1988, having become the first person to win four Logie Awards in one year and the youngest ever recipient of a Gold Logie. She went on to launch a phenomenally successful music career, selling more than 80 million albums worldwide. Now we're back together: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan are planning a small screen reunion as part of this year's Comic Relief fundraiser (pictured together in last year's Neighbours) A step back in time: 37 years after thy first starred together as Charlene and Scott on Neighbours, the two will take on new roles in the one-off special of Ghosts Popular show: The episode of Ghosts, which portrays a group of spirits haunting a country house, will reportedly include nods to their famous pop career (Pictured - Ghosts stars Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe) After leaving Neighbours in 1989, Jason, like Kylie, pursued a pop career and while he may not have been as successful as his on-screen bride, he had a string of hits including Too Many Broken Hearts and Sealed With A Kiss. Off screen, the couple dated from 1986 to 1989. They were so popular at this time, they even recorded the Christmas Number 1 single Especially For You. Jason told the Mirror in 2016: 'It was an extremely painful parting of the ways and, without a doubt, I took a long time to recover from it. Years, definitely.' Kylie then dated the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. She is now in a romance with British GQ's Creative Director Paul Solomons and Jason is married to Angela Malloch. Comic Relief airs on BBC on March 17. Paris Hilton has revealed that during her teenage wild child phase, she tried unsuccessfully to sneak Khloe Kardashian, 38, into a bar. The Kardashian sisters are family friends with Paris, who shot to reality TV stardom in the 2000s a few years before they did. In a new excerpt of her upcoming memoir published in the Times, Paris, 42, dished: 'One night I tried to smuggle my sister Nicky, our cousin Farrah, and our friend Khloe Kardashian into Bar One.' She added: 'Khloe and Farrah were little middle school girls, so I did Khloe up with full makeup, a long red wig, and a floppy black hat.' Khloe is about three years younger than Paris, who therefore would presumably have been in high school when the Bar One misadventure took place. Trio: Paris Hilton revealed that during her teenage wild child phase, she tried unsuccessfully to sneak Khloe Kardashian into a bar; Paris and her sister Nicky are pictured with Khloe in 2016 Throwback: Years after her failed attempt to get Khloe into Bar One, Paris, having become a major star, hired Kim Kardashian as an assistant; Paris and Kim are pictured in 2007 In order to try and smuggle Khloe into the watering hole, Paris instructed her: 'If anyone asks, your name is Betsey Johnson.' Paris' 'cousin Farrah' meanwhile is Farrah Brittany, the daughter of Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Kyle Richards and her first husband Guraish Aldjufrie. Farrah, who was born on Halloween 1988, is about seven years younger than Paris and four years younger than even Khloe. 'I put Farrah on top of somebodys shoulders with a big trench coat. We put so much effort into our disguises, we were shocked when we didnt get past the velvet rope,' Paris wrote. '"I guess you need to be with someone famous," I said. Despite her attempts to get into Los Angeles nightspots underage, Paris maintained: 'I didnt drink or do drugs back then. When I was a kid, fun was the only party drug I needed. I wasnt there to get wasted; I was there to dance.' Her feeling was: 'Alcohol and drugs are for escaping reality, and I wanted all the reality I could get. The escape drinking didnt happen until later.' However when she, Nicky, Farrah and Khloe were turned away at the door of Bar One: 'I didnt like how it felt to be rejected in front of everyone. I wasnt going to let it happen again. When I was 26, I hooked up fake IDs for Nicky and me.' Paris, who is two years older than Nicky, candidly confessed: 'We werent fooling anyone, but we were getting a little bit famous, so we had no trouble getting into Bar One (now Bootsy Bellows), Roxbury (now Pink Taco), and other hot spots. Dynamic duo: Paris' Bar One misadventure included her cousin Farrah Adjufrie, whom she is pictured with in Los Angeles in 2017 Looking back: Farrah (left) is pictured in 2004 with her mother, future Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Kyle Richards (right), and Paris (center) She insisted: 'We never did anything terrible; we just loved feeling free and trying to outsmart anyone who we thought was trying to keep us down. We almost always got caught and grounded again, which seemed terribly unfair to us at the time.' Paris argued: 'We were just exploring. What is it like to feel sexy? What does sexy even mean? Totally valid questions for teenage girls to be investigating.' The heiress and socialite explained that 'its problematic when girls go into that exploratory phase feeling secretive and ill informed. If the message you send is: "We dont talk about such things," then - guess what! - your kids move toward adulthood with the idea that being an adult means keeping secrets.' Paris shared: 'The nuns at school didnt teach us anything about reproductive health in biology class. We certainly didnt cover Lolita in English class. Mom didnt talk about things that fell into nebulous categories like "private" and "dirty." I learned the basics from feminine-hygiene ads in Seventeen.' She recalled: 'My understanding of sexuality was a fog machine of Madonna videos, Calvin Klein commercials, and a vaguely naughty impulse that made me feel the same sting of guilt I felt when I swiped a tube of lip gloss from Moms purse.' Years after her failed attempt to get Khloe into Bar One, Paris, having become a major Hollywood name, hired Kim Kardashian as an assistant. Just last month Kim warmly wished Paris a happy 42nd birthday by posting a string of throwbacks of the pair of them with the caption: 'You deserve all the happiness.' Near the end of January Paris and her dashing businessman husband Carter Reum welcomed a baby son via a surrogate. Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix is said to be receiving 'a ton of support' amid her breakup with her co-star Tom Sandoval. Sandoval and Madix dated for nearly a decade until their breakup last week after she sensationally discovered his affair with their castmate Raquel Leviss. 'Ariana has not been alone at all since this happened,' an insider told People. 'All of the girls in their friend group are taking turns visiting her around the clock at her house. Everyone's rallying around her.' Meanwhile sources have informed TMZ that there is no chance of Sandoval, 39, and Madix, 37, getting back together. Insiders in Sandoval's camp have maintained that the relationship was already on the rocks before Madix found out about Leviss. Over: Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix is said to be receiving 'a ton of support' amid her breakup with her co-star Tom Sandoval Messy: Following the initial shock over the news that Sandoval and Raquel Leviss have been having a months-long affair, behind Ariana Madix's back, Vanderpump Rules fans spent the weekend unearthing clues and evidence of their secret relationship Vanderpump Rules stars Scheana Shay and Katie Maloney were spotted stopping by Madix and Sandoval's home on Friday. Amid the flow of news over the weekend, Sandoval addressed the affair in an online apology in which he implored people to keep their anger over the situation focused on him, and not his friends, family and business associates. Following the initial shock over the news that Sandoval and Leviss have been having a months-long affair behind Madix's back, Vanderpump Rules fans spent the weekend unearthing clues and evidence of their secret relationship. Despite the reality star's own partner reportedly feeling 'blindsided' by her boyfriend's infidelity with their castmate, social media sleuths have discovered obvious signs that the duo were 'hooking up' and 'communicating inappropriately for months.' Upon learning that Sandoval had been unfaithful by discovering a 'sexually explicit video' from Leviss on his phone after watching Sandoval's band's perform in West Hollywood on Wednesday night, according to Page Six, Madix ended their nine-year relationship. Madix has since deleted her Instagram account and has yet to comment on the claims. Sandoval alluded to the end of the high-profile relationship crisis during a Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras show at the City National Grove in Anaheim, California on Friday evening. He asked, the crowd, a source told US Weekly, 'Have you ever been one of the most hated people in America?' Sandoval took to Instagram on Sunday to apologize for his actions and ask fans to direct their 'anger' and 'disappointment' toward him not his business partners or loved ones. Throwback: Leviss was snapped with Scheana Shay on a getaway in June of 2020 at the Viejas Casino & Resort in San Diego From wearing matching lighting bolt necklaces to the TomTom co-owner dressing up as Leviss for Halloween, DailyMail.com has rounded up all the proof that the costars have been romantically entangled since last summer. While Sandoval and Leviss' managed to keep their fling under wraps from the public and their closest friends, they seemed to keep each other close by rocking gold lightning bolt pendants. While Sandoval wears the accessory almost daily, Leviss only began wearing a similar necklace last year, months after they are said to have begun seeing each other. According to a a Reddit user claiming to be a friend of the former pageant queen, who was previously crowned Miss Sonoma County in 2016 before appearing on Vanderpump Rules, the jewelry was used by the couple to say 'I love you' to each other. She was photographed in the necklace several times on social media and at BravoCon in October 2022. While reacting to a TikTok video pointing out Leviss wearing the lightning bolt around her neck, one commenter wrote: 'How did no one notice?! My God!' 'This literally makes my skin CRAWWWWWL,' another commented while some viciously quipped that Madix should 'be aware of her surroundings more closely.' Sign of affection? While Sandoval and Leviss' managed to keep their fling under wraps from the public and their closest friends, they seemed to keep each other close by rocking gold lightning bolt pendants After Maloney accused Leviss of being a 'fan girl' for hooking up with Maloney's ex-husband, Tom Schwartz, Sandoval sent the internet into a frenzy with his bizarre Halloween costume, in which he recreated Raquel's look at BravoCon. 'Guys, look who I ran into,' Leviss mused in an Instagram Story video on October 31. 'It's Raquel from BravoCon day 3! Oh, my God. Wow, Raquel, I can't believe you would frickin' wear that sweatshirt.' He went on to share an image of himself in a TomTom sweatshirt, blond wig and black shades with the caption: 'Raquel has got to stop showing up to TomTom its embarrassing.' Eva Longoria looked all business on her latest outing. The 47-year-old actress looked fashionable as always as she sported an oversized suit while out and about in New York City on Monday. She donned a dark grey jacket with matching baggy trousers over a clinging grey top and black leather heels. Eva accessorized with two gold chain necklaces with diamond studded earrings and a pair of large black designer sunglasses. Her brunette tresses were worn down flowing over her shoulders as she accentuated her natural looks with complementary make-up on her face. Simply stunning: Eva Longoria looked fashionable as always as she sported an oversized suit while out and about in New York City on Monday Business chic: The 47-year-old actress donned a dark grey jacket with matching baggy trousers over a clinging grey top and black leather heels Not seen on the outing were her husband Jose Baston and four-year-old son Santiago Enrique Baston. Eva wed her third husband, Televisa executive Jose in May 2016, in a ceremony attended by her close pals Victoria and David Beckham. The couple initially met on a December 2015 blind date arranged by a mutual friend in Mexico City, with Eva revealing her future husband had no idea who she was. In December 2017, the couple confirmed they were expecting their first child and in June 2018 they welcomed their first child, their son Santiago Enrique Baston. Santiago is the first child for Eva, but the fifth for Jose, who was previously married to Mexican actress Natalia Esperon. When asked in a 2019 interview what the secret is to her happy marriage, Eva explained that she and her husband have respect for each other, and support each other's goals and dreams. The star said: 'When I was younger it was so much about what I needed to accomplish. 'I've accomplished so much already that I can really sit back now and enjoy the success and continue to dream bigger with a partner.' Jeremy Renner was featured in the trailer for his new docuseries Rennervations which was filmed before his horrific New Year's Day accident which found him crushed by a 14,000-pound snow plow in Lake, Tahoe. The 52-year-old actor - who was recently seen for the first time since the accident - stars in the Disney+ series in which he enlists his celebrity pals to repurpose vehicles which can serve communities. The concept of the series is to find decommissioned vehicles like city buses that can be rebuilt to serve a new purpose like a mobile rec center with the help of a team of expert builders. The four episodes will serve the cities of Chicago, Illinois, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Rajasthan, India, and last but not least his hometown of Reno, Nevada. In the two-minute trailer Renner says: 'I'm buying these decommissioned government vehicles to help reimagine them to serve the community again, just in a different way. Taking charge: Jeremy Renner was featured in the trailer for his new docuseries Rennervations Serious situation: It was filmed before his horrific New Year's Day accident which found him crushed by a 14,000-pound snow plow in Lake, Tahoe The latest: Renner, 52 was pictured out in public for the first time since suffering multiple severe injuries in a New Year's Day snow plow accident near his Lake Tahoe, Nevada home, as he was spotted traveling in LA Monday 'I decided to reimagine, repurpose, and renovate these vehicles and I wanted to do it for communities and help kids in need all over the world.' Renner will also have the help of famous pals including his Avengers castmate Anthony Mackie, Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Anil Kapoor (Mission Impossible) and Sebastian Yatra (Encanto). He explained: 'I also brought along some talented and familiar friends to help me deliver them.' One of the other concepts included turning a truck into a 'water filtration' structure. He said: 'The only difference between crazy and courage is a plan. 'I hope this demonstrates how easy it is to make a giant difference in other people's lives.' There was also a press release where Renner explained his reasoning behind the project in a press release from Disney. He said: 'Ive been on this journey for many years, and I started in my community by building vehicles for people in need. But a few years ago, I thought: How can I plus this up and create a bigger impact on a whole community? And thats what this show does. Leading man: The 52-year-old actor stars in the Disney+ series in which he enlists his celebrity pals to repurpose vehicles which can serve communities Vroom vroom: The concept of the series is to find decommissioned vehicles like city buses that can be rebuilt to serve a new purpose like a mobile rec center with the help of a team of expert builders Renner will also have the help of famous pals including Sebastian Yatra (Encanto),Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Anil Kapoor (Mission Impossible) and his Avengers castmate Anthony Mackie 'This is one of my biggest passions and its a driving force in my recovery, and I cant wait for the world to see it.' Rennervations is set to premiere April 12 on Disney +. Just a day prior Jeremy was pictured out in public for the first time since suffering multiple severe injuries in a New Year's Day snow plow accident near his Lake Tahoe, Nevada home. The Marvel star was the passenger in a vehicle pictured in Beverly Hills, California on a chilly winter day in Southern California. He appeared to be in good spirits as he smiled while he was driven to an office building, where he spent about 30 minutes at before departing. The actor was wearing a red shirt and glasses on the outing, which marked the first time he has been seen publicly since the devastating incident. Renner has been chronicling his recovery - which could potentially last for years - ever since surviving the horrifying January 1 accident. Last week the star said he was doing 'whatever it takes' in his recovery, in video of him improving his leg strength with the help of a Technogym bike. He said: 'The only difference between crazy and courage is a plan. I hope this demonstrates how easy it is to make a giant difference in other people's lives' Incredible: One of the other concepts included turning a truck into a 'water filtration' structure There was also a press release where Renner explained his reasoning behind the project in a press release from Disney as he said: 'Ive been on this journey for many years, and I started in my community by building vehicles for people in need' He continued: 'This is one of my biggest passions and its a driving force in my recovery, and I cant wait for the world to see it' Renner focused on his left leg as he sat on the chair and pedaled away, using his hand to assist him in the motions. Renner also prioritized his 'mental recovery' as he curled up by the fire and cracked open The Book of Awakening, a 'spiritual daybook' written by philosopher, poet, and cancer survivor Mark Nepo. In the accident, Renner was using his snow-removal tractor to help remove his nephew's car from his driveway at his residence near Reno, Nevada, after it became stuck in snow. However, his snow plow began to slide down a street after the car was towed, which prompted the actor to jump out of its cab. After he exited the vehicle, Renner realized that it could potentially hit his nephew, who was with him at the time of the incident. The Mayor of Kingstown star then attempted to re-enter the snow plow in order to divert its path but he was pulled under its left side track and run over during the attempt. Renner was crushed underneath the vehicle and was immediately taken to the hospital while suffering from breathing difficulties and various other injuries. Coming soon: Rennervations is set to premiere April 12 on Disney + The Washoe County Sheriffs Office report found that the snow plow may have had various mechanical issues at the time of the incident. The performer underwent several medical procedures while recovering in the hospital and often expressed his gratitude for his medical team through his Instagram account. Renner was eventually allowed to recover at home and shared a shot of himself undergoing physical therapy last month. He also penned a short message in his post's caption that partially read: 'I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I.Much love and appreciation to you all.' The actor added: 'These 30 plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens. Love and blessings to you all.' Evangeline Lilly, who costarred with Renner in The Hurt Locker, recently spoke to Access and revealed that the performer was in good spirits following the accident. 'I expected to sit at his bedside and hold his hand while he moaned and groaned in pain and wasn't able to move. He was wheeling himself around, laughing with his friends. It's a miracle,' she said. The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star commented that the actor was doing well during his recovery process. 'He's made of something really tough, that guy. You've always been able to see that in him, and he is recovering incredibly, and I'm so grateful,' she stated. Lilly remarked that, although Renner was not fully recovered yet, he had a positive outlook about his future: 'He's got a journey to go through now. That's what nightmares are made out of, and he lived through it, and he's on the other side now.' Road to recovery: Renner is doing 'whatever it takes' to recover from the snow plow accident Building his strength: Renner focused on his left leg as he sat on the chair and pedaled away, using his hand to assist him in the motions 'Mental recovery': The Hurt Locker star curled up by the fire and read The Book of Awakening On the mend: Renner was eventually allowed to recover at home and shared a shot of himself undergoing physical therapy last month Grateful: He also penned a short message in his post's caption that partially read: 'I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I.Much love and appreciation to you all' Jimmy Kimmel joked he will 'beat the s***' out if anyone trying trying to recreate Will Smith's infamous 2022 Oscars slap - as he prepares to host this year's ceremony. Smith, 54, sent shockwaves around the world when he slapped Rock, 58, onstage after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head - with Kimmel, 55, keen to make light of the incident a year later in a chat with The Hollywood Reporter. When asked how he would react if someone tried to hit him, he joked: 'Well, I size them up, and if I'm bigger than they are, I beat the s**t out of them on television. And if it's The Rock I run.' Kimmel also revealed he will be heavily referencing the slap in his monologue, saying: 'Because so much has been said and there's so much focus on it. I obviously don't want to make the whole monologue about that, but it would be ridiculous not to mention it.' Commenting on The Academy's decision to enlist a 'crisis team' to deal with any issues during the ceremony in the wake of the slap, Kimmel said: 'Yeah, I feel like I should at least know what was discussed so I know what I should fear when I walk onstage. But, really, I suspect it mostly has to do with UFOs. Big moment: Jimmy Kimmel joked he will 'beat the s***' out if anyone trying trying to recreate Will Smith's infamous 2022 Oscars slap - as he prepares to host this year's ceremony Slap: Smith, 54, sent shockwaves around the world when he slapped Rock, 58, onstage after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head - with Kimmel, 55, keen to make light of the incident The slap occurred last year after Rock made a joke about Pinkett-Smith's bald head, caused by alopecia. Rock had joked that Pinkett-Smith was rocking a 'G.I. Jane' look which caused her husband to storm the stage and slap him, followed by him repeating: 'Keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth!' Smith is 'still remorseful' over slapping Rock at the 2022 Oscars and has tried 'unsuccessfully' to make amends with the comedian, a source told People this week. Rock recently tore into Will and Jada's relationship and addressed the slap on new Netflix show, Selective Outrage. A source told the publication Smith has 'felt terrible for so long', adding: 'He's tried unsuccessfully to make amends in the best way he could with Chris. 'But beyond that, family is important to him and [Smith] leaned on them. It all has helped him look inside and mature. He is better but still remorseful. 'Will listened to those who tried to help him and feels that he has become a better person.' Chris's long-awaited public response to being slapped by Smith has been met with high praise - with some calling it the 'best brutal takedown' in history. An industry source told People that Rock 'is riding high from the Netflix special.' They added: 'He said what he needed to say and doesn't give a s*** about the reaction either way. He isn't worried. Digs:The slap occurred last year after Rock made a joke about Pinkett-Smith's bald head, caused by alopecia 'People have been waiting for [Rock's] reaction for a year. For the most part, I think it was well received. People don't expect sugarcoating from Chris Rock.' During his new Netflix standup special which premiered live Saturday night, Rock verbally hit back at Smith a year after the incident that saw Smith banned from the Academy. In a nearly two minute segment, Rock fired off at Smith's decision to slap him on stage at the awards ceremony, making Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith the butt of his joke about her infidelity. The Oscars will air on Sunday, March 12 on ABC. Sarah Jessica Parker and John Corbett overcame the difference in their height as they embraced while filming a scene for And Just Like That in New York City on Tuesday. Sarah Jessica, 57, who is shooting season two of the HBO dramady, stood on tip toe, in spite of her very high heel pumps to wrap her arms around the 6ft5in actor's neck. The 5ft3in Emmy winner looked stylish in a bright pink and black print dress with a low scoop neck and an A-line skirt. The actress, who reprised her Sex and the City role as Carrie Bradshaw for the HBO sequel, wore a coordinating black sweater with white trim. The Emmy winner's trademark blonde locks were styled in loose waves and she wore a beige beret atop her head. reunited: Sarah Jessica stood on tip toe, in spite of wearing a pair of very high heel pumps, to wrap her arms around 6ft5in John Corbett as they shot a scene for And Just Like That in New York City Stylish: Sarah Jessica, 57, looked stylish in a bright pink and black print dress with a low scoop neck and an A-line skirt. The actress, who reprised her Sex and the City role as Carrie Bradshaw for the HBO sequel, wore a coordinating black sweater with white trim John, 61, looked handsome in a navy blue crew neck sweater and blue chinos. The actor's collar length brown hair was brushed away from his face. John, who stars as Carrie's love interest Aidan Shaw, a part he also played in Sex and the City. Aidan and Carrie were involved before she married Chris Noth's Mr. Big. John's character was seen pulling a suitcase and carrying a coat as he had on black boots that had a slight heel. He smiled and laughed as the two came close together. The scene was set in a park area with lots of greenery about. An extra carried a bag full of flowers. John will reprise his role in another hit franchise, as he appears as Ian Miller in the upcoming My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Love interest: John, 61, looked handsome in a navy blue crew neck sweater and blue chinos. His collar length brown hair was brushed away from his face. The actor stars as Carrie's love interest Aidan Shaw, a part he also played in Sex and the City Too cute! Parker was also seen cuddling a cat on the set of the HBO Max series on Tuesday Feline friend! The cat appeared content resting in Sarah's arms Aww! The cute cat stole the show Greece: John will reprise his role in another hit franchise, as he appears as Ian Miller in the upcoming My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which was shot last summer in Greece Release date: The release date for the new installment in September 8, but writer, director and star Nia Vardalos is keeping the plot under wraps The romantic comedy, starring writer and director Nia Vardalos is set to debut in September. The plot for the second sequel in the series is being kept under wraps. However, Nia revealed that any wedding in the film will take place in Greece, where the film was shot. Sarah Jessica is married to Matthew Broderick with whom she has three children. Megyn Kelly and Margot Robbie had a chance encounter in Utah this week, four years after the actress starred in movie Bombshell, depicting the journalist's sexual assault allegations against Roger Ailes. Kelly, 52, looked happy as she posed with Robbie, 32, who she lauded as 'gracious and friendly' during the meeting. In the 2019 film, Margot played Kayla Pospisil, a fictional character who is a creation of several women's real-life accounts of working at Fox News. News. Charlize Theron played Kelly and Nicole Kidman portrayed Gretchen Carlson in the flick, which focused on the sexual harassment allegations that led to Ailes resignation in 2016 and the women who were brave enough to speak out against him. Kelly wrote on her Instagram: 'Bombshell encounter in Deer Valley Utah. She was gracious & friendly. Wow: Megyn Kelly and Margot Robbie had a chance encounter in Utah this week, four years after the actress starred in movie Bombshell, depicting the journalist's sexual assault allegations against Roger Ailes Film: In the 2019 film, Margot played Kayla Pospisil, a fictional character who is a creation of several women's real-life accounts of working at Fox News alongside Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Charlize Theron as Kelly 'Kind of weird for both of us since she spent months with the fake me for a movie. Many thanks, Margot Robbie.' Kelly previously said watching Bombshell was 'an incredibly emotional experience.' The former Fox News anchor posted a photo of her son, Thatcher, at a movie theater, as he looked at a Bombshell poster. 'My husband @dougbrunt and I recently took our three kids to see the movie 'Frozen 2,' Kelly wrote in the image's caption. 'As we walked into the theatre, our 6-year-old stopped at this poster promoting another movie hitting the big screen. The ad confused him because it appears to show a picture of me.' Kelly went on to note that 'But while the movie 'Bombshell' is loosely based on my experience during the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, I have nothing to do with this film. 'I did not sell the rights to my story or book and only got my first look at the film once it was past the point of any possible edits, though there are certainly some I would have made.' Kelly opted not to elaborate on what those changes would have been in the social media post, but wrote that: 'Watching this picture was an incredibly emotional experience for me, and for those with whom I saw it. Sexual harassment is pervasive in this country; it can leave scars that do not heal. My heart goes out to those whove gone through it, who I hope might find some comfort in this story.' Scandal: Kelly previously said watching Bombshell was 'an incredibly emotional experience' She wrapped up her post by saying, 'As for my thoughts about the film, Ill have more soon.' Kelly has claimed that Ailes, who died in May 2017, sexually harassed her multiple times during her tenure at Fox News, including trying to force her to kiss him on the lips. She left Fox News in January 2017, making her debut at NBC in June of that year, where she was said to earn a reported $15 to $20million a year. Following a controversial year and a half on air, her NBC contract was terminated in January 2019. Amy Wyatt made a shocking U-turn decision on Tuesday night's episode of Emmerdale as she backed down on her plan to get sole custody of Kyle Dingle. Kyle is currently facing a prison sentence after accidentally shooting Al Chapman, and despite his father Cain Dingle initially taking the blame, he then confessed. Cain (Jeff Hordley) was banned from seeing Kyle (Huey Quinn) due to his bail conditions, with his mother Amy (Natalie Ann Jamieson) taking care of him. Amy then resorted to desperate measures to gain full custody of Kyle, including proposing to Matty (Ash Palmisciano). In Tuesday's episode, Cain then shockingly supported Amy's plan and agreed that she should move away with Kyle after deciding he is a malign influence on his son. However, Amy was left in tears in emotional scenes after she backed down on her plan to get sole custody, saying she didn't want to punish her son for their mistakes. Tense: Amy Wyatt made a shocking U-turn decision on Tuesday night's episode of Emmerdale as she backed down on her plan to get sole custody of Kyle Dingle The tense scenes kicked off with Cain telling his wife Moira (Natalie J. Robb) that he thinks he is a bad influence on Kyle and admitting his plans to support Amy's bid for sole custody. Moira was left devastated by his decision and expressed her doubts, insisting that Kyle needs his father in his life. Cain then told Amy and Matty that he supported their decision to take sole custody of Kyle after the youngster shoved Carl the day before, leaving Cain convinced he was a bad influence on his son with his temper. He told them: 'What happened yesterday, Kyle shoving Carl. It was down to me. Kyle being around me, it's not good for him. Seeing the way I act, flying off the handle, he's better off with you.' Despite Moira's complete shock, Cain then voiced his opinion that Amy and Matty should move away to Belfast with Kyle to give the youngster a fresh start in a dramatic U-turn. Amy asked him: 'You want us to leave? What about our jobs?' To which Cain insisted: 'It would be too hard for [Kyle], seeing me around the village all the time.' But making her distain for his plan known, Moira hit back with: 'Too hard for you, you mean?' Despite her objections, Cain and Amy both agreed that she would take sole custody of their son and move to Belfast where he could start over. Moira fumed: 'Are you happy now? You'll regret this Cain until the day you die.' Hard times: Kyle is currently facing a prison sentence after accidentally shooting Al Chapman , and despite his father Cain Dingle initially taking the blame, he then confessed However, Kyle was left furious after Amy and Cain told him of their decision, insisting that he wanted to stay in the village and near his father. Cain assured him, saying: 'You know how tough things have been for you lately. It's cos so much has happened here. 'You're young, you can leave it all behind you, I know it's hard now but you'll see it when you're older. It's because we love you mate you know that, don't you?' But Kyle was left unconvinced and continued to plead with his mother to let him stay and spend time with his father after they returned to their home together. Amy told him: 'Your dad thinks staying here will hold you back.' But Kyle pleaded: 'I promise if you let me stay, I'll be good.' Amy said: 'Kyle you are good, you're such a good boy,' but Kyle replied: 'You don't really think that.' Speaking of moving away from Cain, Amy said: 'You two having a bit of distance might be good, get you away form his temper.' Kyle then insisted that moving wouldn't make a difference, adding: 'I love him.' But Amy put her foot down, saying: 'The decision is made, discussion over.' Walking out the door, Kyle said: 'Everyone does something bad sometimes, even you I bet. I need my dad, don't make me go.' Amy was then seen bringing Kyle around to Cain and Moira's house so that he could visit his father, when she revealed her U-turn decision. She told them: 'We're not going, I can't take him away from you. We need to do the right thing.' To which Cain said: 'But sole custody? It's what you wanted.' But Amy explained: '[Kyle's] entitled to make his own decisions about his future. This isn't me giving into his tears it just doesn't feel right, it feels like we're punishing him for our mistakes.' As Cain looked doubtful, Kyle told him: 'I know right from wrong, I'm not like you!' Before the youngster asked his mother: 'So I can live with them? Forever?' Amy replied: 'If your dad agrees.' After Kyle and Cain shared a hug, a tearful Amy told Cain: 'You're his idol, Cain. Never underestimate what that means.' It came after Cain enlisted help from his estranged brother Caleb in the battle over Kyle's future and Amy resorted to desperate measures to gain full custody of Kyle. In recent scenes, Matty was delighted when Amy said their engagement was about her love for him, not just a ploy to get custody of Kyle. Tough: Amy resorted to desperate measures to gain full custody of Kyle, including proposing to Matty (Ash Palmisciano). And Cain then shockingly supported Amy's plan to look after Kyle Family: However, Amy was left in tears in emotional scenes after she backed down on her plan to get sole custody, saying she didn't want to punish her son for their mistakes However, it soon became war between both parties as Caleb intervened, upsetting Amy as the pair clashed over their son. Meanwhile, things took a turn after a violent altercation between kids Carl and Kyle and Nicola threatened to call the police on Kyle, which left Amy reeling. Cain was quick to blame Amy for the incident, but they then both pleaded with Nicola not to call the police. Amy's appeal caused Nicola to relent, which left Cain guilty to know the community sees Kyle's violence as a reflection of his parenting. Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Paris Hilton has confirmed she fell pregnant with model and former fiance Jason Shaw before having a abortion aged 22 in 2003. The reality star, now 42, who previously revealed she terminated her pregnancy because she was 'not ready for a baby', said sexual abuse at boarding schools meant she wasn't 'capable of being whole' in an extract from her tome, Paris: The Memoir. Hilton first met Tommy Hilfiger model Shaw, now 49, outside the Four Seasons in LA in 2001 with the pair getting engaged the following year. Their romance ended in 2003. In an extract from her memoir per Time Magazine, she wrote about discovering she was pregnant in November 2003: 'I was terrified and heartsick. The hormones sent my ADHD symptoms spiraling. Everything I knew about myself was at war with everything Id been raised to believe about abortion. 'I knew I wasnt in the right place to make any sort of commitment. It had nothing to do with him or a baby. I just wasnt capable of being honest or loyal or whole. Exes Paris Hilton has confirmed she fell pregnant with model Jason Shaw before having a abortion aged 22 in 2003 (pictured 2002) 'After suffering abuse at Provo Canyon School and three other programs within the troubled teen industry network, I was damaged in ways I couldnt tell him about, and the fact that I never confided in him about my pastthat says it all, doesnt it? Secrets are corrosive. They destroy anything you try to layer over them. Paris said she has constantly looked back with sorrow on her termination, and 'tortured myself with melodramathoughts like, what if I killed my Paris?' - but realizes motherhood in her 202s would have been a 'train wreck.' The star also opened up about 'controlling her reproductive destiny' and going through IVF with husband Carter Reum, which involved: 'Month after month of injections, several egg-harvesting procedures, more IVF injections, new ADHD meds, my natural state of chaosit was a lot.' The pair are now parents to son Phoenix, who was born via surrogate in January. The heiress to the 11.6 billion Hilton hotels empire has detailed in her memoir the sexual abuse she endured hwhen her parents sent her to boarding schools for troubled youths in a bid to tame her rebellious behaviour. At one of the schools, Provo Canyon School in the US state of Utah, Paris said she was sometimes drugged before being molested. 'I swallowed the pills and stared at the wall with the flawless mask of a runway model,' she writes in an excerpt published yesterday in The Times. Past: Hilton first met Tommy Hilfiger model Shaw, now 49, outside the Four Seasons in LA in 2001 with the pair getting engaged the following year. Their romance ended in 2003 (pictured 2002) Parents: The star also opened up about 'controlling her reproductive destiny' and going through IVF with husband Carter Reum (pictured last month) Baby: Hilton has just become a mother, having announced this January that she and her husband Carter welcomed their son Phoenix via surrogate 'Whatever they were giving me made me feel like my head was disconnected from my body. 'That scared me, so I tucked the capsules inside my lower lip and waited for an opportunity to spit them out. 'The staff at Provo had their favourites. Always pretty girls. But I don't think it was about pretty. 'I think these were weak people in the outside world, men and women who got off on the power they had over us. 'They took us to the infirmary and made us lie on the table. Made us open our legs for their stubby fingers. If we resisted, there was always a tray with syringes. 'I don't know what was in the 'booty juice', but I saw kids hit the floor the moment it was injected.' At another school she recalls being awoken in the middle of the night, manhandled and then handcuffed when workers at the school arrived to take her away. 'I was sound asleep at about 4.30 in the morning when my bedroom door crashed open. 'A thick hand grabbed my ankle and dragged me off the mattress. I was instantly awake hyperawake in a state of panic. I'm about to be raped. I'm about to be murdered. 'One man clamped a sweaty palm over my mouth, wrenching my head back. The other held up a pair of handcuffs.' Hilton grew up living in New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel with her parents, Rick and Kathy Hilton, and her younger siblings, Nicky, Barron and Conrad. Her parents sent her to 'therapeutic' boarding schools run by a company called CEDU when she was 15 after their attempts to discipline her for sneaking out to nightclubs failed. She attended four different CEDU establishments before leaving aged 18. She never told her parents about any of the abuse at the schools saying staff threatened that she would never be able to leave if she did. Milestone: Paris recently revealed that she hid her baby's birth from even her family until right before she broke the news on social media (pictured) Paris rose to fame in her early 20s thanks to her starring role alongside fellow socialite Nicole Richie in hit TV series The Simple Life, which saw the pair take on jobs such as serving in fast-food restaurants. She then started modelling after signing with former US president Donald Trump's agency, T Management. Her notoriety reached another level when a sex tape featuring her and boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked in 2004. In a statement on its website in 2020, officials at Provo Canyon school said the institution was under different ownership prior to 2000, and 'therefore cannot comment on the operations or patient experience prior to that time'. Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis is using her voice to 'raise awareness' of frontotemporal dementia following her husband's diagnosis with the disorder. In video posted to her Instagram on Tuesday, Willis, 44, talked channeling her pain into 'something good' and using her platform to spread awareness of the ailment. 'I just saw something about me getting my five minutes, which is great. Which means that you're listening. So I'm going to take my five minutes and I'm going to turn it into 10 because I'm always going to advocate for my husband,' she began. 'And, while I'm at it, I'm going to raise awareness around FTD and for caregivers, who are unsung heroes out there. And then, and then, I am going to turn my grief and my anger and my sadness and do something good around something that feels less than. So, watch this space, because I didn't come to play.' It has been a year since Willis' family announced the actor, 67, would be stepping away from his career after he was diagnosed with aphasia. Last month, his family said the illness had progressed to frontotemporal dementia. 'I'm always going to advocate for my husband': Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis is using her voice to 'raise awareness' of frontotemporal dementia following her husband's diagnosis with the condition The post was captioned: 'Just over here turning my 5 mins into 10. Ive sat around quietly for too long and Im so ready to be embraced by this solid and loving community my family and I find ourselves in while trying to lift them up in return. Lets go. #ftdawareness #dementiaawareness #caregiversupport'. The post came after Willis posted an emotional plea asking families of dementia sufferers for advice on how to help their loved ones navigate the world safely. Heming Willis posted the Instagram video on Saturday stating that it was in 'service for raising awareness about dementia.' 'If you are someone who is looking after someone who has dementia, you know how difficult and how stressful it can be, just to get them out into the world and navigate them safely - even just to get a cup of coffee.' In her caption, the actor's wife asks for advice on how to do this with her husband following his own diagnosis. 'To other caregivers or dementia care specialist navigating this world. Any tips or advice on how to get your loved ones out in the world safely? Please share below.' Willis' diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia can include symptoms like personality changes, speech difficulty and motor impairment. The Hollywood icon was seen out and about last week, the first time since his family revealed he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) last month. 'I'm going to raise awareness': In video posted to her Instagram on Tuesday, Willis, 44, talked channeling her pain into 'something good' and using her platform to spread awareness of the ailment Heartbreaking news: It has been a year since Willis' family announced the actor would be stepping away from his career after he was diagnosed with aphasia. Last month, his family said the illness had progressed to frontotemporal dementia FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, which deal with behavior, problem-solving, planning and emotions - with symptoms including personality changes, obsessive behavior and speaking difficulties. Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31 and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60 to whom he was married from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with Emma, his wife of 14 years. FTD occurs when nerve cells in the lobes behind the forehead die and the pathways that connect them change. The left temporal lobe is involved in the meaning of words and the names of objects. The right recognizes faces and familiar objects. 'Let's go': Willis spoke out about the condition in video shared to her account on Tuesday Symptoms are different from just the memory loss that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. These may include; personality changes, such as becoming tactless, uninterested in others and unsympathetic, repeated and compulsive movements, such as continued use of certain phrases, hoarding and obsession over timekeeping, craving unhealthy food and forgetting table manners, speaking difficulties, including slow speech, grammatical errors and asking the meaning of familiar words like 'bread'. Bruce's blended family issued a joint statement at the end of March announcing that he was 'stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.' The statement revealed he 'has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.' Long-time love: Emma has been married to the Die Hard actor for 14 years; pictured 2019 Sad: The retirement announcement marked an end to Willis' decades-long career, during which he has earned a Golden Globe award and two Emmys Willis had reportedly been struggling with cognitive issues on the sets of his films for years - and even needed an earpiece to feed him lines. A unnamed source told Page Six his declining cognitive ability had been an open secret in Hollywood as the actor repeatedly had trouble acting in his films. The famed actor can even be seen in a scene in his new movie American Siege, which was filmed in 2020, wearing an earpiece. This was a full two years before the family's announcement that Willis has aphasia. Willis had previously been seen using an earpiece to feed him lines in his Broadway debut in Misery in 2015, an unnamed insider also told OK! Magazine He was also reportedly struggling during the filming of M. Night Shyamalan's 2019 film Glass. The retirement announcement marked an end to Willis' decades-long career, during which he has earned a Golden Globe award and two Emmys. Tasha Ghouri poked fun at her boyfriend Andrew Le Page's Casa Amor antics with a Love Island themed cake for his 28th birthday. The reality star, 24, paid homage to his infamous quote: 'I licked a t*t or whatever' with the luxurious chocolate dessert which was covered in biscuits and sweets. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Tasha shared a picture of the cake and wrote: 'Thank you @oh.my.cakery for this cake! I had to add something iconic for his birthday.' Andrew made the comment when he confessed to his brief romance with Coco Lodge while Tasha was away in Casa Amor during his stint on the show. The moment ignited a burst of social media attention, as fans found it hilarious watching Andrew sheepishly admit his antics to Tasha. Funny: Tasha Ghouri poked fun at her boyfriend Andrew Le Page's Casa Amor antics with a Love Island themed cake for his 28th birthday Cheeky: The reality star, 24, paid homage to his infamous quote: 'I licked a t*t or whatever' with the luxurious chocolate dessert which was covered in biscuits and sweets Confessing the act to Tasha once she had returned to the main villa, Andrew attempted to play down his sexual chemistry with Coco, saying: 'I licked her t*t or whatever.' The dancer had pulled out all the stops for Andrew's birthday as she decorated the flat with balloons and photographs from their relationship and rose petals. There was also a delicious breakfast spread with everything from marshmallows to doughnuts to chocolate fondue. Writing a birthday tribute, Tasha said: 'Happy birthday to my lover, best friend and soul mate. 'Im eternally grateful that you came into my life in 2022. Ever since then weve just grown together. 'Im such a lucky girl to be able to experience your love, smile and just you every single day. Heres to 28! Im proud of you.' Andrew replied: 'Love you so much xx'. The couple are just back from a romantic holiday in Prague. Iconic: Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Tasha shared a picture of the cake and wrote: 'Thank you @oh.my.cakery for this cake! I had to add something iconic for his birthday.' Sweet: The dancer had pulled out all the stops for Andrew's birthday as she decorated the flat with balloons and photographs from their relationship and rose petals Confession: Andrew made the comment when he confessed to his brief romance with Coco Lodge (pictured) while Tasha was away in Casa Amor during his stint on the show Yummy: There was also a delicious breakfast spread with everything from marshmallows to doughnuts to chocolate fondue Their holiday comes after the model was quick to jump to her boyfriend's defence on Tuesday after fans mocked his new 'fashion era' look. Andrew showed off his bold style in an eye-catching lilac ensemble while attending London Fashion Week. The reality stars look included flamboyant flared trousers and a matching jacket which he left open to showcase his washboard abs. He donned a pair of white trainers and accessorised with a long silver necklace as he posed for a slew of Instagram snaps. But Andrew's followers were left unimpressed with his new look and left negative comments. One wrote: 'What in the Aladdin is happening' Another added: 'Not an era you need to return too anytime soon.' Andrew and Tasha came fourth place in last year's series and the relationship appears to be going from strength to strength. Gigi Hadid has shared new images to plug her fashion line Guest In Residence. The 27-year-old blonde beauty - who spoke recently about being a nepo baby - was seen in a crop top with a collar and three buttons that put her tummy on display. The older sister of Bella Hadid looked to have a very toned midsection thanks to her daily gym visits with a personal trainer. The look for the shoot was a light cotton candy pink crop top and matching skirt that looked perfect for spring. And the daughter of Yolanda Hadid added a milk chocolate brown scarf to her head that had stripes in ivory and pink. In top shape: Gigi Hadid has shared new images to plug her fashion line Guest In Residence. The 27-year-old blonde beauty was seen in a crop top with a collar and three buttons that showed a lot of her tummy Under the relaxed slacks was a pair of bikini bottoms. The briefs were a cream color with a long string tie on the sides. During the shoot, Hadid could be seen in a home setting looking at a book; she also held the book. The caption read, '@guestinresidence SS23 CORE COLLECTION - your favorite cozy basics in lighter weights and new colors for Spring, like blush uestInResidence.com xx 2.20.23 by @quentindebriey.' Her friend Yara Shahidi said she was 'obsessed' with the look while fellow model Lily Aldridge added, 'Cozzzzzy.' This comes after she admitted it was her privileged upbringing which led to her worldwide modelling success and claims she's 'not the prettiest person in the world' Having starring on 35 covers of Vogue and walking the runway at the most high profile fashion shows, she has said she needed some help to get to the top. Nepotism babies - or 'nepo babies' as they are often called - have taken 2023 by storm, referring to celebrity offspring who land easily in the world of showbiz, such as Brooklyn Beckham. Bottoms: Under the relaxed slacks was a pair of bikini bottoms. The briefs were a cream color with a long string tie on the sides In bed: The older sister of Bella Hadid looked to have a very toned midsection thanks to her daily gym visits with a personal trainer Gigi, real name Jelena, is the daughter of Dutch model Yolanda Hadid, a former model turned interior designer and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her father is Palestinian-born property developer Mohamed Hadid (her parents divorced when she was five), while famous siblings Bella and Anwar are also models. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Gigi was candidly open about her background, saying: 'Technically I'm a nepotism baby. My parents came from very little. 'I've always acknowledged that I come from privilege. 'My parents told me, "Just because you have parents who were successful, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't walk into the job being as nice and as hard-working as you can be."' A nice touch: The look for the shoot was a light cotton candy pink crop top and matching skirt that looked perfect for spring. And the daughter of Yolanda Hadid added a milk chocolate brown scarf to her head that had stripes in ivory and pink She added that she doesn't think she is the 'prettiest person in the world' and could 'probably do' with some Botox. Gigi, who was most recently romantically linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, claimed her first modelling gig at the age of just two with Guess. The supermodel was raised on a ranch in Santa Barbara before moving to Beverley Hills. In 2014 she made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week and has since walked for Chanel, Versace and Fendi. She now boasts over 77 million Instagram followers and reportedly earned almost $10million in 2018. Famous family: Gigi admitted her privileged upbringing with former model mother Yolanda (left) and property tycoon Mohamed (right) helped her achieve fame, (pictured in 2018) Nepo babies: Gigi with brother Anwar Hadid, mom Yolanda and sister Bella Hadid are pictured in New York City in 2015 The Guest in Residence founder-creative director famously replaced Alexa Chung as co-host of the second season of Netflix's 10-episode $250K design competition Next in Fashion alongside Queer Eye's Tan France. Gigi admitted she did not get the role easily, with Netflix putting her through a tough audition process to land the job. '@netflix Top 5 in 24 hrs!' Gigi - who boasts 83.7M social media followers - gushed on Saturday. The model, who has in the past dated Joe Jonas, also dated ex-One Direction member Zayn Malik on and off for six years. The couple share a daughter, two-year-old Khai, who Gigi says they amicably co-parent. She recently shared that her daughter 'loves' eating British food. The pair split in 2021 after Zayn's infamous altercation with her mother for which he received 360-day probation and was ordered to complete anger management and domestic violence programs. Gigi most recently announced a partnership with make-up brand Maybelline, while her sister Bella has become the face of luxury cosmetics Charlotte Tilbury. Their younger brother Anwar, 23, previously dated pop star Dua Lipa before calling it quits in December 2021. Katherine Ryan has explained why she called out Leonardo DiCaprio and James Argent for dating younger women, calling it 'gross' and 'weird'. The comedian, 39, has been outspoken about the two men in the past, making videos and tweets poking fun at them for their dating choices. Now speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Katherine has stated that she's happy to be the 'poster woman' for hitting out at older male celebrities with a penchant for dating younger partner because she hopes it will reach young women. She began by insisting: 'I dont care at all about backlash or cancel culture. I do care about hurting peoples feelings, believe it or not. 'I know that James Argent has had some rough times and I dont want to heap criticism on someone whos vulnerable. Motivation: Katherine Ryan has explained why she called out Leonardo DiCaprio and James Argent for dating younger women, calling it 'gross' and 'weird' Having her say: The comedian, 39, has been outspoken about the two men in the past, making videos and tweets poking fun at them for their dating choices ( L - Leonardo DiCaprio, R - James Argent) 'But at the end of the day, I have somehow become the poster woman for rallying against grown men, powerful men, famous men dating teenagers. I didnt choose that life, that life chose me. 'I dont think it's controversial to say thats gross or weird and Im very happy to continue beating that drum for as long as it takes.' She added: 'And Im not speaking to the men, because thats who I get the backlash from, I get all these men in my messages going, "Oh sorry hed rather date a Ferrari than an old banger and he doesnt want you", like I would ever give them the time of day! 'But Im not speaking to the men at all because I understand that there are a lot of people that find that age group attractive - Im not going to solve that problem. 'Im speaking to the young women because I happen to have the ear of a lot of teenage girls and young women. 'I look out at my audience and I have people my age, I have couples but I also have a lot of teenagers so even if one of them hears what Im saying and goes, Ew maybe that man is interested in me because he wants to boss me around or because women his age dont talk to him, maybe I will give that a miss. She quipped: 'Im basically Leonardo DiCaprio trying to get to as many young women as I can. Previously Katherine blasted 34-year-old James for dating 18-year old actress Stella Turian. TOWIE star James and Stella have been together for over eight months after meeting at a wedding in Mykonos last year. They're in a long-distance relationship because Stella, who's 16 years Arg's junior, lives in her native Italy while James resides in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Katherine took to her Instagram stories in a brutal way where she cuddled her baby daughter Fenna Grace, whilst giving the camera a moody looking stare. 'Poster woman': Now speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Katherine has stated that she's happy to be the 'poster woman' for hitting out at older male celebrities with a penchant for dating teens because she hopes it will reach young women Dig: Previously Katherine blasted 34-year-old James for dating 18-year old actress Stella Turian Romance: They're in a long-distance relationship because Stella, who's 16 years Arg's junior, lives in her native Italy while James resides in Buckhurst Hill, Essex Striking: Katherine also labelled Leo creepy on Twitter over his rumoured romance with model Eden Polani, 19 Katherine zoomed in on her unimpressed face in a video and captioned it: 'Me - a mother - finding out a 35 Towie star has an 18 year old girlfriend.' Katherine also labelled Leo creepy on Twitter over his rumoured romance with model Eden Polani, 19. After the news broke about the actor, 48, who has a penchant for dating women under 25, she posted a series of bemused tweets about him. When one fan asked the comedian what the ' crime ' was because Leo and Eden are both adults, she replied: 'No crime just a creepy pattern.' It came after she quote-tweeted a post which said: 'Not enough people are talking about Leonardo DiCaprio who is almost 50- and 'getting close' to a 19 year old teenage girl' and replied: 'This is literally all I've talked about for SEVEN YEARS.' She also wrote 'uh huh' in response to a separate tweet which read: 'the power dynamic of his age, his wealth, and his fame over a 19 year old girl is actually repulsive.' The star also quipped: 'This year, Titanic became too old for Leonardo DiCaprio to be in it' after author Caitlin Moran wrote: 'I feel like he has Titantic trauma. 'He's dating women like he's still the age he was when he shot it, and he's ALWAYS on holiday on a yacht. Dude needs some EMDR.' Elsewhere in the chat, Katherine opened up on how she finds it 'fun' to hit back at her trolls online. She said: 'Its not hard for me to receive negativity at all, I really dont mind, Im so lucky that I dont mind. 'The only obstacle with clapping back is that the younger generation have taught me that some people arent mentally sound, and have other issues that contribute to them being trolls. 'So anytime Im clapping back its only fun for me if I check the persons profile and I can make a judgement as to whether they might be struggling with something or are just nasty. 'I try to only clap back at people who are habitually nasty and I think its really fun. And I think it sets an example not to take yourself too seriously and I dont feel guilty because if they come for me theyre going to find real quick theyre coming for the wrong one. She added: 'Its fun, its bullying in the right way.' Ahead of the Oscars, Katherine is supporting Goustos Flavour That Pops campaign, featuring a new show-stopping menu of popcorn flavours, inspired by its best-selling recipes. Clapping back: Elsewhere in the chat, Katherine opened up on how she finds it 'fun' to hit back at her trolls online Campaign: Ahead of the Oscars, Katherine is supporting Goustos Flavour That Pops campaign, featuring a new show-stopping menu of popcorn flavours, inspired by its best-selling recipes Speaking on the campaign, she said: 'I love Gousto, we have a really organic relationship because my husband and I have been getting the recipe boxes since like 2018 or 2019, and its just delicious adventurous food that you cook a home and not every recipe box is like that. 'This has us hooked, we dont even order takeaway anymore, its been so good for the family, family mealtimes and I love that they do flavours that pop for the Oscars, because I stay home and I watch the Oscars with popcorn. 'Its a really good way to remind people about how much flavours there is at Gousto. So I was excited to collaborate on some of those flavours.' Visit https://www.gousto.co.uk/blog/five-star-flavour to grab your own FREE box - perfect for film-loving-foodies! Gino D'Acampo left This Morning viewers in hysterics on Tuesday as he went on a mission to learn how corks are made. The celebrity chef, 45, who hails from Italy, was misunderstood as saying an X-rated word during the segment. Host Phillip Schofield was then forced to interrupt the pre-recorded clip of Gino and clarify he was saying 'cork' not 'c**k' while Holly Willoughby cringed at the clip. Introducing viewers to Gino's latest Italian adventure, Phil began: 'Lots on the way, including an Italian escape with Gino'. The clip then cut to Gino talking about wine, saying: 'What I really want to know is why Sardinian cork is so special. And how many corks do you produce a day?' Funny: Gino D'Acampo left This Morning viewers in hysterics on Tuesday as he went on a mission to learn how corks are made Blunder: Host Phillip Schofield was forced to interrupt the pre-recorded clip of Gino and clarify he was saying 'cork' not 'c**k' while Holly Willoughby cringed at the clip The expert then replied: 'More or less, we produce two million corks'. With the word having been repeated three times, Phil was quick to jump in, shouting: 'No, no, no, stop He continued: 'He's at a cork factory. It's cork! A wine cork factory in Sardinia,' stressing the word in question. Phil then said: 'Who knew you could learn so much about cork,' with Holly adding: 'apart from how to pronounce it' 'There's more from Gino and his questionable pronunciation,' Phil quipped. Twitter was awash with conversation surrounding the incident, with one viewer penning: 'I'm not hearing cork on Gino's segment' Another said: 'Cork Gino cork!!' A third added: ' Honestly who let Gino do a feature on cork' He's previously had viewers and the presenters in hysterics with his pronunciations of words like 'sheet'. Awkward! The celebrity chef, 45, who hails from Italy, was misunderstood as saying an X-rated word during the segment Twitter was awash with conversation surrounding the incident, with one viewer penning: 'I'm not hearing cork on Gino's segment' Gino has admitted he has come close to being 'cancelled' by fans but insisted that he 'doesn't care' what people think. He has become known for his cheeky innuendos after shooting to fame on This Morning and has since hosted an array of popular cookery shows. But Gino claimed that he he come very close to being hit by cancel culture for his saucy jokes, saying he 'dangerously' walks the 'fine line' with his humour. He told The Sun : 'There is a fine line on television and I think I walk the line, I've been walking that fine line for the last ten to 15 years.' Gino said he thinks he 'gets away' with a lot more on TV than other people can because viewers have known him for around 15 years. However, he insisted that he has never 'crossed the line' with his jokes, saying he would have been 'fired' if he did. He said: 'But I can get away with the accent and because I'm Gino and everybody knows me for a long time, I can get away with many things that someone else could not get away with it.' Advising other people to brush off cancel culture, he added: 'What they should do is instead of fighting the cancel culture is the way I do it - 'I don't care what you've got to say' - that's what I think.' In November, Gino was accused of being 'xenophobic' by This Morning viewers for claiming he disliked the French. He made the revelation about his dislike for the French nation as he cooked a chicken cordon bleu during one segment. Despite the dish being considered French, Gino insisted it wasn't before launching into a tirade about the country. Humour: Gino has admitted he has come close to being 'cancelled' by fans but insisted that he 'doesn't care' what people think He said: 'Not that I have to explain myself but this is called pollo impanato, which is stuff chicken breast. Now the French call it blah blah blah but it's really pollo impanato. 'Plus everybody knows I will never cook a French dish. I don't like to cook other nation's food. 'I am going to be honest with you, apart from my friend Fred Sirieix, I don't like French people.' He added: 'Too close to Italy, they always think everything they do is the greatest. There is no need for French people in the world.' This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV. Jackass star Steve-O jetted out of Perth on Tuesday after the first show of his The Bucket List Australian tour. The 48-year-old looked downcast as he walked through the airport without his stage buddy Bam Margera. He dressed casually for the flight in a red T-shirt, black pants and a comfortable pair of white sneakers. Steve-O kept a low profile with dark sunglasses and carried a skateboard in his hand as he arrived to the airport. It comes after Steve-O recently said that he was bracing himself for Margera's death from drug and alcohol issues. Jackass star Steve-O looked downcast as he jetted out of Perth without his tour buddy Bam Margera on Tuesday Margera opened nine of the stuntman's shows in the US before Steve-O accused his best friend of slipping back into old habits after posting what he deemed a 'vile' thing on social media. Under the post, Steve-O said Margera was 'dying' but deleted it two minutes later. It read: 'Bam, last night you had your five year old son with you on stage at my show, and you were blessed with a chance to spend another day or two with him then as soon as you left my show, you stayed up all night getting loaded enough to think it was a good idea to post more vile nonsense like this. I hope you understand how awful that is. 'You say you want to have a good relationship with your son, but your actions guarantee the exact opposite will happen. 'I brought you on tour with the hopes that I could get you to see what's possible for you if you can choose recovery. 'I've tried everything I can, but I can't force you to get honest and do the work of recovery. He dressed casually for the flight in a red T-shirt, black pants and a comfortable pair of white sneakers 'I wish you could know how much I've hated feeling braced for news of your death, but you're making it clear that I have no other choice. You're dying brother, and it sucks that I can't do anything to save you.' Speaking on his Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast on February 25, he said he regretted posting that comment publicly. 'The Bam situation...I posted this comment on Bam's Instagram because I had him on tour with me for 10 days, we did nine shows with me and he was pretty great,' he said. 'The whole time he was telling me to reach out to Nicky, his wife, and see if I can spend the day with Phoenix [his son] because it's in Santa Rosa California which was close to his wife and his son. 'So the tour was a big journey to his son and on the last day he was reunited with his son and we all spent the day together, it was a great day and we did our last show that night. 'After the show it was determined that bam doing good and Niki said he could spend another day or two with his son. It comes after Steve-O recently said that he was bracing himself for Margera's death from drug and alcohol issues 'Come four, five, six, in the morning and he was posting hateful stuff. 'When he's posting hateful stuff it's a terrible sign and he admitted it was because he was drunk. 'Like dude c'mon man, I was so bummed, I was equally disappointed as I was surprised and that's the nature of the disease. 'Hs hateful post had been up for 22 hours so I wrote that comment saying you're dying, you're dying bro.. 'It sucks because I want to save you but I can't, I can't make you get better, I can't do that work for you.' COP28 president-designate urges oil, gas industry to do more against climate change Xinhua) 13:49, March 07, 2023 HOUSTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- COP28 UAE President-Designate Sultan Al Jaber on Monday called for the oil and gas industry to do more in coping with the climate challenge. "Alongside all industries, the oil and gas sector needs to up its game, do more and do it faster," Al Jaber said in a keynote address at the CERAWeek, an influential global energy forum kicking off in the U.S. city of Houston on Monday. The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is to be held in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year. As mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement, COP28 UAE is expected to deliver the first ever global stocktake, a comprehensive evaluation of progress against climate goals. "Only half of the industry has declared a scope 1 and 2 net-zero goal by 2050. Everyone in the industry needs to be aligned around the same goal," said Al Jaber, also chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. "With the right incentives, the right technologies, the right mindset and the right partnership model, the oil and gas industry has the capacity and the resources to help everyone address scope 3," he continued. Power generation is the sector where the biggest impact can be made in the shortest amount of time, he said, noting that by 2030, renewable energy capacity needs to triple. He highlighted that policies that aim to pull the plug on the existing energy system before a new one is built are a recipe for future energy crises. "As such, we have ramped up renewables as well as bringing decarbonization technologies to scale." "Let me call on you today to decarbonize quicker, future-proof sooner and create the energy system of the future, today," he told the delegates. "Our quickest win will come from energy efficiency." More than 7,000 participants including policymakers, industry leaders, company executives, investors and researchers from over 80 countries and regions around the world are expected to attend the five-day CERAWeek energy forum, said S&P Global, the organizer. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This page may be updated if the event is repeated Past Event - Wednesday, March 29, 2023 This page may be updated if the event is repeated 100% of proceeds will support United Rehabilitation Services Celebrate Jersey Mikes Month Of Giving United Rehabilitation Services (URS) has been chosen by the three local Jersey Mikes Subs locations for their Annual Month of Giving. Customers are invited to visit Jersey Mikes for the Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 29 to enjoy a delicious sub meal and they will donate 100 percent of the days sales to URS! Jersey Mikes locations: 3510 Pentagon Blvd, Beavercreek 6002 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville 2831 Wilmington Pike, Kettering 24 West Central Avenue, Springboro 1512 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Washington Twp URS is grateful to the local Jersey Mikes Subs owner for choosing to support vital programs for children and adults with disabilities right here in our community. Proceeds from the Day of Giving will support: The regions only 5-STAR Rated Early Childhood Education Programs for children with and without disabilities, ages 6 weeks - 17 years old with on-site Nursing Services to meet the needs of medically fragile children. Specialized Therapy Programs with the regions only Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Program and Universal Exercise Unit spider cage Day services and Pre-vocational Training Programs for adults and seniors with developmental and acquired disabilities. Employment Services for high school students and adults with disabilities, including the newly launched URS Academy, a vocational training program that will create work-ready employees for local employers. United Rehabilitation Services (URS) was founded in 1956 as the Dayton Chapter of United Cerebral Palsy and today serves more than 3,000 children and adults annually with a variety of disabilities or special needs, including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Autism, and Alzheimers. The agency is committed to providing compassionate care for the span of a person's life, from infancy through the senior years. Narsingi police said they have registered a murder case against the trio and launched a hunt to nab them. (Facebook) Hyderabad: In a shocking incident, a youngster working at fuel station was beaten to death by three youngsters at Janwada under Narsingi police limits of Cyberabad commissionerate in the early hours of Tuesday. The accused wanted to pay for the fuel through UPI, but the cashier said the UPI payment was not working and asked them to pay in cash. This resulted in an argument between the trio and the accused started attacking the cashier. When the victim Sanjay, in his early thirties. rushed to his colleagues rescue, the trio attacked him and rained blows on him. The victim collapsed and he was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead. Narsingi police said they have registered a murder case against the trio and launched a hunt to nab them. They belong to the neighbouring village, said Narsingi ACP Ramana Goud. One of the employees at the filling station said that three people had come in a car, to fill petrol in their vehicle. After filling petrol, they entered into an argument with the staff. "One of the persons started beating me. Later another person also joined. My colleague suffered serious injuries and collapsed. I informed our supervisor and rushed him to hospital," he said. Police found that one of the three attackers was accused in another case and currently out on bail. Nation Telangana declares special casual leave for women employees on Women's Day DECCAN CHRONICLE | DC Correspondent Published on: March 6, 2023 | Updated on: March 6, 2023 The general administration (services welfare) department released the order on Monday, signed by Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari. (Photo: Twitter) Security personnel deployed outside the residence of former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi during a visit of CBI officials in connection with further probe in the land for jobs scam case, in Patna, Monday, (PTI Photo PATNA: A huge political storm erupted after CBI officials on Monday visited former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devis residence to quiz her over the "land for jobs scam". As the CBI grilled the former Bihar CM for around four hours, members of Bihars Grand Alliance were up in arms, claiming that the Central investigative agencies had become a tool of "political vendetta" under the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. It was alleged that the BJP was misusing the investigative agencies as the party was on a sticky wicket for the coming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This development comes a day after top Opposition leaders, including Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, sent a letter to the Prime Minister over the alleged "misuse" of the Central agencies following the arrest of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the liquor scam case. After the CBI reached Rabri Devis residence, Tejashwi Yadav reacted strongly and said he had anticipated the scenario during the formation of the Grand Alliance in August last year. "I had earlier predicted that these people (BJP) will do this. We face such things almost every month and are also aware that this will continue till 2024. There is a hearing on March 15, which is a normal procedure". Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi was questioned by CBI officials for almost four hours in the presence of her legal adviser. Reports suggest that the CBI may also question RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his daughter Misa Bharti at their residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. The officials might also ask for documents related to the case from the Lalu Yadav family, sources said. Yadav had recently returned from Singapore after undergoing a kidney transplant and is now recovering at his daughters residence in New Delhi. In New Delhi, the Opposition launched a scathing attack on the Centre over the "misuse of agencies" after the CBI grilled Rabri Devi. The Congress alleged that the ruling party at the Centre wants to "suppress" the voice of the Opposition. An AICC general secretary alleged that Opposition leaders who are not ready to bow before the BJP are "harassed" through the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. "Today Rabri Devi ji is being harassed. Lalu Prasad ji and his family have been harassed for years because they did not bow down," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a tweet in Hindi. In Patna, the RJD and other Grand Alliance leaders, including the Congress, say the BJP has been "misusing" Central agencies to frame Opposition leaders for "political gains" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. They said "the BJP at the Centre is scared of the rising graph of the Grand Alliance in Bihar. They are also upset over the RJDs effort to unite Opposition leaders ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Misusing Central agencies will not help them in the 2024 parliamentary elections". On February 27, Delhis Rouse Avenue court had issued a summons against former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti and 14 others over the "land for jobs scam". The summons was issued to the accused persons for March 15. The CBI had earlier filed a charge sheetagainst them in connection with the case. The scam allegedly occurred when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the railway minister in 2004-09. Yadav and others were allegedly given land from people in lieu of jobs in the railways. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the visit by the CBI team at Rabri Devis residence as "humiliating". He said: "This is wrong, raids like these are humiliating. It is becoming a trend, that wherever there are Opposition governments, they wont be allowed to function. They (BJP) use the ED, CBI and governors to trouble them. Democracy will go ahead only when everyone will work together, whoever has a government should be allowed to work there." Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal also pointed to the "fragile health" of Lalu Prasad Yadav. "CBI heat on Lalu. We all know the fragile state of his health. To pressure Tejashvi. The more the government does this the more the people will turn against this government," Sibal tweeted. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launching Phase-3 of Dr YSR Kantivelugu scheme at the health department review meeting on Monday, Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy, Minister V Rajani are also seen. (Photo by arrangement) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said the Family Doctor concept will be launched in AP on March 15 and it will soon be fully operational across all districts. The CM conducted a review meeting on the medical and health department at the CM Camp Office in Tadepalli on Monday. He advised the officials to start the Family Doctor programme at a village clinic on March 15. "Health services to 45,90,086 people have been provided so far in the Family Doctor Pilot Project and we have completed the appointment of doctors in 1,149 PHCs," the CM said. The officials said arrangements were ready for implementing the family doctor concept in full. Doctors in CHCs will be utilised as per the instructions given by the Chief Minister without any interruption of services during the long vacations. Additional appointments have also been made for this purpose. "We have hired four additional doctors for each district," they said. The Chief Minister said an additional doctor for every 6-7 PHCs must be appointed to avoid interruption of the medical services. "Thus, 175 doctors are in reserve across the state. There were 10,032 Village Health Clinics with one ANM per clinic. Along with them, there will be a CHO and 3-4 Asha workers." Jagan Mohan Reddy said he wanted the Aarogyasri referral and services to be a part of the family doctor's duties. Officials, he said, must place complaint numbers on Aarogyasri cards to lodge any complaint about Aarogyasri services. The CM also asked them to link anaemia cases with the Sampoorna Poshan Plus programme and provide nutritional food through Poshan Plus. The officials said the number of medicines kept in Village Health Clinics and 104 have also been increased. According to the CM's orders, the list of 67 types of medicines given so far free of cost has been increased to 105 medicines. Some 14 types of diagnostic kits have also been made available to village clinics. The officials said that mapping has been completed by connecting PHCs and 104 ambulances, under which 676 vehicles (104) are already providing services and 910 vehicles (104) will be used for the implementation of the family doctor concept along with the new 234 vehicles. Another 104 vehicles are also kept in reserve under backup for each district. The officials explained that Family doctors are available at Village Clinic from 9 am to 4 pm. Family doctors would perform works relating to General OP, Non-Communicable Disease Management, Healthcare of pregnant women, visit to anganwadis including monitoring of children's health, visit of schools including monitoring of children's health, anaemia prevention, monitoring of the health of bedridden patients, home visits to provide free health services. The data of those suffering from non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes is also available to the family doctor. This data is used for follow-up treatment, officials said. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister launched Dr YSR Kanti Velugus third phase in the CM Camp Office at Tadepalli and instructed officials to consider offering dental treatment to the public and prepare a detailed action plan for the same. He recalled that the YSR Kanti Velugu programme was launched on October 10, 2019 to provide free comprehensive eye treatment to the needy. The CM said blindness can be prevented in more than 80 per cent of the cases. "The government is providing state-of-the-art eye treatment free of charge in a phased manner. Free eye examinations are done in primary health centers, sub-centres, secretariats and schools. Eye surgeries are performed in government and recognized eye hospitals. The government also is providing free spectacles and medicines to the needy," he said. He said the government has partnered with LV Prasad Eye Institute for the necessary training of ophthalmologists and other staff to implement the eye care programme. The officials explained that through the Dr YSR Kanti Velugu Phase-1 and Phase-2, screening tests have already been conducted for 66,17,613 students in 60,393 schools. Out of these, 1,58,227 students were given spectacles and 310 people underwent surgery. Jagan said eye screening tests will be conducted at village and ward secretariats and the government aimed to complete this programme by August. Guntur Mayor Kavati Sivanagamanohar. (Photo: Twitter) GUNTUR: In an innovative first-of-its-kind initiative in AP, the Guntur Municipal Corporation has started a YSR Cloth Bank under the Wall of Kindness concept at Lakshmipuram in Guntur on Monday. The aim is to provide clothes to the needy and free of cost. Guntur Mayor Kavati Sivanagamanohar said that cloth banks are not only of help to the poor but also contribute to the cleanliness of the city. The cloth bank set up at Lakshmipuram e-bus bay under the auspices of the city administration was inaugurated by the mayor in the presence of city commissioner Keerthi Chekuri. The mayor said the needy people can take clothes from the cloth bank and use them. He urged the people to hand over their reserve clothes to these banks without throwing them out. This would also be beneficial to the city in terms of sanitation upkeep. The mayor said the staff of the GMC would be available in the cloth bank from 8 am to 8 pm every day. Commissioner Keerthi said this was an innovative idea. Every day, many kinds of clothes are being thrown onto the roads, affecting the citys sanitation conditions. She appealed to the people to make good use of the cloth bank and said steps would be taken to establish these banks in other parts of the city as well. Corporator Echampati Venkatakrishna, EE Sundara Ramireddy, MHO Bhanu Prakash, ADH Rama Rao, sanitary inspectors and others participated in the programme. People celebrate the festival of colours at Begum bazar in Hyderabad on Tuesday. (Photo: P.Surendra) Hyderabad: Hyderabad was painted in vibrant colours on Tuesday as residents celebrated Holi with enthusiasm and fervour from early morning. There is more to come as some communities will celebrate the festival on Wednesday. Even though it was a public holiday, college students gathered on their campuses to celebrate the festival of colours. Students of the JNTU Fine Arts and Profession Studies painted their campus in colours, while students of Osmania University organised an event for students from Afghanistan, Nepal, Syria, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Colonies were soaked in colours, residents said. In Narayanguda, teens were spotted spraying one another with colours since 6 am. Kattekola Meena Rao of Saroornagar, said, "I guess after a gap of year or two, this year the celebrations were full-fledged. My friends and I made it a point to use only organic colours. The festival cheered up everyone." Vaishnavi Seethiraju, a resident of Manikonda, said: "All our friends and neighbouring families played together. Irrespective who they are, once they are here, we are drenching them in colour." Anantha Vaibhavi, an NRI, said: "I did all my schooling abroad, but this year, I have a chance to participate in the festival of colours." The festivities, however, are not over, as a few communities and families opted to celebrate the festival on Wednesday. So, they burnt the effigy, as part of the Holika Dahan, on Tuesday evening. Even though there was confusion, youths said they will make use of both days to celebrate the festival. Swapnika Jaiswal, a resident of Kacheguda, said, "We are celebrating the festival on Wednesday as many of the corporate companies got holiday tomorrow. Even our family is celebrating the festival on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, we burnt the effigy of Holika." Dr Thayi Chiranjeevi said: "it makes no difference whether the surgeon is male or female; what counts is that the patient walks away with a smile after recovery." (DC Image) HYDERABAD: Dr Thayi Chiranjeevi knew she wanted to be a doctor early in life. When she became "thoroughly fascinated" by orthopaedics, many were surprised by her choice, but her determination to pursue the masculine field earned her the rare distinction of being one of only three women joint-replacement surgeons in the world. Ahead of International Womens Day on March 8, she detailed her experiences and discrimination faced to Deccan Chronicle. "As the only woman joint replacement surgeon in the country and one among three globally, I am frequently asked how I got into this speciality. I tell them I could feel it in my bones," she said. When she was in medical school, everyone she met opposed, if not denounced, her decision to become an orthopaedic surgeon. She said that while questions like "you're a woman, why are you choosing this male branch?" were commonplace, she was shocked when counsellors persuaded her to choose gynaecology or general medicine. "The counsellors thought I would abandon my course midway, thereby denying a male student the seat and the chance to become an orthopaedic surgeon, but I remained firm in my resolve. It almost felt like polite discrimination. Female surgeons were stereotyped as being weaker than their male peers, particularly in orthopaedics, which is not true," she said. In orthopaedics, the representation of women has been increasing, but more slowly than in other surgical specialities. "In contrast to the rising number of young girls seeking MS orthopaedics, I was the only female who opted for the speciality during my time. However, many people believe that orthopaedic speciality necessitates muscular power and physical strength. Such perceptions may perpetuate old stereotypes about what makes an outstanding orthopaedic surgeon," she said. That said, she has no bones to pick with her male colleagues by asserting that she never encountered workplace bias or male dominance. "I believe a woman surgeon would be more efficient and can perform a better job," said Dr Chiranjeevi, who is now a senior consultant orthopaedic doctor and joint replacement surgeon at Sunshine Hospitals. For someone who does about 2,500 surgeries each year, at an average of eight operations per day, she said that the operating room was a wonderful place to be. "The most memorable day for me was doing my first surgery with the full attention of all my colleagues, and I was thrilled that day when I was drilling the nail in the femur. Sunday, however, is the dullest day for me since I miss going to the operating room," Dr Chiranjeevi said, with a laugh. She said that women, in general, have a higher risk of suffering from orthopaedic problems, with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common, and that exercise, a balanced lifestyle, and periodic check-ups are the best prescriptions for maintaining robust orthopaedic health. Putting to bed the gender question, she said: "It makes no difference whether the surgeon is male or female; what counts is that the patient walks away with a smile after recovery." The actual family doctor concept will start functioning from Sankranti in January 2023. (Representational Image/ DC File) TIRUPATI: Implementation of the Family Doctor programme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has started in Chittoor and Tirupati districts. It is aimed at providing better healthcare to people living in villages. In Chittoor district, the concept has been set in motion in all 31 mandals, covering 48 primary healthcare centres (PHCs). In Tirupati district, it has been launched in 33 villages. Authorities will study the scheme under implementation and rectify shortcomings. The actual family doctor concept will start functioning from Sankranti in January 2023. A senior official said: "The family doctor concept will transform rural healthcare with commencement of YSR Village Health Clinics (YVHCs). Existing sub-centres in villages and an additional 250 sub-centres will be transformed into YVHCs. Each YVHC will cater to about 2,000 people in each village against the national average of one sub-centre for every 5,000 people." According to officials, each YVHC clinic will be headed by a B. Sc. Nursing graduate designated as mid-level health provider, who will be assisted by an ANM and a team of ASHA workers. YVHCs will provide 14 types of tests and 67 types of medicines to people living within its area of operations. Each clinic will also undertake disease control programmes, antenatal, postnatal, and other treatments. Each mandal will have two PHCs. Each PHC will have two doctors, three nurses, pharmacist, lab technician and other staff. The two doctors, along with a mobile medical unit, will visit villages to conduct general check-ups on vulnerable people at Anganwadi centres, schools and other places, besides reaching out to doorsteps of patients having long-term illnesses. Healthcare of such patients will be tracked under the family doctor concept. Surgeries required, if any, will be performed under Aarogyasri. There will also be telemedicine hubs, where specialists will be available. They will refer patients to area or district hospitals, or Aarogyasri network hospitals. A 104 ambulance will visit every village twice a month to review the health of people in every village secretariat. Medical staff of the ambulance will diagnose and treat residents for minor illnesses like blood pressure and diabetes. They will also disburse medicines required for the month. State BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar leads a day-long protest against atrocities on women. (DC) HYDERABAD: BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Monday questioned the veracity of an "unsigned" letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and senior politicians, including three other CMs. He questioned whether the Chief Minister had the support of his counterparts or if it was made up, as, he claimed, the letter that condemned the Central governments misuse of central probe agencies lacked authentication. "The letter released on Sunday is a deliberate attempt to defame the BJP government at the Centre because Modi had made it clear that there is no place for corruption in the country and it will not be tolerated irrespective of who is involved in such acts," he said. "KCR must provide clarity on this, whether the letter is true or was made up. But he did not sign it and could not get eight other signatures," he said. The letter, released on Sunday, was by Chief Ministers K. Chandrashekar Rao of Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party, Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena-UBT and Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party. The BJP, Sanjay said, was ready to have a letter addressed to the President that will be signed by one crore people, saying that Rao had released a fake letter addressed to Modi. "KCR is supporting (former Delhi deputy CM) Manish Sisodia, who has been removed from his post by his own Chief Minister. This is nothing but an attempt to save his daughter, who is also involved in the Delhi liquor scam," he said. Sanjay said it is time for "KCR to come clean on his daughters role in the scam. If she is not involved, then he must come out in public and say so." BJP candidate AVN Reddy addressing a meeting of teachers in the city on Monday. (DC Image) HYDERABAD: The BJP has taken it upon itself to win the March 13 election to the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar districts teachers constituency in the Legislative Council. The Partys national general secretary and in-charge of BJP Telanganas organizational affairs, Sunil Bansal, met with senior party leaders from the three districts on Monday morning at the partys city office. The BJP has chosen A. Venkata Narayan Reddy as its candidate. The March 13 election is for filling up the vacancy when sitting MLC Kattepalli Janardhan Reddys term ends on March 29. The BJP believes that there is a lot of resentment among teachers against the state government particularly in the light of GO 317 which many teachers blame to separate their families forcing them to stay apart, and other issues related to the teaching community. Following the morning meeting, state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, along with senior party leaders N. Indrasena Reddy, N. Ramchander Rao, along with Venkat Narayana Reddy met with teachers to seek their support for the BJP candidate. The electorate comprises 29,720 teachers. Sanjay called on teachers to show solidarity and ensure the BJP candidate wins and said that teachers are not being paid their salaries every month. Defeat the BRS in this election and the Chief Minister will ensure salaries are paid on the first of every month. Venkata Narayana Reddy, addressing the meeting said whether school or college teachers are yearning for change and votes when cast reflect the opinion of well-educated intellectuals and can be treated as a referendum on the functioning of the government. We should not lose this opportunity to send a strong message to the government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with UK's Members of Parliament, academics, journalists, community leaders and leaders of the Indian Overseas Congress at the Grand Committee Room, UK Parliament, in London, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (Photo: PTI) LONDON: The BJP likes to believe that it will be in power in India "eternally" but that is not the case, and the Opposition can unite to undertake the repair work needed to protect India's democratic institutions, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said. Addressing an in-conversation session at the Chatham House think tank in London to round off his week-long UK tour on Monday evening, the Wayanad MP once again claimed that Israeli software Pegasus was planted on his phone as he accused the BJP of trying to silence dissent in the country. To put it in perspective, if you look at the time from independence to now, the Congress party has been in power for majority of the time, said Gandhi. Before the BJP was in power for 10 years, we were in power for 10 years. The BJP likes to believe that they have come to power in India and they are going to be in power eternally, that's not the case, he said. "We can see that the reliance on our institutions is reducing and that to me is very, very dangerous. Certainly there is repair work that needs to be done, on the idea of freedom, independent institutions, a whole bunch of repair work that needs to be done." The Opposition MP pointed to a set of changes taking place in India that had caught the Congress and UPA government off guard, such as a shift from rural to urban. We were focussing a lot on the rural space and we missed the ball in the beginning on the urban space, that's a fact. Those things are there. But to say that the BJP is in power and the Congress gone, that's actually a ridiculous idea, said Gandhi. The BJP on Tuesday lashed out at Gandhi for his criticism of the state of democracy in India and the RSS from London, claiming it is its clear conviction that he is completely in the grip of "Maoist thought process through his minions" and also "anarchist elements". Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad also expressed his party's disapproval of Gandhi "misusing the forum of British parliament" to spread shameful lies and unfounded claims. During his Chatham House discussion, Gandhi pointed out that besides just the Congress, the foreign media has also been highlighting that there is a serious problem with Indian democracy. It's also the way the BJP responds. It's not interested in a conversation. They have decided that they know what's going on, nobody else in the country knows what's going on and that's it... My phone had Pegasus on it, that simply was not happening when we were in power. So there are things that are very obvious and apparent to everyone, he said. The BJP has also made light of Gandhi's allegation that he was being snooped upon, saying that the Congress leader was "hallucinating" and makes such claims as he wants to create headlines wherever he goes. Gandhi also took aim at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a fundamentalist, fascist organisation that has changed the nature of the democratic contest in India by capturing the country's institutions. Asked to explain the RSS to a foreign audience, he noted: You can call it a secret society. It's built along the lines of the Muslim Brotherhood and the idea is to use the democratic contest to come to power and then subvert the democratic contest afterwards. It's shocked me at how successful they've been at capturing the different institutions of our country: the press, judiciary, Parliament, Election Commission all the institutions are under pressure, under threat and controlled in one way or another. On foreign policy, Gandhi drew a comparison between the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India-China relations and accused China of sitting on 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory but our Prime Minister says they are not there. The basic principle applied in Ukraine by the Russians is that they do not accept the relationship the Ukrainians have with Europe and America, and have told Ukraine that if you do not change this relationship, we will challenge your territorial integrity. In my view, that is what is happening on the borders of my country, claimed Gandhi, adding that China is similarly threatening India over its relations with the US. The basic idea behind the troops in Arunachal (Pradesh) and Ladakh is similar to what's happened in Ukraine and I mentioned this to the foreign minister (S Jaishankar), he completely disagreed with me and he thinks it's a ludicrous idea, he said. Asked if a rapprochement is possible, the Congress leader said that India is the biggest game in town in terms of production which makes it China's biggest competitor. There's going to be a little bit of tensions and hostility on the margins. But I think it's very important the lines are clear. They are sitting on 2,000 sq km of our territory, that's a fact, he said. Gandhi also said that Chinese people do not function in a democratic manner as the Indian society does. "Our society is built in a democratic manner. The Chinese do not practice the same model and see it as their biggest challenger. We need to offer the world our own vision of 'Productivity with Prosperity'" The Indian National Congress tweeted. Among the questions from a diaspora and academic audience at the event, Gandhi was asked about dynastic politics as an impediment to Indian democracy, which he dismissed as a factor and blamed structural issues way beyond dynastic politics as a threat. On India-Pakistan relations, the Opposition leader said he believes it is important to have good relations with all neighbouring countries but that depends on the actions of the Pakistanis. If the Pakistanis are promoting terrorism in India, that becomes very difficult. And, that does happen, he said. The discussion concluded Gandhi's UK tour, which the party described as an overwhelming response to the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. There was unanimous concern over the alarming decline of India's democracy and institutions. Specifically, the raids on the BBC in India have touched a raw nerve in the UK and raised alarm, said Praveen Chakravarty, Chairman Data & Research, All India Congress Committee. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi has demanded an apology from KPCC president D K Shivakumar for trying to mislead the people on the Mangaluru cooker blast by calling it a minor incident. "The terror outfit ISIS itself has claimed responsibility for the cooker blast. Will you (D K Shivakumar) support ISIS or Taliban? Will you tender a public apology?. Two months back, Shivakumar had termed the cooker blast a minor accident and that the BJP was using it to divert public attention," Joshi said addressing a district-level convention of beneficiaries of various central and state programmes. Taking a dig at the appeasement politics of the Congress and its allies, Joshi said, "The Union government is trying to corner Pakistan over its state-sponsored terrorism. We are striving for the inclusion of Pakistan in the grey list. But Congress is creating hurdles in our efforts to isolate Pakistan. Its leader Rahul Gandhi delivers a lecture at Cambridge University against India's interests and now Shivakumar calls a terror act a minor incident," the Union minister charged. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. Medical Properties Trust Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in acquiring and developing healthcare facilities. The company's portfolio comprises properties across the United States and Europe, including acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Since 2003, Medical Properties Trust Inc. has become a leading player in the healthcare real estate industry. The company's strategy is centered on long-term leases with high-quality tenants, providing stable cash flow and reducing the risk associated with occupancy and rental rate volatility. Medical Properties Trust Inc. has a strong track record of growth and profitability. One of the critical drivers of Medical Properties Trust Inc.'s success is its focus on the healthcare industry. With an aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services, the healthcare industry is expected to continue growing in the coming years. As a result, the need for healthcare facilities is likely to increase, which should benefit Medical Properties Trust Inc. Additionally, the company's focus on long-term leases with high-quality tenants provides stability and predictability, which is especially important in the healthcare industry, where occupancy and rental rate volatility can be high. Medical Properties Trust Inc. has an excellent management team with a proven track record of success. Under the company's current leadership, Medical Properties Trust Inc. has grown rapidly and consistently outperformed its peers. The company's management team has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. In 2020, Medical Properties Trust Inc. was recognized as a leader in sustainability performance. Medical Properties Trust Inc. is exposed to general economic conditions, regulatory changes, and competition within the healthcare real estate industry. The company's success is also dependent on the performance of its tenants, which may be affected by factors such as changes in healthcare laws, reimbursement rates, and patient volumes. Additionally, the company's focus on healthcare real estate may limit its ability to diversify its portfolio in the event of a downturn in the healthcare industry. Despite the risks, Medical Properties Trust Inc. has shown resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of healthcare facilities, and the company's portfolio of high-quality properties has continued to generate strong cash flows. Medical Properties Trust Inc. has used the pandemic to acquire additional properties at attractive valuations. Medical Properties Trust Inc. is well-positioned to benefit from several long-term trends in the healthcare industry: The aging population is expected to increase the demand for healthcare services, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The shift towards value-based care drives consolidation in the healthcare industry, likely resulting in increased demand for healthcare facilities. Advances in medical technology are increasing the need for specialized facilities, such as proton therapy and cancer treatment centers. Medical Properties Trust Inc.'s financial position is strong, with a healthy balance sheet and access to capital markets. The company has consistently maintained an investment-grade credit rating and low capital cost, allowing it to finance growth. Additionally, the company has a diversified tenant base, with no single tenant accounting for more than 4% of its annualized base rent. This provides stability and reduces the risk associated with tenant concentration. Policing Board member, Mark H Durkan MLA (SDLP) has condemned the actions of a dissident republican group which has warned that the families of police officers in Northern Ireland are considered targets. It follows threats made by Arm na Poblachta (ANP) in a statement to the Irish News. Mr Durkan said: "This is absolutely reprehensible. The purpose of this chilling threat issued by faceless thugs is to instil fear within our society. The notion that not only police officers will be targeted for simply doing their job but also their family members, is appalling. Sadly, officers families have lived under threat for many years here. I cannot begin to imagine the stress of saying goodbye to your partner every morning as they head to work, worried about the dangers of what their day will entail or if they will return home that evening. These families are already living with anxiety on a daily basis and now have the added stress of also being a target. The impact this will have on people and how they live their lives cannot be underestimated. Its sickening. In the face of threats and attacks people everywhere have stood in solidarity with police officers, now people must stand in solidarity with their families in rejecting this threat. No one should be threatened in their homes, schools, workplaces, playing sports, places of faith, out shopping or anywhere else. That is what this threat means - that was the truth of terror in the past and it has no place in the Ireland of today. 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. Sinn Fein MLA Ciara Ferguson has called on the British government to honour its commitment to replace EU funding in full. The Foyle MLA said: Sinn Fein and other parties are calling for an urgent meeting with the British Secretary of State and the Head of the Civil Service to urge them to do all they can to ensure groups providing vital services to some of our most vulnerable people can continue to do so. "As it stands, groups funded by the European Social Fund face a cliff-edge at the end of March, and jobs and services from which thousands in our communities' benefit will be lost. Community and voluntary workers need an Executive up and running now and without any delay. These groups need immediate support from local departments and we have called for departments to step up and extend the existing funding they provide for a year on a pro-rata basis to provide some space to groups waiting on decisions. The British Governments failure to fully replace lost EU funding is having a damaging impact on vital services. They should fully replace this money." The granddaughter of a German businessman who was killed by the IRA has spoken of the impact of generational trauma on her family almost 50 years on from his death. Tanya Williams-Powells grandfather Thomas Niedermayer, the manager of the Grundig factory in Belfast and the West German honorary consul for Northern Ireland, was kidnapped by the provisional IRA on December 27 1973. His body was not found until seven years later in 1980, when he was discovered in a shallow grave in Colin Glen, Belfast. The shockwaves of grief continued to affect the family for generations following Mr Niedermayers murder. Ms William-Powell said her grandmother Inge Niedermayer was the first of four family members to take their own life in the years following her husbands death. After that unfortunately his wife Inge took her own life, Ms Williams-Powell explained. Subsequent to that their two daughters Renate and my mother Gabrielle both also took their lives, as did my father. Intergenerational trauma is the term used for the observation that trauma experienced directly by one generation can have an impact on the mental health of their children. A study from Queens University on inter-generational trauma flagged that those affected by atrocities during the Troubles have not received sufficient support leading to very poor psychological health, frequent nightmares, anxiety, fear, flashbacks, high suicide rates, and a reluctance to talk about traumatic events for fear of causing distress. Ms Williams-Powell said of her grandfather: But his murder obviously affected Inge and their daughters so profoundly that they never got over it. And I recall seeing Inge when I was young, and all I saw of her was a very small, sad person who hadnt got over what had happened, and it seemed to just weigh her down all the time. Renate and Gabrielle (Gabi) were teenagers at the time of their fathers kidnapping and witnessed him being taken into a car by two men. Renate and Gabi seemed quite estranged as well, possibly, because they were teenagers at the time of his death, Ms Williams-Powell said. The guilt that they felt and they couldnt really talk to each other. That seemed, particularly with my mum, to overshadow her entire life. I think mental health issues particularly back then was even more taboo than it still is now. It was all swept under the carpet. This is to highlight the legacy of victims of the Troubles that it doesnt only affect that one person but it can have a long-lasting detrimental effect to the families who were left behind. The Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy and Reconciliation Bill is currently being discussed in the House of Lords. The Bill seeks to introduce an independent commission that will publish a historical record of all Troubles-related deaths. To achieve this, individuals who agree to co-operate with the new truth recovery body will secure immunity from prosecution. This aspect of the Bill has been condemned by Amnesty International UK for protecting perpetrators if they give an honest account of crimes they committed during the Troubles. In 1981, two men were charged in connection with Mr Niedermayers murder. One man pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming he had killed Mr Niedermayer unintentionally when he tried to escape, and was later sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. In a way were lucky that we did have those criminal trials and people were found guilty, Ms William-Powell said about her familys case. I can understand where theyre coming from with an amnesty in order to get the truth and honest accounts of what has happened. My feelings would be for that of the victims. That truth is all well and good. But where are the consequences? I would say that truth and justice should actually go hand in hand and there must be a better way of getting both of those for the victims and for everyone to be able to move on. But I do think that the perpetrators of violent acts should receive some sort of punishment. Im not sure if the people who will say violence was our only option really understand the effects it has on the family and the friends and the wider community that it involves. Saturday March 11 is European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, with a victims event being held in Stormont on Tuesday to advocate for more support for victims and survivors. European victims day aims to show solidarity with victims of terrorism across the world. Ms Williams-Powell spoke at Stormont on Tuesday about the importance of opening up to alleviate the trauma and grief that can engulf victims of terrorism. I just hope that me attending this European victims event will help other people to realise that youre not alone, that everybodys experiences are different. As someone who has vast experience with familial grief, Ms Williams-Powell offered her advice for those who may be struggling with events of the past. It doesnt have to be everything that you are, and you can actually move on from that and break the cycle of grief and guilt and depression. Learn from it. Educate our youngsters that violence isnt always the right way to go about things. And the way that we teach children now about communication and empathy and understanding is a much better way to get your point of view across, as far as Im concerned. There are people out there who can help. And if me speaking about our situation helps anyone, that makes this trip so worthwhile. The aim of the day is to pay tribute to all European victims and survivors of terrorism, regardless of the extremist ideology that inspired the attack, as well as a show of unity and resilience against terror and violent extremism. Minister of State Burke to visit Madrid Press release The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke, T.D., will visit Madrid on Tuesday, 7 March to meet with his Spanish counterpart, Pascual Ignacio Navarro Rios, Secretary of State for the European Union. While in Madrid, Minister Burke will also meet with Deputy Susana Sumelzo Jordan, Chair of the Spanish Joint Parliamentary Committee on the European Union, and with Irish State Agencies operating in Spain including Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia. A wide range of issues will be discussed during these meetings, including bilateral relations between Spain and Ireland, the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, EU-UK relations, rule of law issues, Ukraine, EU enlargement, engagement with Latin America, energy and climate issues. Speaking in advance of the visit, Minister Burke said: I am delighted to visit Madrid for the first time in my role as Minister for European Affairs and Defence. Ireland enjoys an excellent relationship with Spain, in part, from historical links, as well as cultural affinity. The numbers of Irish citizens resident in Spain, our increasing trade, tourism and education links, and the mutual professional opportunities for citizens of both countries are all very positive. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss key EU issues with my Spanish counterpart, Secretary of State Pascual Ignacio Navarro Rios, ahead of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU later in 2023. We want to continue to grow the friendship between our two countries and to adapt to new opportunities. ENDS Press Office 6 March 2023 Previous Item | Next Item When the opportunity to interview Jaya Jagadish, Country Head and Senior Vice President, Silicon Design Engineering, AMD India, came along, I obviously wasnt going to say no. Shes a tech industry stalwart, and her insights and comments are priceless for not just future women techies but all of us to learn from and ponder over. Edited excerpts of my email interview with AMDs Jaya Jagadish follow below: Can you describe your journey to becoming a tech industry leader? I am from Bangalore, and I did my Bachelor's in Electronics Engineering from BMS College. I moved to the U.S. to do my M.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas. Engineering was a natural career choice mainly because of my love for Math and Science. Back in the day, Engineering and Medicine were the mainstream career choices. I took the former as I always associated engineering with problem-solving and innovation. I was fascinated with the creativity that engineering offered. I joined AMD as a Design Engineer, right after my Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas. AMD works in the niche semiconductor space and very few women take up a career in hardware engineering, but I was passionate about building and designing products. I knew from the start that this was my calling. After a short stint at Mentor Graphics and Analog Devices, I returned to AMD and was part of the founding team that set up the company in India. When I joined AMD in India in 2005, we had very limited talent in the CPU design space. We hired fresh graduates and trained them internally to build the talent pipeline. One of the high points of my career has been building a high-performing engineering team at AMD India - grounds-up. Today, we are a 500+ strong silicon design engineering team. Over the years, this team has successfully executed complex programs that have been crucial in AMDs roadmap. In my current role as Country Head, I am responsible for giving strategic direction to AMDs growth in India and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusive growth among our 6,000+ employees in the region. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced? Since it is less common to have women in leadership positions, it is not always easy to be accepted as a leader. There are times when you have to doubly prove yourself to earn the respect and position of peers. But throughout my career, I have come to learn that the onus of success lies with women employees. As I rose the career ladder, I worked with other leaders who were my peers and learned the art of influencing without authority. Earning the trust of the peer group, bringing various teams together, driving several initiatives with a focus on India and getting executive attention on the region were some of the biggest challenges. After 6+ years in this role, this experience has been the most challenging but also the most satisfying in my career. It taught me several leadership lessons, the most important being how to influence without authority. How have you seen the tech industry evolve? It is the best time to be a part of the technology industry especially, the semiconductor industry. In my 25+ years in the industry, I have seen it evolve from being a chip under the hood to the centre of mainstream conversation. Today almost everyone realises the importance of semiconductors to drive the digitised world. In India, this focus is getting sharper because of the Government of Indias strategic vision to build a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem in the country. What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities for growth in the future? One of the biggest opportunities lies in AI. As AI becomes pervasive across the world, it will drive smart technologies in retail, cities, factories, healthcare etc. You can see its significance even with the recent government announcement to set up centres of excellence for Artificial Intelligence in top educational institutions to 'make AI in India and 'make AI work for India. What steps have you taken to ensure a diverse and inclusive workplace, and what have been some of the outcomes of these efforts in terms of impact? At AMD, we firmly believe that our companys success is strengthened by our employees, having a strong sense of belonging. Diversity connotes statistics and requirements while belonging connotes attachment and connectedness. We believe belonging is what every employee desires in a workplace. Driven by this thinking, we have renamed the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) group at AMD to the Belonging and Inclusion (B&I) team. We have institutionalised mechanisms to reduce unconscious bias in the workplace. We run a Multi-voice initiative to educate our global workforce about the power of multiple voices in the recruitment and promotions process. We are driving efforts to recruit diverse talent and sensitise everyone towards an inclusive culture, where the best ideas win regardless of the individuals gender. What is your approach to mentorship and supporting the development of future women leaders in the Indian tech ecosystem? From my own experience, I know how an empowered woman can positively impact and support another woman. I was personally mentored by my organisations CEO, Dr Lisa Su, a stalwart in the semiconductor industry and one of the most powerful women in business across the globe today. I pass on the light by mentoring women managers through formal and informal sessions within and outside AMD. During these discussions, we touch upon various aspects related to problem-solving, decision-making, people management, work-life balance, career planning, personal goals and so forth. What are some of the biggest myths and stereotypes about women in tech that you've encountered or heard of? I recall, as a young engineering student in the 90s, one of my professors told me that I am wasting a mans seat in the tech industry as I will soon give up my career. I fought this bias, tooth and nail. Another aspect that I have observed is that often women are not as vocal and aggressive when it comes to asking for pay hikes or bringing up concerns about disparities at work. We tend to focus on the task that needs to be accomplished and believe other things will be taken care of. Fortunately, I have not encountered this kind of bias at AMD. The only criterion that we base our pay on is performance. So, building awareness of parity and being open about discussing pay biases at the workplace, will help address this issue at an industry level. What advice would you give to women who aspire to leadership roles in the semiconductor industry, particularly in India? My advice to women is that they should embrace femininity as their core strength. When the going gets tough, lead the way by standing firm on what is right, questioning the status quo and do not shy away from making bold decisions. It is important to recognize that challenges are the biggest opportunities that will help you learn and grow. Never let go of an opportunity for the fear of failure! How do you stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends, and what resources do you rely on? Semi-conductor is an industry driven by innovation. You have to have the foresight to plan ahead and see where the industry is heading based on current trends. So, I stay abreast of developments in the industry by subscribing to online journals, news publications and upgrading my skills through online programs like those offered by Udemy. Another important avenue for me is networking. As country head for AMD, I get to be part of many industry conferences and discussions with stakeholders including academia, industry peers and government bodies. These engagements help get a strong pulse of the industry. Can you discuss any initiatives or projects you have been involved in to give back to the community? In my personal capacity, I am actively involved in doing my part to further STEM studies in schools. I volunteer time at a government school in Bangalore to teach science and maths to students. And at work, I am involved in various CSR work undertaken by AMD to give back to the community. Our focus areas include furthering STEM studies and helping youth find gainful employment. We support computer and science education in government schools by refurbishing school infrastructure, computer centres, science labs as well as rural childcare centres. We host training sessions for teachers, science exhibitions and field visits for students, vocational courses to help youth learn new skills etc. As the world gets more and more advanced on mobile technology, the demand for high-speed, reliable connections has grown exponentially. 5G technology offers just that - faster data speeds, lower latency, and better connectivity. With the rise of 5G, many mobile phone manufacturers have launched new devices that support this technology. Amazon offers a range of 5G phones with crazy deals and discounts. These phones offer advanced features, cutting-edge technology, and are sure to provide a seamless and efficient user experience. Here are five 5G smartphone on Amazon: 1. OnePlus 11R OnePlus 11R was launched at a price of 39,999 and it is available on Amazon at the same price but Amazon has offered some bank offer which are: 5% instant discount up to 150 on Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 300 on ICICI Bank Credit and Debit Cards. 7.5% Instant Discount up to 1,500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 250 on City Union Bank Mastercard Debit Card. 5% Instant Discount up to 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card. Amazon has also offered an exchange offer which can be availed to get a discount up to 18,050. 2. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the top high-end phones around the globe right now and it was launched at a price of 1,49,999. However, Amazon is offering a 17% instant discount on this one which drops the price to 1,24,999. Along with that there are five bank offers available as well: Flat 8000 Instant Discount on HDFC Bank Credit Card. 7.5% Instant Discount up to 1500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 250 on City Union Bank Mastercard Debit Card. 5% Instant Discount up to INR 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card. The exchange offer here comes with a discount up to 32,050. It can be availed by trading your old phone while buying Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. 3. iQOO Neo 7 iQOO Neo 7 is available on Amazon at a price of 29,999. Amazon has offered a 14% discount on this one and it also comes with bank offer as well: Flat 1500 Instant Discount on SBI Credit Card. Flat 1500 Instant Discount on HDFC Bank Card. 7.5% Instant Discount up to 1500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 250 on City Union Bank Mastercard Debit Card. 5% Instant Discount up to 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card. The iQOO Neo 7 can be purchased with more discount by trading in your old phone. The exchange offer on the phone can give you a discount up to 20,050. 4. Realme Narzo 50 Pro The Realme Narzo 50 Pro was launched at a price of 21,999. Now it is available on Amazon at a price of 17,980. Along with that there is an exchange offer worth up to 17,081 and bank offers: 7.5% Instant Discount up to 1500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card. 5% Instant Discount up to 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 250 on City Union Bank Mastercard Debit Card. 5. OnePlus 11 OnePlus 11 is available on Amazon at its original price of 61,999. But Amazon has offered an exchange offer which can be availed to get an additional discount up to 18,050. Amazon has also offered the same bank offer which it offers with OnePlus 11R: 5% instant discount up to 150 on Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 300 on ICICI Bank Credit and Debit Cards. 7.5% Instant Discount up to 1,500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card. 10% Instant Discount up to 250 on City Union Bank Mastercard Debit Card. 5% Instant Discount up to 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. The Government has announced a scoping inquiry to shape its response to allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders. Education Minister Norma Foley made the announcement having secured Cabinet approval for the inquiry. She said it was the first stage of the Governments response to the abuse allegations. The scoping probe will be led by senior counsel Mary OToole. The inquiry will produce a report that will include recommendations to the Government on next steps. The move follows a public apology last year from the Spiritan Congregation to victims of abuse and the announcement of an independent group to engage with survivors at its schools and institutions, including Dublins Blackrock College. The abuse allegations go back as far as the 1970s. In November, then-taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed there would be an inquiry to examine the allegations. Minister Foley said the scoping inquiry would be informed by experts across a range of areas, including child protection and restorative justice. She said its most important element would be engagement with survivors. She said it would factor in analysis of previous abuse inquiries in Ireland including the Ferns Report, the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation. The revelations of abuse in a number of schools are deeply disturbing and heart-breaking, said Ms Foley. I and indeed the whole of Government are very conscious of the enormous trauma which has been endured by all survivors of abuse. It is vitally important that survivors of historical child sexual abuse have the opportunity to be heard in full, and with appropriate respect and sensitivity. I have said that survivors need to know that there will be a serious response from Government. Today, with the support of Government, I am announcing the first stage of this response. Ms Foley said she had met with a number of survivors in preparing to establish the scoping inquiry. I would like to thank Mary OToole for agreeing to oversee this scoping inquiry, to give full consideration to the views of survivors and experts, and to provide me with recommendations as to the next steps required, she said. The views of survivors are integral to this consideration and this scoping inquiry, including survivor engagement process, provides an appropriate way of enabling survivors to give their input, along with the views of experts in areas such as restorative justice and child protection. I commend the courage of those who have come forward, and indeed all of those who have been living with the impact of this abuse for many years. The minister said survivor engagement would be a central part of the inquirys work. The survivor engagement process will be conducted by facilitators trained in trauma-informed practice. An innovative educational programme aimed at preserving traditional building skills needed for protecting our historical built environment has today reopened for applications with Louth craftspeople urged to apply. The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme is a collaboration between The Princes Foundation, The Heritage Council and Department for Communities Historic Environment Division (HED). This year, eight bursaries are available for people already working or studying in heritage skills and the construction sector in particular stonemasonry, carpentry, joinery, bricklaying, blacksmithing, plastering, thatching, roofing, tiling, painting, and decorating and who would like to raise their skills to the next level. The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme is a 12-month course, which provides practical experience and training in a broad range of diverse heritage building skills across the island of Ireland. Participants will also undertake a NVQ3 Diploma in Heritage Skills, assessed through HEDs Heritage Skills Centre in Moira, Co Down. The successful applicants will get the opportunity to hone their skills at a Summer School in Dumfries House Estate in Scotland, Winter School in Kilkenny, and industry placements across the island of Ireland. Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director of Education at the Princes Foundation, said: There is a growing demand to train the next generation of craftspeople who will work within our built environment. This need is both to preserve our existing historic landscape as well as to sensitively create our future heritage assets. Our experience at the Princes Foundation has taught us of the importance of doing so in an interdisciplinary way that provides exposure to other trades, materials and practices and creates a space for knowledge exchange and shared learning. "We are thrilled to be partnering to deliver such an innovative cross border programme and believe that the programme will provide an impactful and inspiring foundation for future leaders in the sector." Iain Greenway, Director of Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities, said: To provide a viable and sustainable skill base for the conservation of historic structures, there needs to be sufficient people with key heritage skills. I am delighted that we are able to play a key role through our Heritage Skills Centre in Moira. The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme has already proven a successful pathway to developing those skills and I would encourage people to consider applying for this years scheme." Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, said: It is timely that as we begin the second year of this important Programme, the Heritage Council has set out priorities for the next five years in our new Strategic Plan. Its a plan that places specific emphasis on the preservation of traditional building skills and the pivotal role that education will play in enabling these skills not just to survive, but to thrive. "Sadly, many vital skills are being lost and the heritage and construction sectors are experiencing the impact of that loss. The continuation and development of the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme is a key element of addressing this problem and we look forward to deeper collaboration with our partners in The Princes Foundation and Historic Environment Division. For more information on the application process, criteria, dates, funding go to Education - All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme (princes-foundation.org) or contact programme co-ordinator Hugh Kavanagh via email: Hugh.Kavanagh@princes- foundation.org The Department of Education has confirmed that as of 31 January, 437 Ukrainian pupils are enrolled in schools across Louth. Out of that figure, 258 of these pupils are attending primary schools while 179 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. The figure represents a slight increase on the 430 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in schools across Louth at the beginning of February. Nationally, Just under 15,000 students from Ukraine have been enrolled in Irish schools up to the start of this month. The Department of Education has confirmed that as of 1 March, 14,931 Ukrainian pupils have been enrolled in schools across Ireland. Out of that figure, 9,650 of these pupils have been accommodated in primary schools while 5,281 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. Current data indicates an enrolment rate of 91% among Ukrainian children aged 5-18. To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate, hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. Hopes are rising in Cooley that US President Joe Biden might pay a visit to north Louth during a trip to Ireland that is reportedly set to happen next month. Councillor Andrea McKevitt, who is a distant relative of President Biden, told the Dundalk Democrat that reports that plans are underway for a visit have caused a lot of stir both in the Cooley Peninsula and among Cllr McKevitt's family. The speculation about the prospect of President Bidens visit next month has obviously caused a lot of stir in the Cooley Peninsula and no more so than with my family, who all look forward with great anticipation to welcoming Joe back to Whitestown Shores, said the local councillor. It is understood that President Biden is planning to visit Ireland for a number of days, according to reports by both the Irish Examiner and the Irish Mirror, with the Irish Mirror reporting that a six day trip is planned at the end of April, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). The Irish Examiner reports that members of the US Secret Service are already in the country and are liaising with An Garda Siochana in preparation of the visit. Cllr McKevitt told the Dundalk Democrat that the POTUSs visit is planned to mark the 25 years of the GFA and what better place to stop off than County Louth to mark this celebration, a border county where his ancestors originated from, so I am hopeful a stop in Louth will be included in his trip. Cousin Joe has been a wonderful friend to Ireland and a firm backer of the GFA. Bidens great-grandfather, James Finnegan, emigrated from County Louth as a child in 1850. All eight of his great-great-grandparents on his mothers side were born in Ireland during the first half of the 19th century. On his fathers side, two great-grandparents were also born in Ireland. President Biden last trip to Ireland was as Vice President in 2016, during which he visited north Louth. During the visit, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council at the time, Cllr Paul Bell, presented the Mr Biden with the Honorary Freedom of the County and a replica of the Brown Bull of Cooley made by local craftsman Joe Lawler. Hopes that the US President might return to the Cooley Peninsula have certanly raised the moods of people in the area. Cllr McKevitt said, from a family perspective the talk of the visit has created a real sense of euphoria, it would be truly wonderful for the Peninsula and the County to host a visit from Cousin Joe. Louth based Senator Erin McGreehan, says she will continue to support the Irish sheep sector, and has called for Sheep Welfare Scheme payments to be increased by a minimum of 30 per sheep. Senator McGreehan joined the recent Save our Sheep Sector (SOS) protest with the IFA, and says that over the past number of years, she has raised issues including what she calls "the inequity in the sheep welfare scheme", "the constant delay in the establishment of the Wool Council", and "the necessity of enforcement and enhancement of the Dog Control legislation". Commenting on raising the Sheep Welfare Scheme at a Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party meeting, Senator McGreehan said, I raised the issue to put further pressure on my colleagues at cabinet. I mentioned that I continuously raise the matter, and that I was sick of the sheep sector being the poor cousin of the agri industry. The Cooley senator who is from a farming background, said that, "in 2022 we exported sheep meat to 35 different countries, 476 million worth of sheep to factories. Yet the net returns for sheep farmers fell by 81%. Costs of production are going up and margins are clearly reducing." She continued, "we really need to improve the Sheep Welfare Scheme. I raised a Commencement matter with the Minister a couple of months ago on increasing the sheep welfare scheme payments. It is only 12 per sheep and needs to be increased by a minimum of 30. With regards the establishment of the Wool Council, Senator McGreehan said that we need to be able to ensure that their wool, which is a sustainable product, has a market that and that it is being sold, and utilised for its potential." The senator added, "We also need to protect sheep from dogs. We have an absolutely lackadaisical approach to looking after sheep in relation to sheep kills. "We really need to move on that very quickly. We have 35,000 sheep farming families in the country and it is about time that both of these Houses started to stand up and listen to the sheep sector. It has been ignored for too long. Our website uses cookies We are always working to improve this website for our users. To do this, we use the anonymous data provided by cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A month and a day after a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio forcing evacuations as it spewed toxic chemicals into the surrounding community another train from the same company derailed in the same state. The derailment, which took place Saturday, March 4 at around 4:45 p.m. local time near Springfield, Ohio, in the states Clark County, did not release any dangerous chemicals, as company and state officials were quick to reassure residents. But it did raise concerns about the safety of Norfolk Southerns operations. The railroads got a lot of questions theyve got to answer and they really havent really done it very well yet, Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown said on This Week, as The New York Times reported. Sandusky, Steubenville, East Palestine, and now Springfieldall in the last five months. This is unacceptable. Its why we must pass my bipartisan Rail Safety Act now. Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) March 5, 2023 Saturdays derailment saw 28 of 212 cars derail en route from Bellevue, Ohio, to Birmingham, Alabama. The overturned cars slid along the tracks and knocked over power lines, which shut off power to 1,500 Clark County residents, as NPR reported. The four or five homes within 1,000 feet of the crash were asked to shelter in place for 10 hours after the incident as a precaution. For residents, the incident brought up fears of a repeat of what had happened in East Palestine on Feb. 3, where hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxins including vinyl chloride were released from the crash site. Some people there are still complaining of suspicious odors and rashes. Removing contaminated soil from the area could take up to two months, as CNN reported. The thought of another East Palestine shook Shawn Heaton as he witnessed Saturdays derailment firsthand while waiting in his car at a rail crossing. Once I got back home, the first thing I did was get on my phone and check wind direction and all that stuff to make sure we were upwind, Heaton told The New York Times. Its just crazy, the things that can go through your mind. However, in this case, it seems that history did not repeat. NO hazmat involved. NO injuries reported. Our crews and contractors are responding. Authorities are helping with impacted crossing closures, Norfolk Southern spokesperson Connor Spielmaker said on Twitter. There is NO risk to the public. NS train derailment Springfield, OH Approx 20 cars (of 212). NO hazmat involved. NO injuries reported. Our crews and contractors are responding. Authorities are helping with impacted crossing closures. There is NO risk to the public. Connor Spielmaker (@connaspiel) March 5, 2023 State agencies also said the area was safe after testing. There was no release of any chemical or any hazardous material to the soil, to the air, to the water, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Anne Vogel said Sunday, as CNN reported. Four tanks that derailed had previously been carrying diesel exhaust fluid and a wastewater treatment additive, but were empty at the time of the crash and only contained very minor amounts, Springfield Fire Assistant Chief Matt Smith said. Another car was carrying PVC pellets that did impact the surrounding soil. Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said that the Ohio EPA and other technicians had tested the area and would keep monitoring it. Technicians will continue to be on site to ensure that there isnt any contamination that has been missed, he said. The cause of Saturdays incident is unknown, and the National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate. However, the back-to-back crashes have ignited a bipartisan call for action on rail safety. The fact that were having derailment after derailment shows really the lack of investment, the disinvestment, in our infrastructure, and that needs to change, Representative Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio), whose district includes Saturdays crash site, said Sunday, as The Washington Post reported. Brown and Ohios Republican Senator J.D. Vance worked together to introduce the Railway Safety Act of 2023 on March 1. It would, among other measures, require companies like Norfolk Southern to inform states of what toxic freight is passing through. It has been praised by both Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and President Joe Biden, who, while both Democrats, have clashed on environmental and regulatory policies. I applaud the bipartisan group of senators for proposing rail safety legislation that provides many of the solutions that my administration has been calling for, Biden said in a statement Thursday. This legislation provides us with tools to hold companies accountable to prevent terrible tragedies like the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine and to make those communities whole. Gigi Sohn, President Biden's pick to serve as the critical fifth vote on the Federal Communications Commission, is withdrawing from her nomination to the telecom regulator. On Tuesday, Sohn said she recently asked President Biden to appoint someone else to the FCC. The Biden administration originally announced Sohn's nomination in October 2021, only for her to go on to face intense resistance from Republicans and moderate Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Sohn's failure to win her confirmation is a major setback for the Biden administration and its bid to reshape US internet policy after a wave of deregulation under former President Donald Trump. The regulator has been mired in a two-to-two deadlock since the departure of former Chairman Ajit Pai, preventing current Chair Jessica Rosenworcel from moving forward on a host of policy issues, including the restoration of Obama-era net neutrality protections. "Unfortunately, the American people are the real losers here," Sohn said in a statement. "The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time. As someone who has advocated for my entire career for affordable, accessible broadband for every American, it is ironic that the 2-2 FCC will remain sidelined at the most consequential opportunity for broadband in our lifetimes." During her confirmation hearings, Republicans cast Sohn as an extreme partisan. She also faced resistance from industry players, including organizations like the Directors Guild of America. Conservative groups spent large sums of money campaigning against her confirmation. One organization, the Center for a Free Economy, spent $200,000 on Facebook ads opposing the nomination. Sohn pointed to those campaigns in explaining her decision. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. "When I accepted his nomination over sixteen months ago, I could not have imagined that legions of cable and media industry lobbyists, their bought-and-paid-for surrogates, and dark money political groups with bottomless pockets would distort my over 30-year history as a consumer advocate into an absurd caricature of blatant lies," she said. It's possible Democrats could have advanced Sohn to the FCC despite opposition, but the likelihood of that happening significantly diminished after Senator Joe Manchin came out against her nomination. Especially now, the FCC must remain above the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick and tired of, and Ms. Sohn has clearly shown she is not the person to do that, he said in a recent statement. Per The Washington Post, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that, as of Tuesday, the Biden administration did not have news to share on a new nominee. Internacional Una nueva filtracion del Pentagono advierte de la debilidad de las defensas antiaereas de Taiwan ante China (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) LONDON, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global cloud enterprise software provider, announces the appointment of Matthias Heiden as its new Chief Financial Officer. After a four-year tenure, current CFO Constance Minc will move to the IGT Group level as Chief Financial Officer IGT1, the holding entity of IFS and WorkWave. The appointments of Heiden and Minc follow the 5th consecutive year of double-digit growth at IFS and will come into effect from April 1st 2023. Heiden brings a strong financial pedigree to IFS with a Ph.D. from Universitat des Saarlandes. He joins IFS from Software AG where in his role of CFO and Executive Director he played a fundamental role in driving the company's transformation and successfully led its shift to a subscription-based business model. Prior to Software AG, Heiden's positions included Group CFO at SAF-HOLLAND SE and Regional CFO and Managing Director at SAP. IFS Chief Executive Officer Darren Roos commented: "Over the last five years, IFS has experienced phenomenal growth and as we continue our trajectory, I am pleased to welcome Matthias to the organization as Chief Financial Officer." Roos Continued, "Matthias' proven track record in the technology space will provide the financial leadership that will help us accelerate towards our goals. Matthias will report to me from his base in Germany and I look forward to him playing an integral role in shaping our investments and business strategies." Roos concluded, "In her new executive role at the IGT Group level, Constance will lead financial strategies across both IFS and WorkWave with the goal to protect and optimize shareholder interests." Commenting on his new appointment at IFS, Matthias Heiden said, "I am excited to have joined IFS, especially at such an important time of growth. As Constance and I work together over the next few weeks, I look forward to getting to know IFS's business better and I am committed to continue building on the outstanding foundation that has been established. I am confident that my experience and leadership will help elevate further the financial team's contribution to IFS." About IFS IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers at the Moment of Service. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our global team of over 5,500 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support thousands of customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com. IFS Press Contacts: EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive CommunicationsEmail: press@ifs.comPhone: +44 7775 114 856 NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive CommunicationsEmail: press@ifs.comPhone: +1 520 396 2155 The following files are available for download: View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ifs-appoints-matthias-heiden-as-chief-financial-officer-301764591.html Traffic is down to one lane on Highway 22 in New Sit For more than one year before the U.S. Forest Service announced a controversial proposal to expand operations at Holland Lake Lodge, it was working hand in hand with POWDR, an adventure life company that aims to take full ownership of the resort on public land. POWDR drafted at least one letter of support the Forest Service signed, and in advance of the first public meeting about the expansion, provided the agency talking points and direction on designing presentation boards about the private companys proposal. The Forest Service characterized the collaborative work as business as usual with its partners it said they must work hand in hand. However, Save Holland Lake, a group that formed to fight the expansion, said public records raise questions about whether the agency is working on behalf of the public or the private company. Last week, Save Holland Lake released a report of public records it reviewed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Its report includes emails that show the Flathead National Forest worked in tandem with POWDR, based in Utah, in advance of announcing the resort expansion to the public in September 2022. It also noted Holland Lake Lodge paid the Forest Service nearly $47,000 to review the project as part of a cost sharing agreement for administrative work, but the agency returned the money in its initial rejection of the project. In the rejection letter, the Forest Service advised the lodge to correct its proposal to move forward. However, from the start, Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele showed enthusiasm for the expansion, records show. In an email in February 2021, Steele told the deputy regional forester in Missoula about the exciting potential from an interested buyer for purchasing and expanding the lodge. If this works out, this could be one of, if not the primer (sic) place in the region, said the email quoted in the report. I am biased of course. Figured I would share. Nothing is official yet, but its a pretty cool idea that would be a great addition to our forest in providing an expanded opportunity for the public. Worth a quick glance. Holland Lake Lodge operates on 10.53 acres of public land in the Swan Valley with a special use permit issued by the Forest Service. In an email to the Daily Montanan, the Forest Service said it makes sense for the agency to work with its special use permit holders, along with guides and outfitters. This work is collaborative in nature, and in this instance, the Forest Supervisor and District Ranger provide direction for Forest Service employees, said Beth Pargman, recreation program manager. We do work in collaboration with our partners on all kinds of matters. The report from Save Holland Lake questioned the relationship between the Flathead National Forest and POWDR in direct contrast to the disdain it said the agency showed members of the public. For example, after roughly 18 months working with POWDR, the Forest Service opened comment on the proposal for just three weeks initially; it extended the comment deadline from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 only after people said they needed more time. Also, members of the public have had to wait to receive Forest Service documents, but records reviewed by Save Holland Lake show POWDR had ample access to information and to top employees at the agency, the report said. Its just incredible how friendly and accommodating certain Forest Service staff are to POWDR, and refer to them for direction on the project, said Cheri Thornton, of Helena, in the Save Holland Lake report. I thought the Forest Service worked for us, not billion-dollar corporations. Holland Lake Lodge sits on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in the Swan Valley. The area is home to grizzly bears, lynx and loons, and the lake is home to bull trout. The resort operates on public land with the Forest Service permit, which identifies the lodge as the holder and Christian Wohlfeil as lodge owner. Last fall, Wohlfeil said he wanted to sell the lodge to POWDR because he appreciated its ethic of sustainability. He also said POWDR has the resources to properly renovate the property, which is in need of repair. Public records reviewed earlier by a couple of lawyers based in Hamilton show Wohlfeil already had transferred control of the resort to POWDR before the project was announced to the public. In October 2021, an email from POWDR to the Forest Service said the first phase of closing had taken place and the private company was in control of the lodge. However, POWDR is not listed as the permit holder, and the permit itself states that any change in control terminates the permit. Early on, however, the Forest Service welcomed the idea of the private companys expansion. In March 2021, POWDRs Brian Stewart sent the Forest Service a draft letter that expressed the agencys support for all efforts to rehabilitate facilities, enhance and expand public access to outdoor recreation and lodging if they met the terms of an agency permit. The Flathead National Forest made slight changes to the letter and reproduced it on agency letterhead. Swan Lake District Ranger Christopher Dowling signed it. A year and a half later, in September 2022, the Forest Service announced the idea for the expansion to the public. In preparation for the public meeting, POWDR provided the agency with talking points. (For example, POWDRs founder has a passion for the mountains, and POWDR is a company with soul.) Before that same meeting, the Forest Service worked with POWDR and the lodge to create boards that illustrated the expansion plan, and following feedback from Stewart, agreed to include an existing condition board. The information the Forest Service and POWDR presented to the public incorrectly noted the current permitted acreage at 15 acres nearly 50% more than the permit itself allowed and an error identified by the public. In the Save Holland Lake report, Jim Morrison of Missoula said evidence shows the Flathead National Forest was working with POWDR, not independently. (The report said a Forest Service recreation program manager had taken an independent stance on the proposal, but leaders did not.) The Flathead National Forest has persistently and unreasonably withheld from the public information about POWDRs proposed massive expansion of Holland Lake Lodge while collaborating extensively with POWDR, its contractors and others, Morrison said in the report. Has the Forest Service abandoned its motto: Caring for the Land, and Serving People? But the Flathead National Forests Pargman said the agency works with its partners to provide information for a potential sale, reconfiguration of business, or potential improvements to what is currently permitted. This would be the same courtesy given to all our permit holders, Pargman said in the email. Pargman also said it is not uncommon for an outside partner to write the first draft of a letter of support if theyve requested it. However, she said the Forest Service needs to agree with the content prior to signing it. It is then reviewed and changed if needed before being finalized. This is a common practice in many agencies/businesses, Pargman said. Pargman said once scoping and public meetings begin, the Forest Service is working hand in hand with the proponent on materials and public talking points. It is our job to take the public information and subsequent environmental analysis and determine if the project will be approved as proposed, modified, or denied based on what we believe is in the best interest of the American public, she wrote. The lodge currently lists nightly rates from $310 to $395 with meals. Wohlfeil has said the expansion rates are estimated to be $200 to $450 a night, with the higher rate accommodating four to six people in a cabin, but no meals. The report said if the Flathead National Forest approves the lodge expansion, it will preclude any near-term upgrades to the campgrounds, which cost $20 a night for a single site by comparison. The report said the Flathead Forest Plan limits increases in capacity of overnight developed recreation sites to one project every decade in each Bear Management Unit. The report also said the Forest Service collected checks totaling nearly $47,000 that covered a period from May through December 2022 but it then returned the money to Holland Lake Lodge and apparently didnt bill anything prior to that period. The key point is that U.S. taxpayers paid for all work related to the proposed expansion of HLL (aka POWDRs real estate transaction with Wohlfeil) conducted by FS employees from December 2020 to today, the report said. In an email, the Forest Service said the agreement doesnt cover pre-application review, including early discussion with the proponent, or early screening. It said cost recovery applies to proposals formally accepted as applicants. The proposed use (expansion) was not formally accepted, as well as mistakes and other inaccuracies were made on both sides, so under advisement of our legal counsel and specialists, we felt it was not appropriate to charge HLL for the cost recovery at this time, Pargman wrote. In November, after public outcry over inaccuracies in the application and the agencys initial decision to skip a thorough environmental review, the Forest Service rejected the expansion. The agency said it would consider a revised proposal and has since committed to conducting at least an environmental assessment if not a deeper analysis. Last week, the Forest Service said Holland and POWDR had not turned in a new application, but POWDR has said it intends to resubmit a similar project. China urges Japan not to arbitrarily discharge nuclear-contaminated water Xinhua) 13:55, March 07, 2023 VIENNA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese officials on Monday urged Japan not to arbitrarily start discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the Pacific Ocean. Liu Jing, deputy director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors that Japan's nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but concerns the global marine environment and public health. Liu said the IAEA has neither completed its assessment of Japan's disposal plan nor drawn specific conclusions, and all its three reports published so far pointed out the plan's non-compliance with the agency's safety standards and suggested improvement. However, Japan has arbitrarily approved its own plan and expedited the construction of discharge facilities, ignoring the authoritative advice from the IAEA and the opposition from both home and abroad, Liu said, calling Japan's move "an extremely irresponsible act that has drawn grave concerns from the international community and relevant countries." Noting that China supports the IAEA's work on Japan's discharge plan, the Chinese nuclear official said he hopes the agency will continue to perform its duties in an objective and impartial manner, listen to the opinions of stakeholders, strictly implement the agency's safety standards and international good practices, and help the international community ensure absolute safety. Liu stressed that Japan's plan to dump contaminated water into the ocean is not the only feasible way of disposal, and Japan should not use the assessment from the IAEA technical task force as a free pass on its discharge plan. He urged Japan not to distort the reports of the IAEA task force to justify its discharge plan, nor ignore the authoritative suggestion from the task force, nor set a deadline for the release of the task force's final assessment report. Noting that the disposal of the contaminated water will span a long time and involve many uncertainties, he said that Japan should allow effective international supervision on the water disposal, address the legitimate concerns of its neighbors and Pacific island countries, and hold meaningful consultations with stakeholders. Li Song, China's permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna, also decried Japan's "extremely irresponsible act" of pushing ahead with its discharge plan despite international opposition. Li urged Japan to respond to the concerns of the international community and refrain from arbitrarily discharging contaminated water into the ocean. Such water disposal is a highly controversial issue that needs to be seriously and prudently addressed by the international community and IAEA member states, the Chinese envoy said. Instead of endorsing Japan's discharge plan, the IAEA should maintain its scientific, impartial and transparent approach and lead the establishment of a long-term international monitoring system that involves laboratories and experts from China and other stakeholders, he said. China will participate in the relevant work of the IAEA with a strong sense of responsibility, Li said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The number of living BVD positive animals in Northern Ireland is at its lowest since an industry eradication programme began in 2016, figures show. Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) has released the figures, highlighting that the livestock industry is moving in the right direction. Currently, only a small number of BVD positives are being retained on-farm for more than four weeks. The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said farmers should be 'commended for their efforts' in reducing bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). A highly contagious disease, BVD is one of the most common and costly affecting cattle in Europe. Infection can result in a wide range of clinical signs including, reproductive problems, including failure to conceive, abortion and birth defects. UFU deputy president, John McLenaghan said the figures from AHWNI were "testament to the ongoing focus that farmers and industry stakeholders are putting on eradicating BVD in NI". "The vast majority of affected farmers are making responsible decisions to cull persistently infected animals promptly which reduces the risk of spreading BVD, helping us move closer to eradicating the disease." He added: The UFU are fully supportive of all measures that will help us in our efforts as we work towards eradicating BVD as quickly and effectively as possible. "This includes DAERAs consultation proposal of herd restrictions for herd owners who are not fully engaged in the testing regime or in dealing with infection in their herds." Mr McLenaghan said the UFU was aware that further steps in addition to herd restrictions were 'essential' to achieve eradication in the near future. "The UFU has been a key stakeholder in lobbying DAERA for additional measures to drive BVD eradication in NI. "We are now at a critical time as we eagerly await the publication of consultation responses. The government must use the upcoming spring budget to implement the Rock Review's taxation recommendations on agricultural tenancies, the tenanted sector has said. Many of the 74 recommendations made within the Rock Review, delivered to the government in October, relate to the fiscal environment within which agricultural tenancies operate. The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said it was 'vital' that the Treasury acted on the recommendations in the upcoming spring budget, taking place on 15 March. The body said the need to change the taxation environment within which landlords let land was 'now urgent'. Over half the land in the tenanted sector of agriculture in England and Wales now falls under Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs), with that proportion due to accelerate over the next 10 to 15 years. With the average length of term on these agreements just three years and with nearly 90% of those tenancies let for five years or less, the TFA warned that they provided "no incentive for investment". "The need to change the taxation environment within which landlords let land is now urgent," said TFA chief executive, George Dunn. We must move the dial to encourage longer term lettings and there is broad agreement that the most effective way of achieving that is through changing the way in which landlords are taxed particularly on Inheritance Tax. "Currently, there is little, if any, return to the public interest from the huge benefit given to landlords through Inheritance Tax Agricultural Property Relief. "It must be re-geared to benefit those willing to offer more reasonable levels of security of tenure, explained Mr Dunn. In addition, landlords letting for 10 years or more could be given new reliefs through the income tax system similar to those which have been operating in the Republic of Ireland, he said. "A combination of carrot and stick will be a powerful force for good in driving longer-term tenancies and protecting the long-term security of the let sector of agriculture whilst operating at least fiscally neutrally, said Mr Dunn. Arable farmers across the UK will grow an estimated 7,000 tonnes of 'regenerative barley' for the Carlsberg Group this year. The announcement by the multinational brewing firm is part of its transition toward 100% regenerative barley in the UK by the year 2031. The Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company (CMBC) and the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) have announced they have contracted 23 farmers to help reach the goal. CMBC, which was formed out of a joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston's Plc in 2020, has committed to 100% regenerative barley for Carlsberg Danish Pilsner by 2027, and for all UK brands by 2031. Partnering with agriculture consultancy Ceres Rural, a regenerative protocol has been developed while considering the specific requirements for UK farmers. Alice Andrew, associate partner at Ceres Rural said: Agricultural systems vary hugely across the world due to climate, soil type, crops grown, scale and technology therefore adapting the approach across markets is essential to success. "Government and industry support for farmers will help scale these practices from expert advice and facilitating peer-topeer learning to gather local data to give more farmers confidence to adapt new practices. Jonathan Lane, managing director UK at ADM added: We work with farmers... to expand regenerative agriculture as part of our collective endeavour to reduce carbon and make our food system more sustainable. "We have years of experience of supporting farmers in their transition to regenerative agriculture and understand the importance of creating value for participants across the value chains in which we operate. The Carlsberg Group has also announced similar regenerative targets for France and Finland. In France, 45 farmers are supplying traceable 'responsible barley', and the 1664 brand has committed to use this for 100% of the barley in its Blonde brews by 2026. Japan is proving to be an important market for the British red meat sector as pork exports surged last year, HMRC figures show. According to the latest data, between January and November last year, shipments were worth almost 5.1 million, up 54 percent. Around 1,420 tonnes of pig meat was shipped to Japan, rising from 1,330 tonnes on the same period last year. With a population of 125 million, Japan is the 11th-biggest country in the world and the third-biggest economy. But due to insufficient agricultural land, it relies on imports for around 60% of the food it consumes. The value of the UKs red meat exports reached its highest levels since records began in 2022. Japan opened its doors to imports of UK beef in January 2019 following its 1996 bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) ban. AHDB Head of Asia Pacific, Jonathan Eckley, said Japan was a growing market for UK pork exports. "These are steadily rising each year as demand for high-quality meat continues to grow," he explained. "We are keen to maximise on the opportunities that Japan offers and help our exporters grow their business." It comes as one of Asias largest food and drinks exhibitions, Foodex Japan, returned on Tuesday (7 March). The four-day show in Tokyo is expected to attract around 3,000 exhibitors and thousands of buyers from across Japan. Joined by six exporters, AHDB will showcase pork from the UK, alongside beef and lamb, at the event. Mr Eckley said Foodex was one of the most important events in the levy board's export trade show calendar. "This year marks the first time in three years that our team will be able to attend in person following the pandemic. "We are excited to be able to reconnect with potential buyers in this important market." Filmfare has had a long-standing association with the Bengali film industry, and we are proud to have recognized cinematic brilliance and exceptional talent through our Awards ceremony. The Bangla film industry is continuing to make waves by foraying into newer genres and exploring fresh formats of storytelling to engage audiences. It is an exciting time for Bengali cinema. On Monday, Mr Jitesh Pillaai, Editor of Filmfare, Mr Sunil Agarwal, Chairman of Joy Personal Care, Ms Poulomi Roy, CMO of Joy Personal Care and actor Ankush Hazra got together to announce the nominees of the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2022 and reveal the highlights through a virtual press conference. Mr. Jitesh Pillaai, Editor of Filmfare, shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming ceremony, stating, The Filmfare Awards Bangla have consistently served as a platform to recognize and honour the exceptional talents of the Bengali film industry. We are excited to celebrate some of the most captivating and unforgettable performances of the year as we prepare for the sixth edition of the awards. The Black Lady represents excellence, and we are proud to continue the tradition of acknowledging the remarkable work of the Bengali film fraternity. Fans of Bengali cinema can look forward to a dazzling celebration of cinematic brilliance. Mr. Jitesh Pillaai, Editor of Filmfare, shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming ceremony, stating, The Filmfare Awards Bangla have consistently served as a platform to recognize and honour the exceptional talents of the Bengali film industry. We are excited to celebrate some of the most captivating and unforgettable performances of the year as we prepare for the sixth edition of the awards. The Black Lady represents excellence, and we are proud to continue the tradition of acknowledging the remarkable work of the Bengali film fraternity. Fans of Bengali cinema can look forward to a dazzling celebration of cinematic brilliance. On Monday, Mr Jitesh Pillaai, Editor of Filmfare, Mr Sunil Agarwal, Chairman of Joy Personal Care, Ms Poulomi Roy, CMO of Joy Personal Care and actor Ankush Hazra got together to announce the nominees of the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2022 and reveal the highlights through a virtual press conference. Mr. Sunil Agarwal, Chairman of Joy Personal Care said, I am glad that Joy Personal Care is associating with Filmfare for the 3rd consecutive year, a platform of great honour that recognizes and acknowledges creative minds and the rich heritage of the Bengali Film industry. Ms. Poulomi Roy, CMO of Joy Personal Care, had this to say, Filmfare is one of the most coveted events in the country and we are thrilled about this association where arts and commerce come together to create a synergy of this kind. The amalgamation of Joy with a platform like Filmfare Awards gives us the leverage and bandwidth to take our brand to the next level. It has been a great journey for us, and we hope it only gets better. Actor Ankush Hazra elaborated, It is a moment of honour and prestige for me to be a part of the Filmfare Awards. My early memories from watching superstars like Hrithik Roshan creating magic on this stage and now being an equal part of it is like a dream come true. I am thrilled and look forward to hosting the show and delivering a night of grandeur and unforgettable experience for the audience. The legacy of the Black Lady will continue to live on in Bangla and I hope to do every bit of justice to match its glory. This edition will be hosted by the talented trio of Ankush Hazra, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Srabanti Chatterjee. There will be spectacular performances by Nusrat Jahan, Monami Ghosh, Sanjana Banerjee, and Darsana Banik. Ankush Hazra will also perform solo. Biswanath Basu and Ambarish Bhattacharya too will regale the audience with their comedy skit. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will not be doing business with Walgreens over its decision not to dispense an abortion pill 'Mifepristone'. 'California won't be doing business with @walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk,' Newsom Tweeted on Monday, following the company's decision last week. Walgreens reportedly said last week that it will not distribute the abortion medication in 20 states where the pills remain legal amid a shifting landscape after a number of state officials threatened legal action. Meanwhile, Walgreens clarified on Monday that it plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so. Once it is certified by the FDA, it will dispense the medication consistent with federal and state laws, Walgreens said in a statement. Copyright(c) 2023 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 6, 2023) - Facility Vitals, a prominent provider of facility management solutions, has announced the release of its innovative software solution on March 21st, 2023, which promises to revolutionize the way facility managers handle their operations. The company's new software is designed to simplify facility management, providing facility managers with the tools they need to manage their facilities more efficiently and effectively. Facility Vitals software offers an array of features and benefits that are unparalleled by other facility management solutions currently available in the market. The software includes easily identifiable asset labels with QR codes, allowing facility managers to track and manage their assets with ease. Customers and staff can report issues quickly and easily using the software's intuitive interface, which is available on both mobile and web applications, without the need for any additional software. Issue tracking capabilities are also available on both platforms, ensuring that issues are resolved promptly and efficiently. Photo: Facility Vitals App To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9574/157437_761c960b94cc7a52_001full.jpg "We're excited to launch Facility Vitals software and help facility managers streamline their operations," said Skye Kaiss, VP of Business Development for Facility Vitals. "Our software's unique features and benefits, including our 5-minute guarantee, make it easy for frontline staff to learn and start using the platform quickly, enabling facility managers to focus on what's important: providing a safe and comfortable environment for their users." Facility Vitals has been a prominent player in the facility management industry for many years, and its new software solution is expected to set a new standard in the industry. The company has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality solutions that are tailored to the needs of its customers. The company's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement has helped it stay ahead of its competitors and maintain its position as a leader in the industry. About Facility Vitals Facility Vitals software provides preventative maintenance and facility inspections and upkeep capabilities, helping facility managers to stay ahead of potential issues and keep their facilities in top condition. The software's easy-to-read reporting capabilities provide facility managers with actionable insights into their facilities' performance, allowing them to make quick decisions that improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. Facility Vitals is committed to providing its customers with the best possible facility management solutions. Its new software solution is a testament to the company's dedication to innovation and improving the facility management industry. The company has an impressive track record of delivering innovative solutions that improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the user experience. Facility Vitals' software is designed to be user-friendly and easy to learn, with a 5-minute guarantee to ensure that frontline staff can start using the platform quickly. The software's intuitive interface is available on both mobile and web applications, making it accessible from anywhere at any time. The software also includes issue tracking capabilities on both platforms, ensuring that issues are resolved promptly and efficiently. For more information, please visit www.facilityvitals.com. Media Contact: Skye Kaiss VP of Business Development Facility Vitals #250 - 997 Seymour St. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 3M1 Email: info@facilityvitals.com Phone: 1-866-335-8270 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157437 Manhattan, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2023) - The east coast based fertility clinic Rejuvenating Fertility Center (RFC) has announced new treatment options for menopausal women hoping to achieve pregnancy. There are options available at the clinic's 5 locations and via remote services for patients who are experiencing early menopause, or even menopause at a later age. One of the treatments now offered by RFC is ovarian rejuvenation via platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a medical treatment that involves using a patient's own blood, which is processed to concentrate the platelets and growth factors. PRP therapy has been used in a variety of medical fields, including orthopedics, dentistry, and dermatology, to treat a range of conditions, including joint pain, hair loss, tendonitis, and skin aging. PRP therapy works by providing a concentrated source of growth factors and other healing agents directly to the site of injury or tissue damage. This can help to speed up the healing process, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration. For fertility, PRP can re-awaken dormant cells and eggs inside the ovaries, allowing even menopausal women to become pregnant. PRP therapy, along with hormones, is being studied more thoroughly and the results are promising. Another novel treatment offered by the alternative clinic is ozone sauna therapy (OST). OST is a technique that harnesses the properties of ozone (O3) to enhance the body's ability to absorb and utilize oxygen. RFC offers this therapy to promote physiological benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory for older women. For women who are trying to conceive, ozone therapy may provide numerous fertility-enhancing benefits. Ozone sauna therapy is considered to be a valuable complementary holistic treatment for women attempting pregnancy later in life, particularly those over the age of 35. RFC's founder and medical director, Dr. Zaher Merhi, points out that even postmenopausal women still carry an average of 1,000 dormant eggs within their ovaries. "Our primary goal is to help our patients to become pregnant with their own eggs," says Dr. Merhi. "Previously, a woman experiencing menopause or early menopause only had the option of accepting donor eggs via traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, we're now seeing breakthrough studies with PRP therapy." Along with his team at RFC, Dr. Merhi is actively researching the latest technological breakthroughs in fertility, such as stem cell ovarian rejuvenation, which involves injecting human stem cells, which can be obtained from bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue, directly into the ovaries. This approach is similar to PRP therapy, except that it utilizes stem cells rather than the patient's platelets and plasma. Stem cells are undifferentiated or unspecialized cells that have the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types with specific functions, including ovarian cells and potentially newer eggs. RFC recently launched its proprietary and patented at-home IVF kit, Aphrodite. This kit enables patients, especially those with very low ovarian reserve, who are facing infertility challenges to increase the number of ovarian follicles (i.e., more eggs released) from the comfort of their own home prior to intercourse or IVF. Follicles are small sacs within the ovaries that secrete hormones and each one has the potential to release a single egg that can be fertilized. "We are committed to pursuing every possible avenue when it comes to promoting fertility in all patients," Dr. Merhi says. "Options like PRP therapy, ozone sauna, and Aphrodite kit are among the many tools at our disposal, and we're continuously performing more research to provide the widest variety of options for our patients." Rejuvenating Fertility Center is a medical center specializing in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. It offers non-conventional treatments, such as PRP ovarian rejuvenation, for individuals seeking to start a family. The center is led by Dr. Zaher Merhi, a world-renowned Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist, and has locations in Manhattan, Connecticut, Long Island, Westchester, and Brooklyn. The center's goal is to provide high-quality, personalized fertility care to individuals and couples. Website: https://www.rejuvenatingfertility.com/ Contact Dr. Zaher Merhi: (203) 557-9696 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157108 TOKYO, Mar 7, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda will showcase the new capabilities of the latest generation of its prototype Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV) to improve construction industry and worksite efficiencies at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 in Las Vegas, March 14-18, 2023. Interested construction entities will have an opportunity to learn more about field testing the rugged off-road platform at their worksites. Watch a video of the Honda AWV at https://honda.us/HondaAWV."As we continue to advance the Honda AWV platform, we want to meet with potential business partners and companies at CONEXPO that are interested in field testing the vehicle at their worksite," said Jason VanBuren, systems engineering manager at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We believe the Honda AWV can be a valuable solution to supporting construction teams while also enhancing worksite efficiencies and safety. Leveraging Honda's decades of experience developing reliable, safe and clean mobility technology, we aim to address issues such as labor shortages and improved environmental performance."The fully programmable all-electric Honda AWV leverages the company's emerging advanced autonomous technology to create a rugged off-road work vehicle that is designed to support construction-related activities and enhance workforce productivity. With the ability to operate autonomously - or manually via remote control - the Honda AWV could provide a wide range of services to industries that need autonomous operation or delivery solutions, especially where workforce constraints make other solutions impractical. The company is also exploring the development of attachments and tools that could make the vehicle a suitable platform for many work environments.Honda successfully field tested the second-generation Honda AWV at a large-scale solar construction site in the Southwest U.S. Based on real-world testing, the company is now introducing the third-generation Honda AWV which features a number of enhancements.Key features of the third-generation Honda AWV include:- Increased bed size to 2 pallets and greater loading capacity of 2000 pounds- Improved navigation in locations where GNSS (global navigation satellite system) service is weak or unavailable through the use of LiDAR sensors- Simplified tablet-based programming interface and cloud connectivity- Higher speed in autonomous mode - up to 10 miles per hour (mph)- Increased battery size and longer operating time of up to 10 hours- Enhanced avoidance function for vehicles stopped on road- Lower bed for easier loading and improved ergonomicsThe Honda AWV employs a suite of sensors to operate autonomously, using GPS for location, radar and lidar for obstacle detection and cameras for remote monitoring. Previous field tests have also successfully verified that multiple Honda AWVs can transport and deliver construction materials and supplies at precise points along a pre-set route. The vehicle leverages Honda's extensive portfolio of mobility technologies, using common components from its automobiles and other products.Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle Third-Generation SpecificationsHonda anticipates further improvements to performance and design specifications as the development of the prototype Honda AWV continues to progress.As Honda aims to commercialize AWV, the company is looking for partners to participate in field testing, as well as to improve functions and enhance services, especially in the areas of:- Product distribution- Product support / after-market sales- Software and attachment developmentHonda invites interested companies to visit Honda's booth F8515 in the Festival Grounds, or contact Honda at: AWV@na.honda.com.Source: Honda Motor Co, LtdCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The US Justice Department and Department of Transportation are expected to take action this week to block JetBlue Airways Corp.'s (JBLU) $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE), according to several media reports citing people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit in federal court, alleging that the elimination of Spirit would increase ticket prices and decrease options for travelers, the reports said. Meanwhile, JetBlue argued that it will be able to bring down legacy carrier fares on more routes, benefitting more travelers than if JetBlue and Spirit continued as standalone airlines. According to a third-party source published in April 2022 and reaffirmed with more recent data, JetBlue and Spirit have very limited overlap, and only overlap on 11% or less of the nonstop routes on which both of them fly. Instead, both carriers primarily compete against the dominant Big Four airlines, JetBlue said in a statement. JetBlue noted that it has already made unprecedented upfront commitments to divest all of Spirit's holdings in Boston and New York, as well as five gates and related assets at Fort Lauderdale, to allow for allocation to other ultra-low-cost carriers. The divestitures significantly reduce the already small number of nonstop overlap routes flown by JetBlue and Spirit. According to media reports on Monday, the Department of Transportation is expected to begin a parallel proceeding to block the transfer of Spirit's airline operating certificate as incompatible with the public interest. Copyright(c) 2023 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. Springfield, Oregon--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2023) - Silo Wellness Inc. (CSE: SILO) (OTCQB: SILFF) (FSE: 3K7A), announces further to its press release of March 4, 2023, that the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") has issued a Failure-to-File Cease Trade Order ("FFCTO") pursuant to National Policy 11-207 - Failure to File Cease Trade Orders dated March 6, 2023 in respect of the securities of the Company as a result of the Company's inability to file its audited annual financial statements and management discussion & analysis due February 28, 2023 for the financial year ended October 30, 2022, and the CEO and CFO certificates, all as required by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings (collectively, the "Documents"). As previously disclosed, the default was expected as the Company's auditor has indicated it anticipates requiring additional time to complete its audit. The Company continues to work diligently and expeditiously with its auditors and expects to file the Documents as soon as possible with a current expectation of on or about March 20, 2023. The FFCTO prohibits the trading by any person any of securities of the Company in each jurisdiction in Canada in which the Company is a reporting issuer, including trades in the Company's common shares made through the Canadian Securities Exchange, for as long as the FFCTO remains in effect; however, the FFCTO provides an exception for beneficial securityholders of the Company who are not currently (and who were not as of March 6, 2023) insiders or control persons of the Company and who sell securities of the Company acquired before March 6, 2023 if both of the following criteria are met: (i) the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and (ii) the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company reported on February 27, 2023, that on February 25, 2023, the auditor requested two to three additional weeks to complete the audited financials. If the default is able to be remedied within 90 days of the date of the FFCTO, the filing of the documents constitutes the application to revoke the FFCTO and no application fee is required under Appendix C of OSC Rule 13-502 Fees. However, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to remedy its filing default and have the FFCTO lifted in a timely manner or at all. The Company is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings. The Company also confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed as of the date of this press release. The Company maintains its position that the OSC is failing to apply its policy in accordance with the well-established and ancient maxims of interpretation and should update their policies to better reflect their actual practice. Nonetheless, their responsive position is a reasonable alternative interpretation that may be unfavored by the tribunal and a waste of everyone's time if an appeal is unsuccessful. After conferring with the OSC, it appears that filing an appeal to the tribunal would likely be moot anyway given when the audit is expected to be complete. CEO Mike Arnold is recommending to the Silo Board that an appeal not be undertaken as his legal skills and time are best spent advancing the Oregon agenda and continuing to work on debt restructuring. "As a trial lawyer, I learned long ago that being right and just along with having 25 cents doesn't even buy you a cup of coffee anymore," stated Silo CEO Mike Arnold. "I appreciate the level of professionalism that the OSC staff and management has shown us over the past week. They took a lot of time to address our concerns despite us being a microcap company that was recently thinly traded. Although I'm disappointed with the outcome, shareholders can rest assured that we left nothing on the table." Contact: Mike Arnold, CEO 541-900-5871 IR at silo wellness dot com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SEE PRIOR PRESS RELEASES FOR CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157488 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2023) - Tincorp Metals Inc. (TSXV: TIN) (OTCQX: TINFF) ("Tincorp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at Booth 3048 at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention ("PDAC") at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Sunday, March 5 to Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Please see https://www.pdac.ca/convention/maps?l=3048 for more details on the exhibitor directory. Pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, the Company granted 300,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") on September 1, 2022 to its new director, Mr. Uribe-Zeballos. The Options are exercisable for a period of 5 years from the date of grant at the price of $0.48 per share, being the closing price of the common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on the date of grant. The Options vest in six equal tranches over a period of three years and are subject to the provisions of the Company's stock option plan and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Tincorp Tincorp Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focusing on tin projects in Bolivia and a gold project near Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The Company has signed agreements to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Porvenir Project and SF Tin Project, which are 70 km southeast of Oruro, Bolivia. The Company's 100% owned Skukum Gold Project is approximately 84 km south of Whitehorse by road. An independent mineral resource estimate update in respect of the Skukum Gold Project was completed in October 2022. On Behalf of Tincorp Metals Inc. signed "Gordon Neal" Gordon Neal, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Investor Relations, Tincorp Metals Inc. Phone: +1 (604)-336-5919 Email: info@tincorp.com www.tincorp.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 news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collective, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the terms of the Agreement, the payment of a finder's fee and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange are forward-looking statements. Estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources are also forward-looking information because they incorporate estimates of future developments including future mineral prices, costs and expenses and the amount of minerals that will be encountered if a property is developed. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" 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 are based on the opinions, assumptions, factors and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. The opinions, assumptions, factors and estimates which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: whether the Company will acquire up to a 100% interest of the Porvenir Project; market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices; that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations, including labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, security disruptions, damage to or loss of equipment, whether due to flooding, political changes, title issues, intervention by local landowners, environmental concerns, pandemics (including COVID-19) or otherwise; that the Company will be able to obtain and maintain governmental approvals, permits and licenses in connection with its current and planned operations, development and exploration activities, including at the Skukum Gold Project; that the Company will be able to meet its current and future obligations; that the Company will be able to comply with environmental, health and safety laws; and the assumptions underlying mineral resource estimates and the realization of such estimates. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Company will not acquire up to a 100% interest of the Porvenir Project; social and economic impacts of COVID-19; actual exploration results; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; results of future Mineral Resource estimates; future metal prices; availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms; general economic, market or business conditions; uninsured risks; regulatory changes; defects in title; availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis; accidents or equipment breakdowns; delays in receiving government approvals; unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same; and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. Additional information in relation to the Company, including the Company's most recent annual information form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.tincorp.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs from the standards adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Accordingly, the technical and scientific information contained herein, including any estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to the disclosure requirements of the SEC. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157489 Lake Havasu, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2023) - Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park has announced the launch of their new hybrid affordable housing alternative in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park has created a new alternative housing solution for residents and vacationers of Lake Havasu City and plans to expand into communities all across the United States. Ryan Rodney, Riverboud Custom Storage Founder To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/157487_4056542d344d2ad4_001full.jpg The new Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park is currently at nearly $100 less per square foot than the average home in Arizona. Rodney's customers at the hybrid affordable housing alternative are also given the option of storage rentals, offering long and short-term custom rental options. Ryan Rodney, CEO of Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park, said: "I decided not to be just another normal storage company. I decided to take luxury storage and RV park use under one umbrella. I trademarked the idea and started working 7 days a week." After some tweaks to his business model and a revamped Grand Opening in 2020, Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park is now celebrating 5 years of business. The amenities and services provided to their residents remove tasks and repairs from the shoulders of homeowners and yet still allow possession of personal property. Residents of Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park can focus their pursuits outside of house maintenance. About: Founded by Ryan Rodney, Riverbound Custom Storage in Lake Havasu, AZ is a way to provide affordable and luxury solutions for short term and long term storage and housing. Based on his own passion for lake life, he hopes to provide memories for families and individuals who share a passion for outdoor adventure. For more information, visit https://RiverboundCustomStorage.com Contact: Ryan Rodney, CEO 3493 E. Heights Blvd Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404 928-770-5585 Info@RiverboundCustomStorage.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157487 Following releases in Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, and Spain, Tigo brings Energy Intelligence (EI) Residential Solar Solution to Poland for fast, flexible, and dependable residential solar-plus-storage. Tigo Energy, Inc., ("Tigo" or the "Company"), a leading provider of intelligent solar and energy storage solutions, will release the Tigo EI Residential Solar Solution to the Polish photovoltaic (PV) solar market at ENEX, the 25th International Power Industry and Renewable Sources of Energy Fair in Kielce, Poland. Starting Wednesday, March 8, 2023, technical and business representatives from Tigo will be available at ENEX to introduce installers to the all-in-one system for residential solar and storage. The Tigo EI Residential Solar Solution for the European market consists of Tigo TS4 Flex MLPE products, a new line of single-phase and three-phase inverters, modular DC-coupled energy storage components, and the Tigo EI Link, the communications hub and central connection point for all grid, inverter, PV, and battery connections. Through module-level monitoring, energy data from the EI Residential Solar Solution is processed by Tigo Energy Intelligence software, allowing installers to monitor and manage their fleet of customer systems with a few mouse clicks. This all comes after commissioning times using that same software that are typically in the 10-minute range. Tigo customers in Poland will also receive industry-leading warranties and a skilled, Polish-speaking support team to ensure that installers are never on their own with Tigo products. "Residential solar installations will continue to play a significant role in driving our energy transition, and integrated storage solutions will allow us to deploy even more solar to homeowners," said Pawel Sternal, CEO at 7Sun. "That's exactly where the Tigo EI Residential solution plays a role for us because it is an integrated system packed with sophisticated data tools that speed up commissioning, enable superior fleet management, and deliver tangible ROI with Tigo's exclusive Reclaimed Energy function." ENEX attendees can learn about the Tigo EI Residential Solar Solution by attending one of a series of daily presentations hosted at the 7Sun trade show booth (B-9). Tigo Business Development Manager for Poland, Malgorzata Osinska, will also host two discussions at Forum Fotowoltaiczne Solar+, which is co-located with ENEX, titled 'Premiera: Tigo EI Residential.' These sessions are scheduled for Thursday, March 9 at 11:00 and again at 14:00 in room B-54. "We face a diverse set of constraints in residential solar installations, and Tigo's all-in-one solar and storage solution provides the flexibility we need to address those issues," said Mateusz Maciaszczyk, CEO at UltraPV. "Specifically, Tigo helps us deal with varied rooftop layouts, limited space availability in houses, and customer preferences while also providing the greatest amount of clean and renewable energy. EI Residential also allows us to move smoothly between the design, installation, and commissioning phases, meaning more systems deployed and more happy customers." To learn more about Tigo Flex MLPE products and the Tigo EI Residential Solar Solution, please visit Tigo Energy at ENEX, International Power Industry and Renewable Sources of Energy Fair in Targi Kielce, Poland, from March 8 to 9, 2023. To schedule a meeting or contact the Tigo team before the event, use this link. About Tigo Energy Founded in 2007, Tigo is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of smart hardware and software solutions that enhance safety, increase energy yield, and lower operating costs of residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar systems. Tigo combines its Flex MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics) and solar optimizer technology with intelligent, cloud-based software capabilities for advanced energy monitoring and control. Tigo MLPE products maximize performance, enable real-time energy monitoring, and provide code-required rapid shutdown at the module level. The company also develops and manufactures products such as inverters and battery storage systems for the residential solar-plus-storage market. For more information, please visit www.tigoenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005632/en/ Contacts: Gilberto Lembo European Marketing Manager at Tigo Energy marketing@tigoenergy.com Oslo, Norway (7 March 2023) - Today, TGS hosts a Capital Markets Day in Oslo. In connection with the event, the following announcements are made: Based on the continued strong contract inflow and a growing pipeline of opportunities, TGS management now expects multi-client investments of more than USD 350 million, up from a range of USD 320 to 350 million guided previously. The early sales rate is still expected to be a minimum of 70%. TGS has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with SLB, providing the JV access to both companies' US Gulf of Mexico data for sparse OBN acquisition and processing. The combined database, which covers all of the prospective areas of the US GoM, will allow the JV to pursue multi-year campaigns offering the industry superior data quality over both producing and exploration assets. TGS has signed a multi-year vessel agreement with COSL. The agreement secures TGS access to modern 2D, 3D and source vessel capacity at stable and predictable costs. TGS has secured prefunding for a new multi-client 3D seismic survey in a key emerging basin in West Africa. This project is due to commence in Q2 2023 and will be the first 3D project to be performed under the multi-year vessel agreement with COSL. TGS has secured an award for an extension to an ongoing proprietary OBN campaign in South America. The OBN program will now extend through Q4 2023. Following the success of the first multi-client wind measurement campaign in the New York Bight, TGS will deploy four additional floating LiDAR buoys in the coming weeks, all in lease areas offshore the US East Coast and supported by industry funding. "TGS has built a strong strategic position over the past years, allowing us to capitalize fully on the continued market recovery. With leading business development capabilities combined with an unmatched data library and a robust balance sheet, we are seeing strong growth in the pipeline of opportunities in all our segments. This means that we can deploy more capital at attractive returns to our shareholders," says Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS. "I'm excited about the important strategic collaboration with SLB in the Gulf of Mexico. Together with SLB, we have had great success in offering our clients long-offset OBN data through the multi-client model, and with this JV agreement, we increase our ambitions further. Moreover, we are pleased to enter into a long-term partnership with COSL. Increased investment activity combined with the acquisition of Magseis Fairfield ASA means that TGS has a growing need for vessel capacity going forward. This agreement provides TGS with visibility on vessel availability and costs, both for the multi-client business and for our OBN activities." The Capital Markets Day presentations will last from CET 1300 to approximately CET 1600 and will be streamed live at tgs.com. The presentation material will be published at CET 1230 at newsweb.no and tgs.com. The event will take place at Felix Konferansesenter, Bryggetorget 3, Oslo, Norway, and afterward, we invite attendees to join us for a reception. Please register for TGS Capital Markets Day by emailing investor@tgs.com or view on demand by copying and pasting this link into your browser: https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20230307_1. About TGS TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions. Forward Looking Statement All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason. For more information, visit TGS.com or contact: Guilin, China--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - China-based manufacturer ATO Flow Meter, a global leader in flow measurement technology, is proud to announce the official launch of two new products as part of the company's lineup - a magnetic flow meter and an ultrasonic flow meter. This range extends the company's existing array of devices, offering reliable technology specifically designed for measurement applications in liquids, gasses, or steam environments across many industries worldwide while allowing customers to get tailored solutions depending on user's particular needs. ATO Flow Meter To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8913/156066_6836f9b984db4918_001full.jpg. "At ATO, we are always looking at how to improve our already well-established portfolio regarding industrial flow meter systems," said Fra Tusha, Product Manager of the company. "These latest additions in our product lineup will bring improved performance, efficiency, and reliability at an affordable price point. Our team members will be ready to help set up a tailored solution perfectly adjusted according to industry application, no matter whether it is liquid, gas, or steam," Fra Tusha further added. The company specializes in producing and selling high-quality flow meter products. At the moment, ATO's product portfolio covers magnetic flow meters, vortex flow meters, liquid flow meters, portable clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters, digital gas flow meters, gas mass flow meters, and various flow meter accessories. The newly launched magnetic and ultrasonic flow meter products will be part of the lineup of high-quality measuring equipment for liquids, gasses, and steam. The magnetic flow meter (MFM) is used primarily for flow measurement in the petroleum industry, chemical industry, and municipal water supply systems. It is employed as a process control device where continuous monitoring of the flow rate is required. Due to its ability to measure and record flow rates accurately over long periods of time while offering other major advantages, including ease of installation, low maintenance requirements, and resistance to corrosion, the MFM is widely applied in the field of metering. On the other hand, the ultrasonic flow meter (UFM) is a flow sensor based on ultrasound waves and is ideal for measuring water flow in pipelines, tanks, boilers, etc., as these come with no moving parts with relatively lesser power consumption requirements while offering a low-maintenance solution. To learn more about ATO's product lineup, pricing, and availability details, please visit the company's website at atoflowmeter.com or contact by phone at +86 773-363-7977 or email: inquiry@ato.com.cn. About the Company With a wealth of experience spanning a decade, ATO is among the leading manufacturers of industrial measuring equipment, specializing in the research and development of an extensive range of flow meters and accessories catering to diverse industries, including manufacturing, scientific research, transportation, construction, and many others. The company's goal is to offer reliable and customized solutions according to a variety of industrial and individual requirements anywhere around the globe by providing advanced technologies at affordable costs. Company name: ATO Flow Meter Contact name: Jan Karski Email: inquiry@ato.com.cn Country: China Website: https://www.atoflowmeter.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/156066 Regulatory News: Sensorion (FR0012596468 ALSEN) (Paris:ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in gene therapies in the ear, is pleased to announce its participation in the 6th Annual Bioprocessing Summit Europe, held on 14-16 March, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Sensorion will also take part in an expert roundtable on March 22, 2023. Christine Le Bec, Ph.D., Sensorion's Head of CMC Gene Therapy, will chair a session entitled "CMC and Technical Development Strategies" at the 6th Annual Bioprocessing Summit Europe, on March 14, 2023. Christine will also make a presentation on the "Characterization of Dual AAV Vector Otoferlin" on March 14, 2023. The agenda of the conference can be found here. About Sensorion Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company, which specializes in the development of gene therapies to restore hearing loss disorders, a significant global unmet medical need. Sensorion has built a unique R&D technology platform to expand its understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of inner ear related diseases, enabling it to select the best targets and mechanisms of action for drug candidates. It has two gene therapy programs aimed at correcting hereditary monogenic forms of deafness, developed in the framework of its broad strategic collaboration focused on the genetics of hearing with the Institut Pasteur. OTOF-GT targets deafness caused by mutations of the gene encoding for otoferlin and GJB2-GT targets hearing loss related to mutations in GJB2 gene to potentially address important hearing loss segments in adults and children.The Company is also working on the identification of biomarkers to improve diagnosis of these underserved illnesses. Sensorion's portfolio also comprises clinical-stage small molecule programs for the treatment and prevention of hearing loss disorders. Sensorion's clinical-stage portfolio includes one Phase 2 product: SENS-401 (Arazasetron) progressing in a planned Phase 2 proof of concept clinical study of SENS-401 in Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) and, with partner Cochlear Limited, in a study of SENS-401 in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation. A Phase 2 study of SENS-401 was also completed in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) in January 2022. www.sensorion.com Label: SENSORION ISIN: FR0012596468 Mnemonic: ALSEN Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the 2021 full year financial report published on April 28, 2022, and available on our website and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005514/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations David Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer (US/UK) Noemie Djokovic, Investor Relations and Communications (Europe/France) ir.contact@sensorion-pharma.com International Media Relations Consilium1Strategic Communications Matthew Cole/Jessica Hodgson/Sue Stuart +44 7593 572720 +44 7561 424788 Sensorion@consilium-comms.com SHARE BUYBACK TRANSACTION DETAILS FEBRUARY 27 MARCH 3, 2023 Regulatory News: MotorK Plc (AMS: MTRK) ("MotorK" or the "Group") announces today that it has purchased the following number of ordinary shares in the Company. This is part of a repurchase program announced on July 18, 2022. MotorK intends to buy back its own ordinary shares by way of off-market purchases on Euronext Amsterdam and via block trades up to a maximum aggregate value of 3,000,000 (the "Programme"). The authorization will expire following the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2023. Aggregate Information Date Transactions Number of Ordinary Shares Total Consideration () Average price ( per share) Minimum price ( per share) Maximum price ( per share) 27/02/2023 Purchase 257,044 642,494 2.50 2.45 2.50 28/02/2023 Purchase 9,014 22,665 2.51 2.50 2.52 01/03/2023 Purchase 8,949 22,093 2.47 2.43 2.50 02/03/2023 Purchase 4,249 9,592 2.26 2.21 2.28 03/03/2023 Purchase 8,280 18,754 2.27 2.25 2.28 Total Weekly 287,536 715,597 2.49 2.21 2.52 Cumulated to date 1,705,707 2,673,987 The Programme is implemented within the limitations of the authority granted by the General Meeting on July 18, 2022. Any shares so repurchased shall be treated as cancelled pursuant to section 706(b) of the Companies Act 2006. The Group has entered into non-discretionary instructions with Kepler Cheuvreux SA ("Kepler Cheuvreux") to conduct the Programme on its behalf and to make trading decisions under the Programme independently of MotorK. REGULATED INFORMATION This press release contains information that qualifies or may qualify as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014/EU) ABOUT MOTORK PLC MotorK (AMS: MTRK) is a leading software as a service ("SaaS") provider for the automotive retail industry in the EMEA region, with over 400 employees and eleven offices in eight countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, the UK, Belgium and Israel). MotorK empowers car manufacturers and dealers to improve their customer experience through a broad suite of fully integrated digital products and services. MotorK provides its customers with an innovative combination of digital solutions, SaaS cloud products and the largest R&D department in the automotive digital sales and marketing industry in Europe. MotorK is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 5th Floor One New Change, London, England, EC4M 9AF Company Registration: 9259000. For more information: www.motork.io or www.investors.motork.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005593/en/ Contacts: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MotorK Investor Relations Etienne Jacquet etienne.jacquet@motork.io +33 6 22 18 39 09 MotorK Corporate Communications press@motork.io BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China's exports continued to decline at the start of the year, reflecting the challenges posed by the global economy that constrained the ability of Beijing to set robust growth target. Exports declined 6.8 percent in the January to February period from the same period last year, the General Administration of Customs reported Tuesday. The annual decrease was slower than the 9.9 percent drop posted in December and also better than economists' forecast of 9.4 percent fall. Despite re-opening of the economy, imports logged a double-digit decline of 10.2 percent in the January to February period that was worse than December's 7.5 percent decrease and the expected 5.5 percent fall. Consequently, the trade balance showed a surplus of about $117 billion, which was well above the forecast of $81.8 billion. The customs office usually combines data for January and February to avoid distortions caused by the Lunar New Year holiday. The trade surplus is likely to decline before long, Capital Economics economist Julian Evans-Pritchard said. The National People's Congress signaled relatively modest policy support this year, but imports should rebound as the shift away from zero-COVID drives a recovery in travel, and therefore fuel demand, the economist noted. However, exports are set to struggle in the near-term due to the weak global backdrop, Evans-Pritchard added. The government announced a growth target of around 5.0 percent for this year over the weekend. The second-largest economy grew only 3.0 percent in 2022 to mark the weakest expansion in decades. Outgoing Premier Li Keqiang warned about the challenges the economy confronts from the external environment amid sanctions and restrictions imposed by the US government that limit the access to technology. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX BERLIN, GERMANY and SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Octily, the creative studio for Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), announces its expansion to the APJ region with a new Senior Project Manager located in Singapore, more multilingual team members, ongoing collaboration with local implementation partners, and a strong connection to CSOD in South Korea. This development follows successful Cornerstone customization work for well-known companies headquartered between Hong Kong and Japan, which offered a glimpse of a huge opportunity in the region. Where Octily's clients are based From the U.S., all over Europe, to Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. "The Asia Pacific expansion is the next logical step for us," said Robert Bucher, Founder and CEO of Octily. "Working with Cornerstone account managers, solution consultants, partners, and Fortune 500 clients in APJ, we've found the same needs as their European/U.S. counterparts. Companies want to personalize their employees' HR experiences, drive adoption, and deliver outstanding user journeys - but have limited access to resources for customization or are simply not aware of the possibilities. Octily is filling this gap by bringing more than seven years of expertise to the area." Octily's growing team now includes Susan Smit, a dedicated Senior Project Manager located in Singapore with a deep background as a Learning Technologist for one of the world's largest food companies; Simen-Ling La, lead Senior Project Manager with Vietnamese roots and previous CSOD project management experience at one of the best-known fast-food chains; and Keisuke Tanaka, web developer with native Japanese-language skills. In addition, Octily is working with TalearnX, a leading HR consulting firm in Asia that strives to solve business challenges by empowering the people operations department. "Looking at our 100% remote setup, I'm very proud to see what a colorful, capable, and international team we have become. We are very optimistic about working with the CSOD team and partners in the APJ region to help organizations get the most out of their strategic investments in talent and learning experiences," Rob concluded. Partnership with Cornerstone OnDemand "The word 'customization' is not familiar with SaaS products like Cornerstone OnDemand. However, our customers' desire for creativity, to help learners reach their last step of conquering Learning and Development, cannot be neglected," said DJ Park, Cornerstone OnDemand Senior Solution Consultant in Seoul, South Korea. "With Octily, enterprise customers in the Far East, especially in Korea, were not only able to witness their creative ideas come to life, but were also able to make the Cornerstone experience a much more robust one. The integrity, work ethic, and thorough consultation from team Octily are critical factors of our customer-centric partner teamwork that cannot be found elsewhere. Plus, their knowledge of the solution is just a cherry on top," DJ concluded. Collaboration with Implementation Partner TalearnX Octily has a strong track record of collaboration with other organizations and loves to team up with partners. In the APJ region, Octily joins forces with TalearnX to work with some of Asia's greatest companies. Teng Mun Chow, Director at TalearnX, shared his experience working with the Octily team. "Octily exhibits professionalism and technical competency that is unrivaled. We have had the honor of working with Octily on challenging customizations, and Octily has surpassed our expectations. The experience is awesome and refreshing. Octily is definitely the right company to partner with," he concluded. About Cornerstone OnDemand Cornerstone powers the future-ready workforce with a next-generation talent experience platform designed to unite technology, data, and content and inspire a work environment of growth, agility, and success for all. With an AI-powered, skills-forward, experiential platform built on an open architecture designed for neutrality and scale, Cornerstone helps organizations modernize their learning and development experience, deliver the most relevant content from anywhere, accelerate talent and career mobility, and establish skills as the universal language of growth and success across their business. Cornerstone serves over 7,000 customers and 100 million users and is available in 180 countries and 50 languages. Learn more at https://cornerstoneondemand.com About Octily GmbH Octily is the only creative studio with a 100% focus on customization and personalization of Cornerstone OnDemand. As a long-term certified Cornerstone OnDemand partner, Octily leverages over two decades of deep work in HR software development and user experience. Octily makes the impossible - possible. With a 100% remote team spanning from Berlin, Germany, to San Francisco, USA, and Singapore, Octily firmly believes in remote work, a small environmental footprint, and maximum use of productivity, communication, and collaboration tools. Over the past seven years, Octily has helped global HR teams from more than 75+ organizations customize their web-based SaaS solutions. Organizations including Deutsche Post DHL, Electrolux, Henkel, Linde, Sidel, and Xella have trusted Octily in 250+ unique projects for their 20+ million users worldwide. For more information, visit https://octily.com, download http://octi.ly/overview or contact us at octily@octily.com Contact Information Robert Bucher CEO press@octily.com Related Files Octily_Overview.pdf Octily_PressRelease_APJ_20230307.pdf SOURCE: Octily GmbH View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742130/Octily-Expands-to-Asia-Pacific-Region-Delivering-Unique-Cornerstone-OnDemand-Customization Korber's supply chain software solutions improve digital end-to-end capabilities in the bookselling industry HAMBURG, Germany, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Korber has announced that OLF, leading Swiss distributor of French literature, has selected Korber to modernize its supply chain infrastructure. The transition will include the integration of Korber's Warehouse Management System (WMS), Shipping & Dispatch System (SDS) and Track and Trace solution by introducing digital capabilities to increase performance, visibility, competitiveness and responsiveness towards bookstore partners, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms. Key to this is the modernization of a 12,000 m2 warehouse in Fribourg, Switzerland, through which OLF represents nearly 3500 Swiss, French, British and American publishers that are distributed to more than 3.000 bookstores, supermarkets, schools, kiosks, and other points of sale throughout Switzerland, France and Belgium. Korber's integrated technologies provide planning, control, execution and monitoring functionalities to manage 4 million books for over 130,000 titles held by OLF. Theophile Renard, Logistics and Services Director at OLF explains: "Looking for the right partner, we put major focus on finding someone helping us to stay confident in what we are doing. Our business is changing and we needed to be sure that Korber had the expertise to realize our full growth potential and ensure our solidity. The flexibility of Korber's technology enables us to meet our customers' demands in a context of rising resource costs, labor shortages, and geopolitical tensions. We are now perfectly positioned to achieve our ambitions. In Korber, we have found a partner who is able to reassure us, both in terms of technology and economic performance. OLF's digital transformation accounts for a new level of efficiency, integration and insight into supply chain operations. With the goal of capitalizing on an integrated supply chain software platform and end-to-end transparency, the modernization will allow greater efficiency to meet the new challenges in the bookselling sector. Korber's WMS, easy to use and configure, will provide streamlined control of automated warehouse processes. It will also significantly optimize slotting management and order processing. At the same time, digital capabilities will expand improvements to package labelling and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) with Korber's SDS, especially in collaboration with carriers. On the last mile, track and trace capabilities will remove functional silos by enhancing data visibility comprehensively - in line with the goal of advancing customer and service quality up to the last mile. The new software platform will be integrated by summer 2023. Michael Brandl, Executive Vice President Operations Software EMEA at the Korber Business Area Supply Chain explains: "All organizations, regardless of their size or industry, are faced with the obligation to leverage the potential of the digital era and adapt their infrastructure to new market demands. The world of supply chain and publishing is changing, both in terms of functional and service expectations. OLF's choice of Korber confirms that our solutions are 100% on par with the needs of companies to conquer the complexities of constantly growing customer demands with digital capabilities, end-to-end." About OLF OLF ensures the distribution of thousands of copies every day on behalf of publishers and major brands, on a wide network of points of sale: bookstores, department stores, kiosks, post offices, specialized stores, schools, e-commerce sites, and more - in Switzerland and beyond. OLF develops its strategy in order to offer value-added logistics services adapted to the needs of its clients. About the Korber Business Area Supply Chain Supply chains are growing more complex by the day. Korber uniquely provides a broad range of proven, end-to-end supply chain solutions fitting any business size, strategy or appetite for growth. Our customers conquer the complexity of the supply chain thanks to our portfolio that includes software, automation, mail and parcel solutions, voice solutions, robotics, and materials handling - plus the expertise to tie it all together. Korber helps to manage the supply chain as a competitive advantage. Conquer supply chain complexity - with Korber. The Business Area Supply Chain is part of the global technology group Korber. Find out more on www.koerber-supplychain.com Contact: Mary-Jane Wurker Corporate Communications Manager Korber Business Area Supply Chain Mary-Jane.Wuerker@koerber-supplychain.com T +49 6032 348-2921 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2016377/PR_OLF_2023.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1098713/Korber_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/korber-accelerates-olfs-digital-supply-chain-transformation-301763179.html KANAZAWA, Japan, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Kanazawa University report in ACS Nano how high-speed atomic force microscopy can be used to study the biomolecular mechanisms underlying gene editing. The DNA of prokaryotes - single-cell organisms, for example bacteria - is known to contain sequences that are derived from DNA fragments of viruses that infected the prokaryote earlier. These sequences, collectively referred to as CRISPR, for 'clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats', play a major role in the antiviral defense system of bacteria, as they enable the recognition and subsequent neutralization of infecting viruses. The latter is done through the enzyme Cas9 ('CRISPR-associated protein 9'), a biomolecule that can locally unwind DNA, check for the existence of the CRISPR sequence and, when found, cut the DNA. In recent years, CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a genome editing tool based on the notion that the Cas9 protein can be activated with artificially created CRISPR-like sequences. Sometimes, however, the wrong target is 'caught' by Cas9 - when the wrongly identified DNA sequence is too similar to the intended target sequence. It is therefore of crucial importance to fully understand how Cas9 binds to, 'interrogates', and cuts DNA. Mikihiro Shibata from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now succeeded in video-recording the DNA binding and cleaving dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus (a particular bacterium) Cas9 by means of high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM). Their observations will help to reach a more complete understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 mechanisms. In recent years, HS-AFM has emerged as a powerful nanoimaging tool for studying molecular structures and their dynamics at high spatiotemporal resolution. For such molecular dynamics to be observable, samples need to be put on a carefully chosen substrate. For their study of Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9), Shibata and colleagues chemically modified a mica surface. This way, observed molecules 'stick' to the substrate, but not too strongly, so that molecular mobilities are still high enough for the relevant biomolecular interactions to happen - slowed-down, within intervals of time accessible to HS-AFM. The artificial activation of Cas9 happens via the association with a so-called single-guide RNA (sgRNA) molecule, which provides the information about the targeted DNA sequence. The scientists first observed that the SaCas9-sgRNA complex adopts a flexible modular structure that can switch from an open to a closed configuration, which enables eventual binding to the DNA. They also managed to image the cutting of DNA at the targeted site. The researchers looked in more detail at the mechanism of detection of targeted DNA by SaCas9-sgRNA, and found evidence that it involves a selective, long-range interaction. Although the precise nature of this interaction remains unclear, Shibata and colleagues believe that hydrophobic forces between parts of the SaCas9-sgRNA complex and the DNA play a key role. The potential importance of such long-range interactions in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is unexpected - up to know, the common belief has been that target DNA is identified through diffusion processes. Additional studies are needed to further explore this aspect. Quoting the scientists: "Although the present HS-AFM observations represent a direct evidence of the long-range selective interaction between SaCas9-sgRNA and its target DNA, further investigations are necessary to confirm the mechanism of search for target DNA hypothesized and illustrated in the present study." Background High-speed atomic force microscopy The general principle of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is to make a very small tip scan the surface of a sample. During this horizontal (xy) scan, the tip, which is attached to a small cantilever, follows the sample's vertical (z) profile, inducing a force on the cantilever that can be measured. The magnitude of the force at the xy position can be related to the z value; the xyz data generated during a scan then result in a height map providing structural information about the investigated sample. In high-speed-AFM (HS-AFM), the working principle is slightly more involved: the cantilever is made to oscillate near its resonance frequency. When the tip is moved around a surface, the variations in the amplitude (or the frequency) of the cantilever's oscillation - resulting from the tip's interaction with the sample's surface - are recorded, as these provide a measure for the local 'z' value. AFM does not involve lenses, so its resolution is not restricted by the so-called diffraction limit as in X-ray diffraction, for example. HS-AFM results in a video, where the time interval between frames depends on the speed with which a single image can be generated (by xy-scanning the sample). Researchers at Kanazawa University have in recent years developed HS-AFM further, so that it can be applied to study biochemical molecules and biomolecular processes in real-time. Mikihiro Shibata and colleagues have now applied the method to study the molecular dynamics of a Cas9-DNA interaction process, which is highly relevant for on-going research on the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool. Figure 1. https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Figure-1-1.png Caption: High-speed atomic force microscopy visualization of the cutting of a piece of DNA by SaCas9. 2023 Puppulin, et al., ACS Nano Reference Leonardo Puppulin, Junichiro Ishikawa, Ayumi Sumino, Arin Marchesi, Holger Flechsig, Kenichi Umeda, Noriyuki Kodera, Hiroshi Nishimasu, and Mikihiro Shibata. Dynamics of Target DNA Binding and Cleavage by Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 as Revealed by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy, ACS Nano 2023. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10709 URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c10709 Contact Hiroe Yoneda Vice Director of Public Affairs WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550 About Kanazawa University http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/ As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities. The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-detect-bind-and-cut-biomolecular-action-at-the-nanoscale-301764302.html BRIGHTON, England, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blox, a British-based SaaS startup, has announced the launch of its cloud-based business planning platform, aimed squarely at fellow startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), giving business leaders the ability to make better, faster decisions without spreadsheets. Boasting a marketplace of pre-built models, the company has taken away the complexity of building a bespoke model and sped up the planning process massively. Users simply select the models which are relevant to their business, from a selection which is growing all the time but includes SaaS Financial modelling, Workforce planning, Marketing planning, and Subscription Revenue modelling. As part of Blox's initial launch phase, access to the platform is free, with paid subscription tiers being added later this year. Blox is the brainchild of Brighton-based Simon Ritchie, who has gathered a team of tech industry veterans from such companies as Anaplan and Metapraxis. "At Blox, our mission is to unlock the full potential of every ambitious business leader," Ritchie said. "We believe in a world where anyone with ambition and drive can create an impact at scale regardless of background or experience." Learn more about Blox at www.blox.so or sign up for free, no credit card required at www.blox.so/signup About Blox: Blox is an AI-powered solution which helps business leaders with financial modelling and planning, without the need for spreadsheets. With our marketplace of pre-built blocks, we've taken away the complexity of building a bespoke model and sped up the planning process massively. Founded in Brighton, UK in 2022, Blox is led by a team with experience at the likes of Anaplan and Metapraxis. Learn more at www.blox.so View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/uk-based-blox-introduces-new-cloud-solution-to-make-financial-planning-easier-for-every-startup-and-sme-leader-301763572.html Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list Paean (PAE) on March 10, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the PAE/USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading at 5:00 UTC on March 10, 2023. PAE Listing Banner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/157496_05e0b4991408d861_001full.jpg Paean (PAE) seeks to create the future of 4th industry. Its native token PAE will be listed on LBank Exchange at 5:00 UTC on March 10, 2023, to further expand its global reach and help it achieve its vision. Introducing Paean The world is changing rapidly while advanced information and communication technology is gradually connecting and converging with other fields to create a new industry. The blockchain technology is at the center of it, increasing day by day. "Paean" is the name of the god of healing in Greek mythology. Based on the blockchain ecosystem, the Paean Project seeks to become the healing god of the blockchain world in order to heal the health and environmental problems facing humanity and the earth and lead a sustainable and rich life. Specifically speaking, Paean seeks solutions to the structural limitations of traditional payment services and applicability issues that cryptocurrency solutions must overcome and provides a cryptocurrency-based payment solution that can be applied quickly to the real world. Its services integrate a variety of business models into one place to provide users with a relevant payment system. There are multiple features in Paean that will help it achieve its vision, which includes atomic exchange, multi blockchain, multi swap, hyper converged infrastructure, half-private blockchain, front grid backend multi flexing, and more. In addition, there's also Paean Wallet created by the Paean Coin (PAE) Foundation. Through Paean Wallet, users can conveniently transfer and deposit digital assets on mobile devices by applying a simple UI/UX that anyone can easily use. Furthermore, Paean users have a stake in new drug development, renewable energy and new materials businesses, and will contribute together to human development with good influence. To lead the project more efficiently, the team is also investing in the blockchain business of Arab capital and the real estate NFT field. The Singapore-based Paean Group will expand the participation of users around the world by listing on the global exchanges. It aims to lead the blockchain business innovation with partners who are at the forefront of each field to create the future of the 4th industry. About PAE Token PAE is the native token of the Paean ecosystem. It's a tool for achieving deeper participation in a broader community of investors, partners and contributors who are key beneficiaries of platform growth. It's also a payment coin used in real life that focuses on actually implementing asset and monetary functions, creating an ecosystem based on practicality. Based on TRC-20, PAE has a total supply of 5 billion (i.e., 5,000,000,000) tokens, of which 15% is provided for fundraising, 20% goes into the foundation operation fund, 30% will be used for marketing and user incentives, 5% is allocated to the team and advisors, 20% is provided for strategic partners, and the remaining 10% is reserved. PAE token will be listed on LBank Exchange at 5:00 UTC on March 10, 2023, investors who are interested in Paean can easily buy and sell it on LBank Exchange by then. Learn More about PAE Token: Official Website: http://paeangroup.io Telegram: https://t.me/+HNk3yzAzMYs3NWNl Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaeanWorld Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paeanworld About LBank LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies. Start Trading Now: lbank.com Community & Social Media: l Telegram l Twitter l Facebook l LinkedIn l Instagram l YouTube Contact Details: LBK Blockchain Co. Limited LBank Exchange marketing@lbank.info business@lbank.info To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157496 OSLO (dpa-AFX) - Norway's industrial production declined sharply at the start of the year amid a contraction in output of electricity, gas, and steam, data from Statistics Norway showed on Tuesday. Industrial production fell a seasonally adjusted 8.3 percent month-on-month in January. This was much worse than the 0.2 percent drop in the previous month. Production in the electricity, gas, and steam segments deteriorated by 8.6 percent monthly in January. Output in the extraction and related services gained 0.3 percent. Manufacturing output rebounded 0.9 percent in January after falling 0.8 percent in the previous month. Mining and quarrying production growth quickened to 9.0 percent. On a yearly basis, industrial production declined 6.6 percent in January after remaining flat in December. Copyright(c) 2023 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 7, 2023 / Q Battery Metals Corp. ("Q Battery Metals" or the "Company) (CSE:QMET)(OTC PINK:BTKRF)(FRA:0NB) announces that Krystal Pineo has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and as a Director of the Company. In addition, the Company announces that Renat Mataev has resigned as Chief Financial Officer and as a director of the Company. The Company thanks Mr. Mataev for his contributions and wishes him the best in his endeavors. Krystal Pineo is the founder of KP Capital Inc, a family office and corporate advisory firm. Krystal was a co-founder and former director of Better Plant Sciences Inc., a CSE listed company offering a collection of high efficacy, plant based products for optimum health and wellness. Krystal was a board member of CSE listed Ultra Brands Ltd an agri-food holdings company focused on innovative products and technologies in the food services industry. Krystal is the also the acting COO at AbsolemHealth Corp. a company focused on creating natural solutions for human health optimization through functional and medicinal products. In 2022, Krystal formed Quartier Minerals Inc a privately held battery metals focused project generator. On behalf of the Board of Directors Richard Penn CEO (778) 384-8923 Cautionary Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of that date. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; fluctuations in the prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Prospectus dated September 8, 2017 available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions, and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE: Q Battery Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742384/Q-Battery-Metals-Corp-Appoints-CFO-and-Director The GreenBank Board are to deliver a new business strategy, designed to shape the direction of the Company for positive growth to futureproof against ever-changing markets. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / GreenBank Capital (CSE:GBC)(OTC PINK:GRNBF)(FRA:2TL) ("GreenBank" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, following the appointment of Sir Bob Neill, the Directors are undertaking a strategic review of the Company's existing and future investment strategy. Once the review is concluded, the intention is to produce a comprehensive plan of action setting out how the company can capitalise on the incoming-generating (and potentially-income generating) businesses that are already within the portfolio alongside opportunities that are either income generating or close to the end of their development runway. This may lead to decisions to further consolidate the portfolio by exiting non-core investments (other than where there is viable return within the short-to-medium term). The Directors will be announcing a Private Placement to support their vision and progressive strategy. As part of that consolidation and rationalisation process, the Staminier Board has decided that it cannot meet the terms being requested for the further extension of the option over 13 acres of land at Gatwick. Staminier has been seeking over the past three years to have that land reclassified within the Local Plan as being suitable for "strategic employment", a process that has constantly been delayed due in part to local council consultations and the effect of the pandemic on them. Crawley Council has recently issued an updated Consultation Statement (of over 500 pages) in relation to potential changes to the Local Plan, including those sought by Staminier. Having been reviewed by Staminier's independent experts, they conclude that this detailed summary of all the representations does not contain any positive indication that the reclassification sought will be forthcoming at any point in the near future, or at all. As a result of this, and taking into account the costs of extending the option and the associated professional fees associated with pursuing the reclassification, the directors of Staminier have decided not to pay to further extend the land option, but to expend time and resources in other areas where there is a more realistic prospect of achieving a return and in a shorter time frame. The company intends to release a summary shareholder update in the coming week which will give investors further insight into recent developments within the company's portfolio of investments. Terry Pullen, CEO said "Within our strategic review, we are objectively reflecting on the current economic cycle, in relation to our existing portfolio and investor expectations. We believe the outcome will prove our management team is both motivated and nimble enough to reshape and deliver the company vision, if supported by new and existing shareholders alike." About GreenBank GreenBank Capital is a business transformation company, whose aim is to nurture growth companies with a view to reaching their full potential. The company's modern approach to consultancy services, involves GreenBank taking stakes in every company it nurtures, and then allowing founders and executives to benefit from the years of collective experience of the GreenBank management team. The team in London and Toronto work diligently across borders to ensure that portfolio businesses reach their core objectives. The businesses we typically work with are already income-producing or close to the end of their development runway. From this emergent state, we can effectively implement strong business practices through operations, communications, financial controls and strategic management expertise. Whether a business desires to become a successful private company, list publicly, or is seek a profitable exit, GreenBank will add value at every stage as a strategic partner. GreenBank Capital is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Frankfurt Borse and on the OTC Markets in the US. For further information, please contact: Terry Pullen, CEO GreenBank Capital Tel: +44 (0)7831 402 38 Email: Terry@GreenBankCapitalInc.com. Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of GreenBank Capital Inc., the raising of additional capital believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information 14 because Greenbank can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Greenbank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: GreenBank Capital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742395/Greenbank-Directors-Conduct-Strategic-Review-and-Announce-Shareholder-Update New global automotive player with annualised sales of 1.2 billion euros Association of three international automotive suppliers Combines the strengths of these established automotive suppliers with a lean, experienced management team and agile, start-up mentality FRANKFURT, Germany, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the newly founded holding company Amaneos from Frankfurt am Main brings together three international automotive suppliers under one roof: Light Mobility Solutions GmbH (LMS), MoldTecs GmbH and SFC Group. Each of the companies is a specialist manufacturer of plastic-based systems for the automotive industry and will continue to operate independently as part of Amaneos. With this move, Amaneos becomes a global player in the automotive industry with over 7,500 employees at more than 30 locations worldwide and annualised sales of 1.2 billion euros. LMS, MoldTecs and SFC Group were each respectively acquired in 2021, 2022 and 2020 by Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, a Munich-based investment company and the shareholder of Amaneos. They have been developing as independent companies since they were spun off from their previous parent companies and became part of the Mutares Group. SFC Group develops and produces high-quality fluid transfer systems, sealing solutions, as well as mixing and rubber components. As a producer of lightweight components, LMS offers a comprehensive product portfolio of exterior and interior systems. MoldTecs produces high-performance plastic parts using state-of-the-art injection moulding machines. Amaneos brings together all three companies and the full range of their products and services, creating synergies and adding value in production, global footprint and supply networks for the benefit of customers. In the coming months, further growth is also expected: MoldTecs is planning to build two plants - one in North America and one in China. In the process, Amaneos is expected to grow its global presence while also creating jobs. The goal of Amaneos, is to be a modern partner to automotive manufacturers (OEMs), combining the strengths of established automotive suppliers with the agility and dynamism of a start-up. Mathieu Purrey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Amaneos, explains: "Born to move. That is the guiding principle that pushes us forward at Amaneos. As a global mobility partner, we want to work together to drive the continued progress of OEMs. By bringing these specialist automotive suppliers and their years of experience together under one roof, we can provide our customers with greater agility, flexibility and innovation - without compromising on quality." The collaboration between LMS, SFC Group and MoldTecs brings together Amaneos's expertise and technologies, complementing each other perfectly. In this way, the three companies can support OEMs globally across their specialised business areas with flexible, customised and innovative solutions - enabling the mobility of tomorrow. Purrey continues: "Our production and development locations around the world also enable us to be there for our customers globally and to serve them flexibly and quickly with high-quality products. To do this, we rely on continuous innovation as well as the upheaval of new and traditional technologies to keep pace with the evolving needs of OEMs - in all relevant markets." About Amaneos: Amaneos is a global partner to automotive manufacturers based in Frankfurt am Main. We were founded in 2023 to power OEMs' progress and create synergy between companies Light Mobility Solutions GmbH, SFC Group, and MoldTecs GmbH. The portfolio companies Light Mobility Solutions GmbH, MoldTecs GmbH and SFC Group remain legally independent. We're poised to deliver to the global mobility industry at scale with flexibility, agility and innovation. Press contact: Edelman GmbH Meike Baumann Rundfunkplatz 2 80335 Munich +49 (0) 69 509546362 press@amaneos.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amaneos-global-player-in-the-automotive-supplier-industry-301763685.html UK's leading arts and crafts retailer deploys Contentsquare Live Zoning analysis tool to boost performance of its eCommerce site, resulting in higher customer retention and activation LONDON, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Contentsquare , the global leader in digital experience analytics, and Hobbycraft , the UK's leading arts and crafts retailer, have worked together to improve the eCommerce functions of its website, following pandemic-driven consumer interest in new hobbies. According to Pitney Bowes data, 94% of consumers took up a new hobby to pass the time during the height of the 2020 global pandemic, including art, crochet, haberdashery, papercraft, wedding and party, baking, jewelry making and more, but many have reportedly struggled to keep up with newfound hobbies post-pandemic. Hobbycraft saw this as an opportunity to activate its website to cater to customers with interest in advancing in existing hobbies or to inspire a love of a new crafting discipline. The company used Contentsquare digital experience insights to achieve this as it replatformed its eCommerce site, nurturing people's interests by delivering better experiences that serve customers the information and inspiration they seek. As a result, Hobbycraft's website-driven revenue has grown 20% year-on-year . By surfacing visitor trends, Contentsquare's digital experience analytics platform identified which eCommerce site zones were most effective or could use some attention. Contentsquare's replatform team worked with Hobbycraft digital marketers to strategize and prioritize components of Hobbycraft's eCommerce site, monitoring for and sharing instant insights on performance, as well as noteworthy changes and trends in customer behavior. These insights informed many of Hobbycraft's decisions around user interface, product content, content or promotion placement, customer call-to-action, and others. "Prior to adopting Contentsquare, we had a digital solution for our website that worked fine, but we realized that it may have been keeping us from finding more opportunities to connect with crafters around the world, so they can use our expertise to nurture hobbies that had been a saving grace during the pandemic," said Jennifer North, Head of Digital at Hobbycraft. "We have more than 23,000 products on our website, and sifting through them can be overwhelming, so being able to use the data insights from Contentsquare to deliver information and products to customers that cater to individual interests has been a game changer. We needed a more powerful, flexible and feature-rich platform in a bid to meet evolving customer expectations around experience. Our customers now know we understand them and their hobbies better, and are able to serve them the experiences that they want and deserve." Replatforming, sometimes described as similar to the process of designing and building an "amazing new house" led to two key results for the brand: building great eCommerce journeys for Hobbycraft customers, on both mobile and desktop, and designing a new look and feel to reflect Hobbycraft's status as a creative destination for arts and crafts. The Hobbycraft team is now able to view web elements that looked great in design but didn't work as expected once they went live-including a button placement that was damaging session sign-ins, an over-busy page that was reducing guest checkouts and some copy around gift cards that was causing customers to abandon the payment page. The ability to manage performance and course-correct in real time helped Hobbycraft's website generate more than 300.000 over the course of six months. "When your conversion is being challenged by the changes of a replatform and other external factors, you have to be really confident that the tasks and changes you're giving your dev team are the right things to focus on. Contentsquare gives us that confidence," continued North. Contentsquare's ability to monitor website visitor activity and serve up business-critical insights -not just clicks, but also mouse hovers, scrolling, search behaviors, etc. - continues to be instrumental in improving customer journeys in ways that aren't invasive to personal customer data. "A website that doesn't delight visitors is a huge missed opportunity, especially when it serves as a main revenue channel," said John O'Melia, Chief Customer Officer at Contentsquare. "Hobbycraft understood the potential of its website and leaned into the story that behavioral data told, continually making decisions that put customers at the center of everything." Contentsquare's digital experience analytics platform provides a range of features (including Zone-Based Heatmaps , Customer Journey Analysis and Session Replays ) that will help brands understand how customers are using their replatformed site, with powerful AI dedicated to bringing the most valuable insights to immediate attention. Most recently, the company released an enhanced version of its Speed Analysis capability, part of the Find & Fix application, to include real-user monitoring. About Contentsquare Contentsquare delivers the power to make the digital world more human. Its AI-powered platform provides rich and contextual insight into customer behaviors, feelings and intent - at every touchpoint in their journey - enabling businesses to build empathy and create lasting impact. The global leader in digital experience analytics, Contentsquare helps brands everywhere transform the way they do business, allowing them to take action at enterprise scale and build customer trust with security, privacy and accessibility. More than 1,000 leading brands use Contentsquare to grow their business, deliver more customer happiness and move with greater agility in a constantly changing world. Its insights power the customer experience on over 1 million websites worldwide. Founded in Paris and with offices around the world, Contentsquare has raised $810m in investment funding from leading investors, including Softbank, BlackRock and others. For more information, visit www.contentsquare.com About Hobbycraft Hobbycraft is the UK's largest arts and crafts retailer, selling more than 25,000 arts and crafts products for hundreds of creative activities, from art, knit and stitch, papercraft, wedding, party, baking and much more. For more information visit www.hobbycraft.co.uk Learn to craft with Hobbycraft, from painting to crochet and everything in between Hobbycraft's extensive in-store and online work programme offers something for all crafts and abilities. Visit Hobbycraft on ClassBento for more. Hobbycraft is the home of the number one craft blog in the UK, with over 2,000 easy-to-follow tutorials ready to inspire your next project! Visit www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas to discover more. May 2022 saw Best Companies, an organisation dedicated to making the world a better workplace, reveal Hobbycraft as the No.1 Best Big Company to work for in the UK. Press Contact: Gaetane Roche gaetane.roche@contentsquare.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/contentsquare-helps-hobbycraft-drive-site-performance-and-achieve-20-ecommerce-growth-year-on-year-301764144.html OQ Chemicals has launched "OxBalance Isononanoic Acid", the world's first commercially available isononanoic acid that is produced from both bio-based and circular feedstocks, and is ISCC PLUS certified. The new product has a bio-based content of over 70 percent, providing manufacturers with a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional isononanoic acid. To meet the growing demand for carboxylic acids, OQ Chemicals has recently invested in a capacity expansion project in Germany. Isononanoic acid is widely used in the production of various industrial and consumer goods, such as energy-efficient lubricants, plasticizers, and surfactants. "The demand for bio-based raw materials is increasing across different industries. Therefore, the introduction of our ISCC PLUS certified OxBalance Isononanoic Acid is a significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable chemical production. With the same specifications and quality, our OxBalance products are a drop-in replacement for traditional carboxylic acids. As consumers demand more environmentally friendly products, we see a great opportunity for our customers to shift from fossil-based to sustainable feedstocks without compromising on quality or performance," said David Faust, Executive Vice President Oxo Performance Chemicals at OQ Chemicals. "At OQ Chemicals, we are proud to be the first to offer bio-based isononanoic acid. For us, this is the logical next step on our journey towards greater sustainability. We aim to make our large-scale production processes more environmentally friendly, efficient, and sustainable while reducing emissions. As we expand our portfolio of bio-based Oxo Performance Chemicals, such as carboxylic acids, we invest in capacity expansions and explore new ways to innovate and improve our chemical production processes," added Dr. Oliver Borgmeier, CEO of OQ Chemicals. The new OxBalance product line uses the mass balance concept to trace renewable feedstocks in chemical production processes and allocate them to products. ISCC PLUS is a globally recognized sustainability certification system. OxBalance is a registered trademark of OQ Chemicals. About OQ Chemicals OQ Chemicals (formerly Oxea) is a global manufacturer of Oxo Intermediates and Oxo Performance Chemicals such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These are used to produce high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, flavors and fragrances, printing inks, and plastics. OQ Chemicals employs more than 1,400 people worldwide and markets its chemicals in more than 60 countries. The company is part of OQ, an integrated energy company originating in Oman. More information is available at chemicals.oq.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230307005626/en/ Contacts: Media contact OQ Chemicals GmbH, Rheinpromenade 4a, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany Dr. Ina Werxhausen, Communications and Press Relations Phone: +49 (0)2173 9993-3009, sc.communications@oq.com Avicena has demonstrated a record-breaking 235C optical link using its LightBundle technology Avicena, a privately held company headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, is demonstrating the world's highest temperature optical link operating at up to 235C using its LightBundleTM communication architecture and technology at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) 2023 in San Diego, CA (https://www.ofcconference.org/en-us/home/). The Avicena LightBundle architecture breaks new ground by unlocking the performance of xPUs, memory and sensors, removing key bandwidth and proximity constraints while simultaneously offering an order-of-magnitude reduction in power consumption. Over the past three decades, optical links have gradually replaced copper interconnects in many segments of wired communications due to their much longer reach, lower power requirements, lighter weight, and immunity to EMI. Today most optical links use semiconductor edge-emitting lasers or vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). However, these lasers typically exhibit dramatic performance and lifetime reductions at operating temperatures above 85C and are thus unable to meet the 5- to 10-year field lifetime requirements of many higher temperature applications. The lifetime limitations of these communications lasers are related to fundamental properties of the GaAs and InP semiconductors from which nearly all are made, and thus have proved very difficult to improve significantly despite decades of effort. By contrast, Avicena's LightBundle links use microLEDs made from Gallium Nitride (GaN). GaN microLEDs are much less sensitive than GaAs and InP lasers to operating temperature, specifically regarding performance and reliability. Combined with high energy efficiency and low cost, these attributes have allowed GaN LEDs to transform the lighting industry over the past decade. LightBundle technology is based on arrays of GaN microLEDs that leverage the LED lighting and display ecosystems, and can be integrated directly onto high performance CMOS ICs. Each microLED array is connected via a multi-core fiber cable to a matching array of CMOS-compatible PDs. Now, Avicena has demonstrated LightBundle links operating at up to 235C. This brings the benefits of optical interconnects to the harsh environments encountered in a wide variety of automotive, industrial, aerospace, and defense applications, while also offering other benefits of the LightBundle architecture. "We have already demonstrated the benefits of LightBundle links in data center, HPC, and ML/AI with bleeding edge power and density requirements," says Chris Pfistner, VP of Sales Marketing at Avicena. "We have now shown that the unique benefits of the GaN materials system in microLEDs extends to applications with operating temperatures that have traditionally been beyond the capabilities of optical interconnects. This is igniting interest among our partners and customers in numerous market segments in the automotive, defense, and aerospace industries." About the Technology Today's high-performance ICs use SerDes-based electrical links to achieve adequate IO density. However, the power consumption and bandwidth density of these electrical links degrade quickly with length. Conventional optical communications technologies developed for networking applications have been impractical for inter-processor and processor-memory interconnects due to their low bandwidth density, high power consumption, and high cost. Moreover, co-packaging existing laser sources with hot ASICs causes reliability problems unless external laser sources (ELS) are used, which increases complexity and cost. "All of this is now changing," says Rob Kalman, Avicena's CTO and co-founder. "We are developing ultra-low power, high-density optical technology based on GaN microLED arrays optimized for high-speed interconnects. Our technology and inventions build on recent display industry advances and would have been impractical just a few years ago. Our innovative LightBundle architecture supports hundreds of lanes with per-lane speeds of 10Gbps or more to enable multi-Tbps links meeting the most demanding emerging compute interconnect needs. This also frees system designers to innovate beyond the bounds of today's proximity constraints." The low power, high density, and low latency of LightBundleTM is well matched to chiplet interfaces like UCIe, OpenHBI, and BoW, and can also be used to rethink and enhance system architectures that are limited by the reach of existing compute interconnects like PCIe/CXL, and HBM/DDR/GDDR memory links. Avicena at OFC 2023: Avicena will be showing the LightBundleTM architecture and technology at the OFC exhibits in Booth #3950. About Avicena Avicena Tech Corp. is a privately held company located in Sunnyvale, CA, developing LightBundle, a next generation computing architecture for AI/ML, HPC, sensors, 5G wireless and aerospace applications. This unique, flexible ultra-low energy technology is based on microLEDs, offering both very high bandwidth and low latency. Now, system designers can disaggregate functions like compute and memory and radically grow system throughput. Avicena's technology is a key building block in the evolution of networking and computing that will reduce the energy impact on our planet. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230307005567/en/ Contacts: Avicena Media Contact: Sama Pourmojib email: sama@avicena.tech Dubai is set to host World AI Show, the world's longest-running AI series, for the 6th time. This year's 41st edition is all about empowering businesses to supercharge their AI adoption in the region. This high-energy event will witness exciting keynotes, insightful panel discussions, fireside chats, and innovative products & solutions at display that will take MEA businesses to new heights. DUBAI, Mar 7, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Although IT executives, leaders, and tech decision-makers in the MEA region acknowledge the importance of AI and related emerging tech for inclusive business growth, they feel unequipped to make a tangible impact due to the lack of necessary tools and programs. To address this key issue, on the 7th & 8th of June 2023, the World AI Show will convene global experts, and key delegates to examine the capabilities of cutting-edge technologies. For the sixth time in Dubai, this initiative will bring together top AI experts to debate the growth of AI adoption and its role in the "new normal" of the UAE. The event will showcase global AI case studies and success stories from early adopters and provide a hands-on learning experience for stakeholders from various industries such as government, healthcare, retail, logistics and supply chain, FMCG, manufacturing, banking, and finance, airlines, real estate, utilities, and transportation among others. The event will also host yet another scintillating World AI Awards - a celebration of innovators, entrepreneurs and solution providers who will be honoured for their constant endeavours in the field of AI and related technologies. The ceremony will recognize the breakthroughs achieved by individuals, teams and entities that have embarked on a journey of adopting & implementing AI in MEA region. Since its inception in 2018, the series has so far touched upon 18+ countries and has hosted more than 42,000 international C-level IT Decision Makers, 2600+ early adopters of future-tech have attended as speakers, and more than 52 countries have been represented across 39 editions. The upcoming edition in Dubai aims to bring together global use-cases, and success stories from the early adopters of AI while providing a hands-on learning experience to the technology stakeholders converging from key sectors like Governments, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Banking and Finance, Real estate, Utilities, and Transportation just to name a few. The event's overall objective is to address sector-wide issues with innovative AI solutions and create transformative disruptions in sectors of strategic relevance to Dubai. Recently, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched UAE Centennial 2071 initiative. The UAE Centennial 2071 initiative is a significant step forward for the country in its journey toward becoming a leading nation in terms of technological advancements, particularly in the field of AI. As part of this initiative, the UAE government has established several AI-focused initiatives, such as the Dubai AI Roadmap and the Abu Dhabi AI plan, which aim to integrate AI into various sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation, and security, among others. The country is also investing in AI research and development and providing a conducive environment for businesses to innovate and thrive. Furthering this initiative, World AI Show aims to serve as a key platform for AI professionals to network, share ideas and knowledge, and explore business opportunities in the UAE. The event is also a showcase of the country's commitment to advancing AI and its potential to transform various sectors. Some of the speakers who recently confirmed their attendance include: Awad ElSidiq , Head of AI & Analytics, ADNOC Distribution , Head of AI & Analytics, ADNOC Distribution Vineesha Satwani , Advisor- Digitalization to Senior Leadership, UAE Government , Advisor- Digitalization to Senior Leadership, UAE Government Soheyl Kadjani , Chief Digital Officer, Rabo Bank , Chief Digital Officer, Rabo Bank Wael AbuRizq , AI & Advanced Analytics Advisor, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) , AI & Advanced Analytics Advisor, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) Suleiman Mohammad Aldabbas , Chief Specialist, Dubai Government , Chief Specialist, Dubai Government Mhd Wail Khachfa , Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Digital Ajman , Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Digital Ajman Sven Herzing , Chief Technology Officer, Talabat , Chief Technology Officer, Talabat Stephen Kruger , Chief Technology Officer, Careem , Chief Technology Officer, Careem Ali Katkhada, Group CIO, Depa United Group Talking about her participation in World AI Show, Vineesha Satwani, Advisor, Digitalization to Senior Leadership, UAE Government says, "Speaking and sharing my work and insights at the World AI Show is an honor, as this gathering serves as a hub of knowledge and innovation in the field of Artificial Intelligence. With experts from all over the region coming together to share their insights and advancements, the conference is a treasure trove of valuable information and opportunities for growth for the attendees." Emphasizing the importance of the World AI Show, Awad ElSidiq, Head of AI & Analytics, ADNOC Distribution says, "World AI Show is a value-added conference to learn and gain insights on latest AI & ML Trends and potential use cases." "AI is now being widely embraced across multiple industries, and countries such as the UAE are leading the way. Our World AI Show will continue having a direct impact on increasing AI adoption by educating key stakeholders on the transformative power of AI, showcasing practical use cases, connecting organizations with technology partners and celebrating champions that have already implemented AI." says Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO of Trescon. World AI Show, Dubai edition is sponsored by Silver Sponsor, NUUMMITE Consulting. About Trescon Trescon is the world's fastest-growing business-to-business events, training, marketing and consulting company primarily focused on the adoption of sustainability, inclusive leadership and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, metaverse, cloud, fintech, data analytics and cybersecurity. Our summits, conferences, and expos create real economic impact by connecting and empowering the key ecosystem of government organizations, regulators, policymakers, private sector companies, solution providers, startups, investors, accelerators, advisors, consultants, associations, academia and more. Thought leadership, knowledge exchange, brand positioning, business expansion, market penetration, lead generation, finding solutions & services, capital raising, capacity building, training and networking are among the key objectives of our stakeholders. With the help of our 250+ employees across offices in 6 countries, several of our clients have quadrupled their leads, shortened sales cycles by half or less, entered markets three times faster, closed deals within unimaginable timelines and grown their businesses ultimately. Whether you are an organization or an individual, Trescon has something to offer you For further details about the announcement, please contact: Nupur Aswani Head - Media, PR and Corporate Communications, Trescon +91 95559 15156 | media@tresconglobal.com Source: tresconCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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. WUHAN, China and SAN DIEGO, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthias Szabo Zarb, a Maltese college student, was diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy caused by ND1 mutation (ND1-LHON) two years ago, which led to a rapid deterioration in his visual acuity and inability to engage in normal activities. Through the National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support, he learned about NFS-02, a gene therapy drug targeting ND1-LHON which is developed by the Chinese ophthalmic gene therapy company, Neurophth. Following a recommendation from the Embassy of China in Malta, Ms. Michelle Muscat, the chairman of the Malta National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support, contacted Neurophth. Neurophth decided to donate NFS-02 and recommended Dr. Yong Zhang, director of ophthalmology center at Taihe Hospital, as the treating physician. Upon arrival, the patient received free expedited genetic tests supported by Neurophth. On March 4th, representatives of Neurophth donated NFS-02 to the Maltese patient at Taihe Hospital. Notably, Professor Zhang Yong performed the surgery for the patient on the same day. The Embassy of China in Malta expressed their gratitude to Neurophth for their support in treating international patients. They praised the company for donating drug to Mr. Matthias Szabo Zarb and his family, as well as fostering closer ties between China and Malta. The collaboration has received high attention from the Maltese government. The National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support organized a press conference where the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament delivered a speech. Former Maltese Prime Minister Muscat and his wife also conveyed their appreciation to the embassy. In 2017, Professor Li Bin, the former director of the Ophthalmology Department of Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, launched the world's largest sample size clinical trial for gene therapy for ND4-LHON. The study included 149 patients from China and 10 patients from Argentina. The 12-month follow-up results showed that NFS-01 has remarkable curative effect and no obvious serious adverse events have been found. NFS-02 is Neurophth's second gene therapy, in development for the treatment of mtND1-mediated LHON. After six years of development, the company's technology platform has become more advanced. NFS-02 has been used to treat multiple patients in the investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT) in China and received orphan drug designation and IND approval from the U.S. FDA. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1908454/Neurophth_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/maltese-patient-received-worlds-first-nd1-lhon-gene-therapy-injection-donated-by-neurophth-in-china-301764415.html Wolters Kluwer recognized as #1 in the Netherlands for gender diversity Third consecutive year the Company claims top spot in Equileap'sranking; Executives to participate in bell ringingfor gender equality at Euronext Amsterdam Alphen aan den Rijn,March 7, 2023 - Wolters Kluwer is the top company for gender diversity in the Netherlands, according to Equileap, a leading provider of data and insights on gender equality. This is the third consecutive year that Wolters Kluwer has won the honor. The company also ranked #6 out of only 18 companies globally to reach gender balance across all four levels's2023GenderEquality Global Report &Ranking. The independent recognition comes as Wolters Kluwer prepares to celebrate International Women's Day at Euronext Amsterdam on March 8 for the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality 2023 campaign. The event, a partnership between various high profile organizations including UN Women and the World Federation of Exchanges, will feature senior executives from the Company. "At Wolters Kluwer we believe that diversity drives performance, and we are pleased to once again be recognized with the top ranking in the Netherlands for gender diversity," says Carlos Rivero, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Talent Management at Wolters Kluwer. "Strong gender diversity representation is incredibly important to us and there is always more we can do. As a result, we will continue to take actions to further our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the entire organization." As part of the Company's commitment to taking further actions, Nancy McKinstry, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Executive Board of Wolters Kluwer, recently signed the UN's Women's Empowerment Principles.Wolters Kluwer joins more than 7,000 companies who have signed the principles which offer guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. To learn more about Wolters Kluwer, please visit: www.wolterskluwer.com. # # # About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Media Contact Paul Lyon Senior Director, External Communications Global Branding & Communications Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com Attachment Orogen creates two new royalties, acquires rights to two additional royalties, and sees advancement of its Hank royalty. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / (TSX.V:OGN)(OTCQX:OGNRF) Orogen Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed a purchase and sale agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with P2 Gold Inc. (TSX.V:PGLD) ("P2 Gold"), and an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Kingfisher Metals Inc. (TSX.V: KFR) ("Kingfisher") on the Ball Creek Property in the Golden Triangle in northwest British Columbia, Canada. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, P2 Gold will acquire a 100% interest in 18,893 hectares of mineral claims ("Ball Creek West") for $1.0 million in common shares of P2 Gold, a 1% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty and transferring to Orogen the right to acquire an additional 1% NSR royalty subject to an underlying agreement. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Kingfisher can earn a 100% interest in 35,020 hectares of mineral claims ("Ball Creek East") by issuing $3.5 million in common shares of Kingfisher and spending $7.5 million in exploration over a four-year period. Upon exercising the Option Agreement, Kingfisher will transfer to Orogen the right to acquire a 1% NSR royalty subject to an underlying agreement. Kingfisher will also grant to Orogen a 1% NSR royalty on Kingfisher's 28,407-hectare Ecstall volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") project, located on the central coast in British Columbia on signing the Option Agreement. In a separate transaction, Kingfisher has also signed an option agreement with Golden Ridge Resources Corp. (TSX.V: GLDN) for acquisition of the Hank project, a 1,700-hectare copper-gold porphyry property internal to the Ball Creek East claims, where Orogen holds rights to a US$2.5 million cash payment and a 3% NSR royalty. Orogen CEO Paddy Nicol commented, "Ball Creek is a large 539 square kilometre copper-gold porphyry property with several porphyry copper and epithermal gold targets that has been split into two sperate projects to allow for focused and manageable exploration. Ball Creek West adjoins P2 Gold's BAM gold project to the north and complements their exploration initiatives with the highly prospective More area. Ball Creek East's Main Zone consists of a cluster of KSM-aged porphyry targets can be effectively explored as a larger mineral system in combination with the Hank property." About the Ball Creek Project The Ball Creek Project consists of over 539 square-kilometres of mineral tenure in the Golden-Triangle, northwestern British Columbia (Figure 1), a region that has seen significant infrastructure development for access and power, and major mining company investment. Figure 1 - Ball Creek Location Map Porphyry style mineralization has been identified in multiple intrusive suites across the property which has seen limited exploration compared to the rest of the Golden Triangle. The Ball Creek Main zone ("MZ") is a 1,200 by 400 metre porphyry system that has returned drill intersects including 455 metres grading 0.28 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 0.11% copper in drill hole BC12-47, and 231 metres grading 0.54 g/t gold and 0.21% copper in drill hole BC07-12. The MZ remains open with anomalous intercepts at the extremities of the drilled area, untested internal areas, and depth potential. Outside of the MZ, the 12 square-kilometre Ball Creek Cluster is defined by highly anomalous copper, gold and molybdenum soil and rock geochemistry with multiple exposures of porphyry-style alteration. This region is largely unexplored. Porphyry targets on the Ball Creek West property including More, Mess, and Hickman have seen limited exploration: The More zone consists of an undrilled Galore Creek style megacrystic syenite porphyry occurrence partially hidden by Quaternary basalts with a potassically altered outcrop returning 6.8% copper, 0.20 g/t gold and 10.3 g/t silver in a grab sample The Mess zone consists of copper mineralization associated with the eastern contact of a monzonitic stock defining a fifteen-kilometre-long anomalous zone of mineralization at surface. There are greater than 500 metre internal gaps between drill holes and multiple strong soil anomalies remain untested The Hickman target, discovered in 2019, represents an undrilled porphyry target with copper-gold mineralization at surface in a potassically altered diorite eight kilometres from Schaft Creek. Figure 2 - Ball Creek West and East claim map Multiple epithermal and volcanic-hosted-massive sulphide prospects exist outside these defined porphyry targets. Agreement Terms Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, P2 Gold can acquire a 100% interest in the Ball Creek West project by issuing $1.0 million of P2 Gold common shares, granting a 1% NSR royalty, and transferring the buy-down right to acquire an additional 1% NSR royalty on the Ball Creek West claims for $1.0 million subject to the Paget Minerals-Pembrook Mining (now Sandstorm Gold Royalties) agreement dated April 12, 2011 (the "Sandstorm Agreement"). Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Kingfisher can earn a 100% interest in the Ball Creek East project by issuing $3.5 million of common shares, and incurring $7.5 million in exploration expenditures over four years per the following: Fair Value of Common Shares to be Issued Additional Consideration Exploration Expenditures On signing $300,000 1% NSR on Ecstall Project - End of Y1 $400,000 $500,000 End of Y2 $500,000 $1,000,000 End of Y3 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 End of Y4 $1,300,000 $4,000,000 Total $3,500,000 $7,500,000 Once Kingfisher has exercised its option to acquire the Ball Creek East project, it will transfer to Orogen the buy-down right to acquire an additional 1% NSR royalty on the Ball Creek East claims for $1.0 million subject to the Sandstorm Agreement. As additional consideration, Kingfisher will also grant a 1% NSR royalty on the Ecstall project upon signing the Option Agreement. Qualified Person Statement All new technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo., VP. Exploration for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. About Orogen Royalties Inc. Orogen Royalties Inc. is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver mine in Sonora, Mexico (2% NSR royalty) being mined by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon gold project (1% NSR royalty) in Nevada, USA, being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti NA. The Company operates a profitable prospect generation business with multiple projects actively being advanced by exploration partners. On Behalf of the Board OROGEN ROYALTIES INC Paddy Nicol President & CEO To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President, Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Orogen Royalties Inc. 1015 - 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 1H2 info@orogenroyalties.com Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believe the expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, 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. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: Orogen Royalties Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742392/Orogen-Royalties-Sells-Ball-Creek-West-to-P2-Gold-and-Options-Ball-Creek-East-to-Kingfisher-Metals Significant shallow intercepts including: 104.9m at 1.31% Cu in Hole 20_21 126.2m at 1.24% Cu in Hole 20_01 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Intrepid Metals Corp. (TSXV:INTR) ("Intrepid" or the "Company"), subsequent to its news release dated February 15, 2023 announcing the Cave Creek Copper acquisition, is pleased to provide further details about its new district scale, advanced exploration and development copper property, the Corral Copper Project, in Cochise County, Arizona. Over 50,000 metres ("m") of drilling has been completed in the district, with significant near surface intercepts of copper, silver, gold, and zinc. "With the recent acquisition of Cave Creek Copper, we have assay and drill hole information for over 100 holes that have been drilled within the patented mining claim portion of our property," said Ken Brophy, CEO of Intrepid Metals. "The shallow and high-grade nature of the mineralization is very encouraging as we continue to analyze and review the historical data. This data will guide us as we plan next steps within the district and allow us to classify this as an advanced exploration project based on the wealth of historical drilling." Historical Drilling Highlights Copper ("Cu") highlights, as well as the corresponding silver ("Ag"), gold ("Au") and zinc ("Zn") grades, from historic drilling on the property are included below: 104.9m at 1.31% Cu , 4.89g/t Ag and 0.40g/t Au (60.8m to 165.7m) including 41.0m over 1.76% Cu in Hole 20_21 , 4.89g/t Ag and 0.40g/t Au (60.8m to 165.7m) including in Hole 20_21 126.2m at 1.24% Cu (30.4m to 156.6m) in Hole 20_01 (30.4m to 156.6m) in Hole 20_01 44.0m at 1.35% Cu , 30.39g/t Ag, 0.21g/t Au and 0.29% Zn (35.0m to 79.0m) in Hole BR_06_81 , 30.39g/t Ag, 0.21g/t Au and 0.29% Zn (35.0m to 79.0m) in Hole BR_06_81 71.4m at 0.75% Cu, 26.43g/t Ag (66.9m to 138.3m) in Hole NCTR_11 26.43g/t Ag (66.9m to 138.3m) in Hole NCTR_11 41.1m at 0.85% Cu, 17.72g/t Ag (25.8m to 66.9m) in Hole CG_08 17.72g/t Ag (25.8m to 66.9m) in Hole CG_08 51.7m at 1.01% Cu, 7.98g/t Ag and 0.36g/t Au (63.8m to 115.5m) in Hole 20_37 7.98g/t Ag and 0.36g/t Au (63.8m to 115.5m) in Hole 20_37 63.9m at 0.62% Cu, 8.51g/t Ag, 0.42g/t Au and 0.26% Zn (79.0m to 142.9m) in Hole BR-06-100 The drill results are historical in nature. Intrepid has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Intrepid considers these historical drill results relevant, as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. Intrepid also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes; however, the Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data through further drilling. Figure 2: Map Showing Highlights From Historic Drilling at Corral Copper About Corral Copper The Corral Copper Project is a district scale advanced exploration and development opportunity in Cochise County, Arizona. Corral Copper is located 15 miles east of the famous mining town of Tombstone and 22 miles north of the historical Bisbee mining camp which has produced more than 8 billion pounds of copper with grades of up to 23%. Production from the Bisbee mining camp is not necessarily indicative of the mineral potential at the Corral Copper Project. The district has a mining history dating back to the late 1800s, with several small mines extracting copper from the area in the early 1900s, producing several thousand tons with grades up to 9.2% copper ore. Between 1950 and 2008, various companies explored parts of the district, but the effort was uncoordinated, non-synergistic and focused on discrete land positions and commodities due to the fragmented ownership. Intrepid has been able to secure data from various sources which provides a solid foundation in creating geological interpretations and identifying new target areas. Anglo American began exploring the district in 2016, conducted mapping and airborne geophysics which identified numerous new target areas through the district. Intrepid has acquired Anglo American's data package and in exchange, Anglo American has retained an interest over a portion of the project area in the form of a right of first refusal over transfers if certain conditions are met. Intrepid is confident that by combining modern exploration techniques with historical data and with a clear focus on responsible development, the Corral Copper Project can quickly become an advanced exploration stage project and move towards feasibility level studies. Dr. Chris Osterman, P. Geo, a consultant of the Company, is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Osterman has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information disclosed in this news release. About Intrepid Metals Corp. Intrepid Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on exploring for potential high-grade copper, silver, and zinc projects in proximity to established mining camps in south-eastern Arizona, USA. The Company has acquired several drill ready projects, including the Corral Copper Project (a district scale advanced exploration and development opportunity), and the Tombstone South Project (within the historical Tombstone mining district with geological similarities to the Taylor Deposit, which was purchased for $1.3B in 2018) both of which are located in Cochise County, Arizona and the Mesa Well Project located in the Laramide Copper Porphyry Belt in Arizona. Intrepid is actively looking to acquire additional projects in Arizona and the American Southwest and has assembled an exceptional team with considerable experience in evaluating and developing exploration projects within North America. Intrepid is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol "INTR". For more information, visit www.intrepidmetals.com. INTREPID METALS CORP. On behalf of the Company "Ken Brophy" CEO For further information regarding this news release, please contact: Ken Brophy CEO 604-681-8030 info@intrepidmetals.com Caroline Sawamoto Investor Relations invest@intrepidmetals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate to: (i) future exploration plans; (ii) details about potential mineralization; (iii) the exploration potential of the Corral Copper Property; and (iv) potential future production. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the results of exploration activities, expectations and anticipated impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, commodity prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the availability of labour and materials, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in commodity prices, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions and the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of exploration and development activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes and cave-ins, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Intrepid Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742246/Intrepid-Metals-Highlights-Historical-Drilling-With-Shallow-Copper-Intercepts-at-Corral-Copper-in-Arizona WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Department of Transportation has rolled out a new family seating dashboard that highlights the U.S. airlines that guarantee fee-free family seating and those that do not. This reform will make it easier for parents to avoid paying junk fees to sit with their children. This is an added feature to the existing dashboard, which already includes services for delayed and canceled flights. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said DOT has already begun work on a commonsense rulemaking to ban airlines from charging families junk fees to sit together. At a routine media briefing, she said as recently as a month ago, no U.S. airlines guaranteed fee-free family seating. 'Now, after the Biden administration pressed airlines to improve customer service, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines have stepped forward to guarantee that parents can sit with their young children without getting nickel and dimed,' she told reporters. 'Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees,' said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 'We have been pressing airlines to guarantee family seating without tacking on extra charges, and now we're seeing some airlines start to make this common-sense change. All airlines should do this promptly, even as we move forward to develop a rule establishing this as a requirement across the board.' Last summer, Secretary Buttigieg pressed U.S. airlines to do more for passengers who had a flight canceled or delayed because of the airline. He informed the CEOs of the 10 largest U.S. airlines that the Department would publish a dashboard on amenities and services provided such as rebooking, meals, or hotels in the event of a controllable delay or cancellation. Prior to his urging, none of the 10 largest U.S. airlines guaranteed meals or hotels when a delay or cancellation was within the airlines' control, and only one offered free rebooking. Now, all 10 airlines guarantee meals and rebooking, and nine guarantee hotels when an airline issue causes a cancellation or delay. The DOT's family seating dashboard provides a clear comparison of services the airlines have committed to provide, that will assist consumers when deciding which airline to fly. It makes it easier to know which airlines have stepped up and guarantee adjacent seats for young children traveling with an accompanying adult at no additional cost and which airlines do not. Since most airlines in the United States currently do not guarantee that they will seat a parent and a child together at no extra cost, the DOT has begun work on a rulemaking to ensure a young child is able to sit adjacent to an accompanying adult. Because the rulemaking process can be lengthy, President Joe Biden has called upon Congress to enact legislation. The Biden Administration plans to send Congress proposed legislation in the coming weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - Ophir Gold Corp. (TSXV: OPHR) (OTCQB: KPZIF) (FSE: 80M) (the "Company" or "Ophir") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase and sale agreement dated March 6th, 2023 (the "Agreement") with Troilus Gold Corporation (the "Vendor") to acquire three (3) mining claims located in James Bay, Quebec (the "Claims"). The three (3) claims are contiguous to the Company's Radis Lithium Property. The terms of the Agreement provide for the Company to acquire a 100% interest in the Claims in consideration for the issuance of 225,000 common shares of the Company to the Vendor. In addition, the Vendor shall retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR") on the Claims, while the Company shall have the option to purchase back three-quarters of the NSR, thereby reducing it to 0.5%, for $1,500,000. The Vendor is arm's length to the Company. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Ophir also announces that, pursuant to its stock option plan, it has granted an aggregate of 130,000 options to purchase common shares in the capital of the Company to certain directors of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.305 per share for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant. About the Company Ophir Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its flagship property, the past producing Breccia Gold Property located in Lemhi County, Idaho, as well as new Radis Property in James Bay, Quebec. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Breccia Gold Property over a three-year period from Canagold Resources Ltd. (formerly Canarc Resource Corp.) and DG Resource Management Ltd. The Company also has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Radis Lithium Property over a three-year period from Eastmain Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fury Gold Mines Limited. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Shawn Westcott" Ophir Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: Shawn Westcott, CEO Phone 1 (604) 365 6681 swestcott@ophirgoldcorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and include statements in this press release related to the closing of the Agreement to acquire the Claims. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157451 Frankfurt-based 3K will join WPP's Hill+Knowlton Strategies, advancing the company's growth in the global healthcare sector WPP (NYSE: WPP) announces today that it has acquired 3K Agentur fur Kommunikation (3K), one of the leading healthcare specialist PR agencies in Germany. 3K will become part of the Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) global network, strengthening its healthcare presence in Europe and expanding its operations in Germany. Founded 25 years ago, 3K is known for its expertise in healthcare, biopharmaceuticals, and related sciences, working with some of the world's most notable global pharmaceutical companies, consumer health brands, and local biotech start-ups. The addition of 3K aligns with WPP's strategic focus on healthcare and marks the company's continued investment in Germany. In the second half of 2022, WPP appointed Wendy Lund as Chief Client Officer for Health Wellness and FM Schmidt as WPP's first President of the German market. The acquisition is also the latest milestone in H+K's ongoing transformation. The agency has grown more than 25% over the last two years, expanding its global leadership team including Brenna Terry as Global Chair of Healthcare and acquiring the JeffreyGroup in Latin America. AnnaMaria DeSalva, Global Chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, said: "Healthcare is in a perpetual cycle of growth and transformation, demanding superior communication and stakeholder strategies. Hill+Knowlton has a large role to play in this dynamic market. The addition of 3K will meaningfully strengthen our international capability in healthcare, and I am delighted to welcome them to the H+K family." Ruth Bastuck, Founder and Managing Director of 3K, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what we have successfully built at 3K over the past 25 years, but I am equally excited for our future with Hill+Knowlton. Healthcare is such an important component of H+K's global strategy, and we could not have found a better fit, culturally, strategically, or operationally. We are equally dedicated to shaping excellent medical-to-human interactions. Tapping into the diverse resources and global reach of the H+K and WPP networks will create many exciting new opportunities for both our clients and our employees." Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "Amid today's dynamic macroeconomic conditions we have seen great resilience and growth in the healthcare sector, as well as across our own PR businesses. Germany is our third largest market, and the addition of 3K to Hill+Knowlton's growing portfolio further strengthens WPP's global healthcare offer to clients." 3K becomes the latest in a series of acquisitions including Fenom Digital, Diff, Passport, Newcraft and Corebiz in the last six months alone that form part of WPP's accelerated growth strategy and focused M&A approach to continue to build on the company's core capabilities. About WPP WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com. About Hill+Knowlton Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is an international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational, and global clients. H+K operates more than 70 offices in nearly 40 countries worldwide, as well as an extensive associate network, delivering award-winning campaigns to clients across all sectors and disciplines and with a focus on continued innovation for the industry. Headquartered in New York, the firm is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups. For more information about H+K, click here, follow us on Twitter here, like us on Facebook here, and follow us on LinkedIn here. About 3K Founded in 1998, 3K is one of the leading healthcare PR agencies in Germany, helping clients translate complex issues in healthcare and science into innovative formats, bringing products, brands and companies into the conversation. http://www.3k-kommunikation.de/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005601/en/ Contacts: Further information: Louise Lacourarie, WPP +44 (0)20 7282 4600 +44 7741 360931 louise.lacourarie@wpp.com Sarah Brandon, Hill+Knowlton +1 416 413 4773 sarah.brandon@hkstrategies.com Shareholders approve 26th consecutive dividend increase to CHF 3.20 (+3.2%) per share for 2022; representing a 4.0% yield1 and approximately 61% payout of free cash flow Shareholders confirm Joerg Reinhardt as Chair of the Board of Directors as well as all other members who stood for re-election; John D. Young newly elected to the Board of Directors Shareholders approve all other proposals of the Board of Directors, including the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation, the 2022 Compensation Report in an advisory vote, as well as the future Board and Executive Committee compensation in separate binding votes Basel, March 7, 2023 - Novartis shareholders today agreed to the Board of Directors' recommendations for all proposed resolutions at the Group's Annual General Meeting (AGM). A total of 1507 shareholders were present at the meeting held in Basel, representing approximately 56.01% of the issued shares of Novartis. Shareholders approved the 26th consecutive dividend increase since the creation of Novartis in 1996, with an increase of 3.2% to CHF 3.20 per share. Payment for the 2022 dividend will be made as from March 13, 2023. The dividend for 2022 is an approximately 61% payout of free cash flow and results in a dividend yield of 4.0%1. Annual re-election of Members of the Board Shareholders re-elected Joerg Reinhardt as Chair of the Board of Directors, and all members of the Board who stood for re-election, for one year. In addition, John D. Young was newly elected to the Board of Directors. Shareholders also re-elected all members of the Compensation Committee who stood for re-election, for one year. The Board of Directors intends to redesignate Simon Moroney as Chair of the Compensation Committee. Reduction of Share Capital In line with the Board of Directors' recommendation, the shareholders also approved the cancellation of 126 243 500 shares repurchased under the authorizations of March 2, 2021 and March 4, 2022 and the reduction of the share capital accordingly by CHF 63.1 million, from CHF 1 201 860 626 to CHF 1 138 738 876. Potential further share repurchases To allow for the full execution of the already announced share buyback of up to USD 15 billion and potential additional share buybacks, shareholders authorized the Board of Directors, in addition to the remaining authorization of CHF 7.4 billion2, to repurchase shares as deemed appropriate from time to time up to a maximum of CHF 10 billion between the 2023 Annual General Meeting and the 2026 Annual General Meeting. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation Shareholders also approved the Board of Directors' proposal for the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of Novartis AG implementing the requirements of the reform of Swiss corporate law that came into force on January 1, 2023 and taking into account current best corporate governance practice. Among other changes, the Articles of Incorporation newly authorize the Board of Directors to hold shareholder meetings electronically. Novartis has committed to submit the corresponding authorization again to a shareholder vote at the 2025 AGM. Votes on Compensation for the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee In two separate binding votes, shareholders approved the total maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the Board of Directors, covering the period from the 2023 AGM to the 2024 AGM, and the total maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the Executive Committee for the 2024 financial year. Shareholders also endorsed the 2022 Compensation Report in an advisory vote. Election of KPMG AG as Auditor In line with the Board of Directors' proposal, the shareholders elected KPMG AG as auditor for the financial year starting on January 1, 2023. For a detailed listing of all resolutions at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, please visit: https://www.novartis.com/agm Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "will," "authorized," "endorsed," "advisory," "future," "proposed," "potential," "intends," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding the potential future impact on Novartis of the matters described in this press release, including the future commercial performance of Novartis, further share repurchases, the annual re-election and election of members of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee, votes on compensation for the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, an advisory vote on the 2022 Compensation Report, the re-election of the statutory auditor, and the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee as to the ultimate outcome of the matters described in this press release or their potential impact on Novartis. In particular, our expectations regarding these matters could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties regarding future demand for our products; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems; the potential impact of matters discussed in this press release on Novartis management, its financial results and its competitiveness, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We deliver high-value medicines that alleviate society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. About 106,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work together to bring Novartis products to nearly 800 million people around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com (https://www.novartis.com). Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnews (https://twitter.com/novartisnews) For Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library (https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library) For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) References Based on the SIX closing share price on March 6, 2023 As of January 31, 2023 # # # Novartis Media Relations E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) Richard Jarvis Novartis Strategy & Financial Communications +44 7966 118 652 (mobile) richard.jarvis@novartis.com (mailto:richard.jarvis@novartis.com) Julie Masow Novartis US External Engagement +1 862 579 8456 (mobile) julie.masow@novartis.com (mailto:julie.masow@novartis.com) Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com (mailto:investor.relations@novartis.com) The new solution from the leader in storage management is designed to maximize flash lifespan, protect data integrity, and improve performance HELSINKI, FINLAND / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Tuxera, the world-leading provider of quality-assured data storage management software and networking technologies, announces the March 7 release of its new Reliance SenseTM. This new flash file system is purpose-built for data-logging applications on devices that use NOR flash, such as embedded IoT sensors, wearables, and digital meter devices. Tuxera Reliance Sense is designed to minimize risks associated with the increasing dependence on data, including operational, financial, cost, and safety-related threats. It also mitigates storage challenges such as data reliability, flash memory wear, hardware costs, and development times in data logging applications. Tuxera originally developed Reliance Sense to address the main challenges of logging applications in devices like smart meters, which have become a critical component of managing energy usage and cost and now are in high demand. With post-COVID economic recovery, lingering supply chain problems, and the energy crisis in Europe, energy prices are rising. At the same time, countries are also trying to address global climate challenges. Those trends combine to create a demand for smart meters, with some 225 million expected to be deployed in Europe by 2025. Although Reliance Sense was designed to meet the data management needs of smart meters, the global demand for sensors and sensing technology is also increasing significantly. A Gartner Semiconductor forecast reports a 6.4% CAGR 2021-2026 for non-optical sensors. "Like digital smart meters, these sensors share a reliance on NOR flash memory technology, and record data in a similar manner. That makes Reliance Sense a vital technology for developers and manufacturers of a wide spectrum of devices and use cases," said Eva Rio, Product Manager at Tuxera. "Embedded devices and digital sensors recording real-time or location-based data are the cornerstones of our 'all things sensing' future," said Rio. "While Reliance Sense was designed with smart meters in mind, it maximizes the efficiency and lifespan of memory systems in any data-logging application using NOR flash. It ensures data integrity, while also helping developers bring their projects to market more quickly." The data logging and metering applications at the core of those devices continuously generate structured records and require the most recent data to always be available, Rio explained. When the memory is full, old data should be overwritten with more recent data. "However, general-purpose file systems are not designed to do so efficiently. By default, standard file systems lack logic to store serial data streams and need more flash operations to manage the data. That creates overhead and complexity specifically when storing structured data," Rio said. Tuxera's novel Reliance Sense solves those issues with a unique, database-like approach that efficiently uses the byte-addressable mode of NOR flash memory. It features a circular design to suit continuous recording workloads and a linear setup for storing configuration data. Application developers are in control of defining the database and how to interact with its records. Reliance Sense simplifies the logging application through its advanced API for record management, which includes read, write, search, and user-defined functions. The result is simpler, more reliable, and more efficient application code. This translates into a reduced number of storage operations-extending flash lifetime, reducing power consumption, and boosting performance. Customers will see an accelerated time to market with Reliance Sense because of its easy-to-use API, wide NOR part compatibility and advanced tools that simplify the testing process. Reliance Sense ships with a simulator tool for behavior modeling, which allows the application developer to understand the long-term behavior of the flash, validate the system behavior in case of power interruption, and import flash images for diagnostic analysis. In addition, Reliance Sense reduces supply chain risk because of its extensive NOR part compatibility. If a manufacturer or developer relies on NOR flash hardware that is discontinued or otherwise unavailable, Reliance Sense will work with any replacement. Reliance Sense is also compatible with any real-time operating system (RTOS) or bare metal. Its minimal CPU usage and low ROM/RAM footprint make it ideal for use in resource-constrained environments. The file system also provides power fail-safe data storage, predictable data integrity, and reliable system recovery every time. Reliance Sense is the result of decades of experience in storage software working with the most complex embedded environments across a wide range of industries such as industrial, medical, automotive and aerospace. To learn more about Tuxera Reliance Sense, please visit https://www.tuxera.com/products/reliance-sense. About Tuxera Tuxera is the leading provider of quality-assured data storage management software and networking technologies. We help people and businesses store and move data reliably while making file transfers fast and content easily accessible. Our software is at the core of billions of phones, tablets, cars, TV sets, cameras, drones, external storage, routers, spacecraft, IoT devices, and public cloud storage platforms. Tuxera's customers include car makers, device manufacturers, industrial equipment manufacturers, data-driven enterprises, and much more. They rely on our software to protect data integrity, improve storage performance, transfer data rapidly and securely, and extend flash memory lifetime in their products and for their projects. We are also members of JEDEC, AGL, SD Association, The Linux Foundation, and other industry associations. Founded in 2008, Tuxera's headquarters are located in Finland, with regional offices in China, Germany, Hungary, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S. Contact Information Maria Penaloza maria.penaloza@newswire.com SOURCE: Tuxera View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742196/Tuxera-Launches-Reliance-Sense-the-Purpose-Built-Flash-File-System-for-Structured-Data-Storage-in-NOR-Flash See the Best Group Plans for Worldwide Organizations, Small International Companies, Business Travel, and Global Employees HINGHAM, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / International Citizens Insurance, the leading international insurance broker, has announced 2023's best international group health insurance plans for organizations sending people outside of their home country or hiring international employees. Because each insurance provider has different requirements for their clients, this list makes it easier for an organization to choose the best global benefits for their employees. International Citizens Insurance logo Stacked logo of International Citizens Insurance "Whether it's a growing international business, a missionary group, or a hardworking volunteer operation sending people overseas, organizations around the globe need global health insurance. Each company in our top 10 list has ideal solutions for different types of organizations," said Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance. "We ranked these companies for the first time because more small and medium organizations are employing remote workers abroad, growing their footprint in multiple countries and searching for guidance in this area. We're excited to congratulate this year's winners on helping organizations retain staff and protect the health of their people globally." Organizations sending staff out of the country, or hiring international employees, must protect their health. The best international group health insurance plans will cover an organization's people so they can focus on doing great work in any country worldwide. But with so many insurers, all with different requirements for their clients, it can be difficult to know which to choose. ICI's listing of top insurers will help organizations cut through the clutter to find the right provider for their needs. What Makes a Global Group Medical Insurance Plan Great? Just because a group international health insurance company is top-ranked doesn't mean it's the best for a specific organization's needs. Every organization is unique and needs a plan that is the right fit for them. Each company on the list has specific strengths that make them a good fit for a specific type of organization. How ICI Ranks Global Group Health Insurers International Citizens Insurance judged each company and related plan based on six key criteria: the size of their network, the breadth of benefits available in their plans, the availability of added features such as telemedicine, the ease of filing a claim, the ability to adjust a premium through copays and deductibles, and the financial stability of the insurer based on their A.M. Best rating. The most trusted insurers include Cigna Global, notable for their worldwide comprehensive coverage and extensive network; GeoBlue, which offers rich benefits for U.S. organizations with international employees; and Aetna, known for easy-to-administrate plans for small organizations. In order to help organizations find global group insurance for their unique needs, International Citizens Insurance has also identified the best plans for specific clients. These include the best plan for organizations seeking seamless benefits, the best business travel insurance for employee trips, and the best options for employees in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Learn more about the best international group medical insurers at https://www.internationalinsurance.com/groups/best-group-global-health-plans/. About International Citizens Insurance International Citizens Insurance is the insurance division of International Citizens Group. They provide unique comparison engines that enable travelers and expatriates to research, quote, compare, and purchase international health, life, travel, and expatriate insurance from a variety of international carriers. Contact Information Joe Cronin President media@internationalinsurance.com 617-500-6738 Andrew Blomberg Director, Group Sales andrew@internationalinsurance.com (339) 221-5190 SOURCE: International Citizens Insurance View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742349/International-Citizens-Insurance-Announces-Best-International-Group-Medical-Insurance-Plans-of-2023 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Gemina Laboratories Ltd. (CSE:GLAB)(FRA:8I7) (the "Company" or "Gemina") is delighted to announce that it has appointed Martha Najib as an independent director of the Company. Ms. Najib brings an exceptionally strong and accomplished record in the diagnostics industry to Gemina. With more than 20 years of award-winning US and global healthcare experience, she is highly recognized and respected for her accomplishments in new product launches, sales, go-to-market, global commercialization and strategic partnerships. Over the course of her career, she has led 6 successful product launches and received national awards with 5 of the top tier global fortune 500 companies for achievements in the medical devices and diagnostics space. Ms. Najib started her career in sales with Johnson & Johnson before moving into a Molecular Sales Specialist role with Siemens Healthineers. Subsequently, she was recruited into a Senior Product Manager position at Abbott where she was honoured with a silver award for creating and executing an IVD product launch which included exposure into pharmaceutical clinical trials. Ms. Najib joined Roche and immediately made an impact by leading the country in capital instrument placements, infectious disease testing, and cervical cancer screening contracts with healthcare systems. At Danaher, she was promoted to the innovation team as Director of Strategic Partnerships responsible for researching emerging technologies and trends in the diagnostics space. Brian Firth, CEO of Gemina commented, "Early-stage technology companies often fail by over-focusing on R&D at the expense of business development. With Martha's appointment we have taken a giant step towards creating a balanced board, with senior competency in sales strategy and product launch management. Martha also brings to us a wealth of experience in how Gemina can partner with existing healthcare companies to complement their product portfolios and improve access to patient care." "I am thrilled to be joining the Gemina team," stated Ms. Najib. "Gemina's leadership in combination with their chemistry platform has the potential to disrupt today's market for remote self-testing devices. The speed and quality of Gemina's progress has been outstanding, and I'm looking forward to helping this team maximize growth opportunities." In conjunction with the appointment of Ms. Najib, David Rokoss has stepped down from the Board of the Company. David joined Gemina prior to its listing and has devoted huge efforts to its success. He leaves the Board with the deep appreciation of his colleagues but will continue to maintain a connection with the Company in an ongoing advisory capacity. Brian Firth commented, "David has been a key player in Gemina's creation and growth. His departure is part of a planned maturation of the Board, focused on bringing deep sectoral experience to the Company. On behalf of the Company, I'd like to express a deep appreciation for all David's work over the last 3 years." On Behalf of the Board of Directors John Davies Chairman Gemina Laboratories Ltd. About Gemina Laboratories Ltd. Gemina Labs is a biosensor and diagnostic company with a transformative, patented, proprietary chemistry that powers next-generation testing platforms for a wide range of pathogens that affect human health and wellness. Our technology drives testing platforms that are fast, affordable and accurate, and easily self-administered. Our development pipeline includes platforms for the rapid testing of COVID-19, influenza and other viruses. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.geminalabs.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. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, 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 anticipated terms of any proposed transaction or engagement. Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Furthermore, the Company is presently unable to fully quantify the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic will have on its operations and recognizes that certain eventualities may affect planned or assumed performance moving forward. As such, any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. For more information regarding the Company, please contact: Glen Axelrod Bristol Capital Limited Telephone: 905-326-1888 Email: investor@geminalabs.com SOURCE: Gemina Laboratories Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742368/Gemina-Labs-Appoints-Diagnostic-Strategist-Martha-Najib-to-the-Board BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's factory orders unexpectedly expanded in January on strong foreign demand for aircraft and spacecraft construction and automobile engines, figures from Destatis revealed on Tuesday. Factory orders grew 1.0 percent in January from December, confounding expectations for a decline of 0.9 percent. Nonetheless, the pace of growth eased from December's revised 3.4 percent expansion. Excluding large scale orders, there was an increase of 2.9 percent in new orders. Year-on-year, manufacturing new orders declined at a faster pace of 10.9 percent after falling 9.9 percent in December. Within overall orders, domestic orders dropped 5.3 percent on the previous month. Meanwhile, foreign orders advanced 5.5 percent driven by strong orders for aircraft and spacecraft construction and vehicle engines. New orders from the euro area fell 2.9 percent. By contrast, orders from the rest of the world increased 11.2 percent. Bookings in the capital goods sector advanced 8.9 percent in January. On the other hand, orders in the intermediate goods fell 8.9 percent and that in the consumer goods sector declined 5.5 percent. Data showed that turnover in manufacturing increased 0.2 percent in January, reversing the 1.5 percent decrease in December. There is no clear recovery in sight, so industrial production is more likely to weaken in the coming months, Commerzbank Senior Economist Ralph Solveen said. Earlier in February, the Bundesbank projected the economic output to fall again in the first quarter. The bank said things could slowly pick up again as the year progresses. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Ontinue, the managed detection and response (MDR) division of Open Systems and winner of the 2022 Microsoft Security MSSP Partner of the Year award, today announced it is a finalist in two categories of the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards: Security Services Innovator and Security Customer Champion. The company was honored among a global field of industry leaders that demonstrated success across the security landscape during the past 12 months. "We are honored to be named a finalist in both the Security Services Innovator and Security Customer Champion categories in the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards. In addition to AI-driven automation and real-time collaboration, Ontinue ION is the first MXDR solution with a native Microsoft Teams interface and which leverages other Microsoft tools like Defender, Sentinel, and Azure," said Geoff Haydon, CEO of Ontinue. "This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering industry-leading innovation that complements Microsoft security and collaboration tools, and further builds on our success as Microsoft's MSSP Partner of the Year; which we were awarded at last year's event." At the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards on April 24, 2023, Microsoft will celebrate finalists in 11 award categories honoring partner trailblazers, solution innovators, customer and technology champions, and changemakers. This is the fourth year Microsoft is recognizing partners for their outstanding work in the security landscape. All finalists are members of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) that have integrated their security products and services with Microsoft's security technology. "I'm very pleased to extend my warmest congratulations to this year's finalists for the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards. These are presented each year to recognize the outstanding achievements of our Microsoft Intelligent Security Association members as they improve customers' ability to identify and respond to security threats. Our community is made up of the most reliable and trusted security vendors worldwide. This year we received hundreds of quality submissions from partners and Microsoft stakeholders, so this year's finalists stood out in a crowd of exceptional talent. It's my pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate their work over the past year," said Maria Thomson, Microsoft Intelligent Security Association Lead. MISA was established to bring together Microsoft leaders, ISVs, and MSSPs to work together to defeat security threats and make the world a safer place. The industry veterans in MISA and Microsoft will vote to select the winners of the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards, providing an opportunity for colleagues to honor their peers for delivering exceptional work to our shared customers. Learn more about Ontinue ION and request a demo to see what Nonstop SecOps can do for you. About Ontinue Ontinue, the MDR division of Open Systems, is on a mission to be the most trusted, 24/7, always-on security partner that empowers customers to embrace the future by operating more strategically and with less risk. Grounded in an intelligent, cloud-delivered SecOps platform, Ontinue offers superior protection that goes well beyond basic detection and response services. Continuous protection. Always-on prevention services. Nonstop SecOps. Learn more at www.ontinue.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230307005544/en/ Contacts: Ontinue PR contact: Ontinue John Giddings mediarelations@ontinue.com US PR contact: Bospar Matt Culbertson PRforOpenSystems@bospar.com UK PR contact: Liberty James Meredith opensystems@libertycomms.com TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE:SKUR)(OTCQX:SWISF)(FRA:GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce that it has launched an early registration website for its non-big tech, Swiss hosted private VPN solution, SekurVPN. The Company has launched the website www.sekurvpn.com in order to take pre-registrations for SekurVPN. SekurVPN is planned to be priced at US$ 7/month/user and US$ 70/year/user for the service. However, a special launch price of US$ 28/year for the first 2 years will be offered to the first 5,000 people registering to the service. This represents a 60% to the yearly price, which already offers 2 months free usage. The official launch of SekurVPN is set to be April 7, 2023 and the Company plans to offer the pre-registration discount to all its existing Sekur users and all its shareholders. SekurVPN is meant for privacy enthousiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address from hackers. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hyjacking their location and signal. The service is not meant for streaming media such as on demand or e-gaming, although it is perfectly fine for watching YouTube videos according to internal testing. The Company will guarantee proper speed high encryption for normal privacy usage and regular email and web surfing. Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data said: "We are very excited to announce this pre-registration opportunity for our users and shareholders and anyone wishing to have true privacy on the internet, at a 60% discount to our already very affordable pricing model. The launch of SekurVPN is set for April 7, 2023. We have high hopes for the success of SekurVPN, due to its highly private nature, since it does not use any big tech or computing or hosting and offers only Swiss IPs. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech or Hyperscaler platform, we offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers." Sekur, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, is part of a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur 's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving. Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices. SekurMessenger now comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invites". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors. SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers. Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved. About Sekur Private Data Ltd. Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com , and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. On behalf of Management SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD. Alain Ghiai President and Chief Executive Officer +1.416.644.8690 corporate@sekurprivatedata.com For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at corporate@sekurprivatedata.com or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com . For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com . Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE: Sekur Private Data Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742207/Sekur-Private-Data-Ltd-Launches-Pre-Registration-Site-for-SekurVPN--Offer-60-Yearly-Discount-to-First-5000-Subscribers LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Pacific Ventures Group, Inc. (OTC PINK:PACV) ("Pacific Ventures" or the "Company"), a consumer-centric holding company specializing in the distribution of food, beverage and alcohol-related products, today issued a letter to shareholders from its President and CEO, Shannon Masjedi. Dear Fellow Shareholders, 2022 was a year of continued progress for Pacific Ventures, during which we focused on positioning our company for long-term growth. Consumer demand for quality food products remains strong, which has allowed us to capitalize on our expansion strategy while furthering our relationships with existing customers. The food and beverage industry has undergone a significant amount of change over the last several years, and while the industry has generally recovered to pre-pandemic levels, lingering economic impacts have presented some challenges. Food production costs have risen dramatically over the last two years, due to the short supply of key commodities like wheat and geopolitical conflict. In addition, labor shortages have created pressure on businesses and supply chains. Despite this, we have driven momentum across our portfolio of businesses by maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with our partners and customers. This is reflected by our ability to generate over $39 million in revenues in 2022. We anticipate this stability will continue through 2023 as we execute our growth strategy. Importantly, we have taken several important steps to prepare our company for this next phase of growth. Improving our balance sheet has been a primary focus, and we continue to make progress with reducing our debt. Operationally, we continue to uncover new opportunities for margin expansion by creating operational efficiencies, reducing overtime hours. Today, we provide more than 2,000 fresh, frozen, and dry food SKUs, as well as non-food items, to approximately 400 customer locations in the Southwest U.S. We serve a highly diversified and expanding customer base that includes independently owned restaurants and regional restaurant chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, government and military organizations, and educational institutions. As one of America's leading meat processing foodservice distribution companies, our mission is to inspire and empower chefs and foodservice operators to bring great food experiences to consumers. This mission is supported by our strategy of supplying the Best Foods at Best Prices, while also providing our customers with the operational support that they require for managing their businesses profitably. The "Best Foods" portion of this strategy is showcased by over 500 featured products that are sustainably sourced or contribute to waste reduction. The "Best Prices" portion is aimed at providing operators flexibility in our service model, but also reliability - meaning on-time and complete orders. We believe our focus on differentiation in product assortment, customer experience and innovation are ultimately the core driver of scale. Looking ahead, we are focused on several key initiatives that we believe will be significant growth catalysts for our business. Among these are the launch of our direct-to-consumer platform, WWW.SEAPORTSTEAK.COM, which we expect to occur in early in the second quarter 2023. We also will improve communication with our investors and we have a strategy to update stakeholders of our progress in a more timely fashion. The Company is also still in negotiations and due diligence on the acquisition previously announced. Ms. Shannon Masjedi, Pacific Venture Group's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are working towards a definitive agreement and looking forward to closing in the near future. In addition to their existing business, we believe there are great synergies to expand Seaport Meat Company's and San Diego Farmers Outlet's reach toward the middle of the country given their customers and distribution capabilities. This would be a transformational acquisition and, if consummated, will catapult us to near $80 million annual revenue and enable us to be positioned to start the process of an up list to a major national U.S. exchange." To our customers, employees, and shareholders, thank you for your unwavering dedication to our mission. We look forward to sharing our accomplishments in the coming year as we strive to build sustainable value. Sincerely, Shannon Masjedi President & CEO About Pacific Ventures Group, Inc. Pacific Ventures Group, Inc. (OTC:PACV) is a consumer-centric distribution company focused on food, beverage, and alcohol-related products. Through its portfolio of operating subsidiaries, Pacific Ventures delivers specialty groceries, top quality proteins and produce, and innovative products to consumers through wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels. For more information on Pacific Ventures Group, please visit www.pacvgroup.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) delays in bringing products to key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the ability to sell our products in certain markets, (iv) intense competition in the industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (ix) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (x) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xi) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov . The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Relations Contact: Chesapeake Group 410-825-3930 info@chesapeakegp.com SOURCE: Pacific Ventures Group, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742249/Pacific-Ventures-Issues-Shareholder-Letter-and-Provides-Corporate-Update Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0) (the "Company" or "Marble"), an AI-driven financial technology Company, is pleased to announce that to date in 2023, Inverite Verification Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Marble, has signed 11 new license agreements utilizing our proprietary open banking artificial intelligence ("AI") software platform. Marble's industry leading real-time response time, categorization, access to over 286 financial institutions and its unique artificial-intelligence-driven predictive Risk Score continues garnering more and more recognition and acceptability in both the alternative lending and credit nurturing sectors of the Canadian economy. Currently Inverite has grown its clientele to over 144 customers and interest in our open banking software has never been better. Inverite is processing over 100,000 transactions a month. As a result of the successful integration of the Inverite platform, Marble has surpassed the 2.6 million Canadian customer profile thresholds. This dataset continues to enhance our algorithms which results in a constantly improving our Risk Score to assist our Inverite licensees in assessing and approving credit. Consumers accessing the MyMarble Platform suite of products has nearly doubled since 2022 and to date we have over 64,000 consumers that have accessed MyMarble since it went live. Karim Nanji, Marble's CEO, commented, "Our on-going development with our industry products that help both industry and consumers transact show that Canadian businesses trust our products and services to assist them with data driven indicators to enable both industry and consumers to better understand each other's requirements during this uncertain economic environment. These positive developments indicate how valuable Marble's product line are for both Industry and the Canadian population seeking to achieve their financial goals." About Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0): Marble is a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that empower businesses to acquire and use real -time financial data to better transact with consumers. Along with enabling smarter marketing ROI for partners seeking increased conversion rates to those consumers that require further monitoring, predictive financial recommendations, and guidance to rehabilitate them to transact in the future. Utilizing Marble's proprietary and proven artificial intelligence data-driven technology platforms, Inverite, Accumulate.ai and MyMarble, businesses and consumers are empowered in real-time, access to a 360 financial profile that includes credit and banking data. Marble leverages machine learning, artificial intelligence, predictive financial recommendations, risk scores and open-banking strategies to put the power of financial data into the hands of businesses and consumers, promoting more robust relationships and higher intent toward future engagements. For further information about Marble, please visit: mymarble.ca. Mike Marrandino, Executive Chairman T:(855) 661-2390 ext. 104 Email: ir@marblefinancial.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/mymarblelife LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marblefinancialinc/ NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, without limitation, may contain the words beliefs, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans, or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except for historical facts, the statements in this news release, as well as oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Marble, are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information included in this release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157391 Focus on Testing Strike Extension of Unconformity Uranium Mineralization Priority Targets Associated with Conductivity Anomalies From 2022 Geophysical Program Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Joint Venture ("JV") partner Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison") has started a 3,600 metre drilling program at the Moon Lake South JV project (Figure 1). The drill program is designed to evaluate the strike extent of known uranium mineralization, identified in 2021, by testing conductive anomalies from the 2022 geophysical program. The project is operated by Denison and CanAlaska holds a 25% ownership in the project. CanAlaska will fund the Company's share of the 2023 exploration program. Figure 1 - Moon Lake South Project Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/157459_69bb5fe614b11afc_002full.jpg In October 2021, the Company reported results from a 2,343 metre exploration program on the Moon Lake South project which returned uranium mineralization in two drillholes along the CR-3 corridor (see News Release Dated December 2, 2021). These results, combined with uranium mineralization reported during the 2016 drilling program, confirmed uranium mineralization in three separate zones over a strike length of 4-kilometres along the CR-3 corridor. Based on the results of the drill programs, a Stepwise Moving Loop Time-Domain Electromagnetic survey (SWML TDEM) was completed in the winter of 2022. The geophysical survey was focused on resolving the position of the CR-3 conductor between the mineralized drillholes along the trend. The survey consisted of 6 lines of SWML TDEM surveying, totalling 151.2 kilometres. The results of the 2022 survey, combined with the past drilling results, have highlighted three priority target areas for the 2023 drill program (Figure 2). These targets are focused on testing the strike extension of known unconformity-related uranium mineralization. The drill program will focus on survey lines where updated SWML TDEM data was collected. Figure 2 - Target Corridors For 2023 Moon Lake South Drill Program To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/157459_69bb5fe614b11afc_004full.jpg CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "The Moon Lake South project located in the heart of the eastern Athabasca Basin near Denison's Wheeler River property is well positioned with critical infrastructure nearby. The results from the first ever drilling program under the new joint venture with Denison resulted in several new mineralized intersections. This program will follow up those results further testing this mineralized corridor for the presence of an economic uranium deposit." About Moon Lake South The Moon Lake South project, a Joint Venture with Denison Mines Corp., is located in the southeastern Athabasca Basin. The project is host to a five-kilometre-long northeast trending conductive corridor known as the CR-3. The CR-3 conductor is located approximately two kilometres west of, and runs parallel to the K-trend, host to the Gryphon Deposit on Denison's adjacent Wheeler River property. In 2016, Denison drilled one hole (MS-16-01) near the southern boundary of the Moon Lake South project, intersecting fractured and friable sandstone with uranium mineralization immediately at the unconformity (0.1% U3O8 over 0.5 metres from 450.3 metres). In 2021, Denison completed four drillholes on the project, intersecting additional uranium mineralization along the CR-3 corridor in MS-21-02 and MS-21-06. MS-21-02 intersected grey sooty pyrite alteration in the lower sandstone column associated with fracture-controlled uranium mineralization grading 0.14% eU3O8 over 0.2 metres immediately above the unconformity from 488.5 metres near the north end of the trend. MS-21-06 intersected 0.12% eU3O8 over 0.2 metres below the unconformity from 550.6 metres within a narrow grey quartz-rich pegmatite at the base of an 18-metre-wide graphitic package. In 2022, Denison completed a SWML TDEM geophysical program to supplement the targets along the CR-3 conductor. Use of Radiometric Equivalent Grades During active exploration programs, following the completion of a drillhole, the hole is radiometrically logged using calibrated downhole total gamma probe which collects continuous readings along the length of the drill hole. Radiometric equivalent uranium grades ("eU3O8") are then calculated from the downhole radiometric results. The probe is calibrated using an algorithm calculated from the calibration of the probe at the Saskatchewan Research Council facility in Saskatoon. A 0.1% eU3O8 cut-off with a maximum internal dilution of 1 m is used for compositing and reporting the data. Radiometric equivalent probe results are subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by CanAlaska prior to disclosure. All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 300,000 hectares (750,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The qualified technical person for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P.Geo., CanAlaska's Vice President, Exploration. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, Executive Vice President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Cory Belyk, Executive VP and CEO Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 306 Email: cbelyk@canalaska.com General Enquiry Tel: +1.604.688.3211 Email: info@canalaska.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 information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157459 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - Brascan Gold Inc. (CSE: BRAS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a second option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in a second lithium property ("Property #2") with BHBC Exploracao Mineral Ltda. ("BHBC") and RTB Geologia E Mineracao Ltda., both limited companies incorporated and existing under the laws of Brazil (together, the "Optionor"). Property #2 is a 2,963.7-hectare mineral claim package comprising 1.5 contiguous claim blocks in Brazil's Minas Gerais State, a mining-friendly jurisdiction located approximately 55 kms from Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo property, the largest lithium hard rock deposit in the Americas. Brascan's Property #2 is located immediately west of the first property optioned from the Optionor in February 2023 and the two properties are separated by less than 500 m. Sigma Lithium is located in an emerging world class hard rock Lithium District in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Lithium Ionic, CBL and Latin Resources are very active in exploration and discovery of new lithium deposits. Latin Resources (A$275M mkt), Sigma Lithium (C$4.1bn mkt) and Lithium Ionic (C$288M mkt) indicate the potential valuations possible for the two Brasil-Li properties upon exploration, discovery and development of a new lithium resource in the district. Claims map (below) of the Brasil-Li Lithium Property #2 in relation to CBL and SIGMA. Salinas Formation in blue, intruding granitoids in various shades of pink to red (After CPRM Geology Map, 2016). Figure 1: Claims Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7954/157491_c3476818946a5891_006full.jpg Brascan notes that no Qualified Person working for Brascan has verified the reported occurrences on Sigma, CBL and the Ionic claims, and the information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Property #2. Property #2 covers mapped metasediments of the Salinas Formation (unit 1), comprising mica-quartz and quartz-mica schists, as well as locally occurring meta conglomerates and micaceous quartzites (CPRM Geology map, 1:250:000 scale; 2016). This is the same unit of the Salinas Formation that has been mined by CBL for spodumene lithium for almost 30 years, and contains Sigma's Grota do Cirilo deposit. Brascan intends to start prospecting, sampling, detailed mapping and multispectral analysis of satellite data immediately to identify potential exploration targets. Brascan has been granted an option to acquire a 100% right, title and ownership interest in Property #2 by (i) paying an aggregate of $150,000 in cash, (ii) issuing an aggregate of 3,000,000 common shares and (iii) incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $100,000 over a 3-term period. Upon earn-in under the option, BHBC will retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty (the "NSR"), but the Company will have the right to purchase 1% of the NSR for $500,000. The Option Periods and payment schedule (in Canadian dollars): Option Period 1 $50,000 cash payment within 5 days of the term option agreement issuance of 2,000,000 shares within 5 days of the term option agreement $100,000 in exploration expenditures before September 20, 2023 $50,000 cash payment before September 20, 2023 issuance of 2,000,000 shares before September 20, 2023 Option Period 2 $50,000 cash payment before October 1, 2024 issuance of an 1,000,000 shares before October 1, 2024 $100,000 in exploration expenditures before September 20, 2024 Option Period 3 $50,000 cash payment before September 20, 2025 Balbir Johal, Chief Executive Officer of Brascan, states, "Brascan is very excited to double our lithium landholdings to 60 square kilometres in the Sigma Lithium District in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the potential to explore and discover hard rock lithium deposits. Exploration will begin immediately after exploration planning is quickly completed." He further said, "Brascan will continue to implement the business plan to acquire several highly prospective lithium assets in two World Class Hard Rock Lithium Districts in Minas Gerais, Brazil and the PMET camp in Quebec, Canada. Our model is similar to Brunswick Exploration Inc." Qualified Person Harrison Cookenboo (Ph,D., P.Geo.), is a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. About the Company Brascan (CSE: BRAS) is a Lithium and Gold exploration issuer based in Vancouver, B.C. BRAS owns a 100% interest in the Quebec-Li properties in northern Quebec. Also the company owns 100% of the Albany Forks Rare Earth Elements (REE) property in northern Ontario and an option to earn 100% of the Alegre Gold Project in Para State in Northeastern Brazil. For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Contact Information Balbir Johal Director and CEO Telephone: 604 812 1747 Email: bjohal75@gmail.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the option, the obligations thereunder, exploration at Property #2 and valuations possible for Brascan's two Brasil-Li properties upon exploration, discovery and development of a new lithium resource are "forward-looking information". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 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 securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157491 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") has announced that it has added high-grade graphite to its energy transition metals discovery portfolio at Nagvaak. The Company conducted a preliminary characterization of the high-grade graphite drill core intersections, which provides encouraging results for high purity, jumbo flake graphite mineralization that was easily isolated with simple water separation. "We are excited to add graphite to our energy transition metals portfolio," stated Darren Bahrey, CEO of StrategX. Mr. Bahrey added, "Our exploration team is putting the Melville Peninsula on the map as a major new prospective region to discover critical minerals for the global energy transition." The graphite potential identified in surface grab samples and a past petrographic study substantiates the findings. The graphite zones are also considered one of the host rocks for nickel, vanadium, molybdenum, zinc, copper, and silver mineralization at its Nagvaak property (refer to news releases on Dec. 7, 2022, and Feb. 14, 2023). The importance of Graphite in the Energy Transition The significance of graphite in the energy transition is enormous, as the anode of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars will drive the demand in the future, with an expected annual supply deficit reaching up to 8 million tonnes by 2040. Benchmark Minerals Intelligence estimates that approximately 97 new natural graphite mines need to come online by 2035. Graphite represents the largest component of the batteries, and there is no current replacement for graphite in the anode. In addition to the grade and size of deposits, graphite quality is important. Specifically, flake size, shape and purity are key determinants for value per tonne and ease of processing. High-Grade Graphite Identified at Nagvaak Based on field observations of the graphite zones identified in the drill core, samples were analyzed for graphitic carbon (Cg) content. The results returned significant intervals of high-grade Cg values. Large flake graphite was identified in the drill core during the 2022 program, and a petrographic study was completed on surface grab samples, which supports a large, high-quality graphite flake at Nagvaak. Composite samples taken from DDH#1 and DDH#14 drill intersections returned 22.2% Cg over 8 metres and 21.2% Cg over 4 metres, respectively. By using a simple water separation process, the modal abundance of all minerals indicates a high purity of up to 95.83% Cg. QEMSCAN identified jumbo flake graphite up to 425 microns (see Figure 3), and flake distribution in terms of particle count shows graphite flakes are close to the ideal hexagonal shape. Surface sampling and geophysical signatures indicate potential multiple horizons of graphite occurring along the 6 km mineralized corridor. StrategX believes more tests will show that it checks all the boxes for high-quality flake graphite, with known multiple graphite horizons identified at the surface and depth in the established target areas. The Company's next steps are to further evaluate the quality of the graphite in additional surface and drill core samples and determine the extent and dimensions of graphite mineralization at Nagvaak. TABLE 1 - Summary of Graphite Results from Drill Hole Sampling To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_001full.jpg Figure 1- Location of DDHs (click the image for an enlarged view) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_002full.jpg Figure 2 - Plan View of drill hole locations and grab samples at Nagvaak Project (click the map for an enlarged view) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_003full.jpg Figure 3 - Jumbo Graphite flakes identified in DDH#1 (19.80m) included in Composite Sample #1 of the QEMSCAN Study. (click the image for an enlarged view) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_005full.jpg Figure 4 - Surface Sample 21M108 Randomly oriented lamellae of graphite (gr) define an irregular cluster within the quartz. Plane-polarized transmitted light. (click the image for an enlarged view) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_006full.jpg QEMSCAN Study StrategX contracted Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) to conduct a QEMSCAN study on drill core intersections from DDH#1 and DDH#14 high-grade zones that returned 22.2% Cg over 8 metres and 21.2% Cg over 4 metres, respectively. The two composite samples are effectively identical in terms of graphite flake shape and size, with graphite purity of over 90%. The preceding analyses and conclusions are based on graphite flakes recovered using a rudimentary water separation sample preparation technique using QEMSCAN. Additional work on these samples is recommended, including determining the coarse liberation size of graphite flakes and methods for properly recovering larger graphite flakes without excessive crushing. Figure 5 - Distribution of graphite flake shape vs particle count To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_007full.jpg Figure 6 - Graphite Flake Purity categorized in 10% increments To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/157492_9dc6aca7f46a8ae9_008full.jpg Qualified Person The geological and technical data contained in this news release about the Nagvaak Project was reviewed and approved by Gary Wong, P. Eng., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About StrategX StrategX is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on discovering energy transition metals in northern Canada. The Company has a property portfolio of 5 stand-alone projects situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories and the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut. This first-mover advantage in underexplored regions presents a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new districts for metals essential for the transition to green energy. StrategX's mission is to make a significant contribution to the sustainable energy economy through its exploration activities. Join StrategX as they lead the way toward a greener tomorrow. Click here to check out a 30-second video clip on StrategX. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Darren G. Bahrey CEO, President & Director For further information, please contact: StrategX Elements Corp. Email: info@strategXcorp.com Phone: +1 778-231-2767 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not composed of historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company does not assure that actual results will meet management's expectations. Several important factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, delays in the development of projects, and the ability to predict or counteract the potential impact of COVID-19 coronavirus on factors relevant to the Company's business. Although the Company has tried to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, 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 correct 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 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157492 Senator Warner will join TIA CEO, David Stehlin, in Arlington, Virginia to discuss key BEAD Program-related topics including cybersecurity ARLINGTON, Va., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the trusted industry association for the connected world, today announced it confirmed U.S. Senator Mark Warner from Virginia as a featured speaker at the BEAD Success Summit, taking place April 19 - 20 in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Warner currently serves as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee and as a member of the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committees and he co-founded the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus in 2016. He was a technology and business leader before entering public office, as an early investor in the cellular phone business and co-founded the company that became Nextel. "We are honored to have Senator Warner confirmed as a featured speaker at the BEAD Success Summit in his home state of Virginia," said David Stehlin, CEO of TIA. "Senator Warner has a deep history in the telecom industry and the combination of his time as Governor of Virginia and now as Senator, gives him the unique and very important understanding of the impact tech policies, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, can have on both a local and national level. He has championed cybersecurity and will add valuable insights for attendees." TIA also recently announced Kevin Gallagher, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce - the lead agency administrating the BEAD Program - as a featured speaker for the event. The BEAD Success Summit will bring together all key stakeholders in the $42 billion program to discuss the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NoFo) and technology alternatives in plenary sessions, panel discussions and technical breakouts. Attendees and speakers will include representatives from State Broadband Offices, Federal Agencies, ISPs, suppliers, manufacturers, consultants, and investors. For more information on the BEAD Success Summit, visit www.BEADSuccessSummit.com. About TIA: The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents more than 400 global companies that enable high-speed communications networks and accelerate next-generation ICT innovation. Through leadership in U.S. and international advocacy, technology programs, standards development, and business performance solutions, TIA and its members are accelerating global connectivity across every industry and market. TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/senator-mark-warner-to-be-featured-speaker-at-bead-success-summit-301764195.html Tjom held previous senior roles within Syniverse, Infobip, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, brings over 25 years of industry experience EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Somos, Inc., a leading registry management and data solutions company, today announced the hiring of Lloyd Tjom to lead the sale of XConnect's number information services in the US. Tjom will support XConnect's US-based big tech, contact center, application-to-person (A2P), and voice provider customers by delivering trusted global data and intelligent solutions to meet demands from the growing US market. Prior to joining Somos, Tjom held positions at Syniverse, Infobip, Tomia, TNS, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. He has over 25 years' experience in the telecommunication industry, with expertise in messaging, connectivity, roaming, Software as a Service (SaaS), Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solutions. Tjom will support customers in the region by providing expert advice and consultancy to maximize the efficiency of traffic delivery and minimize fraud and surcharge-based losses. "Somos is thrilled to welcome Lloyd to the team. His proven experience in the telecom industry will help expand international numbering information into the hands of state side providers," said Dave Stewart, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer at Somos. "The US is an evolving telecoms environment that is currently seeing the introduction of new regulations, for example the FCC's latest STIR/SHAKEN rules around robocalling. To stay ahead of changing needs in the region, we are taking proactive measures and expanding our North American presence," said Tim Ward, Vice President of Number Information Services at XConnect. "Lloyd has a history of delivering excellent results, and his knowledge and expertise will enable us to provide a first-class level of support to our customers. We are excited to have him on board and leading the way in delivering innovation to our customers in the US." "It is a critical time for the US telecoms market and there's a big opportunity to provide greater value to organizations seeking to improve the efficiency of both their local and international communications," said Tjom. "Together, Somos and XConnect are bringing greater confidence and convenience to how people and brands communicate, and I look forward to driving this vision in the US." About Somos, Inc. As the world becomes more interconnected, Somos enables brands, consumers, and communities to communicate in an environment of greater trust and convenience. Somos is a global source of number administration, routing data, identity verification, and identity management services for the telecommunications ecosystem. As the trusted administrator of the North American Numbering Plan (NANPA), Toll-Free Numbering (TFNA), and the Reassigned Number Database (RNDA), we support 1,400 service providers in North America and manage 3.3 billion numbers to enable seamless communications between enterprises and consumers. Through our portfolio of products and services, and a collaborative approach in everything we do, Somos helps ensure trust in an increasingly digital world while delivering value, innovation, and results to consumers. To learn more about Somos, please visit?www.somos.com. About XConnect XConnect, a wholly owned subsidiary of Somos Inc, consolidates, maintains and delivers trusted telephone number intelligence to world leading telecommunication service providers. It processes information from hundreds of different global datasets and ensures that customers solve routing, validation and fraud challenges in real time. XConnect's Number Information Services are used for voice and messaging routing, fraud protection and to identify and validate insights. They also support the deployment and evolution of next-generation communications, such as VoLTE and RCS. Its service is accessed through its global distributed hybrid cloud platform using simple, secure, scalable real-time protocols and APIs. www.xconnect.net Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2017051/Somos_Lloyd_Tjom.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lloyd-tjom-joins-somos-inc-to-support-big-tech-contact-center-and-a2p-providers-in-the-us-with-xconnects-global-number-intelligence-301764566.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Kimberly-Clark Corporation: Alison Lewis, Kimberly-Clark's chief growth officer, and Lori Shaffer, the company's vice president of global nonwovens, are committed to driving positive change for women and girls around the world. In honor of International Women's Day, we spoke with Alison and Lori about the power of embracing equity, steps that organizations can take to better support women in the workplace and at home, the women who inspire them, and what they hope for moving forward. This is part 2 of a 2-part series - view part 1 Q: What can all organizations do to create workplaces that better support women? AL: There's incredible power in building diverse teams. Diversity creates belonging and fosters an environment where everyone brings their best selves to work. In my experience, teams of only one gender are lacking. They often experience groupthink and create cliques and environments of exclusion. That's why it's so important for men to be allies in the workplace and embrace a new 'normal' for equity and equality to truly take place. LS: Companies can support women by engaging in authentic dialogue and keeping channels of communication open. It's important to ask women what they're most passionate about both inside and outside of work, creating a culture that empowers them to pursue both. For me, this looks like having the flexibility to take an hour out of my day to be a reader in my daughter's kindergarten class, or participating in an engineering panel at my son's high school. Women should be able to do things like this without feeling guilty, and company culture plays a critical role in creating such an environment. Q: What's the value of women's-focused employee resource groups? LS: I'm actively involved in our Women's Inclusion Network (WIN), and I love it. Employee resource groups (ERGs) like WIN foster relationships, provide mentorship opportunities and open leadership development pathways. I've been both a speaker and part of the mentoring/small group programs, and many ideas have come from hearing individuals share the challenges they face daily. These women's-focused groups provide an opportunity for the candid conversations required to make continued progress on our journey to embracing equity. Q: In the midst of a global pandemic, women and girls have faced numerous setbacks both professionally and personally over the last few years that have negatively impacted their progress. What gives you hope, and what do you hope for moving forward? AL: I saw so many women drop out of the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic because they felt they had no other choice. Schools and daycares were closed, and we suddenly didn't have our normal support systems. I am hopeful when I think about the positive changes and cultural shifts that I've seen come from those years. For example, the flexibility of working from home for many professional jobs has helped eliminate the 'bad employee and bad mother' syndrome. There's less guilt around being a mom and working because there's more flexibility. Now, you can read to your kid's class at school and still make the work meeting afterwards instead of choosing one or the other. That is a game changer. The pandemic also forced us all to think differently about what's most important, and I've seen women stay truer to themselves because of it. Women's empowerment is a force to be reckoned withwe had a chance to reflect on our priorities and pursue them versus living in the old state where the fear of missing out often dominated our lives. Q: Is there a woman in your life who inspires you? If so, how? AL: I've been surrounded by so many inspiring females throughout my life, including my great-grandmother who grew up as a pioneer in Canada in the mid-1860s. She was one of 10 children and moved by herself to Chicago at 30 years old to start her career and step away from the traditional pioneering life. My grandmother was also a trailblazer and someone I deeply admire. She went to university in 1918, taught school and had children in her late 30s - this was all very uncommon in that era. She would have no doubt been a CEO in today's landscape, but she lived in a time where that wasn't possible. Both my great-grandmother and grandmother embraced life, were incredibly resilient, and didn't let fictional constraints hold them back. My mom, my sisters and I have all followed in their footsteps, and I am so proud to come from a line of strong, independent women. LS: My inspiration is my mom. She's a teacher, and she became one at a time when most women stayed home. She has always been curious, and she taught both my brother and I to continuously ask questions and think critically. She also had her own unique challenges, which I appreciate more now as an adult. She did what she needed to do at that time in her life and made sure her kids had every opportunity to chase their passions. That's the kind of mom I strive to be. I want my children to look back and know I did my very best to pave a better way for them. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Kimberly-Clark Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Kimberly-Clark Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/kimberly-clark-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Kimberly-Clark Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742424/Kimberly-Clarks-Alison-Lewis-and-Lori-Shaffer-Womens-Empowerment-Is-a-Force-to-Be-Reckoned-With SAO PAULO, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its launch, ChatGPT has attracted the attention of professionals from several fields. Efi, one of the major Brazilian fintechs, has gone further and started to use the system to optimize processes. A fan of the slimmed-down, four-day work week, the company has identified a reduction of up to 40% in time spent on activities. For Efi CRM manager Alexandre Santana, despite what some analysts believe, ChatGPT will not replace professionals, but make processes more fluid, objective and modular, and so reduce possible manual errors. "In our tests, using AIs intelligently has enabled tasks to be done in minutes that would otherwise take hours. I have no doubt that the ability to use these tools will be a requirement, especially as this technology evolves," he says. Less operational, more strategy Since implementing its reduced week for its almost 400 employees to provide a better work-life balance, Efi has started to place even more value on streamlining tasks. Using ChatGPT to generate codes and in routine jobs, such as writing emails and creating project scopes, complements other initiatives such as reducing meetings to make daily life more strategic. By using ChatGPT, the developers get extra time to work on more sophisticated tasks and leave minor and more basic code creation to the tool. In any event, care needs to be taken with the codes generated, warns Software engineer Leony Assis. "It is important to review the codes to ensure 100% assertiveness. Therefore, the objective of the software being developed as well as the technologies involved must be fully understood." Efi concluded that AI could even be used to generate ideas from user feedback, providing a better understanding of what they need, and identifying the best components and structures during the systems architecture phase. Another important point was the creation of internal policies on information security and intellectual property, preventing sensitive data from being inserted in the prompt. Efi Bank Specializing in financial solutions, Efi is a payment institution with 370,000 customers throughout Brazil, and is responsible for moving more than US$4 billion every year. The company was authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil to act as a Payment and Accreditation Institution and is a direct participant of Pix, a Brazilian instant payment platform, and a payment initiator on Open Finance. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2017509/Chat_gpt_V3.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/brazilian-digital-bank-sees-chatgpt-as-an-ally-in-the-four-day-week-301764507.html NHS Expands Access to Ibex's Galen Breast and Galen Prostate Solutions to 25 Trusts Across the UK Following PathLAKE Plus Consortium Bid Wins TEL AVIV, Israel , March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ibex Medical Analytics (Ibex), the leader in AI-powered cancer diagnostics, today announced the receipt of multiple contract awards from the PathLAKE consortium to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to support cancer diagnosis at 25 NHS Trusts. PathLAKE is a UK center of excellence consortium, founded by Innovate UK, that is delivering AI innovation in pathology across leading NHS Trusts and UK universities including Nottingham University Hospitals, University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire, and Oxford University Hospitals. The contract award follows a rigorous selection process which recognized Ibex as the top scoring solution provider for both the breast and prostate cancer categories, allowing up to 25 NHS Trusts to directly procure the Ibex Galen Breast and Galen Prostate solutions. Cambridge University Hospitals is one of the Trusts to subsequently select Ibex to support its pathologists by augmenting diagnostic workflows with enhanced quality, accuracy and efficiency. "Cambridge University Hospitals is very proud to be a founding partner of PathLAKE Plus, teaming up to help secure the 13.5 million grant from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund," said Dr. Rebecca Brais, Clinical Lead for Digital Pathology and Major Projects in Diagnostics and Consultant Histopathologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. "We see ourselves, and the UK as a whole, at the cutting edge of innovation in digital pathology and look forward to implementing the Ibex Galen solution here in Cambridge as part of our Histopathology Team's digital transformation." The worldwide shortage of pathologists combined with a rise in the number of cancer cases and their complexity has led to growing workloads imposed on pathology departments and delays in cancer diagnosis across the UK. With approximately 275,000 women undergoing breast biopsies and 100,000 men undergoing prostate biopsies in the UK each year1,2, there is a growing need for AI-powered solutions and decision-support tools that help pathologists detect cancer rapidly with the utmost accuracy. The Galen suite of solutions from Ibex is the first and most widely deployed AI technology for pathology, used in routine clinical practice at laboratories, hospitals, and health systems worldwide. It supports pathologists in a variety of tasks during the diagnosis of breast, prostate, and gastric biopsies and helps improve the accuracy of cancer diagnosis, reduce turnaround time, boost productivity, and improve user experience. Galen demonstrated outstanding outcomes across multiple clinical studies performed on various tissue types and diagnostic workflows3,4,5,6,7. "We are extremely honored to be recognized by PathLAKE as the leading provider of AI solutions in pathology," said Richard Nicholson, Director of Sales, UK at Ibex. "Our team looks forward to supporting additional regions of the UK with our suite of Galen solutions. Building upon our successful AI deployments in NHS Wales, and our existing projects with hospitals and labs in England, we are uniquely positioned to further strengthen the adoption, deployment and routine use of AI in pathology across the UK." About Ibex Medical Analytics Ibex Medical Analytics (Ibex) is transforming cancer diagnostics with world-leading, clinical grade AI-powered solutions, empowering physicians to provide accurate, timely and personalized cancer diagnosis for every patient. Our Galen suite of solutions is the first and most widely deployed AI-technology in pathology and used as part of everyday routine, supporting pathologists and providers worldwide in improving the quality and accuracy of diagnosis, implementing comprehensive quality control, reducing turnaround times and boosting productivity with more efficient workflows. Ibex's Artificial Intelligence technology is built on Deep Learning algorithms trained by a team of pathologists, data scientists and software engineers. For additional company information, please visit https://ibex-ai.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Multiple solutions under the Galen suite of solutions are CE marked (IVDD) and registered with the UK MHRA. Galen First Read for prostate is also CE marked under IVDR. Galen includes solutions which are for Research Use Only (RUO) in the United States and not cleared by the FDA. For more information, including indication for use and regulatory approval in other countries, contact Ibex Medical Analytics. Media Contacts Nechama Rosengarten FINN Partners for Ibex Medical Analytics nechama.rosengarten@finnpartners.com +1-929-222-8006 [1] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer [2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-hospitals-join-pioneering-study-to-improve-prostate-cancer-diagnosis-using-ai [3] Pantanowitz et al., An artificial intelligence algorithm for prostate cancer diagnosis in whole slide images of core needle biopsies: a blinded clinical validation and deployment study, THE LANCET Digital Health Aug 2020 [4] Sandbank et al., Validation and real-world clinical application of an artificial intelligence algorithm for breast cancer detection in biopsies, npj Breast Cancer, December 2022 [5] Comperat et al., Clinical Level AI-Based Solution for Primary Diagnosis and Reporting of Prostate Biopsies in Routine Use: A Prospective Reader Study, European Congress of Pathology 2021 [6] Raoux et al., Novel AI-Based Solution for Supporting Primary Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Increases the Accuracy and Efficiency of Reporting in Clinical Routine, USCAP 2021 [7] Sandbank et al., Validation and Clinical Deployment of an AI-Based Solution for Detection of Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Biopsies, USCAP 2022 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1839936/Ibex_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ibex-secures-pathlake-contracts-to-roll-out-ai-based-cancer-diagnostics-to-uk-hospitals-301764634.html BOWLING GREEN, KY / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Hughes & Coleman ERTC team is dedicated to helping businesses who may be owed significant tax credits due to the CARES Act established during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your business retained employees through COVID shutdowns, your business could be eligible for a tax refund of up to $26,000 per employee. "Deadlines for small businesses in 2023 are ramping up, and we're here to help hardworking businesses get the money they are owed by the government," said Lee Coleman, Attorney and Founder Partner, Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers. "Let us help you through the ERTC program complexities so you can obtain your credits and maximize your refund as quickly and easily as possible before the deadline." Hughes & Coleman offers free consultations 24/7 to see if your business qualifies for the ERTC credit of up to $26,000 per employee. There are no costs involved or obligation to check to see if a business qualifies for the ERTC credit. Congress developed the CARES Act to help businesses secure employment for their workers and keep them on the payroll during COVID-19-related shutdowns. The ERTC was intended to incentivize employers to retain workers by offering a quarterly credit for each qualified employee on the payroll during that time. As a federal stimulus program, ERTC is not a loan; the money received is distributed directly from the IRS and does not have to be repaid. ERCT Qualifications Your company may qualify for the ERTC of up to $26,000 by employee by showing either: A full or partial suspension of operation during any calendar quarter because of governmental orders limiting commerce, travel or group meetings due to COVID-19, OR Your business experienced a 50% quarter-over-quarter decline in revenue compared to the same quarter in 2019. In Q4 of 2020, you experienced a decline in gross receipts of 50% from the corresponding quarter in 2019 or less than 80% of gross receipts in the preceding quarter. All 3 quarters in 2021 are eligible to use the 80% gross receipts test versus the preceding quarter or the corresponding quarter from previous year instead to 50% drop in gross receipts, refund up to 70% of $10,000 per employee. Even if businesses made money during the COVID-19 pandemic, compensation is still possible. Businesses across a wide range of industries, including education, government contractors, healthcare, hospitality, retail, restaurants, industrial, not-for-profit, professional services, real estate, construction, and technology, plus more may be eligible for ERTC. The types of instances that would qualify companies for the ERTC are supply chain disruptions, time taken away for sanitation or cleaning, limited capacity to operate, and other federal, state, or local mandates which affected normal business operations. Complete details to help businesses determine their eligibility can be viewed on the Hughes & Coleman website at ERTC Funds Recovery. The Hughes & Coleman team is ready to help businesses that may benefit from the CARES Act of 2020. Call the Hughes & Coleman ERTC Recovery team today at 800-800-4600 or complete a simple online form to determine qualification. There are time restrictions to file for your business, so contact Hughes & Coleman today to take advantage of the employee retention tax credit while it's still available. There are no costs involved or obligation to check to see if your business qualifies for the ERTC credit. About Hughes & Coleman: Hughes & Coleman was founded in 1985 and has recovered over a billion dollars for our clients in Kentucky and Tennessee injured from auto accidents, big truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, defective medical products, nursing home abuse, slip and fall accidents, and wrongful death. Hughes & Coleman believes that Control Starts With A Call. Hughes & Coleman operates 10 offices in Kentucky and Tennessee. Contact: Lora Fisher, Brand Development Director 270-782-6003 ext. 147 lfisher@hughesandcoleman.com SOURCE: Hughes & Coleman View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/741588/Hughes-Colemans-Employee-Retention-Tax-Credit-ERTC-Team-Can-Help-Eligible-Businesses-Get-Maximum-Tax-Refund-of-Up-To-26000-Per-Employee NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / As part of the companies' commitment to developing healthy, vibrant communities with greater access to education and workforce opportunities, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans launched a new child savings account program, Kids to College. The companies will donate $175,000 to help low- and moderate-income Louisiana families establish child savings accounts. Eligible families can sign up for a Kids to College account to receive a $50 match from Entergy. "Education is the cornerstone for a successful Louisiana," said Phillip May, president and CEO, Entergy Louisiana. "With these funds not only are we ensuring the next generation is set up for success, but we're also helping deliver a brighter future for the communities in which we all live and serve. I'm so proud and humbled to play a small part in that success." "Everyone deserves the opportunity to continue their education and we want to partner with families to help make those dreams a reality," said Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO, Entergy New Orleans. "This will give so many a step forward on a path that they otherwise may not receive. Investing now in our future is how we lift up our communities for future success." A Child Savings Account (CSA) is a savings account designed specifically for postsecondary education. These accounts allow families to put money away to start saving for their children to attend a two- or four-year college, trade school or technical school. Families may sign up for a Kids to College account for each child under age 16. Eligibility requirements to qualify for Entergy's $50 match include: Must be an Entergy customer. Families must meet income thresholds of either single parent or guardians with up to $52,000 annual income or dual earner households with $60,000 annual income. The child savings account must reach a $50 balance to receive the matching funds. Entergy is powering Kids to College by dedicating matching funds for CSAs across our four-state service area. The program is made possible thanks to an endowment fund created in honor of Entergy's late Chairman and CEO J. Wayne Leonard. Eligible individuals can sign up for an account through the Kids to College portal entergy.com/kids. About Entergy Louisiana Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. About Entergy New Orleans Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana's Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers. Both companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,000 employees. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742433/Entergy-Launches-Child-Savings-Account-Program-in-Louisiana NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Inogen Alliance is proud to announce that we will be an official sponsor of the upcoming eighth annual AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum with Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The forum runs from 16-17 May in Edinburgh, Scotland. As an Alliance, we are representing our global presence at this event with five Associates including Antea Group USA, Antea Brasil, Chola MS Risk Services Limited (CMSRS) in India, denkstatt in Austria, and HPC Italia with our global water working group leader Beatrice Bizzaro. According to Alliance for Water Stewardship website, "The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum is one of the key events in which our community of members, implementers, and stakeholders share knowledge and learning on the evolution of water stewardship practice and forge new directions through dialogue and partnerships. Held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 2016, it has become the must-attend event for the international water stewardship community." Interactive in-person sessions will discuss three cross-cutting topics across the two-day event: Water Stewardship in Action Universal Themes AWS System "Inogen Alliance has been supporting clients all over the world in undergoing a transformation that, for the first time, is leading to a holistic approach when dealing with water management. We truly believe in working hand in hand with clients to reach ever more ambitious targets. Water efficiency and water quality are a great starting point, but the commitment to water stewardship principles is a further steppingstone to developing an integrated and more meaningful system towards a more sustainable future, without leaving anyone behind," Beatrice Bizzaro, HPC Italy, Inogen Alliance global water working group leader. This is a unique opportunity to exchange your water stewardship experiences with industry leaders and build connections with members of the wider AWS community. The event has already sold out, but if you didn't manage to get a ticket, you can join the AWS waitlist. Or watch for more content and themes to come from our global team that will be attending. Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 5,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Inogen Alliance on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/inogen-alliance Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Inogen Alliance View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742440/Inogen-Alliance-Sponsors-AWS-Global-Water-Stewardship-Forum WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / As a girls' rights organization, Plan International USA believes when girls lead the way, they can change the world. In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, Plan is partnering with brands and government stakeholders so that girls can take over positions of leadership, ensuring the voices of these young women and girls are heard in the critical conversations on gender equality. "Girls and young women are leaders today," Plan International USA's President & CEO Shanna Marzilli said. "Giving girls, in all their diversity, not just a seat at the table, but a respected and heard position is necessary to building a world where women can thrive in all aspects of leadership." In celebration of International Women's Day, Plan partnered with Bank of Montreal, UNIQLO and Vertex to host Takeovers, where our youth leaders, ranging from ages 16-22, step into executive positions for a day. Plan Youth Advisory Board member Rose became chief administrative officer and general counsel of Fast Retailing USA, Inc, the parent company to UNIQLO. During her Takeover experience, Rose leveraged her experiences leading diversity and inclusion recruitment for Plan's youth programs to provide recommendations for UNIQLO's women's networking group. The Takeover was an extension of UNIQLO's global partnership with Plan International as part of the brand's PEACE FOR ALL project. "We loved welcoming Rose to UNIQLO for International Women's Day, sharing an inside look to our stores and headquarters, and the many talented women leading the way here," Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Fast Retailing USA Serena Peck said. "Rose's insights as a youth advocate provided an incredibly valuable perspective that will help us continue to grow and elevate women's voices. We're happy to have deepened our work with Plan International USA in our shared vision for a better world for all." At Bank of Montreal, Plan youth advocate Ava stepped into the role of Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer Kimberly Goode. Along other BMO executives, Ava took the stage at a culmination event for Black History Month where she shared her experiences. "BMO is a long-term sponsor of Plan International in the U.S. and Canada, partnering to create opportunities to build confidence in young women and provide exposure to those actively working to create zero barriers to inclusion," Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer at BMO Kimberley Goode said. "Watching Ava step into my seat gave me such confidence in the impact the next generation will have. They are ready to live their purpose and boldly grow the good in business and life as future leaders." In addition to Takeovers, Luna Silvana Abadia, a Youth Advisory Board member at Plan, will be a U.S. delegate for the U.N.'s Commission on the Status of Women. CSW67 will examine the role technology plays in achieving gender equality. Silvana Abadia will represent the views of girls all over the world through the results of Plan's State of the World's Girls report, which highlights the effects of online gender-based violence. "As an activist and young person, I use social media every day," Silvana Abadia said. "We desperately need policies that address long-term harassment like the kind I faced for two years. I will use my position at CSW67 to encourage leaders to work with young people to understand their experiences and set greater corporate accountability and human rights standards." Silvana Abadia will join Cailin Crockett, senior advisor for the White House Gender Council, Varina Winder, senior advisor for the Secretary of State Office of Global Women's Issues, and Jamille Bigio, senior coordinator for gender equality and women's empowerment at USAID, on a virtual panel discussing the U.S. government's commitment to ending online gender-based violence on March 24. The event, hosted by Plan, is titled 'Will the White House, State and USAID combat online gender-based violence?' Join Plan as we celebrate girls and women this March 8 and every other day of the year. Learn more and register for the March 24 panel event by visiting: www.planusa.org/iwd. For more information or interviews, please contact: Maria Holsopple Director, Corporate Communications Email: maria.holsopple@planusa.org Mobile: 540.383.3628 About Plan International USA Powered by supporters, Plan International USA partners with adolescent girls, young women and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Founded in 1937, Plan is an independent development and humanitarian organization that is active in more than 80 countries. For more information, and to learn about our commitment to safeguarding, please visit www.PlanUSA.org. Girl advocates pause for a photo with leaders from Bank of Montreal. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Plan International USA on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Plan International USA Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/plan-international-usa Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Plan International USA View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742437/Gen-Z-Raises-Voice-on-Gender-Equality-for-International-Womens-Day TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japan destroyed its flagship H3 rocket after its second launch failed due to engine failure Tuesday. Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sent a self-destruct command to the H3 Launch Vehicle when its second-stage engine failed just 15 minutes after lift-off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. 'A destruct command has been transmitted to H3 around 10:52 a.m. (Japan Standard Time), because there was no possibility of achieving the mission. We are confirming the situation,' JAXA said in a statement. The rocket was carrying the Advance Land Observation Satellite-3 (ALOS-3), a ground-mapping and imaging orbiter that the space agency said was planned to become a key tool in disaster management efforts, and capable of detecting North Korean missile launches. The Japanese space agency's first attempt to launch the H3 on February 17 had failed as its booster engines did not ignite. Tuesday's failure is seen as a significant setback for JAXA, which developed H3 as a cheaper alternative to SpaceX's Falcon 9 for launching commercial and government satellites into Earth's orbit. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the prime contractor for the rocket. JAXA and Mitsubishi have spent more that $1.5 billion on the project since its inception nine years ago, according to state broadcaster NHK. The H3 Launch Vehicle is Japan's new flagship rocket aiming at achieving high flexibility, high reliability, and low cost performance. JAXA touted it as a successor to the existing H-IIA and H-IIB rockets with its launch capability to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) exceeding that of its predecessors. 'Unlike the previous cancellation and postponement, this time it was a complete failure,' Reuters quoted Hirotaka Watanabe, a space policy professor at Osaka University, as saying. 'This will have a serious impact on Japan's future space policy, space business and technological competitiveness,' he added. Copyright(c) 2023 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 7, 2023 / Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE:WSR) (the "Company"), Is announcing the resignation of Anthony Chan, CFO, and Ming Chang, director, of the Company and is pleased to announce the appointment of a new CFO, Monty Sutton, and Director, Justin Corinella. Monty Sutton worked most of his career as an Investment Advisor, Equities Trader, and Insurance Specialist with PI Financial Corp in Vancouver. During this time, he participated in raising over $100mm for junior mining companies and managed over 1,500 client accounts. Since leaving PI, Mr. Sutton was the Corporate Development Manager with eCobalt Solutions where they raised over $30mm for the companies Idaho Cobalt Project. Mr. Sutton has also been working with small private companies in various consulting and advisory roles. Prior to joining PI in 1997 Mr. Sutton was a Senior Management Accountant with MacMillan Bloedel preparing budgets, analyzing costs, and assisting in the design and implementation of new accounting systems. Mr. Sutton's first experience in the Investment Industry was a brief stint on the Vancouver Stock Exchange Trade Floor in 1987. Justin Corinella has a broad background in public markets and corporate financing. His focus is on early-stage venture companies with potential for large growth, scalability and value creation. Mr. Corinella was the Head of Technology for Squire Mining Ltd., listed on the CSE, and as part of the executive team, he participated in raising $28M CAD in financing and developed strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in North America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Corinella is the inventor and Co-founder of Dahrwin LLC, founded in 2012, a wireless technology company based out of New York and raised venture funding, spearheaded software & hardware development and received five issued patents. His endeavors have positioned him as a lead in multiple R&D and Engineering departments working on various US military and government-based technologies. We would like to wish Anthony and Ming all the best in their future endeavours. Additional Information Additional information about the Company and the Transaction is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. The summary of the Transaction set out above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of the Transaction in the Company's filing statement posted on SEDAR. "Western Star Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. The company's objective is to increase shareholder value through the development of exploration properties using cost-effective exploration practices, acquiring further exploration properties, and seeking partnerships by either joint venture or sale with industry leaders. The company currently owns nine non-surveyed contiguous mineral claims totalling 2,797 hectares, which are located within the Revelstoke mining division of British Columbia. The Western Star property group is located approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Revelstoke, B.C., and roughly 10 kilometres north of the abandoned community of Camborne. Access to the Camborne area is via paved highway from either Revelstoke or Nakusp. Access to the property area is best via helicopter from Revelstoke or Nakusp." Contact Information: Blake Morgan, CEO and Director blake@acvc.vc 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 press release. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE: Western Star Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742441/Western-Star-Resources-Inc-Announces-Appointment-of-New-CFO-Director NAPOLEONVILLE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / (OTC PINK:IFUS) The challenge facing Impact Fusion's path to attaining our goal of having SGP+ accepted as a widely utilized, high-performing supplement for beef and dairy cattle is to simplify the information gathered by hands-on ranchers, dairymen, and scientists. SGP+ is a technology supported by a product line that, when mixed with the specific ration of any given rancher or dairyman, has shown to produce incredible results. Ration mixing and ration management, as determined by manure scoring, provides guidance as to how much SGP+ should be mixed with a rancher's or dairyman's ration to achieve herd performance. Working in tandem with ranchers and dairymen, our scientific team strives daily to better demonstrate the impact SGP+ has on the health and well-being of the herds which includes environmental compliance. We, then, have a multi-tiered approach to conducting the requisite studies geared towards product, service, and sales, while doing more advanced scientific studies to confirm the results discovered at the grass roots level. Currently, these studies are being conducted under the close supervision of the IFUS scientific team and follow established and accepted testing protocols. Concurrently, the Company is assessing which universities and private research institutes will be chosen to conduct deeper and more complex studies. Since the Company applied for a grant from the U.S.D.A., it has learned that if the grant were to be approved, the U.S.D.A. required in excess of 60% of any funding awarded to be spent on internal company expenses. That requirement would have left less than 30% for testing from outside, objective third-parties such as Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Hence, the funding would have proved woefully inadequate for critical testing to further understand the positive impacts being reported by ranchers and dairymen. Also, that particular study would have been limited to "Carbon and Nitrogen Reduction on Beef Heifers Interpolated into Nutritional Effectiveness." Our studies address the environmental crisis impacting present-day beef and dairy herds through a reduction in Carbon-load from excessive respiration and waste elimination. However, the broader focus targets improved digestion and absorption in a healthier herd, while reducing food and supplement quantities including the need for antibiotics all the while significantly reducing feeding costs. Environmental compliance is a result of dealing with the root cause of the problem rather than the symptom. Marc Walther, CEO, stated: "Following the submission of its application for a grant and subsequent requests for more information, we learned that the U.S.D.A would have not allowed adequate funding for external third-party testing. It is our opinion that on-going testing is essential to continue to validate our proprietary technology.Hence, outside investment was sought and successfully secured to conduct said testing. Additionally, where available, we will continue our independent pursuit of grants directed to small businesses as well as Angel Investment while continuing our independent testing. "We have developed a multi-tiered approach to conducting basic science geared towards product, service and sales, while doing more advanced scientific studies. I have personally visited ranches currently feeding their herds our SGP+ brand and witnessed first-hand the immediate acceptance by both cattle and goats. Currently we have research projects being conducted at two large ranches located in Texas and Louisiana, with more being currently added. The results to date are incredibly encouraging." Marc Walther, CEO, stated. If you are a rancher or dairyman and wish to participate in our research project please contact the Company by email at impactfusionintl@gmail.com or call 1-800-775-4130 Please visit our website at https://www.impactfusionbrands.com/nutri-mastic-2/ for more information about our proprietary formula Nutri-Mastic. About Impact Fusion International Inc. Impact Fusion International, Inc. is in the business of marketing products in the "Health and Wellness" sector of all international markets. It is the company's mission to invent, develop and market these proprietary products worldwide for the health and well-being of humans and animals. The information contained in this release includes some statement that are not purely historical and that are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our and their management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including our financial condition, results of operations. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "continue," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "might," "plans," "possible," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should," "would" and similar expressions, or the negatives of such terms, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and the potential effects on the parties and the corporate and administrative transactions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Updates can be found at the official Impact Fusion Twitter account @impactfusionl Contact: Impact Fusion International Inc. 204 Highway 1011 Napoleonville LA 70390 1-800-775-4130 Email: impactfusionintl@gmail.com https://www.impactfusionbrands.com/brands https://www.impactfusionint.com SOURCE: Impact Fusion International Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742300/Impact-Fusion-International-Inc-Implements-Hybrid-Research-Model-to-Accelerate-Testing-and-Research-of-its-SGPTM-Brand Increase in awareness of waterborne diseases, rise in concern about numerous health-related concerns, increase in urban population, surge in disposable income, rise in living standards, and the advent of eco-friendly container materials drive the global spring water market. PORTLAND, Ore., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Spring Water Market by Packaging Type (Bottled, Canned), by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Specialty Stores, Online Retail): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." according to the report the global spring water industry generated $210.7 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $465.2 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 8.7% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/32356 Drivers, restraints, and opportunities: Increase in awareness of waterborne diseases like typhoid, diarrhea, and food poisoning, rise in concern about numerous health-related concerns, such as gastrointestinal ailments, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems, increase in urban population, surge in disposable income, rise in living standards, and the advent of eco-friendly container materials drive the global spring water market. However, rise in environmental pollution caused by spring water plastic bottles, lack of awareness about health issues caused by low-cost tap water, and high cost of spring water restrict the growth of the market. On the other hand, rise in consumer awareness of different health concerns, such as gastrointestinal disorders caused by consuming polluted water, expanding innovative work initiatives and modernizing new products, and drinking water shortages in several areas are expected to produce ample opportunities to accelerate spring water market size in the coming years. COVID-19 Scenario: The consumer goods sector was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that affected both the production and the demand for spring water market share along with severe disruptions in the supply chain. The global market was also negatively impacted by the social distancing norms, closed borders, and production constraints caused by the pandemic in nations such as China , India , and the United States . , , and . Economic slowdown affected the setup of new spring water projects across the world as majority of government fundings were diverted toward consumer goods sector owing to rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, impacting the market to the great extent. Additionally, owing to the rising concerns regarding contamination among consumers followed by rising awareness of health & hygiene practices, the demand for packaged water increased during COVID-19. The specialty stores segment to dominate the market during the forecast period: In terms of distribution channel, the specialty stores segment contributed to the largest share of more than two-fifths of the global spring water market revenue in 2021, and is expected to retain its dominance by 2031. The rising convenience of quickly choosing the desired brand of spring water with a certain combination of minerals will drive segment growth throughout forecast period. On the other hand, hypermarkets/supermarkets segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period. This is because, companies that operate supermarkets and hypermarkets, such SPAR, Walmart, 7Eleven, Target, and Aldi, have extensive grocery store networks and a large international customer base. The rising use of smartphones has opened up fresh market opportunities for e-commerce platforms globally. Buy This Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3L8o0z0 The bottled segment to rule the roost: Based on packaging type, the bottled segment garnered the highest share in 2021, holding more than three-fourths of the global spring water market revenue, and is expected to retain its dominance by 2031. When large amounts of spring water are collected by a tanker truck and transported to a bottling factory, there is a risk of contamination. To ensure the purity of the bottled water, it must be filtered and treated. Bottle spring water right from the source for safer water. However, the canned segment, is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 10.0% from 2022 to 2031. This is owing to many advantages of canned bottles, such as a resealable cap, a convenient design and portability, quick cooling, and no effect on the taste of the water. Europe region garnered the major share in 2021: By region, Europe accounted for the highest share in 2021, holding more than two-fifths of the global spring water market revenue, and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. The segment's growth is due to high demand for items in Germany and France. Growing public awareness of the advantages of spring water has opened up new opportunities for regional makers and retailers. Moreover, Asia-Pacific region would portray fastest CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period, owing to rise in demand for spring water due to factors such as rise in health awareness, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/32356 Leading Market Players: Nestle S.A. Ten Spring Water Mountain Valley Spring Water CG Roxane, LLC Orient Beverages Pvt. Ltd. 3 Spring Water Coca-Cola Danone Pepsico, Inc. Tata Consumer Products Limited Trending Reports in Food and Beverages Industry Hard Kombucha Market Expected to Reach $1.7 Billion by 2031 Alcohol E-Commerce Market Expected to Reach $173.8 Billion by 2031 Port Wine Market Expected to Reach $774.7 Million by 2030 CBD Wine Market Expected to Reach $112.5 Million by 2031 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 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/reports-store/food-and-beverages Follow Us on Blog: https://www.dailyreportsworld.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spring-water-market-to-reach-465-2-billion-globally-by-2031-at-8-7-cagr-allied-market-research-301763995.html Additionally 100% of TREE's Sampled Contain High Levels of REE's VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Spark Energy Minerals Inc., ("Spark" or the "Company") (CSE:EMIN)(Frankfurt:M1N)(OTC:MTEHF), has received from Foxfire Metals Pty Ltd, (Foxfire) its joint venture partner and manager of the Minas Gerais Lithium and REE project in Brazil, that the results of a soil and rock chip sampling program completed in December 2022 have been received from independent SGS laboratory in Brazil. The Joint venture ground is located just 38km S.E. of Sigma Lithium tenements (TSX-V: SGML). in the "Lithium Valley" of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The laboratory results confirm both Lithium and REEs present in the saprolite soils and altered granite/pegmatites associates with these soils. All soil samples were collected over 13 different areas within the 3500 Hectares of Joint Venture ground and indicate the presence of Lithium and REE (rare earth element) mineralisation. Highlights: Lithium (Li): Li (see table 1) confirmed in 90% of the samples of the analyzed saprolite soils: - Up to 154 ppm Lithium reported in surface soil samples. Pegmatites and altered granites were confirmed in the rock chips analyzed and contain Lithium mineralization. Rare Earth Elements (REE): Every sample (100%) analyzed contains REEs with 16 of the 17 TREE elements confirmed. average TREE of ~2055 ppm over selected samples. highest individual sample (PMG2) recorded TREE of ~3050 ppm. Average TREE used in magnets 25.5%. Light REE: 86% average of total REE Heavy REE: 14% average of total REE Mineralized zones: Confirm mineralization for Lithium and REEs in at least 13 locations over the 3,500 hectares JV ground. Geological structures: Mapping identified several structures for hosting potential mineralization. Plans moving forward: June 2023 Quarter Planned Auger drilling for next quarter to further test for Li and REE in the saprolite soils and oxidized pegmatite and granite. A geochemical and geophysical work program to identify primary ore drilling targets planned in the June 2023 quarter. As previously reported, Foxfire completed a geochemical and mapping program in December 2022. Soil and rock chip samples collected were sent to SGS laboratory in Brazil to analyse for Lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs). These samples were collected from thirteen locations over the 3500 hectares JV licenses. Every location that was sampled indicated lithologies (Saprolite soils and altered pegmatites and granites) containing Li and REE mineralisation. The SGS laboratory results confirmed the presence of Lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the saprolite soils tested. Lithium was found in 90% of the samples analysed and REEs were found in all the samples analysed with 16 of the 17 TREE groups present. Old workings are present on one of the 3 licenses and have confirmed previous mining activities. The samples were prepared and analysed by SGS laboratories in Brazil and confirm Lithium and REE mineralisation in the saprolite soils and altered pegmatites and granites. 90% of the lithium in the saprolite soils contain up to 154ppm Lithium and 100% of the rock chips sampled contained lithium. 100% of the samples contain REEs in the saprolite soil and in the rock chip samples with the highest TREE (total Rare Earth Elements) sample PMG2 containing ~3050 ppm REE. A further geochemical soil program and geophysics - airborne radiometric program is scheduled to commence in the next quarter with the objective of identifying drill targets focused on intercepting the primary zone of potential mineralisation for Lithium and Rare earths (REE). A shallow auger drill program to test the extent of the mineralisation in the soils is also planned to commence in the next quarter. REEs and TREE calculation The average grade presented in this table is based on the samples result that exceeded 1000ppm of TREE. Table 1: Lithium results from SGS analysis of samples. Also elevated levels of Nb, Zr, and Rb were reported. Sample ID Li Nb Zr Rb PPM PPM PPM PPM PMGL 0001 49 45 543.7 259 PMGL 0002 41 43 559.9 233 PMGL 0003 30 20 61.3 67 PMGL 0004 41 23 46.4 281 PMGL 0005 57 22 239.6 159 PMGL 0006 46 12 17.6 164 PMG1 0001 154 107 767.7 511 PMG1 0002 68 18 178 270 PMG1 0003 29 62 587 5 PMG1 0004 0 56 862.1 0 PMG1 0005 37 68 550.2 13 PMG1 0006 24 49 721.8 4 PMG1 0007 0 50 593.8 13 PMG1 0008 80 117 907.2 428 PMG1 0009 33 47 484.4 186 PMG2 0001 40 51 537.1 317 PMG2 0002 27 61 707.5 8 PMG2 0003 32 57 839.7 7 PMG2 0004 28 24 255.9 13 PMGLR 0002 58 58 547.7 300 PMGLR 0001 108 40 20 131 Legend: PMGL = Soil Samples from EL831.515/2020 | PMGLLR = Rock chips from EL 831. 515/2020 PMG1 = Soil Samples from EL 831. 524/2020 | PMG2 =Soil Samples from EL831.458/2020 REE and TREE summary results: Light REEs represent 86% average of the TREE Heavy REEs represent 14% average of the TREE Magnet REEs represent 25.5% average of the TREE (TREE% Magnets: REE 25.5% (Nd+Pr+Dy+Tb)) Table 2: REEs and TREO Calculation Average Magnet Heavy PMGL0001 PMGL0002 PMG10001 PMG1005 PMG1 0008 PMG1 0009 PMG2 0001 PMG2 0002 PMGLR 0002 PMGLR 0002 REE REE REE LIGHTREE La 478.1 624.7 438 140.2 802.8 395.6 949.6 161.8 681.9 641.5 531.4 Ce 553.2 614.9 550.1 1412 896.6 400.9 679.1 939.4 507.4 464.1 701.8 Nd 373.2 419.7 297.1 45.2 523.9 342.9 752.9 108.6 478.4 438.2 378 378 Pr 103.9 123.3 84.6 14.8 150.6 97.3 214.2 30.3 132 126.2 107.7 107.7 Sm 56.4 57 42.6 7.4 75.6 50 99.5 13.7 70.1 66.1 53.8 86% 1564.8 1839.6 1412.4 1619.6 2449.5 1286.7 2695.3 1253.8 1869.8 1736.1 1772.8 HEAVY REE Dy 32.6 23 19.4 3.8 36.6 22.2 35.7 4.2 30.4 27.9 23.6 23.6 23.6 Er 15.1 8.4 8 1.6 15.4 9 13.4 1.5 12.8 11.4 9.6 9.6 Eu 7.5 8 7.7 0.5 9.2 6.3 18.4 2 11.8 10.7 8.2 8.2 Gd 52.6 46.8 33.9 5.6 65.8 38.2 73.8 9.8 52.5 50.6 43 43 Ho 6 3.7 3.4 0.7 6.3 3.6 5.7 0.7 5 4.7 4 4 Lu 1.5 0.7 0.9 0.2 1.6 0.8 1.2 0.2 1.3 1.2 1 1 Sc 8 6 11 9 6 8 9 10 9 8 8.4 8.4 Tb 7 5.8 4.4 1.4 8.4 4.9 8.7 1.5 7 6.3 5.5 5.5 5.5 Th 74.3 61.7 163.3 124.7 71.5 27.9 56.8 47 45.1 40.9 71.3 71.3 Tm 1.8 0.9 1 0.2 2 1 1.6 0.2 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.2 Y 175.4 96.3 83.7 14.1 159.7 93.5 120.5 14.5 118.9 115.1 99.2 99.2 Yb 11.3 5.2 6.4 1.6 11.1 6 9.3 1.2 9 8.1 6.9 6.9 393.1 266.4 343.1 163.4 393.5 221.5 354.1 92.6 304.4 286.3 281.8 14% 1957.9 2106.1 1755.5 1783 2843 1508.2 3049.4 1346.4 2174.3 2022.4 2054.6 514.8 281.8 The average grade of this table is based on the samples result that exceeded 1000ppm. Light REEs TREO 86% | Heavy REEs TREO% 24% Magnet REEs TREO % | Magnet REE 25.5% Location Map: Inset 1 These Three lithium licenses lie within the highly prospective northern portion of the state of Minas Gerais in the municipality of Padre Paraiso -the location of the Brazilian lithium producing districts and lithium belt. The areas are known to host lithium bearing pegmatites associated with spodumene, lepidolite, and amblygonite. Detail Location Map: Inset 2 Inset 2 is a location map of Spark's Minas Gerais lithium and rare earth licences. The dotted lines indicate the distance from Spark's licences to the state owned Companhia Brasileira de Litio's mining operation, Lithium Ionic (TSX-V: LTH) and SGML. Recent discoveries in the same, well known lithium province and pegmatite area of Minas Gerais have also been made by Latin Resources (ASX). Minas Gerais Area Plays: Inset 3 Collection Sample Map: Inset 4 Collection points of samples sent for analysis: every sample contained either LI or REE Mineralisation confirmed in all of the 13 collection points over the 3500 ha square area. Highlight: (Insets 5,6 & 7) An exploration program completed in December 2022 confirmed pegmatites on the license areas. Old workings were also identified where pegmatites have been mined. Lab results received confirmed mineralisation for Li and REE in the saprolite soils and pegmatite rock chips analysed. Insets 5, 6: Old workings at Minas Gerais and surface exposure of pegmatities have confirmed Lithium and REE present. Inset 7: Samples of different rock type collected from the Joint Venture ground. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Paul Woolrich (BSc Geology, MSc Geochemistry, PhD Metallurgy) who is a Member of the MAusIMM, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and is a Technical Director of Foxfire Metals Pty Ltd. About Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Spark Energy Minerals, Inc., is a Canadian company pursuing battery metals and mineral assets with newly acquired interests in Brazil and Canada. The Company has acquired assets in some of the world's most prolific mining jurisdictions, Brazil's growing lithium and provinces and in the Newfoundland, Canada region which is gaining recognition as a world hot spot for lithium and rare earth mineral exploration. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE THE COMPANY'S WEB SITE AT https://sparkenergyminerals.com Email to info@sparkenergyminerals.com Contact: Peter Wilson, CEO, Tel. +1-604-649-0945 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. Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Spark Energy Minerals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742442/Spark-Energy-Minerals-Exploration-Program-Confirms-Li-in-90-of-Soil-Samples-and-100-in-Chip-Samples As current social and economic conditions strain many relationships, Grass Valley, California-based Relationship Explorations (530-446-1930), launches an enhanced range of retreats for couples Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - Led by Dr. Lin Jovanovic, California-based Relationship Explorations has launched a selection of retreats designed around the challenges currently being faced by couples across the US. The latest workshops are held at the center's Grass Valley facility, and include Couples Therapy Intensives and Couples Relationship Retreats. More details can be found at https://www.relationshipexplorations.com/intensive-couples-session. Intensive Marriage Therapy & Retreats Launched By Relationship Explorations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/156685_10736b31c4c6f8c0_001full.jpg The new services from Relationship Explorations have been developed with a focus on some of the more common problems being faced by couples. These can include a major crisis or life-changing event that has strained a relationship, ongoing conflicts that aren't been resolved through regular discussion, and feelings of reduced intimacy or connection. Included in the center's latest selection is a Relationship Intensive retreat. These services has been designed around the needs of busy couples who may not have the time to participate in more extended programs. They include 3 and/or 6-hour blocks, and aim to re-establish a couple's connection, while also demonstrating methods to cope with change. As part of the recent announcement, Relationship Explorations has also launched a new guide. This explains the foundations of the retreats now offered, and the couples who may benefit from participation in the program. The new programs have been developed by Relationship Expressions founder Dr. Lin Jovanovic. Dr. Jovanovic obtained a PhD in Medical Psychology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and has also worked as a professor of psychology at CSU Stanislaus for over 29 years. Dr. Jovanovic recently stated: "Our retreats are designed to give you time to work on issues, experience the heated emotions, and then practice the skills needed to reconnect." Interested parties can learn more by visiting https://www.relationshipexplorations.com/what-is-a-couples-intensive-retreat-could-it-be-right-for-you. Contact Info: Name: Lin Jovanovic Email: drlin@relationshipexplorations.com Organization: Dr. Lin Jovanovic DBA Relationship Explorations Address: 204 West Main Street, Grass Valley, California 95945, United States Website: https://www.relationshipexplorations.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/156685 Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - Edison Law Group, a leading intellectual property law firm, is offering a new trademark program to help entrepreneurs protect their business. Clients who purchase a patent search from the firm will also receive a trademark. Trademark registration is an essential step for any business that is looking to protect their intellectual property and prevent others from using a similar name or logo. The firm is working to help more entrepreneurs protect their brand and put their business on the path to success. The mission of Edison Law Group is to aid entrepreneurs in comprehending the different approaches for securing their intellectual property. Those who are interested in learning more about the firm's complimentary trademark promotion are encouraged to reach out to its team via phone or email. The team will gladly assist business owners in initiating the process of safeguarding and protecting their brand. Edison Law Group has 35 years of patent law experience and helps protect the ideas of hard-working inventors. The firm's attorneys have a wealth of knowledge in intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and are committed to providing high-quality legal services to their clients. Edison Law Group understands the challenges entrepreneurs face and is here to help them to navigate the complex world of intellectual property. For more information about Edison Law Group, please see its website or contact: Michael Meyer, Esq. Junior Associate Edison Law Group 1-800-848-5957 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157008 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Trusted Partners Inc is a real estate investment firm that focuses on buying residential and commercial properties. This successful business was founded by Sonia Medrano , a passionate real estate investor, a philanthropist and a successful entrepreneur. Through Trusted Partners Inc, Sonia buys properties in cash, whether commercial or residential, remodels them, and then rents or sells them. They specialize in properties in bad condition, properties facing mortgage or tax foreclosure and properties that are in bankruptcy or probate court. At Trusted Partners, they have a team with a lot of experience in the industry which allows them to offer their clients reliable offers. Thanks to her expertise Sonia is an investor who can be trusted, with extensive professionalism and knowledge of the market. The company manages to stand out from the crowd because the quality of their work is exceptional and they love to support others. "We are genuine, congruent, we have integrity and we always give our clients and partners great attention." Currently, Trusted Partners Inc is a national leader in real estate investing. "My life purpose is to serve others. I created this company due to my passion to contribute to improving my community. I wanted to be able to spend quality time with my loved ones and to add value to people's lives through my knowledge and experience", Sonia shares. Trusted Partners Inc focuses on creating value for sellers across the real estate market. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, they are one of the most respected real estate firms in Texas and in the United States in general. "What makes us unique is our ability to provide quick and accurate solutions for clients who wish to sell their home for cash with a fair offer, whether they are single family homes or commercial. Also, that we teach people how to be financially independent by learning real estate investing", Sonia adds. What's more, Sonia is a philanthropist who loves to support her community. She is based in Houston, Texas, where she has a non-profit organization. Her selflessness has improved the quality of life for so many people. Sonia Medrano has contributed greatly to many worthwhile causes, championed for change and continues to be a pillar of the community. As a founder of Houston Entrepreneur Society has utilized her staunch advocacy and selflessness to support the development of her community. In fact, the Mayor of Houston proclaimed July 13rd as Sonia Medrano Day, thanks to her tireless contributions and dedication to her community. Sonia also received the Yellow Rose of Texas, which is given only through the Office of the Governor to recognize women for their significant contributions to their communities and to Texas. Sonia gives free webinars and mentoring for everyone interested in learning how to invest in the real estate market. Sonia started this initiative with the purpose of continuing to help others and to establish connections with potential partners and investors. Trusted Partners Inc has big plans for 2023 such as expanding their portfolio of commercial properties and buying more properties throughout the US. They also plan to offer asset and property management soon. "We want to buy diverse businesses as well as real estate, I also want to create a non-profit that works in all US and that contributes to improving the lives of many talented young people through mentoring and personal development", Sonia details. To find out more about Trusted Partners Inc, click here. You can also follow Sonia Medrano on Instagram here. About Trusted Partners, Inc: Trusted Partners Inc is a real estate investment firm that focuses on buying residential and commercial properties. Contact: Paula Henderson 561-768-4444 phendersonnews@gmail.com SOURCE: Trusted Partners, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742458/Trusted-Partners-Inc-Created-By-The-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist-Sonia-Medrano-Is-a-National-Leader-Firm-in-Real-Estate-Investing-in-the-US-Learn-More-Here Charter school faculty member brings hands-on learning to cyber students throughout PA. MIDLAND, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / The Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) selected PA Cyber's Thomas Brambley as the 2022 STEM Educator of the Year. He will be recognized at the ESWP Annual Banquet on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The annual awards program highlights important contributions that engineers, contractors, and educators make to our lives. As the Supervisor of STEM Education, Brambley creates engaging opportunities for students in all grade levels through PA Cyber's Polytechnic Academy. He incorporates programs that enable students to build both skills and confidence as problem solvers. "I look forward to seeing PA Cyber alumni become leaders of not only engineering and STEM fields," he said, "but any desired field in which they practice as they apply the problem-solving principles that they gained through our Polytechnic Academy." Brambley explained that failure is expected in STEM education and overcoming challenges is much more rewarding than experiencing immediate success. "The engineering design process encourages students to create multiple solutions and work through problems that arise, and that's what STEM education at PA Cyber is all about," he said. PA Cyber's Polytechnic Academy comprises in-person and virtual learning opportunities, such as classes, clubs, and summer programs, where participants learn by doing. Through partnerships with colleges and educational groups, the school offers diverse and modern programs. It introduced its Polytechnic Mobile Lab in 2021, which brings all the equipment that participants need to fabricate their designs to any event location. For more information, visit pacyber.org/polytechnic. # # # About PA Cyber Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School is one of the largest, most experienced, and most successful online public schools in the nation. PA Cyber's online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and curricula choices connect Pennsylvania students and families with state-certified and highly qualified teachers and rich academic content aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment to any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and does not charge tuition to students or families. Media Contact: Jennie Harris jennie.harris@pacyber.org 724-313-5842 SOURCE: The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742203/Engineers-Society-Names-PA-Cybers-Thomas-Brambley-STEM-Educator-of-the-Year Extension of the distribution partnership with Unipex, a subsidiary of the Barentz Group Strengthening of Groupe Berkem's international footprint Regulatory News: Groupe Berkem, a leading player in bio-based chemistry (ISIN code: FR00140069V2 Ticker: ALKEM) (Paris:ALKEM), today announced the extension of its distribution agreement with Unipex, one of the market leaders in the distribution of specialty products, to the Benelux region and French-speaking Switzerland for all of its ingredients targeting the cosmetics and Personal Care market. Recently acquired by Barentz, one of the world's leading distributors of specialty products which already distributes Groupe Berkem's products in North America and certain European territories, Unipex is present in many markets such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and nutraceuticals. Developing for its "Health, Beauty Nutrition" expertise a wide range of 100% plant-based extracts selected for their effectiveness, Groupe Berkem has once again placed its trust in Unipex to distribute its ingredients targeting the cosmetics and Personal Care market. Already the distributor of Groupe Berkem's plant extracts for France, Unipex will distribute to the Benelux countries and French-speaking Switzerland, thanks to its sales force combined with its Technical Marketing department. Unipex will supply customers in this area with Groupe Berkem's range of cosmetic ingredients. Eric Moussu, Vice President of Sales of Groupe Berkem, stated: "This new agreement with Unipex follows the one we signed together in 2022 for the distribution of our solutions dedicated to the "Health, Beauty Nutrition" area of expertise in France. We are thus pursuing our internationalization strategy alongside a recognized player in the distribution of speciality ingredients that has already proved its worth in our domestic market. Based on this solid partnership, we intend to meet the demand of cosmetics manufacturers wishing to increase the naturalness of their products while preserving their effectiveness. Valerie LEPOULTEL, Director of Sales for Western Europe Cosmetics Business Unit of Unipex, added: "We are pleased to count Groupe Berkem among our strategic partners. Groupe Berkem's solutions and values naturally match our own. We are very enthusiastic to be able to expand our collaboration by offering these scientific and innovative solutions, which I am sure will meet the needs of the market in both territories. ABOUT UNIPEX For over 50 years, Unipex has managed to preserve its core business: the distribution of specialty ingredients. Since May 2022, Unipex has joined Barentz, one of the world's leading distributors of life science ingredients. Unipex continues to work alongside its supplier partners to promote their ingredients in our territories. Unipex operates in 5 specialty markets: pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, food and chemicals. www.unipex.com ABOUT GROUPE BERKEM Founded in 1993 by Olivier Fahy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Berkem is a leading force in the bio-based chemicals market. Its mission is to advance the environmental transition of companies producing the chemicals used in everyday lives (Construction Materials, Health, Beauty Nutrition, Hygiene Protection, and Industry). By harnessing its expertise in both plant extraction and innovative formulations, Groupe Berkem has developed bio-based boosters-unique high-quality bio-based solutions augmenting the performance of synthetic molecules. Groupe Berkem achieved revenue of 51.8 million in 2022. The Group has almost 170 employees working at its head office (Blanquefort, Gironde) and 3 production facilities in Gardonne (Dordogne), La Teste-de-Buch (Gironde), and Chartres (Eure-et-Loir). The Berkem Group has been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since December 2021 (ISIN code: FR00140069V2 ALKEM). www.groupeberkem.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230307005870/en/ Contacts: Berkem Group Olivier Fahy, Chief Executive Officer Anthony Labrugnas, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +33 (0)5 64 31 06 60 investisseurs@berkem.com NewCap Investor Relations Mathilde Bohin Nicolas Fossiez Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 Berk em@newcap.eu NewCap Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau Antoine Pacquier Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 Berkem@newcap.eu UNIPEX Press contact Caroline LESELLIER Marketing Communication Manager Caroline.Lesellier@unipex.com 01 47 32 81 47 06 71 00 50 34 Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 7 March 2023 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 75,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 884.9 pence 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 17 January 2023. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 15,511,853; 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 209,479,450. The figure of 209,479,450 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 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Acre Original Source: Climate change: Hong Kong to pay 30 per cent more for ESG jobs as companies fight for talent to meet sustainability targets Environmental, social and governance (ESG) jobs in Hong Kong could command salary premiums of more than 30 per cent as companies strive to meet their sustainability targets and tackle climate change, according to headhunters. With increasing demand for ESG and sustainability expertise in Hong Kong, local talents can expect salary increments of over 30 per cent when switching jobs, while those relocating to the city from overseas can expect even higher salary increases and potential expat benefits, according to recruitment agency Hays. "There is a massive skills gap in this space globally, especially in Hong Kong," said Sue Wei, managing director of Hays Hong Kong. "The push for ESG and sustainability talent will continue in the new year." All of the nearly 2,500 Hong Kong-listed companies are required to publish annual sustainability reports on their ESG performance alongside mandatory periodic financial reports. There has been "aggressive hiring" of ESG and sustainability talent from the big four accounting firms as well as management consulting firms who have been looking to fill the gap from the lack of in-house talent at companies in Hong Kong, according to Paddy Balfour, executive director of Asia for sustainability recruitment firm Acre. "Particularly around the compliance and consulting side of ESG, hiring has been particularly strong" in Hong Kong, said Balfour, adding that there could be an uptake in hiring over the next 18 to 24 months after the Lunar New Year now that travel restrictions have been removed. Over the past two years, there has been around a 25 per cent increase in the amount of hiring for ESG roles in Hong Kong, according to John Mullally, managing director of Robert Walters in Hong Kong. People already in an ESG role who switch to another firm could command a 20 to 25 per cent salary increment, Mullally added. "The expectation now, globally, is that ESG has to be a big part of what you do, and you have to have [professionals] within your firm, dedicated to measuring it, making sure there's compliance and governance around it, and making sure that there's reporting around it," said Mullally. "Many companies in Hong Kong are to a large extent still playing catch up with the rest of the world. When most companies these days do compete on a global or regional scale, there is going to be more hiring in that space." Relevant skills and knowledge of ESG reporting, climate change and carbon emissions are of high interest to companies when making ESG-related hires, said Martin Xiang, principal in Heidrick & Struggles Hong Kong. "The financial sector in particular demands more green finance professionals with the knowledge and skills to meet industry needs in Hong Kong. We have also observed that banks and investment funds in Hong Kong who are focused on sustainability investing are looking towards bringing in the right ESG talent," said Xiang. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced plans for a three-year pilot scheme to build green and sustainable finance capacity in his budget plan in February. The government earmarked HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) for the trial, which would provide subsidies for training to obtain the relevant professional qualifications in sustainable finance, as part of a collaborative effort to build capacity for the industry. While the scheme is a step in the right direction, there is still an urgent requirement for the government to better promote Hong Kong as a global city of choice again to attract overseas talent, according to Hays' Wei. "If Hong Kong wishes to accelerate its journey to net zero, the public and private sectors need to work together, to woo international sustainability talent in order to meet its ambitious climate goals," she said. Original Source: South China Morning Post | Written by Martin Choi | Published on 26.01.23 Paddy has spent over 15 years working across multiple markets in the APAC region with relationships in the finance and commercial sectors. At Acre he is specifically aligned with the growth of the sustainable finance, impact investing and sustainable energy practice across APAC. This includes working with banks, insurers, pension funds, investment managers, private debt, equity & real-asset funds, family offices and foundations. About Acre At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy. Our 18 years' experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change. Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too. We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations. Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Acre on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Acre Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/acre Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Acre View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742503/Climate-Change-Hong-Kong-To-Pay-30-Percent-More-for-ESG-Jobs-As-Companies-Fight-for-Talent-To-Meet-Sustainability-Targets-With-Commentary-From-Acres-Paddy-Balfour The unified customer data, analytics, and marketing automation platform Ortto, formerly Autopilot, continues to see double-digit monthly growth a year on from its rebrand. The martech company now has more than 3,000 customers globally and was recognized in 49 categories in G2's biannual report. SYDNEY, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ortto, which started as Autopilot Journeys in 2015, rebranded in early 2022 following the launch of a revolutionary new platform that allows marketers to effortlessly connect previously siloed data sources to get a complete view of their customers. Marketers can analyze and operationalize this data without the need for specialized support, enabling them to deliver personalized customer journeys at scale, increasing the impact of their campaigns with powerful event-based triggers and AI-content optimization. In the year since the rebrand, Ortto's users have built some 5,000 journeys and sent more than 210 million emails to their customers, contributing to the company's sustained 16% month-on-month growth. The powerful platform received the 'High Performer' badge in 11 categories in the G2 Winter 2023 reports, including marketing automation and marketing platform, across multiple regions (APAC, ANZ, Europe , UK, etc.) , UK, etc.) Ortto was also awarded the 'Best estimated ROI' badge and the 'Easiest to use' badge in the customer journey mapping categories, as well as the 'Users Love Us' badge. The platform was also ranked number one for data personalization by SoftwareReviews. Customer, Mica Shtewi, Tech Manager at Pattern, comments: "When you're moving into a world we're moving into, you have so many data sources that you're trying to bring together and various communications to get clients moving through the sales process. We needed something flexible that works and had a robust integration with Salesforce, and with Ortto we can target people the way we want to target them." Michael Sharkey, CEO and co-founder of Ortto, comments: "Everyone recognizes the importance of data in building better, more personalized customer experiences, but the problem is, for many businesses, this data is located across a number of different tools and isn't easily accessible to marketers. That's why we rebuilt our platform to make it easy to bring all of that data together in one place and remove the barriers to entry, so marketers have ready access to the data they need without having to lodge a ticket or learn SQL. The response to the new platform has been incredible - not only from our Autopilot customers, who are realizing new value through Ortto, but also from new customers who have come on board in the past year." About Ortto Ortto, the world's first complete marketing automation, AI and analytics platform, empowers marketers to act with confidence and increase their impact on revenue. By combining three powerful tools into one intuitive platform, teams finally benefit from their customer data, messaging, and analytics working together. Sophisticated yet easy to use, more than 3,000 customers trust Ortto to understand their impact, discover their next marketing opportunity, and continuously iterate to deliver great customer experiences at scale. Learn more at: www.ortto.com Launched in 2015, Ortto's team is located in Australia, Europe and the US. To date, the company has raised $35M in venture funding from backers including Blackbird, Rembrandt and Salesforce Ventures. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2016238/Ortto_helps_data_driven_marketers_easily_build_powerful_reports_understand_working.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2016239/Visually_design_journeys_automate_personalized_messages_trigger_actions_customer_lifecycle.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2016240/ORTTO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/martech-platform-ortto-celebrates-record-growth-on-the-anniversary-of-its-rebrand-301764035.html VANCOUVER, BC, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Quantum Computing market size was valued at USD 604.00 Million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 8,487.60 Million in 2032 registering a CAGR of 30.2% during the forecast period, according to the latest analysis by Emergen Research. The rising demand for high-performance computing, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and increasing investments in quantum computing technology are some of the key factors driving the growth of the Quantum Computing market. Quantum computing technology is anticipated to revolutionize various industries, including healthcare, finance, logistics, and others. Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems that are currently unsolvable with traditional computing methods, making it a crucial technology for researchers, scientists, and businesses. Major companies such as IBM, Google, Intel, and Microsoft are investing heavily in quantum computing research and development, which is expected to boost the growth of the market. Request Free Sample Copy (To Understand the Complete Structure of this Report [Summary + TOC]) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/1706 Drivers: The growing demand for high-performance computing in various industries such as finance, healthcare, and logistics is driving the Quantum Computing market's growth. Quantum computing offers significantly higher computing power compared to traditional computing methods, which is particularly useful in the analysis of complex data sets. Quantum computing technology is also expected to play a key role in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are anticipated to transform various industries, including healthcare, finance, and transportation. The increasing investments in quantum computing technology by major companies and governments worldwide are also driving the growth of the market. The United States, Canada, and China are among the countries that have made significant investments in quantum computing research and development. The increasing number of collaborations between technology companies and research institutions to advance quantum computing technology is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market. Restraints: The high cost of quantum computing hardware and the complexity of quantum computing algorithms are among the key factors that could hinder the growth of the market. Quantum computing hardware requires specialized components that are difficult to manufacture, which makes them expensive. Additionally, quantum computing algorithms are highly complex and require specialized expertise to develop and implement, which limits the adoption of the technology in various industries. Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + Infographics@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/quantum-computing-market Growth Projections: The Quantum Computing market is expected to register a CAGR of 32.4% over the forecast period and revenue is projected to increase from USD 472.6 Million in 2021 to USD 5.97 Billion in 2028. The increasing demand for quantum computing technology in various industries, including healthcare, finance, and logistics, is expected to drive the growth of the market. The rising investments in quantum computing research and development by major companies and governments worldwide are also expected to contribute to the growth of the market. Additionally, the development of more user-friendly quantum computing platforms and software is anticipated to increase the adoption of the technology in various industries. Current Trends and Innovations: The Quantum Computing Market is a rapidly evolving and innovative field that is transforming the way we approach computing and technology. Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses quantum mechanics principles such as superposition and entanglement to process and store data. It has the potential to revolutionize various industries such as finance, healthcare, cybersecurity, and transportation. The global quantum computing market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to the increasing demand for high-speed computing and the need to solve complex problems in various industries. Quantum computing provides an unprecedented level of computational power that can solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of traditional computing. The financial industry is one of the largest users of quantum computing solutions. Financial institutions use quantum computing to perform complex financial calculations, optimize portfolio management, and reduce risk. In addition, the healthcare industry uses quantum computing to improve drug discovery and personalized medicine. The cybersecurity industry is also a growing market for quantum computing. Quantum computing can be used to develop more secure encryption methods and to protect sensitive data from cyber attacks. Emergen Research is Offering Limited Time Discount (Grab a Copy at Discounted Price Now) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-discount/1706 Strategic Initiatives: Major companies included in the quantum computing market report are IBM Corporation, Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Intel Corporation, D-Wave Systems, Rigetti Computing, Alibaba Group, IonQ, Xanadu, and Honeywell International. In recent news, several strategic initiatives have been taken by companies in the quantum computing market to strengthen their market position. For example, on March 2, 2022, Microsoft Corporation announced the launch of its new Azure Quantum service. This new service provides developers with access to quantum computing resources and tools to build quantum applications. Similarly, on February 15, 2022, Google LLC announced the launch of its new quantum processor, the Bristlecone. This new processor provides advanced features such as improved qubit connectivity and reduced error rates. Scope of Research Report Details Outcome Market Size in 2022 USD 604.00 Million CAGR (2022-2032) 30.2 % Revenue Forecast to 2032 USD 8,487.60 Million Base Year for Estimation 2022 Historical Data 2019-2021 Forecast Period 2023-2032 Quantitative Units Revenue in USD Million and CAGR in % from 2023 to 2032 Report Coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Segments Covered Offering, deployment, application, technology, end-use, and region Regional Scope North America, Europe;, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, France, Spain, BENELUX, Rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of APAC, Brazil, Rest of LATAM, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled IBM, D-Wave Quantum Inc., Microsoft, Amazon, Inc., Rigetti & Co, LLC, Google, Intel Corporation, Toshiba, Honeywell International Inc., and QC Ware Customization Scope 10 hours of free customization and expert consultation Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/1706 Segments Covered in Report For the purpose of this report, Emergen Research has segmented the global quantum computing market based on offering, deployment, application, technology, end-use, and region: Offering Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2032) Systems Services Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) Consulting Services Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2032) On-Premises Cloud-Based Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2032) Optimization Machine Learning (ML) Simulation Others Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2032) Superconducting Qubits Trapped Ions Quantum Annealing Others End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2032) Space & Defense Banking & Finance Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Energy & Power Chemicals Transportation & Logistics Government Academia Latest Research Reports Published by Emergen Research: Perimeter Defense System Market, By Type (Infrared Contrast, Laser Beam, Electric Fence, Microwave Contrast, Leaky Cable, Tension Fence, and Vibration Cable), By Application, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Electrocardiogram Cables and Lead Wires Market, By Product Type, By Material Type, By Usability Type, By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Companion Animal Diagnostics Market, By Technology Type, By Animal Type, By Application, By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Market, By Product (Endoscopes, Visualization Systems, and Others), By Procedure (Biliary Dilation and Pancreatic Duct Stenting), By End-use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Failure Analysis Market, By Equipment (Optical Microscope, SEM, TEM, SPM, FIB System, Dual Beam System, Others), By Technology (EDX, SIMS, BIM, RIE, Others), By Application (Electronics & Semiconductor, Industrial Science, Material Science, Bioscience), By Region Forecast to 2030 Stentless Bioprostheses Market By Type (Xenograft, Allograft and Autograft), By Application (Aortic, Bicuspid, Tricuspid, Pulmonary and Endobronchial), By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Turret System Market, By Platform (Land, Airborne, and Naval), By Type (Manned and Unmanned), By Component (Turret Drive, Turret Control System, and Stabilization Unit), and By Region Forecast to 2030 Natural Language Processing Market By Component (Solutions and Services), By Type (Rule-Based, Statistical, and Hybrid), By Application, By Vertical, and By Region Forecast to 2030 About Emergen Research Emergen Research is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target, and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries, and help clients make smarter business decisions. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Touch Points, Chemicals, Types, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware of the latest trend's existent in the market. Emergen Research has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Our industry experience and ability to develop a concrete solution to any research problems provides our clients with the ability to secure an edge over their respective competitors. Contact Us: Eric Lee Corporate Sales Specialist Emergen Research | Web: www.emergenresearch.com Direct Line: +1 (604) 757-9756 E-mail: sales@emergenresearch.com Emergen Research Media Citations: https://www.emergenresearch.com/media-citations Visit for More Insights: https://www.emergenresearch.com/insights Explore Our Custom Intelligence services | Growth Consulting Services Read our Press Release @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/press-release/global-quantum-computing-market Trending Titles Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment Market | Soft Tissue Repair Market Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579538/Emergen_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/quantum-computing-market-size-worth-usd-8-487-60-million-in-2032--emergen-research-301764327.html Creative for Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival and Oktoberfest Honored at Annual Fete DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / The Barber Shop Marketing, heralded as one of the Top Marketing and Advertising Agencies in Dallas/Fort Worth, was presented with the Gold ADDY Award for their event marketing campaign on behalf of their client The City of Richardson's Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival and the Extreme Makeover Award for their rebrand of the Town of Addison's Oktoberfest logo, at the 61st annual Dallas American Advertising Federation (AAF) ADDY awards. "We have been working with both The Town and Addison and the City of Richardson for many years to bring fun and innovative branding to their annual heritage events. The creative direction by The Barber Shop Marketing's David Adkins is refreshing and exudes fun and festivity while also staying true to the purpose of special event advertising and promotion," said Amy Hall, president of The Barber Shop Marketing. For the ADDY Awards, top agencies in and around Dallas, Texas submitted more than hundreds of entries which were judged by four of the top Creative Directors from around the U.S. As they approach their 20th anniversary, The Barber Shop Marketing boasts a record-breaking tenure in awards and business growth for the past year. The agency was named one of Dallas Business Journal's Top 25 Advertising and Marketing Agencies in 2022 as well as one of their Top Women-Owned Businesses. In 2022, they received three coveted Telly Awards and 17 International Festival and Events Association Pinnacle Awards for their excellence in delivering their clients' messages creatively and with intent to consumers through various mediums. "We absolutely love what we do, and it shows. In 2023, we will continue supporting events and clients with innovative and creative ideas with supercharged energy and tireless drive to success," says Hall. About The Barber Shop Marketing The Barber Shop Marketing is a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Dallas with category-leading clients including Uplift Education, Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, Yo Quiero!, City of Richardson, Smith Thompson Home Security, Town of Addison, and Bill Dickason Chevrolet Buick. Their specialization includes advertising, creative, media, digital, social media, public relations, and search optimization. For more information about The Barber Shop Marketing, visit www.thebarbershopmarketing.com or phone 214-217-7177. Follow The Barber Shop Marketing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebarbershopmarketing or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-barber-shop-marketing. Contact: Amy Hall, amy@thebarbershopmarketing.com SOURCE: The Barber Shop Marketing View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742527/The-Barber-Shop-Marketing-Scores-Big-at-the-2023-Addy-Awards-in-Dallas MrGuild, known for its distinctive British style, has unveiled a three-year plan to dress American men through its e-commerce launch and partnership with major retailers in the US. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2023) - MrGuild, a prominent UK-based e-commerce brand specializing in fashionable men's tailoring, has announced its three-year plan to expand into the American market. The plan involves collaborating with established US online retailers and launching its own e-commerce site to sell its popular men's suit collections. Caption: MrGuild brings a touch of British style to the US men's suit market To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8552/157355_e756b01ac4eeba8d_001full.jpg Aim to grow within three years The founder of MrGuild, Gee Beller stated that MrGuild aims to capture 5% of the American market within three years of launching and plans to open physical stores in four US states. According to a recent McKinsey report, consumers are changing how they dress for work, weddings, and other occasions, and as a result, formal attire is being rethought. Special occasions may be dominated by statement-making outfits that help them stand out when they do decide to dress up. The report also notes that the luxury fashion sector is expected to grow between 5 and 10 percent in 2023. Gee Beller, explains the brand's philosophy as follows: "MrGuild's collections are inspired by putting their distinctive color or fabric twist on contemporary trends in men's tailoring and the evolving preferences of consumers in terms of how they want to dress. MrGuild's designs are tailored to inspire and achieve a unique style suitable for the modern-day English gentleman. They stand out with their tailor-made creations and exquisite peak lapels." Caption: MrGuild aims to capture 5% of the American market within three years To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8552/157355_e756b01ac4eeba8d_002full.jpg The double-breasted suits are the most preferred pieces of the collection "Men's fashion's pursuit of casual elegance creates new opportunities," said Gee Beller. "MrGuild's double-breasted suits, which can be styled in various ways, are the most sold items, making them a preferred choice for anyone looking to build a versatile wardrobe. While the double-breasted suit has been around for a while, modern designers like MrGuild have given it a contemporary update by incorporating bold patterns, colors, innovative cuts, and fabrics." The brand has witnessed tremendous growth in its home market, the UK, with the double-breasted suit leading the way. In 2022, sales of this suit increased by 60%, and the trend is expected to continue to be best-sellers in 2023 due to their versatility and influence on people. The MrGuild green double-breasted has outsold all other colors after their wardrobe-staple grey and black styles. Contact: Gee Beller - info@mrguild.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/157355 TOKYO, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dentsu Group Inc. [(Tokyo: 4324) (ISIN: JP3551520004; President & CEO: Hiroshi Igarashi; Head Office: Tokyo; Capital: 74,609.81 million yen] today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Advent International under which dentsu will acquire Tag Worldwide Holdings Ltd, the global omnichannel digital marketing production powerhouse. The acquisition will support dentsu's strategy of offering integrated client solutions at the convergence of marketing, technology and consulting, uniting the group's service offerings like never before. Tag's digital infrastructure and services will provide high quality content at speed and scale for creative, a scaled personalization engine for customer experience management (CXM), as well as add power to media Dynamic Content Optimization (DCO). Upon completion, the acquisition will take dentsu's Customer Transformation and Technology (CT&T) net revenues to 34% from 32% for FY2022. Dentsu has set "Business Transformation and Growth," as one of the four pillars of its medium-term management plan and one of the priorities is to reach 50% of its revenues from CT&T. Tag works with leading brands to transform their business and marketing capabilities to deliver content at speed and scale across channels, cultures, and regions. With intelligent, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions at the heart of everything it does, Tag enables brands to operate more efficiently and effectively to stand out, grow and waste less. The organization will become dentsu's sixth network brand and will retain the Tag brand for the foreseeable future. The acquisition will substantially bolster dentsu's creative digital production capabilities, adding 2,800 colleagues located across 29 countries around the world, with one global production hub and ten specialist hubs. Tag's existing service portfolio is structured around three core disciplines: Creative Production (including Digital Video, high-end CGI, moving image, AR / VR and Post-Production), Technology (focused on UX design, website & platform development, Managed Services and Digital Interact (Di)) and Channel Activation (comprising strategic advisory and omnichannel content delivery). Tag utilizes a robust global delivery model to provide clients with scalable solutions and round-the-clock coverage. The model closely mirrors dentsu's own Networked Talent structure through which clients get the best expertise, networked from wherever it is located, delivered consistently and to the highest levels of quality available across dentsu. It is this combination of technology and people that transcends location and optimizes delivery for clients. Founded in 1972, Tag was acquired by Advent International in 2017 and has grown significantly following more than 100 million of investment and the successful completion of six acquisitions to further enhance the business' capabilities. Tag's distributed hub model allows it to be an always-on, end-to-end production partner of choice for 38 of the world's leading 100 brands, with average client tenure of over seven years. A key foundation of this success is Digital Interact (Di), a unified martech platform which helps marketers better manage campaigns, access, automate and optimize content, and seamlessly tap into Tag's global creative production, sourcing and transcreation networks. Hiroshi Igarashi, President & CEO, Dentsu Group Inc. said, "Tag will truly enable us to scale our CT&T business for global clients with a technology-driven solution. By applying mass-personalization across the three services lines, we will create a best-in-class, horizontal creativity offering. The values that the Tag leadership team have established and nurtured over the past 50 years very much mirror dentsu's own culture and values, with a shared focus on Social Purpose, DEI and sustainability. We look forward to welcoming Tag to the dentsu family and to our shared success." David Kassler, Global CEO, Tag, said, "We can't wait to start this next phase of our journey and couldn't be happier to be joining the dentsu family. The market is moving incredibly fast towards integrated services - the combination of Tag's global technology-enabled content production with dentsu's broader marketing, technology and consulting skills will be tremendously additive for both sets of our wonderful clients." Opportunity For Clients A powerful combination of global content delivery and personalization at scale: The acquisition of Tag will significantly scale dentsu's content offering so that it can serve global brands across the entire customer journey, in the most efficient way possible. As the web becomes more immersive, and the dawning of Web3 creates an insatiable hunger for richer, more personalized cross screen content, dentsu and Tag together will provide the perfect modern engine for content creation, distribution and personalization. Company Structure Tag will remain a distinct brand within dentsu, will continue to be led by David Kassler, Tag's Global CEO and will remain headquartered in London, UK. Summary of Terms of Transaction The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is anticipated to close later in 2023 subject to receipt of required antitrust approvals and customary closing conditions. Lazard acted as financial advisor to dentsu in relation to the transaction. Dentsu expects the acquisition to provide a number of financial benefits, including the acceleration of organic revenue growth, an increase of the profile of CT&T revenues and accretion to earnings per share. On completion, Tag will represent approximately 3% of dentsu revenues and adds long-term, contracted revenue streams. About dentsu Dentsu is the network designed for what's next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, we use insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. As part of Dentsu Group Inc. (Tokyo: 4324; ISIN: JP3551520004), we are headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and our 69,000-strong employee-base of dedicated professionals work across four regions (Japan, Americas, EMEA and APAC). Dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society. dentsu website:https://www.dentsu.com/ Dentsu Group Inc. website:https://www.group.dentsu.com/en/ About Tag Tag works with brands to create and deliver impactful content at speed and scale. From creative production and activation to strategic sourcing and delivery, analytics, and subject matter expertise, we transcend digital and physical touchpoints to allow brand content and concepts to travel globally and connect locally, through flexible, tech-enabled solutions. https://www.tagww.com/ About Advent International Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. The firm has invested in over 400 private equity investments across 41 countries, and as of September 30, 2022, had $89 billion in assets under management. With 14 offices in 12 countries, Advent has established a globally integrated team of over 285 private equity investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on investments in five core sectors, including business and financial services; health care; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology. For more information, please visit www.adventinternational.com. Disclaimer Lazard & Co., Limited ("Lazard"), which is authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to dentsu and no one else in connection with the transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than dentsu for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the transaction or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2017979/dentsu_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dentsu-agrees-to-acquire-tag-to-grow-creative-production-and-customer-transformation--technology-capabilities-301765048.html PORTLAND, OR and MONTREAL, QB / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / BlockChain Loyalty Corp. (OTC PINK:BBLC) is more than pleased to announce that they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Merger Agreement with Heather Marianna LLC, DBA Beauty Kitchen, the manufacturing, and licensing-arm to Marianna Naturals Corp. On February 8th, 2023, BlockChain Loyalty Corp. announced in a press release, that they had signed a share exchange and asset agreement with Marianna Naturals, resulting in a "new business direction and a change in control and changes in officers & directors." On February 13, 2023, under the terms of the "Share Exchange Agreement and Plan of Merger with BlockChain Loyalty Corp. & Marianna Naturals Corp. effective control of BlockChain Loyalty Corp. (the "Registrant") was transferred to Heather M. Dill, Joel DeBellefeuille and Chealse S. Howell, who now collectively own and control 32,250,538 of the 65,042,669 BlockChain Loyalty Corp. Common shares outstanding, as a result of this transaction." The merger agreement consists of a value of $10,000,000 USD in a mix of Consideration Shares and cash as the final offering price to Heather Marianna LLC, DBA Beauty Kitchen. The final breakdown of the percentage of cash to Consideration Shares will be finalized in the Definitive Agreement; with both parties eager to close on or before April 7th, 2023. It has been agreed that if the offering price of BBLC stock at closing is below the market price listed in the Definitive Agreement with Heather Marianna LLC, DBA Beauty Kitchen; additional shares will be issued to meet the terms. Both parties are committed to expediting the closing of this binding letter of intent with respect to the terms of the proposed transaction herein. This strategic move will now see the corporation expand across North America from East to West, and the brand's merger and consolidation will only amplify its continued growth. Both brands (Beauty Kitchen & Marianna Naturals) have been working in parallel with each other since the inception of Marianna Naturals in the beginning of 2020. Over the course of the next couple of months leading into Q2, and under the same planned business strategy of acquisition of revenue generating lifestyle brands, BlockChain Loyalty Corp. will seek to announce its second targeted acquisition. Some Beauty Kitchen highlights include: In 2012, Beauty Kitchen is founded by Heather Marianna and her DIY series of videos on YouTube went viral with over 4 million views. Beauty Kitchen founder & CEO Heather Marianna featured on the cover of Deluxe Version Magazine, a luxury lifestyle online and print publication in Nevada. a luxury lifestyle online and print publication in Nevada. Heather Marianna has appeared on Bravo's 90 Day Fiance , as well as on 100+ national TV news segments as a beauty expert, showcasing the all-natural brand and its products. , as well as on 100+ national TV news segments as a beauty expert, showcasing the all-natural brand and its products. In September 2022, 2021 and 2020, Beauty Kitchen was at the Emmy Awards featuring their products at the gifting booth. Heather Marianna has been a regular keynote speaker at the White-Label Expo Show in Las Vegas, NV in 2020, 2021, 2022. About Marianna Naturals Corp & Beauty Kitchen 'Marianna Naturals and Beauty Kitchen were born from their belief that the world deserves 100% natural skin care and cosmetics without the use of chemical preservatives. A celebrity skin care and health & wellness brand producing products that are hand-made fresh at their facilities in the USA which are always Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, and Sulfate-Free.' Beauty Kitchen's founder and CEO, Heather Marianna, skyrocketed in popularity with the launch of her Beauty Kitchen YouTube series in 2012 where she showcased simple, do-it-yourself beauty recipes made with common kitchen household ingredients. The series generated a powerful following of more than 4 million viewers. Heather Marianna has starred on Bravo's luxury-travel series, "Tour Group" in 2015 and was featured on Oxygen's "My Super Shopping Addiction" in addition to appearing on several episodes of MTV's "Teen Mom OG." The DIY guru has also appeared on countless news segments across the country as a beauty expert, showcasing her own simple tricks and tips. She is the official beauty expert for KSNV-NBC 3 in Las Vegas and appears monthly to captivate viewers with new DIY tutorials. In 2020 she and fellow Co-founder Joel DeBellefeuille teamed up to launch Marianna Naturals a similar but unique brand focused on expanding across the US border into Canada. Marianna Naturals' products are sold in Faire.com a wholesale marketplace for retailers & brands; as well as Walmart.ca, Etsy.com, Boutsy.com, Tundra.com,Bestbuy.ca and Beautykitchenonline.com For more information visit: www.mariannacorp.com Shop: www.marianna.ca Connect with Marianna Naturals on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marianna-naturals-corp/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZQCklGIewWaQd4wHXRAqCg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariannanaturals Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannanaturals Contacts: Joel DeBellefeuille, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, E. joel@marianna.ca Tel. 1.800.971.2200 To learn more about Joel visit: www.joeldebellefeuille.com Investor Relations: Just3 Public Relations, Zoltan Sarkozy, Tel. 604.722.0305 This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations regarding future business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "target" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. SOURCE: Blockchain Loyalty Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742533/BlockChain-Loyalty-Corp-Enters-into-LOI-Merger-Agreement-with-Celebrity-Skincare-Brand-Beauty-KitchenTM NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / CNH Industrial (NYSE:CNHI) brand STEYR has been supporting training at the Upper Austria State Fire Brigade School with a STEYR 4135 Profi. The machine means that technical operations can be conducted with a current agricultural vehicle. With the STEYR tractor, training is presented in a clear and application-focused way. "Good, solid training with practical exercises is important to us. And this requires a reliable partner. This cooperation helps us to offer Upper Austrian firefighters the best training for all operational requirements. It cannot be valued highly enough," explained Gunnar Hauser, Business Director at STEYR. The fire brigade must secure vehicles threatened by slipping and crashing, address accidents on rough terrain, and provide back-up to clear traffic areas. These are real challenges and, to avoid further hazards, countermeasures have to be taken quickly. "That is why we participate in these training courses. We are supporting this training with the STEYR 4135 Profi to meet the increasing demands of firefighting now and in the future," added Hauser. The Upper Austria State Fire Brigade School in Detail Today, there are more tasks for the fire brigade due to advancing mechanization, ever-increasing traffic volume, growing potential hazards in operational production and natural disasters. To combat these challenges, firefighters require tactical, technical and organizational knowledge. And they must understand how to apply it all in practice for rapid and targeted mission management. Theoretical and practical skills are taught across almost 90 different types of courses at the school. At the site in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, more than 9,000 students are welcomed annually. Over five days, participants can participate in basic, advanced and special courses prepared for their practical fire brigade missions. Gunnar Hauser, Business Director, STEYR, stands with the STEYR 4135 Profi tractor View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742537/Steyr-Supports-Austrian-Fire-Brigade-School-With-Tractor VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) ("Aton" or the "Corporation") announces that it has entered into an additional bridge loan (the "Loan") with OU Moonrider ("Moonrider"), a significant shareholder of the Corporation. The Loan The Corporation has borrowed C$4.0 million from Moonrider, which Loan is repayable on the earlier of 12 months from closing, on the occurrence of various standard events of default, or on the closing of any debt or equity financing by the Corporation in an amount in excess of C$5.0 million. The Loan will bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum, payable when the Loan is due. In connection with the Loan, Moonrider will be issued bonus warrants upon each drawdown on the Loan entitling it to acquire common shares of the Corporation. The number of bonus warrants issuable upon each drawdown shall be determined by dividing the drawdown amount by the share price of the Corporation's common shares on the date of the drawdown. The bonus warrants will be exercisable for a period of 12 months from each drawdown. Under the terms of the Corporation's loan agreement with Moonrider, Moonrider will be issued to 20,000,000 bonus warrants with an exercise price of $0.20 per share and an expiration date of March 6, 2024. The issuance of the bonus warrants is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The proceeds of the Loan will be used by the Corporation for working capital as well as funding ongoing exploration and upcoming drilling, and for ongoing mineral resource estimate and technical studies by external consultants in the lead up to the anticipated transition to the exploitation lease at the Abu Marawat Concession. With the Loan, the total indebtedness of the Corporation to Moonrider totals $11,737,553. About Aton Resources Inc. Aton Resources Inc. (TSXV:AAN) is focused on its 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat"), located in Egypt's Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200 km north of Centamin's world-class Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified numerous gold and base metal exploration targets at Abu Marawat, including the Hamama deposit in the west, the Abu Marawat deposit in the northeast, and the advanced Rodruin exploration prospect in the south of the Concession. Two historic British gold mines are also located on the Concession at Sir Bakis and Semna. Aton has identified several distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display potential for the development of a variety of styles of precious and base metal mineralisation. Abu Marawat is 447.7 km2 in size and is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close proximity, as are the international airports at Hurghada and Luxor. For further information regarding Aton Resources Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact: Tonno Vahk Interim CEO Tel: +1 604 318 0390 Email: info@atonresources.com Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. 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. SOURCE: Aton Resources, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742541/Aton-Announces-Bridge-Loan NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2023 / The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth By Michael Schlein and Shamina Singh After many years of little progress, we're finally narrowing the gender gap in financial account ownership. According to the most recent Findex, the gap narrowed from 9 percent to 6 percent across developing economies as more women gained access to financial tools. But a large portion of that progress was due to one country: India. If you remove India's progress, much of the developing world has a double-digit gender gap, and globally women are still more likely than men to be unbanked. About 740 million women-13 percent of all adults globally and 54 percent of the unbanked-don't have a financial account. We need to do a better job. Today, women continue to deal with discrimination and restrictive social norms, making it much harder for them to access capital, skills and resources. Rising prices, disrupted supply chains and increasing demand for digital services are adding new challenges. These barriers help explain why women entrepreneurs faced the most severe effects of the global pandemic, including higher rates of business closure and lower profit levels. Digital tools can make it easier to adapt and recover, but digital uptake among women small business owners was alarmingly slow and sporadic, and even declined during the pandemic. The longer they remain in a cash world, the longer they remain invisible to the financial system. Investing in the digitization of small businesses, especially those owned by women, will enable them to survive an economic downturn and continue providing jobs, goods and services to billions of people globally. And connecting more women-led small businesses to digital financial tools can help them build resilience, boost their incomes and better serve their communities. Now, after an exciting global project focused on tackling this very challenge, we have new evidence that backs this up. Opening doors to the digital economy - and financial health For the past four years, Accion and Mastercard have worked with nine financial service providers and 50 fintech startups around the world to help more micro and small businesses go digital. By working with financial companies with deep ties to their communities, we developed digital products and capabilities that meet the needs of underserved entrepreneurs-and help them participate in the digital economy. Together, we launched innovation hubs, rolled out savings tools and digital loans, reimagined microfinance lending using mobile apps and texting services and more. To ensure products were used, not merely accessible, we placed clients' needs at the heart of our work, applied human-centered design, incentivized usage and focused on improving clients' financial health. Small businesses reported a range of benefits as they started using digital products. Perhaps most importantly, digital usage led to improved financial health, including the ability to repay loans on time, cover business expenses, and purchase sufficient inventory to meet demand. Across five countries, nearly 80 percent of digital product users said they could better manage these financial challenges. Digital acceptance grew among women, who now account for more than 70 percent of these products' active users. Women entrepreneurs reported significant improvements in their financial health, with more than 70 percent reporting that digital tools contributed to this improvement. Compared to other products, digital wallets were most popular among women small business owners, with more than 80 reporting their quality of life had improved because of the new services it gave them access to. What explains these results? The answer could be quite simple: digital tools save time. More than 75 percent of our digital wallet users said that saving time was the most important benefit they received from the products. For small business owners who juggle the needs of their customers while managing their households and providing for their families, time is scarce. Any time savings can be reinvested into their business to drive growth. In fact, digital product users reported improved growth activities, including increased sales revenues, hiring more employees, and starting new businesses. "With the DeUna app, my business's sales have improved by about 35 percent because we have new customers and it's a secure and efficient app for my business." Gloria Alejandrina Tisalema SHOP OWNER, BANCO PICHINCHA CLIENT In one example, we worked with BancoSol, Bolivia's largest microfinance provider serving 1.5 million clients, to develop a gamified savings tool that rewards users for making deposits and maintaining a minimum balance. Regularly using digital products is key to building financial health and literacy, and nearly 90 percent of small business clients attributed their usage of this product to their ability to resolve financial health challenges. This innovative product made a difference for BancoSol's women clients like Lourdes, who owns a costume and garment shop in La Paz. She said, "It's hard to part with your hard-earned money and watch it sit idly in an account collecting dust. I want my money to work hard the way I do." Now, her savings are working alongside her to build a brighter future. Catalyzing investments for a strong, resilient economy Looking ahead, we are optimistic about how this work can open pathways to further build the financial health and resilience of women entrepreneurs. We've seen that, in addition to supporting established providers, nurturing early-stage fintech companies can radically increase the accessibility and usefulness of financial solutions for underserved small businesses. Fintechs can create game-changing products, embed financial tools in existing platforms to reach millions of people, and find new ways to shift behaviors and build skills among underserved entrepreneurs through innovations like gamification. We are also eager to catalyze investments that address gender inequalities by developing products with robust business cases and scalability. At the same time, we must ensure that fintechs consider women's unique needs and digital identities. For example, women's irregular cell phone top-ups can make them appear like credit risks in the eyes of an algorithm, even though their husbands are often responsible for topping up the phones. Our work together reached more than 12.8 million people, with more than 5.6 million micro and small businesses using digital tools on a regular basis. Most encouragingly, 30-day usage rates have increased fourfold over the past year, which shows people are applying these tools to their day-to-day lives. We encourage other stakeholders to help us build on this progress by leveraging the power of the digital economy to help small businesses build better livelihoods for themselves and their communities. As global challenges continue to spread disruption and uncertainty, collective action offers a means of building a more resilient future for us all, especially women. Originally published by The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Check out more content from The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mastercard-center-inclusive-growth Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/742546/With-New-Digital-Tools-Millions-of-Women-Entrpeneurs-Are-Building-Resilience Service Express, a Grand Rapids, MI-based provider of data center solutions, acquired ServIQ, a Boston, MA-based data center support provider. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. With the acquisition, Service Express will expand its offerings. Owned by Jeff Reale, ServIQ is a data center support provider specializing in third-party maintenance, managed services, hardware solutions and more. Since 2004, the company has enabled organizations to purchase, maintain and upgrade IT equipment. ServIQ works alongside some of the worlds largest brands and Fortune 500 customers. Led by Ron Alvesteffer, President and CEO, Service Express is a data center solutions provider specializing in global multivendor maintenance, hybrid cloud, managed infrastructure services, hardware solutions and more. Companies around the globe use Service Expresss solutions to deliver end-to-end support. Its flagship technology, ExpressConnect, helps IT teams automate support with monitoring, ticketing, integrations and account management. FinSMEs 07/03/2023 SOCi, a San Diego, CA-based provider of a marketing platform for multi-location brands, raised $120M in funding. The round was led by MI Equity, with participation from Vertical Venture Partners, Blossom Street Ventures, and strategic investor Renew Group Private Limited. The company intends to use the funds to invest in a line of A.I. marketing products and to expand into new markets. Led by Afif Khoury, SOCi is a provider of a marketing platform for multi-location brands. The company empowers businesses to scale localized marketing efforts across all digital channels in a way that is brand directed, locally perfected, and data connected. Through the use of advanced AI and machine learning, the platform offers users actionable insights and recommendations while automating time-consuming marketing tasks for hundreds or thousands of business locations. With it, businesses can strengthen their digital presence across local search and social pages, while protecting their online reputation. SOCis platform is used by more than 700 multi-location and enterprise businesses totaling over three million locations. FinSMEs 07/03/2023 XGS Energy, a Palo Alto, CA-based geothermal energy technology company, raised $19M in funding, including a $14M in Series A financing. The round was led by Anzu Partners. The company intends to use the funds to develop its geothermal heat harvesting technology. XGS Energy provides access to carbon-free 24/7 power generation by increasing the scalability of geothermal energy through its heat harvesting technology. In connection with the new financing, four new directors joined the XGS Board: Martin Craighead, former Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes. Ray Mabus, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During his eight years as Secretary of the Navy, Secretary Mabus initiated major energy security and sustainability programs for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Khalid Alsweilem, Ph.D., former Chief Counsellor and Director General of Investment at SAMA, the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. David Seldin, Managing Partner at Anzu Partners. FinSMEs 07/03/2023 Street food carnival attracts visitors in SW Chinas Yunnan People's Daily Online) 14:50, March 07, 2023 A street is jammed with visitors during a street food carnival in Weishan ancient town in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. (Photo/Liu Xukai) A recent street food carnival has attracted throngs of visitors to Weishan ancient town in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. Weishan was an important business hub on the ancient Tea Horse Road, the centuries-old trade route that linked Tibet with the neighboring provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. The county is well-renowned for its fabulous street foods. Locals have created over 350 types of street food. A total of 310 business owners from the county and other regions participated in the carnival. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Du Mingming) Even though earlier rumours revealed that Apple has cancelled the iPhone SE 4 due to concerns over its first in-house 5G chip. A new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is restarting the development of the iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch OLED display and a custom 5G chip. Now, a report from The Elec in Korea says that it will use OLED display from China-based BOE instead of Samsung and LG displays present in the current iPhone models with an OLED screen. It was reported that BOE will supply OLED panels for the iPhone 15 series in 2023, but the new report says that it has missed the initial volume of OLED panels due to challenges in the production of OLED screen with a punch-hole / dynamic island, so these have gone to Samsung and LG instead. Since it is a low-end product, it is reasonable for Apple to optimize using parts inventory, says the report. The price of LTPS OLED for the 6.1-inch iPhone SE4 is currently estimated to be around $40, which is less than half of the LTPO OLED panel used in the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. Samsung will still supply OLED panels for all the iPhone 15 series models released this year. LG Display will focus on LTPO models for the Pro with relatively smaller production capacity than Samsung Display, says the report. It has been confirmed that the iPhone 15 | 15 Plus will have a 60hz hole punch display pic.twitter.com/b1b0aSSUVd Anthony (@TheGalox_) March 6, 2023 However, the iPhone 15 and the 15 Plus models are still said to use 60Hz OLED displays instead of 120Hz LTPO panels in the iPhone 15 Pro models. Earlier rumours and renders already revealed that all the models will use Dynamic island. The iPhone SE 4 with the new OLED screen, thinner bezels and its own 5G modem is expected to release in 2024. Source Microsoft has unveiled its latest AI-powered product updates, introducing the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot a system designed to offer interactive assistance across business functions. Workers Long for AI-Assisted Efficiency A recent survey from the firm shows that almost 90% of employees want to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to lighten the load of routine jobs. Dynamics 365 Copilot provides businesses with AI capabilities that enable their personnel to focus more on the enjoyable aspects of their positions, and less on the mundane duties. Dynamics 365 Copilot: Automating the Mundane to Unlock Innovation CRM and ERP systems are essential for storing customer and business data; however, they can involve cumbersome processes like manual data entry, content creation, and note taking. Dynamics 365 Copilot harnesses the power of generative AI to take the drudgery out of those tasks and free up time for creativity. This cutting-edge technology helps companies get the most out of their CRM and ERP investments in every line of business, spurring innovation and driving better business results. Microsoft recently launched a Bing AI chatbot that is now accessible within mobile apps and Skype. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Viva Sales Copilot: This feature drastically cuts down time sellers spend on administrative tasks. AI-powered tools allow emails to be written quickly, and even generate an Outlook summary of Teams meetings, including pertinent info from the CRM such as pricing and product details and insights from the recorded call. This can save up to 66% of a sellers day, providing a big business benefit and more time to focus on customers. Dynamics 365 Customer Service: Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Service equips agents to provide outstanding customer service. This AI-driven capability drafts context-specific answers to questions via chat and email, and provides an interactive chat experience with knowledge bases and case history. Microsoft says it also makes it easier to create virtual agents in no time with Conversation Boosters in Power Virtual Agents, which utilize the power of Azure OpenAI Service and Bing to give answers from company websites and internal knowledge bases you pick. Dynamics 365 Copilot Streamlines Marketing Tasks Dynamics 365 Copilot helps marketers simplify their workflows in data exploration, audience segmentation and content creation. With Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, marketers can craft highly personalized and targeted customer segments by querying their customer data platform using natural language. The query assist feature in Marketing gives marketers the ability to describe their customer segment in their own words and create an accurate target segment. Additionally, Copilot provides marketers with ideas for fresh email campaign content by making suggestions based on key topics, existing emails, and other internet sources. Dynamics 365 Business Centrals Copilot It simplifies the task of crafting product listings for e-commerce. Easily customize product attributes such as color, material and size to create eye-catching product descriptions in a matter of seconds. Choose the tone, style and length to make your descriptions stand out. If you use Shopify, you can quickly publish your products and descriptions to your store with just a few clicks. Microsoft Supply Chain Center Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management customers can access Copilot in the Supply Chain Center to anticipate issues that may affect supply chain processes. Copilots predictive insights will detect impacted orders across materials, inventory, carriers, distribution networks and more. Dynamics 365 Copilot can generate emails to alert partners and help prevent disruptions before they occur. Apps Driven by Generative AI Microsoft is revolutionizing the way we do business with AI-powered applications that put customer, employee and operational efficiency first. Dynamics 365 Copilot brings the latest AI advancements to every line of business, and to ensure safe deployment, a responsible AI by design framework is in place. Emily He, CVP of Business Applications and Platform, has unveiled the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence. For more details, click here. Speaking on the announcement, Charles Lamanna, CVP, Business Applications and Platform, said, Google is getting closer to its aim of building an AI language model that works for 1,000 languages. On Monday, it gave more info about the Universal Speech Model (USM). They consider it a critical first step in achieving their plans. November last year, Google unveiled the 1,000 Languages Initiative; a bold pledge to develop an ML model that caters to the 1,000 most spoken languages in the world, enabling billions of people to experience inclusion. Google Universal Speech Model (USM) Google introduces Universal Speech Model (USM), a breakthrough in supporting 1,000 languages. USM is a family of speech models, leveraging 12 million hours of speech and 28 billion sentences of text from 300+ languages. It enables automatic speech recognition (ASR) for widely-spoken languages like English and Mandarin, as well as under-resourced languages like Amharic, Cebuano, Assamese, and Azerbaijani. Google USM: Scaling Automatic Speech Recognition beyond 100 Languages explains how pre-training the encoder of the model on a large unlabeled multilingual dataset and fine-tuning on a smaller set of labeled data can recognize under-represented languages. Their model training process is effective in adapting to new languages and data. Self-supervised learning: Googles approach to speech recognition combines self-supervised learning with fine-tuning. USM uses the encoder-decoder architecture, where the decoder can be CTC, RNN-T, or LAS. The encoder employs the Conformer, a convolution-augmented utilizes a Conformer block with attention, feed-forward, and convolutional modules. This block takes the log-mel spectrogram of the speech signal as input, performs convolutional sub-sampling, and ultimately produces the final embeddings. Pre-trained encoder enables 300+ languages Googles encoder utilizes over 300 languages through pre-training and has been tested on YouTube Captions multilingual speech data. This data consists of 73 languages, each with an average of fewer than 3,000 hours of data. Despite the limited amount of supervised data, the model has achieved a WER of less than 30% on average with all 73 languages. Generalization to downstream ASR tasks Google reported that their model had lower WER on CORAAL (African American Vernacular English), SpeechStew (en-US), and FLEURS (102 languages) datasets compared to Whisper. Their model showed lower WER with and without training on in-domain data. The comparison on FLEURS was done on the subset of languages (62) supported by the Whisper model. Automatic speech translation (AST) Google states that their fine-tuned USM model on the CoVoST dataset has achieved state-of-the-art quality with minimal supervision. To evaluate its performance, the CoVoST dataset was divided into high, medium and low resource availability segments, and the BLEU score (higher is better) was calculated for each. Google Translate has recently been upgraded with AI features such as contextual translation and more. USM outperformed Whisper in all segments, as displayed below. Marching Toward 1,000 languages Google is striving hard to fulfill its mission of organizing the worlds information and making it universally accessible via its USM development. Google plans to use the base model architecture and training pipeline of USM as a foundation to expand speech modeling to the next 1000 languages. To learn more click here. A Lebanon resident narrowly escaped an RV fire Monday morning, March 6 on Highway 20 near Reeves Parkway. The single occupant of the motorhome awoke to his vehicle on fire, according to a Lebanon Fire District news release. He tried to put the fire out and attempted to find his dog before escaping. The motorhome was fully involved when the incident commander arrived, Lebanon Fire District said. Firefighters began trying to extinguish the blaze, which had spread to a different vehicle and detached garage. Medics transported the occupant of the motorhome to a local hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, the news release said. The dog was not immediately found, but later, firefighters located the pet. Flames were under control within 20 minutes and crews remained on scene for more than an hour after to mop up hot spots and begin investigating. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to Lebanon Fire District. During the fire, Highway 20 was closed in all directions and detoured around the scene. The agency responded with one truck company, one engine, three ALS medic units, one heavy rescue, a rehab unit for firefighters and three staff officer vehicles. The Lebanon Police Department and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. In the news release, LFD urged community members to remember to properly use space heaters and to have working smoke detectors, even in RVs. One of the unlikely heroes at least, the way author-journalist Michael Lewis puts it in his 2021 book "Premonition" of the pandemic will be the keynote speaker for Oregon State University's Class of 2023 graduation. The ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 17 at Reser Stadium on the Corvallis campus. Charity Dean was the No. 2 public health officer in California when sketchy reports emerged from China about the novel coronavirus. She and a ragtag group of experts, although no virologists or epidemiologists and known among themselves as "the wolverines," worked together to make sense of the news, Lewis writes. Having experience with prior epidemics, the group concluded that the difference between a virus out of control and thousands of lives saved would be how fast social distancing, masking and work-from-home orders could be issued. So, they leaned on Dean to take action in California when leadership in Washington, D.C., seemed lacking. Dean served as co-chair of the California Testing Task Force, which executed a strategy to rapidly scale up COVID-19 testing. In that position, she also provided strategic direction and oversight for the Center for Health Care Quality and led public health and health care policy development and implementation for Californians, according to a news release from OSU. Now in the private sector, she is the CEO and founder of The Public Health Company, which provides a commercial-grade global biosecurity platform to empower enterprises and manage bio-risks at scale. We are honored that Dr. Dean will give OSUs 2023 commencement address, Jayathi Murthy, Oregon States president, said in a statement. She is passionate about public service and has dedicated her lifes work to public health. These are attributes that will inspire and motivate graduates as they begin their lives beyond OSU. 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. Dean is from Junction City, and Lewis' book does not paint a flattering picture of her education or her church, where "'the elders said I was disobeying God's will because I wanted to go to a four-year college,'" Dean is quoted in the book. She went to OSU as an undergraduate, and then Tulane University School of Medicine for her medical degree and a master of public health and tropical medicine, where the church chastised her for doing so well. "'They told me I should be at the 50th percentile of my class. No better,'" she told Lewis. Linn County residents will have to wait one more week before learning the fate of the Millersburg land swap, which would allow a European tissue paper company to open a local wholesale and production facility. The city is seeking to swap 167 acres, what some call swamp land, along the Willamette River inside city boundaries for 163 acres of high-quality farmland outside city limits with hopes of building it out as an industrial center. The fate of the swap and annexation is in the hands of the Linn County Board of Commissioners, which met Tuesday, March 7 at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center for a public hearing on the issue and an expected decision. Instead, the board delayed one more week. Tuesdays meeting itself had been continued from a Jan. 24 hearing, in which commissioners decided to receive public comments through Feb. 7. The 167 acres currently within city boundaries is zoned industrial and was last used by the former paper mill, until 2009, as rapid infiltration ponds. Since then, no one has expressed an interest in building on the property, Millersburg Community Development Director Matt Straite said. The former rapid infiltration ponds lands are unlikely to be independently developed with industrial uses given the development constraints imposed by floodplain and floodway restrictions, Straite said by email. Many Millersburg and Linn County residents alike have taken issue with the swap, maintaining that the desired property currently a hazelnut orchard on Conser Road ought to remain prime farmland and not house an operation that could negatively impact the surrounding agricultural community. On Feb. 16, Sofidel CEO Luigi Lazzareschi appeared at a packed house at the Expo Center to give a presentation about his company and plans for expansion into Millersburg. The sustainability-focused Italian company makes paper for hygienic and domestic use, including tissues, toilet paper, napkins and paper towels. Because the Sofidel meeting was scheduled after the Feb. 7 deadline for public comment, the commissioners decided Tuesday it would be fair to extend public comments again, this time for a few days. While more than 100 Linn County residents attended the presentation, Commissioner Roger Nyquist said it did not provide an environment in which people could voice their concerns appropriately. So now, Linn County residents have until 5 p.m. Friday, March 10 to provide additional written comments to the board regarding Sofidels impact on their community. The board will then give Millersburg officials three days to read and respond to the comments, with a deadline of noon Monday, March 13. The board will reconvene 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 14 at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center in expectation of a final decision. Related stories: ATLANTA, March 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Television, Inc. (Gray) (NYSE: GTN) today released its first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. The report, which covers calendar year 2022, describes Grays progress in many areas with focuses on our people, social impact, sustainable business operations, and responsible business practices. Content, communities, and culture define Gray Television, explained Gray Executive Chairman and CEO Hilton H. Howell, Jr. The hallmark of our business is delivering unbiased news and information, supporting our local communities, and fostering strong culture everywhere we operate. Through our first ESG Report, we illustrate how these long-standing commitments align with and support accepted frameworks through which responsible companies enhance the well-being of all stakeholders. The ESG Report explains Grays commitment to corporate governance and media ethics beginning with Board committee oversight of our ESG practices and procedures. It also highlights the companys investments in necessary local journalism, award-winning investigative projects, community support, employee development, and expanding diversity in content, employment, and opportunities. With the support of the Board of Directors, Gray looks forward to expanding on the progress captured in this first report as we continue to improve our content, strengthen our commitment to our local communities, and foster a strong culture in every workplace. Click here to read the report. About Gray: Gray Television, Inc. is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Gray is the nations largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States. Its television stations serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 79 markets with the top-rated television station and 101 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. It also owns video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, as well as the studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. Gray owns a majority interest in Swirl Films. For more information, please visit www.gray.tv. Gray Contact: Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, 404-266-8333 # # # TORONTO, March 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. (the Company or MVMD) (CSE: MVMD) (OTCQB: MVMDF) (FRA: 20MP), an early-stage biotech business centered around the implementation, licensing and reselling of key technologies and formulations, today announced the grant of stock options pursuant to its existing stock option plan (the Stock Option Plan). We continue to leverage option-based compensation as a key incentive tool in an effort to fully align our teams efforts on our specific business outcomes and our overall objective of creating long term shareholder value, stated Dennis Hancock, President and CEO of MVMD. Our commercialization plans in the coming fiscal year are a very important milestone for MVMD. Providing our team members with an opportunity to have ownership in the company is a significant way to reward the extraordinary work effort that comes within a biotech startup culture and aids in preserving cash expenditures. The Board has granted to certain directors, officers, and consultants an aggregate of 3,220,000 stock options (the Options). The Options vest 20% on the date of grant, 30% on the 6-month anniversary of the date of grant and 50% on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant. The Options have a term of 5 years and are exercisable at $0.05 per share. ABOUT MOUNTAIN VALLEY MD HOLDINGS INC. Mountain Valley MD is building a world-class organization centered around the implementation, licensing and reselling of key technologies and formulations: patented Quicksome oral formulation and delivery technologies, patented Quicksol solubility formulation technology licensed product reseller of Agrarius, a novel agricultural plant signalling technology Consistent with its vision towards More Life, MVMD applies its owned and licensed technologies to its work for advanced delivery of molecules for human and husbandry animal applications, including the development of products for pain management, weight loss, energy, focus, sleep, anxiety, and more. Additionally, MVMDs work with Agrarius is focused on generating a positive impact on crop yields and reducing fertilizer usage. MVMDs patented Quicksome technology utilizes proprietary formulations and stabilizing molecules to encapsulate and formulate active ingredients into highly efficient product formats. The result is a new generation of product formulations that could be capable of delivering nutraceutical and drug molecules into the body faster, with greater impact, efficiency and accuracy. MVMDs patented Quicksol technology covers all highly solubilized macrocyclic lactones that could be effectively applied in multiple viral applications that could positively impact human and animal health globally. MVMDs licensed Agrairus agricultural plant signalling technology that could be capable of application to agricultural crops to naturally increase yields, reduce fertilizer usage, and increase general resilience to pests and climate change. For more Company information and contact details, visit www.MVMD.com . SOURCE: Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company is making forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the terms of the options, including the timing of vesting and expiry, and the Companys ability to create long-term shareholder value. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the CSE nor OTC has reviewed or approved the contents of this press release. IRVINE, Calif., March 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued earlier today by Omega Accounting Solutions, please note that the headline and subheadline have been completely rewritten; the facts of the original release remain the same, but language and phrasing have been updated throughout the body as well. The corrected release follows: Inc. Magazine Ranks Omega Accounting Solutions No. 35 on List of the Pacific Regions Fastest-Growing Private Companies Omega attributes recognition to innovative new offerings, strategic service expansion and outstanding team Inc. magazine today revealed that Omega Accounting Solutions is No. 35 on its third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies based in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful private companies within the Pacific economy generating sustainable growth and jobs. We are grateful to be honored by Inc. for our fast-paced growth and rapid expansion, said Jay Woods, founder & president of Omega Accounting Solutions. I am so proud of the team we have builtand continue to build. This recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of every single employee to serving the needs of our customers. The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Pacific. Between 2019 and 2021, these 185 private companies had an average growth rate of 559 percent and, in 2021 alone, they added 14,536 jobs and $4.6 billion to the Pacific regions economy. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/pacific. This years Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of Americas off-the-charts growth companies. Theyre disrupters and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies youll be hearing about for years to come, said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. Omegas growth is largely a result of the organizations strategic integration of government tax credit services for small and medium-sized companies, particularly the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Knowing how many small businesses struggled under the mandates and closures associated with the coronavirus, Omega committed extensive resources and staffed up the ERC processing division, helping businesses calculate, claim and file this refundable tax credit. The company has also introduced an all-new funding arm, Omega Funding Solutions, serving small business owners. Combined, these momentous achievements help Omega fulfill its mission of empowering small business owners to make better-informed decisions. For more information, visit omega-accounting.com. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals Methodology The 2023 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2019 and 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2021. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. ABOUT INC. MEDIA The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com . ABOUT OMEGA ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS Omega Accounting Solutions is an accounting and data firm that empowers small businesses to make informed decisions through powerful accounting, advanced analytics and tax credit expertise. The Irvine, Calif., firm founded by Jay Woods in 2007 works with CFOs, controllers, accountants and software developers to collect, integrate, analyze and present essential data that empower healthy operation and growth in businesses of all sizes. Omegas tax credit division has specially trained teams to help businesses claim the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Research & Development tax credit. In 2022, Omega introduced a new funding division, Omega Funding Solutions (OFS), a third-party lender offering short-term bridge loans to those organizations anticipating ERC refunds. For further information, visit omega-accounting.com. Media Contact: Sabrina Suarez (714) 573-0899 ext. 227 sabrina@echomediateam.com English Finnish Press release 7 March 2023 Harvia to boost sales in Japan by establishing a joint venture Harvia Plc and Bergman Ltd have signed a letter of intent (LOI) on 7 March 2023 to create a joint venture in Japan with the mission to becoming a substantial local player in the attractive and growing Japanese sauna and spa market. Harvia will own 51% and Bergman 49% of the company. The joint venture will focus on sales and marketing of Harvias sauna and spa offering on the Japanese market, and it is planned to be operational later this year. Harvia signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Bergman Ltd, of Tokyo, Japan on 12 October 2021 to build awareness and demand for Harvias sauna and spa offering in Japan among both commercial and consumer customers. During the first 12 months of operations, Bergman increased presence with over 20 local representatives and opened a total of 15 showrooms in the market, with 7 more under way. In 2023, the plan is to increase the number of Harvia Sauna & Spa showrooms in Japan to a total of over 40. Our strategic partnership with Bergman has proven to be successful. We have been able to expand our presence in the Japanese sauna and spa market and sales have developed very favorably. The joint venture will further boost our activity in Japan and our aim is to become the number one sauna brand in Japan in the long run, says Tapio Pajuharju, CEO of Harvia Plc. We are most pleased to deepen our co-operation with Harvia through the joint venture to be established. The sauna culture in Japan is enjoying a boom, and I am confident that our systematic activities with Harvia will help us to grow together to be the number one brand in both in residential and commercial sauna needs. Harvia already has a presence in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo and the presence is growing rapidly, says Seiji Kasama, CEO of Bergman Ltd. Bergman has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and selling branded European heating devices in Japan. The company has strong engineering and technical knowledge in design, installation, and after-sales services. For more information, please contact: Tapio Pajuharju, CEO, tel. +358 50 5774 200 Ari Vesterinen, CFO, tel. +358 40 5050 440 Harvia is one of the leading companies operating in the sauna and spa market globally, as measured by revenue. Harvias brands and product portfolio are well known in the market, and the companys comprehensive product portfolio strives to meet the needs of the international sauna and spa market of both private and professional customers. Harvias revenue totaled EUR 172.4 million in 2022. Harvia Group employs more than 600 professionals in Finland, China and Hong Kong, Romania, Austria, United States, Germany and Estonia. The company is headquartered in Muurame, Finland, adjacent to its largest sauna and sauna component manufacturing facility. Read more: https://harviagroup.com Attachment The Schofield Lithium Project is adjacent to Brunswick Explorations Lowther Pegmatite Project With 17 pegmatite outcrops mapped on the Project and preferred geological environment, the Schofield Lithium Project shows potential for LCT-type mineralization Highlights: Adjacent to Brunswick Explorations Hearst Lithium Project Brunswick Explorations Hearst package has shown 5.15% Li 2 O in historical chip samples (see Brunswick Exploration Inc. news release dated October 3, 2022). O in historical chip samples (see Brunswick Exploration Inc. news release dated October 3, 2022). There are 17 mapped pegmatite outcrops on the Project which have not been thoroughly tested for LCT mineralization. The Project is located 15km north of the Quetico-Wawa subprovince terrane boundary. These deep-seated regional structures have been recognized to play a role in LCT pegmatite mineralization. Located within the Quetico subprovince and contains a variety of evolved S-type granitoids and pegmatites hosted by metamorphosed sediments (paragneisses) and metavolcanics. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vital Battery Metals Inc. (Vital or the Company) (CSE: VBAM |OTC: VBAMF | FRA: C0O), is pleased to announce it has entered the Lithium market by acquiring, for the cost of staking, the Schofield Lithium Project (Schofield or the Project). The Project consists of 416 single-cell mining claims covering approximately 8,824 hectares and is located approximately 60km south of Hearst, Ontario. The Project is easily accessible by logging road networks and is directly south of the Brunswick Explorations Hurst Lithium project. The Project was staked based on preferred geological environments and historical mapping of pegmatite outcrops. Adrian Lamoureux, Chief Executive Officer and President of Vital, commented Our management team has a strong history in the lithium sector, evident in our work with Patriot Battery Metals and its acquisition of the Corvette property. We strongly believe the Northern Ontario Region is underexplored and this Project acquisition brings a low-risk opportunity to drive value to the Company. With our Schofield Lithium Project in Ontario Canada, our Sting Copper Project in Newfoundland, Canada and our Vent Copper-Gold project in British Columbia, we believe we are building a portfolio of strong properties that will continue to deliver shareholder value. We will continue to build a robust and diverse critical minerals portfolio of projects. Figure 1: Vital Battery Metals Schofield Lithium Project Map Schofield Project Geology Historical mapping indicates that there are 17 pegmatite outcrops on the Project1. These range in size from decimetre veins to ~1600m x ~500m. Although the mapping indicates there are pegmatites present on the Project, the company has yet to confirm the dimensions, extent, or any mineralization that may be present on the Project. The Project area has been under-explored but has seen sporadic exploration for gold, base, metals and more recently diamonds from 1960 to 2001. No work completed on the Project has been focused on the economic potential of the pegmatites present.12 The Project is located within the Quetico Subprovince and contains a variety of evolved S-type granitoids and pegmatites hosted by metamorphosed sediments (paragneisses) and metavolcanics. The Quetico Subprovince is host to several pegmatite swarms such as Georgia Lake, Lowther and Wisa Lake. The pegmatites in the Quetico Subprovince are hosted by medium-grade unmigmatized metawacke with subordinate interbedded metapelite (e.g., spodumene-subtype Wisa Lake pegmatite and albite spodumene-type Georgia Lake pegmatites) and by their parent granite (e.g. petalite-subtype MNW pegmatite and lepidolite-subtype Lowther Township pegmatite) (Pye 1965; Breaks, Selway and Tindle 2003a, 2003b).12 Figure 2: Schofield Lithium Project Claim Map Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Garry Clark, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The reader is cautioned that the mineralization on nearby or adjacent properties does not necessarily indicate that any mineral resources may be discovered on the Schofield Lithium Project, or if discovered, that such resources would be economically recoverable. About Vital Battery Metals Inc. Vital Battery Metals Inc. (CSE: VBAM |OTC: VBAMF | FRA: C0O) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to the development of strategic projects comprising battery, base and precious metals in stable jurisdictions. The Company is working to advance its Schofield Lithium, Sting Copper and its Vent Copper-Gold Projects. The Schofield Lithium Project covers 8,824 hectares and is adjacent to Brunswick Explorations Hearst Lithium Project. With 17 pegmatite outcrops mapped on the Project and preferred geological environment, the Schofield Lithium Project shows potential for LCT-type mineralization. The Project is located ~60km south of Hearst, Ontario. The Sting Project covers approximately 12,700 hectares and hosts multiple historic Newfoundland and Labrador Government documented mineral occurrences and is located within a 50 km corridor known for significant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), copper quartz vein lode and low sulphation epithermal gold showings. The Vent Copper-Gold project covers 1,562 hectares in British Columbia. Vital continues to evaluate value-add assets to bolster its project portfolio. For more information, visit www.vitalbatterymetals.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors Adrian Lamoureux Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (604) 229-9772 info@vitalbatterymetals.com References: 1 - Berger, B.R., MacMillan, D.W., and P.L. Roy 1986: Precambrian Geology of Caithness, and Parts of Schofield, Pellitier, and Doherty Townships, Hearst-Kapuskasing Area, Algoma and Cochrane Districts; Ontario Geological Survey, Geological Series Preliminary Map P.2961. Scale 1:31,680. Geology 1985. 2 - Breaks, F.W., Selway, J.B., and Tindle, A.G., 2003, Fertile peraluminuous granites andrelated rare-element pegmatite mineralization, Superior Province, northwest and northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt, Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6099, 179 pp. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the Project acquisition bringing a low-risk opportunity to drive significant value to the Company, the Company building a portfolio of strong properties that will continue to deliver shareholder value and the Company continuing to build a robust and diverse critical minerals portfolio of projects are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Project and its mineralization potential; the Companys objectives, goals or future plans with respect to the Project; the commencement of drilling or exploration programs in the future. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 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 securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1120289d-c3c3-468c-b5e3-e4676759a54e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c58e2bc-0b96-4a6d-b0bf-220c2285dbeb Dublin, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools Global Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The colleges, universities, and professional schools market reached a value of nearly $1,094.86 billion in 2021, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% since 2016. The market is expected to grow from $1,094.86 billion in 2021 to $1,510.92 billion in 2026 at a rate of 6.7%. The market is then expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2026 and reach $1,961.13 billion in 2031. Growth in the historic period resulted from increased government funding, increase in number of private colleges and universities, and government initiatives for digital learning. The market was restrained by lack of senior staff and lack of accredited degrees from universities. Going forward, focus on expansion of overseas university campuses, increasing student enrollment, and increasing investments by online educational institutions. Factor that could hinder the growth of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market in the future include new alternatives to college. The colleges, universities, and professional schools market is segmented by type into technical and trade schools, junior colleges, higher education colleges and universities, business and secretarial schools, computer training, and professional and management development training. The higher education colleges and universities market was the largest segment of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type, accounting for 89.5% of the total in 2021. Going forward, the computer training segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type, at a CAGR of 7.0% during 2021-2026. The trade schools, junior colleges market is segmented by type into cosmetology and barber schools, flight training, apprenticeship training, and other technical and trade schools. The other technical and trade schools market was the largest segment of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type, accounting for 2.1% of the total in 2021. Going forward, the flight training segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type, at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2021-2026. The colleges, universities, and professional schools market is also segmented by type of expenditure into public and private. The public market was the largest segment of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type of expenditure, accounting for 59.2% of the total in 2021. Going forward, the private segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type of expenditure, at a CAGR of 7.3% during 2021-2026. The colleges, universities, and professional schools market is also segmented by mode into online and offline. The offline market was the largest segment of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by mode, accounting for 69.5% of the total in 2021. Going forward, the online segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by mode, at a CAGR of 9.0% during 2021-2026. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market, accounting for 28.9% of the total in 2021. It was followed by Western Europe, and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market will be Middle East, and, Africa where growth will be at CAGRs of 13.07% and 11.97% respectively. These will be followed by South America, and, Asia Pacific where the markets are expected to grow at CAGRs of 9.07% and 8.20% respectively. The global colleges, universities, and professional schools market is fragmented with a large number of players operating in the market. The top ten competitors in the market made up to 6.25% of the total market in 2021. University of Pennsylvania was the largest competitor with 1.32% share of the market, followed by University of Michigan with 0.83%, Stanford University with 0.58%, Harvard University with 0.53%, Columbia University with 0.53%, Duke University with 0.53%, University of Chicago with 0.52%, John Hopkins University with 0.51%, Cornell University with 0.47% and Yale University with 0.44%. Market-trend-based strategies for the colleges, universities, and professional schools include companies should focus on undergoing partnerships, focus on metaverse technology, implementing learning management system in teaching and learning for an effective education system, and focus on artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the teaching experience. Player-adopted strategies in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market includes strengthening its business capabilities through the launch of new courses, offering a variety of pathways for learners through the launch of new online programs, enhancing its operational capabilities through business expansions, and nurturing the capacities and skills of a pool of innovators and influencers through new course launches. To take advantage of the opportunities, the report recommends the companies in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market to focus on metaverse technology, use artificial intelligence, focus on the increase in the number of private colleges and universities, provide competitively priced offerings, participate in trade shows and events and continue to target major end-users. Key Metrics Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 468 Forecast Period 2021 - 2031 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $1094.86 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2031 $1961.13 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered Global Top Opportunities The top opportunities in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type will arise in the higher education colleges and universities market segment, which will gain $376.2 billion of global annual sales by 2026. The top opportunities in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by type of expenditure will arise in the public market segment, which will gain $228.0 billion of global annual sales by 2026. The top opportunities in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market segmented by mode will arise in the offline market segment, which will gain $236.4 billion of global annual sales by 2026. The top opportunities in the trade schools, junior colleges market segmented by type will arise in the other technical and trade schools market segment, which will gain $6.3 billion of global annual sales by 2026. The top opportunities in the colleges, universities, and professional schools market size will gain the most in China at $80.7 billion. Major Market Trends Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships Metaverse Technology Introduction of Learning Management Systems Use Of Artificial Intelligence Company Profiles University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) University of Michigan (UMich) Stanford University Harvard University Columbia University Key Mergers And Acquisitions Genius Group Acquired University of Antelope Valley Westford Education Group Acquired Acacia University Saint Joseph's University Acquired University Of The Sciences University of San Francisco Acquired San Francisco Art Institute China Liberal Education Holdings Limited Acquired Wanwang Investment Limited American Public Education Inc. Acquired Rasmussen University Delaware State University Acquired Wesley College University of Arizona Acquired Ashford University Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Table of Contents 3. List of Figures 4. List of Tables 5. Report Structure 6. Introduction and Market Characteristics 6.1. General Market Definition 6.2. Summary 6.3. Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools Market Definition and Segmentations 6.4. Market Segmentation By Type 6.4.1. Technical and Trade Schools 6.4.2. Junior Colleges 6.4.3. Higher Education Colleges And Universities 6.4.4. Business and Secretarial Schools 6.4.5. Computer Training 6.4.6. Professional and Management Development Training 6.5. Market Segmentation By Type of Expenditure 6.5.1. Public 6.5.2. Private 6.6. Market Segmentation By Mode 6.6.1. Online 6.6.2. Offline 7. Product/Service Analysis -Product/Service Examples 8. Supply Chain Analysis 8.1. Resources 8.2. Colleges, Universities And Professional Schools (Service Providers) 8.3. Other Service Providers 8.4. End-Users 9. Customer Information 9.1. Students Want More Information During Admissions 9.2. Students Are Least Concerned About Using University Rankings Factor To Select University 9.3. Students Are Preferring Study In The US 9.4. Only Half Of International Students Might Be Returning To Campus 9.5. Rise In Student Enrollment For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a7gynf About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment LONDON, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Powerful Medical is thrilled to announce the release of PMcardio, a revolutionary clinical assistant powered by artificial intelligence in the United Kingdom. The unique medical device in the form of a smartphone application empowers healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat 38 cardiovascular diseases from an ECG with the precision of a skilled cardiologist. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the UK, causing one in four deaths and affecting an estimated 7 million individuals annually (1). "PMcardio is a game-changer in the fight against cardiovascular disease, allowing us to diagnose and treat these diseases faster and more accurately than ever before, says Dr. Robert Herman, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Powerful Medical. With the AI-powered clinical assistant, healthcare professionals are able to interpret any 12-lead ECG in a matter of seconds and manage cardiovascular patients with unmatched accuracy and speed. Utilising AI algorithms, PMcardio combines knowledge from millions of previously scanned ECG records to provide personalised treatment recommendations unique to each patient. "PMcardio brings significant benefits to UK health professionals, the NHS and the entire healthcare system, including the reduction of ischemic time, limiting incorrect referrals from primary to secondary care, and essentially unburdening of doctors, says Martin Herman, CEO and Co-Founder of Powerful Medical. With 5x better arrhythmia detection and 8x better diagnosis of heart attacks (2), PMcardio breaks new ground in emergency, primary, and hospital care, making it an invaluable tool for medical institutions and healthcare professionals. The innovative medical solution is easily accessible in the form of a smartphone application and compatible with all standard ECG formats. Implemented at the first point of contact, PMcardio enhances the capabilities of primary care providers as the initial gatekeepers to specialised care. By accurately identifying high-risk patients, it facilitates timely and accurate referrals to secondary care, allowing cardiologists to focus on the patients who critically need their expertise. The cutting-edge AI tool is also transformative for emergency care, as it helps accurately detect acute heart attacks, reduce ischemic time, and prevent unnecessary loss of life. The integration of such technology optimises hospital workflows by empowering staff to interpret ECGs confidently and collaborate across departments to achieve more effective patient management. The EU MDR-certified Class IIb medical device, registered in the UK MHRA, is trusted by the world's leading cardiologists. "Physicians who are open to new technologies like PMcardio and ready to unleash their potential will be in a huge advantage compared to those who will remain reluctant to artificial intelligence," says Prof. Dr. Robert Hatala, PhD, Head of the Arrhythmia and Pacing Department at the Slovak National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. On a mission to revolutionise healthcare with AI and save the lives of cardiovascular patients, Powerful Medical is excited to launch PMcardio in the UK and other European countries in the near future. About Powerful Medical Powerful Medical leads one of the most important shifts in modern medicine augmenting human-made clinical decisions with artificial intelligence. Their AI-powered clinical assistant PMcardio empowers healthcare professionals to diagnose 38 cardiovascular diseases with the precision of a cardiologist. In the form of a smartphone application, the certified Class IIb medical device digitises and interprets any 12-lead ECG in under 5 seconds to provide accurate diagnoses and individualised treatment recommendations tailored to each patient. Lucia Mozolova, MA Communications Manager | Powerful Medical lmozolova@powerfulmedical.com www.powerfulmedical.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffd5cb2a-76aa-46a6-b3d0-96724faca721 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/580c6b28-3f4b-442a-9192-0afc85bc2a13 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07e16ebd-1294-4ba4-bccd-06f9eef0e328 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d633cf6-a0ce-41d6-a843-01347a684de8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59abeccf-29c4-434b-84f2-881ace29d910 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/faab2af9-bb9b-43c6-8934-39b13fd09fc3 PORTLAND, OR, UNITED STATES, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Material & Chemical business consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the Steel Wire Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain experts have analyzed the Steel Wire Market from a local as well as a global point of view. Over the forecast period, Maximize Market research expects the market to grow from USD 99.24 Bn in 2021 to USD 151.85 Bn in 2029 at a CAGR of 6.26 percent. As per the report, the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. Market Size in 2021 USD 99.24 Bn. Market Size in 2029 USD 151.85 Bn. CAGR 6.26 percent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2022-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 276 No. of Tables 118 No. of Charts and Figures 114 Segment Covered Type, Form and End-Use Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis. Request For Free Sample Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/117044 Steel Wire Market Report Scope and Research Methodology The Steel Wire Market report offers both qualitative and quantitative analysis. It provides a detailed segment-wise and region-wise analysis of the market. The report categorizes the Steel Wire Market based on type, form and end-use. The report provides market statistics including market size, regional shares, competitors with market share, market trends, market drivers, restraints, challenges and prevailing opportunities. Such information makes the market report a guide for investors and helps new entrants to get knowledge about the Steel Wire Industry. The Steel Wire Market report highly depends on both primary and secondary data sources. The research process involves the investigation of various factors affecting the industry, such as government policy, competitive landscape, historical data, current market trends, market environment , technological innovation, upcoming technologies, and technical progress in related industries. All conceivable elements influencing the Steel Wire Market included in this research have been considered, analyzed in depth, validated through primary research, and evaluated to provide the final quantitative and qualitative data. Extensive primary research was conducted to acquire information and verify and confirm the important numbers arrived at after comprehensive Steel Wire Market engineering and calculations for market statistics, market forecasts, market breakdown, market size estimations and data triangulation. The bottom-up approach was used to estimate the global and regional Steel Wire Market size. Get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/117044 Steel Wire Market Overview Steel wire is a mechanical tool used to lift and transport loads and objects. Key factor driving the Steel Wire Market is the increasing demand for high-quality steel wire among medical original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Stainless steel wires are majorly used in modern medical applications such as vascular therapy, endovascular medical devices and others. Carbon steel wires are used in various applications such as construction, military and construction industries. Steel Wire Market Dynamics The growing urban population, technological advancements and increasing research and development activities are the major factors expected to create growth opportunities during the forecast period. The Steel Wire Market is also expected to grow due to the growing commercial, infrastructural and residential construction of government and private firms. The Steel Wire Market is expected to be limited by the increasing use of plastic ropes in mobile cranes as they offer better lifting efficiency, extend the life of the rope and lower maintenance costs. Steel Wire Market Regional Insights In 2021, the Asia Pacific region dominated the global Steel Wire Market and is expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. This growth of the Steel Wire Market is majorly expected due to the growing construction and infrastructural activities in developing countries such as China and India. Get the Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/117044 The Steel Wire Market in the Europe region is also expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period due to the presence of major automotive manufacturing companies that are increasing the demand for steel wire for automobile applications. Steel Wire Market Segmentation By Type Carbon Steel Alloy Steel Stainless Steel By Form Non-rope Rope By End-Use Construction Automotive Energy Agriculture Industrial Steel Wire Market Key Competitors include: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel JFE Steel Corporation TATA Steel Limited Bekaert SA The Heico Companies Ferrier Nord Byelorussian Steel Works Kobe Steel, Ltd. VIRAJ PROFILES LTD. JSW Steel Ltd. Hendrik Veder Kiswire Inc. Mahadev Industries Mazzella Companies Fasten Group Gustav Wolf GmbH Immediate Delivery Available | Buy this Premium Research Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/checkout/?method=PayPal&reportId=117044&type=Single%20User Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Steel Wire Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029 Steel Wire Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Steel Wire Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by Type, Form, End-Use and Region Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region PESTLE Analysis PORTERs analysis Value chain and supply chain analysis Legal Aspects of business by region Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis Recommendations Key questions answered in the Steel Wire Market are: What is the global Steel Wire Market structure? What is the CAGR of the Steel Wire Market? What are the global trends in the Steel Wire Market? What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for the Steel Wire Market? What is the revenue generated from the sales of Steel Wire across the world? What are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams for Steel Wire Market? What growth strategies are the market players considering to increase their presence in Steel Wire Market? Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Steel Wire Market? What are the major challenges that the Steel Wire Market could face in the future? Who held the largest market share in Steel Wire Market? Maximize Market Research is leading Material & Chemical research firm, has also published the following reports: Automotive Steel Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 53.24 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 13.6 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing acceptance of lightweight steel in automobiles and the increasing adoption of EVs. Carbon Steel Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 1228 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 3.37 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing use of carbon steel in the production of construction materials, such as pipes and tubes and increased demand for shipbuilding materials. Sintered Steel Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 35.98 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.7 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the growing car component sector during the forecast period. Weathering Steel Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 2.59 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 6.3 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing demand from the construction industry due to its outstanding characteristics in terms of durability, low maintenance, and a longer life cycle. Corrugated Steel Sheets Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 3.26 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 3.4 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the wide usage of corrugated steel sheets in agriculture for warehousing, sheds, porches, and farmhouses. About Maximize Market Research: Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology and communication, cars and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies. English Danish Nrresundby, Denmark, 7 March 2023 Announcement no. 09/2023 Board member Katja Millard has informed the Board of RTX A/S that due to a possible conflict of interest she feels compelled to resign from the board. The Board has taken note of Katjas decision. Chair of the Board Peter Thostrup states: "We have been very happy about the collaboration with Katja Millard, who has contributed with relevant industry insight - both commercially and technologically. Naturally, we fully understand Katjas decision, and should the conditions change, we would like the collaboration to continue. We thank Katja Millard for her efforts in the board and wish her good luck in the future". According to the Articles of Association of the company, the number of board members in RTX A/S elected by the general meeting shall be between four and six. After the resignation of Katja Millard, the Board of Directors will consist of five members elected by the general meeting. Questions and further information: Chair of the Board Peter Thostrup, tel: +45 96 32 23 00 Attachment Dublin, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nanofibers Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global nanofibers market size reached US$ 983.6 Million in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 3,987.4 Million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 26.27% during 2021-2027. 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 industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Nanofibers refer to fibers with a diameter less than 100 nanometers. They are synthetically produced and can be customized for various purposes. The diameters of nanofibers can vary and is determined by the kind of polymer used and the method of production. They can be fabricated using several techniques such as magneto spinning, electro spinning, force spinning, rotary jet spinning, etc. These fibers are characterized by their lightweight, flexibility, high porosity and mechanical strength. Additionally, they have controllable pore structures and higher surface-to-volume ratio as compared to the conventional microfibers. The thriving healthcare industry across the globe is impelling the growth of the market. These fibers, coated with antibodies, are utilized to capture individual cancer cells that are present in the bloodstream and to stimulate the production of cartilage in damaged joints. They are also used in the manufacturing of surgical gowns and disposable face masks. The rising demand for biosensors, of which nanofibers form an integral part, in the healthcare industry, is also contributing to the market growth. Moreover, the textile industry extensively utilizes nanofibers for the production of heat and water-resistant fabrics. In addition to this, fabrics containing nanofibers help protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thereby reducing the chances of developing cancer. Additionally, the growing trend of using nanofibers for sustainable generation of electricity, along with use in the paints and coatings industry for air filtration, is further creating a positive outlook for the market. Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market along with the profiles of the key players. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global nanofibers market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets in the global nanofibers industry? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global nanofibers industry? What is the breakup of the market based on the product? What is the breakup of the market based on the technology? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What are the various stages in the value chain of the global nanofibers industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the global nanofibers industry? What is the structure of the global nanofibers industry and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the global nanofibers industry? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 105 Forecast Period 2021 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $983.6 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $3987.4 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 26.2% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Nanofibers Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Product 5.5 Market Breakup by Technology 5.6 Market Breakup by Application 5.7 Market Breakup by Region 5.8 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Product 6.1 Carbon Nanofibers 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Ceramic Nanofibers 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Composite Nanofibers 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Glass Nanofibers 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 6.5 Metallic Nanofibers 6.5.1 Market Trends 6.5.2 Market Forecast 6.6 Polymeric Nanofibers 6.6.1 Market Trends 6.6.2 Market Forecast 6.7 Others 6.7.1 Market Trends 6.7.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Technology 7.1 Magneto Spinning 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Electro Spinning 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Force Spinning 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 7.4 Rotary Jet Spinning 7.4.1 Market Trends 7.4.2 Market Forecast 7.5 Others 7.5.1 Market Trends 7.5.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Electronics 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Healthcare and Biotechnology 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Aerospace and Defence 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Automotive 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Chemicals 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Energy and Power 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 8.7 Others 8.7.1 Market Trends 8.7.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7acusp About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Calgary, Alberta, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy, a Canadian nuclear technology company dedicated to delivering reliable, emission-free nuclear energy, announced today it is investing $18 million to expand its operations into Alberta by establishing an engineering, research and development office in Calgary. The company intends to create 29 jobs over the next two years. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Terrestrial Energy works to commission its zero-emissions Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) heat and power plants for industrial consumers. The company is engaged with organizations throughout North America, the United Kingdom and other global jurisdictions to deploy its zero-carbon energy technology, which is also designed to generate high-efficiency, grid-based power. The companys new office in Calgary will help accelerate its goals. Terrestrial Energy was attracted to Alberta for its leadership in the energy sector and large industrial base. It was also drawn by the provinces low corporate tax rate, business-friendly environment and the large number of international companies in the region. Invest Alberta assisted the company by creating opportunities to make meaningful connections in Alberta. In July 2022, Terrestrial Energy and Invest Alberta signed a memorandum of understanding to determine how to best work together to establish the companys Alberta-based office, and todays announcement marks the success of that partnership. Working together with Calgary Economic Development, Terrestrial Energy chose the Western-Canadian city for its business community that collaborates with industry and government to drive growth and innovation. Named a top 30 cleantech ecosystem to watch in North America, Calgary is home to head offices of major companies throughout the energy value-chain. With the highest concentration of head offices per capita and the highest proportion of post-secondary STEM graduates in Canada, Calgary has the energy expertise and skilled talent to advance a net-zero economy. Albertas willingness to expand into nuclear energy helps diversify its energy market and attract unique investment in cleantech, enabling the province to achieve climate targets and be a leader in Canadas energy transition. That willingness is evidenced by Albertas participation in the interprovincial Strategic Plan for the Deployment of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) to advance SMRs as a source of safe, reliable and clean energy. As Albertas energy landscape continues to evolve, Terrestrial Energys proprietary technology has the potential to attract skilled labour to our province and create more new jobs in a rapidly evolving sector. Terrestrial Energy secured space for its Western Canadian operation in Suncor Energy Centre. The company is actively recruiting regional talent to fill positions to support its Alberta-based commercial operation ambitions. QUOTES Albertas economy has momentum, and Terrestrial Energy wants to be apart of that momentum. I am pleased to see Terrestrial Energy choose Alberta as their place to conduct business. With low corporate tax rates, decreased red tape for businesses, and a ready workforce, Alberta has an economic atmosphere that cannot be matched. Minister Rajan Sawhney, Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism Alberta is a global energy hub with a track record of pursuing innovation in energy markets. Today its industries are investigating the potential of nuclear innovation to deliver transformative changes, supported by the provincial governments continued focus on innovation and growth. We look forward to growing our company in Alberta and delivering the first operating IMSR cogeneration plant, and by doing so demonstrate a solution to the greatest unsolved problem on the global pathway to net-zero: clean thermal energy supply for global industry. Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy Calgary is a global leader in cleantech innovation and companies like Terrestrial Energy will help power our pathway to a net-zero economy. Our city is home to experts in all things energy and has the companies, capital and talent to achieve Canadas energy transition goals. Brad Parry, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development Terrestrial Energys expansion into Alberta reflects the potential Alberta holds for energy transition and emission reduction. Innovative nuclear technology companies like Terrestrial Energy are paving the way toward a net-zero future and its investment in Alberta will create 29 more jobs in a sector that is seeing rapid growth in our province. Rick Christiaanse, CEO, Invest Alberta About Invest Alberta: Invest Alberta is engaging the world and providing high-end tailored support to companies, investors, and major new projects. With team members strategically positioned in key markets around the world, Invest Alberta works to break down barriers so businesses can start up, scale up, and succeed without limits. Since 2020, Invest Alberta has supported the commitment of nearly $20 billion in investment that created more than 24,000 new high-value jobs for Albertans. For more information, please visit: www.investalberta.ca. About Calgary Economic Development: Calgary Economic Development is an opportunity-maker, helping to spark and fuel Calgarys growth. Our job is to connect people with resources that can help them grow their careers or businesses, thrive in new locations or markets, and feel at home in our community. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world. Were exhilarated about our role in shaping and sharing Calgarys story and were proud to be part of the energy. For more information, please visit our website at www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com and follow us on Twitter @calgaryeconomic. About Terrestrial Energy: Terrestrial Energy is developing for near-term commercial operation a zero-emissions cogeneration plant for global industry using its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) fission technology in an innovative, small and modular plant design. The IMSR is a non-Light Water Reactor of the Generation IV class that operates at the high temperature required for broad industrial relevance with transformative economic potential. The IMSR plant is capable of grid-based electric power generation and industrial cogeneration in many energy-intensive industries, including petrochemical and chemical synthesis for hydrogen and ammonia production. The IMSR plant offers a near 50 percent improvement in efficiency of electric power generation compared to Light Water Reactor nuclear plants. Its industrial cogeneration capability delivers to todays markets industrial competitiveness, security of energy, and zero-emissions industrial production. The IMSR plants use of existing industrial materials, components, and fuels supports its near-term deployment, setting the stage for a rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system. Dublin, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Colombia Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q1 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to the publisher, social commerce industry in Colombia is expected to grow by 37.0% on annual basis to reach US$1000.5 million in 2023. The social commerce industry is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 22.0% during 2022-2028. The social commerce GMV in the country will increase from US$1000.5 million in 2023 to reach US$3303.3 million by 2028. This report provides a detailed data centric analysis of social commerce industry, covering market opportunities and risks. With over 50+ KPIs at country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics. The research methodology is based on industry best practices. Its unbiased analysis leverages a proprietary analytics platform to offer a detailed view on emerging business and investment market opportunities. Reasons to buy In-depth Understanding of Social Commerce Market Dynamics: Understand market opportunities and key trends along with forecast (2019-2028). Insights into Opportunity by end-use sectors - Get market dynamics by end-use sectors to assess emerging opportunity across various end-use sectors. Develop Market Specific Strategies: Identify growth segments and target specific opportunities to formulate social commerce strategy; assess market specific key trends, drivers, and risks in the industry. Scope This report provides in-depth, data-centric analysis of social commerce in Colombia. Below is a summary of key market segments: Colombia Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028 Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2019-2028 Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2019-2028 Clothing & Footwear Beauty and Personal Care Food & Grocery Appliances and Electronics Home Improvement Travel Hospitality Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Segment, 2019-2028 B2B B2C C2C Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2019-2028 Mobile Desktop Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028 Domestic Cross Border Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2019-2028 Tier-1 Cities Tier-2 Cities Tier-3 Cities Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2019-2028 Credit Card Debit Card Bank Transfer Prepaid Card Digital & Mobile Wallet Other Digital Payment Cash Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms Video Commerce Social Network-Led Commerce Social Reselling Group Buying Product Review Platforms Colombia Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour,2022 By Age By Income Level By Gender For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k13xy9 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Portland, OR, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new research report titled Survival Tools Market By Product Type (Pocket Tools, First Aid Kit, And Compass), By Application (Hiking, Hunting & Fishing, And Camping), By Distribution Channel (Specialty Store, Supermarket/Hypermarket, And Online Store), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2030 in its research database. According to the latest research study, the demand for global Survival Tools Market size & share in terms of revenue was valued at USD 1159.5 million in 2022 and it is expected to surpass around USD 2460.6 million markets by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.4% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030. What is Survival Tools? How big is the Survival Tools Industry? Survival tools are essential items and equipment that people use to increase their chances of survival during emergency situations, such as natural disasters, wilderness expeditions, and other extreme situations. These tools can range from simple items such as knives and flashlights to more advanced equipment such as water filtration systems and emergency shelters. The survival tools industry is a rapidly growing market as more people are becoming interested in emergency preparedness and outdoor activities. The demand for survival tools has increased due to the rise in natural disasters, geopolitical instability, and a growing interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and backpacking. Survival Tools Industry Coverage & Overview: Survival tools are an essential package of basic and fundamental tools and supplies that are prepared in advance as an aid to protection and survival in emergency situations. These survival tools play a major role while engaging in various recreational activities such as caving, hiking, camping, trekking, rock climbing, and other activities. Various supplies that are included in the pack encompass a first aid kit, compass, flashlights, pocket tools, knife, and others. Survival tools are also extensively used in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, tsunamis, and others. In such cases, the kit is equipped with ample food and water, sanitary bags, apart from first aid kits, and so forth. These kits can be packed in either backpacks, duffle bags, or buckets based on the different emergency situations. Get a Free Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with a Table of Contents, Research Methodology, and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/survival-tools-market (A free sample of this report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.) Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2023 updated report. The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package About 214+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research) Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on the Request Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2023 Includes Tables and figures have been updated The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research research methodology (Please note that the sample of this report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.) Market Growth Dynamics: Growth Factors The demand for the global survival tools market is expected to surge exponentially due to a remarkable surge in the cases of natural disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions to name a few. Besides, growing inclination towards various recreational and adventurous activities like hiking, rock climbing, trekking, camping, and others among people create a necessary requirement to have beneficial survival tools that are expected to drive the growth of the market. In addition, an increase in the implementation of favorable safety regulations and the growing importance of maintaining workplace safety in various sectors including industrial, chemical, mining, oil & gas, building & construction, electrical, and energy are anticipated to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Furthermore, an increase in the use of survival tools in the military sector for carrying out various military operations and an increase in the prevalence of consciousness programs by government and private organizations to increase awareness about the functionality of survival tools are predicted to create ample opportunities for the growth of the survival tools industry. However, an increase in the prices of ropes and other specialized tools might hamper the growth of the market to an extent. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/survival-tools-market Report Scope Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2022 USD 1159.5 million Projected Market Size in 2030 USD 2460.6 million CAGR Growth Rate 7.4% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Key Market Players UST Brands, Surefire, LLC, SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, Leatherman Tool Group, Wild and Wolf Inc., Frasers Group, Honeywell International Inc., Survival Light Products INC, Uncharted Supply Company, Sharpal Inc., Tender Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Fiskars Group, Fenix Outdoors International AG, Exxel Outdoors, LLC, and Coleman Company, Inc. Key Segment By Product Type, By Application, By Distribution Channel, and By Region Major Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Purchase Options Request customized purchase options to meet your research needs. Explore purchase options Survival Tools Market: Segmentation Analysis The global survival tools market is segmented based on product type, application, distribution channel, and region. Based on product type, the market is bifurcated into compass, first aid kit, pocket tools, and others. The pocket tools segment held the largest market share in 2021 and is further predicted to grow rapidly at a significant CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. The main reason for the growth of this segment is that they are very handy to use and hence are often considered as life saviors when it comes to outdoor recreational activities. Pocket tools are multipurpose, and hence they are widely accepted by travel and recreational enthusiasts across the globe for a wide range of purposes. In addition, there has been a remarkable growth in the sales of pocket tools as they are considerably compact in size and hence require much lesser space. These factors drive the growth of the segment. By distribution channel, the survival tools industry can be segmented into online stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, and others. Based on application, the market is bifurcated into camping, hunting & fishing, hiking, and others. The hiking segment held the largest market share in 2021 and is further projected to grow exponentially at a promising CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the increase in popularity and inclination towards recreational and outdoor activities among people across the globe as it massively helps in achieving peace of mind and also provides immense physical fitness perks. Thus, there has been a sharp surge in the participant rates in hiking among people to unwind from the busy, monotonous, and hectic lifestyle of people. These factors drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period. The global Survival Tools market is segmented as follows: By Product type Pocket tools First Aid Kit Compass Others By Application Hiking Hunting & Fishing Camping Others By Distribution Channel Specialty Store Supermarket/Hypermarket Online store Others Browse the full Survival Tools Market By Product Type (Pocket Tools, First Aid Kit, and Compass), By Application (Hiking, Hunting & Fishing, and Camping), By Distribution Channel (Specialty Store, Supermarket/Hypermarket, and Online Store), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, and Forecasts 2022 2030.- Report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/survival-tools-market Competitive Landscape Some of the main competitors dominating the global Survival Tools market include - UST Brands Surefire LLC SOG Specialty Knives & Tools Leatherman Tool Group Wild and Wolf Inc. Frasers Group Honeywell International Inc. Survival Light Products INC Uncharted Supply Company Sharpal Inc. Tender Corporation Johnson & Johnson Fiskars Group Fenix Outdoors International AG Exxel Outdoors LLC Coleman Company Inc. Key Insights from Primary Research: According to the analysis shared by our research forecaster, the Survival Tools market is likely to expand at a CAGR of around 7.4% during the forecast period (2023-2030). In terms of revenue, the Survival Tools market size was valued at around US$ 1159.5 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 2460.6 million by 2030. There is an exponential spike in the number of people going for adventurous activities like hiking, rock climbing, and others with family every year. The increase in number can also be attributed to technological developments, improved facilities, convenience, and affordability. However, such constantly growing numbers are contributing towards the growth of the global survival tools market significantly. Based on product type, the pocket tools segment held the largest market share in 2021 and is further predicted to grow rapidly at a significant CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. Based on application, the hiking segment held the largest market share in 2021 and is further projected to grow exponentially at a promising CAGR during the forecast period. Based on the distribution channel, the specialty store segment held the largest market share in 2021. Based on region, the North American region held the largest market share in 2021. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/survival-tools-market Key questions answered in this report: What is the market size and growth rate forecast for Survival Tools industry? What are the main driving factors propelling the Survival Tools Market forward? What are the leading companies in the Survival Tools Industry? What segments does the Survival Tools Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Survival Tools Market sample report and company profiles? Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20232030 Market Dynamics Leading Trends, Growth Drivers, Restraints, and Investment Opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis By Product type, By Application, By Distribution Channel, and By Region Competitive Landscape Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/6967 (We tailor your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customising your report.) Regional Analysis: Based on region, the North American region held the dominating market share in 2021 and is further anticipated to grow rapidly at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The major reason for the growth of the market in this region is the increase in the number of recreational enthusiasts and increased awareness about the benefits of outdoor activities among people in this region. Besides, the prevalence of initiatives from the government toward the adoption of survival tools among people in this region is expected to drive the growth of the survival tools market during the forecast period. By Region North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe France UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Global Survival Tools Market: Opportunities Survival gears with automatic technologies may expand the global market. The manufacturers are ramping up their research and development efforts in order to provide more cutting-edge and original tools that may assist consumers in a variety of tasks. The latest survival gear is outfitted with automated technology, such as the internet of things, so that it may incorporate a variety of cutting-edge new functions. As a result of this, the introduction of such cutting-edge technology is projected to generate a significant number of prospects for business expansion in the survival tools sector in the years to come. To know an additional revised 2023 list of market players, request a brochure of the report: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/survival-tools-market FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Which key factors will influence survival tools market growth over 2022-2030? The global survival tools market is expected to spur significantly from $1159.5 million in 2021 to $2460.6 million in 2030. The market is likely to rise with a healthy annual compound rate of 7.4% during the forecast period. What will be the value of the survival tools market during 2022-2030? There is an exponential spike in the number of people going for adventurous activities like hiking, rock climbing, and others with family every year. The increase in number can also be attributed to technological developments, improved facilities, convenience, and affordability. Which are the key major players in survival tools market growth? Some of the significant players in the global survival tools market include UST Brands, Surefire, LLC, SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, Leatherman Tool Group, Wild and Wolf Inc., Frasers Group, Honeywell International Inc., Survival Light Products INC, Uncharted Supply Company, Sharpal Inc., Tender Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Fiskars Group, Fenix Outdoors International AG, Exxel Outdoors, LLC, and Coleman Company, Inc. Which region will contribute notably towards the survival tools market value? North America accounts for the largest share in the global survival tools market due to the presence of a strong customer base in the region. Furthermore, the increasing number of recreational enthusiasts and the presence of prominent companies offering paid vacations to employees are likely to accentuate the growth of the regional market. 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The reports and services offered by Zion Market Research are used by prestigious academic institutions, start-ups, and companies globally to measure and understand the changing international and regional business backgrounds. Our clients/customers conviction on our solutions and services has pushed us in delivering always the best. Our advanced research solutions have helped them in appropriate decision-making and guidance for strategies to expand their business. Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research/ Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zion_research Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zionmarketresearch Follow Us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/zionmarketresearch/ Follow Us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y0Yfi7N8zSs Contact Us: Rushikesh Dorge USA: +1 347 690-0211 United Kingdom: +44 2032 894158 Japan: +81 50 5806 9039 India: +91 7768 006 007 Web: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Blog: https://zmrblog.com/ Still, Looking for More Information? OR Want Data for Inclusion in Magazine, Case Study, or Media? Email Directly Here with Detail Information: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Survival tools are essential items and equipment that people use to increase their chances of survival during emergency situations, such as natural disasters, wilderness expeditions, and other extreme situations. These tools can range from simple items such as knives and flashlights to more advanced equipment such as water filtration systems and emergency shelters. The survival tools industry is a rapidly growing market as more people are becoming interested in emergency preparedness and outdoor activities. The demand for survival tools has increased due to the rise in natural disasters, geopolitical instability, and a growing interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and backpacking. According to recent market research, the global survival tools market size in terms of revenue was valued at USD 1159.5 million in 2022. The market is expected to continue to grow over the forecast period from 2023 to 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.4%. It is predicted that the survival tools market will surpass the USD 2460.6 million mark by 2030. The increasing demand for survival tools is driving innovation and growth in the industry, with new products and technologies being developed to meet the needs of consumers. Denver, CO, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Rotorcraft, a leader in providing critical mission equipment for nearly 30 years, and DRF Luftrettung, a German HEMS operator with 50 years of experience, announced today plans to partner together through a long-term business relationship that will propel the trajectory of both companies mission to new heights. United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods Corporation, is expanding its horizons outside of the domestic HEMS market by joining forces with DRF Luftrettung, one of the largest European HEMS operators. Together, they will work to bring innovative HEMS equipment and solutions to operators in both EASA and FAA jurisdictions. Our purpose at United Rotorcraft is to save lives, something that we share at our core with DRF Luftrettung, said United Rotorcraft President Larry Alexandre. We are excited to be partnering with such a driven leader in the world of HEMS, to bring innovation and versatility to the global air medical community. United Rotorcrafts unique experience as the equipment and service provider to Air Methods fleet of over 400 helicopters across 300 bases in the US supporting a team of 1,500 clinicians, gives them first hand insight on how to develop the best equipment possible to better serve front line workers. To ensure the best possible care for the benefit of its patients, DRF Luftrettung continuously develops state-of-the-art medical technology used in its aircraft and techniques that are employed, said DRF Luftrettung CEO Dr. Krystian Pracz. We are pleased to bring our expertise in air rescue to the partnership with United Rotorcraft. I am convinced that we can successfully combine both organizations strengths to further enhance innovations in the HEMS market. Alexandre and Pracz formalized this partnership today with an official signing ceremony during the HAI Heli-Expo in Atlanta, GA. Click here for a photo of the signing ceremony. (Photo left to right: United Rotorcraft President Larry Alexandre, DRF Luftrettung CEO Dr. Krystian Pracz) About United Rotorcraft: United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods Corporation, specializes in the design, manufacture, and installation of ground and aerial critical mission equipment for frontline workers, from firefighting and law enforcement, to HEMS and Medevac. For more information, visit unitedrotorcraft.com About DRF Luftrettung: Based in Filderstadt, DRF Luftrettung is one of the largest and most experienced air rescue organisations in Europe, At its 29 bases in Germany, DRF Luftrettung operates helicopters for emergency rescue and for urgent transport of intensive care patients between hospitals. Crews are on standby around the clock at eleven of these bases and four bases have helicopters equipped with rescue hoists for missions in difficult terrain. In addition, DRF Luftrettung repatriates patients from abroad using its own ambulance aircraft. DRF Luftrettung carried out a total of 39,308 missions in 2022. For more information, visit drf-luftrettung.de. MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the eve of International Womens Day, BioSyent Inc. (BioSyent, the Company, TSX Venture: RX) celebrates the Canadian launch of FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 by its subsidiary, BioSyent Pharma Inc. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is BioSyents third product incorporating Polydextrose-Iron Complex (PDIC), a patented oral iron supplement delivery system. The FeraMAX Pd family of products continues the innovation history of FeraMAX and strengthens BioSyents commitment to womens health and the management of iron health across various life stages. Iron deficiency disproportionally affects women and children and is an independent risk factor for decreased quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality.i My personal approach to family medicine is about prevention, with a focus on womens health, said Dr. Vivien Brown, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP, a busy family physician, tireless womens health advocate and preventative healthcare pioneer. It is important to recognize negative iron balance and managing those at risk of iron deficiency, in advance of draining symptoms. I welcome the addition of FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 to my proactive approach to iron health. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is designed to prevent iron deficiency, maintain healthy iron levels and to address a gap in iron health therapy. This unique formulation features 45 milligrams of elemental iron as Polydextrose-Iron Complex (PDIC), along with 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 and 75 milligrams of vitamin C which supports the formation of red blood cells and the immune system. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is the only iron supplement in Canada incorporating this unique supplement combination in a convenient, orange-flavoured, chewable tablet - taken once daily. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is recognized by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Made in a Health Canada and FDA licensed facility, FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is vegan certified by Vegecert and is free of gluten, lactose, and alcohol. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is available in bottles of 30 chewable tablets, now commencing shipping to retail pharmacies across Canada. BioSyents motivation for developing FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is to help people who struggle with maintaining iron sufficiency, explained Mr. Rene C. Goehrum, President and CEO of BioSyent. Research with iron deficient patients indicates that 25% of those diagnosed with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia have been previously diagnosed four times or more. Relapsing iron deficiency is the impetus for this new addition. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 is a result of BioSyents own innovation and product development, to fill unmet medical needs and to improve the lives of Canadians. FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 joins the FeraMAX Pd family of oral iron products that includes FeraMAX Pd Therapeutic 150 for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, and FeraMAX Pd Powder 15, an iron therapy convenient for children. FeraMAX Pd is made with a homogeneous polysaccharide, Polydextrose, linked to ferric (Fe3+) elemental iron to form the proprietary Polydextrose Iron Complex (PDIC). This unique and patented formulation is the foundation of future product innovations in oral iron supplementation for BioSyent. The Introduction of FeraMAX Pd Maintenance 45 advances the legacy of FeraMAX, which has made it the #1 recommended iron supplement brand by Canadian physicians and pharmacists for seven consecutive years, including 2022 (Pharmacy Practice+ and Profession Sante 2022 / The Medical Post and Profession Sante 2022 Survey on OTC Counselling and Recommendations). BioSyent thanks healthcare providers and patients who have trusted FeraMAX for their iron health for more than a decade. About BioSyent Inc. Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol RX, BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty, and international business units. As of the date of this press release, the Company has 12,097,861 common shares outstanding. For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial information please visit www.tmxmoney.com. For further information please contact: Mr. Rene C. Goehrum President and CEO BioSyent Inc. E-Mail: investors@biosyent.com Phone: 905-206-0013 Web: www.biosyent.com This press release may contain information or statements that are forward-looking. The contents herein represent our judgment, as at the release date, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from the forward-looking information or statements. Potential risks may include, but are not limited to, those associated with clinical trials, product development, future revenue, operations, profitability and obtaining regulatory approvals. 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 press release. ___________________ i Friedman AJ, Chen Z, Ford P, Johnson CA, Lopez AM, Shander A, Waters JH, van Wyck D. Iron deficiency anemia in women across the life span. Journal of Women's Health (Larchmt). 2012 Dec;21(12):1282-9. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2012.3713. PMID: 23210492. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a5b0c69-2d30-4f86-b0f5-4b4ba3c52724 TORONTO, March 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ECN Capital Corp. (TSX: ECN) announced today that it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. In response to interest that has been received by the Company, ECN will evaluate the full range of alternatives to determine the best path forward to continue to drive growth and maximize value for shareholders. Alternatives will include strategic funding and capital relationships as well as other options. ECN has retained external financial advisors to assist in this process. Steven K. Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of ECN, stated: Allocating capital to maximize shareholder value has been the primary objective of ECNs management and Board since inception. Alongside our funding partners, ECN has acquired and grown exceptional businesses, divested others when opportunity and circumstances dictated, and returned capital to shareholders when appropriate. The review process announced today will be focused on achieving the best outcome for our shareholders over the coming years in our manufactured housing, RV and marine, and inventory finance businesses. There can be no assurance that this process will result in any specific strategic plan or financial transaction and no timetable has been set for its completion. The Company does not plan to provide updates on the status of the review unless there are material developments to report. Given the strategic review announced today, the Company is postponing its Investor Day, which had been previously scheduled for March 8, 2023. ECN also announced today that it intends to file its financial statements and management discussion and analysis for the three-month and year-end period ended December 31, 2022 after markets close on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding ECN Capital and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of ECN Capitals management. In some cases, the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, potential, estimate, believe or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include those relating to the strategic review process and its intent to maximize shareholder value. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting ECN Capital, including risks regarding the equipment finance industry, economic factors, and many other factors beyond the control of ECN Capital. There can be no assurance whether a transaction, strategic change or outcome will result from or be implemented as a result of the strategic review process or whether the strategic review will ultimately result in the maximizing of shareholder value. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with such forward-looking statements or information can be found in ECN Capitals September 30, 2022 Management Discussion and Analysis and the 2021 Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2022, which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and ECN Capital does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. About ECN Capital Corp. With originated assets of more than US$14 billion, ECN Capital Corp. (TSX: ECN) is a leading provider of business services to North American based banks, credit unions, life insurance companies, pension funds and institutional investors (collectively our Partners). ECN Capital originates, manages and advises on credit assets on behalf of its Partners, specifically consumer (manufactured housing and marine and recreational vehicle) loans. Our Partners are seeking high quality assets to match with their deposits or other liabilities. These services are offered through two operating segments: (i) Manufactured Housing Finance, and (ii) Marine and Recreational Vehicle Finance. Contact John Wimsatt 561-389-2334 jwimsatt@ecncapitalcorp.com Submit prudential reports on sex-disaggregated basis BoG directs banks, others Maxwell Akalaare Adombila Business News Mar - 07 - 2023 , 14:50 THE Bank of Ghana (BoG) now requires banks and other deposit-taking institutions to submit their monthly prudential returns to it on a sex-disaggregated basis. The new directive, which is to be compiled in an online reporting portal, is to give the regulator a full view of the gender dynamics in the financial sector. It is part of efforts by the central bank to help address current data constraints on gender in the financial sector, the Governor of BoG, Dr Ernest Addison, said in Accra. It will also help to provide critical data for the evidence-based design of policymaking, regulation and supervisory measures, as well as financial products and services, Dr Addison told executives in the financial sector in Africa. AFAWA launch Dr Addison made the disclosure at the launch of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Finance Series in Accra on Wednesday. AFAWA is an initiative by the African Development Bank (AfDB) meant to, among other things, unlock up to $3 billion in finances for women in the small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) space in Africa. It was launched at a two-day workshop that brought together experts on finance, SMEs and gender to deliberate on how to improve women-led businesses to help uplift the continent. It aims to reduce the funding gap facing women entrepreneurs on the continent, which is estimated to be $42 billion. It will run for five years and has the Ghana Association of Banks as a local partner. Credit market Beyond using regulations to encourage financial institutions to support female-led entrepreneurs, the BoG Governor gave an assurance that the central bank would continue to strengthen its critical credit markets infrastructure such as the credit bureau-based credit reporting system and our Collateral Registry. These, he said, were critical in helping to facilitate lending to MSMEs and women-owned businesses. We also continue to ensure that our regulation of the payments space is supportive of innovation and inclusion by allowing financial technologies (fintechs) and other payments system service providers to partner with banks and other licensed financial institutions to provide innovative financial services that are convenient, cost-effective and responsive to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs, he added. Role of the financial sector Dr Addison said the financial sector was key in advancing access to finance for women-owned businesses and thus urged the players to take up the challenge and see the business opportunities that remain untapped in the women's market. He said it was only through this that they can help to build a stronger and more resilient financial sector. Achievements The Governor said the central bank was fully committed to promoting inclusive finance, and gender-inclusive finance in particular. He said it was realising that commitment by creating a regulatory environment that promoted financial stability. As a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, BoG has made commitments under the Denarau Action Plan on Gender Inclusive Finance to advance gender-inclusive finance with emphasis on promoting womens access, usage and quality of financial services and products. In November 2019, BoG launched Ghanas Sustainable Banking Principles a set of seven ESGrelated principles, which enjoins banks to, among other things, promote financial inclusion and gender equity in their internal operations and in relation to their delivery of products and services to clients. Banks are currently reporting to us on a quarterly basis, in compliance with these principles, and we expect to see higher levels of compliance, he said. Dr Addison was optimistic that the AFAWA initiative would be critical in supporting the banks with the necessary capacity building and sources of funding to support their efforts at improving more gender-inclusive finance. Ashaiman: More than 72 people arrested by soldiers - Ashaiman MP Enoch Darfah Frimpong Mar - 07 - 2023 , 12:30 More than 72 people have been arrested and taken into custody by the soldiers who stormed Ashaiman Tuesday dawn after a mob allegedly killed a soldier - Sherif Imoro at the weekend. According to the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, he has been informed that the soldiers took the people they arrested away. "72 persons per the briefing given me by the Assembly member for the area" have been taken into custody by the soldiers. "But as I speak to you the police commander just told me that 72 persons is an understatement, and that they are more than that, they [soldiers] are still arresting people when you go certain areas of the community," Mr Norgbey said in a radio interview on Citi FM, monitored by Graphic Online. The MP said the soldiers after the dawn operation left the area, the soldiers had left but around midday, he received a phone call that another batch of military men had trooped into the Ashaiman constituency. "Actually I spoke to the police commander and he told me on authority that there are military guys still in the constituency, all the over the constituency molesting innocent residents," he said. He said the constituents were worried about the modus operandi of the military, "because you see armoured cars, you see military vehicles, you see helicopters, which means that this thing has been sanctioned by the higher authority and so everybody is handicapped in this matter. "So we are just calling on them to call back their men to the barracks because these people that they are molesting, they are innocent people, I'm not sure they know anything about the killing of the military guy," the MP said. The Ashaiman neighbourhood of Taifa was on Tuesday dawn forced into a self-imposed curfew after some soldiers reportedly stormed the area, following the alleged killing of a soldier over the weekend. The soldier was reportedly killed by a mob in Ashaiman at the weekend. Photos and video of the said soldier was shared on social media after the incident. Some reports said he was attacked and stabbed by a gang. The soldier was reportedly on his way to his family home. Soldiers reaction On Tuesday dawn (March 7, 2023), some alleged soldiers numbering not less than 20 stormed the area. They questioned anyone they came across and reportedly beat them up. This forced people to lock themselves up in their homes, fearing they will be beaten up by the soldiers. Some eyewitnesses have recounted their experience on social media. Some said they saw the soldiers around 2am. One person said he woke up around 4am to see that the area which was usually busy around that time with many shops opened was still very quiet. His assumption was that it was as a result of the downpour but when he stepped out, he saw some soldiers on the stretch, there were no vehicles moving. He saw soldiers approaching so he quickly rushed back into the house and locked the gate. He said his brother later told him he woke up earlier and saw soldiers beating up some other people. "My mother owns a shop by the roadside and should have been opened by now but as we speak, all shops are still closed," he said. He said he saw that vehicles passing by were stopped, male passengers dragged out and beaten up, "you people kill our colleague", some of the soldiers reportedly said. Another eyewitness said the said soldiers knocked on doors and anybody who came out allegedly received some slaps. The Assemblyman for the area reportedly sent out a message advising residents to avoid certain routes. He said he counted not less that 20 armed soldiers on foot, who were What happened with mob killing of soldier? The incident of the mob killing of the soldier received varied reactions at the weekend. Some had alleged that the young soldier was on his way to his home when he was attacked by a gang. Some had alleged that he was stabbed to death by the mob. Photos from the incident scene showed the lifeless body of the victim, who was in what seemed to be a torn trousers in military camouflage colours. His military cap and a white cloth had been used to cover his face. Also, his bag in military camouflage colours was lying close to the body. The Ghana Police and the Ghana Armed Forces are yet to comment on the incident. In 2017, a similar incident happened at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region where during a morning health walk, a military officer, Major Maxwell Mahama was killed by a mob. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh China's national legislature starts 2nd plenary meeting of annual session Xinhua) 15:05, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) held a plenary meeting Tuesday to hear work reports of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as a plan on the reform of the State Council institutions. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the plenary meeting. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ashaiman: Slain soldier identified as 21-year-old Sherif Imoro Enoch Darfah Frimpong Mar - 07 - 2023 , 17:04 The soldier who was allegedly killed by a mob at Ashaiman Taifa last Saturday, has been identified as 21-year-old Sherif Imoro. He was a member of the Ghana Armed Forces Band, a trumpeter and was stationed at Sunyani in the Bono Region. He was in Accra for a military course and in the last three weeks, had been visiting the parents in their home at Ashaiman every Friday. Last Friday would have been the third time he was going home and was reportedly confronted by a gang who killed him. Sherif Imoro Sherif Imoro was born at Ashaiman on June 3, 2001, according to his father - Awudu Imoro. He enrolled in the Ghana Armed Forces in October 2021, was trained at Daboya and was posted to Sunyani after passing out. According to his father, he had his primary and junior high school education at Ashaiman and senior high school at Akwamuman SHS and completed in 2017. Slain soldier incident Last Friday, he was on his way home and there was heavy traffic in the area, so he alighted at Ashaiman Taifa near the court building. It was around that area that he met his death at the hands of his attackers. Some reports suggest the gang mistook him to be a robber. Father's narrative Explaining the circumstances and giving a brief background about his son, the father, Awudu Imoro said in early January this year, Sherif phoned his mother and informed the family that he was going to be in Accra in the first week of February for a course. Sherif according to the father told them that when he arrived in Accra, he will get the opportunity to visit them in the house on a Friday, and so in the last three weeks, he had been coming home every Friday. More than 72 people have been arrested and taken into custody by the soldiers who stormed Ashaiman Tuesday dawn after a mob allegedly killed Sherif Imoro. According to the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, he has been informed that the soldiers took the people they arrested away. "72 persons per the briefing given me by the Assembly member for the area" have been taken into custody by the soldiers. "But as I speak to you the police commander just told me that 72 persons is an understatement, and that they are more than that, they [soldiers] are still arresting people when you go certain areas of the community," Mr Norgbey said in a radio interview on Citi FM, monitored by Graphic Online. The MP said the soldiers after the dawn operation left the area, the soldiers had left but around midday, he received a phone call that another batch of military men had trooped into the Ashaiman constituency. "Actually I spoke to the police commander and he told me on authority that there are military guys still in the constituency, all over the constituency molesting innocent residents," he said. He said the constituents were worried about the modus operandi of the military, "because you see armoured cars, you see military vehicles, you see helicopters, which means that this thing has been sanctioned by the higher authority and so everybody is handicapped in this matter. "So we are just calling on them to call back their men to the barracks because these people that they are molesting, they are innocent people, I'm not sure they know anything about the killing of the military guy," the MP said. The Ashaiman neighbourhood of Taifa was on Tuesday dawn forced into a self-imposed curfew after some soldiers reportedly stormed the area, following the alleged killing of a soldier over the weekend. The soldier was reportedly killed by a mob in Ashaiman at the weekend. Photos and video of the said soldier was shared on social media after the incident. Some reports said he was attacked and stabbed by a gang. The soldier was reportedly on his way to his family home. Soldiers reaction On Tuesday dawn (March 7, 2023), some alleged soldiers numbering not less than 20 stormed the area. They questioned anyone they came across and reportedly beat them up. This forced people to lock themselves up in their homes, fearing they will be beaten up by the soldiers. Some eyewitnesses have recounted their experience on social media. Some said they saw the soldiers around 2am. One person said he woke up around 4am to see that the area which was usually busy around that time with many shops opened was still very quiet. His assumption was that it was as a result of the downpour but when he stepped out, he saw some soldiers on the stretch, there were no vehicles moving. He saw soldiers approaching so he quickly rushed back into the house and locked the gate. He said his brother later told him he woke up earlier and saw soldiers beating up some other people. "My mother owns a shop by the roadside and should have been opened by now but as we speak, all shops are still closed," he said. He said he saw that vehicles passing by were stopped, male passengers dragged out and beaten up, "you people kill our colleague", some of the soldiers reportedly said. Another eyewitness said the said soldiers knocked on doors and anybody who came out allegedly received some slaps. The Assemblyman for the area reportedly sent out a message advising residents to avoid certain routes. He said he counted not less that 20 armed soldiers on foot, who were What happened with mob killing of soldier? The incident of the mob killing of the soldier received varied reactions at the weekend. Some had alleged that the young soldier was on his way to his home when he was attacked by a gang. Some had alleged that he was stabbed to death by the mob. Photos from the incident scene showed the lifeless body of the victim, who was in what seemed to be a torn trousers in military camouflage colours. His military cap and a white cloth had been used to cover his face. Also, his bag in military camouflage colours was lying close to the body. The Ghana Police and the Ghana Armed Forces are yet to comment on the incident. In 2017, a similar incident happened at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region where during a morning health walk, a military officer, Major Maxwell Mahama was killed by a mob. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Ashaiman: Soldiers beat up civilians after alleged mob killing of soldier Enoch Darfah Frimpong Mar - 07 - 2023 , 08:22 The Ashaiman neighbourhood of Taifa was on Tuesday dawn forced into a self-imposed curfew after some soldiers reportedly stormed the area, following the alleged killing of a soldier over the weekend. The soldier was reportedly killed by a mob in Ashaiman at the weekend. Photos and video of the said soldier was shared on social media after the incident. Some reports said he was attacked and stabbed by a gang. The soldier was reportedly on his way to his family home. Soldiers reaction On Tuesday dawn (March 7, 2023), some alleged soldiers numbering not less than 20 stormed the area. They questioned anyone they came across and reportedly beat them up. This forced people to lock themselves up in their homes, fearing they will be beaten up by the soldiers. Some eyewitnesses have recounted their experience on social media. Some said they saw the soldiers around 2am. One person said he woke up around 4am to see that the area which was usually busy around that time with many shops opened was still very quiet. His assumption was that it was as a result of the downpour but when he stepped out, he saw some soldiers on the stretch, there were no vehicles moving. He saw soldiers approaching so he quickly rushed back into the house and locked the gate. He said his brother later told him he woke earlier and saw soldiers beating up some other people. "My mother owns a shop by the roadside and should have been opened by now but as we speak, all shops are still closed," he said. He said he saw that vehicles passing by were stopped, male passengers dragged out and beaten up, "you people kill our colleague", some of the soldiers reportedly said. Another eyewitness said the said soldiers knocked on doors and anybody who came out allegedly received some slaps. The Assemblyman for the area reportedly sent out a message advising residents to avoid certain routes. He said he counted not less that 20 armed soldiers on foot, who were What happened with mob killing of alleged soldier? The incident of the mob killing of the soldier received varied reactions at the weekend. Some had alleged that the young soldier was on his way to his home when he was attacked by a gang. Some had alleged that he was stabbed to death by the mob. Photos from the incident scene showed the lifeless body of the victim, who was in what seemed to be a torn trousers in military camouflage colours. His military cap and a white cloth had been used to cover his face. Also, his bag in military camouflage colours was lying close to the body. The Ghana Police and the Ghana Armed Forces are yet to comment on the incident. In 2017, a similar incident happened at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region where during a morning health walk, a military officer, Major Maxwell Mahama was killed by a mob. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Ghana among the best in immunisation coverage despite vaccine shortages - MoH Zadok Kwame Gyesi Mar - 07 - 2023 , 18:52 The Ministry of Health (MoH) has argued that despite the challenges in relation to the shortage of some childhood vaccines in Ghana, the countrys immunisation performance coverage remains among the best in the world. It said the country recorded about 95 per cent coverage of childhood immunisation in 2021. At a press briefing on Tuesday (March 7, 2023) to debunk allegations that due to lack of some vaccines, people are dying from the outbreak of measles in the Northern Region, the Ministry said "It is important to correct the erroneous impression that there have been deaths from Measles in Ghana recently." The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu who addressed the press briefing explained that "For the avoidance of doubt, there have been no deaths from the recently recorded spike in Measles cases. Indeed there have been no deaths since 2003 though we have recorded cases annually." Ghana has been experiencing shortages of some childhood vaccines, a situation that has attracted attention from different quarters, including Parliament and the Paediatric Society of Ghana. The MoH said it is working with UNICEF to fast-track the processes to obtain some of the vaccines as early as possible. Working with UNICEF, we are fast-tracking the processes and it is expected that the vaccines would be supplied in the next few weeks All things being equal, the minister said. He added, the Ministry of Health will ensure that we stay on track with our immunisation record and quickly overcome this bottlenecks. Ministry of Health Statement on vaccines Development Bank moves to boost food security Emmanuel Bonney Mar - 07 - 2023 , 06:39 The Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has embarked on an initiative to boost the production of poultry and three cereals in order to promote food security in the country. The cereals are rice, maize and soya bean. Under the initiative, which takes off with workshops, the bank will provide support to players in the value chain to boost the production of the commodities locally. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the DBG, Michael Mensah Baah, said during a media interaction in Accra last Thursday that there would be four workshops to be held in Kumasi, Sunyani and Sogakope to engage key stakeholders. The stakeholders include policymakers and producers of the commodities as well as others in the value chain. Mr Baah said the interventions that would be put in place were aimed at supporting the growth of the national economy. For instance, it could help in job creation and support exchange rate in terms of import substitution. The Deputy CEO said with about $1 billion spent on rice imports and $600 million to import poultry annually, the country would save a lot through the intervention the bank was putting in place. The workshop will be, among other things, to identify the potential challenges, areas of concern and find the solutions to them. Mr Baah said the bank had already held a stakeholder engagement with a number of stakeholders, including the Ghana Stock Exchange, the MasterCard Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on how DBG could do things differently to support the growth of the value chain. Responding to a question on how much the bank had pumped into the agriculture sector since its establishment, Mr Baah said the bank had access to almost $700 million, saying the funding gap that we see in agriculture is significant but we believe what we have is enough to start the journey of providing the funding that we need to support that sector. He added that the strategy of the bank was to act as a catalyst, explaining that we dont aim to do everything on our own, but we aim to bring all the various stakeholders who are also interested. Feeding Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Deputy Chief Economist of DBG, Dr Godwin Kojo Ayenor, said with the kind of economy that was envisaged, the country needed to feed itself and export the remainder. "The private sector needs to be competitive and the government needs to create the environment for that to happen, he said. "There are spaces and gaps in this whole value chain and so we need to connect the demands with the supply and create the enabling environment for the private sector to invest," Dr Ayenor said. The poultry industry is an important segment of the country's agriculture, with an increasing demand for its products. It involves the rearing, breeding and marketing of domesticated birds such as chicken, turkeys, ducks and guinea fowls for their meat and eggs. It is dominated by small-scale farmers who operate in rural areas and produce for local consumption. Why the initiative A few large-scale commercial producers operate on a larger scale and supply products to the local and international markets. Rice is a major source of carbohydrate and essential nutrients for millions of Ghanaians. Its production is concentrated in the northern parts of the country as well as the Volta Region, where the climatic conditions are favourable for rice cultivation. The sector is dominated by small-scale farmers who cultivate on small plots of land using traditional methods. Its production is mostly rain-fed, with irrigation accounting for only a small proportion. Maize, also known as corn, is a staple food crop in the country and is used in a variety of food products, including maize flour, corn dough meal and cornflakes. Its production is mainly carried out by smallholder farmers who cultivate the crop during the rainy season and in irrigated areas. Protein The soya bean sector is a growing agriculture industry in the country, providing a vital source of protein for human consumption and animal feed, especially the poultry sub-sector. It is a versatile crop used for various purposes including oil, food production and animal feed. Kwame Nkrumahs Motorway: Decaying reminder of Ghanas grand design Kester Aburam Korankye Mar - 07 - 2023 , 18:51 As the sun peeks over the horizon, commuters traverse the 19-kilometre stretch of road that links the Harbour City of Tema to Accra, a reminder of the grand design of Kwame Nkrumah, the countrys first president, linking major towns and cities. After 56 years of use, the Accra-Tema Motorway has outlived its purpose but remains the only one in the country that is serving the growing population of commuters and transit trucks transporting goods from the Tema port to countries like Burkina Faso and Mali. Indeed, it is sad, and a testament of our collective failure as a country that the motorway has deteriorated beyond recognition, with deep potholes, some of which have been patched with bitumen, eroded with time and the elements, leaving the free lane in a dangerous state. Death trap Shoulders of the Accra-Tema Motorway worn out While the Tema to Accra stretch remains the more deplorable, the portion around the Ashaiman tollbooth, where transit trucks park on the shoulders, sometimes for hours, has been destroyed by potholes, while erosion has also eaten into the edges. The stretch just before the Abattoir Bridge, which was recently fixed, has developed potholes that force drivers to slow down, creating traffic congestion all the way to the Ashaiman under-bridge area during peak hours. On four occasions, while monitoring activities on the motorway for a series of articles, I came across vehicular accidents, one of which resulted in injuries to the victims. On my most recent tour of the motorway in November last year, a tanker truck driver, Raymond Nkrumah, who was seen stranded on the Tema-Accra side, with his vehicle in a ditch, said he had loaded the truck with diesel from the Bulk Oil and Storage Transportation (BOST) Limited in Tema and was headed for Kumasi when the truck hit a pothole, resulting in the removal of the tyre rod. "I hit a pothole and my tyre rod came off, tossing the vehicle from one side to the other before entering the ditch," he said. That experience, he said, was scary. Stubborn nation Exposed iron rods on a portions of the Accra-Tema Motorway There is also growing indiscipline on the part of road users, with illegal activities such as road diversions, illegal U-turns, illegal bus stops, the dumping of refuse, farming alongside the stretch, among others, resulting in pedestrian knockdowns, car crashes and the deterioration of the motorway. A policeman once told me how he was overwhelmed by the spate of indiscipline on the stretch and sometimes was forced to look the other way. Our people are too stubborn, my brother, drivers behave like children that you have to babysit and like you can see, I am alone here, the policeman said, with stress and sweat on his face. The absence of illumination on some sections of the road, especially after dark, is another cause for concern due to the fact that half of the street lamps are currently not working. The lack of visibility creates a hazardous situation, exposing drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to potential risks and is a major issue that needs to be addressed to ensure the safety of everyone using the road. Context Since December 2020, I have focused on safety on the motorway and produced six stories to highlight some of the acts of indiscipline that portend danger for road users as well as the bad state of the road. Three of the stories have since won local and international awards but the situations highlighted have only become worse. And that cuts deep into my heart. As a journalist, my business is to shed light on situations that need to be addressed. Yet my personal philosophy on journalism is that stories are useless if they don't resolve issues. The first story: "Motorway menace on increase", focused on some of the illegal activities perpetrated by both motorists and squatters along the motorway. That was followed in January this year by another, "Indiscipline unabated: Accra-Tema Motorway without rules", which also threw light on the indiscipline on the motorway that was threatening the safety of road users. Another story: The lights go dim: Accra-Tema Motorway in focus, was published on April 15, 2021, to highlight the concerns of motorists over visibility on the motorway and how challenging it was to drive on it at night. After the publication, the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Professor Alex Dodoo, told the Daily Graphic that the streetlights did not conform to the countrys standard for street lighting. That revelation was then captured in a follow-up story with the headline: Motorway lights substandard GSA, which was published on April 16, 2021. Our attention then shifted to the state of the motorway with a story that was published on June 1, 2022, with the headline: A year on: Accra-Tema Motorway still in bad shape. Each of the stories was published with a number of photos to signal the urgency to restore the motorway to improve safety. For the revival of the motorway, the government holds the key to the reconstruction due to the financial commitment involved, and there should be no excuses. But I am optimistic that the motorway can pay for its reconstruction when it is properly tolled and the revenue from it well managed. Regions mark Independence Day Daily Graphic Mar - 07 - 2023 , 08:49 The 66th Independence Anniversary was marked in the regions by parades with the security agencies and educational institutions. Tema From Tema in the Greater Accra Region, Benjamin Glover & Della Russel Ocloo report that 240 security personnel drawn from the Army, Navy, Police, Ghana National Fire Service, Immigration, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority participated in a colourful parade to mark the maiden edition of the Greater Accra regional celebrations of the Independence Day. In addition, 870 students from 29 selected basic, junior and senior high schools across the 29 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region also participated in the parade which also had in attendance chief executive officers of the 29 MMDAs, chiefs in the region, corporate institutions and residents in Tema and its environs. The parade under the command of Lt Commander George Acquah of the Eastern Naval Command was characterised by cultural display by some school pupils, gymnastics display and presentation of awards to some schools. In attendance were some Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region as well as a member of the Council of State, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson. The Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who reviewed the parade, directed the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDMCEs) to enforce their sanitation bye-laws in line with the Accra Must Work Again agenda. He said it was the responsibility of all residents to partner the assemblies in ensuring cleaner surroundings to safeguard health and safety. "This singular action can contribute immensely to stop the perennial flooding which headlines our newspapers and displaces inhabitants of the region", Mr Quartey said. The minister commended the relevant stakeholders in the region for their cooperation and participation in the various activities prior to the celebrations, challenging the MMDCEs to ensure sustainability of the activities. From Bolgatanga, Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports that smartly dressed school pupils from 37 basic and senior high schools took part in the anniversary parade held at the Ramsey Park. Also in attendance were security personnel from the various security agencies made up of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Armed Forces. The parade was interspersed with choreography and karate display by pupils of Great Victory Academy which received a huge applause from the gathering. Also, some deserving teachers, schools and personalities were rewarded for their support towards the delivery of education in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Bright A. Lawoe, called on parents and guardians to support school managements and boards to deal with the growing indiscipline in schools. The Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Keith McMahon, in a remark commended Ghanaians for living in peace. The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, called on Ghanaians to rise above political and sectarian differences and reason together in pursuit of the issues that concerned the region. Security personnel marching during the regional parade in Cape Coast Kumasi Nine contingents drawn from the security services, five cadet corps from the secondary and private schools and seven educational institutions drawn from the assemblies took part in the Ashanti Regional parade in Kumasi, reports Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor. Also in attendance were members of civil organisations and the Kumasi Metro City Guards. In his address, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, said even though the government had put in place measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people, the current Russian-Ukraine war coupled with COVID-19 had reversed the gains made. That notwithstanding, he said the Ashanti Region had received its fair share of development including some legacy projects such as the Kumasi International Airport, Kejetia Market Redevelopment Project, hospitals and the residential complex for Appeal Court Judges. Owing to the financial crisis facing the country, Mr Osei-Mensah appealed to MMDAs in the region to complete all ongoing projects before embarking on new ones. Cape Coast From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo & Francisca Eshun write that the parade at the Jubilee Park attracted a large crowd made up of residents, schoolchildren and the elderly who defied the scorching sun to be part of the event. The parade was reviewed by the Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan. Other dignitaries present included the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta; the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Boadu, and the Municipal Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Ernest Arthur. The parade was formed by contingents from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana National Fire Service. Twenty schools and five cadet corps from the Mfanstipim School, Adisadel College, Wesley Girls High School, Efutu Senior High School and the Cape Coast Technical Institute formed the parade. Mrs Assan urged the youth in particular to strive to share ideas, be innovative and be disciplined in their endeavours to achieve success. She appealed to the gathering to make education a priority by taking advantage of the governments free Senior High School and Technical and Vocational education policy to send their children to school to acquire some knowledge and skills. Speaker, predecessors commiserate with Prof. Oquaye Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Mar - 07 - 2023 , 07:56 The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Monday led a delegation of former Speakers of Parliament and other dignitaries to commiserate with the immediate past Speaker, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, on the passing of his wife, Major Alberta Oquaye (retd), at his residence at Haatso, Accra. Mr Bagbin was accompanied by former Speakers, Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo and Edward Doe Adjaho. Other dignitaries were the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson; the Clerk-to-Parliament, Cyril Nsiah, and the Head of Speakers Office, Richard Acheampong. Also at the event were a constitutional expert and statesman, Prof. Nana S. K. B. Asante, and the Chief Executive of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Elizabeth Kaakie Mann. Unparalleled love Mr Bagbin said it was gratifying that Prof. Oquaye and his family had the opportunity to stay by the side of his wife and did everything they could, both home and abroad, to give her the best medical care. If at this time God has decided to call back his beloved daughter, we can only say thanks be to God, he said. Mr Bagbin commended his immediate past predecessor for standing beside his dear wife during trying times, saying truly, I have learnt a lot from the show of unparalleled love to a dear one. Support of Parliament He touted how he, as Deputy Speaker, learned so much under the feet of Prof. Oquaye from 2017 to 2020, especially in how to manage the House. Your record and legacy are there for all to see, he said to his predecessor, and expressed the support of the entire Parliament and other former Speakers towards a befitting resting place to our dear one". We want to assure you that the whole Parliament will be with you, and we will together not mourn but celebrate the life of our dear one, he said. Prof. Oquaye said it had never happened in the history of Ghana that a former Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Bamford-Addo, would work with two Deputy Speakers for the first Deputy Speaker to succeed her and thereafter a Second Deputy Speaker to follow. So, we are really grateful as a family on your hearing of this matter and coming, he said, recalling how Speaker Bagbin had very good relations with his wife. Prof. Oquaye said his late wife also had good relations with former Speakers Mrs Bamford-Addo and Mr Adjaho. Who was Major Oquaye? Major Mrs Oquaye (retd) passed away soundly on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at her residence at Haatso, Accra. Her personal physician, Prof. Oquaye and other close family members were present when she passed on. She was 88 years old. She enrolled in the Ghana Army as a nurse (GH 767) after training in the UK as a nurse/midwife, and training at the Ghana Military Academy. Her considerable experience from England impacted positively on her performance, and she served the nation in Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale and Accra. She worked in the theatre of the 37 Military Hospital, in the midwifery department and ended her career as the in-charge of the Special Officers Ward where every Head of State, at any given time, has a reserved suite. On August 2, 2013, at a special military ceremony, she was given The Outstanding Military Nightingale Award for her services to the nation and the military. On retirement, Major Oquaye (retd) served in India as the spouse of then High Commissioner of Ghana. When they returned home, the husband was appointed Minister of State. In her last four years in the public light, she was the versatile wife of the Speaker for the Seventh Parliament. She was the escort of the present Queen Consort of England from Kotoka Airport when she visited Ghana with the present King Charles III in November 2018. Military brutalities at Ashaiman; sign of failed state - Economic Fighters League Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Mar - 07 - 2023 , 18:24 The Economic Fighters League has condemned the alleged military brutalities against some residents of Ashaiman on Tuesday dawn [March 7, 2023]. They have consequently questioned the authority that deployed the military to Ashaiman to undertake the brutalities. In a statement today, the Economic Fighters League said while they join the military in demanding justice for one of their colleagues who was brutally slain at Ashaiman, they condemn the dastardly manner in which the military went in to Ashaiman to look for the killers of their colleague. A member of the Ghana Armed Forces Band Sherif Imoro, 21, a trumpeter who was stationed at Sunyani in the Bono Region was last Saturday killed at Ashaiman. He was in Accra for a military course and in the last three weeks, had been visiting the parents in their home at Ashaiman every Friday. It was during one of his visits that he was reportedly confronted by a gang who killed him. He enrolled in the Ghana Armed Forces in October 2021, was trained at Daboya and was posted to Sunyani after passing out. Some military men on Tuesday dawn stormed Ashaiman to look for the killers of the soldiers and residents were subjected to beatings. More than 70 people, mainly men, have so far been arrested by the military to assist with investigations. Videos circulating on social media concerning how the military that went to the Ashaiman town subjected the residents to brutalities have been widely condemned by the public, calling for justice for those who were brutalized. Reacting to the incident, the Economic Fighters League, said This behaviour must be condemned and resisted everywhere it is seen. The group said the action of the military depicts a country that is under a military rule and not a democracy where rule of law works, quizzing that Are we still under martial law or a state of emergency? Is this not the same way soldiers entered parliament? Below is a copy of the statement PRESS RELEASE_7 March 2023 Mercedes-Benz customers in Germany are now able to authenticate payments via an in-car fingerprint sensor. With the new digital payment service Mercedes pay+, Mercedes-Benz introduces native in-car payments. With native in-car payments, the vehicle itself now enables biometric two-factor authentication in conjunction with the fingerprint sensor. It is no longer necessary to type in a PIN on the MBUX infotainment system or to use an additional mobile device such as a smartphone to verify a payment in the car. Instead, the car itself turns into a payment device. The first Mercedes-Benz models available with fingerprint sensors are the EQS and EQE series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and C-Class, and the new GLC. Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer worldwide to integrate Visas Delegated Authentication and Cloud Token Framework technology to enable native in-car payments. Visa Cloud Tokens provide an additional layer of security as they help to protect and encrypt sensitive payment information by converting data and storing it securely. Customers can use native in-car payment to pay for digital services that allow a more convenient and entertaining driving experience. They can activate and subscribe to these digital services from the cars MBUX infotainment system and authorise the payment transaction with their fingerprint. Examples of these digital services are connectivity apps that control comfort functions of the car, such as pre-air conditioning of the vehicle via a mobile device. Upgrades to the vehicle software can easily be activated and paid for via fingerprint, like, for example, advanced navigation services that provide information on the weather or available parking spaces at customers destination. In addition, the Mercedes me Store offers the ability to unlock pre-installed hardware components easily on-demand by fingerprint in the car. For example, a vehicle owner can subscribe to the Remote Parking Assist, a service to park the vehicle remotely with a smartphone, or activate and pay for the Adaptive Highbeam Assist or the Rear Axle Steering with larger steering angle with only one touch. The portfolio of digital services and on-demand features in the Mercedes me Store is constantly expanding, offering customers the opportunity to personalize their vehicles further even after the purchase. This is of interest, for example, to the second or third owners of a vehicle as it gives them the opportunity to adapt pre-owned vehicles to personal needs and desires. Cardholders with an eligible Visa credit or debit card can use native in-car paymentby linking their card with their Mercedes me user account and activating Mercedes pay+ in the vehicle via MBUX. Subsequently, more card systems will be added and enabled for Mercedes pay+. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch Mercedes pay+ in other European markets in 2023. The option of native in-car payments will be expanded to other car-related services, such as fueling. Mercedes-Benz drivers in Germany and other markets can already pay for fueling directly from the car via the Mercedes me app and a smartphone or via the MBUX infotainment system using a PIN. The introduction of native in-car payments and the easy payment authorisation by fingerprint in the car will make this process more seamless and convenient later this year. Mercedes-Benz has already offered payment for charging of electric vehicles for years via the Mercedes me connect service Mercedes me Charge. At the charging station, authentication takes place via the display in the MBUX multimedia system, the Mercedes me App, the Mercedes me Charge card or directly via Plug & Charge. In future Mercedes-Benz Leasing Deutschland will enable money transfers in the Mercedes-Benz ecosystem for the German market as a licensed entity, including payments made in the car. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Samsung is developing its own high-end CPU cores again, wants to use them by 2027 According to a new rumor out of its home of South Korea, Samsung has assembled an internal team to work on developing its own custom, bespoke CPU cores. These will be ARM-based initially, and will be featured in a Galaxy-branded chipset in 2025. The more intriguing part of the report implies that starting in 2027, Samsung will have developed its own CPU cores that don't use ARM designs. These will supposedly show up in products made by Samsung Electronics, such as high-end smartphones. The logic here is obviously controlling as much of the product as possible, 'vertical integration' and all that. The weirdness comes from the fact that Samsung's actually tried this before, with a dedicated team in Austin, Texas. It was called Project Mongoose, since a mongoose is a snake-eating mammal and a krait is a kind of viper, as it turns out, and Qualcomm's cores are branded Krait - nice little bit of trivia for you right there. And while the Mongoose cores did perform well, they had problems with power efficiency and heat generation, and thus the entire project was killed in 2019. You know how the saying goes: if first you don't succeed... Samsung seems intent on trying again, despite its recent all-in collaboration with Qualcomm for the Galaxy S23 series. It looks like the company still feels that using its own CPU cores will bring great improvements to the optimization of its smartphones, whatever that means. Going ARM-less (ARM-free?) would be quite a huge step though, and so we're leaning more towards assuming that the report might have gotten this fact wrong. Samsung can still use heavily customized ARM designs, just like Qualcomm does, it doesn't need to fully develop CPU cores on its own in order to succeed at competing with Qualcomm and MediaTek. Either way, it seems like the Galaxy S family exclusively using Qualcomm SoCs is one of those 'enjoy it while it lasts' situations that shouldn't be taken for granted until the end of time. Source Yesterday a report from South Korea claimed Samsung is restarting its own high-end CPU core development unit and will have custom processor cores by 2027. However, now company representatives reached out to us to refute that report. Here is the full quote: A recent media report that Samsung has established an internal team dedicated to CPU core development is not true. Contrary to the news, we have long had multiple internal teams responsible for CPU development and optimization while constantly recruiting global talents from relevant fields. The statement also indicated that Samsung will keep working with Arm to use its stock CPU cores in future smartphones, as the British semiconductor company recently disallowed manufacturers to make changes to core designs. The limitation will apply to all chips used by Samsung for its Galaxy smartphones - in-house Exynos, Qualcomm's Snapdragon or Dimensity and Helio by Mediatek. The author is the resident coordinator for United Nations in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati. As the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General in Micronesia, the UN resident coordinator guides UNs engagement in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding activities in five Micronesian countries. Dr. Ramel Carlos, a board-certified neurologist with expertise on Alzheimers disease and related dementias, will be offering two free virtual presentations this month on tips to keep the brain healthy. Carlos is based at the Neurology Clinic in Tamuning. His presentation is part of ongoing support for family caregivers of persons with dementia by the Guam/Micronesia Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program of the University of Guam School of Health. The sessions will take place on Zoom on these days: 68 p.m. March 15 3-5 p.m. March 18 Carlos will answer questions from the group be available after his presentations to answer questions from the group participants. Other March training There are other virtual training sessions on caring for a family member with dementia, all part of CARES Dementia Care for Families. CARES has four modules, and those who complete all will receive a certificate of completion Understanding Memory Loss Living with Dementia Using the CARES Approach Keys to Success with CARES Following are the modules offered this month: Module 3: Using the CARES Approach 68 p.m. March 8 10 a.m.-noon March 11 Module 4: Keys to Success with CARES 68 p.m. March 22 10 a.m.-noon March 25 You can attend the Wednesday or Saturday sessions using the following Zoom links: For more information on the program, contact Iain Twaddle or Nikolas Gutierrez with the Guam/Micronesia Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program's Telehealth Geriatric Support Services at 671-735-2883 or gwep.tgss@triton.uog.edu. Legislation meant to increase transparency and oversight of the administrations proposed multi-agency medical campus was passed by lawmakers during a Tuesday evening vote. Also passing was a bill meant to get the island ahead of a possible fentanyl epidemic. Senators passed Bill 12, which would require legislative approval before GovGuam can enter into a lease with the Navy for the 102-acre property at Eagles Field in Mangilao that is being eyed for the medical campus. The Legislature would have to approve all leases from the federal government and foreign governments moving forward. Lawmakers voted unanimously to pass the bill, giving it enough votes to overcome any potential veto from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. Also passing was companion measure Bill 13, to require the committee responsible for planning the campus to comply with the Open Government Law. That means notices will have to be published a week in advance of meetings, which will also have to be livestreamed and open to the public. Bill 13 received unanimous support. Also passing unanimously was Bill 10, which would allow opiate overdose-stopping medication like Naloxone to be distributed without a prescription. Doctors and pharmacists will be able to distribute such medication to community groups and residents who are at risk of overdose. Anyone who distributes the medication will be granted civil and criminal immunity, unless they engage in negligence or intentional misconduct. All three measures were introduced by Speaker Therese Terlaje. More transparency Lawmakers spoke about the need for Bill 13 and public awareness about plans for the new medical campus during debate on Tuesday. The project is currently estimated to cost $1 billion with 1.48 million already invested by the (Guam Economic Development Authority) into a consultant, the speaker said. While GEDA, which is taking the lead on the project, recently launched an informational website, there are only very general updates about action taken and consultant meetings held between November 2021 and August 2022, Terlaje said. Little information was provided after repeated FOIA requests from the public, the Legislature and the media, she said. GEDA Administrator Melanie Mendiola pushed back against claims that there was a lack of transparency during a public hearing for Bill 13. The bill would bring the public along in the planning process, according to Terlaje, so that in the end, when bearing the burden of the costs, the people of Guam are satisfied with the product and the value that they received. Sen. Tom Fisher said he saw no rational basis for any lawmaker to oppose the bill, It just opens the window so people can see what is going on with an expenditure of a billion dollars. Sens. Joanne Brown and Chris Barnett both criticized a perceived lack of transparency by the Leon Guerrero administration. Barnett said the medical campus plans were about as transparent as soy sauce finadenne, and noted that lawmakers have passed a total of 17 measures meant to force the administration to report its activity in recent years. Members of the planning committee would have to make their finances public, with Sen. Will Parkinson successfully amending the bill to require financial disclosure reports. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is holding a hiring fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 15 at the University of Guam, according to a release from FEMA. The agency is looking to fill reserve logistics specialist positions with a specific set of qualifications and skills such as assisting with accountable property in large volumes and high-value supplies, equipment and commodities, and the ability to use computer programs, databases, spreadsheets, and devices to record, track and report data. Some requirements and considerations to note include the availability to deploy on 24-hour notice. Also, it is an on-call position during declared disasters, not a full-time job. Standard deployment lengths are 30 to 90-plus days, and can be deployed anywhere in the U.S. and the territories. FEMA Reservist fall under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Interested applicants can submit their resume in advance to fema-logisticscadre-recruitment@fema.dhs.gov, or bring a resume to the hiring fair on March 15 at the Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration building at UOG. Interviews may be conducted on site or may be asked to participate in a later interview. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and possess a high school diploma or GED. Individuals are required to pass a background check and credit check. Direct deposit/electronic funds transfer for salary payment is a required participation. Resume writing FEMA is also hosting a Federal Resume Writing webinar from 9-10:30 a.m. on March 9. Those interested can register for free at: fema.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_kv4Q0mDiTfKLhbyLxmWOqg. Guam National Guard troops were activated by the Office of the Governor to help renovate an apartment building that will be used as a homeless shelter by the government of Guam. A building on Bradley Street in Anigua bought by GovGuam in 2022 will be the site of the new shelter. A total of 17 units will be available to temporarily shelter homeless families and individuals while they transition into more permanent housing. The project is financed with $3 million from the Investment Para Hamyo program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior. At least 13 National Guard members will be put on territorial active duty to support the Office of Homelessness Assistance and Poverty Prevention, the lead government agency for the project, according to Capt. Mark Scott Guard public affairs officer. This shelter is imperative to stabilize those in need. This will expedite the renovation so that we can begin operating sooner rather than later and this is also a great way for our Guard members to hone their skills and organizational procedures, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. No Guard members are yet working at the site because the scope of construction is in the planning stages. Representatives from the Guam Army National Guards 1224th Engineer Support Company, the Guam Air National Guards 254th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers and the Department of Military Affairs will be working together, said Scott. He said their work will be in phases with demolition-type work, followed by renovations. As the Department of Public Works is currently performing a multitude of other projects around the island, this was an opportunity to have our local servicemembers aid our community and build capacity for housing on this government property, said Rob San Agustin, director of the Office of Homelessness Assistance and Poverty Prevention. A state of emergency should be declared for the Guam Department of Education, according to one current and one former lawmaker. On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Jesse Lujan emailed Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero asking that she make a declaration of emergency for Guam DOE. The request follows a Monday column in Pacific Daily News from former Sen. Aline Yamashita, who made the case that an emergency situation existed for local schools. Guam DOE has come under fire from lawmakers in recent months for unsanitary and unsafe conditions, and acting superintendent of education Judith Won Pat is looking to triage the situation. It has become apparent that so many of our public schools are in a terrible state of disrepair with chronic issues creating real-life hazards for our children on a daily basis. Basic repairs are so backlogged that the list of work has become unmanageable, Lujan wrote in his Tuesday letter to the governor, adding that maintenance is often delayed for months. A regulation that allows sanitary violations for schools to go unenforced until 2024 was being abused, according to Lujan. I believe if you marshal the resources and flexibility available under a state of emergency declaration, you can ensure the necessary resources are quickly activated and immediate progress can take place. Our children deserve nothing less, he stated. Yamashita, meanwhile proposed that an emergency act for public schools should be implemented by the Legislature, and that the situation be handled like a super typhoon. Gov. Leon Guerrero is still reviewing this request which, just came in today, Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin, said in a statement to the newspaper. It remains unclear, however, what exactly Sen. Lujan is hoping an emergency declaration will accomplish. Both Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio were in regular communication with Guam DOE leadership about a whole of government response, she said. Guam DOE also had $100 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to be used for school repairs, she added. The school systems biggest challenge, however, was GovGuams procurement process, Paco-San Agustin said. An emergency declaration will not address their procurement issues, she added. Legislation to speed up Guam DOEs spending of the time-sensitive ARP money was introduced last month. Indiana Jones was racing through a dark and creepy cave filled with spiders and other insects, working to avoid capture by the enemy. With skeletons in crevices and spikes protruding from the walls, floors and ceiling. Things were looking hopeless for Mr. Jones as the music intensified and BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia, issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties of northeastern North Carolina. This was probably my earliest recollection of thinking anything of the National Weather Service. I was young, not even 10, and was immediately perplexed by: the ominous red bar of warning on the TV screen; the beep sounds that rang over the movie; and the lightning and thunder growing in intensity in the night sky outside. I was scared of the storm outside yet intrigued. I wanted it to stop, but part of me wanted it to get worse. I was scared yet fascinated with the weather outside, my attention drawn away from Indiana Jones. I also wondered who, or what, the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia, was. I decided on a college degree in meteorology and pursued a career in weather, I learned much about the U.S. National Weather Service, its role in protecting life and property, and forecasting weather. However, up until the point that I came to Guam with the NWS, I had never met an NWS forecaster nor stepped foot in one of its field offices. For me, the NWS, its severe weather crawlers on TV and the Temple of Doom will be forever linked together in my memory. (My brother and I still have the 1970s-era Sears Roebuck plaid furniture set we were sitting on that night and its now here on Guam!) But that doesnt have to be the case for you here on Guam. The NWS Guam office works to immerse itself in the community through our communications and outreach efforts. Weve participated in many classroom visits, school career days and science fair events, and we host many visits to the forecast office in Tiyan throughout the year. Since coming to Guam, its been my personal mission to get the NWS as much into the community as possible so that the community can know us, rely on us and hopefully be a part of us. We always seek to inspire the islands youths to consider education and careers in science, math, technology, electronics, meteorology and more. We cant do that from within our walls; therefore, we have to go into the community. Later this month, we will open our doors to the island with our first communitywide open house. This event will take place on March 23 in commemoration of World Meteorological Day. Ill write more about World Meteorological Day in two weeks. Our staff will provide guided tours where youll be able to meet many of our staff, learn about the NWS operations and its mission. Weve also invited more than a dozen of our core partner agencies to join us with booths and static displays to demonstrate their role in the weather, climate, environment and emergency management process. We have also opened the event to island schools for field trips, with several hundred students already expected to attend. If you do not have plans that day, we hope you will visit us for the occasion to learn more about the NWS, our mission in the region and the mission of our many partner agencies on Guam. Next time a weather alert interrupts your Temple of Doom, or whatever youre watching, youll be able to say, Hey, I know those people! Our View: Lets show appreciation to all the women in our lives Women's Day Published on 2023/03/06 | Source Actors Cho Jin-woong, Lee Sung-min, and Kim Mu-yeol showed off their charisma through a pictorial. Advertisement The movie "The Devil's Deal" is a crime drama in Busan in 1992, in which Hae-woong, a late lawmaker candidate, Seon-tae, a hidden influential figure in the political arena, and Pil-do, an activist gangster, have a fierce battle to turn the tables with secret documents that will shake Korea. The released pictorial offers a glimpse of Cho Jin-woong, Lee Sung-min and Kim Mu-yeol's heavy presence, as well as the enthusiastic synergy that the three actors will show in "The Devil's Deal". First of all, Cho Jin-woong, who shows deep masculinity with strong eyes, Lee Sung-min, who overwhelms the atmosphere with sharp charisma, and Kim Mu-yeol, who exudes perfect suit fit and raw rough charm, instantly overwhelms the eyes by emitting their own aura with only eyes and expressions. Cho Jin-woong, Lee Sung-min, and Kim Mu-yeol's "The Devil's Deal", raising expectations for the perfect harmony of the three actors, will be released at the theater on March 1st. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact Published on 2023/03/06 | Source Actor Park Sang-nam released a proof shot on the 1st to encourage viewers to watch the cable channel tvN Wednesday-Thursday drama "The Heavenly Idol". Advertisement "The Heavenly Idol" is based on a popular web novel of the same name. it's a fantasy-romance drama about an unknown idol, Woo Yeon-woo, whose body was possessed by Lembrary, the god of this world. Park Sang-nam plays Sa Gam-jae, a so-called 'cold handsome man' with white skin, red lips, and cold impression in the drama. He disappears during work and pops out of unexpected places, and always wears a black suit and carries a rope. Park Sang-nam, appears in the fourth episode, interviewing for the spot of Wild Animal road manager, showing off his warm visuals even in a short amount of time. In the photo released on the same day, Park Sang-nam is showing an attractive smile with the script of "The Heavenly Idol". Daily visuals that are quite different from the characters in the play steal the attention. Expectations are also rising for Park Sang-nam's performance as Sa Gam-jae in "The Heavenly Idol". The Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki will be reopening its doors on April 14, 2023, with its latest collection exhibition, A Question of Time. The exhibition aims to offer a fresh perspective on the Finnish National Gallery's collection, featuring rarely exhibited works alongside modern and contemporary art. The four themes of the exhibition, which run through different eras, are: The Age of Nature, Images of a People, Modern Life, and Art and Power. Through these themes, visitors will be encouraged to engage in a joint discussion on current issues such as the climate crisis, identity, and equality. The museum's director, Marja Sakari, emphasizes that the collection exhibition aims to challenge the traditional, chronological approach to the collection and welcomes diverse interpretations of the works. In preparation for the exhibition, the museum organized public discussions to explore the Finnish National Gallery's art collection from the perspectives of the climate crisis, identity, and equality. The exhibition's opening day will be preceded by a special preview for secondary school students, who are invited to explore the exhibition, meet professionals working at the museum, and get a behind-the-scenes look at museum operations. The Ateneum Art Museum is committed to transparency in its curatorial policy and invites debate on its planning. A Question of Time promises to offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore art and history, from the 18th century to the present day, and its relationship to contemporary issues. HT Finnish Customs and the Police in Southwestern Finland have uncovered a marijuana smuggling operation that was primarily run from abroad. The organisation used commercial traffic for smuggling and is suspected of having imported over 230 kilograms of marijuana to Finland. The street value of the narcotics that have ended up in Turku and the Uuusimaa region is close to 4 million euros. The investigation that started in late summer 2022 led to the seizure of almost 40 kilograms of marijuana and about 95,000 euros in cash. The cash is believed to be partially the proceeds of crime from marijuana already in circulation and partly for payment for a new imported batch. The organisation is suspected of having brought in over 20 batches of marijuana since the end of 2021. According to Customs' Investigator in charge, Tero Virtanen, the marijuana was imported from Spain and Italy to Finland in commercial transport structures, and express courier shipments were used in the importation. He also mentioned that the organisation's activities were managed from Spain and individuals contacted each other through various instant messaging services. The narcotics were first imported to the Helsinki region, where they were stored in private dwellings and hired storage facilities acquired specifically for this purpose. The marijuana was then transported to other regions like Turku and the Uusimaa area, where it was distributed onward. Over 15 individuals are suspected of having participated in the organisation's activities, with several individuals still being detained. Each member had a designated role in the operation. The proceeds from selling the marijuana were mainly sent abroad. The money was taken out of Finland by money couriers hired for this purpose, and through money transfers made by private individuals. The preliminary investigation has concluded, and the case has been forwarded to the Prosecution District of Southern Finland for consideration of charges. The successful operation has dealt a significant blow to the organised crime group and will undoubtedly deter others from engaging in similar illegal activities. This operation highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and Customs in combating drug trafficking and other organised crime. It also emphasises the critical role that technology plays in modern-day criminal activities and the need for law enforcement to stay ahead of criminals in this regard. It is crucial to continue to support and strengthen law enforcement agencies' efforts in cracking down on drug trafficking and other organised crimes. Such activities not only pose a significant threat to public health and safety but also fuel the growth of illegal and dangerous drug markets. HT The Federation of Finnish Enterprises has proposed significant solutions to promote work-based immigration and integration. With a shortage of skilled workers in many businesses, the Federation suggests that the flexibility of residence permits be significantly increased, and that basic services be offered more in English. According to Aicha Manai, the network manager of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, "There is intense global competition for skilled workers." Manai also added that Finland is an excellent choice both as a place to work and to study, with high-quality education and a safe living environment. However, the country has not been successful in attracting enough foreign workers and students. The Federation of Finnish Enterprises has come up with several proposals to address this issue, including prioritizing the integration of family members of skilled workers, supporting the employment of spouses, and establishing a quick and flexible residence permit system, as well as comprehensive English-language early childhood education and study opportunities. The Federation of Finnish Enterprises has also proposed ten solutions to address the shortage of skilled workers in the country. The first suggestion is to partially refund tuition fees for international students who remain in Finland to work, and to guide degree structures towards developing domestic language skills. The second proposal is to automatically grant permanent residence permits to every foreign graduate from a Finnish university. Other proposals include enhancing the importance of employment in the financing of educational institutions, securing continuous funding for Talent Boost, a program that promotes the attraction of international talents, and ensuring that education and labor policies meet the needs of research and development activities by increasing dialogue and concrete action between companies and educational institutions. The Federation of Finnish Enterprises also suggests evaluating the relevance of the criteria for an entrepreneur's residence permit and increasing understanding of entrepreneurship among licensing authorities. Additionally, they propose a revamp of the system of residence permits for foreign workers to better meet their needs, shifting the emphasis of foreign control from pre-control to post-control. The Federation of Finnish Enterprises also recommends increasing the availability of basic services in English, such as early childhood education and primary education, as well as electronic government services. Lastly, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises suggests launching a vocational training system within higher education institutions to promote the development of skills among those already in the workforce and allowing people to complete partial qualifications flexibly while working or starting a business. In summary, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises' proposals to address the shortage of skilled workers in the country include increasing the flexibility of residence permits, providing more basic services in English, and prioritizing the integration of skilled workers' family members. The Federation has also put forward ten solutions, including enhancing the importance of employment in financing educational institutions, automatic granting of permanent residence permits, and increasing the availability of basic services in English. These proposals aim to promote work-based immigration and integration and to ensure that Finland can attract and retain skilled workers from around the world. HT LOCAL BRIEFS: HSO performs (and sells art); yoga's back; so is Flat Rock genealogy club Three paintings by Laurie Yeates Adams The Conductor, Classical Guitar and The Violinist works will be on display and for sale outside the concert hall before, during and after Hendersonville Symphony Orchestras March 18 concert at BRCC. HSO to perform Friendship on March 18 with guest violinist The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra will perform Friendship, a masterworks concert featuring special guest David Southorn, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Blue Ridge Conference Center at BRCC. Southorn, concertmaster of the Delaware and New Haven symphonies and associate concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony, will perform Mendelssohns Violin Concerto in e minor. The performance will also feature Elgars Enigma Variations, a piece he wrote for closest friends in which he set each person to music. The concert is sponsored by Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Village. Southorn received a bachelor of music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a master of music and artist diploma from Yale University and a professional studies certificate from the Manhattan School of Music. In addition, Art on 7th Gallery is presenting for sale three unique one-of-a-kind oil paintings by local artist Laurie Yeates Adams during the symphonys March concert. The three works include The Conductor, Classical Guitar and The Violinist. The works will be on display and for sale outside the concert hall before, during and after the performance. The gallery has graciously agreed to donate 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of each piece to the HSO Youth Scholarship Fund. Finally, on March 27 and 28 the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra will provide live symphonic performances for third and sixth grade students in the county. The concerts serve to enrich and enhance the classroom curriculum, getting students up close and personal with the musicians and the instruments of the orchestra, and teaching them about composers and music in an engaging and memorable way. In addition to serving students in Henderson County public schools, the performances are also open to third and sixth grade students attending county charter schools and private schools as well as home-school students. For more information or to purchase concert tickets, visit hendersonvillesyphony.org, or call the HSO office at 828-697-5884. Free yoga returns to Park at Flat Rock The Flat Rock Park Foundation announced the return of Pardee in the Park: Yoga, a series of free yoga classes, Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Participants of all levels are welcome to attend and experience the many benefits of yoga in a beautiful outdoor setting. All yoga classes are free thanks to an ongoing partnership of the Park Foundation, UNC Pardee Healthcare and YAM Hendersonville. Classes will be held from April 1 through October. We are thrilled to offer this amazing opportunity for community members to come together and connect with nature, while also improving their physical and mental well-being, said Tracey Daniels, development and programming director for the park. The park provides the perfect backdrop for a yoga session, and we encourage everyone to join us. Depending on the selected class, participants can either transition from their busy day to their evening or start a Saturday on a peaceful note. The classes are led by YAMs experienced and certified yoga instructors who will guide participants through a series of poses and breathing exercises designed to improve flexibility, balance and relaxation. Participants are asked to bring their own mats. Yoga has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits, and we believe continuing to offer these classes for free will make them accessible to everyone in the community, Daniels said. The classes are open to participants of all ages and skill levels. No prior yoga experience is necessary. Participants are asked to arrive at 5-10 minutes before the class starts to allow time for check-in and setup. The classes are typically held in the grassy areas behind the welcome center (just look for the colorful mats and other yoga participants). Weather updates are announced on the parks Facebook page. Flat Rock Genealogy Society resumes meetings The Genealogy Society at Flat Rock announced last week that it is resuming regular meetings. Prior to Covid, the society met regularly to share information and knowledge of genealogy/family history research. Meetings are open to all, whether a beginner, professional or just curious. The first meeting of 2023 will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 13, at Flat Rock Village Hall. Other meetings are 10 a.m. April 10, 1:30 p.m. May 8, 10 a.m. Sept. 11, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9, and 10 a.m. Nov. 13. All meetings are held Flat Rock Village Hall. For more information, contact Nancy Benyon at snmma@aol.com. New Works Series on March 25 features 'Bridgeport-1989' Hendersonville Theatre resumes its New Works Series (formerly called Staged Reading Series) at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Showcasing the work of area playwrights and performed by local actors, the New Works Series is a public reading of a new play in development. The New Works Series offers exciting script-in-hand readings of new plays by emerging local playwrights. The readings are followed by a talk-back with the playwright and actors to provide feedback to the playwright. A short discussion will follow each reading to provide feedback to the playwright about their script. The reading will be held at Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S. Washington St. Hendersonville Theatre is committed to exploring and developing new work for American theater, supporting local playwrights with their creative process from concept to production. Bridgeport-1989 by Bret Murphy will be read on March 25. In the play, Anna Person is 23 and works at Shop-N-Save to support herself and her needy mother. Her life begins to change dramatically after she has a near-death experience. Bret Murphy lives in Burnsville. Her play In the Middle of Nowhere is currently being produced at the Parkway Parkhouse in Burnsville. It was also produced at The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville in 2021 and developed at the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, in 2020. Playwrights who would like to submit work for consideration for the New Works Series may follow the submission guidelines posted at www.HVLtheatre.org/about-us and email questions to playsubmissions@HVLtheatre.org. Admission is free; donations are welcome to support the theater. For tickets or more information call 828-692-1082 or visit HVLTheatre.org. TCM sees rising popularity among young people Xinhua) 15:07, March 07, 2023 CHANGSHA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- After testing negative for COVID-19, a 30-year-old resident of Beijing continued to experience symptoms including fatigue, night sweats and chest tightness. As Western medicine failed to produce satisfactory results, she turned to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and visited Guang'anmen Hospital, which is under the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Thanks to TCM treatment, her symptoms gradually subsided after a week of taking the medicines. "It is impressive how one prescription of traditional Chinese medicine can effectively target various symptoms throughout the body," said the patient who asked to be identified as Mrs Qin. Like Qin, Yao Shubin, 29, from central China's Changsha, suffered from a persistent cough even after the test result for COVID-19 turned negative. Yao's symptoms gradually eased after undergoing TCM treatment at the Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. "Traditional Chinese medicine can treat both the symptoms and underlying causes of the disease," Yao said. Given that TCM provides various approaches to promoting wellness, a growing number of young people are seeking TCM treatments and healthcare services to maintain their health. On Xiaohongshu, or Little Red Book, China's lifestyle-focused social media platform, many young users have shared how they maintain health with TCM therapy such as acupuncture and moxibustion, raking in considerable engagement from netizens. The rising popularity of TCM is also evident in hospitals across the country. The average daily number of outpatients from January to February this year in Guang'anmen Hospital was nearly 10,000, with 36 percent of them being under 40 years old, according to statistics from the hospital. "From what I've seen, the proportion of young patients has gradually increased from less than 20 percent to 40 percent," said Li Haixia, a doctor at Guang'anmen Hospital, adding that the growing popularity of TCM among young people indicates that TCM treatment is gaining wider recognition. The growing influence of TCM culture among young people is attributable to good clinical experience and treatment effect, among other factors, said Zeng Songlin, a doctor at the Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. "More and more young people are realizing that TCM is closely linked to traditional Chinese culture," Zeng added. Furthermore, the idea of preventive treatment of disease in TCM is also favored by young people. According to the TCM theories, health preservation means preserving body condition to maintain good health, prevent diseases and prolong life. In recent years, China has made great efforts to promote and develop TCM. An implementation plan designed to further support the development of TCM during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) has been released recently by the General Office of the State Council. The plan aims to give full play to the advantages of TCM, enhance the ability of TCM to prevent and cure diseases, and promote its scientific research. "Traditional Chinese medicine is a national treasure. Today, TCM is more acceptable to young people, which is a sign of cultural confidence," said Zhang Di from The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine. More efforts should be made to protect, inherit and popularize traditional Chinese medicine, Zhang added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 390-key Radisson RED Phuket Patong Beach will introduce a new era of bold, social and hyper-connected hospitality to this popular destination, as part of a nationwide expansion strategy Radisson Hotel Group will introduce an exciting new era of social and stylish hospitality to Thailand following the signing of Radisson RED Phuket Patong Beach, a vibrant upscale lifestyle hotel that will mark the debut of the Radisson RED brand in the "Land of Smiles." This forms a key part of the Group's strategy to double its portfolio of operating hotels in Thailand by mid-2024. Slated for opening in late 2023, Radisson RED Phuket Patong Beach marks the conversion of an existing property in the heart of Patong Beach, which will now be fully renovated and relaunched in line with Radisson RED's bold design and brand standards. Owned by Destination Group, which recently partnered with Radisson Hotel Group to open both the Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin and Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket, this signing reaffirms the Group's ability to meet the needs of guests and owners in a wide variety of markets - including Asia's most popular destinations - with innovative brands and attractive business models. "We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Destination Group with this landmark agreement for Thailand's first Radisson RED hotel. With its striking design, upbeat vibe and the flexibility to let guests seamlessly switch between business and leisure, Radisson RED has the power to inject new life into hotels and destinations. This makes it the perfect fit for Patong Beach, one of Thailand's most dynamic tourism hubs," said Ramzy Fenianos, Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group. With its smart, upscale lifestyle design, Radisson RED presents a playful twist on the conventional with social spaces that let savvy travellers kick back, relax and feel the buzz of their destination. Positioned in the heart of Patong, Phuket's main commercial district, just 270 meters from the beach and surrounded by retail malls, restaurants and nightlife, Radisson RED Phuket Patong Beach will let visitors feel the pulse of this lively tourist hub. A nod to Thailand's most prominent national icons, guests will be greeted by a life-sized sculpture of a red lacquered elephant wearing earphones that will serve as the hotel's mascot. As they enter the playful, art-inspired lobby where a red tuk-tuk takes centerstage, guests can easily use the check-in app for a stress-free arrival experience. The 390 rooms are all hyper-connected with high-speed Wi-Fi, streaming services and USB ports while a collection of Family Rooms with bunk beds and Party Rooms with dedicated fun spaces offer a host of options for every type of stay. Guests can chill out at the rooftop beach club, enjoy alfresco dining in the Warehouse specializing in rum and wine, or party late in the secret speakeasy lounge. A grab-go kiosk makes it easy to refuel, the power gym is a great place to work out, while wellness amenities like ice tubs and the Himalayan sea salt spa help guests rejuvenate. The resort offers two pools including a rooftop pool, a movie theatre, a video arcade, and a kids' club which will keep both young children and teens entertained. "We are delighted to partner with Radisson Hotel Group once again and proud to introduce Radisson RED to Thailand for the first time. This innovative brand will attract the new generation of 'always-on' travellers who crave connectivity above all else. We are confident that this cutting-edge, contemporary concept, combined with the global strength and support of Radisson Hotel Group, will make this hotel one of Patong's most exciting and coolest places to stay. This is the first hotel to be designed to meet the desires of post-pandemic travelers to Phuket. We are not just selling a room but more so we are selling an amazing Instagrammable experience in our resorts," said Gary Murray, founder & CEO of Destination Group. Phuket is leading Thailand's post-pandemic tourism recovery, having welcomed approximately 4.3 million international visitors in 2022 - more than one-third of the country's total 11.5 million arrivals last year. The island is expected to attract 12 million domestic and overseas visitors this year, and it has already started the year strongly with the restart of direct flights from China in January. Earlier this year, Radisson Hotel Group announced plans to expand exponentially in Thailand, with a multi-brand expansion that will include new hotels and resorts in key destinations such as Phuket. The Group currently operates six hotels in Thailand across four brands in Bangkok, Phuket and Hua Hin. Hotel website IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels, is making waves with the opening of voco Dubai The Palm, a brand-new beachfront hotel situated on the iconic Palm Jumeirah. The 138-room voco Dubai The Palm is located on the picturesque shores of Palm Jumeirah's West Beach, offering guests direct access to the West Beach Promenade, only a few steps away from the majestic waters of the Arabian Gulf. Visitors looking to soak up the sun can also indulge in the ultimate beach getaway at the hotel's private beach. The rooftop pool and Mediterranean lounge bar, Frenia, are a highlight of the hotel allowing guests to indulge in a slice of 'voco life', lounging by the pool with snacks and barista brews. Set to open in early April, Frenia, will transform the rooftop as the sun sets, providing sundowner aficionados breathtaking views of the sea and Ain Dubai (the world's biggest and tallest Ferris wheel). The hotel's all-day dining venue Maison Mathis opens this month. The restaurant is inspired by the best European cuisine with a special focus on the rich heritage of Belgian food culture. With dishes made using only the freshest and finest ingredients, visitors can expect a truly authentic and unforgettable dining experience. Diners looking to savor the taste of the ocean can indulge in a rich Sea bass fillet - a dish carefully seasoned and grilled to perfection - as well as mouthwatering sea food linguini, packed with flavourful clams, shrimp, bisque, and fresh calamari. Guests looking to maintain their fitness routine can access the 24-hour fitness centre full of natural light. Business travellers can also take advantage of the hotel's day-lit meeting rooms, perfect for exclusive business meetings and discussions. voco Dubai The Palm is also committed to working towards a sustainable future by reducing its environmental footprint. The hotel boasts an innovative sustainable water system, duvets made of recycled plastic, and aerated showers to reduce water usage, all industry-leading initiatives. voco Hotels is one of IHG Hotels & Resorts' 18 distinct brands and focuses on offering guests an unstuffy and charming experience, combining the reassurance of a global brand with the informality and charm of an individual hotel. voco Dubai The Palm is excited to open with its "A New Playground Is Here" offer, meaning guests can enjoy an exclusive introductory saving of 30% on all hotel bookings. When guests stay at any IHG Hotels & Resorts property, they can earn points and rewards thanks to the IHG One Rewards loyalty programme. At voco The Palm Dubai, IHG One Rewards Members will also receive 25% off at the hotel's dining outlets. Hotel website HotelRunner, the leading accommodation and travel technologies platform, launches Autopilot at ITB Berlin 2023. Having garnered great attention with its innovative business intelligence platform Insights which was unveiled last year, and getting the new year off to a running start with recent funding news, HotelRunner introduces its AI-driven, intuitive, and smart platform to automate the sales, distribution, and operations of the accommodations. Setting out with the goal of automating all daily operations of a hospitality business, from marketing activities to pricing strategies, HotelRunner introduces Autopilot. The new platform leverages the reservations volume processed in HotelRunner which is more than 3 million in the past year alone. Accommodation businesses can effortlessly implement sophisticated sales and pricing strategies by transferring all their daily operations and industry expertise to the Autopilot platform as a set of rules and automations. As the driving force behind the industry with its superior technology, HotelRunner stays ahead of the curve in meeting the future needs of all the stakeholders in the travel and accommodation industries. The Autopilot platform, born from years of research and development and industry experience, has been designed in a way that accommodations can interact with the entire tourism ecosystem. Not only it enables a property to automate its operations, but also evolves to encompass the collective knowledge of all industry players contributing to a propertys success. Thus, HotelRunner leads the creation of a first-of-its-kind automation marketplace. With this innovative platform, HotelRunner maps out the future of tourism technologies. The Autopilot platform is a crucial component of our comprehensive vision to serve and advance the travel and hospitality industries. We began the era of data-driven decision-making in hospitality with the launch of the Insights platform in November last year. With the Autopilot, we firmly build upon this vision, cracking the doors of a new era where software serves people, rather than the other way around. Ali Beklen, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner With our innovative Autopilot technology, we challenge conventional wisdom in hotel management and offer a fresh perspective to the industry. By leaving manual processes behind, we offer our partners effortless efficiency and strive to increase their profitability. Driven by AI and evolving constantly, the Autopilot is just the starting point of the revolution we aim to ignite in the travel and hospitality industries. We are setting a new standard for industry players to do business and interact with each other. Arden Agopyan, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner The Autopilot platform allows properties to: Automate pricing and availability by seasons, holidays, and weekends. Monitor reservation activity in real-time and take action according to the demand. Benefit from AI-based recommendations and alerts to maximize their profits. Minimize the workload with automations that work fully integrated with their PMS and channel manager. HotelRunner Autopilot has been in the closed beta program for one year, and has already been contributing to the increasing revenues of the properties using the platform. Click here to get detailed information about the HotelRunner Autopilot platform and to start using it. About HotelRunner HotelRunner is a SaaS-enabled unified sales, operations, and distribution management platform and B2B network for accommodations, travel agencies, and payment providers. HotelRunner has thousands of accommodation and travel agency partners globally. HotelRunner is a Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner, Expedia Preferred Connectivity Partner, Airbnb Preferred Software Partner, Agoda Innovative Supplier, Oracle, Hotelbeds, and Google Hotel Ads strategic partner. For more about HotelRunner, visit the website. Media Relations Contact: [email protected]. HotelRunner Media Launched in 2018, voco hotels has quickly become the fastest-growing brand within IHG Hotels & Resorts Premium collection with properties in 18 countries and new-to-market hotels opening in Japan, Kenya, Spain and India. With 46 open hotels and 55* hotels in the pipeline, voco continues to be a key driver of IHGs overall growth in the conversion space. The rapid expansion of the upscale conversion brand reflects the strength of IHGs enterprise platform through which hotel owners can grow their business by being part of IHGs distribution channels, relaunched app and transformed loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, with more than 115 million members. With a design and operational framework conducive to conversion, the brand empowers owners to carry through their own unique vision for each property, ensuring its legacy and historical connections to the surrounding community, remain strong. Three quarters of voco signings are conversions and the brand requires a lower capital outlay and has a flexible brand identity to ensure a speedy and seamless conversion process. The brands three hallmarks come on in, me time, and voco life are woven into the hotels DNA. From a swift check-in and a locally inspired welcome treat upon arrival to big, comfy beds, and vibrant bar and restaurants spaces, voco brings a distinctive charm to every stay. In addition to its charming feel, voco hotels was built on sustainability and looks after the planet with the same care as it looks after guests. The hotels have 100 percent recycled pillow and duvet fillings and refillable, plant-based bathroom amenities. They also support local sustainability initiatives at individual hotels such as estate-grown vegetables at Australias voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley or the Hotels for Trees programme at voco The Hague, where a tree is planted for every night a guest chooses not to have their room cleaned. Commenting on the voco 100 milestone, Julie Cheesman, Head of voco hotels at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, The voco brand has grown at a phenomenal pace over the last five years and is an integral part of IHGs growing family of 18 brands comprising over 6,000 global hotels, and supported by the industry-leading IHG One Rewards loyalty programme. voco is popular with hotel owners around the world as they can get fast access to our enterprise platform and benefit from the brands high levels of guest satisfaction globally. As the global expansion of voco continues, we are excited to remain on track to grow to 200 voco hotels around the world within 10 years since launch. Last year, voco expanded into new markets including Southeast Asia with voco Orchard Singapore; Africa with voco Johannesburg Rosebank and Latin America with voco Guadalajara Neruda in Mexico. The brand was also recognised as the Worlds Leading Premium Hotel Brand due to its top guest satisfaction scores at the World Travel Awards and shows no signs of slowing down. Since then, the brand has continued to grow in key markets with its eighth hotel in Greater China with voco Hefei Binhu; sixth hotel in the US with voco Chicago Downtown, its fourth in Australasia with voco Brisbane City Centre and its third in Dubai with voco Dubai The Palm. Notable voco openings in 2023 include Set on the borders of Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex in the UK, Lythe Hill Hotel in Surrey, will complete its rebrand to voco Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa in 2023. The elegant Tudor property will feature 99 stylish bedrooms plus an oak-beamed restaurant, gym and spa. The Surrey market town of Haslemere is nearby with direct trains to London, and the National Trust area Blackdown and the South Downs National Park are both on the doorstep. Opening in early summer, voco Osaka Central will be the first voco property to open in Japan. Conveniently situated in central Osaka, the hotel will provide warmly hosted service, inspired design, superb dining and sustainable touches like aerated shower heads, indulgent eco bedding and filtered water. The hotel lobby and restaurant decor will be modern and contemporary whilst including historical elements from the original Kyomachi building and some of the bedrooms will have Tatami mats. The first voco in Vietnam will open later this year with voco Ma Belle Danang. The hotel is located close to My Khe Beach and just 20 minutes drive from Danang International Airport. Guest rooms will have spectacular views of the coastline or cityscape, there will be a luxurious spa with a rooftop infinity pool and a choice of bars and restaurants including the rooftop Lobby Lounge - ideal for a sun downer. In New York, voco Fiorello - La Guardia East is set to open in Flushing, NY this summer. The hotel is due to have 116 rooms and is the third voco signing by the same owner. Located in northern Paris, voco Paris Porte De Clichy is due to open this summer after its conversion from a Holiday Inn property. The hotel will be one of vocos flagship properties, with particular attention being paid to the use of sustainable materials. The hotel is just four stops on the Paris Metro from the Musee Du Louvre and will feature several upscale food and beverage outlets. * Pipeline hotels are a combination of new signings pipeline, unbranded openings, unbranded pipeline and brand switches. San Francisco Duetto, the hospitality industrys #1 Revenue Management Software (RMS), unveiled its premium revenue optimization product, Duetto Advance, at ITB Berlin this morning. With event demand intelligence now ingested from PredictHQ, the introduction of Advance once again makes Duetto the industrys Game Changer in revenue management tech. Duetto Advance combines several industry firsts: Instant events-related intelligence data from PredictHQ Dynamic Optimization: all rates are optimized in real-time CommandCenter: one easy-to-use customizable dashboard Duetto Advance enables hotel revenue teams to optimize rates in real-time, using clean, usable data delivered in a visually actionable dashboard customizable to your revenue strategy needs. This is truly an industry first for our field. Darren Koch, Chief Product Officer, Duetto In todays ever-changing market, real-time analytics that ingests market data as it happens is vital for hotels to complete and lead their markets, Koch added. PredictHQ: The Duetto / PredictHQ integration provides event-related market intelligence, enabling revenue teams to be proactive about what is happening in their markets, taking calculated decisions on pricing and restrictions, and optimizing operations. By incorporating intelligent event data into Duettos revenue management platform, we are unlocking a new way for businesses to make data-driven pricing decisions that optimize revenue and enhance customer experiences ahead of surges in demand. By using enriched event data to surface relevant, impactful events, it enables them to optimize and make calculated decisions around pricing in advance to match real-world conditions. Our system not only collects, enriches, and verifies millions of events every year, but it also provides sophisticated features which companies like Duetto can leverage to paint a complete picture of demand. Campbell Brown, Co-founder & CEO, PredictHQ Dynamic Optimization: Provides real-time monitoring of market conditions to ensure pricing is responsive and dynamic. With powerful signal detection based on live booking activity, Duetto Advance can target situations where there is a sudden change in demand, resulting in an opportunity to quickly raise prices to capture the profit opportunity. CommandCenter: Enables hotels to Advance property and portfolio performance via an intuitive and actionable dashboard focused on current and forward-looking data points across the guest journey. This multi-property management portal will guide Directors of Sales, Operations, and Revenue Management to focus on what truly matters - driving more profitable outcomes. Duetto Advance is a premium addition to Duetto GameChanger the worlds #1 RMS. GameChanger helps hotels maximize booking revenues and profits. It empowers hotels to sharpen revenue management strategies through innovative technology and its Open Pricing methodology. Duetto Advance will become available to Duetto users in Summer 2023. The Duetto revenue strategy platform also includes BlockBuster for contracted group business optimization. Working with GameChanger, BlockBuster helps hotel revenue teams discover the optimal blend of group and transient business at the right rate, at the right time. For reporting and forecasting, our ScoreBoard application enables revenue teams to create forecasts in minutes, create custom reports and receive business insights instantly in interactive dashboards. About Duetto Duetto delivers a suite of SaaS cloud applications for hospitality businesses to optimize every booking opportunity for the greatest overall revenue impact. The solution dramatically increases organizational efficiency, revenue, and profitability by simplifying hospitality revenue decisions and allowing properties to work smarter. 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, casinos, and 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 Duettos 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 2022 and 2023, Duetto was named the world's #1 revenue management system in the HotelTechAwards. The Awards rank and evaluate more than 200 of the top hotel technology products worldwide to deliver the ultimate list of best-in-class software products, based on customer feedback from more than 10,000 customer reviews, integration compatibility, organizational health, partner network strength, and customer support quality. For more information, please visit https://www.duettocloud.com/. Chicago, IL (60637) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers and windy conditions developing in the afternoon. Morning high of 60F with temps falling to near 40. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Periods of rain and snow showers in the evening transitioning to snow showers late...windy. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Higher wind gusts possible. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. TikTok ban advances as Congress, WH back RESTRICT Act & China threatens fight UPDATE: The RESTRICT Act was introduced in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday with the full backing of the White House. The bill would empower the Secretary of Commerce to ban apps that threaten US national security, including TikTok. Earlier this week, China ramped up anti-U.S. rhetoric and announce its intention to weaponize private companies like TikTok in what it sees as its battle against Western oppression. The countrys leader Xi Jinping attacked the United States in unusually blunt remarks before a meeting of Chinas business leaders, calling on the countrys private companies to fight alongside the Communist Party. Even before The RESTRICT Act and Xis speech, TikTok bans have been gaining steam both in the U.S. and globally. Last week 3 million federal employees were given 30 days to remove the app from their devices, and a bill that would give President Biden the power to ban TikTok nationwide is expected to be approved by a House committee this week. At least 15 US states have also banned the app for their employees. Anti-China sentiment is also growing in many countries, and similar curbs on TikTok have been announced in the EU and Canada. India has banned the app altogether. TikTok reamins defiant TikTok, for its part, remains defiant, if not almost fatalistic. The ban of TikTok on federal devices passed in December without any deliberation, and unfortunately, that approach has served as a blueprint for other world governments, TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement Monday. These bans are little more than political theater. TikTok has also been slow to move data centers that handle what some see as dangerous tracking information outside of Chinese control, despite more than two years of promises to do so. Musics growing TikTok dependency As TikTok has grown to more than 1 billion active monthly users, it has become a powerful music discovery and marketing tool. Creators like Loren Gray, Dixie DAmelio, Bella Poarch, and Kimberly Loaiza have amassed over 50 million followers each and built significant music careers on the platform, and established artists from Lizzo to Walker Hayes use it to communicate with fans. Classic artists from Jack Johnson to Fleetwood Mac have seen years-old songs resurface on TikTok. Kate Bushs Running Up That Hill was among TikToks ten biggest songs of 2022, reentering the Billboard US Hot 100 at #3 and hitting #1 in the UK almost four decades after its original release. Whats a musician to do? Later this week, well explore steps to take now before TikTok is banned. Share on: North Adams Public Safety Looks to Tighten Up Taxi Regs NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Police could have greater sway over who can have a taxi driver's license in the city of North Adams. The Public Safety Committee has been reviewing the taxi ordinance at the behest of the mayor and Police Department after a recent hearing on violations pointed to the city's limitations in regulating cab companies. The committee is looking into updating language and a process for dealing with potential violations. In its second full meeting last week, the committee heard from Police Lt. Anthony Beverly about how the department reviews licenses and the problems he's seen. The Police Department does a check on all applications before they are forwarded to the City Council for approval. The current ordinance lists application rejection for factors including moving violations, license revocation, "a violent felony conviction that may deem unsuitable," "no-contact restraining orders," and medication that may interfere with an ability to drive. Beverly asked that "violent" be removed because it would have to be spelled out what a "violent felony" is. The department had revoked a license because the driver was convicted of selling firearms, a felony but not a "violent" one, he said. He asked about adding the phrase "that the police department deems to be unsuitable," with the caveat that a reason would have to shown for the rejection. Committee member Marie T. Harpin wondered if a "felony conviction that may deem unsuitable" be open enough for interpretation but Beverly said the conviction part could be the problem. The lieutenant said there was someone criminally charged in the past who had their case continued without a finding. "It's not a conviction. It's basically saying that you're saying, your agreement that there was enough to convict you if you were to go forward," Beverly said. "It's an out through the court system. ... we don't have the ability to to deem that person unsuitable the way that this is written because that's not a valid, violent felony conviction." The charges were related to driving under the influence, he said. "If you are that person that drinks and then goes and gets into a motor vehicle to drive around is probably not the person we want driving our citizens." Police Chief Jason Wood, who was participating remotely, said the department needed something in the ordinance that would allow for application denial that also was not arbitrary. He referenced a suggestion by Committee Michael Obasohan about review panel "that will be like a checks and balances to that system." "We have applications go through that, the way it's written now, we have no choice but to approve them because they don't meet any of the criteria to deny them," the chief said. "We know, within our field of work, that he or she has no business being a cab driver and given that responsibility." Beverly offered to rewrite that section for the next meeting, including updating the types of restraining orders now used. The lieutenant also asked that licenses have an annual expiration date, preferably Jan. 1, so that existing licenses can be reviewed at the same time, and that a copy of the insurance policy be provided for the department's files. "So that I'm not doing multiple companies, all of this stuff that I have to do throughout the year," he said. "One shot. All the companies, everybody has to do it starting Dec. 31. Jan. 1 is a new year. We're inspecting all your taxis, we're inspecting all of your licenses, everything and get it done with it for the year." Beverly said if one company has 25 drivers, he has to go through those reviews at different times throughout the year. He would still have to follow up on vehicle registrations during the year because "there's no way that I can get the Registry of Motor Vehicles in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to get on our timeline." Committee Chairman Bryan Sapienza said he was suggesting adding a new section, 23-17, that would deal with penalties, including suspension or revocation of a driver who fails to renew their license. The committee members did want to be clear on who would be responsible for abiding by which regulations, saying drivers should not be answerable for a company's failure maintain vehicles or licenses. They would, however, be accountable for moving violations and their own licenses. The committee also tentatively agreed on raising the age to 21 (up from 18) and requiring two consecutive years of holding a driver's license at the time of the application. Also, that cabs must have an exterior sign indicating when they are out of service and that only the driver be in the vehicle when the sign is displayed. This is to allow for maintenance and repairs on the vehicle by an authorized person. Among other expected changes are clarifying what is the driver's license, taxi driver's license and taxi operator's license (the company) within the ordinance. The "engine number" required on the taxi operator's license will be changed to the Vehicle Identification Number, now more widely used, and made clear it applies to the operator's license since a driver may use more than one vehicle. That section, 23-8, may be separated out to include the process for starting a taxi operation. The committee was also going to check with state law to see if the insurance minimums could be raised. They are currently $10,000 for personal injury or death, $20,000 for accident resulting in injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage. Anywhere there is language referring to the "commissioner of public safety" will be changed to "chief of police," and a reference to all licenses "in effect on December 28, 1954" to continue will be stricken. It's not clear why this line is in the ordinance but is thought to have been part of an amendment at that time. Man Sentenced For Assaulting Child, Must Register With Sex Offender Registry LEE, Mass. Anthony Delsoldato was sentenced on Wednesday March 1 on two counts: Indecent Assault and Battery of a Child and Assault and Battery. In April 2021 Lee Police and Massachusetts State Police responded to a residential address in Lee for a report that a 7-year-old victim had been sexually assaulted by Anthony Delsoldato. Delsoldato was sentenced on the first count, Indecent Assault and Battery of a Child, to 5 years probation with the following five conditions. The defendant shall complete a sex offender evaluation and follow all recommendations; the defendant shall complete a mental health evaluation and follow all recommendations; the defendant shall execute waivers/releases as required by the probation officer; the defendant shall have no contact and remain 500 feet from the child's person, residence school and work place; and the defendant shall have no contact with children under 16 years of age. On the second count, Assault and Battery, Delsoldato was sentenced to 2.5 years in the Hose of Correction, split to serve 18 months with the probation conditions identified above. On March 2, following the indictment on March 1, Anthony Delsoldato was convicted by plea agreement of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. The March 2 conviction by plea agreement requires Delsoldato to be registered with the Sex Offender Registry Board. The Lee Police Department (Officer Pleu) and the State Police Detective Unit State (Troopers Moozi, Wood and DeSantis) served as law enforcement for this case. A forensic interview was completed at Kids' Place in Pittsfield. Victim Witness Advocate Carmen Guevara supported the child and members of the child's family throughout the case. Chief of the Child Abuse Unit, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Ilberg, represented the Commonwealth. Honorable Judge Agostini presided. Pittsfield School Policy Panel Considers Student DoorDash Ban PITTSFIELD, Mass. The district is looking into placing sanctions on food deliveries for students. Last week, the Policy Subcommittee started a discussion on revising policy COM-31 Visitors to Schools to address non-teacher orders placed online or on the phone and delivered through apps such as DoorDash. Superintendent Joseph Curtis proposed some reorganization of the policy for clarity and the addition of language stating that service delivery drivers are not permitted on school grounds or inside of schools to fulfill students' orders. "My intention this evening was just to start a dialogue with the subcommittee in response to the discussion about food deliveries for students at schools," he said. The issue was brought up during a Taconic High School council meeting in January and relayed to the School Committee by member Daniel Elias soon after. He reported that the council felt it should be a districtwide discussion because it was also happening in other schools. Curtis said the discussion could come from a security standpoint, which COM-31 deals with, or a wellness standpoint. "We do have a wellness policy and there could certainly be language inserted in that policy that I didn't bring forth this evening," he said. School Committee Chair William Cameron thinks that the ban should fall under wellness. "First of all, because it would have been voted on affirmatively by the School Committee rather than simply accepted as an administrative regulation and also because it's an issue unto itself really," he explained. "I mean, incidentally, it has to do with visitors to schools but in fact, it's a whole separate set of issues, I think, so it probably ought to be featured either in a policy of its own or as part of the wellness policy, I think, an amendment to that." The Pakistani news and current affairs channel ARY News has had its license suspended for broadcasting clips of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose speeches Pakistani authorities are claiming undermines state institutions and incites enmity. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) call on the Pakistani authorities to immediately withdraw transmission suspension orders and restore the license of the TV channel. The ban was enforced late on Sunday by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) following Khan's address in Lahore, during which he claimed that former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was behind his ousting from office in April 2022. In his address, Khan alleged that authorities had attempted to arrest him in a corruption investigation. Khan, who rejects the accusations, eluded capture. In its announcement, the PEMRA claimed Khans speeches have spread hate speech and disinformation, an outcome harmful to the preservation of law and order and liable to disturb public peace and quiet". The media regulator suspended the license of ARY News, a commercial news channel, for transmitting Khan's Lahore address about two hours after the ban was imposed. According to the PEMRA, the news channel breached its directive. "The PEMRA announcement arrived after 8 pm, and practically all the networks broadcast excerpts of Imran Khan's address in their 9 pm bulletins," said the ARY news management. The regulatory authorities, however, just suspended our license." According to the channel management, ARY News transmission was suspended in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and other places. The transmission was suspended after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued instructions to cable providers. This was the third time the PEMRA has banned TV stations from broadcasting Khan's words since he was ousted as Prime Minister. According to the IFJs South Asia Press Freedom Report 2021-2022, Public trust in media has been plummeting in Pakistan for several years now as it gets manipulated and coerced by the authorities. PFUJ President GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana M Azeem both condemned the banning of ARY News, calling it a violation of free expression. "If the suspension orders are not removed, the PFUJ will protest throughout Pakistan," they said. The IFJ said: The suspension of transmission would be tantamount to depriving Pakistan of the media freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan that have been so hard fought for and defended by journalists and unions. The IFJ urges the Pakistani government to ensure freedom of expression in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan and its international commitments and obligations. The Philippines number one financial app, GCash, is putting the spotlight on the Philippine fintech industry at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona highlighting how fintech innovations are empowering millions of Filipinos. GCash CEO Martha Sazon leads keynote on changing user experiences and technologies Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash, will be taking GCash to the global stage once more, as she is one of the keynote speakers in a plenary session at the MWC on the topic New Behavior for a New Reality. A major feat for GCash and Philippine Fintech, Sazon brings the story of the Filipino to a global audience - showing the evolving user experience and how it has expanded its portfolio to provide access to affordable services to more Filipinos across various sectors. Aside from the keynote session, Sazon is also part of a fireside chat tackling, The Rise of Fintech Disruption. She will highlight how fintech is enabling the creation of powerful and disruptive solutions that have been redefining the market. GCash is now a double unicorn valued at $2 billion with a user base of over 76 million. It has been expanding beyond its core payments and remittance business as it brings essential financial services to more Filipinos. GCash has already grown its services to include credit, savings, insurance and investment products. It also features an e-commerce platform that offers various retail options such as food, wellness, travel, recreation, and real estate services. The leading fintech platform has also made waves with its beta launch of GCash Overseas. This rollout will allow the first 1,000 Filipinos based in Japan, Australia and Italy to sign up for GCash using an international SIM another game-changer in the Philippine fintech industry. GCash is one with its parent company, the Globe Group, in enabling an inclusive digital ecosystem in the Philippines. The Globe Group, the countrys leading digital solutions platform, will also highlight its pivot from telco to techco at the MWC, led by its president and CEO Ernest Cu. Cu will join CEOs of top Southeast Asian telcos in a discussion on new network-related technologies and connectivity challenges in the Philippines, among others. Hosted by GSMA, a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem, this years MWC is held from February 27 to March 2, 2023. The MWC is the worlds largest and most influential exhibition for the connectivity industry. Aside from being able to share its success story in helping create a more digital and inclusive financial system in the Philippines, the MWC will also provide a good opportunity for GCash to meet with like-minded partners on how it can deliver more digital financial solutions to Filipinos around the world. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here The festival of colours is here! The vibrant festival that marks the arrival of spring is celebrated with full enthusiasm across the nation - mostly in filmy style. From Rang Barse to Balam Pichkari and Do me a favour let's play holi - Bollywood has given innumerable songs to celebrate the festival. Which one is your favourite? Want to see how your favourite Bollywood stars are playing Holi, here are the pictures that will make your day! Instagram 1. Drenched in colours and water, Kareena Kapoor played Holi with her kids Taimur and Jehangir. "Can't wait for the nap we're going to have post this fab #holi session (miss you Saifuuu) Spreading color, love, and joy to all... Love you Insta fam! Happy Holi," she wrote. 2. Anushka paid a tribute to her guru, Neem Karoli Baba, on the occasion of Holi. 3. Shehzada of Bollywood, Kartik Aaryan, played Holi in Dallas, USA "Happy Holi to you all from . Missing the Holi madness with my family & friends back home and of course, mummy ke hath ki gujhiya," he wrote. 4. Shilpa Shetty played Holi with flowers with her daughter Samisha. 5. Karisma Kapoor also dropped some fun photos from Holi celebrations. 6. Shahid Kapoor sent out Holi greetings with a clip from Kabir Singh. 7. Be safe and respect all, said R Madhavan. Happy Holi to you all. be safe and respect all. pic.twitter.com/iHoOvJl3e2 Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) March 6, 2023 (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) 1. AAP MLA Calls Nawazuddin Siddiqui Indian Johhny Depp Amid His Controversy With Wife Aaliya Aaliya has been gaining much attention for posting multiple videos in which she has hurled accusations against her actor husband Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who recently broke his silence over Aaliya's accusations and hit back at her claiming that she only wants more money. Amid the controversy, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan has called actor Nawazuddin Siddique 'India's Johnny Depp." web screen grab 2. SRK's Wife Gauri Khan Sells Dustbin For 15K, People Say, 'Majnu Bhai Ki Painting Better Hain' According to reports, Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan has left people stunned with her products, not because of their designs but for their whopping price tags. After a Mumbai man named Jaswant Shah filed an FIR against Gauri Khan over a property in Lucknow, people are trolling the fashion designer for selling products under her company at an exorbitantly high price. web screen grab 3. RRR Star Jr NTR Posts New Photo From Beverly Hills As He Arrives In The US For Oscars 2023 Several pictures and videos had earlier surfaced on the internet that showed Jr NTR leaving for the big event at Hyderabad airport on March 6. Jr NTR was seen dressed in casuals - wearing a hoody paired with black trousers. The actor also greeted his fans at the airport, as per the viral videos. After winning a Golden Globe, the popular song Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli's film 'RRR' is set to compete for an Academy award in the category of Best Original Score. Instagram 4. Sukesh Chandrashekhar Sends Love Letter To Jacqueline Fernandez From Jail, Wishes Happy Holi The 30-year-old millionaire conman has not only lured Bollywood divas, he has duped several politicians as well. He allegedly has mastered the art of impersonation. "If any person meets Sukesh for the first time, even for 30 minutes, that person would be following his advice. He talks really well and leaves a lasting impression on people," a person who met him reportedly said. Twitter 5. Deepika Padukone's Louis Vuitton Outfit At Paris Fashion Week Is Reminding Fans Of Veronica From Cocktail The Bollywood star wore a black leather jacket, paired with lacy bottom and a stylish black coloured bag. She completed the look by opting for wavy hair and sported kohl in her eyes. Her look instantly reminded fans of Veronica from Cocktail. Padukone was styled by Shaleena Nathani and wore the ensemble by Nicolas Ghesquiere. Apart from Deepika, others who attended the fashion show included Zendaya, Emma Stone, and Ana de Armas. Twitter (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) A police case is registered against the wedding of twins to the same man in Maharashtra after a video went viral on social media. Police have launched an investigation. According to media reports, Atul Uttam Autade, who owns a travel agency in Mumbai, tied the knot with sisters Rinki and Pinki Padgaonkar in Solapur, Maharashtra. They are seen on video performing the traditional "varmala," or garland ceremony, and Atul, lifted by friends, tries to avoid the garlands from his two brides. What is the case? Atul has been accused of bigamy, which is against the law and carries a sentence of seven years in prison. According to senior police officer Shirish Sardeshpande, who spoke with the news agency ANI, "A non-cognisable offence case under IPC section 494 (marrying again when spouse is alive) was registered against Atul Awtade for marrying twin sisters together on December 2." Unsplash/Representational Image The Maharashtra women's body and the National Women's Commission have also called for action against the three. After their father's death, the twins lived with their mother. A relative said, "They both got into a relationship with Atul, who decided to marry both of them." Pinki and Rinki, both IT engineers, agreed to marry the same man. What are Bigamy and Polygamy? Bigamy is marrying someone who has already been legally married to another living person. A person cannot legally marry someone with a living spouse who is still legally married to them. A second marriage will be declared void ab initio, which means that it is null and void from the start. The term "polygamy" refers to the practice of marrying more than one person. Polygyny refers to a man who has more than one wife, and polyandry refers to a woman who has more than one husband. Unsplash/Representational Image Legality of this marriage The individual's right to marry is recognized by both article 21 of the Indian Constitution and article 16 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. India has no uniform code of regulation administering marriage but several laws according to religions. Hindus are subject to the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, Muslims are subject to the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, Christians are subject to the Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872, and Parsis are subject to the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936. The Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954 was enacted to validate and register interreligious and inter-caste marriages in India. It empowers two adult individuals to marry through a civil contract. Under this act, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jains, and Buddhist marriages are included and no religious formalities are required to be carried out. The act applies to Indian citizens and Indian nationals living abroad. Bigamy in Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 According to the legal service india.com, as per Section 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, bigamy is against the law in India, and any Hindu who commits crime will be punished accordingly. When determining the penalty for bigamy, the provisions of Sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) shall apply. Unsplash/Representational Image If either or both of the Hindu bride and groom had a living spouse who was still legally married to them at the time of the second marriage, the marriage is null and void. Hinduism views marriage as the sacramental union of one man and one woman, whereas monogamy is regarded as the ideal form of marriage. Converting to a religion where bigamy is legal in order to get married again is against the law, and the second marriage is null and void. The legal service India website states that In Sarla Mugdal & others. v. Union of India, the Court held that the first marriage would have to be dissolved under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in order for him to marry again. Therefore, the first marriage is still legally valid under Hindu law and the second marriage which was solemnized after his conversion to Islam would be void and the man will be punished for bigamy under section 49 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. On Monday, a Spanish court sentenced a couple to imprisonment for stealing 45 bottles of wine worth over 1.6 million euros ($1.7 million) from a hotel restaurant in what police called a "meticulously planned" theft. Unsplash Judgement in heist from 2021 A bottle of Chateau D'Yquem 1806 worth 350,000 euros was among the wines stolen from the Atrio hotel in Caceres in southwest Spain in October 2021 in the heist which made global headlines. A court in Caceres sentenced the woman to four years in jail and the man to four and a half years after finding them guilty of burglary with forced entry. The court also ordered the pair, who were arrested in July 2022 in Croatia, to pay compensation of 753,454 euros to the hotel. 'Sole employee' distracted more than once Unsplash The woman, who, according to Spanish press reports, is a former Mexican beauty queen, checked into the hotel using a fake Swiss passport, the court said. After dining in the Michelin three-star restaurant of the hotel, the pair were given a tour of the Atrio's renowned wine cellar before they retired to their room. At 2 am, the woman called the reception and asked the "sole employee" who was working at the time to make her a salad, according to the court ruling. The employee initially denied the request because he was alone and because the couple had eaten a 14-course tasting menu, but he agreed because she kept insisting. While the employee was preparing the salad, the man slipped into reception and stole an electronic key which he thought would gain entry to the wine cellar, but it was the wrong one. From outside the wine cellar, the man called his partner and told her once again to distract the receptionist, so she requested a dessert. 'Meticulously planned' heist executed Unsplash "The accused returned to the reception and from a box, he took master key number 27, which he used to open the wine cellar from where he took 45 bottles of wine," the court said. The man, who reportedly has Romanian and Dutch citizenship, carried the bottles to his room in a rucksack and two large bags before the receptionist returned to his post. The couple had "meticulously planned" the heist, visiting the restaurant three times to prepare the raid, Spain's National Police said in a statement when the pair were arrested. (with inputs from AFP) For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. About a year has passed since the Russian military invaded Ukraine, and there are still no clear indications of a settlement. Neither side looks prepared to win a decisive military battle, and success at the diplomatic table is just as improbable. AFP Both sides have been reluctant to talk about numbers lately, but experts think more than 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or hurt in the war. Over 100,000 Ukrainian military and civilians have been killed or wounded. AFP/Representational Image After a year of war with Russia, Ukraine released a series of horrifying and heartbreaking photos of the destroyed town of Marinka, near Donetsk and the border with Russia. Twitter After the destruction, the sad pictures show that no house in the town still stands. Mariinka was once a quiet bedroom community of 10,000 residents and tree-lined streets just west of Donetsk. Well now have to refer to it in past tense because the Russian army has wiped it off the face of the earth. These images show an apocalyptic scene incompatible with life. pic.twitter.com/BYV35IoRn8 Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 5, 2023 "It used to be home to around 10,000 people. It used to be a peaceful city... Zoom in to see that nothing is left untouched," Ukraine said. Before the war, 10,000 people lived in Mariinka, which is now one of the most dangerous settings of the current war. Mariinka is located on the outskirts of Donetsk. Ukrainian Marinka in the Donetsk region. It used to be home for around 10,000 people. It used to be a peaceful city. It used to be until Russias war criminals razed it to the ground. Zoom in to see that nothing is left untouched. Photo: Presidential Office of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/d7xv47jNzq MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) March 5, 2023 It's an area that is basically under the jurisdiction of both the Russian and Ukrainian governments. The United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, as part of the nuclear bombing campaign against Japan during World War II. Between 129,000 and 226,000 people died because of the two attacks; most were innocent bystanders. The war ended on September 2 of that year. (For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.) Insurers are always available by phone or online; however, we know there's great value in holding community information sessions and in-person meetings in impacted communities, ICA CEO Andrew Hall said. We encourage policyholders who have flood-affected properties and would like assistance to meet with their insurer. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Date: March 8 at 1:30 p.m. Location: College St. Norbert Collegiate, 870 Ste. Therese Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. R3T 1H8 Guests: Satvir Jatana, Vice President & Chief Customer Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance Trevor Ens, President, MADD Winnipeg Chapter Road crashes are the number one cause of death among Canadian youth, and alcohol and/or drugs are involved in more than half of those crashes. Every year, with the support of sponsors such as MPI, MADD Canada produces a new School Program to educate students in Grades 7 - 12 about the risks of impaired driving. Following the realistic and hard-hitting fictional storyline, students see the personal stories of real-life victims of impaired driving. The Santa Fe District Attorney has pushed back on efforts by Alec Baldwin to have the special prosecutor in his US court case dismissed. Mary Carmack-Altwies said the motion, filed last month by Baldwins lawyers, was based on a novel theory that has no support in New Mexico statutes or case law. Representatives for the Hollywood actor previously said that special prosecutor Andrea Reebs involvement in the case was unconstitutional, due to her elected position in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Santa Fe DA pushes back on Baldwins motion to have special prosecutor dismissed (PA) Lawyers argued that Ms Reebs position was a violation of the New Mexico constitutions separation of powers provision and that she could make prosecutorial decisions that serve her legislative interests. In a response to the motion to have Ms Reeb dismissed, the DA said the state constitution provided a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases. Any attempt by Ms Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective, the filing stated. Disqualification of a special prosecutor on constitutional grounds is a severe remedy and cannot be supported by the imaginative but unsupported theories set out by the Defendants motion Disqualification of a special prosecutor on constitutional grounds is a severe remedy and cannot be supported by the imaginative but unsupported theories set out by the Defendants motion. It comes ahead of a status hearing in the case, which is due to take place on Thursday March 9. Baldwin faces two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Asia Bangladesh Probes Rohingya Camp Fire Rohingya refugees search for their belongings after a fire in Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhia on March 5. / AFP DHAKABangladesh has launched an inquiry into the massive fire of Sunday that razed approximately 2,000 shelters at Balukhali camp near Coxs Bazar, leaving an estimated 12,000 Rohingya refugees without shelter. The fire followed growing tension between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) militant groups. Rohingya leaders and Bangladesh officials told The Irrawaddy that the fire was probably linked to the power struggle in the camps between the two major groups. A senior Bangladeshi official: The camp was originally under ARSA control but RSO had been gradually taking over. We suspect ARSA as the possible perpetrator as it was losing control over the camp. Rohingya leader Htway Lwin said the militant groups were suspected as they moved their families out of the camp before the incident. Htway Lwin, who left the camp amid recent bloodshed, said he heard it was a planned attack. Justice must be served, he added. Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters in Dhaka on Monday that an investigation had been launched into the fire and prosecutions might follow. Coxs Bazar district police chief Md Mahfuzur Rahman said: We are examining social media over the fire. We have spoken to witnesses and now trying to trace possible suspects. Coxs Bazar district has formed a seven-member committee, headed by magistrate Abu Sufian, which included representatives from the police and intelligence agencies. The committee has been given three days to report. Rohingya campfires are common but they rarely spark criminal investigations. In March 2021 a massive fire killed at least 10 Rohingya refugees. A Bangladesh Army intelligence report stated that over 27 percent of the 222 fires in Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar between January 2021 and December 2022 were acts of sabotage. Approximately 45 percent of fires while the others were unexplained. Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra executive director Mohammad Nur Khan called for an impartial investigation to trace the perpetrators and motives behind the arson attacks. The Coxs Bazar authorities have reported no causalities or missing people from the incident. Rescuers said temporary accommodation had been arranged for those displaced and United Nations agencies were providing meals. Rohingya leader Mohammed Sahad said on Monday that he had arranged shelter for his relatives affected by the fire while other families were struggling. The UN refugee charity, the UNHCR, in Dhaka reported that approximately 12,000 of the camps 32,200 inhabitants were displaced while more than 2,000 shelters were destroyed or damaged. More than 90 health and educational centers were also damaged. The UNHCR said it had activated a tracking system to provide support and to help reunite families. The UN childrens fund, Unicef, said that at least 6,000 children were affected. Unicef and our partners have worked through the night to protect and support traumatized children and their families, the agencys representative in Bangladesh Sheldon Yett said in a statement. The fire destroyed 2,000 shelters and a large number of facilities that provide critical services to refugee children and their families. Among these are over 20 learning centers, at least one nutrition center and several sanitation facilities, the statement read. Burma Myanmar Junta Cronys Firm Named Local Distributor for Huawei Solar Energy Products Junta Deputy Minister for Electric Power Dr. Aung Zeya inspects the Taungtawkwin Solar Power Project in Myitha Township, Mandalay Region on Oct. 26, 2022. / MITV Global Star Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Dagon Group, and United Amara Bank (UAB) have partnered with Chinese ICT giant Huawei to distribute its FusionSolar line of products in Myanmar. Huawei and Global Star, which is owned by junta crony U Win Aung, unveiled their partnership in Yangon on Feb. 23. Global Star has become the authorized dealer for Huaweis solar inverters and batteries. U Thurane Aung, managing director of Global Star and the son of U Win Aung, told local media outlets at the event that it is planning to distribute Huaweis solar inverters and batteries to three market segments in Myanmar, starting with household use, then expanding to the industrial level and eventually supplying the products for use in mega projects. Established in 1990, U Win Aungs Dagon Group has a presence in various sectors including real estate, construction, petroleum and power. It now has more than 16 member companies with assets valued at an estimated US$350 million, according to its statements. Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH), which is currently chaired by U Win Aung, received final approval from the juntas Investment Commission for the Gyogone Housing Redevelopment project in January 2022. He is also a director of Myanmar National Telecom Holdings Public Company Limited, which owns 23 percent of the junta-controlled telecom operator Mytel. Local entrepreneurs who have been struggling to establish a foothold in the renewable energy sector in Myanmar expressed disappointment that junta-linked cronies are swallowing up the market, rendering their efforts to innovate and develop new technologies useless. We have been working in the renewable energy sector for a long time for the sustainable development of our country. But these days, we young entrepreneurs without any backing or ties, are left behind while they take most of the market share, said Ko Phyo (name changed for security reasons), who has been running a company in the renewable energy sector for seven years. These days, he said, entrepreneurs without financial backing and ties with cronies or the junta are not able to grab chances like the one Global Star has received to become a partner of Huawei on FusionSolar. Businesses that buy and install Huaweis FusionSolar systems will be eligible for financing packages from United Amara Bank (UAB), which is owned by U Nay Aung, the son of U Aung Thaung, a notorious member of the previous military junta of Senior General Than Shwe. Former Lieutenant Colonel Aung Thaung served as a deputy minister for commerce from 1993 during the reign of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), and served as minister for industry 1 up to 2011. Then, with the democratization process introduced by the military junta, he became an MP in the Pyithu HluttawMyanmars Lower Housein that same year. After serving a five-year term, he passed away in 2015. While one of his sons is still the owner of a private bank, his oldest son Moe Aung is currently serving as the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Navy. After the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, Moe Aung was appointed as Navy chief, and became a member of the State Administration Council, the military junta chaired by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. On Feb. 20, 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on Moe Aung for human rights violations and undermining democracy and rule of law in the country. It is not strange that such a Chinese business is making partnerships with such cronies and conglomerates that have ties with the junta. However, people around the world should denounce and boycott Huawei for its cooperation with people with such bloody hands in Myanmar, said a 42-year-old economic commentator based in Yangon. Junta troops also carried out an air raid on Mone Hla Village, home to over 700 households, on Nov. 23 last year. Junta ground troops also raided the village the same day, killing nine residents and torching more than 100 houses and a school. The 8-year-old girl from a Christian family, who were taking shelter under a mango tree, was fatally hit by shrapnel. Junta troops also shelled Kalone Village, forcing more than 8,000 locals from at least six villages to flee their homes. Around 100 junta troops belonging to the 33rd Light Infantry Division based in Sagaing came from Ye-U to Khin-U on Monday morning and fired artillery shells. In another incident, an 8-year-old girl was killed in a junta artillery strike in Mone Hla Village in the same township on Monday. Mone Hla is the native village of Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the archbishop of Yangon. Maung Chit Yin Hto from Alel Sho Village in Khin-U Township was killed after discovering an unexploded projectile on Sunday. The 12-year-old boy found the artillery shell in the woods while herding cows. He brought it back home, and the shell exploded as it fell to the ground in his village. He died immediately. Two children were killed in separate incidents in the resistance stronghold of Sagaing Region in central Myanmar on Sunday and Monday. Villagers in Khin-U Township flee from their homes in the wake of regime shelling on Sunday. / The Irrawaddy Villagers in Khin-U Township flee from their homes in the wake of regime shelling on Sunday. / The Irrawaddy Over 40 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks Myanmar Junta Waives Tax on Electricity Investment to Keep Lights On Dozens of Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks More Asian, European Firms Named as Suppliers of Fuel to Myanmar Regimes Air Force Dyeing for Myanmars Revolution: CDM Cop and Others Find New Skills for New Life Myanmar Regime is not Massacring its Way to Victory Nearly 70 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Three Days of Resistance Attacks Junta Watch: Regime boss targets Western culture; Than Shwe Falls From Favor; and More Myanmar Junta Losing More Than One Soldier Per Day: Kayah Resistance We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Please increase the size of your window. Burma Myanmar Regime Paves Way for Election With Census Next Year Workers collect census data from a family in Yangon on March 30, 2014. / AFP Myanmars regime is probably planning to hold a general election in 2025 as junta-appointed immigration minister Myint Kyaing on Sunday announced a census will be conducted from October 1-15, 2024. Observers say any election proposed by the junta is expected to take place in 2025 at the earliest as it will take a few months to collate the data and publish a report. The regime is likely to extend military rule until then, observers say. At a junta cabinet meeting on February 23, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing said a census would ensure the accuracy of voter lists. He repeatedly calls for accurate voter lists and it is seen as unlikely he will call an election until a census is completed. Voters need time to observe political parties and their leaders, Min Aung Hlaing told his cabinet. Myanmar is unstable and several conditions need to be met before a free and fair election can be held, he added. Initially, the regime planned a general election later this year but it instead extended military rule for another six months, citing the extraordinary situation of nationwide conflict. The regime last month enacted its Political Parties Registration Law, which requires parties to reregister with the junta-appointed Union Election Commission. Fourteen parties have reregistered so far. The regime has invited tenders to supply polling station materials and is also planning to introduce electronic voting. The US-sanctioned immigration minister Myint Kyaing said his ministry was preparing questionaries for the census. He also chairs the juntas central census commission. A majority of the population does not believe the election will be either free or fair. The US, EU and Malaysia have called the election a sham. Thirteen election offices were destroyed in resistance attacks from December 2021 to this January, according to junta-controlled newspapers. Four people, including two policemen, were killed while they were updating voter lists in January, according to the regime. The last census was undertaken in 2014, the first in 30 years, under ex-general Thein Seins quasi-civilian government. The process was led by then immigration minister Khin Yi, who is the current chairman of the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party. Burma Myanmar Resistance Couple Die in Homemade Weapons Accident A funeral held for the three resistance members who died while salvaging a junta shell in Ayadaw Township. / Supplied A couple from a Sagaing Region resistance force died in a homemade weapons accident on Sunday. The Myaung Township couple in their 20s were making bombs for drones. They were a married couple but they hadnt held their wedding ceremony because they decided to celebrate their wedding after the revolution. I am really sorry for them, said Bo Kyar Thit of the Civilian Defence and Security Organization of Myaung. Ko Nway Oo from the organization said homemade weapons accidents are frequent, especially during testing. There have been multiple accidents. We have lost comrades while testing or using homemade weapons. We know there is no safety for us and cannot avoid these accidents. We risk our lives to protect our people, Ko Nway Oo said. Many Sagaing resistance groups make their own weapons and ammunition due to their limited funding and rising prices. Some resistance forces use unexploded junta shells. In another accident, three resistance fighters in Ayadaw Township, about 40km from Myaung, died when salvaging a junta shell on February 27. They found the 40mm shell near their village on February 26 and took it to their base. They knew how to handle the shell so it was a tragic accident. They were aged 18 to 20 and very hardworking. Losing our comrades broke my heart, an Ayadaw resistance spokesman said. He said their comrades are told not to use unexploded shells although he admitted that homemade weapons caused more accidents. We need to produce heavy weapons to compete with the regime. The larger the weapon, the higher the risk. We dont have enough firearms or funding to buy weapons so we have to make on our own and take the risk, he said. Accidents caused by producing and testing homemade weapons killed at least 15 resistance members and injured about 30 in Myaung and Ayadaw townships last year, according to resistance forces. Italy's state investor Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (CDP) and Australian fund infrastructure Macquarie Group have joined forces to form a multibillion-euro purchase for Telecom Italia SpA's landline network to outbid New York-based investment firm KKR's preliminary offer. According to a Bloomberg report, CDP said in a statement last Sunday that the board approved the bid for Telecom Italia's grid and its submarine business Sparkle. No terms were disclosed. The offer of both companies rivals KKR's US$22 billion valuation. According to a Bloomberg source who are familiar with the matter, the bid offers more cash. Sources said that CDP and Macquarie teamed up to match KKR "after initially exploring a joint offer with the US investment firm." The acquisition comes more urgent as the former state monopoly is under pressure to slash a 20-billion euro debt load. CDP owns almost 10% of Telecom Italia and has a majority stake in smaller rival Open Fiber SpA, according to the same Bloomberg report. As per Reuters, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated the government's duty to oversee the bid as it must safeguard 40,000 jobs under Telecom Italia's labour force. The problem, however, is "there is no common ground within the administration on how to proceed," she said. Telecom Italia's so-called "related parties committee" will review the offer in a board meeting, it said in a statement. The offer expires on 31 March. A committee will meet on Friday, 10 March, to review the joint offer, according to a Reuters source. Telecom Italia said last month as per Bloomberg it was seeking better terms from KKR after it reviewed its non-binding offer. In 2021, Telecom Italia rejected KKR's bid to buy the entire company. If the deal pushes through, CDP and Macquarie would acquire 60% and 40% of Telecom Italia respectively, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero as cited by Reuters. FEATURE - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - Women are now upskilling their digital capabilities to crack the code to gender equality through inclusive automated technologies and disruptive innovation, according to UiPath. Australian women are seeing new opportunities to capitalise on digital skills, especially in automated technologies. A recent survey found that 55% of Australian female workers were motivated to undertake digital skills training within the next year, which is 14% higher than the number of men wanting to upskill in digital technologies. More than 500 female employees from the National Australia Bank (NAB), including non-technical staff, recently signed up to gain foundational cloud skills and a certification in cloud technology. Mark Fioretto, Area Vice President and Managing Director Australia and New Zealand for UiPath said, There are many untapped opportunities for women in technology automation. In fact, according to the Tech Council of Australia, the country will need an additional 653,000 technology workers within the next five to seven years. Many of these skills will be needed in artificial intelligence, machine learning and end-to-end enterprise automation. Even though 74% of Australian organisations have spent 10-20% more on automation since the pandemic, IDC research shows that 82% of organisations with more than 1000 employees still have less than 50 automation developers. Sally Douvis, Senior Director, Human Resources, Asia Pacific and Japan for UiPath said this was one example that clearly demonstrated the crucial need for women in automation. As the demands of juggling career and caring commitments become more challenging, women are beginning to recognise that automation could be their answer for career development without the burnout. Working either in the technology automation industry or in roles supported by human-friendly automated technologies broadens women's career opportunities and provides the workplace flexibility needed, enabling an increase in work productivity while sustaining personal balance. At UiPath, increasing the representation of women in technology is an important goal to support diversity in technological development, which is enabled by our focus on workplace automation. Being inclusive of women in automation can unlock limitless potential for automations in society that improve our work lives and the greater world. The automation field is therefore a great place to nurture diversity in the workplace. GUEST OPINION: In 2023, every Australian business will be looking for ways to more efficiently manage ever-increasing amounts of data, while at the same time seeking to increase efficiency in the face of a tightening economy. Couple those imperatives with the emerging challenge of reducing carbon emissions (particularly in the eyes of regulators warning about greenwashing) and many businesses must be asking themselves, what actions can we take? One area which organisations can focus on for economic efficiencies and sustainability improvements is in the data centre. To understand why we need to review the significant changes which have occurred in data centres in recent years. In fact, it started back in 2011, when Pure Storage released the first all-flash storage array that was robust and economical enough for mission-critical data centres. Ever since then, Pure has been on a mission to make all-flash data centre a reality and today, this vision is closer than ever to becoming a reality. But how is flash making a difference to data centres? Firstly, there has been no question of the advantages of flash over legacy storage medium such as disk or tape. But the main holdback has been cost. In fact, the disk/flash TCO (total cost of ownership) cutover is closer than many people may realize. In this article, we look at the elements that will render hard drives the less cost-effective option in the near future. Its important to note up front that flash has already been the obvious choice for any performance- or latency-sensitive workload for some time now. Since flash memorys entrance into the enterprise storage arena, it has been knocking down hard disk tiers one by one, from top to bottom, until now theres really only one tier left where disk drives maintain a market share advantage: nearline, capacity-focused drives. This is the lowest tier of online data storage, but it also represents a huge portion of bytes being stored, as well as the growing majority (more than 70%) of hard drive capacity shipped each year. Thats the tier that flash will penetrate next. The price-per-bit for NAND flash is declining at a rate much faster than nearline hard drives. This, combined with the power, space, and cooling savings, higher performance, and better reliability of flash will soon result in hard drives becoming the less cost-effective option. Lets go into a detailed look at some of these components. Media Cost The first-order cost is always going to be the media itself. While today the cost-per-bit of a hard drive is still lower than the densest flash, there are several key trends to pay attention to in 2023. First, all the major tier 1 flash manufacturers are demonstrating significant density increases this year, with over 200 layers of stacked 3D NAND in some cases. This increase in density will translate into better cost efficiency, as well as further improve power and space savings. Second, if analyst predictions hold, NAND prices overall are expected to decline through most of 2023, continuing a trend that began in late 2022. Energy Cost Data centre infrastructure represents over 1% of global energy consumption, and this share is growing. As a result of rising energy costs, energy consumption by information technology has become not just a concern from an environmental standpoint but now also a significant economic one. When looking at a total cost of ownership, energy consumption will play an even more outsized role in 2023 and beyond, and infrastructure that is more power efficient will have an even greater economic advantage over the competition. As flash density continues to increase, power efficiency will surpass hard drives and thus contribute to a lower effective cost. In 2022, Pure Storage published our first ESG report, which compared our systems to competitive all-flash alternatives, where we showed that our systems can use up to 84% less energy. Pures energy efficiency will be a leading factor in enabling Pure Storage products to achieve a lower TCO than disk in the future. Higher Performance In two key ways, the flash performance advantage over disk can translate into cost advantages. First, because disk performance is still so low, even in workloads with modest performance requirements, you will often end up with stranded capacity. While spinning drives may hold 20TB, if the performance of the system taps out at 16TB, you will not derive as effective a cost-per-bit. Flash doesnt have this issue because read performance stays predictable even as drives fill up, unlike hard drives. Second, any storage environment that focuses on resiliency will have a redundancy strategy which may involve storing multiple copies of data for example, in addition to keeping spare capacity around in the case of a failure. This means that the performance of any one device is a variable in the equation used to determine how much redundancy you need to build into your system. Many years ago, hard drives had gotten large enough that after a drive failed, rebuilds would take so long that you needed to adopt dual parity strategies to ensure business resiliency. Today that can be triple parity or more. With flash devices, faster rebuild times mean less bits need to be dedicated to resiliency structures, which equates to better effective cost efficiency. Some flash vendors, like Pure Storage, offer robust, automatic resiliency tuning that takes all these aspects into consideration, without requiring users to determine what RAID level they need to set. Better Reliability Pures data shows that the annualized failure rates (AFR) of our systems are significantly lower than the industry benchmarks for spinning disk, as well as lower than industry SSD averages. If drives are more reliable, this goes into the same resiliency considerations as above. But beyond that, it also means that more reliable devices need fewer replacements and therefore lower costs. While most customers with support contracts dont feel the cost directly, the cost of this unreliability is baked into the cost of those very support contracts. This is one reason why traditional storage vendors support costs would skyrocket in years 4, 5, and beyond. This reliability means Pures customers dont have to undergo disruptive, forklift upgrades every 4 to 5 years. 97% of Pure Storage arrays purchased six years ago with an Evergreen subscription are still in service today and are completely up to date from a technology point of view. Flash Is Just Better The simple truth is that no one today continues to buy spinning drives because theyre better, but only because theyre cheaper. In almost every way, flash memory is superior to spinning magnetic storage, and where flash is already better, those advantages are increasing. Where flash is still behind disk is cost, and the road to the disk/flash crossover point is getting shorter and shorter. The dream of an all-flash data centre will soon become accessible for most organisations. Cybersecurity company Barracuda Networks has appointed Paul Crighton as Regional Sales Director for Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Islands. Based in Melbourne, Barracuda says Crighton will focus on accelerating the companys current sales momentum and channel program in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands - and brings more than 25 years of sales leadership and channel partner management experience to Barracuda and has successfully led companies through rapid sales growth and business expansion. We are excited to have Paul on our team with his deep expertise in business strategy and the channel partner ecosystem, said James Forbes-May, Vice President of Sales at Barracuda Asia Pacific. As we continue to see strong demand for cybersecurity solutions in Australia, Paul will support our local sales team to harness best practices and deliver innovative security products to customers and partners in the Pacific region to safeguard their organisations. Crighton joins Barracuda from NetApp where he was Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, leading sales activities and business operations - and before NetApp, he was regional senior vice president of sales for BlackBerry and has previously worked at PGi, Symantec and McAfee. I am excited to join Barracudas talented team and to work together to deliver innovative and effective solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers and partners in the region, said Paul Crighton, Regional Sales Director at Barracuda ANZ & Pacific Islands. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of Barracuda and helping our customers navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Page Content On Tuesday February 28, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley met with the President of Water Sanitation and Youth Mr. Raphael Sanchez, Special Representative of GEBE Troy Washington and Senior advisor to the President of the Collectivite Alex Richards to discuss the possibility of Dutch Sint Maarten supplying water to its French counterparts due to a water shortage. The French side is seeking a connection between Marigot and Philipsburg for water supply. The purpose of the meeting was to revive the possibility of the Dutch side of the island being able to supply the French side with water in efforts to eliminate their water shortage issue. In 2013 interconnection discussions began and pipes were laid; however nothing was finalized. In efforts to move forward, French St Martin has agreed to provide Minister Ottley and GEBE with their standards, requirements and water quantity. After receipt, the Minister and GEBE will provide feedback. If all required standards and regulations can be met and pricing is agreed upon, the next step will be to involve the department of foreign affairs to create an memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries. Minister Ottley would like to thank Mr. Raphael Sanchez for contacting him to further intervene in this long awaited process. This collaboration can be a benefit to both sides of the island. The relationship with the new sitting officials on the Northern side has strengthened of the pass year and is definitely illustrating one island one destiny. Chinese envoy calls for immediate lifting of sanctions on South Sudan Xinhua) 15:25, March 07, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday called on the Security Council to immediately lift sanctions on South Sudan to facilitate the protection of civilians in the country. "Recently, we have seen escalated violence across many regions in South Sudan, including Upper Nile, Jonglei and Equatoria," Dai Bing, charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, told a Security Council meeting. China calls on all parties concerned to immediately cease hostilities and settle their differences through dialogue and negotiation, he said. Dai noted that the government's deployment of security forces in the Nile Corridor has helped stabilize the local situations, fully demonstrating that the country's security must be maintained by its government. "The (Security) Council sanctions on South Sudan have restricted the government's security capacity to protect civilians and must be lifted immediately," Dai said. The envoy said that the year 2023 is crucial for South Sudan as the country implements the Revitalized Agreement and advances the political transition. At this critical time, the international community should continue to exercise patience, and give more support and encouragement to South Sudan to help it overcome the difficulties in implementation of the agreement and electoral preparations with tangible actions, he said. Dai pointed out that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has made important contributions to peace and stability in the country. However, "it merits our attention" that the mandate of UNMISS has been expanding in recent years, some parts of which are clearly beyond the competence of a peacekeeping mission and others may undermine the trust between the mission and the host government, he said. "We hope the Security Council will concentrate on the core mandate of peacekeeping operations when discussing the draft resolution on the renewal of UNMISS mandate, abide by the three principles of peacekeeping, and make practical arrangements in light of the most pressing tasks in South Sudan," said Dai. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Page Content The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), hereby announces that the Bush Road and the Church Hill Round-a-bout (Cul de Sac) will be partially closed in connection with resurfacing and installing of new asphalt and road markings on Sunday evening February 19 from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am. Asphalt works will be executed on sections of Bush Road including the roundabout, afterwards curing will take place for approximately two (2) to four (4) hours after installing of asphalt. During curing vehicles are not allowed to use the new road surface! During the proposed period of closure ordinary vehicular traffic are advised, to use alternative routes. A segment of the Bush Road starting from Delta Petroleum gas station direction towards the roundabout including Senna Drive, Wobble Vine Road, Crocus Road, Lavender drive and sections of Zagersgut Road will be partially closed. Vehicles going in the direction of St. Peters and surrounding neighbourhoods are advised to use the Coralita Road via Crocus Road/Zagersgut Road. Vehicles going in the direction of Cay Hill and over the hill areas are advised to make use of the A. Th. Illidge Road/Longwall Road/Little Bay/Reindeer Road (Link One). The Ministry is advising all traffic to use the alternative roads and avoid the Bush Road during the aforementioned road closure period. Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant for the traffic directional signs. The Ministry of VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause. Page Content PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten on Friday, February 24, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Ms. Silveria Jacobs attended and spoke a few words of introduction at the commencement of the three-day NPOwer Conference. Following a moving message from His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly, keynote speaker, Dr. Bonnie Benesh, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the Think To DO Institute, gave an inspiring speech on the importance of NGOs and the roles of connectivity and inspiration. In her speech, Prime Minister Jacobs referred to NGOs as the circulatory system to the role of head that the Government plays in community building. Following her address to the NGOs, the Prime Minister pledged to support the organizations by offering her services speaking at requested engagements and an informational exchange. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo 03/07/2023 Cocky lounges by the Rec Center's outdoor pool, which is closed until May, but the indoor pool and the rest of the facility will be open for spring break. Jacksonville State University will be closed for spring break the week of March 20, 2023. Classes will not meet and offices will be closed. The following holiday hours will be observed for campus services. DINING Mason's BBQ will be open during spring break on Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be open during spring break on Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Z Beans will close for break on Friday, March 17, and reopen on Monday, March 27, at 8 a.m. will close for break on Friday, March 17, and reopen on Monday, March 27, at 8 a.m. All other dining locations and Kiwibot service will close on Friday, March 17, at 2 p.m., and resume regular hours on Monday, March 27. REC CENTER The University Recreation and Fitness Center will be open over break as follows: Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 12-8 p.m. Indoor Pool: Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 12-7 p.m. The outdoor pool will remain closed until May. Climbing Wall: Monday-Friday: 3-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 12-3 p.m. Adventure Rec: Enjoy an outdoor adventure over spring break by checking out camping and outdoor equipment from UREC's Adventure Rec Center. Students and other members can rent camping, climbing, biking and boating equipment. The Adventure Rec desk will be open spring break Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. LIBRARY and BOOKSTORE Houston Cole Library will be closed Saturday, March 18, to Saturday, March 25. Regular hours will resume on Sunday, March 26. will be closed Saturday, March 18, to Saturday, March 25. Regular hours will resume on Sunday, March 26. The Campus Bookstore will be closed for Spring Break. Customers are welcome to visit the store online. HEALTH, SAFETY and TRANSPORTATION Health Center : The RMC/JSU Health Center will be open regular hours during Spring Break: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information or appointments, call 256-782-5310. : The RMC/JSU Health Center will be open regular hours during Spring Break: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information or appointments, call 256-782-5310. Campus Police : The University Police Department will continue to serve campus throughout the break. Officers are available 24/7. Call 256-782-5050 for assistance. : The University Police Department will continue to serve campus throughout the break. Officers are available 24/7. Call 256-782-5050 for assistance. Counseling : Students experiencing a mental health emergency after-hours should contact campus police at 256-782-5050 to be connected with an on-call counselor from the JSU Counseling Center. : Students experiencing a mental health emergency after-hours should contact campus police at 256-782-5050 to be connected with an on-call counselor from the JSU Counseling Center. JSU Ride: The jsuRIDE system will not run over spring break. MAIL CENTER, ID OFFICE and PRINT SHOP The JSU Mail Center, ID Office and Print Shop will be closed for spring break. Construction continues on West 61, a luxury townhouse development on West Kelownas Shannon Lake with units starting at $799,000. West Kelowna is looking to increase density in two urban centres and infill existing neighbourhoods to create more housing options for the citys growing population. Cpl. James Choi, of the Royal Westminster Regiment in New Westminster, B.C., is seen in an undated handout photo. Military prosecutors have dropped their case against a soldier charged in relation to the death of an army reservist during a training exercise in 2020. Cpl. Lars Callsen of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was charged in May 2021 with one count of negligence following the death of Cpl. James Choi. A member of the Royal Westminster Regiment, Choi was participating in a live-fire training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alta., in October 2020 when he was shot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Department of National Defence, *MANDATORY CREDIT* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. Trudeau is calling on the committee of parliamentarians that reviews matters of national security and the national intelligence watchdog to independently investigate concerns about foreign interference in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Very few people have ever had the opportunity to sit in "Margaret's chair" in Ballyragget. I am referring to the stone seat, still intact, on top of Ballyragget Castle which affords the best views of the town named after the family who owned the land around it for generations, the Raggets. It is hard to believe that this forgotten gem was absolutely central to the defence of Kilkenny in the 16th and 17th centuries and has been the backdrop for incredible events and the scene of much bloodshed and bitterness. During the late 16th century and all through the 17th and 18th century it played a huge role in the military and political life of the county and the region, being the main defensive structure and fortified keep to the north of Kilkenny Castle. It also became a prized possession for the English, the Irish and the various squabbling branches of the Ormonde dynasty. We know this and much more from the seminal work on the castle by Enda Houlihan through his thesis for his Bachelor of Education degree. It should be compulsive reading for anyone with a smidgeon of interest in their local place. Back to the Chair. It is also known as the Wishing Chair and the older people in Ballyragget believed that if you sat in the chair your wish would be granted. It is also said but not recorded anywhere in print, that Lady Margaret Butler who was one of the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare, would sit here and look out at the lands and that on occasion, servants, or others who did her a disservice would be hung from the castle. The same story is told about another of her favourite haunts, Grannagh Castle while there is also a Margaret's chair at Clomantagh Castle, outside Freshford. And just to demonstrate how important Ballyragget Castle was, a number of castles which were built later in the 16th century were modeled on it, including Tybroughney Castle, Piltown. A very unsavoury character who held the castle was one of Cromwell's most deprived officers, Col Daniel Axtell who had one of the Butlers of the castle tortured and killed for not disclosing where the Mountgarret treasure was buried. He hung Catholic and Protestant royalists on the Fair Green, Ballyragget while laughing on from the castle. The same treatment is supposed to have pertained to another of Lady Margaret's castles at Grannagh, Kilmacow. Lady Margaret and her fondness for Ballyragget gives the place an extra special significance and along with the curse on the Mountgarrets (that eventually came through in the late 18th century when they finally left the castle), the murderous goings on, the secret tunnel and the greatest collection of Whiteboys ever seen in Kilkenny, Ballyragget Castle with its four intact towers, one now used as a Marian shrine, should be celebrated and enjoyed by locals and visitors to marvel at its size and beauty. In some ways it's similar to the French chateaus. Many of these have walled fortifications around which an urban centre grew much as it did in Ballyragget and didn't around others like Balleen Castle which was preferred by one of the Mountgarrets over Ballyragget. While the castle features on the crest of the Ballyragget GAA club jerseys and the local girls primary school, none of the players or the students have, to my knowledge been inside the castle. This is to be expected and the owners have done a great job in keeping it in good condition and for that and for much more they should be congratulated. In other areas, these type of medieval castles have disappeared and many archaeologists and others would argue that we have too many castles and that it is difficult to know what to do with them all. It is an excellent point and one which Kilkenny with over 200 medieval installations in varying degrees of upkeep will have to address sooner rather then later. Yet Ballyragget Castle dominated the town and was responsible for its foundation. And even though some would argue that the modern town turned its back on the castle, literally; it remains a sleeping giant, an untapped resource full of potential that should really be explored. The castle itself is still imposing and Pat Moore's photo captures that very well. And at dusk, the crows fly to and from it, like something straight out of a Disney film. The castle which still has a roof and is intact if probably dangerous to explore and is also good reason to keep it closed. Wouldn't it make a great place to film Game Of Thrones. Ballyragget Castle is basically 44 feet by 31 feet in size, according to the bible of Kilkenny archaeology and history, Canon Carrigan's opus on the Diocese of Ossory. The walls are around seven and a half feet thick and all the doors, are of cut stone, probably limestone. The main entrance-door on the east side is Gothic, in appearance and is close to the girls primary school. It would be quite easy to make an entrance from the school side, making it accessible without too much hassle. However, there is potentially, an even better entrance available if it was opened up. This is where the owners have set beautiful alder trees along the avenue up to the Castle which is just about visible if you peek in through the corrugated iron gates, down from SuperValu. Bishop Carrigan noted that two sets of corbels (a stone jutting out from a wall to carry a beam, a type of heavy duty bracket) in the same wall as the east entrance and other marks on the wall indicate a very large house or mansion now demolished that was built against it. And this is in keeping with folklore which claimed a huge thatch house was situated next to it with one of its gables part of the Castle wall. And it would seem that the lost house probably replaced the thatch house. Down from the east side entrance is a cattle shed, still intact after hundreds of years and still being used and I for one think that is terrific. What good are old buildings dotted around the countryside unless they are used. Otherwise they will fall down. A few years before the end of the 16th century, the state room, where banquets were held, was remodeled and fitted up with a massive cut stone chimney piece, inscribed with the initials of Edmund, second viscount Mountgarrett and the date of the inscription; According to the 2014 County Development Plan the Tower House at the castle is a listed building. It is not a national monument according to the Office of Public Works (OPW) and that seems to be because it is in private ownership. The four round towers that defend it are looped so as to command what is outside of the walls. The Keep is five stories high with the look-out turret that rises above the parapet in the north east corner of the keep. During the half century that followed, Ballyragget Castle seems to have been abandoned, at least temporarily by the Mountgarrett family. And we know this because, Richard, the third Viscount was described in a contemporary document from that time, as residing in Balleen Castle in 1610. In the year 1619, King James I constituted the place a manor, with a grant of two annual fairs, in favour of Richard third Viscount Mountgarrett, the proprietor of the estate. The Ballyragget Convent School did a folklore project some years ago and came up with the following: "There is a big stone chair in it and it is said if anyone wished while sitting in it they would get their wish. It has a dungeon which stretches from it to the river," Maisie Baird told the project. "The castle itself is fairly well preserved and seems to be withstanding the ravages of time well. As a matter of fact it provides no mean living accommodation for a workman, his wife and family. The upper storeys are not so safe but he first and second storeys are very stable and the present resident considers it a very safe abode. (J. Kelly, Ballyragget as part of the folklore project." The Battle of Ballyragget took place in the shadow of the castle in 1775. It was the largest assembly of Whiteboys ever in Kilkenny, 300 horsemen and 200 on foot. Whiteboys were a secret agrarian organisation in the 18th-century which used violent tactics to defend tenant farmer land rights for subsistence farming. They were led by a Moore man from Higginstown, Clara and the family are still there. The castle and the surrounding stone walls support a wide variety of plants. Aubrietia, (an ornamental nonnative plant) is abundant, with ivy, maidenhair spleenwort, common polypody, white stonecrop, pellitory, germander speedwell and various mosses and lichens all frequent, according to a LAP Habitat Assessment by Mary Tubridy & Associates. Elder and sycamore are also present, with dead lime trees along the southwestern wall. Alder have been planted on the avenue to the castle. The castle provides suitable habitat for bat species, but no bat survey of the castle has been undertaken. The castle also provides habitat for common birds, with jackdaw, blackbird, song thrush, robin, blue tit, house sparrow, chaffinch and swallow recorded in and around the castle grounds in 2010. The stone wall surrounding the castle supports rich flora, including ivy and aubrieta. Dry meadow and grassy verge habitat is present around the grounds of the castle. Cocksfoot, nettle, cleaver, ribwort plantain, creeping buttercup and docks are abundant. Adjacent to the south wall of the castle grounds, there is a small area of scattered trees and parkland, with mature oak, beech and cherry. Shrubs include lilac, elder and ivy. Ground flora features dandelion, lesser celandine, lesser periwinkle, violet, creeping cinquefoil, daisy and lordsandladies. Borders with nonnative species of shrub have been planted nearer to the road. Canon Carrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory; The Old Kilkenny Review article; Ballyragget and District by T Lyng; PM Egan's History of Kilkenny; Kilkenny county Council's Local Area Plans (LAP) for Ballyragget; Scoil Chiarain Naofa Primary School folklore school project; Lewis Topographical Dictionary (1837). Enda Houlihan's work; Enda Houlihan B.A.: Ballyragget Castle, Co. Kilkenny. A history and comparative analysis. The aim of the dissertation was to analyse Ballyragget castle, Co. Kilkenny and compare it on three levels to its baronial, and in turn its shire contemporaries in Co. Kilkenny. The thrust of the dissertation came in three ways. The first was to attain an understanding of the castle's history throughout its perceived lifetime and assess its implicationsfor the castle's level of prestige within its barony and in turn the implications it had for the castle's importance to the Earldom of Ormond. The second aim was to assess the geographical location of the castle, and in turn its strategic positioning, in terms of it being a castle structure but also in terms of it being a Butler fortress and military structure. The third was to assess the castle's military and defensive strengths archaeologically and in turn compare this to the other premier castles in the castle's relevant barony, and in turn against others along the Kilkenny northern borderlands. In turn these three investigated areas, and their relevant conclusions, allowed Houlihan to draw a conclusion on the castle's standing as a formidable military structure and a acutely strategically sited building within the barony of Fassadinin. We are indebted to Enda Houlihan for his work on Ballyragget Castle entitled, A History and Comparative analysis, which formed the basis for his Bachelor of Education thesis. He argued that the Tower House of Ballyragget was not an addition but an original construction from the late 15th century when it became an important strategically because of the prevailing, fragile political situation between the Earls of Kildare and Pierse Ruadh Butler whose feisty wife was daughter of the Earl of Kildare. It created a prosperous town and more importantly from the Butlers point of view, gave them a military presence in a previously unmarshaled area and it also meant that the castle and the people who lived in and around it were firmly tied to the shire of Kilkenny. It became the premier crossing point of the River Nore for the upper Nore valley. The castle continued to be of military importance up until the 18th century, when the British army placed a garrison there during the 1798 rebellion in Wexford. From the 16th century on, Ballyragget Castle gained in prestige, becoming the seat of residence of the Mountgarrets (a branch of the Ormonde family). It became of huge military importance and Mountgarrets used it as a defence and to raid the adjoining MacGiollapadraig territory. However, it became the base for revolt in the late 16th century when Edmund, the 2nd viscount Mountgarret decided to revolt against the crown and support the Ulster rebels. Ballyragget became a prized possession during the war that followed and was attacked and captured on three separate occasions. And it speaks volumes that it was used as a base by the Cromwellians, according to Enda Houlihan's seminal work on Ballyragget Castle: "It was a formidable and imposing structure, militarily and politically. A huge gas blast ripped through a block of Corporation houses in Kilkenny, causing extensive damage and injuring one man seriously. When 64-year-old bread delivery man Michael Holland of 4 St Fiacres Place struck a match to light his gas stove the entire block of four houses was rocked by an explosion. Mr Holland was blown across the room which burst into flames. But he crawled to safety, his clothes partly burned off him and lino wrapped around his legs by the blast. Upstairs, his wife Ciss was thrown forcibly out of bed as the floor of the bedroom was ripped apart. A large section of the back wall of the house was completely blown out and every window in the house was shattered. Next door Tommy Barry was bringing a cup of tea upstairs to his wife when the house was shaken by explosion. Windows blew in and the back wall cracked. Further on in the home of Mr and Mrs Sean Devane the shockwaves almost tore the gable wall asunder, leaving large cracks inside and outside. In the home of Mr John Leahy, which adjoins Holland's on the other side, the party wall bulged inwards and smaller cracks spread along the entire length of their house and supermarket. At the time of going to press, a detailed survey of the houses was still being carried out by Corporation engineers. It was uncertain of Holland's house would have to be completely demolished and rebuilt. Mr Hollands progress at St Lukes Hospital was described as satisfactory. Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) has announced details of a new special purpose award that formally recognises and supports parents in their role as the primary educators of their children in areas such as literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. The Level 3 Special Purpose Award in Learning to Support Children in Primary School was developed by KCETB in collaboration with nine other education and training boards. It will provide certification options for learners participating in family learning programmes. The award is nationally recognised and will be awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the state agency responsible for certifying further and higher education awards. The initiative will be rolled out in collaboration with local stakeholders. Details of the new award were announced by KCETB at a special event at the Lord Bagenal Inn, in Carlow as part of the inaugural ETB Week. The week-long celebration of ETB students, staff and services marks ten years since Irelands 16 education and training boards were established. Speaking at the event, KCETB Chief Executive Eileen Curtis said it was a proud day seeing the work of ten education and training boards including KCETB come to fruition with the introduction of the Level 3 Special Purpose Award in Learning to Support Children in Primary School. It is important that the work of parents, in their role as the primary educators of their children, is officially recognised and we hope it will inspire parents in their own learning, she said. I thank everyone who was involved in its development. Anyone interested in learning more about the programme should contact the KCETB Adult Literacy Service or to visit www.kcetb.ie for more details. Joining Ms Curtis at the event was Professor Aine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education in University College Cork, who said that the role of parents, working in partnership with schools, cannot be understated. CRUCIAL The family and the community are central in any policy developments in education and parental involvement does not just benefit the children and the school it is a crucial aspect of lifelong learning, said Prof Hyland. Congratulations to KCETB on the launch of this QQI Level 3 Special Purpose Award for Family Learning Programmes. This is an opportunity for this new award to be adopted in other communities. Yvonne McKenna, who is director of the Adult Literacy for Life National Programme Office with SOLAS, quoted Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris in his introduction to the recent Adult Literacy for life (ALL) strategy. We have to challenge the misconception that an inability to read, write or digitally communicate is a failure of the person, she said. It is a failure of society and the State... We know literacy is a form of power, so let us empower everyone in Ireland to be their best possible selves. Director of Awards at Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Barbara Kelly said QQI was delighted to award recognition for this special award and said that it was a fitting way of ensuring that such work would be properly recognised in the future. We realise that deciding to return to adult learning is possibly the most selfless way to positively join in your childs education path, but it also allows parents to re-join or enhance their own learning journey, said Ms Kelly. Fastway delivery firm are among the organisations that were reprimanded over data breaches, according to a watchdogs annual report. Fastway, who operate in Kilkenny and across the country, was reprimanded and received an administrative fine of 15,000 euro, which is pending confirmation in the courts. The personal data breach concerned unauthorised access to a significant amount of personal data, the watchdog said. The decision found that Fastway infringed Article 32(1) of the GDPR by failing to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk presented by its processing of personal data. In its annual report, the DPC said there were 5,828 GDPR data breaches reported last year, down 12% on 2021. The most frequent cause of reported breaches was from correspondence inadvertently being sent to the wrong recipients, at 62% of the overall total. Of the total 5,828 breach notifications that the DPC received, 3,014 related to the private sector, 2,568 to the public sector and the remaining 246 came from the voluntary and charity sector. As of 31 December 2022, the DPC was pursuing 88 statutory inquiries, including 22 large-scale cross-border inquiries. The DPC has also imposed administrative fines ranging from 1,500 euro to 17 million euro on six different organisations; all of these funds have been collected and transferred to the Exchequer. Among the organisations were Limerick City and County Council, fined 110,000 euro in December 2021; Bank of Ireland, fined 463,000 euro in March, and Meta Ireland, fined 17 million euro in March. Limerick council has taken corrective actions including obtaining Garda permission for more than 353 CCTV cameras, removing all automated number plate recognition technology and removing cameras that were focused on traveller accommodation sites. Plans to bring in real-time monitoring of CCTV cameras in 14 towns and villages across Co Limerick were also abandoned. A draft DPC decision has been issued on surveillance technologies used by Kildare County Council, and final decisions have been issued into inquiries concerning Kerry County Council and Waterford City and County Council. The Commissioner for Data Protection Helen Dixon said that 2022 saw significant outputs from the organisation in its efforts to drive GDPR compliance and protect the peoples data rights. While the DPC encourages and guides organisations in achieving highest standards of protection in their processing of personal data, the DPC has also demonstrated it does not shy away from enforcing the law and applying sanctions where warranted, she said. Two-thirds of the fines issued across Europe last year, including the EU, EEA and UK, were issued by the DPC on foot of detailed and comprehensive investigations, a fact that underlines both the outsized role, and exceptional performance, of the organisation in effectively holding those guilty of non-compliance to account. Sean Holt, a student from Ghaelcholaiste Cheatharlach in Carlow was awarded the Gradam Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha, Barr Feabhais sa Ghaeloideachas, at the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards on Thursday, March 2. The awards were run by Education and Training Boards Ireland as it celebrated 10 years of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Ireland. Kilkenny and Carlow ETB were also the overall winner in the Excellence Award for Respect category. The awards were run by Education and Training Boards Ireland as it celebrated 10 years of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Ireland. The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Croke Park which also marked ETB Day. Hosted by RTE newsreader and former ETB student, Ray Kennedy, the event was attended by representatives from all 16 ETBs across the country. Some of the awards presented at the ceremony included the ETB Excellence in Education Award, the ETB Excellence Award for Equality, the ETB Excellence in Further Education and Training Award, and the ETB Excellence in Youth Services Award, amongst others. Congratulating the awardees, Paddy Lavelle, Chief Executive of ETBI said: It gives me great pride to congratulate all the winners, and indeed runners-up on their success in the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards. We received over 500 entries from ETBs across the country to the Awards detailing the great people and initiatives that are ongoing in all corners of Ireland. The standard across all categories was extremely competitive, meaning we had a very difficult job in narrowing the entries down and selecting our winners. The work of all ETBs not those just officially recognised at the awards deserves to be commended. Their commitment and passion for education, for learning and for their communities play a vital role in ensuring that there are broad and varied options for people to engage with education and training across the country, no matter what stage of their learning journey they are at. This year is a milestone year for ETBs as we celebrate 10 years since their formation in Ireland. Over the past decade, ETBs have delivered learning and education opportunities for everyone including primary and post primary schools, further education and training and youth services. ETBs have revolutionised Irelands education system, and I hope that we can continue to deliver innovative, diverse and flexible learning pathways over the next ten years, and beyond. Education & Training Boards are Irelands leading statutory providers of Education and Training and are unique in providing lifelong learning for all. Collectively, the 16 Education and Training Boards have responsibility for 27 Community National Schools and 250 Post-Primary Schools with over 117,000 students. TV host and award-winning food writer Donal Skehan has called on the people of on Kilkenny to help bake the world of difference for sick children! Donal Skehan was joined by young baker and Childrens Health Ireland at Temple Street patient Saoibh Lonergan to officially launch the sweetest campaign of the year. The Great Irish Bake for Sick Children, proudly supported by Gem, takes place on Friday, March 31. Saoibh, Donal and Childrens Health Foundation are asking individuals, families, communities, creches, schools and companies to host their own Great Irish Bake event on or around Friday, March 31 and raise vital funds to support sick children and their families in CHI at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. You can host family bake offs, street/workplace bake offs, afternoon tea, bake sales, cupcake decorating competitions, the possibilities are endless. Funds raised will help to provide cutting-edge technology, extraordinary care, transformative treatments and so much more for our special hospitals. So, spin that rolling pin and dust off those aprons - by taking part in this years Great Irish Bake you will be doing something really sweet for sick children when they need it most. Whether you go all out with your macarons and souffles or simply whip up a few fairy cakes to enjoy with pals, every single event held this year will make a real difference to families going through the most challenging of times. To register today and receive your own baking pack, simply visit 'childrenshealth.ie/greatirishbake'. Get in touch on social media too to share your own bakes, recipes and kitchen tips. Simply include the hashtag #GreatIrishBake. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High around 55F. Winds NW at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 32F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. The Biden administration is considering reinstating the policy of detaining migrant families who cross the border illegally, a practice President Joe Biden had ended when he came into office, two administration officials said. Residents in Southern California remain trapped by snow as another round of winter weather hits the northern region of the state Election officials in Florida, Missouri and West Virginia say they are withdrawing from a bipartisan, multistate effort aimed at ensuring the accuracy of voter rolls that has found itself in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories fueled by Donald Trumps false claims about the 2020 presidential election By Helmut K. Anheier BERLIN Two months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Jurgen Habermas, perhaps Germany's leading public intellectual, published a commentary that triggered one of the country's most ferocious political debates in decades. Habermas asked how Germany should position itself in the widening Russian-Ukrainian war. Germans still haven't reached any agreement on an answer. At the start of the war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was subject to a barrage of open letters, each signed by hundreds of leading public figures. Some took a hawkish position, advocating more forceful and active engagement on Ukraine's behalf. Others were dovish, pushing for a settlement that would permit Russia to claim some kind of victory and spare Europe from a widening and prolonged conflict. Habermas rejected both the bellicosity of the former and the naive pacifism of the latter. Instead, he supported Scholz's cautious approach, which seemed at the time to hold the most promise for a just peace settlement. Since then, Russia's war on Ukraine's civilian population has intensified, and Germany has expanded its military and financial support for Ukraine to a level that would have been unthinkable last spring. But one year after the invasion, divisions are appearing within Scholz's coalition government, and open letters are pouring in again. One such letter, penned by the grande dame of German feminism, Alice Schwarzer, and Die Linke (Left) party maverick Sarah Wagenknecht, leaves readers with only a vague sense of who bears responsibility for the war. In their "Manifesto for Peace," Schwarzer and Wagenknecht shy away from blaming Russia for its atrocities and call for negotiations, even if that means Ukraine must agree to some of Russia's territorial demands in exchange for a ceasefire or peace treaty. They also call for massive demonstrations to pressure the government into reducing its military engagement and reneging on its pledges of arms deliveries. Having been co-signed by hundreds of German intellectuals, artists, and leftist politicians, their letter is causing an uproar within the political establishment especially now that right-wing and pro-Russian groups are known to be infiltrating the peace demonstrations. In my view, the manifesto is thinly veiled NIMBYism (not in my backyard), and a misguided effort to tie Germany's usual neutrality to explicit support for a negotiated settlement. A couple days after the Schwarzer-Wagenknecht manifesto appeared, Habermas published another commentary lamenting the government's increasingly hawkish stance since Boris Pistorius's appointment as Minister of Defense last month. But he still views the pacifist position as politically dangerous and deeply naive, given Russian President Vladimir Putin's ruthless pursuit of revanchist goals. Habermas addresses what he sees as the fundamental dilemma facing the West. At the core of his argument is a crucial distinction: Should the West commit to ensuring that Ukraine wins the war, or should it merely prevent Russia from winning? Judging by Pistorius's recent pronouncements at the Munich Security Conference, the German government seems to be leaning toward ensuring a full Ukrainian victory. But if that is Germany's goal, Habermas argues, it will be sleepwalking toward the abyss, threatening an ever-widening and intensifying conflict in which Germany itself could become a combatant. Merely preventing Russia from winning would be less risky, according to Habermas, because it would allow for more opportunities for negotiations and face-saving compromises along the way. Habermas's position comes as no surprise, given his longstanding conviction that dialogue is the core feature of democracy, and thus of the international liberal order. But can the West really expect Putin to engage in good-faith dialogue following his increasingly bellicose language, nuclear threats, and lies? Habermas sidesteps this problem by simply referring to the U.N. Charter, which obliges all member states to contribute to ensuring a peaceful world. And as many within the German press were quick to point out, he offers no concrete proposal for what to do. Like the Schwarzer-Wagenknecht manifesto, Habermas's argument for pursuing whatever dialogue is possible ends up being far too German-centered and blind to geopolitical change. But there is still a case to be made for preventing a Russian victory, as opposed to ensuring a Ukrainian one. The question is how to do it. In my view, Habermas did not go far enough. He should have pointed to the "Kindleberger Trap." The disasters of the 1930s, argued the economic historian Charles Kindleberger, stemmed from the failure of the United States to fill Britain's shoes after having replaced it as the preeminent global power. When Britain held that position, Kindleberger noted, it coordinated with its partners and allies to provide global public goods such as security and financial stability. But with the decline of the British Empire, these goods disappeared, creating the conditions for depression, genocide, and another world war. Habermas should take Kindleberger's lesson to heart and expand his strategic outlook beyond the war in Ukraine. To restore peace and stability, NATO needs to work with China, India, and mid-size powers like Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Japan, and South Korea to create a new international security framework and open up channels of communication and dialogue. These other powers must be made to see that the war in Ukraine could easily get out of control unless a broad international coalition seeks to rein in the Kremlin. But that can happen only through more meaningful (though likely arduous) dialogue. This is no time for fence-sitting and free-riding. Everyone will lose out from a broader conflict. If Germans want the fighting to end, they should demand that their government do its part to bring other governments to the table. Helmut K. Anheier, professor of sociology at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, is adjunct professor of social welfare at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. This article was distributed by the Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Garrett, IN (46738) Today Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High around 50F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 33F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Higher wind gusts possible. Angola, IN (46703) Today Windy with periods of light rain. High 54F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 33F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Higher wind gusts possible. By Mark Waghorn via SWNS Weird creatures living miles beneath the ocean waves could hold the key to finding extra-terrestrial life, say scientists. They include huge red-tipped tube worms, ghostly fish, strange shrimp with eyes on their backs and other unique species. A research vessel has set sail to look for them - shedding fresh light on how aliens may be all over the universe. It was decked out with state-of-the-art equipment for the inaugural 40-day mission. Falkor is sailing along the mid-Atlantic ridge, where the movement of tectonic plates creates tears in the seabed. It will search for unusual kinds of hydrothermal vents seabed fissures that emit geothermally heated water and the strange forms of life they host. Similar organisms could exist on watery moons and planets beyond the solar system. The ship has about 30 types of oceanographic, navigational and atmospheric sensors. There are also eight laboratories and accommodation for nearly 100 crew, reports New Scientist. Expedition leader Dr. David Butterfield, of Washington University in Seattle, said: "When people think of hydrothermal vents, they often picture 'black smokers.' "But the ones we're looking for are completely different and they're much harder to find because they don't release those billowing plumes of smoke." Teams on board will use sonar to map out the terrain. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) - will search for chemical signatures from reactions between seawater and hot magma seeping up through the cracks. Butterfield said: "The ocean is so poorly understood - we're on a mission to help change that." Promising locations will be explored using a remotely operated robot called SuBastian - while watching on banks of screens on the ship. SuBastian can reach nearly three miles down - deeper than the ocean. High-resolution footage will be live-streamed so researchers and the public alike can see the first glimpses of any new creatures found near vents. A phenomenon called serpentinisation occurs between the water and mantle rocks at vents - producing hydrogen, methane and other organic compounds. This allows microbes to rely on chemosynthesis, using chemical energy to drive their metabolism. It also enables animals that consume the microbes to live there even though no sunlight reaches them. Expedtion member Dr. Julie Huber, of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, said: "We're interested in how the chemistry, microbiology and resulting animal communities are linked to the geology of their habitat." Indiana courts tossed challenges last year to the "Welcoming City" ordinances enacted by Gary and East Chicago in 2017 after concluding that the litigants lacked legal standing to file suit because they suffered no injury as a result of the ordinances. In unanimous decisions, the Indiana Supreme Court (for Gary) and the Indiana Court of Appeals (for East Chicago) dismissed lawsuits claiming that the policies of both cities to prioritize local public safety needs and protect the rights of immigrants unlawfully violated Indiana's 2011 prohibition on sanctuary cities. "The plaintiffs do not live in the city; they do not pay taxes to the city; they are not affected in any way by the ordinance that operates only in the city," said appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas, a Lake County native. "The plaintiffs have not shown how the ordinance has caused any harm to them or the public." The rulings were a defeat for prominent conservative attorney James Bopp Jr. of Terre Haute, who filed the "Welcoming City" challenges; and Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Munster native, who intervened on behalf of the plaintiffs and against the Region cities. But Rokita, at least, might get a second chance although probably not against Gary and East Chicago. The Republican-controlled Indiana Senate recently voted 40-9 along party lines to explicitly authorize the attorney general to file suit against any Indiana college or university, or local unit of government, to enforce compliance with the state's sanctuary-city ban. Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, the sponsor of Senate Bill 178, said that in light of the court rulings denying standing to any lawful Indiana resident, it's appropriate to empower the attorney general to see that the statute is followed. The legislation goes to the Republican-controlled House for possible revision and a decision on sending it to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law. The "Welcoming City" ordinances were promoted by Merrillville attorney Alfredo Estrada, along with other immigrant rights supporters, to let immigrants living in Northwest Indiana know they were welcome in the Region and their rights would be protected, notwithstanding the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Republican President Donald Trump's administration. Indiana's sanctuary-city ban, approved by the 2011 General Assembly, prohibits local governments and their employees, including police, from refusing to communicate or cooperate with federal immigration authorities to protect noncitizens who entered or remained in the United States without legal permission. The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that an off-duty police officer was not acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a U.S. Navy veteran during "an alcohol-infused social gathering" in a house near Lowell. Timothy Thomas, 42, was convicted of aggravated battery, along with a firearms enhancement, and sentenced last year to 16 years in prison in connection with the Jan. 3, 2021, death of Nicholas Lile, 42, in the basement of Lile's home, records show. According to court records, Thomas was acquitted of murder by the same Lake County jury that found him guilty of the level 3 felony. Among other claims, Thomas argued in his appeal that his murder acquittal precludes his conviction for aggravated battery because the murder verdict is an implicit determination that he prevailed on his self-defense claim. Specifically, Thomas said that since both offenses relied on the same evidence, it's inconsistent for the jury to find him not guilty of murder while simultaneously finding him guilty of aggravated battery. The appeals court was unconvinced. In a 3-0 decision, the court noted the jury may never even have considered Thomas' self-defense claim if it found, based on evidence presented at trial, that Thomas did not "knowingly" or "intentionally" kill Lile and only was attempting to repel Lile's attack. At the same time, the court said the jury had a sufficient basis to reject Thomas' self-defense claim as to aggravated battery because Lile was unarmed, heavily intoxicated and at least 13 feet from Thomas when Thomas shot at him, negating the notion Thomas had a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm when he fired the fatal shot. "The jury could have reasonably found that Thomas did not intend to kill Lile (murder) but did intend to cause him a lesser bodily injury (aggravated battery)," the appeals court said. Thomas also argued in his appeal that his 11-year prison sentence for aggravated battery, along with a 5-year enhancement for using a firearm to commit the crime, is too harsh and should be reduced given the nature of the offense and his character. The appeals court unanimously declined Thomas' invitation to reduce his prison term. It noted the sentencing range for a level 3 felony is 3 to 16 years, with a statutory advisory sentence of 9 years. Thomas' 11-year sentence for aggravated battery then is 2 years more than the advisory sentence but still below the maximum penalty, it said. The 5-year firearms enhancement is the minimum permitted by Indiana law. A firearms enhancement can range from 5 to 20 years, according to the Indiana Code. Concerning the nature of the offense, the appeals court observed that Thomas, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs supervisory police officer, chose to bring a hidden weapon to a social engagement in a private home and subsequently used deadly force against an intoxicated and unarmed man. "And rather than help Lile, a fellow military veteran, Thomas left the home and did not mention Liles injury until five minutes into his 911 call," the court said. As to the character of the offender, the appeals court observed Thomas is a 20-year military veteran with only a single prior criminal conviction for a misdemeanor in Michigan. But "even a limited criminal history is a poor reflection on the defendant's character," the court said. Moreover, the court noted Thomas previously was fired from the Merrillville Police Department "for aggressive and negative conduct with the public acts consistent with the conduct that led to Thomass conviction here." "Accordingly, Thomas has failed to carry his heavy burden of establishing that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Finding no trial error and that Thomas' sentence is not inappropriate, we affirm the trial courts judgment," the appeals court said. Thomas still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing his criminal conviction and prison term. Otherwise, Thomas' earliest possible release date from prison, assuming good behavior, is Sept. 6, 2033, according to the Indiana Department of Correction. IVE Jang Wonyoung made DIVEs gush over her Instagram photos, making it clear that she's a certified bias wrecker! Would you like to see her pictures? Then read on! IVE Wonyoung Snags DIVEs' Attention With Her Instagram Photos On March 5, Jang Wonyoung posted a set of photos on her official Instagram. The photos showed Wonyoung holding a bouquet of flowers, in regards to her collaboration with Hapa Kristin Korea, a store that focuses on manufacturing and selling colored contact lenses. Wonyoung is featured wearing a beautiful white gown, which goes well with her background that were full of balloons and a pink scenery. Wonyoung's alluring presence is always a sight to see, and with her photos, DIVEs couldn't contain their appreciation for the K-pop star. Fans gathered on the post's comment section, praising Wonyoung for her lovely appearance. Aside from Wonyoung's original post, her photos also trended in an online community, where various netizens expressed their compliments towards Wonyoung. In the forum, others even wondered what it feels like to see Wonyoung in person. Some resembled her to a real-life princess and a celestial queen. When it comes to flaunting her visuals, Wonyoung doesn't disappoint in flaunting. Her visual prowess is just one of the factors that made her an idol. Fans commented: "Our mom never calls any celebrity pretty, but she said that Jang Wonyoung looked like a doll, and she found her really pretty." "Wow she's a celestial being." "What in the world? Her looks are just crazy, her eyes are too pretty." "I'm jealous of the PD who filmed her. I wonder what it feels like to see this Jang Wonyoung in front of your eyes." "She f**king looks like a princess." How Does Jang Wonyoung Feel Regarding Negative Rumors About Her? In other news, Wonyoung guested on the 7th episode of "I didn't prepare anything (Nothing has been Prepared)," which was uploaded on December 11, 2021. The show was hosted by rapper Lee Youngji, who engaged Wonyoung in a meaningful conversation. Since Wonyoung has her share of viral popularity, it doesn't always go smoothly because of people who think negatively of her. During the episode, she was asked if jealousy and pressure from people who are haters. Wonyoung opened up about her experience on getting gossips. The idol stated how rumors are just noise and that it doesn't matter at the end of the day. "I don't feel hurt much. If this is not true and I didn't do it, it doesn't matter what you say. It doesn't bother me. You are you and I am me, I'm trying hard to do what's given to me." Did Wonyoung's lovely looks make you fall in love? Tell us in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte slide 2 of 6 NCT Dream successfully completed their first solo concert in Indonesia. NCT Dream held "THE DREAM SHOW2: In A DREAM" at ICE BSD, Jakarta, Indonesia, from March 4 to 6, and met local fans. BTS's fandom ARMYs celebrated an accomplishment after UberFacts their chart consisting of the "Most Negative Fanbases Online." Here's what happened. UberFacts Publishes Charts of 'Positive' & 'Negative' Fanbases Online, ARMYs React On March 4, informative social media platform UberFacts released the most "positive" and "negative" fandoms to ever exist online. The Most Positive Fanbases on Twitter pic.twitter.com/PbJFLfkJFv UberFacts (@UberFacts) March 4, 2023 The data gathered was based off on the words and actions used by online users, which correlates to anything positive or negative. In the Positive chart, One Direction took the lead, followed by Daddy Yankee, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and Justin Beiber. On the Negative chart, Rihanna's fanbase, Navy, claimed the top spot, which was trailed closely by fans of the first-person shooter game "Call of Duty." The Most Negative Fanbases on Twitter pic.twitter.com/HyevT1PF9Y UberFacts (@UberFacts) March 4, 2023 Many netizens shared their thoughts regarding the charts. Most of them drew mixed reactions, since the data gathered from these fanbases can overlap with how certain fandoms act, and considered the chart inaccurate. However, BTS's fandom, ARMYs, were surprised they weren't on any list, especially on the Negative section. As the results didn't disclose their fandom, ARMYs immediately celebrated to the occasion. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Where Is BTS Jungkook? ARMYs Shocked Over Idol's Disappearance From Instagram Additionally, some were even surprised how none of K-pop's fandoms are included in either of the two charts, despite being active and passionate on social media. Every fandom has its own fair share of bad apples and that's an irrefutable fact. ARMYs Celebrate After UberFact's 'Positive' & 'Negative' Fanbase Charts Reveal Although impactful in the K-pop scene, being the biggest K-pop fandom is not without its struggles, as ARMYs are often criticized by non-fans of K-pop for "toxic behavior." Upon seeing the UberFacts charts, ARMYs have proven they are one of the most loving fandoms there is and are finally free of the "toxic" allegations made on them. ARMYs celebrated the occasion, stating how happy they are with the results, and even congratulating one another for their "first win" ever! BTS is known for their songs with meaningful messages and positive affirmations. This is just one of the aspects that made ARMYs admire them so much, and with influence, it didn't take long for the fandom to establish a positive nature too! See their comments below: ARMYS ARE FREE! Samantha (@Hyunjun50367236) March 6, 2023 armys finally beating the toxic fandom allegations pic.twitter.com/DbiUpbllAK https://t.co/xw7av0LORY Liv on the street (@skooliviaffair) March 5, 2023 WE ARE FREE ARMYS https://t.co/3Ou81lXZxR pic.twitter.com/oPFgbkDT4y keke on the street (@stallseok) March 5, 2023 What's your reaction with ARMYs celebration? Do you belong in any fandom? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte China's top legislator expounds on requirements of people's congress system Xinhua) 15:28, March 07, 2023 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator on Tuesday expounded on the defining requirements of the people's congress system. Delivering a work report at the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, said the people's congresses must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The legislative bodies must adhere to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, and remain committed to the major concept of whole-process people's democracy and the people's congress system, Li said. 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